A/N: Alright, this is a better first chapter than was originally posted. It was created by my hand and edited furiously by my good friend and editor jlroyalflush. He is really good at what he does. And he is acting as my scapegoat. Anything good you find, remember that I put it there, but if you find something wrong, remember that he forgot to edit it.

(I hope he'll forgive me for saying that.)

I'm not going to put up chapter 6 for a little while, but you can always entertain yourself with the rewritten chapters, which are far superior to their predecessors.

Oh yeah, disclaimer: I don't own these characters, yet... But, it's good to know that Square-Enix doesn't either.

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She lay on top of the long deceased ShinRa building wondering what part she was to play. It was the highest point of a ruined Midgar. Her glowing green eyes admired the vast infinity of the sky above... but she could never truly enjoy the sight. There was an emptiness in her that could not be satisfied by the mere sights this world had to offer. She had felt empty ever since she could remember. It was her purpose for something greater than this. Greater than any of them could ever imagine. She stood from her repose and stared out onto Sector 7. It had always looked a little wrong. Although it had the same design as the others it just sort of stuck out. She stood a while, letting the wind catch her silver hair and wildly fly it around in the air. Suddenly she jumped through the hole in the ceiling. She was being beckoned but did not know by whom.

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"Elder Aeris. I need to speak with you." Jason stood 6 steps below the top of the stairs, he had a nice view of the ornate ceiling, but not much else inside the top floor of the pagoda. He admired the ancient designs. Even though he had visited the room hundreds of times he still admired it. It was so beautiful. The way the golden dragon curled itself around the room, meeting its tail right above where the elder sat. It was a design from antiquity that just would just catch his blue eyes, and held their attention. But not today, today he was determined to see Aeris and show her what he had found.

"What is the matter, Jason?" He had visited her so often that she knew his voice from the first word. She would have known who he was even if he rarely visited...

"May I step into your presence?" Jason was not about to break customs in front of Aeris, regardless of whether or not he felt they were ridiculous.

"Of course, Jason. I am always happy to see you." Aeris smiled as Jason entered. His frown gave away his obvious concern. "What troubles you today?" Jason kneeled respectfully before her, and then sat on his feet. From his side he pulled up a small cylindrical container. The markings on it betrayed its antiquity. He opened it up to reveal a piece of parchment. He unrolled it on the ground between them before speaking.

"I was out in the forest testing out the powers of my new sword. You know, getting the feel for it when it got lodged in an ancient tree. When I went to pull out the sword, I came across this map. I see that it contains Wutai, but I am curious about this x on the map. It is not in a place that I recognize." Jason pointed to the x on the map. Aeris examined the map and could not place anything unusual at the x. She had traveled the world many times, but that x was intriguing, she had never encountered anything strange in that area before. And why was there only one x? And only one town? Wutai was not the only town in existence, everyone knew that, but that lone x was confusing.

"I do not know. That area is in the middle of a mountain range seperating Corel and Costa Del Sol, I cannot imagine what could possibly be there." Aeris looked back the map. "But I'm sure I can get someone to figure out what this is. Thank you, Jason. If that is all, then you may leave." It was difficult to hold back her smile, but after 65 years of practice her thoughtful look was the only thing showing.

"Excuse me Elder, but I would like to formally request that you send me on the quest." Jason said, "I am the one who found the map. I should have the honor of discovering the treasure it may reveal."

Aeris looked at Jason quizzically. If anything, she felt she was giving her best performance to date, not that he could tell, he was still too young to appreciate the intricacies of human behavior. "I do not know if that would be appropriate for you to embark on this journey. It may prove too treacherous."

"Elder, I have the sword that you gave me. It is a beautiful piece of work, and sturdy after all these generations of use. Even after it has been lodged inside a tree, it is still as deadly as the day it was molded." Jason replied. A stern look began to form on Aeris' face. "And I am also well trained in magic. You have made sure of that. But my weapons are not my only tools. I have a sharp mind. The enemy that does not respond to words before steel is a fool." I think I covered it all. WAIT! Aeris nearly spoke before Jason cut in again. "And finally, elder, I have come of age, and this is a perfect time to send me on my journey to adulthood."

Aeris fought to hold the smile back. My how he's grown. I remember when he was an infant. Now look at him, a man. Perhaps it is time to send him on his way. But not alone. He must understand the value of friendship. "Jason, I cannot allow you to go on this expedition. It would be too dangerous with your only allies being your sword, your wits, and your magic. Now, if you are completely finished, you may leave."

Jason nodded in respect, stood up slowly so the hilt of his sword would not smack the back of his head, and left silently from the pagoda. His thoughts took him to his possible errors. Why wouldn't she let him go? Perhaps he was still in need of training. But he had been training with the sword for 5 months now. She had given it to him on his 18th birthday. And he had been experimenting with the long sword since the age of 16. There was no reason that she shouldn't let him go. She had personally trained him in magic. She had taken him out on adventures. She would leave the town on her expeditions, and now she would not let him have his own. This was so un... his thoughts were shattered by nearly bumbing into Gary. If ever there was a nerdier bookworm Jason had yet to meet one.

"Sorry, Gary." Jason apologized and them noticed the tome that Gary had been distracted by.

"Oh. Hi, Jason. I didn't see you there." Gary had placed his finger iside the monstrous book and was holding it closed at his side as he stared through his glasses at Jason. His dark hair ran about halfway down his forehead and maintained that length round his entire head. He had always had the same style, it just never suited him to change it. His glasses were large circular lenses, they had been attention grabbing at first, being so unusual, but now they just sat there on his nose.

"Yeah, it's hard to see past a book as big as your head." Laughed Jason.

"Well, yeah, but it's really an interesting book. You see, this guy Cloud and his party are locked in battle with..." Gary was interrupted by Jason's exclamation.

"Wait a second, allies! I need a party!"

"Say what? What would you need a party for?"

"Gary, I found this map in the woods and I need some people to go with me to find out what can be found. You see, there is an x on the map, and I can't identify what is there."

"I could probably tell you..." Gary began to show off his deep study of the geography of the world.

"No, because even Aeris didn't know. And she's been out that way before."

"Really? And she's seen the world." He paused for a second. "So, where is it?"

"It's not important. Will you go with me?"

"My parent's would never let me go. They want me to head off to the university and would never condone such 'frivolous' activity."

"What if I could get Aeris to convince them?"

"Maybe, but..." This was the third time he had been cut-off, but there was no sense in saying anything seeing that Jason had now dashed off to find others.

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"Hello, beautiful." Megan rolled her eyes and punched her practice bag once more before turning around to face Jason. The short girl let the sweat drip from her dirty blonde hair. She had kept it short over the years because she couldn't stand it getting in her eyes in a fight. Even when she had wrapped in a pony tail, loose hairs would still find their way into her eyes. Not to say that her cut wasn't now attractive, it was very cute. And it brought more attention to her lovely blue eyes that were now staring at Jason.

"What do you want this time, Jason?"

Jason, with mock indignation written all over his face, replied, "I'm hurt. You automatically assume that I want something when I show up at the gym and call you beautiful?" She nodded her head in response. More sweat dripped fom her hair. She couldn't help but crack a smile at him. "Alright, I found this map and was wondering if you'd like to come with me to find what can be found."

"Is this another attempt to get me to go along just so you can have someone pop out and scare me?"

"No, I'm headed to a spot near the Gold Saucer."

"Wow, you really want to go all out to scare me this time, don't you?" Megan was not going to give this up, not as long as she could continue to press her friend's buttons.

"No, I'm just wondering if you're interested in going with me or not, that's all. But apparently you don't, so fare thee well, my friend. And I will be sure to bring you a trinket or two from my journey." Jason turned around and began to leave. Under his breath he began counting, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5."

"Wait." Jason smiled widely but quickly turned it into a solemn face and slowly turned to face her. "I wanna go. I can hold my own, and that's what you're going to need when you leave for the wilderness."

"Alright, I'll be sure to tell Aeris you're interested."

She gawked as he turned and left the gym.

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"Harold, you have to come. I need your knowledge of ballistics and explosives on this journey."

"I'm sorry, Jason, but this mission is ridiculous. You find an x on a map somewhere and you want to go search for what it is?" Harold asked. Harold was not like anyone else in Wutai. His mother had moved here from Corel when his father passed away in the war. He had inherited his father's giant frame. He was massive, and bulky, but his size was not the most notable feature he had. He was a completely different skintone. He was a dark brown where everyone else was more tan in complexion. His diference had never gotten him any ridicule, but he had always felt a little out of place.

"Aeris doesn't think it's ridiculous." This froze Harold. He even looked up from cleaning his rifle to look at Jason.

"Say that last part again."

"I said that Aeris wants to send a party out there. I want to go, but she denied me the right because I didn't have the right allies. You need to be part of my team."

"I don't know. You've always been there for me as my best friend, but this is crazy. I don't think that this would be very good, and what would my mom say?"

"Who cares what your mom'd say? You're of age. You can make your own decisions now."

"I know, I just don't want to leave her alone. Not with the busy trading season approaching. Mom will need my help more than ever."

"Harold, you are my best friend. You were the first person I thought of when I thought of possible people. I can't possibly leave town without you. You have to come."

"Let me think about it..."

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That evening Jason again stood 6 steps below the top of the stairwell. "May I enter with my party, Aeris?" These formalities were tiring, but ultimately it showed Jason's respect for her.

"Of course you may enter Jason. Buffie was just leaving." Jason, followed by his party, stepped up into the ornate fifth floor of the pagoda. Buffie was standing at the side of the door and waited for Gary to pull up the rear before descending the steps downtrodden. Jason positioned himself a little to Aeris' right and sat on his feet. He rested his hands on his knees waiting for the rest of his friends to do the same. Harold sat to his left, Megan to his immediate right, and Gary positioned himself comfortably to his far right.

"I have assembled 3 people that I feel I can truly rely on. I am again formally requesting that you allow me to go on the expedition to discover the secret of the map. I trust that these allies are more acceptable than the ones I had formerly mentioned."

Aeris smiled. He is smart. The boy caught on. Perhaps he will do well on this mission. Gary is intelligent, if not quick. Megan is an excellent choice. She has an air about her that just exudes self-confidence. Harold. Of course Jason would not leave town without our mighty Corel boy. "I will allow it, barring that all of your parent's allow this adventure."

Jason smiled, "Thank you so much." He looked to his party and exclaimed, "Let's get this expedition underway."