Lamenting Innocence

Acte 1- Prelude

Welcome, welcome to my second fanfic. Updates will be much faster for this story than my other one I promise!!! (FYI Chap 4 is UP for P-Chan's revenge!!!) Please read and review!! Flame if you want! Just review!! Any suggestions or comments are welcome!! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Final Fantasy 7! Why would you want to sue me anyway?! Cripes.

It was an awkward scene, a handsome young man standing waist-deep in the clear water of a pond in the legendary City of Ancients, motionless, as if he was waiting for something. The man must have been standing there for awhile because his usually spiky blonde hair was damp and lifeless, flowing down his expressionless face in an array of damp strands. As if giving up, the man let out a discouraged sigh and headed back to the shore, his dark purple SOLDIER uniform soaking wet.

"Cloud…?" questioned a voice, a man suddenly emerging from within the depths of the forest, the moonlight reflecting off his face.

Cloud turned toward the familiar voice, but his face lacked the features of being happy to see his friend. "Vincent…" Cloud murmured, oblivious to the fact that he was soaking wet in a terribly cold place, "What is it?"

"I…" started Vincent, emerging from the shadows of the forest, his whole body now in view. His wild black hair flowed freely over the red bandanna tied around the man's face. His body was entirely clothed with a red cape the collar partially hiding the man's face, and his shame. "I know how you feel."

Cloud turned away, obviously not wanting to be consoled over her. Vincent ignored Cloud's stubborn attitude and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We are more alike than you think…" murmured Vincent shakily, "We were both unable to save the one we loved."

Cloud stiffened at the man's comment and looked down into the lake where she had been put to rest by his very hands, the woman he had loved. Aeris…

"We both bear permanent scars from what happened to us as well," continued Vincent, taking his arm off Cloud's shoulder and placing it over his opposite arm's sleeve, hastily rolling up the heavy red material to expose what he detested most about himself. Vincent's metal arm let out an eerie bronze glow from the moonlight as Vincent let out a hollow laugh. "This is my scar…for being unable to save her…unable to save Lucrecia from that vile man."

Cloud continued to gaze into the clear water, the memories of Aeris and the vile man Vincent was referring to returning to his mind. "Hojo…"

"That's him." Spat Vincent disgustedly. "Impregnated Lucrecia with that retched Jenova's cells…giving birth to…to that monster Sephiroth."

"Who murdered Aeris!" cried Cloud suddenly, ramming the large Buster Sword he held in his hands forcefully into the ground, hot tears soon splattering the cracked Earth. "I-I can't believe that…that I'm that man's clone! I am also poisoned with his thoughts of killing Aeris, of finding his 'Promised Land', of all that vile man's hatred!"

"But he's dead now, Cloud…" stammered Vincent, shocked at Cloud's sudden reaction.

"No he's not…"murmured Cloud coldly. "I know that he is…still alive."

"But after everything we did…!" cried Vincent "We destroyed him!"

"Just trust me!" snapped Cloud fiercely, cowering over in pain, physically and emotionally.

It's happening again… thought Cloud, his vision starting to blur, It's…growing back…

"'Bout time you got back ya' slow pokes!" mocked Cidin his usual daunting way. He was the captain of the Highwind, the ship he'd stolen from ShinRa. He was dressed in casual (And maybe even a bit sloppy) pilot attire, goggles atop his head, cigarette in mouth. "Cloud alright?"

"He's fine…" murmured Vincent, who had entered the ship with an unconscious Cloud.

"Cloud's back?" cried and uppity (Oh, how bad I want to say preppy) voice approaching quickly from below deck. A young woman came into view, dressed only in a white tank top, shorts, shoes and gloves. Her long brown hair flowed down her back, tied at the end with a ribbon. "C-Cloud…" the woman murmured as she gazed at the unconscious Cloud held in Vincent's arms. "Is he-"

Tifa was cut off by loud tromping footsteps and bursts of laughter from below deck of Yuffie, the only other female team member who cried, "Outta the way boobs!" as she pushed Tifa aside to welcome back Cloud. "Hey Cloud what-"

Yuffie, seeing the unconscious Cloud in Vincent's arms gasped. "Ooh…" murmured Yuffie, "Vincent, what's wrong with Cloud?"

"Talk about rude!" cried Tifa, raising herself from the ground, "Why're you in such a hurry to see Cloud anyway? And I told you to stop calling me 'boobs'!"

"Well…" started Yuffie, bending her armored arm to her side, "I wanted to know if I could borrow some of his materia….and isn't 'boobs' a compliment? I mean, I never knew they could get that big…"

Tifa flushed at Yuffie's comment but replied, "Why would Cloud allow you to borrow his materia anyway? I mean, you'd probably try and steal them again. And calling me 'boobs' is DEFIANATLY NOT a compliment-"

Vincent, who had been standing between the two arguing women the whole time seemed to actually show some emotion of getting aggravated and plopped Cloud against a nearby wall, and left without looking back.

"Uh…?" questioned Yuffie, looking over to an unaware Cloud.

"We might as well take him upstairs," murmured Tifa, walking over to Cloud and placing her arms under his shoulders, "He needs some rest." Yuffie nodded in agreement, picking up Cloud's legs and lifting him up, helping Tifa carry him upstairs.

She once again haunted him in his dreams. Cloud once again replaced the scene where Sephiroth had taken control of his body, forcing him to stand over a praying Aeris, Buster Sword in hand, preparing to strike. He could not overcome the voices in his head to murder this "Interfering wench", although his body held out for a while, sweating dripping down his face. After a few minutes, the voice started to get louder, as if impatient with him, forcing Cloud to lunge straight at Aeris with his sword. Just before the sword pierced Aeris's delicate flesh, the voices of Cid and Vincent called out to him, telling him to come to his senses. Aeris was so absorbed in her praying that she didn't witness the horrible thing Cloud had almost done. Awakened from Sephiroth's cruel words, Cloud softly called Aeris's name, and she looked up, smiling, for she was so happy to see Cloud. Still partially paralyzed by Sephiroth, the nightmare replayed itself once again.

Cloud had decided that it was time he told Aeris his feelings for her, and how he had been worried sick about her disappearance. But…he was to late. As Cloud tried to move his paralyzed body, the voice once again entered into his mind.

This bitch thought she could over come me?! Echoed Sephiroth's voice in Cloud's head, Well, I'm going show her how little power she really has!

N-NO! screamed Cloud in his mind, his mouth only releasing gasping breaths, STOP IT!

And then….The Nightmare was once again revisited.

Sephiroth had been hiding above Cloud and Aeris within the beautiful architecture of the hidden room, speaking into Cloud's mind to torture him, mocking him; because he could do nothing with his paralyzed body. In a flash, Sephiroth leaped from his hiding place, his 6-foot sword, the Masamune, aimed and poised downward at Aeris's body. Unaware of the events, Aeris got to her knees to greet Cloud, only to be cleanly penetrated through her abdomen with the Masamune.

Cloud's eyes opened in terror as the beautiful woman he loved, her hopeful face turning into a grimace as blood spurting freely from the hole in her stomach all over the holy place-and Cloud. Aeris's body, almost in slow-motion fell on the once glistening floor, now drenched with her blood (Read A/N at end of story about the blood). Aeris's long braid loosened with the force of gravity as she plummeted to the ground, the long ribbon that held it together and another glistening object falling into the water below.

At the time, Cloud hadn't even bothered with the glistening object; he was more concerned about the dying woman lying in his blood-covered arms. It was the first time he'd ever cried. He had never felt this horrible emotion before, and the angst of his torn heart returned his voice to him as he screamed at Sephiroth, telling him how he truly felt: "Aeris is gone. Aeris will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry… or get angry...What about us... what are WE supposed to do? What about my pain? My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!"

And once again, Sephiroth's words were remembered as clear as day: "You are a puppet…you have no heart…and cannot feel any pain."

"NOO!" cried Cloud, opening his eyes, his face damp with tears. Cloud looked around a realized that he was alone in one of the Highwind's cabins, laying in one of the rooms many beds.

Hah. thought Cloud disgustedly, You said I could have no feelings Sephiroth…if that's true…why is my face soaked with tears and my heart hollow ever since you murdered Aeris?

End Acte 1

A/N- Ok. About the whole bleeding Aeris thing. I am aware that Aeris does not bleed at all in the game…I made blood splatter everywhere to add effect and emotional angst for Cloud in my writing. So…I hope you liked it! I am writing the 4th chapter right now! I better start typing the other chapters! Please review!!! It would be much appreciated!!