I got up off the ground and walked to the cave
entrance. It was my turn for lookout. I look a deep breath and
looked around. Nothing. Nothing but soulless mountain tops. I look
up to the sky.
/ Oh, the sun's peeking through today. How wonderful. Maybe we could grow a garden and sing as we dance in the pansies! /
I kick the wall with my heel as I lean on it.
/ Damn that bastard. Damn that fucking Cloud! /
Yes, the hero of the meteor crisis is to blame for this misery. How you ask? Dunno. Nobody knows. Mom said that he just snapped one day. I can tell you what happened from what I've heard and seen, but for the reason behind it all, that'll be a mystery for you too.
Ah yes, it was twenty years ago when Cloud Strife and company fought Sephiroth and stopped meteor from destroying the world. Midgar was partially destroyed and many people died, but compared to what could have been the world, it was a small price to pay. The warriors, of course, were branded as heroes and their victory was celebrated in Kalm. After all that crap, they went to help rebuild Midgar. Mako was no longer used to power the city and the slums were no longer there. The plate was rebuilt with a city on it still. Of course not everyone wanted to be on the plate. So those that stayed on the ground, actually built a little city around the plate. That way, they could see the sky and have fresh, clean, air. Tifa even kept her bar down there. As for Shinra, it still existed. Many better improvements were made to it, so it wasn't a blood sucking bastard corporation like it was before. Reeve became president and many people seemed to like him. Oh yeah, they did find Rufus' body and buried his ass. Scarlet and fat boy Heid-something were never seen again, but they're probably dead now anyway. Anyway, when Midgar was almost finished, the heroes went to restart their lives. Barret took Marlene back to North Corel with him so he could help rebuild that town. Red XIII went back to Cosmo Canyon and became the town elder. Cid went back to Rocket Town and married Shera, however weird that sounds. I couldn't see that chain-smoking, swearing, old pilot settling down and having children. Yes, children. Twins in fact! I pictured just looking up at the sky one day, seeing the Highwind II fly by and just hearing some cursing as cigarettes rain from the sky. Scary thought. Vincent went exploring the world, or so he said, but I think he went looking for Lucrecia. He never found her though, and retired in Wutai. He met my mom, Yuffie, there. Of course, where else would she have been after she got caught stealing Cloud's materia again? Spike boy nearly killed her for that. Anyway, getting off topic here. Vincent and Yuffie got married, had me, and became Lord and Lady of Wutai after grandfather Godo died. I, in turn, would have become the heiress if it wasn't for the fact that Wutai was destroyed. So now that leaves Cloud and Tifa. You would think that they would be together, but they never started a relationship. Ok, it was mainly Cloud that didn't want it. Tifa longed for it, but Cloud never seemed interested in one. I think my father and I were the only ones that noticed there was no interest because there was something or someone holding his heart. And he was grieving from it. Sometimes, I would look in his eyes, regardless of his happy expression, and notice an emptiness lurking, an incomplete soul. I think perhaps, that that was part of the reason he went mad. This was seventeen years ago, I was three. One day, while I was playing with my dolls on the steps of the Pagoda, I never realized that it would be my last day to live a normal life...
Flashback
( A little girl is sitting on the steps of the Pagoda. Her hair was a raven black color styled in two buns with green clothes covering them, tied with blue ribbons. Her eyes were an unnatural royal blue-forest greenish color. She was wearing a blue and green kimono. The girl looked up from her dolls at the sound of a door slamming shut. Vincent was running towards the Pagoda. The girl stood up.
" Daddy? What's wrong? You look scared?"
FLASH
Vincent and Yuffie both came running out of the Pagoda. Vincent scoops up the little girl as they run towards the village. The little girl reaches out for her dolls that were left on the steps.)
I didn't understand. I didn't know why they were so scared. They didn't tell me a thing. They handed me to our maid and told her to take me to the safe room. They ran towards the village, leaving me with that last image of them being together alive. My mother told me what happened next, since I wasn't there. She told me what happened to the town when the hero of the world lost all sense of reason.
( "I can't believe it Vincent," Yuffie equipped her mastered materia onto her conformer "It, it just can't be. How-"
"It is what we never expected, but I don't know why" Vincent
checked his death penalty "I can't believe it myself, but that's
the report from Cid."
"Maybe it's Sephiroth again! Maybe he's still alive and- and is playing those mind games on Cloud again!" Yuffie concluded "It's not like he could do it to himself right?"
She looked at Vincent for reassurance. He just continued to
check his weapon in silence. Outside, people were running
around to get ready for an attack. All the people who couldn't
fight were sent to the safe room in the main house or in caves
on the DaChao statue.
"Vincent, you don't think he just snapped all by himself do you?" Yuffie looked a bit worried.
"I don't know, but I can't rule that thought out just yet." Vincent sighed " Sometimes I could feel, that something just wasn't right when he was around. At first, he was fine, but after time, there was this ever growing dying feeling around him. Something was making him miserable, eating away at his soul. If Sephiroth and Jenova are still dead, then it's he himself that's doing this."
"Maybe he'll snap out of it! If, we his friends, can bring him back from his delusions, he-"
"He killed Tifa"
Yuffie looked horrified, "What?")
He killed Tifa. If they were to bring him back, he would probably snap again once he realized he killed his best friend. He killed Tifa while they were arguing. Cid told mom and dad, that Cloud killed her and then summoned Knights of the Round Table. He destroyed Midgar. Cid found out from Reno, who escaped to Kalm and called Cid. Soon afterwards, Kalm was destroyed. Cid called dad to tell him the news. Where Cloud would go after Kalm was unknown, but Cid readied an army at Rocket Town. Barret was ready in North Corel. Red XIII got his people ready. If Cloud caught Midgar off guard, then it wouldn't happen to the other towns. They would be ready to stop him. But they were wrong, so wrong.
( Suddenly there was a loud blast from outside. Yuffie and Vincent ran outside to see the horror of comets obliterating the town and slaughtering the towns people.
"Shit...." Yuffie looked on in fear.)
Wutai was destroyed within a matter of hours. More than half the population was dead. This was an eerie resemblance to the Sephiroth/Nibelheim incident. One person single handily destroyed a town and it's people. We never found out, in what order Cloud destroyed each town in the world. But it didn't really matter now did it? No one was able to stop him. Cid, Barrett, Tifa, Vincent all died by his hand with many others that day. He almost took my mother that day too, but we managed to find a full cure in time for her. Before my father died, he told me to take care of my mother and the people of this town, and that he loved us very much. I was sad, angry, drowning in pure hate for that bastard, Cloud. He took away my fucking life that day. I even admired him once, but I wanted to murder him after that day. After we buried the dead, we moved into the mountain caves in the Wutain mountain range. Later, when we explored the towns, we found Red XIII still alive. He came to live with us although he was unable to fight no more due to a missing hind leg, and half limp front leg. From that, he just became a planner for attacks. When we visited all the places, we realized, that in one day, Cloud managed to bring most the world to his feet. In several days, everything was brought to his feet. Over the years, the world kept dying, as the population kept dwindling down to only a few thousand. We never saw him after that day in Wutai, but everyone knew he still was alive. We could feel it.
When I was old enough to learn to fight, my mom showed me how to use her weapon, swords, guns....anything that might be helpful in killing Cloud. She even taught me how to do martial arts. People were amazed at how fast and good I was. Mom joked that I might be the one who takes Cloud down. It would be nice to save the world. But some thing made me feel that I'd be saving Cloud from himself too.
I was seventeen, when it happened. Another surprise attack. Cloud found us or perhaps he already knew where we were. In the darkest hour, he silently killed the unaware watchmen. He came up to the main room of the cave and stood there. Many people were asleep but some were up. He didn't attack. He just stood there with a fake grin and icy cold stare. But I noticed something else in those lifeless eyes. I saw.........sadness. I saw he was hurting from something and it was just breaking his heart to pieces. Although I don't remember what happened next, I do know he attacked us since I later regained consciousness. When I was knocked out, I had a dream. No, not a dream, because it felt like my soul was being taken somewhere. I saw beautiful, little, green glowing orbs of light floating all around me. They looked like fireflies. Then, it hit me.........I was in the lifestream. I felt the lifestream rush up and surrounded me. It felt warm.........and comforting. I thought I was dead, but I didn't feel sad. Here, I was safe and happy, so why would I want to be anywhere else? Everything else was here.........so let me stay..........
( // It wasn't suppose to happen//
/ Wha?/
// We didn't see it coming//
/ What? Who's-/
// Don't worry child, we won't hurt you//
/ You're the Cetra.........?!/
// You're going to be fine.......// )
They told me I wasn't dead, damnit, but close to it. They didn't want me to die. They said that I might be what saves this planet. I woke up after being unconscious for over an hour. I remember looking around and seeing many people hurt, dying, or already dead. Some even looked fine. I saw my mom lying there dead. I ran over to her and tried to wake her up, but I knew deep down she was gone. I was hurting emotionally, but physically, I was fine. In fact, it took me awhile to realize that my body felt even better than before. I noticed the scars though which made me remember that the Cetra told me I was close to dying. I guess they healed me. I had hoped that it wasn't real, but it was. Because after that day, they would come to me while I was sleeping. Then after awhile of that, they came to me while I was awake. I remember the first night of it very clearly.
( // It wasn't suppose to happen//
/ What stuff?/
// Cloud.........//
/ The stuff with Cloud you say?/
// After Sephiroth and meteor, things were suppose to be normal again//
/ Heh, what is normal?/
// You know what we mean//
/ Yeah, yeah/
// We never saw what was coming. To us.........no, everyone but Aeris, thought Cloud was free. Life was back to normal for him, but we couldn't see it, couldn't feel it//
/ But how come? How was Aeris able to know? You're the Cetra!/
// The planet was weak from using holy and the lifestream. The planet weakens.........so do we. But Aeris...........Aeris had a way to know//
/ What way?/
// I was connected to him by love..........//
/ Aeris?/ )
What I remember next was being in a field of flowers. The sky was the most gorgeous blue with very few clouds and the sun was just shinning bright. Aeris was sitting in the field, picking flowers and humming to herself. I never knew what she looked like before since she was deceased and everything. She looked like an angel. Her braided light brown hair held up by a pink ribbon was flowing in the wind. Her skin was so pale but perfect for her, with eyes of emerald green. They always looked happy even when she was sad. It looked kinda freaky to me. Her dress the color of pink, was draped so perfect over her nicely shaped body. And she was always barefoot. When it was just Aeris talking to me in my sleep, I would always be taken to that field. I guess it was her Promised Land. I liked being there and I think she knew that.
( / What is this place?/
// I come here when I want to be left alone with my thoughts. It makes me happy being here when I'm sad//
/ I heard you never got sad. Cloud said you smiled to the end/
// Heehee. A person like me can get sad you know, just never show it//
/ Ok........./
// You've noticed, haven't you?//
/Noticed what?/
//Cloud........./
/.........yeah........../
// And you still notice it don't you?//
/.........../
// I feel him sometimes//
/ Huh?/
//I feel him still to this day//
/ Feel what?/
//Him crying for help. He's stuck somewhere dark and cold, calling for someone to find him. He's crying out for help and I can feel it, but I can't find him. I know he feels me trying because he would call out for me, but I can't reach him. He's too far away.........//
/ Do you know..........know why he went crazy?/
//The real reason? No, but I know Jenova was starting to twist it and burn it into him//
/ Shit.........does she not know how to stay dead?/
// She perhaps, is alive because part of her is still inside him//
/ I'm assuming that if you guys didn't do something in the first place to stop Jenova or Cloud, you can't do it now/
// No//
/ They told me, the Cetra, that I might be able to save the planet. What do they mean?/
// I can't tell you yet because we might not be able to do it//
/ What? What might not work?/
// I'm sorry but I need to go now. Don't worry, we'll come talk to you some more//
/ What? Hey wait! Don't go!/
//Goodbye//
/No! Wait!/ )
I woke up reaching out for her. The people around me looked confused. I wanted to tell them what happened, but the last thing Aeris told me was not to let them know that I could talk to the Cetra. Oh well, some of them probably wouldn't believe me anyway. 'Least I made a friend..........kinda. Yeah, Aeris and I would talk about lots of stuff. It was like she was a real friend. She told me about her life and I told her about mine. It made me feel happy to have someone around, especially after Red XIII finally died. I always wondered though, what the Cetra meant by I could be what saves this world. I guess I would find out sometime.
I sat down against the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest, and wrapping my arms around them. I'm twenty now and still nothing has happened. I'm still here in these ragged clothes in freezing temperatures with hardly any food to eat. One thing changed though. My senses, physical appearance, and strength have enhanced somewhat. And my eyes kinda glow. I guess the Cetra have been infusing me over the years with spirit energy. The clean version of mako. Maybe they're getting me ready for something. I'm the one saving us from monsters now. I can beat the shit out of them like they were nothing. The others like it but don't understand what has happened to me, nor do I care to tell them.
/ Sigh, I'm getting bored here. I think I'll go visit Aeris. Hey Aeris! I'm bored talk to me!/
A minute goes by and I don't hear her.
/ Aeris? Are you there? Hey, your flowers won't die while you're talking to me, so let them be. By the gods, they can't die there anyway/
Still nothing. Ok, I'm getting worried now.
/ .........Aeris?/
// She's gone!//
/ What the-/
Suddenly there was something forced through my body. A.........sword? I look down to see what was making me feel cold. There was a sword..........no, not just any ordinary sword. It was the ultimate weapon, piercing right through my heart. Cloud.........?.........Why? I feel the blood dripping down my dying frame, along with this burning, painful feeling running through my body. I look up to see Cloud.........just standing there grinning at me.
/ Did.........did he know..........?/
I felt the sword slide out of me along with my life. I slumped over to the ground, trying to bring the breath back to me, but it was too late and I knew it. I was dying..........but I don't want to die. I wanted to live. The tears were falling from my eyes before I knew it. This time, I was gonna die for real.
/ I.........feel........./
// Sorry Miyaiku, but there's nothing that can save me now//
/ Cl.............ou..........d........./
I saw him walk into the cave as my eyes closed for the last time.
/ Oh, the sun's peeking through today. How wonderful. Maybe we could grow a garden and sing as we dance in the pansies! /
I kick the wall with my heel as I lean on it.
/ Damn that bastard. Damn that fucking Cloud! /
Yes, the hero of the meteor crisis is to blame for this misery. How you ask? Dunno. Nobody knows. Mom said that he just snapped one day. I can tell you what happened from what I've heard and seen, but for the reason behind it all, that'll be a mystery for you too.
Ah yes, it was twenty years ago when Cloud Strife and company fought Sephiroth and stopped meteor from destroying the world. Midgar was partially destroyed and many people died, but compared to what could have been the world, it was a small price to pay. The warriors, of course, were branded as heroes and their victory was celebrated in Kalm. After all that crap, they went to help rebuild Midgar. Mako was no longer used to power the city and the slums were no longer there. The plate was rebuilt with a city on it still. Of course not everyone wanted to be on the plate. So those that stayed on the ground, actually built a little city around the plate. That way, they could see the sky and have fresh, clean, air. Tifa even kept her bar down there. As for Shinra, it still existed. Many better improvements were made to it, so it wasn't a blood sucking bastard corporation like it was before. Reeve became president and many people seemed to like him. Oh yeah, they did find Rufus' body and buried his ass. Scarlet and fat boy Heid-something were never seen again, but they're probably dead now anyway. Anyway, when Midgar was almost finished, the heroes went to restart their lives. Barret took Marlene back to North Corel with him so he could help rebuild that town. Red XIII went back to Cosmo Canyon and became the town elder. Cid went back to Rocket Town and married Shera, however weird that sounds. I couldn't see that chain-smoking, swearing, old pilot settling down and having children. Yes, children. Twins in fact! I pictured just looking up at the sky one day, seeing the Highwind II fly by and just hearing some cursing as cigarettes rain from the sky. Scary thought. Vincent went exploring the world, or so he said, but I think he went looking for Lucrecia. He never found her though, and retired in Wutai. He met my mom, Yuffie, there. Of course, where else would she have been after she got caught stealing Cloud's materia again? Spike boy nearly killed her for that. Anyway, getting off topic here. Vincent and Yuffie got married, had me, and became Lord and Lady of Wutai after grandfather Godo died. I, in turn, would have become the heiress if it wasn't for the fact that Wutai was destroyed. So now that leaves Cloud and Tifa. You would think that they would be together, but they never started a relationship. Ok, it was mainly Cloud that didn't want it. Tifa longed for it, but Cloud never seemed interested in one. I think my father and I were the only ones that noticed there was no interest because there was something or someone holding his heart. And he was grieving from it. Sometimes, I would look in his eyes, regardless of his happy expression, and notice an emptiness lurking, an incomplete soul. I think perhaps, that that was part of the reason he went mad. This was seventeen years ago, I was three. One day, while I was playing with my dolls on the steps of the Pagoda, I never realized that it would be my last day to live a normal life...
Flashback
( A little girl is sitting on the steps of the Pagoda. Her hair was a raven black color styled in two buns with green clothes covering them, tied with blue ribbons. Her eyes were an unnatural royal blue-forest greenish color. She was wearing a blue and green kimono. The girl looked up from her dolls at the sound of a door slamming shut. Vincent was running towards the Pagoda. The girl stood up.
" Daddy? What's wrong? You look scared?"
FLASH
Vincent and Yuffie both came running out of the Pagoda. Vincent scoops up the little girl as they run towards the village. The little girl reaches out for her dolls that were left on the steps.)
I didn't understand. I didn't know why they were so scared. They didn't tell me a thing. They handed me to our maid and told her to take me to the safe room. They ran towards the village, leaving me with that last image of them being together alive. My mother told me what happened next, since I wasn't there. She told me what happened to the town when the hero of the world lost all sense of reason.
( "I can't believe it Vincent," Yuffie equipped her mastered materia onto her conformer "It, it just can't be. How-"
"It is what we never expected, but I don't know why" Vincent
checked his death penalty "I can't believe it myself, but that's
the report from Cid."
"Maybe it's Sephiroth again! Maybe he's still alive and- and is playing those mind games on Cloud again!" Yuffie concluded "It's not like he could do it to himself right?"
She looked at Vincent for reassurance. He just continued to
check his weapon in silence. Outside, people were running
around to get ready for an attack. All the people who couldn't
fight were sent to the safe room in the main house or in caves
on the DaChao statue.
"Vincent, you don't think he just snapped all by himself do you?" Yuffie looked a bit worried.
"I don't know, but I can't rule that thought out just yet." Vincent sighed " Sometimes I could feel, that something just wasn't right when he was around. At first, he was fine, but after time, there was this ever growing dying feeling around him. Something was making him miserable, eating away at his soul. If Sephiroth and Jenova are still dead, then it's he himself that's doing this."
"Maybe he'll snap out of it! If, we his friends, can bring him back from his delusions, he-"
"He killed Tifa"
Yuffie looked horrified, "What?")
He killed Tifa. If they were to bring him back, he would probably snap again once he realized he killed his best friend. He killed Tifa while they were arguing. Cid told mom and dad, that Cloud killed her and then summoned Knights of the Round Table. He destroyed Midgar. Cid found out from Reno, who escaped to Kalm and called Cid. Soon afterwards, Kalm was destroyed. Cid called dad to tell him the news. Where Cloud would go after Kalm was unknown, but Cid readied an army at Rocket Town. Barret was ready in North Corel. Red XIII got his people ready. If Cloud caught Midgar off guard, then it wouldn't happen to the other towns. They would be ready to stop him. But they were wrong, so wrong.
( Suddenly there was a loud blast from outside. Yuffie and Vincent ran outside to see the horror of comets obliterating the town and slaughtering the towns people.
"Shit...." Yuffie looked on in fear.)
Wutai was destroyed within a matter of hours. More than half the population was dead. This was an eerie resemblance to the Sephiroth/Nibelheim incident. One person single handily destroyed a town and it's people. We never found out, in what order Cloud destroyed each town in the world. But it didn't really matter now did it? No one was able to stop him. Cid, Barrett, Tifa, Vincent all died by his hand with many others that day. He almost took my mother that day too, but we managed to find a full cure in time for her. Before my father died, he told me to take care of my mother and the people of this town, and that he loved us very much. I was sad, angry, drowning in pure hate for that bastard, Cloud. He took away my fucking life that day. I even admired him once, but I wanted to murder him after that day. After we buried the dead, we moved into the mountain caves in the Wutain mountain range. Later, when we explored the towns, we found Red XIII still alive. He came to live with us although he was unable to fight no more due to a missing hind leg, and half limp front leg. From that, he just became a planner for attacks. When we visited all the places, we realized, that in one day, Cloud managed to bring most the world to his feet. In several days, everything was brought to his feet. Over the years, the world kept dying, as the population kept dwindling down to only a few thousand. We never saw him after that day in Wutai, but everyone knew he still was alive. We could feel it.
When I was old enough to learn to fight, my mom showed me how to use her weapon, swords, guns....anything that might be helpful in killing Cloud. She even taught me how to do martial arts. People were amazed at how fast and good I was. Mom joked that I might be the one who takes Cloud down. It would be nice to save the world. But some thing made me feel that I'd be saving Cloud from himself too.
I was seventeen, when it happened. Another surprise attack. Cloud found us or perhaps he already knew where we were. In the darkest hour, he silently killed the unaware watchmen. He came up to the main room of the cave and stood there. Many people were asleep but some were up. He didn't attack. He just stood there with a fake grin and icy cold stare. But I noticed something else in those lifeless eyes. I saw.........sadness. I saw he was hurting from something and it was just breaking his heart to pieces. Although I don't remember what happened next, I do know he attacked us since I later regained consciousness. When I was knocked out, I had a dream. No, not a dream, because it felt like my soul was being taken somewhere. I saw beautiful, little, green glowing orbs of light floating all around me. They looked like fireflies. Then, it hit me.........I was in the lifestream. I felt the lifestream rush up and surrounded me. It felt warm.........and comforting. I thought I was dead, but I didn't feel sad. Here, I was safe and happy, so why would I want to be anywhere else? Everything else was here.........so let me stay..........
( // It wasn't suppose to happen//
/ Wha?/
// We didn't see it coming//
/ What? Who's-/
// Don't worry child, we won't hurt you//
/ You're the Cetra.........?!/
// You're going to be fine.......// )
They told me I wasn't dead, damnit, but close to it. They didn't want me to die. They said that I might be what saves this planet. I woke up after being unconscious for over an hour. I remember looking around and seeing many people hurt, dying, or already dead. Some even looked fine. I saw my mom lying there dead. I ran over to her and tried to wake her up, but I knew deep down she was gone. I was hurting emotionally, but physically, I was fine. In fact, it took me awhile to realize that my body felt even better than before. I noticed the scars though which made me remember that the Cetra told me I was close to dying. I guess they healed me. I had hoped that it wasn't real, but it was. Because after that day, they would come to me while I was sleeping. Then after awhile of that, they came to me while I was awake. I remember the first night of it very clearly.
( // It wasn't suppose to happen//
/ What stuff?/
// Cloud.........//
/ The stuff with Cloud you say?/
// After Sephiroth and meteor, things were suppose to be normal again//
/ Heh, what is normal?/
// You know what we mean//
/ Yeah, yeah/
// We never saw what was coming. To us.........no, everyone but Aeris, thought Cloud was free. Life was back to normal for him, but we couldn't see it, couldn't feel it//
/ But how come? How was Aeris able to know? You're the Cetra!/
// The planet was weak from using holy and the lifestream. The planet weakens.........so do we. But Aeris...........Aeris had a way to know//
/ What way?/
// I was connected to him by love..........//
/ Aeris?/ )
What I remember next was being in a field of flowers. The sky was the most gorgeous blue with very few clouds and the sun was just shinning bright. Aeris was sitting in the field, picking flowers and humming to herself. I never knew what she looked like before since she was deceased and everything. She looked like an angel. Her braided light brown hair held up by a pink ribbon was flowing in the wind. Her skin was so pale but perfect for her, with eyes of emerald green. They always looked happy even when she was sad. It looked kinda freaky to me. Her dress the color of pink, was draped so perfect over her nicely shaped body. And she was always barefoot. When it was just Aeris talking to me in my sleep, I would always be taken to that field. I guess it was her Promised Land. I liked being there and I think she knew that.
( / What is this place?/
// I come here when I want to be left alone with my thoughts. It makes me happy being here when I'm sad//
/ I heard you never got sad. Cloud said you smiled to the end/
// Heehee. A person like me can get sad you know, just never show it//
/ Ok........./
// You've noticed, haven't you?//
/Noticed what?/
//Cloud........./
/.........yeah........../
// And you still notice it don't you?//
/.........../
// I feel him sometimes//
/ Huh?/
//I feel him still to this day//
/ Feel what?/
//Him crying for help. He's stuck somewhere dark and cold, calling for someone to find him. He's crying out for help and I can feel it, but I can't find him. I know he feels me trying because he would call out for me, but I can't reach him. He's too far away.........//
/ Do you know..........know why he went crazy?/
//The real reason? No, but I know Jenova was starting to twist it and burn it into him//
/ Shit.........does she not know how to stay dead?/
// She perhaps, is alive because part of her is still inside him//
/ I'm assuming that if you guys didn't do something in the first place to stop Jenova or Cloud, you can't do it now/
// No//
/ They told me, the Cetra, that I might be able to save the planet. What do they mean?/
// I can't tell you yet because we might not be able to do it//
/ What? What might not work?/
// I'm sorry but I need to go now. Don't worry, we'll come talk to you some more//
/ What? Hey wait! Don't go!/
//Goodbye//
/No! Wait!/ )
I woke up reaching out for her. The people around me looked confused. I wanted to tell them what happened, but the last thing Aeris told me was not to let them know that I could talk to the Cetra. Oh well, some of them probably wouldn't believe me anyway. 'Least I made a friend..........kinda. Yeah, Aeris and I would talk about lots of stuff. It was like she was a real friend. She told me about her life and I told her about mine. It made me feel happy to have someone around, especially after Red XIII finally died. I always wondered though, what the Cetra meant by I could be what saves this world. I guess I would find out sometime.
I sat down against the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest, and wrapping my arms around them. I'm twenty now and still nothing has happened. I'm still here in these ragged clothes in freezing temperatures with hardly any food to eat. One thing changed though. My senses, physical appearance, and strength have enhanced somewhat. And my eyes kinda glow. I guess the Cetra have been infusing me over the years with spirit energy. The clean version of mako. Maybe they're getting me ready for something. I'm the one saving us from monsters now. I can beat the shit out of them like they were nothing. The others like it but don't understand what has happened to me, nor do I care to tell them.
/ Sigh, I'm getting bored here. I think I'll go visit Aeris. Hey Aeris! I'm bored talk to me!/
A minute goes by and I don't hear her.
/ Aeris? Are you there? Hey, your flowers won't die while you're talking to me, so let them be. By the gods, they can't die there anyway/
Still nothing. Ok, I'm getting worried now.
/ .........Aeris?/
// She's gone!//
/ What the-/
Suddenly there was something forced through my body. A.........sword? I look down to see what was making me feel cold. There was a sword..........no, not just any ordinary sword. It was the ultimate weapon, piercing right through my heart. Cloud.........?.........Why? I feel the blood dripping down my dying frame, along with this burning, painful feeling running through my body. I look up to see Cloud.........just standing there grinning at me.
/ Did.........did he know..........?/
I felt the sword slide out of me along with my life. I slumped over to the ground, trying to bring the breath back to me, but it was too late and I knew it. I was dying..........but I don't want to die. I wanted to live. The tears were falling from my eyes before I knew it. This time, I was gonna die for real.
/ I.........feel........./
// Sorry Miyaiku, but there's nothing that can save me now//
/ Cl.............ou..........d........./
I saw him walk into the cave as my eyes closed for the last time.
