Back on Earth By: Fragraham Lincon Part Four Believe in Angels People once believed that a crow carries the soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes a terrible sadness is carried with that soul. And sometimes just sometimes the crow can bring the soul back to set the wrong things right. Because sometimes love is stronger than death. Aeris Perches on a rooftop and looks out on Upper Midgar. Rain pours down. Aeris leaps down and advances toward the tower. Inside Heiddiger is hitting on one of the Female employees. He spots Aeris. Heiddiger: Hey you...You're...The woman in black. Aeris: I am the Angel of death. You're already about to be unemployed. Get out of my way and you can at least remain alive. Heiddiger: (Reaches for his gun) I'm not afraid of you. Aeris Pulls out a gun and empties it into Heiddiger. Aeris looks to the female employee. Aeris: If you know what's good for you, you won't scream. Hmmph. He seems to have confused courage and stupidity. Aeris enters an elevator. She looks up at the floor numbers. First they are advancing quickly. Around floor thirty it stops. Elaina (over loudspeaker): You will pay for killing Tseng. I'm going to avenge him. The elevaor drops quickly. Aeris looks around for a way out. After some quick consideration she dives out the window. Aeris clings to the side of the building as the elevator plumits to the ground floor. Aeris pulls herself up and begins climbing the shaft. She eventualy reaches the 60th floor. When she comes out she finds the floor empty except for Elaina. Elaina: You took away the one I love. I know he was working up the courage to ask me out. but now that can never happen. I want revenge. Aeris: Listen to me. Tseng had to pay for his crimes, but you have done nothing. I don't want to fight you. Don't make me kill you too. Elaina: You won't intimidate me. You see before he died Tseng told me your weakness. Without the crow you're nothing. Elaina Takes out a pair of short swords. Aeris Drops her coat and compliment of guns. Aeris: I'm not going to fight you. I have no fight with you. I can understand what you feel, but I'm not your enemy. Elaina Strikes at the crow. She knicks it's leg. Aeris in response falls over. Elaina: How does it feel to find out you're not imortal? Aeris: I already knew that. I found out the hard way. (Gets up) I won't pretend to have been in the right. We had something personal to settle. Please don't make me do this. Elaina: Go ahead and beg. It won't save you. (Charges at Aeris stabbing her on the short sword.) Aeris overpowers Elaina and takes the sword away. Aeris(dark): fine if that's the way you want it. Aeris Stabs Elaina. Elaina's eyes fill with tears. Elaina: Tseng...I'm sorry. I failed. Tears stream from Elaina's eyes as they close for the last time. Aeris: Why? What's the difference between what I'm doing and what Sephiroth did? How many more must die before this is done? Aeris continues up the stairs. The She stops at Hojo's lab. Aeris: Are you Hojo? Hojo: Yes, I am. why do you ask. Aeris: Is it true that you are the only one who can build a mako reactor? Hojo: Obviosly. Do you honestly think that any of these primatives could even begin to comprehend the science of mako. Aeris: That's all I needed to know. I have a message for you. Avalanche says hello. Aeris shoves Hojo into a glass chamber, and turns a dial. She ties a grenade to the door so that the pin will come out if it is opened. Aeris: If I'm correct the radiation will kill you in about ten minutes. If you try to get out the grenade will go off. It's your decision. Just how do you want to die? Aeris watches from the next room. Hojo after twelve minutes dies from intense radiation. Aeris: Hmm. Such a coward. Didn't even know the grenade was a dud. Aeris continues up the Shinra building. (In president Shinra's office.) Shinra: She's here! Oh, God what do I do? A battered and beaten palmer staggers in the door. Aeris walks in behind him. Aeris: You die. Can you hear that? (A bell tolls) Aeris: It tolls for thee. (On the Balcony. Rufus is preparing to escape by hellicopter. Aeris Walks into view and rolls president Shinra's head to Rufus's feet.) Aeris: The saying goes that the sins of the father are also the sins of the son. The hellicopter pilot panicks and begins to fly away. Rufus Brings his shotgun to bear, and fires at Aeris. Aeris continues to advance. Rufus fires agin. Aeris Still advances. Rufus fires a third round. Aeris: And I always thought third time's a charm. I wonder who came up with that. Well when you see him you can tell him he was wrong. Aeris picks up Rufus by the throught, and hurls him into the escaping hellicopter's blades. She looks up to the roof where Sephiroth is waiting. She climbs up to face him. Sephiroth: This is where it all ends. There is no more Shinra. Only two servants of the reaper. Aeris: Sephiroth. I know you regret your actions. I know your soul is burdened. I'm not here to convey justice. This is a mission of revenge. No greater good is served in my actions. I wish I could forgive you but I can't. Not yet. Sephiroth: I see I still have a pennance to pay. But you know I will defend myself to the absolute best of my abillities. And I will kill you if the opportunity should arrise. Sephiroth charges. Aeris steps out of the way however his true intent is revealed as he strikes down the crow. Aeris falls to her knees. The crow lies wounded on the ground. Sephiroth raises his sword and delivers the killing blow to the once fearful crow. Aeris lies motionles on the ground. Sephiroth walks to the edge of the roof. Sephiroth: Is there no one who can stop me? God help us all. Cloud's voice: Aeris....Get up. You've come too far to give up now. Aeris: I can't. The crow is gone. I have no more power. I've failed. Cloud's voice: That's not true. Can you feel that? The feeling inside you. That is your power. Be strong Aeris. Aeris struggles to her feet. Her face no longer has the strange markings. In the cold rain her breath is visible. Her hands are cold but she can feel the cold. Aeris puts her hand to her chest where she can feel her heart beating once again. She reaches up to the sky and finds her hand on the hilt of Cloud's massive sword. Aeris: SEPHIROTH!!! Sephiroth: Impossible, the crow is dead! Aeris: That's true. The crow is gone. My power is gone. But I remain. My soul remains. My love and my hate remain. All my love and all my hate. That is my power. Aeris rushes Sephiroth. Sephiroth Retaliates with a horrizontal stroke intended for a clean decapitation, but Aeris ducks under and runs the wide blade of Clouds sword into Sephiroth. Aeris: Lord our father forgive us our sins... Sephiroth falls back and off the Shinra building. He hits the plate. his sword falling behind him lands and empales him through the heart. Sephiroth(with his dying breath): Amen. (In the morning at the gates of Midgar) Jessie: So you're leaving Midgar? Aeris: There's nothing left for me here. It seems I've been given a second chance. I want to do the things I've dreamed about. Are you coming? You could start a new life. Jessie: No my life is here. My friends are here. I'm a medic remember. People will need me. I think I can do more good here. Perhaps some day I will leave. Mabey we'll meet again. But not today. Aeris: Well, good bye, and good luck. Jessie: You too, and thanks for everything. Aeris walks from the gates of Midgar. Sunlight shines into her eyes, and a cool breeze blows through her hair. Aeris takes a deep breath and enjoys the sweet smell of the clean air. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [END] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's the end. What did you think? Okay calm down. Take the gun away from your head. 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