final fantasy vii and all its characters © squaresoft, inc.

a/n
Well, I'm bound to do an excessive editing. Anyway, for newbies, expect OOCness and shorter age ranges. This is an AU fic after all, I just can't help it xD

To the Sky
prologue: a princess and a mercenary

Terrenus. A small kingdom of tranquility bounded by an endless field of greenery and crystal clear sky.

Most people complimented it as one of the most peaceful kingdoms there was, while little said it was one of the most 'sane'. Regular Terrenians may not understand what those people meant, for they lived only in the Terrenus capital and strangers to the world outside. But for the other group, they were immigrants—if not because they were short with taxes, then they might had been thrown away by their own kingdom—who found peace after they moved to Terrenus.

Either way, without question, Terrenus was indeed a harmony. The people overlooked the visible line between nobles and peasants incredulously and treated everybody the same. And this delightful behavior provided a rather peaceful environment, causing a dozens of security guards on the dole.

Of course a good kingdom would not work without a good queen. It was safe to say that Queen Ifalna was the top of the continent, inspiring aged women with her loveliness and compassion. It had been her fourth year of reign ever since the death of her husband, and it was still going strong.

She was also known for having an equally beautiful daughter, eighteen-year-old Aerissa, a well-educated yet naïve heiress who was always found swamped among fantasy novels and romance sagas. Even sometimes, a lady-in-waiting would find the princess lost in her daydreams--singing and dancing and constantly talking to a blank wall.

"Aerissa?" Queen Ifalna chimed from the door of the her daughter's chamber, finding her alone with her maid and piles of hardcover books before the solid, well-lit fire place.

"Yes, mother?" Aerissa spun around, narrowly distracted by her engrossed hair. She almost forgot her brunette tresses were still being combed by her handmaiden, as she almost got to keen with her reading that the smallest interruptions would not hinder.

"With the books again, I see." the queen huffed. She saw Aerissa let out a lighthearted grin. "Aren't you suppose to be with Tseng for your Astrology lessons?"

Aerissa's grin slightly parted. "Umm," She hesitantly drew her attention back to the book. "he said he couldn't be here today."

"Oh.. how unfortunate.." Queen Ifalna sighed, then walked closely toward the younger lady with a smile. "But more importantly, I'd like to inform you that we are to dine tonight. The Minister of Wutai would like to meet and congratulate you for your belated birthday."

Aerissa raised her brows and heaved, "Well, why do not they just send me gift? They do not have to come all the way here from Wutai just to see me. We did not even invite outsiders to my birthday party and they only sent cards and packages. Do you think it is unnecessary, especially after two days?"

"Aerissa.." Ifalna lowered her tone and sat next to her, gesturing her petite slender shoulders. "You should feel grateful for their patronage. How could we possibly postpone this dinner while they are currently on their way here?" She slipped her fingers through Aerissa's combed hair. "Now, I want you to get dressed before they arrive. You do not want to make them wait for you to look decent, do we?" She planted a kiss on the forehead.

The young princess wrinkled her nose and nodded, although she intended to ignore her mother's words. She saw her mother left the door silently, with a little wave as a goodbye sign. Aerissa smiled lightly as reply, as she felt her hair fell back to its regular pace, sending sheer brown curls flowing toward one single direction.

"So, Your Highness? What would you like to wear?"

She almost jumped. Aerissa jerked back to her lady-in-waiting, who was already examining the insides of the royal white, golden-framed wardrobe. Especially carved for the young heir's sixteenth birthday two years ago.

"Aaahh.. anything, really," Aerissa whimpered uncertainly, "just make sure it is not too flashy or tight.."

"As usual, I suppose?" The faithful handmaiden--Lani--turned to smile, still working on her hands around the neatly-composed closet.

Aerissa nodded hurriedly.

"Alright." She faced back at the cabinet, hands still everywhere. "Now let's see..." she pondered, as one of her hands stopped slowly. "How about the one sent from Nibel?" Lani suggested helpfully, drawing a red garb.

To most people who had seen the dress, they commented it endure the theme of 'dark and gothic' and Aerissa agreed. The key color was dark, even darker than her golden brown locks. It resembled the color of a red wine. Lilac, with red and white silver stripes striking down severely on the lower skirt to form a group of grid lines. The upper piece, except for her inflated sleeves, was wholly black. It had laces attached within holes ceaselessly until the end of her waist. Not to mention very narrow and tight.

Very tight.

Aerissa would happily announced it was a beautiful dress, in spite the attachment of a black leather corset.

"No! Definitely not that one!" she demanded and added inaudibly with a shuddering tone, "Nibel women must have learn not to breathe."

Lani sighed, and shoved another dress. This time, it was faint sunlit yellow with very simple garnishing and a pretty diamond-shaped jewel knitted on the chest. Aerissa went from frustrated to utterly surprised and delighted. She had so many dresses with puffy skirts which always made her look like a walking tart with inflamed bottoms. To find a dress that did not look like it was going to blow up felt like a moment of triumphant.

"Yes, that one." Aerissa brushed her hands, beaming in pleasure. "In fact, I have been searching for it everywhere. Where did you find it?"

"Somewhere in the deep recess of the wardrobe, my lady. It seems like you've never worn this before." Lani said matter-of-factly, drawing the dress densely to Aerissa's diminutive five-foot-two figure as they both stalked to a corner covered by a tall, peach, graffiti-laden border.

"Yes, that was formerly mother's. She gave it to me when I was ten, but it was too big for me back then, so I kept it inside ever since I can remember." She started undressing.

"Just so you know," Lani observed, "it's still clean for an old dress."

Aerissa nodded fervidly, "It seems like I have never place it out of my closet in years." She hung her nightdress on the border. "Say.. Lani? Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Lani stroked gently to Aerissa's corset, which to her dismay, was not at all leather and skin-tight. "What is it do you like to ask me?"

The princess thought for a moment, arching an eyebrow delicately. That was when visions of imprinted writings and words inscribing planet births, imagery green lands, airships, and industrial machinery sparked hotly in her thoughts.

"You know you have been outside the kingdom more than I do. You must have seen more of the world than even mother." she notably quoted, "Could you tell me what is it like out there? The towns, the landscapes, everything!"

"Well," the maid-in-honor held a deep breath, "I assume you know only about Midgar, Nibel, and Wutai for they're the only parts of the world you've visited." Lani watched Aerissa flushed. "Kingdoms may be the most interesting territories of the world, but even the best adventurers could never unlock the greatest mysteries, which are spread out all over the land."

Aerissa set a flustered face. Lani may be a nineteen-year-old lady-in-waiting, but her knowledge and wisdom were beyond her years. Even though her place was nowhere near Aerissa's, she knew more about the world than the princess herself, who was obviously better educated and taught. But she knew, she could never argue with Lani, especially in terms of the worldwide global.

"Now, how many cities and towns do you know, Your Highness?" Lani tightened Aerissa's corset, as the bearer let out a soft squeak. "I bet you haven't heard of small villages around the outskirts of each continent."

"There are villages built outside each country without being claimed?"

"Of course there are." Lani said firmly, taking a huddle of locks and began doing Aerissa's hair, brushing it with a thick, royal-crest comb. "In fact, there're much better off without joining any continent."

Aerissa frowned. "Why?"

"That way, they're neutral. So if there're any wars between continents, they'd stay out of it, because they're not siding any of them, and that loosen the threat towards the people's security." Lani clarified, "It also makes sure that the villagers aren't influenced by any continent, they all live basely from what they believe in."

"Oh, I see..." Aerissa deliberated. "Have you been to one?"

"Well, a long time ago... before I can remember" Lani pinned a dragon-caterwauled hair ornament on Aerissa's hair knot. "You see, my father was a traveling merchant, and we used to travel a lot." she said delightedly, "We went from village to village, each of them had very different and unique traditions. I remember one with a mad witch that couldn't live a day without worshipping some sort of eagle statue for at least six hours."

Aerissa went dumfounded. "You travel by foot?"

"Ah, Your Highness..." Lani chuckled heartily. "It's very common, actually, especially in the old days. In the lower-class, it's the other way around."

The princess muttered an "Oh."

"Anyway, my father knew a group of pirates flying their way with the infamous Highwind. We used to cross paths with each other, whereas the captain invited us a place in the ship and dropped us off at our desired destination." Lani enlightened.

"Highwind?" Aerissa gaped in disbelief. "The Highwind??"

The older lady nodded. "The greatest airship ever made. The airship was occupied by a band of flying pirates, but even though they called themselves pirates, they never invaded towns or villages."

"Oh?" Aerissa looked taken back. "What did they do?"

"Well, I think they were more of a band of adventures or treasure hunters. Sometimes they pilfer in Midgar, but then give money to the poor... pretty much a 'Robin Hood' of their time. Although it's hard to say they were well-mannered, but they were really generous. Especially the captain, who invented the very ship was very passionate of flying." she screwed her face and imitated a quote—which seemed like his'—hoarsely, "'Just sit and drink your goddamn tea!', that's what he used to say." Lani chuckled at the memory.

Aerissa giggled.

"He was still a youth back then, younger than my father." she added, "Maybe around his mid-twenties, I'm not sure.. he should be around thirty by now."

"How many pirates were there in the band?" Aerissa questioned.

"Heaps of them. Every time I visit their ship, the crew gets bigger, and there's always a new face." Lani responded, "But there were only a few outstanding ones, the ones who always go with the captain whenever there was an important mission. I think they were no more than ten.. I don't really remember, but I know they were really strong."

"What kinds of treasures and artifacts did they have?" Aerissa asked from the seventh time.

"There were so many of them, I could hardly count. Well, there were many priceless relics, money, gems and jewelry, and treasure chests.. I don't know, I think there's more, I don't really remember.." Lani added, "They were so many, they stored it in their headquarters at Nibelheim."

Aerissa flickered, "Oh, they're from Nibel?"

"Yes," Lani bobbed her head, "I also think they're still traveling the world up until now, not with the same crew though of course. I think I caught a glimpse of the ship one day when I was out to the market. It didn't exactly pass the city though, it was so far away."

Lani saw Aerissa's eyes glimmer in interest. "I remember this one time my father was offered to be one of the crew, but he declined it, saying he couldn't leave his life as a merchant."

Aerissa later noticed her hair was finished. Letting Lani releasing her restrained tresses to freedom, she kept listening.

"Funny. I always thought a pirate's life is an awful common dream, 'used to fantasize it when I was a small." Lani snickered to herself, "I knew it was a bad idea. Living as a traveling merchant was never safe. Not only there were many bandits on the road, but they even murder by passers—and my father was one of them."

"Uh," Aerissa muttered awkwardly, "I-I'm so sorry.."

"Oh! My apologies, Your Highness! I didn't mean to—you know—brag about personal memories.."

"Oh, no!" Aerissa said pleadingly, "Please continue. It has been interesting. Really."

Lani eyed at Aerissa for a moment, then started thinking of another subject. She later cleared her throat audibly.

"Have you ever heard of the Northern Crater?"

The princess paused, casting a thoughtful look. She could have sworn she heard something like that ages ago. Luckily, her memory range did not fail her. "I read it once in one of those books.. it said a meteor crashed there a fifty years ago. Rumors circulating about an otherworldly creature possessed there, but I don't believe it." she rolled her eyes.

"I also refused to believe it but.." Lani flashed a quivering look. "I heard inhabitants there spotted shadows of giant tentacles surfacing around the top of the mountains surrounding it.."

Even though at first she said she did not believe it, Aerissa was secretly worried if the rumors were right. She threw another question. "Do you know more about this.. thing?"

"No, but I don't know," was the answer. "very few people outside Great Glacier know about it, but they refuse to tell it to outsiders, which results why there're so many people who haven't heard of the news.."

A silence ensued. The princess watched her maid taking her hung nightdress from the top of the border and placed it inside the wardrobe. They did not talk for a while, neither Aerissa or Lani knew what to talk about. It figured the previous topic was not a liking of either. That was until three knocks echoed from the door.

"Aerissa? Are you decent?" a voice tinged. The queen's voice.

Aerissa immediately tidied her dress and Lani promptly stood up as Queen Ifalna opened the door, "Aerissa, the Wutai minister has arrived, and he's expecting you, dear. Could you come down now?"

"Yes, mother, in a minute!"

Passing Ifalna was Lani, giggling at the sight of an awkward Aerissa.

"You're late."

A lad, scarcely eighteen years, uttered his voice, sending it echoing throughout the church walls. In front of him stood a man in black cloak, who was facing the crucified altar. To the young man's surprise, the cloak covered his client's whole body with success. What was only identified was the height of his figure, which he assumed was a palm away taller than him.

They were in a small rundown chapel somewhere in the deepest slums of the city. It was so hidden, very few people attend it. Even the sunlight barely reached the roof leaks. The church was concealed within a cluster of tall buildings and landmarks, that the sky failed to shower its light toward it, plunging it austerely to darkness. It was so dark, perhaps, the boy hardly saw the black figure came approaching him.

"You're late, but I didn't see you going through the front door. How?" he asked curiously, looking back and forth from the door to the other man.

"It's none of your concern." a voice countered. From what the boy heard, he did not sound like a villainous villain with thick accent and deep voice. This voice sounded strangely flippant and casual, with a mild western accent. "I've got the job you wanted."

The young mercenary retorted testily. "Really? What is it?"

"Well," a grin emerged on the older man's lips, which was the only part of him visible enough the eye could see. "truthfully, I doubt you could take this task. But I've asked every mercenary I could find and you're the only one who seemed unwaged, for they refused my offer."

The blonde gave a puzzled look. "Just what kind of job you're giving me?"

The cloaked man slowly walked closer. "Welcome to my world, boy, because this is going to be your first real job," Another grin line thicken. "I heard you only do things like catching a butcher thief, getting a cat down a tree, kids stuff. But seeing from the eye of your sword, it's safe to say you're worth it."

He gestured his hand smoothly through the thick and bold lines the sword bestowed. A huge, broad, and long sword it was. The noted object was placed firmly on the young mercenary's back. The stranger wanted so much the owner carry it by hand. To heave a blade so big without the slightest shake would be an honor of every warrior.

Sadly, this boy was not one of them. "Are you criticizing me?"

"No, no, no..." the man muttered, shaking his head at the mercenary's straightforwardness, "I'm giving you a job only exclusives regularly take, even guild hunters don't take this kind. And not forgetting, a fair prize."

"Fair prize?" the youth repeated uninterestedly, "A fat bag of 500 gil?"

"Figures." the client shrugged, "Twice as much, or more if you like."

The yellow-haired thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's hear it."

It had been three days after Cloud Strife encountered a man in black cloak in a small bar near the chapel area. The meeting started out oddly. Cloud ordered a ginger ale but forgot to bring his money, and the bartender was about to have Cloud clean the dishes for him all night. Luckily, before the bartender could get his hands on the boy, a mysterious customer helpfully paid for Cloud's beverage with the reason, "You have lots of potential."

Cloud did not understand what he meant and to his surprise, the stranger offered a job to him and promised to give in full details three days later in the chapel, which was today.

Queerly, up until now, Cloud was yet to ask the name of his client.

"As you know, ever since the death of King Terrenus, conflicts between all four kingdoms began to grow." the man explained, "Our king died, leaving the greatest legend of the Ancients untold. This caused fatal errors throughout the whole world. Midgar's starting to take over the world, the royal family of Nibel is falling apart, even a Wutaean insider is going mad!"

Cloud furrowed his eyebrows skeptically. "What do they have to do with the Ancients? And what are the Ancients?"

The stranger paused. "Don't you read the newspapers?"

Cloud sighed, "Dude, I rather spend money on food supplies and save them to buy a shelter, not for some bloody newspaper."

Under his cloak, the stranger rolled his eyes. "Ancients are said to be descendants from the sky, and our planet's lifesavers. For so many years, Midgar has always been an industrial and commercial city. And to produce that big of power, they extracted the planet's energy... which causes what is happening in the world today.

"During the last one hundred years, a breed of people known as the Ancients, came and slowly heal our planet from time to time. Shocked yet interested, the Midgar scientists researched about these people. However, until now, none of them found out anything about the Ancients other than their ability to cure the planet."

Cloud placed his fingers around his chin, frowning. "Let me guess.. you're trying to tell me that the king is the only person who knows about the Ancients, but now that he's dead, nobody's going to tell even the Midgar Empire the secrets of the Ancients, right?"

"You learn fast, and nice guess by the way." the stranger complimented, "Currently, scientists are still doing researches. The Ancients only appeared for a short while because their homeland—the Northern Crater—was destroyed by a meteor half a century ago. Scientists believed there were a few survivors, but none were found."

Cloud asked, "How about the Nibel family?"

"As far as I know, one of the family members is secretly related to a Midgar general... or a certain group... which may lead to bigger problems in the future."

Cloud raised his eyebrows. "The Wutaean guy?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't know what he wants." the stranger said matter-of-factly, "I personally think he's a traitor who's particularly interested with the Ancients."

Cloud's eyebrows furrowed, Looks like Midgar's the center of everything, "So.. what do you want me to do?"

The older man cleared his throat and whispered to Cloud's ear. To Cloud's surprise, the voice turned cold and tense.

"I want you to assassinate Princess Aerissa."

Cloud heard the pigeons outside flew away suddenly, and a jump in his stomach.

He was not sure if it was intentionally, but he knew he yelled a loud "WHAT!?" before he returned calm. Cloud was clearly certain everybody's eyes were glued at him now, despite the short—yet disturbing—commotion he just did. In a church, of all places. He tried hard not to look at the priest's disgusted face. But before he can do anything, Mr. Client had grabbed his arm and brought him out of the chapel.

"You idiot!" the stranger punctually screeched, "Don't let them hear you! You don't want yourself killed before you do anything—"

"I'm not doing it!" Cloud spat, ignoring him, "Kill the princess!? That's crazy! I know I'm a mercenary but I have a different policy that doesn't kill people!"

The boy stopped for a breath intake.

"Why do you want to kill her anyway?"

At first, the stranger refused to speak, but then murmured in a lower tone, "There are some things people you like won't understand, and it's now happening in the upper-class," he noticed a bemused look at Cloud's boyish face. "People like me, I mean."

Cloud gave a short snigger. "Like what? Jealous at a kingdom better than yours that you'll kill the heiress for your own satisfactory?" he asked sarcastically.

The cloaked man did not say anything. Even though he couldn't see it, Cloud was sure the man must be staring at him now with his cloak-hidden eyes.

"This is why you should start buying newspapers."

Cloud remained silent.

"Do you know how the king and queen met before they married?"

Cloud cast a look of confusion. He assumed sloppily, "They were engaged by their parents?"

From behind his black cloak, the unknown man rolled his eyes, and began.

"They sought each other when the king—who was, back then, the prince—was doing a volunteer expedition to the Northern Crater after the meteor crash, where he met her in Icicle Inn." the man explained patiently, "There, he found out Queen Ifalna was an immigrant, she wasn't a native. Other than Icicle Inn, there were no towns or communities except the Northern Crater."

Cloud tried recollecting his memory. "If I'm correct, the Northern Crater is the home of.. the Ancients?"

The man continued, "They bonded, and fell in love deeply, even though he knew who the queen really was. When the social workers were almost finished with their expedition, he couldn't leave the queen alone, so he brought her with him to the castle, where she was introduced as an upper-class from Icicle Inn."

"Hold on," Cloud raised a hand nervously. "you mean the king... lied?"

"He had no other choice."

"B-But," Cloud stuttered, "how about her parents? Weren't they suppose to meet and all? Even though she doesn't really have any? Then the connections! They would now if she really was an aristocrat or not!"

"That time, there were only one aristocratic family in Icicle Inn which—not only parentless—were consisting a group of six daughters." the man said firmly, "Queen Ifalna can easily lie and say she was one of them, for Icicle Inn was isolated from the outside world, as well as the rest of the land there."

"You mean.. the queen's..."

"..an Ancient."

Cloud stammered, "I-it can't be.. an Ancient? Our queen? But you said those Midgar folks are—"

"I know," the man gave a short answer. "but they don't."

"Nobody knows?"

"Not even the prime minister."

"Then how could you—"

"That's none of your business."

Silence emerged. The two can simply sense a gentle breeze passing them, shunning the tension and obscure thoughts away with them. For a moment, the two glared indistinctly at each other.

Cloud started, "Does that mean.. the princess is.. a half-Ancient?"

"Most likely," the man replied steadily, as if nothing ever happened. "but even though she's a half, her abilities are just as fierce as her ancestor's. Her mother couldn't do anything right now, which is good, so it's her daughter who has all the power. And more importantly, she inherited the sacred treasure of the Ancients. I don't know what it is, but everybody's after it, especially the Midgar Empire. And if it ever fell to their hands, I promise you, things will get ugly."

Cloud's face went dumbfounded. "Then why do you want me to kill her?"

"So everything's settled!" the man declared with his voice a notch higher. "Midgar has been crazy about the Ancients and you know it, and the only thing that would end it is by eliminating the princess!"

"Like killing the princess would make you feel any better!" Cloud demanded, "There must be another way!"

"What? Attack Midgar?" the man asked testily, "The Empire is not only strong in authority but also strength! They'll wipe you out before you could say 'Charge!' You know how powerful and scary they are, risking your life won't get you anywhere!"

Cloud snorted uninterestedly, "Same goes for killing the princess."

Another silence triggered. A longer one. The church entrance opened and people started walking out. Some of them took a few curious glances at the pair, but neither one of them cared.

The client—who Cloud still hasn't asked his name yet—spoken finally.

"Well, that concludes our meeting." the cloaked man relocated his cloak and brushed the dust from his robe. He quickly noted before Cloud could say anything, "I've placed a steady paycheck at your mailbox. If you ever need more, just go to the Prancing Pony and leave a message to the bar host. He'll be sure to send your message to me."

Without waiting a reply, the mysterious man took off and disappeared along with the crowd of church attendants. Within a second, the man was nowhere in sight.

"What the hell should I do?" Cloud asked himself as he walked home.

-tbc-

a/n
Editing end. Bah. So many typos and grammar mistakes. How can it be overlooked? Oh wellz. Don't forget to review, yes?