Chapter 4: Gongaga/Cosmo Canyon/Nibelheim
Disclaimer: Usual disclaimer applies, I'm not repeating it. As always, thanks to Robert for beta-reading this story. This Chapter is longer than the others so far.
To call Gongaga a town would be like calling coal diamonds. Gongaga was really not much more than a collection of huts with the remains of a destroyed Mako reactor in the background. Luckily for the injured girl, there was a Hospital Clinic, a remnant of ShinRa's presence in the town.
"I'm going to scout the perimeter of the town. I'll be back," Cloud said as he moved towards the path leading out of town.
"Cloud, wait, I'm coming with you," Aerith cried as she chased after him.
"As am I," Red added as he too followed the mercenary.
Cloud was waiting for them when they arrived at the head of the trail."
"Aerith, I know why you came with me," he said with a smile, "but Red why'd you come?"
"Tifa mentioned taking a nap, I wanted to be as far away from her snoring as I could," he replied as he fell into step with the young lovers.
"Fair enough," Cloud replied with a laugh as he took Aerith's hand as they moved to the outskirts of town.
"Cloud, tell me why we're 'securing the perimeter'?" Aerith asked in mock imitation of his deeper voice, giggling when he smiled at her.
"Well, we are on the run from ShinRa, and we know they're after Sephiroth as well. I just want to be prepared. I also want to make sure my friends and the one I love are protected."
"Ah, Cloud that's so sweet," Aerith said as she grabbed his shoulder and pulled him down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"It is also very prudent," Red agreed.
As they were walking they came to the ruined reactor they had seen in the distance from Gongaga.
"A ruined reactor," Cloud said in awe as the group approached.
"What do you think happened?" Aerith asked as she looked in wonder at the rubble of the reactor.
Cloud shook his head.
"I have no idea, let's just hope there's no left over Mako. Come on, let's get out of here," As the group turned to leave the sound of a helicopter caught their attention. In a place like this, a helicopter could only mean one thing, ShinRa.
"Everyone get down," Cloud said as he threw himself and Aerith into the brush, Red a breath behind them.
As the helicopter landed, a woman jumped out, followed by several men.
"Who's that?" Aerith asked in a whisper.
"It's Scarlet, Head of ShinRa Weapon Development," Cloud replied.
Scarlet walked to the reactor and began to rummage around in the debris, moments later she returned to her companions.
"...Hmph! This isn't any good either. You only get junky materia from junky reactors. This reactor's a failure. What I'm looking for is big, large, huge materia. You seen any?"" She asks the one closest, Cloud recognizes him as Tseng, head of the Turks.
"No I haven't seen it. I'll get on it right away." He replies.
"With Hojo gone, the Weapon Development's been getting a bigger budget," she says with a laugh, glad that the annoying scientist was finally gone.
"I envy them." Tseng replied quietly, almost as if to himself.
"But, even if we make the perfect weapon, could that stupid Heidegger even use it?"
"Oh... sorry! I forgot Heidegger was your boss! Ha ha ha!" She laughed at the look on Tseng's face, it was obvious he didn't like his boss.
"Let's go! Everyone back in the 'copter," Scarlet ordered, climbing aboard, her companions following.
"Big, large, huge materia? An ultimate weapon? The perfect weapon? Just what are the ShinRa up to?" Cloud asked to no one.
"I'm not sure, but I don't like it." Aerith said as she fearfully gripped his arm.
"Nor do I," Red said, "let us return to the others and tell them what we have learned."
A short time later they were telling the others about the overheard conversation.
"Huge Materia, huh?" Barret asked, his eyes half closed in thought.
"What's it mean Cloud?" Tifa asked.
"I'm not sure, but we'll worry about that later. For now let's get some rest, and tomorrow we'll head for Cosmo Canyon."
Later that night, as everyone else slept in the inn, Cloud slipped out into the night air. He moved with practiced stealth to a spot just out of view of the village, the ruins of a destroyed wall the only thing in the clearing. Taking a seat on the wall, he removed his Mythril Sword and began to sharpen the blade.
"You're out late aren't you?" A voice called from behind him a few minutes later. Setting his sword and sharpening stone aside, he turned to look at his visitor.
"As are you," he replied as they sat beside him, taking his hand as they did.
"Cloud, what are you doing out so late?" she asked as she intertwined her fingers with his.
"Aside from sharpening my sword? Thinking, thinking about what we learned today at the reactor. Aerith, why are you up?"
"Because you are," was her only answer. An answer he gratefully accepted as she moved closer to him and snuggled into his side, his arm around her shoulders.
They sat there in silence, watching the stars, listening to the other's heartbeat. They stayed there for several minutes when Aerith broke the silence.
"You know, you look just like him," she softly said, lost in thought.
"Like who?" Cloud asked, slightly confused at her sudden announcement.
"Zack, my first boyfriend. He came from this village, he was going to be a SOLDIER First Class like you." She turned her eyes to his, momentarily lost in their Mako depths. "Did you know him?"
Cloud thought for a moment before replying.
"No, I don't think I did. But he may have been a SOLDIER 1st Class, they weren't many of us but we were stationed all over the place and really didn't get to meet others of our rank. Why do you ask?"
"Being in his hometown made me think of him, his parents still live here I think. He went on a mission, promising he'd be back, but he never returned. I was hoping you might know what happened to him, that's all."
"Do you still love him," Cloud asked in a soft voice, dreading the multitudes of answers she could give. She pulled away from him slightly, just far enough to look at his profile.
"No, I'm not even sure if it was love any more. But I will tell you this, Cloud Strife, I do love you, and no one else. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She replied as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him tight, reassuring them both.
"I love you, Aerith, and you know I'll do whatever I can to protect you. After all, I am still your bodyguard," he replied with a smile as he kissed the top of her head.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed," he said as he gently picked her up and placed her on her feet, gathering his sword and sharpening stone and putting them away. Aerith was shocked when he then swept her up into his arms and carried her the short distance to the village, her head resting against his chest.
By the time he completed the short walk to the inn, Aerith was sound asleep in his arms. Smiling to himself he quietly made his way to the room they all shared. He gently placed her in her bed and kissed her forehead before returning to his own.
The next day the small group left Gongaga for Cosmo Canyon, with the addition of the young girl they had found. The medics in Gongaga had been able to stabilize her but they weren't equipped to heal her, but the Clinic in Cosmo Canyon was. So around 8 the next morning, the group plus one, left for Cosmo Canyon, another day and a half away.
Cloud was in the back helping Aerith tend to the girl, Barret was driving and Tifa was trying to read the map. Red was curled up behind Barret's seat, a slight purr emanating from him as he slept.
"Tifa, are ya sure ya know how ta read a map?" Barret asked as she folded the map again, trying to find the road that they were on, which was clearly marked by a red line.
"Of course I do, we are right here!" She said as she jabbed her finger at a point on the map.
"Tifa, dear, that's the ocean," Aerith said as she looked over her shoulder to what the other woman was pointing at.
"Oh," Tifa replied as her face turned almost as red as her eyes.
"Don't worry about it Tif, we're on the right road. Just follow this road till you see the cliffs of Cosmo Canyon, shortly after we cross the Ryland River." Cloud said from his spot beside Aerith. "You can't miss them, there's a permanent haze over them. Something to do with the rocks and the monsters that live there."
"You sure seem to know a lot about this place, you ever been here?" Tifa asked as she turned around in her seat to look at him. He had his arms crossed over his chest and his head was down, it looked as though he were sleeping.
"No, but it was a course of study in SOLDIER training, we were required to know about the more ... interesting places in the world," he explained as he maintained his position.
"Cosmo Canyon is a very special place, many people gather there to learn about the planet," Red startled them all by saying. "It is a peaceful place, and very mystical, it's where I was born. It's also very hard to miss on a map that has it clearly labeled as that one does."
"Well thank you for that insight," Tifa said as she turned back to the map, annoyed by Red's comment.
Red, Aerith and Cloud chuckled at her reaction.
After that incident silence prevailed, the radio wasn't getting any signals any more, so they were stuck with silence.
"Say, where's Cait Sith?" Cloud asked a little later.
"He mentioned something about recharging his batteries, so he turned himself off for awhile."
"Oh, ok."
After several hours of driving, Barret pulled to the side of the road. One by one they all got out to stretch and get some fresh air.
"So spike, what we gonna do about sleep tonight?" Barret asked Cloud as he was helping Aerith out of the buggy.
"Well, I figured that we'd all sleep in the buggy. Unless any of you would like to sleep outside, I bought tents in Gongaga." He offered helpfully as he and Aerith strolled away from the others and towards the edge of the clearing. They had been driving through forest for the past hour, and stopped at the first clearing to plan what they'd do next.
"Hey, where're you two going?" Barret asked as the couple continued to walk away.
"Us?" Cloud asked innocently, "Aerith is going to pick some flowers, I am going to find some firewood."
"What the hell are we supposed ta do?" Barret yelled.
"Make camp," was Clouds only reply as they disappeared into the forest.
"Make camp," Barret muttered under his breath, seeing the others watching him he yelled at them to get to work.
In the forest Aerith turned to Cloud, confusion written on her angelic face.
"I thought we were going to keep going"
"Well, we're closer than I thought we were, I figured we'd all get a good nights sleep. Well that and there is a storm coming, and from the look of things it promises to be bad."
"How do you know that?" Aerith asked with a smile.
"I can smell the rain on the air and there isn't a cloud in the sky right now. That and all the animals have taken shelter, didn't you notice that the birds have stopped singing?"
She stopped walking to listen, and sure enough he was right. There wasn't a sound except the wind picking up.
"I guess that we need to hurry and get the firewood then," she said as she caught up to him, his arms already full of firewood. He just smiled at her as she began gathering.
"What do you mean a storm's coming"? Tifa asked when Cloud and Aerith returned to camp.
"That's exactly what we mean, we are all sleeping in the buggy tonight. This is going to be a bad storm." As though to prove his point, the quickly graying sky let loose a clap of thunder and an explosions of light.
"Uhhh, I hate lightning," Tifa said as she was climbing into the buggy, the others behind her as the rain began falling.
The rain and lightning continued throughout the night, half an hour after the storm started Tifa began freaking out. The only way the others were able to sleep was by tranquilizing Tifa, thankfully she didn't snore once.
As they laid in their sleeping bags, listening to the sounds of the storm, Cloud was glad that he had his friends with him on this quest. But more importantly, he was glad to have Aerith.
Looking to the sleeping bad next to his he smiled, she was curled into a ball, her hand pillowed her head even as it rested on her pillow, her face had a little smile on it as she slept.
Quietly he slipped from his sleeping bag and moved to check the injured girl, she was still unconscious. Moving to the cab of the buggy he sat in the driver's seat and just watched the storm. The lightning creating a shadowy display of light on his face as the rain obscured his form through the glass.
Turning the engine on he slowly moved the buggy back onto the road. He picked up speed as he went, trying to reach Cosmo Canyon before the others woke up.
Aerith slowly awoke, as her consciousness returned she noted an absence beside her. Looking to where Cloud's bag was she saw it was empty. Quietly she unzipped her own and moved the portion of Cloud's bag that laid on hers off. Moving to the cab she noticed that Tifa and Barret were still asleep, as was Red.
Looking out the window she saw a red hue to the sky, remembering what Cloud had said earlier, she knew they were at Cosmo Canyon.
She could hear muffled curses coming from the rear of the buggy. As she approached the curses, she realized that the buggy had broken down, at least according to the phrases coming from Cloud's mouth.
"Stupid piece of junk, what'd you have to break on me now? Couldn't you have waited until we were actually in Cosmo Canyon?" He said as he threw in the towel and closed the hatch to the engine.
Turning with a sigh he saw Aerith watching him, he greeted her with a half smile.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey yourself, how'd we get to Cosmo Canyon Cloud?" she said his name in accusation.
"Well, I couldn't sleep last night, so I thought I'd surprise you guys by having us at the Canyon when you woke up, guess that didn't work out. The buggy stopped shortly after we arrived here. We're only walking distance from the village, so once everyone is up we'll go."
Cloud walked towards her, wiping his hands off on a towel, when he reached her she grabbed his hand in her own and held on as they returned to the cab.
Several minutes later everyone had awoken.
"Morning guys, ok here's the deal," Cloud began before anyone could speak. "the buggy broke down so we're going to have to walk to rest of the way to the village."
Stifling a yawn, Tifa looked at him.
""S'alright wit me," Barret said as he stretched.
"Me too," Tifa said.
"As with me," Red replied as he too stretched.
"Ok, that's settled then, once you guys are awake we'll pack some supplies, then we'll get the girl ready to travel."
A few minutes later the small group was traveling on foot to the heart of Cosmo Canyon, the injured girl on a stretcher held by Cloud and Barret.
Finally reaching the village a few hours later they were greeted by a guard who wouldn't let them in, but fortunately Red, or Nanaki as his name was, got them in. At the looks from the others he began to explain.
"Here is where I was... I mean, ...this is my hometown. My tribe were protectors of those who appreciate this beautiful canyon and the Planet. My brave mother fought and died here, but my cowardly father left her... I am the last of my race," Red said with his head down slightly.
"Cowardly father?" Cloud asked in confusion.
"Yes. My father was a wastrel. And so the mission I inherited from my ancestors, is to protect this place. My journey ends here," he explained.
"Hey! Nanaki--! You're home!" A voice called from above the village.
"Coming, Grandpa!" Red called back as he pelted up the stairs to the tower on the top of the cliff.
"Good timin'. Let's take a breather. I got stuff I want to find out, too." Barret said as he began to wander around.
"I'll take her to the Clinic," Tifa said as she picked the girl up and moved off.
"Ok, you guys wander around, I'm going to explore on my own. Barret, could you get them to bring the buggy up here? Cait Sith is still in the back," Cloud said as he set off in the direction Red had gone.
Barret nodded as he headed off to get some help.
"I'll go with you," Aerith said as she began to follow Cloud.
"No, I want you to stock up on healing herbs, you're the only one that knows what we need," at the look of disappointment on her face he hugged her. "I'll make it up to you later, I promise," he said as he gently kissed her forehead.
"Ok, but you'd better make it up," she glared at him as he retreated back the way he was going. Hands up as if to ward off her attack, a grin on his face.
Moments later Cloud had reached the summit, Red was waiting for him there.
"I knew you'd come," Red called as Cloud approached him, "follow me."
Cloud followed him into the building which looked a lot like an observatory.
"Cloud, this is my grandfather, Bugen. He is incredible. He knows everything." Red said with awe in his voice.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. I hear that you looked after Nanaki a bit. Nanaki is still a child you see."
"Please stop, grandfather. I'm 48." Red said embarrassed.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. Nanaki's tribe has incredible longevity. So you see his 48 years would only be equivalent to say that of a 15 or 16 years old in human reckoning." Bugenhagen explained.
"15 or 16?" Cloud was surprised.
"He's quiet and very deep. You thought he was an adult?"
"...grandfather. I want to be an adult. I want to grow up to be able to protect you and the village."
"Ho Ho Hoooo. No Nanaki. You can't stand on your own yet. To do that now would destroy you in the long run. Reaching up into the heavens, threatening to snatch the very stars from the great city of Midgar. You've seen it, haven't you? Well, that's a bad example. Looking up too much makes you lose perspective. When it's time for this planet to die, you'll understand that you know absolutely nothing."
"...When the planet dies?" Cloud repeated, shocked at the notion.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. It may be tomorrow, or 100 years from now... But it's not long off."
"How do you know this?" Cloud asked.
"I hear the cries of the Planet." Bugenhagen explained.
"What's that?"
"The sound of the stars in the heavens. While this goes on, planets are born, and die." Bugenhagen said as he looked towards the ceiling.
"What was that?" Cloud said covering his ears at the unexpected sound.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. That was a scream from this planet. Didn't you hear it? As if to say... I hurt, I suffer..."
"They have come here on a journey to save the planet. Why don't you show them your apparatus?" Red said.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. To save the planet? Ho Ho Hoooo! But, then again, I guess it wouldn't hurt to show him."
"Bugenhagen! Several odd looking people have come." A man announced suddenly, disappearing as quickly as he appeared.
"The whole place has gotten busy all of a sudden," Bugenhagen said thoughtfully.
"He brought friends too. I'll go get them. Cloud, please call one of them, although I already know who you're going to call," he said with a wink, "Only three people can fit in grandfather's machine."
"Red, would you please get Aerith? I'd like Tifa to see this as well."
After a few minutes Red returned with Aerith and Tifa.
"Here, over here. The door's unlocked, come on in. Ho Ho Hoooo. It looks like you have them all together. Then let's begin. I'll be standing there." Bugenhagen said.
As the group stood on a platform it rose into the ceiling.
"Hmm, yes pretty good. This is my laboratory. All the workings of space are entered into this 3D Holographic System." Bugenhagen proudly said.
"Look, look! A shooting star!" Tifa exclaimed.
"Isn't it romantic?" Aerith cooed, holding onto Cloud's arm.
They all grew silent as they watched the star progress across the simulated sky, the solar system enveloping them.
After a minute Bugenhagen speaks.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. Yes, it is something, isn't it? Well, let's get to the subject. Eventually... all humans die. What happens to them after they die? The body decomposes, and returns to the Planet. That much everyone knows. What about their consciousness, their hearts and their souls? The soul too returns to the Planet. And not only those of humans, but everything on this Planet. In fact, all living things in the universe, are the same. The spirits that return to the Planet, merge with one another and roam the Planet. They roam, converge, and divide, becoming a swell, called the 'Lifestream'. Lifestream... In other words, a path of energy of the souls roaming the Planet. 'Spirit Energy' is a word that you should never forget. A new life... children are blessed with Spirit energy and are brought into the world. Then, the time comes when they die and once again return to the Planet... Of course there are exceptions, but this is the way of the world. I've digressed, but you'll understand better if you watch this."
As they watch, a vision of what Earth and the Lifestream together would look like appears. Then Bugenhagen explains the Spirit energy, then the Earth shatters as what Bugenhagen was talking about.
"...These are the basics of the Study of Planet Life." He finishes.
"If the Spirit energy is lost, our Planet is destroyed..." Cloud said softly into the silence that followed.
"Ho Ho Hoooo. Spirit energy is efficient BECAUSE it exists within' nature. When Spirit energy is forcefully extracted, and manufactured, it can't accomplish its true purpose."
"You're talking about Mako energy, right?" Cloud asked.
"Everyday Mako reactors suck up Spirit energy, diminishing it. Spirit energy gets compressed in the reactors and processed into Mako energy. All living things are being used up and thrown away. In other words, Mako energy will only destroy the Planet..."
The platform slowly lowers to the floor.
"The story of the planets... and those who lived with them... You want to know more? Then you must listen to the words of the elders." Bugenhagen says as he escorts them out.
After the viewing, everyone was gathered around the Cosmo Candle in the center of the village.
Cloud decides to see what everyone is thinking, so he starts with Barret.
"Hey Barret."
"Cosmo Canyon... This's where AVALANCHE was born... I promised my guys someday... when we saved the planet from the ShinRa, that we'd all go to Cosmo Canyon and celebrate... Biggs... Wedge... Jessie... Now they're all gone... died for the planet. Really? To save the planet? We all... we all hate the ShinRa... Do I even got to go on? Will they... ...will they ever forgive me? ...Right now, I really don't know. But I know one thing. If there's anything I can do, to save the planet... or the people livin' on it... Then I'm gonna do it! I don't care if it's for justice or revenge, or whatever. I don't care...let'em decide for 'emselves. Urrrrrgh! I'm gonna do it! Again... Again... AVALANCHE's born again!"
Cloud leaves Barret to plan the resurrection of AVALANCHE, he decides to talk to Aerith.
"I learned a lot. The elders taught me many things. About the Cetra... And the Promised Land... I'm... alone... I'm all alone now..." She said when he sat next to her.
"But I'm... we're here for you, right?"
"I know. I know, but... I am the only... Cetra." She says with a sigh.
"Does that mean we can't help?"
Seeing that Aerith is lost in thought he decides to talk to Tifa. He gets up and moves to where she sat across from Barret, who was still planning.
"Cloud... Bonfires are funny, aren't they? They make you remember all sorts of things. You know, Cloud. 5 Years ago... ...It's nothing. No, forget it. I'm afraid to ask..."
"What is it?"
"It feels like... it feels like you're going far away... You really, really are... you... right?" She looks at him, he doesn't know how to answer. So she turns her gaze back to the fire.
Cloud moves to talk to Red.
"...Long ago. ...When I was still very small. We were all around this flame... No, never mind..." Red began in an almost dream like state.
"What happened?"
"It's about my parents. When I talk about my mother, I am full of pride and joy... And that's fine. ...But when I remember my father, my heart is full of anger..."
"...You really can't forgive your father...?" Cloud asked.
"Of course. He... left mother for dead. When the Gi tribe attacked, he ran off by himself, leaving mother and the people of the Canyon!"
"...Come, Nanaki. There's something you should see." Bugenhagen said as he appeared from the shadows thrown by the Candle.
When he returned later, they all turned in for the night.
Nanaki was silent as they drove out of Cosmo Canyon towards Nibelheim. He was silent, but the girl they helped was anything but.
She said her name was 'Yuffie the great ninja.' She had woken up shortly after Red had made peace with his father, and before they were preparing to leave. At first she was so grateful that they had saved her that she wanted to join their quest and help them (and herself to their materia). Since then she had been talking non-stop, about everything and anything.
Fortunately, before Barret did anything he'd regret, they arrived at Nibelheim, Cloud and Tifa's hometown.
By the time they arrived it was full blown night, hinting that it must be around 6 or 7.
As they stopped the buggy, Tifa almost fell out of her seat, a similar reaction was seem from Cloud.
" What---! This was all supposed to be burnt down, right?" Tifa asked an equally shocked Cloud.
"...I thought so." Cloud replied.
"Then why...? My house is still here too..." Tifa said as she looked around the town, which showed no signs of having been burned to the ground.
"The hell's goin' on? This a dream or somethin'?" Barret demanded.
"I'm not lying! I remember...the intense heat of the flames..." Cloud trailed off, suddenly doubtful about his own memory.
"Let's go to the Inn, maybe we'll find some answers there," Aerith suggested helpfully, taking Cloud's hand she led the way, a shocked Cloud dragging behind her. The others following at their own pace as they too took in the thought to be destroyed town.
"Welcome to Nibelheim Inn, how may I help you?" The woman behind the counter asked when Aerith approached her, still dragging Cloud.
"We'd like 3 rooms please," Aerith told her.
"Of course, let me get some information from you."
Two minutes later, after Cloud paid, Aerith was leading the small group to their rooms.
"Ok, here's the way its going to work. They don't have any rooms big enough for all of us, so we have to share, 2 in each room. Cloud and I will be in one, Barret and Red in another and Tifa and Yuffie in the third."
"Yay, girl talk!" Yuffie screamed as she headed towards their shared room, Tifa just rolled her eyes as she followed.
"Everyone get some sleep, we head out early tomorrow to find out what happened," Cloud said as he disappeared into the room he shared with Aerith.
Inside their room, Cloud turned to Aerith as she closed the door.
"I'm not sure what happened to this town 5 years ago, but I plan to find out."
"I know," she said as he placed her hand gently on his cheek, his hand moving to cover hers.
"Aerith, I want you to meet me at the water tower after the others go to sleep. I have something I want to tell you."
"Why can't you tell me now, why wait?" She asked.
"I have to get something first, I'll be back once I get it. It shouldn't take too long, but if it does I'll meet you at the water tower." He then kissed her gently before leaving the Inn.
Once outside he quickly surveyed the town, it was exactly the way it was 5 years ago, only one small difference though, everyone they knew back then was gone. He knew that just by looking at the shops and the people in them.
Seeing the shop he wanted he moved in that direction, always keeping in mind the task he had set for himself that evening. Thankfully the shop he wanted was still open.
After the others were asleep, Cloud still hadn't returned. So Aerith decided to go to the water tower. As she strolled through the quiet town, she thought how nice it would be to live there with Cloud.
Approaching the tower she noticed a single figure sitting on the ledge at the top. She smiled as she began climbing to meet her love.
"Cloud," she said slightly out of breath from the climb.
"Hey," was his reply as he helped her to the ledge beside him. In his hands he was turning a small rectangular object.
They sat there for a moment in the silence of the night, the stars shining brightly above, beyond, and all around them.
"I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll try my best. Over the past few months I have gotten to know you better, better than any person I've ever known in my life, even Tifa. As I got to know you I realized that I don't just like you, I love you. But you already know that," he paused, she only smiled as he tried to find the words he wanted. "Aerith, I promised you, back in Costa Del Sol, that after this was all over I'd take you any where you wanted to go, and I will. But I was . I was wondering if there was one place you'd like to go. Wait, let me try that again."
He paused to take a breath and gather his jumbled thoughts that were playing basketball with the butterflies in his stomach.
"Aerith Gainsborough, we've been through hell these past months, and from here I don't see that ending any time soon. I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Aerith," he slowly stands and kneels beside her, taking her left hand in his and removes the ring from the box he'd been holding. "Aerith, would you marry me, and spend the rest of your life with me?"
Aerith stared in shock at the sincere look on his face as he proposed. Slowly her mind formed an answer, and even slower her mouth gave her reply.
"Yes, Cloud, I will marry you," she said as she threw herself at him, causing him to fall back against the water tower. She began kissing him happily before he could even put the ring on her finger.
After several moments of her just kissing him happily, she pulled back to see the tears in his eyes. She smiled as she kissed him one more time before looking at the ring on her finger.
The ring was a simple silver band with the golden image of a flower on it with a small green jewel in the center on the flower.
"The green jewel is actually a materia, it's a very rare fullcure," Cloud explained when Aerith looked at it funny.
"Thank you Cloud, I love you too," she said as she hugged him again.
The next morning, Barret enter Cloud and Aerith's room only to find it empty, neither bed having been slept in.
Rousing Tifa, Barret set out to find their companions.
He and Tifa didn't have far to go when they noticed spiky blond hair sticking up from the top of the water tower. Tifa and Barret grinned at each other as they climbed to the top.
"Good morning," Tifa said as she viewed the couple asleep, curled into each other.
Slowly Aerith raised her head, blinking the sleep from her eyes.
"Tifa? What are you doing here?" she asked as she slightly shifted in Cloud's arms, trying not to break the hold he had on her.
"Well, Barret went to wake you guys this morning and said you didn't sleep in your room. So he woke me and we came to find you."
"We stayed up all night watching the stars," Aerith explained as she tried to wake Cloud. "Guess we fell asleep."
Cloud mumbled something about not shaking him, prompting Aerith to shake even harder.
"Cloud, wake up, we fell asleep on top of the water tower, Tifa and Barret are here to wake us."
Cloud slowly opened one eye, then the other. Slowly he raised his head before letting it fall back to the grating with a dull thump, causing the others to wince. He then turned over and pushed himself up, pulling Aerith to her feet as he stood.
"Well, I'm up now, what do you guys need?" he asked as he put his arm around Aerith protectively.
"Everyone else is awake and ready to move on," Tifa said as she noticed the radiant smile on Aerith's face when she looked at Cloud.
"Ok, Barret, Aerith and I will go to the Mansion for some answers about the town. Tifa, I want you to take the others and explore the town, try to find anyone that we knew."
Cloud and Aerith then started to leave the tower, Barret behind them. Tifa shrugged as she went to organize the others.
"So," Barret began once they were almost to the Mansion, "when are you getting married?"
"How'd you know?" Aerith asked with a laugh.
"Been there once myself, saw the ring," he explained simply.
"We're not sure yet," Cloud said as they entered the main gate of the ShinRa Mansion. "We'll decide that later, right now I want to find out what happened to my town."
After that they entered the Mansion and didn't have very much time to talk, there were tons of monsters. But finally they made it to the basement, key in hand.
"Let's try this door," Aerith said as she pointed to the only door they could see in the darkened hallway.
Taking the key, Cloud opened the door to a room filled with coffins.
"Coffins, I wonder why there are so many." Aerith mused out loud.
"I'm not sure, but do you hear that? It sounds like breathing, I think its coming from ... that one." Cloud said as he pointed to a coffin in the center of the room.
"Aerith, stay back in case it's a trap, Barret and I will check the coffin out."
"Be careful, both of you," she responded as they moved towards the box.
Cloud and Barret slowly surrounded the coffin, Barret quickly throwing the top off and raising his gun arm.
Inside was a man, strangely dressed in a red cape, black pants, pointy boots, long black hair, with a golden claw arm on his left arm, and a glove with the fingers cut off on his right hand.
"Who is it? ...Never seen you before. You must leave." The man said as he sat up from the coffin.
"You were having a nightmare." Cloud explained as Aerith joined him, seeing there was no danger.
"I woke ya up. You outta be thankin' me." Barret said, feeling insulted.
"Hmph... a nightmare...? My long sleep has given me time to atone." The vampyric looking man said.
"What are you saying?" Cloud asked confused.
"I have nothing to say to strangers. Get out. This mansion is the beginning of your nightmare," He demanded and warned.
"...you can say that again.," Cloud said with a sigh.
"Hmm? What do you know?"
"I'm talking about Sephiroth. Like you said, this mansion is the beginning of a nightmare. No, it's not a dream, it's for real. Sephiroth has lost his mind. He found the secrets hidden in this mansion..." Cloud trailed off at the memories of what happened after that.
"Sephiroth? You know Sephiroth? You start first." The stranger demanded.
Cloud begins to tell about Sephiroth finding the library all those years ago, leaving nothing out, not even the town being burned.
"...That's how it was." He finishes.
"So Sephiroth knows he was created five years ago? And about the Jenova Project? ...He was missing, but has just recently reappeared. He has taken many lives and is seeking the Promised Land." The stranger seemed a little shaken by this news, but not much.
"Now it's your turn," Cloud said as he crossed his arms.
"Sorry... I cannot speak," he replied after a moments silence.
"Hey! You lyin' white-faced!" Barret began, getting angry.
"Hearing your stories has added upon me yet another sin. More nightmares shall come to me now, more than I previously had. Now... please leave." He asked laying back down in the coffin closing the lid once again.
Cloud, unsatisfied by the conversation, woke the strange man again.
"...You're still here." He stated rather than asked as he sat up again.
"Who are you? At least tell us your name." Cloud said.
"I was with... the ShinRa Manufacturing Department in Administrative Research, otherwise known as-- the Turks... Vincent." Vincent said slowly.
"The Turks?" Cloud said as he reached for his sword, ready for a fight.
"Formerly of the Turks. I have no affiliation with ShinRa now. ...And you?" he asked once Cloud calmed.
"Cloud, formerly of SOLDIER."
"You were also with ShinRa...? Then do you know Lucrecia?" Vincent seemed to grow hopeful as he asked.
"Who?" Cloud said, admitting his ignorance of the person.
"... Lucrecia. The woman who gave birth to Sephiroth." Vincent said after a long pause.
"...gave birth...? Wasn't Jenova Sephiroth's mother?" Cloud asked, stunned.
"That isn't completely wrong, but just a theory. He was born from a beautiful lady. That lady was Lucrecia. She was an assistant to Professor Gast of the Jenova Project. Beautiful Lucrecia."
"...A human experiment?"
"There was no way to cancel the experiment. I couldn't stop her. That was my sin. I let the one I loved, the one I respected most, face the worst." Vincent said with his eyes downcast.
"That why you started sleepin' in a box? Gimme a break!" Barret said as he began walking to the door.
Vincent lay once again in his coffin and closed the lid, this time Cloud and the others let him have his peace.
"Let me sleep..." was the last thing they heard from Vincent as the door closed behind them.
"This way, I remember the library, we should be able to find some information there," Cloud said as he led the way, sword drawn.
Reaching the library, Cloud went first to make sure that it was clear. When he entered the main research area he turned to the hallway only to find the man they'd been searching for.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud snarled.
"Being here brings back memories. Are you going to participate in the Reunion?" He asked, not seeming to know who Cloud was.
"I don't even know what a Reunion is!"
"Jenova will be at the Reunion. Jenova will join the Reunion becoming a calamity from the skies." Sephiroth continued as though he didn't hear Cloud.
"Jenova, a calamity from the skies? You mean she wasn't an Ancient?" Cloud said in astonishment.
"...I see. I don't think you have the right to participate. I will go North past Mt. Nibel. If you wish to find out... then follow..." Sephiroth said as he levitated from the floor and floated there.
"...Reunion? Calamity from the skies?" Cloud said dumbfounded as he looked at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth looked at Cloud then flew away, leaving a mysterious materia lying at Cloud's feet.
"Was that Sephiroth?" Aerith fearfully asked when Cloud rejoined them in the corridor.
"Yes, he's heading past Mt. Nibel, that's our next destination. We'll spend the night in town again, that way we can study some of these documents." He said as he pointed behind him at the library.
"Let's go, this place creeps me out," Aerith admitted as she clung to Cloud's arm.
Just before they reached the stairway to the Mansion above they heard a voice calling them, turning they saw Vincent approaching.
"Wait! If I go with you, will I meet Hojo?" He asked before he even stopped.
"Dunno. But we're after him and Sephiroth. So, I guess sooner or later..." Cloud trailed off, not certain one way or the other.
"Lucrecia..." Vincent said to himself. "All right. I've decide to go with you."
"W, what?" Barret asked, taking a step back. The pale man in front of him creeping him out.
"Being a former Turk, I may be of help to you..." He explained.
"All right, then." Cloud said as he welcomed Vincent to the team.
"This is Aerith, my fiancé, and this is Barret." Cloud said as he pointed to each in turn. "I'll introduce you to the others when we get back to the Inn."
Returning to the Inn, Cloud explained both Vincent and the meeting with Sephiroth to the others.
"Well," Tifa began as she eyed Vincent, not totally convinced she could trust him. "No one that we knew lives here any more, they either moved after the fire or were killed by the fire. Red and I will go to the library tonight and try to find any thing we can."
"Good, I want everyone to get some sleep tonight, tomorrow we head for Mt. Nibel, and Sephiroth."
TBC . Chapter 5: Mt. Nibel/Rocket Town