Chapter 7 : A New Road to Hope

"Who--goes--there--?" Yin and Yang growled at the approaching figure. They were the keeper of this underground world which led to the secret library and the now a dungeon where a very special guest was kept.

"It's me, Aerith." she answered as she emerged from the shadows, smiling at the beast. She knew it recognized her face, it didn't understand the human language yet, and it would attack those it did not know. Aerith dug out a cloth-covered piece of raw meat from the basket she was carrying and handed it to the beast which delightfully accepted and returned to its corner. She smiled and turned towards the locked door, taking a deep breath before she unlocked it.

She was not prepared for the sight, it was Sephiroth laying on the floor, bound and gagged by thick coils. His body scarred and bloodied and barely breathing. It was evident that Racoon let Yin and Yang have fun with their new captive.

Aerith rushed to his side and cut off the coils around his arms, legs, neck and mouth, and started treating his wounds. Suddenly, Sephiroth opened his eyes and darted his arms at her neck, threatening to snap it.

"What do you want from me?" He asked, tightening his grip.

"I've come--to help---" Aerith struggled to breathe. Sephiroth was almost impossibly strong at his weakened state, he was probably only acting.

"Ha! You--" Sephiroth stopped and turned her around examining her face but not losening his grip at her shoulders. "You're the Ancient that I---", he chuckled softly. "So, you're his pet too?" She nodded. "What do you want from me, make it quick!" He said roughly, tightening his grip once more and shoving her to the floor.

Aerith slowly sat up, rubbing her shoulders, "I need your help, I have to get back to the Ancient's City."

"What makes you think I'll help you, girl?" Sephiroth said coldly while rumaging through the basket. He found food, water and the dungeon keys. He snickered and glared at her.

"Because, he'll kill us all, even you. There's goind to be a public execution next week when he unveils his...beast..." Aerith shuddered at the mere mention of the beast. "Please, we have to get out of here."

Sephiroth opened the bottled water and chugged it down. "Death will come to us all...what's it to me? What makes you think that I won't try to run the earth down once I'm free?" Sephiroth wiped his mouth and continued to watch Aerith carefully. She was composed and she stared straight into his eyes.

"All I know is that I have to trust you or else all will be lost...again." She whispered and bowed her head. "I can't let the planet just die like this...think of all the people. We have to at least try---"

"I don't care about the people, Ancient. I don't even care about myself...in fact, why do you care? What's in it for you, trying to save the people who suck the earth's energy, killing the planet? Those who've shamelessly continued to conduct experiments on the creatures and continue to destroy the environment? Why save them who are also destroying your earth?" Sephiroth stood up and turned around, "They are no different from Racoon...or me."

Aerith clenched her fists and wiped the tears away, then she smiled and looked at Sephiroth's back. "Because, it's your earth too, Sephiroth...you're one of us."

"I am not one of you...I'm not even a human. My mother was a thing called JENOVA...I am a lab experiment." Sephiroth said in a low voice.

Aerith shook her head and smiled. "No, that's not true." She giggled. "You're mother's not JENOVA...I know, the planet told me. And you were born from a woman and a man."

Sephiroth faced her. "Do you know?" Has he been such a fool all this time? He placed his hands on Aerith's shoulder. "Tell me..."

She trembled a little, Sephiroth stared into her eyes deeply although there were no traces of emotions, she knew that he was confused right now. Confused about his identity. Somehow, it scared her that he was listening to her right now, something she didn't expect would happen. "Alright, your mother is a woman named Lucrecia...your father was...Hojo."

Sephiroth's eyes widened at her revelation, then ther narrowed and he began to tighten his grip on her shoulders. "You lie..." He hissed.

Aerith smiled at him. "No, I'm telling the truth...when I joined Lifestream, my mind was opened, I found my way into your past. It wasn't difficult, I was surprised at what you were doing there, then I found out that all Cloud and the others were fighting was your psyche." He loosened his grip on her and bowed his head. "I'm sorry to invade your mind like that...but you were too busy fighting Cloud, I decided to sneak in." She felt her face flush all of a sudden. "You're not that evil, like everyone thought you were."

Sephiroth, turned away and started laughing. "All this time...I was a puppet myself."

Moments passed in silence, Sephiroth stood with his head bowed down and in deep thought. Aerith, on her knees, waiting for him to reply.

"I don't have much time left, Racoon will be back..."Aerith said. "Well, I've said my piece..I hope you'll think about it." She stood up and headed for the door, leaving the basket behind.

"Wait, I'll help you." Sephiroth walked toward her and lay his hand on her shoulder, gently this time. "But don't think I care about what happens to the planet. After this, I'm going on my own journey. Alright, what's your plan?"

"Racoon has a machine that drains materia energy and transfers it to his body." She brought out a map of the mansion and a blueprint of the Materia Machine from her basket. "It's located here, near the secret library, I've only been ther twice, but I know that it's heavily guarded by his monsters. Outside and inside...plus there's Yin and Yang."

Sephiroth studied the map and the diagram. "Impressive. Hojo was an idiot to concentrate too much on his JENOVA theory, that he failed to see the endless possibilities of materia energy transfer. SOLDIER could have been more powerful. No wonder, his wounds healed so quickly." Sephiroth folded the papers and turned his attention to Aerith.

"Tonight, after dinner, I'll try to distract him and take off the brooch which connects him to his machine while you destroy it. But I need my white materia, so I can communicate to the planet and ask for her help." She smiled and lookes up at Sephiroth. "Can you do that? When this is over, I'll go out with you."

A date? Sephiroth looked at her smiling innocently at him. Was she teasing him?. "Alright, I'll meet you tonight, after dinner. Be ready."

Aerith burst into tears, she'd overcome her greatest obstacle, and that was facing Sephiroth once again. "Thank you." She said wrapping her arms around his waist. "I promise I'll help you find yourself." Wiping her tears, she quickly turned and headed for the door.

Sephiroth remained motionless for a while. Surprised at the young lady's actions, even though he hurt her in the past, she seems to have forgotten it already.

"Oh, I forgot." Aerith said, turning around, she picked up a staff that was wrapped in cloth and handed it to Sephiroth. "I think this will be useful." She smiled and left the room, pretending to lock the door after her.

Sephiroth unwrapped the object and recognized it's shining blade and ebny hilt, the masamune...nothing could stop him now...then again, he corrected himself, ...us.