The past: Spinning in an endless sea of liquid souls...existence beginning to fade away...and I fall down, down, down into her waiting arms. I cringe away, but she is not upset with me. She is upset with destiny, with fate, with what they have once again put us through. ^You know the lies she told you and the love that was never there?^ ~Yes, yes I know now...itÕs all so clear...how could I have forgotten their game?~ ^Funny how life can take a turn when the end is near.^ ~Ha ha ha...it is. All this time the joke was on me. Is it too late to face the truth that it was wrong? That *I* was wrong again? Why I am always too late?~ ^WeÕll try again.^ ~It doesnÕt matter. It always will end the same.~ ^Do you really believe that? WeÕve lost then. WeÕll spend forever in this loop.^ ~No, I donÕt want it to end this way again. It canÕt end this way! Not again. IÕm tired of dying this way. There must be some way to make it right.~ ^The past is never far.^ ~I know, it comes even as we speak.~ ^Did you lose yourself out there?^ ~Yes, again. Why canÕt we remember in the loop what we can remember here?~ ^I donÕt know.^ She sighs quietly. ^YouÕre different in here, youÕre...like another person. But the past is never far.^ ~I know... I feel different here. Like...like...~ ^YouÕre human?^ ~Maybe. I wouldnÕt know what that felt like.~ ^The past is never far. Soon it will all go back to how it was.^ ~I know. You say that every time. Why do you keep repeating yourself? What are you trying to tell me?~ ^We must change what happens. There must be something we havenÕt tried.^ ~What havenÕt we tried?~ ^Look, the beginning...theyÕre arriving at the ShinRa building...Cloud is getting off the train.^ ~Yes, it starts again.~ ^Again and again they play with us. They force us to play. IÕm so tired of it. Stop them. Stop it from happening over and over again.^ ~I canÕt. Every time I make the same mistakes. I do the same things. How can we break the chain? WeÕve tried everything. Nothing works.~ ^You must become different. Change who you are. It is the only way to change what you do. It is the only way to free us.^ ~Tell me how to do that.~ ^Save me. Stop Jenova. Change who you are. Become someone else.^ ~Turn against Jenova? ItÕs impossible...she knows my every thought...and then the other would win and...By Holy, Aeris, IÕm sorry...I donÕt know how to save you. There is no way to do what you ask without risking the death of Jenova, and that would reset the loop.~ ^Yes, there is. Change who you are. Stop being her angel...and become mine. Become my savior.^ ~Even I canÕt be in two places at once, Aeris.~ ^There is a way...but are you strong enough to go through with it? It wonÕt be easy. But nothing is impossible, if you are willing to pay the price.^ ~The price?~ ^Are you willing?^ ~I...yes, I want to save you. I think itÕs what is meant to happen.~ ^The price could be your death.^ ~IÕm not afraid of death. Anything is better than what the Other wants for the world. What must I do to save you, Aeris?~ ^Change who you are. Become someone else. If you want that, if you fight for that with enough will, then anything is possible.^ ~Even escaping fate?~ ^I donÕt know. I hope so.^ ~*~ Final Fantasy: Fated The Time the Puppet Refused to Dance By: Chandra Rooney [sophiaroth@hotmail.com] Hosted by Improfanfic Started by Samantha Rodgers "I think about you all the time but I donÕt feel the same. If itÕs lonely where you are, come back down and I wonÕt tell your name." Š "Name", the Goo Goo Dolls. ~*~ The present: Inno blinked, and raised her eyebrow at Gabriel. "What do you mean, Ōwhat size of ShinRa uniform will I needÕ?" "I thought it was a pretty straight-forward question," he replied, as his smirk faded. "Kid, youÕre shaking...are you all right?" Inno rubbed her trembling arms, and choked back the bad taste in her mouth. Her visions...They came with no warning, and they took so much out of her. Then there were the other times when she would cast spells, feeling no control over her own body... "Oh God, I feel like IÕm losing my mind," Inno whispered softly. Gabriel knelt down on the ground beside her bed. "Kid... I know youÕre in a rough spot here; itÕs hard to lose people so close to you and then not be given time to grieve, but this may be our only chance to get on a ShinRa boat." He took her chin in his hand, and tipped up her face, meeting her frightened eyes with his own calm ones. "Once weÕre across the ocean, in Costa De Sol, weÕll take a rest. Have you ever been there?" She shook her head a little. He smiled. "ItÕs a great resort town. The beaches are the finest in the entire world; the sandÕs so white and the waterÕs this beautiful blue color. ItÕs really something to see." Gabriel squeezed her hand gently. "You just need to take a little time to find yourself again, kid, and then youÕll be good as new. Trust me." Inno looked up into his eyes, and saw that they were an oddly familiar shade of green-blue. Funny, sheÕd never noticed the color of his eyes before...just that they were usually cold, like he was distancing himself from everyone. But now, they were open and caring. She nodded. "IÕd like to see that." "Well," he stood, and offered her a hand up, "if we donÕt move fast, weÕll miss our chance. Priscilla told Cloud that President ShinRa is having a parade, everyone will be focused on it. We decided to dress up like SOLDIERs and then slip into the parade. Once it reaches the docks, itÕll be easy to get aboard a ship headed for Costa De Sol." Inno nodded, shaking out of her thoughts and followed him to the door. "ThatÕs not a bad plan, Gabriel." "ItÕs all weÕve got," he replied, and opened the door. "CÕmon, kid, weÕll be late to meet the others." ~*~ "There you are," Priscilla waved as Gabriel and Inno finished climbing down onto the shore. "We were starting to think you got lost!" Gabriel smiled at her. "Hey, do I look like Cloud?" "Very funny," Cloud said, coming up from the beach. "Aeris, Tifa, Cait Sith and Nanaki have already gone ahead. TheyÕll meet us on the ship." "But how are we getting to the docks?" Inno asked. "WeÕre going to climb the tower," Cloud explained. "Once weÕre up top, we go into the building and take uniforms from the locker room. Then weÕre going to join the parade and follow it to the docks where we can get on a ship." Inno nodded. "Yeah, Gabriel told me about that last part." She looked out at the tower, the metal structure stuck out of the water, reaching up like a sword trying to pierce the sky. "How are we supposed to get on it?" She asked. "My friend, Mr. Dolphin, will help you," Priscilla told her, coming over. She handed Inno a whistle. "When you blow this, Mr. Dolphin jumps. So you can climb on his back, and then blow the whistle. HeÕll jump up by the tower, and you can jump off." Inno felt the butterflies begin to dance about in her stomach. "What if I miss?" Cloud gave her a stern look. "You donÕt." ~*~ Inno watched as Cloud swam out, and climbed onto the dolphinÕs back. He blew the whistle, and the creature leapt up into the air. The first jump wasnÕt high enough, and she grimaced as Cloud smacked back into the water. He clung to the dolphin and blew the whistle again. This time the creature jumped high enough, and Cloud grabbed onto the metal tower. He tossed the whistle to Gabriel. It landed a few feet away in the water. "I canÕt believe weÕre going swimming in our clothes," Gabriel muttered, and waded out into the waves, retrieving the whistle. He turned and flashed a thumbs-up to Inno. "See you at the top, kid." Then he swam out to the deeper water, and climbed onto the back of the dolphin. A sharp blow of the whistle, and the dolphin shot up out of the water. Gabriel caught a lower edge of the tower on the first try, and Cloud pulled him onto the main part of the structure. Then Cloud took the whistle from Gabriel and tossed the it to Inno. She saw it arch, and splash playfully to her left, but just a tiny bit closer to her than the first toss. She looked back at Priscilla. The little girl smiled. "What are you waiting for? Mr. DolphinÕs getting tired. You better hurry." Inno swallowed, and waded into the murky water. A fisherman had told them of how less and less fish survived in the polluted waters offshore Junon. As she swam out into the cold depths, Inno didnÕt doubt that too much time in the water wouldnÕt be healthy for anyone. Briefly she wondered if that explained why the dolphin could jump so high... Clinging to the slippery gray back of the dolphin, Inno placed the whistle in her teeth and blew sharply. Out of the water she flew on the back of PriscillaÕs sea friend. The shock that she was so high hit as she neared the metal beam of the tower...and then saw it shrink away as the dolphin dove back into the water. An icy plunge into the ocean followed, and she fought desperately not to fall off. "Try again!" Gabriel shouted down at her. "Hurry!" Cloud urged. Men, Inno thought bitterly, theyÕre always in a rush. She climbed back onto the dolphin, and set the whistle in her teeth. A sharp blast, and this time she prepared for the soaring motion, the taking to the skies. As the metal beam approached, she reached out and caught it. Mr. Dolphin arched, and dove back down towards the waiting waves. InnoÕs arm felt cruel gravity kick in, and she cried out in pain. Her grip loosened, and then slipped...and two pairs of arms caught her wrists and pulled her onto the main part of the tower. "Close call," Cloud told her, looking down as he began his climb, "you were almost headed back down again." Gabriel helped her find the holdings so she could climb up after Cloud. "You got lucky, kid. Fate smiled on us that time." ~*~ After what seemed to Inno like hours of climbing up the metal beams and various overhangings of the towerÕs structure, she reached the solid ground above. But Cloud didnÕt give her any time cherish the moment, and hurried her and Gabriel inside and beyond the sight of any ShinRa employees. "ItÕs so dead," she whispered as the snuck down a deserted hallway, and into an equally empty locker room. "EveryoneÕs at the parade," Gabriel replied, cutting into one of the locks with his chain sickle. "Here, this one looks like itÕs a small. Try it on, kid." He tossed her a bundle of blue cloth, and proceeded to the open two lockers next to him, finding uniforms for himself and Cloud. "I hope these fit." Inno looked around. Cloud was slipping into the helmet of a SOLDIER uniform, as his usual attire was that the remains of his own First Class uniform. Gabriel had taken off his vest, and was slipping on the blue shirt. "Pants too," Cloud told him. "Brown pants are going to stand out in a crowd of SOLDIERs." "Right, right," Gabriel nodded, reaching for his belt. "Ahem!" Inno cleared her throat loudly. "You donÕt expect me to change in here...with you guys watching, do you?" "You could have already, we werenÕt watching," Cloud replied. Gabriel stopped unbuckling his belt. "I...didnÕt say you would look," Inno protested. "ItÕs just a privacy thing, okay?" Cloud shrugged. "IÕll wait outside. Put your regular clothes in those blue packs, and if you arenÕt ready to go in one minute, youÕll have to find your own way to the docks." She watched as he walked outside the door. Gabriel opened one of the lockers. "Change behind this. Hurry." Inno sighed, and scuttled behind the locker. She slipped off her dress, and pulled on the rough blue material of the SOLDIERÕs uniform. GabrielÕs brown pants fell to the floor, and she saw him pull up the blue ones. "These are really uncomfortable," she remarked, blushing a little. "I wonder why Cloud hasnÕt switched to regular clothes." "Might not be able to afford them," Gabriel replied. "Or maybe he wears them as a badge of honor; he seems to be very proud of the fact that he was in SOLDIER. You ready?" Inno nodded, and pushed the locker closed. Gabriel handed her a helmet and a blue pack. Quickly, and silently they packed up their regular clothes, and slipped on the helmets. Or rather, in InnoÕs case, tried to slip on the helmet. "I canÕt get the thing to latch shut properly." Gabriel reached down, and snapped the helmetÕs fastener in place for her. "There. Now, itÕs probably best to let Cloud do the talking. HeÕs been in SOLDIER, after all." She nodded, head shaking inside a helmet too big for her, and followed Gabriel into the hallway. Cloud was talking to another blue-suited figure, who was showing him some complex-looking moves. "Now, you think you got that?" the SOLDIER asked. Cloud nodded. "Great," the other replied, and handed rifles to Gabriel and Inno. "Now, you three follow me. WeÕre gotta hurry. The paradeÕs already started." ~*~ They followed the SOLDIER down and out the building. Slipping through an alley, they made it to where the parade was coming by. A superior officer frowned at them. "YouÕre late. The parade has already started." He sighed. "Try to wait for an opening and slip into the back of a flank. I hope youÕve all practiced the routine...theyÕre broadcasting the parade live on television. So go out there, and make me proud!" "Yes, sir!" the four replied, saluting. The parade rounded the corner and flank after flank of SOLDIERs marched down the street perfectly performing the complex routine of moves in time to the music. The superior officer signaled, and the first SOLDIER snuck out and joined the back of a flank. The officer waited until another flank had come, and then signaled to Cloud and Gabriel. They joined the back of the flank. It took poor Inno four tries before she successfully got into a flank. She looked around at the other SOLDIERs and tried to copy their movements, but she was lost. So she just stuck the gun in her arm and marched. Once they got close to the docks, Gabriel and Cloud left a flank and headed for the ships. Inno followed them, glad to be out of the row upon row of blue-suited men. "ArenÕt there any women in ShinRa?" she asked Cloud, as the three moved towards the ships. "Well, thereÕs Elena of the Turks," Cloud replied. "And Scarlet...but there arenÕt any women in SOLDIER. I guess they just havenÕt found ones who can meet the requirements." The three continued in silence, and Cloud pointed to one of the ships. They moved towards it. "ItÕs too bad that you missed the parade, Mr. President," a voice said. "It was really something. There was this one idiot SOLDIER that just couldnÕt get the timing right! Gya ha ha ha! I swear, it took him four tries to get into the line! Gya ha ha ha!" "Shut up, Heidegger," the second voice, which the three recognized as Rufus ShinRa, replied. Inno froze as the new President of ShinRa Electrical Company came into view, and stopped right in front of the open cargo bay of the ship. "Hey, you three there!" the fat man beside him called. "Come here." Obediently, Cloud, Gabriel and Inno walked forward and stopped, saluting Rufus and Heidegger. "President Rufus missed the parade," Heidegger informed them. "So why donÕt you three give him a demonstration of the special routine you did. And if you impress him enough, maybe youÕll get a bonus." "Yes, sir," Cloud replied, saluting. He and Gabriel began to go through the complex moves of the routine without mistake. Inno desperately tried to follow their lead, but she couldnÕt move fast enough. Rufus snorted, disgusted, and Heidegger fell into a fit of his annoying laughter. "Enough," Rufus finally snapped. "IÕve seen enough." The boy president stormed off. Heidegger continued to laugh for a few seconds. Then he wiped at the tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "You must be that same SOLDIER that couldnÕt get into the line," he laughed. "Gya ha ha ha! Well, IÕve always appreciated a man who could make me laugh. Gya ha ha ha! Here, something for your troubles, boy!" He tossed a materia at InnoÕs feet and then waddled after Rufus, Ōgya ha ha haÕ-ing all the way. Inno bent and picked up the materia, sighing. Cloud tapped her on the arm, and she started to apologize for not knowing the routine, but he cut her short and pointed to the boat. NanakiÕs fire-crystal tipped tail was peaking out from behind one of the crates. Inno nodded to Cloud, and followed him and Gabriel onto the boat. ~*~ *Flash...* Inno looked up and saw Sephiroth descending from above. The long blade of his sword slid into her flesh and she fell forward into someoneÕs arms. Looking up, she saw Gabriel looking down at her, green-blue eyes as theyÕd been when heÕd comforted her...caring and warm. But as she watched they became cold and icy...and his face shifted...changed...and became that of her murdererÕs... ~*~ She awoke behind a crate, shaking. Gabriel was pressed up against a crate on her other side. "Hey, kid," he whispered, "the others are spread about the ship. We didnÕt want to draw attention to ourselves." Casting off the troublesome dream, deciding to decipher it later, she crawled over to where he was. "Where are we?" "Halfway across the ocean," he replied. "YouÕve been sleeping a long time. You look pale again. Seasick?" "Bad dreams," she told him. "LetÕs go and find the others." He nodded, and led her through the maze of crates and up a flight of steel stairs. ~*~ The stairs lead to the deck above, and a view of endless blue ocean. An equally endless blue sky was above the waters. "The rest of the group are dressed like SOLDIERs and spread out up here," Gabriel told Inno, and they stepped out onto the deck. The closest SOLDIER came over to them. "Hey, itÕs me, Aeris. Is that you, Inno?" Inno nodded. "Yeah, and this is Gabriel with me. How are you doing, Aeris?" The other girl shrugged. "Okay, I guess. ItÕs kinda of exciting, but IÕm nervous. What if we get caught?" Inno had to agree. ShinRa probably wouldnÕt take a group of stowaways lightly. "Where are the others?" she asked Aeris, changing the topic. Aeris pointed to a SOLDIER up on a platform. "ThatÕs Tifa up there. You should go and say hi to her. She was worried about you guys. We all were. I would have been too scared to climb that tower, Inno." "I was pretty scared myself," Inno told her. "IÕm going to go say hi to Tifa now." She walked over and climbed up to the higher platform. "Psst, Tifa, itÕs me, Inno." The other girl raised her helmetÕs shield. "Good to see youÕre awake. I just wish weÕd hurry up and get to Costa De Sol. I donÕt like wearing this uniform." "Me either," Inno agreed. "TheyÕre uncomfortable." Tifa shook her head. "ItÕs more than that, Inno. I donÕt know how to explain but...does it seem like CloudÕs been acting odd lately? It just seems to me that ever since he got back into a full uniform..." "I donÕt know," Inno replied. "I havenÕt seen Cloud yet. I bet heÕs just nervous like the rest of us, though." Tifa was quiet for a moment. "I think itÕs more than that, Inno. CloudÕs over there." She pointed to a SOLDIER dutifully standing guard by the cabin doors. "Inno, would you go and talk to him for me? Just to make sure that heÕs okay?" "Sure, Tifa," Inno nodded, and climbed back down the ladder as Tifa lowered her shield again. Inno made her way towards the SOLDIER by the door. ~*~ Gabriel stood by the hatch to the below decks with Aeris. The two of them silently watched Inno go over to where Cloud was standing. Then Aeris started to giggle. "Gabriel, look." She pointed to a SOLDIER stumbling about on the deck above the cabin. "Is that Nanaki?" he asked. Aeris nodded. Gabriel smiled a little, but it was hidden beneath his visor. "I didnÕt know he could walk on two feet." "HeÕs not doing a very good job," Aeris giggled as Nanaki stumbled again. "It must be so hard for him." "ItÕs hard for all of us," he replied. "Acting like weÕre ShinRa employees." "Yeah," she agreed. "You have to change who you." Gabriel frowned beneath his visor. That line, it sounded familiar...had someone told him something like that before? He was going to reply to Aeris, but something beat him to it. A shaking...no a thumping sound was coming from a crate behind Aeris. He motioned to Aeris for her to be quiet and stepped forward, moving closer to the crate. It rattled and shook like it was possessed, and then...burst apart. "Let me tell your fortunes!" a comical voice behind them boomed. Gabriel and Aeris both jumped to avoid the wooden planks that were cast aside; once the dust had cleared they saw Cait Sith atop his mog, megaphone in hand. "Cait Sith!" Aeris waved a finger at him. "You scared me. What are you doing sneaking up on people like that?" "Why IÕm telling fortunes," Cait Sith announced. He lowered his megaphone. "Let me tell you guys your fortunes!" "Okay! Me first," Aeris said. "Oh, if thatÕs okay with you, Gabriel." "Go ahead," he nodded. "I donÕt believe in that junk anyway." ~*~ Inno walked over to the SOLDIER standing by the door. "Psst, Cloud, itÕs Inno. How are you doing?" "IÕm fine," Cloud replied. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? First Tifa, now you..." "Sorry, Cloud," Inno said gently. "I was just wondering if you were seasick or anything. IÕve never been on a ship across the ocean before." "I used to get motion sickness when I first joined SOLDIER," Cloud admitted. "It was pretty rough. Luckily none of us get seasick." Inno nodded, and looked around the deck. She noted that Cait Sith had made it on board too, and was talking to Gabriel and Aeris over by the starboard railing. That stumbling SOLDIER to the front of the ship could only be Nanaki, as no human had a tail; Tifa was still on her platform, but...that was all. There wasnÕt another soul above decks. She frowned. "Cloud, whereÕs the rest of the crew?" He shrugged. "There was a few guys downstairs. DidnÕt you and Gabriel see them?" Inno shook her head. She was about to question him further when a scream drew her attention to the hatch sheÕd come up top from. Tifa was pointing to a blue-clad figure, bleeding all over the deck, and struggling to climb up. He didnÕt make it, and collapsed down on the last stair. Gabriel rushed over to take the SOLDIERÕs pulse, and then shook his head. "Oh my God," Inno whispered, and yanked off her helmet. "Something must have happened down below. Cloud, someoneÕs got to go and look!" "Are you volunteering to come with me?" he asked, pulling off his own helmet. She nodded. "Then IÕm coming too, kid," Gabriel added, and yanked off his helmet. "It looks like someone ran this poor sap through with a sword. IÕm not letting you go down there and then faint or something." Cloud nodded. "Right. Tifa, Aeris, you two stay up here with Nanaki. Cait Sith, you go into the cabin and if thereÕs someone in there, tell them that there was an accident below decks." "Why me, Cloud?" Cait Sith asked. "Because ShinRa isnÕt after you," Cloud replied. "You arenÕt a member of AVALANCHE." The small toy cat nodded, and the mog waddled away. Cloud turned back to the others. "Come on, Gabriel, Inno, letÕs go." ~*~ Below decks looked like a slaughterhouse. A trail of fallen SOLDIERS and sailorsÕ blood left a red smear leading to the cargo bay doors. Cloud drew his sword, and Gabriel pulled out his chain sickle. Inno pulled out the short sword Gabriel had given her. "Be ready for anything," Cloud told them, and then went inside. ~*~ Two SOLDIERs were ruthlessly and effortlessly cut down with a single swing of the long blade. Masamune is its name, Cloud recalled. The sword sang through the air, tearing into flesh and trailing a rain of blood. "ItÕs Sephiroth," Inno whispered beside him. "Sephiroth!" Cloud called. The man with the silver hair and shimmering mako eyes looked up. "Sephiroth, itÕs me, Cloud. You remember, from Nibelhiem? Sephiroth, why are you doing this?" Sephiroth looked at them. "The time is approaching. Soon all will fall in my wake. The fires will purify the Planet and time will die..." Sephiroth raised his arms in the air, and rose off the ground. "The Promise Land awaits us..." "Cloud, Inno, get down!" Gabriel cried as Sephiroth drew Masamune and dove at them, knocking them aside. The three tumbled to the ground, and rolled, getting back up. A huge monster appeared before them, its body so wrapped and twisted that it seemed to defy logic that something like it could exist. "ItÕs Jenova!" Gabriel cried. ~JenovastophersaveAerisbewareSephirothstopJenova...~ the angry voice screamed at Inno. ~Stopherstopherstopherstopher!~ She grabbed her head, and fell to the ground. ~*~ *Flash...* Inno looked up and saw Sephiroth descending...then the sword would pierce her flesh...but someone thew her out of the way. Inno hit the ground and turned to see Sephiroth standing over Gabriel, the long sword embedded in GabrielÕs stomach. A stunned look played across his features and Sephiroth seemed to be angrily asking Gabriel a question...the words reached her ears in a jumbled heap... "Why would *WE* sacrifice ourselves for *HER*?" ~*~ "Kid!" Gabriel cried, seeing Inno fall. Turning, he noticed that Jenova had struck out against Cloud. The young man was gripping his head, trying to stand. Then the icy tendrils of JenovaÕs psychic hook reached out for GabrielÕs mind...prying deep into him...down, down, down into his very soul...and suddenly stopping, drawing back in shock and anger. ~How can this be? How can you be?~ a distinctly female voice roared through his mind. Gabriel grit his teeth, and stood against the pain. He...*knew* that voice. ~How DARE you exist?~ Jenova-half roared. ~Who gave YOU permission to BE?~ Fire raced across his synapses, and tore into memories. ~Tell me, tell me how you slipped into this loop. How are YOU standing here before me? Was it the OtherÕs doing?~ Something deep inside of him that had been sleeping stirred, and rose against the invasion of his psyche, lashing back against Jenova...and freeing his will from her tentacles. "Cloud, Inno! Get up," he yelled to his fallen friends, "we have to fight her!" ~No,~ Jenova-half hissed, snapping back to the problem at hand. ~No, my puppets, you will not fight me. You will die as I command.~ Cloud writhed in pain on the floor beside him, and Gabriel realized that in his own attack he had dropped and kicked his chain sickle out of reach. Inno still lay, unmoving, on the floor. No one was going to save him...and the only weapon within his reach was CloudÕs fallen sword. He grabbed it, grunting against its weight, and another wave of pain hit him. ~Yes, thatÕs it,~ Jenova-half ordered. ~Show your loyalty. Kill for me as you always have.~ Gabriel noticed Inno stir on the floor and open her eyes. But they were blank and unseeing. ~Is that hesitation I sense in you, my angel?~ Jenova asked. ~You never hesitated to follow me before...has SHE taught you this weakness for their kind?~ He stared at Jenova. "You ask me to kill them here and now? ArenÕt they more helpful to you alive, Mother?" ~Mother?~ Sephiroth-half brushed, curious, at her. ~Why does he call you that? Who is he?~ Jenova-Sephiroth moved closer to Gabriel, and he lowered the sword. "DonÕt you recognize me, Mother? I thought you had; you called me your angel, after all." ~How dare this...human call you ŌMotherÕ?~ Sephiroth-half demanded. ~You canÕt allow him to speak this way to you.~ ~Shh, quiet,~ Jenova-half whispered. She addressed the child standing before her. ~How are you here? Answer me.~ Sephiroth-half rose in anger. ~DonÕt ignore me. This thing is a threat to us both.~ GabrielÕs hung his head. "I...donÕt know. I just...somehow I am." ~HeÕs lying,~ Sephiroth-half hissed. ~ItÕs a trick.~ "I donÕt know how IÕm here," Gabriel snapped. "Honestly, Mother. I donÕt. But I am here andŃ" ~Lying traitor!~ Sephiroth-half screamed. Jenova-Sephiroth moved one of its appendages, and attempted to swat Gabriel aside. Gabriel saw it coming, and leapt out of the way. He raised CloudÕs sword, and fought to maintain his balance; one elbow bent down and the other up, forming a ninety-degree angle, as he shifted his weight and balance into an opening stance at last. ~You raise your weapon against me?~ Jenova-half asked. ~You call me Mother, but raise arms against me?~ She paused. ~Tell me how you are here!~ ~He is a fake...a trick of our enemies,~ Sephiroth-half seethed. ~I would never take arms up against you. Let me kill him for you.~ "Why are you attacking me, Mother?" Gabriel asked. "Are you abandoning me? Is that part of the price that I was told IÕd have to pay?" ~Shut up!~ Sephiroth-half roared, and an appendage knocked Gabriel off his feet again. ~Shut up! Stop trying to trick us!~ Gabriel got up again, anger showing in his features. "You canÕt abandon me, Mother, this is for you. This is so you can finally win." ~SHUT UP!~ The appendage slashed at him, again and again, driving him back. Until it left him no choice. Gabriel tensed and leapt up, smoothly shifting the blade to point downward so it could best pierce through JenovaÕs leathery hide. The creature roared in pain as the blade slide all the way into the handle. ~How dare you turn on me?~ Jenova-half screamed. ~After all that I have done? HOW DARE YOU?~ ~A trick! See, I told you it was a trick!~ Sephiroth-half exclaimed. ~Now we kill him.~ "How dare you abandon me, Mother!" he yelled at Jenova. "Bolt 2!" The lightning spell slammed into her, and he rolled, grabbing the chain sickle. Inno rose to her feet and raised her hands. "Comet 2!" she cried, and twin meteorites slammed into Jenova, causing substantial damage. Gabriel leapt at the wounded abomination, swinging the chain and driving the sickle...but all he met was air. Jenova had pulled a vanishing trick. ~This is not the end,~ a savage hiss promised as a parting. ~You will pay for this.~ GabrielÕs eyes shone with cold unrestricted fury "I will not dance for anyone. I will not be anyoneÕs puppet, do you hear?" Inno slumped to the ground again, and he collected himself enough to kneel beside her and check her pulse. It was a little fast, but she was breathing and looked okay. Cloud was getting to his feet. "What happened?" he asked Gabriel. "We were attacked," Gabriel replied. "The creature used some sort of psychic attack on us." "But itÕs gone now so that means we beat it," Cloud remarked. Gabriel didnÕt say anything. ~*~ Jenova hissed and cursed to herself. Who was responsible for this atrocity against her? The Other? Had it not only claimed the girl as its meddling pawn, but also caused this...defiance of logic? How could he be there? How could he exist? It wasnÕt possible...but yet it had happened. ~ItÕs all right,~ Sephiroth-half whispered. ~I will kill this creature for you.~ Jenova-half quieted him. ~Not yet, my son, my angel. Not yet. First I must test what this creature claims. If it is the truth it speaks, it may be of use to us.~ ~It tried to harm us,~ Sephiroth-half protested. ~It took up arms against us, and attacked us.~ ~Would you not kill to protect yourself if you were endangered, my son?~ ~Of course, but...~ ~Shh,~ she soothed. ~We will observe the creature further. Perhaps...with a will as strong as yours it just might have been possible...~ ~What would, Mother?~ Jenova-half shushed him again. ~Do not worry, my son, it is not of your concern.~ As she plotted she felt Sephiroth-half roll and turn to brood. ~If I was in my own body I would have killed him,~ Sephiroth-half thought. He thought of the mako cocoon in the Scar. ~Soon enough I will be.~ ~*~ The rest of the sail to Costa De Sol was uneventful. The group laid low, and remained out of sight. If they were caught amongst the bodies when they reached the resort town, there would be many difficult questions to answer, and everyone was firmly against that. They reached Costa De Sol, and slipped off the ship, avoiding ShinRa employees. Once back into their street clothes, the group headed to a hotel to get a room. As Cloud negotiated rates and asked the innkeeper if he had seen a man in a black coat come through, Inno approached Gabriel. She couldnÕt remember what had happened after Sephiroth disappeared in the cargo bay, but Gabriel had been oddly distant towards everyone since the battle. "Gabriel?" she touched his arm, hesitantly. He didnÕt turn. "Beautiful, isnÕt it?" he asked softly, staring out the open front door of the hotel. Aeris, Tifa, Cait Sith and Nanaki had gone to stock up on supplies. TheyÕd mentioned meeting the others at the hotel later. Inno pulled at her sticky collar, and nodded. "You were right, the sun and the sand...and the blue water; itÕs really nice here. But it sure is hot!" "ItÕs not cold at all," he agreed. "And thereÕs no steel anywhere. ItÕs nothing like Midgar. I...I like it here, Inno." She blinked. "I think thatÕs the first time you havenÕt called me ŌkidÕ." Cloud came back over to them. "Got us four rooms. Figured Tifa and Aeris could take one, Red and IÕd take the other. I hope itÕs okay if Cait Sith stores himself in your room, Gabriel, but I figured Inno would want her own." He grinned. "You know, since sheÕs got that privacy issue." Inno swatted at him. "You!" Cloud ducked, and sombered. "The innkeeper says a man in a black coat was seen heading into the mountain roads. I think itÕs Sephiroth. We should leave tomorrow and follow his trail before he gets too far ahead." Gabriel nodded. "But what about resting here and enjoying the sun like you said?" Inno protested, poking the black-haired boy. Gabriel frowned, and then nodded. "Yes, resting. That hasnÕt been done before." "Sure it has," Cloud reminded, "we rested in Kalm, and Junon." "No," Inno shook her head, "a *real* rest, Cloud; one where we stop for just a day and have normal lives. CanÕt we do that?" "But Sephiroth gets further away the longer we wait." Gabriel shook his head. "It doesnÕt matter. Sephiroth always finds us." Cloud gave him an odd look. Gabriel ignored him and continued, "I think we all need to take a breather. How about we go into the bar and have a drink?" ~*~ "And a box of potions and ethers," Tifa told the shopkeeper. "Anything else you guys can think of?" Aeris frowned. "What about some antidotes, and other ailment treatments?" Tifa nodded. "Good idea. Can you pick some out for us?" Aeris nodded and began looking at the selves in the crammed store. Most of it was surfboard wax, suntan lotion, after bun gels, and other vacation-geared products. A few hypers, and a couple antidotes were sitting together on the end of the one shop. She picked them up, and walked back to where Tifa stood by the counter. The storekeeper was adding up their totals, smiling to himself. "Anything else you ladies would like?" "Throw in a couple tents, please," Tifa requested. "Do you have any restore materia? Or barrier?" "I donÕt sell materia here," the shopkeeper replied, "youÕd have to go to the materia shop next door. But he closed up today to go surfing. The waves were beautiful ladies. You should spend a few days here in gorgeous Costa De Sol and enjoy yourselves. The mountain roads are nowhere near as relaxing a vacation as our little town." "But theyÕre cheaper," Tifa muttered, looking at the total apprehensively. "HOW much for all that?" "2500 gil," the shopkeeper replied. "ThatÕs highway robbery!" The man shrugged. "Take it or leave it, kiddies. IÕm the only store in town with this selection." He frowned. "Hey, no pets in the store!" Aeris looked down to see Nanaki had come over to the counter, carrying something in his mouth. She bent down and took it from him. "WhatÕs this, Nanaki?" "ItÕs another tranquilizer. IÕve noticed that Inno appears to be quite tired," the beast replied, flicking his fire crystal-tipped tail. "I believe she might be having troubles sleeping, and if so, this tranquilizer might help. WeÕll want to be rested if we are to start on the mountain roads tomorrow." "How thoughtful," Aeris smiled, and placed the tranquilizer on the counter. "WeÕll take this tranquilizer as well, sir." The man added the price to the total, and then Tifa grudgingly paid his price. They left the store, and the shopkeeper rubbed his hands together. "Ah, tourists. I love Ōem...and their money." ~*~ Cait Sith was waiting outside. "I went to the weaponÕs shop and got that armour you asked for, Tifa." "Great, Cait," Tifa smiled. The fuzzy creature handed her the change, and she frowned. "Great, the weaponÕs shop had those special Costa De Sol prices as well by the look of things." She put the measly gil pieces that Cait had given her with the rest of their money. "LetÕs hope Cloud got a good deal on those hotel rooms." Aeris smiled. "Look on the bright side, Tifa, at least weÕre not sleeping behind crates tonight." ~*~ Cloud pounded on the bathroom door again. "Come on, man, what are you doing in there?!" There was no reply. Cloud sighed. HeÕd been waiting for ten minutes now to use the can. "There are other people that need to go!" he yelled at the door, and gave it a kick to emphasize his point. "Jeez, at this rate IÕll have to go find a bush outside..." He stopped. What a brilliant idea! Why hadnÕt he just done that ten minutes ago? Cloud left the hotel, and went around the back. After answering the call of nature, he went back around the front and ran into Aeris, Tifa, Cait Sith and Nanaki. "What were you doing back there, Cloud?" Aeris asked, spotting him. Cloud blinked. "I was um..." "Hey, Cloud," Tifa jumped in, "the man at the front desk said you have the room keys." Cloud gave her a look of relief. "Yeah, I do. Are you two okay to share a room?" He asked, handing the key over to Tifa. She nodded. "Great," he smiled. "Cait, youÕre bunking with Gabriel." "IÕll probably go and rest up," the AI replied. "Go to get some rest! Big day ahead of us tomorrow." Cloud nodded and handed a key to the small creature. "I also would like to go up to my room," Nanaki said. "Which room will I be sleeping in?" "WeÕll be sharing one. Did you want me to let you in?" Nanaki nodded. "Okay, IÕll take you up there and come back down. Inno and Gabriel are probably wondering if I got lost." ~*~ After taking his fellow travelers upstairs, and letting Nanaki into the room, Cloud returned downstairs to the lounge area to find Gabriel and Inno waiting. He started for the table, but the bartender called him over to the bar. "Drinks are ready," the man replied, pointing to three glasses. Cloud picked them up, and brought them back to the table. "Thanks, Cloud," Inno said as he handed her a drink. "But what took you so long to get back from the bathroom?" "We were starting to wonder if you fell in," Gabriel added, taking his drink. "I didnÕt," Cloud snapped, reddening. "But I think the guy in there did." They sipped in silence. Cloud traced circles on the table top with his fingertip, Inno stirred her drink, and Gabriel stared off into space, frowning and occasionally muttering softly to himself. "Whatcha thinking about?" Cloud asked him finally. Gabriel glared at him, and then turned his chair slightly to face away from the table. "Okay, somebody isnÕt in a talking mood tonight." Cloud shook his head. "YouÕre weird sometimes, Gabriel." No response. "Okay, what about you, Inno? WhatÕs on your mind?" "Sephiroth," she replied. Cloud nearly knocked over his drink, and Gabriel looked like heÕd been slapped. "I thought we werenÕt going to think about that," he protested. "ItÕs hard not to," Inno told him. "Yeah," Cloud nodded. "SÕfunny I never used to think about Sephiroth, and now itÕs like itÕs all I think about." "I keep seeing the bodies in the ShinRa building," Inno admitted. "All that blood..." Cloud nodded. "I wouldnÕt have figured Sephiroth to go anti-ShinRa." He chuckled. "WhatÕs so funny?" Gabriel asked. "Just wondering what Barret would do if Sephiroth had walked in and asked to join AVALANCE." Gabriel snorted, and burst into laughter. "Ha, ha, ha!" Both Cloud and Inno paled. "What?" "DonÕt do that," Cloud replied. "That laugh...creeps me out." "It wasnÕt that funny," Inno added. "SephirothÕs a murderer." Gabriel smirked. "But so are the members AVALANCHE." "ThatÕs...different," Cloud told him. "Barret and the others are fighting FOR something." "So is Sephiroth." "But those people...all the crew on the ship," Inno began, "why them? They didnÕt do anything to Sephiroth. He killed them for no reason." "HeÕs crazy," Cloud told her. "ThatÕs the reason." A moment passed in silence. Then Gabriel spoke up again. "ThatÕs not it, Cloud." The blond-haired young man turned and stared, open-mouthed, at Gabriel. "Huh?" "There is always a reason for the things one does," Gabriel continued, "the reasons arenÕt always obvious to the onlooker, but there are always reasons. What...Sephiroth is doing, is important to him. That reason makes him see what heÕs doing as necessary." He paused, and stared off into space for a moment, frowning, before continuing. "It wasnÕt an accident that Jenova was on the same boat as us. She knew we were coming after her and she was waiting for us. It was a set-up." The back of InnoÕs hands tingled. She...Jenova...that creature... "What do you mean Jenova was waiting for us?" Cloud demanded. "Sephiroth was waiting for us!" Gabriel paled slightly. "ThatÕs what I meant. Sephiroth and Jenova are working for the same goal." Cloud appeared to accept that for maybe two seconds, and then his expression darkened. "No, Gabriel, I donÕt think thatÕs what you meant at all. IÕm interested in how you knew that was Jenova." Gabriel smiled weakly. "I heard your story about Nibelheim the same as everyone else, Cloud, and Inno told me what she saw in the ShinRa building. What else could it have been?" But still...you recognized it *first*, Cloud thought, but he kept it to himself. Out loud he said, "Okay, but what I really want to know is...why you sounded like you were trying to *defend* Sephiroth just now." GabrielÕs eyes met CloudÕs evenly. "I was neither trying to defend nor condemn. I was simply trying to help you understand him." He turned away. "If you hope to defeat your enemy, understanding their weaknesses is a key point." "Understand him?" Cloud slammed both hands down on the table. "*You* are trying to help *me* understand Sephiroth?" The young man laughed bitterly. "Tell me, Gabriel, where did your enlightened view of that monster come from? Where you there in the basement of that mansion when he had that crazy gleam in his eyes? Where you there when he burned Nibelheim to the ground? Where you there when he stormed into the reactor?" Cloud pushed his chair back angrily. "No, you werenÕt. I was. So donÕt you try and tell me that you *understand* Sephiroth!" Cloud spat out the last words, and then turned and stomped up the stairs to his room. A few seconds later a door slammed shut. Gabriel blinked a few times. "It appears he hates me even more now." Inno touched his hand gently. "Gabriel, itÕs not your fault. Cloud is just really touchy about Sephiroth." He shook his head. "HeÕs still so angry...I shouldnÕt have tried to talk to him so soon. But I didnÕt want to wait any longer..." He sighed a little. "I need to get some air, Inno. Did you want to come?" She shook her head. "I think IÕll go up to bed, IÕm still not feeling great." He stood, and drummed his fingers on the chair. "You know, maybe youÕre right. Sleep might do me more good than anything else right now." He offered her a hand up. "Can I walk you to your room?" She nodded, and they left the bar, climbing the stairs together. Parting at the separate doors, Inno went into her own room, and lay down on the bed. Gabriel had certainly been acting kind towards her lately... Inno frowned, puzzled. Images flickered through her mind. *Flash* Gabriel holding CloudÕs sword in a strange opening stance... *Flash* Gabriel leaping up and driving the blade into Jenova with a look of such hatred in his green-blue eyes... *Flash* Gabriel quietly telling Cloud that Sephiroth had reasons for what he did... *Flash* Gabriel trying to explain away knowing it was Jenova... *Flash* Gabriel coldly telling Cloud he was neither defending nor condemning... "But I didnÕt tell him about Jenova," she whispered. "And Cloud never described it in his story." She rolled over in bed, and reached for the glass of water and the tranquilizer sheÕd set on the nightstand. SheÕd found it by her door with a note from Aeris saying Nanaki had picked it up for her. Inno took the tranquilizer and drank some of the water, then she settled under the covers. "I wonder why Gabriel would lie to Cloud like that. I think IÕll ask him in the morning." She closed her eyes, and prepared to sink into the tranquilizer-induced sleep. ~You can call me Gabriel, itÕs the only name I go by...~ Inno rolled over, and pushed the memory away. Why was she thinking of that right now? What did that have to do with anything? ~*~ "So when do I get to read your fortune?" a voice asked as Gabriel shut the door. He spun, and saw Cait Sith sitting in the corner of the room. "Oh, itÕs you," he glared at the stuffed cat. "You startled me, Cait." The AIÕs mog waddled forward. "Come on, let me read your fortune. I canÕt go dormant without reading my roomieÕs fortune. If bad things are going to happen to you, I want to be warned to be ready to come to your aid." Gabriel looked at the small cat. "I can take care of myself." "Just humor me and let me read your fortune!" Gabriel rolled his eyes. Cait Sith grinned. "You wonÕt be sorry, roomie." The mog shook back and forth and the small cat hit it once, and pulled out a piece of paper. "LetÕs see...hmm..." "WhatÕs it say?" " ŌYou see echoes of the past in the present.Õ" Cait Sith rubbed his chin. "Hmm, are you dragging around some emotional baggage, roomie?" "History repeats itself." Gabriel replied curtly, and then snorted. "Everyone here is dragging along their emotional baggage, Cait. ItÕs one of the problems of being human." Cait Sith stretched his arms, and yawned. "Well, maybe youÕll forget some of it here. That seems to be another problem with humans...you always forget something when youÕre travelling. Good night, roomie." The AI shut down. "Good night." Crossing the room, and opening the latch, the one that the others called Gabriel leaned out the window and smiled at the beauty of the night-view of Costa De Sol. "Windows are really amazing things," he mused to himself, and then smiled faintly. "Listen to me...I sound like IÕve never seen one before." He chuckled. "I messed up with Cloud, didnÕt I?" he asked the stars. "HeÕs suspicious of me now. IÕll have to watch him. TheyÕre a clever breed." He shook his head, and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. "ItÕs funny, it took Jenova playing with my mind for me to remember what I was here for." He paused, drumming his fingers on the sill. "I think I was afraid, in the beginning, to think about what happened before, to remember...those numerous times that it just ended the same. It frightened me, so I pushed it away. I pretended I was the role IÕd created and I forgot about everything else, but IÕm not afraid of who I am anymore, or my purpose." He put his hand in his chin. "Inno reminds me of you. I wonder which one of them dragged her into this; she wasnÕt involved before. Do you think this time with me here...and with her, this new wildcard, that we can set things right? Can we finally end this never-ending play?" He smiled suddenly, a cold expression. "All for HER, of course. I canÕt lose sight of the objective. ItÕs always been for HER, hasnÕt it?" The stars didnÕt answer him. He didnÕt blame them. They were probably as tired of hearing those questions as he was of asking them. ~*~ Across the hall, and down a door, Nanaki dozed in the corner while Cloud Strife paced. He didnÕt stand around and contemplate things usually, but this recent turn of events was really bothering him. Gabriel, of all people, claiming that he understood Sephiroth! Cloud snorted, "but still...he had a point, it was awful convenient for Sephiroth to be on the ship." ~Perhaps someone told Sephiroth that you were on the ship,~ a female voice whispered in his ear. Cloud stopped pacing. "Maybe someone told Sephiroth that weÕd be there." ~It was Gabriel,~ the voice told Cloud softly. ~HeÕs probably spying on you for Sephiroth. Why else would he try to defend him?~ "I bet it was Gabriel," Cloud nodded, smacking his fist into his palm. "HeÕs probably a spy for Sephiroth! Why else would he try to defend him?" ~ThereÕs only one way to deal with spies,~ the voice coaxed. ~Get rid of him.~ Cloud walked over and reached for his sword. "ThereÕs only one way to deal with spies." He opened the door, and went out into the hallway. ~*~ Jenova-half smiled to herself. ~ThatÕs right my little puppet. Dance for me.~ ~We are going to kill the creature, then?~ Sephiroth-half asked, pleased. ~Allow me to do it.~ ~We are going to test him,~ Jenova-half corrected. ~If it should end in his death...so be it.~ She turned back to her task. ~Dance, puppet,~ she instructed Cloud as he crossed the hallway to GabrielÕs room. ~Dance, because he refuses to.~ Cloud came up behind the young man, the pathetically human young man, Jenova reminded herself, and raised his sword. ~Now, letÕs see if you are who you claim to be...~ To be continued. End Notes: Oh my gods, itÕs FINALLY done! YES! Wow, did this fic ever give me trouble in writing it, but I guess itÕs my own fault for trying to do what I did with the plot. I am a very bad person for doing what I have done. I shall no doubt be tracked down by that mob and FINALLY be stoned to death. IÕd like to apologize for the lateness of the fic. It was done and ready to be sent off on the fifth, but my ever-so-wonderful ISP UNIserve [a tiny little division of ShinRa] decided that was the day they were going to have problems with my area server, and thus I could not connect. ["DonÕt worry, Miss, it should be fixed anytime now"... 24 hours later counts as Ōanytime nowÕ in ISP technicianÕs talk I guess] Okay, um, this fic really was going to be short, honest. I started writing it, and then I had to fix and clarify stuff [and four reworks later] it had swelled to damn near 50K. I attempted to do something with the plot, mainly involving the character of Gabriel because he seemed to be crying out for a purpose [besides that of catching Inno when she fainted]. Anyone who would like more information about the plotline or simply didnÕt get it and need to ask, please email me. ThereÕs nothing wrong with admitting you didnÕt catch something. I find myself overwhelmed by stuff on a regular basis. ^_^ Inspiration for the fic... Two exquisite FFVII fanfics: Madam HydraÕs "Conflicts of Interest" and PascelÕs "Legacy of an Angel", Sadly yes "GroundhogÕs Day" and that freaky Loop X-File where Mulder and Scully kept dying, "Name" by the Goo Goo Dolls [playing on the radio when I started this quest.], and my own sleep deprivation-crazed mind [sleep? Wazzat?]. I decided to continue the story right from the last line that Omi had written for flow purposes. I am in no way trying to discount what was written in part #7, as I worked very hard [and with lots help from BWA] to keep the story and characters consistent with what was revealed. Hugs once again to my ever-patient and wonderful prereaders: Jonatan Streith [Sephiroth Clone #229] and the Black Wyvern of Armorica. Without you guys and your comments, questions, suggestions, help and chuckles I would have surely gone nuts and burned a quiet little mountain town to the ground. Also, my apologies to Jake Wallace for not being able to make my own &^%$-ing text files. ^_^; Okay, IÕve ranted enough. If thereÕs something IÕve forgotten email me and IÕll reply. Now letÕs welcome the man FATED to write part #9, John Evans! [insert applause here] Lady Chaos [sophiaroth@hotmail.com] "No! I don't want to die this early in the game! Heck, I don't want to die at all!" -- Aeris Gainsborough, "FF7: The DirectorÕs Cut"