The elevator opened to the president's office floor, and sure enough, that same fluid found in Hojo's lab was also on the beautiful red rugs leaving a trail.

"Follow the trail, huh?" Aerith wondered.

With Sara in the lead, they followed the purple fluid trail. Sara had a gut feeling where the fluid trail would take them, and her instincts were correct. The trail leads them to the president's office, but one person was missing.

"Where the hell is that bastard hiding?" Barret wondered.

"And Sephiroth?" Tifa added.

"Wait, I can hear something," Red XIII said.

Everyone listened closely and sure enough it sounded like a person calling for help. Cloud found an opened door that led to the outside and went out there. Soon the voice was getting louder and louder, and then they all saw the source.

"Help me!"

It was President Shinra who was hanging on for dear life by the guard rails. He had a face of terror as he looked at everyone, yet Barret couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, well, well," Barret smugged, just before he was about to say something. He noticed Sara walking towards the pitiful man.

"Pull me up! I'll give you all the money you want!" President Shinra begged.

Sara got on one knee looking down at her enemy with a dangerous smile, "Long time, so see Mr. President."

President Shinra's heart dropped and stuttered, "S-S-Saraphina! Y-You're alive?!"

"In the flesh," Sara smiled, "You don't seem like you're doing well down there."

"Please! Pull me up! I beg of you!" President Shinra pleaded.

His fingers were about to slip and Sara immediately grabbed his arm and tossed him towards the wall which caused the man to body slammed the wall. Before President Shinra could even catch a breath, Sara grabbed his throat causing him to grab her arm in attempt to break free but Sara held her grip.

"Sara!" Cloud exclaimed, but Sara smirked at him assuring that she knew what she was doing.

"You've got something that I want to know but first you're gonna do something that I know you don't want to do. But I'm going to make damn well sure that you will," Sara spoke in a threatening tone.

"Just let me live and I'll do anything," President Shinra begged.

Sara quickly grabbed his collar and dragged him back to the office and tossed him towards the steps that led to his huge desk and pointed her sword at him. This made the president sweat.

"First you're going to get on TV and tell everyone the whole truth," Sara explained, "That it was you who gave the order to drop the plate of Sector 7 and you are responsible for all those lives that were lost."

"Then, you're gonna tell them the truth about Avalanche," Barret added, "That Avalanche ain't Wutai or anybody's puppet! That Avalanche fights for the people! The planet! That we fight to hold Shinra to account for its crimes! And-!"

"Once you're done with telling everyone that," Sara cuts Barret off while President Shinra quickly heads for his desk, "You're going to tell me something that I've been longing to know. Where is my mother? And what really happened to Genesis and Sephiroth five years ago?"

President pulled out something from his desk and looked at the group, "Is that what you want? For your names to be cleared. That is what matters most to you? More than shutting down the reactors? Than the future of the planet itself? You're lying to yourself even now."

When the president walks away from his desk he points a golden gun towards Barret and Sara.

"Damn!" Barret cursed.

"Truth," President Shinra spoke, "Justice, honor, freedom! Vain indulgences, every single one. Picture it! Picture a world without Shinra. Without mako energy. A stagnant, impotent world. Now picture a natural disaster, who would help the people? Help them recover and rebuild? You? With their old world ruined, will they thank you for the new?"

"The people are much stronger than you think!" Sara ranted, "I've seen many people who can survive without mako! You may be worried about how big your wallet is going to get or how shrink it's going to be! But that shouldn't matter! Instead of chasing a fantasy like Neo Midgar, you should focus on the present matter and find a different source! Mako isn't the only thing that can be used to help the people!"

"Really?" President Shinra raised a brow, "Is that so? Then I shall allow your only chance to consider what your principles are truly worth. But bear in mind that time is of the essence. Oh? You wanted to know about your mother and your old friends?"

Sara nodded, though she had her doubts if the president would tell her the truth. However Barret began to question him, "And what about you Mister President? What are your vaunted principles?"

"What principles?!" President Shinra exclaimed, "Did you understand even a single word of what I told you? I know what I want, and I take it. I take advantage of whatever I can, and discard that which I cannot. There is no room for sentiment or guilt."

Sara clicked her tongue in annoyance, but then her face held a look of horror when she saw a blade sticking out of President Shinra's chest. The president gasped in shock as looked down at the blade coming out of his chest. Behind Sephiroth was none other than Sephiroth who had a menacing smile.

Everyone was shocked at what just happened has Sephiroth pulled his sword out of President Shinra who died right on the spot.

Barret yelled, "You son of a bitch!"

Barret starts charging at Sephiroth and at the same time a group of Whispers blocked Barret's line of fire while surrounding him. Suddenly Sephiroth was right in front of Barret and stabbed him with his sword.

"Barret!" Tifa shouted while she rushes over to him; followed by Arieth and Red XIII. While Cloud just stood there and watched in horror.

Sara blinked several times before gritting her teeth and drew her blade before leaping towards Sephiroth, twisting her body in an attempt to slash him while letting out a battle cry.

"Arrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"

Sephiroth smiled as he vanished then reappeared in front of the massive desk. A flash of purple lighting filled the room then the surroundings changed into what appeared to be a room filled with walls that seemed flesh-like

"This is..." Red XIII looked around cautiously.

"The source of everything," Arieth concluded while looking straight at where Sephiroth stood.

Cloud rushed over and stood in front of Tifa and the others while standing behind Sara who had her weapon ready. In front of them where Sephiroth stood was not Sephiroth but a tall massive creature with tentacles and short but thick claw-like arms. It's head looked like the skull of a human but it appeared to be made out of flesh.

The creature roared loudly but what happened next was unexpected.

The tentacles grabbed Sara constricting her movement which made her drop her sword as she tried to break free.

"Sara!" Everyone shouted.

Sara groaned as she tried to break free but to no avail and then the creature pulled her closely towards its belly and opened it like a venus flytrap. Sara tried to break free but the beast was unbelievably strong as it stuffed her into its belly. Sara looked towards Cloud with pleading eyes as she reached her hand out.

Cloud immediately rushes towards her reaching his hand out, their hands were a mere few inches away from touching but Sara was sucked in the belly of the beast as the hole closed.

"Nooo!" Cloud shouted.

The beast knocks Cloud using it's tentacles sending him flying towards the others. Cloud quickly gets back up into his fighting position.

"What's happening?!" Tifa exclaimed as she looked around noticing that Barret's body was also missing in the area.

"It's an illusion," Red XIII reassured, "Stay calm."

"Damn it, that thing has Sara!" Cloud curses.

"Don't worry! We'll get her out!" Arieth said as she cast several spells.

"But why does it want her?" Tifa wondered.

"What do you think?" Red XIII questions, "Her and Sephiroth were once lovers and I suspect it's going to take her back to him."

"Not on my watch," Cloud declared.

"Then let's hurry who knows what that thing is doing to her while she's inside of it," Red XIII said.

Thus the battle began as Cloud and the others began to attack the creature with everything they got.

Meanwhile, Sara opened her eyes and stood in an open world full of white. Everything was completely white, with no sun or moon. She looked around confused as she started to walk around though she could hear the sounds of her feet walking on hard floor. But she couldn't tell where the end was. Suddenly she heard laughter, she looked back and was stunned. She thought she was looking at a mere image of herself only it was standing near her with hands behind her back while walking slowly and staring at her with a confident smile.

"Who are you?" Sara demanded.

"Why I am you," the person giggled, "Or at least taking the form of you while my real body is being taken by my lovely servant."

Hearing the last part, Sara gasped in shock, "You're Jenova?"

Jenova smirked as the once black hair turned completely silver, "Not in the flesh, but I decided to transform into you as we speak in your mind. While your friends fight another form of mine."

"You mean you take on different forms including humans?" Sara questioned.

Jenova chuckled, "It's more complicated than what you can imagine yet what you said is true I can take on different forms. But I can only do this in your mind alone because you carry the purest cells of mine. I cannot do this to others who have less of my cells or those who are corrupted. But enough of that, I have an order for you."

Sara remained calm but she did not like hearing those words. Jenova smiled as she continued, "Return to your lover who is my most precious puppet, and work together to achieve my ultimate goal."

"Ultimate goal?" Sara raised an eyebrow.

"That is to sail the stars and cosmos outside of this planet," Jenova explained, "But to do that I must have my reunion and you're going to help me."

Sara crossed her arms and asked, "And if I refuse?"

"I wouldn't do that," Jenova said, "You've proven to be a very stubborn vessel, unlike your lover who happened to be a very obedient one. Which is why you should follow your lover's example and become my most faithful servant."

"Never," Sara refused.

Jenova raised a brow, "Say what?"

"I'll never be your puppet," Sara exclaimed, "Nor your faithful servant."

Jenova's eyes narrowed, "You dare defy me?"

Sara smirked, "I live my own life and I would rather fight than to serve a monster like you."

"Monster you say?" Jenova tilted her head, suddenly Jenova had already gripped Sara's neck and pinned her to the floor. Sara tried to break free but Jenova's grip was strong.

"You're not the only monster here," Jenova spoke coldly as her eyes glowed red, "You and my dear puppet are all monsters that belong to me. Without my cells you would be worthless, you wouldn't have this strength that I've given you."

Sara gritted her teeth as she tried to pull Jenova's hand away from her neck but Jenova tighten her grip as she looked at Sara maddening with a wicked smile.

"You, my faithful puppet, and another are all my children!" Jenova said, "I shall destroy this world and use the planet's body to sail the skies and head to my true destination! I've waited for so long now, my dream is near!"

"Is..that what you want?" Sara spoke struggling, "You...want to go...home?"

Jenova laughed, "Home? Hahaha! I don't know what a 'home' is, and I don't care! I love destroying things and controlling worthless living beings! I am invisible! Though it's a pity that damned race Cetra tried to kill me and almost succeeded but their attempts were a failure and now I will have my reunion and do what I've done for eons!"

Jenova paused and looked at Sara angrily, "If you can't obey me then I'll destroy you right here!"

Jenova began to choke Sara who was gasping for air. Sara could feel her life slipping as light flashes flickered in her eyes. Tears rolled down her eyes as she closed them and her mind began to race. She didn't think that she would meet her end, she wasn't afraid to die but she didn't want to die here not like this. However, she also knew that Jenova was right, she shared a part of Jenova inside of her and that was a fact that she could never escape. Yet was Jenova right about her giving up and letting fate take its course? Become an obedient puppet? Then a flash of memory came to her mind and encouraging words were spoken from two friends.

"I hope you find happiness and freedom." Genesis smiled.

"Do you wish to risk everything that you have and find the truth? It's your choice. But always remember this, embrace your dreams, and protect your honor as SOLDIER." Angeal said.

Sara's eyes went wide open then she glared at Jenova and somehow she grabbed Jenova's arm then pulled herself up causing Jenova to gasp in shock. Sara punched Jenova in the face as Sara gasped for breath.

"Why?" Jenova questions, "Why do you resist me? I'm more powerful than you! I can do so much to you!"

"You're wrong," Sara panted as she looked at Jenova, "You're not powerful if you were you wouldn't rely on others to do your dirty work. You're no different than President Shinra who always uses people to get their hands dirty while his remains clean. Without us you wouldn't be able to achieve your goal. You are right though, without your cells I wouldn't be this strong. Yet because of that, I can still choose how I will live!"

Jenova gasped as Sara's eyes started to glow blue while they turned into slits. Then Sara reached her arm out and forming out of dust was her sword. Sara ready her sword then slashed Jenova who let out a scream as blood poured onto the pure white floor. Jenova was shocked but then she smiled and looked at Sara.

"So this is what you want," Jenova chuckled, "A life that will lead you nothing but to ruin."

Jenova's body began to slowly fade away as she continued to speak, "Oh well, there is another one who might turn into a useful puppet. After all this puppet doesn't realize that he's being controlled even now."

Sara felt a tightness in her gut, she had a guess but she hoped that she was wrong. Suddenly a flash of light came from above and she saw a familiar hand reaching out to her along with a voice calling her.

"Sara!"

Sara smiled as she reached her hand out and replied.

"I'm here, Cloud."

Back in the illusion world, Cloud and the other fought the beast which happened to be Jenova in a different form. During the fight, Cloud couldn't stop thinking about Sara. Somehow, Cloud didn't know when it happened but he didn't want anything bad happening to her. He wanted her to stay alive and to see her accomplish her goal. Though he didn't know what this feeling was, but the moment Sara was captured by Jenova. His heart sank and next thing he knew he could feel rage, and worry mixed in.

Tifa leaps up and kicks Jenova in the face avoiding the tentacles then she sees an opening. Jenova leans back just enough for its belly to be vunerable.

"Cloud, now!" Tifa shouted.

Cloud rushes over leaps up and cuts open Jenova's belly and he saw a hand reaching out.

Cloud reaches his hand out and grabs the hand while yelling, "Sara!"

He pulls the hand out revealing a worn-out Sara. He pulls her close to him and takes her away while the others continue to fight.

"We almost have her!" Red XIII exclaimed, "Keep at it!"

Cloud sets Sara down before charging back to battle and leaps up in the air delivering a powerful blow at Jenova. Jenova let out a bloody scream as purple fog surrounded the room followed by a painful groan.

Cloud looked at where Jenova was but was surprised to see a man wearing a black cloak and at the sleeve of his clothes revealed the number forty-nine. The man collapsed to the floor and his whole body faded leaving nothing. Except Jenova's headless body lies near where the man was.

But Cloud thought of someone else, he looked back and saw Sara lying unconscious who was surprisingly no longer covered in blood and rushed over to her. He pulls her up having her rest in his arms as he looks at her with worried eyes.

"Sara!" Cloud called out.

Sara moaned as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Cloud confused, "Cloud? What happened?"

Cloud was about to answer, but then noticed something and looked up seeing Sephiroth carrying Jenova's body. Sara notices this too and immediately get's up from Cloud's lap. Just before she was about to go after him, a familiar voice stopped her.

"Barret! Are you hurt?!" Tifa cried.

Sara immediately looked back and saw Tifa looking at Barret who was surprised and touched his chest. Sara couldn't believe her eyes, Barret was alive.

Barret looks at Tifa and replies, "Don't think so."

It seemed that Barret himself was shocked that he was still alive. After all, everyone saw Sephiroth stabbing Barret with his sword.

"This death was not the one ordained for you by fate," Red XIII concluded.

A whisper was floating near Barret who looked at it with unsure eyes yet he couldn't help but say, "Thanks."

Though the Whisper said nothing it only floated away as if what just happened was nothing to it. The Whisper flies out of the door that leads back to the helicopter platform. Yet that wasn't the only thing that Cloud saw, outside near the platform he saw Sephiroth carrying Jenova's body as the man flies to the top. Cloud quickly dashes out of the room and chases after Sephiroth. He finds a ladder and climbs up as quickly as he could. He notices that there are many Whispers flying around the tower, but he paid no attention. As he made it to the top, he looks up as he spots Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth!" Cloud shouts.

The latter looks down with a smile, Cloud immediately goes after Sephiroth as he begins to climb the second ladder that would lead to Sephiroth. But he stopped by the Whispers, Cloud looks up and notices that where Sephiroth stood was another man carrying Jenova. The man was covered in a black robe with the number two on his bicep. The robed man jumped down while carrying Jenova which stunned Cloud. Yet as he looked down the man was gone, Cloud knew that it was impossible for anyone to survive a fall like that. Still annoyed that he didn't get a chance to deal with Sephiroth but he knew there was a next time.

Cloud made his way back down towards the helicopter platform and sees the group walking toward him.

"Everyone okay?" Cloud asked.

Barret nodded while patting his chest, "Hey, get your man?"

"He got away," Cloud sighed in defeat.

Barret humphed as he put his shades on, "Bout time we made our escape too."

Everyone agreed and the chopper that had the Avalanche logo on it's tail was making it's landing. But then, a missile shot it and the aircraft began to crash down. Everyone was stunned and noticed another helicopter was making its way down it was a Shinra chopper.

"Shit!" Cloud cursed.

Everyone started to make their way back to the office, and that was when Cloud paused as he saw the chopper land and out came a familiar person that Sara didn't want to see. None other than Rufus Shinra.

"If it ain't Rufus Shinra," Barret smugged, "Heir to the throne himself."

"Yup," Cloud.

Rufus hopped out of the helicopter along with four infantrymen and one hellhound. Rufus waved at the two pliots who happened to be Reno and Rude. Rude saw Rufus's signal and guided the helicopter away.

Barret was ready to take Rufus on, but he stopped his tracks when Sara stood in front of him.

"Hey! Ain't cha in my way?" Barret barked.

Sara looked over her shoulder and said, "You need to turn around."

"The hell I will!" Barret exclaimed, "We can finish off the family here and now!"

"I have a score to settle with Rufus," Sara spoke calmly as she put her hand to her sword, "Take Aerith and get outta here. Let me handle Rufus."

"Huh?" Barret blinked in surprise.

Sara unsheathed her sword and began to walk towards Rufus and his group, "I'll buy you guys some time, get moving."

Rufus chuckled as looked at one of the footmen and signaled them to move. The four infantrymen moved and pointed their guns at the group. Yet in a split second, all four were knocked out by Sara.

"Let me back you up," Cloud suggested, but Sara shook her head.

"Cloud, please, this is my fight alone," Sara insisted.

Cloud was surprised to hear those words while the others couldn't believe that Sara would say that except for Aerith who had a feeling that she would say that.

"We're rooting for you, good luck!" Aerith smiled as she waved while walking away.

Red XIII followed after along with Barret saying, "You better be right behind us! Or I'll be kicking your ass!"

Cloud stood there stunned, while Tifa grabbed his hand urging him, "Cloud, let's go."

She pulled his arm which almost caused him to lose his balance but he followed.

Seeing the group leaving, Sara smiled then she faced Rufus with a serious look. Rufus on the other hand had a smugged smile.

"Well, well, Saraphina," Rufus spoke confidently, "It seems that you did survive that gunshot. Of course, I made sure that the Turk I ordered didn't aim for any vital points but there was no guarantee that you would survive. Yet seeing you here, brings me joy."

Sara didn't say anything, she had a feeling that Rufus was the one who made the attempt to assassinate her. Though she was grateful that she survived the gunshot, but she didn't like she was another pawn to Rufus's game.

"Now that my father's gone," Rufus continued, "I can now take you back and make you my personal guard. What do you say, Saraphina? I can even announce it publicly and you will get the glory you deserve all those years ago, just like your three closest friends or even better."

Rufus reaches his hand out as if he was offering his suggestion, "Come, Saraphina and let's embark on a new era and we shall rule it together."

A small gust of wind blew at Rufus leaving a small cut on Rufus's cheek. Rufus frowns at his wound as he wipes the blood with this thumb and looks at Sara who had a swording pointing at him.

"As if I would go back to Shinra," Sara declined his offer, "I'm now living my life the way I want too!"

Rufus humphed, "A life as a terrorist, in that case I'll be sure to put you in prison for life."

Sara didn't like the sound of those words as she ready her sword and Rufus pulled out his gun. In a split second, Sara was already attacking Rufus who was able to keep her on her toes by firing at her while dodging Sara's sword attacks. Yet bullets weren't the only thing Sara had to avoid, the large hellhound also began to attack her using it's powerful jaws to bite her. Luckily Sara dodged those canine teeth by a mere inch. In an instant, Sara struck the hellhound down causing it to flee. Rufus smiled as if he was proud to witness his favorite weapon taking down another one. Rufus continued to fire shots at Sara till he ran out of bullets. After he fired the last set, he stopped and lowered his gun.

Sara noticed as spoke sarcastically, "You know I can end this here and now."

"True," Rufus chuckled, "But now is not the time."

Suddenly the same helicopter that Rufus came in swooped in and Rufus grabbed a hold of the door as the chopper took off.

"Tonight marks a new beginning for Shinra! Stay alive my dear Saraphina!"

As the helicopter that Rufus was on turned towards Sara it began firing it's machine guns at her. Sara quickly deflected the bullets but the steel floor collapsed beneath her feet. She quickly grabbed a hold of a steal plate holding on for dear life. She looked down and felt her stomach drop, there was no way to survive a fall at this height there was just no way. Yet, she could feel her fingers slipping, but she didn't want to die not here not now. Then she felt a hand grabbing her wrist, Sara looked up and was surprised to see Cloud looking down at her while holding her wrist.

"You gotta be better than this, ain't you a 1st Class?" Cloud grunted.

Sara smiled and gripped a hold of Cloud's arm. Cloud pulled her up as both of them fell on the steal platform. Sara stood up but her wrist was still being held by Cloud. She looked at the hand and then looked at him curiously. She noticed a certain fire in Cloud's eyes that she had seen before but there was no way that he had that kind of fire for her. After what seemed like an eternity, Cloud let go of her hand and moved on.

"Let's go the others are waiting," Cloud said.

Sara nodded and followed after him. While she did, she couldn't shake this familiar feeling within herself. A feeling that she didn't know she could experience again.