Chapter 7 : You kept it after all this time - Aeris
'It's so quite.' Cloud rested listening to his surroundings, the peaceful setting felt so strange to him after all he had been through. He took a deep breath enjoying the moment. 'Flowers? I can smell flowers.'
Cloud looked up and he was greeted by a pair of soft green eyes, he smiled at the sight and she smiled back.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah, you stayed here all the time while I slept?"
She stroked his hair and nodded.
Cloud sat up and looked around, he was in Midgar, the church in the sector 5 slums. "How did we get here?"
"We can be anywhere, all you have to do is just think about where you want to be." She explained.
"But where are we really?" Cloud felt tired of waking up and not knowing what was going on.
"The Promised Land."
Cloud slowly looked round until his gaze met hers again. "Aeris... its really you right? I mean, were really here."
Aeris smiled at him. "Its really me, I was surprised to see you here though, I didn't think that you would be killed from falling in the Lifestream."
"It killed me?" Cloud wasn't as shocked as he thought he would be, how else would he be in the Promised Land. "I died in the Lifestream, that was just before I fought Sephiroth in Junon right?"
"Yes, though..." Aeris looked confused. "I'm not sure how he is there, I mean, Sephiroth has been here all the time."
"He's here?" Cloud felt his heart beat faster.
"Don't worry," She reassured him "Sephiroth... he is no longer under Jenova's control, you don't have to worry about him anymore."
Cloud nodded, he new what it was like to be controlled by Jenova, at least now he was sure it would never happen again. "What was the last thing that happened to me, I mean before I arrived here."
"You fell into the Lifestream, don't you remember?"
Cloud thought back over everything that had happened. "I'm not really sure, nothing is making sense to me anymore." He stood up and looked around. "I've been having these dreams or at least I think there dreams, but they feel so real."
"What happens in them?" Aeris stood up and brushed the dirt off her dress.
"At first just small things, some words or a scene but the last one..." He remembered everything that happened. "It doesn't matter, it's probably just my imagination playing around with me."
Aeris didn't buy it, but she decided to let Cloud calm down a little first before asking him about it. "Well none of that matter now I guess."
He turned round to face her. "Your right." He took a deep breath. "So what happens now?"
"What do you want to happen?" Aeris took his hand and lead him out of the church, as they stepped through the door the world changed into emptiness, they were surrounded by nothing. "Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to do, all you have to do is concentrate and you'll be there."
Cloud looked at her and tried to speak. 'All I want is to be here, with you.' He tried to say it put his fear kept the words back. 'Just say it.'
"Are you ok?" Aeris stared at Cloud as he fought with his voice.
"I... Aeris," Clouds face went red. 'Look its not hard, just move your lips and say the dam words!'
"Yes?" She put her hands behind her back and leaned over to him trying to work out the expression on his face.
'Just say it,' "All I want is..." He scratched the back of his head and looked at the floor. 'What was it Cid said to do when your making a speech? .... Oh yeah just imagine them in their underwear, that way its not so hard to speak.'
"All I want is," He looked back up at Aeris and tried Cid's advice and at the same time his brain decided to shut down for a while so he wouldn't realize that this might not be the smartest idea he's ever had, especially if he was planning to talk to her. "To... to... to... to..."
"Cloud?" Aeris had a puzzled expression as looked around behind her. "What are you staring at?"
Cloud shook his head and once again stared down at the floor.
"Are you feeling alright? Your face has gone bright red." Aeris placed her hand on Cloud's forehead. "Your a bit warm."
'Ok never use Cid's advice again.' Cloud's face practically glowed red. 'But there was an upside, Ok just try again.'
"Are you still tired? Cause we can go find you somewhere to rest." She ended Cloud's little struggle with himself.
'Or that could work.' He smiled. "Sure but I didn't know that ghosts slept."
Aeris giggled. "Were not ghosts, we have just ascended to a higher form of life."
"Ascended?" Cloud didn't understand. "I though it was our Lifestream that traveled to the Promised Land."
"That's true," She tried to explain it a simply as possible. "When a Cetra's Lifestream is created here, they are then sent to a planet to be born physically. Once they have joined in with that planets Lifestream they stay there to be reborn again and again, until they are ready to return here."
"I get it." Cloud nodded.
"When that Cetra has grown and learned from the planet as much as they can and they have completed their journey, their Lifestream returns here to the Promised Land."
"Wait," He interrupted. "You mean that the Promised Land isn't on our planet right? So where is?"
"When the very first Lifestream was created, the Promised Land was born." Aeris had only just learned all of this herself, and explaining it was harder than she thought it would be. "From there that Lifestream grew and more was made, eventually the Lifestream was split and sent all across the universe to seek knowledge of all that around it. And then the in some areas the Lifestream joined together and copied their surroundings and became planets."
"So you mean not all planets have Lifestream?"
"Nope just the one's that were created by us, after these planets were created, parts of the Lifestream separate and became single again, these then became the inhabitants on the planet, the Cetra." She explained.
"So you mean that every species on the planet are really all the same? Then that means that the Cetra and Humans are just the same?"
Aeris nodded. "Lifestream its self is our true self, the form that it takes, that we take is just the physical form of our Lifestream. Do you understand?"
Cloud scratched his head trying to take all the information in. "Yeah I guess it all make sense, but after we die and become Lifestream again, when we are reborn shouldn't we be able to remember everything that happened in our previous life?"
"No," She shook her head. "You are only reborn if you didn't finish what you were put on that planet to do in the first place. Otherwise you return here."
'But what did I accomplish? I failed right? Wait that was a dream... forget it, this is too much.' Cloud though of something else "So that means that you accomplished what you were suppose to do."
"Yes, I... I had to go, even though I knew it could cost me my life."
'It could cost me my life.' Cloud had always wondered if Aeris had meant to sacrifice her life for the planet or if she was going to return once she had prayed for Holy. "Aeris... did you, were you going to come back? I mean after you decided to pray for Holy, were you going to come back?"
She nodded. "I... I was going to return but, when you arrived at the alter I felt Jenova's presence. I decided not to run." She looked Cloud straight in the eyes. "I knew she was controlling you when you raised your sword but... I also felt your struggle to fight her, I wanted to make sure you would be free of her, and you won."
"But..." Cloud waited.
"But... I did not realize that she was prepared to kill me herself." Aeris still smiled even as she talked about her own death. "Even though, I felt happy that you had overcome her, I knew in the end you would win."
"But I didn't, she still won!" He shouted. "I failed you."
Aeris couldn't think about what to say, she felt she need something a little better than. 'Don't worry I'm sure you'll do better next time.' "Cloud you can't blame your self, it was my decision to go."
"But I was suppose to protect you remember? I was your bodyguard."
Aeris didn't think that Cloud would had take her so seriously when she had asked him to be her bodyguard, at the time it was just a way to stay with him a little longer, she didn't think that it would have led to this. "Look Cloud it doesn't matter anymore, its all over now."
Cloud felt like he had more to say, more to apologize for but for now that was enough. He made a promise though that someday he would make it up to Aeris, somehow.
______________________
"What made you think of this place?"
Cloud and Aeris stood in the Gold Saucer's Inn, Aeris had let Cloud try and take them to a place to rest.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure, it just seemed to pop into my mind."
Cloud looked around, if Aeris hadn't told him he wouldn't even be able to tell that this wasn't the real Gold Saucer. Everything was the same right down to the smallest detail, even the people seemed real.
"Aeris?" He turned back to her.
"What it is?"
"These people," Cloud watched them. "Are they real?"
"They are others who have decided to come here, just as if it was the real thing." She explained.
Cloud examined the room some more. "So there isn't really much difference between here and the real world."
Aeris shook her head. "Nope, except here there is no pain, no death."
"No death? You mean we don't die ever?" Cloud was getting confused about all this.
"Yes our bodies die but our Lifestream is eternal. That is why a Cetra must complete their journey in the physical world to earn this reward."
"A Cetra, but I'm not a Cetra." This pushed Cloud's confusion on to a whole new level.
"Perhaps we can talk about this later," Aeris suggested. "For now let's get you some rest."
"Actually I don't feel tired anymore"
"Oh, so what would you like to do?" She asked.
"Well I'm not sure. I..." Cloud scratched his head. 'Don't start that again.' His brain woke up.
"Hey look who's here!" Aeris pointed over to the door.
Zack walked into the Inn and he immediately spotted Cloud and Aeris, he started to walk over to them but Aeris had already ran up to greet him. Cloud watched as Zack wrapped his arms around Aeris and whispered something into her ear, she giggled and punched him on the arm.
'Aeris and Zack... I almost forgot they were a couple before Zack died, I guess they got back together after Aeris came here.' Cloud felt like beating the hell out of something but right now but that would be a bit difficult under the current circumstances. '(Sigh) I guess I should get this over with.' Cloud reluctantly walked over and greeted his old friend. 'This is not funny.'
"Cloud," Zack looked over and smiled at him. "So you finally made it here huh?"
"Yeah."
"Well we all gotta go sometime right?" Zack said cheerfully.
"Yeah." He repeated emotionlessly.
"We were just about to decide what to do." Aeris notice Cloud's sudden mood change. 'I wonder what's bothering him?'
"Really?" Zack turned back to Aeris. "Well I think there's a show going on at the event square. Why don't we all go there?"
"That sounds like a great idea, what do you think Cloud?"
"I... I don't really feel like it right now." Cloud felt like he just had to get away right now before his anger got the better of him. "I think I'll just head over to the battle square for a while." Beating the hell out of some monsters felt like the perfect way to relax.
"Oh, well if that's what you want to do." Zack put his hand on Aeris shoulder. "Well I guess it's just me and you."
Cloud headed out the door and walked down the stone steps to the lift shoots. 'I finally found Aeris again after all this time and she's already taken.' He kicked one of the tombstones. 'Dammit! Why is everything out of my reach.'
The sounds of ghosts and goblins could be heard from the speakers outside, this was the only place where to Gold Saucers normal theme couldn't be heard. Cloud pushed the button on the tombstone for the battle square, but before he could jump into the shoot someone's grabbed his arm.
"Hey let go!" Cloud spun round. "Oh its you."
Aeris stood gripping Cloud's arm, she had a serious look on her face. "What's wrong with you?"
"What are you talking about?" Cloud pulled his arm free.
"Just a few minutes ago you were happy to go somewhere and now your acting all cold and miserable like usual."
"No I'm not, I just don't want to go see some stupid play alright? There's nothing wrong."
"Your a bad liar." Aeris put herself between him and the lift shoot 'Why is he acting like this?'. "Just tell me what's wrong, is it Zack? Don't you like him anymore."
"No it's not that, it's..." The words once again left him.
"Is it me?"
"No of course not, it's nothing, I just want to be by myself for a while."
As he finished Zack walked down the stairs to meet the two. "Hey so what's going on?"
"Cloud come on lets all go togeth..." Aeris was interrupted.
"Aeris, look just go with Zack, I have a few things I need to think about." Cloud stepped round Aeris. "I'll see you around." He jumped into the shoot and Aeris watched completely confused at what was wrong.
"I don't get it," She looked back at Zack. "He was fine earlier."
"Come on." Zack crossed his arms and gave her a skeptical look. "You can't tell me you don't know what's wrong."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed. "Aeris the guys crazy about you, I could see it in his eyes from the moment I stepped in."
"Cloud? He feels that way about me?" She shook her head dismissing the thought. "He can't, I mean he and Tifa are together right?"
"When was the last time you saw them together?"
"A month ago, they even live in the same house." Even though in the Promised Land you could sometimes see into the physical world, it required a lot of energy so it could only be done every now and then.
"(Sigh) Aeris didn't you see what happened when you died? He completely lost it," Zack though for a moment. "In fact that's the first time I have ever seen him cry, even on the battlefield when injured he never let out a single tear."
"He really feels that way about me?" Aeris stared at the shoot that Cloud had jumped down.
"He must do."
"But what if he doesn't? I mean people cry when friends die."
Zack sighed again. "Well that's what I'm putting my money on."
"Maybe I should go talk to him." Aeris had known Cloud liked her from the moment they met but she didn't think that he would feel this strongly about her. 'Perhaps that's why he felt so bad about my death.' "I have to be sure." She stepped up to the shoot.
"Hey one sec." Zack grabbed her arm. "I'm curious... do you feel the same way?"
Aeris was shocked by his question. "I, I... I always felt that he was in love with Tifa, I just thought he went with me on that date because I asked him."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I, I'll see you later ok." Not letting Zack ask her again Aeris jumped into the lift shoot.
_________________________________
Cloud sat of the stairs to the battle arena, his head sunk low as he stared at the floor. 'I have to get out of here.' After finding out the person he had been searching for all these years had been taken, the only thing he wanted to do now was to be left alone, but that seems unlikely in a place where all you have to do is will yourself to be there.
He stood up deciding to head in side when someone called his name.
Aeris ran up to him and kicked him lightly on the leg. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong or what?"
Cloud sighed. "You don't give up do you."
Aeris shook her head. "Nope, now tell me."
"There's nothing to tell." Cloud shrugged and turned to walk away.
Aeris was getting mad with him for hiding what it was, even if she thought she might know the answer, she ran in front of Cloud once more. "Look your not getting away that easily, now tell me or am I going to have to beat it out of you."
Cloud raised an eyebrow at the thought of Aeris trying to beat him up and he couldn't stop the small smile appear on his lips. "Well you can try... but like I said there's nothing to tell." He pushed passed her and headed up the stairs again.
Aeris thought of away to get through to Cloud but he was acting even colder than usual. 'I know, it worked last time, in fact it was the first time I saw Cloud actually enjoy himself.' "Cloud."
"What." He stopped and twisted his head round a little.
"Will you do one thing with me?"
Cloud turned fully around to face her. "What?"
"You don't have to act so cold you know." She put her hands on her hips. "Look if you want to be by yourself for a while then that's fine but, will you go on one ride with me first?"
Cloud's face went blank. 'A ride? I don't get it but, I guess there's no harm.' "Fine, if that's what you want."
He walked back down the steps and Aeris took his arm. "Don't sound to excited will you."
Aeris led him to the Round Square and Cloud felt a strange sense that he knew what was going to happen, but he just couldn't seem to remember.
The ride stopped and they walked into the gondola, Aeris sat down on the seat and immediately started to stare out of the window. Cloud sat on the other side and crossed his arms trying to think why he felt so strange. The ride started and the carriage headed up above the Gold Saucer.
"Do you remember the last time we were here?"
Cloud smiled and looked out of the small window, he remembered, it was the first time he had been really happy in such a long time. "Of course. How could I forget?"
"Do you remember what I said?"
"I don't see what this has to do with anything, why did you bring me here?" He looked back feeling annoyed that she was holding something back.
"Do you remember?"
Cloud let out a sigh deciding to play along, Aeris wanted him to come here so she must have a reason. "Yes I remember what you said, although I didn't understand."
"I know. I guess it was too soon to ask, you didn't understand who you were then." She gazed out the window. "I new that the real you was been held back, this cover you seemed to have over your real self was always in the way."
"What do you mean?"
"Before, when you lied about your past in SOLDIER and Nibelheim."
"You knew? How? Why didn't you say something?" Cloud couldn't understand how she new he lied. She was not there when Tifa had helped him find his true self again or when he explained it in the Highwind.
"Remember when you and Zack left to become mercenaries?"
"Just a bit, I wasn't really in a fit state back then."
"Well he sent me a letter shortly after saying he was coming back, I was so surprised to hear from him. The last time was before he accepted that mission."
Cloud heart sank hearing her say Zack's name again. "Go on." He dreaded the end of this story. 'Don't worry Cloud we can still be friends.'
"He explained everything that had happed but told me to keep quite about it until he returned but, he never did. Then I met you, at first I thought you were Zack, your hair was covered in black soot you looked just like him. But when I talked to you I realized you weren't but still I felt something special about you. Hmm" She giggled. "You looked so dirty that day, your face covered in dirt and your clothes were pitch black."
"Is there a point to all this?" Cloud didn't like to talk about the past, he didn't have too many good memories.
"I can remember offering you a flower for only a Gil."
"You mean they were more?" He asked surprised.
She nodded her head. "Do you really think I could live selling them for a Gil each? Flowers were very rare in Midgar, once I sold one for a thousand." She giggled.
"So why the generous offer?"
"Like I said you looked like you just came from fighting a war."
"That's not far off." He remembered the bombing mission, his first even mercenary mission.
"I didn't think you'd have much money but still I was curious about you and I wanted to see what type of person you was, I felt like I would meet you again someday."
"I understand but you still haven't got to your point" He pressed.
"After spending time with you and hearing your story back in Kalm it was like you really was Zack. You acted just like him in ways but then again you did things that Zack would never do. And then when we reached Nibelheim and Jenova in her Sephiroth form down in the basement, I then realized the connection. You were his friend he was caring for when he wrote the letter, it all made sense. I realized that Zack must have been killed otherwise he would have been with you."
"So what does it matter? You have him again now right." Cloud hated this moment wishing it to be over, he just wanted to be left alone now.
She shook her head. "Do you remember what I said the last time we were here?"
"You asked me that already."
"Cloud!"
He gave her a quick look not wanting to make eye contact this was hard enough already. "Yes. You said you wanted to meet me." 'Wait, I remember now, the dream...'
"Do you understand what I meant now?"
Cloud shook his head, she leaned over to him taking his hand giving him a warm smile. "What I meant was I knew you were hiding your true self, I wanted to meet the real you. I wanted to meet the person who actually wore a dress just to save one of his friends, the person who attacked the entire Shin-Ra army just to save a simple flower girl. I wanted to see you without your Zack disguise
"But don't you... love Zack?" Cloud actually felt his cheeks go red this time, he continued to stare at the floor hoping she wouldn't notice.
"I... I do but," Aeris tried to think of the best way to put it. "It's not in the way I use to."
"What do you mean?"
"Zack and I... we were never meant to be together like that. I realized that a long time ago." As Aeris said this Cloud felt like he had just been given another chance at life.
"I think I know how you mean, I felt the same way about Tifa."
Aeris was a bit shocked to find that Zack's prediction about the two childhood friends was right. "You mean... your not..."
Before Aeris could finished the ride stopped and the whole place dissolved into nothing, leaving the two back in the darkness where Aeris had brought Cloud earlier.
"What's going on?" Cloud looked around, already in his fighting stance.
Aeris who was calmer, felt a stronger presence near by. "I think your been summoned."
"Summoned? What do you mean?" Cloud was still looking around, he couldn't help but feel helpless in this situation.
After a few moments a figure appeared in the darkness and headed towards the two.
"Zack?" Cloud spotted him first.
"Hey what's going on here?" Zack was as confused as Cloud, but Aeris seemed to know what was happening.
"I think Cloud is been summoned." Aeris repeated.
"Summoned? Already?" Now Cloud seemed to be the only one with no idea what was happening.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on."
"Don't worry Mr. Strife, all will be explained." A new voice emerged in the darkness, Cloud was the only one who seemed troubled about been watched.
"Who's there?"
"Cloud this is the very first Cetra, he is the most wise and powerful among all our people." Aeris explained.
"The first? So what does that mean?"
"It means that I know quite a lot about the universe and all its secrets." A soft light lit up the darkness and Cloud was finally able to see this 'first'.
"So what do you want with me?" Cloud asked.
"So many questions," He laughed, the 'first' wasn't anything like he expected, he stood about as tall a Cloud or Zack, dark skin with short white hair, he wore an almost impossibly clean white suit. "Cloud I would like to speak to you about a something."
"Something?" Cloud wasn't too sure how much he trusted the guy yet.
"Yes, alone if you don't mind." He turned to Aeris.
Aeris nodded and turned to Zack. "Lets go talk, there's something I want to ask you myself."
Cloud watched as the both walked away, he was curious to what Aeris wanted to ask Zack, then again he was a bit curious why the first of all Cetra wanted to have a little chat with him.
"Cloud, I have know you for a very long time. You have proven yourself over and over again, you are a true hero."
Cloud stared shocked at what he was been told. "Hero? Yeah right, what have I ever done?"
"Many things, you just don't remember them." A chair appeared and he sat down. "I'll start from the very beginning, it seems easier."
"Fine." Cloud sat on the floor after failing to conjure a chair.
"Miss Gainsborough has told you about us correct, how we first started here and then set out across the universe to gather knowledge."
He nodded.
"What she didn't tell you or doesn't yet know herself is the story about how the kind you call Jenova have to play in our fate." Cloud felt a shiver go down his spin at just hearing that name.
"Go on."
"When the Lifestream took form of the planets there was another kind like us who wanted the same knowledge. Although they weren't willing to share it, they wanted to have total power over the universe, and that meant in their eyes we had to go." He explained.
"Jenova? They are a rival species?"
"Correct, they're goal is to destroy every last trace of the Cetra to become the highest form of life. Thousands of years ago a great battle was fought between the Cetra and Jenova all across the universe until finally the Cetra gained the upper hand and in one last struggle the Jenova were destroyed."
Cloud listened in amazement, over the past hour he had learned more from Aeris and this guy than most scientists do in their entire lives.
"And then there were only a few of the Jenova left, including their leader who, I believe you have met." The first stood up and the area around them changed, Cloud recognized it as the plains just south of Glea's Cliff except, the cliff wasn't there, it was just normal land, there was no snow around either. "These Jenova came to your planet disguised as allies, but what they really wanted was the Black materia. Jenova had devised away to absorb the Lifestream of our people, and the Black materia was the key to doing this."
"You mean like Sephiroth tried to do?"
"Correct, these allies after discovering the location of the Black materia released a virus among the Cetra of the planet killing most in a short time." The scene changed again, this time Meteor was placed over their heads and in the center where the northern creator now exists was the Jenova that Cloud knew. "The leader, about to absorb the Lifestream of this planet was our greatest threat. But in the darkest hour a group of Cetra met the creature head on in a final battle."
Cloud watched as a group of warriors ran across the plain towards Jenova, they didn't seem to care that Meteor was just hovering above their heads.
"These warriors fought to the last to defeat Jenova, and finally before the creature was able to absorb the Lifestream it was defeated by the very last of the warriors." The Jenova and the final warrior seemed to fight with incredible speed and power until the fatal blow was struck onto Jenova. "These Cetra died protecting the planet and our entire species, the battle as you can see left a permanent scar on your planet."
"The northern creator." Cloud finished.
"What you don't know is that the Lifestream of these warriors is the same as yours."
"What?" Cloud stared at the last fighter. "You mean that's me?"
"That's right, you and all your friends have already met here." He laughed. "Did you really think it was coincidence that a group of complete strangers banded together and defeated the most powerful being on the planet. You have already fought together before, here in this battle."
Cloud glanced at the other fallen warriors. "You mean me, Tifa, Barret everyone... this is them 2000 years ago."
He nodded. "Unfortunately the battle was fatal for both sides and you were defeated along with Jenova by Meteor. But instead of returning here your Lifestream stayed with the planet incase Jenova was to return, and it did."
'After all this time I finally get my revenge of you, after 2000 years. That what Jenova said in my dream, does this mean that the two incidents a related?'
"If you are wondering about the visions you have been receiving then I must tell you that they are my doing."
"What? Yours, so that's it. Why, what are they?" Cloud shouted.
"As the most powerful source of all knowledge I have learned a few techniques, this is one of them. The vision I showed you is that of the future, after the events of that vision come to pass Jenova will continue to spread across the universe and succeed in wiping out the Cetra once and for all."
"What a minute. I dead correct, so that can't happen anymore since I'm not there." He stated.
The area around them returned to the darkness with only the soft green light as decoration. "You are here because I brought you here. I showed you this future because it must change, and you are the one to change it."
Cloud's eyes widened. "Who me?"
"You defeated Jenova once before, and now you know what your up against you can do it again."
"But, but how? I'm dead, and, and why me? Surly there are Cetra out there who are more powerful than me." Cloud couldn't understand why he was the only one who could perform such a task.
"I brought you here to explain this, soon you will return to your planets Lifestream and emerge to complete this task. It is true there are others who are more powerful but only those who are apart of the Lifestream can be sent to a different planet, so by the time they were to grow and become strong it would be too late. So Cloud when were dropped into the Lifestream I took my chance."
"Who was it that dropped me into the Lifestream? In my dream Jenova said it was her, and she did it to become complete. Is that true?" Cloud asked.
"Yes, now Jenova is as strong as she was 2000 years ago. Now you must go and stop her."
"So that's it? This is what's going to happen, change it, save the universe?" Cloud didn't look impressed.
"I know I'm asking a lot but the very survival of our race rests in your hands, be victorious and this war will finally be ended, fail and Jenova will absorb the Lifestream of your planet and slowly but surly destroy us all."
"Cloud crossed his arms and though about what he was been asked. After a few minutes of thinking he smiled and decided what to do. "Fine I'll do it, but..."
"But...?"
"But don't forget. I'm a mercenary, and for a mission like this the price is going to be high." Cloud tried to look uninterested in the Cetra's proposal.
"I am asking a lot of you so I guess you should be rewarded, very well what do you desire?"
Cloud looked round for a moment until he found them. "You see those two?" He pointed towards Aeris and Zack in the distance. "I want them to return with me."
"I'm afraid that cannot be done. That would change to order of things here, you must understand that I cannot send them back."
"Change the order? You brought me here to show me the future and how to change it. Are you telling me that, that doesn't change the order of things?" He shouted.
"This is different, this is to ensure the survival of our race, it must be done."
"Well then," Cloud turned and began to walk to Zack and Aeris. "You have my price, take it or leave it."
"You would really place your own wants over that of your entire race?" The Cetra asked half curious and half furious at Cloud's decision. "I don't think you would just stand by and watch it all end, you owe it to your people to do this."
Cloud stopped and spun back round, his temper flared. "Owe it to you? I have defeated Jenova once before, I have saved the planet and all its inhabitants, I have lost everything and more because of all this and now your telling me I owe it to you? You have my terms, accept them or not, its your choice."
The first looked over at the two in question. "Why those two?"
"Because of me they lost their lives, if I owe anything it's to them." He turned and continued to walk away back to Aeris and Zack.
"Such a strange character, its strange that the fate of all of us rests with him."
___________________________________
"You really think so?"
"It's the only thing I can think of." Zack answered. "Speak of the devil."
Cloud met up with the two, the surrounding was still the dark open plains with the single green light that he could not seem to figure out where it came from.
"So what happened?" Zack asked.
"Nothing special," Cloud ran his fingers though his hair. "He just had something he wanted to tell me."
"Nothing special?" Aeris repeated. "That is the first Cetra. It took me over a year to be able to meet him, he is the one who told me about the Cetra and all those secrets, he must have told you something important if 'he' wanted to meet with you on your first day of been here."
"Nope." Cloud smiled. "So now what shall we do."
Before Zack or Aeris could speak a fourth person joined them. "Cloud." The first stepped up to the three. "You were brought here because of me and now you shall return to your planet shortly." He looked at Zack and Aeris. "If you decide to then the two of you may join him."
Aeris stared shocked. "Us? How come? I thought know one ever returns."
"That is correct but this is a special occasion, I will let Mr. Strife explain to you later. Good luck." Without warning he disappeared and the surroundings changed back to those of the Gold Saucer Inn.
"Will somebody please tell me what's going on?" Zack asked scratching the back of his head.
Cloud smiled. "I have to go back, are you coming?"
Aeris gave him a curious look. "Cloud? What did you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Cloud, somebody returning to the physical world is unheard off." She explained. "It's just never happened."
"Well it has now." He crossed his arms. "So... do you want to come with me?"
The two looked at each other and then returned their attention back to Cloud. "You bet we will." Zack grinned.
Aeris smiled and walked up to Cloud. "I guess your gonna have to put up with me for a little longer."
Cloud smiled for a second and then reached behind his back and took out what was left of his Ultima weapon.
"What is it?" She asked.
He took something out of one of the materia slots and placed it in Aeris hand and closed her fingers around it. "This is yours."
Aeris opened her hand and stared at the orb. "You kept it after all this time." She looked back up at Cloud. "The white materia."
Cloud smiled. "I just felt safe having it with me."
"I, I..." She stuttered. "...Thank you."
Zack stepped in. "So what happens now."
"I guess we wait until we return to the planet. After that I'll explain what we have to do."
"I'm really going back." Aeris stared at the materia. "I can't wait to see everybody."
"It's been so long." Zack thought out loud.
The floor shook and a hole formed in the center of the reception area, Cloud was the first to look into the hole and in it he could see their planet, it was just the same as the time he had seen it in the old Shin-Ra rocket.
"I think we jump in." Cloud kneeled down next to the pool.
"Well I guess this is it, if we're going then I guess its time to decide now." Zack looked at Aeris. "You ready."
Aeris smiled and looked at Cloud. "I'm not sure how but I know there's something your not telling me, you have something to do with us going back."
Cloud gave her an innocent look. "Who me?"
"Well it's now or never." Zack stepped up to the pool and grinned. "I'll see you in there." He bent his knees and jump straight in.
Aeris and Cloud stepped up. "You scared?" Cloud asked.
Aeris shook her head and took hold of Cloud's hand. "Not as long as I have my bodyguard, right?"
"Right." Cloud smiled and at the same time the two jumped in ready to face what lied ahead.
______________________________
Well that was quick, makes up for the other chapter taking so long. Lots of talking and explaining in this chapter so I hope it wasn't too boring, and at last since this is a Cloud/Aeris fic, Aeris has finaly made a real appearence. Well enough from me, don't forget to leave a quick review.
'It's so quite.' Cloud rested listening to his surroundings, the peaceful setting felt so strange to him after all he had been through. He took a deep breath enjoying the moment. 'Flowers? I can smell flowers.'
Cloud looked up and he was greeted by a pair of soft green eyes, he smiled at the sight and she smiled back.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah, you stayed here all the time while I slept?"
She stroked his hair and nodded.
Cloud sat up and looked around, he was in Midgar, the church in the sector 5 slums. "How did we get here?"
"We can be anywhere, all you have to do is just think about where you want to be." She explained.
"But where are we really?" Cloud felt tired of waking up and not knowing what was going on.
"The Promised Land."
Cloud slowly looked round until his gaze met hers again. "Aeris... its really you right? I mean, were really here."
Aeris smiled at him. "Its really me, I was surprised to see you here though, I didn't think that you would be killed from falling in the Lifestream."
"It killed me?" Cloud wasn't as shocked as he thought he would be, how else would he be in the Promised Land. "I died in the Lifestream, that was just before I fought Sephiroth in Junon right?"
"Yes, though..." Aeris looked confused. "I'm not sure how he is there, I mean, Sephiroth has been here all the time."
"He's here?" Cloud felt his heart beat faster.
"Don't worry," She reassured him "Sephiroth... he is no longer under Jenova's control, you don't have to worry about him anymore."
Cloud nodded, he new what it was like to be controlled by Jenova, at least now he was sure it would never happen again. "What was the last thing that happened to me, I mean before I arrived here."
"You fell into the Lifestream, don't you remember?"
Cloud thought back over everything that had happened. "I'm not really sure, nothing is making sense to me anymore." He stood up and looked around. "I've been having these dreams or at least I think there dreams, but they feel so real."
"What happens in them?" Aeris stood up and brushed the dirt off her dress.
"At first just small things, some words or a scene but the last one..." He remembered everything that happened. "It doesn't matter, it's probably just my imagination playing around with me."
Aeris didn't buy it, but she decided to let Cloud calm down a little first before asking him about it. "Well none of that matter now I guess."
He turned round to face her. "Your right." He took a deep breath. "So what happens now?"
"What do you want to happen?" Aeris took his hand and lead him out of the church, as they stepped through the door the world changed into emptiness, they were surrounded by nothing. "Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to do, all you have to do is concentrate and you'll be there."
Cloud looked at her and tried to speak. 'All I want is to be here, with you.' He tried to say it put his fear kept the words back. 'Just say it.'
"Are you ok?" Aeris stared at Cloud as he fought with his voice.
"I... Aeris," Clouds face went red. 'Look its not hard, just move your lips and say the dam words!'
"Yes?" She put her hands behind her back and leaned over to him trying to work out the expression on his face.
'Just say it,' "All I want is..." He scratched the back of his head and looked at the floor. 'What was it Cid said to do when your making a speech? .... Oh yeah just imagine them in their underwear, that way its not so hard to speak.'
"All I want is," He looked back up at Aeris and tried Cid's advice and at the same time his brain decided to shut down for a while so he wouldn't realize that this might not be the smartest idea he's ever had, especially if he was planning to talk to her. "To... to... to... to..."
"Cloud?" Aeris had a puzzled expression as looked around behind her. "What are you staring at?"
Cloud shook his head and once again stared down at the floor.
"Are you feeling alright? Your face has gone bright red." Aeris placed her hand on Cloud's forehead. "Your a bit warm."
'Ok never use Cid's advice again.' Cloud's face practically glowed red. 'But there was an upside, Ok just try again.'
"Are you still tired? Cause we can go find you somewhere to rest." She ended Cloud's little struggle with himself.
'Or that could work.' He smiled. "Sure but I didn't know that ghosts slept."
Aeris giggled. "Were not ghosts, we have just ascended to a higher form of life."
"Ascended?" Cloud didn't understand. "I though it was our Lifestream that traveled to the Promised Land."
"That's true," She tried to explain it a simply as possible. "When a Cetra's Lifestream is created here, they are then sent to a planet to be born physically. Once they have joined in with that planets Lifestream they stay there to be reborn again and again, until they are ready to return here."
"I get it." Cloud nodded.
"When that Cetra has grown and learned from the planet as much as they can and they have completed their journey, their Lifestream returns here to the Promised Land."
"Wait," He interrupted. "You mean that the Promised Land isn't on our planet right? So where is?"
"When the very first Lifestream was created, the Promised Land was born." Aeris had only just learned all of this herself, and explaining it was harder than she thought it would be. "From there that Lifestream grew and more was made, eventually the Lifestream was split and sent all across the universe to seek knowledge of all that around it. And then the in some areas the Lifestream joined together and copied their surroundings and became planets."
"So you mean not all planets have Lifestream?"
"Nope just the one's that were created by us, after these planets were created, parts of the Lifestream separate and became single again, these then became the inhabitants on the planet, the Cetra." She explained.
"So you mean that every species on the planet are really all the same? Then that means that the Cetra and Humans are just the same?"
Aeris nodded. "Lifestream its self is our true self, the form that it takes, that we take is just the physical form of our Lifestream. Do you understand?"
Cloud scratched his head trying to take all the information in. "Yeah I guess it all make sense, but after we die and become Lifestream again, when we are reborn shouldn't we be able to remember everything that happened in our previous life?"
"No," She shook her head. "You are only reborn if you didn't finish what you were put on that planet to do in the first place. Otherwise you return here."
'But what did I accomplish? I failed right? Wait that was a dream... forget it, this is too much.' Cloud though of something else "So that means that you accomplished what you were suppose to do."
"Yes, I... I had to go, even though I knew it could cost me my life."
'It could cost me my life.' Cloud had always wondered if Aeris had meant to sacrifice her life for the planet or if she was going to return once she had prayed for Holy. "Aeris... did you, were you going to come back? I mean after you decided to pray for Holy, were you going to come back?"
She nodded. "I... I was going to return but, when you arrived at the alter I felt Jenova's presence. I decided not to run." She looked Cloud straight in the eyes. "I knew she was controlling you when you raised your sword but... I also felt your struggle to fight her, I wanted to make sure you would be free of her, and you won."
"But..." Cloud waited.
"But... I did not realize that she was prepared to kill me herself." Aeris still smiled even as she talked about her own death. "Even though, I felt happy that you had overcome her, I knew in the end you would win."
"But I didn't, she still won!" He shouted. "I failed you."
Aeris couldn't think about what to say, she felt she need something a little better than. 'Don't worry I'm sure you'll do better next time.' "Cloud you can't blame your self, it was my decision to go."
"But I was suppose to protect you remember? I was your bodyguard."
Aeris didn't think that Cloud would had take her so seriously when she had asked him to be her bodyguard, at the time it was just a way to stay with him a little longer, she didn't think that it would have led to this. "Look Cloud it doesn't matter anymore, its all over now."
Cloud felt like he had more to say, more to apologize for but for now that was enough. He made a promise though that someday he would make it up to Aeris, somehow.
______________________
"What made you think of this place?"
Cloud and Aeris stood in the Gold Saucer's Inn, Aeris had let Cloud try and take them to a place to rest.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure, it just seemed to pop into my mind."
Cloud looked around, if Aeris hadn't told him he wouldn't even be able to tell that this wasn't the real Gold Saucer. Everything was the same right down to the smallest detail, even the people seemed real.
"Aeris?" He turned back to her.
"What it is?"
"These people," Cloud watched them. "Are they real?"
"They are others who have decided to come here, just as if it was the real thing." She explained.
Cloud examined the room some more. "So there isn't really much difference between here and the real world."
Aeris shook her head. "Nope, except here there is no pain, no death."
"No death? You mean we don't die ever?" Cloud was getting confused about all this.
"Yes our bodies die but our Lifestream is eternal. That is why a Cetra must complete their journey in the physical world to earn this reward."
"A Cetra, but I'm not a Cetra." This pushed Cloud's confusion on to a whole new level.
"Perhaps we can talk about this later," Aeris suggested. "For now let's get you some rest."
"Actually I don't feel tired anymore"
"Oh, so what would you like to do?" She asked.
"Well I'm not sure. I..." Cloud scratched his head. 'Don't start that again.' His brain woke up.
"Hey look who's here!" Aeris pointed over to the door.
Zack walked into the Inn and he immediately spotted Cloud and Aeris, he started to walk over to them but Aeris had already ran up to greet him. Cloud watched as Zack wrapped his arms around Aeris and whispered something into her ear, she giggled and punched him on the arm.
'Aeris and Zack... I almost forgot they were a couple before Zack died, I guess they got back together after Aeris came here.' Cloud felt like beating the hell out of something but right now but that would be a bit difficult under the current circumstances. '(Sigh) I guess I should get this over with.' Cloud reluctantly walked over and greeted his old friend. 'This is not funny.'
"Cloud," Zack looked over and smiled at him. "So you finally made it here huh?"
"Yeah."
"Well we all gotta go sometime right?" Zack said cheerfully.
"Yeah." He repeated emotionlessly.
"We were just about to decide what to do." Aeris notice Cloud's sudden mood change. 'I wonder what's bothering him?'
"Really?" Zack turned back to Aeris. "Well I think there's a show going on at the event square. Why don't we all go there?"
"That sounds like a great idea, what do you think Cloud?"
"I... I don't really feel like it right now." Cloud felt like he just had to get away right now before his anger got the better of him. "I think I'll just head over to the battle square for a while." Beating the hell out of some monsters felt like the perfect way to relax.
"Oh, well if that's what you want to do." Zack put his hand on Aeris shoulder. "Well I guess it's just me and you."
Cloud headed out the door and walked down the stone steps to the lift shoots. 'I finally found Aeris again after all this time and she's already taken.' He kicked one of the tombstones. 'Dammit! Why is everything out of my reach.'
The sounds of ghosts and goblins could be heard from the speakers outside, this was the only place where to Gold Saucers normal theme couldn't be heard. Cloud pushed the button on the tombstone for the battle square, but before he could jump into the shoot someone's grabbed his arm.
"Hey let go!" Cloud spun round. "Oh its you."
Aeris stood gripping Cloud's arm, she had a serious look on her face. "What's wrong with you?"
"What are you talking about?" Cloud pulled his arm free.
"Just a few minutes ago you were happy to go somewhere and now your acting all cold and miserable like usual."
"No I'm not, I just don't want to go see some stupid play alright? There's nothing wrong."
"Your a bad liar." Aeris put herself between him and the lift shoot 'Why is he acting like this?'. "Just tell me what's wrong, is it Zack? Don't you like him anymore."
"No it's not that, it's..." The words once again left him.
"Is it me?"
"No of course not, it's nothing, I just want to be by myself for a while."
As he finished Zack walked down the stairs to meet the two. "Hey so what's going on?"
"Cloud come on lets all go togeth..." Aeris was interrupted.
"Aeris, look just go with Zack, I have a few things I need to think about." Cloud stepped round Aeris. "I'll see you around." He jumped into the shoot and Aeris watched completely confused at what was wrong.
"I don't get it," She looked back at Zack. "He was fine earlier."
"Come on." Zack crossed his arms and gave her a skeptical look. "You can't tell me you don't know what's wrong."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed. "Aeris the guys crazy about you, I could see it in his eyes from the moment I stepped in."
"Cloud? He feels that way about me?" She shook her head dismissing the thought. "He can't, I mean he and Tifa are together right?"
"When was the last time you saw them together?"
"A month ago, they even live in the same house." Even though in the Promised Land you could sometimes see into the physical world, it required a lot of energy so it could only be done every now and then.
"(Sigh) Aeris didn't you see what happened when you died? He completely lost it," Zack though for a moment. "In fact that's the first time I have ever seen him cry, even on the battlefield when injured he never let out a single tear."
"He really feels that way about me?" Aeris stared at the shoot that Cloud had jumped down.
"He must do."
"But what if he doesn't? I mean people cry when friends die."
Zack sighed again. "Well that's what I'm putting my money on."
"Maybe I should go talk to him." Aeris had known Cloud liked her from the moment they met but she didn't think that he would feel this strongly about her. 'Perhaps that's why he felt so bad about my death.' "I have to be sure." She stepped up to the shoot.
"Hey one sec." Zack grabbed her arm. "I'm curious... do you feel the same way?"
Aeris was shocked by his question. "I, I... I always felt that he was in love with Tifa, I just thought he went with me on that date because I asked him."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I, I'll see you later ok." Not letting Zack ask her again Aeris jumped into the lift shoot.
_________________________________
Cloud sat of the stairs to the battle arena, his head sunk low as he stared at the floor. 'I have to get out of here.' After finding out the person he had been searching for all these years had been taken, the only thing he wanted to do now was to be left alone, but that seems unlikely in a place where all you have to do is will yourself to be there.
He stood up deciding to head in side when someone called his name.
Aeris ran up to him and kicked him lightly on the leg. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong or what?"
Cloud sighed. "You don't give up do you."
Aeris shook her head. "Nope, now tell me."
"There's nothing to tell." Cloud shrugged and turned to walk away.
Aeris was getting mad with him for hiding what it was, even if she thought she might know the answer, she ran in front of Cloud once more. "Look your not getting away that easily, now tell me or am I going to have to beat it out of you."
Cloud raised an eyebrow at the thought of Aeris trying to beat him up and he couldn't stop the small smile appear on his lips. "Well you can try... but like I said there's nothing to tell." He pushed passed her and headed up the stairs again.
Aeris thought of away to get through to Cloud but he was acting even colder than usual. 'I know, it worked last time, in fact it was the first time I saw Cloud actually enjoy himself.' "Cloud."
"What." He stopped and twisted his head round a little.
"Will you do one thing with me?"
Cloud turned fully around to face her. "What?"
"You don't have to act so cold you know." She put her hands on her hips. "Look if you want to be by yourself for a while then that's fine but, will you go on one ride with me first?"
Cloud's face went blank. 'A ride? I don't get it but, I guess there's no harm.' "Fine, if that's what you want."
He walked back down the steps and Aeris took his arm. "Don't sound to excited will you."
Aeris led him to the Round Square and Cloud felt a strange sense that he knew what was going to happen, but he just couldn't seem to remember.
The ride stopped and they walked into the gondola, Aeris sat down on the seat and immediately started to stare out of the window. Cloud sat on the other side and crossed his arms trying to think why he felt so strange. The ride started and the carriage headed up above the Gold Saucer.
"Do you remember the last time we were here?"
Cloud smiled and looked out of the small window, he remembered, it was the first time he had been really happy in such a long time. "Of course. How could I forget?"
"Do you remember what I said?"
"I don't see what this has to do with anything, why did you bring me here?" He looked back feeling annoyed that she was holding something back.
"Do you remember?"
Cloud let out a sigh deciding to play along, Aeris wanted him to come here so she must have a reason. "Yes I remember what you said, although I didn't understand."
"I know. I guess it was too soon to ask, you didn't understand who you were then." She gazed out the window. "I new that the real you was been held back, this cover you seemed to have over your real self was always in the way."
"What do you mean?"
"Before, when you lied about your past in SOLDIER and Nibelheim."
"You knew? How? Why didn't you say something?" Cloud couldn't understand how she new he lied. She was not there when Tifa had helped him find his true self again or when he explained it in the Highwind.
"Remember when you and Zack left to become mercenaries?"
"Just a bit, I wasn't really in a fit state back then."
"Well he sent me a letter shortly after saying he was coming back, I was so surprised to hear from him. The last time was before he accepted that mission."
Cloud heart sank hearing her say Zack's name again. "Go on." He dreaded the end of this story. 'Don't worry Cloud we can still be friends.'
"He explained everything that had happed but told me to keep quite about it until he returned but, he never did. Then I met you, at first I thought you were Zack, your hair was covered in black soot you looked just like him. But when I talked to you I realized you weren't but still I felt something special about you. Hmm" She giggled. "You looked so dirty that day, your face covered in dirt and your clothes were pitch black."
"Is there a point to all this?" Cloud didn't like to talk about the past, he didn't have too many good memories.
"I can remember offering you a flower for only a Gil."
"You mean they were more?" He asked surprised.
She nodded her head. "Do you really think I could live selling them for a Gil each? Flowers were very rare in Midgar, once I sold one for a thousand." She giggled.
"So why the generous offer?"
"Like I said you looked like you just came from fighting a war."
"That's not far off." He remembered the bombing mission, his first even mercenary mission.
"I didn't think you'd have much money but still I was curious about you and I wanted to see what type of person you was, I felt like I would meet you again someday."
"I understand but you still haven't got to your point" He pressed.
"After spending time with you and hearing your story back in Kalm it was like you really was Zack. You acted just like him in ways but then again you did things that Zack would never do. And then when we reached Nibelheim and Jenova in her Sephiroth form down in the basement, I then realized the connection. You were his friend he was caring for when he wrote the letter, it all made sense. I realized that Zack must have been killed otherwise he would have been with you."
"So what does it matter? You have him again now right." Cloud hated this moment wishing it to be over, he just wanted to be left alone now.
She shook her head. "Do you remember what I said the last time we were here?"
"You asked me that already."
"Cloud!"
He gave her a quick look not wanting to make eye contact this was hard enough already. "Yes. You said you wanted to meet me." 'Wait, I remember now, the dream...'
"Do you understand what I meant now?"
Cloud shook his head, she leaned over to him taking his hand giving him a warm smile. "What I meant was I knew you were hiding your true self, I wanted to meet the real you. I wanted to meet the person who actually wore a dress just to save one of his friends, the person who attacked the entire Shin-Ra army just to save a simple flower girl. I wanted to see you without your Zack disguise
"But don't you... love Zack?" Cloud actually felt his cheeks go red this time, he continued to stare at the floor hoping she wouldn't notice.
"I... I do but," Aeris tried to think of the best way to put it. "It's not in the way I use to."
"What do you mean?"
"Zack and I... we were never meant to be together like that. I realized that a long time ago." As Aeris said this Cloud felt like he had just been given another chance at life.
"I think I know how you mean, I felt the same way about Tifa."
Aeris was a bit shocked to find that Zack's prediction about the two childhood friends was right. "You mean... your not..."
Before Aeris could finished the ride stopped and the whole place dissolved into nothing, leaving the two back in the darkness where Aeris had brought Cloud earlier.
"What's going on?" Cloud looked around, already in his fighting stance.
Aeris who was calmer, felt a stronger presence near by. "I think your been summoned."
"Summoned? What do you mean?" Cloud was still looking around, he couldn't help but feel helpless in this situation.
After a few moments a figure appeared in the darkness and headed towards the two.
"Zack?" Cloud spotted him first.
"Hey what's going on here?" Zack was as confused as Cloud, but Aeris seemed to know what was happening.
"I think Cloud is been summoned." Aeris repeated.
"Summoned? Already?" Now Cloud seemed to be the only one with no idea what was happening.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on."
"Don't worry Mr. Strife, all will be explained." A new voice emerged in the darkness, Cloud was the only one who seemed troubled about been watched.
"Who's there?"
"Cloud this is the very first Cetra, he is the most wise and powerful among all our people." Aeris explained.
"The first? So what does that mean?"
"It means that I know quite a lot about the universe and all its secrets." A soft light lit up the darkness and Cloud was finally able to see this 'first'.
"So what do you want with me?" Cloud asked.
"So many questions," He laughed, the 'first' wasn't anything like he expected, he stood about as tall a Cloud or Zack, dark skin with short white hair, he wore an almost impossibly clean white suit. "Cloud I would like to speak to you about a something."
"Something?" Cloud wasn't too sure how much he trusted the guy yet.
"Yes, alone if you don't mind." He turned to Aeris.
Aeris nodded and turned to Zack. "Lets go talk, there's something I want to ask you myself."
Cloud watched as the both walked away, he was curious to what Aeris wanted to ask Zack, then again he was a bit curious why the first of all Cetra wanted to have a little chat with him.
"Cloud, I have know you for a very long time. You have proven yourself over and over again, you are a true hero."
Cloud stared shocked at what he was been told. "Hero? Yeah right, what have I ever done?"
"Many things, you just don't remember them." A chair appeared and he sat down. "I'll start from the very beginning, it seems easier."
"Fine." Cloud sat on the floor after failing to conjure a chair.
"Miss Gainsborough has told you about us correct, how we first started here and then set out across the universe to gather knowledge."
He nodded.
"What she didn't tell you or doesn't yet know herself is the story about how the kind you call Jenova have to play in our fate." Cloud felt a shiver go down his spin at just hearing that name.
"Go on."
"When the Lifestream took form of the planets there was another kind like us who wanted the same knowledge. Although they weren't willing to share it, they wanted to have total power over the universe, and that meant in their eyes we had to go." He explained.
"Jenova? They are a rival species?"
"Correct, they're goal is to destroy every last trace of the Cetra to become the highest form of life. Thousands of years ago a great battle was fought between the Cetra and Jenova all across the universe until finally the Cetra gained the upper hand and in one last struggle the Jenova were destroyed."
Cloud listened in amazement, over the past hour he had learned more from Aeris and this guy than most scientists do in their entire lives.
"And then there were only a few of the Jenova left, including their leader who, I believe you have met." The first stood up and the area around them changed, Cloud recognized it as the plains just south of Glea's Cliff except, the cliff wasn't there, it was just normal land, there was no snow around either. "These Jenova came to your planet disguised as allies, but what they really wanted was the Black materia. Jenova had devised away to absorb the Lifestream of our people, and the Black materia was the key to doing this."
"You mean like Sephiroth tried to do?"
"Correct, these allies after discovering the location of the Black materia released a virus among the Cetra of the planet killing most in a short time." The scene changed again, this time Meteor was placed over their heads and in the center where the northern creator now exists was the Jenova that Cloud knew. "The leader, about to absorb the Lifestream of this planet was our greatest threat. But in the darkest hour a group of Cetra met the creature head on in a final battle."
Cloud watched as a group of warriors ran across the plain towards Jenova, they didn't seem to care that Meteor was just hovering above their heads.
"These warriors fought to the last to defeat Jenova, and finally before the creature was able to absorb the Lifestream it was defeated by the very last of the warriors." The Jenova and the final warrior seemed to fight with incredible speed and power until the fatal blow was struck onto Jenova. "These Cetra died protecting the planet and our entire species, the battle as you can see left a permanent scar on your planet."
"The northern creator." Cloud finished.
"What you don't know is that the Lifestream of these warriors is the same as yours."
"What?" Cloud stared at the last fighter. "You mean that's me?"
"That's right, you and all your friends have already met here." He laughed. "Did you really think it was coincidence that a group of complete strangers banded together and defeated the most powerful being on the planet. You have already fought together before, here in this battle."
Cloud glanced at the other fallen warriors. "You mean me, Tifa, Barret everyone... this is them 2000 years ago."
He nodded. "Unfortunately the battle was fatal for both sides and you were defeated along with Jenova by Meteor. But instead of returning here your Lifestream stayed with the planet incase Jenova was to return, and it did."
'After all this time I finally get my revenge of you, after 2000 years. That what Jenova said in my dream, does this mean that the two incidents a related?'
"If you are wondering about the visions you have been receiving then I must tell you that they are my doing."
"What? Yours, so that's it. Why, what are they?" Cloud shouted.
"As the most powerful source of all knowledge I have learned a few techniques, this is one of them. The vision I showed you is that of the future, after the events of that vision come to pass Jenova will continue to spread across the universe and succeed in wiping out the Cetra once and for all."
"What a minute. I dead correct, so that can't happen anymore since I'm not there." He stated.
The area around them returned to the darkness with only the soft green light as decoration. "You are here because I brought you here. I showed you this future because it must change, and you are the one to change it."
Cloud's eyes widened. "Who me?"
"You defeated Jenova once before, and now you know what your up against you can do it again."
"But, but how? I'm dead, and, and why me? Surly there are Cetra out there who are more powerful than me." Cloud couldn't understand why he was the only one who could perform such a task.
"I brought you here to explain this, soon you will return to your planets Lifestream and emerge to complete this task. It is true there are others who are more powerful but only those who are apart of the Lifestream can be sent to a different planet, so by the time they were to grow and become strong it would be too late. So Cloud when were dropped into the Lifestream I took my chance."
"Who was it that dropped me into the Lifestream? In my dream Jenova said it was her, and she did it to become complete. Is that true?" Cloud asked.
"Yes, now Jenova is as strong as she was 2000 years ago. Now you must go and stop her."
"So that's it? This is what's going to happen, change it, save the universe?" Cloud didn't look impressed.
"I know I'm asking a lot but the very survival of our race rests in your hands, be victorious and this war will finally be ended, fail and Jenova will absorb the Lifestream of your planet and slowly but surly destroy us all."
"Cloud crossed his arms and though about what he was been asked. After a few minutes of thinking he smiled and decided what to do. "Fine I'll do it, but..."
"But...?"
"But don't forget. I'm a mercenary, and for a mission like this the price is going to be high." Cloud tried to look uninterested in the Cetra's proposal.
"I am asking a lot of you so I guess you should be rewarded, very well what do you desire?"
Cloud looked round for a moment until he found them. "You see those two?" He pointed towards Aeris and Zack in the distance. "I want them to return with me."
"I'm afraid that cannot be done. That would change to order of things here, you must understand that I cannot send them back."
"Change the order? You brought me here to show me the future and how to change it. Are you telling me that, that doesn't change the order of things?" He shouted.
"This is different, this is to ensure the survival of our race, it must be done."
"Well then," Cloud turned and began to walk to Zack and Aeris. "You have my price, take it or leave it."
"You would really place your own wants over that of your entire race?" The Cetra asked half curious and half furious at Cloud's decision. "I don't think you would just stand by and watch it all end, you owe it to your people to do this."
Cloud stopped and spun back round, his temper flared. "Owe it to you? I have defeated Jenova once before, I have saved the planet and all its inhabitants, I have lost everything and more because of all this and now your telling me I owe it to you? You have my terms, accept them or not, its your choice."
The first looked over at the two in question. "Why those two?"
"Because of me they lost their lives, if I owe anything it's to them." He turned and continued to walk away back to Aeris and Zack.
"Such a strange character, its strange that the fate of all of us rests with him."
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"You really think so?"
"It's the only thing I can think of." Zack answered. "Speak of the devil."
Cloud met up with the two, the surrounding was still the dark open plains with the single green light that he could not seem to figure out where it came from.
"So what happened?" Zack asked.
"Nothing special," Cloud ran his fingers though his hair. "He just had something he wanted to tell me."
"Nothing special?" Aeris repeated. "That is the first Cetra. It took me over a year to be able to meet him, he is the one who told me about the Cetra and all those secrets, he must have told you something important if 'he' wanted to meet with you on your first day of been here."
"Nope." Cloud smiled. "So now what shall we do."
Before Zack or Aeris could speak a fourth person joined them. "Cloud." The first stepped up to the three. "You were brought here because of me and now you shall return to your planet shortly." He looked at Zack and Aeris. "If you decide to then the two of you may join him."
Aeris stared shocked. "Us? How come? I thought know one ever returns."
"That is correct but this is a special occasion, I will let Mr. Strife explain to you later. Good luck." Without warning he disappeared and the surroundings changed back to those of the Gold Saucer Inn.
"Will somebody please tell me what's going on?" Zack asked scratching the back of his head.
Cloud smiled. "I have to go back, are you coming?"
Aeris gave him a curious look. "Cloud? What did you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Cloud, somebody returning to the physical world is unheard off." She explained. "It's just never happened."
"Well it has now." He crossed his arms. "So... do you want to come with me?"
The two looked at each other and then returned their attention back to Cloud. "You bet we will." Zack grinned.
Aeris smiled and walked up to Cloud. "I guess your gonna have to put up with me for a little longer."
Cloud smiled for a second and then reached behind his back and took out what was left of his Ultima weapon.
"What is it?" She asked.
He took something out of one of the materia slots and placed it in Aeris hand and closed her fingers around it. "This is yours."
Aeris opened her hand and stared at the orb. "You kept it after all this time." She looked back up at Cloud. "The white materia."
Cloud smiled. "I just felt safe having it with me."
"I, I..." She stuttered. "...Thank you."
Zack stepped in. "So what happens now."
"I guess we wait until we return to the planet. After that I'll explain what we have to do."
"I'm really going back." Aeris stared at the materia. "I can't wait to see everybody."
"It's been so long." Zack thought out loud.
The floor shook and a hole formed in the center of the reception area, Cloud was the first to look into the hole and in it he could see their planet, it was just the same as the time he had seen it in the old Shin-Ra rocket.
"I think we jump in." Cloud kneeled down next to the pool.
"Well I guess this is it, if we're going then I guess its time to decide now." Zack looked at Aeris. "You ready."
Aeris smiled and looked at Cloud. "I'm not sure how but I know there's something your not telling me, you have something to do with us going back."
Cloud gave her an innocent look. "Who me?"
"Well it's now or never." Zack stepped up to the pool and grinned. "I'll see you in there." He bent his knees and jump straight in.
Aeris and Cloud stepped up. "You scared?" Cloud asked.
Aeris shook her head and took hold of Cloud's hand. "Not as long as I have my bodyguard, right?"
"Right." Cloud smiled and at the same time the two jumped in ready to face what lied ahead.
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Well that was quick, makes up for the other chapter taking so long. Lots of talking and explaining in this chapter so I hope it wasn't too boring, and at last since this is a Cloud/Aeris fic, Aeris has finaly made a real appearence. Well enough from me, don't forget to leave a quick review.