FINAL FANTASY VII

THE CHANGE OF TIME

Chapter 10

After the incident at the city of temple, Tifa and the others were forced to take an unconciouss Cloud to Gongogga, while Aeris was missing. Zack was pacing at the very edge of town right now. He was not entirely certain he wanted to see his

mother again just yet. His father was currently walking towards him with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Your back early i think." Mr.Fair said as a small smile spread over his face.

"Some stuff came up, old friends mostly, and a dangerous enemy." Zack said as he returned the smile.

Mr.Fair chuckled as he said "That girl must be very nice, you are much more cheeful looking than when you left. But i feel you are concerned, why?"

"Aeris is missing, we don't know where she is." Zack said as a frown came over his face.

Mr.Fair nodded for a time as a knowing, almost sad look entered his eyes. "Their are hard times ahead of you son, very hard times. But i think your friends will get you through it."

"Huh?" Zack asked, not sure what his father meant.

"Lets talk about something else." Mr.Fair said with a dismissive wave.

Zack looked confuse as he said "Uh, ok. Hows mom?"

"Still upset, she heard me explenation for your leaving last week, but i don't think she believes it at all." Mr.Fair said, then he said "But i can beleive it." This last bit was little more than a whisper. He chuckled as he walked away leaving a rather confused Zack behind.

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Cloud looked around the forest he was in. It was bright, the trees held a mysterious glow to it. He kept looking around trying to figure out where exactly here was.

"Cloud?" Aeris's familiar voice said as the last Cetra stepped from behind a tree.

"Aeris!" Cloud exclaimed as he tried to move toward her, but he couldn't move no matter how fast he ran.

Aeris giggled as she leapt behind the tree, and came from behind another one from the other direction. "I am going to stop Sephiroth." She announced.

"Stop him, how?" Cloud asked, completely mystified.

"As the last of the Cetra i'm the only one who can. Wait for me, ok?" She said happily, theen set off down the path away from him.

"No Aeris wait!!" Cloud cried as he tried to pursue, but no matter how fast he ran he got no closer, made no progress until finally she vanished from sight.

Then Cloud heard it, a chuckle. His blood froze as he realized what that chuckle meant.

f-Sephiroth lowered from the sky with a smirk on his face as he said "The city of the ancients eh? She could be a problem, we'll have to deal with her."

"Stay away from her!" Cloud snarled reaching for his blade, which to his horror he found missing.

Sephiroth tilted his head as he said "Don't worry, we can handle it." Then Cloud woke up.

"Oh Cloud, your awake." Tifa said happily.

Cloud shook his head as he thought about the dream, but he quickly decided it had been no dream. "How long was i out?" He asked somewhat worried.

"Three days." Barret said from his spot leaning against the door frame.

Cloud looked down. "I know where Aeris is, but Sephiroth knows too." He said.

"Aright! Then what we sittin round here for? Lets go!" Barret said loudly.

"Go without me." Cloud said simply.

Barret's jaw dropped while Tifa asked "Cloud, whats wrong?"

"Remember when we were going to the Golden saucer, he took control of me and i became him. Again at the temple, he made me give him the Black Materia. I can't be trusted." Cloud said miserably, not looking to his comrades faces. He

knew he would only see dissapointment there, and accusation.

What he heard was neither of those however, it was anger. "You coward." Barret growled.

"What?" Cloud asked in suprise as he looked up.

"Yer just scared! You need to stop blamin yerself for things, if you mess up you mess up. So what!? If i have to i'll just beat some sense into you!! So get off yer spiky ass and get movin!!" Barret shouted angrily catching both Cloud and Tifa

off guard.

"But i" Cloud began, but was interrupted.

"You mess up you mess up, we'll be there to clean up after you so don't worry, now lets go." Barret said as he walked out.

"Right." Cloud said slowly as he stood up. He grabbed the Buster sword and slung it over his back and left the room.

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Aeris wandered slowly into the Forgotten City with a wonderous look on her face. It was so beautiful. The trees were white, and they glowed with a gentle light bathing the whole place in a genlte luminescence. But as she walked a shadow

stalked her. f-Sephiroth smirked sinisterly as he stalked her, for he was ready.