A/N: Behold, the final chapter of Flames of Rebith, but certainly not the ending of the series! :DDDD After this chapter, there's another installment: Destined to Die 3: Tears of Rejuvenation.
I am so glad you've all come so far with me to those who have been here since the beginning. I hope I am two-thirds done.
Please forgive the lateness of this chapter. I had to go to the clinic in case I had appendicitis, which I'm very glad I don't have. So it set me back a few days... I'm terribly sorry!
There's something you must note: I do not like the character that interacts with Terra in here. Please do not judge me by using this character, but I let the story write itself now. So yeah, I'm begrudging this chapter a little. Other than that, it's fine.
I lay prone. Fog covered the dewy plains far beyond the horizon. Petals of white and yellow speckled in clumps along the field. Flowers.
As I moved to stand, a light hand fell on my shoulder. "Take your time. You haven't regained your strength yet," a woman spoke softly, hushing my fears.
"Where am I?" I asked, keeping my eyes closed. The woman sat on my left. My head was turned away from her. Cheek resting against the cool grass.
"It's hard to say. This place borders a place that has been given many names. Your world calls it heaven. Mine called it the Lifestream."
Lifestream? I had heard of that place before. Where had I heard it? My memory came back clearly.
"Heaven… is that what you call it?"
"Yes. Is it too arcane for you?"
"No… I just never assumed that the ancient term would be used again."
"Ancient term? I expected an even older term than heaven. Utopia? Paradise? World of the gods? Afterlife?"
"Those are all generic titles. Science gave us insight to a reachable energy coursing through Gaia. They called it the Lifestream."
"Do you know a man by the name of Vincent?"
"Vaguely," she answered. "I never had a chance to really speak to him. He mostly kept to himself…"
"I see…" I sighed.
"But I was able to witness his peacemaking with Chaos, the creature dwelling within him."
"He has done many good things for me," I smiled.
The woman chuckled. "That's good."
Silence engulfed the field once more. I moved to sit up. The woman didn't stop me this time.
Clear, green eyes gazed over the hidden horizon. Long, braided hair fell over her back, covering her cheeks in brown drapes. When I sat up next to her, she turned with a smile. A pink ribbon bounced at the base of her braid from the movement. It matched her long dress and complimented the darker shade of her short-sleeved bolero jacket. Brown boots peeked out from the hem of the dress as she sat, clutching her knees.
"So… if this place borders heaven…"
"Your fate is being delegated," she answered reassuringly.
I raised an eyebrow. Not dead yet. Did that mean I won against Mateus? And… I might have succeeded?
No. I couldn't get my hopes up. I would have to accept my fate. Fear crawled in my stomach like a worm at the word 'delegated'. "Who is the one deciding what happens to me?"
"The Council of Gaian Elders who translate the Gaian light."
I numbed. Elders? Council? This meant speculation. My record wasn't clear. I'd done terrible things. From petty theft to attempted murder. There was no way I could survive judgment.
Having stolen from a noble in Treno to pay for a synthesis and nearly assassinating Kraizule… my crimes could not be overlooked. Not even by justification.
"Do you know any of the elders?"
"No. But their messages are delivered by direct action. They are quite busy."
"What a strange system," I observed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've been asking all these questions without even introducing myself."
"Hehe, don't worry. I'm just grateful that you're so relaxed."
"My name's Terra Evans."
"Aerith Gainsborough."
"Is there a reason why I wouldn't be?"
"Oh, well… big brother said you might be a bit… startled."
"Big Brother?"
"Oh, y'know… Sephiroth. He felt bad that he didn't explain this part to you. After disarming the Time Compression, you would wake up here."
Sephiroth…? But he's not… "Isn't Sephiroth alive.?"
"Not in your time. Sephiroth and I existed in the same plane of time many years ago. Currently, the Lifestream has settled over your time. In this era, both of us rest in the Lifestream."
"Is he here? Can I see him?" I stood up.
She followed and lightly tugged my arm. When I turned, she shook her head. "Sorry. Outside of this plane, you and Sephiroth made contact. Because you're both from different eras, you two meeting once again at the fragile settling of balance could cause a dimensional collapse."
So many scientific terms. I was surprised that I understood what she was saying. I enjoyed her patience. It was thoughtful of Sephiroth to send someone of such kind, passive understanding.
While in the middle of thought, she suddenly looked up. "It's time," she beamed, taking my hand.
"For what?" My voice shook with uncertainty.
"They've decided."
I pulled my hands away. Aerith frowned. "I don't want to know…"
She sighed, tilting her head with a smile. "Scary, huh?"
I nodded, looking down in shame.
"Don't be afraid." She smiled and pulled a red ribbon from her pocket. With care, she tied it around my wrist. "A token of my friendship."
"But you hardly know me."
"I know enough, so don't worry."
Nodding, I looked down to the ribbon. So this was a very old tradition. I turned to face the sky once again.
The world dispersed into darkness. Cold air pressed in on me until my breathing rasped. Falling to my knees, I coughed until there was no more air left in my lungs. The darkness ate me in my last moments of life.
FFV, Home, Sweet Home
Written by: Nobuo Uematsu
Sung by: Ulla Pirttijärvi, Tuuni Länsman, and Ursula Länsman
~So far away from my home, sweet home
Day by day, from land to land I roam
Though told by the wind which way to go,
Oh, how I long for my home, sweet home.
Boaðe ruoktot alot go dan dovtat tuski
You can come home in times of harshness.
Boaðe ruoktot alot go dan dovtat vaivui
You may come home in times of sorrow, too.
Du ruoktu vuordà du alot
Your home will be waiting for you forever.
Du ruoktu vuordà du alot
It will be waiting for you forever.
Fragrant blossoms blooming far away-
Do my folks see them as I did long ago?
Are they still joyful? Are they young at heart?
Will I see them again as I did that day?
How far I've come from my childhood home!
There will come a time when my troubles are gone,
And when I shall not be all alone-
Till then, I dream of my home, sweet home.
Meahcci, càcit
Forest, stream
Albmi, eana
Sky and earth
Dat buot vurdet du
Everyone is waiting
Dat buot vurdet du
Waiting for your return~
I'll wait for you forever…
To be continued…
Please continue to "Destined to Die 3: Tears of Rejuvenation"
I await your reviews for this book if you so desire. Thank you.
-Mayris