Floating above the platform... the same platform upon which he spilled the blood of Aeris Gainsborough weeks earlier... was the slim yet intimidating form of the being called Sephiroth. Frozen emerald eyes scanned the room, sizing up the five individuals standing below him, their weapons at the ready.

"What are you doing here?!" Cloud demanded, his blue eyes ablaze with fury. It took all the willpower in his body not to pounce on Sephiroth in a blind rage... to make him pay for everything he had done.

"I am here for the same reason you are, Puppet," Sephiroth answered coolly, still floating high above the team with an air of superiority, "I am well aware of the Holy Materia, and that its final resting place is right here, where the little Cetra girl left it. It was supposed to remain buried here, along with its mistress."

A wicked ecstasy glinted in Sephiroth's bright eyes, fully aware of the wound he intended to reopen in Cloud's heart.

"Well, you're too late," Cloud growled, latching the milky sphere of materia to his wrist armlet, "Now, let's see if you're man enough to take us all on. Right here, right now."

Tifa stared at Cloud in utter amazement. Is he crazy?! We may have the Holy Materia, but we don't know how to use it, or even if we can use it safely! There's no way we can match Sephiroth's power without it!

Still, Tifa didn't voice her thoughts, nor her dissention. Instead, she stood beside Cloud, prepared to follow wherever he would lead the team.

She trusted him.

Sephiroth seemed to consider Cloud's challenge for a moment. "No," he decided, waving Cloud's proposal away as if it were ludicrous, "I'd rather not waste my time with you insects. The universe awaits!"

"What do you plan to gain by destroying the planet?!" Billy challenged, stepping forward.

Sephiroth smiled at the newcomer. "I wonder how many poor souls Cloud Strife will pull into this personal vendetta of his. You see, Boy, I have everything to gain! Once the planet is destroyed, the power of the Lifestream will be set free... and I will be the only thing left alive to absorb it."

His wicked grin returning, Sephiroth floated higher into the air. "So, in order to be rid of you once and for all, Puppet, I'd like to introduce you to... my mother."

Sephiroth brought his hands together, forming a murky cloud of black power. Within that cloud, flashes of white lightning appeared on occasion, and the cloud increased in size. Finally, once it was about the size of a volleyball, Sephiroth tensed, and extended his hands. The sphere crashed to the floor near the team, and grew at an alarming rate, the electricity flashes intensifying and shaking the entire city. Barrett, Tifa, Billy and Zack stepped back from the creature, but Cloud remained with his feet planted.

The cloud finally took shape, becoming an enormous black creature, slightly reminiscent of a brain, with four enormous tentacles. It's slimy form floated just a few feet off the ground, electric sparks still flashing on occasion near the extremities of the tentacles.

"His mother is a giant squid?!" Zack declared, fighting the urge to throw up at the gruesome sight.

"It's not really his mother," Tifa explained, "It's more like a creature created with Jenova's DNA. His mother has been dead for quite some time."

"She's gettin' ready to blow!" Barrett shouted in warning. Sure enough, the large tentacles began to swing through the air, firing bolts of electricity in random directions.

"Cloud, MOVE!" Tifa screamed, her eyes fixed on their leader. He was much closer to the enormous beast, deflecting the stray bolts with his large sword. Once the bolts of energy ceased for a few moments, Cloud saw his opportunity, and slashed his sword through the air, creating an arc of white light. The energy collided with Jenova-Obsidian's tentacles, yet didn't have an apparent effect.

For a moment, Cloud was stunned at the beast's resilience.

A moment was all it needed.

A tentacle stretched out at a phenomenal speed, surprising the young warrior, and tightly gripping his stomach. Cloud cried out in pain as the beast pulled him into the air, squeezing the life out of him.

"Let's move," Barrett shouted, racing closer to the battle scene. Closing one eye, Barrett raised his gun-arm, and fired a round of bullets into the beast's side. It grumbled slightly, more annoyed at Barrett's attack than anything else. Barrett shrieked as another tentacle launched itself in his general direction.

"Now you've done it!" Barrett growled, ducking as the tentacle passed over his head. He fired at the tentacle itself this time, yet it yielded even less of an effect. The tentacle remained more or less unharmed, and reversed direction, plowing into Barrett's stomach and sending the burly man tumbling towards the rest of the group.

"Billy," Tifa ordered, taking a moment to check on Barrett, "use the Time materia to speed both you and Zack up. Then Zack, use the Deathblow materia. Get one powerful hit in, and then Billy can quickly rush in and save Cloud while the monster is disoriented."

"Right!" both young men declared, moving in closer. Billy raised his arm, where the Crystal Bangle was located.

"Haste!" he commanded, clenching his fist. One of the two green spheres began to glow brightly, and formed a swirling green mist that rapped around both young men.

The world slowed down around them. Tifa and Barrett were completely frozen, and the monster was only barely moving its tentacles.

"Incredible!" Zack shouted, although, to his shock, his voice sounded very slow and deliberate.

"Zack, use the Deathblow!" Billy reminded his awed friend.

Zack nodded, and pointed the Winchester carefully at the base of the tentacle still gripping Cloud. "Deathblow!"

The yellow materia attached to the rifle flashed, and two bullets were instantly fired from the barrel. Although the rest of the world appeared all but frozen, the bullets sliced through the air swiftly, each one glowing faintly with yellow light. They both plowed into the monster's slick flesh, causing a deep roar of pain to slowly rumble from the monster.

Billy immediately saw his chance, racing to the slow-moving monster. Poll-vaulting with his Partisan, the former Blue Power Ranger leapt through the air, catching the tentacle that still held Cloud prisoner. Billy then pulled himself onto the almost paralyzed tentacle, and dug his Partisan through the scaly flesh. Black blood squirted from where the incision was made, and slowly the monster's grip loosened on its captive. Billy urgently leapt from his perch onto the ground, and managed to soften Cloud's slow descent from the monster's fatal grasp.

Then, a flash of green light brought everything back to normal time.

"Billy!" Zack shrieked in alarm.

Billy's gaze rose to the monster, who was now moving with the mind-numbing speed with which it operated before the Haste spell was cast. He managed to push the slightly disoriented Cloud out of the way, and grabbed his Partisan just in time to block a speeding tentacle.

With an infuriated growl, the monster grabbed the Partisan and lifted it into the air, along with Billy. It then tossed them powerfully, sending Billy and his weapon into the calm pool of water below the large platform.

Zack gasped in panic when he didn't see his friend emerge from the clear waters. Yet, before the swift Silver Ranger could make a move, a large form ran right passed him.

"Hang on, Poindexter!" Barrett roared, diving into the pool with surprising agility.

Zack pulled his eyes away from the pool, confident the resilient Barrett would find Billy in time. He instead paid attention to the fight at hand.

Cloud seemed to have regained his lucidity, and was desperately trying to fend off the tentacles, this time at a slightly safer distance. Tifa was busily ducking and dodging both the tentacles, as well as random bolts of lightning.

"Tifa, watch it!" Cloud shouted, his eyes on a tentacle streaking towards the brash warrior. Tifa leapt out of the way, allowing the tentacle to crash into the marble floor beneath her. Quickly recovering her focus, Tifa grabbed the tentacle with her Premium Heart glove, and squeezed tightly.

The magical glove increased the strength of Tifa's grip phenomenally, causing the monster to groan slightly in pain.

"Now, let's see how it likes this!" Tifa shouted, her tawny eyes narrow, "Flare!"

At her command, one of the three green spheres decorating her glove began to flash with light. Suddenly, her glove released a bright, fiery orange aura of heat. That energy intensified, the exertion bringing sweat to Tifa's brow. Finally, the energy began to channel through the monster's tentacle, sending the magical flame energy into its core.

Greatly weakened from the exertion, Tifa released the monster's tentacle, and staggered away slightly. Cloud was at her side in an instant, helping her get far enough from the creature to recover.

At the pool of water, Barrett finally broke the surface, his good arm wrapped around Billy's waist and pulling him towards the edge. Zack fell to his knees and pulled Billy out of the water, and then helped Barrett. Treading water and gasping for breath, Billy rolled onto his side, and coughed out a mouthful of water.

"Are you okay?" Zack asked, helping Billy to his knees.

"Just... a... minute," Billy forced out through burning lungs.

"Take five," Barrett gasped, pounding the water out of his gun-arm, "When you're back on your feet, join the party!"

That said, Barrett bounded back to the fight, and was immediately at Cloud's side, continuing the flight of energy and cold steel.

Slowly, Tifa rose to her feet, and for a moment, she watched Cloud and Barrett fight. They seemed to have constructed a method of leaping in, delivering a quick attack, and leaping out of the way of the tentacles. However, it was plain to see that they were slowing down. Barrett was still disoriented from his swim, and Cloud was just managing to block the tentacles with his enormous sword.

Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Tifa hurried towards the pool, where Billy was still coughing up the water he had swallowed.

"How is he?" she asked Zack.

"He said he'll be fine," Zack replied, "Billy's not much of a swimmer. In fact, he hates the water."

Tifa nodded, giving both young men a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. Then, mustering her strength, Tifa hurried back towards the fight.

She stopped short in utter terror as the beast suddenly reared up, and began waving its tentacles high in the air.

"What the &%#@ is it doin'?!" Barrett shouted, stepping back from the creature.

His answer came in the form of a deafening scream, that sliced through the city, shaking everything at its foundations, and creating an agonizing pain within the heads of each of the heroes.

Barrett and Cloud, who were the closest to the beast, were effected the most by the mighty wail. Their hands (or in Barrett's case, his upper arm) flew to their ears, and they fell to their knees in mind-numbing pain.

Tifa collapsed as well, trying her best to block the tormenting sound from her mind. She managed to force her eyes open, however, to see what the monster was doing.

It was slinking its way towards the downed Barrett and Cloud, ready to make the final kill.

Tifa's eyes narrowed with fury as she dropped her hands from her ears. Gathering every drop of strength within her, Tifa raised her hand in the air, her eyes fixed on the single red sphere attached to her bangle.

"I summon the Knights of the Round!!" she shouted, her command slicing through the mayhem.

Everything stopped.

Suddenly, the ground upon which everyone was standing became supple and onyx black. Ripples of energy seemed to pass beneath the ground, pushing everyone away from the epicenter... where Jenova-Obsidian stood motionless. Perhaps, on some level, she knew what was coming.

"What's happening?" Zack whispered, panic in his voice.

"We're about to see the most powerful summon spell on the planet," Billy said in an awed voice.

Without warning, the rest of the chamber became an inky black void, littered with faint lights reminiscent of stars in the night sky. At first, everything was quiet.

And then, it began.

An enormous knight, at least fifteen feet in height, materialized in the room. He wore full length armor, obscuring his features efficiently, and grasped a powerful weapon. With the speed of a wraith, he flew through the air, his mighty lance slicing through the fierce creature, leaving a wound gushing black blood.

Once the knight had done its duty, it vanished. For a split second, all was quiet, until another knight appeared, his armor significantly different than the first, this time armed with a hefty mace.

One by one twelve knights paraded through the void, slashing and slicing through the monster with magical weapons that inflicted a great deal of damage. At each brutal strike the beast cried out in agony, it's blood spilling in all directions from a number of serious wounds.

And then... the final Knight appeared.

This knight was much taller and broader than the preceding knights, and held a saber as large as a tree. With one mighty down-thrust, the final Knight left his mark, before dissipating into nothingness.

Then, the black void vanished, leaving the five warriors and the suffering monster in the crystalline City of the Ancients.

Billy and Zack were utterly speechless at the awesome display of magical power. It was like nothing they had ever seen before. The power contained in that spell was almost certainly enough to fell even the Terra Megazord, yet it was contained in so small a gemstone.

Barrett and Cloud had recovered from Jenova's piercing vocal attack, and were trying to get their bearings. Cautiously, they watched the beast writhe slightly in pain.

"Holy $#!@," Barrett whispered, "The thing ain't dead yet?!"

"Get ready," Cloud said, gripping his sword tighter. He held his breath, waiting for something to happen.

The monster weakly lifted one tentacle. However, rather than flashing with white electricity, a smoky black cloud began to build at the tip. The team didn't realize what was happening until it was too late.

The tentacle had reached its maximum energy, and pointed forward, to her target.

Cloud gasped when he realized that Tifa, who was barely conscious after her execution of the mighty Knights of the Round, was in the line of fire.

"Tifa!" he cried in warning.

Her fawn eyes wide with alarm, Tifa turned around at the alert. She didn't move fast enough.

The murky black cloud crashed into Tifa's slender body like a speeding truck, throwing her clear across the chamber. Her limp form slammed against a stone pillar, and slid down to the cold ground.

"TIFA!!" Cloud screamed, his whole body trembling. Completely forgetting the raging beast he faced, he raced to where Tifa lay. Dropping his long sword, Cloud gathered Tifa in his arms. He winced when he noticed the gray tint to her soft skin, and the complete limpness of her body.

"Tifa?" he whispered, shaking her gently, "Snap out of it!"

Barrett turned around from his position, and saw Tifa and Cloud. His face fell. "Oh no..."

Quickly, the veteran soldier searched the crystalline chamber for Zack and Billy. Both young men were so far mostly unharmed, and had taken the opportunity to occupy the creature with well-placed bullets, lance-thrusts, and the occasional magic spell. "Guys! Keep it going! We gotta keep this thing busy until Cloud and Tifa are back in the game!"

Meanwhile, Cloud was on the verge of panic. He had seen Tifa unconscious before, but now there was absolutely no life in her. Her muscles were completely limp, and she didn't even twitch. Cloud held her close, trying to find a heartbeat.

He didn't.

"Tifa, don't leave me!" he ordered, torment in his voice. He stared at her calm face for a moment, and with a trembling hand, he gently opened one of her eyes. He choked on his own breath.

Her eyes were solid black orbs.

"What the hell...?" he muttered, lying her back on the floor. He urgently grabbed the Premium Heart glove from her flaccid hand, and removed the Heal materia. Holding his breath, he concentrated every fiber in his being, and held the crystal over her body.

A faint green aura surrounded the young woman like a cloud. The healing mists continued to swirl around her body, and then absorbed themselves through her skin. But, she didn't respond.

"N...no," Cloud whispered, reaching for the Cure materia. However, that had no effect either.

"Tifa, please... don't..." Cloud said quietly, "Just... just move a little. Just... blink or... or open your mouth... or... something! Do SOMETHING!!"

Despite Cloud's pleas, Tifa remained cold and still.

The well of tears began sliding down Cloud's cheeks as he gently brushed his fingers against her cold face. Taking shallow breaths, Cloud bent over and placed a tender kiss on her cold lips... the first kiss he had ever given her. Pursing his lips tightly, he turned back towards the creature that Zack, Billy, and Barrett were fighting.

The creature that stole Tifa from him.

The creature that dared lay a finger on his Tifa!

It was going to pay.

His arm trembling with boiling rage, Cloud reached for his abandoned sword. Slowly rising to his feet, he grasped the enormous blade with both hands, squeezing the hilt with every ounce of strength he could muster. His eyes flashed with bright fury, and his sword began to glow with an eerie light. The light was so intense, it grasped the attention of Barrett, Billy, and Zack.

"What... what's wrong with him?!" Zack yelled.

"Holy $#!%!!" Barrett cried, "Everybody, get outta his way!"

Billy and Zack obliged, rushing for cover. They joined Barrett at the opposite edge of the chamber, ducking for cover behind the crystal staircase they had descended earlier.

Cloud remained where he was, his sword glowing brightly, reminiscent of a long fluorescent light bulb. His azure eyes continued to spark with fury.

The monster saw Cloud's boiling rage, and launched another murky sphere of energy at him; the same kind of power that felled brave Tifa.

Cloud dodged the blast easily, leaping into the air with the ferocious speed and agility of a hunting lion. He leapt clear across the room, thrusting his sword down on his way toward the beast.

Then he hit... like an atomic bomb.

Each impact with the charged sword caused huge damage to the beast, and less than a split second separated the individual strikes from each other. Cloud continued leaping at least ten feet into the air, delivering a flurry of blows; each powerful enough to slice an oak tree in two from top to bottom, intensified by the boiling energy that flowed from Cloud's body into his incredible sword.

The onslaught was a more intense focus of pure power than the beast could sustain. It was easily twice as deadly as the fabled Knights of the Round materia.

The monster didn't have a chance to scream.

A powerful explosion of light erupted after Cloud's final slice. The energy released shook the entire city, but due to the superior architecture of the city, it didn't collapse around the heroes.

When the smoke passed, Barrett, Zack, and Billy rose from where they had taken cover. Barrett whistled, clearly impressed by Cloud's strength. Zack and Billy were dumbstruck.

"Wh... what...?!" Zack gasped once he found his voice.

Barrett grinned. "That monster sure did something wrong," he explained, "It really pissed Cloud off. When Cloud gets pissed, he reaches his Limit... the Omni-Slash. Pure adrenaline, combined with the Mako in his body, channeled through the magical Ultimate Weapon, and... well, all hell breaks loose."

Suddenly, Barrett's expression of pride melted into one of panic. "I've seen the Omni-Slash before, but it was never this powerful. Something really bad has happened. Guys, make sure Cloud's okay. I'm gonna find Tifa."

Zack and Billy nodded, racing over to the epicenter of the colossal explosion of power. There, they found the Ultimate Weapon lodged into the singed and marred marble floor all the way up to the hilt, still smoking from the brutal assault. Beside it, lying flat on his back, Cloud Strife lay, his eyes half open.

"Cloud?" Zack whispered, kneeling beside the young man, "Are you okay?"

Cloud didn't answer. He continued to stare at the ceiling absently.

It was then that Zack noticed a tear streak down the side of Cloud's eye.

"Zack! Billy!" Barrett shouted, walking towards them. Both young men glanced up, and their eyes widened in fear and surprise as Barrett carried Tifa Lockheart's completely motionless body. Barrett himself was clearly fighting back tears.

"There's nothing we can do," Barrett said quietly, lying his close friend on the ground gently, "She was hit by that Obsidian attack. There's evil magic that's keeping her like this, and it's too powerful for cure magic to undo it."

"She's dead?" Billy asked, almost in denial.

Barrett nodded quietly.

"Tifa..." Cloud whispered, blinking for the first time since he used the devastating Omni-Slash. With a moan of pain, Cloud pushed himself to a sitting position, and fixed his gaze on Tifa.

His best friend.

The only person who really knew him.

The only person who ever knew him... even when he counted himself.

The one person... he couldn't even fathom living without.

"No!" Cloud suddenly shrieked, renewed energy flowing through his veins, "No, I won't let you leave me, Tifa!"

Billy, Zack, and Barrett backed away as Cloud pulled himself along the ground, until he was beside her. He brushed a stray lock of dark chocolate hair from her eyes, and clutched her hand in his.

"You've gotta hold on," he said, "Please... I'll find a way to save you. I will not let you down!"

"Cloud," Barrett said gently, laying a broad hand on the young man's trembling shoulder, "I... I'm sorry, Man... but... it's too late."

"No it's not!" Cloud roared, pushing the larger man away from him, "It's not..."

"Cloud!" Barrett shouted more firmly, trying to get through to the distraught hero, "You've gotta keep yourself together! I'm hurting too... but we can't lose sight of our goal. We've still got to deal with Sephiroth!"

Gasping in short, ragged breaths, Cloud lifted his gaze, and glared at Barrett. Desperation and fear glinted in the azure orbs.

"Keep myself together?" he repeated in an impassioned voice, "How the hell am I supposed to keep myself together?! Don't you see? Tifa is the only thing holding me together! She's all that I have!!"

His eyes narrowed. "I won't lose her. If I lose her, I lose everything..."

Letting go of Tifa's hand for a moment, Cloud reached for the pearly white materia stone in his armlet band. He removed it from its position, and gazed at the gem pensively.

"No you don't!" Barrett shouted, "What do you think you're doing? Didn't you hear what Bugenhagen said? Only the Cetra can use Holy Materia safely. It could kill you, Cloud!"

Cloud ignored his friend's warning. "I survived the Lifestream twice, Barrett. I wasn't born a Cetra, but I have Mako energy flowing through my veins. It's a part of me. It won't hurt me."

"You can't be sure of that," Barrett pointed out.

Cloud nodded, laying the pearl in Tifa's cold hand. He then enclosed her delicate fingers around it, and clasped her hand in both of his. "True," he responded, "I can't know for sure what'll happen. There's very little one can ever be sure of. But there's one thing I am sure of... I can't lose Tifa. No matter what, I can't lose her."

That said, Cloud closed his eyes tightly, and bowed his head. Tifa's hand remained encased within his own.

Billy, Zack, and Barrett watched anxiously. They had to have faith that the Holy Materia was capable of answering Cloud's prayer.

Suddenly, Cloud took a strained breath of air. He took it into his lungs very slowly and noisily, as if it hurt him to breathe. Then, his hands began to shine faintly with white energy.

The white energy was barely visible at first, but then it grew. It became a dense cloud of energy, focused around Cloud's hands with a diameter of about a foot. Then, without warning, the energy leapt into Cloud's chest like a bullet. Cloud exhaled the breath he had taken, still firmly grasping Tifa's hands, and gritting his teeth to combat the pain of flaming energy in his chest. Finally, the white energy leapt out of his body, causing him to collapse to the ground in an exhausted heap.

Still, his grip remained firm on Tifa's hands.

The energy then leapt into Tifa's chest. Cloud fought the veils of unconsciousness, and watched carefully with his friends to see what effect the white mist would have.

For several minutes, there was nothing. But then, Tifa lurched.

Her entire body convulsed as if she were being electrocuted, her raven eyes shuttering open and her lips parting. From her mouth, a murky black mist poured out, floating into the air above and dissipating out of existence. Once the last drop of darkness left her body, Tifa fell limp again to the floor.

Everyone held their collective breath.

Then, slowly, Tifa inhaled. Soon after, her tawny eyes flickered open.

"W... where...?" she rasped, squinting to focus her eyes.

"You'll be fine," Barrett said, as gently as he could, "You need some rest."

Tifa nodded, closing her eyes. Yet, she felt pressure on her hands, and opened them once again. Slowly turning her head, she shuddered in surprise when she saw Cloud lying beside her, his eyes half open and a warm smile on his face. Also, his hands still tightly held hers.

"You're... okay," he whispered, nodding slightly. Then, with every iota of his strength spent, Cloud passed out completely. His grip weakened with unconsciousness, and his hands fell limply from their grasp around Tifa's.

Then, Tifa realized she was holding the Holy Materia in her hand. She sat up, and gazed at the pearl questioningly. "What happened?"

Billy was entirely captivated by what had occurred. "You don't remember?" he asked.

Tifa stared at him blankly. "I... I remember casting Knights of the Round. Then, everything went black."

Tifa frowned slightly, and turned back to Cloud. "What's wrong with him? Is he okay?"

"Let's hope so," Barrett said, rising to his feet, "Mophead used the Holy Materia to bring you back to life." His tone softened. "You were dead, Tifa. Dead beyond any magical restoration."

Tifa's mouth opened slightly, horror rising in her eyes at the thought. She had been dead? Then... how come she wasn't dead now?

"He... he used the Holy Materia to bring me back?" Tifa asked. "Why? He could have died, and it would have been for nothing!"

Zack wanted so much to just shake reality into the young woman. He wanted to tell her, that Cloud loved her... that she was all that mattered to him. But, he resisted the urge. He knew it wasn't his place to interfere with their relationship. "I think you should talk to Cloud about it, when he wakes up," he suggested.

"In the meantime, we'd better get back to the Highwind," Barrett said, glancing down at Tifa, "Can you walk?"

"I... I think so," she responded, slowly pulling herself to her feet. She managed to stand, albeit awkwardly.

"Okay, I'll carry Mophead," Barrett said, hefting the unconscious Cloud over his shoulder.

"I'll help you," Billy said to Tifa, taking her hand to help steady her, "You can lean on me."

Tifa smiled gratefully, and wrapped her arm around Billy's shoulder.

"Uh, Tifa," Zack said, tapping the woman on her shoulder, "Could I see that Holy Materia?"

Tifa nodded, handing him the pearl. Zack grinned, and held it carefully, as if it were an egg. As Barrett, Tifa, and Billy began the walk up the staircase towards the surface, Zack peered into the gem.

"Cloud saved Tifa's life with you," he said quietly, "Now, I need your help. I... I don't know if you're alive or anything, but you're the only chance Aisha has. Materia is supposed to tell the user how it works. So... tell me. How do you save people's lives? How can I save a life?"

Zack waited, staring into the milky crystal for a few moments. All he saw was the white mist within. No images were displayed for his enlightenment.

"Zack?" Billy called, glancing over his shoulder, "Are you coming?"

"I'm right behind you," Zack answered, a frown on his face. He absently attached the Holy Materia to an empty spot in his armlet, and hurried up the crystalline stairs after his friends. With every step he took, his worry increased. What if Midgar didn't have the answer? What if this entire mission accomplished nothing at all?

What if... Aisha actually didn't make it?

Zack bit his lip, pushing those thoughts out of his head with a vengeance. He wouldn't think about that. It wouldn't happen. They'd find the cure. There was no alternative.

Through tear-filled, weary eyes, Alexis stared at the ceiling in her small quarters. The room was surprisingly comfortable, considering it served as a sort of barracks in case the Rangers would ever need to live in the CAC. The bed was far more comfortable than the medical cots in the main room, and she was more than glad not to have all the other Rangers standing over her, watching her heartbeat and measuring her breathing to make sure it was regular.

Alexis hated being monitored. And she hated it when people worried about her, and tried to protect her.

It made her feel as if they didn't have confidence in her... that she was in over her head.

It became something of a pet peeve for her, resulting from the first week or so of her service as the Purple Ranger; when she used her Bomb Attack against the Dracola. She had succeeded in eliminating the monster, yet she also brought herself to the brink of death.

Yes, it was a scary situation, and no, she probably didn't realize the consequences at the moment. But, after that day, all the Rangers felt the need to keep an especially careful eye on her.

Now that the others were Terran Rangers, things only were worse. Now, she was easily the weakest Power Ranger. She didn't have the enhanced powers the Zeo Crystal gave the others. She wasn't quite as fast, her energy blasts weren't quite as strong, and her physical strength and durability weren't really at the same level as the Terran Rangers.

They had reached the next level. She was left behind.

She was like the kid sister who always wanted to help, but kept on getting in everyone's way. What kind of a contribution did she really make?

Alexis wasn't really sure... and that scared her.

A soft knock on the door pulled the Purple Ranger out of her depressing reverie. "It's open," she called.

Rocky pushed the door open gently, and peeked his head into the room. He grinned at Alexis when his eyes locked with hers, and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"What's up?" Alexis inquired, sitting up on the bed.

"I just wanted-"

"To check up on me," Alexis finished darkly. Rocky jumped slightly at her unexpected reaction.

"Um, yeah," he finished. Alexis huffed slightly.

"Well, don't worry, I'm fine," she muttered, lying back down on her pillow, "In case you didn't notice, I'm not the one dying here. Maybe you should keep your watchful eye on Aisha."

Rocky remained silent, his copper gaze still locked on to Alexis. She muttered something to herself, and tossed her blanket over her head.

"Good night, Rocky," she said, anger tainting her voice.

Rocky blinked, still completely shocked by her inexplicable reaction. "What did I do?" he wanted to know.

Alexis sighed, pulling the sheets off of her head and gazing at Rocky again. This time, Rocky noticed the redness that marred her emerald eyes.

"Nothing," she said quietly, for fear her voice would crack, "I'm just a little cranky. It's been a long day, and I'd like to get a little bit of sleep, before I fall apart completely."

Rocky kept his eyes on her, his hurt expression tearing at Alexis. With a loud sigh, she leaned against the back of the bed, and gathered her legs close to her body, wrapping her arms around them.

She winced slightly at the movement, and rubbed a bruise on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Rocky asked immediately. He was answered by a cold glare that took him completely by surprise. "Look, I'm sorry if I've insulted you or something, Lex. I just wanted to see if you needed anything is all."

"So, are you asking all the Rangers if they need anything, or did you think I was particularly in need of assistance?" Alexis inquired.

Rocky's eyes widened slightly when he finally realized what troubled the Purple Ranger. "As a matter of fact, I am," he answered, "I just figured I'd come to you first, since your room was closest to the CAC."

"Well, I don't need anything, thank you."

Rocky nodded. "Okay, I'm leaving now," he said, backing towards the door slowly. Alexis turned her back to him, and lay down again on the cot. "But, I did want to congratulate you."

Alexis turned around, and looked at him quizzically. "For what?"

"For keeping Shade under control for so long," Rocky said, "You were a big help."

"No I wasn't," she muttered weakly. Rocky approached her again.

"I didn't catch that," he said, kneeling beside her bed. Alexis locked eyes with him again, a despondent expression on her pale face.

"No I wasn't," she repeated a little louder, "I wasn't much help today."

Rocky's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean? If it weren't for you, Shade would have run amok!"

Alexis swallowed, looking down at the floor. "None of the other Rangers needed help," she pointed out, "It was my ineptitude that forced the rest of the team to pick up my slack. The others could stand alone, but I needed help."

Rocky gently placed his finger beneath Alexis' chin, forcing her to look into his dark eyes. "Lex, you had a fever. You shouldn't have been in the fight in the first place. But you triumphed against circumstance, and put up a terrific fight. And I knew you could do it."

Alexis stopped sniffling for a moment. "What do you mean?"

Rocky grinned slightly. "Tommy told me to teleport anyone out of the fight as soon as they looked like they were having a hard time, remember?"

Alexis nodded in response.

"Well, I could have teleported you back. Actually, I should have, given Tommy's order. But I didn't. I trusted my instinct. I knew you could handle it, and you did. You came back a little worse for wear, but basically uninjured. You're a scrapper, Lex, and you've made us all proud."

Alexis couldn't resist a grateful smile from warming her face and lifting her low spirits. She sat up in the bed, and wiped the few tears that fell from her eyes. "Thanks," she said quietly, "That really means a lot to me."

Rocky smiled modestly. "No problem," he answered, getting ready to stand up. But before he did, Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Rocky returned the impromptu embrace, and rubbed her back soothingly.

"You're the best, Rocko," she whispered into his ear.

"Where am I?" Cloud asked, gazing around the darkness, faintly illuminated by a murky green light. He stood upon a translucent green platform, connected to several others by narrow paths. The platforms were suspended in some seemingly endless void. Cloud blinked in confusion.

He had been here before... in the depths of his mind.

It was weeks ago, when he had fallen into the Lifestream for the second time. Tifa had fallen with him...

Tifa! Where was she? Was she all right? Cloud couldn't quite remember what happened immediately before he passed out. He recalled using the Holy Materia, but he couldn't be sure whether or not it worked. The possibility that it didn't plagued him.

"Yes, Cloud," said a gentle, familiar voice, "You did it. You saved her."

Cloud whirled around, startled at the sudden voice. "Who's there?"

"Who do you think?" the voice asked. He could hear the smile of the speaker in the tone of her voice.

A bright smile... so full of joy and hope...

Impossible. She was dead.

Wasn't she?

"Aeris?" Cloud inquired, staring above his head. He jumped in surprise when he felt a hand touch his shoulder.

"You guessed it," she said, folding her hands behind her back. She smiled shyly at Cloud, rocking on her feet, "You're looking well, Cloud. Especially after such a hard fight."

Cloud shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. He was so cute when he was being modest.

"Aeris... are you okay?" he asked, hesitatingly reaching out to touch her. His hand brushed against the soft cotton of the sleeve of her dress. She felt very much real. Cloud shuddered.

"I... I'm not exactly what you think I am," Aeris said, stepping back from his touch. "I'm not Aeris entirely. I'm the part of her that is destined to save the world. I am her Heart."

Cloud blinked. "What?"

"Remember that vision you saw at Cosmo Canyon?" she inquired.

His azure eyes widened. "How did you know about that?"

Aeris giggled slightly. "I'm inside your mind, Cloud. I know everything there is to know about you." She then winked at him. "Don't worry, I won't pry..."

Aeris continued to laugh in amusement at his confusion. Sometimes, he was so dense!

"Anyway," she continued, "you saw Aeris fighting Sephiroth with the Holy Materia, right? Well, it's not Aeris' magical skills that the Holy Materia needs to operate. Rather, it's her heart. Her love for life... for the world and all its wonders. Her love for you, and her other friends. This love energy activates the Holy Materia. That's what truly fuels the Lifestream. That's why you managed to survive it."

"I... I don't understand."

Aeris grinned. "I knew you wouldn't. The first time you fell into the Lifestream, you suffered from incurable Mako-poisoning. But when you fell the second time, you were healed. Doesn't that paradox strike you as peculiar?"

Cloud nodded. "Yeah. I didn't know what to make of it."

"Well, there was a difference. When you fell the second time, you had Tifa with you." Aeris' smile widened. "Your love for each other helped activate the healing qualities of the Lifestream. You both managed to survive, and the Lifestream even healed your Mako-poisoning, as well as some of the damage done to your memories. It's because you let love be your guide. Not vengeance, not hatred, not even honor... but love. That was the difference."

Aeris held her hand out, and a small white sphere appeared hovering over her palm. "The Lifestream is a lot like humans," she continued, "It is capable of good as well as evil. It all depends on the emotions of those who meet it. Love ignites healing, hatred ignites destruction. When you tried to use the Holy Materia to save Tifa, your love for her shone like the brightest star in the heavens. That power focused the healing within the Holy Materia, made possible by me... Aeris' Heart. Now, you've proven that you have the capacity to really, honestly love. That is the quality you need the most in your quest to save the planet from Sephiroth. Your love will counteract his hate. You will carry on for Aeris, with the Holy Materia as your weapon."

With that, Aeris began stepping backwards, forming a gap of space between her and Cloud. "Now, it's time for you to return to your Tifa. She's waiting for you."

Cloud wasn't too adept at reading people's feelings, but he did discern the hint of regret in her voice. "Um... Aeris... about you and me..."

Aeris shook her head. "You don't need to explain anything, Cloud. I'm in your head, remember? I know what you're feeling... probably better than you do."

"Still, I think I should apologize," Cloud continued, "I'm sorry things... well, they didn't work out."

"They never could have," Aeris said. Her words startled the young warrior.

"What?" he asked, perplexed.

Aeris smiled. "Cloud, this may come as a surprise to you, but you were never really in love with me."

Cloud's eyebrow rose. "Excuse me?"

"You weren't. You didn't love Aeris for who she was. You loved her for what she was... brave, innocent, selfless, and so on. But, you only knew her for a few weeks. You didn't really even know who she was. Did you?"

Cloud opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. He realized just how little he knew about Aeris.

"I'm not saying that love is impossible for people who don't know each other on an intimate level," Aeris continued, "but the fact is, your heart had been claimed by another for years. You didn't realize it until you thought you had lost her, but you have loved Tifa Lockheart since you were children. That love didn't fade. It only grew stronger when she walked back into your life, more nurturing and loyal than ever before.

"To be frank, Tifa's patience and devotion pulled you through the trials you have suffered during your mission to stop Sephiroth. It helped you maintain focus and not give up hope when you realized how you had been abused and manipulated for so many years as a member of SOLDIER. She opened up your heart, and showed you how to love again. That ability is what you needed most in order to finally win this war. Look into your heart if you doubt my words... then you'll see the truth."

Aeris smiled again, waving her goodbye. "I'll be with you, Cloud Strife. Every time you touch the Holy Materia, you'll feel the love I feel for you, and all of creation. May your own heart be strong..."

"A...Aeris... wait..."

"Cloud?" came a soothing voice, kissing his ears with its concerned tone. He then felt gentle fingers brush against his forehead.

His eyes shuttered open, looking around in utter disorientation. All his confusions melted into oblivion when his eyes locked with the warm tawny pools of color that always brought a smile to his face.

No matter where he was, when Cloud was with Tifa Lockheart... he was safe.

"You really had me worried," Tifa said, continuing to run her fingers through his unruly hair, "You've been out cold for over an hour. I... I didn't know what was wrong with you."

"I don't know either," Cloud admitted, his voice raspy, "Maybe the Omni-Slash, along with using the Holy Materia, totally spent any energy I had in my body."

"Uh... that's actually what I'm here about," Tifa said quietly, pulling her hands away from Cloud to rest them on her lap, "Why did you do it?"

Cloud blinked. "Do what?"

Tifa's eyes glanced around the room nervously. "Why did you use the Holy Materia?"

Cloud frowned. "Because you were dying," he answered, "and it was the only way to save you."

Tifa shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "I... I know that already. But... I thought... that maybe... there was another reason..."

Tifa bit her lower lip, stopping the river of words. She felt her face flush with embarrassment. What was she doing? She couldn't sit there and beg Cloud to declare his everlasting love to her. It was... wrong. And she was almost certain it wasn't true. Almost.

"Tifa?" Cloud asked, perceiving her discomfort.

Tifa turned to Cloud again, flashing him her most brilliant smile. "It's... nothing," she lied, rising to her feet, "Just... never mind. Um... I'll check up on you in an hour or so."

Cloud propped himself wearily on his elbows, and watched Tifa walk towards the door. "Tifa... wait..."

"I've got... things to take care of," she said, opening the door, "Uh... Yuffie's sick again."

Cloud licked his dry lips. "Please... don't go yet."

Tifa stopped, her back still turned to Cloud. The last thing she wanted to do was let him see tears in her eyes. Especially since she really couldn't bring herself to explain them.

"Is there something you need?" she asked quietly.

"Actually, there is," he said, pulling the blanket off him. Mustering all his strength, Cloud swung his legs off the edge of the bed, and planted his feet on the ground.

Tifa whirled around when she saw him trying to stand. "Where do you think you're going?" she demanded, "You're staying in bed, Cloud Strife!"

Cloud grinned. "I can't. I have something to say, and I'm going to say it to you face to face."

Tifa returned to Cloud's side, warily watching to see whether he would tip and fall from dizziness or exhaustion. Surprisingly, he maintained balance on his own two feet.

"What... did you want to say?" Tifa asked curiously.

Cloud smiled shyly, reaching out with his hand and touching her soft cheek with his fingertip. Gently, he wiped away the tears that had begun to trickle down her face.

"I should have said this a long, long time ago," he started, his eyes locking with hers, "because I've felt this way for quite a while..."

Tifa felt her heart skip a beat. Was this the moment she had dreamed about for so long? It simply couldn't be. She knew it wasn't true. Despite herself, she kept hearing his first words from when he awoke. A... Aeris... wait... They repeated over and over, hammering her heart painfully.

She didn't want to live a lie.

"Cloud, stop," she whispered, closing her eyes. Her hand clasped his, that was gently caressing her cheek. She promptly pulled it away.

Cloud looked at Tifa for a moment, perplexed and hurt. Tifa shuddered at the expression, yet she remained adamant.

"Cloud," she said quietly, "I... I'm sorry, but, I can't do this."

"Do what?" Cloud whispered weakly, the strength in his knees draining. He was so absorbed in his own feelings, he didn't even consider the possibility that Tifa didn't love him as much as he convinced himself she did.

"Take second place in your heart," she answered, stepping away from him. The tears fell unrestrained from her eyes, despite her valiant attempt to keep them inside. "Cloud, you love Aeris. I... I never expected to change that."

To Tifa's surprise, Cloud answered her with a reassuring, lop-sided grin. "But I don't love her. At least, not the way I love you."

Tifa gazed into his sincere eyes, searching for any sign of falsehood. "But... when you woke up... you called for Aeris."

"Aeris spoke to me in my dream," he explained, taking her hand again. He gazed at her delicate fingers, the same fingers that wrapped his wounds so many times. The same fingers that gripped his hand when the pair rose triumphantly from the Lifestream. "She helped me understand why I was able to use the Holy Materia, and how I survived being tossed into the Lifestream with you by my side. It was because of you, and because I--"

"Cloud!" came a voice, along with a loud knock on the door, "Cloud, are you awake?"

Cloud sighed deeply, dropping Tifa's hand with frustration. He fell back onto his bed tiredly. "Come in, Zack."

The young man opened the door, his eyes widening when he noticed both Cloud and Tifa in there, clearly upset at the interruption.

"I... uh..." Zack muttered, chewing on his lower lip, "Boy is this embarrassing! Um... sorry."

"It's all right," Tifa said, running her fingers through her thick chocolate mane, "What's going on?"

Zack walked further into the room, holding out the Holy Materia. "I just thought I'd give this back to you guys. At least it works for you."

"What do you mean?" Cloud asked, taking the small pearl into his hand.

"I mean, it doesn't like me very much," Zack elaborated, "Usually materia tells you what it's used for. But this piece didn't even do that. It doesn't work for me."

"I'm sorry, Zack," Tifa said, taking his hand and squeezing it gently, "but don't you give up. We'll find another way to save Aisha."

"Wait," Cloud said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced up at Zack. He rolled the Holy Materia between his fingers. "Zack, do you love Aisha?"

Zack scowled at the question. "What is with you people?! Why do you keep asking me that?!"

Tifa smiled in amusement. "That sounds like a 'yes' to me, Cloud."

Zack muttered under his breath, but he didn't deny it.

Cloud grinned, "Then, you can use the Holy Materia. Zack, you need to really reflect on what you're trying to do, and why you're trying to do it. If it's for love, the Holy Materia may be able to help you."

That said, Cloud handed the young man the gem. "Try it. For the woman you love."

Zack gazed at the small sphere for a long moment. "Well, it's not like I had anything better to do for the time being."

Zack glanced up, grinning mischievously at the couple. "I think now's a good time for me to leave," he said, walking to the door, "Um... see you... later."

Cloud and Tifa waited until the door was closed. Then, Cloud rose to his feet, and Tifa stood just inches from him, excitement dancing in her dark eyes.

"Now, where was I?" he asked, slightly flushed due to the unexpected interruption.

A serene smile tugged at Tifa's lips. "I think you've said enough, Mr. Strife," she said, sliding her arms around his neck. Slowly, their lips inched closer together, each savoring the anticipation.

No more words were spoken.

Zack entered the conference room on the Highwind, and closed the door behind him. Taking a quick survey of the room to insure he was alone, Zack took a seat at the head of the rectangular table, and lay his hands on the surface of the polished wood. Clutching the small Holy Materia tightly, Zack closed his eyes.

For the woman I love, huh? he reflected, What makes everyone think I'm in love with Aisha? I'm not. I... can't be! I mean, we're just friends. We've got a lot in common, and we both fight for our planet. Yeah, I'm really concerned about her condition... but that doesn't mean I love her!

"Well, maybe it does," echoed a gentle voice in his head. Zack's eyes sprang open, and he stared at the milky materia in shock. It was emitting a steady stream of glowing white mist, that had begun to swirl around his body.

Suddenly, Zack's eyelids grew heavy. With a soft moan, his strength gave out, his head falling upon the wooden table.

"Where am I?!" Zack demanded, turning around full circle. He stood on a disk-like platform, white in color, which was suspended over a dark black void. It felt eerily familiar, yet very strange, at once.

"We're in your mind," the voice said again, "Well, at least a representation of it."

Before Zack's eyes, a flash of white light appeared, and stretched into the form of a young woman. Her bright green eyes seemed to smile at him warmly.

"Aeris?" he whispered.

"In a manner of speaking," she answered, "I'm just the part of Aeris that still lives, to save the planet by destroying Sephiroth. My essence is contained in the Holy Materia, so when you speak to it, you're actually speaking to me."

"Um, okay..." Zack said, rubbing his head, "I... I need to know how to save a friend of mine."

Aeris smiled. "I know. I heard you ask me before. Back in the City of the Ancients."

Zack frowned slightly. "Then, why didn't you answer me?"

"Zack, the power of the Holy Materia is governed entirely by the force of love. That is the reason why I am so instrumental to Sephiroth's defeat. I'm Aeris' heart. The part of her that will live forever, and will do its utmost to preserve everything she ever cared about. Cloud was able to get in touch with his heart, after so many years of denying it. That's what enabled him to save Tifa's life."

Aeris stepped closer to Zack, and lay her hand on his shoulder. "Your love for Aisha is the only thing that can save her now."

Zack swallowed. "But... but... I don't know what I feel for Aisha!" he admitted, "I mean, I know I like her in a different way from the other girls I know, but... it's not like I get butterflies in my stomach when I'm near her, or something like that. I don't get nervous around her. I'm comfortable around her."

"Well, that's a good thing, Zack. Perhaps the reason why is because you know you aren't trying to impress her. Like... you always did for that girl Angela."

Zack's dark eyes widened. "How did you...?"

"I'm inside your mind," Aeris reminded him, reaching out and tapping his forehead playfully, "I can sense your thoughts. You've had a crush on a young woman at your school for quite some time, and you've tried just about everything in your Book of Charms to get her attention. True?"

Zack shrugged in response.

"Yet with Aisha, you don't feel the need to charm her, because she already knows what kind of person you are. Look at your friends who are in love. Take... Kimberly and Tommy, for example. Do they seem uncomfortable when they're together?"

Zack shook his head. "But that's different! They've been going out forever! They're practically married!"

"True, but that also means they've passed the awkward stage. Now tell me, Zack Taylor, if you had gotten to know Aisha before she was a Power Ranger, would you have felt those 'butterflies,' as it were? If she were just another girl, you would have to work your way into her life. Since she was a Ranger, she became part of your life on principle. Right?"

Zack blinked. "Uh... I don't know."

"Perhaps, since you've been working with her so long, you've already passed the awkward stage. Hence, no butterflies."

Zack frowned, clearly unconvinced. Aeris sighed slightly.

"Look, Zack, the reason why I'm here isn't to convince you to declare your love for Aisha Campbell. That is something you have to figure out for yourself. But perhaps you should stop denying it, and start considering the possibility."

Then, Aeris turned around to leave.

"Wait!" Zack shouted, "You didn't tell me how to save her!"

Aeris turned to him, a downcast look in her emerald eyes. "Zack, you can't take the Holy Materia with you to Earth. If you do, it will be impossible for Cloud and his team to stop Sephiroth before his Meteor spell destroys Midgar. There is one chance, however; but I warn you... it is very risky."

Zack pursed his lips. "Well, what is it?"

"No materia works outside the realm of Midgar, because of its connection to the Lifestream. However, if you had a container to hold some of the Lifestream's energies in its raw form, you'd be able to transport it to Earth. That's the only way to bring the cure to your friend."

Zack considered this. "What kind of container do I need?"

Aeris locked eyes with Zack. "Your body."

Zack blinked. "Come again?"

"Bodies can absorb Mako energy. Most often, it is deadly for a human to do so in any significant quantity, but on the rare occasion that the person is strong enough, he can survive it. It happened for Cloud and Tifa. Their love for each other gave them the strength to fight for their lives within the Lifestream. It ignited the Lifestream's power to heal, rather than to destroy. You must do the same."

Zack swallowed. Did he have the needed conviction? Did he have the strength?

Although he wasn't too sure about his feelings for Aisha, he did know one thing... he'd risk his life to save hers.

What that meant, as far as love was concerned, still alluded the Silver Ranger.

"So, how do I do it?" Zack asked.

A bright smile crossed Aeris' lips. "First, make sure you're willing to take the chance."

Zack nodded. "I already am. Now, how do I do it?" he repeated.

"Return to Mideel, the town where you first arrived. That lake of Mako is the only Lifestream spring that is easy to reach. Once inside, you will go on a quest of sorts, within your mind. The Lifestream will grant you the power you seek if your heart is strong enough."

With that, Aeris' form began to fade. "Take care, Zack. And remember what you're doing this for..."

Zack's eyes sprang open, only to be treated to a close-up view of his sleeve. He blinked, and pulled his head from the pillow of his folded arms. He stretched his weary body, and weakly rose to his feet, balancing himself on the back of the chair.

"Mideel..." he whispered, his eyes narrowing with determination.