Chapter 3

Cloud looked up into the sky. The skies were no longer blue, but were blacken by the huge amount of pollution made by the Mako factories. Though Rufus was dead and Shinra was down, other companies seized the function and gained power of the mako. Cloud shook his head. Never would there be something that would brighten a dull place like Midgar.

"Nothing will, ever..." Cloud muttered to himself. "Excuse me sir!" A little girl with a basketful of flowers halted Cloud. "Flowers...?" Then, a picture of Aeris, with her pink dress cascading in the gentle breeze, offering flowers to him. Cloud's thoughts of Aeris rushed into his head once again. "Would you want some flowers? Its only 1 gil each!" She continued. Cloud stepped back and looked around. It was the same spot that he had met Aeris. "Aeris..." Cloud trembled. "Sir? Sir?" Cloud shook his head and smiled. "I'll take one." The girl smiled as she collected the coin. Suddenly, a thought came into his mind. There are no such things like flowers in Midgar. "The flowers are beautiful." Cloud commented. "Yeah... even the lady said so. That pretty lady with lovely brown hair..." Suddenly, Cloud's eyes grew. Pretty lady? Brown hair? Could it be... "Where... is that lady?" Cloud asked, with a tremble in his voice. "Oh, she is the one tending the flowers in the church up ahead! And she wore a long white scarf that covers her neck and... Sir? SIR?" The girl called out as Cloud started run. "Aeris??? Can it be??" Cloud shouted wildly at Aeris' name as he ran towards the church. Somehow, Cloud felt her presence somewhere out there. As he ran towards the church, he pressed the shard of Holy materia towards his chest. With a slight smile, he thought Aeris was still in the church, waiting for Cloud's return. The way her chestnut coloured hair flows and how the cheery smile looks like, he could almost feel it. "Aeris... wait for me..." Cloud whispered.

"BOOM!" Cloud pushed the heavy wooden door hastily. He swung his head left and right and scanned everything. He walked cautiously to the spot where the flowers mysteriously grew. He glanced at the dark surroundings.

No sign of her.

Cloud's heart ached, as he bent down and touched the smooth petals of the blooms. "Aeris..." he thought, as picked the flower and touched it tenderly. Then, tears welled up at his vivid mako eyes, and trickled down his cheeks and splashed onto the smooth petals. He then sat on the creaky floor, and huddled himself. Never had he felt so weak before.

"Aeris... where are you?? I miss you so much... Aeris..." Then, a dim white light appeared at the entrance. Cloud rubbed his eyes and looked at the light. The light then revealed a figure. It was a she, with her great wings folded neatly at her back, with feathers cascading. Her soft brown hair was flowing gently in the breeze, as she looked softly at him.

"Aeris...?" he whispered, as he held his breath.

"Cloud..." the familiar, a twinkling voice spoke as soft as the warmest sunshine. Cloud raised his eyebrows and stood up. It IS Aeris' voice! "Aeris? Is that you?" Cloud choked between his tears, as he started to sprint towards the figure.

He stopped.

His heart was panting rapidly as he looked at her. "AERIS! Its..." Cloud stammered, and trembled. Aeris silky chestnut hair flew wildly as she ran towards him and embraced Cloud. "Cloud!! I miss you so much!!" Aeris whispered between her tears. Cloud squeezed her tighter, as tears trickled down to her massive wings. Cloud kissed her hair as he whispered, "Aeris..." He pulled away, looked deeply into her blue green eyes and smiled.

"Let's go home."

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