A/N This is getting ridiculous. I saw that there weren't many FFVII/LOTR crossovers and decided that more were needed, so I made my own X3 It took me a lot of time and patience to write this thing, so please review!
I do not own Final Fantasy FFVII or Lord Of The Rings. No they belong to Nomura and Tolkien respectively. -sniffs-
Summary: With the fighting stopped and Gaia finally at peace, Cloud had nothing to really stick around for. So, someone, or several someones, decide to give him something to do. He would never have guessed he'd be sent on a quest to destroy a piece of tacky jewelery...
Warnings: Swearing, violence, bloodshed/gore, character deaths, OOC'ness (But I WILL TRY to KEEP people in character ok?) light humor and I don't know what else XP
I think this would work best if it follows the plot of LOTR ok?
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It began with the forging of the Great Rings.
Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings.
Seven to the Dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.
And nine, nine Rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else, desire power. For within these Rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived... for another Ring was made.
In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, The Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a Master Ring, to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice and will to dominate all life. One Ring to rule them all...
One by one, the Free Lands of Middle-Earth fell to the power of the Ring. But there were some, who resisted...
A Last Alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor and on the slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle-Earth.
Victory was near.
But the power of the Ring...
Could not be undone...
It was in this moment...When all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the King, took up his father's sword...
Sauron, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth, was defeated...
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Cloud sighed from his position astride his beloved Fenrir, goggles around his neck and a hand raised to shield his enhanced eyes from the bright rays of the sun. He looked over the landscape of the Wastes surrounding Edge, then lowered his hand and simply sat there. Nothing out of the ordinary, as it had been for some time now. It had been two years since Sephiroth's return and defeat, two years of recovering from Geostigma's hold and two years of peace.
Everyone was happy now, the fighting had stopped, finally, and the people could live on the rest of their lives in peace. Even his friend's, the members of the Hero Group Avalanche had moved on from their days of fighting and struggling with life. Cid had gone back to Rocket Town to marry Shera, Yuffie had returned to Wutai to finish her tutoring to one day take her fathers place on the throne. Vincent had disappeared, most likely to visit Lucrecia's final resting place one last time before washing his hands of his sins with the help of Tifa, who had shocked everyone by announcing her affections for the ex-Turk. Speaking of the Turk's, Rufus and his lot had removed themselves from the picture, somehow thinking that 'out of sight, out of mind' gave them credit to root around The Forgotten City. Marlene and Denzel were attending school with the funds raised over the years of fighting and traveling and Nanaki had left to once more take guard over Cosmos Canyon. Barret had gone back to Mideel to keep the Mines running and often dropped by to visit Marlene. Over all, the peace was giving everyone the chance to move on and be happy with their lives.
Everyone except him...
He'd tried to move on, tried to find something to do to keep himself busy as he lived his life of peace and quiet. It hadn't worked, not for him, he couldn't do it, and it had been that that had made him realize that he would never be able to live in peace, because it was what he was now. He was a fighter through and through, made into a fighting machine by Hojo all those years ago. He couldn't sit still like the others, he couldn't live in peace and forget everything that had happened to him over the years. Sure, he could let most of it go and move past it, but the peace would kill him. Ironic, that living in peace would be more likely to kill him then living in war. At least he could fight in a war, he could protect himself and others, fight for his beliefs. But peace, all he could do with peace was sit and watch the clock tick by, run deliveries, visit friends, watch the clock, run deliveries, fight the occasional monster...
He hated the fact that he wasn't fine with that...
Nothing could challenge him these days, he had surpassed even Sephiroth, add that to the bomb shell that had been dropped on his head by Vincent and he was nearly wishing he'd died fighting Sephiroth. The bomb shell being in the form of the cold hard truth about what Hojo had really done to him. He was like Vincent it seemed, he would never age, never grow old...he was immortal and he hated it. When he had first found out, well, he'd been a mess, he tried not to remember that day, because frankly, it had been one of the most pathetic moments in his life. The very thought of living forever terrified him and filled his heart with anguish. He would never be able to see his mother again, never be able to see Aerith or Zack, he would never be able to pass on. Ok, maybe he could if someone or something came along and killed him, but that would be a chance of one and a billion. He was too strong to be defeated these days, and there weren't any crazy scientists around to make an Anti-Cloud weapon yet, and even if there was something that could pose a threat to his life, he wouldn't go down without a fight, it was drilled into him now, his instincts had been wired to keep him alive, he wouldn't be able to sit still and take a death blow even if he wanted to, and he was willing to bet he couldn't kill himself either...
Maybe, after everyone left him for the Lifestream he could take a leaf out of Vincent's book and sleep the years away. Could he even sleep that long? Well, considering he slept a whole week away without realizing it, and worrying Tifa in the process, he decided that yes he more then likely could.
He sighed and scrubbed a hand through his blond spikes, scowling into the horizon. His life had always sucked, but this by far took the cake. Now it didn't just suck, it blew. He snorted and reached behind himself, retrieving his new PHS from his pocket. New because he'd gone and thrown the other one into his bedroom wall in a fit of rage at something he had trouble remembering. It mustn't have been important then...probably something trivial, like I don't know, finding out you were immortal?
Cloud rolled his eyes at himself as he checked his voice messages. Nothing, which was a shock in and of itself. He shook his head with a small chuckle and pocketed the small black device. With a quick and well practiced movement his goggles were covering his glowing eyes and Fenrir roared to life under him. "I suppose I should drop by Tifa's and let her know I'm back in town." He thought to himself as he gunned the black bikes engine, then turned and sped off in the direction of Edge and the Seventh Heaven.
He couldn't stop the small smile from lighting up his features as the wind whipped past his ears, pulling at his hair and clothes. How he had easily gotten motion sickness as a kid he would never understand, because now, well, now he spent more time riding Fenrir then he did on his own two legs. Just the feeling of moving at such high speeds exhilarated him to no end, it kept him 'alive' in a sense. Fighting did the same thing though, but there was nothing left to truly fight.
As he rode with the wind howling past his ears and the roar of Fenrir's engine rumbling between his legs something changed in the scenery. He frowned slightly but paid it no mind, eyes focused on the road but still alert for any Monster attacks.
"Cloud."
Cloud yelped as Fenrir veered hard to his right, and he yanked on the steering to right himself. Feminine giggling drifted along the wind, sounding a lot like a certain flower girl he knew.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Cloud swallowed hard as he tried to calm his racing heart, keeping his eyes on the road in front of him as he replied.
"Sure you didn't." He said without malice. "What is it you need Aerith?" He asked as he shifted slightly atop Fenrir.
"Well...It's not me who needs something Cloud...Really, it's you who needs something." Cloud frowned at the odd response.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked in confusion. Another tinkling giggle on the wind, somehow heard over the roaring of Fenrir's engine, and then he wasn't on Fenrir anymore, but standing in a familiar white field full of beautiful flowers in full bloom. He twitched slightly. "You know, this is kind of dangerous, considering I'm speeding." he said, aware of the presence behind him. A simple crash wouldn't kill him for sure, but it would still hurt...a lot. Aerith sighed.
"I'm sorry, but I had to, she asked me to..." She said lightly. Cloud frowned and turned his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder, catching sight of a large pink ribbon and brunette curls.
"She? Aerith, what's going on?" He asked seriously. The Cetra sighed again.
"We know how this peace is affecting you Cloud, we know that it is what you fought so hard for, but we also know that it isn't doing you any good." She made it sound like a bad thing, but Cloud ignored that.
"So what if it's not doing 'me' any good, the Planet is safe again and recovering slowly but steadily and everyone's happy."
"But your not." Was her retort. Cloud sighed.
"I don't matter." He said quietly. And he really didn't. The Planet would heal itself in time, and the people were already on the road to a full recovery, who was he to deny them that? Just because he couldn't find it in himself to live in peaceful times?
"That's not true and you know it. You matter a lot to Gaia, Cloud, you saved her from death, you gave her children a future, and she loves your for that. So much that she's asked for help in saving you." Aerith said. Cloud frowned deeply, but didn't try to turn around anymore.
"Saving me?" Now he was even more confused, and slightly worried. What was Gaia planning?He felt Aerith nod behind him, and supported her weight easily as she leaned against his back. Her ribbon tickling the back of his neck.
"Uh-huh, she wants to help you Cloud, and she's found that help, all we need is your consent." Cloud found it slightly amusing that The Planet would ask for his consent to anything. It was a Planet, something told him that it would have gone on straight ahead with or without his consent. The flowers at his feet swayed in a light breeze, as if confirming his bemused thoughts.
"Consent to what exactly?" he asked, deciding to humor both himself and the Planet. Aerith shifted against his back.
"To send you somewhere. Somewhere you can find happiness, somewhere that also needs all the help it can get." She replied. Cloud knew that if he had been given a real choice he would have declined. He couldn't just leave his friends without word. But then again, he did that all the time didn't he? Yes he did, so how would this be any different?
"Would I ever get to come back?" he asked. Aerith sighed.
"I don't know Cloud..." The swordsman sighed and folded his arms.
"So...where did you want to send me exactly?" he asked in curiosity, already resigned to the fact he was going whether he liked it or not, he could almost hear the Planet laughing at him.
"Another world, completely different to this one. A world called Arda." She said. Cloud sighed and stared down at the flowers at his feet, dimly wandering how he hadn't crashed yet. He thought about it for a moment, thought about the Planet's plans for him. What did he have here? He had his friends, but they had moved on without him, moved on to their own lives. They didn't need him to save them anymore...he wasn't needed to fight off any Sephiroth's or WEAPONS, no longer needed to go on Planet saving adventures. It was peaceful too, and he, a living weapon was useless in peace, he couldn't exist where there was no conflict, it ate away at him so much that he feared he might just snap. This, Arda place, Aerith said it needed all the help that it could get. Was it at war perhaps? He sighed. His mind was already made up for him, so why was he even thinking over it? Maybe because he wanted to go knowing that he wouldn't be guilt ridden for leaving his friends behind. But he would leave them behind anyway, or they would leave him really, when they grew old and died... "I've learned some things about this new world, and there are races there that share your immortality, so you wouldn't be so alone, you know?" Aerith suddenly pipped up. Cloud's gaze wondered up and over the field of flowers.
"I guess, I'm not really needed here anymore...and I suppose if this, Arda needs some help, I guess I could give it a hand...or sword, either way." He straightened up, smirking when Aerith yelped and wobbled at his sudden movement. "Alright, sign me up, if it gets too unbearable I suppose I could spend the long years searching for a way back." He said. Aerith righted herself and nodded.
"Alright, if that's what you want." She said. "They'll be ok, you know?" She suddenly said. Cloud sighed and nodded, not turning to look at her.
"I know, you'll watch out for them wont you?" he asked.
"Of course I will, you don't even have to ask." There was a long silence, then finally Aerith sighed and he felt her hands rest on either of his shoulders. "The Planet wants to send you now, so close your eyes and breathe deep." Cloud blinked at the sudden departure time, but complied, dimly wandering if he'd get to take Fenrir. Aerith giggled behind him. "Remember Cloud, the Planet loves you, your friends love you, I love you, and as it seems so do the Valar." Cloud felt an odd drowsiness settle over hm, like someone had cast Sleep on him. "Oh, and Cloud? Be careful, ok? There are evil things on Arda...Take care." And with those last words echoing in his mind, he drifted off into the world of sleep...
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In the Wastes surrounding Edge there was flash of green so bright it lit up the sky all around Gaia, and Cloud's beloved Fenrir rolled to a stop on the road, riderless and with the sword racks empty...
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A/N Done and done! Ok, I had to revise this chapter because, after editing it on (My laptop does not have anything remotely related to a spell check system) the site decided to be retarded and, after I clicked save and it came up with 'Save successful' or whatever, I re-read it over to make sure and, whoa, low and behold a word a fixed twice was wrong again. So yeah, I had to change browsers just to get it to work! Going from Explorer to Firefox just to see if it would work. God damn I hate that. Anyway review please! Any questions just ask.
Ja ne