Final Fantasy-The Revolution
Final Fantasy - The Revolution: Chapter Two
by CHI

She was wrong.

He remembered every single detail. Their conversation, her smile and his voice. Everything.

Cloud slowly returned from his sleep, feeling groggy with this unusual experience. Also, he was sweating. The beating of his heart had not slowed down. Sitting up on the hard mattress that was supplied by Gongaga inn, Cloud noticed his friends standing.

Tifa and Barret were beside him, looking down with worried expression on their faces. Cloud sensed another concern that was beside himself.

Tifa stepped up. “Cloud, Aeris is gone.” She said, her face troubled.

Something in Cloud’s heart died then. The news didn’t surprise him. But the confirmation of what his dream has predicted killed something in his heart. Perhaps it was his hope. Perhaps it was his faith. It didn’t matter. It had already happened. Tifa didn’t seem to sense the tremor going under his skin. She coughed. “I was just wondering, Cloud. I was just thinking–“

Quit beating around the bushes, Tifa. Just say it–

“Do you think her running away is somehow related to that act you did –to her?”

Barret shook his head. For the first time, he didn’t have that tough look. He seemed genuinely concerned. “We are not blamin’ you or anythin’, Cloud. Jes wonderin’, that’s all.”

There you go again, Barret, forgetting your ‘ing’ word.

“Barret, he knows that! You don’t have to give him any ideas.”

Swell, and you were being so subtle, huh?

“Hell, I know that, Tifa! Don’t patronize me.”

Cloud couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed his head. “She’s gone –to take on Sephiroth.” He moaned.

Both of them stopped. “What?” Tifa gasped.

“She’s in the Sleeping Forest. Up North.”

“And how’d you know that?” Barret asked, skeptical. Cloud didn’t blame him. “She came into my dream.”

“Aeris?” Tifa asked in disbelief. “She came into your dream? Are you sure?”

“She said I probably won’t remember. But I do. I’m sure, Tifa.” Cloud lowered his head. “Sephiroth’s after her, too.”

Barret shook both his fists in the air with the air of impatience. “Then what the hell’s the problem? Let’s go to Sleeping Forest!”

Tifa looked at Cloud. A fresh concern was spreading across her pretty face. “Are you okay, Cloud?” She asked.

No

“Yeah.” An answer was better than nothing, she must have decided. Tifa didn’t probe for more elaboration. She merely straightened herself. “Shouldn’t we be going?”

Cloud suddenly felt like going back to bed. “I don’t know.” He murmured. Barret stopped his usual rampage and stared at him. “What’s that? You aren’t goin’? Did Aeris hit you on the head in that dream of yours?”

“Cloud, what’s wrong–“ Tifa implored.

Cloud clutched his head and shook it vigorously. The ringing in his head… the fear in his heart was more than he could bear. He wished Aeris would give up on whatever she was intending to do. He hoped she was standing right outside the room, flashing her usual smile, giving her usual glint of intelligence in that pure green eyes…

A part of him desired to go. A desire to save her before it’s too late… But the desire of withdrawal was as much as his former desire. A desire to run away, an unthinkable consequence if he did otherwise…

He feared for her safety.

And he remembered the slip of paper he had taken out from the fortune telling machine that Aeris had urged him to take. It costed him 200 gil but seeing Aeris happy after getting the rectangular piece of paper had satisfied him somehow. He had managed to read the passage over her shoulder. A brief message.

The time is ripe. But you’ll lose something dear.

A message he had scoffed at. Why’d it have to come back alive now?

And Aeris, she was gone already…

“I’m –I’m scared, Tifa.” He managed to utter. His strained voice was enough to shake Tifa. Whatever happened to her old Cloud? Where was his cocky manner and where was that over-confident smile of his that he usually flashed to her? She didn’t recognize the guy sitting in front of her.

Barret was disgusted. “Whadd’ya mean yer scared, Cloud?” He thundered. His voice seemed to shake the whole inn. Ignoring him, Tifa kneeled in front of Cloud and looked into his face. He refused to make eye contact with her, which hurt, but she had always been used to his evasiveness.

“Cloud,” She began carefully. “I know you’d lost your self control before and nearly killed Aeris, but you’ve got to stop this self-torment. It’s not your fault that you can’t keep control over your own self!”

“I know, Tifa, but, when he’s near, I, I– “ Cloud sputtered. “ I feel like I am losing myself.” He hung his head, which was quite pitiful. It took her everything she owned to keep herself from madly hugging him and bursting into tears at the same time. With a slight lump in her throat, Tifa gulped. “Cloud…”

So much had happened so fast… she no longer felt like he was her friend. Perhaps this was meant to be. Perhaps this was her destiny. She wasn’t sure and she swore not to let go until she find out what it meant exactly.

Barret was nudging Tifa from the back. Looking back, she understood what he was saying.

Leave him alone for a while. He’ll come to his senses.

But…Barret…

Sighing, Tifa stood up. Cloud made no move to stop her. He just sat there with his whole features slumped like a broken man losing his will to live. A man about to crumble down and disappear. With a last worried glance at him, Tifa left the room and joined Barret outside. He was lost deep in thought, standing there with his hands on his waist.

“Well, did he say something?” He asked slowly. Tifa shook her head miserable. “Only the last thing you heard him say. Barret, I’m worried.”

“About Aeris or about Cloud?”

Tifa looked at him quickly. “You are not giving me an easy question, Barret. What’s your point?”

Barret shrugged. “I’m saying he’ll come to his senses soon enough. It’s you I’m worried. This whole mess and on top of it all, you’re–“

His words were cut off by the opening sound of the inn door. Both of them spun around.

“Cloud!” Tifa said in relief. “Are you all right?”

Cloud looked different. The moment of crisis had washed away from his face. The drooping shoulders were back on its place and his eyes were again penetrating. Whatever solution or comfort he found while pondering what to do with himself, he must have decided not to think about it that much. He was definitely back to normal. Her question was answered by a resolute nod of that spiky head of his. Barret seemed relieved to have him back. Obviously, he didn’t have much faith in his own affirmation about Cloud’s condition. It was evident on his face that he was glad it turned out okay. “Now, what should we do?”

“Aeris is alone by herself.” Cloud said, looking across at Tifa and Barret. “And Sephiroth is after her. Whatever he wants to do to her, it’s not going to be a pretty sight. I’m pretty sure she is unaware of the gravity of the situation.”

“We must act quick, you’re saying.” Tifa finished. Cloud glanced at the place where Aeris was standing after when she heard about the news of her old boyfriend, Zack.

X marks the spot. Tifa thought dryly. Obviously, he was thinking about Aeris. “Cloud?” She prompted, annoyed that he hadn’t answered her question. Cloud shook his head. “Sorry. I was just thinking about what Aeris had said. “

“What?”

The path starts from here.

“I’m not sure what it meant…but…”

I was just praying and I felt like talking to you…

“But what?”

I wanted to see you before I go…

“…Nothing.”

Barret was impatient to get started. “Let’s go to that damn forest! She could be in danger right now, ya know?”

Cloud nodded. “You’re right, Barret. Let’s go.”

Before they headed out, Cloud looked back at the place one last time. Aeris’s voice seemed to be carried in the wind as it blew from the horizon and tickled Cloud’s nose. The soft breeze, the warmness that he felt…

I really enjoyed that date, Cloud…

“Please wait up for me, Aeris.” Cloud murmured, reminiscing the smile Aeris had flashed before she went away.

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