Sorry for the late update, but I had a lot of things to do!!! Hope you enjoy reading it!! :P

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters. Y_Y

"..." is speaking, '...' is thinking, and +++ is another character's point of view.

Chapter 6: Lëzdem

--The Second World--

Cloud continued walking on the large field towards the dim light. Right now, many questions were passing through his head. How was he here? How come this place held so many Darkness, and there were no stars to guide him? Where had the Great Gate gone? Where was he? Who was the one following him? How could he see, if there was no Light?

He was in a deep thought and he didn't realized where he was heading to. As he continued walking, he heard the moving of water. He thought it was only his imagination, so he continued walking, but soon, the noise got louder and louder until he got inside a river that was passing by.

As soon as he got his feet inside the cold water, for there was neither Sun nor Light to warm it up, his eyes grew about 2 times from the surprise. He looked down only to find out another thing: he wore a Grey Cloak. He was surprised by this and also that the fact that he hadn't noticed before he was wearing it. It was very light, soft and comfortable. He hadn't ever worn something as comfortable ever, except of course, for his SOLDIER uniform.

He then went out of the river and looked that the water almost immediately to dry from his cloak. He continued to stare at it in amazement until he heard something behind him and it interrupted his train of thoughts.

He could sense someone lurking behind him, so he turned his head to see who it was. He saw that the figure was wearing a Black Cloak, just like the one that Midas had. He saw that the man was about 5'9", had somewhat long black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, which looked even whiter by the fact that he was wearing a Black Cloak and had black hair.

The figure was staring at Cloud with a mesmerized look on his face and a big smile too. Cloud felt familiar with this man, whoever he was, but he felt familiar with him and he couldn't remember where he had seen him. Cloud started to feel a little bit uncomfortable for how this man was acting and the way he looked at Cloud, and the feeling didn't go away until the man spoke.

"What are you doing here? What might be so important to leave Gonën to come to Attem? Why did you came here, to a World of Darkness?"

"I don't know how I ended up in here." he said, while glancing around him. "Where are we?" he asked at the cloaked man.

"Hahahaha." he laughed somewhat mockingly as if Cloud was a simple ignorant, and indeed he was, for he hadn't been here in a long time and had forgotten all that he knew once in the First Days.

"Thou are at Attem, also called the Second World; as you can see, Darkness rules here, for Holy has left a curse that will haunt us forever. It was once in the First Days fair, as it is now Gonêm. There was Light, there was peace, and there was happiness, but all of that was taken away from us as Holy was created and used." Cloud could see anger in his eyes as he said this.

"What do you mean by 'us'?" asked Cloud.

"We, the Essanth, of course." He was getting a bit annoyed at the ignorant questions Cloud was making, but then remembered that Cloud had forgotten all that.

"We hate him, you know? Midas was his name, if I remember well. Attelas, we call him; the Dark Man, for he brought to us all of this Darkness by creating Meteor and bringing war upon the other Worlds to be free from this place."

"Midas?" asked Cloud remembering the cloaked man, and by doing so, fear returned and grabbed Cloud entirely with his cold hands that sent a shiver down Cloud's spine.

"Ay. Some of us still resist him. The Late Essanth, they are called, for I am a First, but I still help against their endless fight against him, for I do not want all this to be destroyed."

"You are a First, a First Essanth?"

"Ay, I was created by the Cetra. You can distinguish us by the way we are dressed. We, the First, are dressed with a Black Cloak. The Second are dressed in Grey Cloaks, and the Late are dressed in many ways, for the Present Humans dress like that. The Cetra are all dressed in White Cloaks, for they are the opposing of the First Essanth."

Now Cloud saw that this man wielded a sword. Attelor, it was named among the Cetra, the Dark Sword, and indeed it was Dark, for Cloud was not able to see it because of the Black Cloak. He was only able to see it because of the hilt, for it was made of diamond and reflected the dim light to Cloud. Then he remembered why he was heading that direction and decided to ask this man what that light was, but was cut off as the man started to speak again.

"I must leave, for I have other things to do. And I can see that someone else is coming this way, and he might be able to help you more than I do." he then got his hand inside one of the pocket of his Cloak and got out an orb.

"Take this." he said handing the orb to Cloud. Cloud took it and stared at it, mesmerized by it beauty and perfection.

"Take care of it, and use it wisely." he said while disappearing in the Darkness, for the First Essanth could travel any way they pleased on the Second World, either by walking or disappearing in thin air.

When Cloud looked up to where the man once stood, he did not saw him there, and he got worried for he didn't knew where he was and that he could continue to be lost in Attem. But then he remembered what the man had said and he turned around to see who was coming towards him, and he saw a figure dressed in a White Cloak with Balor on his side. The man was about 6'3" feet high, with green eyes, somewhat curly, short brown hair, and rather pale skin.

Iramsy felt relieved once he saw that Cloud was safe, but then he remembered that he saw a figure with a Black Cloak, and remembered that almost all of the First Essanth had disappeared and none have ever seen one more of them, except of course, Midas.

"Who was the person that was before?" he asked demandingly to Cloud.

"I don't know." He said, for the man hadn't said his name in their short meeting. Iramsy felt disappointed, for he really wanted to know who that man was, but then he saw the orb that was still in Cloud's hands and he recognized it immediately; it was an Ylnho. But how could Cloud get such a powerful and strange object in the middle of the Darkness? Surely Midas would not leave any of them dropped around there, so he asked Cloud.

"Where did you get that?" he asked while signaling the Ylnho.

"What?" said Cloud, but then he remembered that he had the orb and saw it once again.

"That man gave it to me." he said.

More was about to be asked, but suddenly, out from of nowhere, a figure appeared, covered completely by a Grey Cloak. It was about 5'5", but Cloud couldn't see the face of the figure, for the Grey Cloak wouldn't let him. Cloud then instantly guarded the Ylnho in the pocket of his Cloak and he unsheathed Ultima Weapon, for he remembered that the Second Essanth were dressed that way.

"Who are you?" he asked menacingly at the woman.

"It's me. Don't you remember me, Doëmn?" she asked, while signaling herself with both of her hands.

"Stop!" Iramsy shouted at Cloud. Cloud turned to look at him with a questioning face, but he soon obeyed and he sheathed Ultima Weapon.

"Aradia" said a happy Iramsy turning back to see the cloaked woman, for only he could see who was under the Holy Cloak, for she had many enemies and she needed to pass unnoticed on Attem. "How long has it been since the Lëzdem came into meeting?"

Now, as Aradia figured that she was in good company and that they could protect her from any harm, decided to take off the hood of the Cloak and now Cloud could see that it was a woman on about her mid-30s, with long blondish-white hair, and purple eyes. He also saw that she had a bow and an arrow placed on her back.

"Since Jomhä was captured, if I remember well." Cloud noticed a sadden expression on her face, and it soon went away but it lasted long for Cloud to notice.

"Ay." said Iramsy. "Ages have passed since that happened, and ages have passed since I started looking for him. But I fear I cannot find him any more, for I sensed that Holy has been used once again, thus destroying the Ylnhoss, as in the First Days."

"Yes, you are right. It has been used once again, for Midas was at work." saying this, she glanced at Cloud, who looked another way. Then she started to talk again, "Did you asked to the Yhiku* for any help, as I told you to?" asked Aradia, looking back at Iramsy.

"Ay. I have, but I don't know if they got the message or even if they'll do something to help us. It would be a wise decision from them to do, because even if I'm the Lëzde of that World, their decision rests not on my hands, but on theirs. I sent a message with the last one that came. I did not go with her, for I was very busy looking for Jomhä."

"She seemed really concerned on her daughter." continued Iramsy. "I saw that she still held strong feelings for the memories of her body and she didn't remember the First Days when I asked her about them. So I promised that I would find her daughter and that I would send her safely to the Third World, but she just wouldn't enter Gaëath, so I had to send her on a special task, that's what I told her for her to enter. I send her to tell the rest of the Yhiku to get prepared, for I could sense that a great fight was nearing."

Aradia was listening very carefully and she seemed really interested on what Iramsy had just told her. She then remembered of someone they hadn't asked for help or even talked to in a long time.

"Have you asked Agastü for help?" asked Aradia. Iramsy thought for a while to remember who she was talking about and then he answered.

"Nay; we could use his help, for he is the last of the Alarka. But he can't help us, for a spell was used in him for what he did..."

Now Cloud was in deep thought as the Lëzdem continued talking. He could've put attention, but he didn't, even though that what they were talking was of a great matter of importance.

Was Aeris the last Cetra that had died? Yes, she was. He remembered that Hojo had told him and everyone that. Then why did Iramsy said that she was waiting for her daughter? Maybe it wasn't Aeris at all, but Aeris might also have a daughter... No, she would've told him that. Another question was, why did he felt so familiar among these people around him?

He could not continue to keep silent anymore, for many were the questions that ran through his head, so he tried to speak as the Lëzdem stopped talking.

"...what is done is done. We can't do a thing to change that, what is important is what is happening now, in the present. So we have to find another source of help, or we'll have to fight on our own." said Aradia.

"I know who might help us. They..." he was about to tell who they could ask for help, but Cloud cleared his throat to call some attention from them, and indeed it worked, for both of them turned to stare at him quizzically. He then started to ask things about where were they and things like that, but Aradia didn't really put any attention on what was asking Cloud, for she wanted to do something else than to listen to some unimportant questions that would be answered later on. She then talked mentally to Iramsy, for the Lëzdem could communicate like this in a time of help or to avoid eavesdropping.

"Do you think Midas is still at Cloud's Qüa-pori?" she asked in her language that I now hold knowledge of and can translate it to you.

"I don't know. The last time I saw him, he was at the Silamne with his servants." He thought for a while and noticed that it was a strange question. "Why do you ask me that?" he asked in reply.

Aradia decided to ignore Irmasy and she walked up to Cloud and he was very confused. She then extended her hand and she put it on his face and he felt a great pain pass through his body and then disappear.

"I'm sorry." Cloud heard in his head before everything went dark and he fell to the floor.

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--Cloud's Qüa-pori--

Midas entered once again the Qüa-pori to look for something he had lost sometime ago. He saw it and was about to pick it up when he felt that something was wrong. Images from Aradia entered his head and he knew that he was not safe there anymore, so he started to run towards the Gate, but he was too late as he felt a grain pain in his whole body and he collapsed on the floor of the Qüa-pori.

He felt as if he was dying. Even worse, he wanted to die, for the pain that was inflicted in his body was too great to bear, for he hadn't felt pain in a long time and it felt even worse. He felt as if he was being cut a million times all around his body. He felt as if needles were piercing all of his internal organs. He felt as if all his guts were being taken out. He felt far worse than dying.

But he couldn't stay there, he had to continue. So he crawled to the Gate and finally went out, free from the pain, but full of anger and hunger for vengeance.

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--Attem--

While Cloud lay unconscious on the floor of the Second World, Iramsy and Aradia were now talking normally of who would they ask for help, and at last Iramsy told Aradia who it would be. She agreed with him, for they could be of great help, but then a question entered her head.

"How are we going to free them? We can only do that if we have blood from Midas, but I can see we do not hold on our hands any of it."

"Ay, we do have." said Iramsy, while signaling Ultima Weapon and Aradia could see that some blood was still on the edge of it. Aradia then understood and went over to wake up Cloud, for they weren't' safe there and she could sense it.

"Cloud, wake up." she said with her voice. He instantly opened his eyes, and was about to back off from her, but she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile and he felt calm, like a baby on his mother's arms, safe from any harm and happy.

"Come on, we have a long way to walk." she said while getting up and started to walk. Cloud then also got up and started to follow them and asked them one question:

"Where are we going?"

"To free the Damned Souls." said Iramsy without even turning to look at him, and they continued their pace towards the dim light that was in front of them.

++The Follower++

Eyes locked on the little group heading northward.

Ears heard of their planning and their direction.

And Mind created a plan...

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*Notice that Yhiku is also named at the Great Gate, Gaëath. Don't think that I'm just putting in random words! I DO know what's saying there!!!

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**As always, everything will be explained later and let's just hope that you remember when it comes out!! :P

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FINALLY!!! :P Oh, well, hope you liked it! Special thanks to:

Prexistence: I'll take that! *takes the map and puts it in the paper shredder* Bwahahahahaha!!! And thanks for letting me use Aradia, and I hope you liked this chapter! (Especially the part with Midas) :D ;)

Ah-choo: :D SOMEONE answered!!! Thanks! ^_^

Shadow And Light: That means I can kill him? Also, thanks for reviewing the other chapters!!!

Lestat-Vincent: thanks! Hope you liked this chapter, and continue reviewing! :P

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To the ones that haven't noticed, I DON'T OWN ARADIA!! Prexistence does! :( So leave me alone and go bother her!! :P