Final Fantasy VII - Immortality

-Chapter One-

Cloud awakened the next day, once more to the Highwind's loud blasters. He glanced out the small window beside him, into the main area of the ship, nicknamed the lobby. He expected to see Yuffie, the paranoid woman obsessed with materia, but he saw nothing. He checked his pockets, pouches, and whatnot. Everything was still there. He stood up and walked over to a small dresser, which was chained to the ground, just in case. He looked himself in the eye through a dusty mirror and grinned, noticing that the small locket around his neck still remained. He removed it and opened it with the utmost care, looking inside. Cloud sighed with relief, seeing that his picture of Tifa from back in the day still remained. She smiled, with deep auburn hair, before a beautiful deep blue waterfall, which made the perfect picture. Cloud smiled, attaching the necklace around his neck.

Cloud exited the small room of the Highwind, and entered the so- called lobby. Things were as they were the last time he was on the ship. He headed towards a staircase, which lead to the 'balcony' of the Highwind. Cloud climbed the metal staircase slowly, still recovering from his battle wounds, coincided with the minor case of Mako poisoning from before. As his footsteps made the clanking noise down the walkway, he approached the door. On command, it opened, and Cloud was exposed to the beauty of the mainland once more.

Looking over the large steel railing, Cloud saw a thick patch of forest. He smiled, remembering the sweet innocent flower girl, known by the name of Aeris Gainsborough. The wind was blowing in Cloud's face, sending his hair in many directions. Then, it struck him--total déjà vu. He remembered it all so clearly. Just before meeting her demise, Cloud remembered chasing Aeris through a gloomy forest. Trees were everywhere, and it was an eerie place to be. Since then, every large patch of forest reminded him of that fateful day. On that day, Aeris Gainsborough, Cloud's flower selling friend, perished from the living world.

The metal door slid open, and out came the lord of darkness-Vincent Valentine. He approached Cloud without saying a word, and leaned against the railing just as Cloud was. He sighed.

"Cloud, you okay? You look a little depressed," Vincent asked.

Cloud struggled to speak, "I'm fine."

Vincent shrugged. "You should rest."

Cloud replied, "I just woke up."

Vincent shrugged and walked away quietly, deciding that it was best to leave Cloud alone. He wiped a tear of Cloud's off his cloak, and entered the Highwind. He sighed, becoming worried about his comrade.