Cloud, Tifa and Barret approached the shell-like structure. A lake surrounded
the structure. They went inside.
They descended the crystal stairs, walking into the Forgotten city. There, on
an altar across 5 thin marble pillars surrounded by water, was Aeris praying.
Cloud signalled for the others to wait while he went on alone. The others
nodded as Cloud jumped onto the first thin pillar. Pillar to pillar he jumped as
fast as he could without falling into the waters below.
He reached the altar.
She's so beautiful.
And then it came…
He couldn't think. His head afire with pain set with one purpose…Slowly
he walked up to where Aeris was kneeling and unsheathed his sword.
Kill her…
But I love her…
YOU MUST KILL HER…
Yes…master Sephiroth…
The voices in his head fought one another…He slowly brought up his sword
towards Aeris' neck. Before he could slash it down to complete his purpose he
heard Tifa and Barret shouting..
"CLOUD!" screamed Tifa
"Stupid @&$*!*!"shouted Barret.
"Ughh! What are you making me do?" Cloud cried.
Aeris slowly opened her eyes…her hands still clasped in prayer. A smile on
her face…
He came for me…
Cloud looked at her emerald green eyes. He could hear her though she wasn't
speaking.
His eyes are on me…
I love you Cloud…
Cloud wanted to walk up to her, to tell her how he felt…but he was frozen
in one place.
It all seemed happened slowly…Sephiroth coming from above, with his sword
aimed at the one person Cloud had ever truly loved. Aeris unknowing of what was
to happen.
She just kneeled there smiling at Cloud.
Cloud eyes were full of horror as Sephiroth's sword pierced Aeris through
the stomach.
Her hands fell to her sides as death embraced her. But after a while, there
was no more pain.
I'm dying…but at least Cloud knows how I feel…Holy is coming…the
Planet will be safe…I know…because Cloud will protect it…
She smiled. Her part of the mission was over… and she was going home to her
Promised Land.
Cloud ran up to Aeris and gathered her in his arms. He looked at her wound in
her stomach and wept. He stared at her angelic face, into her caring green eyes.
"Cloud…don't cry…"Aeris whispered. She reached out her hand and
caressed his face.
Cloud wept even more…the love of his life was dying and there was nothing
he could do. He held her hand to comfort her.
"Aeris…I…" Cloud stuttered. " I love you Aeris…"
She smiled.
He loves me…I want it to be like this forever…me in his arms the way I
always dreamed about…but I only have this moment of my life left…
She stared into his Mako blue eyes and stroked his face once more…and
22-year-old Aeris Gainsborough of the Cetra closed her eyes and returned home to
her Promised Land.
Tifa walked up to Aeris' body and cried. She knelt down and caressed her
best friend's face. She knew Aeris loved Cloud as much as she tried to hide
it. She was so much to Tifa…like an older sister…and now she was gone. Tifa
ran out of the building with tear filled eyes.
Barret just stood over Aeris and wept. Aeris had always supported them all.
The beacon of hope when everything was hopeless…and now she would support them
too…only from a place where they couldn't see her. Barret put his hand on
Cloud's shoulder trying to comfort him…but he found no words to do so…He
left the altar to leave Cloud and Aeris alone.
"Aeris…"whispered Cloud. He became even more grief-stricken. She was
gone…the love of his life was gone… "I will avenge you Aeris… and
someday we will be together…I promise. He gently kissed her lips and caressed
her brown hair.
And with that, Cloud carried Aeris in his arms and walked out of the building
to the lake outside. The pool was a strange green with peaceful waters. Slowly
he walked into the middle of the pool and laid Aeris down to rest.
"I wish I could have done more…"he whispered into her ear.
And he let go.
He watched Aeris' body float there for a second and submerge to the calm,
emerald waters below.
****************************************************************************************************
The Final Battle
It is time…So many people have died because of this madman…the people of
Nibelheim, my mother, Tifa's father…Aeris…
Anger and hatred filled Cloud's eyes, as he stood there in his battle
stance, ready to end this adventure once and for all. In front of him was one
person in the world Cloud hated most…Sephiroth.
Sephiroth, First Class Soldier…
Sephiroth, the monster who destroyed Nibelheim
Sephiroth, the man who killed Aeris!
"You are a mindless puppet…you'll never defeat me. Here you are trying
to avenge that Ancient. She was weak…just like you." Sephiroth taunted.
"She was not weak! She saved us all…whenever we were down…whenever we
wanted to give up….she stood tall and supported us. And YOU JUST HAD TO TAKE
HER AWAY FROM US!!!!!
As Cloud's anger grew, so did his power. Slowly his limit had reached its
peak…
I promised her…I'll end this once and for all…
OMISLASH!!!!!!!!
Sephiroth was caught in surprise. He couldn't parry any of the attacks. He
only knew death between each powerful slash that Cloud surged forward.
"This is for my mother!" screamed Cloud, slashing Sephiroth.
"This is for Nibelheim!" Cloud slashed Sephiroth again.
A white aura surrounded Cloud, concentrating into his sword….
"AND THIS ONE IS FOR AERIS!!!!!!!" Cloud screamed slashing Sephiroth
right through his black, uncaring heart.
Sephiroth fell back covered in blood.
A puppet...? A puppet defeated me?
Cloud stood over Sephiroth. "In each of us, there is a hero. Everyday we
strive, fight, hope and love…these emotions make us strong. Aeris showed us
that we don't have to be strong physically to triumph over evil, that we had
to faith in our memories and remember those who we loved and those who loved us…"
Sephiroth's eyes widened in realization. This was the power Cloud had that
he didn't. And that power was the one that had destroyed him.
Sephiroth's eyes closed and died.
Cloud looked up…Lifestream was surrounding him. In front of him was a hand…a
delicate female hand reaching out to him.
He reached out…
His hand brushed hers…
Cloud I'm taking you home…
"Aeris what?" whispered Cloud.
His spirit joined his body once more as he soon escaped the Crater as it
begun to crumble. He and the party managed to get on the Highwind before the
Crater collapsed. Holy was coming and the planet was going to be saved…but…
"&^!@#!" cursed Cid.
Holy was having an opposite effect. It was sinking Meteor deeper into the
planet.
"What are we going to do Cloud?" Tifa screamed.
"I don't know." replied Cloud.
Just then Lifestream came. It came from everywhere. The ground, the trees…everywhere.
It swirled around Meteor and crumbled it to tiny pebbles…
"Lifestream…"whispered Cloud.
Just then Cloud saw Aeris in the energy. She smiled at him. Before she
disappeared, Cloud whispered to her…
I will wait for you always Aeris…
She smiled and disappeared.
************************************************************************************************
From that day on…Cloud, Aeris and the party were known as the Heroes who
saved the Planet. Each of them was given gifts of gold and jewels; gifts usually
given to Heroes. However the gifts of the Hero were nothing of worth to Cloud
and Aeris. Two lovers in two different worlds. One in the world of the living
and one in the Promised Land.
They would both wait for the day when they would receive the gift truly
worthy of them both…
…The day when they would see each other again…
The End
Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction ever. Please Review!
