Chapter 2 - Eyes of the Beholder
Slowly a pair of dainty feet drug their way up from the shores of Nibelheim.
A pair of tired eyes spotted the town from under a dark cloak, and a spark
of hope rippled through them. The figure made it's way up from the shore and
through the grassy field to the entrance of the 'cutsey' town. Panting as if
walking for days, the figure's eyes scanned around, catching glimps of a
pair stading in front of the Inn arguing about wether or not they were going
to take a boat to Junon, or take Chocobos. Neither the blonde man, nor the
brunette woman seemed to notice the person watching them until they noticed
the fact that it was moving towards them. Cloud pushed Tifa behind him,
reaching for his Broad Sword, earning an angry 'Hmph!' from Tifa who pushed
him to the side and approached the new comer catiously.
"H-Hello.' Tifa said as plesantly as she could.
"W-Where am I?" The voice was that of a female's which for some reason
relaxed Tifa greatly.
"Nibelheim." Tifa answered, nodding to Cloud that this girl was ok.
Cloud raised a distrusting eyebrow and stepped closer to the figure,
sheathing his sword. "Why do you wear a black cloak on a summer's day?" he
asked, a little too rudely for Tifa's liking, or so he figured since he got
jabbed in the side with an elbow.
"I was...I was getting away. You said I was in Nibelheim?" the girl's voice
was tired.
"Yes," Tifa nodded.
The girl looked up slowly, her face still slightly darkened by the hood of
the cloak, but a smile could be seen now. She slowly reached her hands up to
the cloak, pushing the hood back, and earning a gasp from the two people in
front of her.
"Holy cow......" Tifa blinked. She watched the girl pull the entire cloak
from her body, her eyes wide, before she looked at Cloud, who was just as
shocked as she was.
This girl..she looked like Cloud! Her medium length blonde hair fell onto
two well built shoulders that led down to two arms that screamed out proudly
that this girl could use any type of sword you put in her hands. She stood a
few inches shorter than Cloud, standing at about Tifa's height, but looked
no where near her age. The youth on this girl's face was shown in pure
innocence as she looked puzzledly onto the two. Cloud blinked slowly at the
girl when he noticed her eyes. The same haunting eyes of that which...he
shook his head. It wasn't possible, but the eyes. They were a creepy pasific
green color, but the glow in them was just like her's were...this girl had
her eyes...the same innocent look in them as well..and the more Cloud looked
at her the more he saw of her than himself...she looked like...like...
"Aries..." Cloud blurted out in a shallow whisper.
The girl seemed to catch the words, her eyes widened considerably and she
took a step back. "H-How do you know that name...?"
Tifa tilted her head to the side. "Whatter you talkin' about, Cloud?! She
looks like you! Not Aries!"
Again the girl took a step back. "..Cloud? Cloud Strife?"
Cloud took a step forword now. "Now how do YOU know THAT name?" his eyes
narrowed slightly, now not knowing wether to trust this girl, or to slice
her up."
"Y-You can't be...Well I mean you can be...but..."
"Who are you?!" Cloud growled, getting a little irritated by this point.
The girl bowed her head and shook it slowly. "I don't know if you are ready
for that answer, Cloud." she looked up agian slowly, her eyes glistening
from tears. "Just know that my name, is Jillian."
Cloud stared at her for a moment. Why did that name seem so familiar to him
all of a sudden? In his oppinion he had never heard it before! But this
girl..she seemed WAY too familiar to him, yet he had never met her
before....
"Why do you look like Cloud? As far as I know he doesn't have any siblings!"
Tifa nodded to herself and looked at Cloud.
"Yeah...As far as I know too.." Cloud mumbled.
The girl sighed. "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."
"Try me." Tifa smirked.
Jillian gave Tifa a look of 'I'll tell you later' then looked back at Cloud.
"Now..how do you know the name?"
Cloud looked away from the girl and closed his eyes. "She was a friend of
ours."
"So you...you guys are...You're the Savers of the Planet?!"
Tifa nodded proudly. "Yep! That'd be us!"
Cloud shook his head, his tone now angry. "No! It wasn't us! We only
defeated Sephiroth, the planet did the rest!"
Jillian blinked several times. "...Defeated Sephiroth....But he-" she fell
silent for a moment, bowing her head and closing her eyes as if listening to
someone only she could hear. After a few moments she looked up and nodded
slowly. "I see..."
"You see what?" Tifa blinked.
Jillian shook her head. "If I told you now, you wouldn't understand. You
really should come with me to Kalm though..."
Tifa smiled slightly. "We're going to Kalm anyways! We were just dicussing
how to get there!"
"Chocobos would be the quickest way...."
"See, Cloud, I told you!" Tifa punched him in the arm lightly.
"A woman's opinion..." Cloud sighed. "Fine. We leave in five minutes. Get
the stuff you need and move out."
Both girls nodded and watched the man leave before Tifa turned to the
smaller girl. "I'd ask all about you, but when we get to Kalm I'm sure I'll
find out anyways. So how old are you?"
"I'm fifteen." the girl answered blankly, walking into the Item's shop and
picking out some Tents and Potions.
"Wow, you're a youngin'!" Tifa grinned. "Where ya from?"
The girl froze. "I uh......" she set the items she had gathered on the
counter, Tifa doing the same, looking at the girl in question, and the shop
keeper quickly added up the sum of Gil. "I'm from....Mideel....but I was
born in Midgar." the girl blinked, her eyes going blank for a moment until
the chash register chimed and the amount of Gil was shown. She quickly paid
for her items and slide out of the store, Tifa right behind her.
"You're a long ways from home to be travlin' all by your lonesome!"
Jillian nodded. "Yeah, it was a long trip, but I manage."
"How'd you get all the way here? I mean I know you can't walk across the
ocean."
"I borrowed a Chocobo from a friend." she answered, putting her items into
the bag she had on her back.
"Well, I said I wasn't gonna ask all about you so I'll stop." Tifa smiled
kindly.
Jillian smiled back then fell still again. What are you doing?! Don't open
up to them! They can't be trusted! Jillian sighed at the voice and shook
her head.
Tifa tilted her own to one side. "You ok?"
Jillian nodded slowly. "Yes I'm-" {Oh leave her alone! She's finally making
friends! AND with the right people! Just get them to Kalm, Jilly-bean! All
will become clear then I promise!} "I'm fine." She smiled fakely and stood
up slowly.
"Alright." Tifa blinked. "If you say so." she put her stuff in her pack and
sood up as well, leading the way to the edge of town where Cloud was waiting
with two Gold Chocobos (A/N I actually have an entire stable fullof them
-_-) and a Black one.
"Jillian, this is Oscar and Chad, they're the only two Gold Chocobos we have
so you'll have to bare with us. This one." Cloud pulled on the reigns of the
Black Chocobo. "Is Luna. We won't be going over deep water so you won't have
to worry about it."
"Won't we have to go over dark water to get to Kalm from here?" Tifa asked,
raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, which is why we're going to Costa Del Sol and taking the boat to
Junon. This is called a comprimise, Tifa. We both get what we want this
way."
Tifa rolled her eyes and went to the smaller of the two Gold Chocobos and
patted him gently. "It's been a long time, Chad." she smiled as the Chocobo
warked then climbed up skillfully onto the large bird.
Jillian blinked slowly at the three birds. She had watched Tifa climb up
onto the one bird, then watched Cloud do the same for Oscar, but this 'Luna'
didn't know who she was...and it might not take kindly to a stranger riding
her....
"C'mon, Jillian. Let's go." Cloud urged. He didn't like to wait for his
friends, so waiting on a girl her barely knew was annoying.
Jillian nodded slowly and swallowed hard. She climbed up onto the old car at
the entrace to the town and pulled the Black Chocobo to her. She shakily
climbed up onto it and quickly found her balance on the bird, who didn't
seem to mind her presence there.
"See!" Tifa smiled. "Luns is a real calm Chocobo!"
"Y-Yeah...." Jillian smiled faintly then followed behind the others as they
led the way to Costa Del Sol.
Jillian watched the two ahead of her. Not understanding them in the
slightest and wasn't sure if she wanted to get to know them or not. She
sighed softly, getting to know Cloud would be a good advantage for her, it
was something she needed to do, but from all the stories she heard, he
wasn't the easiest person to get close to. She admired Tifa already for
accomplishing such a thing, but then again the older woman made her slightly
angry at the attempts she made to snag Cloud's heart. {..It's been a long
time, Jillian. Do not spite her. Get to know her.} Jillian sighed softly. "I
don't know if I want to." She was far enough away as to not be heard so that
the others would not think she was talking to herself and was greatful.
Good! Go with your instincts! Jillian shook my head. "My instincts say to
get to know them..." {Ha! Now leave her alone!} the girl smiled at the
femmenin voice and listened to the male voice growl. Just hurry and get
back, alright!? "I don't see why you are in such a hurry to be seen...it's
not like they are going to smile and be happy to see you."
"Be happy to see who?" Tifa blinked.
Jillian paled as she noticed her Chocobo had sped up to catch up with the
others.
Cloud looked at her a little funny. "Are you on drugs?" he asked flatly.
"No!" Jillian protested.
"Then...are you running away from a mental institution?"
Jillian glared at the older man. He was definately NOT going to be a person
to open up to. Not yet at least...not until he knew...
"I'll take that as a no." Cloud smirked.
"Look! There it is!" Tifa cheered.
The younger girl looked to where the older pointed and smiled, then slapped
the reigns of the Chocobo against it's side and charged in on the town.
"She has a lot of spirit, I'll give her that." Tifa grinned before doing the
same to Chad to catch up with the other girl.
'Yeah..' Cloud thought. 'Just like Aries....' he kneed Oscar, making the
Chocobo wark, then caught up with the girls in town.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Cloud stood on the deck of the boat, watching as Junon came closer and
closer into view. He sighed softly to himself. Why did this girl all of a
sudden make him feel so different? In a way she made him feel happy, but in
another, he had to say it was her eyes and spirit, made him sad and
depressed. The way she looked blew his mind as well. She looked so much like
him in the face, but her features resembled those of...He shook his head
slowly. Maybe he was thinking about Aries too much, now he saw her in girls
he barely even knew. He caught glimps of a small pair of hands that rested
up on the rail of the boat a few feet away. He turned slowly and looked at
their keeper. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment then stood up
straight and went to her.
"Jillian? Can I ask you something?"
The younger girl blinked. He actually wanted to talk to her now? "...Sure.
What is it?"
Cloud's face twisted into a puzzled state. "How do you know Aries?"
"What makes you think I know her at all?"
"Well, you got all defencive when I said her name."
"Maybe I just read about her in a book or something."
"See, there you go again. Now tell me the truth." Cloud was normally a very
impatient person most of the time, but at the moment, he felt as if he
needed to be calm around this girl.
Jillian turned to face the water agian, watching as the last bit of sunlight
dipped behind the Wutai mountains and vanished, leaving the stars and moon
the claim the sky. "If I told you...you wouldn't believe me anyways..."
"You never know." Cloud smiled softly, leaning against the rail as well.
Jillian sighed softly and looked at him. "I'm....I guess you'd say I'm
special?"
"Special? How so?" Cloud inclined his head slightly.
"...I hear things." she answered quietly.
Ok, now he was begging to believe this girl was crazy. "Hear things, like
voices?"
Jillian nodded, her eyes still locked over the ocean. They seemed to glow
now, the pasific green orbs capturing the moon's light and reflecting it
radiantly into the night. "Yes....In a sense."
Cloud blinked slowly. "I see..."
"See," Jillian sighed. "I knew you wouldn't believe me, and now you probably
think I'm going insane."
"Actually," Cloud shifted his feet slightly. "I was thinking about how much
you really remind me of Aries....She heard things too, only it was the
planet....talking...to.." He looked at her, his eyes wide as he did so. He
looked her over as she turned to face him, a knowing look on her face.
"Jillian are you....?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, Cloud. I'm a Cetra...."
Cloud's expression went blank. This girl..she was a..a Cetra! But how could
she be?! The last of them were killed only two years ago! There was no way
this girl could have been born of them and grown into a teenager in a matter
of two years! "How...I don't..I don't understand.."
Jillian shook her head and turned back to face the water.
"Jillian..how are you a-"
"We will be arriving at Junon Harbor in five minutes. Repeate: We will be
arriving at Junon Harbor in five minutes."
Jillian sighed softly and moved away from the rail. "All will be explained
when we reached Kalm." she walked past him, not saying another word, and
went to join Tifa by the back of the boat.
Cloud stood there, baffled. He looked as if he had been slapped in the face
a few times and not knowing the reason why. Jillian was a Cetra? But how?!
He still didn't understand, and he didn't want to wait to reach Kalm until
he got his answers, but from the looks of it, he would have to.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
The town of Kalm came into view and Jillian let out a relieved sigh. It's
about time! Hurry up! "I can't go any faster than the Chocobo does, be
patient!" she shook her head as the voice fell silent and urged the Chocobo
to go faster. Once the group reached the outskirts of the town Jillian
hopped off the bird and led her slowly to the town, Cloud and Tifa a little
ways behind her.
"She's a what!?"
"Shh!" Cloud warned. "She's a Cetra, and keep your voice down!"
"How?! I thought the last of them were dead!"
"Apparently not if she's walking and breathing and only a few feet in front
of us!"
"You know what I meant!" Tifa scolded. "How is it possible that SHE is a
Ancient?!"
"Cetra," Cloud glared. "And I'm not sure. She siad we'd find out once we
reached Kalm."
"Well then lets hurry up and get into town, the faster we do so, the faster
we get out answers!"
Cloud nodded and made his Chocobo go faster, Tifa right behind him, until
they got to the edge of town and climbed down, Jillian already in the town.
"Your friends are here..." Jillian said, her voice void of any emotion.
"Yes, we know." Cloud nodded, a little worried by the tone of her voice.
"Well, you brought us here," Tifa sighed. "Now what?"
"Now, you follow me." Jillian pushed further into the town, heading towards
the back.
Cloud looked at Tifa who shrugged, then followed after the girl. She led
them to a newer looking house in the back of town. It looked just like the
others, white with blue trimming, but it looked a little smaller. The
location was slightly akward, it was right behind the bar, and the only one
in the area. Jillian stopped at the door briefly, pulling a key from her
pocket to unlock it before pushing it open.
"I'm home!" She called as she pushed the door open. "Hello? Where are you
guys?!"
Cloud and Tifa entered the house behind her, making sure to close the door,
which they instantly regreted since it was the only source of light in the
house and they didn't know their way around like Jillian did. Neither of
them dared to move in fear of bumping into something and breaking it.
"Hello?!" Jillian called again then her foot steps stopped as another voice
entered the room.
"There you are! Welcome home, Jilly-bean!"
"Hi." The girl's tone went flat, as if she wasn't too thrilled to be here.
"It's about time. Did you have a safe trip." another voice asked.
"Yes." Jillian sighed. "I brought them here like you asked..."
"I know, Jilly...light the lamp now..."
Cloud listened to the foot steps as they got closer again. "What the hell
is-" he stopped as the lamp was lit, light enfulging the room. His eyes
widened slightly as he took a step back, Tifa doing much of the same.
"No...it's not possible...."
A petiet woman stepped forward. Her long chestnut brown hair fell loosely
down her back and her aqua green eyes burned brightly as they took hold of
the two faces. "Hello, Cloud..Tifa..."
Cloud shook his head slowly. "What kind of trick is this..."
"It's no trick, I assure you." the other voice cooed as a tall, well built,
man with long silvery hair stepped forword, his pasific green eyes
glimmering dangerously. "Long time no see, Cloud."
Cloud glared at the man, but was still in shock.
Tifa stumbled forward slightly. "I don't understand...you are..?"
The two looked at each other and exchanged grins before looking back at Tifa
and nodding. "Yes, Tifa. It's us...Aries and Sephiroth."
(A/N Ta da! chapter 2! I really need to slow down since I'm writing this too
fast. Which I guess is good in a way since it means the chapters will be
posted sooner, but I wrote and finshed the first and second chapters in the
same day, one after another....lol so I think I'm a little envolved with
this story, ne? *giggles* Anyways! review! tell me whatcha think of this
chapter! Flames still don't and never will bother me so uh...that would be a
waste of your time to write one out just to get on my bad side ^^; anyways
until next time!)
Slowly a pair of dainty feet drug their way up from the shores of Nibelheim.
A pair of tired eyes spotted the town from under a dark cloak, and a spark
of hope rippled through them. The figure made it's way up from the shore and
through the grassy field to the entrance of the 'cutsey' town. Panting as if
walking for days, the figure's eyes scanned around, catching glimps of a
pair stading in front of the Inn arguing about wether or not they were going
to take a boat to Junon, or take Chocobos. Neither the blonde man, nor the
brunette woman seemed to notice the person watching them until they noticed
the fact that it was moving towards them. Cloud pushed Tifa behind him,
reaching for his Broad Sword, earning an angry 'Hmph!' from Tifa who pushed
him to the side and approached the new comer catiously.
"H-Hello.' Tifa said as plesantly as she could.
"W-Where am I?" The voice was that of a female's which for some reason
relaxed Tifa greatly.
"Nibelheim." Tifa answered, nodding to Cloud that this girl was ok.
Cloud raised a distrusting eyebrow and stepped closer to the figure,
sheathing his sword. "Why do you wear a black cloak on a summer's day?" he
asked, a little too rudely for Tifa's liking, or so he figured since he got
jabbed in the side with an elbow.
"I was...I was getting away. You said I was in Nibelheim?" the girl's voice
was tired.
"Yes," Tifa nodded.
The girl looked up slowly, her face still slightly darkened by the hood of
the cloak, but a smile could be seen now. She slowly reached her hands up to
the cloak, pushing the hood back, and earning a gasp from the two people in
front of her.
"Holy cow......" Tifa blinked. She watched the girl pull the entire cloak
from her body, her eyes wide, before she looked at Cloud, who was just as
shocked as she was.
This girl..she looked like Cloud! Her medium length blonde hair fell onto
two well built shoulders that led down to two arms that screamed out proudly
that this girl could use any type of sword you put in her hands. She stood a
few inches shorter than Cloud, standing at about Tifa's height, but looked
no where near her age. The youth on this girl's face was shown in pure
innocence as she looked puzzledly onto the two. Cloud blinked slowly at the
girl when he noticed her eyes. The same haunting eyes of that which...he
shook his head. It wasn't possible, but the eyes. They were a creepy pasific
green color, but the glow in them was just like her's were...this girl had
her eyes...the same innocent look in them as well..and the more Cloud looked
at her the more he saw of her than himself...she looked like...like...
"Aries..." Cloud blurted out in a shallow whisper.
The girl seemed to catch the words, her eyes widened considerably and she
took a step back. "H-How do you know that name...?"
Tifa tilted her head to the side. "Whatter you talkin' about, Cloud?! She
looks like you! Not Aries!"
Again the girl took a step back. "..Cloud? Cloud Strife?"
Cloud took a step forword now. "Now how do YOU know THAT name?" his eyes
narrowed slightly, now not knowing wether to trust this girl, or to slice
her up."
"Y-You can't be...Well I mean you can be...but..."
"Who are you?!" Cloud growled, getting a little irritated by this point.
The girl bowed her head and shook it slowly. "I don't know if you are ready
for that answer, Cloud." she looked up agian slowly, her eyes glistening
from tears. "Just know that my name, is Jillian."
Cloud stared at her for a moment. Why did that name seem so familiar to him
all of a sudden? In his oppinion he had never heard it before! But this
girl..she seemed WAY too familiar to him, yet he had never met her
before....
"Why do you look like Cloud? As far as I know he doesn't have any siblings!"
Tifa nodded to herself and looked at Cloud.
"Yeah...As far as I know too.." Cloud mumbled.
The girl sighed. "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."
"Try me." Tifa smirked.
Jillian gave Tifa a look of 'I'll tell you later' then looked back at Cloud.
"Now..how do you know the name?"
Cloud looked away from the girl and closed his eyes. "She was a friend of
ours."
"So you...you guys are...You're the Savers of the Planet?!"
Tifa nodded proudly. "Yep! That'd be us!"
Cloud shook his head, his tone now angry. "No! It wasn't us! We only
defeated Sephiroth, the planet did the rest!"
Jillian blinked several times. "...Defeated Sephiroth....But he-" she fell
silent for a moment, bowing her head and closing her eyes as if listening to
someone only she could hear. After a few moments she looked up and nodded
slowly. "I see..."
"You see what?" Tifa blinked.
Jillian shook her head. "If I told you now, you wouldn't understand. You
really should come with me to Kalm though..."
Tifa smiled slightly. "We're going to Kalm anyways! We were just dicussing
how to get there!"
"Chocobos would be the quickest way...."
"See, Cloud, I told you!" Tifa punched him in the arm lightly.
"A woman's opinion..." Cloud sighed. "Fine. We leave in five minutes. Get
the stuff you need and move out."
Both girls nodded and watched the man leave before Tifa turned to the
smaller girl. "I'd ask all about you, but when we get to Kalm I'm sure I'll
find out anyways. So how old are you?"
"I'm fifteen." the girl answered blankly, walking into the Item's shop and
picking out some Tents and Potions.
"Wow, you're a youngin'!" Tifa grinned. "Where ya from?"
The girl froze. "I uh......" she set the items she had gathered on the
counter, Tifa doing the same, looking at the girl in question, and the shop
keeper quickly added up the sum of Gil. "I'm from....Mideel....but I was
born in Midgar." the girl blinked, her eyes going blank for a moment until
the chash register chimed and the amount of Gil was shown. She quickly paid
for her items and slide out of the store, Tifa right behind her.
"You're a long ways from home to be travlin' all by your lonesome!"
Jillian nodded. "Yeah, it was a long trip, but I manage."
"How'd you get all the way here? I mean I know you can't walk across the
ocean."
"I borrowed a Chocobo from a friend." she answered, putting her items into
the bag she had on her back.
"Well, I said I wasn't gonna ask all about you so I'll stop." Tifa smiled
kindly.
Jillian smiled back then fell still again. What are you doing?! Don't open
up to them! They can't be trusted! Jillian sighed at the voice and shook
her head.
Tifa tilted her own to one side. "You ok?"
Jillian nodded slowly. "Yes I'm-" {Oh leave her alone! She's finally making
friends! AND with the right people! Just get them to Kalm, Jilly-bean! All
will become clear then I promise!} "I'm fine." She smiled fakely and stood
up slowly.
"Alright." Tifa blinked. "If you say so." she put her stuff in her pack and
sood up as well, leading the way to the edge of town where Cloud was waiting
with two Gold Chocobos (A/N I actually have an entire stable fullof them
-_-) and a Black one.
"Jillian, this is Oscar and Chad, they're the only two Gold Chocobos we have
so you'll have to bare with us. This one." Cloud pulled on the reigns of the
Black Chocobo. "Is Luna. We won't be going over deep water so you won't have
to worry about it."
"Won't we have to go over dark water to get to Kalm from here?" Tifa asked,
raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, which is why we're going to Costa Del Sol and taking the boat to
Junon. This is called a comprimise, Tifa. We both get what we want this
way."
Tifa rolled her eyes and went to the smaller of the two Gold Chocobos and
patted him gently. "It's been a long time, Chad." she smiled as the Chocobo
warked then climbed up skillfully onto the large bird.
Jillian blinked slowly at the three birds. She had watched Tifa climb up
onto the one bird, then watched Cloud do the same for Oscar, but this 'Luna'
didn't know who she was...and it might not take kindly to a stranger riding
her....
"C'mon, Jillian. Let's go." Cloud urged. He didn't like to wait for his
friends, so waiting on a girl her barely knew was annoying.
Jillian nodded slowly and swallowed hard. She climbed up onto the old car at
the entrace to the town and pulled the Black Chocobo to her. She shakily
climbed up onto it and quickly found her balance on the bird, who didn't
seem to mind her presence there.
"See!" Tifa smiled. "Luns is a real calm Chocobo!"
"Y-Yeah...." Jillian smiled faintly then followed behind the others as they
led the way to Costa Del Sol.
Jillian watched the two ahead of her. Not understanding them in the
slightest and wasn't sure if she wanted to get to know them or not. She
sighed softly, getting to know Cloud would be a good advantage for her, it
was something she needed to do, but from all the stories she heard, he
wasn't the easiest person to get close to. She admired Tifa already for
accomplishing such a thing, but then again the older woman made her slightly
angry at the attempts she made to snag Cloud's heart. {..It's been a long
time, Jillian. Do not spite her. Get to know her.} Jillian sighed softly. "I
don't know if I want to." She was far enough away as to not be heard so that
the others would not think she was talking to herself and was greatful.
Good! Go with your instincts! Jillian shook my head. "My instincts say to
get to know them..." {Ha! Now leave her alone!} the girl smiled at the
femmenin voice and listened to the male voice growl. Just hurry and get
back, alright!? "I don't see why you are in such a hurry to be seen...it's
not like they are going to smile and be happy to see you."
"Be happy to see who?" Tifa blinked.
Jillian paled as she noticed her Chocobo had sped up to catch up with the
others.
Cloud looked at her a little funny. "Are you on drugs?" he asked flatly.
"No!" Jillian protested.
"Then...are you running away from a mental institution?"
Jillian glared at the older man. He was definately NOT going to be a person
to open up to. Not yet at least...not until he knew...
"I'll take that as a no." Cloud smirked.
"Look! There it is!" Tifa cheered.
The younger girl looked to where the older pointed and smiled, then slapped
the reigns of the Chocobo against it's side and charged in on the town.
"She has a lot of spirit, I'll give her that." Tifa grinned before doing the
same to Chad to catch up with the other girl.
'Yeah..' Cloud thought. 'Just like Aries....' he kneed Oscar, making the
Chocobo wark, then caught up with the girls in town.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
Cloud stood on the deck of the boat, watching as Junon came closer and
closer into view. He sighed softly to himself. Why did this girl all of a
sudden make him feel so different? In a way she made him feel happy, but in
another, he had to say it was her eyes and spirit, made him sad and
depressed. The way she looked blew his mind as well. She looked so much like
him in the face, but her features resembled those of...He shook his head
slowly. Maybe he was thinking about Aries too much, now he saw her in girls
he barely even knew. He caught glimps of a small pair of hands that rested
up on the rail of the boat a few feet away. He turned slowly and looked at
their keeper. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment then stood up
straight and went to her.
"Jillian? Can I ask you something?"
The younger girl blinked. He actually wanted to talk to her now? "...Sure.
What is it?"
Cloud's face twisted into a puzzled state. "How do you know Aries?"
"What makes you think I know her at all?"
"Well, you got all defencive when I said her name."
"Maybe I just read about her in a book or something."
"See, there you go again. Now tell me the truth." Cloud was normally a very
impatient person most of the time, but at the moment, he felt as if he
needed to be calm around this girl.
Jillian turned to face the water agian, watching as the last bit of sunlight
dipped behind the Wutai mountains and vanished, leaving the stars and moon
the claim the sky. "If I told you...you wouldn't believe me anyways..."
"You never know." Cloud smiled softly, leaning against the rail as well.
Jillian sighed softly and looked at him. "I'm....I guess you'd say I'm
special?"
"Special? How so?" Cloud inclined his head slightly.
"...I hear things." she answered quietly.
Ok, now he was begging to believe this girl was crazy. "Hear things, like
voices?"
Jillian nodded, her eyes still locked over the ocean. They seemed to glow
now, the pasific green orbs capturing the moon's light and reflecting it
radiantly into the night. "Yes....In a sense."
Cloud blinked slowly. "I see..."
"See," Jillian sighed. "I knew you wouldn't believe me, and now you probably
think I'm going insane."
"Actually," Cloud shifted his feet slightly. "I was thinking about how much
you really remind me of Aries....She heard things too, only it was the
planet....talking...to.." He looked at her, his eyes wide as he did so. He
looked her over as she turned to face him, a knowing look on her face.
"Jillian are you....?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, Cloud. I'm a Cetra...."
Cloud's expression went blank. This girl..she was a..a Cetra! But how could
she be?! The last of them were killed only two years ago! There was no way
this girl could have been born of them and grown into a teenager in a matter
of two years! "How...I don't..I don't understand.."
Jillian shook her head and turned back to face the water.
"Jillian..how are you a-"
"We will be arriving at Junon Harbor in five minutes. Repeate: We will be
arriving at Junon Harbor in five minutes."
Jillian sighed softly and moved away from the rail. "All will be explained
when we reached Kalm." she walked past him, not saying another word, and
went to join Tifa by the back of the boat.
Cloud stood there, baffled. He looked as if he had been slapped in the face
a few times and not knowing the reason why. Jillian was a Cetra? But how?!
He still didn't understand, and he didn't want to wait to reach Kalm until
he got his answers, but from the looks of it, he would have to.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
The town of Kalm came into view and Jillian let out a relieved sigh. It's
about time! Hurry up! "I can't go any faster than the Chocobo does, be
patient!" she shook her head as the voice fell silent and urged the Chocobo
to go faster. Once the group reached the outskirts of the town Jillian
hopped off the bird and led her slowly to the town, Cloud and Tifa a little
ways behind her.
"She's a what!?"
"Shh!" Cloud warned. "She's a Cetra, and keep your voice down!"
"How?! I thought the last of them were dead!"
"Apparently not if she's walking and breathing and only a few feet in front
of us!"
"You know what I meant!" Tifa scolded. "How is it possible that SHE is a
Ancient?!"
"Cetra," Cloud glared. "And I'm not sure. She siad we'd find out once we
reached Kalm."
"Well then lets hurry up and get into town, the faster we do so, the faster
we get out answers!"
Cloud nodded and made his Chocobo go faster, Tifa right behind him, until
they got to the edge of town and climbed down, Jillian already in the town.
"Your friends are here..." Jillian said, her voice void of any emotion.
"Yes, we know." Cloud nodded, a little worried by the tone of her voice.
"Well, you brought us here," Tifa sighed. "Now what?"
"Now, you follow me." Jillian pushed further into the town, heading towards
the back.
Cloud looked at Tifa who shrugged, then followed after the girl. She led
them to a newer looking house in the back of town. It looked just like the
others, white with blue trimming, but it looked a little smaller. The
location was slightly akward, it was right behind the bar, and the only one
in the area. Jillian stopped at the door briefly, pulling a key from her
pocket to unlock it before pushing it open.
"I'm home!" She called as she pushed the door open. "Hello? Where are you
guys?!"
Cloud and Tifa entered the house behind her, making sure to close the door,
which they instantly regreted since it was the only source of light in the
house and they didn't know their way around like Jillian did. Neither of
them dared to move in fear of bumping into something and breaking it.
"Hello?!" Jillian called again then her foot steps stopped as another voice
entered the room.
"There you are! Welcome home, Jilly-bean!"
"Hi." The girl's tone went flat, as if she wasn't too thrilled to be here.
"It's about time. Did you have a safe trip." another voice asked.
"Yes." Jillian sighed. "I brought them here like you asked..."
"I know, Jilly...light the lamp now..."
Cloud listened to the foot steps as they got closer again. "What the hell
is-" he stopped as the lamp was lit, light enfulging the room. His eyes
widened slightly as he took a step back, Tifa doing much of the same.
"No...it's not possible...."
A petiet woman stepped forward. Her long chestnut brown hair fell loosely
down her back and her aqua green eyes burned brightly as they took hold of
the two faces. "Hello, Cloud..Tifa..."
Cloud shook his head slowly. "What kind of trick is this..."
"It's no trick, I assure you." the other voice cooed as a tall, well built,
man with long silvery hair stepped forword, his pasific green eyes
glimmering dangerously. "Long time no see, Cloud."
Cloud glared at the man, but was still in shock.
Tifa stumbled forward slightly. "I don't understand...you are..?"
The two looked at each other and exchanged grins before looking back at Tifa
and nodding. "Yes, Tifa. It's us...Aries and Sephiroth."
(A/N Ta da! chapter 2! I really need to slow down since I'm writing this too
fast. Which I guess is good in a way since it means the chapters will be
posted sooner, but I wrote and finshed the first and second chapters in the
same day, one after another....lol so I think I'm a little envolved with
this story, ne? *giggles* Anyways! review! tell me whatcha think of this
chapter! Flames still don't and never will bother me so uh...that would be a
waste of your time to write one out just to get on my bad side ^^; anyways
until next time!)