Hello, everyone!! I bet you thought I had dropped of the face of the earth
or something, didn't you? Well, GUESS WHAT?!! I didn't. So, sorry to
disappoint you. : p I'm still here, and I've put up chapter 3. Actually,
I'll probably put up 4 and 5 and 6 sometime today too. Even though I
haven't updated that doesn't mean I haven't been writing!
Though I definitely haven't been writing alone. My friend Shantar has been helping me a lot with this story ever since . . . Chapter 3 I think. Thanks so much Shantar! ( (hey would you look at that! MSWord turned my :) into a smily face and my -- into an arrow! I didn't know it did that! Wow, cool!
Ahem. Okay, anyway, as I was saying before, thanks a lot Shantar for writing this story with me cuz its so much fun! Hehehehe
And, for all you peoples reading this, REVIEW!!!!!!
Unfortunately I do not own FFVII. If I did, there would be a sequel or two out already, and Aeris would come back to life.
Chapter Three: The Forgotten City of the Ancients
Cloud stood in the pouring rain outside of the 7th Heaven. It was awful weather to travel in, but he had made up his mind. He was going, and he was going now. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for the sun to start shining, because the way he felt then, it didn't seem as if it would ever shine again.
Cloud didn't really know why he was going. Maybe he thought he would see Aeris, be able to tell her he was sorry. Maybe he thought that he would see Sephiroth, that Sephiroth would take pity on him and just kill him too, let his soul go peacefully into the Lifestream and flow through the earth among that gentle, warm river. Maybe it was both, and maybe it was something totally different. Maybe he had no reason at all. Did you have to have a reason for everything you wanted to do? He thought that maybe you didn't.
In any case, Cloud waited only long enough to lock up his shop and sling his giant sword onto his back. Then, he was off. Highwind would have gotten him to the city in no time, but unfortunately, Cid still had that, and Cloud wasn't about to call him up and ask Cid to come pick him up and fly him to the City of Ancients. No way. He didn't figure he would be able to go into Rocket Town and just "borrow" the Highwind for a while without Cid noticing. Even if he did manage to get out of the town, Cid would eventually realize it was gone and he would be right there waiting to kill murder him when he got back. Cloud could, of course, just take the Highwind and not take it back, but he decided against that. His conscience was bothering him bad enough about Aeris, and he knew it wouldn't make him feel any better to steal Cid's airship. Anyway, Cloud told himself, there was a chance he wouldn't even be there. He might still be flying around somewhere in the Highwind. Heck, he thought, the old geiser ( a/n I have no earthly idea how to spell that word and neither did my computer . . . ) could even be trying to fly that thing to the moon, knowing him. Basically, the airship was not an option. Cloud had pretty much known that already, and known how he was going to have to get there. His mind was very messed up, but he wasn't stupid. It would've been much more comfortable riding in the Highwind, especially considering that it was raining. However, Cloud had to settle for the only remaining means of transportation he had--chocobo. Cloud walked around his house to the backyard where a tiny stable stood. Inside was Boco, his beautiful flying chocobo, pecking at some greens. He walked up to her. "Hey girl," he said softly. She lifted her head at the sound of his voice and walked toward him. He gently strokes the soft feathers on the top of her head. "Wark!" she squawked pleasantly. "We've got a long ride a head of us," he said, still rubbing her head. "What do you think I'll find there? Think I'll find anything at all?" Boco's shiny black eyes stared back at him. "Wark!" Cloud sighed. "I am messed up . . . talking to a chocobo . . ." he muttered as he climbed onto her back. "Well, come on, Boco, let's go," he said, patting her. They rode off. It took Cloud two days to reach the City of the Ancients, going as fast as he could. I could go into great detail about his journey there, but it is not important, so I will not waste your time. It was late in the night when they reached the Forgotten City. When he saw it, Cloud brought Boco down and she landed softly on the road that led down into the city. It loomed before him, that sleepy deserted village of shells and sand, standing silent and menacing in the dim moonlight. "Well, this is it," Cloud said, half to Boco, half to himself. "Now what am I going to do here?" he wondered aloud as Boco trotted lazily down the road. "Why did I even wanna come here to begin with?" The only reply was the sound of Boco's clawed, three-toed feet thudding against the ground, echoing through the night. As he neared the city, Cloud left Boco and walked on alone. He wasn't afraid Boco would run away. At least, he hoped not in any case. If she did, he would have to travel back on foot. It would take him days, if he could even find a way back across the ocean. He would likely starve to death! On the other hand, Boco got angry very easily, and if he tied her up, she might get upset, and decide she wouldn't fly however many greens he gave her, or that she wouldn't run in a certain direction. Either way, what it all boils down to is that he would be stuck. No, he trusted her enough to leave her without tying her up. Cloud made his way up the road and into the temple, the same place that Aeris had lost her life a year before. The place looked exactly the same. Cloud looked around. There was no one. It was just him, alone in this ancient place, he alone daring to disturb the deep, fragile silence acquired throughout the temple in the last year. No one had been in the city since they had all come back with Bugenhagen. Hesitantly, Cloud went toward the altar. He jumped from one pillar to the next and walked slowly up the steps. How slowly it was, he didn't really know. Time seemed to stand still in this sacred place. He felt a bit stupid when the thought first entered his mind, but there was no one there, so Cloud turned around and dropped to his knees in the exact position as Aeris had been before. He clasped his hands before his face and closed his eyes. But he couldn't smile. He didn't know what he was feeling inside, but these emotions just wouldn't let him smile. Was it sadness? Maybe, but probably not. He knew what that felt like. Now, he didn't feel anything familiar--no sadness, no happiness, not even confusion. He just stayed there kneeled on the altar, letting the silence and the darkness around him seep in, become part of him, until he felt he belonged there. When Cloud spoke, his voice echoed throughout the room. "Planet," he began, not very sure of what he was doing or why or what to expect. "If you can hear me, if--" He stopped and opened his eyes. He didn't know what he was looking for. Perhaps he expected to see the blade of the Masamune slamming through his body just as it had Aeris. But no, he was still there, alone in the middle of an empty, ancient shrine. He closed his eyes again. "Planet, please hear me," he pleaded quietly. "Aeris did a truly great thing. She sacrificed her life here. She gave up her life on this very altar, praying for Holy. And not even for herself. For. . .for you," he stammered. "For the Planet. So I beg you," he went on sincerely, pouring his heart into the words he whispered. "Give . . . Give her another chance. Give her a chance at a real life, not a sad, lonely life. She knew she was going to die when she reached this place. I know it was her choice, but . . . " He trailed off. He stayed there a moment wondering what he was doing, what had made him want to pray to the Planet, and why, if he was going to pray to something, he was praying to this Planet that allowed evil to roam free and made horrific human sacrifices for its own sake. All of a sudden, all the thoughts took him over and he couldn't bear it anymore, couldn't stand the fact that she was gone, that the whole thing was so unjust. "It wasn't fair!" he shouted to the empty room around him. "It wasn't fair! I said it was her choice, but she didn't have one did she? Did she?!" he demanded. "She didn't have a choice at all, and what kind of life could that have been?" There was no answer, so he answered himself. "None," he said, softly now. "People think being an Ancient would be so great, but . . . No, it's a curse." He opened his eyes. "I'm so stupid," he told himself aloud. "She's dead!" he yelled to himself. "Face it!" The words echoed through the room, the sound of his own voice frightening him. "Yeah, but . . ." he argued with himself. He stood up. "Well, if there is a God," he shouted to the ceiling. "Or it could be the Planet, or even Buddha for all I care-whoever the heck it was that Aeris prayed to-if you have any kindness or compassion like they say you're supposed to, you won't let a servant with so much faith-a servant who did so much for you-die like that! Die in vain! If you care at all, you'll give her another chance." Then he whispered to himself as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I would give anything if she could have another chance." Cloud started to go, but before he could move he heard a voice calling to him from below. "Cloud! Are you coming?" He looked over. "A-Aeris?!"
Though I definitely haven't been writing alone. My friend Shantar has been helping me a lot with this story ever since . . . Chapter 3 I think. Thanks so much Shantar! ( (hey would you look at that! MSWord turned my :) into a smily face and my -- into an arrow! I didn't know it did that! Wow, cool!
Ahem. Okay, anyway, as I was saying before, thanks a lot Shantar for writing this story with me cuz its so much fun! Hehehehe
And, for all you peoples reading this, REVIEW!!!!!!
Unfortunately I do not own FFVII. If I did, there would be a sequel or two out already, and Aeris would come back to life.
Chapter Three: The Forgotten City of the Ancients
Cloud stood in the pouring rain outside of the 7th Heaven. It was awful weather to travel in, but he had made up his mind. He was going, and he was going now. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for the sun to start shining, because the way he felt then, it didn't seem as if it would ever shine again.
Cloud didn't really know why he was going. Maybe he thought he would see Aeris, be able to tell her he was sorry. Maybe he thought that he would see Sephiroth, that Sephiroth would take pity on him and just kill him too, let his soul go peacefully into the Lifestream and flow through the earth among that gentle, warm river. Maybe it was both, and maybe it was something totally different. Maybe he had no reason at all. Did you have to have a reason for everything you wanted to do? He thought that maybe you didn't.
In any case, Cloud waited only long enough to lock up his shop and sling his giant sword onto his back. Then, he was off. Highwind would have gotten him to the city in no time, but unfortunately, Cid still had that, and Cloud wasn't about to call him up and ask Cid to come pick him up and fly him to the City of Ancients. No way. He didn't figure he would be able to go into Rocket Town and just "borrow" the Highwind for a while without Cid noticing. Even if he did manage to get out of the town, Cid would eventually realize it was gone and he would be right there waiting to kill murder him when he got back. Cloud could, of course, just take the Highwind and not take it back, but he decided against that. His conscience was bothering him bad enough about Aeris, and he knew it wouldn't make him feel any better to steal Cid's airship. Anyway, Cloud told himself, there was a chance he wouldn't even be there. He might still be flying around somewhere in the Highwind. Heck, he thought, the old geiser ( a/n I have no earthly idea how to spell that word and neither did my computer . . . ) could even be trying to fly that thing to the moon, knowing him. Basically, the airship was not an option. Cloud had pretty much known that already, and known how he was going to have to get there. His mind was very messed up, but he wasn't stupid. It would've been much more comfortable riding in the Highwind, especially considering that it was raining. However, Cloud had to settle for the only remaining means of transportation he had--chocobo. Cloud walked around his house to the backyard where a tiny stable stood. Inside was Boco, his beautiful flying chocobo, pecking at some greens. He walked up to her. "Hey girl," he said softly. She lifted her head at the sound of his voice and walked toward him. He gently strokes the soft feathers on the top of her head. "Wark!" she squawked pleasantly. "We've got a long ride a head of us," he said, still rubbing her head. "What do you think I'll find there? Think I'll find anything at all?" Boco's shiny black eyes stared back at him. "Wark!" Cloud sighed. "I am messed up . . . talking to a chocobo . . ." he muttered as he climbed onto her back. "Well, come on, Boco, let's go," he said, patting her. They rode off. It took Cloud two days to reach the City of the Ancients, going as fast as he could. I could go into great detail about his journey there, but it is not important, so I will not waste your time. It was late in the night when they reached the Forgotten City. When he saw it, Cloud brought Boco down and she landed softly on the road that led down into the city. It loomed before him, that sleepy deserted village of shells and sand, standing silent and menacing in the dim moonlight. "Well, this is it," Cloud said, half to Boco, half to himself. "Now what am I going to do here?" he wondered aloud as Boco trotted lazily down the road. "Why did I even wanna come here to begin with?" The only reply was the sound of Boco's clawed, three-toed feet thudding against the ground, echoing through the night. As he neared the city, Cloud left Boco and walked on alone. He wasn't afraid Boco would run away. At least, he hoped not in any case. If she did, he would have to travel back on foot. It would take him days, if he could even find a way back across the ocean. He would likely starve to death! On the other hand, Boco got angry very easily, and if he tied her up, she might get upset, and decide she wouldn't fly however many greens he gave her, or that she wouldn't run in a certain direction. Either way, what it all boils down to is that he would be stuck. No, he trusted her enough to leave her without tying her up. Cloud made his way up the road and into the temple, the same place that Aeris had lost her life a year before. The place looked exactly the same. Cloud looked around. There was no one. It was just him, alone in this ancient place, he alone daring to disturb the deep, fragile silence acquired throughout the temple in the last year. No one had been in the city since they had all come back with Bugenhagen. Hesitantly, Cloud went toward the altar. He jumped from one pillar to the next and walked slowly up the steps. How slowly it was, he didn't really know. Time seemed to stand still in this sacred place. He felt a bit stupid when the thought first entered his mind, but there was no one there, so Cloud turned around and dropped to his knees in the exact position as Aeris had been before. He clasped his hands before his face and closed his eyes. But he couldn't smile. He didn't know what he was feeling inside, but these emotions just wouldn't let him smile. Was it sadness? Maybe, but probably not. He knew what that felt like. Now, he didn't feel anything familiar--no sadness, no happiness, not even confusion. He just stayed there kneeled on the altar, letting the silence and the darkness around him seep in, become part of him, until he felt he belonged there. When Cloud spoke, his voice echoed throughout the room. "Planet," he began, not very sure of what he was doing or why or what to expect. "If you can hear me, if--" He stopped and opened his eyes. He didn't know what he was looking for. Perhaps he expected to see the blade of the Masamune slamming through his body just as it had Aeris. But no, he was still there, alone in the middle of an empty, ancient shrine. He closed his eyes again. "Planet, please hear me," he pleaded quietly. "Aeris did a truly great thing. She sacrificed her life here. She gave up her life on this very altar, praying for Holy. And not even for herself. For. . .for you," he stammered. "For the Planet. So I beg you," he went on sincerely, pouring his heart into the words he whispered. "Give . . . Give her another chance. Give her a chance at a real life, not a sad, lonely life. She knew she was going to die when she reached this place. I know it was her choice, but . . . " He trailed off. He stayed there a moment wondering what he was doing, what had made him want to pray to the Planet, and why, if he was going to pray to something, he was praying to this Planet that allowed evil to roam free and made horrific human sacrifices for its own sake. All of a sudden, all the thoughts took him over and he couldn't bear it anymore, couldn't stand the fact that she was gone, that the whole thing was so unjust. "It wasn't fair!" he shouted to the empty room around him. "It wasn't fair! I said it was her choice, but she didn't have one did she? Did she?!" he demanded. "She didn't have a choice at all, and what kind of life could that have been?" There was no answer, so he answered himself. "None," he said, softly now. "People think being an Ancient would be so great, but . . . No, it's a curse." He opened his eyes. "I'm so stupid," he told himself aloud. "She's dead!" he yelled to himself. "Face it!" The words echoed through the room, the sound of his own voice frightening him. "Yeah, but . . ." he argued with himself. He stood up. "Well, if there is a God," he shouted to the ceiling. "Or it could be the Planet, or even Buddha for all I care-whoever the heck it was that Aeris prayed to-if you have any kindness or compassion like they say you're supposed to, you won't let a servant with so much faith-a servant who did so much for you-die like that! Die in vain! If you care at all, you'll give her another chance." Then he whispered to himself as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I would give anything if she could have another chance." Cloud started to go, but before he could move he heard a voice calling to him from below. "Cloud! Are you coming?" He looked over. "A-Aeris?!"