Possession of Hope
Cloud and Aeris were walking along the silent beaches of Costa Del Sol. The crickets chirped and the wind was blowing. Aeris' hair was blowing, and her face seemed to glow.
"Aeris?" Cloud said, looking at Aeris.
"Yes?" She replied, her lips moving slowly, in sync with the wind.
"Why…..why did you marry me?"
Aeris stopped. "Because……….I love you, Cloud……I just do……"
Cloud smiled faintly. "But…….do you know ME. DO you know….this……this….PUPPET that is……your husband? Do you really want to be…my wife……."
Aeris put her smooth hands on her hips. "Why, Cloud Strife! Don't you say things like that! Really now! If I thought you were some kind of artificial creation, would I have married you? I know you……you are a kind person……why are you thinking like this?"
Cloud fell to his knees. "I don't……..I don't know…………" Cloud then fell into the sand.
Aeris fell to her knees as well. "Cloud? Are you alright? Cloud? Cloud!? CLOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! Aeris started to sob as Cloud's mind slowly turned to his past………
A puppet………
Huh?
A puppet………
He is a failed clone. He will not do……
Me?
A worthless puppet………
No, no no! Not me……….
*Cloud…Cloud…Cloud…*
No, no no! NO, NO, NO! Why! WHY ME!!!!!!!
*Cloud regains consciousness inside the Lifestream once again*
"Here? But why?" Cloud asked himself, wandering aimlessly.
Because….you doubt your own self worth…
"What do you want? Who are you?!!?" Cloud screamed in rage, but he saw nothing but thin air.
You are…..a failure……
A puppet…you are nothing but a worthless puppet…
"Dammit, get out of my head! Damn you! Damn it all!" Cloud said, enraged and helpless. "Damn…….."
Get it through your head…you are nothing but…
A puppet…
A puppet…
A puppet…
Cloud's legs were quivering. "Shit, why me! WHY NOW?!?!?!? Why?!?!?!!?"
I'll help you, Cloud!
"Huh?" Cloud said, confused.
Look up…
"Huh? Oh yeah…the light…I see it…" Cloud said. He reached for the light, and returned to his body, having been retaken by Aeris and her love…
"Cloud!" Aeris screamed through her tears, looking at Cloud's sparkling eyes open and blink. Cloud awoke to a glowing face.
"Uggh……Aeris……it was you…….uggh…." Cloud said weakly.
"Oh Cloud…..I thought…..I thought-" Aeris started, but Cloud cut her off.
"No need to explain, Aeris. And don't cry. Please." Aeris stopped crying, and Cloud dried her tears with his cloth shirt.
"Cloud…….I love you, SO, SO, much….." Aeris said, and embraced Cloud.
"I love you too, Aeris." Cloud replied and gently kissed her left cheek. Rain started to fall, hitting Cloud ever so gently, and soon it became a downpour. But still, they never let go of each other. It was the eternal embrace-love. And the voices in Cloud's head were slashed like a sword through butter……and never once again, did Cloud ever hear those voices that plagued him, for he was in the eternal shell. He was finally at peace, and so, he laid his sword to rest, opting to stay and be a loyal husband to sweet Aeris, until the world was threatened by an evil force again…