Final Fantasy VII, The Sequel
BOOK THREE - Jenova
CHAPTER 1: AN OLD FRIEND
The funeral for Reeve Crefen took place shortly thereafter. Unlike the weddings, only his friends-Cloud Strife, Tifa Strife, Barret Wallace, Red XIII, Cid Highwind, Shera Highwind, Yuffie Kisiragi, and Vincent Valentine-attended. Reeve had sacrificed his life to stop a clone army and his destructive brother.
Cirrus Raimes slept on the couch while Veronica Morris unpacked the groceries. "Cirrus, help me out with these!" she yelled.
"I don't wanna," he grumbled, now half-awake.
"How typical for someone your age."
"No. I've had an exhausting week. I was arrested and rescued, I find out I'm a Cetra, and I interacted with the Planet, getting blinded in the process. I finally got my vision back, just in time to attend a wedding, where I danced and ate and...right now, I need some rest."
"Okay! Sorry I asked."
"No," he said, standing up and stretching. "I'll help."
Cirrus walked over to Veronica and helped her put away the groceries. As they did, Cloud and the rest returned. Tifa and a few others were wiping away tears as they headed upstairs to turn in for the night. Vincent remained.
"How was it?" Cirrus asked the stoic Vincent.
"It was gravely depressing to see such a great friend pass away," he replied.
"I wish I had known him better..." Cirrus stared oddly at Vincent.
"Why the puzzled look?"
"I don't know. You're always so...so cold, as if you don't care about anything. I mean, you're not even sad right now. Don't you ever smile or anything?"
"I did, at Tifa and Cloud's wedding, after I found out about my past and corrected it. But that frame of mind has passed...and now I'm neither sad nor happy. I guess that's just how I am, sorry."
"It's okay." Cirrus and Veronica finished unpacking the groceries while Vincent walked upstairs. Afterwards, they went to their rooms and fell asleep.
"So, Cirrus, Veronica, what are you going to do now?" Tifa asked them.
"Well, I don't want to go back to Junon. Journalism doesn't really interest me anymore. I want to stay here, where everything is calm. And join you against whatever you're fighting," Cirrus explained.
"Well, the battle seems to be over. And you'll always be considered one of the team Cirrus."
"Thanks."
"And you, Veronica?"
"Well, now that Crefen is dead, I have no one to work for. I guess I'll work with you guys," she said.
"That's great. Why do you seem upset?"
"Well, I'm worried. What if Crefen made a clone of himself?"
"That would be terrible! But I doubt that's possible. Reeve was unexpected, and the cloning facility was destroyed too. I don't think we should have to worry about it." Tifa stood up. "Well, I have to go and open Tifa's Haven. See you all later!" Tifa left.
"Hello stranger, can I get you anything?" Tifa asked.
"Give me the hardest thing you have," the stranger replied.
"Alright, that would be the Zangan special."
"What did you just say?!"
"I said it would be the Zangan special. I named it after my former martial arts master."
"Tifa?"
Tifa stared at the stranger. He seemed so familiar..."Zangan! It's so good to see you again!" She leaned over the counter and hugged him.
"Likewise Tifa. I heard you stopped Sephiroth. I'm not really up to date on anything, I travel a lot, looking for more students to pass my teachings onto."
Cirrus walked into the bar and took a seat next to Zangan.
"Hello Cirrus. This is Zangan," she introduced. "Zangan, this is Cirrus Raimes."
"Zangan Bartholon. Nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand. Cirrus shook it.
"Well Zangan," Tifa began, "I've married Cloud Strife. I've met a lot of other people too. Cirrus is just one of them. You'll have to meet them all. We've just stopped another threat, too...So, you say you're looking for someone to pass your teachings onto? Why not teach Cirrus?"
"Huh?" Cirrus responded. "Teach me?"
"Yeah, it'd give you something to do."
"Hmm...I guess so. When would we start?"
"Well," Zangan started, "tomorrow probably. I'll have to find a place to sleep-"
"You can sleep at my house!" Tifa interrupted.
"All right then. After I some things prepared, we can begin the training."
CHAPTER 2: TRAINING
"Sir! I've found something!" Maxus yelled from his digging spot. Darrian, the lead excavator in Bone Village, ran over to Maxus.
"What is it?" he inquired.
"It's a jumbled mass of wires...it looks like the tip of an alien module to me."
"Hmm. Unearth some more dirt, and then call me when you got the whole thing unburied. Whatever it is, I have a bad feeling about it."
Cirrus kicked the side of the training doll repeatedly, performing spin kicks, high kicks, low kicks, double kicks, and several other types of kicks. With one final spin kick, he split the side of the doll apart, spilling out the contained sand.
"Very good, impressive," Zangan complimented. "Now, begin the calming techniques I showed you and do some stretches. I'll be right back." Zangan walked over to Tifa, standing across the training field under a tall oak tree.
"Hey Zangan, how is the training going?" she asked, combing her fingers through her long brown hair above her left ear.
"Pretty good. He has great potential...he's enthusiastic about the whole thing," he explained to her.
"That's great. Hey, when you two are done, come on over to my house. I never got to formally introduce you to my friends."
"All right." Zangan walked over to Cirrus as Tifa left for the house.
"Okay Cirrus. Now, I want you to watch me closely as I demonstrate this next move to you."
Cirrus observed Zangan as he side-punched the training doll once in the chest with his right arm, then twice with his left arm, followed by an uppercut to the chin.
Zangan stepped back. "Now you try."
Cirrus stepped up to the training doll and mimicked the exact demonstration.
"Great," Zangan commented. "Try it again and again, adding more punches in random areas each time. I'm going to go inside the house to meet your friends. Practice some, get refreshed, and resume the training. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Cirrus continued at the training doll as Zangan walked across the field, into the street, and up into Tifa's house. As he entered, Tifa and her friends sat down at the long brown table. Zangan took a seat at the far end of the table and sat down. Tifa stood up and pointed to each of her friends: Cloud, her husband, Barret, Marlene, Yuffie, Red XIII, and Vincent Valentine. Cid and Shera had left for their honeymoon at Mideel.
"What a great group of people," he said after they were introduced. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to carry on with Cirrus' training." He stood up, said goodbye, and left.
As Cirrus punched the training doll, he thought back to his childhood...
--"What's going on mommy?" he asked as she placed him inside a hidden compartment in the wall.
"Nothing honey," she reassured him. "Now, stay in there and be quiet. Okay?"
"Okay."
Cirrus closed the compartment door from the inside and listened carefully to the voices outside.
"What do you want with us?" his mother asked.
"We want you for your powers. You're an Ancient, as you probably already know, as is your husband. We believe you can take us to the 'Promised Land'. Although you won't at first, we'll find some way to persuade you..."
"We won't. And there's no way you can make us..."
Cirrus opened the small door a little, to see what was going on. He saw three men dressed up in similar blue business suits. One had long black hair, another was bald and wore sunglasses, and the other had long, blood red hair and was carrying a nightstick. His mother and father argued with the three men, who mentioned themselves as the Turks.
Two of the men knocked his parents unconscious, picked them up, and dragged their limp bodies into their vehicle.
Cirrus hid in the compartment for hours, to afraid to come out in case the three men returned. Suddenly the front door opened, and a beautiful young woman stepped into the house. Cirrus recognized her, but neither moved nor spoke out to her. She spotted him in the compartment and ran over to him, opening the door and pulling him out.
"Oh Cirrus!" she said, hugging him comfortingly. "Those men came and took your parents?"
He nodded.
"Oh no. Well, everything's going to be all right. Your Aunt Ifalna is here..."-
Cirrus punched the training doll in anger. He wanted revenge against the Turks. They took his parents and probably killed them.
Cirrus furiously punched the training doll, punching harder and harder as his hatred swelled. He felt his face turn red with rage. Zangan walked up behind him.
"Cirrus! What's wrong!?" he asked.
"They...took my parents...killed them...I couldn't do anything..."
"Listen. Never concede to evil. When you concede to evil, even in a small way, you feed it, and it grows stronger. DO NOT give into anger."
Cirrus practiced the calming techniques and took a few deep breaths to settle his anger.
"Good. I think that's enough training for today. Go inside and get some rest, I'll be right behind you," Zangan told him.
Cirrus took off his training gloves, gave them to Zangan, and walked into Kalm. After packing the training supplies into his bag, Zangan followed.
CHAPTER 3: THE DISCOVERY
Maxus brushed away more dirt from the strange module. Half of it had already been uncovered. It was a strange alien module...surrounded by a black glassy material and had rusted a greenish color from the years it had been buried. Maxus couldn't see inside the module, and couldn't understand the strange symbols lining the green metal. Not even Darrian knew.
"So sir, what are we going to do?" he asked Darrian, both of them now in his office.
"Nothing tonight," he replied. "Tomorrow, we'll have to excavate some more, and try to find someone who understands that foreign language on the module."
"Alright sir. Good night then."
"Good night." Maxus turned around and left Darrian's office, heading home for the night.
Cirrus, Tifa, and Zangan all sat at the long brown table between the kitchen and the living room. The others had already gone to sleep, but the three wanted to talk to each other.
After hearing Cirrus' story, Tifa asked him, "So, Ifalna was your aunt. That would mean Aeris is your cousin...what ever happened to you after Ifalna came? How did she know to find you there?"
"Well," Cirrus explained, "this is all I know, what she told me...Ifalna barely escaped with the newborn Aeris from Professor Hojo. They ran off to Gongaga and hid there for a long time. I was born when Aeris was about 7 years old.
"My parents had invited Ifalna for dinner. I was about 7 at the time. Aeris would have been 14. Anyway, then the Turks came and took my parent. When Ifalna arrived, she comforted me and put me in the care of some of her friends who lived in Lower Junon. The she left, returning home to Gongaga.
"I never really got to meet Aeris. And that's all I really know. I wonder what happened after that."
"I think I know," Tifa added. "Afterwards, Hojo had found her again, and she ran off to Midgar with Aeris, where, before long, she died. Aeris was put into the hands of Elmyra. And now I see how Aeris met her ex-boyfriend, Zack.
"Zack and Cloud, both SOLDIERS, were experimented on in the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim. They escaped and traveled to Midgar, but Zack was shot to death on a cliff above the city. Cloud was with him but his life had been spared. He went into Midgar, where I found him at the train station. I introduced him to Barret, and Cloud agreed to help Barret with the bombing of Mako Reactors, and Cloud had accidentally met Aeris after the second bombing of a reactor...the rest of the story is very long...I'll have to tell you in the morning. It's getting late. Let's get some sleep."
Tifa, Zangan, and Cirrus stood up simultaneously, turned off all the lights, and went to their rooms to get some sleep.
The rising sun cast long shadows across every object as it ascended into the sky.
"Oh no," Maxus muttered, staring bewildered at the broken alien module. A large section of glass was missing, and what ever was inside was gone. Darrian came up beside him and gazed at the scene.
"What's happened!?" he asked Maxus, also astonished at what he was looking at.
"I have no idea sir. It was like this when I got here," he explained, stepping closer to the module. A black liquid substance lined the inside and outside of the module. Maxus touched it, smearing the black ooze across his fingers with his thumb.
"What is it?" Darrian asked as Maxus stepped back up beside him.
"I don't know sir, but I think we'll need someone to translate those symbols. Those may just answer our questions."
Darrian returned to his office. As Maxus walked over to some excavation tools, he tried to wipe the black slime onto his pants, but it wouldn't rub off. "What the-?" he stared at the black fluid as it seeped into his skin. His fingers darkened, followed by his entire hand and then onto his forearm. It traveled up his upper arm and onto his shoulder.
"AHHH!!" he cried out. "Someone help m--!!" his voice was cut off as it reached his throat, collapsing his voice box and windpipe. He struggled to breathe and yell, but couldn't. The blackness traveled across his other arm and down through the rest of his body. Within seconds, he collapsed to the ground, dead.
CHAPTER 4: JENOVA
Cirrus performed push-ups, sit-ups, and flips as Cloud, seated on the ground next to him under the oak tree, told him of his adventures. First, he told Cirrus everything, about Midgar: who he met, what he did there (even the dress-up part, the most embarrassing part), and especially Aeris. Cloud tried to stick to the major events as he told Cirrus about Kalm, Junon, Costa del Sol, Corel, Gold Saucer, Cosmo Canyon, Nibelheim, Rocket Town, Temple of the Ancients, Bone Village, City of the Ancients, the Great Glacier, and how he had lost his memory and how Tifa had helped it back in Mideel in the Lifestream. In addition, he told Cirrus about the search for the Huge Materia and the fights against the Weapons, about the Sister Ray being fired and going back into Midgar to stop Hojo. Then he told Cirrus about each of friends' pasts. To sum up the story, he told him about the North Crater and then what had happened up until Cirrus was rescued in the prison.
It was mid-afternoon by the time he was finished. Cirrus was practicing some stretch routines when Cloud stopped explaining the story.
"......WOW. You've been through a lot! And you've been all over the world, fought all kinds of monsters, and used all kinds of magic. I wish I could have been with you."
"My friends and I went through heaven and hell it seems like," Cloud commented. "It was so depressing to all of us when Sephiroth killed Aeris. But we fought for the life of the Planet for Aeris. We all miss her gravely. We wish she could come back, but I think it's better she died...a martyr: her life for the Planet's. Can you talk to her Cirrus?"
"Not unless she talks to me. But she'll soon return to the Lifestream."
Cloud stood up and leaned against the tree with his right arm, holding his head with the other.
"What's wrong?" Cirrus asked him, bending down to see Cloud's face. His eyes were closed and his face was tensed as if in pain.
"Nothing," Cloud lied. He crossed both arms to his stomach and fell to his knees, then clutching his head with both hands. Suddenly, his eyes opened wide and he cried out, "Jenova!"
Darrian stared down at the blackened body of Maxus. He checked Maxus's pulse and found nothing.
"What the-what happened?" one of his assistants asked, running up next to him.
"I don't know. But he touched some of that black substance. Listen, I'll tell the others not to touch it or they'll end up like Maxus. We've got to get a doctor here at once. There's a good one at Mideel, we'll have to see if that guy is available. Do me a favor," he requested. "Go to Kalm and ask for a transport to Mideel. And hurry up."
"Yes sir." The assistant ran across the excavation field and into the harbor. After boarding onto a boat, he disembarked for Kalm.
Cloud walked into the bar with Cirrus, his arm around Cirrus as if he was injured. Cirrus led Cloud to a stool at the front of the bar where Tifa greeted them.
"What's wrong Cloud?" she said, looking at him very worried.
"Jenova...Jenova...I feel another Jenova. Beckoning me..." Cloud's voice trailed off as his head lowered.
"But how?"
"Don't know...my Jenova cells are reviving inside me..."
A man dressed in green pants and a multi-pocketed t-shirt ran into the bar and up to Tifa.
"Excuse me miss, but I'm looking for a transport to Mideel. You know where I can find one?"
"Yes...may I ask why?"
"I need to fly to Mideel for a doctor. There's been a death at Bone Village."
"Oh no! Well, I have a friend down in Mideel who owns an airship. I'll call him and tell him to bring the doctor, and then they'll come here to pick you up. In the meanwhile, sit down and have a drink or two."
As the man sat down, Tifa fixed him a drink. After she gave it to him, she picked up the phone and made a call to Cid.
"...I need you to fly over here as soon as you can. You'll need to bring the doctor too," she explained.
"Sure thing Tifa," he told her. "See ya later."
"Bye Cid." They hung up.
"Okay," she told the man, "you'll be there with a doctor in no time. Anything else?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Someone who can translate this Ancient writing. Know anyone?"
"I think I do," Tifa answered, thinking of Red XIII.
Cid found Shera gardening outside their brand new home. The Lifestream that was once flowing through Mideel had been covered by layers of dirt and debris from the old buildings of Mideel by the townspeople. Re-construction had begun from that day on.
"Shera, honey, I have to go now. I'm takin' the Highwind. I'll be back as soon as I can," he informed her, kissing her on her dirt-streaked left cheek.
"All right," she said. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
Cid walked over to the new construction site for the clinic and met up with the doctor. He told the doctor that he was needed somewhere halfway across the world for the diagnostic of an unexplained death. Afterwards, the two of them boarded the Highwind and took off for Kalm.
CHAPTER 5: PURE EVIL
Within the hour, Cid had arrived at Kalm with the Mideel doctor. The excavator named Willis, Cloud, and the rest of the team got on board the Highwind and flew to Bone Village.
As the Highwind landed, Darrian stood at a distance, ready to welcome the new visitors. As soon as he got off, Willis ran up to Darrian to tell him the good news.
"Sir! I've found a doctor and..." Willis stared at Darrian's face, which was emotionless, transfixed on the people climbing down the ladder from the Highwind.
"Huh?" Darrian shook his head several times and looked at Willis.
"I said, we've found the doctor."
"Oh, great!" The doctor walked up to him. "Hello, doctor, there's something I want you to look at for me."
Darrian led the doctor to the black corpse of his fellow excavator Maxus. The doctor kneeled down and examined the body carefully.
"Hmm," the doctor said, rubbing his chin. "I'll need to take some of the substance and maybe a skin sample from the dead specimen." He took tweezers, plucked a flake of the dead skin, and placed it into a bag. Placing the bag in the pocket of his lab coat, he stood up, took out a spoon, and scooped up some of the black ooze with it. He took a small container out of his pocket and placed the small spoon into it.
"After I take this back to my lab," he explained, "I'll determine the cause of your friends death, and the contents of the alien liquid. I'll need someone to fly me there and back." He looked at Cid, who started running towards the Highwind to start it back up. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I advise you to stay away from the substance until I can classify what it is. That's all, and I'll see you all later."
Everyone said goodbye except Darrian, as the doctor went into the Highwind and left with Cid to Mideel.
"Now, let me show you to your rooms for the night. I'll explain the situation tomorrow over breakfast," Darrian told them.
Good job, Darrian, the Jenova "Soul" told him in his sleep. But with this party is a threat to our existence. The one named Cirrus is a Cetra. He is to be killed. Jenova flashed a picture of Cirrus into Darrian's eyes and mind.
"But how can I kill him?" Darrian asked the Jenova.
With the virus, it responded.
"What virus?"
The virus that killed your friend, Maxus, is carried in the black substance from my module. Expose Cirrus to it, and the virus will gradually do its work on him...After that, I can begin my destructive reign.
"Why not begin it now?"
He's the only one who can stop us. He has the power of the Planet. The other humans are weak. Jenova shall rule supreme...
The voice of Jenova Soul ended, it's last words echoing through Darrian's mind. It was only one night ago that Jenova Soul had escaped and overtaken Darrian's soul. That was how it survived...and that was how it would take over the world.
"So, how did everyone sleep?" Tifa asked everyone, chewing some pancakes and syrup.
"I couldn't sleep last night," Cloud told her. "I could sense Jenova was close...it may be too close for comfort."
"Hmm...anyone else?"
They all shook their heads "no" and continued eating their breakfast. Darrian arrived late at sat down next to Red XIII.
"Sorry I'm late. But, I promised to tell you what has happened here within the past few days, well, here goes. My friend, Maxus, discovered these strange wires and the top of some type of module. Later that day, more of it was uncovered, and it turned out to be a cylindrical-shaped object...The next morning, the outer layer of glass was broken, and whatever was inside escaped. Maxus touched some of the black ooze, which resulted in his death. And that's all we know so far. And by the way, there's some type of strange writing on the module. I'll take you to see the module after breakfast."
"Where has this Jenova gone? Have you found her yet?" Cloud asked.
"Him," Darrian corrected, and suddenly realized his mistake. "I mean, no! No, we haven't found it." They might think he knows something.
Cloud gave a look to Tifa; he was suspicious.
CHAPTER 6: CRUEL INTENTION
After breakfast, Darrian led them to the strange module. Cloud recognized it immediately; it looked exactly like the one Jenova was kept in at the Nibel Mountain Reactor. It was covered with the black ooze, and a large puddle of it had formed at the bottom. Everyone stayed as far away from it as possible.
"You said there was some strange writing on it, right?" Cirrus asked Darrian.
"Yeah, you want to take a look?"
"Sure."
Darrian stepped down the small dirt slope into the digging site, followed by Cirrus. He stepped over to the side and gestured with his hand, "There it is."
Now! He heard Jenova Soul yell to him.
As Cirrus walked towards the module, Darrian intentionally stuck his foot out. Cirrus stumbled over the foot and fell face first into the black slime.
Everyone gasped. "What the $&#* did you do that for?!" Barret yelled, aiming his arm gun at Darrian.
"It was an accident," Darrian lied. "I was stretching out my leg."
Veronica and Tifa ran over to Cirrus, who had turned over and was wiping the muck from his face. Vincent flipped down into the ditch beside Darrian and stuck the barrel of his gun up Darrian's chin. "You got a lot of explaining to do," he threatened, shoving Darrian out of the pit.
"Are you all right?" Veronica asked Cirrus.
"I'm...I'm gonna die," he whimpered, sitting down near a boulder away from the large pond of the black liquid. Tifa and Veronica would have comforted him, but both of them were afraid that he could spread the "disease" onto them. The substance on his hands and face seeped into his skin. He placed his hands on his face and started to sob.
"Don't worry," Veronica assured him. "I'm sure that Mideel doctor will find some way to reverse it. Come on, let's go inside." Cirrus stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes and cheeks. He walked into the building and went to his room. Veronica and Tifa followed him there.
Meanwhile, Vincent, Barret, Cloud, Yuffie, Red XIII, and Zangan were in Darrian's office, interrogating him.
"Why'd you do it?" Cloud sneered.
"He didn't do, I did," a voice spoke through Darrian. The voice was pure evil: deep and coarse.
"Who are you?"
"Your worst nightmare, Jenova Soul. I've taken over this pathetic body and thanks to it, your miserable little friend, Cirrus I believe, is going to die."
"What did you do to him?"
"I gave him the virus. Gwa hahahaha!" The voice slowly echoed its laugh until it became a whisper, then suddenly returning Darrian to reality. Darrian slumped over to the side, unconscious.
"He's gone!" Barret yelled. "But what did he mean by virus?"
"I think I know," Cloud replied. "On one of the tapes done by Professor Gast, he asked Ifalna about Jenova...she said, 'He first approached as a friend, deceived them, and finally...gave them the virus. The Cetra were attacked by the virus and went mad...transforming into monsters.'"
"So Cirrus is going to turn into a monster and go crazy?!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"Let's hope that doctor finds a cure for this thing fast, or Cirrus will be lost forever."
Cirrus lay on his bed, shivering although Veronica and Tifa had placed several blankets over him. His skin had already turned a pale yellow.
"Oh god, look at his eyes," Veronica said. "He has no irises."
Tifa bent over to look at his eyes. Veronica was right. "How are you feeling Cirrus?" she asked him.
"C-c-c-cold. Am I g-g-going to d-die?"
"No," Cloud answered, standing at the doorway. He walked up beside Cirrus' bed. "You've been infected with a virus," he told Cirrus. "I'm afraid a cure hasn't been found yet. But don't worry, you won't die."
"G-g-good-d-d. What's going t-to happ-ppen to me?"
"I...can't tell you that right now. Try to get some rest."
"B-but I just woke up-p."
"Then get some more." Cloud turned around and walked slowly towards the doorway, his head down. Tifa stepped up next to him.
"What's wrong?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"It's so sad to see him like that. I mean, it's like his life has just begun, and already, it has to end," he told her quietly.
"Don't worry Cloud. I'm sure the doctor has found out something and will be able to help us."
"I hope so," he said.
CHAPTER 7: JENOVA SOUL
"Hmm. Very interesting," the doctor said as he looked through the microscope. "These cells seem to be multiplying and mutating very rapidly. And it's made up of some alien molecules." The doctor placed the piece of black ooze into a machine with his gloves. As he took off the gloves, Cid asked, "So, what caused that guy to die?"
"Well, it's a virus, and it took over his cells, multiplying as they killed the cells. It spread throughout the specimen's body and eventually killed its host, the man we found in Bone Village."
Shera ran into the building, looking terribly worried. "Cid," she told him. "I just got off the phone with Barret. Cirrus has contracted the virus. He's not dying, but Cloud thinks that it's because the ooze is the virus Jenova originally gave to the Cetra."
"Doc, anything to say on this? My friend Cirrus is a Cetra."
"Well, if he's a Cetra, then I guess that the virus won't kill him, but judging from the cells in the virus, I'm saying that it'll change him into something inhuman."
"Is there a way you can reverse it?"
"Hmm. I guess I could come up with some cure. After the machine is done with the data analysis, I'll experiment with different chemicals and try my best to find a cure."
"Thanks," Cid said, walking out with Shera.
Barret ran into Cirrus' room, where everyone else had gathered beside Cirrus' bed. "The doc said he's gonna try to find a cure," he told them. Barret looked at Cirrus. His condition was worsening by the minute. His skin was gradually turning green and into scales. The beginnings of two horns grew from his forehead.
"H-hey," Cirrus said to Cloud. "What about th-the s-script on the m-m-module?"
"Hmm. I forgot about it," he replied.
"Red, can you read ancient writing?" Tifa asked him.
"I believe so. I'll return to the module and check it out. I'll need someone to protect my back in case some else tries anything."
"I will," Vincent volunteered. Vincent followed as Red left the room.
"I wonder what happened to Jenova?" Yuffie pondered.
Cloud heard a ringing in his ears suddenly. He clasped his head and tried to shake out the sounds...
"Cloud! What's wrong?" Tifa's question seemed so far off in the distance...
...Come and get me Cloud. I'm waiting for you...I know you want to defeat me after what I did to your friend. Mwa hahahahahaha! I'm on the Great Glacier. Come and get me. By the time you get here, it'll be too late for your friend. Hahahaha!
"Cloud, Cloud!" Tifa yelled.
"Huh...wha?" he said, disoriented. He sat up in his own bed. "What happened?"
"You grabbed your head, and then suddenly fainted. I brought you back here. What happened to you?"
"Jenova Soul talked to me, taunted me. He's on the Great Glacier. We have to go stop him, but he said by the time we got there, it would be too late for Cirrus."
"Do you think he has something in plan?"
"Yeah. He might just do something to Cirrus...I don't know what, but I have a feeling we should get to the Great Glacier. That doctor has to find a cure-"
"Yo, Cloud!" Barret shouted, running down the hallway towards Cloud's room. When he entered, he said, "Cid and the doc are coming here! They've found a cure!"
"Great!" Cloud jumped out of his bed, feeling rejuvenated. "I need someone to come with me to the Great Glacier. Have everyone but Zangan and Veronica come with me...how's Red and Vincent doing?"
"Don't know, but I bet he knows somethin."
"Good, I'll need to talk to him right away." Cloud ran out of his room towards the outdoors.
"Hmm," Red said, intrigued at the ancient manuscript. He had only seen it in Bugenhagen's notes, but he understood it fairly well.
"What's it say?" Vincent asked curiously.
"Descendent of JENOVA, at the top. Both of the sides say, Jenova shall rule supreme."
"Anything helpful?"
"Well, we killed his mother in the center of the Planet, that we know, but nothing else of use. And now we know there's more than one Jenova. There may be more than this or not."
Cloud ran up to the top of the pit and yelled down to Red, "Find anything yet?"
"Nothing of use," Red yelled back.
"Okay, thanks anyway."
"Alright."
Red heard the humming engines of the Highwind off in the distance. Cid and the doctor must have arrived with the cure.
"Cid," Cloud told him, "we need to borrow the Highwind." Yuffie, Barret, Red, Vincent, Tifa, and Veronica ran up behind him.
"Sure thing. Need my help?" he responded.
"Yes, thanks."
Cloud and the others boarded the Highwind as Veronica led the doctor to Cirrus' room. Everything was going to be all right after all.
CHAPTER 8: ALL HOPE IS LOST
The Highwind flew towards the Great Glacier at great speeds. Cloud, leaning on the railing, gazed over the vast landscape of the area. As the Highwind neared, Cloud saw Jenova Soul standing out against the white snow.
"Greetings weaklings," it said.
"We've come to take you out, once and for all," Cloud yelled out to it, the Highwind now hovering close to Jenova Soul.
"Too bad it's too late. As I said, it's too late for your friend Cirrus. His soul is now mine. Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Jenova Soul disappeared into thin air.
"What do you think he meant by that?" Barret wondered.
"That means we have to get back to Cirrus as soon as possible."
"He's right in here doctor," Veronica gestured with her hand, leading the doctor into the room. "Oh no!" She gasped when she saw Cirrus.
It had green, scaly skin, with two giant claws for hands. Two horns protruded from its human, black-colored head. Its eyes were red and teeth were long and sharp. Two black, bat-like wings flapped behind it as it hovered inches off the ground. It wasn't Cirrus, it was a monster. They were too late.
The beast made a thunderous roar at the two, threatening them with its scorpion-like tail.
"Please don't tell me that's you Cirrus."
The beast bellowed at Veronica.
"God no. This can't be happening. Doctor, you have the cure?" she asked, turning to him.
"Yes, right here," he answered, taking out a vial filled with a glowing blue liquid from his pocket. He stepped towards the monster. "Cirrus? Take this, and you'll return to normal."
"Cirrus no longer exists," it replied with a reptilian voice. "It is I, Jenova Soul. I've conquered his soul in this weakened state. Say goodbye to your dear friend Cirrus."
Cloud appeared out of nowhere at the doorway. He had made back as fast as he could.
"NOOOOOOO!" he yelled, but it was too late. The beast slashed at the doctor, knocking him unconscious and sending the vial into the air. It spun through the air until it hit the ground, shattering on impact. The contents of the vial spilled out across the floor.
The demon fiend laughed at Cloud. "It seems your poor friend is lost forever. Now you shall all die!" It swung its tail at them but missed, narrowly hitting Vincent.
In response, Vincent cocked his gun and fired at the beast. The bullets bounced off the armored scales harmlessly.
"Jenova shall rule supreme," it reminded them, making a fist and punching Barret, knocking him across the room and rendering him unconscious.
"No!" Cloud yelled. The savage beast turned towards Cloud.
"Perhaps you'd like to be next," it said.
"No," Cloud repeated. "I know Cirrus is still in there. You haven't taken him away from us completely."
"All hope is lost. Give it up."
"I won't. I know there's still a chance to save Cirrus." Cloud watched as Cid rolled the doctor over. Cid found what he was looking for...a second vial. All Cloud needed to do was distract the monstrosity a little longer.
"And how exactly to you plan to do that?"
"Turn around."
The monster turned around, just in time for Cid to shove the vial's contents into its throat.
"No!" it screamed, clutching its throat. "What...have you...done!"
"I've killed you. It's a cure for the virus Cirrus has. And since you're part of it, you'll die."
"No!" it screamed again. "If I'm going to die, then I'm taking your friend's life with me!"
"NO!" Cloud yelled. "Cirrus! If you can hear me, fight the Jenova! Fight it! Save yourself from it! Think about your life! Don't let it take you-" With a blinding flash of light, the beast collapsed to the floor.
The monster lay on the floor as Cloud ran over to it. It looked nothing like Cirrus, except for the head. "Cirrus, can you hear me?" Cloud asked. "Cirrus?"
The monster opened both of its two sets of eyelids and blinked them. It looked at Cloud and then closed its eyes once again.
Barret and the doctor both slowly regained consciousness. Tifa ran over to Barret as he sat up.
"Ow!" he yelped in pain.
"What is it?" she asked concerned.
"My ribs...they might be broken. What happened to...the kid?"
"We don't know yet. I sure hope Cirrus is back. I'm going to go check on the doctor, okay?"
"Okay."
Tifa ran over to the doctor. Three long bloodlines stained his lab coat.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"My chest has been gashed in three places. I don't want to look."
"Don't. Can you get up?"
"I think so. I need to get to another doctor right away."
"Why don't I take you to a room so you can rest."
"Sure."
Tifa helped the doctor onto his feet and took him to his new bedroom.
CHAPTER 9: CIRRUS
"Why does all this have to happen to him?" Cloud wondered, putting his right hand over his face.
"He was strong and spirited," Zangan commented. "A great student."
"A good friend," Vincent added. "A real good friend."
"Hey! Why are we talking like this is the end of him?" Yuffie asked them all.
"Do you see a third vial of that liquid?"
"No."
"Exactly."
"Oh."
"Cid, did you find another vial on the doctor?" Cloud questioned.
"`Fraid not," he replied.
They all looked at the body of Cirrus, still a monster.
"I don't understand why the vial didn't change Cirrus back," Red noticed.
"Well," Cid answered, "the one that Jenova Soul destroyed was for Cirrus. The second was for Jenova Soul himself. We had no idea that Jenova Soul would take over Cirrus."
Cloud gave a depressive sigh and took a seat in the chair next to Cirrus. He didn't know what to do next.
'Where am I?' Cirrus thought, looking around him. He had been surrounded by pure darkness all of the sudden and had no idea what just happened.
Two ovals of light appeared out of nowhere in front of him. He saw a doctor getting injured and then saw Barret get punched square in the chest. Cirrus tried to cry out but couldn't. He saw Cloud speaking to him.
'What's going on?' Cirrus thought. 'I can see everyone, but they can't see me. They look scared.' Cirrus saw a scorpion tail slash out, narrowly missing Vincent's head. 'I'm a monster,' Cirrus suddenly realized. Vincent shot at him, but the bullets didn't even puncture the scales.
The eyes of the monster turned to look a Cloud, and then turned around. Cid was right in front of the eyes, pouring something into its mouth. Suddenly, Cirrus could hear.
"NO!" Cloud yelled. "Cirrus! If you can hear me, fight the Jenova! Fight it! Save yourself from it! Think about your life! Don't let it take you-"
A sudden flash knocked Cirrus to his feet. Everything was black again. So it was Jenova that had taken control of him.
Two glowing white hands suddenly grasped Cirrus shoulders. It was Jenova Soul, trying to take him.
Cirrus struggled against it. "I'm not letting you take me without a fight!" Cirrus grabbed one of the hands and flipped Jenova Soul over him. Cirrus spin kicked Jenova Soul twice in its mouth, followed by three punches in the stomach and an uppercut. "Say goodbye," he jeered, punching the spirit demon straight in the face. He was glad he was human again.
"Nooooo!!" it yelled, falling backwards. Jenova collapsed to the ground. Bright beams shot out of Jenova Soul as he faded away into oblivion. He was gone for good.
Cirrus opened his eyes to see Cloud above him. "Cirrus, can you hear me? Cirrus?" he asked. But Cirrus' eyes shut once more.
'Where am I' Cirrus thought. He was surrounded by green water. He heard voices call out to him. Cloud had told him about this. He was in the Lifestream.
"Mom? Dad? Aunt Ifalna?" he called out. No response.
"We're right here," they said. Cirrus turned around to see his two parents and surprisingly, his cousin Aeris.
"Where's Aunt Ifalna?"
"My mother has returned to the Planet," Aeris answered. "We are about to do the same. We've come to talk to you one last time."
"Cirrus. You are the last of the surviving Cetra. You are one of the Forgottens. A long time ago, some Cetra hid their powers to save their lives. Everyone, including those Cetra, forgot they had the power. But you've uncovered yours," his mom explained to him.
"What's happened to me? Why am I here?"
"Jenova Soul occupied your soul. You survived in your subconscious, where you fought Jenova Soul by yourself and defeated it. You'll return to the world soon, but with the inhuman body the virus has given you."
"Is there anyway you can change that?"
"Take this," his father replied, transporting a pale blue orb into Cirrus' hand.
"Aeris," Cirrus began. "I'm glad I finally got to see you. You're beautiful, just like Cloud said."
"Thanks," she said. "When you wake up, tell him to look at Midgar."
"Huh? O-kay. Anything else before I have to go?"
"Yes," his mother returned. "You make us proud Cirrus. Whatever you do, don't forget us. We'll always be able to talk to you once we've returned to the Planet."
Cirrus felt his body drift away from the images of his family. "Bye!" he yelled out to them. They all smiled and dissolved into the Lifestream. Cirrus turned around to see the images of his friends drawing closer. He was back.
CHAPTER 10: THE RETURN
Cirrus opened his eyes and sat up. He looked at himself. His body was covered with green scales, his hands were large claws, and he felt two wings and a tail beneath him. He was hideously transformed.
"Cloud," he spoke with a normal voice. He discovered he had two large fangs projecting from his teeth.
Cloud, sitting on the seat next to him, was asleep. Cirrus looked around the room to see no one else. He guess it was night and everyone had gone to sleep.
"CLOUD!" Cirrus roared, shaking the entire room. Cloud practically fell off his seat and stood up.
"Cirrus?" he asked, wondering if it was really his friend and not an insane creature.
"Yes, I'm back."
Cloud smiled and kneeled on the floor. "I'm glad you're back."
"So am I. Where are the others? How is Barret and the doctor?"
"They're eating dinner and will be back shortly. How'd you know about Barret and the doctor?"
"I saw the whole thing through Jenova's eyes. I ended up fighting him in a human form. Thanks to Zangan, I defeated him. Then...then I saw my parents and Aeris, one last time."
"Aeris?! What'd she say?"
"I'll tell you later. But for now, I've got to revert to my old self."
"How?"
"With this," Cirrus said, unfolding his clutched hand. In it was a small blue orb the size of a marble.
"And that'll help?"
"It should. My father gave it too me. But, I've been thinking..."
Everyone walked into his room, surprised to see Cirrus sitting up and talking like normal. Barret had bandages across his chest and the doctor was wearing a sling on his left arm.
"If this pill can transform me back, then maybe it could work for any monster...like Vincent," Cirrus said, looking at Vincent. Vincent stepped forward and knelt beside Cirrus.
"What are you saying? That I get the pill?"
"Of course not. But I was thinking, if we split it in half, it could work for both of us. I might not return to my original form, but I think it's better that this thing works for two instead of one."
"I...I don't know what to say," Vincent replied. "For one thing, it's generous. I can't believe you're willing to do this."
Cirrus cut the small orb in two with one of his razor sharp fingernails. He handed one half to Vincent. "Take it," Cirrus offered, putting the half in Vincent's hand. Vincent hesitated. "I can't let you do this," he said. "You deserve the whole thing."
"No. I don't care," Cirrus replied. "I want you to have it. I understand I won't return to normal, but Vincent, I think you deserve to be a human again. I already have. Half a pill should cure you. Trust me."
Vincent put the one half into his mouth and swallowed. Cirrus did the same. Vincent fell backwards suddenly as Cirrus slumped down...
"Hmm," Cloud said, standing up. "They're asleep. I think we should do the same." Cloud and the others left, one by one, falling asleep in their beds, not knowing what to expect the next day.
Vincent opened his eyes suddenly, as if waking from a nightmare. Only, the nightmare was his life...
He stood up and stretched, and felt something strange in his left arm. And that's what surprised him, he felt something. He looked at the bionic forearm lying on the ground. Vincent stared at his left arm and touched it. It was warm, and real. And his skin was no longer pale. Was this a dream?
He ran out of the room, completely forgetting about Cirrus. He found a mirror in the hallway and looked to see a 30-year-old familiar face. He eyes were brown, not red anymore. He was back. He was alive. Then he remembered Cirrus.
Vincent ran to everyone's room to wake them up. They were surprised to see him so energetic and lively. They followed him to Cirrus' room, all curious to see what he had changed back into.
The fangs, the horns, and the tail were all gone. His head was no longer colored black. His eyes were their normal green color. His hands, feet, and head were all covered with normal skin, but the rest of his now-human body was still covered in green scales. He was awake and dressed in new clothes as they entered; he was about to go to greet them all himself.
"Cloud!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around him. Cirrus hugged them all. He was so happy he was back, although his body didn't completely change back. His wings had also remained, jutting out from his back and through his shirt. But they didn't bother him.
Everybody looked at Vincent, who was smiling. He was a human again. They all talked to him, asking him questions, turning away from Cirrus temporarily. Vincent walked over to Cirrus and placed his hand on Cirrus' shoulder.
"Thank you very much. I would have not have done this unless you had insisted," Vincent said. "I appreciate your generosity. I wish there was some way I could repay you..."
"No need," Cirrus replied. Vincent patted Cirrus on the shoulder and dropped his arms to his side.
"But, what are you going to do now?" Veronica asked. "I mean, you still have scales and wings. Don't those bother you?"
"I don't care. I know that the whole pill was meant for me, but somehow, I felt that it would be right if I gave Vincent the cure that he was looking for. I can get used to wings and scales I guess. Maybe someday I can be cured completely."
Everyone left the room and walked outside. A slight fog covered the ground as the clouds obscured the rising sun. They all got on board the Highwind. It was time to leave.
CHAPTER 11: HOME AGAIN
Cirrus leaned on the railing of the Highwind's main deck. Wind breezed across his face as he looked in the distance as Bone Village disappeared below the horizon. He remembered everything that had taken place there: the death of Maxus, Darrian being taken over by Jenova, him contracting the virus, the doctor finding a cure, Barret and the doctor being injured, Jenova taking over his body, him fighting Jenova and killing it, talking to his parent and Aeris...Aeris. He just remembered what she had told him.
Cirrus walked over to Cloud. "Cloud," he said. "Aeris wanted me to tell you the strangest thing. She wants you to look at Midgar."
"Hmm. Interesting. Cid!" Cloud yelled over to him. "Let's take a short stop over Midgar."
"Sure thing!" he yelled back.
The Highwind picked up speed as it rushed through the atmosphere towards Midgar. As they approached, they all gasped at the ruins of Midgar-covered with flowers. The barren land around Midgar had sprouted grass. Trees had started to grow on the outskirts of Midgar.
"I don't believe it," Tifa said, watching a flock of birds fly overhead.
Cloud couldn't either. Nobody could. Midgar had been the Promised Land after all. The presidents of Shinra were too busy sucking Mako from the Planet to know that Midgar was the only place with a high concentration of Mako. Midgar was paradise all along.
"Thank you Aeris," Cloud praised. "We'll never forget you."
Cloud, Barret, Marlene, Cid, Shera, Vincent, Yuffie, Red XIII, Cirrus, and Veronica all sat at a bar in Tifa's Haven. Tifa walked over with their celebration drinks: wine for Cloud, Barret, Vincent, Yuffie, Red, and Veronica; tea for Cid, Shera, and Cirrus; and chocolate chocobo milk for Marlene. Drinks were on the house for the other customers.
"Haven't they ever seen a half-man, half-reptile before?" Cirrus said, noticing the people staring at him.
"Don't think they have," Tifa replied, placing his drink in front of him and then the others. "So Cid, Shera, how was your honeymoon? How are things down in Mideel?"
"We had a great honeymoon: candlelight dinner by the fireplace, stargazing...and Cid took me on a cruise around the world in his Highwind. It was fantastic," Shera said. "I'm so sorry yours had to be interrupted by that awful Crefen."
"It's okay," Tifa said sympathetically. "We plan to finish it later. Cloud says he's going to take me to his villa next week."
"Uh, oh!" Barret said jokingly. Cloud, sitting next to Barret, smirked, and then kicked Barret in the shin under the table. "Ow!" Barret cried out softly. He wanted to hit Cloud back, but he didn't want to set a bad example in front of Marlene.
"So, I'm going to ask each one of you: what do you plan to do now?" Tifa asked, looking at them individually as they answered.
Barret said, "Well, Marlene'll start schoolin' in the fall, and when she does, I'm gonna return to Corel and help rebuild it. In the meanwhile, I'm just gonna help out around here."
Cid said, "Me and Shera are gonna go help the folks at Mideel, and then move out. My friends at Rocket Town are beginning construction on a new rocket, and I want to be there. I'm gonna start modifying the Tiny Bronco so it can hover over water again too."
Vincent said, "I'm going to return to Nibelheim. Hojo planned on burning his materials, but died before he could. I'm doing the job for him by burning down the Shinra mansion and begin construction on a new one. It'll probably be where I'll live whenever I'm not here."
Yuffie said, "Well, I'm gonna take any spare mastered materia you have left and return to Wutai to my dad. He'll be so excited!"
Cirrus said, "I'm going to start traveling around the world. These wings ought to help. I'm going to see what people say and do nowadays."
Veronica said, "I plan on returning to Junon and running for Mayor or President. They'll need some type of new leader down there, and I think I fit the job description."
Red said, "I'll need to return to my studies at the Bugenhagen Observatory. There are more of his notes I need to read and I'm also continuing his astronomy studies."
"Wow," Tifa replied. "You guys will be busy." She looked around the bar. It was empty except for a few people. The others had gone home for the night.
"Closing time!" she shouted. The people at the tables finished their drinks and stood up. Tifa went around and collected the drinks from their tables and placed them in the dishwasher. Cloud and the others stood up and helped Tifa with the dishes. She thanked them, shut off the lights, and locked the door as she followed them outside.
END OF BOOK THREE