A DIFFERENT STORY

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Final Fantasy or its characters

Note: I totally hated the part on this game when Aerith died.

The night was calm and still. A chill filled the air and an omnimous presense spread over the atmosphere. Cloud Strife, Vincent Valentine, and Yuffie Kisaragi made their way to the giant building in the center of the Forgotten City.

They were looking for Aerith.

After everyone had left the Temple of the Ancients Aerith had gone off by herself. The only person she told her plans to was Cloud. He knew them and didn't like them. She was going to stop Sephiroth. Alone.

Why did you do it? he thought now as they walked down the stairs to the lower room in the city's center building. Why didn't you let us come with you? It's too dangerous for you to go yourself!

There was a long silence as they walked down the rest of the stairs and stepped onto the bottom floor of the Temple.

Suddenly Yuffie gasped and pointed, breaking the silence as she said. "There she is!"

Vincent and Cloud followed the ninja's finger to where it pointed. They saw Aerith kneeling on what looked like an alter, her hands clasped together and her eyes closed. She looked like she was praying.

"Aerith!" Vincent called, taking a step toward the alter.

Cloud put out his arm, blocking his friend with it so he wouldn't go any further. "I'll go alone," the blond swordsman said quietly.

Vincent blinked in surprise. "Cloud?" he said, confused. "Why?"

His friend gave no explainations. He just looked over his shoulder, his eyes glassy, and said slowly. "Just stay here, okay."

"Uh...O..kay."

"Thank you."

Cloud dropped his arm and headed to the alter. He jumped onto the pillars sticking out of the clear blue water below. He knew he had to get to her before Sephiroth did.

Once he lost his footing and found himself staring at his reflection. It looked so alone. Half of it lay in shadows. Part of me is missing, he thought, standing upright again and staring at Aerith.She is the part that's missing.

He jumped one last time.

His boots came down on the alter with a satisfying clank. For a moment he just stood where he was staring at the beautiful Ancient. She looked so peaceful kneeling down in front of him, her eyes closed in prayer. He didn't want to disturb her.

Suddenly something began to pull at his spirit. Wha-------? A feeling like static spread through his veins. His thoughts became scrambled and he had no idea where he was or what he was doing.

A dream... I'm dreaming... This isn't real... Where am I...? Who am I...?

Cloud no longer had control of his body. With one fluid motion he pulled out his sword and walked up to the praying girl.

I am dreaming... She is a dream. If I kill her she won't die!

"What's he doing?" Yuffie asked, as she watched Cloud. "Why is he just standing there?"

"I don't know," Vincent said, his eyes on Cloud as well. "I don't like it..."

Then the two saw their friend pull out his sword and walk slowly toward Aerith.

"Vincent!" Yuffie gasped, grabbing the gunman's arm in fear. "He's going to kill her!"

Cloud stopped right in from of the Ancient and raised his sword. If I kill her she won't die!

"CLOUD!" "STOP IT!" Yuffie and Vincent's voices burst through his mind like a light.

The feeling vanished. Cloud was suddenly aware of what he was doing. His blue eyes got bigger as he stared at Aerith's face only centimeters away. The buster sword fell out of his hands and clattered to the floor.

He grabbed his chest as he tried to understand what happened. "What am I doing?" he asked himself. "I can't kill her! I love her!"

The Ancient must have heard him. At that very moment she opened her eyes and looked up at him, smiling.

He stared at her suddenly feeling calm. "Aerith..."

She stood up and started to walk over to him. "Cloud..."

WOOSH!

Cloud heard a sound from above. Quickly he looked up and saw Sephiroth coming down at them. His sword was drawn and pointed down. He was heading straight for Aerith, his sword set to pierce her heart!

"Aerith, look out!" Cloud exclaimed, jumping forward.

Just as his hands pushed her out of the way Sephiroth's sword pierced through the blond swordsman's back and came out of his chest. Cloud cried out in agony and fell to the floor. His head and upper body landed on the Ancient's lap.

"CLOUD!" Aerith, Vincent, and Yuffie screamed together.

Aerith got up and leaned over him. As she did, her hair came loose and fell around her back and shoulders. A small green object also fell out and struck the alter. It bounced once then fell into the clear waters below. "Cloud! Cloud!" Aerith screamed, still leaning over him and shaking him. "Cloud!"

"The fool," a voice above her scoffed.

The Ancient looked up. She saw Sephiroth standing a few feet away, his sword pointed downward, looking at Cloud. Disgust filled the silver haired swordsman's aqua colored eyes.

Aerith couldn't believe her ears. "What did you say?" she demanded.

"He deserved it," Sephiroth said, looking up at her slowly.

Aerith's eyes grew big as she started at him totally not believing what he was saying. "Deserved it?" she shrieked. "The only one who deserves to die is you!"

Sephiroth's eyes studied her for a moment. He saw something beyond the anger on her face, tears. Tears that spilled down her cheeks causing them to glisten damply. "Why do you cry for someone you barely know?" he asked. "Why do you love someone you don't know a thing about? Why do you cry for someone who doesn't love you back?"

Aerith's surprise showed. "What!"

"He does not love you back."

"You are wrong!" she exploded, clenching her fists in hate and anger. She stole on glance at Cloud whose blood was staining the white stone of the alter. "Cloud did-does- love. He loves me!"

Sephiroth's eyes and face were mocking as he said. "He doesn't understand the meaning..."

"What do you mean he doesn't understand the meaning?"

The silver haired swords man gave no straight answered. "Only I know about who-what-he really is," he explained. He raised his sword. "Too bad you won't be around long enough to find out!"

Aerith gasped and moved back slightly.

"This will put an end to your meddling!" Sephiroth said. He lifted his sword over his head.

"No!" she screamed. "NO! CLOUD!"

"Cloud can't save you now!" the man cackled. His sword came down at her.

Aerith put up her hand for protection. "CLOUD!" she screamed.

POW!

Sephiroth's pupils shrunk to tiny slits of pain and surprise. His sword dropped to the floor. He grabbed his shoulder, blooding oozing from a gunshot wound.

"Who!"

His eyes centered on Aerith, still alive, who was staring at something behind him. With cold, hate filled eyes he looked over his shoulder.

Vincent and Yuffie stood right behind him. The black haired man had his gun raised and still aimed at Sephiroth. "I don't think so," the gunman said, clicking off the safety again. "You shouldn't strike a lady. That's bad manners. What would your mother think?"

Sephiroth whirled to face the two. He picked up his sword and held it in both hands, sizing them up. "She would rather enjoy it," he snarled.

CRACK! BONG!

Aerith swung at him from behind with her staff. When it made contact with her enemy's back he staggered forward and grabbed the alter railing. His sword hung limply in his left hand. Panting, he looked up and found himself surrounded by the three. He knew then he couldn't beat them there.

"Fine," he conceded. "You may think you have won but the victory is mine! When I become ruler of this planet you will all dispise the day you thought you could prevail!"

"Shut up," Yuffie snorted. "You're just a nut job. You're all talk."

"Shh!" Vincent said, putting his hand over her mouth. He'd seen the other man's eyes flicker with hate. He'd seen the non-Ancient's sword arm flicker. He'd seen how much Sephiroth wanted to kill Yuffie.

Sephiroth stood to his full height and faced them all. He lifted his sword (The three good guys went into battle stances) and shiethed it. "Too bad it's too late for the one you call Cloud," he said a slow evil smile filling his face. Then he shot upward. "You'll never get to me in time!" he called down to them. "You little expedition ends here!"

Vincent aimed into the air. He shot his gun off a few times but by then their advisary was gone.

"It's no use," Aerith said to him. "He vanished before you could even fire the first shot."

The gunman nodded and let his arm drop. "You're right," he said, sighing.

"Don't worry, Vinnie," Yuffie said. "You'll have another chance to..."

Suddenly the alter rumbled and shook, as if something heavy had fallen on it.

"What was that?" Yuffie asked, flailing her arms to keep her balance.

Before either Vincent of Aerith could answer a hiss rose up behind them. Quickly they spun around to see what it was.

A giant ugly monster stood before them on the alter. It towered over Cloud's body and seemed to be sizing it up for a meal. Or... glaring at him disapprovingly.

"Cloud!" Aerith shouted. "Cloud, move!"

Cloud didn't even twitch.

"We have to do something!" the Ancient screamed.

Yuffie sprang into action. With a flying leap she hurtled herself into the air, her shurikan grasped tightly in her right hand. She came down at the monster hacking away at its body with her weapon. "Take this, Freakazoid!" she roared. "Dinner is officially canceled!"

Vincent stared at the thing a moment before he realized what it was. "JENOVA!" he gasped. He pulled out another gun and started firing. "That's another part of Jenova!"

"Another dead part!" Yuffie called from the head. She stuck it with her throwing star.

Jenova screamed as the Vincent's bullets and Yuffie's shurikan tore into her flesh. With growing anger she attacked Vincent and Yuffie with her tail and magic and knocked them to the alter.

"Vincent! Yuffie!" Aerith shouted. "Look out!"

The pair looked up. They saw the monster towering over them. "This doesn't look good," Yuffie said, grabbing Vincent's wrist. "Looks like we're going to die together!"

Vincetn stared at the monster. He tried to move but Jenova's tail pinned them both down. "I," he began, his hand gripping Yuffie's. "think you are right!"

The monster came down at them like a bird of prey.

Aerith saw Cloud's sword lying at her feet. Without thinking she picked it up. Then, without hesitating or bothering to worry about how heavy the sword was or her own safety she jumped toward the monster and plunged the blade into the Jenova's heart.

Jenova shrieked as the blade came out through her chest. Vincent and Yuffie watched the tip of the huge sword pierce through the monster's front body. Their eyes grew wide in surprise. "Cloud?" they gasped.

Aerith looked down at them from over Jenova's shoulder. Vincent and Yuffie stared back. All three pairs of eyes held the same emotion. Surprise.

Jenova started to sway as she died. Aerith jumped off the thing's back before she fell off. ""Why risk your lives," it rasped. "For a puppet?"

The three stared at the monster in confusion. "Puppet?" they said in one voice.

Jenova could not answer. She never did. She fell over and vanished as she died.

When it was gone Aerith, Yuffie, and Vincent stood or lay in the same positions for a moment, panting. Just glad to be still in one piece. Just glad to be alive.

Finally Vincent got up and knelt down in front of the Ancient on one knee. "Thank you for saving us, Aerith," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Yeah!" Yuffie squealed, jumping up and giving the brunette a hug. "You're my hero!"

"Thank you," Aerith said blushing.

"Aerith?" a weak voice interrupted them. "Aerith?"

The three looked down at Cloud. He started up at them through weak dying eyes.

"Cloud?" Aerith said, walking up to him and kneeling down. "Cloud?"

"I...I'm sorry, Aerith," he gasped. "I... I shouldn't have gotten... you involved... with... my...problems..."

"It wasn't your fault," she protested, her eyes starting to fill with tears. "I wanted to go... to... to be close to you.."

Cloud smiled. "Can you do me one favor?" he asked.

"Yes.. anything.."

"Please turn me over."

"Okay."

Aerith reached down and rolled Cloud onto his back. She rested his head on her left arm and his upper body on her lap. He sighed and closed his eyes, the smile still on his face. "All I wanted...," he said weakly. "Was one moment with you. One moment when we could hold each other..." His hand came up to her face. "One kiss..."

With ebbing strength he brought her face down to his and kissed her pink rose petal soft lips.

The kiss lasted for a few seconds then Clouds strength ended and he let her go. His hand brushed her cheek. He opened his eyes and stared up at her a moment with his dark blue eyes.

"Don't cry," he said the smile still on his face. "I will never leave you..."

Aerith watched his face and eyes lose their lifeforce. His still smiled at her.

Yuffie stood beside Vincent watching. "Vincent?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Yes?" he asked, staring down at the ninja.

"Is he...dying...?"

Vincent put an arm around the girl's shoulders. "Let's hope not..." he said.

Cloud's eyes came back into focus for a minute. He looked straight into Aerith's. Dark blue pools locked on indigo. "Wh.. why are you crying?" he asked.

Aerith couldn't answer. Her tears spilled out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. They fell off her face and combind with Cloud's blood that pooled around the two.

His eyes lost focus again. He gasped for air. "CLOUD!" the Ancient screamed, her hands on his shoulders. "DON'T DIE, CLOUD!"

The blond swordsman's hand still carrest her cheek. He smiled again. "I am not afraid to die," he said slowly. "I'm not afraid...to..."

"Cloud!" Aerith stared at him in horror.

"It doesn't...hurt," he said as his eyes closed. "There's no pain here..."

"Clou..."

Clouds hand went limp. It fell onto her lap, the hand part falling into the pool of blood. His head fell sideways. One last breath of air came from his lips. One last phrase was spoken. "Aerith.. I love you..."

Aerith watched him die. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't do anything about it. "Cloud?" she said her hand on his cheek. "Cloud?"

She never recieved a responce.

"CLOUD!" she screamed, shaking him. "Cloud, wake up!"

"Oh no!" Yuffie exclaimed. Vincent clasped her shoulder. "Is he...?"

Aerith leaned over the body of the man who loved her. "Why?" she asked, her cheek on his. "Why did you have to die?" Her mouth met his one last time. "Why did it have to be you?"

A hand rested on her shoulder. She looked up. Vincent stood over her. "Vincent...?"

"Is...is he... dead?" the gun man asked.

Aerith noticed his eyes were full of tears he refused to shed. Her blue green eyes met his scarlet ones. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to.

"No!" Yuffie exclaimed, kneeling down next to the Ancient. She stared at Cloud's body in horror. "Cloud!" she exclaimed, shaking him. "Wake up, buddy! Stop fooling around! This isn't funny!"

"Yuffie," Aerith said, grabbing the girl and forcing her to look at her. "He is.." the Ancient swallowed. "He is not going to wake up..."

The ninja stared at her in shock. Yuffies brown eyes filled with tears. "He's dead?" she asked.

Aerith nodded.

Yuffie burst into tears. So did Aerith. The two girls hugged each other and cried.

Vincent also knelt down beside Cloud. He looked at the blond a moment. "Cloud," he said slowly. "Why did you do it? Why...?" He looked at Aerith who was crying even harder than Yuffie. "Why did you leave her? Why didn't you choose to stay?"

Author's note: (Cries) This is the second sad story I ever wrote. I don't really like writing these types of stories but I felt I had to. Like I said eariler I hate the part when Aerith died in Final Fantasy 7. The game would have been just as good if she hadn't! This was something I've been wondering about since I first got the game: What would have happened if Cloud had pushed Aerith out of the way in time? I do like Cloud I like him a lot. Maybe I shouldn't have made him die. It's too late now, though. (Cry)

Sorry about one thing. I think I got the Ancient city's name wrong. I haven't played FF7 in a few months. I put Yuffie and Vincent in the party with Cloud in this story because that's the party I used at that part of the game. (Runz) I guess that's it.

One more thing. Depending on how you all like my story I might add a few other parts to the story as other chapters. They will probably be before or after what happened in this part. Who knows, I may even have Cloud brought back to life somehow (Smile) I bet all you Cloud fan girls would love that. (Bricked)