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

a/n:
I LOVE MÄR!!! (glomps SnoopyCool) Just so you know, Nibelheim is pretty much a Lindbulm. I mean, it's an industrial metropolis, but not exactly polluted. The only difference is that it's not your typical "normal" kingdom. We know how Nibelheim is in the game, so making it TOO peaceful wouldn't make any sense.


To the Sky
chapter four: the first daughter of nibel

Staring eloquently at the vibrant night sky, a pair of dark azure eyes glinted with fortitude. Thin honey-blond tresses flowed rhythmically as a gentle breeze passed a fair wrap of porcelain skin. Stroking a finger to her temples, a slender built of a young lady bit her lips. Rushing down gently were red traces of blood.

The blonde gasped softly. She quickly placed a hand on her bottom lip, and lifted to see faint crimson marks embossed on her silk glove.

An eyebrow furrowed. She slowly took a small pointed dagger from her long sleeves, and poked the edge, testing it.

Without further regret, she drew the scalpel to the back of her head, after clutching a handful of her flaxen strands. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She felt the tip of her blade hacked in the speed of lightning. Still holding onto her hair, she leisurely released her grip. The gentle wind wiped away her hair's severed leftovers, revealing short sunlit-yellow locks.

Opening her eyes once again, she fixed her glance determinedly.

"It is time."

"Woooow." Cloud's orbs glimmered, reflecting the faultless lights of the Nibel Citadel as he whistled absently. "So this is what you call a festival."

Starlight lanterns had transformed the dull, market-laden Nibelheim streets into a union of colorful, acrobat-infested cabarets. Being a big industrial city that it was, the people were mostly seen if not with mechanical instruments, with vended groceries. But in such a jubilant night, witty smiles were imprinted in every face, and none of them looked exhausted from overworked nights.

Cloud noticed most of them were huddled in front of the citadel courtyard, before a big object he was yet to see. Later, he realized it was a massive theater stage, built on the back of an airship. It was scheduled there will be a performance of the infamous play, Coulisse de un Princesse in the upper-class level.

Every year, a noted theater band will play a celebrated classic in the castle grounds, and all distinguished kings and queens and nobles will be invited to watch it specially. Only a select few of the lower-class were allowed to join in, as they had to be able to buy their own ticket, which were awfully limited. In addition, some sneaked into the airship's backstage.

It was hilarious to see Yuffie venturing through the cluster of concession stands, getting more and more paperbags every after she visited one. Aerissa was joining the applauding crowd of an outdoor acrobatic show, featuring human cannonballs and a pack of over-powdered fiery clowns--which Cloud found pretty comical and uncanny.

"She watches that?" he looked dismay.

"Give the lass a break, kid." Cid lit up a cigarette, which Cloud reckoned it was thicker than the usual. "She's been isolated in the castle for too long. Let her explore a bit."

"I know, but," Cloud flickered at the piercing sound of gunpowder, looking up at the flying human cannonball like a wish-come-true shooting star. "I bet the things she used to watch are much more better than juggling fire poles."

The captain shrugged. "She lives in the world of jewelry, plays and wealth. She's a princess, and she's never seen carnivals. I bet she thinks the same thing about us."

Cloud crouched down, now staring at the frightened mob who were busy getting down the cannonball artist from the tree bushes. "I guess so."

After a short moment of silence, Aerissa approached the two, looking vexed. "Can you believe it? The human cannonball got stuck in a tree! I heard they are going to postpone the Human Cannonball show due to the accident."

"Lass," Cid remarked a finger astutely. "this is what you call technical difficulties."

Aerissa gaped at him quizzically. She then heard Cloud chimed from below her skirt. "I think they're just stupid."

"What are you talking about?" the princess retorted, "They must have been training so hard to deliver such performance! I am utterly surprised neither both of you find it amusing." she switched glances from Cid to Cloud.

"Because it isn't, Aeris." Cloud stood up, which caught her to surprise. "Shooting yourself through a cannon isn't safe, and those people did that purely to entertain the audience--ignoring their own personal safety."

"Cloud, they are entertainers! They entertain people! That is what they do!" Aerissa argued back.

"If they're real entertainers, they would be singing and dancing in the castle grounds." Cloud said firmly with a tone Aerissa found annoying, "Not plainly killing themselves with gunpowder."

"Well," Aerissa tried to look nowhere near Cloud's navy eyes, which started glinting victoriously. "those people did that to make a living! They must have been too poor to make their own theater band. Therefore, I salute them!"

Cloud was about reply when suddenly a chipper voice squealed a pitch of delight. "Hey! Whatcha guys doin'?"

The two immediately stopped their quarrel and turned to see a petite frame of a certain fifteen-year-old Wutaean, complete with her overload paper bags and one stick of pink puffy cotton candy. Yuffie, if compared to anyone in the crew, seemed to be the one with the most celebrating mood. She did the most cheering, the most sightseeing, and the most shopping. Not to mention, she was the only one who did not look like a part of a band of pirates at all.

"I've been wondering," Cid muttered, eyeing at small dripping stones pouring out of her pocket. "what is it with ya and green marbles?"

"Materias." Yuffie corrected sternly, letting out the sparkle of candy leftovers shone meekly around her mouth. "Geez. You're a notorious pirate, and you don't know a thing about Materias? Honestly..."

Cid gave a loud grunt.

"Anyway," Yuffie suggested helpfully, "why don't we sneak into the castle and watch the play? I heard Coulisse is quite a catch. 'Never seen it before, have we?"

"Coulisse de un Princesse?" Aerissa inquired, "Of all books I've read, that is the only one I haven't. But many said it is really good. Tonight is actually the first play of the noted novel."

"Oh? It's new?" said Yuffie with her cotton-candy-filled mouth. She then swallowed, "I thought it was a classic."

"It is." the princess nodded, "But new."

A brow crooked. "Well, sounds like a plan to me." Yuffie bit more of her almost undone cotton candy. "Wanna watch it?"

"Whoa!" Cid dropped his branded cigar, gasping in shock. "Yer ain't pullin' out any firecrackers again, right?"

"Of course not, silly!" Yuffie cracked. She threw her unfinished crystal ball-sized cotton candy to Cid's direction, which was literally dodged. "'Sides, it wasn't me who suggested lighting up those firecrackers in the first place!"

"Firecrackers?" Aerissa questioned curiously, ogling worriedly at the squabbling rogues.

"Last year the crew sneaked into the airship's backstage and caused quite a commotion." Cloud answered blankly, "Cid asked Yuffie to supply the team with small-range explosives to knock out locked doors. But apparently, they were too powerful that half of the ship exploded. Their bounty got raised ever since, or at least, that's what I heard from Tifa."

Aerissa sputtered at the name. She can hardly forget the row she and the crew had with her and Barret. It felt like she was the sole reason the two groups ever argued, and she blamed herself of it. Ever since they left Seventh Heaven, a hint of guilt kept reappearing, but she unwaveringly shunned the thought away. However as she thought more of the seventeen-year-old bar host, scenes from their last episode began to reminisce.

"Anyway, whether you like it or not," Yuffie announced nonchalantly, "I'm sneaking in!"

Then suddenly, a familiar female voice pealed. "I'd like to see you try."

The conversing four spun around to see a slim five foot four figure of a young girl. Not only they felt they had seen her pale yet appealing face, but there was something about her hip-length walnut-colored hair, dark violet overalls and busty built. Aerissa took the longest time to identify who it was.

"Tifa!" Cid recognized first, pointing her with disbelief . "What're ya doin' here?"

Aerissa's heart skipped three beats. She tiptoed slowly to Cloud's aid as Tifa started approaching the group steadily. The princess was rather astonished to see not an angry, disappointed face, but a sweet beam. However, as the sound of her waist cat bells gotten closer, the more Aerissa felt a chill depressing down her spine.

Jiggling her bells, Lockhart giggled, "Awww... what's with the face?"

Yuffie, being the currently hyper one that she was, jumped to an empty space in front of the seventeen-year-old. "Tifa!" she yelled ecstatically, "You're here!"

The girl smiled back. "Of course I am. I don't have anything better do, after all. Like you heard, Seventh Heaven is on a temporary hiatus." then Tifa's face gloomed a pouting line. "Thank Barret for that."

"Good point." Cloud hissed, turning his head to eight directions, "I wonder where he is..."

"Oh, I think he's out with the others." Tifa replied, pointing a thumb to her four o'clock wise, "He drinks in these sort of occasions, remember? I think Jess is with Marlene, babysitting."

"I thought yer helping." Cid presumed, poking the tip of his cigar.

Tifa shook her head. "I wanted to, but she said I need a bit of fresh air." she folded her arms prudently. "I mean, after the financial problems and taxes and everything... and our row..."

Her voice broke. She felt a hint of guilt abruptly emerged as a reminiscent of switching scenes started to show reappear faintly. Noticing her friends' anxious looks, Tifa shook her head weakly.

"Well," she enlightened with a sense of courage in her voice. "I've been thinking about that." her eyes flashed dimly. "Jess said she heard them all, and she couldn't help but to cheer me up. So she asked me to go out... and meet you guys. I mean, just forget the whole thing, 'kay? You just came to me at the wrong time."

Cloud went silent for a moment but then implanted a small smile. "I guess you can put it that way..."

Tifa chuckled heartily, "I know I was terrible." her voice faded slightly. "But please, I'm really sorry... I had such a bad day, and burst it all on you."

Cid loomed over to the brunette's side, looking nowhere near displeased. "Don't worry 'bout it, Teef. It's all in the past."

Yuffie nodded vehemently. "Apology accepted!"

The bar host peered her eyes at the three genially, then gazed over to jumpy princess, whereas Tifa tittered and gave a polite smile. Aerissa, however, was too preoccupied by her anxiety to smile back.

"So," Tifa began, ignoring Aerissa's inquisitive eyes. "I heard you said you wanna sneak in." she glanced at Yuffie, who was nodding hotly. "I think I can help you."

This brought Cid to alarm. "Oh, no. NO FIREWORKS!"

"Shut yer trap, tardy. No one asked your opinion." Yuffie mused sarcastically. She then turned to Tifa, disregarding Cid's constant demands. "That'll be great, Tifa! How's the plan?"

Tifa nodded as a "Yes," then informed, "I'm thinking that we should sneak from the citadel."

Aerissa secretly liked this idea.

"Wait a minute," Cloud peeped in, delaying Yuffie's countering gripe. "isn't... sneaking through the castle is a lot more... difficult? Y'know, with the royal guards and all? I don't think we'll stand a chance." he shrugged. "Besides, the militia is highly sensitive to anybody unauthorized trespassing the castle grounds. How're we gonna watch it?"

The dark brunette jiggled her bells. "We can use an undercover, or the roof, if you like."

Cloud snorted.

"Anyway, here's the plan." Tifa drew closer to the little crowd of five, dropping her voice closely to a whisper. "Twenty minutes before the show starts, the citadel gates will be closed and most of the guards are gonna be positioned around the courtyard and if I'm correct, the theater airship. Thus creates a bigger chance for us to break in, 'cause there supposed to be four guarding the main entrance which will be switched to two. And less guards can be located around the citadel, so it should cause less trouble."

The three stared at the master of plan blankly, as if they were about to blurt out an approval. Aerissa did not look like she was same as flabbergasted. In fact, she encouraged herself to speak.

"If you may," she stammered, getting even more nervous with all the attention glued on her. "we can hide in the first daughter's chamber. All of the castle must be empty during the play, and all of them are most likely to be seen in the king's chamber. Her Highness too should be there, and the ladies-in-waiting do not regularly watch it. We can watch from the balcony there."

The three got even more astounded. Tifa, on the other hand, grinned with absolute interest. "I almost forgot you're a member of a royal family. Great plan, Aeris!"

Cid gave his salute. "Agree. Absolutely stunning." he gave a quick applause, which Aerissa found a tad bit hair-raising for a foulmouthed pirate. Yuffie too chattered on how marvelous her "little speech" was.

Cloud then folded his arms, prying with Aerissa's excellence. "'Didn't know you're so interested with the scheme, Aeris!"

Aerissa smiled wryly, as she thought this was a little too much of celebration. I wonder mother is watching too...

"But Tifa," Cloud turned to the second walnut-haired, "how come you're helping us? I know you like plays and such but it's not like you to wet your hands in trouble, especially when you're planning to break into a castle."

The others nodded in chorus as a sign of curiosity.

Tifa stood quiet for a while. She closed her eyes, as if she was getting prepared to let out an important message. After a moment's silent, she commenced, "It's about the first daughter."

Aerissa promptly respond to this. "Lady Elena?"

"Elena?" Cid piped in, "You mean the blond chick with the informal accent and the tough attitude?"

"The one who studies swords and archery?" Yuffie spat jointly.

"The tomboy one?" Cloud jittered.

"Yeah," Tifa bobbed her head. "That one."

The other three gasped in surprise. Aerissa then questioned, "What is it with Elena?"

Tifa gazed at her contently, then to the rest. She noticed the fireworks started sparking on top of the citadel sky, something she assumed to be a sign the play was starting. She heaved a sigh. "I heard that Lady Elena is suspected to be involved with a rebel group in Midgar. I don't know who they are though, but in my opinion, this is possible."

"A royal joining a group of terrorists?" Yuffie remarked doubtfully, rubbing her cheeks for cotton candy snippets. "She sounds like an activist."

"It is not impossible, though." Aerissa frowned, "Elena is rebellious by nature. In the court, she pouts the most and will not take no for an answer. Even her swords and archery lessons are of her favor. She is so harsh, I hardly get along with her. In fact, she hardly gets along with anybody."

"Anybody royal." Cloud emphasized markedly, "I bet she gets along with the likes of herself."

Distracting images of a blonde in burgundy toying a long scale-patterned whip invaded Cid's corrupted mind.

"Perhaps," Aerissa's voice kept Cid from insanity. "she does not like being around us either."

Tifa's eyes glinted doggedly, reflecting sheer sparks of fireworks. "Well, we'll have to find out."

"Shit!"

"What?"

"These boots stink!"

"Oh,"

"WHAT THE #!&? Don't 'oh' me!"

"Cid! Move over!"

The light lit to reveal two blondes strangled to one another. Cid and Cloud, who were previously fighting over a pair of clean-cut boots, went thunderstruck as Cid's metal help fell vacantly to the floor. Resting beside them were two naked soldiers, one of them with a large lump on his stomach while the other abided a young, pimple-laden face. Still staring at the sudden ember of the light, Cid and Cloud started to their feet.

"What's with the shoes?" Yuffie curiously pointed the couple of boots Cloud was attempting to avoid from Cid.

"Cid's boots stink, so he wants to wear mine." he said calmly.

The female rogue, though, noticed a hint of scorn hidden within his tone. She sighed helplessly, "Go get your own boots, Cid. You're thirty-two for God's sake."

"Shut it, girly!" Cid retorted, snatching back his reek boots from the counter, "No way I'm wearing these two for a stroll!" he threw the pair away, "I'm walking with bare feet!"

Cloud did not like the sound of this. "Cid, it's not the guard's fault it's smelly. Your feet smell from the first place."

"WHAT THE FU--"

"Okay, cut it out!" Yuffie bellowed, shutting the two at once, "Cloud, leave the captain alone. Cid, you can walk bare feet for all I care, but remember the Corel accident. You didn't wear anything that you've got those blood-sucking thingies all over your legs."

Cid corrected dimly, "Oglops."

Yuffie considered halfheartedly, "Yeah, whatever."

"Which reminds me," Cloud pondered, clinching the clasp of his flecked chain mail, "I thought you didn't wanna come here, Cid."

Cid ignored him, and suddenly became interested on the whereabouts of the unseen brunettes. "By the way, where's Tifa and the princess?"

"Checking out the kitchen." Yuffie said curtly, pointing her thumb to the exit by the ridges of strangely colored green hoods, "Cloud said he was hungry, so the girls went out to look for snack."

The captain glared menacingly at the noted subject, who was grinning sheepishly. "I thought yer the one in charge of anything involving stealing."

Yuffie was about to answer when unexpectedly the two missing ones appeared from the door behind her. From the look of their faces, it looked like Tifa and Aeris had discovered something worth paying attention to. Jubilantly, Tifa threw an extensive plain bread wrapped around a paper-thin carton to Cloud's direction, which he landed with a surprised "Whoa!"

The Wutaean flummoxed, peering over the scent of the fresh wheat bundle. "Bread?"

"I found it on the stakes of the buffet's leftovers." Tifa drew another container of three other long breads.

"Are you sure they're still edible?" Cloud inspected the bread carefully, "I think it's rotting." he poked gently at the browned corners.

"Cloud, wheat breads aren't supposed to look plain." Tifa pointed out, "That is what they look like."

"Tifa," Yuffie lingered an index finger towards the direction of Tifa's carton package. "Are there for the bar? You don't expect to run around with a sack of breads, do you?"

"Oh, don't worry about that." Tifa grinned at the sight of Cloud, who was secretly trying to steal a bite. "You can eat it as much as you like. Besides, we might wanna coma back here before we get out."

"Good point." Cid helped himself for the small-sized helmet. "I'm runnin' out of food supplies."

Yuffie scowled, "You've brought dozens of barrels and you still think they're not good enough for you?" she shook her head in disbelief. She then turned to Cloud, who was busy raking his eyes around. However, when he was supposed to be examining the dark spots of his bread (that Yuffie assumed he still thought they were rotting points), he was gazing around the room. Gazing as if he was missing something.

"What's wrong, Cloud?" she asked.

Cloud, who then fixed his glance on Yuffie, cast a look of concern. "Where's Aeris?"

Keeping densely to her emerging shadows by the carpet-covered floor, Aerissa tiptoed silently through the well-lit hallway.

Many a time she had been through the Nibel Citadel halls, but never in her life it felt so rigid and stiff. It felt as if she was not belonged to the world she thought she was, and instead, was a rogue.

Unbelievably even to herself, Aerissa never thought she adored their way of life--the way of the pirates. Although at a glance it seemed free-willing and boundless, on the soft spot, they spent their lifetime being sought after by the court. And how stupid she thought was, for thinking it was such a great way of life.

Still, she never knew why pirates were highly outlawed. She did not even know why pirates were wild by nature. She heard once from Lani--her most favored lady-in-waiting--that pirates were generated from a poor and nasty lifestyle. Lani said it was the government's fault for abandoning their human rights, that they became rebellious and in the end, pirates.

Perhaps, that was why pirates were never bad in the eyes of the lower people. In fact, they were worshipped. They would venture around the world to steal the goods from the world of the aristocracy just to give them to the poor.

And she hardly believe a royal like her, Princess Aerissa, envied such a way of living.

Strolling avidly as she passed the lines of pearl-white stone statues and yellowed paintings, Aerissa kept thinking of her fortune.

Ten... no, just five years from now... what will I be?

A huge shudder urged.

A queen? Still a princess? Or maybe...

She closed her eyes--

A rogue?

--and opened them again.

I can be either of them... but now everybody believes I am missing and... what if mother decides to pass on the crown to someone else? I cannot possibly be queen and even if I come back, will the next heir let me in? He or she will think I would threaten their throne...

Then she realized she was heading closer to the end of the hall, enlightening a well-framed door Aerissa greatly recognized. The broader design gave an impression it was not a door to any ordinary room. It was framed with thick, solid wood, and catered with a crown-shaped carve on the head of door. And it had a crest on the peeping hole. The Nibel crest.

Tempted, Aerissa swallowed. She knew what room it was and knew better someone was in there. With a slight feeling of hesitation, she knocked the door.

"I told you I'm not coming out!"

Aerissa can feel all of her tension was sucked out in an immediate. Extending her hand slowly towards the knob, she tightly gripped and pushed it down.

Open sesame.

"How many times I have to tell you that I--"

"Elena."

The opened door exposed the sight of a female five-foot-four built. Her hair was a huddle of straight, golden neck-length locks with split ends, as if she cut them harshly with something as tarnished as knife daggers. Regardless, she had a fair complexion through her sharp, heated cerulean eyes. But it almost hit the Terrenian princess when she found the Nibel first daughter dressed in a green robe and worse, tights.

"Elena, what are you dressed up for?"

Sadly, Elena disregarded her question. Showing an expression of mixed feelings between delighted and damned, she quickly ran to Aerissa's side and held tightly to her shoulders.

"Aerissa! W-What are you doing here? Where have you been? Don't you know that the whole world is searching for you? Your mom has gone mental! She's been worried sick that she's holding up wages to every army force in the world--"

"Elena!" the brunette demanded, which helpfully shut the tomboy in an instant. "I know about that. I am not here to discuss about my whereabouts, I am here to discuss about you!"

The blonde instantly released her grip from Aerissa's shoulders. She stammered, trying to switch back the topic, "W-What're you talking about? Aerissa, tell me! Where have you been? Everyone thinks you're dead and all of a sudden you show up in my room! How did you get here from Terrenus, anyway?"

Aerissa looked disputed. "It is none of your concern, Elena. More importantly, I have something I would like to ask you."

Elena rolled her eyes skywards wincingly. "What?"

"Is it true that..." Aerissa hesitated, "Is it true that you are in some way involved with a Midgar rebelling alliance?"

From the corner of her eye, Elena looked as if she had an unlocked secret. Aerissa knew at once she cannot lie to her now. "Rebelling alliance?" the blonde tried to grin playfully. "Where did that come from?"

Aerissa ran her eyes to roughly every direction, as if she was trying to make a believable answer. "A few people I met."

Elena looked taken back. "People? You're with people?" she twitched. "Who are these people you're hanging around with?"

"Elena, it is not going to work." Aerissa flashed her emerald gaze warmly. They were so clear, Elena can see herself reflected by the younger lady's eyes. "Please be honest with me."

The blonde clenched her teeth furtively, then spun around and had her back facing Aerissa. She walked towards the balcony, where a huge decorative airship and hundreds of nobles were waiting. As she heard faint sounds of Aerissa's steps echoed, Elena began. "Aren't you going to go down there and watch the play? Coulisse de un Princesse is a most-wanted, you know."

Aerissa was befuddled. She furrowed. "W-What are you talking about?"

"Your mother is there." Elena continued, still backing the other princess' face. "Imagine how worried she is, to lost a daughter like you. She lost her husband, and now you. Although your mother is a one of the most sought-after queens I've ever met, she can't hide the grief and great loss she's bearing for the last four years... and survived them just to find her daughter gone the next morning."

The Terrenian princess went dumbfounded. "Elena! I am trying to ask whether you--"

"Yes."

Aerissa blinked. "What?"

"Yes," Elena slowly turned her head back to the brunette to see an awe on her beautiful face. "Aerissa, I am."

It felt as though a gentle breeze had caused a time stoppage to everything but the two royal daughters. An unknown expression emerged from Elena's face, followed by a mix of indescribable feelings. Aerissa could not look any more stunned. So stunned that the applauds and cheers of the crowd were redeemed on her ears. Elena, though, looked as if she hated the expression the former was making, yet slightly sad.

"Elena, you--" Aerissa came back to her senses, taking a step away from Elena's radius. "are lying, right? H-How could you?"

"Aerissa," the first daughter chanted with a voice much deeper than it was. "in the last four years, I was never happy."

The younger of the two gave a puzzled look.

"My father died, and because of that, Nibel now has a bastard for a king." Elena's facial expression darken, forming a grimaced line. "Now, the future of Nibel is undecided. Although he's my uncle, Heidegger had sent many of our soldiers--even his friends--to battle just to die for a victory we aren't sure of!"

Aerissa heard Elena threw a gasp of frustration. "But now the world is at peace. We do not have nothing to worry about a loss, Elena..."

"Yes," another glare strike laser blue. "it looks like we're good friends now. But really, do you think the Midgar Empire is that stupid? Rufus can kick our arse anytime he wants! And maybe by then, we'll all be as good as dead!"

She looked at Elena as if she had became a noted activist from Corel. Aerissa heaved, "What makes you think that way?"

To her dismay, the flaxen-haired smirked. Although at a glance it looked mischievous, it looked more of a smile of sympathy. Elena shook her head casually. "Aerissa," her voice came close to a whisper. "You're so lucky to have a loving family, a peaceful kingdom, and a devoted future for it."

She did not where it came, but Aerissa sworn she felt an uncomfortable clench in her stomach.

"But me?" Elena's voice went higher. "My father died, and he was the only one I had."

Aerissa then spotted Elena was stepping back away towards the end of the banister. The blonde turned to face the long-awaited climax, where the cheers raised several notches. She knew Aerissa was yelling at her, but her bawling voice was drowned within the shrieking crowd that Elena regarded less. However, she knew the eightteen-year-old would not stop right there.

Determined not to think more of Aerissa's future actions, Elena pressed her foot on a nearby flower pot and helped herself to balance by the narrow balustrade. Predictably, the brown-haired shrieked in horror.

"Aerissa," Elena gave her a rather melancholic look, which looked more like pleading eyes. "Please, don't try to stop me."

Aerissa sprinted audaciously towards the end of the veranda.

Then I won't stop you too.

"ELENA!"

Aerissa made it to the edge of the banister, but the last thing she saw before making it there was a slender silhouette of a short-haired who literally fell down from a ninth-story citadel.

She knew Elena was going to be alright. In Aerissa's opinion, she was meant for it. But still, she wept at the runaway first daughter, looking towards the ending climax with wet, hot, tearful eyes she did not want Cloud to see her with, let alone anybody.

That was, until she heard the door to Elena's chamber went smashing with the curtained windows to her right. Wiping away her tears, she looked at the shattered pieces of glass. She then gazed over to the shred curtains behind the cracked veranda entrance. And above them all, were two faded figures. Aerissa did not recognized any of them. Therefore, she took a look closer.

Two soldiers.

She felt her eyes were growing wide.

-tbc-


a/n
Phew, that was a good chap. Well, as you can see, Elena is finally introduced in the story. Yes, she's a princess here, but in Nibel it's first daughter, which is another different title. Please don't yell at me why I'm not making her a Turk... 'cause the Turks WILL BE THERE, and what's the Turks without Elena? Surely that means there'll be Reno... and Rude too xD; This bunch will appear soon (keep praying for it!) I know this chap is still a blurry, with Elena crying about her dad and all... just what happened 4 years ago, hmmmm?

However, comparing Vincent's appearances to the rest of the characters, Vincent will appear first. Translation: Vincent will appear VERY VERY SOON. Don't worry, Vincent won't be as OOC as Cloud is (which is a good thing, IMO).

And Clorith, sorry, no fluffs yet (sorrysorrysorrysorry). Cloud and Aeris just met and can't possibly hook up in a one-day's adventure, right? Honestly, it's still a looooooong way for any featured fluffs. This isn't love at first sight, of course (altho the 2 can't deny they're attracted to each other).

Oh yeah, please do review. It's not that I'm persistent, but I found out there are SO MANY people out there who added my story to their Favorite Stories list without my knowing they even exist. So please, I really really realllllly wanna know who's reading my fic.

P.S: I DID get references from FF9. I'm not telling they're the Tantalus band, but they're one a famous theater group though.