Alright, truth for the "characterization" part was: I just felt like using a big word. Hah. Take that! I'm home sick and I've been watching Utena with subtitles all day and I was…strangely enough, inspired to write a Final Fantasy VII fanfic…which happens to be AeriSeph! *gasp from the audience*
Do I care if it's unoriginal? Hell no! Now, read if you're not already.
Oh…and the title-was …strangely enough, inspired by the song (of the same name as the title) by Death…so what? Just cause I listen to death metal & heavy metal, and hard rock doesn't mean I'm incapable of writing a romance! ...Okay, so it'll either be a twisted romance, or there'll be all these twists and uncertainty and junk but…that just makes it so much better when they do get together. Right?
Crystal Mountain
Chapter One
Enter the Promised Land
By:
Thor (Saturn Angels)
Warmth… had been her first thought as she had entered the Promised Land. It was beautiful, flawless and untainted. So different from the over-populated city of Midgar where she had lived 17 or 18 years of her life in. She had become accustomed to the slums yet had always longed for the outside world where flowers could bloom freely under the midday sun gathering all the nutrients they needed naturally without being constantly tended to by the human hand.
She had her first taste of that beauty when she finally did leave Midgar; with Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII. Dragging her thoughts away from Cloud she focused them on what she had felt that day. It had been her first taste of freedom, and like a parched man receiving the first drop of water; she had longed for more. More freedom, more beauty, more of everything.
She remembered wishing that everyone else in Midgar could have experienced the beauty she had seen. The stars…she had never seen the stars until leaving Midgar, they were magnificent.
But that was enough of the past…leaving Midgar had been one of the best things that happened to her. If she had never left she would never have been able to save the world through her prayer, and enter the Promised Land.
Through death she received an even better gift then life. The planet's hum was around her, louder then ever before but still so very soothing.
She couldn't help but smile faintly before trying to take in all of her surroundings. The grass; which covered almost every inch of ground, was the most flawless green color ever made by man. There were many different types of trees that flourished regardless of the temperature they supposedly needed. Off to the side was a pond where water lilies floated, completely surrounded by sakura trees (cherry blossoms). There was a long sparkling stream, which came from the lone mountain in the distance. And everywhere she looked there were fields upon fields of flowers. Some she had never seen before. Of the ones she recognized there were: roses of every color, lilacs, daisies, sunflowers, forget-me-nots, and much much more. She would have to learn them all by name someday.
And the city that was built to house the Cetra…it was marvelous. It stood tall yet looked simple as if trying to not hinder the beauty of the land that surrounded it.
She took a deep wavering breath and sat down on a rock to await the arrival of her escort. She had hardly sat down when she saw someone running towards her.
He stopped in front of her, out of breath, as he knelt to try and compose himself, "L-Lady Aeris, I presume?"
Aeris nodded, a warm greeting upon her lips, "Well, I guess it would be rude to call you 'Escort' so, what is your name?"
The man smiled slightly standing up; he looked to be around 5'9'' or so. He moved an unruly blonde strand of hair out of his eyes still smiling, "My name is Darius Edunäe, my mother is Carelia Edunäe, and we are both at your service." He bowed as he said this then looked back up at her, "We are all very grateful for what you did." He smiled kindly before taking her hand, "Come on now, I was told to take you to see…who was it? Mr. Johnson. I believe…to rearrange a home for you. And once you pick out a design and everything then you will get to 'reunite' with Ifalna."
Aeris smiled; her joy almost causing tears to spring to her eyes. How long she had waited for this moment! She only wished she had the same opportunity to meet her father, Gast…
"I'm sure you'll like it here, Miss Gainsborough." Darius said before stopping in front of one of the buildings, "This is the Household of the Elders- and that big building is the where the Head Council is, and then there's our destination the House of the Designer. I'm afraid our creativity had run out to think of a better name for the old place." He chuckled and Aeris laughed quietly.
He took her to meet the designer, and that is where he left her. She missed his presence almost immediately…he reminded her of someone. He had such soft…childlike blue eyes, yet they held a complete air of mystery to them that made her anxious to know his secrets. Who was it he reminded her of…?
Cloud.
The thought made her wince and rejoice at the same time. She missed Cloud terribly…his stubbornness, his solitude, his air of dominance that he always wanted to hold. Quite the show-off.
And Darius…seemed kinder, sort of…an optimist. He seemed like he was one of those types who had high-self esteem and always had a come-back for anything that was said against him, one that preferred the company of others but could stand alone if need be.
They were different, yet so alike...they even looked alike.
No...physically he reminded her of Cloud…but everything else seemed…so much like…
So much like…
"Miss Gainsborough! It's a pleasure to have you here with us! Finally! We've all been looking forward to this moment when you would be here in the flesh. I'm called Mr. Johnson. Now! What kind of house would you like?" the elderly man asked as he pulled out many different designs. "Now, would you like a big house, a small house, or an average sized house?"
"Average please…" Aeris said unsure of how small, small was.
Mr. Johnson nodded, "Good, good. Now…would you like a garden?"
Aeris nodded fervently, "Yes. That would be wonderful."
He smiled seemingly already having known what her answer would be, "How about a soft colored wall paper? Most young ladies enjoy those, how about a soft shade of lavender? Or pink?"
"Lavender would be great."
"Would you like wooden floors? Or carpeted?"
She smiled, "Um, well I'd like to have a sort of living room, which can be used as a reading room as well. I'd like that to have wooden floors and everything else to have beige carpets except in my room could I have dark purple carpets?"
The man chuckled, "Well if you had known what you wanted all along you should have wasted no time, little missy. Now, for the kitchen do you want tile or the same wood that will be in the reading room?"
Aeris giggled, this was fun… "Um, tiles, would work best I think."
"Alright, you'd like lots of windows? Looking out at your garden?"
She nodded grinning from ear to ear, what a beautiful place this was!
Every person was full of happiness and life…it made everything so much more, comfortable. She could adapt with such easiness…
"Well then, that'll be all!" the man smiled kindly, "By the time you get back with your mother everything will be ready, but unfortunately we don't put in any furniture- so perhaps you and your mother would like to go get some?"
Aeris nodded, "Thank you so much, Mr. Johnson!" she smiled kindly and gave him a hug, "For building my house and telling me something that my mother and I could do together. Thank you, again."
He laughed, "Young people these days. You go on…Ifalna must be dying to see you after so many years. Oh, her house has one of the largest gardens, it's basically all its comprised of really. You should recognize it…Cetra are drawn to their relatives naturally."
Aeris smiled thanking him once more before heading outside. She didn't have to look far, she found Ifalna's house with extreme ease. Her home was two buildings away from the Head Council's building.
Aeris slowed her pace, instantly becoming nervous, What if she doesn't like who I've become? How I dress? My manners? Oh…I desperately hope she likes me… Aeris thoughts plagued her as neared the door. Gathering all her courage she knocked on the door lightly at first then louder a second time. For a while she thought no one was home before the door was swung open. Ifalna stepped out and when she saw her daughter she immediately went closer and hugged her tightly.
"Aeris…" Ifalna whispered, "How you've grown!"
Ifalna pulled away grasping her daughter's hand, "Come on inside, darling. How many humans did you get to fall madly in love with you?"
Aeris giggled, already warming up to her, "Mother!"
Ifalna smiled, "Ohh, Aeris." She sighed, "I wish I had been there! For everything." She chuckled lightly, they both sat down on the couch, "You liked Elmyra didn't you?"
Aeris nodded, "Yes…she was very kind to me."
Ifalna smiled, "I'm glad…Aeris…" she sighed, "I've watched over you for so long Aeris…I'm sorry, so sorry, for all the things that you had to go through alone. You always had friends…but you were always so lonesome, because you were different and you knew you were different. You tried to hide it but you're so special Aeris…everyone saw through it. Everyone loved you for it…"
Aeris' eyes watered and a tear escaped, "But I loved my life, mother."
Ifalna smiled nodding, "I know you did, my love. You could never be unhappy with life no matter how bad it got…and that is of the utmost compliments." Ifalna gently wiped Aeris' tear away, "now…remember…crying is contagious, but so is laughter." Immediately Ifalna grinned, "So, you're going to need things to put into your new home, aren't you? Honestly though! I told them to let you live with me but they insisted upon building you a new one!"
Aeris laughed hugging her mother gently before standing, "I guess you'll have to show me around, I have no clue where I should go to buy things."
Ifalna nodded, "Of course."
They both left the house and headed towards the town square.
In the Promised Land no one asked for any pay for anything they did. They all loved their work, so felt that they didn't have to get paid for it.
At the end of the day Ifalna walked Aeris to her new front door, "Well Aeris…welcome to your home. All your furniture should be moved in in about fifteen minutes. People work quickly here." Suddenly without warning a sly grin appeared on Ifalna's face, "So…what do you think of Darius?"
Aeris blinked, "Um, well, he's very nice."
"Is that all?"
Aeris faked a gasp, "Mother! Are you implying something?"
Ifalna began giggling, and soon Aeris joined in.
"Well…I hope you two can have the chance to become friends…and maybe more then that." Ifalna said with a wink.
Aeris laughed, "Mother!"
"Daughter!" she said in almost the exact same tone Aeris was using, "didn't Elmyra teach you about the birds and the bees?"
Aeris began laughing, "Goodnight Mother…I'll talk to you again tomorrow." Aeris kissed her mother's cheek before waving at Ifalna's retreating figure.
"Think about what I said!" Ifalna called before disappearing from view.
Aeris leaned against the doorframe before heading inside, Why not…? Cloud would never be able to come here…why not start anew instead of always comparing others to the memory of him? I'll never see Cloud again…
She closed her eyes painfully against the memory, because it wasn't Cloud who he reminded her so much of...
It was Zack…
Zack… Aeris sighed before heading into her bedroom not very surprised to see that the bed she had chosen was there already; flowered bedspread and all.
She sat down not quite sure if everything was real... She was in the Promised Land. She was reunited with her mother. She was dead.
Dead… Somehow she had imagined everything to be different.
This wasn't how she imagined everything…
The Promised Land was supposed to be perfect, without any signs of civilization. It would be like the Garden of Eden.
But there were houses, and carpets and wallpaper and…so much more.
Yet everything was much more pure…
Aeris sighed once more before lying down not even needing to turn off the lights because once she rested her head on the pillow they turned off by themselves.
What happens now?
She didn't have much time to think of the possibilities since within a few seconds she was sound asleep anyway.
~*~*~*~*~
END CHAPTER ONE
What's with the capital letters, you ask? Well…just so you know there's more where that came from I guess. Yeah, I know it sucks. So sue me.
Next chapter: The Head Council & Sephiroth's Punishment. (The next chapter is called: "Enter Sephiroth" by the way. Just so you know. So don't bug me about it)
If you bothered to read this story, then you might as well review. You see that button down there? That says submit review? Well if you click on it…then write in the box then click 'submit review' then you're included in the shout-out list that's going to be in the next chapter! Isn't that great? …Now seriously. Review.