. R O A D . T O . D A M A S C U S .
. S A G A . T W O : T H E . J O U R N E Y .
Chapter Eleven: Angels
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psalm 91:11, the Holy Bible
Cloud was glad that Avalanche decided to leave her alone to her misery. After a while, she was able to calm down and regain her composure, having decided to ease her mind by studying the mural on the walls.
The Avalanchers had scattered around the room to study the walls as well, trying to make sense of the images, though they had learned it was simply history of the Cetra, about how they had found the Planet and moved in, inhabiting the lands. Then the history changed when they found images of where the Cetra started to die out, by an illness that arrived with a meteor that crashed long time ago. According to the mural the illness was contiguous, going from body to body, one by one, but they had no idea how to contain it.
Aeris had soon found the mural stating a woman came down from the mountain, she had come to their city in the Promised Land and she was saddened at the sight of dead bodies around, and found a sole survivor, only to have the illness catch her making her was the last known person to carry the illness. Her name wasn't stated on the wall, however her description was, she was tall, willowy with pale skin and brilliant blue eyes that shone like gems, and her hair was long and golden. The mural stated that she wasn't of the Cetra but it called her 'Daughter of Gaia'.
That was when a few of the Avalanche members realized what she was, a Valkyrie. No one was brave enough to ask Cloud if it was true or not until Vincent voiced the question, "Cloud, is this 'Daughter of Gaia' Jenova?"
Cloud stared at the taller man, "Why would you think I know the answer?"
"You're the only one here who knows more about the Valkyrie, I may have not seen the Tome, but they told me about it. It was your book, and it was about the Valkyrie."
Cloud closed her eyes and nodded, "True, true. I have to agree, yes, it was Jenova. However, the tome said something about her that the murals here didn't." She looked around the room, glancing at the walls; it was all making sense except for one last part near the altar.
She went to the last part of the mural and studied while she explained, "Jenova, the daughter of Megamiki, who was the daughter of Gaia came out of the mountain alone. There was several Valkyries that came out to find out what was happening to the Cetra, but they did not return. Jenova left to investigate. Also, the other reason for a Valkyrie to leave the mountain is to find her mate and get pregnant to reproduce to carry on their legacy." She placed her hand on the wall and continued.
"She did find a man, her mate, a Cetra. She did become pregnant but at the time, there was a bloody masscare going on at the Ancient City, the home of the Cetra. She went there to see. It was a horrible bloody battleground. The Cetra was pitted against each other, killing each other off, it was not their intention, the illness, the Calamity of the Sky that came before, wounding the planet."
She turned around and met the Avalanchers' gaze. "There was no survivor left except for one, a woman. She went to help her and ask her what had happened. Upon contact, the illness, the virus invaded her body. The survivor died instantly.
Jenova did not know of this. The virus bided it's time, waiting for her to return to the Mountain. It couldn't survive in the body of the Cetra because they weren't strong enough, but a body of a Valkyrie, they could and it was a perfect host for them. So, Jenova returned to the mountain, her home. However, upon reaching her home, the virus took her over and Jenova lost control of her mind and body, her soul went to the only place, the child within her womb.
The other Valkyries knew what was going on and feared of her arrival. They decided to kill her, so the Sons of Valkyries waited for her and when Jenova entered the mountain, she was ambushed, her own brother, Alexander the Judge chopped her head off. They were surprised to find she was also pregnant and they took the baby out before it died with the body. The baby was untouched by the illness.
The Valkyries left the mountain, scattered all over the world. They took the head north, to the frozen wasteland and abandoned it. The head housed the virus while the body didn't. They also took the body and hid it elsewhere, far, far away. The Valkyries never returned to the mountain, except for one." She finished the tale, bowing her head.
"Who was the one?" Tifa asked, afraid she knew the answer.
Cloud looked up to her, "Sorano." She said and everyone gasped, they were familiar with her name, only knowing she was the girlfriend of Sephiroth in the past.
"So, she's dead. What's gonna happen?" Barret asked gruffly.
"Yeah. I am not sure." She hated to lie, but there was no way she would tell them the truth right now. They weren't ready, not Tifa. "There are very, very few left of the Valkyries in the world."
Aeris frowned at 'him' remembering at Burgenhagen that there was only three left, one was fading away. She had understood one belonged to Sephiroth and the two others must had been females and they weren't dead yet. It didn't make any senses but she did not voice her question but asked instead, "So, my father, Dr. Gast found Jenova's head?"
Cloud turned to the Cetra, "Yes, unfortunately. Now, this Jenova is loose. It want power, revenge and to become stronger."
"So that is why Sephiroth wanted to destroy the Planet, to use the Spirit Energy." Tifa concluded.
"Yes. How he can do that, I'm not so sure." Cloud turned back to the mural. Her shoulder then started to shake; the others watched 'him' with concern and confusion. "Ha, ha, ha. I get it now… the Black Materia… I was right the whole time." She chuckled and turned back to the rest. "It's here. Sephiroth couldn't get to it." She saw their confused looks, "The Black Materia, a powerful Materia, it's called the Meteor." She gestured to the mural. "It can call upon a meteor from space, summoning it to destroy the Planet."
"No…" Aeris whispered then gasped as she watched Cloud started to convulse and stepped to help 'him' but was thrown back by a strong force that burst from 'him'.
Everyone stumbled back, nearly falling as the force burst though the room, and Cloud fell to her knees and started to rock. A double version of Cloud rose out of her body, transparent. It hovered there briefly and suddenly disappeared for a few seconds before reappearing again. It stood up as Cloud's body fell to the floor, motionless.
The spirit of Cloud opened her eyes, her features started to change into brilliant light, blinding everyone. It took on the appearance of a beautiful woman, her hair long and flowing, she wore a white simple gown of an ancient style. She whispered, "I am Seraphim." Then she disappeared back into Cloud's body.
Everyone blinked as the light faded; they had not seen the woman, or heard her. Tifa and Aeris ran to Cloud and helped 'him' up.
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Elsewhere in Midgar, Zack collapsed to the ground, shaking in violent seizure, he moaned, "No! No…" He was alone however; there was no one who could help him.
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Sephiroth stood before Cloud in the cold cave of his prison; he had managed to snatch Cloud's soul away from her body as Jenova had done to his.
"Cloud, do you know who you are?" He asked, touching her face, knowing they would have only the briefest of moments together; he had to force the awakening in her, a stage all Valkyries goes through once they reach their age.
Cloud nodded as she understood, everything came to her suddenly, all the genetic memory awoke in her, how, she has no idea but she knew who she was, what her destiny was. "Yes koibito, I am Seraphim."
Sephiroth smiled, gathering her into his arms as he looked down into her face, memorizing every plane of her feature, "Yes, you are Seraphim and I am Seraph, and do not ever let anyone change or manipulate you, ever. Fight, fight for me."
Ghostly tears escaped from her eyes, "Always." And she disappeared from his arms, leaving a tear behind, turning into ice as it fell into his hands. He smiled, closing his hands over the crystal.
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Cloud's eyes blinked over to find Aeris and Tifa by her side, worrying over her. She pushed herself from the ground, "How should I?" She stood up, but as she moved her arms, she felt a detached feeling.
Aeris clutched her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle a small scream. Cloud's body was moving and Cloud's soul was partly attached to it, moving in and out, not quite in sync.
"I remember, I remember who I am and who I will be." Cloud murmured to herself.
Aeris gasped as Cloud turned to her, "Cloud?"
"Mm, what's wrong? Is there something wrong?" The blonde asked unaware of her own situation, though she felt odd.
Aeris shook her head, "It's nothing. So don't worry about it." She turned to Tifa who was very pale, "Right, Tifa? There's nothing wrong?" Tifa only nodded.
"Sephiroth got away."
Cloud looked around, her eyes shifting colors from brilliant blue to pale blue. "Don't worry about it." She repeated, "I understood what he was saying." Her eyes looked to the mural, "So this is Meteor."
"Is it going to fall from the sky?" Tifa asked as the others looked on.
"This must be it, just as Sephiroth said." Aeris placed her hand on the mural, tracing the worn picture. "The ultimate destructive magic, Meteor. It finds small drifting planets with its magic." She turned to Cloud, "And then collides with them. This Planet might get wiped out… entirely."
Cloud shook her head experimentally and realized she was feeling normal, no more odd feelings and sighed, "Something like that, but rather the opposite, Black Materia calls the Meteor from the space, drawing it to the Planet where it is called upon. It doesn't matter how near or far the Meteor is, it just calls it, whatever happens to be the closest. You may get lucky if it is a small one." Then she looked away, "But we are not."
Tifa frowned, "You know something, don't you? You always seem to know something." She accused lightly.
Cloud gave her a half grin, "I can't help it. There's a big comet, a huge one that is bound to pass through the path of the Planet in less than a year, the Black Materia will draw it. That's what he wanted."
The room plunged into darkness and started to shake violently. Cloud, with her night-vision of Mako eyes looked about, "Sephiroth?" She called out.
His voice came from nowhere, "Ha, ha, close, but wrong." The Dark Sephiroth laughed and then the room became silent once again.
Yuffie screamed and everyone turned to her, flashing their flash-lights upon her to see what she was screaming about. Looming over them was a large red dragon that let loose a roar at them.
Everyone assumed battle positions except Yuffie and fought against the dragon. The dragon was difficult and everyone gave all they had, even some had to use their limit breaks. Soon as the dragon was defeated, a red Materia tumbled from somewhere unseen on its body.
"Any sign of him?" Cloud asked, clutching her arm, which had been cut during the battle and was bleeding badly. She ignored the pain and checked out the rest of Avalanche, they appeared fine but somewhat worse for wear. She could sense Sephiroth nearby.
Aeris was already at work to heal a few wounded team members, "He disappeared again."
Yuffie limped over to the red Materia and picked it up, "It's a summon one, Bahamut." She turned and handed it over to Barret who added it to the pack with the rest of the collection, to use later.
Cloud winced as the healing magic washed over her, healing her arm. "Thanks, Aeris."
The altar caught their attention; there was a tiny model of the Temple floating over it.
"What's this?" the blond fighter asked, peering closer.
Aeris leaned closer beside 'him', "There's something written on it." She jerked back in surprise, "Black Materia."
"There it is." Cloud furrowed her brows together, considering how to get to it.
"Cloud, what should we do?" Aeris asked, glancing to her side to Cloud.
"Take it." She replied.
"Wait! The Temple itself is the Black Materia."
"What's da mean?" Barret asked as he rotated his gun arm.
Aeris turned to the others, "The whole building is the Black Materia, and no one could take it. This model of the Temple, there's a device inside, which gets smaller each time you solve the puzzle, as the model become smaller, you become smaller too, until it is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand."
Cloud rubbed her cheek, "So, if we solve the puzzles, the Black Materia will get smaller and smaller and we can take it out?"
Aeris turned to 'him', "Yes but there's one thing… you can only answer the puzzles inside the Temple." She turned back to the others, "So, anyone who solves the puzzle will be crushed by the Temple."
Cloud's eyes studied the ground, "I see, he was waiting for us to do this, and then take it for himself. The Ancients didn't want dangerous magic to be taken out of the Temple so easily."
"Let's just leave it, okay?" Tifa suggested.
"No." Cloud retorted softly, "We've got to think of a way to get it out, because Sephiroth has a lot of different flunkies, he'll get one of them to do it." She waved her hands, "It's nothing to him to throw away their lives away to get the Black Materia." She turned back to the Altar, "This place isn't safe." She reached out and touched the miniature Temple and the room shook in small tremor.
"So, what are we going to do?" Aeris asked one again.
Cloud's cell phone rang and she took it out of her pocket and answered, "Cloud here." She looked to the others, "It's Cait. All right, I'll get everyone out of here." She looked to the others and waved her hand, telling them to leave. They left, leaving Aeris with her. "Thanks." She closed the cell phone together.
"Cait's going to do it." Cloud sighed, "We have no other choices. We better get out of here. He's waiting at the exit." She took Aeris's arm and they both left the room, making their way back though the Temple maze to the outside. They met with Cait Sith, waiting as he had promised.
"I'll handle the rest." Cait grinned.
Cloud nodded as she ushered Aeris across the bridge and called back,
"You be careful." Cloud smiled sadly at the cat and waved as it entered the temple, out of her sight. "Be strong, you silly thing." She murmured. They turned to find the others and greeted them. All they could do was to wait.
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Reeve focused on the monitor, holding the controller as he manipulated Cait Sith though the Temple, dodging new sets of booby traps. He smiled after a while, wiping the sweats off his brow, he had done it. The temple was collapsing; his monitor blinked and went static. The robotic Cait Sith was no more, crushed.
Turning his seat around, his violet tinged blue eyes fell upon the second version of Cait Sith sitting in the room with him. He grinned, the second Cait Sith would rejoin Avalanche soon.
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The ground begun to shake slightly, the Avalanche ran to see and stood outside the Temple area, watching the black mass of energy surrounding the building, consuming it; sparks flew here and there. Soon, there was nothing left but a big charred pit.
Cloud crept to the edge and peered into the pit, "There it is. The Black Materia." In the center of the pit sat an orb of blackness.
"We will wait here." Tifa suggested, the rest agreed silently.
Cloud shrugged and climbed down to the center, she picked the Materia and winced at the feeling that coursed though her arm to her body upon contact. It wasn't like any other Materia, the coolness and the strength of the energy it had was opposite of any normal Materia, absorbing energies instead of giving it out.
"As long we have this, Sephiroth won't be able to use Meteor. You think we can use it?"
Aeris knelt at the edge of the pit, "Nope, we can't use it right now. You would need a great spiritual power to use it, like those Valkyries, they would be able to use it for good."
Cloud glanced up to the woman, "I see." She looked back to the Materia, realizing she could use it but was unsure how. Perhaps when she learned, she would use it to save the Planet. She looked back to the healer, "You mean lots of Spiritual Energy, which the Valkyries could tap into?"
Aeris shrugged as she nodded, "That's right; one person's power alone won't do it. Somewhere special, if the person is not a Valkyrie, they have to go somewhere where there's plenty of Spiritual Energy… that's right, the Promised Land!"
Cloud held the black orb in her hand, unsure if she should let it go just yet, "The Promised Land… but no…"
Aeris caught on, "Sephiroth is using the Promised Land, it's where all the Spirit Energy gathers, and that's where it will be at."
Cloud turned to her, "He knows where it is. The real Sephiroth is there, his real body." She babbled, the others looked on with confusion and she realized they didn't understand, "Okay, I am not sure how it happened, the real Sephiroth's body is a Valkyrie, you all know that, right?" She saw them nod hesitantly, "He was kidnapped, taken there, held prisoner. Jenova used a clone," the other looked on puzzled, "Okay, Hojo has clones, he cloned Sephiroth and the one we've been chasing after is the clone which is controlled by Jenova."
Tifa made a face, "But, who were we really talking to in the Temple? You mean, that white ghost of Sephiroth is the real one?"
Cloud nodded, "Yes, his spirit is being held prisoner, the one we were talking to is a new consciousness, born of Jenova, the illness itself."
"Oh…" The others drawled, finally understanding.
"Nice conclusion, I'm rather impressed." They turned to find Dark Sephiroth hovering above the pit, clapping his hands. He smirked at Cloud, "You're impressive, and that's why I like you."
Cloud shot him a glare, "I won't let you do it! The future is not only yours!"
Sephiroth floated closer to them, his boot tips barely brushing the ground as he laughed coldly, "I wonder?" His eyes locked with her blue eyes. "Wake up."
Cloud gasped and grabbed her head, she felt a struggle in her mind and fell to the ground, "Sh… shut up!" She screamed. Her mind was being torn, the link to her real Sephiroth was severed and a new one formed. She had fallen into the pit.
The Dark Sephiroth floated down and knelt beside the struggling Cloud, her body and soul were almost separate, struggling against each other, "There, Cloud… that's a good girl."
"The… noise…." She moaned, everything was buzzing loudly inside her mind, screaming and struggling, "Aa… aaa…" Then, her body and soul separated, forcing the soul back with powerful burst. It floated, staring with shock as Cloud's body stood, stoic and holding the Black Materia up.
"Well done…" Dark Sephiroth chuckled and took the Materia, he fingered the orb in his hand and winked at the soul, "I'll see you soon." He then disappeared, gone from the place for good.
Cloud's body collapsed to the ground and the soul knelt, rejoining into the body.
Aeris ran down the pit, "Cloud! Are you all right?" The rest of the Avalanchers looked on, concerned as well.
"Oh," Cloud moaned, experiencing a splitting headache.
"Whoo, that's one nasty mess Cloud's in. Think he's sane?" Cid lit another cigarette.
Vincent glanced at the pilot, "There's more to this. This reveals more about Cloud's truth and past."
Barret shook his head and sighed, his shoulders slumped, "Da kid's messy."
The blond fighter blinked and felt a déjà vu going on, Aeris was kneeling by her head, looking down at 'him', "Oy…" She rubbed her head, feeling everything silent in her mind. She felt a sadness realizing her link to Sephiroth was gone, as well to Zack. She looked up at the healer's soft green eyes, "I gave the Black Materia to him, did I?"
Aeris helped 'him' up, clutching her hands over 'his'. "Yes."
"Oh damn, what have I done?"
"You haven't done anything; it's not your fault." Aeris soothed, helping 'him' out of the pit. She gasped as Cloud fell to 'his' knees, fainting.
Aeris picked 'his' head up, in futile attempt to wake the prone fighter up, "Cloud! Cloud, wake up!"
Tifa and Cid scrambled toward her, "What happened?" Tifa asked, kneeling beside the Cetra.
Aeris' eyes were brimming with tears, "I don't know. He just fell down and won't wake up!"
Cid picked the blond up by the shoulders, surprised to find 'him' very light, like feathers. "Hoo, he's skinny…" He muttered around his everlasting cigarette and started to give Cloud a shake but she only shook, not responding, her body was lax.
"Let's take him out of here and go somewhere we can get a good rest."
Aeris nodded in agreement with Tifa, "Let's go to Gongaga, that's the best place we know of around here and safe."
"Did ya'll forget that Tiny Bronco's broken? It'll take days to get there just floating." Cid announced.
Yuffie joined Cid's side, "Hey Ciddy, we got to fix it!" She said with determination on her face.
Cid grumbled, "So what?"
"We'll fix it!" She shouted back.
Cid muttered few strings of curses about Yuffie under his breath as he carried Cloud though the jungle to the beach where the plane waited for them. He nearly dropped Cloud, attempting to grab Yuffie for the remark she had made to Vincent. He didn't hear what she had said but knew she had said something and was giggling out control and Vincent had mirth in his eyes.
Tifa gasped, "Hey! Let him down easy!" She growled, her fits balled up, ready to punch the pilot.
Cid stepped back, setting Cloud down onto the sand, knowing Tifa's boxing ability was not to be fooled around with. He turned to Yuffie, ready to grab her by the scruff of her neck. As he did so, he lifted her up in the air, letting her feet and arms fail wildly, "You little brat! If you think you're so smart, you get to help me fix the Tiny Bronco, but if you make a mistake…" He growled.
Yuffie giggled nervously and grabbed his hand that held her up, "All right, all right. Just happened that I'm a 'Jacqueline' of All Trades, I'll help ya!"
"Good." Cid dropped her on her rump and stomped off to his plane. Yuffie scrambled up and went after him, Vincent and Red following after her.
"They better hurry up; we need to get Cloud someplace safe and restful. I think he has been exhausted with the whole ordeal he's been though." Aeris helped Tifa to carry Cloud away from the beach, finding 'him' oddly light as they did so.
Tifa huffed as she pulled the thin blanket up to Cloud's chin, "Yeah, this is getting worse. Cloud's the one who has been leading us though this whole thing and yet it has all backfired on him because of something going on in his mind. Really, I wonder what had happened to him in ShinRa and those few years he was missing."
Aeris looked up, "Missing?"
Tifa sat down and crossed her legs, Aeris followed suit. "Yeah, last time I saw him was in Nibelheim, I think. I wasn't too sure. It was when the town burned down few years ago. There was a group of Elite on a mission, supposedly to shut down the Reactor on the mountain which was all I know. I was the town's guide then; Sephiroth hired me to lead them up the mountain to the Mako Reactor." Tifa started, resting her head on her fist.
"Sephiroth and two other guys were there, with a woman. Yeah, that was Sorano. I think it was Zack as well; he was one of the Elites. The same Zack you knew the one from Gongaga. He was wild guy, pretty cool."
Aeris smiled sadly, "That's Zack."
Tifa shrugged, "Any way, when we got to the bridge that crossed a chasm, but it broke when we were on it. A guy fell to his death and we had to go on. Something happened when we go to the Reactor, they wouldn't let me in. Zack stayed with me while Sorano and Sephiroth went in. To come to think of it, Sorano's pretty close to Sephiroth." Tifa frowned, "I remember they were together most of the time, Zack told me something about them… I think Sephiroth was going to propose to her or something like that while they were there." She gazed away, recalling the memories that were starting to come back to her since they went to Nibelheim.
Aeris gasped, "Really, do tell. I've never heard of Sephiroth dating or anything, it was like, he's untouchable."
Tifa nodded, "Yeah. I remember how Sephiroth looked at Sorano, it was like he really loved her and she did too for him. Well," She reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture, "I found this, when we stopped at Nibelheim, it was in my piano, I guess ShinRa overlooked this. It was the only evidence of the real Nibelheim." She handed the photo to Aeris.
Aeris took it and gazed at the photo, there was four people in it, Tifa was standing, posing for the camera, she looked younger, a bit skinny. Zack was on her left, posing as well with his infamous grin, staring at the camera. On Tifa's right was the woman, a beauty in rugged. She wasn't smiling but staring at the camera, her body turned to Sephiroth who stood beside her; they looked pretty close. She looked tough while Sephiroth looked almost menacing yet his arm was hidden behind Sorano, almost as if he was holding her.
"So, that's Sorano, funny, she looks like Cloud." Aeris commented, studying the picture.
"Yes. They look like relatives; Cloud had never mentioned any other family."
Aeris handed the photo back, "So what happened after the Reactor?"
"Come to think of it, Sephiroth was sane at the time. He was nice, but he wouldn't be your favorite person in the world. He just acted stoic and cold; he only seemed to care about the business he was supposed to do…" She stopped, staring at Cloud, "Actually, the only person he only opens up to was Sorano and Zack, and as if they were the only ones in the world he trusted. Maybe they were, not even to the guy who fell to his death."
"I don't know what was going on in the reactor, but they both came out. Sephiroth looked angry; Sorano was with him, looking very pale. He was holding her. We went back to town, I was told to go home because it was strictly a ShinRa matter. The next day was horrible, Sephiroth set the whole town on fire, murdered a lot of people, including my father. I went after him with his own sword, which he left behind, but he was stronger and far more superior in combat skills. He wrenched the sword out of my grip and slashed me. I fell back, hitting the stairs. I remember it was real painful, I was bleeding badly. That was when Cloud came in and…" She stopped, frowning, "He picked me up and placed me aside. He went after Sephiroth. That was the last thing I remember before waking up in Midgar Hospital. I then learned that I was the only survivor from the town. So, that's when I started to make my life there since then."
Aeris looked to Cloud, "How can he be there, he wasn't on the trip."
Tifa shrugged, "I am not sure about that. Maybe it was actually Sorano and I wasn't thinking clearly. I was so sure it was Cloud though." She looked at the photo, studying the image of Sorano. Tifa thought she was pretty, though with right clothes and longer hair she would almost be a goddess. She could see why Sephiroth would fall for her. "Everyone in the town was afraid of Sorano when she showed up. Nibelheim fears the Valkyries because…" She paused, taking a deep breath, "the Valkyries left a curse on the town, promising the destruction. It came true, with Sephiroth as a Valkyrie, he destroyed the town."
"Oh my. So, was it also when Cloud went missing?" Aeris asked.
Tifa nodded as she pocketed the picture. "He disappeared, presumed dead. The newspaper said Cloud was on the mission with Sephiroth and the entire Elite team died in a bad reactor explosion; all four of them, Sephiroth, Zack, Cloud and the other guy, nothing about Sorano."
Aeris frowned, "That's strange."
"I asked few Soldiers that came into my bar, asked them about Sorano. They never heard of her, and get this!" Tifa leaned forward, "No women have ever made it into Elite, ever. Not even to Class One, the tests were impossible for them, they couldn't endure it. To get in Elite, you have to challenge Sephiroth and beat him in the combat. That's why it's so hard to get in."
Aeris looked at Cloud. Tifa got up and crawled into one of the other tents, wanting to be alone.
"Yo, where's Tif?" Barret came up to them.
Aeris pointed to the tent that the brunette had disappeared into, "Better leave her alone for a while."
Barret looked down at his feet where Cloud laid, "And him?"
"No, no change." She shook her head.
"Al'rite. Tiny Bronco's almost done fixin'." He announced and shrugged, "I suppose I'll get some wood." He turned and went into the jungle.
Aeris nodded at retreating Barret and turned back to Cloud, she reached out and took 'his' hand. She frowned and took a deep breath, she started to remove the gloves, once she got to the bangles, she touched one and gasped softly, "It's not an Escort Guard," She slid it off Cloud's wrist and held it up to her face, "It's a Minerva Band!" She whispered and looked down to Cloud's hand in hers, all was left was the thin black gloves that was designed to keep the hand cool all the time and fire proof. She peeled back the glove and gasped softly at the petite hand, long fingers and fingernails rounded, slightly longer. Cloud's hand was feminine, and a ring adorned her ring finger.
"So, that's your secret, eh Sorano?" Aeris whispered. She went to work putting the gloves back on. She reached out and pulled Cloud's shirt up, she smirked, "Bandaged. You're tricky."
She stood up, taking her staff. "You will be fine, you and Sephiroth will be reunited once again, my Queen." Then she walked off into the jungle, disappearing.
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"Dammit! Yuffie, you little shit! I said monkey wrench, not the nose pliers!" Cid yelled and went into a string of cursing. He muttered then, "You little twerp!" as he threw the pliers back out from his position lying under the plane.
Yuffie giggled as she sat next to Cid with a toolbox by her side, "Aw, you're cussin' around a kid again! What would Shera think?"
Cid pulled himself out from under the plane and glared at the teenage, "You shut up! I don't give a damn about her, she was the reason I lost my chance to get into space!" He started swearing again.
Vincent sat on the log near the plane, watching the two with amusement. Red had gone off to hunt in the jungle. He had found listening to Cid handle the teenager greatly amusing. Ever since the pilot joined the gang, Yuffie had attached herself to him; the little brat was somehow fond of the pilot.
He was curious as to why she was always attached to either him or the pilot, but he just let them argue, Yuffie taking every barb, insult and curse from the pilot with a sly grin on her face.
"Aw Ciddy! Look what you've done!" Yuffie whined and crawled under the tail of the plane with a tool in her hand. Cid stood by, fists gripping his hair, fuming and screaming about a teenage girl running his plane. He even stomped over to her and attempted to pull the girl from under the plane by her skinny legs but failed.
Vincent's eyes shone with mirth as he watched them. He couldn't remember when he had last been as amused as he was now, but it didn't matter, it was too enjoyable not to watch.
"What the hell you're doin' to my plane, you little brat?" Cid yelled as he was down to his knees, trying to see what Yuffie was doing.
Yuffie clanked and poked around under the tail of the plane, she coughed as some black soot fell down on her face and she finally pulled herself out, "Done." She wiped her face with her arm and smiled as she stood up. "The tail should be working now."
Cid became silent and stood up, "What did you do?" He asked quietly, distrustful as he reached over the pilot's control and flicked the plane motor on and jiggled the stick. The tail moved smoothly, in sync with the controller. "Hey! You did it!" He shouted gleefully as she grabbed the girl in bear hug and twirled her around.
He suddenly realized what he was doing and dropped her down on her butt, "Uh, that never happened." He rubbed his neck and turned away to clear up his tools.
Yuffie sat there on the sand, grinning at Cid, "Right."
Cid mumbled another string of curses as he ignored Yuffie.
Vincent decided to make himself known, clapping his hands, "Very good."
Cid yelped and turned around, nearly knocking the sniper with his toolbox; Vincent dodged and helped Yuffie up. The girl giggled as Cid cursed a blue streak.
"Dammit! Vin, you startled me!"
Vincent ignored the nickname as he studied the plane, "So, we can fly?"
Cid shrugged as he placed his toolbox back into the plane's storage compartment and locked it. "Yeah, we can go as soon as they want to."
Yuffie bounced again, clapping her hands in joy, "Ooh! Can I go and tell them?"
Cid grunted and Yuffie ran into the jungle where the camp was.
"So, bonding with the girl?" Vincent asked, slight hint of teasing in his voice.
Cid turned away and headed to the propeller in the front, "No, she's just a brat."
"Oh, really? Looks like she wormed her way into your heart."
Cid grunted again and cursed as he worked on the propeller, turning it, "It's nothing like that."
"How is it that so?" The sniper moved around the wing and leaned against it.
Cid looked up at the crimson and ebony-dressed man, "She's just a kid. You saw what happened back in Wutai. Her father treated her bad, she's just misguided, and she needs a father figure."
Vincent's eyes widened in shock, not only was Cid talking civilly but was also implying that he had adopted the role of a father figure to Yuffie. "So, what are you saying?"
Cid threw his arms up and cursed to the sky, "All right! If you want me to say it, I will!" His arms fell to his sides, "I got around to thinking, and Yuffie reminds me a lot of someone I lost long time ago. I guess, it's some sort of second chance for me to do it right."
Vincent tilted his head to the side, "Really?"
Cid mumbled, "I don't know why I am tellin' you this."
"I don't either. You can trust me not to tell anyone else."
The pilot nodded and moved to Vincent's side at the wing and pushed himself up to sit on it, "Well, as I was saying that Yuffie reminded me of someone long time ago. I was young and stupid, I got a girl pregnant and she disappeared, leaving me with the kid."
Vincent looked up again with surprise, "You had a kid?"
Cid shrugged as he fumbled with his cigarette, "Don't go thinking I'm twenty something, I had a life before this whole deal. The kid, my boy, was wild, just like me when I was younger. He was a cute little thing too. His name was Cody. I took him on a flight in the old plane I had, Lil' Highwind. Only something went wrong and we crashed in the mountains. I survived, he didn't."
The red-clad sniper stared out at the ocean, listening to the story, feeling sorrow for the pilot.
"That was a long time ago. When I met Yuffie here, I saw Cody in her eyes. You know, Cody died sixteen years ago. Sometimes I would think if Cody was reborn he would be in Yuffie now. They are so much alike, so full of…" His voice cracked and died.
Vincent looked up to find Cid nearly crying, "It's okay."
Cid shook his head and rubbed his face hard with his gloved hands, "Ah, that was long ago. Anyway, I feel that I should take the chance again with Yuffie. After all, she needs someone and it's not like I don't like her."
Vincent smirked, "Sure, yet you were cursing her out."
"She can take it." Cid hopped off the wing and moved around to work on the propeller again.
Vincent returned to watch the ocean again, "I lost a child long ago too."
Cid looked up, his turn to be surprised, "Really?"
"I lost him before I could get to know him, you are fortunate to be able to get to know Cody."
Cid watched the sniper walk off to the campground. Something strange welled up inside him. There was a bond shared between the two of them and his respect for the sniper increased tenfold. He shook his head to clear the thought and returned to the propeller again.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Yuffie was hiding behind a large tree nearby. She was huddled down between two large roots with her knees pulled up to her chest, tears streaming down her face. She had heard everything and was shocked beyond reason to know Cid's true feelings toward her. It was confusing and overwhelming; she hiccupped and smiled weakly to herself, "Ciddy-papa…" She whispered.
Then she stood up, deciding to announce that the Tiny Bronco was ready to the rest of the gang.
LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA
The forest surrounding her was sweet, lush and mystical. Cool with morning mist about, it felt sweet, magical and very peaceful.
Aeris poked her head out from behind a tree, giggling, "Cloud, can you hear me?" She asked, holding the branch as if she was hugging the tree.
Cloud twirled around, "What? Yeah, where are we?"
Aeris stepped away from the tree, standing there with her arms behind her back; she walked up to 'him', "Don't worry about it." She reached out and wiped Cloud's cheek.
Cloud was surprised to find her face wet.
"I know who you are," Aeris' hand fell and Cloud looked to find her clothes had changed into a simple white gown, her hair falling down in a long length, reaching as far as the small of her back. Aeris smiled, "There's no need to keep it a secret anymore, not with me."
Cloud felt her hair, feeling the long silken strands, toying with it, "What's happening?" Aeris quickly grabbed Cloud's hand, looking down at their intertwined fingers; Cloud found they were gloveless, revealing her quite feminine hand.
"What a shame it is to hide such a beauty." Aeris whispered, studying the ring on Cloud's finger. "Don't worry, let me handle him. Go find Sephiroth and everything will be all right."
"What are you talking about?" Cloud asked, worry steeping in her voice.
Aeris smiled sweetly and that was when Cloud realized she wasn't wearing her regular pink and red attire but a gown similar to her own, but in soft hue of pink, making her glow like an angel, "Like I said, don't worry, sister."
Her giggle rang though the forest like tinkling bell, "I understand why you had to hide your true self but you didn't have to, not anymore. Let me handle him."
"But…"
Aeris placed a finger to Cloud's lips, "Shh… you two will be together soon."
Cloud's hand dropped to her side, letting go of the other woman, "What is this place?"
"This forest leads to the City of the Ancients… it's called the Sleeping Forest." Aeris backed away, almost fading, "It's only a matter of time before he calls Meteor, that's why I am going to protect against it. Only a survivor of the Cetra, like me, can do it." She turned away and started to walk though the forest, towards a bright light that glowed beyond the trees. She stopped and turned back, her hand over her heart, "The secret is just here. At least, it should be. I feel it; it feels like I'm being led by something." Her head cocked sideway as she waved, "Then, I'll be going for now. I'll come back when it is all over."
Cloud reached but found she couldn't move, "Aeris?" She called out to her.
The forest faded as Aeris faded from sight.
:Hm… she's thinking of interfering? She will be a difficult one, don't you think?:
Cloud's eyes became steel blue, "You are not Sephiroth, get out of my mind!"
:Oh, ho ho, the link between you and him is now between you and me. We must stop the girl:
Cloud wanted to growl, "We?"
:Yes, we, as in you and me.: Then he was gone.
w w w . y a s h o d o a . c o m / r o a d t o d a m a s c u s
Review, please?