Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or 9

Sleeping Cetra

Chapter 3

A Destined Meeting

Several Years Later…

Fifteen-year-old Aerith awoke as the sun touched her face. Her emerald green eyes fluttered open as she heard the birds chirping, and the smell of breakfast cooking wafted up to meet her nose. She stretched out as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her long, brown hair fell down to the bed in gentle cascades, wavy and soft. She looked outside at the beautiful day, a smile playing on her lips. She pushed her fluffy white covers off of her and slipped out of her bed, quickly washing up and getting dressed. She chose a simple pink dress, and rummaged around in her vanity, finding a brush and hair tie.

On her fifth birthday, Tifa had given her a pink ribbon and a white materia, saying she was old enough to take care of them. These were the only things she possessed that had once belonged to her mother. She tied her hair in her normal braid, using the pink ribbon to tie her hair, while securing the materia in it.

The young girl stepped out of her room and walked into the kitchen, where she saw her aunt Tifa cooking. Her aunt Yuffie was fiddling with a large weapon she possessed. It was essential for her guardians to have weapons just in case a stray fiend came near the cottage for protection, although that rarely happened to them. Her Uncle Barret was grumbling for food, annoyed that Tifa was taking forever; Tifa was annoyed with Barret's whining. Aerith smiled as she entered the room. She loved her aunts and uncle very much.

"Good morning," Aerith greeted warmly. "How are you this morning?"

"Oh, Aerith," Tifa said. "We'd be fine if Barret would quit whining!"

"Well if you wouldn't take so damn long to make breakfast, I wouldn't be whining!" Barret countered angrily.

"Will you two shut up?" Yuffie interjected.

Aerith smiled at her family. With her aunts and uncle around, there was never a dull moment. They argued a lot, but that was normal. She watched as Tifa hastily dropped Barret's breakfast in front of him. She let out a hmph-ing noise, and then went back to bring Yuffie and Aerith their plates. Instead of taking a seat at the table, Aerith went into a closet and brought out a basket, a small shovel, and a long piece of cloth.

"Aerith, come and eat breakfast," Tifa said, "before it gets cold."

"I'll be right there! I have to get my things ready so I can leave," she replied.

"Are you going out in the woods again?" Yuffie asked.

"Yes, some of the flowers started to bloom, even in this chilly weather."

"Aerith are you sure you should go out?" Tifa asked, apprehensive.

"I went out a few days ago, and the weather is not so bad."

"Maybe someone should go with you," Tifa suggested.

Aerith chuckled. She knew what was coming next: the three rules they would always tell her when she was about to leave the house alone.

"I'm fine, Aunt Tifa."

"No wandering too far," Yuffie started.

"Be careful of wild animals," Barret continued.

"And NO talking to strangers," Tifa emphasized, as Aerith quietly mouthed the rules to herself; after all, she heard them a dozen times and than some, and could say them in her sleep. She nodded with a smile, to let her family know that yes, she heard them.

Aerith quickly went into the cupboards to get some food, so she could eat if she got hungry while outside. She wrapped some bread, an apple, and other things in the cloth and placed it safely in her basket.

"Aerith, worry about that later! Come eat before your uncle eats your food as well!" Tifa ordered, noticing Barret eyeing her plate.

Barret reached over with his fork to an egg, when Yuffie smacked his hand. Barret let out a growl and glared at Yuffie who was fiddling with her weapon. Aerith smiled and grabbed a piece of toast and took a bite. She then gave her uncle her plate. (

"I'm going to head out now," she said. "I'll be back later."

"Take the healing materia with you!" Yuffie called out.

Aerith nodded and took the materia. She kissed her uncle on the head and hugged her aunts good-bye. Quickly, she grabbed her basket and pulled on her brown boots. She grabbed a rose-colored coat and shrugged it on. Then she bid her family good-bye, and headed out into the chilly air. When she was gone, Tifa stared at the door.

"Five more days," Tifa said. "Five more days until Aerith is sixteen."

"It seems like just yesterday we came here." Yuffie said, finally putting down her weapon.

"I still get this horrible feeling though," Tifa continued;"That Sephiroth will find her and the curse is going to come true."

Barret knocked on the table with his good hand. "Don't jinx us! We made it this far and in five more days Aerith will return home and…"

Barret trailed off looking down at his plate, now empty. His eyes looked sad; the same with Yuffie and Tifa. After sixteen years of watching over Aerith, they had grown to love her so much, like their own daughter. Now the time was winding down. Yet, despite the relief it would bring, it would carry with it much sadness.

X, X, X,

Aerith walked the familiar path through the forest, the rays of the sun peeking through the leaves. Her eyes traveled around the forest, looking around at the trees, with the leaves beginning to bud. Soon the flowers would bloom, and the forest would look as beautiful as it always did. Aerith stopped walking when she came to a small grove near a river. A small patch of flower stems poked out of the ground, waiting for the time to bloom. She sat down, making herself comfortable.

Behind her, she could hear something rustling in the bushes. She was not frightened, however. She continued her own business when the creature jumped out letting out a loud growl.

"Hello, Cait Sith," Aerith said without looking up.

Cait Sith jumped up and down on his giant moogle, annoyed. He had clearly wanted to surprise her, but failed.

"Oh, no fair," he whined, pounding his small fist on the head of his moogle.

"You're much too noisy," Nanaki said slinking his way out of the bushes. "Anyone could hear you from a mile away."

Nanaki found a spot near Aerith to lie down, his nose sniffing in her basket. Cait Sith noticed the basket and jumped off his moogle, landing inside. He opened the cloth to find the food.

"Hey, that's for later, and I don't have that much!" Aerith laughed, taking the food away from him.

"Aw, that's not fair. You should have taken more!" the cat whined.

"My uncle and aunts don't know about you, remember? Rule number 2 is be careful of wild animals. If I even tried to introduce you to them, they would kill first, ask questions later."

Nanaki snuffled, shifting uncomfortably next to the brown haired girl. She patted his head gently, knowing fully well that Nanaki was not partial to humans, except Aerith. When he was younger, Nanaki had been torn away from his mother and experimented on, as well as have had vile things done to him. One day, with the help of Cait Sith, who was trapped as well, the two escaped and landed in the forest. The only human Nanaki trusted Aerith, for he had seen her gentle spirit shine in her eyes.

"The flowers are going to be so beautiful when they bloom," Aerith smiled, changing the subject, as she took out her small shovel and began fixing the patch of flowers. She plucked out weeds and packed the dirt in nicely. She even went and fetched water for them, since after all, she was near a river.

Around noon, the young girl sat down for a break, tired from her work. Nanaki and Cait Sith kept her company, as they always did when she was out in the forest. The two had become quite protective of the girl. Aerith undid the cloth, placing the food neatly on it for her and her friends to eat. However, she barely touched her share, not feeling hungry at all.

"Is something wrong?" Nanaki questioned, noticing Aerith staring at her food.

"You look down," Cait Sith added.

"I'm just thinking," Aerith responded.

The two animals perked up and looked at her. She sighed and patted them gently.

"I'm going to sixteen in a few days," she began; "And I love my family, and I love you two as well, but I feel so... alone here."

Aerith stood up and walked over to the river, now a gentle flow of water. She could see little fish in the river swimming, darting around, past her reflection.

"All my life, I've lived in this forest without any friends like me. I have always wanted someone my own age to play games with me, to talk to, and such; but with Uncle Barret, Aunt Tifa and Aunt Yuffie and their rules, I'll never be able to meet someone. They worry so much for me, but nothing bad has ever happened to me."

"Except that time you fell into the river." Nanaki pointed out.

"Okay, one time." Aerith admitted.

"What about that time you had a pack of wolves chase after you?" Cait Sith pointed out.

"And what about that time you nearly fell into ditch with sharp rocks? And mind you, I almost fell in with you!" Nanaki continued.

"Okay, so I got into a little mischief, but can you blame me? I just want to run away from here and see what's beyond this forest. I want to go to that village with that giant castleand see all the people, and maybe even the king and queen! I want to live out there, even if it were for just one day. I would give anything just to have that."

Aerith plopped down on the grass and stared sadly at her reflection. For the past few years, Aerith had wished for one thing, for someone to come and take her away. She sighed and looked off in the distance. She could see the high towers of the royal palace.

"Someday, I'll run there," Aerith said. "And meet someone who will be my prince, and protect me so my aunts and uncle wouldn't ever have to worry about me anymore."

Long ago, Aerith realized that she could never be a princess, a peasant like her. Her uncle merely humored her as a child to make her happy. Nanaki rubbed his head against Aerith's shoulder affectionately, attempting to dispel her sadness; Cait Sith touched her arm gently, getting her attention. Without warning, she embraced the two of them, grateful for their comfort.

"Hey, Aerith why don't you sing a song?" Nanaki suggested, "That always cheers you up."

Aerith smiled and nodded. She thought for a moment of a song. She hummed for a moment, getting the tune, and opened her mouth, letting the melody float across the wind.

X, X, X,

"Prince Zack, have you seen your brother? He is late for his lessons again," a young servant girl, with short, blonde hair and blue eyes, called out. The prince whom she had addressed, now a man, was dressed in fine clothing and dawning a princely crown on his head. His black hair, however, was still as unruly as it always had been as a child. The older prince shrugged his broad shoulders.

"He might be out at Sir Cid's place," Zack replied. "Cloud likes watching that man attempt to fly that silly plane of his." The servant girl sighed with dismay. Cloud was notorious for running off and avoiding his studies. Normally, he would run off early in the morning, taking his prized golden chocobo with him.

"Her highness will not be pleased to hear this," the servant girl groaned.

"Cloud is Cloud," Zack laughed as he sat down at his desk, reading over important history notes about the country he would rule. "Try not to worry, Elena."

"I would not have to worry," Elena grimaced, "If I was not the one who had to tell your mother, the Queen."

Zack had an uncomfortable look on his face. His mother was very firm and strict. Of course, Zack and Cloud broken the rules all the time when they were younger, but Zack had soon grown out of it. He had to take on the responsibility of ruling Nibelheim; but Cloud did not take his news of having to marry the Cetra princess on good terms. After all, in just a few days he would be meeting his future bride. What annoyed Cloud was that no one but the King and Queen of Cetra knew why the princess was not in the palace.

Elena walked to the throne room where the Queen was seated. Elena walked up to her and gave her a respectful curtsy. When the Queen nodded in approval, Elena looked up. Next to the queen was her advisor, Tseng, whom Elena was smitten with, and it showed. However, now was not the time for that. She told the queen the news about Cloud disappearing again.

The Queen glared at Elena. "He ran off again? I should place guards at his door."

"Maybe you should send the guards to bring him back?" Elena suggested. "At least send out the captain to find him."

"Yes, perhaps we could send Sir Vincent after him." She turned to Tseng, "Tseng, will you give the message to the captain?" But her polite tone was less of a question, and more of an order.

Tseng nodded, giving her a bow and left the room without a word.

X, X, X,

Prince Cloud, however, was nowhere in Nibelheim. Early in the morning, he had dressed in his riding uniform (a dark plum shirt and black pants with boots), strapped his shoulder guard onto his left shoulder, hooked his large sword, the buster blade, onto his back, and left with his chocobo. As of late, he had grown more and more uneasy. The news of the Princess of the Cetra returning soon brought him closer to the realization that his life would never be his own. How long was it again, until he would be forced to marry a woman he had never before met, and probably would never like?

Cloud stopped his chocobo; after all, they had been riding all morning. He slipped off his mount's back, allowing the golden bird to rest, and rubbed his beak, allowing his gloved hands to run along its feathery face. Cloud let out a frustrated sigh. His chocobo tenderly nudged him with his beak.

"Seems like I'm always running, huh?" Cloud said.

Cloud was now older as well, handsome with short, wild, and spiky blond locks. He looked quite handsome, befitting his title as prince, but his attitude was not what was expected of him.

"I wonder how long until mother has Vincent coming after me. No matter how far I run, I just cannot get anywhere. Why do I have to be the one to marry a princess? I'll bet she's a stuck up, snobbish, ugly, airhead, like every other princess!"

Cloud's chocobo made a kweh-noise.Cloud reached into his bag strapped on the chocobo's saddle and pulled out a green sylkis, one of the best foods for a chocobo. The bird gobbled it up right out of Cloud's hand and chirped happily. The young prince patted his pet and sat down on the ground, stabbing his sword into it before he sat.

"You know Choco, I really thought I was the lucky one. I thought I would be able to live my own life... Maybe if I'm lucky, Cid will get his airship flyable, and I can escape and see the world."

Cloud watched as the bird turn its head slightly and let out a noise. Cloud laughed softly and leaned back against a tree. A cool breeze touched his skin sending a shiver down him. Yet, it also brought the gentle sound of a melody.

"Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark, for traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart. To weave by picking up the pieces that remain. Melodies of Life - Love's lost refrain."

Cloud looked up as he heard the beautiful voice sing. He looked at Choco and tied him carefully to a tree branch so that he would not run off. That voice was so beautiful and soothing, like an angel's. Who would be singing in the middle of a forest? There were many fiends roaming around here, but the voice was definitely a girl's.

"Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why; we met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye, and who'll hear the echoes of stories never told? Let them ring out loud till they unfold."

Cloud followed the voice, trying to find where it was coming from. He could hear the voice getting louder as he drew closer. It was captivating, entrancing... hauntingly beautiful.

"In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me. Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name."

Cloud stopped for a moment, trying to pinpoint the voice. He closed his eyes, wondering just exactly where the melodious sound was coming from. He listened carefully, and when he was sure of the direction, he was on the move again.

"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine. Adding up the layers of harmony and so it goes, on and on."

He was close, and he knew it He pushed his way through bushes and found himself on top of a hill. He looked around and saw a far distance down, sitting by a river, was a girl. Her long, brown tresses were tied back in a braid with a pink bow, and she was singing so beautifully. Cloud watched, mesmerized, and holding onto a branch to keep him from rolling down the hill.

"Melodies of life to the sky beyond the flying birds - forever and beyond."

Her voice traveled sweetly, like clear wine, to his ear. Her voice was so clean and pure, the prince wagered that even the angels would have been jealous. But when Cloud tried to get a better look at her, he felt the branch he was holding onto give away and snap. The young prince fell and went sliding down, hitting rocks, tree roots, and everything else in his path.

X, X, X,

As Aerith sang the last word, she could hear crashing, some ways behind her. The next thing she knew, she saw a body fall into her patch of flowers. Aerith jumped up, clearly startled; Nanaki and Cait Sith moved their bodies in front of her, protectively. However, the intruder did not move. Aerith stared, but when she did not see him move, she approached him.

"Be careful," Nanaki cautioned, hackles raised and a slight growl to his voice.

Aerith knelt down, pushing the man over on his back, and gasped. He had a large gash across his head. Despite that, he was a very handsome man. She felt herself stop breathing. Snapping out of her daze, she looked around. Aerith hurried to basket to retrieve her healing materia, and returned to the man's side.

"Aerith, get away!" Nanaki ordered.

"I can't leave him," Aerith replied. "He's hurt, badly."

She held out her materia and it began to glow a bright green. The next thing the three knew, the man was healed. Aerith stared at him, her emerald green eyes unblinking. She reached her hand out to touch him when Cait Sith's paw grabbed her.

"Don't touch him!" the cat growled. "He could be bad."

"I don't think he is." Aerith replied.

"He's a human." Nanaki said coldly.

"So am I!" she fought back. "I don't think any harm will come out of it."

As the three argued, none of them noticed Cloud's face stir. His eyebrows furrowed as he slowly fluttered his eyelids open. As he began opening his eyes, his vision was awkward and blurry, not to mention he had a bad headache after hitting his head. He blinked a few more times, until finally, his vision cleared, and he could see the girl he had been spying on from on top of the hill, as well as her companions.

Cloud let out a low groan, instantly gaining their attention. He sat up slowly, and turned his bright blue eyes toward the girl. When their eyes met, the two froze. Aerith had never before seen another person outside her family. Not knowing what to say, Aerith did the first thing that came to her mind.

Run!

She got up from her spot and ran.

"WAIT!" Cloud said, trying to stop her.

He reached out to grab her, but instead he only caught a hold of the ribbon in her hair. Her brown locks went falling down in a gentle waterfall as she ran. Cloud tried to get up but he felt something knock into him.

"Uhff."

Nanaki had purposely knocked him down. The red beast let out a growl, warning Cloud to back off. The prince looked up to see Cait Sith and Nanaki running after Aerith, and he grimaced as he tried to get up; his body protested, banged up and sore.

Sitting up on the ground, he looked down at his hand at the pink ribbon he held in his hand. Next to him was a pure white materia. He picked it up and frowned. The girl had dropped her things, by both his fault and her haste to get away, and he had no idea where to find her.

Aerith ran until she was deep in the forest, and near her house. She stopped to catch her breath as Nanaki and Cait Sith met up with her. Nanaki placed down Aerith's basket, which he picked up as they made their escape; but it was then that Aerith noticed her ribbon was gone. She pressed her hand to the back of head and gasped.

"My ribbon!" she cried. "And my materia, I have to find it!"

"You can't go back there!" Nanaki protested.

The ribbon and materia had belonged to her mother. On her fifth birthday, she was given it, being thought to be responsible enough to have it. Aerith felt hot, wet, stinging tears form in her eyes. Something she had cherished was now gone.

"I have to find my ribbon!" But before she could go, she felt a drop of rain hit her head. Aerith frowned in dismay. There was no way she could find it if was raining.

"We'll look for it tomorrow," Cait Sith said, trying to comfort the girl. "We'll help you! Now hurry home before your family gets worried about you!"

Aerith nodded and grabbed her basket. She only hoped that she could find her ribbon and materia in the morning. Yet, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder curiously who the strange man was.

X, X, X,

Author note- I liked the idea for this chapter actually. I wanted their relationship to grow into something, and not be love and first sight like in the movies. Anyway, the song was from Final Fantasy XI, called Melodies of Life. I needed a song for Aerith to sing and that song just seemed to fit right. Anyway, hoped you all enjoyed, please leave a review.