Prologue

He sat by the bank of the lake, watching its smooth, glassy surface reflect the light of the late afternoon sun. His thoughts were scattered, unfocused, but all held the central theme of the pure-hearted Cetra whose body rested at the bottom of the lake. There were no tears in his eyes, but there was sorrow in his heart. For a moment he saw his future stretching ahead of him, a long and lonely road, traveled with the burden of a life devoid of meaning. He sighed deeply, then noticed a shadow behind him.

"Tifa said you'd gone again." The voice behind him stated, with no emotion except perhaps a slight curiosity. "I'd wondered if you were here. What are you doing here Cloud?"

"I'm thinking. I am thinking… that I am becoming like you, Vincent." Cloud said, without turning to look. Vincent chuckled softly, enjoying a rare moment of mirth, before sitting next to his friend.

"Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?" Vincent asked, still with humor in his voice.

"You tell me." Cloud said. They sat in silence as the moments stretched on. It was a comfortable silence, and neither of them was in a hurry to break it. Cloud continued to watch the water, and Vincent looked up and marveled at the serenity of the place. After a while it was Vincent who broke the silence.

"What makes you think you are becoming like me?" He asked. Cloud remained mute for so long that Vincent began to wonder if he was going to answer or not. Finally Cloud did answer, in a voice so quiet that would have been inaudible, had their surrounding not been so still.

"Aeris is my Lucretia." He let Vincent digest that fact for a few moments, then continued. "I know how you've felt all along. I know the emptiness, the desire for solitude, and the fear of loneliness. You, at least, had the chance to tell her you loved her."

"And you think that made losing her any easier?" Vincent asked, with a slightly sharp tone.

"It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all. You knew her love Vincent. My love for Aeris was never realized. I never found the courage, or the time, to tell her. I am left to wonder, among other things, just how sweet her kisses would have been."

Vincent didn't know what to say. He could see it now in Cloud's posture, could hear it in his voice. He was becoming another Vincent, another shell person, empty of purpose, longing for death without actually seeking it, bitter and sullen. He shuddered.

"I don't think the world could handle two of me, Cloud. And I know there is no letting go, or moving on. I wish there was another choice." Vincent's voice held a sad, sympathetic note. He did not wish to see Cloud suffer as he had.

"Perhaps you shouldn't seek love, but comfort. Maybe love can come after. I never tried… perhaps I should have. Perhaps it's not too late… for either of us."

"Seek comfort where? In Tifa's arms? I know she'd take me, but I can't use her like that." Cloud asked with bitterness in his voice.

"You suggested Tifa, not me. No, you are right; she is not the one for you. Or you wouldn't be here, gazing into the water, knowing half your soul is lost beneath its waves." Vincent watched the water as well, lost in his own thoughts.

Finally Cloud stood. "No, I don't want comfort. It's too much like pity. I want… I want solace. It's Aeris or solace. I will accept nothing else." He looked up at the sky, and a raindrop landed in the middle of his forehead. It felt reassuringly cool and comforting. "Solace… or Aeris…" He repeated. The sun was beginning to set and rain was beginning to set in.

Vincent rose as well, and the two men watched the water. "I am worried Vincent. She promised me, when she left us, that she would return when it is all over. Why isn't she back then? We have survived Meteor and Geostigma, what else is going to be thrown at us?"

Vincent contemplated what Cloud has said. "I don't know Cloud. But now I share your worry."

Marlene was wandering around a quiet plain, filled with sweet smelling flowers and soft, fresh grass, which felt so good under her bare feet. Though Midgar had come quite far since recovering from Meteor, there still wasn't much in the way in of greenery. She felt happy and safe here, and wandered around the idyllic pasture aimlessly.

She stopped and knelt in a particularly lush patch of flowers, lowering her face to the soft petals and inhaling deeply their gentle fragrance. It was like heaven here, like Aeris's church, which still had the gentle pond in which those who suffered from Geostigma had come to wash themselves clean. Marlene felt the same serenity and cleanliness here, but as she thought about Aeris, she also began to feel lonely.

I miss her. We all do. Cloud most of all. Why did she have to be taken from us? Daddy says that she isn't really gone, and that sometimes the ones we love have to go. But they never tell you WHY.

Marlene felt a cold chill and looked up from the little patch of flowers. Suddenly a violent gust cold of wind pushed her over onto her face, and she let out a cry. The wind gusted again, even harder, and she was lifted from the ground. Marlene screamed in horror as she was tossed about by the wind, and then without warning dropped onto her face.

Marlene panted for a few seconds, wondering if her nightmare was over. Then, beneath her hands and knees, the grass and flowers dried up and floated away, turning into dust. The ground rumbled beneath her, and crack began to form. As the earth split in front of her a cruel laugh seemed to deafen her, and she was pitched forward into a hellish inferno. She screamed again.

"Marlene! MARLENE! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

Marlene's eyes popped open and she sat up straight in her bed. Tifa was sitting at the head of her bed, now gently stroking her hair, while Denzel sat on the foot of the bed, watching her with fear in his eyes.

"Are you alright now Sweetie?" Tifa asked, holding Marlene softly. Marlene was panting slightly, holding onto Tifa. She stared into Denzel's eyes to prevent herself from thinking of the dream she'd had. Denzel saw the horror in her eyes, and scrambled up the bed to hold Marlene as well.

"What happened Marlene? Did you have the dream again?" Denzel whispered quietly. Tifa watched the two of them in silence, as Marlene leaned on Denzel for support. Marlene nodded against Denzel's neck, tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm scared Denzel. Something is going to happen, I just know it is."

"Don't worry Marlene; I won't let anything hurt you." Denzel said, and he meant that with all his heart.