I cross the suspension bridge leading to North Corel; Inno in front of me so I can make sure she doesn't fall off. Soon enough, we're at the gate to North Corel. I can already smell the poverty and despair coming from the town. Reminds me of Midgar's slums. Doesn't affect me, though. At least not as much as it did when I first entered Midgard. Or should I say when Gabriel first entered Midgar. I don't know anymore. The question I ignored at Costa del Sol has slowly come back to haunt my mind on the way here. No, I didn't ignore it. I just simply never had time to ask it. Many things happened at Costa del Sol; none of them did anything to improve the situation. In fact, it probably made it worse. Now the question stands before me. A question I must answer, if I am to be any good to help them. To save her. To defeat Jenova. A question that can either strengthen me or destroy me worse that Meteor ever could. A question that I though was answered, but now I believe that answer is incomplete. Who am I? At first, I though the answer was simple. I am Sephiroth who was cursed to relive the mistake that killed a woman that did not deserve to die and almost destroyed humanity itself. Sephiroth who grew to love that woman and tried break the curse, falling each time to Jenova's siren song. Sephiroth, who was now inside a different body; his latest attempt to save her and break the curse. Simple, right? That is not the case, because of the other me. The one who lived on this planet as a human. The one who fought for the only home he knew and in turn was betrayed by its government. The one I believed was me until Jenova decided to mess my with mind in that freighter. Gabriel. Or rather, the person that decided to call himself "Gabriel". ************************************************************************ -F i n a l F a n t a s y- -F A T E D- Chapter 11: Birth of a New Legacy written by Oscar "Rift" Labrador concept by Samantha Rodgers ************************************************************************ I tried to ignore the feeling but many things have been out of character for me. Caring for Inno is one of those things. At first, I though I was just keeping up the charade for their sake. But that morning when I held Inno in my arms, consoling her; I realized that I do care. And not just for Inno, for the others too. I want to spare them as much pain as possible. Before, the only person I cared about other than myself was her. Any act of kindness toward anyone was just for her sake. And there's this feeling I have now. It was never there before. The feeling was indescribable. I wonder; could this feeling be... "Gabriel? Are you all right?" Oops. Must have zoned out for a little while there. I've made her worry again. "I'm fine, kid. The ambiance is just getting to me." "What happened here?" "Same as anywhere. ShinRa happened here. Probably because that reactor we saw back there." "ShinRa..." I can tell that this affects her. She's similar to you in that way. Can't stand to see others suffer. Damn ShinRa. Everywhere you go, you leave your mark of decay and destruction on that place. Feh. I sound like Barret. "Gabriel, look!" I shift my vision to see some punks beating on Barret. What's he doing here? And for that matter, where are Jesse and Biggs? Where's Marlene? And why isn't he fighting back? Inno and I start rushing to the scene. The punks spot us and decide that he's not worth the trouble. They quickly run off before we can catch up to them. Inno quickly goes to Barret's side; trying to help him and searching for injuries. "Are you all right, Barret?" "Dusn't matter. All dis is my fault. Everything dat happin ta this place is becuz of me." The degradation of this city is Barret's fault? Hmmm... I wonder what happened to Barret in North Corel? Better shift the conversation to something else. I'll figure this out latter. "What are you doing here, anyway? I though you were gonna stay in Midgar." "Juz wasn't safe ther anymore. We had ta git out. Came here ta try an git a Land Rover. After dat, we're goin' ta Cosmo Canyon." Cosmo Canyon. Good choice, Barrette. Neither Jenova or ShinRa would dare go there. Jenova won't go there because of all the protective spirits that are there. ShinRa just doesn't believe it exist. "Where are the others?" "Waitin' fo me at tha station ta Gold Saucer." "Then we shouldn't keep them waiting." ************************************************************************ We arrive a the station with no further problems. We all share the usual pleasantries that are said when you don't see someone for a long time. Biggs was glad to see that we were still okay. Jesse was happy to see us, but she looked at me a little differently than at Inno. Odd. Marlene was all over Inno. I barely got a "Hello" from her. The guy in the booth said that the others left word that we were going to arrive. It seems that Cait Sith used to work here. Figures. Well, at least me and Inno won't have to pay to get into Gold Saucer. Too bad Barret and the others can't say the same. We all board the lift and were on our way. Barret and Biggs took to one side of the lift. Probably to discuss preparations for the trip. Inno, Jesse and Marlene are all huddled up in a corner. I can see Jesse and Marlene's eyes light up as Inno tell them about Costa del Sol. Good. I take a seat in the corner, lay back and close my eyes. Not to rest, but to focus on my thoughts. I just close my eyes, so everybody else will think I'm asleep. Now that I'm assured privacy at least for a little while, I focus on my thoughts. At first, nothing different. I try harder. I'm stating to see something. A woman and her child arriving in a foreign land. I am the child. I hear my name. Abel. Abel Woodshaft. My mother is Diana; my father is Orin. I was five when father was killed. Father was a great weaponsmith, one with a special talent. He could bind mako energy with his weapons giving them special properties. A talent handed from father to son. ShinRa wanted that power for itself, but my father refused to work for them. He even went as far as hiding his creations all around the world. He told mother to take me and run before ShinRa came. Sadly, she did what she knew had to do and left. And now we stood in front of what had to be our new home. Wutai. The only country currently not in ShinRa's control. A lot of people were also fleeing to Wutai to hide from the ShinRa. Only those with skills that could help the country were allowed to take refuge, the others were simply turned away. Mother was an expert archer, so we were allowed shelter. Mother's style was really unique, since she used ki to make her arrows do all sorts of unique things. They really wanted her to teach the other archers all of her secrets. Back than Wutai needed as much talent as possible to keep ShinRa at bay. While mother taught classes, I was put to learn and train in their culture and art. After that, mother trained me in her archery style. I loved training with her. To the teachers, I was just an unworthy foreign student. To mother, I was her child. And training was more like spending quality time to me. Years go by and now I'm 11. Most of the refugees that came to Wutai left choosing pride over necessity. All who left tried to find the ever-elusive Cosmo Canyon, most failed. ShinRa was now trying to get into Wutai, desperate to get its secrets. I was now head of my class. My peers now respected me for my ability and strength. Most of my classmates now admired me, some despised me for surpassing them and the rest you could say were my friends that liked me for who I was. However, the government wasn't pleased with my mother's teachings. No matter how much her students trained, they could never learn her style. They could use some of the easier techniques, but never past that. Only person that broke that barrier. They accused her of knowing this when she came to Wutai, tricking them into giving her shelter. Never went further than an accusation though. Instead they used her in the battlefield, sending her on covert missions. Don't get to see her that much anymore. We try to make the most of what time we do have. Time goes by again, this time I'm 18. Two years ago my mother died in a botched mission. I lose mother to the same people I lost father to. ShinRa. More of my friends die to them. ShinRa. I'm sick of them taking the people I love from me. I go join the army. At first, they just give me simple missions. Things like training Enemy Skill materia or a simple recon mission. But soon enough they got me doing more important missions. I now use chain sickle as my main weapon. Using the bow and arrow just doesn't feel right anymore. I'm 22 now, and the people of Wutai love me. All of my 4 years have been devoted to winning this war, and I've made progress. My victories are now numerous, but I only care about the one that will make them give up on Wutai. We're very far from getting a decisive victory, but it doesn't stop them from celebrating the victories we do get. Susano-o they started calling me and I was always required to make a public appearance so they could keep the moral of the people up. I even got to have dinner with the leader of Wutai. Nice guy, really. A bit too obsessive when it comes to materia though. Saw his daughter too. She was 13 at the time, I think. Cute thing too. Also, I now lead an army of 200 men. All of the friends I still have, now fight with me among those ranks. However this all changed the day I took what would turn out to be my final assignment. I remember it well, perhaps too well. We were going to ambush their main forces when they tried to move in at night. Destroy the great majorities of their troops in one swift blow, finally get the upper hand in this war. We hid in the forest waiting for them to arrive. Time passed, no sign of them. I wondered what was taking so long. Then I smell it. Burnt wood. I look back and see the fire. Lights suddenly flood the forest. I look back to the front to see a group of people wearing black suits sporting a variety of weapons. Mostly guns, the automatic type. The rest ranged from flame-throwers to melee weapons to bear fists. The ones being ambushed now are us. I waited to see if they wanted our surrender, but none was issued. They hadn't started firing, so I knew they were pros. Fire was getting closer. We were pinned. I gave the only order I could live with. I'd jump out, try to take out some of the lights and they would use the distraction to escape. They protest. I jump out, ending the discussion. Their gunfire is immediately on me. I dance away from the bullets. Manage to take out one of the lights. Suddenly, the shooting stops. I look around and see a raven-haired man come towards me. His long hair blowing in the wind. The glint in his eye tells me everything. One-on- one. He reaches back pulling out two short swords. We size each other up for awhile. I charge towards him ready to make my first strike. Suddenly, I hear a single gun shot. My charge slows down to a walk until I come to a dead stop. I collapse to my knees. My breathing becomes labored. My body becomes too heavy for me to stay up. I look down and see my blood drip down from body. Suddenly, the firing resumes. Turn to see my troops charging the guns in some foolish attempt to save. They're being mowed down; not one of them is getting through. It's a massacre, and can't do anything about it. Rage well up in my body giving me the strength to stand again. And as soon as a stood, he slashed me across the chest sending me back down to the floor. The last thing I see is the smug look on his face. Then all is dark. I awake to see that I'm submerged in some liquid, my arms and legs restrained and something is binding my eyes not letting me see. I curse my situation, wishing I was dead. How did they know? That mission was classified. Only people that knew were me and... Couldn't be? Were we set up by Kisangiri? It is possible that we were set up so Wutai could make a deal with the ShinRa? Suddenly I hear voices... "He's coming along nicely. Soon we'll be able to go into the programming stage." "Good." What's going on? What are they talking about? Are they talking about me? "We've got a good specimen this time. His body is adapting nicely to the cells we got from Sephiroth" "Hojo would be dying of envy, if he knew that I accomplished what he couldn't" My God, they *are* talking about me. Not only that they did something to my body. "If he performs like he should in the testing phase, the project will be accredited. You might even get his job." "And you would be at my side as my assistant. The young should replace the old, don't you think?" "Quite right. By the way, why did you leave the scar?" "It was the price I had to pay to Tseng, so he'd keep quiet about this. Besides, I think it suits Gabriel well." "Gabriel?" "Yes, that will be his name from now on. The angel of death, Gabriel. Come let us begin the preparations for the programming. We must make sure that none of his natural talent is lost when we place the directives on him." "Yes, Doctor." So this is how I end up. A puppet for ShinRa. They kill my loved ones, soil my home and now take my freedom. Powerless to stop it. Damn. Damn it all. Wait, what happening? I'm not alone in my thoughts. Someone else is here. In my mind. I am Sephiroth, I've found the perfect body for me to save her and destroy Jenova. Then the curse can be broken and we will both be free. Wait. This body has a consciousness and it's resisting. I don't care who you are. My name is Able, this is my body in spite of the changes it might have. As far as I'm concerned, you're trespassing. Trespassing? What an amusing person you are. It does not matter to me what you may believe. I will have this body. I need it to save her. Her? Who is her? My loved one. I've failed too many times in doing so. Would you wish me the same fate as yours? How do you know about that. Were sharing a mind. I can see all of your memories and you can see all of mine. ... I see all too clearly. You've been abused more than anyone I know. At least I know that I had parent that loved me, but you... Yes, I know. So will you help me? Help you how? This is still my body. Merge with me. What? I need change to save her. For me to change, I need to know humanity. You have what I need. What happens when we merge? We become a whole new being with all our memories and skills combined. I don't know. It's the only way. ...alright...It's not like I have anyone waiting for me. We both feel the tug. We start to loose ourselves in joining until we truly are one being. Two sets of memories. One mind. One soul. I now know who I am. I am both Sephiroth and Abel. I am Gabriel. The rest of the story is me waking up in some field in my birthday suit. When I woke up, I though I was Abel and had dreamed the whole thing. I wandered the world for 3 years in my new profession, treasure hunter. My adventures were more to get my mind off that massacre. Anything to forget. I avoided ever going back to Wutai. Don't know if it was because I was too ashamed of losing or because I didn't want to know the truth. Then I went to Midgar to sell that sword and shield set. Buyer never showed. On the way out, I saw an old church decided to explore. The rest is history. The question is now answered. The riddle is solved. "Gabriel, wake up!" The ride up is now over. I open my eyes and yawn a little for show. "Already? Man, things like this put me to sleep." Inno, Jesse and Marlene giggle a little. Barret started shaking his head. Biggs looked confused as hell. I just scratch my head and smile back. "Well, let's get going. The other must be waiting for us at the hotel. Let's not keep them waiting" "Oh I can't wait to get in. I hope we can stay for a little while." "Wish I could say you could, kid. But Cloud will probably want to leave as soon as he gets information on Sephiroth." ************************************************************************ We walk towards the entrance stopping only for Barret paying for the others. We arrive at the lobby, when I notice an odd strange expression on Barret's face. Suddenly, he turns to Jesse. "Jesse, you an' Biggs take Marlene ta 'da hotel. I got sumthin' ta do." "Where are you going?" "Nun of yo business!" And with that said, he left jumping into one of the chutes. He's up to something. He didn't just come for a land rover. I'll deal with that later. "Well, anybody else leaving?" "I have to find the owner to talk to him about buying a land rover. I wanna get some other stuff we need too." "Don't take long, Biggs." He glances at Jesse a little, and then leaves. Guess he has a thing for her. "Okay, let's head for the hotel." We all go through the chute that leads to the hotel. When we come out we end up in front of what looks like a haunted house. I take a look at the girls and see them all a bit disturbed. Marlene was now hugging Jesse's lap. My guess is they built it like this to attract more tourists. I look at where we came from and see that it's a grave with the word 'Station' on it. "Don't worry girls this is all special effects. Don't let it get to you." By the looks of them, they didn't pay attention to a word I said. Oh, well. We climb the stairs, eager to settle into the hotel. I hope Cloud is in a mood to listen, cause I'm going to explain who I really am to him. It's the only way I think I can get him to trust me. Just hope their aren't any more surprises to interrupt us. ************************************************************************ Author Notes: I hate Windows. Just as I put the final touches on this. Windows crashes on me messing up this file. I had to rewrite most of the fic again. Uhg. What a pain. Anyway, here is Chapter 11. I'm sure the 10 people reading Fated are pleased :p . I really wanted to devote a chapter to Gabriel since he was almost written off as a Seph clone. I also devoted a little of the chapter to Wutai. Hope nobody mind the assumptions I made on it. I really would like to hear what everybody though of this chapter since I'm not so sure myself if it was good.