Final Fantasy VII: Tied With a Stone Ribbon

Chapter One

Cloud Strife trudged slowly up the eroded path between the stable like structure where he kept his chocobos and his house he shared with Tifa. Well, actually, Tifa shared it with him, since it seemed not a year went by without trouble and Tifa and Tifa didn't want to miss out on the action. Cloud knew there was more to the story than just that. Yes, he knew, Tifa had a soft spot for him, and he couldn't decide whether it was good or bad. When he returned from his work, he would find her waiting by the gate and she would greet him, staring dreamily at his bright blue eyes. Minutes would pass, and Tifa would still be in garden lost in thought, while Cloud had already slipped past her into the kitchen, looking for leftovers. The trees parted and there was the plain building Cloud called home, though he had no idea for how much longer. He had to make Tifa realise he was not who she thought he was, and there was always hope that she was still alive. That she would come back. And he was scared, because all the people who he loved were taken away from him. At least that was what had happened last time. The house was unusually quiet, and as Cloud pushed the abandoned and rusty gate open, he noticed a pink post-it note on the door.

Cloud,

Bake it yourself lasagne is in the oven (I left it on low). Marlene begged me

to go to the Gold Saucer, I will be back around 8:00pm.

Down the bottom of the note was an incomprehensible scribble, that Cloud decoded as her signature. Next to the scribble was a blotch of white out, covering what probably was hugs and kisses. He turned the paper over to see if the pen had left any imprints. In the dim evening light he could make out the "xxx ooo" showing through the paper. He sighed loudly. Cloud carefully lifted up the flower pot next to the door and picked the rusty key from the ground. He began to form his brilliant plan to help Tifa realise…

Rephrase: He tried to form a brilliant plan but to no avail.

Once inside the house, he searched for his half finished packet of crisps that had the same brand that also made tinned peaches on the northern continent. He sat down on the bar stool at the kitchen bench, and soon the packet was consumed. He scrunched the empty alfoil and poured his frustration into it until it was a tightly packed ball. He threw it away and smashed his head on the bench non too gently. He suddenly had the overwhelming urge to sleep on the couch, much like the way Sephiroth had controlled him – subtle and subconscious. He stumbled lethargically down the corridor, throughts echoing meaninglessly in his head. He flopped face-down into the soft cushions on the couch and pondered aloud:

"What…am I doing here?" he mumbled into the material. Unexpectedly he was answered by the sweetly voice…of her…

"You came"

"b...but…WHAT?!" he shouted, leaping to his feet, started by the reply. He gazed into the darkness, and somewhere nearby a cookoo clock chimed seven In a corner of the dimly lit room were colours shining and swirling about, gathering at the centre of the swirl. Cloud could not believe his eyes. Shining in the holy light, but none the less standing in front of him, was Aeris Gainsborough.

All he could do was stare. Aeris smiled and spoke again.

"What shall I do to make you believe I am here?" she said, a look on her face as if she had never heard her own voice before. Cloud approached slowly, and poked Aeris in the ribs, then stepped back, slower.

"N-no…" he stammered, eyes glistening. "You…Aeris…you…are…d…dea-" He stumbled over the words, as if they were lodged in his throat.

"Dead" she finished for him. A tear ran down Clouds red cheeks, and he wiped it away hurriedly, pretending it never existed. "You never cry, Cloud"

"I know! This is different!" he said angrily through gritted teeth. "It is the worst damn dream I have ever had, in my whole miserable life!" he growled.

No, Cloud, you're not dream—Help Cloud he's taken over my bo—please excuse that interruption." Aeris' loving face turned stone cold.

"What was that?" Cloud asked, slightly suspicious.

"Ah…well…erm… you see,…uh…well I'm not exactly still alive, I'm visiting from the lifestream, but, um, I get snippets of other people's thoughts and…uuuh…yeeeahh…" She hurriedly explained. Cloud seemed to think about this for a moment and then accepted it as an acceptable excuse.

"So uh, what brings you to…here?" He asked, slightly confused.

Aeris' expression turned from cold to serious (a slight improvement if you ask me).

"Cloud, do you want me to come back forever?"

"YES!!! I mean… what?"

"Well I've found a way."

"HOW!?" Cloud pushed, half filled with joy and half empty with sorrow.

"You need to make a small insignificant sacrifice"

"What is it? Anything Aeris!"

Aeris smiled cruelly to herself.

I will never be a memory…