Chapter 1

Okay, so the prologue was short, I know. but there's more to come. And thank you to the very kind people who reviewed it! I really appreciate you taking the time!!

I stood leaning against the railing on the deck of the Highwind. It was only hours after we had presumably ended it all and we were still taking a leisure ride. I was thinking only of the promises I had broken and the dreams I had shattered.

I thought also of the last words of a fallen saint: "I'll come back when it's all over." I didn't even think that I deserved to be alive, because even she had been deceived by me idiocy into thinking it wasn't the end. Behind me, I heard footsteps followed by a familiar voice.

"Cloud.?" came the woman's voice, "What are you doing all alone out here."

"I wanna be here," I replied abruptly.

"Come inside, won't you?" she asked, "You should at least make an appearance."

I turned around and looked at the woman with the long black hair and brown eyes. "I don't feel like it."

She looked a little annoyed. "Alright. We're in there if you wanna come any time." She started walking back to the door, but then stopped and turned back to me. "You gotta let go, already." She went inside.

Her words pierced my ears, only because she didn't seem to understand how difficult it is to just "let go." I understood her logic but not how her advice was to be executed. I turned back to the passing scenery and went back to my thinking.

We were so high up and could see so much. She would have loved it, I bet. Another promise I had broken was for her to see all this. But I never expected things to happen like they did.

Suddenly a strange feeling came over me. Even though I wasn't even thinking about, I suddenly felt a small piece of black, eerie will telling me to go inside and see everyone. It started out small, as a stroke of darkness. I quickly dismissed it, now knowing that its persistent nature would cause it to return. And so it did, each time getting stronger and stronger and each time making me hate it more and more. What was going on?

I walked into the area where the members of AVALANCHE stood talking and drinking, enjoying themselves, without a clue about what was happening. My stride was different, and the muscles in my face seemed more relaxed, yet all my muscles seemed to have intent in their movement. I let myself do whatever it was that was happening and just watch from the inside, helpless but curious.

Everyone turned around to look at me. They all looked puzzled as to why my expression was so strange and vague. The red lion stepped forward.

"Have you decided to join us, Cloud?" he asked politely.

Words suddenly came spilling out of my mouth, away from my control. They were not my own, though I could even feel my lips move. It was all so real.

"No," I answered sternly and coldly, "I'm here to tell you that the girl is to be back. Go back to the Northern Crater and quit this joy ride and you will find her. Don't keep her waiting."

I fell then, my whole body shattering into the darkness. I was nothing now, nothing but a puppet again.

~~~~~**********~~~~~

I woke up to find people looking at me quizzically, watching for any sign. And a sign I gave them.

"What the hell happened?" I moaned.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" Tifa sighed with relief, "You. you went all funny and said that some girl was back in the Northern Crater and then you passed out."

"The hell did you do?!" yelled Barret, "You got into Cid's stash, didn't you?"

Cid wasn't there to defend himself. I sat up with a bit of Vincent's help.

"I dunno," I said, forgetting their words quickly and concentrating on my main concern, "We gotta go to the Northern Crater."

"We're already on the way," told Red.

I stood up with a concerned look on my face. "What do you suppose I meant by 'the girl?'" I asked the others, even though we all already knew.

"Aeris, of course," replied Cait Sith, "The only problem now is knowing whether the thing that came all over you was telling the truth or not. What do you think it was, Cloud?"

"I, I don't know," I said, "But the one who I suppose it is. I just pray it's not him."

~~~~~**********~~~~~

We arrived at the Northern Crater in about an hour and even though it was almost all caved in, I was able to walk deeper into the great cavity, leaving the others near the airship. As I walked deeper and deeper into the cave, I felt very close to something important.

And then I noticed something that brightened the dark cave. a piece of Lifestream had encircled its way around my foot. Soon, I saw more and more pieces of the glowing substance leading a trail further into the crater. I followed the highlighted path to find something even more incredible. Hundreds of strands of Lifestream were all dancing, spiraling upwards until they reached the end of their ballade, upon which they began spiraling downwards. It was beautiful. The Lifestream had always enchanted me and this was a masterpiece of its, boasting it's glory.

And then, something even more wonderful, by a million times, happened. The strings of dancing Lifestream suddenly exploded to a spectacular display, similar to fireworks. I watched in awe as the Lifestream started to fade away after its explosion, leaving behind a girl lying motionless on the ground.

I ran over and knelt down beside the figure. It was her! Good heavens, it was her!! I scooped her up into my arms and held her close and carefully, like a newborn baby. A thick layer of Mako clothed her entire nude body, making her sticky to touch, but I didn't care. I couldn't care less, in fact! The only movement coming from her was the slow rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in life anew.

"Aeris?" I let out with tears forming in my eyes, "Please, please, tell me it's you."

She looked weak, but for my sake she managed a smile, then raised her hand to gently touch my cheek. It was for real! It was all for real!

"Don't ever leave me again, you hear?" I said with a warm smile, the first since she had left me.

She chuckled softly and then, with the little energy she had, spoke, "I'm not going to leave." Her voice was like a beautiful melody, forgotten over time, but when heard again, was the most precious thing to the ear.

I suppose the others had heard all the commotion, since all of AVANLANCHE came running down to meet us, or more specifically, to meet Aeris.

"AERIS!!" Yuffie cried as she arrived, running over to give her a hug.

"No, no, Yuffie!" I told her, "She's very weak."

"Great balls of fire!" said Cid, scratching his head, "What happened?"

"I'll tell you later," I said, "But right now we gotta get Aeris back to the ship. She's about to pass out."

They all nodded with big grins on their faces, happy that the world's favorite girl was back.. though none of us could believe it. There was, however, one person who wore no smile or other sign of happiness: Tifa. Why she was acting so cold and quiet was beyond me, so I decided to say nothing.

As we walked out of the crater, me with a sleeping princess in my arms, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw the mystical Lifestream prancing about below, but dismissed the thought as I continued walking on.