Flos Idolon
Chapter I
The hot sun was raining down in Mideel causing Cloud to have to wipe his brow and push back one of his long locks of spiky blond hair. He continued hammering the nail into the side of a house until it was down to the head. Cloud had been in Mideel for three months now since the meteor fell. He was helping rebuild the city which was destroyed by the life stream. He reached in his pocket for another nail, as he pounded it into the wood he thought about the last five months.
It all started in Midgar and it all ended in Midgar. In just that short time he had made life long friends and enemies. He had felt love and heart break; life and death. All in just five months. Then he his thoughts moved on to Aeris; he hadn't know love before her. He never even realized he loved her until she was killed. Killed by Sephiroth; who he thus killed in the end. He longed for her voice, her touch. His eyes slowly closed as thoughts and images of her flooded his mind. He was about to doze of right there on the ladder when he heard a "Kweh!"
He spun around and quickly realized he was on a ladder as he fell to the earth from his perch. When he got up there was a man on a Gold Chocobo in front of him.
"Excuse me sir, do you know where I can find a Mr. Cloud Strife?" He asked, shifting his weight.
"Why yes I do young man, follow me," Cloud answered. He beckoned the man to follow and he did. Cloud led the man in a circle and stopped.
"Um... sir?" The young man looked at Cloud questioningly.
"Hello," Cloud said, shaking the young mans hand, "I'm Cloud Strife."
"Uh, okay... I have a letter for you here," The young man ruffled through his bag and then pulled out a small white envelope, "Here you are," The young man said handing it to him.
"Thank you," Cloud said holding the letter in his hands. He looked at the writing on the front. It was very neat; it was from Tifa. He sat down with his back against a tree and read the letter.
Dear Cloud,
A week ago I got a letter from Cid. In the letter he told me that he was doing some trading in Bone Village when he heard some locals talking about a ghost in the woods. They said the ghost appears walking around in the forest dressed in a pink dress. I'm sure it's probably Aeris and I know you will go and find out. Before you do I want you to know that I do love you. Make sure you come back to me, you have to. Love,
Tifa.
Cloud wiped a single tear from his eye. Three months ago, just a week after the meteor fell Tifa told him she was unsure about her feelings and thought some time apart would be best for the both of them. Cloud didn't want to leave her but it was what she wanted and he figured she was most likely right about it. He was so happy when he read those last lines. But then Aeris crept back into his thoughts. Tifa was right; he would go and check it out. He couldn't go on knowing that Aeris could still be alive in some way or form.
He folded the letter up after reading it again and ran off to his hut. He grabbed a bag and threw some food and cloths in it. He pocketed the letter and grabbed his Buster Sword. As soon as he informed some friends of his flight he was on his way. He ran across town to the docks. After asking the docks manager which boats were free he ran over to a small boat and quickly spotted the captain.
He was a scruffy man with a prickly beard and a muscle shirt. Slightly overweight and with a mane of brown hair he turned around and stared Cloud in the eyes with his own beady green ones.
"What do ye want?" He said in the stereotypical sailor speech.
"Can I ride with you in your vessel to Fort Condor?" Cloud inquired.
"Yes, but it will cost ye," The sailor replied.
"Name your price," Cloud said looking at him.
"10,000 gil," He said greedily.
"Very well. I'll pay you half now and the other half when we arrive at Fort Condor."
"Hm, okay ye have ye self a deal," The sailor held out a clammy palm which in turn Cloud shook. "We'll be leaving shortly, don't go too far."
"Here's your money, I'll just wait over there," Cloud pointed at a small pier to wharfs away.
"Alright then," The sailor croaked.
The sun was at high noon and burning down even worse than before but Cloud took no heed as his thoughts dwelled far away, in a cold place. He wondered why Aeris was about in the Sleeping Forest. Did she still feel about him the way he did her? Cloud wasn't sure if she did but he was determined to find out. He sat down on the edge of the dock and let his legs drop over the lip of it. The sea breeze swept through bringing with it the smell of the sea. He remembered the day he rode the ship from Junon and how he told Aeris that one day she could ride on an Airship like the one in Junon. Maybe there was still a chance to fulfill that dream. Just maybe he could see her one last time.
"Excuse me sir. The ship is ready to leave now," A voice behind him said. Cloud turned around. Just a few steps away was a young sailor.
"Thank you young man," Cloud said pulling his feet back up and standing.
"Okay, I'll see you onboard," The young sailor confirmed. He then turned and ran back to the ship. Cloud looked back to the sea once more then he followed the young sailor to the ship.
"So, where will I be staying for the remainder of the trip?" Cloud asked the Captain.
"You'll be sleeping either on deck or in the crews' quarters," The Captain replied while unhooking one of the knots holding the ship to the dock.
"I see. So what is your name Captain?" Cloud questioned.
"The name is Kirk. What be your name Spiky?" Kirk wondered aloud.
"My name is Cloud Strife, not Spiky."
"Whatever ye say," Kirk laughed unfastening the last hold. He then grabbed a large pole and pushed the boat away from the dock with such force it left a depression in the wood. Cloud stumbled as the he shoved the ship off, but caught hold of a rope hanging from mast.
"Ye can put your stuff below deck now if ye want. Its gonna be a long trip, two days me thinks. One if the tides are good," Kirk said throwing the stick back to the deck.
Cloud nodded and grabbed his bag from the deck. He then walked down a stair well to the deck below. The ex-soldier found himself in a musty and small corridor. On his left was a door with a label on it that said, "Crew's Quarters". He pushed the door open and walked in. Inside was a small room with one circular window. On the far wall were three hammocks, one of which had the sailor he had met earlier. In the center of the room was a table and cards were laid out on it. Cloud looked at the hammocks. One had Kirks cloths in it, the other was empty. Cloud threw his bag in the hammock and then walked back out. Curiosity overwhelmed him and he walked deeper down the hall. He walked further down the hall and spotted a door that had the words, "Engine Room," crudely carved into the door. Cloud opened the door and peeked in. The moment he did he was struck in the face with a wave of hot air. He coughed and choked then shut the door.
Clouds curiosity was just about to leave him when he saw a door at the end of the hall. On this door was a piece of paper stuck to the door. It was flimsy and decaying but it still had words on it. He walked up and looked at it. All it said was, "Cargo Holds".
Cloud grinned and gripped the door handle. He was about to turn it when a heavy hand came down on his shoulder.
"Theirs nothing in there for ye to see," Came Kirks voice from behind, "Plus I have something I want you to see on deck."
"What is it?" Cloud inquired.
"Go get your weapon. You might need it," And with that Kirk walked back to the deck.
Cloud ran to the crew quarters and grabbed his Buster Sword. "I wonder what this is about?" He pondered as he ran up the stairs. As he got on deck he found out quick enough. Just twenty yards from the ship was a giant fin protruding from the water.
"What the hell is that," Cloud wondered out loud.
"Just my thoughts exactly. I was hoping you could tell me!" Kirk yelled from a crossed the boat.
"I have no idea but here it comes," Cloud cried rolling out of the way as the monster flew on deck.
The monster had two scaly arms which it used to move itself around and a rough shell like body. It turned and faced Kirk who quickly grabbed a harpoon off the deck and parried its attacks. As it turned Cloud spotted a space in it shell. A weak spot Cloud wondered as he slowly moved toward the monster. Kirk screamed as he hurled the harpoon at the beasts head. It glided through the sea air before landing in the monsters eye socket. It screeched in agony as thick blood leaked from its open wound to the deck of the boat.
Cloud then saw his chance. He broke into a run and then jumped onto the monsters back. While it was busy trying to pull the harpoon out of its eye Cloud ran up its back to the opening in the shell. He then raised his sword and stabbed it into the hole. There was a sharp shriek and then the monster fell down on the deck of the boat. Blood began spewing out of the hole after Cloud pulled his sword from the mortal wound he dealt.
"Holy shit!" Kirk exclaimed as he walked over and ripped his harpoon out of the sea creatures head. "I've never seen anything like that before!"
"It's not a big deal, I've killed worse than this," Cloud laughed. Kirk gave Cloud a look like, "Your crazy..." and then started pushing the monster over the edge of the boat.
"Um, a little help?" Kirk asked in a stale tone.
"Sure," Cloud replied walking over and placing his hands on the dead sea creature.
After a minute of pushing the carcass finally fell over the side of the ship with a big flop. It floated for a moment on the waves before it sunk under leaving only a cloud of blood in the water. Just then the young sailor came up the stairs in some shorts and asked, "What happened?"
Cloud looked at Kirk who in turn looked at Cloud.
"We'll be there by sunrise tomorrow," Kirk said in a monotonic voice.
"Okay, I'm going to bed," Cloud copied, nodding. He then walked off and went down stairs.
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+ Authors note: That took some thinking. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter I
The hot sun was raining down in Mideel causing Cloud to have to wipe his brow and push back one of his long locks of spiky blond hair. He continued hammering the nail into the side of a house until it was down to the head. Cloud had been in Mideel for three months now since the meteor fell. He was helping rebuild the city which was destroyed by the life stream. He reached in his pocket for another nail, as he pounded it into the wood he thought about the last five months.
It all started in Midgar and it all ended in Midgar. In just that short time he had made life long friends and enemies. He had felt love and heart break; life and death. All in just five months. Then he his thoughts moved on to Aeris; he hadn't know love before her. He never even realized he loved her until she was killed. Killed by Sephiroth; who he thus killed in the end. He longed for her voice, her touch. His eyes slowly closed as thoughts and images of her flooded his mind. He was about to doze of right there on the ladder when he heard a "Kweh!"
He spun around and quickly realized he was on a ladder as he fell to the earth from his perch. When he got up there was a man on a Gold Chocobo in front of him.
"Excuse me sir, do you know where I can find a Mr. Cloud Strife?" He asked, shifting his weight.
"Why yes I do young man, follow me," Cloud answered. He beckoned the man to follow and he did. Cloud led the man in a circle and stopped.
"Um... sir?" The young man looked at Cloud questioningly.
"Hello," Cloud said, shaking the young mans hand, "I'm Cloud Strife."
"Uh, okay... I have a letter for you here," The young man ruffled through his bag and then pulled out a small white envelope, "Here you are," The young man said handing it to him.
"Thank you," Cloud said holding the letter in his hands. He looked at the writing on the front. It was very neat; it was from Tifa. He sat down with his back against a tree and read the letter.
Dear Cloud,
A week ago I got a letter from Cid. In the letter he told me that he was doing some trading in Bone Village when he heard some locals talking about a ghost in the woods. They said the ghost appears walking around in the forest dressed in a pink dress. I'm sure it's probably Aeris and I know you will go and find out. Before you do I want you to know that I do love you. Make sure you come back to me, you have to. Love,
Tifa.
Cloud wiped a single tear from his eye. Three months ago, just a week after the meteor fell Tifa told him she was unsure about her feelings and thought some time apart would be best for the both of them. Cloud didn't want to leave her but it was what she wanted and he figured she was most likely right about it. He was so happy when he read those last lines. But then Aeris crept back into his thoughts. Tifa was right; he would go and check it out. He couldn't go on knowing that Aeris could still be alive in some way or form.
He folded the letter up after reading it again and ran off to his hut. He grabbed a bag and threw some food and cloths in it. He pocketed the letter and grabbed his Buster Sword. As soon as he informed some friends of his flight he was on his way. He ran across town to the docks. After asking the docks manager which boats were free he ran over to a small boat and quickly spotted the captain.
He was a scruffy man with a prickly beard and a muscle shirt. Slightly overweight and with a mane of brown hair he turned around and stared Cloud in the eyes with his own beady green ones.
"What do ye want?" He said in the stereotypical sailor speech.
"Can I ride with you in your vessel to Fort Condor?" Cloud inquired.
"Yes, but it will cost ye," The sailor replied.
"Name your price," Cloud said looking at him.
"10,000 gil," He said greedily.
"Very well. I'll pay you half now and the other half when we arrive at Fort Condor."
"Hm, okay ye have ye self a deal," The sailor held out a clammy palm which in turn Cloud shook. "We'll be leaving shortly, don't go too far."
"Here's your money, I'll just wait over there," Cloud pointed at a small pier to wharfs away.
"Alright then," The sailor croaked.
The sun was at high noon and burning down even worse than before but Cloud took no heed as his thoughts dwelled far away, in a cold place. He wondered why Aeris was about in the Sleeping Forest. Did she still feel about him the way he did her? Cloud wasn't sure if she did but he was determined to find out. He sat down on the edge of the dock and let his legs drop over the lip of it. The sea breeze swept through bringing with it the smell of the sea. He remembered the day he rode the ship from Junon and how he told Aeris that one day she could ride on an Airship like the one in Junon. Maybe there was still a chance to fulfill that dream. Just maybe he could see her one last time.
"Excuse me sir. The ship is ready to leave now," A voice behind him said. Cloud turned around. Just a few steps away was a young sailor.
"Thank you young man," Cloud said pulling his feet back up and standing.
"Okay, I'll see you onboard," The young sailor confirmed. He then turned and ran back to the ship. Cloud looked back to the sea once more then he followed the young sailor to the ship.
"So, where will I be staying for the remainder of the trip?" Cloud asked the Captain.
"You'll be sleeping either on deck or in the crews' quarters," The Captain replied while unhooking one of the knots holding the ship to the dock.
"I see. So what is your name Captain?" Cloud questioned.
"The name is Kirk. What be your name Spiky?" Kirk wondered aloud.
"My name is Cloud Strife, not Spiky."
"Whatever ye say," Kirk laughed unfastening the last hold. He then grabbed a large pole and pushed the boat away from the dock with such force it left a depression in the wood. Cloud stumbled as the he shoved the ship off, but caught hold of a rope hanging from mast.
"Ye can put your stuff below deck now if ye want. Its gonna be a long trip, two days me thinks. One if the tides are good," Kirk said throwing the stick back to the deck.
Cloud nodded and grabbed his bag from the deck. He then walked down a stair well to the deck below. The ex-soldier found himself in a musty and small corridor. On his left was a door with a label on it that said, "Crew's Quarters". He pushed the door open and walked in. Inside was a small room with one circular window. On the far wall were three hammocks, one of which had the sailor he had met earlier. In the center of the room was a table and cards were laid out on it. Cloud looked at the hammocks. One had Kirks cloths in it, the other was empty. Cloud threw his bag in the hammock and then walked back out. Curiosity overwhelmed him and he walked deeper down the hall. He walked further down the hall and spotted a door that had the words, "Engine Room," crudely carved into the door. Cloud opened the door and peeked in. The moment he did he was struck in the face with a wave of hot air. He coughed and choked then shut the door.
Clouds curiosity was just about to leave him when he saw a door at the end of the hall. On this door was a piece of paper stuck to the door. It was flimsy and decaying but it still had words on it. He walked up and looked at it. All it said was, "Cargo Holds".
Cloud grinned and gripped the door handle. He was about to turn it when a heavy hand came down on his shoulder.
"Theirs nothing in there for ye to see," Came Kirks voice from behind, "Plus I have something I want you to see on deck."
"What is it?" Cloud inquired.
"Go get your weapon. You might need it," And with that Kirk walked back to the deck.
Cloud ran to the crew quarters and grabbed his Buster Sword. "I wonder what this is about?" He pondered as he ran up the stairs. As he got on deck he found out quick enough. Just twenty yards from the ship was a giant fin protruding from the water.
"What the hell is that," Cloud wondered out loud.
"Just my thoughts exactly. I was hoping you could tell me!" Kirk yelled from a crossed the boat.
"I have no idea but here it comes," Cloud cried rolling out of the way as the monster flew on deck.
The monster had two scaly arms which it used to move itself around and a rough shell like body. It turned and faced Kirk who quickly grabbed a harpoon off the deck and parried its attacks. As it turned Cloud spotted a space in it shell. A weak spot Cloud wondered as he slowly moved toward the monster. Kirk screamed as he hurled the harpoon at the beasts head. It glided through the sea air before landing in the monsters eye socket. It screeched in agony as thick blood leaked from its open wound to the deck of the boat.
Cloud then saw his chance. He broke into a run and then jumped onto the monsters back. While it was busy trying to pull the harpoon out of its eye Cloud ran up its back to the opening in the shell. He then raised his sword and stabbed it into the hole. There was a sharp shriek and then the monster fell down on the deck of the boat. Blood began spewing out of the hole after Cloud pulled his sword from the mortal wound he dealt.
"Holy shit!" Kirk exclaimed as he walked over and ripped his harpoon out of the sea creatures head. "I've never seen anything like that before!"
"It's not a big deal, I've killed worse than this," Cloud laughed. Kirk gave Cloud a look like, "Your crazy..." and then started pushing the monster over the edge of the boat.
"Um, a little help?" Kirk asked in a stale tone.
"Sure," Cloud replied walking over and placing his hands on the dead sea creature.
After a minute of pushing the carcass finally fell over the side of the ship with a big flop. It floated for a moment on the waves before it sunk under leaving only a cloud of blood in the water. Just then the young sailor came up the stairs in some shorts and asked, "What happened?"
Cloud looked at Kirk who in turn looked at Cloud.
"We'll be there by sunrise tomorrow," Kirk said in a monotonic voice.
"Okay, I'm going to bed," Cloud copied, nodding. He then walked off and went down stairs.
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+ Authors note: That took some thinking. Hope you enjoy it!