Cloud was fast asleep, Dreaming of Lightning.
She was just standing there, in the forest. She was wearing the same thing as she did the last time he saw her but it was dirtier. She was crying. He walked to her and said he was sorry, 5 times to be exact. She turned at him and said, "You get what you deserve". Then he looked down. He saw a blade pierce his chest. He looked at Lightning as he felt his life slipping away, and she started walking away.
"NO!" He screamed as he woke up from the horrible nightmare.
He noticed his hand was holding another, a more familiar hand.
"Well you woke up right on time," said the girl.
He didn't recognize her at first, they where both 5 years younger but it was her. It was Aerith.
"Aerith?"
"Wow you still remember me. I thought I was long forgotten after you got the taste of the sweet lips of Lightning."
"How did you…"
"I'm a cetra, I know all that you do."
"Sorry, I thought I was going to move on…"
"Its ok, I still love you but not as much anymore."
"Why? Is it because I didn't save you?"
"No, those feeling still exist but there in someone else."
"Lightning?"
"Yes, but I gave them to her after she started developing feelings for you, I just thought to add to it."
"Ahh…."
Cloud laid back.
"I need to go back…" he said.
"We'll go you there, with her."
"What about Zack?"
"He wants to go with you. And I don't like him anymore."
"Does he know?"
"Yes"
"I'm sorry, really I am, and you'll find someone."
"I know"
"You want to come with us?"
"Me? I don't know…"
"It'll be ok, you may find 'him'"
"Sure, I will."
Cloud looked at his poor hand, it was still crushed but now he can move it slightly.
"You want dinner?" asked Aerith.
"Sure."
They both leave and walk downstairs.
Lightning woke up to see that there was everyone but Tidus and Seifer.
"Where are…"
"They went to get Wakka and Lulu, they'll be back." Said Fang.
"Hope can you leave us girls for a little?" said Vanille.
"Ok" Hope got up, asked Fang to watch the fire for him and left.
"What is it Vanille?" asked Lightning.
"You don't really hate Cloud do you?" said Yuna.
"Squalls going to hurt me, he was going to kill Cloud, I said I hate him so he would run, but I would know where he would be. I acted like I hated him so you guys would play along and Squall would buy it. But I think I made a bad decision."
"Well of course you did, you love the boy and now he's probably trying to get over you." Said Fang.
"Not if he finds the note."
"What note?" said Vanille.
"I put a note in the present I gave him, and it said that I didn't hate him. No matter what"
"Well let's hope that your fail-safe works." Said Fang.
"Lets"
Cloud and Aerith walked down the hall. They saw two figures, and both recognized only one. He was tall, long silver hair; green eyes that had an evil look to them. He carried a long sword behind him. He was wearing a black coat.
The other was… well he was smaller than the silver haired man, short reddish brown hair, same green eyes and a red bladed sword. He was wearing a red coat.
" Sephiroth…" Cloud muttered under his breath.
Sephiroth unlike everyone else they have encountered didn't look younger at all. He looked the same no matter what.
"We are here to talk to the two wearing the SOLDIERs and the Turk." Said Sephiroth.
They left without a word. Sephiroth looked out of it. He would've attacked him by now.
All three where outside in seconds.
"When the war of the beasts brings about the worlds end, the Goddess descends from the sky…" said the red-coated man.
"Give it a rest Genesis." Said Zack.
"Now why don't you have Angeal's 'honor'?" said Genesis.
"I gave it to him, in another life." Zack replied.
"Now one of you knows where the fountain of youth is." Said Sephiroth
"It's not the fountain of youth, it does make you younger but it brings you into another world. It gives you another meaning to life." Said Cloud. "And Shinra can't have it."
"We are not a part of Shinra Blondie, we need to leave this world." Said Genesis "We aren't the monsters, they are."
"So you're joining us? But why?" said Cissnei.
"We are going to go to the other world, but by legend it says that two heroes will go in but come back for their old enemies to set things right and then they will stay in that world. And all four of them can go in and out of each world freely and take anyone they wish." Said Sephiroth.
"You remember…" said Cloud drawing the buster sword.
"I have changed Cloud, I owe you for all I have taken, and now you have the option go back to the world that brought you happiness."
"Is this part of your scheme? Are you going to take over the dimensions and…"
"I SAID I CHANGED. I want to be a hero again, and to do that I must redeem myself."
"What about you Genesis?" said Zack.
"Its my way to get to the gift of the goddess." He replied in a poetic way.
"Fine, but if either of you try something, you'll be in the lifestream quicker than you can say Sorry." Said Cloud.
The next day Zack, Genesis, and Cissnei came back with fuel.
Cloud, Aerith, and Sephiroth got the helicopter ready.
"Where's Cloud?" asked Zack.
"He said he was going to 7th heaven." Said Aerith.
"Back" said Cloud walking behind them.
"Why'd you go?" asked Zack.
He pointed behind him and saw a 15/16-year-old girl running, long black hair flowing behind her.
"It wouldn't be the same without my childhood friend." Said Cloud.
"Is that Sephiroth, and Genesis?" said Tifa.
"Yes they are. They are coming with us."
The instant sound of a large amount of people echoed in the mako enhanced ears of the Ex-SOLDIER's.
"Grunts?" asked Zack.
"About 500 of them." Said Cloud.
"And you think that will be a problem for three Ex-SOLDIER first classes, the only one that has beaten Sephiroth, a Turk, an Ancient, and a random girl…" said Genesis.
Cloud's Pov
Actually it was a little hard, for me at least. I was still getting used to the weight of the buster sword. And I couldn't think like I used to.
I was still 16. That was one of the worst year of my life and yet it was always on my mind. I couldn't focus fighting.
It was all over. I did miserably, even Aerith killed more than me. Like it was a contest, but in SOLDIER I guess it was harmless fun.
We just finished up loading the helicopter. I just got on and went as far back as possible. Zack and Cissnei piloted. Aerith and Tifa where chatting. Genesis was reciting loveless and Sephiroth lost it and tried prying the loveless booklet out of his hands but to no prevail. Genesis was VARY protective over his loveless. I just sat there; rereading the note Lightning left me. Over and over and over.
Then the light was blocked by two figures that I didn't want to see right now.
"So was Lightning a better kisser than I am?" asked Tifa. I did not want to answer.
"So who doesn't know?" I said with a great amount of anger In my voice.
"You and Cloud kissed?" asked Aerith. Great I was in the middle (both literally and figuratively) of their gossip.
"Well I did, just in a friend kind of gesture when we made that promise I don't even remember how long ago." Said Tifa. Help me maker.
"So witch one of us three are better, me, Tifa, or Lightning?" asked Aerith. This day is not going to get better.
I looked in Zack's direction and he looked like he felt sorry for me and it was funny as hell.
"Ok so Tifa, you rush it, Aerith you try but it lacks meaning, when it's with her it feels like I belong with her. No offense you two." Well let's hope that settles down. But it probably won't work.
It didn't. I got two bitch slaps today, and two kisses on the cheek where they slapped me. I wasn't fun.
Lightning Pov
Hope came back and started to talk (and make out) with Vanille, Fang watching in the distance, Yuna playing with her hair, and I was just sitting there alone, jealous of Vanille.
I couldn't take the loneliness. I got up, grabbed my sword and asked Yuna to come with me. We walked to the top of the mountain. Maybe I'll find Cloud.
I was wrong. I saw Clouds cloths he last wore. I ran to them and looked all through them. I couldn't find the book; actually I found an old piece of paper. Vary old; it felt like it would crumble in my hand.
I opened it. I read
Cloud has gone back to his own world. If his feelings for you are strong enough he will come back to you, his same age. If he fails he will go back to his original state, and will never see you again. All you can do is hope, Lightning.
What did this mean? His original state, his same age, who wrote this? All these questions where hurting my head, Yuna standing behind me wondering what was happening.
I regained control.
"I'll be ok Yuna" I said.
"Ok, I got to go back to camp, see ya." Add much.
I picked up his cloths, and hid them in my pack. What's wrong about holding (and treasuring) my Boyfriends cloths until he gets back?
End.
Next chapter will be the challenge. Oh and check out my new Zack Cissnei fanfic called Red hair and Emerald Eyes….
