CHAPTER 3 – THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Cloud left Midgar, with what little he held close…Aeris' Memories, Tifa, Marlene and Denzel…and his memories of AVALANCHE. Cloud headed for the City Of The Ancients, there, he hoped to find some sort of clue as to how she could be revived and brought back…

As he walked from miles and miles over the ever lasting green landscape a small outline of a village caught his eye…this he knew to be as Kalm, but Cloud had no time for friendly visits, and detours, he had to reach his destination by next morning.

The hours flew past, and Cloud grew increasingly tired…he was surprised at how he had not run into a fight just yet, but his luck was about to change, as he reached Bone Village…

Cloud looked at the quiet little village, he sighed deeply…he could only imagine how Aeris must have felt as she journeyed through the village to her death. Cloud headed for the village, when a sudden noise stopped him, he turned quickly, alert and ready for anything! "Heeeeya!" He heard a voice shout, making him jump, as he spun round on his heels, to see somebody charging at him. He posed ready, and blocked his attacker, and clashed weapons with the mysterious person, and hit back rapidly, the person was hooded as Cloud witnessed, and slashed Cloud's arm with what appeared to be two small, middle-sized swords in either hand. Cloud scowled, and hit back, he unleashed a set of fast jabs and kicked the person back; unfortunately the person blocked his kick, grabbed hold of his leg and twisted it. Cloud fell to the ground. He scrambled back up quickly. The hooded figure ran at him, Cloud stood his ground, and just as the person was a meter away, he jumped out of the way from the glinting swords that were aimed at him, and slashed the person over the stomach…

The hooded person fell to the ground helplessly.

"Who are you?" Cloud demanded, pointing his sword to the hooded person, who laid upon the floor, wounded. The person clearly was no match for Cloud, and most likely a few levels below him for the person had not given a very good fight against Cloud…

The figure struggled and sat up. It looked upon Cloud and held a hand over its stomach area. "Who are you?" Cloud repeated. "Show yourself!" As soon as Cloud shouted these words, his sword ready for attack, there was a moment of silence, and the person's hands lifted to the hood…slowly the hood was pulled of…Cloud stopped, he gazed, and couldn't believe what he saw…

A beautiful face came from the hood. It was a girl…she looked upon Cloud, her eyes were a light blue, and glowed at Cloud with a certain fear in her eye, but strength in them stood proud.

The girl stood, and Cloud saw her true beauty…

She had long curly black hair and a pale reflection…her eyes were an unusual light blue, and she was fairly tall for a girl who looked about in her late teens, only one inch shorter than Cloud, at 5'6, as he stood 5'7. Cloud looked at her; he gave her a small frown…

"Who are you?" The girl did not answer. He lifted his sword to her, she panicked, as her eyes widened in fear…Cloud heard her speak. "My name is," She paused, her voice was seemed sweet, yet it had a low tone to it, that suited her most wonderfully. "Must I tell you? You have won…let me go, and tend to my wound." She pleaded. Cloud stopped her. "Tell me now; else my sword will not pity you again." She gulped. "My name is…Rydia." Cloud eyed her. "Where do you come from? What do you want, and why did you attack me?" He spat. "I…it was part of my training." "Training?" He asked, she nodded. "Yes. I come from a far away place called Wutai." She explained. "Im familiar with Wutai," Cloud said back. "An old friend of mine lives there…perhaps you know her, she is called Yuffie." The mysterious girl, Rydia, thought. "Yuffie? I think I do know her…she's one of the most successful young ninja's, and she is younger than me too." "How old are you?" Cloud asked. "Nineteen," She paused. "Please, let me go…I will do you no harm." She said. Cloud sighed. "No…I won't take the chance, your lucky I didn't kill you." Rydia took a few steps back, as Cloud began to show off so basic sword tricks…

A few moments later, Cloud ceased his sword skills, and stubbed his sword into the earth.

"So, why did you attack me, huh?" She gulped. "Training, like I said. Im practicing you see…but, I've never met and enemy as strong as you yet…" She sighed, hanging her head in failure. "You've got a long way to go, I wouldn't attack first, suss your enemy out first…as soon as you charged at me, and I knew you were a too eager opponent, and therefore you would lose." Rydia was surprised at how he knew this. "It is how I perceive myself…bold, strong and determined, I feel giving off that vibe helps create fear." She smirked and circled him carefully. "And fear, creates reputation, creating tension and ego, and that way you gain respect." She said folding her arms, her two swords glinting menacingly…

Cloud raised an eyebrow coolly. "Well…if it works for you I suppose." He said dismissing her impressive speech. "I have to go…never challenge me again, else it might just be your life on the line, got it?" Rydia smiled. Her smile was bright, and seemed to penetrate through Cloud, much like Aeris' smile use to do to him, he gulped as he saw Aeris' smile through Rydia. "Right…well, maybe next time when I've improved. Thank you for taking mercy, goodbye." She said walking away.

Cloud watched her leave, and head back into the nearby forests. She was mysterious, much like Aeris was, but nothing like her fair and angelic looks, her soft touch and vibe…she was the complete opposite of Aeris, but Cloud wished her luck with her training, for she seemed a good a person despite her boldness. Cloud headed into Bone Village, and into its hotel.

He walked through the doors. The reception area went quiet. "Got a room to spare?" Cloud asked. A man nodded, and approached him. "How long for, Sir?" He asked Cloud. "One night only." Cloud replied. The man nodded. "Yes, this way…" The man led him to a small landing upstairs and to a small room. "10 Gil please." He asked. Cloud handed over the Gil, and entered his room. It was small, yet cosy, with only a bed, a chest of drawers and side cabinet, but that's all he needed.

He slumped down onto his bed silently…he had eaten for sometime, and felt a little sick. He sighed and laid down, he tried to forget about that, and focused on Aeris. He thought about making it to the City of the Ancients, was it possible? Only Aeris could have opened the gate to it, surely…

As these thoughts swirled through his mind, he drifted to sleep…

"……Z z z z z z……"

"Hey…sleepyhead, you sure are tired aren't you?" A voice giggled.

"…Huh?"

"Yeah, that's right, I am talking to you, you know Cloud."

"Who's there?"

"Guess. Open your eyes silly…and maybe your see, huh?"

Cloud sat up slowly…he looked to the side of him, and saw he was back in Aeris' Church. But right next to him, looking over him gently…was Aeris!

"Aeris!" He cried jumping up.

She smiled, and stood too. "You okay Cloud?"

Cloud nodded. "Now, yeah…how can this be?"

Aeris hushed him. "Shhh, don't ask questions Cloud, let's just be together for a while, yeah?"

Cloud nodded. "Am I dreaming, Aeris?"

She smiled. "Maybe…do you think you are?"

He nodded, and he received a glowing look from Aeris, as she looked at him.

"Then it is a good dream." She spoke softly.

Cloud had no breath to speak…he couldn't believe it.

"My dreams are never this real." He whispered to her.

Aeris turned and walked over to her flowerbed. "Who said it was a dream?"

Cloud smiled, and walked over to her, he knelt down by her as she tended to her flowers. "Aeris?"

She looked at him. "Yes, Cloud? What is it?"

"Im searching for you…I've started my journey now."

She smiled. "Cloud…you don't need to find me," She said softly, and took his hand in hers…

"For im already here…I always will be you know." She giggled lightly.

Cloud eye's saw her disappear within seconds…her soft hand was no longer in his own rough hands…he was alone in the hotel room. He sat up. "Aeris…?" Aeris was gone…he had been dreaming, but was he really? Was it a sign? A clue? Or a vision? Was Aeris close?

He sighed and fell back to sleep…

He did not stir nor whimper in his sleep…he only thought of reaching the Ancient City and what would the outcome be if he managed to find it…

As Cloud slept soundly, the verge of his journey was now at its peak…for his journey would become dangerous…emotional and more…and he would learn more about the Mysterious Rydia as he went…