Chapter 4
Aerith awoke in the middle of a forest clearing. It took her a moment to force her eyes to focus, and then she quickly looked around her. She found Red XIII and Barret laying next to her unconscious. How had they gotten here? She wondered. She quickly shook Red XIII, awakening him. She then hurried over to Barret, and awoke him as well.
"Where are we?" Red XIII asked, looking around the clearing.
"I don't know, but we should find cover before any Gigases come along." Aerith said.
"Then let's get moving." Barret said.
"First we need to find out our location." Red said.
"We're outside Gongaga." A voice said behind them. They quickly spun, finding the voices owner sitting in a tree.
Aerith stared at him, as he jumped down from the tree. He slowly walked towards the group. He walked up to Aerith, who continued to stare at him in disbelief.
"But..." Aerith began, but was stopped when he pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh." he said. Removing his finger from her lips. He pulled her close to him, embracing her lovingly. She began crying quietly as he held onto her.
"I don't understand." Aerith finally said.
He released her. "I don't understand either." He admitted. "But I'm here to stay."
"Oh Zack!" Aerith cried, falling into him. She wept with tears of joy as they embraced.
"I hate to be a nuisance, but may a request that we continue this reunion another time?" Red XIII said. "I feel that we are still in the open, and rather exposed."
"He's right." Zack said. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you into the town. It's been abandoned, so I'm sure we'll be able to find a temporary shelter there."
"I ain't got any better ideas." Barret said. "Lead the way."
They followed Zack as he lead them through the forest, heading towards the remains of the town that was once Gongaga. Once they reached the town, Zack lead them through the empty streets, and to an old abandoned house. Once inside, he latched the door tightly.
"Looks like the town didn't fare well in the outbreak." Barret noted.
"Actually, it's always looked like this, since the explosion of the MAKO reactor a few years ago." Zack said.
"Oh, sorry." Barret said, embarrassed.
"So, how are you here?" Aerith asked.
"I'm not sure, but it has something to do with Shinra."
"Shinra's dead." Red XIII explained.
"No, they're just in hiding. They've already elected a new leader. They're trying to come up with a way to quell the people's uprising, and get rid of the Gigas threat at the same time."
"But, then where are they?"
"They've taken over Icicle Lodge. They're trying to lure people their so that they can amass a greater army, and use them to defend their new area why they finish preparations for their plan."
"What's their plan?"
"I don't know, but I think we need to stop them."