The sun shone brightly on a wooded but ancient Midgar.A farmilliar face
made his way down the old and worn cliffs and into Midgar.A red paw stepped
into the camera view, and it panned up to show a fully grown, and aging Red
13."So many years...." said Red wistfully.He made his way into the
overgrown town where people still lived. Only more peacefully.He made his
way to a small hut and knocked his nose on the door.It opened slowly to
reveal a girl looking exactly like Tifa."Morning Red. Come in and make
yourself at home." Said Alexandria. "Thank you Alex. Where is Shroud and
Xhang?" Red said looking at her. "The boys are in there room playing." She
said gently. Vincent had been infected by Sephiroth's fight, and he was
immortal. He was married to Alexandria, and together they had two sons.
Strangely, they both resembled Cloud and Vincent.Red nodded and made his
way into the back room, only to find the boys reinacting the fight with
Sephiroth so many years ago. "I, the Great Cloud, will demolish you
Sephiroth!" Shroud said playfully, holding a wooden sword at Zhang. "Never!
You shall fall Cloud, and the rest of your friends! BWHAHAHAHA-Eeeh...Zhang
had the wooden sword between his arm and side, and pretended to fall dead
onto the ground." Blah! Red smiled at the two of them, and lifted Shroud
and Zhang onto his back. "Yay! Its Uncle Red!!!" The two boys exclaimed.
Red smiled." I see you two were playing the battle between Sephiroth and
Cloud." Yeah! I wanna be just like my 10th great grandfather! He was so
awesome!" Shroud exclaimed. " I wanna be like Cloud too!" Zhang said. Red
smiled. " Well right now, it's time for your bedtime." Awwwee!!!Right
now?!" The two boys exclaimed. "Yes I'm afraid so. But tommorrow, I'll tell
you stories of your great grandfather Cloud. Both of the boys exclaimed
with happiness. Red then walked them to their beds, and put them gently to
rest. They were asleep within ten minutes. After Red made sure the boys
were both sound asleep, he turned and went back into the kitchen to find
Alexandria.Alexandria was 1/16th of an ancient, because throughout the
battle with Sephiroth, Alexandria's great grandmother Tifa, was a full
Ancient. Just like Aeris. But only a little more weaker.It was quite
strange.Alexandria looked like a reincarnation of Tifa, and Shroud and
Zhang looked just like Cloud and Vincent. Perhaps this was a sign. They
could finally bring Cloud back now.And all the other fallen members of
APACHE."Red?" Alexandria said, breaking his train of thought. "Hmm?" Said
Red softly. "Vincent...he's been....very quiet. And..I'm worried. So very
worried......Perhaps you could talk to him...He's out back on the
bench..."Alex said gently. Red was quiet for a moment, then swallowed and
smiled. "Of course Alex. I'll find out what is wrong with Vincent." He then
made his way tword the back bamboo flap used as a door, before Alexandria
stopped him." Nanaki...............Do...you...think we can save Cloud?"...
Red didnt even turn to look at her. He heaved a sigh and turned his gaze
downward. "Alexandria...dear.....I do not know. Without Tifa....we cant do
it.She has the powers of an Ancient...and she was the only one who loved
Cloud with a deep passion. Only her talents can draw Cloud out of the
Lifestream.That's the only way Alexandria."Red then made his way to the
wooded backyard, to find Vincent staring sadly at the stars, looking as
young as he ever looked. But still, a certin tiredness overhung him, for
the worry of this mission to save Cloud,Tifa, and
APACHE."Vincent......................"Red said softly.He approached
Vincent, and nuzzled gently against his leg. Vincent then smiled and
scratched Red behind the ear. "Welcome old friend. Welcome." Red jumped up
in the bench beside him, and after a long silence said something. "The
stars....so many of them shining over a different land. They were as
beautiful as could be that night....Dont you remember Vincent?" Vincent
smiled gently and looked up at the stars once again. "Yes...they were the
only lovely thing in the skies that night. The last night Sephiroth ever
saw.But dosent it seem strange Nanaki? That they are their most beautiful
when you can't gaze on them."..........................Red looked over to
Vincent." Vincent...we're going to save Cloud. We're going to save Tifa.
And your family. And Apache. Please do not worry. It's as everything Aeris
says.If we can draw Cloud's energy back to his body, then we can save
him.But as you remember, until 490 years ago, Clouds energy was in the
Lifestream after his illnesses which caused his death, and
Tifa's.Sephiroth's negitive energy that remained in the Lifestream, finally
had the strength to cast out Cloud's energy. It has been floating freely
among the planet for 4 years. I am afraid...that by Aeris' predictions,
after about a month, Squalls body and his energy will be gone forever. And
not even Tifa can revive him. So this is why we must work with our talents
to save him. Please do not worry Vincent. We can save him." Red explained.
Vincent was quiet for a long while."Then tommorrow we venture to the City
of The Ancients to seek council from Aeris, and revive Tifa. We need those
two's powers more than anything right now."Vincent said quietly. Red then
nuzzled against Vincent's shoulder as a cat's way of showing compassion.
"Do not worry. I will venture with you in the morning.Be ready Vincent. I
will leave you with Alex tonight. Show her compassion. For it may be a
while before we can return." Red then left the hut, and decided to visit
Cloud's body. He then ventured out of Midgar which took 45 minutes, to
reach an old Shinra bunker. He then made his way through the rusted out
door, over old wires and such, to a regineration tank, with Cloud's
lifeless body floating inside. They had managed to keep Cloud's body at bay
for 490 years, with a special machine and preservation liquid from
Aeris.Red stared up at Cloud's lifeless body. He had an oxygen mask on,
which really didnt help, but helped keep all his body organs somewhat alive
and intact.Red then winced when he saw Cloud. As he had predicted,Cloud was
already see-through.They didn't have much time.
"Hold...on..Cloud....Hold...on......."..To be continued
