Final Fantasy Main Story RP Arc IX

Aerith felt a touch, it seemed like someone else was on the other side.

Maybe it was trying to get in. Aerith thought.

Aerith again tried to touch the person on the other side, only to feel the burning pain once more. To her horror, she started to feel the corruption, the person or thing on the other side was in fact was ruining the lifestream.

"I have to stop this." Aerith said to no one but herself.

Wrapping the lifestream around her, Aerith tried to use it as a shield to stop the burning that she felt, not noticing the way the lifestream around was starting to fall in corruption. Until it was too late, Aerith had tried to use it as a shield so that it would buy her time to think, only for her shield to become her tomb.

Nero didn't mind Rosso's anger: he knew Rosso well -- her anger was her strength. He could sense the shield, watching as Rosso's vorpal hate began to corrupt it and twist it, becoming a tomb for the dead being. Nero's energies became a claw and he pulled the tomb out of the pool. His red, cat-like eyes widened in a maddened grin when he pulled the corrupted shield out of the mako pool.

"Cetra," he whispered in pure disbelief. Rosso! We cannot fail! This being, she... she is Ancient! She is Cetra! If we corrupt her, the tide of this battle will turn! Keep your corruption rampant, Rosso! The way he spoke into her mind was maddened and obsessed.

"Cetra..." He repeated, watching Rosso's corruption as he held the barrier over the pool with his 'claw'.

((I got Cloud's permission for it, but if you aren't okay with this, Zack, lemme know and I can change it!))


When she felt the shield turn into her tomb, Aerith knew now nothing could be done. It wasn't her fault, but somehow it still felt like it was. She should have known, she should have done more to stop this, why couldn't she have realized this had been going on.

It should have made sense. Zack had left, Sephiroth had disappeared, along with his remnants, there were many more that had disappeared from the lifestream.

Now Aerith felt her "tomb" being separated from the living force that kept the planet going. It was very painful, it felt as if she was being ripped apart. Maybe they were corrupting her, Aerith didn't know. Not yet. If she could --

Aerith left herself go, to try to talk to the only people Aerith knew could help her, help her save the lifestream, the planet...Gaia.

There was the smell of flowers that she loved to plant when she lived on earth. Her back pressed against the strong back of Cloud.

"Cloud, I'm so sorry....I....Please help..." Aerith pleaded before she was pulled to the other man that she thought could help her and Cloud as well.

Zack.

Again there was the smell of flowers that she loved to plant when she lived on earth. Her back pressed against the strong back of Zack.

Touching Zack's arm, Aerith knew that she time was in fact running out. She could only try again.

"Zack, I'm so sorry....Please Help...." Aerith asked before she was pulled completely away from the lifestream.

Nero grinned as the tomb was floating over the mako resevoir. His claw pulled it closer and he held it over the ground that he and Rosso were standing on. "Keep going, Rosso. Almost there!"

"Denzel?" He frowned as the other one was lost in a nightmare. He frowned and wondered how to help him without startling him or shocking him awake, when his vision went white. He closed his eyes, inhaling the scent as his psyche was in another dimension. He was happy. Aerith had finally spoken to him since the whole thing began! He knew she was going to help him with Denzel, and maybe Zack and maybe even Kadaj and...

"Cloud, I'm so sorry....I....Please help..."

The white faded and Cloud's eyes returned to the dark room he was in. His eyes widened and his jaw tensed. He looked at the boy sleeping and he got up. Denzel... Aerith... why? Why!? He instantly ran out of the room, unable to look left or right. Aerith was in danger, what could he do!? He saw Angeal and Zack and he tried to speak but all that came out was a jumble of fear: "Aerith is in danger! Denzel's having a nightmare! Your fanclub has crazy fangirls, they think you're with Sephiroth! Dark Nation's a good dog!"

It was obvious: Cloud had snapped.

"It is alright Zack," Angeal assured as he moved over to them, Zsck would always be Zack, he thought fondly, although at the younger's sudden alertness, he frowned, standing back with Sephiroth as Zack spoke with Cloud, just watching and waiting for the moment.

Rosso kept pouring everything into her corruption, she could feel it happening, slowly, a Cetra...that would make things very interesting, she thought, only briefly trying keeping her focus fully on her power, leaving Nero to the other work.

"Yes sir," Kunsel nodded and turned in an instant before he snapped his phone open. It was time to see how much he could suck out of old contacts. Information was a profitable but risky business but with the right people it was made even better, it was just finding what exactly they wanted. The first number was dialed in an instant as Kunsel headed down the hallway.

"Hey buddy, you still in Kalm?"

He waited for an answer and then flashed a grin. "Great, get me the latest gossip. I'll make it worth your while."

The call took several minutes before he moved on to the next until he had finished the list. Rumors were good, but he needed things verified. The next call was to the innkeeper in Kalm. There was always a way to whittle information out of anyone given the right deal.

Yazoo found the plug to the machine that was incessantly beeping at him and yanked it out. "Much better." He muttered with sigh and pulled off the hospital gown he was wearing, gathering his clothes from the closet nearby.

I do not fail!

Yazoo blinked at that random thought. Of course I don't, I will find my brothers, I must. He pulled on his pants and was reaching for his shirt when another thought hit him.

..she is Ancient! She is Cetra!

He frowned, that voice wasn't his.. and neither was the voice one now he thought about it. He pulled on his shirt and jacket quickly, checking to see if the shard his Mother gave him was still there and quickly finished getting dressed. I have to find Loz, together we can get Kadaj back.. we must. He thought as he grabbed his weapons, opening the door to the hallway and slipping outside silently.

'Think, Aerith.' Aerith thought to herself as the lifestream that surrounded her started to quickly corrupting even though she was trying to use the lifestream to protect herself.

"It's almost like I'm feeding it." Aerith said out loud.

Then it hit her...she was in fact feeding it. In her panic and trying to protect herself, she had use the lifestream.

The only thing she could feel now was....shame.

Ashamed that she was being so selfish, she did the only thing she could think to do. Dispel the lifestream that she had been using. Releasing it, Aeirth allowed the corrupted lifestream take over her.

Cloud put his hands to his face. Aerith. Church. Dog biting. Sephiroth talking. He sighed and tried to calm himself like Zack instructed. "Denzel's, Denzel's having a nightmare. You take the dog," he finally said, shaking his head. "Denzel's still recovering. He might get motion sickness from Fenrir, but he's been on it before. Flying with you grabbing him will probably make him puke." He glanced over to Angeal and Sephiroth, not even being able to react to their presence.

He opened the door and neared the two. "Puppy, you're going with Zack. Zack and I need to get to the church, Denzel has to come with. This won't be comfortable, and I'm sorry Denz." He reached down, taking the boy bridal style in hopes that he would wake up. "I'm sorry." He whispered before looking at the large dog, "Let's go."

The barrier/tomb suddenly disappeared and Nero's claw grabbed the woman, squeezing on her. With Rosso's funneling corruption, Nero lightly placed the flower girl inbetween the two Tsivets. His free hand suddenly summoned his gun, just in case something went awry.

Well done, my dear. We will turn the tide of this battle, and take this world as ours. As it should be.

A claw reached out and grabbed Aerith by her neck, squeezing as if it was testing her will to fight.....to live.

Aerith struggled a little, as she was pulled out of the mako pool. The man or thing with the claw gently put her down in between him and a red-haired woman, the man summoned a gun, as he looked at her.

'There must be something I can do.' Aerith thought silently.

But if she was being honest with herself, she knew that wasn't the case....the man was probably a really good marksman and not knowing your enemies abilities, was in fact the most dangerous thing that would happen in a battle.

"What do you want from me?" Aerith asked in a voice that was both gentle and firm.

One thing she did know, she was not going to let these people walk over her, if they needed help, she would help them to the best of her ability. But if they wish to harm her, she would put up a fight. Trying to stand seemed to be the chore on hand, however, Aerith wasn't sure if it was in fact that she had been in the lifestream for too long or what the problem was...but she was feeling faint.

He stared at the woman, ruby serpentine eyes glistening over the Cetra, devouring the very thought of an Ancient as their subordinate. But he frowned, not liking something. She was... defiant. 'A little fight is never a bad thing? Or did Rosso fail in her corruption? No, a Cetra would not be made a tool so easily if she was truly a Cetra. In time, she will become loyal to our cause. For now, she is no sister of mi--'

His thoughts ended as a spark seemed to twirl around in the room. He almost hissed at it. It felt warm, and loving. Gaia. He tried shooting at it several times, but the spark of light was quick and nimble. Nero knew the bullets of a material world could never even harm something so... divine and spiritual.


He chuckled.

Looking back to Aerith he kneeled down, not lowering his guard. "I would like many things from you, but first thing first... you seem to be tired." He opened his hand and let a corrupted Cure spell seep into her corrupted body, healing and strengthening her.

"I'm sorry Denzel," he muttered when he noticed the other one awakening from his slumber. "I know you're in a lot of pain, but we have to move. I'm sorry." He whispered, being too focused to notice anything as he hurried his way out of the inn.