(Hey there, readers! Topaz here. Somebody brought up something about Cloud: His true love is Aerith, they're meant for each other, etc., etc. This is something that I know very well. I do agree that they make an adorable, timeless couple :) To everyone out there who may be concerned about this Cloud-OC pairing, please know that the Aerith thing will show up later in the story. Till then, enjoy! -Topaz Fox)
A week slipped by in what seemed like a moment. Topaz, as usual, jumped from world to world in the Snow Raven, but she did not come across Team Sora again. One day, she found herself with an odd urge to go to Olympius Colosseum, although there was no battles taking place there that day.
As soon as she arrived, Topaz flung herself down on one of the long couches in the Colosseum lobby. She pulled out her notebook and pen and tried to write about lots of different things. Strangely, though, her writing always strayed back to Sora. She swatted away his image as if it were a fly. Why can't I stop thinking about him? she thought, frustrated.
After a while, Topaz gave up and let herself write about the young hero. She jotted down musings and speculations, as well as observations she had made in her brief encounter with him. She remembered the way he touched her hand and wrote, I think so much fighting and being a hero has made him lonely. He seems to have good friends, I guess, but the way he looked at me...I can't help but think he wants something more. There is a piece missing from the puzzle of his existence. I really am intrigued by this boy, and would love to learn more about his past. What caused him to fight against the Heartless with such vigor? I saw the way he slaughtered those Powerwilds. He's not just doing this for sport.
Topaz filled more and more pages in her notebook. She lost track of time, absorbed in her writing. For the most part, the lobby remained empty, until suddenly...
"Uh...excuse me." Topaz jumped. She had forgotten that other people existed. She peeked up over her notebook to meet a pair of frozen blue eyes. Cloud Strife! Topaz's heart was beating so fast, she could've sworn it was vibrating.
"What's your name?" Cloud's voice was so smooth and cool and mysterious. Topaz started to feel faint. She noticed that Cloud smelled a little like snow, even though the sun was blazing like summer outside.
"Um, it's Topaz." Cloud Strife is asking my name! MY NAME! Whoa!
"Well, Topaz..." Cloud looked away and said, "Philocetes wants you to leave."
"Oh." So that's all. Nothing personal or anything. Topaz half-squinted at Cloud. I wonder if he even remembers me at all. "He...doesn't like people loitering for so long," said Cloud softly.
"Have I been here that long?"
"He says you've been here for hours."
Oops. I've overstayed my welcome again. Topaz felt a slight flush rise to her cheeks as she gathered her things. She stood up straight and gave Cloud a fake-confident grin. "Didn't mean to stay that long. I'll be going, then." She started to walk away when Cloud called, "Wait." Topaz turned around, surprised. "Yes?"
Cloud gave her a divinely strong and mystical look. "You're that girl from...before." The gate incident. "Yeah, I am." Topaz returned his gaze, feeling a little rush of joy. He DOES remember me! I can't believe it.
Right then, Cloud Strife actually smiled. "Here." He handed her a white envelope. "I have a big match coming up, and..." He looked down. "I'd like you to come. The details are in the invitation. Don't lose it, or you won't be allowed through the gates." Topaz blushed bright red. "Oh, um...thank you. Really." She gave him a genuine, loving little smile. "I'll be there. Bye." With that, Topaz turned around and left.
She maintained her composure until she got to her spaceship, but as soon as she set foot inside, she screamed into a pillow. "Cloud Strife asked me on a date! Me! On a date! With him! This is amazing!" She started waltzing with the pillow, humming a melody as she tripped over stacks of notebooks in her way. She danced around and around and finally fell, dizzy, onto her threadbare old bed. "This is like a dream," she told the pillow. She used her finger to trace along the lines in its stitching. She was blissfully silent until she remembered the invitation. She pulled it from a pocket in her tunic and hastily tore it open.
Inside was an ornate piece of paper. It was decorated with two vaguely human figures, golden and featureless, who trailed around the paper's border. Near the top of the page, the figures crossed what looked like spectral swords. Directly under the swords, it read:
Invitational Event!
On the night of the year's sixth full moon, taking place at Olympius Colosseum, a historical battle will unfold. Cloud Strife, merciless mercenary, has emerged from his intensive training and has challenged Sephiroth, the great general, to a fight. This will be a match to remember! Please bring this invitation to the Colosseum lobby at precisely 10:00 at night. Dress code for this occasion is casual to formal. We look forward to your presence!
Topaz gazed lovingly at the slip of paper. The night of the year's sixth full moon...that was in just two days. I wonder who else will be coming...it ought to be great. Suddenly, Topaz bounced to her feet. "This is cause for celebration!"
She set an auto-piloted course to Neverland. As the ship drove itself slowly through space, Topaz fixed a cup of hot chocolate and made herself dinner.
Topaz slipped her only coat, a big fur that had belonged to her mother, over the jeans and cotton shirt she had changed into. She set the ship to hover mode, so that it would remain sedentary. Next, she took her dinner plate and her hot chocolate and made her way up a small set of stairs. She pushed a button on the ceiling. With quite a bit of noise, a section of the ceiling slid back to reveal a clear path to the deck of the Snow Raven.
She clambered up through the big hole and onto the cold metal ship exterior. She was glad she had worn her fur; the wind was blowing and, as usual, it was cold this high up. Before she got situated on the ship's deck, Topaz surveyed the scene she loved the most of any world: Big Ben.
The huge old clock tower was truly a magnificent sight. It was like a peninsula of dreams, jutting out over the stewed blackness of reality. It seemed to add character and a kind of awe to the atmosphere around it. The Snow Raven was exactly level with one of the four great clock faces. All four faces were round and big and wildly orange as a harvest moon in autumn. Each face was also spiderwebbed with cast iron numerals, and in the center of every face was a pair of fine old hands that always kept time perfectly.
Topaz finished her dinner, her only company the great glowing face of Big Ben. After she put her dirty dishes away, she sat silently on the deck and admired the clock. I think Big Ben's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Besides Cloud, that is.
Something flew around the top of the clock tower, above the clock faces themselves. At first, Topaz thought that it must be a flock of birds, but as the beings came closer, Topaz realized something strange. The silhouettes in the night sky were not birds at all. As far as Topaz could tell, they were human.
The shapes soared closer still. Some of their features became visible, and Topaz realized she was partially right: one of the figures was a bird. Donald, Goofy and Sora were zipping through the air before her. When Topaz got over the initial shock of seeing them flying, she called out to them. "Hey! HEEY! You guys! It's me, Topaz! Come here!"
Did they hear me? After a moment, they stopped flying freely about and made a beeline for Topaz's ship. Topaz watched in awe as each said hello and alighted on the ship's deck. Sora grinned. "I had a feeling we'd be seeing you again. What's up?" Topaz shivered in the cold and grinned back. "Come on inside, and I'll tell you."
Everyone made their way carefully down into the ship. Topaz closed the ceiling hatch and set out bread, cheese and tea for her impromptu guests. She pushed some notebooks off of a sagging couch and sat down. "So," she asked cheerfully, "how is everyone?" "Fine," said Goofy just as brightly. Donald devoured a hunk of cheese. "We heard there was a...phantom creature in this area, but we can't find it. Have you seen any evil ghost-type scoundrels lurking around?"
"Can't say that I have." There was a slightly awkward silence. Jiminy hopped onto the scarred coffee table. "Topaz, this place is a wreck! Do you seriously live here? I thought I taught you how to be tidy," he scolded. Topaz laughed. "Sorry, Mr. Jiminy, sir, but I'm just not a 'tidy' person." "Reminds me of someone else I know," said Goofy, elbowing Sora in the ribs.
The five talked a bit stiffly about unimportant things until Jiminy made an observation. "Topaz, you seem so happy right now. It's strange to see you with such...such a glow. Do you mind if I ask why this change of heart?" "Yeah," said Goofy, catching on. "Now that'cha mention it, she is a lot more cheerful than last time." Topaz giggled secretively.
Jiminy seemed to ponder something and then said, "I get it now. He did this, right?"
"Mr. Jiminy, who's he?"
"Why, I don't know. Whoever the he is in your life." Topaz quivered happily, much like an overexcited puppy. "I guess you could say that," she murmured, half to herself. Sora looked disappointed. "You mean...you do have a he in your life." It was more a statement than a question. "Of course I do, silly," teased Topaz. Does he have a crush on me? I'm flattered! She continued coyly, "Don't tell me you don't have a she. You're so cute; how can you not?"
Sora blushed. "Well...I-I guess I do, but..."
"But what?"
"But..." He fidgeted. "She's not here anymore."
Not here? What can he mean? "Where did she go?" Sora responded slowly, "She was captured. By the Heartless." Topaz felt a good story coming. "Tell me everything," she said a little boldly. "Please. Start to finish. Let me see your memories, and let me write them down, if you'll allow me." Sora seemed a little hesitant. Jiminy faced him comfortingly. "Sora...I know it's...painful. But if you share your story, you'll feel better. I promise." Sora looked like he was going to cry for just a moment, but then his eyes gleamed with strength. Not the strength of a warrior, but the greater strength of one who had suffered loss. "Okay, here goes."