When the group came to it was at night, there was a new person among them. She had long glistening, light, brown hair and shimmering, emerald, green eyes. She smiled a sweet smile as she checked on each person. As soon as everyone was awake and she had checked on them, she sat down in an empty place around the fire. "My name is Aeris Gainsborogh and who would you all be?" she said with a sweetened tone. Cloud couldn't help but stare, he had never seen a woman like this before. "Could she be a Cetra? I have been told that Cetra women are incredibly beautiful..." Cloud thought. "Why yes, I am a Cetra and if I'm not mistaken so are you, Cloud Strife..." she said, "I'm flattered that you think I am so beautiful..." "Barely 5 minutes and he's already flirting? How shameful..." Vyse thought. "I heard that!" Cloud's voice ripped through Vyse's thoughts. "Oh, my pardons, I was asking about your names..." Aeris interrupted herself.
"I'm Lloyd Irving..." "Raine Sage and this is my little brother Genis Sage..." "Vyse Dyne..." "Sheena Fujibayashi, and the statue here is Colette..." "My daughter..." Cloud sighed defeatedly. "She hardly seems responsive..." Aeris said in a concerned tone. "I'm afraid that's my fault, I couldn't protect her..." Cloud said in the same tone as earlier. "So it's true then, you all are from Sylveraunt?" Aeris answered. "Except me..." Sheena pointed out. "I want to help you all..." Aeris said in a caring yet couragious voice. "What say you, Lloyd Irving?" Cloud asked Lloyd. "Why me?" Lloyd asked. "It seems to me you would be best suited to make decisions like this..." Cloud confessed. "Well it's fine with me..." "Then it's decided, from now on you all have two Cetra traveling with you, er, so long as Cloud comes as well..." Aeris replied. "She's a ray of sunshine, isn't she?" Raine replied. "Kinda' reminds me of Colette..." Sheena responded.
They headed down the mountain and towards the nearest town, which as Sheena explained was Meltokio. On the way there Lloyd had to ask, "Hey I have a question..." "Yes, Lloyd?" Raine asked. "What's the Chosen of Tethe'alla like?" Lloyd said. "Well let me put it this way, he's an idiot..." Sheena said in annoyance. "He's annoying..." Aeris responded. They finally arrived at the gates to the city. "I have some things I have to take care of..." Sheena told them, "I'll come back and rejoin the group as soon as I can..." "Be careful," Aeris warned in a motherly voice. "I will," Sheena told her in a 'don't worry about me' tone. They entered the large city, bustling with noise. A stray dog came up to Colette and whimpered at her feet.
Her foot slammed into the dog's ribcage sending the frieghtened and injured creature away whimpering even more. Lloyd and Genis gasped, they couldn't believe it. "And Colette always loved dogs so much!" Genis cried out in surprise. The next moment he felt a strong hand rest gently on his shoulder. He looked up to see Cloud. "Don't worry, she'll be back to normal... I hope..." Cloud said trying to encourage the boy to stay strong. "Poor things..." Aeris sighed depressingly.
The group kept their pace until they got to the northern part of town. Then a man dressed in pink with long red hair came out with a bunch of women. "Obviously the giggly cheerleader-type..." Vyse thought disgustedly. "I can't tell if that's a man with a bunch of women or a group of girls..." Cloud said in a dry attempt at humor. Aeris couldn't help but laugh, though not outloud. The supposed man approached Colette. "Well what a fine looking little beauty you are..." he said. "Yeah and you'll keep your hands off her if you know what's good for you!" Cloud said in a challenging voice. "And you are?" the man said turning his attention to Cloud and his voice to that of arrogance. "Her father..." Cloud said in an annoyed voice. "You look a little too young..." the man continued. "I'm older than I look..." Cloud countered.
The man turned his attention back to Colette he reached over and brushed a few strands of blonde hair out of her face. Her hand shot up and grabbed his wrist she threw him effortlessly over her shoulder. Surprisingly he corrected himself and landed on his feet. The swarm of girls ran up to him calling out his name 'Zelos' or Chosen. "Let's keep going, you guys. This guy is nothing but trouble..." Aeris sighed. The group eventually found the inn and even though it costed quite a bit, they settled down for the night forgetting completely about Zelos.
