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Prophecy's Refrain	By : butabara Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 1023 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own FFVII or its affiliates. I make no money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 39
- 40
- 41
A.N. YAY ANOTHER CHAPTER! I was worried I wouldn't get this one out tonight! Thank you guys so much for sticking with me this long, it means sooooooo much! There are only a few chapters left, and I find myself sad, even though I have the outline for the sequel in the works. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! A LOT of work went into this one! Thanks again and R&R!
Chapter 40
"My dear little bird,
If you are reading this letter, you have come to seek answers. You now know who you are, baby, and I am so sorry we can not be there to see the wonderful woman you have become. There are many things that must be addressed, Little Bird, and each letter you will find in this chest will help you understand how special you are, and why we did what we did."
Sassi's voice broke on the last sentence, shuddering and sinking into Harmony's embrace before taking a deep breathe to steady herself.
"Who's it from?" Loz asked.
"My grandfather." Sassi said. She shook her head and reached for the scroll sitting on top of the box, but a hand stopped her. Surprisingly, the hand belonged to Kadaj.
"Let go inside, where its warm, and more comfortable." He said.
She reluctantly nodded her head, not even putting up a fight when Loz lifted her bridal style and began the walk back to the manor.
!#$%^&*()
"So let me get this straight. You can't give me the papers I need to arrest those people for another month?" Michael Wilford growled into the black phone.
"I'm sorry, sir. These things take time. If you had more proof than just that video, we might be able to speed it up. But right now, all you have is a hippie that freed a group of loonies from prison, and the words of a senile old man."
"That 'senile old man' gave us information that has proven factual. The only way he could know these things, things that your people haven't even released yet, would be if he was telling the truth. Plus, we have the testimonies of Miss Maddox's family members-"
"Yes, family members that were in such a severe state of shock, that most of them couldn't even remember their own names. And how convenient, none of them remember giving that testimony!"
"You know that those memories will most likely resurface! Shock-related amnesia is not uncommon!"
"Its not enough! You go after them if you want to. But you will not receive the backing of the United States Government when Ireland complains of you stepping on their toes. Not unless you wait for the papers. Now-" The snooty woman cut Michael off before he could complain, "If you have nothing important to share, stop monopolizing my line!"
The line went dead and the man snarled and slammed the receiver down onto the base. "Bitch!"
"Carlson! Get that Scientist in here and then get your shit packed! If the Goddamned government won't protect itself, I'll fucking do it myself!"
"Yes sir!"
The screechy voice of their newest informant was heard as Michael's door nearly swung off the hinges. "Unhand me, you filthy heathen! Let go of me! Do you know who I am?"
"Fumio Hojo." Michael snapped.
"Hn?"
"You've told me everything you know?"
'Not even close, ignorant fool.' Hojo thought to himself. There was no way he was giving them any information that they might be able to use to defeat Jenova. Instead, the mad scientist answered with "Of course."
Michael sighed. He had a feeling this man knew more than he was saying, and maybe a little road trip, away from the eyes of the government and legal boundaries, he could get the ugly old man to talk.
"Why are we packing, sir?" Asked his personal assistant, Colson.
"We already know that they left the country, and we know where they are. If our own damned government won't do anything about it, I'm gonna. So get your shit packed, we're going to Belfast. It shouldn't be too hard to find them, if we play our cards right with the Irish government."
!#$%^&*()
"This is incredible!" Harmony said, her voice like that of a little child seeing Disneyland for the first time.
"I wouldn't know." Kadaj drawled. They had been searching over documents an scrolls for half an hour, the group having to prod the women to get them to talk. They were supposed to be reading aloud, translating as the letters were all written in Irish-Gaelic, but occasionally, the two women would become so lost in the information, they would forget their audience and become silent.
"Oh, sorry!" Harmony said. "It says that there are over sixty-thousand inter-dimensional portals leading from our world to yours-Hey! Don't touch it! this scroll is damn near two-thousand years old!" Harmony snapped as Kadaj reached out to grab the parchment from her hands. It wouldn't do any good, anyway, he couldn't read it! "Anyway," she continued. "The closest portal to us is at The Druids Altar, also known as the Drombeg Stone Circle. This says it takes a full coven, along with the power of an Ancient, to force the portal open."
"Force it open?" Rufus asked.
"Yeah. It says the portal does open on its own, every... uh..." They watched her eyes rove the page, searching for the information. "I can't make it out. Its too faded."
"Mine says that there should be a scroll at the bottom of the box, with instructions on how to conduct the ceremony." Sassi cut in. "I think we should call Austin. With this information, we could send them home in... oh... it..."
"What?" Yazoo prodded.
"It says it can only be done on Samhain."
"What's that?" Barrett asked.
"Halloween."
"...and what's that?" Cloud cut in.
"Its a festival... its just... hell, Samhain is... what's today?" Harmony said. She pulled out her phone and checked her calendar. "Oh my God, Sassi. Samhain is in less than a month!"
SIlence festered in the room. Each person appeared lost in thought, eyes closed or looking at the fire burning in the fireplace. Only Kadaj looked somewhere else. He watched the emotions play across Harmony's face. Relief, most likely about finally finding a way to send them home. Shock, most likely about how quickly it would happen. And despair. He knew without a shadow of a doubt what that was for. He could admit that he felt something similar.
The silence was finally broken when Sassi sighed and hung her head. "I'm calling Austin. Everyone, claim a room. the beds are clean now, and we're exhausted. Hari, put the scroll down before you destroy it. You're wringing your hands." The others nodded grudgingly, standing from their positions and making their way out of the library.
"Hari, Kadaj, Loz? Stay please. I... I think we need to talk." Kadaj nodded, sitting on the couch and pulling Harmony into his lap. He caught Yazoo's eye as the man left the room, his older brother shooting him a knowing gaze, full of sympathy.
Once the door closed, Sassi spoke. "Okay. What are we going to do?"
"What do you mean?" Loz asked.
"Well... when we were at the ranch, Harmony and I were talking, and she made a very good point. One that I agree with."
"And what is that?" Kadaj drawled, his hands tracing soothing designs down Harmony's shaking arms. It didn't even look like he was aware he was doing it.
"We both agree that part of the reason you were sent here was to earn your right to exist in your world, after everything that happened." She waited for them to react, and continued when both men nodded. "We think that the other reason... is that the Lifestream decided that it was time, and sent you here to find me. I think I'm supposed to go back with you."
Kadaj turned shocked eyes to Harmony, finding her staring at Sassi. After a moment, she turned her gaze to Kadaj. "I..." She started, "I don't agree with leaving this world, I still think the risks are too great, changing the timeline, the very basis your world is built off of... but... Where she goes, I go." She whispered.
"Have you really thought this through?" Came a voice from the doorway, startling the four in the room. They turned to find Vincent standing in the doorway, the others not far behind them.
"What is it with people eavesdropping on private conversations?" Kadaj said, exasperated.
"This involves us all!" Angeal said, stepping up beside Vincent. The Gunman nodded.
"It does. However, you were right before, about going to bed. We are all exhausted, and you and Harmony received quite a shock today. You, Sassi, look even worse off than Harmony does. You're moody, and tired. Such large decisions should be discussed with clear minds. Which at the moment, you don't possess. It is late, and morning will come quickly. Make your phone call, and then go to bed."
Sassi and Harmony stared in shock at the dark man, having never heard him offer his words so freely.
"You're right. Of course." Sassi shook her head and pulled her new prepaid cell phone from her pocket. She stared a moment, trying to remember the long string of number she had to dial, before punching the buttons and bringing the phone to her ear.
"Austin? Its Sassi. We found something. You guys need to get here, now."
!#$%^&*()
"Is Sassi the only reason you'd come with us?" Kadaj asked as Harmony settled into the bed beside him.
"Kadaj..." She looked emotionally beaten, worn. "Yes. I told you. I don't think its a good idea to mess with your timeline, to play with magics that we have no idea how to use, or can even come close to understanding. I love you, and I don't want to be without you, this is why I tried to stop this... I knew that it would only make it harder! I love you! Though God only knows why. You're stubborned, ill-tempered, jealous, possessive, and absolutely psychotic."
Kadaj grimaced and shook his head. "You're right. You shouldn't have to deal with my insanity."
Harmony stared at him. Everything she said was true, they both knew it, but there was another truth. One that Kadaj needed to know. "Don't be silly." She said with a sad smile, "You're just the crazy I've been looking for."
Kadaj caught her eye with a smirk and a chuckle. "Well, who else would put up with your crazy ass?"
Harmony gasped in mock outrage, lifting a pillow and smacking the youngest Remnant on the arm.
And the fight was on.
!#$%^&*()
Aerith gazed at the stars above her. It was strange. THey looked the same, but all of the constellations that she knew from her world were non-existent here. It was still pretty, though. She was glad that Sassi's family estate was far enough away from the cities that she could even see the stars. She remembered a time before, when she had been deathly afraid of the sky. Unlike the others that had died in their world, Aerith remembered everything. Every moment of her life, but most clearly was meeting Zack, and what had followed. The joy when he would visit her in her little church, her worry when he would leave for a mission, her utter fear when he left for Nibelheim... never to return...
She was certain that the others expected her to rebel at the thought of Sephiroth as her Guardian, but she just couldn't. She knew, she had known all along, that Sephiroth wasn't to blame. From what Zack had told her, Sephiroth was actually a very likable man, once you got past the arrogance. She knew that without Hojo's experiments, and Jenova's influence, the event in Nibelheim never would have happened. She also knew that without Jenova, pushing and driving him into the hands of insanity, he never would have followed her into the Forgotten Capitol.
Cid had stated that Sephiroth's reason for avoiding her was vanity. He thought that the General thought himself better than to assiciate with peasants such as them, but Aerith didn't think that was the case. He seemed almost shy, unwilliung to speak unless spoken to, or unless what he had to say was important. From what Zack had said, it was understandable. To spend your whole life unable to trust anyone, even both of your only real friends abandoning you... she would be hesitant to let people in, as well.
So lost in her thoughts, she did not notice the tall form gliding out to the garden.
"I feel the need to ensure that you are well." Sephiroth said, stiffly. His voice shocked the woman and she let out a startled cry.
"Oh! You scared me!"
"My apologies." Sephiroth said. 'That was stupid, Of course she'd be afraid of me!' He turned to leave, surprised when a delicate hand landed on his arm.
"No, please stay. I was actually just thinking about you." Aerith said softly.
"Oh?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk to you. Will you please sit with me?"
Sephiroth looked into her bright green eyes and sighed. He didn't stand a chance.
"Very well. What would you like to discuss?" He said, hoping desperately to avoid the conversation he knew was coming.
"I just wondered why you avoid me. Do you... feel guilty? About the Capitol?"
'Damn you, whatever God is doing this to me!' He didn't want to admit it, but he was compelled to answer truthfully.
"Yes." He said, shocked and angry at the shame in his voice.
"I fogive you."
His head snapped up and he fixed hin unnerving eyes on hers. "What?"
"I forgive you. I know that it was because of Jenova. I know that you were in there somewhere. Even if you don't remember it. Its okay."
Sephiroth stared at her for a long while. "I see." he finally said. "This is why he loves you so much. Why they all do." He sighed. "I am not sure yet, if I can accept what the Lifestream has done. I'm not sure if I am worthy of being your Guardian, nor if I even want to be. But this... this has helped, a bit. Thank you."
Aerith smiled brightly at him, nidding her understanding.
Sephiroth took the opportunity to make his escape. "I find that I am tired, as well. You should rest, Zackary has been looking for you. Goodnight, Aerith." He was surprised that he didn't stutter when he said her name.
Walking through the doors into the manor, he felt, more than heard her whisper.
"Goodnight, Guardian."
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Prophecy's Refrain