The Adventful
Disclaimer: DXP does not own FF7, FF7:AC, FF9, or anything within this story unless otherwise noted. DXP will be taking quotes from many other animes, games, and even from books, stories, and other people, so please be aware those are not my direct ownage, either.
Cloud readied his sword, studying it at the Black Mages. He had to kill them--it was the only way. He heard the footsteps of his new companions heading his way but he ignored them.
He rid the entrance of the last Black Mage, getting away without so much as a scratch.
"Cloud!" Zidane's voice called, "What's happening?"
"They came from the air." Cloud explained. "There was a woman who got pass me, and a few soldiers. I couldn't hold them all off, being as preoccupied as I was."
"We got to save the citizens of Clerya!" Freya exclaimed.
Just then, two Maidens came towards them, "Please help us!" one of them cried. The other agreed, "This town is full of demons!"
Zidane looked at Cloud, "Are there really that many?" he asked.
Cloud nodded, holding onto his Geostigma arm.
"We need to head towards the Cathedral!" Zidane instructed.
The group went up the stairs and turned right. They manage to save Dan's family from Black Mages and Soldiers, then ran left towards the watermill area. They headed for the Observatory, and then finally up to the Cathedral.It wore many of them down. They were soon blocked from coming into the Cathedral, and then they were surrounded.
Cloud knew he could do something, but that would risk the others getting hurt, too.
"Minions of evil, you have gone too far! My spear will purge this land of you! You shall fall like leaves in the wind under the force of my blade!" a foreign voice greeted them, and everyone looked up. Freya gasped, tears in her eyes.
The stranger killed off all the black mages, "Now, run!"
"Dunno who you are, but we owe ya one!" Zidane shouted, escorting the citizens in.
It took some time to calm everyone down, time they certainly did not have, and soon Freya spoke up. "Sir Fratley, I… I have missed you so much… I began my search for you immediately after you left Burmecia. Where have you been all these years…? To what corners of the world have you traveled? My dear Fratley… I climbed the highest mountains only to hear rumors of your victories… I searched the deepest valleys only to find your footsteps. But I never found you. And in the end, I heard something… Something unbearable!"
"Freya, you say? I believe this is the first time we have met…" Sir Fratley said. Freya gasped, and Cloud watched, feeling nostalgic. He swallowed a lump in his throat.
"What…what did you say?" Freya asked, trying to understand.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me." Sir Fratley explained slowly.
Freya seemed startled. "Y-You jest! You cannot have forgotten me! It's me, Freya! Freya of Burmecia!"
"He's lost his memory." Cloud said slowly, breaking the known news in remorse. "Amnesia."
"Can we…get it back?" Freya asked Cloud.
"It depends…" Cloud said. "It all depends on what he is forgetting and why he is forgetting it. A warrior like him can only suppress their memories."
"But why would they want to suppress their own memories!" Zidane asked, not seeming to understand.
Cloud looked far-off, not seeming to be all there. He thought of Vincent, of his friends, of Sephiroth…of himself. "Not everyone wants to remember something that might hold them back. Not everyone wants to remember their sins."
"But--!" Zidane shouted.
"That's enough, Zidane. Cloud is right." Freya said, turning to him.
"I…must go." Sir Fratley said, turning and leaping away. Zidane watched, then turned to Freya, "Aren't you going to follow him?"
"No…" Freya said, smiling sadly. "I am simply happy just knowing he's alive."
Vivi walked in from the first room of the Cathedral, and watched the events. "Ah…are you crying Freya?" he asked with concern.
"Ahahaha… What irony. To find the man about whom I have dreamt endlessly…only to discover that he cannot even remember who I am! Come, Zidane! The enemy's hand has not been stilled! We must regroup!" the Dragon Knight said, trying to not let them see her emotions.
"Freya…" Zidane said softly.
Cloud turned his head, hearing something. He took his sword off his back and held it in his hands, ready for attack.
Beatrix appeared in the room, "Hmph! Pathetic rodents! You fail to grasp the true power of this jewel!" she said smugly, taking the jewel from where it rested on the harp.
"Now that I have this jewel, I am through with your City!" Beatrix ran off. Zidane growled, "Wait!" while Freya called, "Halt, Villain!"
The group followed Beatrix out of the Cathedral. Cloud narrowed his eyes at her, "Why are you doing this?" he shouted.
"Another new member of your party, scum?" she asked Zidane. "Hmm. No matter."
"Think you can get away?" Zidane asked, glaring.
"Get away? Hahaha. You're a bigger fool than I imagined… Have you forgotten how badly I beat you back in Burmecia?" Beatrix asked, flipping her hair.
"So, you are more the fool for not finishing what you started!" Freya shouted back. She was definately in no mood for the General.
"Then allow me to shatter your delusions of grandeur." Beatrix said, going at Zidane with her sword.
Cloud, equipped with his Cover Materia, ran out in front of Zidane, taking the blow for him. It seemed to be just a scratch to the warrior.
"Pathetic." he said, spitting out blood. "Bolt 2!" he shouted, feeling the rush of magic come from within him as he spun his sword over his head and put it behind his back. He then outstretched his arms and the lightning came down, crashing onto Beatrix, making her paralyzed temporarily. Without missing a beat he got his sword back from his holster and was back into his attack position.
"Black magic!" Beatrix gasped. Cloud couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself. He hadn't used materia in a long time, and it felt so good to him to be able to use it once more.
However, Cloud's feeling didn't last too long. He looked at his teammates who stared at him in awe. Cloud looked at them back with curiosity and wonder, but ignored it for now. However, he couldn't help but feel dirty, as if they were accusing him. He mentally shook his head. That was over. Tifa helped him pull through.
"Let's go!" he shouted at them. "This is nothing!"
Beatrix growled, a bit annoyed with what was going on. She was suppose to win!
"Stock Break!" she shouted, and sent a wave of attacks at the group. Cloud lost half of his health, and he leaned on his sword for some recuperation. Zidane and the others, however, where in deep pain, and they fell towards the ground, breathing hard and trying to recuperate.
"She's…too powerful." Zidane whispered through his panting.
Beatrix flipped her hair. "Black Mages! Our work here is done!" she pocketed the jewel. "Commence withdrawal immediately!"
A portal appeared suddenly, and everyone gasped in surprised when Beatrix jumped through it. Black Mages followed, but the portal didn't close.
"I'm gonna follow them!" Zidane shouted. "Follow me, everyone!" he jumped through the portal.
Despite what had just happened, Cloud found this entire situation amusing.
"Zidane! He's gone!" Vivi shouted, shocked.
Freya spoke next, "I highly doubt I will ever return to this place…" she looked at Vivi. "Besides, this may be your last chance to find the truth about who you are…" she looked at the portal. "Come, Vivi. Show us your courage!" she jumped in and disappeared as well.
"Freya's gone too!" Vivi shouted. Cloud watched the Black Mage for a second before, his face remaining emotionless. "Vivi, right?" he asked, gaining the other's attention.
Cloud looked at the portal ahead of him. "Are you going to follow your friends, or go alone throughout it all?"
"I…" Vivi looked at the portal. "Am gonna go with my friends!" he jumped through, and Cloud followed calmly.
The group transported onto the Red Rose and Cloud felt the familiar effects of flying. He thought about Cid for a second before smiling bitterly.
However, the smile didn't last long. The sky suddenly grew dark. Everything grew dreary.
The group looked back at Clerya, and saw a bright light shine down onto it.
The sky above the Red Rose was a mixture of gold, red, and black clouds. Suddenly, a bright light came and they all stared in shock. The most shocked, however, was Cloud. He knew what was coming. He just didn't know how it was possible.
His Master Summon Materia suddenly shone brightly, and yet Cloud didn't have to avert his eyes. He was still looking at the chaos that was coming down.
Odin's silhouette appeared first, and then the horse and its master slowly came into view. The noise of the trotting summon made there was loud for all to hear. Odin made his way straight downward.
ButCloud noticed it: the expression on Odin's face was grim, yet sorrowful. He obviously didn't want to do this. He drew his large sword as they continued down, and Cloud gasped. "ODIN!" he shouted, not caring if he was giving away his position.
Odin didn't stop, however, and lunged his sword into the tree.
The Settlement began to break apart, and everyone who was left in Clerya were dying their instant deaths.
"ODIN, STOP!" Cloud shouted again, fighting to keep his tears in. His own summon…was doing something so...evil…
The Odin was running away, straight for the Red Rose. He left behind him a large burning tree that began to combust even more. Cloud gasped again, dropping to his knees, ignoring the throbbing pain of the Geostigma in his arm.
Odin disappeared in a flash of light, and everything was completely still. You could only hear the panting of Cloud as he tried to regain himself from having watched it. He took out his Master Summon Materia and just looked into it. The warriorsaw Odin, bounded in chains, being cradled by a deep hatred. It wasn't Odin's own hatred, though. He was getting it from the one who held the stone.
Brahne.
Cloud shut his eyes, placing the Materia back into his pocket. He was disgusted at how someone so awful was still living…and why Odin hadn't listened to him.
Freya's face was hidden in the shadow from her hat, and she secretly wept for all those who had died…
Vivi allowed himself to just remain silent, trying to be strong for once.
Zidane stood there watching Cloud, trying to not see what happened to Clerya. It was silent even still, and then Cloud finally stood.
"Why…did Odin become summoned to kill…?" he asked, shaking his head in misunderstanding.
"Brahne is controlling the eidolons." Zidane explained lightly. "She…has some world domination plan in mind."
Cloud was about to reply, but he found himself in a white field of nothing once more. He looked around, seeing nothing, and then a nostalgic feeling came over him when the ground suddenly erupted with pink, white, yellow, blue, and red petals. He stood in a flower field once more.
He found himself walking forward, and a hand came on his shoulder. He resisted gasping, knowing in this world, he was safe.
"Help them, Cloud…" the voice of Aeris came into his head. He knew Aeris wasn't speaking directly to him, even in this field of flowers. "Their troubles are so much more overwhelming…their enemy is confused, just like yours was, but with Sephiroth here…" her voice trailed off.
Cloud understood. "Aeris…will I be at a loss again?" he asked, shutting his eyes.
He sensed that Aeris was wearing a benevolent smile. "When you lose your way in life, time may solve problems."
Cloud watched the ground. "And if I can't find my way?" he asked slowly, hesitantly.
Aeris placed her hand off of Cloud's shoulder. "Just laugh, but quietly." she said in a whisper as her voice faded.
Another hand, this time, was placed on Cloud's other shoulder. "Hey, Cloud." Cloud's eyes opened wide. "What are you going to do?"
"Zack…"
"I won't do a thing like abandon you…"
The flower petal shots up once again, and everything disappeared. Cloud came back to seethe monkey-tailed boyand his friends watching him.
The warriorwatched them back with a strange look on his face. Zidane finally spoke, "Are you ok, man?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Cloud asked, crossing his arms.
Freya was about to speak, but Zidane cuther off. "Ok, then! Anyways, while you were spacing out, we went up the stairs and heard that Dagger is at Alexandria! They're going to kill her, so we have to go now!"
"How?" Cloud asked, his full attention on Zidane.
The monkey-tailed boy just pointed at what looked like pots. "Through there!" he said. Before Cloud could reply, Zidane took a leap into one. He disappeared into a bubble that went floating away.
Freya followed quickly as did Vivi. Cloud hopped over it, determination in his heart.