Eternal Fall

Eternal Fall: part XXII: Fall


The raven-haired young man charged up the stairs from the bottom floor of the mansion.

“Sephiroth! Wait! Sephiroth!” Zack yelled out. He knew he had to catch him. The demoness in his mind would surely destroy him this time. Seph might do something he could never forgive himself for.

When Zack dashed through the mansion he realized that there was no one there. The soldiers had left.

Or fled….

“Sephiroth?! Answer me!” Zack called out in desperation. “Please… Seph please….”

The door seemed so far away. And yet, he didn’t really want to reach it. Something turned in Zack’s stomach as he flung the door open and ran outside.

“No….” Zack murmured when he saw the smoke rising from the village. “It’s just a coincidence, Zack” he said to himself as he ran to the center square. “Seph, your bro is on his way.”

**********

The air around him was thick, but warm and comfortable. It must have been a dream. It could be nothing else. He was floating…. So comfortable…. So much peace…. He kept his eyes closed, and found that he couldn’t tell where his limbs were. But he didn’t care. There was no pain here. No suffering. He couldn’t be harmed, and he could do no harm. He wasn’t different here. There were no expectations. There was only warmth.

Finally, he opened his eyes, or so he thought. At first it was all dark, and he felt as though he were in the fetal position, though he still couldn’t tell where his body ended and the warmth began. It was as if he could hear his own blood flowing like the ocean.

But something was wrong. Although he was looking, he wasn’t really seeing, was he? He was conscious, but he wasn’t really awake, was he? And although he felt no pain, he wasn’t really… free….

What was happening to him? Where was he? WHO was he? His name… what was it? How did he get here? Wasn’t he… supposed to do something? Something important. His name…. If only he could remember his name!

I know you, came a woman’s voice. My dear, sweet boy. I know you. We are now one, forever.

Who…? What…? So lost. So very lost.

You must kill them. Your destiny is to kill them! You know nothing else but how to kill. Do you remember?

Remember? No. I don’t remember. I can’t remember.

Your past, do you remember it? They did nothing but hurt you. You are special. A chosen being. One of the Cetra. The one who will lead this planet to the Promised Land. You must kill them. Your hate drives you.

Hate? I don’t know it. What is hate?

I will tell you everything.

Tell me. Tell me everything.

Open your mind to me… and listen….




STUPIDBOYYOU’LLNEVERBEWORTHANYTHING
HATEYOUYOU STUPIDFREAKWHATTHEHELLAREYOU
THEWUTAIWONTFALLTOTHELIKESOFYOU
KILLTHEFAGKILLHIMHANGHIMFROMATREE
UPHERFUCKINGASSKEEPGOINGHARDERSHELLBEDEADSOON
YOUREBELOWAVERAGEEVERYONEELSEISFARFARABOVEYOURLEVEL
IHATEYOUYOULOOKLIKEAGIRLYOULLNEVERGROWINTOANYTHING
LOOKHEARYOULITTLESHITGROWSOMEBALLS
SONOFHOJOIHAVEFELTHESEHANDSTAKEYOURLIFE
YOUKILLEDTHEMBURNEDTHEMTODEATH
NOONEWILLEVERLOVEYOUTHEWAYYOUARE
YOUNEVERHADACHOICEYOUWEREONLYMEANTTOKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL


“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

**********

“S…sir…” a young soldier hissed, his hand over a bloody gash across his chest.

Zack looked down and quickly rushed to the young man’s side.

“What happened?!”

“Gen…general…. Killing…” the soldier hissed again before becoming very still.

Zack placed the young man gently on the ground and ran towards the Square again. But suddenly, he was blown backwards by what seemed like a large ball of fire slamming into the building right next to him. Debris went flying everywhere, and the building caught fire as though it were made of paper. Zack groaned and got up quickly, a little dazed. But he soon gained his full awareness when he heard the screaming. He glanced toward the building to see the delicate forms of children writhing in the flames. Now blind, they ran this way and that, trying to find a way out of the walls of fire.

“No!” Zack yelled, dashing to their aid. But he was quickly grabbed by a pair of strong arms.

“They’re gone kid!” an older man yelled. “You go in there and you’re not coming back out!”

Zack turned to see a muscular man in a martial arts uniform of some type.

“You’re still sane right?!” the man asked him.

Zack only nodded dumbly, not sure what the man met.

“Then get going! Help me! Check that building over there! But whatever you do, don’t make stupid choices!”

Zack swallowed and ran to the building that the man had pointed to. It was partially on fire, but Zack didn’t care. He needed to save these people’s lives. Sephiroth could take care of himself, but these people needed him now. He charged into the house and looked around.

“ANYONE?!” Zack yelled over the flames. “HELLO?!” he called out again. He happened to glance towards the creaking wall. The pictures and photographs there made his heart sink. This house… was Cloud’s!

“CLOUD!!!! CLOUD ARE YOU HERE?! MRS. STRIFE?!”

Zack had to leave now, because the building was threatening to fall and the flames were growing too hot. He backed away slowly, his eyes finally looking towards the stairs. At the top, was a charred figure. Her face was contorted into a horrible, permanent scream. Zack shook his head and left the house.

Just as he left, another ball of fire when whizzing past him, hitting another building. The cause was all too clear now.

“Sephiroth…” Zack muttered. “What she’s doing to you now… it’s too horrible…. This time I’ll kill her!”

**********

“Oh no! No no no! No! Please no!” whimpered the young raven haired girl. “Why? Why? Why why why?!”

Cloud could only stand there listening to the girl’s crying. He wanted to reach out, put a hand on her shoulder, and tell her, “It’ll all be okay Tifa. None of this is real.” But he didn’t. She didn’t even know it was him. She passed him by, and he didn’t bother to take off his helmet and reveal himself. No. He still couldn’t do it. Even with all of the death around him, he couldn’t let the people of his town know how far he’d fallen and that he didn’t make it into SOLDIER. He couldn’t tell them because he was suppose to be strong enough to make it in so he could stop things like this from happening.

But then… no one was strong enough right now….

Cloud cringed when he heard the mad laughter in the distance. He couldn’t bring himself to look up at the once tall, proud form, now possessed by madness. The angelic aura of that once proud man had diminished, and now a strange, dark, demonic aura surrounded even his shimmering silver hair. Sephiroth was gone. The demon was in his place.

Cloud was frozen in fear. The injuries on his body were light, but the injuries on his heart were ripping him to shreds.

People who were once his neighbors were falling one by one. All by Sephiroth’s sword. Cloud’s eyes caught another tall familiar figure not far away. A very grief-stricken Zack was exiting Cloud’s own burning home. And as soon as he was out, Cloud knew exactly what he saw in there.

“Mother…” Cloud whispered. “No…. I never got to see you again. Never got to say goodbye. All because… because I’m a coward, mother.”

“SEPHIROTH!” Zack yelled in the distance as he ran towards his friend. But Cloud watched as villagers practically tackled him to the ground.

“He’s gone mad, kid!” a villager yelled. “What makes you think he won’t cut you down like everyone else?!”

“No! Please! Let me go, I can get through to him!” Zack yelled.

Cloud shook his head, still rooted to his position with pain and fear and dread.

**********

“Sephiroth….”

…

“Sephiroth….”

….

“Sephiroth, answer me.”

It hurts. It hurts so bad. I can’t take it. Why does it hurt?

“She has your body. This part of you, the real you, is asleep… and yet awake.”

I don’t understand.

“Oh Sephiroth, I’m so sorry. The taint of the planet has you. I’m so sorry.”

Is that… my name?

“Sephiroth, listen to me. You must remember your name if not anything else. Sephiroth, Sephiroth, Sephiroth! You must remember it! Don’t let her have that. You must keep some part of yourself or she’ll take all of you!”

Seph… Sephiroth. My name is Sephiroth….

“Yes. And look. Look at me. Can you see me?”

No….

“Try! Feel me! Feel for me like you feel through materia! Remember materia? Use your power!”

A forest….

“Yes, very good! We’re in a forest! You created this from your memories! Good!”

I put something in this forest….

“Yes, I see it. Something red… it’s floating. Materia?”

You can see it?

“I can see you! Look, you’ve created a body for yourself. You’re remembering what you looked like. You’re still a little fuzzy though… but you’re coming together. Good. Good…. That’s it. Long silver hair. Green eyes. Good…. Tall, strong. Sephiroth. That’s you.”

Me. Sephiroth.

“Now find your voice. Can you see me now? Who am I?”

…

“Come on, Sephiroth! You can do this!”

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t remember me?”

“No. I am sorry.”

“Take a good look at me.”

“…Gast.”

“What?”

“Professor Gast. Why… why did you have to die…? I’m all alone.”

“No, Sephiroth! Don’t! You’re falling too far into your own consciousness!”

KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL

“Must… kill…them all!”

“No Sephiroth! Don’t listen to her! I heard it too… she’s filling your head with lies! Don’t let her do that to you! Sephiroth please! What does she mean to do to you?! Tell me!”

“All humans… they all… they all must…”

“Sephiroth! What about Zack?! What about Cloud?! You love them! I know you do! Listen! Listen and you can hear them! Zack is calling to you!”

“…”

“Sephiroth?!”

“…Aeris….”

“You remember me!”

“Holy.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll remember my name… if you remember just that. Holy.”

“What do you mean? Sephiroth? NO! Don’t push me out! Sephiroth wait! I’ll be okay! DON’T SEND ME AWAY! I don’t care what she does to me! SEPHIROTH STOP!!!!”

“Goodbye, Aeris. Don’t tread into my tainted mind again. I won’t let her drag you down with me. Take Holy far away from here. Only you can do this!”

“Sephiroth….”

“She’s coming again, and she’s stronger than ever. She’s killing all that’s left, which is why I’m forcing you out. Goodbye.”

“SEPHIR--………………………”

**********

Zack and Cloud stood there, in different areas, but both within view of the most frightening scene of all. Sephiroth cut down the last of the villagers who happened to be in his path. Women, old men, children, all of them. The Masamune severed limbs cleanly and left bodies twitching on the ground. Some were fortunate enough to die right away. Some were not….

But something hit Zack about the situation. Something Zack knew because he had known Sephiroth longer than anyone.

The Masamune, thought Zack. It’s staying with him. It’s the sword used to protect rather than kill, and only stays with the pure of heart. It’s because Sephiroth, our Sephiroth, is still alive in there.

Zack watched as Sephiroth rose into the air and disappeared in the distance. He was headed for the reactor. If that’s where he was going, Zack would follow. The journey would be dangerous, and in the darkness and smoke, nearly impossible. But Zack would go and save him.

And Cloud, he watched as Zack ran off after his best friend. The young blonde wished that he could be like Zack more than ever at this moment. Strong, determined, powerful, self-sacrificing… a true soldier.

But something finally shook Cloud, and he was no longer rooted by fear. And he wasn’t the only one. Tifa’s father, someone who knew the quickest and fastest routes to the reactor, took off after Sephiroth as well. And as a result, Tifa followed not far behind. Cloud wanted to shoot himself for not being able to go before them. But now, he followed. He gave his burning village a last look, avoiding the sight of his home which was now ashes along with his mother, and he ran as fast as he could towards the reactor.

This would end tonight.

**********

The footsteps of the young general echoed through the reactor area, although they didn’t have the same grace that they did before. Now they were heavy, desperate, and even furious.

“Sephiroth!” a man yelled behind him. “You’ll pay! You’ll pay for what you did to us! You fucking ShinRa really are all alike! I trusted you with my daughter’s life!”

Sephiroth turned slowly and stared at the man. “Human scum… don’t get in my way.”

“Try to stop me!” yelled the man as he charged.

The slice was quick and neat, and it would have been hard for human eyes to see how quickly the Masamune glided through the air and back into its sheath. The man fell, dead before he hit the floor. And Sephiroth had turned to walk away even before the man was dead.

The young general ignored the screams of anguish that came not long after. He didn’t even turn around to see Tifa clutching her father’s lifeless body.

“Sephiroth… why?! WHY?! Sephiroth… ShinRa… I hate it. I HATE IT! I HATE IT ALL!”

Sephiroth kept walking. Her shattered innocence meant nothing to him. He walked all the way to his destination, deep within the reactor. And he walked very slowly. It didn’t matter how fast he got there. Time would cease to matter soon.

“WAIT!”

Another interruption. This time Sephiroth turned to see a young man, almost as tall as himself. The young man had spiky raven hair and bluish-purple eyes.

“Sephiroth,” the young man said, tears in his eyes. “It’s too much…. We talked about it, but… but I always brushed you off. I never thought I’d have to try this,” the young man said, tears falling down his face as he lifted his massive sword and got into a fighting position. “Sephiroth… I still won’t do as you say. I’ll never kill you. You know that, and I know you can hear me. But…” he charged forward “…It’ll hurt enough to slow you down! Forgive me!!!!”

Sephiroth’s eyes widened as he drew the Masamune. This one was incredible! Fast, strong, and determined to stop him… this young man would be a problem.

“Get out of my way, human!” Sephiroth roared. “I will let you live a bit longer if you cease your useless attack!”

“Hey! Fuck you, you psychopathic bitch!” Zack yelled back. “Give him back!”

Zack’s buster sword cut through the air with an impossible speed for something so large and heavy. But Zack didn’t show any signs of strain or fatigue. He sliced away with a beautiful rhythm, but he was aiming for very specific points. Sephiroth’s arms and legs where the targets. Nothing vital. But the silver-haired general was blocking everything without effort. His glowing green eyes picked up everything.

Zack suddenly jumped back and grinned. “You drove him mad and are using him like a puppet. You know everything he knows, and you know his skills and talents. But you lack the heart and grace to use them as he does! Which means… sooner or later you’re going to fail, Jenova.”

“My name is Sephiroth, human scum. And now, you’re really angering me.”

Zack charged in again, but this time he missed entirely. In fact, Sephiroth wasn’t in his line of sight. Zack whirled around just in time to block an attack from behind him with his sword.

“You still doubt me, human?”

“The name is Zack! Remember it!”

And they battled, and battled. It went on and on. The blades flew dangerously through the air. Both men had little room to move in this small space, but Zack was too determined to stop. He would disable Sephiroth and save him, even if he had to hurt him in ways he had never imagined. Suddenly, the Masamune slashed Zack’s arm, and then his side.

Zack winced, but held his ground. Sephiroth only laughed. Zack’s blood started to spill out onto the floor, but still, he stood. Sephiroth smirked and moved to attack again. Until…

“Zack!” Sephiroth yelled suddenly. “Run! Run away!!!!”

“Seph!”

Gone. The Masamune rose again and slashed Zack’s leg. This time the raven-haired young man lost his balance, and the buster sword came crashing to the floor along with him, making the whole floor shake. Zack tried to get up, but only managed to get into a kneeling position before the young general was too close to him.

“Just run! Leave me!” Sephiroth said as the sword rose again. His voice was labored, as if he was forcing it through his own mouth. “RUN.”

Zack looked up from his kneeling position into the glowing green eyes to see that frightening madness flicker for an instant. And then, the Masamune slammed down vertically, piercing Zack’s shoulder and then stabbing through the metal floor. Zack, in his kneeling position, was forced to stare at Sephiroth’s boot. He couldn’t move while the sword still impaled him.

“Not even a scream?” Sephiroth asked. “Now you listen to me, Zack. I am fully myself. More than I have ever been. Those cries uttered from my throat where simply lost echoes of the fool I once was. You, Cloud, Aeris, all of you… I hate you all.” He twisted the blade, and this time Zack did scream. “Nothing of the old me is left. I know the truth now. I know all about your kind.”

“I don’t believe you!!!! She’s twisting you, Seph!!!!”

Sephiroth pulled the blade out, and to his surprise Zack had the strength to jump out of his reach. Sephiroth shrugged and started up the stairs that would lead him to the heart of the reactor. Zack, he assumed, would bleed to death eventually.

Zack watched him turn away with a heavy heart. But he knew what he had to do. With one last effort, and the last of his strength, he stood and picked up his buster sword once more. He ran forward towards his best friend, his sword raised high in the air. Sephiroth immediately sensed the threat and turned, drawing the Masamune. But to his surprise, Zack didn’t drop his buster sword to meet the Masamune before it hit him. Instead, the raven-haired young man left himself wide open, and the Masamune sliced across his ribcage. Once more, the buster sword came crashing to the ground as the force of Sephiroth’s swing sent Zack flying backwards. The raven-haired young man slammed onto one of the mako containment pods.

Suddenly, the Masamune fell to the ground.

“Zack….”

“Nnnn…ugh…” Zack coughed up blood and groaned softly.

“Why…?!” Sephiroth said. His eyes were dead, as if he were walking in his sleep with his eyes open. But his labored voice still came.

“Y… You…” Zack started, coughing up more blood. “You… came back. Y…You always… al… always come… wh… when… when someone… you… love… is… is in… trouble…. Always….”

“Zack….”

“Al..w…a……y……s………”

“Zack…?!”

“……………………………...”

“Zack!!!! ZACK!!!!” Sephiroth grabbed his head, his long fingers clutching his hair. “ZAAAACK!!!!”

The pain was enough to bring him back, but it was also enough for her to keep hold of him. It was a double edge sword as she took hold of him once more and twisted him, but when she did… even after he picked up the Masamune and spit on Zack’s lifeless body, the true him was still screaming on the inside. The new entity that stood in his place couldn’t understand the tears that fell down his own face.

STOP! STOP IT! GIVE ME BACK MY BODY! I CAN STILL SAVE HIM!!! ZACK PLEASE!!!! YOU CAN’T DIE! NOT LIKE EVERYONE I CARE ABOUT! ZACK!!!!

And on and on he screamed in his own mind where no one else could hear. He screamed until Jenova’s influence was so strong that he no longer knew a part of him was still screaming.

**********

Tifa ran in just as Zack’s body hit the mako pod. In her rage she ran in and charged the young general, not caring whether she lived or died.

“Useless,” Sephiroth smirked as he cut through the air. The blade didn’t even hit her. But the pure shock he could produce in one swing did, and it still cut into her body. Tifa fell to the bottom of the stairs, and Sephiroth opened the chamber door to the heart of the reactor and entered.

He didn’t hear the final footsteps that would enter that place.

Cloud, quickly placed Tifa in a more comfortable position. He couldn’t stop for her now. He had to move forward.

And then, he saw Zack.

“No… not you, Zack.”

Zack’s eyes were closed, but he muttered something through the blood in his mouth.

In Zack’s mind, his words were clear. Don’t kill, Sephiroth. We can get him back! Don’t kill him, Cloud! You must not hurt him, Cloud! Get Sephiroth back! Don‘t kill Sephiroth! But the blood and pain stole his words from him.

“Speak to me, Zack! What did you just say? Keep talking!”

“K….… kill……(cough)…. Sephiroth…. G…Get him…(cough)…. You must…………. Kill S…Sephiroth….”

Cloud stared down at his friend for a moment. He gently smoothed back the raven hair and nodded to Zack before picking up Zack’s buster sword, which took all of his strength.

“I understand,” Cloud swallowed. Zack stopped moving altogether, and Cloud moved up the stairs and into the reactor quickly.

But it seemed to take an eternity to get there. All the while, he thought of the sea of corruption that surrounded Sephiroth, and the angel’s heart inside of the silver-haired young man. Those emerald eyes, the long silver hair that brightened his presence, his strength, his voice… his touch. Combined with Cloud’s pain of losing his home, his mother, and letting everyone down, the young blonde could hardly think. His hatred and rage had to be directed somewhere, but every time he remembered his burning village he saw the object of his love standing in the flames with that wicked, terrible smile.

**********

Sephiroth approached his target: A disgusting looking deformed figure that had tried to pass as a human and failed terribly. The blue and pink areas of throbbing flesh were nauseating to behold, and the eyes held a permanent look of rage and horror.

“Mother… let’s take the planet back together,” Sephiroth murmured as he approached. “I have an idea. Let us go to the Promised Land.”

Cloud’s approached from behind, and his stomach turned as Sephiroth ripped the head off of the mass of flesh. But the creature was still alive, and Sephiroth was still under her influence. Cloud swallowed and blinked away his tears. He didn’t say a word. He wouldn’t. If Sephiroth knew he was coming, Cloud would be killed. There would be no fair battle here, because Cloud could never beat the young general.

So it tore away at Cloud’s heart when he ran up with Zack’s sword… and stabbed Sephiroth through the back.

“Forgive me… please… forgive me, Sephiroth!” Cloud cried. “I’m so confused…. Zack said… and you said… to do everything I could to stop you from feeling the guilt you felt before. Sephiroth, I care too much to let you live like this!”

The young general faltered, but clung to the head in his arms. Cloud didn’t put enough force behind the blow. It hurt him too much. His lover didn’t even reach for his weapon or turn around to meet his gaze. Sephiroth just stood there for a moment, holding the bloody head.

Cloud didn’t know what came over him, but he felt himself stepping backwards, and then walking backwards slowly. Finally, he was running out of the room. His fear had gripped him again, and the pain of watching Sephiroth’s madness was unbearable.

“Mom… my home… Tifa… Zack… my town… give it back,” Cloud said softly between sobs. “I want it back!”

Cloud felt as though he couldn’t breath, and he stumbled onto the bridge above the dangerous, glowing flow of mako. The green river nearly blinded him. He just wanted to throw himself in and end it all. End all the pain. But heavy footsteps brought him back to his senses. Sephiroth was approaching… and Cloud was in his way.

Sephiroth walked towards Cloud, still holding Jenova’s head. Cloud cringed when he saw the trail of blood behind the silver-haired young man. Sephiroth’s wound was practically gushing bright red blood, but the man was too blinded by Jenova’s influence to notice his injuries. He was growing very weak, but he kept moving towards the young blonde.

“Move,” Sephiroth said coldly.

“Never,” Cloud said, standing up straight. Only then did he realize that he had left Zack’s sword behind.

Sephiroth drew his sword and thrust it forward at Cloud. But he wavered as he did it, the loss of blood showing its affects. When Sephiroth regained himself, he was looking into Cloud’s sad eyes. The young blonde had caught the blade under his arm and was unharmed.

“Sephiroth…” Cloud whispered. “Zack and I never meant for it to be like this. We were going to take you away. You must forgive us.”

“Impossible,” Sephiroth groaned as he tried to pull the sword away. But he was losing every ounce of strength.

“Sephiroth…” Cloud said softly, tears streaming down his face. “…Be free.”

Cloud, with a burst of adrenaline, shifted his weight on the sword. Sephiroth’s eyes widened in surprise as he was thrown off balance, and his eyes caught Cloud’s crying form before he realized that he was going to fall. And time seemed to slow down for them both, as it had so many times in the past….

Jenova’s head fell from Sephiroth’s arms.
Cloud’s agonized gaze met Sephiroth’s glowing jade eyes.
…And then… the young blonde saw the virtue in those green eyes once more.

Cloud’s eyes widened as Sephiroth mouthed the young blonde’s name… right before time seemed to resume it’s flow.

“NOOOOOO!!!!” Cloud screamed as he lunged forward to grab Sephiroth’s hand.

But… his angel was beyond reach. Sephiroth fell to the river of mako below, his hair flowing around him like silver wings, and he finally breathed his last. Cloud fell to his knees and wept, unable to bare being the witness of the end of Sephiroth’s condemned life… the end of what seemed like an angel’s eternal fall.

**********
**********
**********
**********

"Seriously, Seph, you've seen a birthday cake before, right?" Zack asked, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Birthday cake?"

"Blow out the candles and make a wish! Try to blow them all out at once," Aeris giggled.

"I like the fire," Sephiroth blinked.

"You'll get wax on the beautiful cake I baked!" Aeris said, crossing her arms.

Sephiroth smiled softly and blew out the candles.

"Did you make a wish?" Zack asked. "Don't tell us what it is."

"I made one," he nodded.

~I wish to be freed from this life. But more than anything, I want to stay friends with all of you… forever.~


~*~*~*THE END*~*~*~

(There will be one more chapter for some aftermath, notes, answers to questions, etc. Yes, there will be a sequel. It’s too sad an ending to leave it like this.)