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"Cloud…..?"
"Yes…?Mother…..?"
"Beware of everyone who around you…..Though it looks safe,and secure….but….it won't last long….Peace will not ever be maintained if there'll be war around…."
"…..I hope it will end soon….."
"Yes,it will.Someone might put an end on it…."
"…Zack….?"
"….Hmm…you'll see it with your own eyes someday…..Cloud…."
"Huh…?"
"Cloud….please take care of yourself…..and your father too….." The voice fade away slowly.
"Hmm…?Mother…?Mother…..?"
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Chapter 2 Fragile Dream
"..Cloud….?Cloud….?Hello…..are you listening….?" A soft and cute voice broke out and piercing thru Cloud's mind.Cloud immediately awake from his thoughts,and shook his head to confirmed everything is alright.Then,he saw a pair of ruby staring straight to him.It's Tifa……who giggling on his silly response.
"…Yeah…?S..Something wrong with my face….?" Cloud hesitated.He looks kinda naïve when asking those question.Tifa started to giggling nonstop.Cloud just scratched his head and smiles slightly cause' didn't get what is going on around him.
"…Sigh….Cloud…Cloud….you were dreaming…..I was calling you few times,but you didn't respond…" she continues to chuckled again.Cloud just looked to her with his glowing blue-eyes.
"…Is it…?Hehh….Guess I've lost in 'thought' again….sigh…"
"What's bothering you anyway…?You look kinda weird….." asked Tifa with hesitation.
"…No…Probably you're the one who noticed something weird…I don't felt it anyway…." He just kept smiling to her.
"…Are you sure….?" Tifa cocked her eyebrow,then move to his front.
Cloud just watched in surprise and gasped for a while.
"Hmmm………." Tifa examined Cloud from head to toe.She raised her eyebrow and hesitated.
"…Wh….What's..wrong…?" Cloud asked with confusion.
"…Hmm….nothing…..teehee….." Tifa giggled again.
"Sigh….."
"Hey,you know what…."
"Hmm…….?"
"You…..you looks like someone I know before….." Tifa turned her sight to watched the fullmoon.The moonlight shone her face with bright light and illuminated her skin to more fairly.Her eyes were glowing along with the twinkling of the stars.Cloud felt he was lost in her infinity vision.But then,he surprised again by Tifa's funny question.He looked to her eyes and both of them were locked together.
"….What do you mean by…'someone you know before….' ?" Cloud hesitated.He tries to searched for the answer in her eyes,but yet it seems there's no answer in it.Both of them paused together.
"…Heh….I don't remember much…..My memory kinda blurry since I came here….."
"?"
"….I just know….err…no…I….I….only remember that day on winter…..someone picked me up at the barren road and raised me up……Till now,she's the only one I have…..she's the one who take care of me till these years….." suddenly,Tifa's voice began to change to low tone.Cloud was surprised of it.
"I…I was just 8 years old that time….It's kinda normal for an eight-years-old girl for not remembering much about her past….." Tifa lead a slight smiles to Cloud.She felt wanna cry,but her will forced her not to cry anymore.Moreover,she doesn't wanted to cry in front of a person that she just know.
"………." Cloud doesn't know what he should said.So,he just paused himself and continues watching the moon with Tifa.
"….Hah…don't worry about that….!I won't cry anymore!" Tifa smiles.
Cloud just couldn't get the picture.Why she's saying like that…?Is there something miserable going on in her past…?Is he going to know about her personal life..?
"Ohh..ohh..I'm so sorry…There I go again….Talking about my stupid story….," she smiles slightly and glanced on Cloud.
"…Emm..It's okay…."
Both of them silents.The wind blew softly and gently,waving Cloud's spiky hair but still,it looks arranged and neat,never been messed before.
"…….Hey,Tifa…." Suddenly,Cloud called out her name gently.
Tifa was shocked.
"…..I…." he just couldn't finished up his sentence.So,he paused himself up.
"Yes…?" Tifa felt her heart was pounding,and blushed at the same time too.
Then,Cloud started to handed her a small handkerchief.He grabbed Tifa's right hand and placed it onto her palm.
"Here….Use this to wipe your tears……" he whispered gently.
My God…How on earth he knows that I'm crying in silents…?Does he has some kind of super powers to traced someone's feeling?How does he knows it….?
"Umm….Thank….Thank you…." Tifa couldn't think a better word to speaks,so she just uttered an appreciation to Cloud.Then,Cloud began smiles to her,and he said,
"Hey,if we're not hurry up,you will not be able to reach to the castle at the right time.You wouldn't want that happened right?" he grinned to her.Tifa couldn't helped herself than just laughed.Soon, both of them started to laughed together.
"Ohh..yah..I almost forgot,Thank you my Hero for remind me of that…..heehehee…" Tifa chuckled abit.The breeze still blew softly.Low pitch sounds of cricket which playing around in the middle of night echoed thru every part of the cities,moisture in the air of night.Cloud watched Tifa in silent,and they began to walked together towards the castle.Both of them were talking just like best friends even though they were just knew few moments ago,they were laughed,giggled at the same time sharing of their own stories to cheer both side.
As they never realized in just second,they were in front of the castle main gate now.The guards were asleep,and Cloud took this great advantage to sneaked into the castle without awakening the guards.It's looks easy…though.
"Hey…Are you sure this goin' to be alright….?" , "We were eventually in the castle without passing thru the guards' question,of why we're here…..?" Tifa was annoyed and she scares she'll be caught up by entering the castle without permission,and more over,she'll probably be a dead meat,cause' had offending a rule.
"Trust me…..It's goin' to be alright…." Cloud giggled and they tiptoed entering the back door of the royal kitchen silently.Light shone dimly from the kitchen's window.The kitchen seems so huge and tones of food,utensils were placing neatly on every part of the kitchen.Servants and cooks were busy with their work,some of them yelled to another to get to finished the work as soon as possible.It was so noisy in the kitchen now,as if all of the workers will never noticed if there's funny voice or sounds echoed thru their ears.All of them just kept busy with their works.
"Woww…it sure huge inside there…..Alots of people too….." Tifa popped her eyes slowly into the small hole of the window and witnessed those activities that been running thru in the royal kitchen. "…Pretty busy too….." she giggled.
"Yeah…..there'll be a huge dinner between the future King and the nobles..They were busy on preparation….." Cloud nodded and replies.
"Hey…come on….Cloud….!We're goin' to be late to delivered those wines!I'm not asking you to take me for a 'tour' around the castle,but I'm in hurrying to delivered the wines!" Suddenly,Tifa gets angry and her eyes began to turned into dark crimson,glowing like flames.She clenched her waist and staring to Cloud seriously as if she gonna open her jaws and attacked Cloud who was still standing at there,doing nothing.
Cloud was stunned with her sudden behave,and paused.
"Oh….Cloud….faster…!" she yelled at him.Cloud just kept quiet the whole time.Suddenly,a foot step could be heard from a distance.Someone had come.The footstep become louder and louder as if it was just an inch away from them.Cloud immediately pulled Tifa closed to him and Tifa eventually stucked in his embrace.She was surprised and paused herself up.
"Shhhhh…. Someone's here…." Cloud whispered to her ears.Tifa felt herself blushing over and she just kept quiet.She felt warmth running thru her body and mind,and this feelings are just weird,she never experienced it before.She felt herself couldn't stopped thinking about this feeling and blushing furiously.
Thup…thup..thup….
The thumping sounds of the footstep soon began to trailed off.Cloud led out a relieve sigh as soon the footstep began to trailing off,so do Tifa.But,Cloud hadn't realize that he was still grabbing and holding Tifa right into his chest.He felt himself blushed slightly.Tifa gazed at him nervously,then he quickly released Tifa from embrace and both of them were blushing to each other.
"I….I'm sorry….." Cloud whispered as he was still blushing.Tifa just gave a faint smile to him and took a glanced at him.She shook her head to reassured that everything is alright,Cloud watched her in silent and then began to smiles.
"It's alrite..Cloud…Hmm…then I guess we should continue our work….."
"Yeah…."
"So..." before she could finished up her word,suddenly a dark figure appeared behind Tifa.Cloud was surprised with it,he blinked his eyes several times of unbelief.Tifa felt chill run thru her skin,goosebumps started to formed on her body and she immediately turned her back to see who's actual was behind her when she was talking with Cloud.
"…Cloud…?What's up with you at here….?" The same familiar voice echoed thru both of their ears.Cloud recognized this voice,and he quickly ran up,standing in front of Tifa.
Tifa was confused and doesn't know what is exactly going on around there,and moreover she can't see clearly who was this mysterious dark figure that standing in front of her and Cloud,it was so dark there,the kitchen's light shone dimly and only can illuminated part of this mysterious figure's looks.She only can saw his spiky hair,abit similar to Cloud,but his was black raven color.Soon,Cloud walk few inch to approached this man and speaks out.
"...Brother Zack….err..no…what I mean is…Your Excellency……"
"Aww…come on bro….." he grabbed Cloud's shoulder and pulled him hardly to his side,then screw his head with his fist up and down,tossing Cloud around and around.Cloud grinned to him and laughed as they started to punched each other's tummy with their bare fists.Tifa just stood there without saying anything,probably still confused.
"Ohh..oh….cut it out Zack….Haha….Oh yes….I almost forgot one thing….." Cloud stopped punching Zack and then he turned his sight to Tifa,who was still standing there.He began to approached her then grabbed her hand.
Tifa was so surprised of it and she just can't believe Cloud will eventually grabbed her hand gently and warmth.Once again,she was blushing ,but she kept her feelings under beneath her own reflection.
"….?' Zack hesitated,and waited for Cloud to showed whose the girl standing in the corner close to the kitchen's door.
"Here,come over here,I would like you to meet Zack…my brother….." Cloud shows Tifa who was the mysterious figure that Tifa thought moments ago.
The moonlight started to shone brightly soon after the night clouds began to trailing off.The light revealed the whole mysterious figure,Tifa widen her eyes in surprise and stared at Zack,Cloud's only one brother.Tifa looked to him in hesitation,and confusing.Zack stared at her pair ruby,and took a glance on Cloud again.
Zack was so tall,taller than Cloud.And his body was perfect,masculine and average but much bigger than Cloud,and his black spiky hair waving followed by the breeze and looks much longer than Cloud too.His eyes were glowing in violet charm.Tifa paused herself,and then looked to Cloud again.
Cloud gave her a smile and she remained calm abit.
"Don't worry Tifa..He's my brother….He's not going capture us of entering the castle without permission….." He smiles and gazed to Zack.Zack grinned and scratched his head.
"Yah..yah…hahaha… I wouldn't wanna catch this spiky butt everytime….hahaha…"
"Zack… Cut the crap out will ya….?"
"Ohh..okay..okay….hahaha….Alright,so,what's bring you here,Cloud…?I thought you were wandering around the world by now….Hmm…..Don't tell me…You're homesick ehh….." Zack began grinned and turned his sight to Tifa.
Tifa shocked by his gaze,then she quickly remove her sight from being stared by Zack.She felt herself was so afraid from being stared by someone that seem foreign to her.Futhermore,he was Cloud's older brother,an Excellency…someone that much much much higher rank than her,too far higher than her who was just a normal commoner.She just couldn't believe that Cloud was one of the child from noble's family too.And she couldn't imagine that Cloud treated her so well,even though she's poor,and her status much lower than him.Yet,she felt herself lucky cause' had a chance to meet a person like Cloud.
"Well,my friend Tifa was a deliver from Seventh Heaven's bar…I've heard there's lack of wines at the castle….so they've ordered the wines from Seventh Heaven,and Tifa need to delivered it immediately…." Cloud explained while took a glance on Tifa,then turn to Zack.
Zack cocked his eyebrow,then grinned to them.He approached Tifa and lay his both hands on Tifa's shoulder.Tifa once again,widen her eyes in surprise,and locked to Zack's glowing violet.
"Yeah….so it was you ehh….I'm the one who ordered these wines…" He smiles,then released Tifa's shoulder slowly and gently.Tifa gasped for a while,and she began to speaks,her pair ruby still focused on Zack.
"Yes….I took the order from Mrs.Fermine.And I've to delivered it before half past seven.Umm…I…"
"Hahahaha…Just as I thought….Good timing girl…Come here….Let us take those wines to the store…" Zack grinned and began to move away.Cloud glance on Tifa and Zack,then he quickly followed Zack's trace,followed by Tifa behind.
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"Really…..?So…Arks Kingdom had proceed to break the curse..without permission huh…?"
There stood a man with blonde hair,and a pair of shining emerald eyes that glowing in dark,and he dressed up formally and neatly.He faced the windows and his right hand was tucked in his pocket.
The room seems so silent and there's only a candle light shone dimly thru each corner.The man with blonde hair still standing aside and facing the windows,watching the glowing moonlight that shone brightly tonight.A soldier kneeled just a few inch behind of him and they were discussing something that seems privately.
"Yes…Your Highness…..I've received the report from the Royal Defense Force,and there's no doubt again…..Arks Kingdom had break the seal of Sin Nightmare successfully…..Hmm…that's mean… they'll use those powers to……"
"Started a war….." he replied slowly.
"Huh….?Err…that….."
"Yes,Sin Nightmare was once a fearful curse that had been sealed away centuries ago….But…now Arks Kingdom had awaken it…just to use his powers to ruled over this continent…."
"Sire,does it means we've to prepared for the worse?Or..we've to investigate it before we make our first move?"
"Indeed we shall prepared for the worse.And at the same time too,we need to investigate about Arks Kingdom plan,and Sin Nightmare too.If it was true that Sin Nightmare had released from the seal…the world will face their worse nightmare,death and destruction.. like it did happened 20 years ago when the time my father ruled over this land…"
"………….."
The man turned his sight to gazed on that soldier,then he walked towards a couch and took a seat on it.Then he faced the soldier again,giving him another command.The soldier still kneeled down and looked to his respectful highness of Erathalie.
"I want you to sends few of our soldier to investigate about Arks and Sin Nightmare.Not to forget,sends 100 of our men to the front line and prepared for the war if it happened like what had Arks wishes.Understood?"
"Yes Sire,I understand.I'll prepared the team immediately."
"Good….."
Soon,the soldier began to leave the chamber and the man still sitting on the couch,resting both of his arms on the wide couch,he placed his head on the couch and his eyes rolled up ,staring to the ceiling.He sighed,and closed his eyes to focused on everything that had happened on today since he stepped his foot on his homeland after a long tiring battle at the front line.He glad that he was able to defeat the enemies and bring back the victory to his beloved land,and was proudly enthroned as the new King of Erathalie.
But,these moments aren't enough to cheered him or even relieved his worries.This battle,seems endless..he thought for himself.He shall prepared for the worse and fight till the end to protect the world from destruction.He swears to his late father and kingdom and to every people of his land,that he will protect his kingdom and hold the sword of justice to perished the evil from conquering the world.
He was exhausted of everything that had happening around him.His sad,painful memories once again strike right into his heart and piercing thru his blood veins.He still can heard the painful and anguish scream of everyone,awful sliced,manggered and bleeding body spread every part of Rynoia Kingdom.His beloved mother and younger sister that he loved so much..gone forever on that tragic night.He was so scare,afraid of losing someone that he love so much again.So he swears with all his will to protect everything important to him.He shall never lose against evil,he said to himself.
Knock,knock,knock...
The knocking sound of the door could be heard clearly,and awaken the tired king of Erathalie from his dreams.
"Your Highness,the dinner is ready.Everyone were waiting for you,your Highness.."
A voice echoed thru his ears.He shook his head to calm himself a bit after dragged into the dream.
"Heh….just a dream again…." He began to move his body away from the couch and approached the door.He switched the knob and open it.His faithful maid standing right in front of him and bowed to him,showing respect to the Highness.
He smiles and nodded after being called for the dinner.Soon,he leave his chamber and heading for the royal dining room.
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"Hahh..!Everything had done..!Palm sure surprised after taste these wonderful wines of Seventh Heaven..hehehe…." Zack grinned while placing the last box of wines onto the shelves.
Tifa hesitated and looking to Cloud who was standing,leaning his back against the wall,and closing his eyes.She smiles after glanced on her saviour.Cloud totally looks so cute and adorable when the time he closed his eyes and went into his dreamland.But not for long,Zack came and surprised Cloud suddenly.He shocked and jumped all of sudden like something is going to ambush him.Then he realized that Zack surprised him,and Tifa was laughing on his behave.Zack grinned and laugh out loud after seeing his brother jumped out of sudden like being thunderstrike before.
Cloud hesitated while looking to both of them,he scratched his head and smiles slightly.
"Hey,don't be a lazy bum okay…?" Zack grinned to him again.
"Your Excellency Zack,I don't think Cloud didn't help us out by placing those wines in here.He had lend us hand a bit but…he's tired,yet indeed he had been thru a lot today." Tifa smiles and glanced on Cloud.
Cloud was shocked and his glowing blue-gem eyes locked into Tifa's ruby once again.
"I know,I know…I just kidding..hahaha…Oh well,I think everything is done now…The dinner already started,I have to attend it as soon as possible,You hear me Cloud?You've to attend the dinner too,got it?"
"Okay…" Cloud responded.
"Umm..then I guess I've gotta returned now.." Tifa replied with a smile.She took a glanced on Cloud again,and gave him a warm smiles.
"Thank you so much for everything…I really appreciate it…."
"Ahh..it's nothing….you're indeed welcome,lady.." Zack replied her with a smiles.
"Umm…then shall I accompany you along the way back to your home…?" Cloud stepped forward to reached Tifa who was going to leave the store.Tifa was surprised with his question and she blushed over.
"Ummm……That…..It's ok…I will be fine…." Tifa smiles again.
"……………."
"I'm sure I'll be alright…..Thank you for everything Cloud..I really appreciate everything that you've done for me…thank you…"
"Err….that's…." He couldn't finished up his word again,and he stared right thru Tifa's pair ruby.
"Then,at least I shall send you to the main gate…" He planted a smile and gazed on her eyes again.Never ever let go of her gaze.
"Oh….okay….Thanks again…." Tifa grinned and both of them started to walk together to reached to the castle's main gate.
"Sigh….Lover boy huh……" Zack shook his head and grinned.He began to leave the store and headed towards the royal dining room to attend the dinner.
After a few minute,Cloud and Tifa had arrived to the castle main gate.Tifa still pulling the small wagon and Cloud followed by behind.Soon,Tifa stopped from moving forward.She didn't voiced out,and didn't turned her back to looked to Cloud too.Cloud was hesitated as he stared at Tifa,wondering what she will said after this.
"Hey…Cloud…." Suddenly,she whispered softly.Her soft and gentle voice echoed thru Cloud's ears and moisture into his heart.The breeze blew softly,and the cold night of the royal area were alive with nocturnal sounds of night creatures.Tifa turned her sight to gazed upon Cloud.Her glowing ruby pair locked into Cloud's blue-gem infinite vision.
"I guess….this is a goodbye….." she said in a low pitch.
"Will we ever meet again next time….?" She asked again.
"…….Err….." Cloud was still surprised about her question,and he couldn't finished up his sentence.He paused himself for a while,and his eyes still stares on Tifa's gaze.
Tifa still waiting for his answer and she seems a bit of nervous,and depress was playing through her mind at the same time too,afraid that she couldn't meet her saviour someday in the future.
Cloud stares at her seriously.His lips began to played and finally he spokes out to her…
"Yes,defitenely,We'll meet again…I believe we'll meet again someday….." He gave her a smiles and Tifa was so overexcited about it.
At first,she couldn't believe what she had heard from Cloud,but now,she believe destiny had brought them together,to meet with each other and to know each other better from anyone.And she'll always believe she'll meet Cloud again..
"Emm..!I believe we could meet again…."
Before she move forward to the gate,she gave her last speech once again.
"I guess….this is called as Destiny……" she smiles and walked away along with the shadow of moonlight.Her figure and shadow began to trailing off and Cloud still watching her from behind.He still truly focused on her and had to make sure she'll always be safe before arriving at her destination.
"Heh…..Destiny……" Cloud whispered thru himself and took a glance on that glowing moon,that swinging on that infinite dark sky with thousands of stars twinkling as if they were blinking to Cloud.Cloud felt himself was calm and relax after watching this beautiful scenery and it will always remained in his heart as the beautiful night ever…
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An unknown place where mist and fog covered up every part of it.It was so misty that none of anybody can look clearly to everything at there.Soon,a voice broke out from darkness,his voice could echoed thru each part of that place.
"This is it….!At last….!I've found it….!Hahahahaha……"
"O' Almighty God of Death,please grant me your divinity power and let us ruled over this land with cruelness and darkness……Let us summon the great Sephiroth,the ruler of Darkness and Evil...to conquered this land once and for all….!Hahahaha…..!"
"And..this will be the end for every sweet dream…..Nightmare shall took over each souls…and ruled it with fear….Dream…shall not exist once Nightmare ruled…..!Hahahaha…..!"
To Be Continued…………………
"A princess that will arise to summoned the Holy Creature?Is it just a legend or a fairy tale…?"
"Nope…A young and beautiful princess from a faraway kingdom will unlocked the power of Holy Creature and summoned them to perished the darkness and evil from this world…."
"Do you mean…..the daughter of Emperor Hasgard VII and Queen Ifalna?The only person that can sealed the curse away and summoned the almighty Holy Creature?..."
"Princess Aeris Gainsborough…from Elstophia Kingdom….."
Next Chapter: A Flower Blooms In The Darkness
Note: All FF7 characters are originally belonged to Square Soft/Square Enix. Thanks to Tetsuya Nomura san who had put lots of effort to created such an awesome character. Next chapter will be revealed a bit of the cause of Sin Nightmare and how King Victor will solve this problems?Does this means the world will face another fearsome impact again? And drowned in anarchy forever? And does the legend about Princess Aeris is true? A truth or just a fairy tale...? Continue soon...