|
NAVIGATION |
| Site |
| Main Page
(NS)FAQ | Fanfiction |
Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy Tactics |
| Other Stuff |
| Under Construction |
| Links |
| My Profile Jycellaemynthia's Profile |
| Send Me Hate Mail |
| Sign Guestbook View Guestbook [email protected] |
|
Step 19: The Homecoming II
If you have been paying attention so far, you should have passed the midterm with flying colours. That means that you are progressing well, and that you are beginning to get the hang of ARF-writing by yourself. So now you have finally come to the halfway point of your quest to get lots of reviews...I mean, become a good writer. Yeah, that's it. Now this calls for a celebration. After resurrecting your soul mate, coping with exam stress, and finding a way to use the word "ecclesiastically" in a sentence, you deserve a reward. It's time for what you've been waiting for all this time: lots and lots of hot passionate sex scenes! SQUEEE...! Well, no, sorry. Before you can do that, you have to put at least a tiny bit of thought into how the characters in the game will react to the return of their archenemy. You know, those people you were writing your fic about in the first place? Like Cloud, and Tifa, and Aeris? You remember Aeris? As in the reason that this is called an Aeris Resurrection Fic? There's no way I'm letting you off the hook that easily. As you may have guessed, you should handle Sephiroth's return the same way you handle every scene that is necessary for plot advancement: by ripping off the same scenario over and over again. If people accuse you of unoriginality, claim that you are making an artistic statement on the repetitive cyclical nature of life itself, and dismiss them as philistines whose puny little minds cannot fathom your utter genius. So let's say that the gang has all gathered together once again at the Costa del Sol Villa.
The gang had all gathered together once again at the Costa del Sol Villa. They were having a party, and everyone who had fought in the war against Sephiroth was there. Cait Sith was being used as a jukebox, and was broadcasting popular R&B music through his speakers. Barret and Red XIII were breakdancing together to "Don't Phunk With My Heart" by the Black Eyed Peas. Cid was standing behind the bar and mixing drinks for everyone. I suggest that you don't ask why they were having a party, or why Cid or Jycellaemynthia didn't mention last chapter that there was a party that night, or how come only the nine playable characters were invited, or how Cid returned from the North Crater so quickly, or why Reeve is so boring that he decided to send a toy doll to go to a party in his stead, or where they found all those spare plot holes for transportation, unless you want me to hurt you. However, a dark cloud hung over their revelry, for they were all too conscious of the fact that Jycellaemynthia Tinfania Crystalwind was not among them. All of AVALANCHE longed for her radiant smile and warm laughter, both of which were like radiant and warm rays of sunshine that could illuminate any room with radiance and warmth.
"Hey, Barret," queried Red XIII inquisitively, "Do you happen to know where Jycellaemynthia has gone?" Now is probably a good time for you to stop, because you've already met your quota of screen time for unpopular characters after last chapter's Cid scene. All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," said Cloud. "It must be Jycei returning to bring radiance and warmth to our hearts." He sat up from the couch, but not before he clutched Aeris's hand and looked at her solemnly in the eyes. "O beauteous Aeris," he whispered, "If I do not come back alive, promise me--oh, this tears my soul apart!" He wiped a tear from an aquamarine eye. For an instant, he was certain that he would break down and cry in Aeris's soft tender arms. But no, he had to be strong for his beloved! "Promise me you will be able to move on," he pleaded. "Oh, Cloud," exclaimed Aeris. "How can you say such a thing? I cannot go on without your love. We are destined to be together. But you have your duty! Go, and I shall pray to the Cetra gods that you do not get lost on the way to the door." "Oh, Aeris," he sighed. "But the door is so far away, and every second without your presence weighs down on my fragile soul like a heavy...thing...weight... weighing down...like a weight...on my soul." The knocking grew louder and more persistent. With an air of resignation, Cloud waved good-bye to his Aeris, and walked the full ten steps to the entrance. He turned the knob and opened the door. When he saw who was there, his mouth dropped wide open. So three guesses as to which two characters are standing in the doorway. Just a hint: it isn't the mailman. Now, when you write the climactic meeting between Sephiroth and the former members of AVALANCHE, it is a good idea for you to remember the complex history that he has with all of them. Perhaps you should even do some research. Try to get inside your characters' heads for a moment. Sephiroth has ruined many of their lives, tried to destroy the planet they live on, and killed some of their loved ones, after all. Keep in mind that they have no way of knowing that Sephiroth is no longer a homicidal maniac. Even if the magic of Jycei's hug has made him a better person, that does not mean that they'd be willing to accept him with open arms.
Sephiroth stood in the doorway, looking very uncomfortable. The music shut off. In a flash, everyone dropped their drinks and snacks, and began running around the room in frantic search of their weapons and Materia. "No, wait!" cried Jycellaemynthia. "It's not what you think. He's good now. Come back! He won't hurt you." Cloud had not moved an inch at the sight of Sephiroth. Now he stood there, frozen in front of the door, his eyes full of hatred. "You..." whispered Cloud, his voice shaking. Sephiroth flinched. "I...I'm sorry. I-I know I've done some horrible things, but..." "Some horrible things?" Cloud's voice rose. "You killed my mother and destroyed my hometown! You ruined my life! And you dare to show your face here?" Sephiroth said nothing. A purple flush came to his cheeks. "Wait," Jycei pleaded. "He's harmless." "Harmless?" screamed Aeris. "He killed me." "Yeah," said Barret. "D'you realize how much blood he's got on his hands?" He raised his gun-arm in anger and fired a round of bullets just above Sephiroth's head. Sephiroth jumped back. "You tried to destroy the Planet! I almost lost Marlene 'cause of you. I say we kill the bastard." "No," cried Sephiroth. "Give me a chance to explain! I just want to...." "You killed my father," said Tifa, her eyes welling up with tears. "How dare you come into this house?" "Do you know how much you hurt me in that battle in the North Crater?" said Yuffie. "Gawd, I was wearing a cast on my leg for a month." "Please," whispered Sephiroth, his voice breaking. "If I could take it all back...." "Your manipulation won't work on me," said Cloud. "I see the weakling that you've become." He pulled out his massive Buster Sword, and raised it above his head. "I'm a stronger man than I was six years ago. Now it's time for me to defeat you once and for all. Omnislash...!" Just kidding. "Hey, look, everybody," exclaimed Cloud, as he saw the legendary general in the doorway. "It's Sephiroth, my old pal from SOLDIER!" Sephiroth stood there, his mouth agape. "You mean...you don't hate me?" Jycellaemynthia gave her love an encouraging smile. "You see?" she ejaculated. "I told you that they'd forgive you." "Hate you?" Cloud gasped incredulously. "Why would we do something like that? It wasn't your fault. You were corrupted by the Jenova cells in your body. Even if you hadn't been mistreated by Hojo and deprived of a normal childhood, you still wouldn't have had the strength to resist Jenova's evil influence. I know that you repent for your sins now, so no hard feelings." Cloud magically knows this because Jycellaemynthia sent a telepathic message to the party to inform them that Sephiroth was now good--but not that Sephiroth was alive again, and coming over for dinner, for she wanted to maintain an element of surprise.
"Don't worry, foo'," said Barret. "Them Shinra foo's were da real bad guys. Foo', you sorry, so that's all dat matters, foo'." You pause for a moment to check your Character Reaction Sheet, which you should have taken the initiative to write for yourself this time. Who's next? Ah, Yuffie.
"Sephiroth," said Yuffie. "Omigod! Like omigod! You're, like, totally alive! ALIVE!!!!!!!" She began jumping up and down repeatedly and running around the room at a breakneck pace (she had indulged in too many sweets at the snack table, and she was now on a manic sugar-high). "That's so cool!" Now Aeris stood up. "Only the petty and cruel maintain grudges," she said. "Sephiroth, I forgive you." "But I murdered you," protested Sephiroth. "Don't be ridiculous," she giggled. "I didn't mind it. On the contrary, I actually wanted to die. I went to the Temple of the Ancients hoping that you would kill me, so that my soul would reach the Planet and I could trigger Holy. I'm a selfless martyr like that." Of course, you are going along with the theory that Aeris couldn't have prayed for Holy while she was still alive, because otherwise that means that Aeris's death accomplished nothing, that her life was needlessly cut short in its prime, and that she didn't want to be impaled on a katana. That would be unfair. Unfair things don't happen in real life. Sephiroth sighed. "Indeed, I knew all along that by killing you, I could free myself from Mother's evil clutches and save the world. You don't know how much it tormented me to pretend that I wished you all ill will and that I was trying to manipulate Cloud to do my bidding, when I was really trying to break the spell that a certain woman whose name I shall not utter here had over him. But still, I cannot come to terms with the fact that I slew such a beautiful flower simply for the greater good of the mankind. The ends, no matter how noble and altruistic they are, do not justify the means. Please forgive me for all the pain that I have caused you." Aeris laughed. "Oh, being stabbed isn't that bad. It didn't hurt at all. We Cetra are immune to pain. Actually, you know, I think I could get used to it. It felt kind of like a back massage, except from the inside." "You see?" uttered Jycellaemynthia, in that melodic and enchanting voice that sounded like a hundred silver bells tinkling in mirth. "Everyone here forgives you for what you have done." Well, not everyone. "Are you totally crazy?" shrieked Tifa. "That's Sephiroth! You know, the coldhearted psychotic killer? The one who murdered my father and destroyed Nibelheim? Cloud, he killed your mother and turned you into a basket case for five years." "Oh, stop holding a grudge," said Cloud. "We all make mistakes." "But he's evil! He tried to destroy all of humanity!" "Why are you being so judgmental, Tifa?" asked Jycei. "Can you honestly claim to be a better person than he is?" "Yeah, Tifa, why are you always so petty?" snapped Yuffie. "You're just jealous because you're not as sweet and kindhearted as Se--now look, you've made Sephiroth cry!" Aeris motioned toward the silver-haired hero, who was now burying his face in Jycellaemynthia's trenchcoat and sobbing buckets. "Oh...*sniff*...she's right. I don't deserve to be forgiven." Sephiroth let out a piteous wail. The others quickly moved to console the sobbing bishounen. "There, there," said Cloud, patting him on the back. "It's all right. We forgive you. It's not your fault that some of us"--he gave Tifa a dirty look--"are cruel and heartless." "But Cloud..." whined Tifa, her hideous and screechy voice like nails on a chalkboard. "How can you say that I'm cruel and heartless? He's the one who..." She turned toward Sephiroth, who was now quivering in terror and clinging to Jycellaemynthia so tightly that his nails dug into her arms. He shrank away from Tifa. "Oh, please protect me, Jycei-chan." Sephiroth let out a whimper. "I'm scared of that woman." "Don't worry," whispered Jycellaemynthia, stroking the poor man's head. "I won't let her hurt you." Tifa threw her arms up in disgust. "Oh, I give up!" She stomped upstairs in a rage. However, except for Tifa, who is the devil incarnate, and thus cannot see the goodness in someone like Sephiroth, all of your characters should immediately warm up to your reformed Sephy, and he is invited to move into Melrose Pl...sorry, the Costa del Sol villa--which is getting pretty crowded, considering the fact that the mansion in the game has only one bedroom. You may think that this is slightly implausible, but remember, the cast of FF7 consists of such flawless heroes that they can easily forgive Sephiroth for his understandable actions. After all, it was only murder. It's not like he did something major, like neglect to tell Cloud that his memories seemed a bit off, or wear skimpy clothing. Whenever you write fanfiction, you should always invent the most lenient explanation possible for someone's actions in canon, because after all, it's only fair to give your character the benefit of the doubt...unless, of course, the character in question is the main rival for the affection of a hot guy in a pairing you ship, or she has bigger breasts than you.
So Jealous Evil Villainess Tifa has stomped off in another one of her trademark Jealous Evil Villainess Tifa rages. But she is not content to sit idly by and accept this new threat to her diabolical schemes. Now that no one is around, she pulls out her PHS, and dials a number. "Reno, darling," said Tifa. "It's me. I know you're busy with that huge weapons deal with Kotch, and that your people are short of staff now that Elena is in the hospital, but I need your help...You see, the stakes have been raised a bit. Sephiroth is back...Yeah, uh-huh...I want Aeris dead as soon as possible...and I want Sephiroth silenced." Next Part: The truth about Tifa, yet more scheming, mysterious premonitions, and how to pretend that you're not pulling your entire fic out of your ass. ~Evil Mina |