Author's Note: I have had this idea floating around for a while and thought I would throw it out there to see what people thought of it. If there are any beta readers out there I would love help editing the story. I did my best on this chapter, but heaven knows I miss things. Let me know if your interested in the story continuing! :)

Falling into the Past

The slim branch that Cloud was holding onto gave a loud crack as it splintered.

Denzel looked up through teary eyes. "Cloud!"

Only Cloud's firm grip kept him from falling into the pit of Mako below. Above them Tifa looked on in horror.

Denzel looked down. The ominous green glow lit up his features. A piercingly crack rang through the air. The two of them were seconds away from free falling into the pit and it was all Denzel's fault. "Let me go." It started as a whisper. Then Denzel frantically began repeating the message over and over. "Let me go. Let go! " He struggled against Clould's firm grip on his hand. He wouldn't let Cloud die because of him!

"Denzel!" Cloud's firm cry froze Denzel's struggles. Their eyes met for a moment. Denzel stared In horror as Cloud gave him a tight lipped smile. "You don't die here kid." The next moment happened in a blink of an eye. Cloud pulled Denzel up and threw him into Tifa's open arms twenty feet above while at the same time the force sent the final crack through the branch. With nothing more to hold Cloud above the swirling mako pool, Denzel could only watch as his friend plummeted. "Nooooooo!"

Then Cloud was gone. The green pool swallowed him whole. "No. No. It wasn't supposed to be him. It was me, me!" Denzel was vaguely aware of Tifa's arms around him trying to soothe him.

"It was supposed to be me."

Cloud allowed the burn to course through to his bones as he felt the Mako and then lifestream eat away at his body. He had saved Denzel from falling and he had nothing to protect himself from the energy's biting grasp. He wasn't sure if the life stream would accept him, but he thought maybe letting go would make it easier. The pain ebbed and flowed, becoming stronger, then weaker. Finally Cloud felt the pain beginning to fade away entirely. When he "opened" his eyes he was in a sea of blinding nothingness. Colors fluctuated in the distance as he stared across the never ending landscape.

A feeling of amusement not his own swept across him. "You can ask you know."

Cloud didn't bother to turn around. "Ask what?"

A giggle came behind him. "The question in your head silly."

"You know what it is?"

"Of course."

"Why would I need to ask then?"

"Oh Cloud."

He felt a soft hand push on his arm, willing him to turn around. He followed the motion willingly. "Aeris?"

"Of course, who did you think it would be?" Aeris gave a happy smile as she gently touched Cloud's cheek.

"Your're not supposed to be here Cloud."

"It seems I end up here a lot all the same."

"Hmm…" Aeris smile slipped slightly. "The planet can't put you back where you were Cloud."

Cloud closed his eyes and cherished the contact with his old friend. 'So?"

"Hmm... Your body has been eaten away by the mako, but the planet needs you to be its Guardian. Cloud this is important." Cloud's eyes snapped open at the word Guardian.

"What? What are you talking about, the planet is doing fine there's nothing…"

"Cloud, when the Weapons were destroyed the Earth sought out a new Guardian. You ended up being it."

"I guess the planet will have to find another then." Cloud's voice rang mixed with regret and relief.

"It doesn't really work like that Cloud. It can't. Not yet. Guardians are chosen through conquest. Nothing defeated you Cloud. You instead sacrificed yourself to the planet in place of another who was doomed by their own choices."

Cloud's eyes snapped to Aeris's. "So I should have let Denzel drop?!" His voice spoke of alarmed incredulousness.

Aeris's voice was soft in reply. "Of course not Cloud. It's just that it complicates things. The planet has a plan, but it doesn't make much sense to me. It wants to talk to you itself."

Clouds eyes widened. "It can do that?"

"Hmm, well it could, but you wouldn't understand. It needs me to teach you first. Luckily I think you will make an excellent student and the earth seems to think we have time."

"Teach me? I don't understand why it would even want to..."

Aeris laughed lightly, "Oh, don't dilly dally, why wouldn't the planet want to talk to you silly?"

"Hmm..." Cloud grunted in return.

After that time seemed to flow in fast and short increments, like a movie on fast-forward. There were moments Cloud felt utterly lost, but Aeris always managed to find him again and pull him out of the confusion and senselessness. Then after either eons or a thousand moments Cloud began to be able to hear the planet and finally understand.

Aeris smiled at him kindly while he tried to sort through the wave of pictures and emotions that the planet communicated though. Finally he gasped, and his eyes which had been closed opened wide. "No!"

Aeris took a step forward in surprise and worry. "What?" She was cut off. "No, no, no." Cloud was frantic he was trying desperately to communicate to the planet his answer. "Don't send me back. I'll stay here. I am happy here. There has to be another way."

They both sensed the planets reply. The harsh wave flowed over them like a parents reprimand. Cloud would not have a choice in this. There was no other way.

"Please!" Cloud's final plea horrified Aeris as she too tried to communicate with the planet to try to stop whatever was hurting Cloud.

Then Cloud started disappearing.

Aeris rushed to try to hold onto him, to try to keep him where he was here and now, but it was too late. The planet was determined and easily pulling him away. "Cloud!" His desperate eyes were the last thing that she saw.

"Where?" Her voice demanded an answer even as her spirit sought it from the planet using the language that had been instinctive to her since she was a child. "Where did you send him? How could you force him away like that after all he has done?" Her heart cried out with the questions that resounded through her mind, and the planet tried to give her the answer..

Aeris gasped as she received the answer. "What? No. He has already gone through so much. Why curse him to such a…" Aeris received the answer before she could even finish her question.

For a few moments the earth and Aeris stood at an impasse. Finally Aeris replied, "…but he will be alone. No one will know him or what he's been through. Even when he was alone before on earth I could still reach him and give him at least some comfort. Now…" Aeris trailed off. A tear ran down her cheek. "Oh Cloud. I am sorry." She didn't speak to the planet again even as it tried to comfort her.

"This is wrong." she murmured. Then within a moment, reality flickered and changed.