Clouderella
Chasing Dreams…
"I'm sorry! Hey, calm down!"
The soldier felt more surprised than the small blond appeared, and knew he'd broken some kind of spell. He backed away sharply when he finally saw what he was confronted with.
*
He'd been assigned as an escort guard to a group of scientists who were moving some sort of equipment into the Mako reactor in the mountains. It was supposed to be an assessment mission, the final rung on his way to Lieutenant, and he was secretly hoping to be promoted to first class when they returned to Midgar… Shinra had eyes and ears everywhere.
He'd actually been enjoying the scenery of their little expedition, already admiring the almost fantastical views from the top of the mountains and wishing he could go back and have another look at that fountain. Honestly, those scientists thought they were so damn clever, ignoring such wonderful things, and writing them off as purely scientific. Hell, he wasn't exactly the most intelligent or artistic person in the universe, but he understood real magic when he saw it. He figured it allowed him to appreciate things without the burden of overanalyses… every cloud, even being slightly more physically oriented (as he preferred to think of himself), had a rather pretty silver lining.
And then, when they had been navigating the more confined passageways further down the mountains, where every sound carried with haunting clarity, he was almost certain he'd heard a voice.
"Sir, I think I ought to…" He began, already beginning to trail behind the small group that consisted of three scientists and two third class troopers. He was supposed to be their commanding officer, but it seemed more important that he investigate personally. Plus, he really wanted to see that cavern again.
"Heh, hearing ghosts already Commander?" One of the scientists sniggered, he was an entirely unattractive wiry man, grey haired, with a bald patch that gave him the perfect aura of 'mad scientist,' It was probably intentional.
He stopped, now sure he'd heard it.
"Investigate, if you must." Hojo muttered with a dismissive wave of one bony hand. His tone was quite blatantly one of disinterested contempt, "I'm sure you'll find nothing but a small change in air pressure and a few sharp geological protrusions." He grinned, an entirely horrible expression, and indicated for the group to continue forwards. "We're staying in the mansion tonight, so don't feel as though you have to hurry back to your duty or anything."
"What Hojo means to say, Commander, is that it's nothing but the wind. I'll inform the housekeeper, if you wish." The third scientist, slightly younger than the others, with a face that looked as if it were made of cookie dough and suffering the worst case of acne he had ever had the misfortune to witness, took it upon himself to clarify the point, unnecessarily of course. He sniggered, with a snorting, whistling grunt that caused even Hojo to wince sympathetically before they turned the next corner.
Well, if that was how they were going to treat a second class officer.
"Bite me, Hojo." He spat, when he was suitably reassured they were out of hearing distance, and all but tearing the helmet from his head proceeded to throw it after them as hard as he could manage. With that, and feeling a little better already, he turned on his heel and marched right back down the path.
Almost back to the cavern where he remembered the fountain to be, he heard the sound again, now much louder and in chorus with some kind of crystalline orchestra. But this time it had a definite voice. He couldn't quite tell if it was male or female, or even human, and it had an ageless quality that fit in with the ancient rock formations. Nothing was definable simply from the music alone, and the words, he could only partially understand.
They reminded him of the war… and that memory alone held a sadness that was threatening to send him running back to the familiar neutrality of the Mansion, or at least a warm, comforting bed at the inn. He'd even met a rather pretty girl on the way through that he could visit… Aeris, or Aerith, or something.
But the song was so enchanting that he could hardly bring himself to move, let alone leave, and although he couldn't grasp the words entirely he knew it spoke of more than despair, but freedom and hope as well.
He hadn't realised how softly he'd begun to tread, around the root and rock formations which still obstructed his view of the lights. Hiding whatever it was that had almost moved him to tears, and had to suppress a gasp of shock when he finally saw the cavern sparkling like a model of the constellations. At the brightest point, and moving within a shroud of mist he saw what had to be a spectre, bathed in silver and viridian light.
The figure was so small as to be almost insubstantial, but human in shape, with long hair that floated nimbus-like and of its own volition around pale skin.
He didn't stop, actually daring to follow the dancing lights toward the fountain, he followed the singer and realised belatedly, but not upset, because he couldn't help it. Eventually the singer stopped, to watch the river of magic tumble back upon itself. He didn't, compelled to actually reach out and touch the vision. He wasn't sure why, exactly, but somehow it seemed necessary to convince himself thet it either was or wasn't real.
*
Of course, up close and without the benefit of atmospheric magic effects, ( it was obviously an unconscious thing,) the boy was still quite unusual… of course, now he was holding a small sharp knife and baring fangs.
He didn't exactly remember the point where the ghost had metamorphosed into a rather underfed, jumpy, soggy young boy, but that was definitely what he was faced with right now. The rucksack he'd been carrying hit the floor with an unnoticed crash in the same instant, and all the soldier could focus on was the Rammstein logo half faded from the front of the kid's shirt.
"Calm down, kid." He repeated, also directing the comment in no small part toward himself, "I'm not gonna get you in trouble or anything."
The 'kid' shot him a glance of total cynicism. The soldier ran a hand through his damp ebony mane, he was more than a little unnerved, especially at the intensity in those eyes. He had the odd feeling that although the boy was much smaller than himself there was a good chance that even he; a mako enhanced soldier, might not come out of a fight victorious.
The kid looked like he could tear a Behemoth apart just by staring at it sideways.
Just like Seph…
Then narrowed blue eyes smouldered slate grey and faded lips tugged upwards in a broad smirk, the soldier was once more caught unawares.
"Yeah, sure you aren't. Only, last time I heard… that was kinda your job." He drawled, sheathing the dagger in a move which showed he would know what to do with it if necessary. The soldier laughed nervously, then an idea struck him, hard enough to leave a headache, in fact.
"You know what, kid. You should join Soldier, you'd make first class without thinking." He suggested, grateful that the kid's eyes lit up at the compliment.
"You mean it? Like Sephiroth?"
"Yeah, just like him. Let's get back to the mansion and I'll get you signed up. By the way, what's your name kiddo?"
He grabbed the boy's bag from where it had fallen unheeded, not taking any notice of the guilt he seemed to cause with an action only meant in apology.
"Cloud… Cloud Strife."
"Nice to meet you, Cloud." He said, smiling again despite the growing unease at the change his mention… no, his thought of Sephiroth had caused. "I'm Zack."
Author's scribble: Hee Hee, this chapter's for you, Dina, since you love Zack so much. Guess who's the fairy godmother!
1: Yeah, Cloud's psychic… well, wasn't he in the game?
2: That third Scientist, I knew a boy exactly like that on my Computer Studies course (Which I failed miserably).
3:The more I write this to be like Cinderella, the more it turns out like the actual story… except for Aerith. I'm kinda not sticking to what I wrote four years ago in class, because I'm better at this stuff now. The ball scene though, is staying put. My english teacher nearly swallowed her dentures laughing when she read it ^_^
4:The reference to Rammstein being Cloud's all-time second favourite heavy metal group… try and find a copy or Mp3 of 'Sonne' and you'll get it ^_~ as for his favourite band… wait and see. You can probably guess actually.
Later days….
