Author's Notes:
I want to apologize for those who found the last chapter to be...'rushed' and short.
You see, I work on this story in secrecy and haven't been around on the story lately and
I had to get the last chapter done as quick as possible.
So, I want to apologize and say that it won't happen again.
And for the delay.... It was due to a case of...writers block....
Now, onward to the next chapter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 9
The Flowers in the Meadow
Fox opened his eyes and, to his surprise, found himself in a large meadow. There were flowers
almost everywhere he looked and flower pedals swirling around within the wind. Large mountains were
found in the distance and almost touched the blue, cloudless sky. Fox looked out, and saw a female fox
wearing a white, buttoned shir that was tucked in her long, brown skirt that ended at her ankles. She
was sitting on the ground grabbing pedals as they flew by and letting them go.
Fox kept gazing on at the sight, transfixed at the woman's beauty. Fox walked up and stopped
and was a few inches away from the woman. "The flowers are beautiful, aren't they?" said the woman in
her light, cheerful voice. "If only a realm like this were to exist in the world, it would be a miricale."
The woman looked back at Fox with her green eyes. "I've been waiting for you, Fox." she replied.
The woman got up and dusted herself off. "How do you know my name?" asked Fox puzzeled.
"Oh, that's a secret." she answered. "I can't tell you until later, okay?"
Fox nodded in hesitation. "What am I here for?" asked Fox looking around.
"This is a dream."
"I'm dreaming? Then how am I talking to you? This place looks so...real!"
"That's beacause you're in Utopia. It's a place which makes dreams into realities. So baisically,
you're sleeping, but you, in your mind, are talking to me. I know, it is kinda confusing. You'll
understand soon."
"Why am I here? What do you want?"
"So many questions, and yet only so little to answer...."
Fox became more confused at this person. "Well," said the woman. "I'm a judge."
Fox's ears shot up. He remembered that hooded man who had claimed himself as the term, 'judge.'
"Now wait a minute!" said Fox. "That other guy, he said he was a judge too! What really is going on?"
The woman stepped up to Fox and placed a finger on his muzzle. "Now, now!" she said. "A child
shouldn't act like that in front of an older woman. Anyway...."
She got up and stood in front of Fox. "I'm here to test your feeling of love."
" 'Love?' " asked Fox.
"Yeah," replied the woman, "I'm going to see whether or not you could be suitible for others.
You know, like a girl friend."
Fox scratched his head. "I guess I could try it...." he said. "What do we have to do?"
"It will only take a few seconds." said the woman. "All I have to do is see your past and how
you've made your friends and how you give love to them."
Fox blushed a little.
"Oh, not like that!" said the woman. "I mean, how you treat your friends."
"Okay...." said Fox still blushing a little.
The woman placed her right hand on Fox's forehead and closed her eyes. Fox stood there as this
continued. It was like this for two minutes. The woman withdrew her hand and stood up. "That's all
I need." she said.
"Can I ask for your name?" asked Fox. "And what did you do?"
"I looked into your memories, if you don't mind." she replied. "As for my name, it's...Sherly."
"Will I see you again..., Sherly?" asked Fox
"Of course we'll meet again. But for now, you have to wake up."
Fox started to feel drowzy. He fell within the flowers below him. Sherly smiled and Fox's eyes
closed.
******************************************************************
Fox woke up in his bed in the Midgar Hotel. Fox looked over to the next bed to see it empty.
It was Bill's bed before. Fox got up, dressed, and went down stairs to the bar area where Cloud, Tifa,
and Ray were talking while Falco, Wolf, and Bill were eating breakfast and talking among themselves.
Fox joined them and ate some toast and eggs that were left out for him.
"How did you sleep, Fox?" asked Bill.
"It was good," responded Fox, "but I had a strange dream...."
Fox had told his dream to everyone at the table. Bill was at most intruiged at the dream.
"Weird." said Bill and Falco together.
Even though Wolf was in high hopes from the other day, Wolf didn't say a word during the
conversation about the dream.
"That's very weird...." said Bill.
"I know," said Fox, "I don't know why these 'judges' are testing me."
Everyone was silent for the rest of breakfast.
As midday drew, Ray decided to play Fox in yet another game of 'Stone Cards' in which Fox
immediately lost after four rounds. Falco was looking around the city but was not seen in a long time.
Wolf was acting as his usual self and was very talkative. Bill was with Fox all day as they played
'Stone Cards' and talking to Cloud and Tifa about how Midgar became what it is today.
The city was polluted due to the fact there were factories carrying 'Mako Reactors'. This
polluted the air and was taking the life out of the planet. However, Cloud and Tifa became envolved
with a group known as 'Avalanche' and destroyed the tyrant company running the reactors known as
'Shinra'. After that, they met Ray and decided to aid him in his group. "I get it now," said Fox
intruiged by the story.
However, something was still on Fox's mind. "Cloud?" he asked. "Why was Wolf crying yesterday?"
Cloud's smile transformed to a frown. He took in a breath and said, "When Ray first met us,
we saw him bring Wolf to us bleeding and sick. We came to find out that Wolf's father, Marcus, was
very abusive to Wolf. He killed Wolf's mother and then eventually killed himself. Wolf was only five
when we saw him in this condition.
"His eye, also, was.... Marcus wasn't really right in the head and took Wolf's eye.... For
some strange reasons I don't want you to know and that I wish I could forget. He was crying because
he is alone with no family."
Bill felt aweful as did Fox. "How did he come to Zues' Isle, anyway?"
"Um...." said Cloud as he had a hesitant look on his face.
"CLOUD!" yelled the voice of Ray as he walked in with his sword in hand. "The Geist are here!
There's a big one outside!"
"Damn!" cursed Cloud as he got up and retrieved a large, wide sword. "Let's hurry, Fox!"
Fox's hand was suddenly occupied by his sword and followed Ray and Cloud outside. Wolf was
outside with the same spear he had before on the ship. Fox was confused at this sight, but decided
to wait until later to ask Wolf about it. "Where is it?" asked Ray to Wolf.
"It flew over a couple of buildings and landed on Brenster Street!" said Wolf in a panicked
tone.
Ray ran through the streets of panicked people as Fox, Wolf, and Cloud followed behind. Ray
stopped and saw it. It was a dragon that was several feet tall. It was muscular, had two pairs
of wings, white eyes, green scales, large feet, and long arms. The creature was just done thrashing
at a small house when it saw Ray and the others.
The creature made a laugh and said in its deep voice, "And just what do you plan to do with
those toys of yours?"
It gave another loud laugh.
"Fox," started Ray, "why don't you give this one a shot?"
Fox became bewildered. "WHAT?" he said nervously.
Ray looked at him wearing a grin.
"Are you insane, Ray?" asked Cloud gripping the hilt on his sword.
"Just trust me, Fox." Ray said.
Fox looked at him and, nervously, stepped up a few feet toward the monster with the short sword
in his hand. Fox gulped.
"HA!" laughed the monster. "You send a little boy here to kill me? That toothpick's not gonna
harm me! Now, go and play 'Superhero' somewhere else!"
The monster's eyes closed and he hurled a large beam of green light that hit in Fox's location.
Fox flew to the floor in pain. "DAMN IT, RAY!" yelled Cloud as he started for the monster.
"Stop!" instructed Ray. "Wait and see...."
"Ray, what's wrong with you?" asked Wolf.
Ray was busy looking at Fox, who sat up and noticed bleeding on his elbow. Everything stopped
from Fox's point of view as he took in deep breaths and saw the blood drip from his arm. Fox slowely
looked around and saw the dragon thrashing at another building and blowing fire everywhere. He heard
its laughs as it was having fun destroying what others had made. Fox gritted his teeth as he saw
this.
Fox got up and paused. "STOP IT!" yelled Fox getting the monster's attention.
"You're still here?" said the dragon.
"Stop it right now!" said Fox still looking at the ground. "What will happen?"
Fox looked up wearing an angry expression. "THIS!" he said.
Fox's sword was glowing orange as he charged at the monster. Fox jumped in the air and slashed
at the creature. Fox landed on his feet behind the monster and paused. Suddenly, the dragon's head
slid off from his body and landed on the ground with an expression of surprise.
Wolf and Cloud were amazed.
Fox fell on the floor face first revealing a large gash on his back revealing bleeding.
*********************************************************************************************
Fox woke up in his bed in the hotel wearing no shirt but bandages all over his body. Fox looked
at the roof trying to recall the events that just took place. He turned his head to see not only the
evening sky, but a bed that was occupied by Ray. Fox looked at Ray more carefully. It was not Ray's
face that was bothering him, it was the tear-stained pillows Ray was sleeping on.
I want to apologize for those who found the last chapter to be...'rushed' and short.
You see, I work on this story in secrecy and haven't been around on the story lately and
I had to get the last chapter done as quick as possible.
So, I want to apologize and say that it won't happen again.
And for the delay.... It was due to a case of...writers block....
Now, onward to the next chapter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 9
The Flowers in the Meadow
Fox opened his eyes and, to his surprise, found himself in a large meadow. There were flowers
almost everywhere he looked and flower pedals swirling around within the wind. Large mountains were
found in the distance and almost touched the blue, cloudless sky. Fox looked out, and saw a female fox
wearing a white, buttoned shir that was tucked in her long, brown skirt that ended at her ankles. She
was sitting on the ground grabbing pedals as they flew by and letting them go.
Fox kept gazing on at the sight, transfixed at the woman's beauty. Fox walked up and stopped
and was a few inches away from the woman. "The flowers are beautiful, aren't they?" said the woman in
her light, cheerful voice. "If only a realm like this were to exist in the world, it would be a miricale."
The woman looked back at Fox with her green eyes. "I've been waiting for you, Fox." she replied.
The woman got up and dusted herself off. "How do you know my name?" asked Fox puzzeled.
"Oh, that's a secret." she answered. "I can't tell you until later, okay?"
Fox nodded in hesitation. "What am I here for?" asked Fox looking around.
"This is a dream."
"I'm dreaming? Then how am I talking to you? This place looks so...real!"
"That's beacause you're in Utopia. It's a place which makes dreams into realities. So baisically,
you're sleeping, but you, in your mind, are talking to me. I know, it is kinda confusing. You'll
understand soon."
"Why am I here? What do you want?"
"So many questions, and yet only so little to answer...."
Fox became more confused at this person. "Well," said the woman. "I'm a judge."
Fox's ears shot up. He remembered that hooded man who had claimed himself as the term, 'judge.'
"Now wait a minute!" said Fox. "That other guy, he said he was a judge too! What really is going on?"
The woman stepped up to Fox and placed a finger on his muzzle. "Now, now!" she said. "A child
shouldn't act like that in front of an older woman. Anyway...."
She got up and stood in front of Fox. "I'm here to test your feeling of love."
" 'Love?' " asked Fox.
"Yeah," replied the woman, "I'm going to see whether or not you could be suitible for others.
You know, like a girl friend."
Fox scratched his head. "I guess I could try it...." he said. "What do we have to do?"
"It will only take a few seconds." said the woman. "All I have to do is see your past and how
you've made your friends and how you give love to them."
Fox blushed a little.
"Oh, not like that!" said the woman. "I mean, how you treat your friends."
"Okay...." said Fox still blushing a little.
The woman placed her right hand on Fox's forehead and closed her eyes. Fox stood there as this
continued. It was like this for two minutes. The woman withdrew her hand and stood up. "That's all
I need." she said.
"Can I ask for your name?" asked Fox. "And what did you do?"
"I looked into your memories, if you don't mind." she replied. "As for my name, it's...Sherly."
"Will I see you again..., Sherly?" asked Fox
"Of course we'll meet again. But for now, you have to wake up."
Fox started to feel drowzy. He fell within the flowers below him. Sherly smiled and Fox's eyes
closed.
******************************************************************
Fox woke up in his bed in the Midgar Hotel. Fox looked over to the next bed to see it empty.
It was Bill's bed before. Fox got up, dressed, and went down stairs to the bar area where Cloud, Tifa,
and Ray were talking while Falco, Wolf, and Bill were eating breakfast and talking among themselves.
Fox joined them and ate some toast and eggs that were left out for him.
"How did you sleep, Fox?" asked Bill.
"It was good," responded Fox, "but I had a strange dream...."
Fox had told his dream to everyone at the table. Bill was at most intruiged at the dream.
"Weird." said Bill and Falco together.
Even though Wolf was in high hopes from the other day, Wolf didn't say a word during the
conversation about the dream.
"That's very weird...." said Bill.
"I know," said Fox, "I don't know why these 'judges' are testing me."
Everyone was silent for the rest of breakfast.
As midday drew, Ray decided to play Fox in yet another game of 'Stone Cards' in which Fox
immediately lost after four rounds. Falco was looking around the city but was not seen in a long time.
Wolf was acting as his usual self and was very talkative. Bill was with Fox all day as they played
'Stone Cards' and talking to Cloud and Tifa about how Midgar became what it is today.
The city was polluted due to the fact there were factories carrying 'Mako Reactors'. This
polluted the air and was taking the life out of the planet. However, Cloud and Tifa became envolved
with a group known as 'Avalanche' and destroyed the tyrant company running the reactors known as
'Shinra'. After that, they met Ray and decided to aid him in his group. "I get it now," said Fox
intruiged by the story.
However, something was still on Fox's mind. "Cloud?" he asked. "Why was Wolf crying yesterday?"
Cloud's smile transformed to a frown. He took in a breath and said, "When Ray first met us,
we saw him bring Wolf to us bleeding and sick. We came to find out that Wolf's father, Marcus, was
very abusive to Wolf. He killed Wolf's mother and then eventually killed himself. Wolf was only five
when we saw him in this condition.
"His eye, also, was.... Marcus wasn't really right in the head and took Wolf's eye.... For
some strange reasons I don't want you to know and that I wish I could forget. He was crying because
he is alone with no family."
Bill felt aweful as did Fox. "How did he come to Zues' Isle, anyway?"
"Um...." said Cloud as he had a hesitant look on his face.
"CLOUD!" yelled the voice of Ray as he walked in with his sword in hand. "The Geist are here!
There's a big one outside!"
"Damn!" cursed Cloud as he got up and retrieved a large, wide sword. "Let's hurry, Fox!"
Fox's hand was suddenly occupied by his sword and followed Ray and Cloud outside. Wolf was
outside with the same spear he had before on the ship. Fox was confused at this sight, but decided
to wait until later to ask Wolf about it. "Where is it?" asked Ray to Wolf.
"It flew over a couple of buildings and landed on Brenster Street!" said Wolf in a panicked
tone.
Ray ran through the streets of panicked people as Fox, Wolf, and Cloud followed behind. Ray
stopped and saw it. It was a dragon that was several feet tall. It was muscular, had two pairs
of wings, white eyes, green scales, large feet, and long arms. The creature was just done thrashing
at a small house when it saw Ray and the others.
The creature made a laugh and said in its deep voice, "And just what do you plan to do with
those toys of yours?"
It gave another loud laugh.
"Fox," started Ray, "why don't you give this one a shot?"
Fox became bewildered. "WHAT?" he said nervously.
Ray looked at him wearing a grin.
"Are you insane, Ray?" asked Cloud gripping the hilt on his sword.
"Just trust me, Fox." Ray said.
Fox looked at him and, nervously, stepped up a few feet toward the monster with the short sword
in his hand. Fox gulped.
"HA!" laughed the monster. "You send a little boy here to kill me? That toothpick's not gonna
harm me! Now, go and play 'Superhero' somewhere else!"
The monster's eyes closed and he hurled a large beam of green light that hit in Fox's location.
Fox flew to the floor in pain. "DAMN IT, RAY!" yelled Cloud as he started for the monster.
"Stop!" instructed Ray. "Wait and see...."
"Ray, what's wrong with you?" asked Wolf.
Ray was busy looking at Fox, who sat up and noticed bleeding on his elbow. Everything stopped
from Fox's point of view as he took in deep breaths and saw the blood drip from his arm. Fox slowely
looked around and saw the dragon thrashing at another building and blowing fire everywhere. He heard
its laughs as it was having fun destroying what others had made. Fox gritted his teeth as he saw
this.
Fox got up and paused. "STOP IT!" yelled Fox getting the monster's attention.
"You're still here?" said the dragon.
"Stop it right now!" said Fox still looking at the ground. "What will happen?"
Fox looked up wearing an angry expression. "THIS!" he said.
Fox's sword was glowing orange as he charged at the monster. Fox jumped in the air and slashed
at the creature. Fox landed on his feet behind the monster and paused. Suddenly, the dragon's head
slid off from his body and landed on the ground with an expression of surprise.
Wolf and Cloud were amazed.
Fox fell on the floor face first revealing a large gash on his back revealing bleeding.
*********************************************************************************************
Fox woke up in his bed in the hotel wearing no shirt but bandages all over his body. Fox looked
at the roof trying to recall the events that just took place. He turned his head to see not only the
evening sky, but a bed that was occupied by Ray. Fox looked at Ray more carefully. It was not Ray's
face that was bothering him, it was the tear-stained pillows Ray was sleeping on.