Chapter 2
THE AWAKENING OF THE LAST ANCIENT
A young woman is sitting on the bed in a simple inn inside town of Kalm. She has just had her dinner before, and now she is going to have refreshing shower after her tough day. She was traveling around Kalm since morning to defeat monsters for their gil and potions. She sold some of potions for more gil. She does it day by day for her living since few months ago. Actually she does not really like to do that, but at this time, that is only option left to her. She ever thought to be bodyguard, but then she threw it away.
She stands up from the bed and walks to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, she unties her hair ribbon, leaving her long brown hair freely falls down. She stares to her tired face, but her beauty feature is still depicted on the face, especially her emerald green eyes that spark nicely. A lovingly eyes that everyone would die for. Her eyes narrows, she feels so sleepy that night.
I am tired because today's monsters were rather tough, but their gil and potions are good ones…and that dinner…just served my hunger well…maybe I will be refreshed after take some shower, she thinks. She then turns on faucet on bathtub, leaving the water to fill in the bathtub with warm water. While waiting, she takes off her short jacket and removes button on her long sweaty dress from top to bottom. When she reaches her stomach, she looks at it for some moment. She recalls that there should be a scar on top of her stomach, but actually there is nothing out of ordinary, only her soft skin. She continues to unbutton her dress and remove it completely. After that, she dips her finger to bathtub.
It is warm enough, well, this must be a refreshing one. She turns off faucet, goes into bathtub slowly as every inches of her perfect figure feels rejuvenated. After she is in, she leans to other side. She starts to close her eyes, relieving herself after every struggling day she faces. Her memory flashes inside her mind, a memory that she never forgets, yet it is also a memory that gave hope to her. It is memory of awakening of the last Cetra, herself, a young woman named Aeris Gainsborough.
/*flashback*/
"My child…". A soft voice whispered in Aeris' mind.
"Yes, Planet ?", she replied. It had been awhile since Planet talked to her last time.
"How are you ?", Planet asked her.
"Umm…as you may see, here I am…What's the matter ?", Aeris said.
"You will know your next fate by tomorrow…", Planet's voice gradually faded out.
"What ?? What's wrong with my fate…tomorrow ?", Aeris shocked. She really had no idea what was going on.
"Planet…what's going on ? Tell me…", she cried confusedly. It was all of a sudden that Planet came to her, told something in riddle, and simply left her back alone.
Aeris just sighed, she shrugged her shoulder. She had started to live her life in Lifestream normally and started not to hope miracle. She just accepted her circumstance for granted. That was her way. After some times, this strange event happened to her.
It is not usual Planet talked to me this way, Aeris thought. Is it something important ? If it is so, why Planet did not talk clearly to me ? Sure it gave me riddle, and I could only guess…but I have no clue…
Aeris recalled Planet's words.
'You will know your next fate by tomorrow',…The Planet said so…What did it mean ? My fate…what's wrong with my fate ? I was enough accepting my fate….It was very cruel to me, still, I did not complain…*sigh*…I really had no idea about this. Let's see what will happen tomorrow…
Aeris stopped her thinking and closed her eyes. She did not want to guess anymore. She just fed up. Deep inside her heart, she felt unfairness, as she had ever felt before, but she accepted it with open heart.
………..
Aeris felt something on her skin. She had not felt it for a long time, it was something warm. She longed for this feeling. She still closed her eyes from her sleep, enjoying this sensation.
It is warm, and rejuvenating, it is like sunlight on my skin…she thought. Suddenly she opened her eyes quickly and woke up from her sleep.
"Sunlight…???!!!", she startled, realized something important. She felt rather dizzy in her head, but still tried to think.
How could I feel sunlight ? That was physical sensation experience, and I can not feel anymore physical experience with living world outside Lifestream….how could it be ?
As she gathered her consciousness from sleep and her vision started to gain focus, she gasped and stood up quickly. Her eyes widened. She was very surprised to see her surrounding. She knew this surrounding very well, it was a place, and she knew, really really knew the place where she stood.
"No…it can't be…", she whispered, almost inaudible. She closed her eyes, shook her head, tried to remove her dizziness and gather more consciousness, then she opened her eyes again. No difference. Her surrounding was just the same as before.
That place was full of crystal, almost every place shone clearly. Yes, that place was The Temple of Ancients. That was the place where Aeris knew her destiny to save The Planet, where she first saw Cloud's worried eyes on her, and also the place where she was….died, stabbed by Sephiroth from behind.
Aeris still looked confused for some moment. She touched every solid objects near her, knocked them softly in order to make sure that she was not dreaming, to make sure that it was real, to make really sure that she was back to the living world.
Gosh…is it real ? I could touch every objects, I could feel warm sunlight over my skin, I also could feel the wind, it means……
"I'm alive !!", she cried out happily, jumping herself. Tears formed in her eyes, tears of happiness. She never imagined that such a miracle would happened to her.
It is unbelievable, but this is true !! I'm back to living world again !!!
She laughed softly to herself while sweeping her tears away from her cheeks, but her tears were still rolling down. She giggled cheerfully, she was really really happy to live again. Any available words were not suited to express her feelings, she just knew that she was very happy, and she wanted to share it with someone as soon as possible.
Aeris then knelt in front of the altar. She clasped her hands and tried to concentrate. She wanted to talk to Planet, she wanted to thank to The Planet for this gift, and she wanted to do apologize to Planet for her feeling of unfairness.
"Planet…", Aeris called.
Silence.
Aeris concentrated her mind harder.
"Planet…do you hear me ?"
Silence again.
"Please….", she begged. She clasped her hands tighter. Suddenly, a soft voice came to her mind clearly.
"Yes, Cetra ?"
At last, Planet replied to her pray.
"What happened exactly ?", Aeris asked. Even though she was happy, she needed to know why The Planet had given her life back. She just worried that it related to something terrible again.
"This is it, my Cetra child, this is what I have said.", Planet explained. Aeris paid her attention to The Planet. The sound continued,
"This IS your fate, Cetra…I have told you"
"My fate ?", Aeris replied with question.
"Indeed, besides, it is my gift…", Planet's voice became lighter, and it sent a kind of signal that could be understood by Cetra. Aeris felt her body shook softly, but she felt a warm aura around her. She felt familiar with it. It looked like Planet wanted her to know that it was also happy. Aeris smiled, and then giggled cheerfully. She never thought Planet was so friendly to her since her death, and she became happier knowing that.
"Planet…thank you very much…", Aeris whispered. Planet replied, "You are welcome, Cetra, you have saved me, together with your friends. You deserved this.".
Aeris just smiled, then continued," I also do apologize, Planet…"
Planet cut off her words," For that unfairness feeling ? Isn't it ?".
Aeris blushed slightly. "Well…", she replied, "…since you already knew it…would you accept my apologize ?".
Aeris felt a warm aura around her again, and a relaxing sensation came to her mind, eased her heart, and threw away all her pain. That was Planet's answer. Aeris suddenly felt lightheaded. She smiled and said,
"Thank you very much…thank you for everything, for giving back my life, for giving me another chance…".
Aeris then stood up and looked around her surrounding again. After some moment, she remembered about her stomach. She bit her lower lip and gathered her bravery to have a look at her stomach carefully.
"Yikes !", Aeris was surprised again. There, on her stomach where Sephiroth's masamune sword had thrusted in it before, she saw only her ripped cloth. She took a more careful look, and found out that her stomach was like ordinary stomach. No wound on it, even a little scratch.
Aeris hung her head up again. A look of confusing reflected on her eyes. She rubbed her eyes like a child, and saw her stomach again. Still no scratch.
Your gift is truly kind, Planet..Aeris sent her gratitude to Planet.
A warm sensation felt her mind. Planet had replied to her again. She felt wisdom in every Planet's words. Aeris just smiled. She then sat down and closed her eyes, still smiling. She had managed her happy emotion, and now she tried to think carefully.
I am alive, now….I never imagined something like this, and this thing just happened….I thought I will live in Lifestream forever, in Promised Land, but suddenly I have been brought back to life….It is something I wished for a long time….I am very happy…
Aeris opened her eyes.
Cloud…where are you now ? Do you know that I am alive ? Here and now, breathing, I have regained my body, my soul again…Now we could be together again, Cloud…wow, how wonderful it is !
Aeris smiled again, imagined how everybody in Avalanche would be surprised to see her back to them again, completely in flesh form. She wondered at most on how Cloud would be to see her since their last farewell.
"Cetra, there is one more thing", suddenly, Planet's voice came in.
"Yes, what is it ?", Aeris replied.
"Cetra, are you ready for another explanation ?", Planet asked her.
"Sure, what's wrong ?", Aeris felt a bit worry about Planet's serious tone. She felt there would be something important.
"My Cetra child, you should remember, I have said to you that this way was your way of destiny. You are the last Cetra, and The Cetras are our communicator to the world. It also means that Cetras are destined to be protector of The Planet. You have proven you're a truly Cetra by crushing Meteor before it hit Planet. After that, everything seemed so fine, but….", Planet's voice suddenly stopped.
Aeris paid more her attention to Planet.
Planet then continued,"…the menace is emerging again….the same menace…"
Aeris gasped. Silence arose around her for a moment.
"So there is still threat over there ? You said it is the same menace ???…", her mouth opened, disbelief came to her.
"It means…Sephiroth…is…back ?? With his Meteor ???", Aeris gulped. She never knew that. She also had no idea how that most terrible thing could be happened, again. Her nightmare. She felt her body trembling, and could not hold it any longer, so she knelt. Her body grew limp.
"Noo…tell me this is not real….someone tells me please…", she whispered desperately. After those battle, she thought that it was really over, but in fact, it was not, and she was feeling worse than before, knowing that she knew it was not really over. She felt her brain stopped to think. She felt she did not know the right path to step on. Clueless.
Planet's voice echoed again in her mind,
"Find your wisdom for this threat. This threat has an element that does not belong to Planet. Find the way, Cetra, find the way…."
Planet's voice gradually faded out. Aeris was still kneeling. Kept quiet. She hung her head up and closed her eyes. She remembered Planet's last words.
It advised me to find a clue about this…I have to think. Think, Aeris, think ! Aeris started to recall her past memories, hoping to find a clue that could lead to a solution for this new matter. Still, she did not know the answer. It was too unclear that time not because she had just been revived, but it was more because she still confused to have unfinished business that threatened every life form : Sephiroth. She had thought that she would have enjoyed her revival, but fact revealed that she must hold it until the worst matter settled. Suddenly, she felt unfairness came to her heart again.
/*end of flash back*/
Aeris sighs. She splashes warm water around her softly. Right now, she only finds one clue : she must meet The Avalanche to ask for their help again.
I don't think it was a real clue, I thought that I needed to meet The Avalanche because I am desperate enough. Once, this Sephiroth matter was settled by their hand, and I had a gut feeling that they are still capable of handling this Sephiroth over again, together with me…Aeris thinks to herself.
…and…how about Cloud Strife ? I really miss him…how's he doing ?
Aeris giggles. Thinking about Cloud eases her for a moment. She wonders what if he, all of a sudden, comes to her, right in front of her, here and now. Aeris blushes. She is still in love with Cloud. Even in her duty to save Planet once more, she still holds that feeling, and now, she is going to meet her beloved again.
Aeris then rubs her body with soap, starts to do serious bathing. After finishing the bath, she wraps herself in a towel, and moves to bedroom. She removes the towel, and starts to wear her sleeping gown. As she removes the towel, her beautiful figure is exposed. Not even a man could breathe while looking at her petite figure. After she wears her dress, her figure turns to an angelic image. Sweet, beautiful, and innocent. That way, every man in the world would surely struggle to reach her heart, to win her love, but she only wants one and only one man, even she doesn't know how her man of dream feels toward her. She'd rather not to know it, at least this time. She only wants to meet him, but time is not on her side right now. She has to wait longer.
After her revival, Aeris then gathered all of her belongings, including her staff, Princess Guard, a little gil and potions. She planned to meet The Avalanche as first step. From there, she hoped that they together would find a way to overcome Sephiroth's revival and probably, his revenge as well. Yet, she still did not have any idea where Sephiroth was, and in what kind of form. She had to settle this matter as soon as possible. Time was the essence.
Recalling the last time she saw Cloud at grassland near Kalm (Author : if you don't know abput this, please read my previous sequel : Live Forever ^-^ v), she decided to go to Kalm first. It was a long journey for her. After arrived at Kalm, she started to do her search for The Avalanche. She had asked many people about Cloud and his friends, but no one gave a satisfying answer, even a hoping one. Aeris also walked to every corner of Kalm, hoping to find any clue about The Avalanche, but it was useless. Day after day, she wandered around every place in Kalm, asked every people. When her purse went empty, she traveled area around Kalm to defeat monsters for their gil and potions, then sold the potions for additional income. It was a dangerous thing to do, but she had no more option left. After a week of unsuccessful search, she tried to think her next step.
It has been a week, and there is still nothing sightings on Cloud and the others. Where could they be ? Aeris thinks about the situation after she fells herself on bed.
Should they still be here, I would surely find them. How couldn't I ? I have visited every place in this town, every day, and I just found nothing ! I thought the old potion merchant that evening could tell me where they were, but still no luck. It was strange, they should went to marketplace to buy things this week, and at least, Cloud's hair must attracted other people attention if they were really going to marketplace. Hmm, I bet they have moved to another place rather a long time ago. Well, if that's the case, then I will move from this place, too, by tomorrow….but where should I be going ?
Aeris starts to feel sleepy. She can not think anymore, slowly, her eyes close peacefully. She decides to leave her next decision by tomorrow. She only wants to take rest now. She wishes that her love would lay down next to her, gives her a peaceful feeling, but there she is, swallowed by warm blanket, alone…
Cloud…where are you ? Do you know about what happened ? Sephiroth may come again and he will surely find you…I am worried of your safety, Cloud….I am afraid too…This thing is not over yet, and I have no idea how to handle this problem…
Cloud, how I wish that I will find you, I want to lay my heart to you….Cloud….ease me….come to me…please….
AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :
Well, it looks like that I can not change my writing style from my first fanfic (Live Forever)…*sigh*…Basically, first two chapters are centered on two different persons with their own thoughts. Next chapter is going to be a crowded one… . Oh yes, and please click link to Review, and drop your…um..hopefully…nice review…
