Phoenix Hearts
(Part 2)
By Alria
Disclaimer: Groanam I the only one who finds this tedious? Oh wellhere it is. I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE FF 7 CHARACTERS OR SETTINGS IN THIS STORY.
Author's Note: Wow. I wasn't expecting to get any reviews for this storyespecially good ones! I wasn't planning on continuing this story for awhilebut since I got so many good reviews, I decided I might as well put up part 2. YOUR REVIEWS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! Anyway, I just want to let you all know that if I don't put up chapter 3 for awhile, it's not because I've abandoned the storyso don't stop looking for it! Oh, and about the rating change. Now that I'm into it a bit more, this story is taking a bit of a more mature path then I had thought (though I did rate it harshly) Once again, thanx for the reviews. Now, on with the story!
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Cloud stood in front of Don Cornero's old, abandoned mansion, shivering in the cold February night. Whoever had written the note was lateand that made Cloud extremely nervous. What if this was all just a cruel joke? He could see Tifa doing something like that to get back at him for thinking of Aeris so much. Butif it was realif someone did know something about AerisCloud gritted his teeth against the cold. He couldn't leave, no matter what.
Cloud stood in the freezing cold wind for what seemed like hours until he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
"I see you came. You aren't as dumb as you look, then," came the voice of an elderly woman. Cloud spun around on his heel to face the speaker. There, standing in front of him, was a short, wrinkled little woman with a black cape draped over her shoulders. Her long, silvery hair hung in a long braid down the middle of her back. Cloud stepped closer to her.
"Alright. What do you know about Aeris?" he asked. The old woman cackled, revealing two rows of yellow-teeth.
"Aren't we impatient! You mustn't so hotheaded. Otherwise, you might miss out on something important," she snickered. Cloud rolled his eyes. Great. Some psycho, lecturing old woman. Just great.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to take that into consideration. But I haven't been waiting here for an hour just to be lectured. Were you the one that wrote the letter?" he asked. The old woman smiled.
"Yes, yes. I am the one," she responded. Cloud began to rub his arms. He had been waiting out here for over an hour extra, and this was the only thing he got? A crazy wrinkled old woman? It hardly seemed fair.
"Do you, or do you not, know anything about Aeris?" Cloud asked bluntly. The woman smiled.
"Not directly about her, mind you. It could apply to ALL the dead flowing in the life stream," she explained. Cloud felt like he was going to explode with anger. This woman had made him stand outside in the freezing cold for an hour, and all she had to say was that she could tell him something about dead people!? This was ridiculous! Why had he even bothered to come!?
"I see you are angry. Why is that?" the old woman asked in her raspy voice. Cloud glared at her, blue eyes blazing with rage.
"You want to know why I'm angry!? I've been standing here for ages waiting for you, and you don't even know anything about Aeris! I'm going home," he snarled. Cloud turned sharply on his heel and began to walk off. Soon, he would be back in his warm bed, and could forget this whole thing ever happened. It would all just be an extremely bad memory.
"I know a way you can get her back."
Cloud's heart skipped a beat as he spun around to face the old woman again.
"What?" he murmured, shocked. The woman nodded.
"You heard me. There is a way you can enter the life stream and bring her back," she repeated. Cloud stepped closer. Could it really be true?
"If there is a way to bring her backI'll do anything. Please, tell me!" he begged. The old woman smiled.
"I wouldn't have written that letter if I hadn't planned don telling you, my boy. The only way you can bring her back is by swallowing a drop of phoenix blood. No more then that, or you'll be separated from your body, and join the life stream yourself! Only a drop, and then you can jump into the life stream and move freely without being harmed. That way, you can pull her spirit back into the world of the living, and give her life," she explained.
Cloud was completely numb from shock and excitement. Finally, after a year of pain and sorrow, he would get to see his beloved Aeris again! To feel her warmth radiating through himto caress her gentle cheekoh, to have her back in his arms! He would do anything, ANYTHING to hold her again. For the chance to finally tell her those three blessed words: "I love you." This was too good to be trueto finally have his Aeris back! Cloud looked back at the old woman.
"Oh, thank you!" he cried, eyes welling with tears of joy. The old woman smiled.
"You're welcome. Oh, this should make things a lot easier for you," she said, handed Cloud a small vile of golden liquid. Cloud's eyes widened.
"Phoenix blood?" he asked. The old woman nodded.
"Yes. But be warned; phoenix blood is a gift as well as a curse. You don't know what could happen if you drink the blood of a godly beast," she said, voice dark. Cloud shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. As long as I have Aeriseverything will be fine. Oh, thank you!" he said happily. Cloud, clutching the vile to him as if it were a precious jewel, smiled once more at the old woman, and then started to run back home. From there, he could get an airship ticket to Medeel, and jump into the life stream!
"Aeris, I'm coming," he murmured, overflowing with joy.
Watching Cloud disappear down the dark street, the old woman sneered.
"A precious gift the blood may give youbut the power of the curse will prevail. It always does."
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Like I said before, your reviews make a difference, so please don't stop. And it may be awhile until part three is upso please, be patient. Anyway, I hope you like the story! Luv ya lots, and thanx again!! (oh, and by the way, I would be sooooo happy if you guys would IM me. I want to talk to you!)