Disclaimer: The negotiations for the characters and all other recognizable features in this fan-fiction fell apart yet again. So, as of now, I make no money nor am I in any way affiliated with any portion of Final Fantasy. Except as a loyal gamer, but I'm sure that applies to everyone who posts here.

A/N: Geez, it's been a while since I posted! With being sick, then working for honor roll, and finally a trip to Cancun for my sister's gym meet, it's been a long hectic while. As per the norm, I'd like to extend an ENORMOUS thanks to Judanim the Green Mage, Minako, Shara, Terra, Maya, and Rosa for reviewing. You guys made my month. However, with no further ado, here's the fourth chapter of Twin Cities.

A/N: For the edification of those reading, I'm going to write Cloud a very certain way, based entirely on my perception of FFVII. I'm informing you because I see Cloud as two very different people in the game: the nihilistic, often condescending, rebel-without-a-cause Cloud, who is earlier in the game, when Cloud is still grafted into Zack's persona and struggling with an identity crisis; the more open, pensive, and better attuned to people, but still sarcastic and fun-loving Cloud of the latter half of the game and the voice in the back of Cloud's head early on (like in the reactor and the church).

Twin Cities: Far Reaching Connections

Yuna, Paine, and Rikku were standing on the upper deck of the Celsius as it headed for Guadosalam. Yuna couldn't stop her nerves from jittering; the feeling of hurried anticipation having become a constant over the past few weeks. Being up here helped her, though. Watching the clouds rush by, feeling the wind as it blew past, it was such an exhilarating feeling that she could usually put off her worries until she went back inside the ship.

"Hey, lookie! We're here!" called Rikku. She was standing near the edge, shielding her face with one hand as she waved enthusiastically to the minute, dense forest that heralded their arrival in Guadosalam.

"Yuna, Rikku, Paine! We're leav-eng!" Brother's voice crackled over the intercom.

Yuna ran to the doors and cried, "We'll be right there," before making her way to the bridge, Rikku and Paine in tow.

"Good timing," Tidus greeted them as they flew onto the bridge's balcony. He had a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he added, "Brother was about to go get you himself, Yuna. He looked really concerned."

Not missing the unsubtle hint, Yuna shook her head and gave a wry smile. Before she could say anything, Shinra shuffled toward them, his progress hindered by the presence of an enormous bag and briefcase. After a few minutes of struggle – and some help from Tidus – he managed to shoulder the bag, while Buddy offered to carry the briefcase.

Buddy finally mustered up the courage to ask, "So, what exactly is in these things?"

Shinra, though usually given to extremely lengthy explanations, only muttered cryptically, "Just some stuff for monitoring the conditions in the Farplane." His friends waited for him to elaborate, but they eventually picked up that no such lecture was forthcoming and began to head down to the ramp. Shinra followed last of all, lugging the bag and thinking at an alarming speed. He had a great many theories that rested on the information he was going to gather, and he could only hope that the data would prove him right.

Guadosalam was a ghost town. In the two years since the vanquishing of Sin, most of the Guado had faced persecution, but a few had still remained. Now, there was no one; the lights that for so long had radiated from the doorways and few windows in the shops and homes were extinguished. Rikku shuddered.

"Even with Seymour gone, this place creeps me out!" she whimpered.

"Don't worry," Paine said, a sarcastic lilt to her voice, "we'll be on the Farplane before you know it." All noise from Rikku's direction was instantly muted; Rikku's dislike of the Farplane, along with that of the Thunder Plains, was legendary.

As they passed along the gentle loam floor of the town, Tidus' eyes roved over the vacant buildings.

"Geez, what happened here?" he murmured. Yuna explained about the Guados' misfortunes after the vanquishing of Sin as she led him along toward the path to the Farplane. Tidus looked uncharacteristically solemn when she finished, but he just shook his head.

After walking in thoughtful silence for a short while, the group found itself staring at the many swirling colors that made up the portal to the Farplane. Yuna found herself at the head of the group, so she took a deep breath and began to climb the stairs.

Yuna stepped up to the crystalline surface that made up the portal to the Farplane. She masked her slight shudder of apprehension in one of excitement: her last memories of this deceptively peaceful place were none too fond. She gently eased herself through it, eyes closed the entire time.

Cloud.

"Huh?"

Wake up, Cloud.

"Okay, okay."

You have to help them.

"Wait, what's going on...?"

You have to help them.

Cloud's eyes snapped open and darted around. He could see his frie-allies sprawled all over their room at the bar. Wedge was giving off lusty snores in the corner, rivaled only by Barret's mind-wrenching and deafening roars from Cloud's right. Easing his back against the wall, Cloud mulled over the voice, his brain itching from its presence. He didn't remember anything like this happening to him before, but, then again, his mind was still full of vast expanses of forgotten memories. Just because he could not remember ever experiencing anything like this before did not mean it had not happened.

Cloud ran his fingers through his hair, giving a remorseful sigh as he searched for a meaning in the voice's cryptic message. Unfortunately, every time he tried to think of why it was familiar, the thoughts fled from his grasp. After several minutes of nearly overwhelming frustration, he settled himself back onto his bed, composed of three chairs from one of the bar's tables, and drifted back to sleep, the voice still in his mind.

By Yevon, the Farplane was as beautiful as it had always been: richly hued flowers inundating the landscape, waterfalls in the distance. But the place held a sinister feel that belied its beauty. Yuna marveled at its duality as the others stepped through; she could see by their grimaces that their feelings were similar. Shinra began to skitter around, setting up a device here and there and fussing over their operations. Brother and Buddy moved to the edge of the platform and watched the pyreflies swarming around.

Tidus was doing his best to keep everyone positive, though he had not been there during the fight against Vegnagun and Shuyin. He walked with Yuna and Rikku, who was still silent, to the edge and smiled despite himself. Yuna noticed.

"What is it?" she asked, an apprehensively curious look on her face. Tidus shrugged by way of a reply.

"I don't know. This place seems creepy sometimes, but it's never felt evil to me."

"You weren't here."

"I know that, but I still know what happened. Hey, you know me. I've felt things were wrong before I've ever even given 'em a chance, but this place just doesn't feel evil."

There was a grunt of humor behind them, which was followed by, "It's nice to know some people still have faith in us."

Grinning, Tidus turned around. Auron stood before them, looking the same as ever.

"Hah! Wakka owes me ten gil! I knew you couldn't resist seeing us again," Tidus teased. Rikku squealed in delight and yelped a hello, but Yuna suddenly went stiff and bowed.

"It's good to see you, Sir Auron," she said gravely. Auron grinned and came over to them. As he came up in front of Yuna, he murmured to her.

"After what you've done, Yuna, I don't think you need to bow." Yuna flushed red, but relaxed visibly and smiled.

"So, how's life treating you?" Tidus asked. Rikku ribbed him hard in the side and he winced as he amended, "I meant death."

Auron's face twisted into its old look of intimidating aloofness. He motioned with his head for them to follow him. Tidus and Yuna unquestioningly obeyed, but Rikku couldn't go without a suggestion.

"Wait, without the others?"

"I'm leaving now. If you want to summon them, that's fine with me. After all, it concerns all of you. But if you bring them, I can't tell you everything," Auron finished. Rikku looked openly perplexed as Auron began to walk off with Tidus and Yuna following him. She danced around for a second before tearing off, eager to hear the news.

They walked over blooming fields, pyreflies gently wafting near them. As they made their way through the Farplane, the beauty began to diminish and was replaced by brown rock paths that spiraled ever downward. When they had reached the edge of a high cliff, Auron continued to head toward the edge, while the others, erring on the side of prudence, decided to wait a few feet back. Auron motioned for them.

"Um, Auron? The rest of us aren't dead, and we're kinda happy about that. We'd like to stay this way for a little while, thanks," Tidus said. Rikku rolled her eyes and Yuna ignored the comment, following Auron to the edge.

"The famous Jecht wit," Auron snorted. As Yuna came up to him, he pointed into the chasm that lay before.

"Just look down," he said. Rikku, overcome by curiosity, followed suit. The most overwhelming feeling took hold of her when she peeked over the edge.

A swirling surge of blue-green energy covered the entire bottom. It flowed from the center of the Farplane out, but none of them could tell how far. The walls of the canyon were illuminated by the light that emanated from it, and a strange feeling came over them: it was as though the river was living.

Auron couldn't help but grin at their expressions. "The souls who return to the planet come here. This is the Lifestream."

A/N: Don't worry, the next chapter is all planned out, so I should have it up on the site within the week.