Cloud was dreaming. He felt his spirit drift off to the corner of the world. When his vision cleared, he found himself in a forest that glowed with an eerie light.
Where am I?
"Cloud?"
"Aeris!" Cloud spun around…there she was. His angel…
"Cloud…This is the Sleeping Forest. Just up here is the secret…I have to fulfill it…it's very important…I'm sorry…" She said her face full of sadness.
Cloud looked at her in disbelief…
Is she leaving me?
Did I do something wrong?
"Aeris…why?"
Aeris turned away from Cloud…
"I can't tell you….Cloud I can't…I'll come back when it's all over…"
She turned and faced him with tear filled eyes…
"I'll be alright…"
She walked up to Cloud and kissed him on the cheek.
"Goodbye.."
The she turned and ran into the light…
This is my destiny…
I have to do it…even if it means my life…
"Aeris! WAIT!" Cloud yelled frantically. He tried to run after her but he couldn't move…it was like he stuck in one place…
Tears welled down Cloud's cheeks…
Aeris…why'd you have to go…?
The sky became darker as a figure in Black descended from above…
All Cloud remembered hearing was…
That girl will cause trouble won't she? She'll be a difficult one…
We must stop her soon…
SEPHIROTH!
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Cloud woke up with a start…
"Aeris!' he screamed.
His comrades ran into his room one by one to see what was the matter.
"Cloud what's wrong?" asked Tifa.
Cloud was still in shock from the dream…
Was it real?
"Cloud are you okay?" asked Red XIII
"Where's Aeris…" asked Cloud slowly.
"Well she should be in her room…" replied RedXIII.
Yuffie then walked in with a shocked look on her face…
"What's wrong Yuffie..?" asked Vincent.
"Aeris is gone…she left this letter…it says that she loves us all and that she had to do something important to save the Planet…"
"ALONE!?!?!? Why did she go alone?" yelled Barret.
"I don't know…" replied Yuffie.
"We have to find her! What if Sephiroth finds her…Cloud we have to-" panicked Tifa.
Cloud was already packing his weapons and materia and headed out the door.
Aeris…I promised to protect you…I won't break that promise…
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Cloud and his comrades took the tiny Bronco towards the Northern Continent. Towards the fabled City of the Ancients.
"Aeris, I'm coming for you,…" whispered Cloud to the rising sun.
The Tiny Bronco whisked through the water and in about a day's time they would reach the northern continent.
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I'm so sorry Cloud…thought Aeris as she hiked through the mountains towards the City of the Ancients…
I didn't want to hurt you…I love you…
She stepped on some dry twigs as she went…
I have my destiny…I have to do this…
She climbed some rocks and scuttled across ridges.
Suddenly she was hit with a hugs fire red tail and flung across the canyon.
What was that!
A Valkyrados roared and leaped to where Aeris had fallen.
It roared menacingly and attacked her with its tail again.
Aeris fell to the ground crashing into a bed of sharp rocks, screaming in pain.
She frantically grabbed her staff and rushed the monster with it. She attacked twice but with no avail.
She was flung back once again with the force of the monsters tail. It growled.
She grabbed her materia and chanted a spell!
ICE 3!!!!!
Ice blocks surrounded the valkyrados and smashed it. For a minute it looked as if Aeris had already claimed to be the victor, but then it smashed through the ice and charged!
It knocked Aeris off balance and she fell off the rim of the canyon!
Her staff fell to the City below.
She stared at the monster with fear filled eyes. The monster stood over her holding her to the ground.
The valkyrados braced its tail…
She closed her eyes and screamed.
IT attacked.
It hit Aeris and she flew back plummeting into the Canyon below.
Frantically she reached into her pocket and pulled a random materia and chanted.
Suddenly she grew wings and began to float…
Whew…saved by my Float spell…
The Valkyrados looked over the canyon and roared…
Now see what I can do!
She grabbed one more materia that glowed with a fire red.
FLAMES OF HELL!
Ifrit bursted into the sky and roared with a deafening roar like no beast ever known. He rose into the air and charged at high speeds at the valkyrados, which now seemed so small in comparison. Ifrit hurled 5 fire columns at the beast who squealed in pain.
The Valkyrados was gone…
Aeris was panting…she had defeated it.
She floated down to the heart of the City of the Ancients and retrieved her fallen staff…
Now…for my destiny…
She heard someone snicker…but when she looked there was no one there…
She shrugged.
She walked towards a shell like building and entered.
A figure in black slipped from behind a building began snickering and laughing evilly…
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Cloud and his comrades had made it to the Northern Continent…as they stepped out of the Tiny Bronco, spotted a village…
It was Bone village…
Cloud went to a man who was excavating and asked him had he seen a girl in a pink dress come by…
"Yea I've seen her. She went that way…" pointing towards the forest.
"Thank you…" Cloud said to the man as he started toward the forest.
"Hey man you know her? You need a harp to get in there. Otherwise you'll never get out. " warned the man.
"Where do I get this harp?"
"It's called the Lunar Harp. You can get it by excavating for it here in Bone Village. I can lend you some of my staff…"he replied.
"how much?"
"Welll….how about 100 gil a staff member. You get to set the bomb off and choose where you want us to dig."
"Okay…" Cloud said.
Hours later….
So far they had found two bottle caps, 5 potions, 2 hi potions and a mop.
"okay……last time. I'm starting to get frustrated." Said the man.
Cloud shrugged and set the bomb.
Then the staff calculated the tremors….Cloud moved to its coordinates and chose the area to dig in.
After another 30 minutes, they finally unearthed the Lunar Harp.
"Now you have to play it as soon as you go into the forest." Instructed the man.
"thanks for your help…now I can save her." Cloud thanked.
"Oh…you might wanna get in there soon. She's really pretty but I think I saw a stalker go in after her."
Cloud froze….
"What did he look like?" Cloud asked slowly.
"err….silver hair and well a huge scary looking sword." The man replied.
Cloud's eyes looked in horror.
Sephiroth was too close. He could….
Cloud bolted for the Sleeping forest!
No way am I gonna lose her…He'll hurt her. AERIS I'M COMING!
Hang on…
Tears streamed down his face.
Aeris!
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Aeris sauntered down the crystalline steps of the forgotten city. She awed in wonder of the city's wondrous and serene beauty. The Cetra all were there. She could hear them, telling her what to do and how to save the planet they were sworn to protect.
She made her way across five thin marble pillars towards the Altar. There in the center she kneeled. Bringing her clasped hands under her chin. She closed her eyes and began to pray…
Cetra of the planet…Hear my plea…
Evil has returned…Planet needs us now.
I need Holy…we need it…
To protect the planet…
A tear rolled down her cheek….
And the ones we love…
***********************************************************************
Cloud and his friends travelled through the Sleeping Forest and beyond, Towards the fabled city of the Ancients.
Cloud, Barret and Tifa entered the City. As they approached one of the structures…Tifa suggested they get some rest. It took awhile but they eventually persuaded Cloud that he should let them rest.
Cloud lay in his bed in troubled.
What if I'm too late?
What if something happens to her?
He shook his head. He shouldn't think like that. She had to be okay.
He fell asleep.
Minutes turned into hours as he slept. At a point around midnight he heard voices.
Cloud…Help…me
Cloud woke up with a start. Aeris?!?!
He quickly ran to where Tifa and Barret were sleeping. With a yell he screamed for them to get out of bed.
"Cloud what's wrong?" Tifa asked sleepily.
"Aeris is in trouble." He whispered in shock.
"Howdayya know man?" asked Barret.
"I…can feel her…she's calling…for me." Cloud said in fear. "I can feel it in my soul… and my heart."
Tifa and Barret quickly equipped themselves and followed Cloud out the door.
************************************************************************
Cloud and his party made their way towards the entrance of the forgotten City. He closed his eyes. Yes…he could hear her…
He walked down the sacred crystalline steps leading to the heart of the city. He awed in it's wondrous light and kept quiet. A place like this was undisturbed, too sacred to be shattered by words.
He walked slowly.
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He's coming for you…
Aeris smiled…she could see him again…just one more time…
She felt Sephiroth's presence and knew the final moment was near…
In her hair a gorgeous white stone shimmered as each caring thought entered her mind. Powered by the energy she held to help and save the ones she loved. It grew brighter than ever as she thought of Cloud.
The day they met….the first time he smiled at her…the day he saved her from Shinra…their first date…their first embrace…their first kiss…
Those memories that lodged in her heart…
The ones she cherished. The best of her life, her pain war filled life. Those moments of Him made up for every bad one she had in her childhood.
She smiled as the salty tears fell from her eyes…
Just one more…one last look into his eyes…that's all I ask.
