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ladybug_archiveThis blurb is so weird, I don't even know if I want to post it. It's based in the Sunrise and Midnight verse, though it definitely will not be happening in the actual story. I was feeling extremely morbid, weird, and very tired when I wrote it, I imagine. XD And sleeping before posting did nothing to alter how weirded out I am by it.
By the way, for this verse to make whatever conceivable sense that it can, it is to be understood that here, Zack and Aerith were revived before the final battle against Jenova. XD
It was raining that night.
Typical, Cloud decided. They needed to have a funeral and it was raining.
He crossed his arms, glowering as he moved farther underneath the tree's heavy branches and thick foliage. It was probably going to be near impossible to light the pyre. And why was that necessary, anyway? Why could they not simply bury the body and have it done? The whole funeral pyre thing seemed so much more showy. A fire that big would be seen from quite a distance.
Zack had acted so strange about the whole matter. He had been devastated over the death, and he had said that they should lay his friend to rest quickly and honorably. It had taken his life in order to seal Jenova away, and he deserved a respectful end. And Zack had said that when the other had perished without being able to undo his more powerful form, it would seem wrong, somehow, to bury him with all those wings. Wings were meant to take to the sky, to be free, not buried six feet under the ground. Anyway, he had added, it was not likely that they would be able to find the right sized coffin. Even folded over the body, the wings took up quite a bit of space.
The blond gripped his upper arms. He had been with Sephiroth, at the last. He had yelled for the other to stay there, to make up his mind what he was going to do, and that idiot had just smirked weakly in a self-depreciating way. "I'm not being given a choice," he had answered. "If you don't want me to die, you're out of luck." And then . . . then he had just been gone.
Cloud had screamed in frustration, slamming his fists into the grassy hill. "You're not supposed to die!" he had yelled. "What about Zack?" And he had cursed loudly and despairing, shutting his eyes tightly.
Now his eyes were wide open, as he watched everyone else gathered there. It was surprising to some extent that all of them had come. But on the other hand, it should not be, he decided. No matter their personal feelings about Sephiroth, he had still fought with them in the battles, and once they had all weakened her in the last one, it had been Sephiroth who had managed to deliver the final possible blow by imprisoning her in another dimension. He could not have done it without having tapped into his modified Safer form, but it had been the death of him. And it looked like everyone else felt that he did deserve to be remembered for the good that he had done.
Cloud glanced away again. He would not admit that he had not wanted Sephiroth to die, and if asked he would have said it was because of Zack. And that was certainly true. Zack had been extremely withdrawn in the past hours, ever since he had discovered Cloud with the other's body. It twisted Cloud's heart, to see his best friend in such a turmoil.
"Well," Zack had said in a sad tone, "I know I've heard that for someone to live, someone else has to die. The elders in Gongoga said it sometimes. I always hated when they said it. 'It just wouldn't be fair!' I thought. And it couldn't be true. I never wanted to believe it. . . ." And he had completely broken down.
In all the years Cloud had known Zack, he had never seen the other in such anguish. He had not even known what to do. Finally he had laid his hand gently on Zack's shoulder, hoping to offer comfort, in some small way. There would not have been any words right then that would have been appropriate to say, but maybe a kind action would help. . . . And Zack had seemed comforted, at least as much as he could be.
"There is one thing left I can try," he had murmured when he had calmed down at last. "What he told me. . . ."
Cloud had frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" he had asked.
But Zack had shook his head with a sad smile. "Nah . . . saying it aloud will just sound crazy. Nevermind." And that had been when he had changed the subject and said the body should be burned instead of buried.
"I just . . . hate the thought of leaving his body to rot, you know? It's Seph. I want to remember him the way I knew him."
And Cloud had agreed; it was not as if he had any reason not to. After all, Sephiroth was Zack's friend. Zack was the closest thing he had to caring family. It made sense for the brunet to decide what was to be done with his remains.
Cloud watched Zack now; he was holding the torch, his hands shaking. It was something he needed to do, he had told Cloud. It was one of the hardest things he could ever do, to be the one to lay Sephiroth's body to rest. Cloud could see him blinking rapidly, his eyes moist, before he turned away and threw the torch into the pyre, setting it ablaze.
"See you around, old pal," he whispered, his voice cracking. Then he had lowered it so it was barely discernible. "Come on, don't let me down . . . !"
Cloud's frown deepened. What did Zack mean? Was he so distraught that he was becoming delusional?
He looked to Aerith, who was standing near him along with Tifa. Her expression was filled with the utmost concern and sorrow for her beloved, but there was also a flicker in her eyes, something that almost looked like understanding. Did she know what he had meant?
Sensing that Cloud was watching her, she turned to glance to him. Her smile was gentle, but mysterious, and it said "Wait." And so there was nothing to do but exactly that.
He looked back to Sephiroth's body. The flames were lapping at it now.
Zack had also been the one to prepare the lifeless form for this moment. He had gently crossed the six wings over Sephiroth's legs, placed his hands on his chest, and then had brought the black wing down on his chest as well. Sephiroth's expression was not especially peaceful; he looked regretful and sad. For some reason, Cloud pictured that look being replaced by agony as the fire burned and melted his skin. He had to look away.
There was no reason why Cloud should mourn Sephiroth's passing, other than the fact that it was hurting Zack profoundly. And yet, it did disturb him, very much. He felt again as though he had been unable to prevent a death, that he had stood by and let it happen when he had should have done something more. Even though there had really been nothing to do. And after everything they had been through, and all the conversations they had shared, he could not honestly say that he hated Sephiroth any longer.
It should have been a relief, to finally come to that conclusion and get the weight off his chest. But instead he felt a deep regret. Maybe that was because Sephiroth was no longer here to know what Cloud had discovered.
Everyone was quiet as time passed and the body was consumed. Cloud wondered what they were thinking. After so long, it seemed that they should have all come to know at least somewhat of how Sephiroth had changed since regaining his sanity. Cloud had seen glimpses of the other's pre-Nibelheim self---a dry wit, a no-nonsense yet kind personality, and logical, strategical thinking. And he had also seen some of Sephiroth's other, less-desirable traits---the arrogance, the pride, the taunting. . . . And then there were more recent aspects, added after his return to sanity---regret, weariness, self-bitterness. . . .
He had always been determined. Other than "crazy", that was probably the main word Cloud would use to describe him. But he had not been determined enough to stop his own death. Or rather, he had had the determination, but not the ability. His body had gievn out without his permission.
"Well . . . that's that."
Cloud fully returned to the present at Vincent's statement. The fire was nearly gone. The last of the embers were flickering and dying. And Zack looked completely despondent.
"Zack . . ."
Cloud's voice was cut short by an abrupt change. The flames were suddenly roaring again, without any provocation. Barret cursed under his breath. Cid muttered about there always being "some crazy thing" to deal with. And Zack perked up again, staring at the fire, his gaze transfixed.
Without warning something shot out of the inferno and into the sky. As it went, ash suddenly and strangely rained down on all present, as if being shaken off of something. . . . The fire around the object died away, evaporating into the still-rainy sky. It was a man, a man with multiple wings. . . .
Zack gave a low exclamation, gripping tightly at Aerith's hand. Then he suddenly let go, running forward until he was directly under the hovering creature. "Seph!" he yelled. "Seph, come down!" He swallowed hard. "Please . . ."
Cloud stared at him. No . . . no that was impossible. They had just burned his body. Maybe what they were seeing was his spirit? But that would not explain the flying ashes. Nothing was being explained!
The being descended from the sky, faster and faster, seeming to be wanting to gain the ground as much as Zack wanted it to. Its wings were spread, beating wildly, and white and black feathers floated to the earth and into people's hair. Cloud reached up, shaking as he pulled one out of his spikes. He heard Barret cursing behind him in disbelief.
Then the man was arriving on the grass, and Zack was running over, throwing his arms tightly around him. It sounded like he was crying and laughing at the same time. "It's you," he announced joyously. "Hey, it really did work! You're alive, Seph . . . you're really alive. . . ."
Slowly the other took hold of Zack, pulling him close as his expression softened. It really was Sephiroth. It was impossible, but true. He was standing there in his Safer form, his white wings hanging onto the grass.
Aerith smiled gently, watching the reunion, and then looked back to Cloud. "Sephiroth told Zack, right before the final battle, that if he died without undoing his Safer form, his body should be burned," she said. "It only works once, but he said that if it wasn't his time to die, his body would be restored and he would rise from his own ashes like the phoenix of legend."
Cloud was still staring, shaking his head slowly. So that was what Zack had meant. That was what he had wanted all along, to follow through with what Sephiroth had told him in the hopes that it would bring him back.
The blond snorted. "So we aren't rid of him after all," he remarked, even as relief washed over him at Zack's happiness.
Zack pulled back after a moment, studying his friend. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked. Seph still had ash in his hair from the burned wood, though most of the black powder was falling off to the ground. He looked physically worn-out, and yet happy. He was glad to be back.
"I'm fine," Seph answered, "for someone who was burned and then resurrected. I was observing all the proceedings, even though you couldn't see me." The rest of his message was sent silently, through his eyes. "You did well, Zack. Thank you."
Zack grinned. "Hey, Cloud!" he called, turning around to look to the blond.
Cloud found himself going over to them. Zack's enthusiasm must be contagious. Or maybe, he was glad of these events even aside from that.
By the way, for this verse to make whatever conceivable sense that it can, it is to be understood that here, Zack and Aerith were revived before the final battle against Jenova. XD
It was raining that night.
Typical, Cloud decided. They needed to have a funeral and it was raining.
He crossed his arms, glowering as he moved farther underneath the tree's heavy branches and thick foliage. It was probably going to be near impossible to light the pyre. And why was that necessary, anyway? Why could they not simply bury the body and have it done? The whole funeral pyre thing seemed so much more showy. A fire that big would be seen from quite a distance.
Zack had acted so strange about the whole matter. He had been devastated over the death, and he had said that they should lay his friend to rest quickly and honorably. It had taken his life in order to seal Jenova away, and he deserved a respectful end. And Zack had said that when the other had perished without being able to undo his more powerful form, it would seem wrong, somehow, to bury him with all those wings. Wings were meant to take to the sky, to be free, not buried six feet under the ground. Anyway, he had added, it was not likely that they would be able to find the right sized coffin. Even folded over the body, the wings took up quite a bit of space.
The blond gripped his upper arms. He had been with Sephiroth, at the last. He had yelled for the other to stay there, to make up his mind what he was going to do, and that idiot had just smirked weakly in a self-depreciating way. "I'm not being given a choice," he had answered. "If you don't want me to die, you're out of luck." And then . . . then he had just been gone.
Cloud had screamed in frustration, slamming his fists into the grassy hill. "You're not supposed to die!" he had yelled. "What about Zack?" And he had cursed loudly and despairing, shutting his eyes tightly.
Now his eyes were wide open, as he watched everyone else gathered there. It was surprising to some extent that all of them had come. But on the other hand, it should not be, he decided. No matter their personal feelings about Sephiroth, he had still fought with them in the battles, and once they had all weakened her in the last one, it had been Sephiroth who had managed to deliver the final possible blow by imprisoning her in another dimension. He could not have done it without having tapped into his modified Safer form, but it had been the death of him. And it looked like everyone else felt that he did deserve to be remembered for the good that he had done.
Cloud glanced away again. He would not admit that he had not wanted Sephiroth to die, and if asked he would have said it was because of Zack. And that was certainly true. Zack had been extremely withdrawn in the past hours, ever since he had discovered Cloud with the other's body. It twisted Cloud's heart, to see his best friend in such a turmoil.
"Well," Zack had said in a sad tone, "I know I've heard that for someone to live, someone else has to die. The elders in Gongoga said it sometimes. I always hated when they said it. 'It just wouldn't be fair!' I thought. And it couldn't be true. I never wanted to believe it. . . ." And he had completely broken down.
In all the years Cloud had known Zack, he had never seen the other in such anguish. He had not even known what to do. Finally he had laid his hand gently on Zack's shoulder, hoping to offer comfort, in some small way. There would not have been any words right then that would have been appropriate to say, but maybe a kind action would help. . . . And Zack had seemed comforted, at least as much as he could be.
"There is one thing left I can try," he had murmured when he had calmed down at last. "What he told me. . . ."
Cloud had frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" he had asked.
But Zack had shook his head with a sad smile. "Nah . . . saying it aloud will just sound crazy. Nevermind." And that had been when he had changed the subject and said the body should be burned instead of buried.
"I just . . . hate the thought of leaving his body to rot, you know? It's Seph. I want to remember him the way I knew him."
And Cloud had agreed; it was not as if he had any reason not to. After all, Sephiroth was Zack's friend. Zack was the closest thing he had to caring family. It made sense for the brunet to decide what was to be done with his remains.
Cloud watched Zack now; he was holding the torch, his hands shaking. It was something he needed to do, he had told Cloud. It was one of the hardest things he could ever do, to be the one to lay Sephiroth's body to rest. Cloud could see him blinking rapidly, his eyes moist, before he turned away and threw the torch into the pyre, setting it ablaze.
"See you around, old pal," he whispered, his voice cracking. Then he had lowered it so it was barely discernible. "Come on, don't let me down . . . !"
Cloud's frown deepened. What did Zack mean? Was he so distraught that he was becoming delusional?
He looked to Aerith, who was standing near him along with Tifa. Her expression was filled with the utmost concern and sorrow for her beloved, but there was also a flicker in her eyes, something that almost looked like understanding. Did she know what he had meant?
Sensing that Cloud was watching her, she turned to glance to him. Her smile was gentle, but mysterious, and it said "Wait." And so there was nothing to do but exactly that.
He looked back to Sephiroth's body. The flames were lapping at it now.
Zack had also been the one to prepare the lifeless form for this moment. He had gently crossed the six wings over Sephiroth's legs, placed his hands on his chest, and then had brought the black wing down on his chest as well. Sephiroth's expression was not especially peaceful; he looked regretful and sad. For some reason, Cloud pictured that look being replaced by agony as the fire burned and melted his skin. He had to look away.
There was no reason why Cloud should mourn Sephiroth's passing, other than the fact that it was hurting Zack profoundly. And yet, it did disturb him, very much. He felt again as though he had been unable to prevent a death, that he had stood by and let it happen when he had should have done something more. Even though there had really been nothing to do. And after everything they had been through, and all the conversations they had shared, he could not honestly say that he hated Sephiroth any longer.
It should have been a relief, to finally come to that conclusion and get the weight off his chest. But instead he felt a deep regret. Maybe that was because Sephiroth was no longer here to know what Cloud had discovered.
Everyone was quiet as time passed and the body was consumed. Cloud wondered what they were thinking. After so long, it seemed that they should have all come to know at least somewhat of how Sephiroth had changed since regaining his sanity. Cloud had seen glimpses of the other's pre-Nibelheim self---a dry wit, a no-nonsense yet kind personality, and logical, strategical thinking. And he had also seen some of Sephiroth's other, less-desirable traits---the arrogance, the pride, the taunting. . . . And then there were more recent aspects, added after his return to sanity---regret, weariness, self-bitterness. . . .
He had always been determined. Other than "crazy", that was probably the main word Cloud would use to describe him. But he had not been determined enough to stop his own death. Or rather, he had had the determination, but not the ability. His body had gievn out without his permission.
"Well . . . that's that."
Cloud fully returned to the present at Vincent's statement. The fire was nearly gone. The last of the embers were flickering and dying. And Zack looked completely despondent.
"Zack . . ."
Cloud's voice was cut short by an abrupt change. The flames were suddenly roaring again, without any provocation. Barret cursed under his breath. Cid muttered about there always being "some crazy thing" to deal with. And Zack perked up again, staring at the fire, his gaze transfixed.
Without warning something shot out of the inferno and into the sky. As it went, ash suddenly and strangely rained down on all present, as if being shaken off of something. . . . The fire around the object died away, evaporating into the still-rainy sky. It was a man, a man with multiple wings. . . .
Zack gave a low exclamation, gripping tightly at Aerith's hand. Then he suddenly let go, running forward until he was directly under the hovering creature. "Seph!" he yelled. "Seph, come down!" He swallowed hard. "Please . . ."
Cloud stared at him. No . . . no that was impossible. They had just burned his body. Maybe what they were seeing was his spirit? But that would not explain the flying ashes. Nothing was being explained!
The being descended from the sky, faster and faster, seeming to be wanting to gain the ground as much as Zack wanted it to. Its wings were spread, beating wildly, and white and black feathers floated to the earth and into people's hair. Cloud reached up, shaking as he pulled one out of his spikes. He heard Barret cursing behind him in disbelief.
Then the man was arriving on the grass, and Zack was running over, throwing his arms tightly around him. It sounded like he was crying and laughing at the same time. "It's you," he announced joyously. "Hey, it really did work! You're alive, Seph . . . you're really alive. . . ."
Slowly the other took hold of Zack, pulling him close as his expression softened. It really was Sephiroth. It was impossible, but true. He was standing there in his Safer form, his white wings hanging onto the grass.
Aerith smiled gently, watching the reunion, and then looked back to Cloud. "Sephiroth told Zack, right before the final battle, that if he died without undoing his Safer form, his body should be burned," she said. "It only works once, but he said that if it wasn't his time to die, his body would be restored and he would rise from his own ashes like the phoenix of legend."
Cloud was still staring, shaking his head slowly. So that was what Zack had meant. That was what he had wanted all along, to follow through with what Sephiroth had told him in the hopes that it would bring him back.
The blond snorted. "So we aren't rid of him after all," he remarked, even as relief washed over him at Zack's happiness.
Zack pulled back after a moment, studying his friend. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked. Seph still had ash in his hair from the burned wood, though most of the black powder was falling off to the ground. He looked physically worn-out, and yet happy. He was glad to be back.
"I'm fine," Seph answered, "for someone who was burned and then resurrected. I was observing all the proceedings, even though you couldn't see me." The rest of his message was sent silently, through his eyes. "You did well, Zack. Thank you."
Zack grinned. "Hey, Cloud!" he called, turning around to look to the blond.
Cloud found himself going over to them. Zack's enthusiasm must be contagious. Or maybe, he was glad of these events even aside from that.
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Date: 2007-05-25 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-25 02:55 am (UTC)I had been wanting to do a funeral blurb since last night, though I always planned Seph would come back. I had originally just been thinking of them going to bury him and he revives before that happens. Then I thought a funeral pyre would be more interesting. XD The phoenix angle was because KH Seph has a connection to fire, so I wondered if the FF7 Seph might have one, too.