Cloud entered the forgotten City. He looked towards the altar.

There she kneeled. The love of his life. He made his way to the area in front of the marble pillars leading to the Altar.

Tifa wanted to go with him…but he shook his head. He wanted some time alone with Aeris.

Tifa with an understanding smile…let him go.

Cloud jumped from pillar to pillar as he stared at the angel who kneeled praying there.

He reached her.

She was beautiful…the sunlight of the new day shone on her…her golden brown hair glowed with radiance…she was gentle and so peaceful looking…almost sacred.

He took a step towards her…

Suddenly his vision blackened. He felt his head throb, his body go numb and his mind overload. He couldn't think. Pain overtook him as he slammed himself to the ground in pain. Grabbing his head he screamed.

Then he suddenly stood there. His expression was blank as he reached for the hilt of his sword.

In his mind over and over…were the words…Aeris must die…

He took a step towards her, the floor echoing with his weight.

I must kill Aeris…

Another step was taken.

Must kill Aeris…

He raised his sword…with all his might…

I must…kill Aeris!!!

He brought it down!

"CLOUD!!!!" screamed Tifa.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN?" screamed Barret.

Cloud's eyes opened back and were full of shock. His sword was inches from Aeris' neck..

I love Aeris…WHAT AM I DOING???

"WHAT ARE YOU MAKING ME DO?????!?!?" he screamed.

The wind blew gently through her golden brown hair…the air around her glowed with an intense aura that emitted a soft green light…she was Aeris gainsborough, 22 year old of the Cetra and the sole survivor …and to Cloud…so much more…

She opened her eyes…a gentle gaze penetrating from her eyes to his.

She gazed into Cloud's eyes lovingly…

One last look…

She smiled warmly at Cloud.

Cloud felt himself staring at her…gazing into her eyes…loving her even more with each breath he took, with every new moment…

She looked into his soul trying to reach out to him…

Suddenly the sky went dark as a figure emerged.

His sword glinted in the light as silver hair whipped through the icy air.

His sword pierced the air as he came down at tremendous speed.

Sephiroth drew his sword back and with one deft swoop He stabbed Aeris through the stomach!

She dropped her clasped hands to her sides…she felt so sleepy…she remembered her moments with Cloud as she drew her final breaths…in her eyes was a mixture of feelings…shock…pain…and hope.

Sephiroth removed the sword and stared at Cloud with Evil eyes.

Aeris fell.

Cloud's face was a mixture of emotions. Hatred for Sephiroth but sadness, loss, disbelief, and love all in one emotion…the feeling pierced him inside with a pain he had never known…

Tears fell down his cheeks as he ran to Aeris catching her as she fell.

She looked into his eyes thinking of what she could say to him…what she wanted to say but couldn't…

If I died tonight…

I'd go with no regrets,

If it's in your arms,

I know that I was blessed,

And if you're eyes,

Are the last thing that I see,

Then I know the beauty heaven holds for me…

She stared into his eyes…and whispered…

"Cloud…thank you…for giving me the best days of my life…"

Cloud began to weep as he held her closer to him…if only the warmth of his body pressed to hers could save her…

..but he knew he couldn't…

He couldn't do anything…she was dying….all he could was be there and feel helpless. How cruel the world was to him…his only love…

Aeris smiled…

But if I make it through,

If I live to see the day, if I'm with you…

I know just what to say,

The truth be told,

Boy you're taking my breath away,

Every minute, every hour, everyday…

She loved him…with all her heart…she only had these last moments of her life…her life flashed before her eyes…her dust ridden hard life changed the day she met Cloud…

The memories she shared with him…the moments…

Cause every moment,

We shared together,

Is even better,

Then the moment before,

If everyday was,

As good as today was,

Then I can't wait til,

Tomorrow comes…

She didn't have a tomorrow….she didn't have today…she only had this last moment in Cloud's arms. The only place she wanted to be…if she ever could choose how she wanted to leave this world it was to be with him…The last thing she'll ever know…

A moment in time,

Is all that's given you and me,

Moments in time,

Yet it's something you should seize,

She wanted to tell him so many things but she knew she couldn't….she just hoped he already knew…she didn't want to leave but it was the inevitable…she couldn't change it...death is inevitable…and so is love…

So I won't make,

The mistake of letting go,

Everyday you're here,

I'm going to let you know…

Cloud held her closer, His eyes streaming 21 years of lonely tears. Soldier had taught him never to cry. It was weak for a man to do so.

He didn't care. He let them stream down his face. His tears…his feelings …he never thought he would ever feel this way…

He had seen monsters die…he had seen many things die…it never mattered to his stone cold heart…but in his arms lay an angel who was smiling at him…the only thing that ever had mattered…

Every moment she was slipping away…he held her closer…he didn't want to let her go…

He looked into her eyes and screamed…"Aeris you can't die! You can't…what about us? What about me..? You can't leave me Aeris you just can't…."

He cried even more…

Cause every moment,

We shared together,

Os even better,

Then the moment before,

If everyday was,

As good as today was,

Then I can't wait til,

Tomorrow comes…

She was getting weaker and more tired…she reached her hand and touched his face gently caressing his skin…

"Cloud…

Each moment that I wake up,

I love you more than ever,

So boy you know it will never go away,

Never trade,

…I love you…" she whispered.

He opened his eyes in shock…did she just say those words…?

She smiled at him with tear filled eyes…She let him know…

So every moment we shared together,

Is even better than the moment before,

She felt her energy leave her…she looked into his eyes one last time…

She gently fell back and her last breath was taken….

I let him know…how I felt…were her last thoughts…

If everyday was, as good as today was,

I can't wait til…tomorrow…comes.

Aeris Gainsborough of the Cetra returned to her Promised land…

"AERIS!!!" Cloud screamed…he wept and wept…his tears falling uncontrollably.

Why…Why…why? Why did they have to take you away…away to where I can't be with you!!!

"How sentimental…" snickered a voice…

"You…killed….her!" Cloud's eyes shot from Aeris' gentle face to the eyes of the one he hated so much. " She had so much to live for and you…you JUST HAD TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME! SHE WAS THE ONLY THING I EVER LIVED FOR…now she's gone…" Cloud screamed in agony…

"AND IT"S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" Cloud drew his sword. Anger rushed through his veins.

He sobbed uncontrollably…

"What you telling me you have feelings too?" Sephiroth said surprised.

Cloud felt his temples throb! "OF COURSE I DO!" He stood up from Aeris' body. "WHO DO YOU THINK I AM!?!?!??!"

Sephiroth laughed insanely. "Bwahahhahaaa….stop pretending that you're sad…or even if your angry…cause you know Cloud…you are…"

Sephiroth produced his palm which was glowing with a huge ball of energy. He slammed to the ground and jumped into the air taking his dreaded sword with him.

Cloud shielded his eyes as the energy exploded into a monster…

Tifa and Barret who had seen the whole tragedy from afar scampered to Cloud's side. They braced themselves for Battle!

Cloud used his sense.

"JENOVA-BIRTH!" Cloud's eyes widened.

"What is it weak against!" screamed Tifa as she attacked.

"FIRE!" chanted Barret as he attacked from the other side of the hideous creature.

"Foolish…humans…TAKE THIS!" Jenova snickered. "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!" She aimed her beam at the three warriors and knocked them to the ground.

ULTIMA BEAM!!!!!

She hit them again. All critically…

They attempted to get up but a strong tail pinned them all to the ground…

They were helpless…all of them couldn't move…couldn't think….it was the end…

From under the tail, they could see Aeris' body…her peaceful face…

Barret's eyes widened remembering…

*flashback

"Hey Barret! Why don't we have some fun!" Aeris giggled.

"leave me alone…" Barret turned from his comrades…

"Okay but we're all gonna have fun okay?" Aeris asked.

"FINE JUST HAVE YOUR (*&$(&)!(#$&!@& FUN! WE"RE AFTER SEPHIROTH REMEMBER?"

Aeris just stared blankly and began streaming tears as Barret turned and walked away angrily…

"I think he's mad…"

*end flashback.

Barret struggled from under the tail…Tears fell from his rugged visage…She saved Marlene she did so much for me…I have to repay her…we can't give up…

Tifa looked into the peaceful face of her friend…sister…rival….Aeris was all that and had helped through everything…she gave them hope…

She remembered….

*flashback

"Tifa…you love Cloud don't you?" Aeris asked.

"yes…I do…with all my heart…but…you do too…"

"yes…I do but I'll be gone soon…you won't have to worry…"

"Aeris what do you mean?"

"Just take care of him for me Tifa…Promise…?"

"Aeris…?…I promise…"

*end flashback

I have to keep my promise…Aeris…don't worry…It can't end this way! Tifa struggled underneath the weight of Jenova. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered her friend's words…

Cloud felt his body being crushed underneath Jenova. He struggled trying to get the weight off his this back. But no avail…

…He looked up. He saw her…she gave her life…and he couldn't let her death unavenged.

He remembered…

*flashback…

"Cloud…live life to the fullest…you never know when it might end…"

"Cloud would you like a flower?"

"Cloud…I will always love you…"

*end flashback…

Tears streamed down his face like waterfalls. He looked at her lovingly…she was gone…taken away from him. She had so much to live for…she was loving, caring and the most gentlest soul on the planet. Why did this happen? Why did she have to die? What did she ever do to deserve that?

NO! SHE HAD TO BE AVENGED!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" screamed Cloud glowing with a radiance of light! He grabbed Jenova and sliced through her tail.

"AEUGHHHHHHH!" FOOL!" screamed Jenova in agony.

"I won't die….not now. She believes in me!" Cloud screamed.

Tifa stood up with Barret.

She was there…she believed…they owed so much…and in her glory…they would save the planet.

Tifa jumped and thrusted 4 swift kicks into Jenova's chest.

Jenova screamed. She shot 8 beams across the floor shooting in vain to catch the warriors who caused her pain.

She missed!

Barret narrowed his eyes and called on Bahamut!

Bahamut Lord of Dragons raced through the sky in a blinding light… He opened his jaws wide where energy collected through his mouth. It condensed into a ball of magic, lightning and fire. Then he thrusted it into Jenova's skin!

Jenova screamed in agony.

She shot her beams again this time hitting Barret and Tifa. They flew across the marble floor.

Cloud stoop up firm. The wind blew through his blond hair. His eyes glowing with a burning intensity!

His body glowed with the power hidden inside him for so long. He braced his sword as the energy gathered and surrounded his blade.

His eyes burned with Hatred. They had killed the one thing that meant everything to him. And they will fall!

HE JUMPED UP AND SLASHED WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT
EXECUTE LIMIT BREAK!

MEREORAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jenova screamed with a blood curdling cry!

White beams shattered throughout her body as Cloud landed safely on the ground.

A last cry could be heard among the explosion…

It's because you are…a puppet…"

Aeris floated there for a minute…then she began to submerge…slowly she sank deeper and deeper…

Cloud watched her go…he tried to fight back the tears but they continually flowed. Then…he couldn't see her anymore…

Aeris Gainsborough, Last of the Cetra, Friend and Companion to all who knew her… Cloud's love… was no more…