The last thing Aeris remembered was Cloud’s tortured face. The dark glimmer in his bright blue eyes as he brought down his sword at –

Me.

Aeris slowly stood up from the floor.

Where am I?

The place seemed quite familiar. Then it came to her.

Oh, that’s right… the City of Ancient…

She was still at the City of Ancient. Where she had last been, praying and silently pondering about the planet. The altar looked the same, and the gentle movement of the water below and the soft atmosphere of the place were all the same as she had seen it last time she was here.

But where was everyone else?

Aeris tried to remember. She had been praying…that she could remember clearly, but what happened after Tifa screamed and Cloud brought down his sword at her was all a blur to her.

"What happened?" She murmured, squinting through the misty air of the place. No, she was wrong. Something was definitely wrong. Something vital and important. A sudden headache on her forehead made Aeris wonder whether Cloud had somehow inflicted some damage on her. Did he…? She was not so sure. "Where is everybody? Why am I alone…?"

Aeris felt a wisp of cold air pass by her side.

Opaque atmosphere felt cold. Very cold…

"...I gotta figure out what am I doing here… quick…" Aeris murmured and brushed her front hair aside. "Or else, I’ll be staying here forever."

Aeris flopped off the alter and made her way over the staircase. If she remembered correctly, the atmosphere of the city wasn’t so cold. Now, it felt like sharp edges of ice. Aeris slightly shivered. The air had grown thick and quite suffocating. The place seemed empty and hollow like a cave made out of iceberg, yet Aeris could feel the air tightening around her body.

Aeris reached the top of the staircase.

Something was different. Aeris got out of the small shell house and glanced about.

"Cloud?" She weakly called out. "Are… are you here, Cloud?"

Just sharp gushing wind answered her calls. Frustrated, Aeris tried to calm herself. She was used to dangers. She had always been ready to step forth on her own. She wasn’t afraid of being alone. She was strong and…

No…you are not strong…

Aeris felt her eyes moisten.

Meeting Cloud… knowing him… getting to know each other… all these things made her realize how weak herself was… how much she was pretending to the others…

"I…" Aeris’ legs gave away under her. She flopped down; her legs folded and stared ahead with vacant expression.

Now that she realized how much she had enjoyed and gotten used to companionship with her friends, Aeris wasn’t sure she could get out of this danger… alone.

"I…I am scared, Cloud…" She murmured, unable to stop the tears form streaming down. "I don’t want to be alone by myself now…"

Then, sudden dizziness hit her head. The place seemed like swerving in ugly circle in front of her eyes. Then, she collapsed on the cold ground.

She didn’t hear the distant howl of the wild beasts nearby as the darkness slowly misted over her eyes.

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