Spoiled Yet Selfless
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy characters are owned by Squaresoft and not by me yadda, yadda, yadda. I you are reading this, then I pity you.
AN: Okay, this one is short. I suffered from writer's block when I started to write Aeris's part, so it's really icky. Frickin' writer's block…
-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/----/\/----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/----/\/----/\/-----
"And I'd give up forever to touch you, cause I know that you feel me somehow.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, and I don't want to go home right now.
And all I can taste is this moment, and all I can breathe is your life.
And sooner or later it's over. I just don't want to miss you tonight.
And I don't want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am." - "Iris" Goo Goo Dolls
# Main Theme/World Theme - Final Fantasy 7 #
Mid-fall had arrived in Nibelheim. The leaves on the trees had turned autumn's beauty as they drifted back to earth. Even the hideous mutations caused by the mako reactor up north had taken some time off of killing each other to relax before winter hit. The sun kept the clouds at bay with its warm sunshine. A cool wind swept the perfectly dry land, causing the leaves to swirl around like snow in a snow globe. You couldn't even step outside your front door without a smile sketching itself on your lips. The children would go outside everyday and frolic around joyfully; the girls playing with their precious dolls and the boys gathering around a frog, laughing as they tried to catch it, and sighing as it would out jump them all. Mothers would stay inside and bake pies, resting them on their window ledges. The sweet smell of apples and the juicy scent of cherries would rise into the air, giving color to the odor of the ocean shore that slowly traveled from the waves that bore it, across the pollinated grass, and to the cozy village nearby. When the men arrived home from working in the nearby mountains, they were greeted with hugs from their daughters and sons, and kissed by their wives. They'd sit down and enjoy a wonderful meal, and after the pies they'd eat as dessert, the parents would tuck their children in for bed, and retire to their own rooms for the evening. Thus, a long day ended, and a new day began.
Cloud Strife sat on the steps of his home, remembering the days of his childhood. Nibelheim seemed to be just like it had been about 12 years ago. Everyday was the same old thing, and yet it never would get boring. Of course, this didn't apply to him. It never had. He had been considered an outcast at his age. None of the other children had accepted him, and when Tifa tried to, they'd somehow force her to look away. As he thought about it, he hadn't had many good memories. The only one that truly brought him joy was that one day he promised Tifa that he would save her when she was in need of rescue, like a white knight saving a captive princess from the evil, black demon. Not that she needs it anymore, Cloud smirked to himself. If it was her versus any man, double her size with twice the normal body weight, he'd put his gil on her. She didn't seem to be afraid of anything, not even when she headed up the Nibel Mountains. She knew what perils and danger that she risked facing, but she went ahead anyways. Damn bridge, he thought, the scene of when the bridge broke playing in his mind. Tifa had started across it, and Cloud followed trying to stop her from continuing. The bridge, old and held together by ropes, couldn't sustain their combined weight, and both had plunged to the foggy ground below. Though Tifa had fallen into a coma, he had miraculously suffered only scratched knees and elbows. As much as it stung, it was nothing compared to wait happened next. Some of the townsmen found them both, and one carried Tifa away in his arms, blaming the incident on Cloud and referring to him as a bastard. Surely if the other townspeople hadn't been there to calm him down, he would've murdered little Cloud on the spot. Never before had he felt so weak. But they had been right, he should've tried harder to stop her, to make her see why the other boys ran away in fear after approaching the bridge.
But that was the past, he told himself. It's best not to dwell on it, since bygones were bygones and still remain bygones. He had put it all behind him. Right now, he was only paying attention to the moment. It was a lovely day, ad why waste it mopping around for something in the past that had been already settled?
A closing of a door nearby had snapped him out of his thoughts. Tifa had just left her house, and she smiled as she approached him. He returned the favor. The two of them had returned to Nibelheim, since Midgar, though only partially destroyed, had been abandoned. When Meteor threatened to collide with the Planet a month ago, even though the Planet had tried to protect itself as it waited for Holy to arrive, there looked as though there was no hope for the citizens of the largest city in the world. Yet, Holy pulled through and had destroyed Meteor. A day later, the people of Midgar left the city. No one was sure why they truly left their homes. Some did because they believed Midgar was cursed. Load of bull that was, Cloud thought. Others left because, with ShinRa gone, it was time to move on, start life over, and forget all of the sins they had caused. Of course, there were the people who left because now that the outer wall of the slums was gone, the monsters were able to enter the city freely, using the railways to get to the upper plate. There were too many to successfully get rid off; even AVALANCHE couldn't wipe them out. There were some people out there who were trying to find a way to possibly rebuild the city, but most people decided that if they were going to help, they needed to get rid of the slums. A lot of the upperclassmen voted against this saying they didn't want to mingle with the "filth" of the city. Naturally, it pissed everyone else off and the idea was abandoned.
"Hey, Cloud?" Tifa asked.
"Yeah?" Cloud replied, finally looking at her. She took a seat next to him.
"What'cha thinking about?"
"Everything, Tifa. From what happened last month to what has happened my entire life."
"Even… her?" Tifa added innocently. Cloud looked down, a frown beginning to write itself on his face. After a couple a seconds of silence, Tifa started to speak again.
"I'm sorry, Cloud," she said, looking away. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"It doesn't matter," he returned softly. She turned back, and was startled by his dim, yet true smile. "Yeah, I was thinking about her. But not about how she died. I was thinking about who she was. Reminiscing on what happened at the Ancient Capital isn't going to bring her back." Tifa nodded in agreement. She was both glad and proud of him when he said that. Not glad as in he could be forgetting about Aeris. No, Aeris wasn't her rival. She knew she liked Cloud. She didn't know how much, but she knew they more than just ordinary friends. Tifa loved him like a brother; that was for sure. Sometimes, she confused herself on how she felt towards him, but ever since last month, she decided that those were the kind of feelings she had for him. Both Aeris and Cloud were her best friends, and she'd never think of them any less. She missed the young Ancient, and she was sure everyone else did as well, but she was certain, no, positive that all of their misery put together couldn't equal the misery Cloud felt the day she died. It broke her heart to watch him as he mopped around the entire day, heading to the bar at Icicle Inn and not conversing with a single living being. Even Tifa couldn't find it in herself to give even a dim smile that dreadful day. Yet, when Cloud had said those words a minute ago, she found it in her spirit to move on as well.
"Cloud…" she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waste as both watched the little girls across the plaza giggle as a little boy fell face first into a puddle trying to catch a frog. "Do you…" she cut herself short.
"Do I what?"
"Do you ever wonder about where she is right now?" Cloud didn't say anything for a while. He just sat there thinking about that question as Tifa picked up a leaf and began to play with it.
"I really haven't given a thought about it before. I always figured that she was in her Promise Land, whatever it is…" Cloud stopped, and started to think about what Aeris had told him about the Promise Land, how it really wasn't a particular place. It was more like a feeling, a feeling that would tell you that whatever this thing, place, or person was was your Promise Land.
But Aeris, he thought. You were my Promise Land…. Does it say anywhere it your Cetra heritage that you can lose you Promise Land as fast as you find it?
Right then he realized Tifa was standing in front of him, holding her hand out.
"Come on," she uttered happily. "Let's go for a walk." Cloud nodded as she helped him up. They both sent smiles to each other as they walked onward toward the beach.
-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/----/\/----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/-----/\/----/\/----/\/-----
# You Can Hear the Cry of the Planet - Final Fantasy 7 #
Aeris awoke oh the shore of the lake within the Forgotten City. Her headaches and it hurt to moved, but she ignored the pain. Her vision was blurry, so she laid on the her back for some time. Finally, when the world came into view, she slowly stood up, disregarding the dizziness that started to soar through her body. She looked down at her body. No stab wound, and her clothes were different. Her dress looked the same, except it was longer and the color was of a magenta. She also noticed the bottom part was unbuttoned to her mid-thighs, letting the rest of it hang behind her legs. She smiled. This would help her move more easily. She also saw that her jacket was gone, and that her hair was in a ponytail instead of a braid. Her boots now had thick heels, and her rope necklace was replaced with a thin silver chain and cross. The metal around her wrist was off, which allowed her to rub the redness they had caused away. She dusted herself off and made a small, dark grin. She had never felt so strong before. Back in her weak days, she could barely harm a bandersnatch. Now, with the magic her "supplier" had given her, she felt she could take on the mighty Sephiroth himself.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find Cloud now, should it?" she giggles, which started to turn into an oppressive laugh. She finally calmed herself down. And started to walk out of the city when a noise that reminded her of cracking shells sounded behind her. She turned sharply, and saw three teenagers behind her. One was a male with short, spiked, green hair, dressed in baggy black pants, black boots, and a dull green tee shirt. The second, also male, had dark brown hair, tied back into a weak ponytail. He wore a large, an ebony trench coat with gold fastenings, dark silver pants, and also a pair of black boots. The final figure was a girl with waist-long straight red hair. Her clothes consisted of red-trimmed black high-heeled shin boots, red legging with a black strip down the sides, an equally blank and red short-cut uniform dress with markings, and black gloves. Her suit was decked in bloodstones, which glistened in the moonlight. All of their eyes were silver, yet had an odd gold glare to them.
"Who are you?" Aeris hissed.
"You must be Lady Aeris," The tallest one with brown hair assumed. "We have been sent by the Overlord to aid you in your quest. My name is Ranez. The girl is Lodia and the other boy is Avian." Aeris respectfully nodded to each of them as they waved in return.
"So, mademoiselle, where are we needed at?" Lodia asked.
"First off, none of this 'my lady', or 'mademoiselle' stuff," Aeris stated. "It makes me feel uncomfortable. Just call me Aeris. Second of all, I need to head to Midgar to look for something."
"Yes, Aeris," said Ranez. "Might I suggest you let us come with you, since you have yet to test your new strengths."
"If we can get there," Aeris muttered. "We have no access to transportation, and there aren't any chocobo in this area."
"Four Chocobo coming up," Avian grinned, snapping his fingers. A bright flash of light exploded out of no where, and as it dimmed, Aeris saw them. They were beautiful, with silver feathers glistening like the stars. She gaped in awe as the four birds cooed like doves. Avian seemed proud with himself as the three teens went to mount their respective animals. Aeris went up to hers and touched its beak. It blinked its gold eyes as it warked softly, as if asking her to ride it. She hopped up onto it, grabbing hold of the reign. The other three followed behind as she took off, the chocobo remarkably fast. After making sure that she wasn't about to fall off, they headed out of the city, back through the sleeping forest, around the village that protected it, and onto the freezing ocean, the moon glistening on its waves.
----
Thanks for the reviews, everyone! I needed some pointers about my story.
To Ronnie: Ronnie, did you actually read it or just skim it? Or have you not been reading the Author's Note? LOL jk, but the plot starts to form on the bottom of chapter three, and I had an author note somewhere in the bottom of one of the chapters talking about the plot. But, yeah, the plots taking awhile. I needed to clear some stuff up. Thanks for telling me.
To aneurysm: I'm really glad you like it! Yes, I'm aiming for originality, as well a character depth, descriptive scenes, and the like. It's nice I scored a point in originality! ^_^ I needed that!
To Fell Blade: Once again, point for originality. Yay! ^_^ Glad I can inspire people (Though in what way I'm not sure ) . Speaking of inspiration, can I read your story when you write it?
AN: Okay, about the genre. This story is going to have action/adventure, romance, some horror (hopefully), and angst parts as well. I just categorized them as action/adventure because, well, I can only pick two… Also, rating is most likely going to go up, most likely for cussing and gore. Gore is a possibility; I'll probably only use it for death scenes if I have any. Just to let you know, I don't have this story planned out. I'm just writing as I'm thinking.