Author Note: Thank you to my first reviewers, Lena, White Illusion, and Kronos. I thought the chapters were a little short too but I didn't know what else to do. The rest of the chapters are longer! If I can get an idea to make the first chapters longer I'll fix them and let everyone know! Thank you again for your help.
I also realized I hadn't put in my own little disclaimer on the other chapters…
I do not own any of the Final Fantasy 7 characters I just use them for my enjoyment.
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Cloud talking to Aeris
Aeris talking to Cloud
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Aeris stood looking out of the kitchen window. She sipped her tea as the sun set; giving off pink light that made her look like an angel. As if she could feel Cloud watching her, she turned around and gazed at him.
"Oh! Hello, do I know you from somewhere? You look familiar…" Aeris said tilting her head to the side slightly, "The picture! You're the young man from the picture! The one with his arm around me."
"You don't remember my name?" Cloud asked.
She shook her head, "I'm sorry- I…"
"It's okay, I'm Cloud Strife," he said getting an idea, "Me.....? I do a little bit of everything."
"Oh.... a jack of all trades." Aeris said with a giggle.
Cloud grinned as he remembered the first time she'd said that. They both sat down at the kitchen table. Aeris poured Cloud a cup of tea.
"Can you tell me about the day we took this picture Cloud?" Aeris asked as she picked up the photo.
Cloud looked at it and smiled, "Well if I remember, we had just stopped at the Gold Saucer to get the keystone from Dio. Dio owns the Gold Saucer and we needed the keystone to get into the Temple of the Ancients. Well anyway, we'd just gotten there…"
** Flash Back **
"Hey everyone! Come on! I want a picture of everyone! This way we'll always remember what we've gone through together!" Aeris called out to her friends.
"Personally there are parts of this trip I'd love to forget!" Cid yelled with a big grin. He loved to tease his female friends.
"Geez Cid," Yuffie shouted, "Why are you always ssoooo difficult?!"
"Shut up Yuffie!" Cid said as he began to walk to one side of the group.
"AWWW poor Ciddy upset," Yuffie asked in an annoying tone of voice.
"Don't call me that!" Cid yelled.
Yuffie rolled her eyes and went to stand behind Cid. Suddenly, a huge grin broke out on her face.
"Barret NO!" Tifa squealed, "Put me DOWN!"
"Not a chance Tifa," Barret said, "So yer best bet would be to stop wiggling before I drop ya."
"Come on everyone let's get a picture I wanna see if anyone I know still works here!" Cait Sith yelled. He was jumping up and down in his strange little dance.
Nanaki sat there looking at him, "I swear," he muttered under his breath, "I'll never understand humans or magical stuffed animals."
Vincent stood off to one side, like usual, being a loner.
"Vincey! Come stand with the rest of us! WE'RE YOUR FRIENDS REMEMBER!" Yuffie yelled from behind Cid.
Vincent's shoulders sagged a little, "Why me?" He thought, "What did I do to deserve Yuffie?" He slowly made his way toward Cid and Yuffie. Yuffie giggled and jumped on Vincent's back. Vincent almost fell down but held her up. He grabbed onto her legs so she wouldn't fall off and get hurt.
"Excuse me sir," Aeris said as she ran up to a man by the door, "Will you please take our picture?"
"Sure," said the man.
"Thank you!" she said happily, "Barret carry Tifa over there!" she looked up at Cloud and giggled, "Um… Cait Sith can you move to the left a little? There you go!" she looked at Cloud and giggled again, "Okay ready?" She hurried toward the middle and looked at Cloud still giggling. Cloud put his arm around her and she smiled at him, "Okay, one, two, three, CHEEZE!"
Everyone smiled and the man took a few shots. Then we split up. You, Barret, and me headed toward the Battle Square to get the keystone from Dio. All the way I wondered why you kept giggling and staring at me.
I wish I could remember… I would tell you
Well anyway… we went to talk to Dio. I got the keystone we needed after battling in the Battle Square. Then we headed for the Station…
"Excuse me, sir," said the workman, "I'm sorry. The Tram is out of order right now."
"...so?" Cloud asked.
"I'm really sorry! I'm afraid you won't be able to leave until it's fully repaired." He said.
Cait Sith came running up behind up behind Cloud, Aeris, and Barret, "What's wrong?"
Cloud quickly explained their situation to him.
"Too bad. It happens, though." Cait Sith said, "I know! Let's stay at the hotel! They know me here. I'll go talk to them."
He bounced off in his energetic manner. Cloud just stood there looking after him.
"I will let you know once the repairs are completed." The worker said as he returned to repairing the tram.
We went around looking for everyone to tell them where we were staying. Later that night we were all sitting in the lobby of the Ghost Hotel. Everyone but Cid, who was dozing in a chair, chatted with someone around them..
"We don't usually get the chance to be together like this, huh?" Cait Sith said, "Cloud, how 'bout it? Can you tell us what's happened so far? I don't really know what's gon' on because I wasn't here in the beginning."
Cid looked up, "Yeah! I'm all for it!"
"I been here since the beginnin', an' I still don't know what the hell's goin' on either." Barret said angrily, "Cloud, the hell's goin' on? C'mon, tell us!"
"All right, I'll give it a shot..." Cloud said, "Phew... We are going after Sephiroth. Sephiroth must be in search of the Promised Land."
"The Promised Land?" Cid asked sleepily.
"A land full of Mako energy, ... or at least that's what the
Shinra believe." Cloud said, "I don't know if it actually exists."
Aeris stepped forward a little, "The Cetras return to the Promised Land. A land that promises boundless happiness."
"Cetra? That some kinda disease?" Barret asked glancing at her with a funny look on his face.
"That's what the Ancients call themselves," Aeris said exasperatedly, "Hey, didn't you listen to the elders at Cosmo Canyon? ...You don't 'know' where the Promised Land of the Ancients is. You search and travel, until you feel it. Like you just know, '...this is the Promised Land.'"
Cloud turned toward Aeris, "Aeris... can you feel it too?"
"I think so." Aeris said quietly.
"So Sephiroth is traveling the world because he's searching for the Promised Land? Is that it?" Tifa asked.
"That, and one other thing he's searching for." Aeris said.
"The Black Materia..." Cloud whispered
"I heard from Dio that a man in a Black Cape was lookin' for the Black Materia." Cait Sith said
"I don't even know what the Black Cape is..." Tifa said slightly confused, "How many men with Black Capes and number tattoos are there?"
"...you know, of course... My tattoo is number 13." Nanaki said.
"How did you get that tattoo?" Cloud asked.
"...Hojo put it on me. Everything else is just war scars, but the number was done by Hojo." Nanaki said softly.
"So there are at least 13!?" Tifa half asked half declared.
"...You know......" Aeris said, "I think Hojo did something to those men in the Black Capes. But I don't know what it has to do with Sephiroth though... That's why I think we should just go after Sephiroth himself."
"Yeah, me too!" Barret shouted, "It's all just to damn confusin'."
"And..." Aeris started quietly. Then she put her hands to her face. "I'm sorry, forget it! I think I'm tired. I'm going to bed now." She hurried up the stairs and into her room.
"What was that, all of a sudden!?" Cait Sith asked looking at the door to her room, "Is that all? How 'bout the Black Materia?"
Cloud shrugged, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
"Now all we gotta do is take action! We're startin' tomorrow!!" Barret yelled. Then he ran up the stairs.
"Cloud..." Nanaki started as he turned to face Cloud, "I'm number 13. Am I going to go mad too?"
Tifa looked shocked and knelt beside him, "I don't know what Hojo did to you, but you've been all right so far, right?"
"But..." Nanaki began to protest.
"Be strong." She said with a slight tremor to her voice.
Nanaki looked at the floor, "But, I..."
"Stop it, Red XIII! Be strong!" She said her voice shaking even more.
"Tifa?" Cloud asked looking at her back as she knelt down next to him.
"You're not the only one who's worried!" She yelled almost in tears. She turned to head up to her room.
"I don't know what's goin' on, but we're in a bad situation..." Cait Sith said, stating the obvious.
Vincent turned to Cid and shook his shoulder, "Come on Cid."
Cid let out a loud snore in reply.
After we finally woke Cid up, everyone headed up to his or her rooms. I had just gotten in and was watching the balloons as they floated by my window. I was trying to figure out what had made you run off when there was a knock at my door…
Aeris looked at Cloud, locked her hands behind her back, and began to giggle helplessly.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked. He was quite obviously confused.
Aeris leaned toward Cloud and grinned, "You want to go on a date?"
"What?" Cloud's head snapped up and he looked at her.
Aeris let out an exasperated sigh, "A DA-TE! Or haven't you ever gone on one?"
Cloud smiled sheepishly, "Well, not a real one..."
Aeris giggled "No, just a mixed-up kid..." She ran around behind him and started pushing him out the door, "Oh well. Come on, let's go."
"Hey," Cloud yelled in mock objection.
We headed toward the Station and figuring we'd decide something from there…
"Tonight's Enchantment Night! All the attractions are free." Called a man from the Event Square, "How 'bout it you two? There's going to be an entertaining show in Event Square!"
"Come on, let's go." Aeris yelled with a giggle.
"Congratulations!!" Yelled the usher, "You are our 100th couple today! You two will be the leads in tonight's show!!!!"
"Wha?" Cloud asked in shock.
"Oh, now, it's not hard," the usher said, "Just play it however you want to and
the rest of the cast will cover up for you. Come this way."
"H, hey!" Cloud protested already knowing he lost.
"This sounds like fun. Come on Cloud, let's do it." Aeris giggled and ran after the usher.
We stood offstage and the curtain opened. The backdrop is painted with of a house, a Debu Chocobo, and "GOLD SAUCER" scrawled in clumsy white letters. They told me to go on and gave me a shove. I ran on and a voice boomed from offstage.
"Long, long ago... An evil shadow appeared over the peaceful kingdom of Galdia... Princess Rosa was just kidnapped by the Evil Dragon King, Valvados. What will become of her? Just then, the legendary hero, Alfred, appears!!"
A knight danced onstage and stopped next to Cloud, "Oh... You must be the legendary hero... Alfred!"
Cloud sort of looks around with a dazed look on his face.
"Hey, it's your line." He whispered.
Cloud points to himself and looked at the knight.
"Yeah, you. Ahem!" The knight said standing up and rolling his head, "Oh... You must be the legendary hero... Alfred! I know in my soul. Please... please save Princess Rosa!" He knelt down and raised his arms, "Now... Please talk... to the King....!!"
The King danced out on stage. Cloud ran over to him and stood next to him.
"Oh... legendary hero, Alfred. You have come to save my beloved Rosa..." On the peak of a dangerous mountain... dwells the Evil Dragon King, Valvados... who's kidnapped Princess Rosa... But... you can't beat the Evil Dragon King now! Talk to one who can help you......."
A wizard danced out on stage and Cloud
"Who will you talk to?" Boomed the king.
"The wizard," Cloud said a little too loudly. He ran over to the wizard.
"I am the great wizard, Vorman." Said the wizard, "What do you wish to know?"
Cloud thought for a moment. "I could mess this up and lots of fun…" he thought. Then he glanced up at Aeris who was waiting in the wings. , "I couldn't do that to Aeris…" He looked at the wizard. "The Evil Dragon King's weakness."
"Ahh, the weakness of the Evil Dragon King. It must be, it must be... Yes, it must be... True love! The power of love... is the only weapon that can withstand the fangs of the Evil Dragon King...!" The wizard yelled happily.
"Oh what is going to happen next...! Oh... Legendary hero... look!" The narrator boomed.
Everyone gasped hugely as a giant stuffed dragon swings out on stage. He was holding Aeris, who was playing the part of the Princess.
"Gaaaaaaah!" Screamed the Evil Dragon King, "I am the Evil Dragon King... Valvados! I have not harmed the Princess... I have been expecting... you!"
"Please help me... Legendary Hero!" Aeris called in a voice slightly higher pitched than usual. She looked up at the dragon, "psst...... like that?"
"Gaaaaaah! Here I come, Legendary hero... Alfred! I already know... your name!" The Evil Dragon King yelled.
"And now... Legendary Hero...! Here is what will happen... to your beloved......." the wizard cried spreading his arms, "A kiss! The power of True Love!!"
Cloud's jaw dropped, "I get to kiss Aeris!" he thought wildly. He ran over to her and knelt before her taking her hand. He glances up into her emerald eyes for a second then kisses her hand.
Aeris let out a slightly shaky breath, "Cloud... I mean, Alfred..."
Cloud helped Aeris to her feet and keeps his eyes locked to hers. She blushes slightly and smiles. Then the Evil Dragon King began to yell breaking the magic between Cloud and Aeris.
"Arrggaahhh!! Curses...... The power of... love!!" He screamed as he "flies" offstage.
"Oh... look! Love has... triumphed! Now let's all return... And celebrate." The king cries joyfully.
The wizard nods, "Yes let's... yes let's...!"
The king, knight, and wizard all dance off stage. Cloud and Aeris shrug and follow off, dancing as well.
Oh, how profound the power of love... And so the legendary hero Alfred and our story live on happily ever after." The narrator boomed. Then the lights fade and the curtain closes.
Did we really get to do that?
Yes it was so much fun
I wish I could remember…
Well the next thing we decided to do was head for a ride on the gondola…
"Two, please." Aeris said cheerfully.
"Here you are, two tickets." Said the ticket seller, "Enjoy the sights of the Gold Saucer."
Cloud and Aeris climbed into the gondola and it set off.
Aeris stared out the window and Cloud stared at her, "I really should tell her…" He thought, "But what if she doesn't feel the same way?"
Aeris gasped, "Wow, how nice."
Cloud glanced out the window and nodded his agreement. Then returned to his thoughts.
"She must have some feelings for me. She did ask me on this date didn't she?"
Aeris gasped again "Oh! Look, Cloud."
Cloud pulled his thoughts together again. He looked out the window and watched as some chocobos flew by.
Aeris sighed, "It's so pretty."
"But what if it was just 'payment' for being her body guard. No that couldn't be it…"
Suddenly, some fireworks exploded in a rainbow of colors outside the window.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Aeris said.
"Okay, I'm going to tell her. Right now…"
Cloud opened his mouth to say something when Aeris began to talk.
".........first off, it bothered me how you looked exactly alike." Aeris whispered, "Two completely different people, but look exactly the same. The way you walk, gesture... I think I must have seen him again, in you..." She quickly shook her head, "But you're different." She looked down again, "Things are different..."
Outside the sky was still lit with brilliant colors. Inside the gondola Cloud watched Aeris speechlessly.
"Cloud..." she whispered, "I'm searching for you... I want to meet you."
Cloud looked at her peculiarly "But I'm right here."
I know, I know... what I mean is... I want to meet..... you." Aeris whispered almost in audibly.
Then as the gondola pulled in the one last bright yellow blast went off, Aeris shook her head and smiled. Then they both climbed out of the gondola.
"I had fun tonight. Let's go together again." Aeris said. Her face still glowed with the smile she'd given him before they'd exited the gondola.
Cloud looked at the ground. He felt like an idiot for not telling her the truth. Aeris's smile dimmed.
"You don't like being with me?" she asked in a slightly hurt voice.
Cloud shook his head quickly. Aeris smiled again, "I'm glad. Next time we come, let's take our time and go on more rides. Oh, look at the time. We'd better get going."
We headed back to our rooms and got some sleep. The next morning Barret, you, and I headed off to the Temple of the Ancients.
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Now before I get reviews telling me my chapters are too long, I will tell you this is probably my longest chapter. Hope you are enjoying it so far.
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