~~~~~Lightning Point of View~~~~~
"When reaching for the future we sometimes fall into the past. As we gaze upon events that cannot be changed, our hearts grow bitter with regret…" With a sigh, I cut off my thoughts and ripped my eyes away from the sight of the barren expanse of Valhalla before me. The realm between the living and the dead was reflective of my memories to the point that the sight was both disgusting and hypnotic. The breeze that swept through the room was chilling yet it was not enough to break me away from my feelings for the past.
As far as the eyes can see was nothing but a dying wasteland and decaying buildings. It has been all I've been able to see for a very long time. It's all I was able to witness as I have been able to do nothing but reflect on my past and the people in it. How foolish I was. How ignorant and self-centered I had been.
Catching myself, I shook my head lightly in attempt to shake the thoughts. This is stupid. Why was I filling my mind with regret all of a sudden? I am a warrior of Valhalla, chosen by the Goddess Etro to protect this land for eternity. I have no time to waste on these thoughts… thoughts that won't even matter.
I shifted myself away from the glassless window and focused my attention to the object in the center of the room: Etro's throne. The incandescent crystal seat was the only picture of color here as I was the only picture of life. It was ironic really.
As I waited the time I would be needed for battle again, I simply kneeled before the throne as my new armor clattered at this movement. It just seemed proper that I do this, even if it was unnecessary. Slowly, my vision blurred and I slowly shut my eyes, allowing myself to witness the full flow of the timeline. All the pictures and motions before me was always a staggering to see, but there was only one that I was currently interested in witnessing.
Serah… how will you deal with our past in your quest to change the future? I am curious to see where your journey takes you now…
~~~~~Cloud Point of View~~~~~
Another day, another delivery to be made. It has been the same old thing every day of my life as I ride through the lands of Gaia making deliveries for enough money to sustain myself. Ever since Sephiroth had been defeated and the Geostigma had been cured thanks to Aerith, my life had been rather uneventful.
Not that I'm complaining or anything… it's just a strange feeling I guess.
The more time I had to myself to think, the more I find myself thinking back on my past…. My real past. My time when I was a kid in Nibelheim was the most prominent thing that came to my mind actually. I'm not even entirely sure why that is. My childhood was never really a happy one. Maybe it was because it was the only part of my memory that was really my own and not me living as someone else.
I remember that when I was a kid, I promised myself that I would become a SOLDIER to protect the things that were important to me. Some plan that turned out to be. Not only did I fail in that respect, I became a delivery boy of sorts. I found myself smirking at that thought. Even if that was the case, I have no regrets. I gained the strength and power I need to protect those that were dear to me and I have a job where I can spend time traveling the world searching for… her.
Her again… She keeps popping up in my thoughts lately. I'm not even entirely sure why. That girl from my past that I vaguely remember keeps surfacing. I only met her once but… I have to admit this to myself eventually I guess… I'm in love with her. Yes. I am in love with her. That strawberry blond hair and that ever prevalent nonchalant look she always wore in the short time I knew her. That and her protectiveness towards her kid sister was strangely reminiscent and a trait I found attractive in her.
Claire Farron… just where have you gone?
Ever since that day in the mountains where I met you for the first and last time for a very long time, I won't lie to myself and I'll admit that I had been keeping her in my mind ever since that faithful day. Oh god, listen to me. I sound so corny.
"Tsk, it's a good thing no one could hear me," I found myself whispering to no one as I revved the engine of Fenrir louder so I could speed up and drown out those thoughts from my mind. What was with me lately? Thinking on my past, confessing my love to a girl who is probably already dead, talking to myself? Geez, I just need some rest. Yeah that's it. Knowing Tifa, she probably already has the bed set up for me to just crash in.
Since my latest delivery didn't take me too far from home, it didn't take me long to get back to the Edge. As I rode on the path towards 7th Heaven, something caught my eye. A large statue thing in the shape of a… rain drop I guess… had been placed down the road from the bar. I found it strange that something like that had been built so quickly without notice or significant purpose but I simply ignored it. It wasn't in my way so I didn't really care.
Before I knew it, I had already arrived at 7th Heaven otherwise known as our home. Parking Fenrir in his usual spot, I walked over to the entrance. Initially all of my focus was on the staircase at the back leading me to my slumber and ignoring the other patrons of the bar. Tifa had seen me walk in and could only afford me a wave as she was currently tending some customers I had never seen before. I was going to ignore her and pretend to have not seen her but something had caught my eye as I was gazing over the scenery.
Strawberry blond hair.
My eyes widened in surprise and realization. It was her. It had to be. That hair color is rare here and it couldn't be just coincidence that she just happened to have shown up as I was thinking about her. Suddenly all the weariness I felt had just dissipated as I pushed my way through the other people there towards where Tifa stood and instinctively grabbed onto girl's slender arm.
"Claire!" I almost yelled. The girl that turned to me first looked at me in fear and then was wide eyed like me in what I guess was shock. At that point, when I saw the girl's face, I realized it wasn't Claire. Her look was too innocent and her body language was… what was the word… demurred. Guess that was a good enough word for it. Plus her clothing… it just didn't suit my image of Claire. I guess she could have changed when she got older but that just didn't seem likely.
I didn't really notice the man that was standing with her up until now who had now just pointed his strange looking weapon towards me. I could only afford a half amused glace towards him as most of my attention was still attached to the girl.
"Noel wait! It's okay," the girl had said quickly to calm her friend down. The male seemed as if he was about to protest but the girl had simply redirected her attention and gaze towards me, not willing to listen to his complaints. "You… are you… Cloud?"