The night in Midgar felt quieter than usual, but for those connected to the pulse of the Planet, that silence was deafening.
In Sector 5, Aerith collapsed onto her bedroom floor. Cold sweat flooded her forehead. She clutched her chest tightly, her teeth chattering as she endured a wave of unnatural pain. Ivalera flew restlessly around her, radiating a blue light that dimmed every time Aerith groaned. This wasn't just physical pain; it was the resonance of thousands of lives screaming far in the West.
Meanwhile, far away in Sector 7, at his private house located next door to his parents' home, Johnny was sharpening a small dagger on his porch when the attack came. His chest felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer. A burning sensation spread from his heart to the tips of his fingers. The vision of Guts slumbering within his soul suddenly flashed red, delivering a deeply familiar sensation of impending death. The light of the Lifestream also seeped through the cracks of his new house. Puck turned round and held his head, overwhelmed by a deafening dizziness.
"Aerith..." Johnny muttered, his voice hoarse.
Without a second thought, he grabbed his jacket and revved his matte black motorcycle toward Sector 5. Upon arriving at the gate of Aerith's house, Johnny didn't just barge in. Even though his breathing was heavy and his body trembled from enduring the Lifestream's pain coursing through their soul bond, he maintained his manners.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Johnny knocked on the front door with his trembling, massive fist.
The door opened quickly. Mother Elmyra stood there, her face full of worry, holding an oil lamp. "Johnny? Thank goodness you're here. Aerith... she suddenly—"
"Excuse me, Mother," Johnny said.
He didn't wait for further explanation. He stepped inside, passing Elmyra with an apologetic look, ducked his head, and headed straight for Aerith's room. There, he found Aerith struggling against a wave of tormenting visions.
Johnny knelt beside Aerith. His giant frame seemed to shield her petite figure. Instinctively, Johnny reached for Aerith's hand and held it tightly.
"I'm here, Aerith," Johnny whispered softly. His deep, heavy voice acted as an anchor for Aerith so she wouldn't drift further into the tormenting current of energy.
The moment their skin touched, their Lifestream Bond ignited.
Suddenly, the air inside the room grew cold. The light of the oil lamp in Mother Elmyra's hand dimmed, replaced by the glow of green particles that began seeping in through the window cracks and wooden floorboards. Puck and Ivalera flew low, bowing their heads as if paying respects to the presence of such pure energy.
The flow of the Lifestream didn't just pass by; it filled the room, swirling slowly around Johnny and Aerith like a gentle whirlpool. Along with it, a formless voice—like thousands of whispers merging into one—began to echo within their consciousness.
The Lifestream whispered a single, bone-chilling word:
"Nibelheim..."
The whisper continued with brief, fragmented visions: Flowers withering instantly, a mother's severed scream, and the silhouette of a single black wing eclipsing the moon.
"Savior... or final witness... go to the place where the light begins to fade..."
"Nibelheim..." Aerith whispered, her eyes opening, though her pupils still reflected the flow of green energy. "Everything is burning there, Johnny. Your friends, Zack... Cloud... they are drowning in that darkness. Sephiroth... he is there."
Johnny's hand, gripping Aerith's, began to sweat. His mind was filled with anxiety. Will Sephiroth change like Griffith? Will he transform into a monster, like the Apostles?
Johnny closed his eyes, feeling the flow of Aerith's energy trying to stabilize the pain in his own body. "The Planet is calling us, Aerith. This whisper... it's not just a premonition. It is a warning."
Aerith slowly looked at Johnny with a gaze that mixed pain and relief. "Thank you, Johnny... we felt it... The Lifestream needs help. Something massive and dark is happening in the West."
That night, under Elmyra's anxious watch, the two young people held hands, realizing that their peaceful life in Midgar had just ended. The call from Nibelheim had locked their destinies.
Elmyra sat on the edge of the bed, embracing Aerith's still-trembling shoulders. Her warm hand continuously stroked her adopted daughter's hair, trying to provide comfort amidst the invisible storm battering Aerith's soul.
Mother Elmyra looked at the two of them with teary eyes, realizing that the bond between Johnny and Aerith had surpassed her understanding as an ordinary human. Elmyra slowly released her embrace, looking at Johnny and Aerith in turn. "You... you really have to go, don't you?"
"We have no choice, Mother. If we do nothing, it won't just be Nibelheim that perishes."
Johnny remained kneeling, letting the warmth of his hand spread to soothe the lingering tremors in Aerith's body.
He leaned his face closer, whispering words full of resolve. "Three days from now... we have to leave, Aerith. I can feel the call getting stronger, but we can't depart without preparation. I'll get all the supplies ready first so our journey is safe."
Aerith merely nodded slowly, her fingers squeezing Johnny's hand back, as if seeking the strength to face the shadows of Nibelheim that had begun to haunt her.
Johnny then stood up slowly and turned to look at Mother Elmyra, who still appeared shaken. He bowed his head slightly, showing deep respect.
"Mother," Johnny's voice sounded low and sincere. "The Lifestream has called us. If you'll allow it, we might be gone for two weeks... or if the obstacles are heavier than we expect, it could be up to several months. But I promise, Aerith and I will always use our PHS to contact you and my parents every chance we get. I won't leave you worrying without news."
Mother Elmyra let out a long sigh, her eyes looking at Johnny with complete trust mixed with sorrow. She knew, with Johnny by Aerith's side, her daughter was under the best protection this world could offer.
"Protect her, Johnny. That is all I ask," Mother Elmyra said softly.
After a brief farewell, Johnny hurried out of the Sector 5 house. He rushed back to his private home and workshop in Sector 7.
The dim lights of the workshop flickered on. Puck flew in circles, sensing his master's drive and tension. Johnny didn't rest. He pulled out a heavy steel plate and an extra iron frame from the corner of the room. That night, the sound of clinking metal and sparks from the welding torch filled his workshop. Johnny began modifying his heavy motorcycle, welding together a sturdy sidecar frame so Aerith could endure the long journey comfortably and be protected from strong winds and sudden attacks.