A Wing and a Prayer
An original work of FF7 fanfiction by Ry (OzZMaN)
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"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while
and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same."
--Anonymous
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Chapter 3
The icy wind of the northern continent stung my face. Betsy, my gold chocobo was hauling ass as fast as I could coax her to go. At this rate I'd end up killing the poor bird before we got halfway there. Something inside me, a voice or a presence of sorts was urging me to go faster. I couldn't explain exactly what it was, either, just a low, monotone hum telling me to head to the Forgotten Capital and to get there fast. Aeris perhaps? Her lifeforce speaking to me? Probably just my conscience, my obsession over her, my love's echoes. Or my own mind, going slowly but surely insane. How could I not be more than just "obsessed with her?" She totally changed my life, my attitude towards almost everything, my coldness inside. She taught me to live, and more importantly, how to love. Yes, she did teach me to love, little to her knowledge that it was her I had fallen in love with. My first true love, and I hadn't even been able to tell her how I felt before she was torn away from me and pulled into the next plane of existence. And I had the perfect chance to tell her my feelings for her on our date at the Gold Saucer, but of course I lacked the courage. Another stupid mistake among many which I've made over her. She never got to know how I felt about her, how much she meant to me before it was all over. That's alright Aeris, because you're gonna know one way or another. I'm going to find a way to give you life again, to give back to you what was so brutally and unrightfully taken away from you. You will live again Aeris, or I will die, because my life is nothing without you. If only you could see how wrecked I am without you…..
My thoughts were interrupted by what sounded like a clap of thunder. Or an explosion. Whatever it was, it was powerful enough to knock me off of my bird and send Betsy flying on a fit of fear, warking at everything in site. When I finally sat up and tried to get a grasp on what exactly had just happened, what occurred next hit me like an Ultima spell to the chest. I looked around and found that I was no longer riding peacefully on the plains of the northern continent, only a few miles south of Bone Village, but instead I was deep beneath the surface of the sea, in none other than the City of the Ancients. Another dream? I thought, many of which I had of this place. Nightmares, more realistically to describe what they were to me. No, this was quite real, as I was standing fast on the first step leading up to the altar where my life had ended with the death of another. Images bombarded my mind, a black-caped monster descending from above, a beautiful, innocent creature praying peacefully, a sword, a sword seven feet long forged from the fires of hell and evil, that awful blade tearing through her dress……
I shook my head trying to rid my head of such horrid memories, instead taking in the breathtaking marvel that was the Ancient City. The entire place was bathed in a Holy light, which helped to stress some of the very exquisite and technologically advanced features of the city. The smooth surface of the marble, shining peacefully in a delicate glow. The light from above, which supposedly was the very heart of the Planet shining the light of Holy, letting all who come here know that this is a sacred and special place. Probably the Planet's presence here has contributed to the perfect preservation of this three-thousand year old relic. The beauty and serenity of the secret city was incredible, and my being engorged in its splendor caused me to not notice a faint light beginning to grow around the altar. When I finally turned in that direction, the light had begun to swirl rapidly around a center of disturbed air, it seemed like. Brighter and brighter it burned, until when it seemed unbearable to look at, a sudden burst of energy leapt from within it, knocking me off my feet. When I came to, a low, continuous hum began to sound. The same sound we had heard from deep within the crater before battling with Sephiroth. The cry of the Planet. Upon standing up and turning to face the unknown, I found that the light had been replaced by a swirling mass of energy. The inner part of it looked like a boiling mass of space mixed with blackness and the stars. Outer space? I thought. The outer part of the circle was a rapidly rotating sphere of energy, with a powerful aura around it. As I curiously approached what I had never seen before and could not readily identify, a booming sound of thunder came out of the center. I stepped back cautiously, and the next thing that came from within it was another clap of thunder, mixed with what sounded like a voice. I was becoming both alarmed and confused as it rumbled again. The next noise it made, however, was very distinct.
"THY HOLY PRESENCE OF THE PLANET'S WILL AND FATHER TIME ARE UPON YOU. STATE THY PURPOSE."
The energy in the voice was evident, and startled me greatly, that this entity speaking to me was indeed the Planet itself. Father time I guessed was time itself together with the Planet's consciousness.
"I am Cloud Strife of AVALANCHE. I come here seeking a way to------"
"I KNOW WHY YOU HAVE COME HERE, CLOUD STRIFE. YOU MOURN OVER THE LAST CETRA WHO SACRIFICED HER MORTAL BODY FOR THE SAKE OF THIS WORLD. YOUR GROUP AND THYSELF ARE COMMENDED FOR THY SELFLESS ACTIONS TO SAVE MY EXISTENCE FROM OBLITERATION."
"Thank you, and it is my honor to continue to serve and protect the Planet upon which we are able to live."
I really didn't know what to say, for apparently this consciousness knew everything about me, including all about this crazy attempt to bring Aeris back. My heart began beating rapidly with fear and excitement as my hopes soon began to rise at the thought of seeing Aeris again.
"MYSELF AND TIME WISH TO GRANT YOU ONE WISH FOR SAVING THIS WORLD AND EVERYONE ON IT. SEEING HOW THOU HAVE MADE UP THOUST MIND ALREADY, WE SHALL GIVE IT TO YOU. YOU WILL SEE YOUR LOVE AGAIN."
That did it for me. They knew all I wanted back was Aeris, and they were prepared to give it to me. Planet itself was prepared to resurrect a being which had died to save it. Most of me wanted to cry out in joy and leap for the sky, but the other part said to restrain myself in the presence of the Planet's voice. I was beginning to form words of thanks when I was cut off before any sounds escaped my lips.
"ARE YOU PREPARED TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING YOU CARE FOR NOW FOR THE SAKE OF THIS CETRA THOUST SEEK?"
Those words sent chills down my spine. Now the Planet was asking me to choose between everything I know of now, all that I care about, and Aeris alone. That meant giving up all my friends, giving up Tifa, my home, my way of life, everything. I couldn't let it all go that easy, but then again, I started jumping to conclusions. Planet didn't say I had to give it all up, just that I was prepared to. And at this point, I was desperate enough to where I simply didn't care about anything but Aeris. All I knew was Aeris, all I ever hoped for was to see her again, to hold her, and redeem myself as her bodyguard and never let her come to any harm, until the day I die. Even in death I would vow to keep her safe. I was being extremely selfish, putting her over everything and everyone who cared about me now. I could always turn to Tifa; there's no doubt she wouldn't welcome me with open arms. But it was my driving curiosity, love, and determination which fueled my will to be with the only person I ever loved, who was so wrongfully taken away from me.
"I am prepared to sacrifice anything you wish for me to be with my love again, Planet. I am a complete wreck without her, I can't even think straight, I drink all the time, and I don't speak. All I wish is for her to be given her life back, so I can spend the rest of mine loving and protecting her with all my strength and spirit."
"THEN, LET IT BE DONE AT HER WILL. BUT THOU MUST SWEAR IT THAT YOU WILL SPEND YOUR LIFE PROTECTING HER. SWEAR IT TO HER, CLOUD STRIFE….."
At her will? I thought, but I barely managed to think beyond that before a bright green light shot forth from the swirling mass of energy and quickly enveloped my surroundings, including myself. I soon realized that I was in the Lifestream, deep within the core of the Planet. The ever present numbing sensation of the powers of the Ancients and the Planet poking at your soul, along with the ability to breath under the viscous liquid as you would above ground was enough to convince me of this highly familiar place, which had nearly killed me not long ago.
Why has the Planet tossed me in this? If I don't make it to the surface soon, I'll die of Mako poisoning. I swam around aimlessly, not knowing which direction to turn or to head for. It was a pale, fluorescent green everywhere I looked, seemingly endless in vastness. The sensation of floating in an empty space with nothing on all sides of me triggered my fear and confusion. Until I saw her.
Not more than a few yards away, walking out from the green mist was the angel I'd pined over for so long. My feet slowly came down from the void in which I was floating and onto what seemed like a solid surface, yet totally surrounded in the pale green glow of the lifestream. She walked towards me, arms outstretched. I stood there motionless, begging in my mind over and over to not let this be a dream. It was real. The smell of her hair, her perfectly formed features, and her wonderful emerald eyes were what told me this was not the continued unraveling of my tortured spirit. Then she spoke her sweet song to me.
"Hi Cloud." I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.
I couldn't believe it, she was here with me, my lost love, my life. I rushed forward and swept her body up in a huge embrace. And for the second time in my life, I cried. Only I cried tears of overwhelming joy, not extreme sorrow. This was real. She was with me. And we would be together until the end of time. Everything was perfect. If I had only known of the events to come…..