DEFINATION
What is death? What do we
really understand the word ‘death’? If you look up in the dictionary, it will
give you stuff like ‘demised’, ‘passed away’ and other similar words. But what actually
is the meaning of this word? Is it a condition? A situation where the soul
leaves the body? Maybe something that comes to you when your time is up? Or is
it the end?
OUTCOME
Death. It leads to many different types of emotion to those
who know the dead one. Most of them are negative feelings. Some people cry.
Someone people were stunned. Some even wished themselves dead so that they can
join the one the lost. But sorrow is not the only emotion that plays with
someone’s mind when the one beside him or her is gone, forever. Some people
live with something called fear. They are afraid of everything. They are afraid
that their actions that led him or her to death will be avenged. They are
afraid that one night the ‘undead’ will knock on his apartment’s door or appear
in their dreams. Death is dreadful.
WE ALL KNOW
All of us know death can’t be prevented or predicted. It
will happen to all of us but it is just a matter of time. It will happen in the
next second, or maybe in sixty years time. When it’s time, you can’t stop it.
It will come silently, and then take you away before you know it. Some of us
believe in fortune telling. They go to a fortuneteller and ask them how long
more they will live. Of course, some come out with smiling faces and some others
with pale ones. But all this depends on yourself, whether you believe or not
what you were told of. Remember, no one could stop it.
BUT WHAT IF…
As mentioned before, death can’t be prevented. It will come
no matter what you do or what you say. But what if you were given a chance to
live after you experienced death? What if you were given the exact time left
you are going to live? And finally, what if you were given a chance to fight
against death itself?
Read on.
Peace. Peace after a long, long fight. Peace through war.
Fighting a threat that was unable to befriend with. The sweet feeling is just
unbelievable. The ancient army was gone now. It will be gone, forever.
It was already a week after the alliance between the Shinra,
Wutai and Fort Condor defeated the ancient army. It was a really tough fight.
The ancient army was an extreme dangerous and frightful army but their pushed
away their differences and fought against this threat. Although many had been
killed in battle, their contribution will be forever remembered and most
importantly, they had truely understood peace. Even though it would probably
only last for a generation.
The city of Kalm was finally quiet again. This was a
military based used by the alliance to feed their troops and provide shelter
for the homeless. After the war many had went back to their own places and
reunite to rebuilt their homeland. And now, for the Avalanche…
“Shera!”
“What is it captain?”
“What the hell is my %^)((*#%%^^& box of cigarettes?!”
Well, looks like Cid was still having problem talking to
Shera. After the war, Cid and Shera bought a small house and moved out from the
inn. Like old time day, Cid still yelled and shouted and Shera came running
towards him to assist his needs.
“It is in your right hand side pocket.”
Shera said while coming in through to the door after doing
some shopping outside. Cid got a shock and checked his pockets. It was really
in his pocket.
“Started getting old huh?” Shera said and smiled.
Cid didn’t say a word. He couldn’t admit his stupid mistake.
He just took out a cigarette and started lighting it up.
“That’s the fourth one today!” Shera suddenly stopped at her
feet and shouted.
Cid stopped lighting his cigarette. He then mumbled
something and put his lighter into his pocket.
“You are starting to sound like a nagging wife.” Cid
grumbled out loud.
“Hey, I am already half your wife. We stay in the same house
for years and I do all the households work like every other wife does. They
only thing left was you are too chicken to make a commitment.” Shera hinted.
Cid kept quiet. What will the others say if he told them he
was going to marry Shera? Shera had been staying in the same house for more
than ten years and they can do exactly the same now. Well, not exactly, things
have been far cozier lately.
“Shera, could you just come here for a minute?” Cid asked.
Shera looked at him curiously. For more than ten years she
lived with him she never heard him said something like that. Is Cid really
going to make a commitment?
Shera put down the groceries and sat down beside Cid. Cid
then held Shera’s hands.
“Shera, don’t tell others what I will say today. Can you
promise me that?”
Cid asked Shera to do him a favor. Shera continued to be quiet.
She then nodded slowly.
“I am sorry for all these years. I should have treated you
better.” Cid finally spilled the beans after a short pause.
Shera hung down her head. She never expected to hear Cid
saying something like that.
“From today on, I will try to treat you better. I know it’s
hard and probably too late, but I will try.” Cid continued.
Shera brought her head up. The smile on her face made her
look extreme beautiful for a lady at her age. Cid finally said it. Cid finally
made a commitment she longed for.
“Well, it won’t be too late. We still have about one third
of our life left.” Shera encouraged Cid.
Cid let go Shera’s hands and touched her face. He slowly
removed the spectacles and gazed at her eyes.
“But can I treat you the same way as last time in front of
the others?” Cid asked.
“That depends.” Shera said and kissed Cid. She then leaned
over him and then…you know the rest.
“Aeris…”
“Tifa?”
Cloud looked into his mug of beer and murmured while sitting
all day long in the bar. It been a while since he started behaving like this.
Days after the war ended, he started to do some deep thinking about his
relationship with Aeris. Before the war end there were too many events
happening. Sephiroth’s revival, the ancient army, he don’t have time to do any
thinking about his love relationship. Although he was under all kinds of
pressure during the war, he preferred it that way more than sitting around in
the bar thinking.
Cloud looked at his mug that was empty now. He just finished
another mug of beer. He ordered another one from the bartender and the
bartender put another mug in front of him. He cracked his head for a solution
to that love triangle, but, well, so far nothing really turned up yet.
“Poor Tifa…”
A female voice was heard from behind. Cloud turned his head
and saw Yuffie standing behind him. She had a smirk on her face after she
succeeded in making Cloud respond to her.
“I wonder how she felt when you dumped her at the church at
her wedding day?”
Yuffie continued making fun of Cloud. Cloud didn’t say a
thing and took a sip of his beer. Well, although Cloud didn’t wanted to hear
this, but the fact was he really tore Tifa’s heart to pieces on their wedding
day.
“Yuffie, stop it.” Cloud requested.
“The look on her face when she saw you and Aeris together…”
Yuffie continued.
“Yuffie, please.” Cloud started to beg her.
“She was so…uh…gotta go, bye!”
Yuffie stopped and dashed out of the bar through the
backdoor. Immediately a man came into the bar and looked around. It seems that
he just lost something.
“Did you happen to see a young Wutai girl sneaking around?”
The man said when he approached Cloud.
Cloud didn’t say anything. He just pointed at the backdoor
with his thumb. The man’s temper shot up immediately and he too dashed out of
the bar through the backdoor.
Yuffie, Yuffie. When will she change?
“Yo, Cloud!”
A gruff voice was heard. Cloud turned his head and saw
Barret standing beside. Not only Barret was there, Vincent and Cait Sith was
there too. They were all here to have their evening drink.
“Tifa said you were here the whole day. What wrong again?”
Cait Sith asked.
“If you are me, who will you choose? Aeris or Tifa?” Cloud
suddenly asked the rest.
Everybody looked at each other. They were surprised to hear
Cloud say something like.
“I thought ya decided to be wit Aeris, isn’t it?” Barret
asked curiously.
“You abandoned your wedding and went to look for Aeris. I
can’t think of anything else why you did this if it isn’t because of your
feelings towards Aeris.” Vincent replied coldly.
“I don’t know. Tifa was hurt so badly since that day. I
can’t bear to let her hurt any deeper.” Cloud doubted.
“So that’s why you started having different thoughts? How
would Aeris felt when you tell her that you are going to be with Tifa?” Vincent
asked.
“That is the reason I asked all of you for opinion. No
matter whom I choose to be with, I will surely hurt the other one. I thought of
not making any moves on both of them for the time being. What do you guys
think?” Cloud gave his opinion.
“That is a good idea but how long can you keep it that way?
One day you are still going to decide, right?” Cait Sith added.
“Then at that day I will think of something else. Is that
okay?” Cloud asked again.
Everybody kept quiet. Aeris and Tifa were both their friends
and they understood Cloud’s dilemma.
“Only time will tell.”
Vincent suddenly broke the silent atmosphere. Cloud looked at him and took another sip of
his beer.
“Let’s hope so.”
Cloud replied and left the bar with a lifeless look again.
“Auntie Tifa, look!”
Marlene cried out and pulled Tifa’s hand. Marlene then
pointed at a row of flowers in front of the church of Kalm. Tifa took a look at
the church and she remembered this place vividly. This was a place packed with
refugees during the war. But before that, this was also the place where Cloud….
Tifa shook her head. This was the past. She didn’t want to
think about it anymore. Tifa followed Marlene to the row of flowers. Marlene’s
eyes glow with happiness after admiring the beautiful flowers.
“Marlene, is that you?”
A voice came from inside the church. Immediately a young
lady walked out of the church. This young girl was none other than Tifa’s love
rival-Aeris.
“The flower girl!” Marlene cried out and leaped towards
Aeris. Aeris hugged Marlene and kissed her on her head. Although Aeris was not
in her original body, Marlene could still recognize her because of her kindness
and friendliness.
“Hi.”
Tifa made a short greeting. Aeris brought up her head and
looked at Tifa. A surge of guilt filled her mind. Before the war ended, like
Cloud, she didn’t really thought of this matter and could team up and aid Cloud
and Tifa is combat. But now she have plenty of time to think. She still can’t
get over with the fact that she broke up Tifa’s marriage, at her wedding day.
Aeris reacted with a smiled on her face. There was nothing
else she could do. The guilt inside her stopped her from being as friendly
towards Tifa as before.
“So…Aeris, this is where you stay for the pass few days?”
Tifa tried to start a conversation.
“The refugees needed help the first few days and I stayed to
help. Now that they are gone, there are plenty of spaces for me to stay here.
Don’t worry, I will be fine.” Aeris replied and looked at the church.
Tifa nodded. She felt like asking Aeris to stay with them,
but she didn’t do so. Something inside her stopped her from doing so.
“Marlene, it late. We have to go back to the inn.” Tifa
called out to Marlene and walked towards her.
“Go, Marlene.”
Aeris said and handed Marlene back to Tifa. At this moment
Aeris was stunned. She saw an engagement ring still on Tifa’s finger. That’s means
that…
Tifa soon noticed what Aeris was looking at. She quickly hid
the hand behind and quickly walked away with Marlene still waving at Aeris.
Aeris just stood there quietly. Tifa still have hope that
one day Cloud will come back to her. This made her felt less guilty. But, deep
inside her, she didn’t want the day to come.
She can’t bear to let Cloud go.
Cloud walked out of the bar and looked at the sky. It’s dark
already. Cloud stretched his arms after a long sit at the bar and started his journey
back to the inn.
Cloud walked along the street slowly. He just wanted to
clear his mind for a while. He didn’t want to do anymore thinking. He was
fighter, not a thinker.
Cloud suddenly stopped at the sidewalk of a tall building.
He checked his pockets for a while and mumbled.
“My keys…”
Cloud checked his pockets again. He must have left his keys
at the bar. He grumbled a little and turned around.
At this moment, Cloud heard something smashed behind him. He
turned his head and saw some smatterings on the sidewalk. He looked up and saw
a balcony full of vases but with an empty space the size of a vase. The
smatterings on the sidewalk must be a vase that fell from that balcony. If
Cloud didn’t turn back, he would have been…
Cloud was glued to the ground for a moment. He eyes was
still fixed onto the empty space of he balcony. Thank god he had forgotten his
keys. Cloud cleared his thoughts and then headed to the bar to get back his
keys.
He didn’t know that something big is about to happen.
Cloud knocked the door and waited for a moment. No reply.
An hour after that incident with the vase smashing, Cloud
went to the bar to get his keys and now he was standing in front of the inn.
Cloud knocked the door again but nobody answered. Just like he expected, no one
was here. The other members of the party have their places to hang out and just
after that war, there were no customers coming to their inn and they have to
close it down for a moment.
Cloud opened the door with his keys and entered. There was
funny smell in the inn. He started becoming suspicious. He wasn’t sure what
that smell was, but it really smelt bad.
Cloud tiptoed into the inn. He walked along the corridor
quietly and slowly followed the direction of the smell. Cloud didn’t want to on
the light because he didn’t want to scare the intruder, if there was one. He
followed the source of the smell and he was then led into the kitchen.
Cloud looked around the kitchen, the kitchen was like usual
but the smell was much stronger in here. Cloud walked on to investigate.
He suddenly lost his balance and fell onto the floor. The
floor was extremely slippery and made Cloud fell down with his back crashing
onto the floor. Cloud forced himself up and checked the floor. It was kerosene
and cooking oil. They were all over the kitchen cause that revolting smelling
of kerosene and cooking oil fumes.
A thought struck Cloud’s mind. The sound of a bell ring was
heard. The oven automatically turned on and a small fireball rolled out of it.
Boom.
“Marlene, come back here!”
Tifa shouted when Marlene kept on running around. Marlene
was still a small kid and Tifa really worried for her safety. She didn’t know
she to tell Barret if something happened to Marlene.
“Quick! Get some more help!”
A shout was heard from a far. Tifa looked around, something
was wrong.
“Auntie Tifa! Our house is on fire!” Marlene shouted at the
top of her voice.
Tifa was shocked to hear this. She immediately ran back to
the inn.
When Tifa arrived, many of the nearby dwellers were here
already. They tried to put out the fire by showering the flames with pails of
water but the fire was burning as hot as before.
“Tifa, what happened?”
Tifa turned and saw Barret, Vincent, Red XIII, Yuffie and
Cait Sith behind her. Cid and Shera were with them too. Cloud wasn’t with them.
“Where’s Cloud?” Tifa asked with a panic tone.
“He headed back early. I fear that he…” Vincent answered and
stopped.
Tifa covered her mouth with both of her hands. She can’t
believe what was happening.
“Cloud!”
Tifa shouted and ran towards the flames. The others quickly
pulled her back to stop her.
“Tifa, don’t go! You will get yourself killed!” Cait Sith
persuaded while his mog pulled her back with his enormous arms.
“No! I got to save Cloud!” Tifa shouted and tears rushed out
from her eyes.
“Don’t go!”
Barret shouted and pulled Tifa back violently. Tifa fell
onto the floor on her knees and tears flowed down uncontrollably. Shera kneeled
by her and comforted her.
“Someone’s coming out from the flames!”
A cry was heard beyond the crowd. Tifa immediately stopped
crying. She stood up and looked at the inn. Someone was coming out of the
flames. It was…
Tifa ran towards the person who came out of the flames. No
mistake, this person was…
“Cough! Cough!”
The person coughed violently after coming out of the flames.
He was covered with sooth and his right leg was lumping.
“Cloud!”
Tifa shouted and leaped towards Cloud. Cloud hugged Tifa and
comforted her.
“Relax, Tifa. I am alright.” Cloud said and patted Tifa
back.
“I am so scared that you will…” Tifa said and tears formed
in her eyes again.
Cloud looked at her. The happy face behind the tears showed
how much Tifa cared for him.
“Here comes the ambulance! Quick! Send that man to the
hospital on the double!”
Cloud looked at the crowd. They were rushing towards him.
“No, wait! I am not…”
Before Cloud could finish, someone from the crowd pushed Cloud
onto a stretcher and carried him into the ambulance. They quickly shut the door
and the ambulance left. Tifa was left behind, still in shock after the
ambulance left. The others looked at Tifa expression and shook their heads.
“Now I understood why Cloud had a problem in deciding who to
choose.” Red XIII speaking out what was in everyone’s mind.
“Cloud!”
A girl dashed into the hospital door and looked around. She
saw the Avalanche next to the emergency ward in grief look. She asked them with
a panic tone.
“Where is Cloud? How is he?”
No mistake. This girl was the flower girl-Aeris. Soon after
the Avalanche contacted her, she rushed to the hospital as fast as she could.
“Cloud’s…”
Before Vincent could finish, Aeris started sniffing. Tears
then formed in her eyes and flow down uncontrollably.
“Wait, listen to me, Cloud’s…”
Vincent tried to tell Aeris the truth but Aeris interrupted
him again by crying on his shoulder. Looks like Vincent have the ability to
make a happy news sounds grave.
“Aeris, listen! Cloud’s NOT dead!”
Barret shouted so that Aeris hear every word clearly.
Aeris looked at Barret and blinked her tears off her eyes.
“What…Cloud’s alive? But on the phone…”
Before Aeris could finish, everyone in the room stared at
Yuffie. It was Yuffie who made the call to tell Aeris about the incident.
“Well…I just ‘spiced’ things up a little…” Yuffie said and
slowly walked backwards.
“You told me Cloud’s gone!”
Aeris shouted at Yuffie. Aeris had never been this mad before.
Well, how can she not be?
“Hey, come on, it’s just a practical…”
“That’s not funny.” Tifa interrupted Yuffie before Yuffie
could defend herself. This time Yuffie had crossed the line.
The room became quiet again. Aeris started wiping off her tears.
She can’t believe that Yuffie made fun of her feelings towards Cloud, in front
of the others. Aeris looked at Tifa. She was leaning against the wall quietly
and her eyes were red too. Aeris realized that Tifa had been crying too. The
reason, she didn’t really want to know.
“Are you all with Cloud?”
A well-dressed doctor came out from a room. Everybody stood
up and approached him.
“Yup. How long does he need to stay in the hospital?” Cait
Sith asked.
The doctor looked at everybody. He looked a little confused
with what was going on.
“Are you all really sure he came out from a burning house?”
the doctor asked.
“Of cuz! What ‘d ya think we all are? Blind?” Barret asked
the doctor without patience.
“I examined his entire body and I can’t find any burns, not
even minor ones. He told me he didn’t carry an elemental support material with
him. I really didn’t know how he managed to do that.”
The doctor explained Cloud’s condition. Everybody looked at
each other. They can’t believe that Cloud can survive this fire without even a
single burn.
“What about his right leg?” Tifa asked the doctor.
“The wound on his right legs was caused by something that
fell onto it. He told me that a wall fell onto his right leg and that made him
trapped in the fire for quite some time. But what I couldn’t really understand
is how he managed to prevent himself from even a single burn when he was
trapped for quite some time.” The doctor expressed his inquiry.
Tifa was stunned for a moment. Cloud was trapped in the fire
for a long time and his body temperature should have shot up to a very high
level. But when Cloud hugged her Cloud body was only warm, the same temperature
as normal. What was going on here?
“Uh, doctor? Do I need to stay in the hospital for checkup?”
Cloud walked out of the room using a stretcher to support
his right leg. Everyone looked at Cloud. Cloud looked fine. He didn’t look like
he was suffering from any form of pain. He looked like he was ready to
discharge from the hospital already.
“Cloud, right? You are ready to go home now. Take these
pills according to the prescription on the label.”
The doctor said and handed Cloud a few bottles of pills.
Cloud thanked the doctor and the doctor looked at Cloud a strange way.
“Come to me again when something like this happen.”
The doctor said and left the room. Cloud looked at the
others. There were looking at him, as he there was something really wrong with
him.
“Shall we…leave?”
Cloud asked. Everyone immediately started to react and
helped Cloud.
Something really, really wrong was going on.
“So this…was left?”
Cloud asked Barret that was standing next to him.
“Yup.” Barret answered and nodded.
After they left the hospital, Cloud insisted on coming back to
the location where the fire took place. Cloud looked at the enormous piece of
charcoal, he himself couldn’t even believe how he escaped the fire.
“Where are we going to stay tonight?” Cloud asked the
others.
“You all can stay in our place. I know it’s a bit small but
we have plenty of couches, you all can sleep there.” Cid suggested.
“So you and Shera will squeeze into one room, right?” Yuffie
joked.
“Oh yes we will, aren’t we, captain?”
Shera replied. Cid turned around and the others laughed. It
was funny, but Cloud didn’t react at all. Cloud kept quiet and he looked like
he was doing some deep thinking.
“What’s wrong, Cloud?” Aeris approached Cloud and asked.
Cloud didn’t reply. He looked around the area. His eyes then
fixed onto a lamppost. Cloud left the others and walked towards the lamppost.
The others looked at him and wondered what he will do next.
Cloud cracked his fingers. He warmed up his hands a little
by punching in the air. Then all of a sudden, he pulled off the cover covering
all the live wires and punched straight into the bunch of wires.
Everyone was shocked to see Cloud doing something like this.
What was he doing?! That was suicide! Cloud will be electrocuted and his brain
will be fried to crisp!
“Cloud!”
This time it’s Aeris turn to perform a reckless attempt to
save Cloud from being electrocuted. Before Aeris could do anything, Barret
pulled her back and a bright spark blasted in front of Cloud. The spark was so
bright that it almost blinded everyone’s eyes.
A few seconds later, the light dimmed down and everyone
started to open his or her eyes. They only saw Cloud, standing there, with his
a bunch of wires in his hands. He pulled it out bare handed. Aeris, relieved to
see Cloud was all right approached him.
“Cloud, are you insane?” Aeris asked with a tone mixed with
anger and worry.
Cloud didn’t say anything. He just looked at his hand and
then he looked at everybody. Everybody was eager to hear what Cloud was going
to say.
“I felt a surge of energy seeped into me. I had the same
feeling when I was trapped in the fire. I absorbed fire and bolt.”
Everybody didn’t know what Cloud meant. Cloud was
invulnerable to fire and bolt? Two main elements of the planet? What was he
talking about?
Cloud walked up and down next to the lamppost. The others
looked at him and saw no burns or sign of electrocution. It wasn’t possible!
They all saw him punch into a bunch of live wires, he couldn’t possibly had
survived. What was going on?
“Sephiroth, what had you done to me?!” Cloud gripped his
fist and then threw then into the sky. The others looked at him with fear.
Whatever it’s happening, it must have something to do with
Sephiroth.
In less than three hours, the Avalanche was on board the
highwind heading towards Cosmo Canyon. After that strange incident, Cloud
insisted on finding out what was wrong with him and Red XIII suggested that
they start looking through books in Cosmo Canyon and solve this once and for
all.
“Yo.”
Cloud just leaned over the railing at the deck of the
highwind. He gazed out into the horizon. Waiting to see the tower on top of
Cosmo Canyon.
“Cloud!”
Cloud turned his head. He saw Barret standing behind him
with his arms crossed.
“Yer deaf?!”
Barret scolded. Cloud didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to
be bothered right now.
“Barret, I am not in a mood for a chat.”
Cloud replied and looked out in the horizon again. Barret
ignored Cloud’s excuse and walked towards Cloud. He stood beside him and too looked
out at the horizon.
“Did ya thought of how strong yer actually are?” Barret
started a conversation.
Cloud didn’t answered. He just remained silence.
“Come’on, say somethin’!”
Barret shouted again. Cloud still didn’t react. He still
remained silent.
“Say somethin’ ya %*&#@(&#!!!”
Barret shouted at the top of his voice. He looked furious
but he still waited for Cloud answer.
“Who asked you to come? Aeris or Tifa?”
Cloud finally spoke. Barret didn’t reply this time. Cloud
was good at this. At first Tifa asked Barret to cheer Cloud up, later when Tifa
left, Aeris came and told Barret the same thing. Barret never liked the idea
but he still did it for the sake of Tifa and Aeris.
“Barret, you are not going to get the job done. Go down and
join the others.”
Cloud advised Barret and continued gazing into the horizon.
Barret mumbled something and went down to join the others.
Now Cloud was alone again. He was left with only his
imagination. He really wanted to know what’s wrong with him. Not long ago he
was killed but then he was revived without even knowing how it was done. Then
he switched bodies with Sephiroth and that made it more mysterious. Now, he was
invulnerable to fire and bolt and that made the puzzle even harder to solve. He
really wanted an answer. An answer that will explain everything.
“Cloud.”
This time Cloud gave full attention to the soft female
voice. Although he didn’t turn his head, he already knew whom this was.
She slowly approached Cloud from behind. She then stood beside
Cloud and looked at him.
“I am sorry about Barret. All of us are worried about you.
Barret didn’t really mean to …”
“I understand.”
Cloud replied before Aeris could finish.
There was a long silence on the deck. Cloud and Aeris didn’t
say anything. They looked into the horizon together and wait for the sight of
the Cosmo Canyon.
“Cloud, remember our date in the Gold Saucer?”
Aeris suddenly asked. Cloud looked at her. He never thought
that Aeris would bring up something like.
“Yup. I still remembered how you kicked the evil dragon king
out of the stage.” Cloud replied with a smile on his face.
“That was your fault! You didn’t act according to the
script!”
Aeris blamed Cloud with a cheerful tone.
“Remember how you dragged me out from my room in the haunted
inn?”
Cloud continued. Aeris chuckled and punched lightly on
Cloud’s shoulder.
“That was so long ago. I didn’t even think of having a
serious relationship. Why did you suddenly bring that up?” Cloud asked.
“It made you smile, right?” Aeris answered with a smile.
Cloud observed Aeris slowly. He hadn’t seen Aeris smiling or
being so cheerful for a long time. Ever since she was revived, everyday was
tragic for her. His death, the war…there was too many to think other that
having a relationship. Now, when everything was over, she could finally smile
again. Although her looks changed slightly, she was again the cheerful flower
girl Cloud once used to know.
“Uh, Cloud. Do you think we will go to the Gold Saucer
together again?”
Aeris asked and tiled her head. Cloud started to get low
again. He didn’t want to think about all this but it was forcing its way
towards him. He didn’t know how to reply.
“Cloud, did you meant every word you said to me at your
wedding day and just after you came back in Sephiroth’s form?”
Aeris asked and didn’t dare to look at Cloud. Cloud felt
even more pressure crushing him.
“Was it all something rash?”
Cloud really didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t just leave
Aeris here without saying anything.
“If for any reason you wanted to turn back to Tifa, just go.
Don’t hesitate and think too much about my feelings. I know that you really
loved her to ask her to be your wife and I don’t want to ruin your life by
taking too much care on my feelings. I know it will hurt, but it will fade,
slowly.”
Aeris confessed her thoughts and brought her head up. She
looked at Cloud and saw a strange expression in his eyes. She didn’t know
whether he was thanking her or hoping that she was not serious. Aeris walked
away and before she entered the lower deck, she turned and said,
“Tifa still loves you.”
“Nanaki! Welcome back!”
The guards of Cosmo Canyon greeted Red XIII as soon as the
Avalanche arrived at Cosmo Canyon. The guards too greeted the others and led
them into Cosmo Canyon.
Cloud looked around Cosmo Canyon. It was still the same
except for a few new buildings. The eternal bonfire was still burning like
always, the inn was still filled with tourist who wanted to see the awesome
scenery of the canyon and the planet simulation in the observation. The
observing tower was still high on top, gazing into the star, like a astronomy
observer looking out into space, hoping to discover something new.
Red XIII sighed a the sight of the tall building where he
used to live with Budgenhagen. He missed that place, very much. Just that now
Budgenhagen wasn’t there anymore. He had gone away, leaving the observation in
the trusty hands of his disciples. This wasn’t a place Red XIII would like to
spend his life in. He prefer to stay with the Avalanche, where he felt most at
home.
“I remember grandpa used to keep a lot of books about the
planet and magic in his observing tower. I think that we will find some useful
there.”
Red XIII spoke with a tone of wisdom and looked at the
Avalanche. There were too many of them to squeeze into the observation room.
“That room is too small for so many of us. I only need
Aeris’s help to translate the ancient inscriptions. The others could go out and
walk around.” Red XIII excused himself.
“Red, can you too find out how and why I was revived?” Cloud
asked before leaving the room.
“I will try. Say, Cloud. Why don’t you try out spells that
Sephiroth cast when he was in your body? There won’t be anyone around the rocky
area today and you can use it all for yourself.”
Red XIII suggested
and led Aeris up to the observing tower. Cloud thought for a moment and looked
at the others. They seemed to agree with him. They were eager to know what power
Cloud could possibly possessed. Cloud walked first, and led the others down to
the rocky area.
On top of the observation tower, Aeris looked around the
place. As far as she could remember, she had only been here once. That was when
she first saw the planetary simulation Budgenhagen created. That time all they
could think about was getting their hands on Spehiroth, not knowing the path
that lies ahead. Those days were gone. Now they were heroes and heroines of the
planet and had a huge responsibility protecting the planet. Boy she missed
those days.
Red XIII opened a cabinet full of books. There were layers
and layers of spider webs covering the books. Each of these books were coated
with dust. Aeris took a few out and sneezed as a result of the amount of dust
flying around. Red opened one of the books and it was all in ancient language.
“Let’s start working.”
Red XIII said and started going through an ancient book.
Aeris carried and piled out the books on the floor. She took a look at those
enormous piles of books. It will be a long time they will find an answer to
this strange incident.
“Concentrate. Think only about the spell you are going to
cast.”
Vincent gave advice to Cloud on how to cast the spells. Just
after Cloud told the others spells Sephiroth used to cast when he in his body,
everyone with him were trying to figure out how to cast those spells.
“Freeze.”
Cloud muttered while holding a materia and then a bright
light appeared. At first came a very cold gust of wind and the bits of snow
were seen. Then a eardrum-breaking sound was heard a huge piece of ice appeared
in front of him. The huge chunk of ice stay floating in the air for a moment
but then immediately broke into tiny pieces and shattered on impact when
crashing on the ground.
“How did Sephiroth do it?”
Cloud asked himself again and again. He remembered that
Sephiroth used to trap Tifa and Aeris in a huge chunk of ice in the last fight.
That magic was similar to freeze, but it did no damage and traps the target inside
for a long time. They figured out that Sephiroth had probably found out a new
way to use freeze and now they were trying to cast that spell.
“Freeze.”
Cloud muttered again and the same thing happened. The huge
chunk of ice still breaks into pieces after a short while. There was something
wrong here.
“What’s so &*)%&^ important with a freakin’ spell
anyway? I say that we stop this before anyone gets hurt.” Cid complaint after
all this annoyed him.
“Don’t listen to him, Cloud. Keep on trying. I know you
can.”
Tifa encouraged Cloud and gave a mean look Cid. Cloud just
stood there thinking. Sephiroth did it with ease. It was probably that
Sephiroth possessed something he didn’t. Maybe what he was doing now was just a
waste of time.
“Here. Try it with an Ice materia.” Cait Sith said and threw
Cloud an Ice material. Cloud caught it with ease and examined it.
“Can I have those two materia when you guys are finished?”
Yuffie asked and hoped she will get a satisfying answer. Of
course, the answer was no. But that was not a problem to her because she could
anytime…
“Cloud, are you sure that you saw Sephiroth using that
spell?” Shera that was standing beside Cid asked.
“I am very sure I saw him using it. Aeris and Tifa were
trapped in it and all he did was lifting up his hand and…”
Cloud stopped before he could finish that sentence. He
looked at the materia for a while and then he threw it to Barret. He then
walked forward and stopped.
“Stand aside.”
Cloud commanded and lifted up his right hand. This time he
didn’t mutter anything. He just closed his eyes and concentrated.
It was a quiet moment. Nobody knew what Cloud was going to
do. Cloud just stood there for a minute. The others watched silently and waited
for something to happen. Nothing. The wanted to interrupt but afraid that it
will ruin things, so they just continued waiting and waiting. Two minutes,
three, four... Still nothing. No one could possibly cast a spell without using
materias. They don’t have the magic ability to do that. They needed magic
source, like a materia. What Cloud was doing was a waste of time.
Cid and Barret
started to get impatient when suddenly they felt the coldest surge of wind that
chilled even their bones. They watched Cloud with awe. Nothing at first, then
they saw something started forming in front of him. Immediately, a huge chuck
of ice appeared in front of Cloud floating in the air. Everyone was expecting
the ice block to crash and smatter but it didn’t. After a few minutes it just
remain intact their and hovered over the rocky terrain.
Everyone were shocked to see this, even Cloud himself. Cloud
cast a spell without even using a materia. All he did was lift up his hand then
close his eyes and viola, it worked.
“Interesting. You are somehow capable of casting magic
without even using a materia. I believe that there are other spells that you
can cast.”
Vincent clarified after he witnessed such an incident.
Somehow, Cloud was more powerful and mysterious than he ever imagined.
“Red, how many books left do we have?”
“All of them except for those behind you.” Red XIII replied.
Aeris took a look around her. There were tons of books all
in ancient language. She didn’t know why Budgenhagen kept all these books, but
all of them were very boring. Aeris stretched herself and rubbed her eyes. She
was tired already. She looked out of the window and saw the huge chuck of ice
Cloud cast that afternoon still floating over the rocks. She wished that she
was out there helping Cloud instead of reading all day long in the observing
tower.
“Any shortcuts?”
Aeris asked Red XIII. Red XIII shook his head. Apparently
there was no easy way out. The only way was to read and read and read.
“I will have a break now.”
Aeris said and climbed down the observing tower. She lay
down on a lazy chair and looked at the ceiling. There must be a way other than
reading through those books.
Aeris suddenly heard footsteps. She turned her head and saw
Yuffie tiptoes away with a small backpack.
“Yuffie, what are you doing?” Aeris asked and looked at
Yuffie straight in the eye.
“Uh…just getting back to my room, that’s all.” Yuffie said
and scratched her head.
“Let me take a look what’s in that bag.”
Aeris said and walked towards Yuffie. Yuffie slowly walked
backwards and she suddenly ran away towards the corridor.
“Stop!”
Aeris shouted and chased Yuffie. Yuffie was stealing again!
When will she ever stop? Suddenly Yuffie stopped and turned back. Aeris took a
look and saw Red XIII approaching Yuffie from the other side.
“Hand those materia back now.”
Aeris said and took the bag of materia from Yuffie. Yuffie
made a face at Aeris and walked away.
Aeris opened the bag and saw a whole bag of red colored
materias. Those were the most valuable materias of their entire collection.
“Bingo!” Aeris suddenly cried out.
“What wrong?” Red XIII asked curiously.
“Is there any way we can get help from these summon
creatures?”
Aeris asked Red XIII. Red XIII thought for a while. They
usually used summon creatures to fight but they never really make full use of
those materias. Summon creatures had more uses other than fighting enemies.
“Which summon creature will know best about our question?”
Aeris asked Red XIII.
“If you wanted to know more about Cloud’s revival, I think
Hades is a good start.” Red XIII suggested.
Aeris ransacked the backpack and found the Hades summon
materia. She held it in her hand and she muttered something. In just a few seconds,
the surrounding turned extremely dark and only Aeris and Red XIII were seen.
Then, a figure appeared in front of them.
“I don’t see a target here. Why did you summoned me?”
A deep toned voice was heard. A necromancer like figure that
was mixing something in a huge pot asked Aeris and Red XIII.
“We are here to seek your knowledge.” Red XIII greeted.
“All I can tell you was about death. What did you wanted to
know?” Hades answered coldly.
“What can you tell us about dead?” Red XIII asked a very
general question.
Hades stopped mixing the stuff in his pot and looked at Red
XIII.
“Every living being has a body and a mind. There is
something that connects the body and the mind.” Hades said and paused for a
moment.
“Death happened when that connection was broken. The
connection will break when the body is no longer capable of supporting itself.
The mind will leave the body and it will flow into the lifestream and join the
forces of the planet.” Hades finished his explanation.
“Cloud was invulnerable to bolt and fire. Today he could
even cast an ice spell without any usage of materia. What was happening to
him?” Red XIII continued asking.
“That I am not very sure because that was not my line of
expertise. All I can tell you is that Cloud was special and there was a link
between him and the planet.” Hades answered.
“So who should we see to know what actually happened?” Aeris
asked.
“That you have to find out yourself. Even if you meet the
other summon creatures they will tell you same thing.” Hades said and started
mixing his stuff again.
“What did you know about Cloud and Aeris’s revival?” Red
XIII asked.
“When…”
“Hold it! We will save that question for later, right now I
wanted to know why Cloud’s always was so near to death?”
Aeris cut off Hades answer and popped out another question.
Red XIII looked at Aeris curiously. There was something strange with her.
“Coincidence was the first answer. The second was someone
was sent to eliminate him.” Hades answered the question Aeris popped up.
“Who would send an killer to kill Cloud?” Red XIII asked
anxiously.
“It was the…”
Before Hades could finish the sentence, Hades disappeared
and the surrounding became brighter. In just a few seconds, they were back in
Cosmo Canyon again.
“What happened?” Aeris asked Red XIII.
“Time’s up. There’s a time limit for each summon creature to
appear. We have to wait for a few hours before we could summon Hades again.”
Red XIII answered.
Aeris nodded and put the materia back into the backpack. She
then went downstairs towards her room.
“Aeris.”
Red XIII stopped Aeris before she could leave the room.
“Didn’t you want to know how you were revived?” Red XIII
asked, as he was curious when Aeris suddenly stopped Hades from answering that
question.
Aeris just tiled her head and smiled. She then continued her
way to her room.
Red XIII watched as she left the room. He didn’t understand
what she meant. But he was certain of something. She was hiding something.
“Cloud.”
Cloud sat down at the observation tower of Cosmo Canyon
looking at the stars. He didn’t care to turn his head although the voice came
from behind. He recognized that voice so well and he could guess who that was.
“It’s late, Cloud. I think you better go down and get some
rest.”
Fading footsteps were heard right after the person behind
Cloud finished that sentence. The person slowly walked away.
“Tifa, come here for a moment.”
Cloud broke the silent atmosphere. Tifa turned around and
walked towards him. Cloud was staring into the sky, looking at the magnificent
Cosmo Canyon sky view, eluded in his own thoughts. Tifa sat next to him and
stare off into the sky with him.
“The stars…they are beautiful right?”
Cloud started a conversation. Tifa looked out into the sky
filled with twinkling stars. The stars at Cosmo Canyon were very beautiful;
many tourists came from far to admire this spectacular sight. Tifa looked at
the stars and recalled her past. She remembered the day where she and Cloud
were still kids, talking and admiring the stars at the well in Nibelhelm. Cloud
was so shy when he was a kid. She knew that he had feeling for her. But
now…now…she wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Tifa, I am sorry.”
Cloud suddenly apologized. Tifa looked at Cloud. She didn’t know
what he meant.
“I am very sorry for not coming to the church that day. I
was confused; I don’t know what to do. Till now I still wondered whether what I
did was right. I know it’s hard to forgive me, but all I need you to know is
that I am sorry.” Cloud explained.
Tifa looked at Cloud but Cloud didn’t look at her. He didn’t
have the courage to apologized to her face to face, eye to eye.
“Do you have any idea how I feel when you didn’t come to the
wedding?”
Tifa asked. Cloud didn’t say anything. He just looked at the
star-lit sky.
“At first I was worry. I really was. I was afraid that you
had an accident or other things like that.” Tifa said and sighed for a moment.
“Then I went all around to search for you in my wedding
dress, hoping that you were safe and sound. But then I saw you and Aeris
together. You were kissing her. At that time I didn’t know she was Aeris. I
really wanted to go in front and slap her and you in the face. But I couldn’t.
My mind was numb and all I saw was betrayal. That’s why I couldn’t face it and
ran away.” Tifa continued.
Cloud turned his head and looked at Tifa. She looked real
calm and strong but he can feel that she was hiding all her fear and sorrow.
She acted like she was talking about someone else and made it look casual. She
just didn’t want to show her feeling.
“And shortly after that, you left us without a word. After
everything with Sephiroth was over, you were gone. You left both of us without
even saying whom you actually choose. You left all of us in sorrow until you
suddenly appeared again in a different form. Then again, you broke my heart by
being with Aeris again, in her house...”
Tifa couldn’t continue anymore. Her eyes started to become
wet and she turned her head away so that Cloud didn’t notice it. Cloud looked
at the sky again, he recalled that cold night at Aeris’s house in Icicle Inn.
Aeris brought him back to her house and they nearly...
“What are you trying to say, Tifa?” Cloud asked because he
didn’t understand what Tifa was trying to tell him.
“All I wanted to say is that if you and Aeris wanted to be
together, just say so. Don’t do everything behind my back. Every time you break
my heart you were doing it without me knowing it. It hurts, Cloud. It really
hurts to know that someone you love was having an affair, with your best
friend.”
Tifa answered and tears started flowing down her cheek. She
quickly wiped it off and left the observation tower.
Cloud looked at Tifa leaving the room. He felt really guilty
after knowing how much he hurt his ex-fiancée. Everything went fine. His first
date with Tifa, his marriage proposal, and the wedding settings...everything
went fine until Aeris showed up.
“Did you only love me because Aeris was gone?”
Tifa asked and climbed down the ladder. Cloud looked at the
ladder although Tifa had left.
Was Tifa right? Right about everything? Cloud was once again
in a bad mood.
It was late at night. Real late. Cloud was still up at the
observation tower while the others had all went to bed. Everything was still in
the main hall until a figure appeared. The figure slow glided across the room
and headed towards Cloud’s room. Cloud’s room was unoccupied; the figure slowly
opened the door and entered his room.
“Bingo!”
The figure whispered when it opened a bag of materias. It
was Yuffie all right. All the time she wanted to get her hands on these
materias but she couldn’t because Cloud was always guarding them. Now was a
good chance to get those materias, now or never.
Yuffie slowly picked the most valuable materias. Most of
them were summon materias. After filling up her bag full with materias, she
slowly tiptoed and readied to leave the room.
“Bye suckers!”
Yuffie said and opened the door. Suddenly there was a faint glow
behind her. Yuffie turned her head and saw the bag that she was carrying
emitting a faint glow. Yuffie quickly opened her bag and saw only one materia
glowing. She examined the materia and recognized it. It was a destruct materia.
They seldom used it and Yuffie took it only because it was nearly mastered and
she could sell it for a high price after she used it for a few more times. This
materia was capable of breaking barriers, spell and..
“Ahh!!!”
A loud cried was came from above. It was Cloud’s voice and
he sounds like he was in trouble. She quickly got of the room and climbed up to
the observation tower. It was dark up there and the lights weren’t on. Yuffie
could see someone in the dark standing over a body that was lying on the floor.
“Who is it?”
Yuffie shouted and the figure moved. It quickly dashed
towards the window and jumped out.
Yuffie was alarmed to see this. That thing couldn’t survive
a fall from a place this high. Yuffie quickly ran towards the window and looked
out. She saw a figure skillfully abseiling down a rope that was tied to the
window a floor lower. The figure slided smoothly against the wall and dodged
and evaded every obstacle in his way. He was a professional. Yuffie then used
her ninja skills and abseiled down the rope too.
It was a tough climb downwards even though Yuffie was a
skillful ninja. Yuffie tried to climb down faster but she was afraid that she
might lose her grip and crash onto the rocky floor. A fall from this height
will surely be fatal. Yuffie can only keep a constant distance between she and
the figure but couldn’t possibly catch up with him. He was way too fast.
After a descending for quite some distance, the figure
suddenly threw something at Yuffie. Yuffie was hit at the leg and nearly lost
grip. She checked her injury and found a dart sticking in her foot. With pain
in her foot, she couldn’t descend as quickly as before. The distance between
the two became further. She pulled out a materia and blast the figure with an
ice spell. It missed.
The figure saw Yuffie attacking and pulled out something
from its pocket. The figure pointed something at Yuffie and a blast of
lightning struck at Yuffie. Yuffie skillfully ducked and threw her shuriken at
the figure. The figure cannot evade in time and was hit. It let go the rope and
fell onto the wooden platform below. Yuffie abseiled until she reached ground.
She approached the figure and took a look. To her shock, it was someone she
knew, an ex-turk called Reno.
“Wake up!”
A bucket of water splashed on Cloud. Cloud slowly opened his
eyes and regained consciousness. After Yuffie jumped out of the window to
pursue Reno, the others came up and saw Cloud lying on the floor not moving.
Cid got the idea of waking Cloud up by splashing him with water and it worked.
“What happened?”
Cloud asked after him found himself soaked. He looked around
and saw everyone here.
“You were unconscious when we found you. We found someone
and we suspected he attacked you. Take a look.” Tifa explained and pointed at
the bed.
He saw someone lying on a bed tied up with ropes. It was his
old friend Reno. Reno was still unconscious and Barret was standing next to him
in case he did anything funny.
“I remembered I was looking out into the sky and then I
heard some noise. When I stood up and checked outside, something hit me hard on
the head and I went out.” Cloud said and massaged his head that was still
aching.
“Reno climbed up the observation tower outside with a hook
shot and he failed to escape after he attacked you.” Vincent explained how Reno
attacked Cloud.
“When Aeris and I asked Hades for information, Hades said
that someone sent someone to eliminate you. Hades didn’t finished it and left.
Now we know who was sent to eliminate you. Hades can be summoned again in an
hour and I will find out who sent Reno to eliminate you.” Red XIII added.
“There’s a possibility that Reno was responsible for the
fire that burned down the 7th Heaven before.”
Shera suddenly said. Everyone looked at her. She usually
didn’t say anything but she was actually a very intelligent woman.
“I was a little curious how the fire happened. I personally
went to the burned down inn before we left and I saw tins of kerosene behind
the inn.” Shera explained.
“I also found something that looked like a bomb in the inn.
I wasn’t sure whether it was really a bomb, but now I am positive because the
turks were once experts in jobs involving explosives.” Shera finished her
explanation.
Everyone looked at each other. What Shera said made sense.
The turks were specialized in assassination, if it wasn’t because Cloud was
invulnerable to fire, Reno would have killed Cloud already.
“I remembered something strange happened before the fire. I
was walking under a tall building and then something nearly fell on my head.
Was that only a coincidence or was it Reno’s job?” Cloud mentioned about the
incident where a vase nearly crashed onto his head.
“Hey look! Reno’s wakin’ already! Leave all yer questions for
em!” Barret said after he saw Reno starting to come around to his senses.
“Speak! What sent you to take out Cloud?!” Barret shouted at
Reno while grabbing Reno collar and attempted to strangle him.
“I ...don’t...know what you are...talking about...” Reno
said in a half-conscious state.
“Who sent you?!” Barret shouted again and shook him
violently by grabbing his collar.
Reno couldn’t say a word. He just woke up and felt his whole
aching and now Barret was trying to squeeze something out of him.
“It won’t work this way, let me try.”
Aeris said and gently pushed Barret away. She fed Reno a
glass of water because she knew that Reno was thirsty and he was tied up. She
then waited for Reno to be ready and started asking.
“Why are you doing this?” Aeris asked.
Reno looked around. Barret and Cid were crossing their arms
and looked at him with a sight sharper than the blade. The others were behind
the two waiting for an answer.
“I...don’t know. I don’t even know where am I.” Reno replied
softly.
“Why you *&()&%&^%^&!!!!!” Barret shouted
and threatened to kill Reno but the others hold him back. Aeris looked at Reno
and asked him again.
“You don’t remember anything?” Aeris asked.
“I...only remembered the day we left Kalm. I remembered I
left Rude and Elena because I left something at Kalm, when I entered an alley
in the town I tripped over something and I don’t remember the rest.”
Reno told Aeris what he remembered. Aeris could feel that
Reno was not lying. Reno looked at Aeris straight in the eye when he was
talking and usually one cannot cheat others through their eyes.
“Don’t listen to him, Aeris. He was probably lying.” Cid
accused Reno.
“Wait, haven’t you all heard about Amnesia? It was a sickness
where the victim had a vibration on his head and made him forget things. That
might have happened to him after he fell from the rope.” Aeris defended Reno by
giving reasons.
“Bah, That’s too much of a coincidence. I say that he is
hiding something from us and we are going to get our answers now.” Cid said and
went to get his spear.
“Hold on, Cid. Leave Reno alone.” Cloud ordered Cid.
“Cloud, he tried to kill you and now you are stopping us
from making Reno telling you why?” Cid asked Cloud with an angry tone.
“We can’t get much by pushing him like this. He will say
whenever the time is right.”
Cloud said and left the room. Everyone looked at Cloud
leaving the room. Some of them left the room too and some stayed to ensure Reno
won’t escape.
“You are a damn ^*&(* lucky guy.” Barret cursed Reno
while Aeris slowly helped Reno to lie down.
“Cloud, are you ready?”
Cloud nodded. Red XIII pointed the Hades summon materia on
the table. Cloud walked towards the table and picked the materia. They were
going to summon Hades again to know more about the truth.
“Wait!”
Red XIII and Cloud turned theirs heads. They saw Yuffie
running towards them.
“I know it’s stupid to say this but I saw this materia
glowing the time you were attacked. Maybe it was linked to what’s happening.”
Yuffie said and handed Cloud a materia. Cloud examined it
and found out it was a destruct materia. He had only one of this and it was
nearly mastered.
“Gotta go.”
Yuffie said and quickly get out of the room. Cloud suddenly
realized something. He left this materia in his room. This means that...
“Cloud, should we start?”
Red XIII said and got ready. Cloud wanted to pursue the
thief Yuffie but he didn’t. Yuffie won’t get far; she will probably run into
Cid or worse, Barret.
Cloud walked into an emptier space and held the summon
materia in his hand. He closed his eyes and mumbled something. When he opened
his eyes, he was in a very dark place and saw only Red XIII and himself. He
looked around and saw a figure forming. Hades appeared right in front of him.
“We come to seek your knowledge again.”
Red XIII greeted Hades. A puff of smoke rose from Hades’
pot. Hades then slowly stirred the stuff inside it.
“We found the one that was sent to eliminate Cloud. Who sent
him?” Red XIII asked.
“It was the planet who sent the one to take out this young
man, but it wasn’t the one you found who was sent to take him out.” Hades said
and cast a spell on his pot.
“Then who was it and why Reno kept on trying to kill me?”
Cloud asked with an eager tone.
“The planet sent ‘something’ that has no actual form to
eliminate you. That ‘thing’ possessed those who are capable of destroying you
and he will change form once the host was incapable to continue the task.”
Hades answered with a deep tone.
That explained why Reno was trying to kill Cloud. Reno was
possessed by something sent by the planet, but why? Why the planet wanted to do
this?
“Why did the planet did this to me?” Cloud wanted to know
more about this matter.
“Then I have to start explaining from how you were revived
and what happened after that. Do you really wish to know?”
Hades asked Cloud
for confirmation. Cloud nodded without even thinking.
“Everybody living creature’s body generates a link to hold
the soul and that keeps someone alive. If the body was destroyed and incapable
of generating that link, the soul will flow freely and enter the lifestream.
That’s how life and death work. To revive someone, the death body must regain
the ability to generate the link to pull to soul back to the body. But that was
impossible because the body can never work again.” Hades explained and paused
for a while.
“There are two ways to revive someone. The first way was to
find a life-generating source. That source emits something that made the body
generate a link to pull the soul back and the person who possesses this source
will keep on living until the source was taken away.” Hades said and waited for
a while.
“I don’t possess something like that, so what is the second
way?” Cloud asked.
“The second is probably the way you were revived. When you
die, if the planet somehow wishes you to keep on living, you will be revived by
feeding on the planet’s life source. You will take up part of the energy of the
planet generate everyday. Even if the planet one day doesn’t wish to support
you anymore, you can still be alive be because you already had a strong link
with the planet’s life source and if the planet cut it off just like that, it
will affect the entire lifestream. Unless...”
Hades stopped suddenly.
“Unless what?” Cloud asked with an eager tone.
“Unless the planets succeed in destroying your body.” Hades
continued.
Now Cloud finally understood what was happening. All the
time the planet was trying to get rid of him. But why?
“You might be wondering why the planet did this to you. You
were revived because the planet was facing a threat, and that was the revival
of Sephiroth. Sephiroth doesn’t belong to the planet, he was half alien from
outer space, he can’t be absorbed into the lifestream, and that was why you
were revived at the same time with Sephiroth. Because revival shouldn’t exist
and it seldom done before, a soul could easily enter the wrong body, and cause
body exchange.”
Hades stopped for a moment again. Cloud rubbed his chin.
That explained why he was in Sephiroth’s body and Sephiroth in his. It also
explained why Aeris was in a different body after she was revived.
“The planet will keep on supporting you, until the threat
was over.”
Cloud was shocked after hearing Hades’ words. Could
Sephiroth had once again...
“I can see the fear towards Sephiroth in your eyes. Yes,
Sephiroth will once again be revived but probably not in his own body. He will
probably be revived in another body and if that body is weak he cannot do
anything about it.”
Hades ensured Cloud not to worry and Cloud took a deep
breath. He was glad Sephiroth wasn’t such a threat now.
“What can you tell us about this materia?”
Red XIII said and showed Hades the destruct materia. Hades
stood up and took a clear look at the materia. He looked like he was shocked to
see it. Although Hades was covered with a cloak, Red XIII could see fear in
Hades the moment Hades saw that materia.
“Where did you get this?” Hades asked Red XIII with a rush
tone.
“Sephiroth dropped it at Nibelhelm. It wasn’t that useful
and that was why we only have one of it. What’s wrong?” Red XIII asked after
seeing Hades that shocked.
“This materia shouldn’t exist. The magic contained inside
was so powerful and the planet banished it forever. But somehow it seeped into
this materia, and turned into a death spell, that means...”
“Death? The successful rate to cause instant death was so
low that we hardly even used it. Why was it so powerful?” Red XIII interrupted
Hades.
“There was actually a summon creature hidden in this magic,
it has no form and it’s sole purpose is to cause death, instantly.” Hades said
and stopped for a while.
“Long ago, an ancient possessed this materia and released
that creature, he at first found it useful in defeating his foes because it
cause instant death without even have to move his muscles. This creature has
the ability to cut off the link between the human body and the souls and that
made an opponent fall immediately. But...” Hades rested for a while and took a
breath.
“One day, he wasn’t able to control that creature and it
went loose, causing mass catastrophe by killing anyone that came into its way.
If it weren’t because the planet banished it with holy, there wouldn’t even be
a single life on this planet.” Hades finished his story.
“About this materia...” Cloud attempted to asked but was cut
off by Hades.
“Use it with extreme care. Somehow this creature managed to
seep into this materia and turned into the magic death. You found it’s
successful rate low because you haven’t really mastered the skill to control
it. And without that skill, it will destroy those who stand in its way and obey
those who are fully capable of controlling it.” Hades added a little more about
this creature.
“This materia was glowing the same time I was attacked by
Reno, was this linked to the planet’s will to take me out?” Cloud asked.
“That you have to look for yourself. I hope all that I can
provide was sufficient.” Hades said and slowly disappeared.
“Wait!”
Cloud shouted but he then realized he was back in Cosmo
Canyon again. Red XIII was beside him looking at him. Now the planet wanted him
dead, and he will have a tough time solving this problem. Cloud put the Hades
materia into his bag and walked to the room where they held Reno hostage.
“Cloud.”
Barret and Cid stood up after seeing Cloud entering. Cloud
looked at them coldly and then looked at Reno.
“What did Hades said?” Cid asked.
“Set him free.” Cloud demanded Barret and Cid to release
Reno. Barret and Cid was astonished to hear these words.
“What in the...”
Before Cid could curse, Cloud nodded again to confirm his
demand. Cloud then walked out of the room and left the three alone.
“You are the %&(*@(# luckiest guy in da world!” Barret
shouted at Reno and released him. There was no way Barret was going to like
this.
Cloud was lying down on the bed inside his room. He was
rethinking what Hades told him. He can’t believe the planet wanted to eliminate
him now, after he done so much for the planet. It just wasn’t fair!
“Hey Cloud!”
The door opened and Cait Sith hopped into the room. Cait
Sith hopped next to him and sat down on the floor.
“I am sure we can overcome this, we been through so much and
I am sure we can work miracles again.”
Cait Sith comforted Cloud by trying to cheer it up, but
Cloud didn’t give any reactions. He just lay on his bed staring at the stars outside
the window.
Suddenly Cloud felt a chill wind blew by. Cloud looked at
Cait Sith and saw him felt that too. Cloud walked towards the window and
checked it. It was closed shut. There was no way the wind could blow in.
Then the furniture started to make strange noises. The
furniture was vibrating slowly, like there was an earthquake going on.
Suddenly, the window smashed opened and made a loud bang.
“Ah!!!”
The lights suddenly went out just before Cait Sith cried
out. Cloud can’t see a thing and he used his hands to feel where Cait Sith was.
Cait Sith wasn’t that timid and there was something wrong with why Cait Sith
made that cry.
“Your time is up.”
Cloud heard someone talking to him. He looked around but all
he saw was darkness. It wasn’t Cait Sith’s voice. There was someone else in
this room.
“Who is it?”
Cloud shouted and tried to find the person who was talking
to him. He stood on his place and readied an attack position with his fist. He
wasn’t a martial art expert but that was the only defense he had without his
sword.
“Come out now and face me!”
Still nothing happened. Cloud used all his senses to track
the one talking to him. There were no footsteps or what sort ever. He was like
alone in the room.
“Cait?”
Cloud tried to look for Cait Sith and the lights suddenly
came back. Cloud found Cait Sith standing a few feet behind him. Cloud walked
towards Cait Sith and asked about that strange incident.
“Cait, did you...”
A powerful blow suddenly knocked Cloud off his feet and he
his back was slammed against the wall. Cloud tried to get on his senses and saw
Cait Sith running towards him. Cait Sith then jumped and attempted to smash on
Cloud with its enormous feet. Cloud quickly evaded and the floor where Cait
Sith landed sank down with a loud crack.
“Cait! What are you...”
Before Cloud could finish, Cait Sith grabbed Cloud’s collar
and slammed him in the floor. Cloud felt all the bones in his body breaking and
he lay down on the floor not moving. Cait Sith don’t possess this kind of strength
in the past, what had happened to him?
“Cait, stop it. Stop...”
Cait Sith prepared for a finishing blow. The mog’s fist
emitted a bright glow and it was getting brighter every moment. Cait Sith could
kill Cloud anytime.
“What’s happening here?”
The door opened and Aeris entered.
“No!”
Aeris quickly dashed towards Cait Sith and pushed him away.
Cait Sith’s charging up was interrupted and he prepared to charge up again.
“What are you doing?!”
Aeris stood in front of Cait Sith trying to defend Cloud.
Cait Sith towered over Aeris and stared at Aeris coldly. This wasn’t the Cait
Sith they used to know.
“Stand aside. The planet doesn’t wish you dead.” A deep
voice came from Cait Sith and he walked a step towards Cloud. Aeris tried to
push Cait Sith but she failed.
“I won’t let you hurt him.” Aeris gave up pushing Cait Sith
and stood in front of Cloud that was lying on the floor wounded.
“It’s the planet’s will. There is nothing you can do. Cloud
must be eliminated.” Cait Sith said and walked another step towards Cloud.
“Why is the planet so cruel? Why did the planet wanted to
kill him after all he done for the planet?” Aeris expressed her question.
“Cloud was demised and he shouldn’t be alive. The planet kept
him alive only to face a threat. After it was over the planet need not support
him anymore.” Cait Sith said and walked until he was right in front of Aeris.
He can kill Cloud anytime now.
“Why? Why?”
Tears formed in Aeris’s eyes and fell onto the floor. She
can’t believe the planet was going to take Cloud away from her, forever.
Aeris slowly looked up and saw Cait Sith holding his head
with his arms. He looked like he was doing telepathic communication.
Suddenly Cait Sith let go his arms. He bent down looked at
Aeris. His face came closer to her until they were just inches away.
“The planet had felt your sorrow, it had allowed Cloud to
live...”
“Really?” Aeris cried out happily and interrupted Cait Sith.
“For another four more days.”
Cait Sith continued and stood up. Aeris eyes were filled
with horror. The planet only allowed Cloud to live for another four days?
“At that time, I will be back to finish the job.” Cait Sith
and walked backwards. Cait Sith suddenly screamed out loud and fell onto the
floor from his mog. At this time, the other came rushing in to see what was
happening.
“What happened?”
The other members of the party asked when they saw Aeris’s
eyes filled with tears and Cloud and Cait Sith on the floor. Aeris was
petrified for the moment. She didn’t want to say anything right now.
“What happened?”
Cait Sith asked when he forced himself up. Aeris looked at
him with astonishment, Cait Sith was back again. Did the thing that possessed
Reno possess Cait Sith too?
“I don’t feel good. Ah!!!!!”
Cait Sith shouted when Shera cast a cure spell on Cait Sith.
She used too much strength and it hurt Cait Sith. Cait Sith was a machine but
he could feel pain too.
“Look at Cloud! He was whacked so badly by you and he didn’t
even complain.” Cid scolded Cait Sith.
Cloud was much better after Tifa healed his wounds with
curative magic. Most of his wounds were quite okay and he can start moving
again.
“Four days left. I only have four days left to live. What am
I going to do?” Cloud asked the others. The atmosphere became quiet at once.
The others don’t know what to say. Come to think that he will be dead in four
days time was quiet a dilemma. He was going to die and that was for sure, the
question was how.
“Cloud, I am sure we will think of something else.” Tifa
tried to comfort Cloud. But she knew she failed to do so. They had no idea how
to solve this and they don’t know what this thing was capable of.
“Cloud, whatever happens, we will be there for ya!” Barret
said and patted Cloud’s shoulder.
“I think that wasn’t such a good idea. Any of us might be
the one that will be killing Cloud in four days time.” Vincent suddenly spoke.
Everybody looked at each other. Vincent had a point there.
When that thing possessed them, they won’t know who it will possess and they
will probably kill Cloud without even knowing it. What are they going to do?
“We can’t leave Cloud alone!” Tifa protested Vincent’s
suggestion.
“We have to think of something else. Something that can stop
this thing or defeat this thing.” Red XIII said and lay on the floor.
“Where is Aeris?” Cloud suddenly asked. Everyone looked
around. Aeris was missing. They saw her a moment ago but now she wasn’t here.
Where did she go?
“Cloud!”
Yuffie ran down the hallway towards the others. She was
holding a short note in her hand.
“I found this on the table!”
Yuffie said and handed Cloud the note. Cloud read through
the note and his expression changed dramatically. He gave the note to the others
and the others squeezed around to read the note.
“Cloud. When you read this I had already left Kalm. I can’t
bear to see you go again. It hurt me so much the last time and I am not going
to go through it again. Don’t worry about me and don’t look for me. Farewell.”
Aeris
Everyone looked at Cloud. They saw him sitting on the couch
not moving. He didn’t say anything but they can see shock in his eyes. Cloud
didn’t thought that Aeris would leave him in a time like this. He couldn’t
easily accept this cruel fact.
“Where do you guys think Aeris went?” Shera asked the
others.
The others looked at each other. The world is so big and
Aeris could go anywhere she wanted with only an ocean chocobo. They had to
narrow down the places that Aeris would go and then try their luck by guessing
the last few options.
“I know! She will go to the Icicle Inn! She have a house
there, remember?” Cait Sith suddenly suggested.
“I don’t think so. That will be the first place we will look
and I don’t think she will thought of hiding there.” Red XIII replied.
“What about Gungaga? She can live with Zack’s parents?” Tifa
suggested.
“No point looking there. She knew that Zack’s parent will
contact us when she’s there and I don’t think she will go there.” Red XIII
replied again.
“So now we are gonna look fer a place where we won’t thought
she would go and it should be deserted. Where can it be?” Barret wondered.
Something went through Cloud’s mind. He looked at the others
and spoke.
“The city of the ancients.” Cloud said.
Everyone looked at Cloud. It was a possibility. First of all
it was deserted. Second, that place was part of her ordeal and she probably
think that the others would think that she wouldn’t want to go back there. That
place was huge and it was very suitable as a hiding place.
Cloud stood up and walked to his room. He looked like he was
going to pack up and head towards the city of the ancients. Suddenly he
stopped. He turned around and looked at Tifa. There was a sad look on her face.
There was only four days left and she can’t be with him. Cloud stared at Tifa
for quite sometime and the others started leaving them alone.
“Cloud, must you go?”
Tifa asked. Cloud didn’t know what to say. His heart kept on
telling him to go but he was afraid that would hurt Tifa’s heart. Now he had to
make a decision. Aeris or Tifa.
Cloud just stood there quietly. Time went by and the two
didn’t say anything. They were afraid that if they say something wrong everyone
would be embarrassed. But this must be settled now. Cloud must choose, now.
“Tifa...”
Tifa looked at Cloud straight in the eye. Her heart was
beating faster every second. She needed to know the answer, now.
“I am sorry, Tifa.”
Cloud apologized and Tifa tiled her head down. Cloud choosed
Aeris over her. All her hopes and all her dreams with Cloud, shattered into
pieces.
“Tifa...”
Cloud walked towards Tifa and comforted her. He know he
can’t do anything helpful now but he had to try his best to comfort her, please
her.
“Cloud...”
Tifa sniffed. She hold her tears from flowing down and
looked up at Cloud. She held Cloud hands and put something on his palm.
“Keep this...as a memento of our relationship.”
Cloud took a look and saw a ring. It was the engagement he
gave her when he proposed to her. Tifa still wore it after Cloud left her at
the church. She still had hope for him.
Cloud recalled the happy moments with Tifa. He could still
remember the smile on her face that time. But now, she will not be able to
smile like that for quite some time.
“I am sorry, Tifa. I really, really am.” Cloud apologized
again.
“Don’t be. Love was a strange thing. You can’t force someone
to be with another person. It has to be natural to both sides, no matter how
much one of them loved the other one.” Tifa replied.
“I know you are worried. Please don’t be. You hurt me so
much at our wedding day. This was nothing compared to that. At least now you
finally admitted that you love her more than me. You finally stopped doing it
behind my back. Go, Cloud. Aeris is a nice girl. Go.”
Tifa encouraged Cloud to find Aeris. Cloud nodded.
“I will never forget our days together.” Cloud said and
entered the room to get his gear. Tifa looked as he shut the door. She took a
deep breath and sigh.
“I will miss you.” Tifa said to herself and walked away.
Deep in the city of the ancients, there was a girl in a
house built out of crystal. She was folding her clothes that she brought from
Kalm. She will be staying here for a quite some time and she need to take care
of herself for the meantime.
The girl kept on folding those clothes and kept on recalling
her past. She remembered the time she was on the top of the Shinra building in
Midgar. She was knocked out cold and when she woke up, she saw Tifa crying over
a body. It was Cloud’s body. He was gone, leaving the others behind, forever.
Aeris stopped folding her clothes and looked up into space.
She can’t bear to go through it again. It was painful, so painful that she
wished that she was dead too. But she didn’t commit suicide. She live on with
that pain and when it slowly heals back, he came back again, turning her world
upside down.
“Aeris.”
Aeris didn’t bother that voice. She had been hearing a lot
of voice in her head lately and she was so used to it. This place was deserted
and there was nobody here. Those were only voices in her head.
“Aeris put the folded clothes in her backpack and turned around.
To her astonishment, she saw Cloud standing behind her, staring at her straight
into her eyes.
“Cloud, I thought I told you...”
Before Aeris could finish, Cloud put his finger on her lips
and Aeris stopped. Cloud walked closer towards her and caressed her cheek.
“Aeris, there was something I must tell you.” Cloud said and
held Aeris’s hand with his another hand.
“All the while, I have feelings for you but things are
always keeping us apart.” Cloud said.
“I know there is only three more days left but I have to do
this.” Cloud continued. Aeris just kept quiet and stared at Cloud.
“Will you, Aeris Gainsbourgh be the one...”
Aeris kept on listening.
“that will take Cloud Strife, as your lifetime
companion.....”
Aeris’s eyes widen and shock filled her eyes.
“Through sickness and sorrow...”
Aeris was even more shocked to hear this. She didn’t expect
Cloud to say something like this. Less than three days left now, what the hell
was he thinking?
“To love and to cherish......”
Cloud pulled out a handkerchief and placed it on Aeris’s
hair like a bride’s head dressing. Aeris just stood there, not moving, staring
at Cloud.
“ as your wedded husband?”
Aeris can’t believe her ears. It happened too quickly. A minute
ago she was alone, and now Cloud actually proposed to her.
Cloud finished his question and waited for Aeris’s answer.
Aeris just stared at him and didn’t say anything. A moment of silence occurred.
Cloud continued waiting. He needed to know the answer, now.
Finally, Aeris’s lips moved. Cloud thought she was going to
say ‘I do’ but she didn’t. Aeris just brought her face closer towards Cloud’s
face and then their lips met. They soon hugged each other and slowly caressing
each other’s back. It was a moment of eternity. They felt the time stopped when
they kissed. It was magic.
“I do.”
Aeris said after she brought her lips back.
“Really?”
Cloud asked for confirmation with joy. Aeris nodded and
smiled. Tears formed in her eyes but this were tears of happiness. Tears that
haven’t flow for a long, long time.
“I now pronounced us husband and wife.”
Cloud said with a smile forming on his lips. Aeris giggled a
little.
“You are not a priest, and you suck being one.” Aeris
commented.
“The heck with it. I do things my way.” Cloud replied with
an even broader smile.
“Now what?” Aeris asked but was actually hinting Cloud.
“This isn’t a bad place for a honeymoon, right?”
Cloud said and then bent down. He slowly lifted Aeris and carried
her in his arms and Aeris wrapped her arms around Cloud neck. Cloud slowly
walked towards the mattress Aeris will be sleeping for these few days and put
her down on it. Cloud then leaned on her and slowly brushed her hair, caressing
her cheek and then removed the button on Aeris’s collar.
“I love you.”
Aeris closed her eyes and pulled Cloud face towards her
face. Their lips met and then they caressed each other. After that.....
Well. Cloud and Aeris could have a wedding cum honeymoon in
minutes while other people took days. Three days left.Every second matters.
It was dawn already. Cloud rubbed his eyes and slowly opened
them. He was in found himself on a mattress, with someone on his side. This
someone is someone he truly loved. He wished to live like this for the rest of
his life. But he knew he couldn’t. He only had two days left. After that he
will be gone, forever.
He looked at Aeris that was sleeping soundly beside him. She
was probably worn out because of all that happened. He couldn’t believe that
two days ago she wasn’t even his girlfriend and now she had became his wife.
His marriage would only last for three days and he had to make use of every
second that came by.
Aeris looked so calm when she sleeps. Cloud hadn’t seen her
so peaceful before. When he first knew her, she was a cheerful, sweet but
mysterious girl. After she was revived, she became more matured but became a
girl full of problems and sorrow. Now, she looked so calm, so quiet and yet so
beautiful, probably even more beautiful than her previous form. Cloud felt so
lucky to have her now. He enjoyed every moment with her, he will be enjoying
for...only another two days.
“Hmm...”
Aeris hum and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she
saw was Cloud next to her. She felt so warm to have Cloud beside her. She
didn’t want to be alone again.
“Morning.”
Aeris greeted and smiled. Cloud brought his face near to
Aeris’s face and kissed her. It was just a short one. Nothing much. Just to
show how much he loved her.
“How was your sleep last night?” Aeris asked Cloud.
“I was worn out because of all that action.” Cloud teased
and Aeris smiled and punched Cloud lightly on his shoulder. She brushed her
hair and wrapped herself in a blanket and got out of bed.
“Where are you going?” Cloud asked and attempted to get out
of bed.
“Making you breakfast.”
Aeris turned around and smiled when she said this. Cloud
just smiled back and looked at her. Aeris walked out to put on her clothes and went
to prepare breakfast. Aeris making breakfast... Not something he gets to see in
the past. He felt so good to see her doing this. He really hoped that this
would last, forever.
Cloud put on the clothes he wore yesterday and went to look
for Aeris. He saw her wearing something different than usual. She was wearing
one of those really simple clothing where housewives usually wear. She tied her
hair differently too. She covered her hair with a piece of cloth and it made
her look so...simple.
“Hey.”
Cloud wrapped his arms around Aeris’s waist and greeted her.
Aeris stopped opening a can of beans and unwrapped Cloud’s arms. She then
turned around and looked at him.
“How do you like my new look?” Aeris asked with affection.
Cloud rubbed his chin. He looked at her from her toes to her
hair.
“You looked like your mother.” Cloud replied.
“Shut up!” Aeris smiled and pushed Cloud away. Cloud knew she didn’t actually mean it and
helped her with what she was doing.
“Canned food...” Cloud said and looked at the table full of
canned food.
“There is no fresh food or fridge here. Eat this or don’t
eat at all.” Aeris replied.
“You are starting to nag...” Cloud said and walked backwards
a few steps. Aeris looked at him and walked towards him.
“Oh yea? You are starting to mess around so why don’t you
get out and leave all this to me?” Aeris ordered but was actually making fun
out of it.
“Okay, okay. I will come back in a while.” Cloud said and
left the place. He took a last look at her before he left. Aeris really was his
wife now.
Cloud sat in front of the lake nearby their ‘house’. He
dipped his ultima weapon into the water and slowly stirred the water for fun.
He brought his weapon just in case something happened, just in case he was in trouble
and he need to fight his way out.
Cloud looked at the place they stayed. From the lake, he
could see Aeris through the window. Aeris was busy making breakfast but it took
her quite some time because it was her first time. Aeris seemed to like what
she was doing. She was humming while doing it and she looked like a really
young housewife in that outfit she was wearing. Cloud felt he was the luckiest
guys on earth to have someone like this as a wife, if only it could last
forever.
Cloud looked back at the lake and continued meddling the
water with his sword. He then saw something glowing in the water. He pulled out
his sword and the glowing stopped. An illusion? Cloud dipped his sword into the
water again and waited for a while. Again, a glow appeared. Cloud took a
clearer look and saw the glow coming out of the sword. When he pulled the sword
out again it stopped. Cloud was astonished to see this happen. He hadn’t seen
such a reflection or phenomenon like this before. It was something
extraordinary. It must be something special to make this happen. Cloud quickly
strapped the sword to his back and ran back to look for Aeris. He had a feeling
that finding out what was going on will keep him alive.
“Aeris!”
Aeris turned around and saw Cloud rushing in. He was huffing
and puffing and he seemed that he used all his strength just to make it back.
Aeris served canned food on plastic dishes for traveling purpose on the table
and sat down.
“What’s the rush?”
Aeris asked. Cloud walked to the table and sat down. He
rested for a while and then picked up his fork. He ate at his average speed
although he wanted to ask Aeris about that incident, fast. He didn’t want to
spoil this moment and after a while, he finished everything Aeris prepared and
got ready to ask her.
“There was something wrong, right?”
Aeris asked before Cloud could say anything. He felt so
transparent. Aeris could read his mind by only looking at him. Cloud only
nodded.
“Where did the water in that lake outside came from?” Cloud
asked.
Aeris thought for a while. She felt that it was strange for
Cloud to ask such a question. Cloud usually doesn’t give a damn about the
surrounding areas, and now he was asking her a geographical question?
“I am not very sure but I think it flow from a higher place
not far from here.” Aeris said and took away the dishes to wash.
“Can you bring me there later?”
Cloud asked. Aeris looked at Cloud and stopped what she was
doing. She looked at Cloud with a strange way.
“What’s going on Cloud?” Aeris asked with a worried tone.
Cloud just stared back at Aeris. He didn’t want to go
through all the trouble explaining what he discovered at the lake.
“Can you, please?”
Cloud requested Aeris again. Aeris got worrier. Every time
when Cloud acted this way something was bound to happen. She really hoped it
was only herself being too suspicious.
“I will be ready after I washed these dishes.”
Aeris said and walked towards a pail of water she took from
the lake yesterday for cleaning purpose.
“I will go get our gear.”
Cloud said and went to get ready. Aeris looked at him as he
left. She felt worrier now. Why did Cloud acted like this? Yesterday he was
fine and now he was like a different person. Aeris started washing the dishes and
sighed. Something was going on.
Deep in the city of the ancients not far from the place
Cloud and Aeris stayed, there was a crystal cliff that came out from part of a
crystal mountain. There was something on top, but it couldn’t be seen clearly.
It looked like it was part of the mountain but the lighting was different. It
looked suspicious.
“Is this the place?”
Cloud asked and Aeris nodded. Cloud looked at the cliff and
noticed that thing on top.
“How did you know about all this?” Cloud asked.
“I don’t know. I somehow felt like I was here before. It was
probably an ancient’s birth instinct. We know every part of this city even
though we haven’t been here before.” Aeris explained.
Cloud listened and then he looked around.
“I see no water around here.” Cloud said.
“It can’t be. My heart told me that this is the place.”
Aeris replied and started looking around. Cloud observed the
surface of the crystal mountain and put his ear against it. He could hear water
flowing beneath the surface.
“You are right. The water is flowing from here beneath the
crystals. I am going up.” Cloud said and put on his climbing gear.
“Be careful.” Aeris replied and watched Cloud climbing his
first step up.
It was a tough climb. Cloud usually climbed rough surfaces
with rocks or solid soil but this crystal surface was smooth and hard. He can
hardly make a foothold in the crystal and he must look for a place safe enough
for gripping and slowly make his way up.
After quite some time, Cloud finally made it to the cliff.
He rested on the cliff for a while and signaled Aeris to tell her he’s all
right. While resting, Cloud looked at the thing that caught his interest. It
was a semi transparent part of the surface different from the other semi-transparent
part of the crystal surface. Cloud stood up and moved close towards it. He
looked through the glass-like surface and saw a dark cave inside. Cloud took
out his sword and banged it at the surface with the handle of his sword. The
surface didn’t break and not even a crack was seen.
Cloud banged it a few more times and gave up. He slowly
checked the wall around and hoped to look for a switch. Nothing was found, not
even a slightest clue. Cloud sat down and started thinking about how to open
this surface.
Suddenly, he saw his ultima weapon started glowing. Cloud
picked it up and observed it. It emitted a glow brighter than what he saw in
the lake. Cloud then touched the glass-like surface with his ultima weapon and
the glass-like surface disappeared into thin air. Cloud was astonished to see
this. What he did was only touching the surface with his sword. Without wasting
much time, Cloud switched on his flashlight and explored that cave.
The cave was dark, very dark. Cloud had difficulty seeing
even with his flashlight. He kept on walking and suddenly he stumbled into
something. Cloud bent down to look what it is and to his shock, it was a
skeleton lying in front of him.
Cloud was shocked for the moment and step backwards. After
his fear subsided, Cloud approached the skeleton and examined it. It was in a
very old robe and he looked like he was dead for a very, very long time.
Cloud examined more and saw the skeleton holding a book in
his hand. Cloud took it and flipped it. It was all in ancient language, there
was no way he was going to understand that. Cloud checked the area around and
saw something flowing under him when he pointed his flashlight at the crystal
floor. It was water flowing under him. Cloud remembered what he discovered
earlier, there was water flowing beneath the crystal surface. It was flowing
through here too. Cloud checked around to ensure he left nothing else here and
went down to meet Aeris.
“What’s up there?”
Aeris asked as soon as Cloud came climbing down from the cliff.
She was glad to see him coming down safely. Thank god nothing bad happened to
him.
“Look.”
Cloud showed Aeris the book he found in the cave. Aeris
flipped through the book and looked at Cloud.
“This looked like a diary.” Aeris told Cloud what she
thought about this book.
“Can you translate it?”
Cloud asked Aeris to do him a favor. Aeris cleared her
throat and started translating.
“Day one. Today I left the city in search of the mythical
holy fountain. The elder told me that the only was to save our town from that
creature that haunted our town was to seek for the holy fountain here. The
elder said the only way to defeat that creature was to dip a weapon into the
holy fountain and the weapon can be used to defeat that creature. That creature
had taken many lives and I have no choice but to seek for the fountain to
defeat it. But before we left, we faced a big problem. We didn’t know where to
start finding. We heard that in the ice mountains there were many holy sources
there. We decided to start looking there.”
Aeris read out and flipped the pages. She just looked
through but didn’t read it out. She flipped a few pages more and then she
started translating again.
“Day six. Today after we returned to the city after coming
back from the Ice Mountains empty handed, we found out that more lives had been
claimed again. No one knew what creature it was. Nobody even saw it before.
People kept on dying and the others kept on panicking. I do hope to find the
holy fountain as soon as possible, this way I could save my people and my
family from that creature. Again I left town to the south, in search for the
holy fountain.”
Aeris stopped for a moment and continued flipping the pages.
Suddenly something caught her eyes. She quickly read through it and started
translating again.
“Day fifteen. I can’t believe what I discovered today. On
our way back to the city empty handed again, we met an old man that told us the
location of the holy fountain. It seemed that it was located in the city, our
city! I can’t wait to go back and look for it. All the time we had been looking
all around the world and now we were told that the fountain was in our city
itself! I could only hope that my family was still safe and they can wait for
me to come home, to defeat that creature.”
Aeris flipped that page and there was only one page left.
This page was different and the handwriting looked like scribble and looked
totally different from the pages before. Aeris read through it and translated.
“Day sixteen. I have failed. I have failed my people, my
family and everybody I know. I found the holy fountain today in this cave. It
looked as if it was so close but yet it was actually impossible to achieve. I
discovered this cave and entered it. When I saw the holy fountain, I was filled
with joy and dipped my sword into the fountain. Nothing happened. I was
extremely disappointed. It was then I found an inscription nearby. It stated
that only the one who hold the sword obtained from the guardian of the planet
was able to make the sword usable to defeat the creature. Having with a little
hope, I attempted to exit the cave but a glass-like barrier blocked the exit. I
had tried every possible way to get out but I couldn’t. The glass-like barrier
couldn’t be broken or shattered. I was trapped in here, forever. To anybody who
find this book, please tell my family, if they are still alive, that I love
them very much.”
“It ended here.”
Aeris said and closed the book. Cloud was so tuned in to
what Aeris was saying that he even forgotten to blink. Aeris gave the book back
to Cloud and looked at him curiously.
“My sword glowed when I dipped it in the lake outside.”
Cloud finally explained to Aeris what had been bothering
him. Aeris finally understood and became less worry.
“When I was very small, my mother told me story about an
invisible creature in the city of the ancients. I thought it was just a fairy
tale but now I think that it was true.” Aeris replied.
“My sword glowed when it touched the water. Is this ultima
weapon the weapon mentioned in the book?” Cloud wondered.
“Or can the invisible creature be the one that was haunting
you?” Aeris suddenly asked.
Cloud and Aeris stared at each other with their eyes and
mouth wide opened. They just discovered some big, something real ancient here.
Cloud once again climbed and entered the cave again. This
time, he searched more thoroughly to look for the holy fountain mentioned in
the book. Cloud used his flashlight to explore the area around. But he still
couldn’t look for something that looks like a fountain.
Cloud rested and sat on the floor for a while. He used his
flashlight and pointed it at the floor. He could see water running under him.
Suddenly something struck him in the mind. Cloud stood up and followed that
underground stream. It was leading somewhere.
Cloud traced and traced and then he found a wall blocking
the way. The stream looked like it came from behind. Cloud used his flashlight
and examined the wall. He then looked at the ceiling on top. In front of him
was a large chunk of crystal that fell from the ceiling above! It was so big
that it looked like a wall!
Cloud put on his climbing gear again and climbed over it.
This surface was even tougher to climb. It was solid crystal and very smooth.
He can only rely on the rope that was tied to the grappling hook he shot just
now that get caught up there.
Cloud slowly climbed and in about fifteen minutes he finally
reached the top. Cloud looked and saw a large area in front of him. This place
can fit an entire airship in it! Cloud looked into the distance and saw
something. It looked like a...
Cloud quickly climbed down the other side of that large
chunk of crystal. This climb was easy. It only took him less than three
minutes. Then Cloud ran towards the thing he saw in the distance. It slowly
looked clearer and clearer. Cloud was absolutely sure of what he was seeing in
front of him, it was the holy fountain.
This fountain shot up at the height of about five meters
high. It glowed in the dark cave and it was an impressive sight. Cloud walked
closer to see, he saw a few more skeletons near the holy fountain. These must
be the few follower of the body he found earlier.
Cloud put down his backpack to get his sword. He held it in his
hands and looked at it. It was emitting a glow brighter than before. It was a
pure white glow and it was getting brighter when Cloud approached the fountain.
Now Cloud was just in front of the fountain. He at first
touched the fountain with the tip of his sword. He can feel energy flowing into
his body. He put his sword a little deeper in and he can feel it trembling in
his hands.
After a short moment, a burst of bright light appeared in
front of him. It almost blinded his eyes and Cloud closed his eyes. Then after
a while, the bright light disappeared. Cloud slowly opened his eyes. He saw
something emitting a very bright pure white glow in front of him but it wasn’t
the fountain. The fountain looked like it had died down and stopped glowing. It
was his sword that glowed so bright and lit up the surrounding area. Cloud
stood in the huge area, holding his new acquired sword high in the air,
creating a symbol of holy power, and became the one that will defeat those that
came from the dark side.
It was very late at night already. After all that happened
that day, after Cloud had made his sword holy, the couple lied on their solid
mattress trying to sleep. The two had been trying to sleep for the past few
hours but they couldn’t. Cloud only had less than a day’s life left. Their
marriage will break up in less than twenty-four hours.
Cloud looked at the sword next to the bed. Now it looked
like an ordinary sword again. It was only when Cloud held it in his hand it
will emit that bright pure white glow. Cloud looked at it, thinking about the
story in that diary. He wondered whether what was written was true, whether he
could use the sword to fight the thing that was haunting him all the time with
this sword. Even if he could use that sword to fight against it, can he win and
prevail in the end?
“Cloud?”
Cloud turned around and saw Aeris calling him. Although in
the dark he couldn’t see clearly, he could feel there was something Aeris
wanted to tell him, something that she couldn’t tell him.
“Are you going to fight against that thing?” Aeris asked
with a tone with fear.
Cloud didn’t reply. He just looked at her quietly. It looked
like she didn’t want him to fight against it. She didn’t saw it but he could
read it through her eyes. The reason? Cloud didn’t want to know.
Aeris turned around facing the opposite direction after
Cloud didn’t reply. Cloud pushed himself nearer her and pat on her
shoulder. He slowly pat it her to
comfort her, to subside her sorrow.
“Hold me.”
Aeris requested. Cloud tried to look into her eyes but Aeris
just kept turning her head away.
“I am scared.”
Cloud slowly wrapped his arms around Aeris’s shoulder. He
brought his face closer to Aeris’s face and kissed her on her cheek. Aeris held
Cloud hands and she held them tighter every second. Slowly, Cloud can see tears
forming in Aeris’s eyes. She didn’t care to wipe it away. She just kept on
holding Cloud’s hand tightly, afraid that he will suddenly go away.
“I think we should go back to Kalm tomorrow. I wanted to have
a last look at the others.”
Cloud asked with a soft voice. Aeris didn’t give any
reaction. She didn’t let go Cloud’s hand. She kept on holding to them and
didn’t care about Cloud’s question. Cloud didn’t wanted to disturb her and kept
on hugging her.
This was the last night for this loving couple. Tomorrow,
Cloud will be fighting against something virtually impossible to win and Aeris
had to live with that fact. For tonight, she just wanted to spend the whole
night together with Cloud, making it feel eternal, in the arms of someone she
loved, one last time.
From the outskirts of Kalm, two chocobos that were riding
across the horizon was seen. The two chocobos looked tired as they started
their journey from the city of ancients early this morning. The chocobos didn’t
stop and kept on running. After some time, the two chocobos made it into Kalm.
“We are here already.”
Cloud jumped off the chocobo and tied it to a lamppost.
Aeris followed behind Cloud. She too jumped onto the ground and parked her chocobo
next to Cloud’s.
“What’s the time now?”
Cloud asked. Aeris on her PHS and looked at the clock
inside.
“Half past nine.”
Cloud nodded. He looked at the sky. It was quite dark now.
The thing will come at midnight. He still had about two and a half hours left.
“Come on. Let’s meet the others at Cid’s house.”
Cloud said and led Aeris towards Cid’s house. Aeris suddenly
pulled Cloud’s hand. She stopped him from going any further. Cloud turned
around and looked at Aeris. He could feel something strange in the way she
looked at him.
“What’s up?”
Cloud asked Aeris. Aeris just approached him and suddenly
she kissed him in the lips. Cloud didn’t resist and kissed back. He was caught
up at the moment. He never thought that Aeris would something like this in such
a time.
After their lips parted, Cloud felt something strange. He
didn’t know what it is, but he felt something. Now the way Aeris looked at him
was even stranger. He had never saw Aeris like this before. There was something
strange going on.
Suddenly, Cloud couldn’t feel his legs. They just suddenly
went numb. Cloud looked at his legs and he got the shock of his life. His legs
had become stone. Cloud looked at Aeris and saw her holding a materia in her
hand. She just cast petrified on him.
“Aeris! What are you doing?”
Cloud shouted and tried to get his hands on Aeris but Aeris
kept some distance away from him. Tears flowed down her cheek and she looked at
Cloud.
“Cloud, there was something I haven’t told you yet.”
Aeris said. Cloud didn’t want to hear. He just wanted Aeris
to free him from this spell.
“I lied to you all the time. The planet didn’t revive me. I
was revived by somebody else.” Aeris continued.
Cloud started to stop struggling, this wasn’t because he
calmed down, but it was because he was stunned.
“I shouldn’t be alive all the while. After I was revived, so
many things happened and it shouldn’t be this way.”
Aeris continue explaining. Cloud just stared at Aeris with
shock. Now even Cloud lower part of the body had become stone too.
“I have to right things wrong.”
A thought came into Cloud’s mind. Somehow Aeris found a way
to save Cloud. But to successfully do it, she had to sacrifice herself. One
life for another, fair and square.
Aeris said and walked towards Cloud. Cloud didn’t say or do
anything. He was too stunned to see this happen. Aeris walked till their faces
were just inches away and she kissed Cloud. Tears didn’t stop flowing down her
cheek and wet Cloud’s face.
“Go back to Tifa. She needed you.”
Aeris said after their lips parted. Aeris slowly walked away
and left Cloud in a petrified state. She slowly walked into a dark alley and
stopped for a moment to look back.
“Aeris! Don’t go! Don’t do this to me!”
Cloud shouted at Aeris to make her stay. He wanted to live,
but not with the cost of Aeris’s life! After shouting for a while, he couldn’t
shout anymore. His mouth had become stone too. It was slowly petrifying his
nose and ears.
“You forgot to say something that day. You forgot to say
till death do us part.”
Cloud couldn’t do anything as only his eyes weren’t stone
yet. He looked at Aeris and tried with all his might to get to her.
“The time is now.”
Aeris said and disappeared into the darkness. Cloud caught a
last glimpse of her face, and then everything went into darkness. Now he could
only wait for someone walking by to help him.
CHAPTER 14
In the dimly lit streets of Kalm, A couple and a small kid
were walking together. It was Cid and Shera bringing Marlene out for a walk.
The couple had promised to take care of Marlene for these few days because
Barret was busy comforting Tifa. It was fun to do this, as the couple hadn’t
got any kids yet.
“Come on! You two are walking way too slow!”
Marlene said and skipped happily along the street. Shera
kept an eye on her so that she won’t get lost. Marlene was a cheerful and nice
child. She knew what was right and what was wrong. Barret was lucky to have a
daughter like her.
“So...Cid. Would you like a kid?”
Shera said while holding Cid’s hand. Cid scratched his head.
He didn’t really thought about that question before. Cid having kids...Not
really a pretty picture.
“So?”
Shera asked and hinted Cid. Cid just shrugged his shoulder to
express uncertain. This was a big decision. He couldn’t just make a decision
like that.
“Uncle Cid, Auntie Shera, look! It’s uncle Cloud!”
Marlene shouted from in front and caught Cid and Shera’s
attention. Cloud’s back? That was good news! Everybody had been worried about
him; he probably found a way to save himself.
Cid and Shera increased their speed and quickly caught up
Marlene. All they saw in front of them was a stone statue, with the figure of
Cloud.
“Look! It looks so real!”
Cid and Shera was a little suspicious with this statue. What
was a stone statue doing out here at a moment like this? Cid examined the
statue. Something crossed his mind; no one can carve a statue out of stone this
real, Cloud was been cast by a spell!
“Shera, do you have any soft or dispel materia with you?”
Cid quickly asked Shera.
“I have some soft with me. Here, let me do it.” Shera took
out a tube filled with soft paste and put it all over Cloud. Cid was right, the
statue slowly turned organic and after a while Cloud could move again.
“What’s the time?”
Cloud asked as soon as he could talk. He looked very nervous
and his breathing was heavy.
“Half past eleven. Why?”
“Damn!”
Before Cid could say anything, Cloud cried out and ran into
the alley. After a while, he ran out of it again and shouted at Cid.
“Get the others! Ask them to look for Aeris. It’s urgent!”
Cloud quickly commanded and dashed into the dark alley. Cid
looked at him disappeared He didn’t know what was going on. Without wasting
much time, he carried Marlene on his shoulder and ran back to his house with
Shera to carry out Cloud request.
Somewhere in the alleys of Kalm, there was a girl standing
facing a wall. She was just standing still. Suddenly, a bright light was seen but
nothing appeared. After that a deep voice was heard.
“You looking for me?” The voice asked.
Aeris nodded. She took a prism like artifact out of her
backpack and showed it to the bright light.
“Ah, the life source! Very well, what do you wish to do with
it?”
The deep voiced asked. Aeris thought for a while and cleared
her throat.
“I wanted to exchange my life for Cloud’s.”
Aeris requested. So this was what she was planning all the
time. At first she left Cloud and went to the city of ancients to actually do
this exchange quietly. But Cloud turned up and spoiled everything. Now she had
to do it in Kalm.
“You understood that once this exchange is made, you
couldn’t change or take it back again, right?” The deep voice asked. Aeris
nodded.
“You too understood that once this exchanged is made, you
couldn’t live for more than half an hour?”
Aeris lowered her head. She kept quiet for a while. Then,
she slowly nodded.
“Let the exchange begin.”
The deep voice said and the prism in Aeris’s hand floated in
the air. It spun for a few times and it started emitting a bright yellow light.
“No!”
Aeris turned her head and saw Cloud running towards her.
Cloud readied his sword. His sword glowed bright in the dark. He was going to
strike at any moment.
“Step aside!”
Aeris stepped aside and Cloud slashed at the bright light.
The bright light quickly disappeared before Cloud could slash it and the prism
floating in the air fell onto the floor. It broke into pieces.
The light in the prism somehow flowed in the air like gas.
At first there was only a little, but later on it started to become brighter
and brighter and surrounded Cloud. It slowly seeped into Cloud’s body. Cloud
felt a surge of energy in him and he was astonished. Then suddenly, the light
disappeared. All the light had seeped into his body. Now the planet didn’t need
to hunt him down anymore.
A thump was heard just after the light disappeared. Cloud
turned around and saw Aeris collapsed on the floor.
“Aeris!”
Cloud ran to her and held her in his arms. She looked very
weak and her face started to look pale. Cloud was shocked to see this. Aeris
was going to leave him. Aeris wouldn’t live for long. She traded her life for
his.
“Aeris...Why?!”
Cloud’s tears dropped on Aeris’s face. Aeris forced a weak
smile and touched Cloud’s face with her hands.
“Don’t be sad. Just don’t be. I know it’s hard for you but
soon you will forget me.” Aeris said and cough. Cloud’s heart was tortured to
see her suffer. He just couldn’t take the fact that she will be leaving him,
forever.
“I won’t let you go.” Cloud said with determination and put
down Aeris. He strapped his sword to his back and looked around. He had to save
Aeris, no matter what it takes.
Suddenly he heard footsteps. Cloud left Aeris alone for a while
to get help. He hid her so that if something happened she wouldn’t be harmed
first. He hoped that someone helpful would come along.
“Cloud!”
Cloud saw Vincent running towards him. He looked nervous.
“Where is Aeris?”
Vincent asked. His had a nervous tone. Strange. Vincent
usually didn’t sound like that.
“She is with me. Quick, we have to save her.” Cloud replied.
“Bring me to her.” Vincent said and looked around.
“She in the alley. You go first.” Cloud said and Vincent ran
into the alley. Suddenly, he felt something cold touching him in the back.
Vincent turned around and saw Cloud pointing his back with short knife.
“You did a bad job in manipulating Vincent.” Cloud said
attempted to knock Vincent out cold but Vincent ducked. He pulled out his gun
and fired a few rounds. Cloud quickly ducked to somewhere safe.
“Hand Aeris over.” A deep voice was heard. It wasn’t
Vincent’s voice. It was the voice he heard in Cait Sith that day in cosmo
canyon.
“The only way to her is through my dead body.”
Cloud said and drew out his sword. He dashed towards Vincent
and deflected a few round Vincent fired. He dashed towards Vincent, then pushed
Vincent towards the wall and Vincent was knocked out cold.
Cloud saw Vincent that was lying in front of him. He
couldn’t trust anybody now. That thing might be manipulating the next person he
will meet.
Cloud went back to check on Aeris. He hid her in a
well-hidden dark corner. To his surprise, he saw nobody there. Cloud was really
shocked. That thing with Vincent was just a decoy.
CHAPTER 15
Cloud ran out into the streets to look for Aeris. They must
had brought her somewhere. Somewhere where the thing can appear in its original
form.
Cloud ran around the town looking for Aeris. He didn’t know
where to go. He only know that he had to find her fast, before its too late,
before they claimed her life.
Suddenly he saw two figures in front. One was helping the
other to walk. Cloud ran towards the two figures and saw whom the two was. They
were Tifa and Aeris. Tifa was helping Aeris to walk. But was she actually
helping her or she was manipulated too?
“Tifa!”
Cloud shouted but Tifa didn’t stop. She just walked faster. Cloud
kept on chasing and chasing. There was something wrong here. He felt like he
was walking into the lion’s den.
“Tifa! Stop!”
This time Tifa stopped. She turned back and looked at Cloud
for a moment. Cloud didn’t know what was going on. He was standing in a
cross-junction and Tifa was only a few yards away.
Then he heard footsteps. A lot of them. He looked around him
and saw a horrific sight. People from Kalm were coming from all directions.
They were manipulated, with only one sole purpose, to stop Cloud. In the crowd,
Cloud could see many people he knew. Barret , Shera, The bartender, even
Marlene was manipulated too. Cloud couldn’t bear to kill them. There was a soul
in every one of them. He had to think of something fast.
“Aeris will be gone in a short while, what did you need with
her?” Cloud shouted at Tifa.
“You wouldn’t bother to know.” Tifa said and walked away
with Aeris.
Cloud was trapped. People were coming slowly towards him. He
had to stop them before they get to him but he couldn’t hurt them. There must
be a way; there must be a way...
Suddenly something crossed Cloud’s mind. He straightened his
arm and closed his eyes. He didn’t mumble anything. He just concentrated.
In a short moment, darkness eluded the surrounding area.
White fog was seen everywhere and it became extremely cold. Immediately, shouts
were heard and clashes were heard. When the fog cleared, everyone except Cloud
and Aeris were trapped inside huge chunks of ice. Sephiroth used this spell to
trap Aeris and Tifa once, now Cloud used it to stop the others from coming
without hurting them.
Cloud looked around to ensure it was safe and ran towards
Aeris, he carried Aeris in his arms and ran off towards nowhere.
Cloud ran and ran but he didn’t actually know where he was
heading. He had no idea where to get help and where to go. He only hoped for a
miracle to happen.
Cloud could feel the warmth in Aeris’s body slowly fading.
Her face became paler every minute. Cloud started to panic. He really hadn’t an
idea to save Aeris. He could feel her life slowly slipping away.
When Cloud was in an alley, he stopped and put down Aeris.
Running around wasn’t a good idea. He had to think of something, something that
could save Aeris from all this. It was then he heard something, something
approaching in extreme speed. It sounded like it was coming from above.
Cloud looked up and saw something falling down. His eyes
were wide opened when saw this thing approaching. It was a vast ball of fire.
Cloud quickly drew his sword out and pointed it at the fireball. A fireball
with the size of a car could easily kill the two but it didn’t. Cloud absorbed
the fireball through his sword into his body. Hades was right. He was
invulnerable to all elements of the planet.
Then he heard something burst. It sounded like a pipe that
burst but there was no sound of water splashing. He looked around him and saw
the fire hydrant shot up into the sky and the water shot out of it. The water
didn’t splash onto the floor. Instead, it formed an arrow like form and
suddenly, it shot towards Cloud.
Cloud readied his sword and readied to intercept. He slashed
at the water and the water split into two and then it float into the air as
small drops.
Cloud looked up and saw the small drops of water filled the
air above. Something was bound to happen. Cloud was right. The water turned
into ice and fell onto Cloud and Aeris as sharp little objects. Cloud quickly
shielded Aeris from this attack. After a while, he closed his eyes and concentrated
again, immediately, the surrounding area became hotter and the ice that fell
onto them turned into water. Cloud stood up and readied his sword. He closed
his eyes and concentrated. The drops of water were sucked towards the tip of
his sword and it slowly gathered and formed a ball of water.
Cloud looked back checked if Aeris’s all right. She wasn’t
hurt but she was actually dying. Then, Cloud can see the tiles not far in front
of him floated up as if there was nothing between the tiles and the ground. It
slowly approached him like a wave, and then gained speed. At first there was
only a little but then he noticed there were more behind that wave of tiles.
Cloud gathered more water with the tip of his sword and
waited. He waited for the wave of tiles to arrive. When the wave was just in
front of him, he flung the ball of water and smashed through the wall of tiles
making most of the tiles fall onto the ground. The few tiles that made the way
through knock at Cloud and made him fell onto the ground.
Suddenly he saw a flash of light in the sky. Cloud
immediately realized what will come next and put his hand high into the sky. At
that second, a lightning struck down at Cloud because he was higher after he
lifted up his hand. If he hadn’t did that, it was probably Aeris that will be
struck because she was sitting with her back leaning against the wall.
Cloud felt energy flowing in his body after he was struck by
lightning. He stood up and then he saw something white in color coming from
above. He put his hand high up into the sky and shouted. The white stream of
light came striking down like a laser beam. It completely lit up the entire
dark alley and shook the entire place. Cloud kept on shouting till the light
went out. He absorbed most of the holy energy and made Aeris safe from this
attack. Charged with energy again, Cloud carried Aeris and walked deeper into
the alley.
CHAPTER 16
Cloud put Aeris down again after they walked deeper into the
alley. He needed to move her away from that dangerous place to somewhere safer.
But he actually knew that what he was doing was pointless. The planet could
attack him from anywhere, and Aeris will be gone in another few minutes.
Cloud kneeled down and caressed Aeris’s face. She was very
weak now. She even had difficulties talking. Cloud hung his head and gave up
all hope. He couldn’t save her. He had to go through the ordeal seeing her go,
again.
Suddenly Cloud heard something approaching from behind. He
turned his head but he saw nothing. Cloud stood up and looked around. There was
nobody in this alley besides the two of them. It was then he felt something
approaching, slowly and sneakily. Something invisible?
“No!”
Cloud shouted suddenly and turned around. He lifted his and
slashed in front of Aeris. A clang was heard. He struck something, which was
invisible.
After blocking that killing blow that would take Aeris’s
life, Cloud slashed, trying to hit the invisible attacker by luck but he
failed. Instead, he was struck in the chest and was sent flying away. This gave
the attacker a chance to take Aeris’s life. But Cloud’s reflex was too good. He
kicked the floor before he landed and dashed towards the attacker before he
could do anything. Cloud’s sword was pointed in front and there was a high
chance it will hit the attacker. But it didn’t. Just before he could feel his
sword stabbing into something, he had a sudden halt and he just floated in the
air not moving. The attacker was holding the tip of the sword, lifting Cloud in
the air.
Cloud pulled the sword and fell onto the floor. He quickly
recovered and slashed the attacker a few times. But every time all he hit was
air. He couldn’t see the attacker. He could only depend on his instinct now.
“Why are you doing this?”
Cloud shouted when there was a pause in battle. Nothing
replied. Instead, he was answered with a blow on his chest again and he was
sent flying and landed in front of Aeris.
Cloud coughed blood out of his mouth after this blow. This
was a heavy one. What actually was this thing? It had the strength much more
powerful than Sephiroth’s. It was invisible. What was it?
Cloud was helpless now. There was no way he could defeat
this thing. He pushed himself and shielded Aeris from all sides. He supported
himself but holding onto the sword stabbed at the ground. He waited for the
thing to arrive.
“Who are you? Aeris will be gone already, why do you need to
do this to us?”
Cloud shouted at the air. He couldn’t see the attacker and
looked around hoping for a reply, footsteps or what sort ever. If he could know
its location, he could kill it with a finishing blow, once it came near.
“Why are you doing this?”
Cloud shouted and hoped for a reply again. This time he saw
something appeared in front of him. It was a dark shadow slowly forming. It
slowly formed into a figure in a black, old robe. It was holding a reaper and
it gave Cloud the chill. It was a character he heard when he was still a
kid-the grim reaper.
Cloud slowly waited for the thing to approach. He held his
sword tighter and he was ready to strike at the right moment, at the right
time. When the figure was just in front of him, Cloud attacked. Cloud was so
convinced he will get to chop off the figure’s legs. But Cloud was wrong. The
figure didn’t have legs. Cloud chopped nothing. He was now off guard. The
figure approached Cloud and lifted him up by grabbing his collar. He threw
Cloud far away and Cloud banged himself against the wall. More blood came out
of Cloud’s mouth. He was even more badly injured.
Cloud’s vision started to fade but he tried to focus his
eyes. He could see the figure kneeling down in front of Aeris, lighting
emitting in his hands and ready to cast a spell. Cloud had to stop it.
Cloud searched for the sword around him. It landed something
around. Suddenly he could feel it. He lifted it up, and with his last ounce of
energy, he threw his sword as hard as he could at the figure.
To Cloud’s surprise, the figure managed to catch the sword.
It stabbed the sword into the solid ground, burying half of it into the ground.
Cloud was now useless. He had no energy to fight and his sword was far from
him, he had to see Aeris go, again.
A bright light appeared in front of Cloud. The figure had
cast the spell.
“No!!!”
Cloud shouted and looked at the light that slowly faded. The
figure stood up and Cloud saw a body lying in front of the figure. Aeris was...
Cloud closed his eyes and tears flowed down his cheek. He
was strong, but he still couldn’t bear to go through all this. Aeris was
now...gone.
“Cough!”
A cough was heard. He opened his eyes and looked. He saw
Aeris coughing and slowly pushed herself up. She was...
Cloud couldn’t believe his eyes. Wasn’t Aeris gone? How in
the world could she be alive? What did the figure actually done to her?
“Cloud!”
Blur, Cloud could see Aeris running towards him. She was so
real, it didn’t looked like a dream, it really didn’t.
“Cure.”
A green light surrounded Aeris. In just a moment, Cloud felt
the pain in his body subsided. Exhausted, he slowly lifted his hand and touched
Aeris’s face. She was real all right. Aeris was holding his hand and then she
hugged him. He heard her sniffing. He comforted her by stroking her hair. The
two of them miraculously survived.
Cloud soon found out that they weren’t the only ones still
here. The figure hadn’t left yet. It was standing behind the two. Looking at
them, observing them.
“What’s happening?”
Cloud asked curiously. He had no idea why it ended this way.
“The planet wished to kept you alive in a sudden but the
girl trade her life for yours. We tried to heal the girl but you stopped us
from doing this. We tried to inform you but you ignored us.”
The deep voice that Cloud heard before actually came from
this figure standing in front of them. Cloud recalled a little. The figure was
right. Vincent and Tifa tried to tell him but he didn’t believe. He thought
they were lying to him.
“Then why are you attacking me?” Cloud asked.
“The only way to her is through you. And if we didn’t immobilize
you we can’t get to her.” The figure replied coldly.
Cloud thought for a moment and nodded. He tried to defend
Aeris with all his might, even against those who are willing to help. If he
defeated this figure, there was no way he could save Aeris.
“Farewell.”
The figure said and slowly walked away. Cloud suddenly
shouted to stop it.
“Thanks.” Cloud expressed appreciation.
The figure looked at Cloud. It turned away and slowly
disappeared.
“Save it for next time.”
The figure said before it left. Cloud and Aeris were shocked
to hear the last sentence. Next time? They are going to meet them again? Aeris
helped Cloud up. Cloud, with the help of Aeris, slowly walked out to the path
of brightness, hope, and uncertainty.
THE END...FOR NOW
Something from da author!
Hm...hope you like this fic. I put a hell lotta effort in
it. There might be better fics in the future, but now I am gonna take a deep
rest...
Oh yea, one more thing, watch out for the sequel. I started
working on it.