Chapter 4
_ _ _ _ =A minor page break just to show that the next event takes place in that dimension/world but somewhere else in that world.
The day lingered on and the heat from the sun set the earth ablaze. Cloud wiped away the sweat pooling underneath his golden locks with his leather glove as the group of friends stood outside and waited patiently for Rinoa. Zack tugged at his collar to allow heat to escape. They wished that they hadn't worn these black clothes: it stuck onto them like an extra layer or skin. All four waited silently, their moods beginning to turn into tempers as they held back their complaints of the heat. Cloud took off his gloves, realizing how miserably hot it really is, and flexed his hands again, his sweaty palms cooling off momentarily before being seared by the sun. It was just so hot. Finally, Rinoa came out. From inside, it had been muggy and hot inside as well, since the air conditioner no longer worked. Her pale skin turned red as the sun beat down. Cloud felt the need to rip off his clothing for the heat was unbearable, and Zack could notice by his slight fidgeting. Aeris's cheeks were flushed and she shaded her eyes with her hand so she could see the sorceress walking towards them.
Then, Aeris had a wonderful idea.
"Why don't we go swimming?"
They looked at her in confusion," Now?"
"But Rinoa is supposed to be leaving."
Aeris answered them cooly, trying to persuade them with her logic.
"Well... wouldn't it help her if it wasn't so hot? And.. When we came here, we landed in this huge lake and all... I'm not sure but it might help if we were there."
Aeris knew that she was just making up these facts, but the grouped suddenly began to see her way of thinking. That or they just wanted to swim. Rinoa then spoke, eager to swim,"Yeah...that'd...work," She couldn't focus on anything and needed to cool off. Aeris pointed over the cliff.
"It's up there."
A girl poked up from behind Rinoa.
"Aaaaall the way up there?!"
The whining girl then took off her scarf and began to imitate a person fanning themselves.
"That's so far away..."
They turned around to find a normal Yuffie and she waved at them.
"How about we just climb up the place?" She placed her foot on a rock.
"It looks climbable."
Cloud hissed at the girl, his patience running thin."That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Let's waste our time trying to climb up, work hard and possibly fall and die."
Zack murmurred to himself," At least we wouldn't have to be out here..."
Tifa finally stepped in.
"What Cloud means is that we should find a different way."
Aeris tried to jump in but she was interrupted by the arguing.
Yuffie stomped her foot on the floor.
"Cloud you jackass. I show up to help you guys and this is what I get? If I didn't show up you'd be a group full of mindless zombies."
Cloud walked closer to Yuffie, confronting the girl. He clenched his fist and she cracked her knuckles. Their faces were incredibly close, Cloud wearing a snarl and Yuffie clenched her teeth. Zack noticed that Aeris had something to say.
"Would you two just kiss and make up? I think someone has something to say."
Tifa then skeptically spoke," What? Like you and Cloud last night?"
She still couldn't get the the thoughts of Cloud and Zack having an affair out of her head. Zack blushed a bit in response.
"Ah hah! I knew it! At first I didn't think it'd be but....I knew it." Tifa was on the verge of insanity. She remembered Cloud and Aeris getting comfortable with each other, but she shrugged it off since it was Cloud thinking he was Zack, but, this situation was different since, this time, it IS Zack. Rinoa had remained silent, horrified by the group whom were silent a few minutes ago, and now transformed into evil beasts with the intention of ripping each other's head off. Rinoa let out a heavy sight, the heat not helping her situation.
Aeris finally spoke," Or...we can just walk up there. That's how Rinoa and I came down."
The group then settled down, realizing how foolish it was and aggreed to let Aeris lead.
Rinoa followed them quietly, remembering of the time she had used this to allow them to defeat Ultimecia. They walked up the hill, the gravity pushing against them acused Yuffie to grow tired and so she sluggishly walked up, and then jumping on Cloud's shoulder. He grunted at the extra weight, keeping himself contained and bore with the diminutive ninja cheering on his shoulder and slapping his back to make him go faster. Rinoa smiled, she was glad that they had finally settled down.
Aeris asked Rinoa curiously," So what's that thing like?"
"Thing?"
"Time... something." Aeris couldn't think of the full name but she had the general idea.
"Well...basically. I reshape the universe."
Aeris was surprised," That's a pretty powerful spell, hu?. When you do cast it, how would you reshape it?"
"I'm planning on putting everything back to normal." Rinoa spoke with her intentions pure.
Cloud suddenly had an idea, although it was un-Cloud-like.
"Remove Sephiroth."
They all laughed jokingly, but Cloud was serious though he didn't look so serious with a small girl yelling 'Giddy up Horsey!' on his back. He frowned and then continued to walk, shutting his mouth.
They finally reached the spot and Yuffie jumped in. She was already in the water as her clothes gently floated to the earth. Everyone then followed her lead, undressed and got in.
________________________
Squall woke up, realizing that he was no longer under the warm sheets in the cowboy's room. He looked around, and the first thing that came to mind was the fact that he wasn't inside a building. Droplets of rain descended from the sky and he got up to explore this area. The light drizzle landed on his leathery coat and caught on the white fur. It pooled up at the end of each strand and connected the small bits of fur into a larger strand before the droplets trickled down the black leather, leaving a track. Squall then realized he wasn't even in Balamb Garden any longer. He knew that the facilities seemed familiar, but he then saw the sign reading "Galbadia Garden."
"When did I get here..."
Squall wondered how someone had managed to move him, while he was sleeping and carry him all the way here. There wasn't a likely suspect nor a rational reason.
_ _ _ _
The cowboy woke up to find that his sheets had ruffled as if someone was sleeping there. he slowly got up, in hope of being able to watch the lion sleep calmly. He was disappointed to find Squall not there.
_ _ _ _
Yuffie squealed as a wave of water collided with her small body. The force sent her moving back with the wave. Cloud could feel his skin burning. He refused to participate in these childish acts. He didn't know why, but he just suddenly felt a hatred towards the laughing and found it more annoying that they kept on beckoning him over. He folded his arms and crossed his legs, pouting as he waited for his friends to finish.
"Cloud! Come join us!"
Zack called him over. He had been messing around with Yuffie before he saw the grumbling blond sitting in the sun in his black clothing.
Cloud responded with a grunt and hardened his expression. Yuffie had disappeared for a moment underneath the water and reappeared at the top holding a large shell.
"Hey guys, Look what I found!" She held the large shell over her head, and the water spilt on her and she grumbled in reaction before letting it drop. They laughed at her, and suddenly, Zack had a wonderful idea. He grabbed the shell and scooped up plenty of water. He came on land and snuck up behind the blond and dumped it on water wouldn't have been considered chilling, but it was at enough of a temperature to imitate ice-cold water on the sizzling skin of the blond. Cloud shrieked, his voice filled with panic, alarm and ...pleasure? He glared daggers at the amused spectators and finally... livened up. He ripped off his clothing and jumped in, relentlessly sending waves of water at the terrified people. He sent his fist through the water again and it imitated a tiny explosion.
The rest of the time they spent in the water continued this way, until it was late in the day and the sun was beginning to set. Cloud floated on his back and let his body drift. He noticed the sky being drained of its azure tone, only to be replaced by a dimly radiant rosey-orangish color. The clouds began to fade and Zack floated by him, their bodies colliding. He whispered into Cloud's ear.
"Wish we could stay like this forever."
Cloud closed his eyes, his way of saying 'I agree.'
Just then, the group of friends was already on land, dressing when Aeris yelled out at the two boys. Zack grabbed onto Cloud's arm and began to swam, grinning as the blond fumbled to get into an upright position. Finally, they reached land and Zack wrapped his right arm around Cloud's neck. He allowed himself to be pulled at first by the force, but then he maintained his posture and began walking in time of the footsteps of his best friend.
They finished dressing and then the gang realized that Rinoa had gone missing.
_ _ _ _
"Excuse me..." The sorceress asked politely as she wondered why the silver haired man had taken her to the edge of the cliff.
"Do you believe, in love at first sight?" His eyes gleamed with a silvery touch as the background of the sunset made Rinoa feel like she was going to melt in his presence. She knew that the line was cheesy, but to her, it felt like he had just turned it into fondue. Rinoa remained speechless at the image before her. Usually it was her role to be the bold one. This was a change.
Sephiroth took more footsteps, inching closer and closer to the sorceress. He tilted her chin and then kissed her. His unexpected victim allowed him to take control of the situation. After the few seconds of complete fantasy had passed, he disappeared and Rinoa was left on that hill, her head still tilted towards the sky.
_ _ _ _
The group had been searching for her for a few minutes now. Cloud then noticed the presence of Sephiroth, but the feeling died away in an instant. He looked in the direction it had been to find Rinoa sitting on the cliff, hugging her leg. He shouted out and the rest of the group found her.
"Rinoa!"
They all rushed up until they were directly below her. She waved at them.
"It's all right! I'll be fine. I think it's time that I start the spell."
They were relieved and filled with anticipation as she began to go into the usual trance. Her blouse had been stirred up by the rushing of the air and then in a moment, Rinoa Heartily had disappeared completely without a trace.
"I wonder where she went.."
_ _ _ _
Rinoa appeared in the dark room, the claimed center of the universe. She then began casting several incantations to fix the universe the way she had planned. The certain areas began to morph...
_ _ _ _
Squall took another step and then looked at the sky.
"That star....is falling?"
He then noticed a black void appear from where that star should have been. Unending numbers of small black creatures poured out, consuming everything in their way. Several largers ones appeared, crushing everything in their paths.
_ _ _ _
"Rinoa...allow the heartless to take over..." She had been following the instructions of a mesmerizing voice in her head. Her thoughts and memories flashed in her head. Squall, Quistis, Irvine,Zell,Seifer,Edea,Cid,Balamb Garden, Ultimecia. She shook her head once, her will forcing her to pull Squall away.
_ _ _ _
Squall took out his gunblade, hacking away at the weak little creatures, just then he disappeared as if he had never existed. All traces of him were wiped.
Rinoa fought the urge to control this. She pulled Selphie and Seifer, her two friends whom she could remember clearly and pulled her off onto another world.
Cloud, Tifa, Aeris, Yuffie, and Zack could see their bodies slowly fading.
"Wh-What's happening?!"
Tifa reached out for her friends," Guys! Don't go!"
They panicked. Yuffie tried to move but she couldn't; her legs had been trapped in the dark void below them.
"We're gonna die!"
Zack remained calm among the panicking.
"Stay calm! This must be part of that Time Compression. I'm sure Rinoa has plans for us. Let's just hope it all works out.
They suddenly took in the rational and calmed themselves, saying their goodbyes.
Tifa spoke.
"Aeris... I'm sorry for ever feeling jealous about you and Cloud... and Zack. I'm sorry for thinking that you and Cloud had an affair.."
Aeris spoke up, feeling the sentimentality of the situation.
"I'm sorry... if I knew that Cloud had such feelings for you... I wouldn't have ever take him away from you."
Yuffie interrupted," I know I may be annoying sometimes, but it's how I show I care for you guys!"
"We know Yuffie."
The ninja backed down and began crying, doubting that this won't be the last time they see each other.
"Hey, where's Cloud?"
They looked around to find the blond gone.
Zack then made one final confession.
"Tifa...don't be sorry...I love him." his voice growing soft as he reinforced his last three words.
With those final words said, the world went black as a swarm of ant-like shadows appeared and consumed the world as the sunset died, and nightfall took place.
End? NOT!
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Squall's senses took back in effect, his guard immediate put up.
He opened his eys to the sound of seagulls squawking. He searched the ocean for signs of life but could not find anything, except seagulls in the air and...a blob in the distance? He swam rapidly, hoping that it was someone, or something alive in this desolate place.
Squall finally reached the blob, to find that it was a male. He studied the figure, unonscious, mouth opened, chest heaving slowly,and blond spiky hair that seemed to remain gravity defiant in spite of it's drenched state. Squall wrapped his arm around his waist and swam to mainland, his thoughts flowing as he focused on his task. He finally reached shore and sat on the silky white sand. He thought about the creatures and his home, how they just poured non-stop, destroying everything in his path. He couldn't hear it clearly, but he could remember hearing the shrieks and cries followed by the dying of the voice and the sound of bodies being ripped. He couldn't recall everything, but he had it imprinted in his head.
Leon began to disappear. Irvine, Selphie, Seifer, Zell, and Quistis fended off the creatures. They saw him fading and shouted for his name as a heartless attacked him, but went through his body.
That was all he could remember.
He thought to himself silently," How could I let them down...? What kind of leader am I? I don't have the right... I vowed to protect them.. and in the end I was the one being protected. Why did I fade...was I too weak? Was I unable to resist and in the end succumb...-"
His train of thoughts was being disturbed by the shuffling blond. A few moments later, water leaked out of Cloud's mouth as he entered a coughing fit. He got into a sitting position before slowly balancing himself out. He felt incredibly dizzy, like someone had just spun him around on a computer chair for hours. He then noticed his savior.
He kept his greeting passively aggressive.
"Who are you?"
Squall then shifted his attention from the horizon to the conscious blond. He gave him a blank stare before saying something.
"Sq....-" Leon thought to himself again.
No, Squall was a man worthy of honor. A man who could protect those close to him...A man...
"Leon." Maybe I could be known as part of my last name...
Leon studied the blond. His spiky hair slightly less drenched, and the sand began to hug onto his...baggy clothing.
"My name is Cloud."
The blond got up and then walked away, feeling accomplished. He found that it suited the situation well, his savior learned his name. Leon remained seated, not caring whether the stranger left or not. Cloud then realized what he was wearing. It was his cadet uniform when he was still a cadet in Soldier. He tugged at the cumbersome face guard resting on his neck, the heat pooling up on his chest and back. The sun beat down relentlessly on the heavily clothed blond. Leon noticed the blond fidgeting, his back had been colored a deeper shade, obviously from the sweat. He got up and decided to follow the blond. He didn't know why he felt attatched to Cloud, it was just an intuition of his own. He felt a sense of trust in the man, although he doubt that the man could trust a worthless Seed as himself; Leon kept his hopes high in spite of the self-loathing he had begun to take upon himself.
_ _ _ _
The ninja girl found that she was underneath the water and swam to the top, spitting out the water that she had swallowed in a fountain-like manner before coughing.
"Waaaah. Where am I?"
Yuffie couldn't remember clearly; the water had gotten in her ears. She began swimming hastily to the shore before finding that Aeris and Tifa sat on the beach, close to one another and talking about what had just happened. Yuffie waved at them and they greeted her with a tight hug. She then got out and hit the sides of her head a few times so the water lodged inside her brain came out.
"So...where are we?"
"I'm not sure... I can't seem to find Rinoa after this..."
"I cannot find Zack as well."
Tifa remembered what Zack had said...the confession of love he had made for Cloud, though Cloud was not there to witness it.
"......"
"Tifa? You seem caught up in something."
Tifa shook her head and got up.
"Well, sitting around her waiting for someone to save us won't get us anywhere! Let's search this island!"
_ _ _ _
Cloud and Leon walked inwards towards more land, finding a small path in the forest that lead to an abandoned town. The town looked as if it had been ravaged, pillaged and then left in a hurry. Some things were still in tact. Like alit up neon sign or a car. They searched the town, discovering that it had the basics of technology, but not a whole lot.
"We could...Live here."
Leon spoke uncertainly.
Cloud agreed surpisingly, slightly enjoying the silent company of the other man.
"We could... while we figure out a way off this...place."
He had no word to describe where they were, whether it was an island, place, town, city, planet, or even universe.
He picked up an old rusty cog and examined for a moment before dropping it and dusting off his brown leather gloves.
The two men continued to wander, finding a house that had remained unharmed by whatever took place here. They opened the door and a startled, old wizard surprisingly dropped his potion and it exploded. He coughed once before waving at his visitors as if he were expecting them.
"Welcome!"
They looked at him doubtfully.
"Well don't just stand there, Leon, Cloud. Come in!"
Okay, this was weird. He also knew their names.
"I've heard from Rinoa recently that you two would be coming and so I had already prepared this house for you two."
They remained silent.
"Ah, just as she described, silent but grateful. Well, these old bones don't have to work at all. That's the beauty of magic."
They watched as several brooms and dust pans swept the floor, while towels danced in circular motions around the glass-ware and counter tops.
"I was told to help the two of you start a Restoration Commitee, dedicated to help repair this old run-down town of Hollow Bastion."
At first the idea was very unappealing, but where else would they go. Leon had trust in this man; he after all were in good terms with Rinoa. A thought then came to mind.
"Where is Rinoa."
Merlin shook his head.
"Unfortunately...I haven't heard from her since. She stopped by one day and handed me a letter to give you. She explained the situation and I knew right away what to do. So, here you are. Your rooms are upstairs so I hope you make yourselves at home."
They obliged, Leon taking the letter and opening it, anxiously waiting to read it.
It read:
Dear Squall,
I'm sorry I've been gone so long. I just had to pursue my dreams, literally. There I met with Cloud and his friends. They were very nice to me and I hope for you to be as well to them. I love you Squall, so, so much.I still remember the day you graduated to Seed status. Don't let brooding take over your personality. I know it's hard for you to not let it, but fight it, Squall. You're a fighter and we all know that. Also, I hope you learn to lighten up a bit and start being more friendly, if not for your own satisfaction then for mine. I know, this will probably be the only thing you'll have left of me, besides your memories. If you ever lose sight of me, read this. Tell Cloud I said Hi. Wish me luck!
Forever yours, Rinoa.