The place of her death was ahead. It hurt knowing she was there in a lifeless clump in water. I preyed that she hadn't deteriated in anyway, or it would be impossible for me to touch her. I didn't know what I'd do if I felt her once soft skin peeling off her bones, but it was scaring me. The glowing city ahead seemed to call my name even in my saddest attemptes to ignore the place and what I had to do. It kept calling me, and it seemed like a way of encouragement to save her. No, she can't be saved, she's already gone, but it's telling me to bring her back.

What could I do? Just take her to Red XIII for him to test if bringing her back actually works? What if it doesn't? What if she doesn't remember me? What if I have to face the truth that she never loved me, and that my love is a lost cause? All these questions running through my mind. It hurts. I can't make it stop. Aeris is in my mind. Everywhere. I have entered the area where only Aeris is in my mind. I close my eyes trying to get away from the pain. It doesn't work. All I can see is me and her at the Golden Saucer together. Happy. The play is in my mind. I'm her knight in shining armor and I've come to get her away from the depths of evil. Then it hits me. That is what I HAVE to do. That is my destiny. To live happily with Aeris. She is my true love, and I need her as she needs me.

Thats when I struggle against the grip of Cid and Vincent.

"LET ME GO!"

"We can't do that Cloud, you have to get her." Vincent told me cooly.

"Yeah ya' big dumbass. She's your responsibilty to get." Cid's words put more pressure on me to retrive her from the water.

"I know that! Now let me go!"

I feel them let go of me and I hit my head on the ground. I sit up and rub my head. I turn around and look at the entrance of the city. She was there just waiting for me to help her. To get her. To love her. I stand up and run to the buildings trying to remember which one she was in. Images were flashing through my mind as I blinked each time, telling me where to go.

Then I see it. The giant seashell building with the pool of water around it. Aeris was there. My heart skipped a beat, then it started racing. I was going to see her, and it started to hurt. My eyes began to blurr, but I knew I couldn't stop now. It was to late. My body, mind, soul was going to her. My body shaking. My hands trembling. I walked up to the pool and saw the pink dress she was wearing. It was tattered, but her body was untouched. It seemed like she was never dead. I quickly jumped into the water rushing over to her as if I was trying to save her from drowning. I lifter her body up in my arms, and I couldn't help but hold her to my face as I kissed her cheek. I had her, and she was mine again. She was mine.

I walked over to the edge with her in my arms. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Something seemed like it was missing from her. Then I seen. The materia that her mother gave her was gone. She wouldn't feel the same without it. I should get it for her as a gift, if she comes back. How can I say if? I want this more than anything. I WILL give it to her as a gift WHEN she comes back. I knew this was happening since my heart felt like it was going to explode with excitement. Cid and Vincent where there. They grabbed her from me so I could get out of the water, and I almost didn't let them. I didn't want to let her go again, but I did. I climped out of the water and I looked at the seashell building. Her materia was in there, so that was where I had to go.

I began to walk towards it feeling my heart lifting, like it was being healed.

"Hey! Dumbass! Where ya' goin'? We need ter' get Aeris back to Red!" Cid was yelling at me.

"Stop calling me a Dumbass Cid, I need something from here." He shrugged and helped Vincent and Yuffie pick Aeris up.

I walked up the stairs to the crystal staircase leading to the water where Aeris was killed, and where part of Genova was destroyed. I seen bits and pieces of it there, deteriating. The stentch was horrible. I searched the dark water for the glow of the materia. I wonder if it still glowed. I spotted it. Shining brightly behind a pillar. Some black was swishing around it, but I payed no attention to it. I hopped to the pillar and reached my hand in. I grabbed the shiny materia and I felt warmth in the palm of my hand. I was pulling my hand up to inspect it more, when the black strings grabbed my wrist. I pulled harder, but it wouldn't break. I felt it shreading my flesh the more I pulled. I pulled out my Buster Sword and slashed at it. Bubbles started forming and the black string seemed to raise up. Soon I felt the string pulling me upward. I slashed at it with the one hand that was free with the sword.

"Leave it here!" A husky voice said.

"No! It's Aeris'!" I yelled back at it. A loud roar was heard a felt the strings cutting me more. My Sword didn't seem to be working. Then I saw a flash of light before my eyes. The materia still glowing brightly. I felt the black string loosening on my wrist. I was put back down on the pillar, and the black string went back into place and it seemed to deteriate more. It began to dissapear. I looked at my bleeding wrist. It hurt like hell, but it was worth it. Anything for Aeris. Aeris... Now I see. The materia...Aeris protected me. Her love is in this materia, along with all the love in the lifestream. Aeris did love me. I knew it. I had to get Aeris back to Red XIII. Nothing could stop me now.