A/N alright everyone I actually have a few announcements to say. I wanted to post this story yesterday which happened to be my birthday since i really like how this chapter went, however due to circumstances i had to settle for the regular dead line, oh well. next off to Zeetthegreat who gave me a technique to use in the future, second is the redone chapters at the start. They may be slow on updates because there are times the system is dumb and i have to manually space every sentence. Also I would like to note The Duelist of Dawn commented on my fic who created the Melodies of Life Chronicles, one of the first decent insert stories I happened to stumble upon, I highly recommend his story. Also i will be attempting, at the request of one reviewer more 3rd pov viewpoints. I just need reminders every now and again. Also i will not split this story like how the discs are split so the entire story will be told in this fic. SO now we're at the end of the first disc guys. What will happen now? You'll only know if you continue reading.
Ch 28
It took a full day of rest and a few cure spells before I was allowed to walk around. Tifa wasn't pestering me about anything, so I guess she was just genuinely worried about me and how the team was on edge. Cait seemed to be talking a little bit with the group but he hadn't approached me. Vincent is his normal self, but I can't stop feeling like something's off with him. I can never tell since his face rarely changes. Nanaki has been trying to ask me why Aeris would believe she could take Sephiroth alone, I explained since she is the last true Cetra, she believed she could. We were still sent out in teams to check the edges of the forest, but there wasn't a trace of her.
"Nate, Cloud's waking up!" I heard Barret yell. I went inside the hut looking at Cloud who was covered in sweat. I almost forgot about his nightmare.
"Bad dreams huh?" He shook his head.
"I'll be fine." He looked around. "Where's everyone else?"
"They're out searching." I said bluntly.
"What? For who?" He sat up.
"Aeris is gone Cloud." Tifa said. Cloud didn't even flinch.
"The City of Ancients. Aeris is headed there." Both Tifa's and Barret's eyes grew.
"By herself? Why did she go by herself? We're going too!"
"Only the Ancients, only she can save us from Meteor..." He mumbled.
"Then we must go. What will we do if something happens to Aeris? If Sephiroth finds her she'll be in trouble."
"Sephiroth...already knows." He seemed to sound worse and worse each sentence.
"Then why are we sitting around? Let's go!" Barret yelled. Tifa agreed and I nodded. Cloud just looked away.
"No. I might lose it again. If Sephiroth comes near me I might..." Barret interrupted.
"Yeah god damn it, its cuz of you Sephiroth has the Black Materia now. It's your damn fault."
"My fault..." That did not help Cloud's self esteem in any way possible Barret.
"Listen I know you got problems, hell we all do. But you don't even understand yourself. You've got to understand that there ain't no way we're getting off this train until the end of the line." Cloud seemed to mull over Barret's words.
"Cloud we came this far. Aren't you going to settle this with Sephiroth?" Tifa added.
"No... if I keep this up I may go crazy...I'm afraid." He was holding his head. He had the most fearful look on his face that I had seen. He really believed he would only be a hindrance.
"Just a damn jackass is what you are. Just think about it Cloud. How many people really know themselves? People get depressed in life because they don't know what's up. But they go on living. They don't run away. Isn't that how it is?" Barret walked out after his speech.
"Cloud you'll come with us, right? I still believe in you." Tifa walked out next. Cloud just seemed to shake his head in more frustration.
"Everyone is afraid of something Cloud. No matter how much you hide it, your fears will catch up to you. It takes true courage to face those fears in front of others. But Cloud, you've seen what happens to me when I'm at the edge of my life and I snap. I still travel with you guys, I'm still afraid it could happen at random, but I still hope for the best. That's what you should do." Saying my piece, I walked out. Barret and Tifa were both standing near the door. I waited along with them. It took some time but the blond headed hero soon walked out.
"Cloud..." Tifa said.
"You alright? I just want to know, you wanna find out about yourself. Or are you afraid to find out? Either way you stay here, and all you can really do is worry about it. Even if you go nuts again when you see Sephiroth... if it happens, it happens. I'll slap you upside your spiky head to change you back."
"Cloud, it's okay, we're all with you," Tifa added to Barrets rant.
"You're right...he's right isn't he?" He turned to Tifa. She nodded.
"Come on, let's go find Aeris." Barret and I went to get everyone else. He explained to everyone else about Aeris going to the City of Ancients.
"How do you know this?" Vincent questioned.
"She told me while I was...sleeping, but I don't know where to find the city." Cloud said with little confidence.
"You said somewhere near the Sleeping Forest correct?" Nanaki asked. Cloud nodded.
"Grandpa told me about it. It is a famous landmark on the Northern Continent; it's near an excavation camp called Bone Village."
"How the fuck can she cross the sea without the Bronco?" Cid argued.
"Sephiroth finds ways; it might not be hard for Aeris if she was determined enough." Cait adds.
"Whatever, that's where she's going so let's get there first." Yuffie says, which I agreed with.
"Then let's go now." Cloud ordered. We left Gongaga and set off to the coast. We all got on the plane and started for the Northern Continent. Cid said that it would take at least a day considering the fact we would have to sail around one continent to get to another. Almost everyone was in an uproar about that until Tifa calmed everyone, explaining that since we had the Tiny Bronco we would arrive first since it would be near impossible for Aeris to beat us. I know Tifa had the logic behind it, but somehow Aeris would always get there first. She'd be in the city's temple praying to her White Materia and the gang would arrive at the instant she is killed.
Lucky for me I had a game plan. I don't have the strength to fight Sephiroth, dear god eleven out of ten times I would lose that fight. But magic based I have a large amount of magic energy and some near mastered lightning and fire materia. When everyone gets to Bone Village I'll wait until the middle of the night, play the harp, then run in before anyone can notice me. I'll head straight to the temple and look after Aeris until Sephiroth appears. I'll then unload as much magic as I possibly could to knock Sephiroth back while he's concentrated on her. By that time everyone else would arrive and help fight either him or the next Jenova boss off. The plan was almost foolproof, I had an outline to follow, and it was open enough to improvise when needed. I actually believe I can do this.
"Nathan." I look over on my side of the wing and see Nanaki sitting next to me.
"What is it?" His eye settled on me. The glare he had gave me chills.
"You knew she was going to leave. You knew she would try to stop Sephiroth on her own. You knew she would die soon..."
"And you're asking why I didn't prevent it." I looked around. No one was really close enough to hear our conversation if we kept it low. He nodded.
"I did try Nanaki. I tried to convince her to let us help her. But Aeris is stubborn, she's subtle about it but she is. She got the idea she could stop him and she believed it...and truthfully...I do too."
"But how?"
"Did she ever show you her special materia?" He shook his head. She never did mention it to anyone else but Cloud in the story back at the church.
"She has the White Materia. It is capable of summoning the power of Holy." His eye widened.
"Holy? The legendary power Holy?"
"So you know about it?" I asked.
"I only know because of Cosmo Canyon's research. On topics with Mako there was a theory of a power able to call the Lifestream itself to protect the Planet." I nodded.
"That is the White Materia, a counter measure for the Black Materia."
"Doesn't she need massive amounts of spirit energy to call upon it?" Another nod.
"That's why she went to the city. The souls of the Ancients still inhabit the place. It's essentially sacred grounds. She wants to pray there so she has the best chance at stopping Meteor." He seemed to contemplate my words before answering.
"I can understand why she went now. It makes sense she would put herself in harm's way for a chance to stop Sephiroth from getting any further ahead of us... But does she have to die Nathan?"
"I don't believe she has to. I don't even think she knew she was going to die. The only people that know about Sephiroth's and Cloud's connections are Seph himself, Hojo, and the two of us." No one else should know about Jenova's ability to transfer information between cells not in the same body. Thank god I don't have any in me. This whole trip would have been a disaster if Jenova had future knowledge.
"How are you going to stop it?" He asked.
"I need you to stay behind with the group when I leave. Like I told you before, I can only assume how everything will work if I do this. Any extras will only cause problems. You guys won't be far behind though. Also, I need you to mediate how everyone reacts when I'm gone."
"You think they'll react that badly?"
"A little, they already had one friend run off, how do you think they'll take to having another suddenly disappear." He understood and inclined his head.
"I also need you to check everyone's reactions when I'm out." He had an odd look on his face before I explained.
"You know how I reacted when I shouted at Cait."
"You called him a different name." I was surprised when he said that. "I have better hearing than humans; that was very reckless by the way."
"Yeah I know, that's why I need you for damage control. If anyone acts funny, I need you to tell me when you all get me."
"You think someone heard you." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Tifa was acting a little weird yesterday, she asked if I would betray the team to put it bluntly, and I can't shake the feeling she either heard or someone mentioned it to her. Can you do all of that for me?"
"I can. But I have a bad feeling Nathan. I keep expecting the worst to happen. I value all of you, each of you are the first friends I could cherish. If any of you die it would break my heart." I was silent for a while before I started scratching his ear, he didn't move away.
"It's the same for me Nanaki, that's why I'm going to do as much as I can to prevent this." I got up. "I'm going to see how the rest of the group is doing." I looked around the plane and saw the different looks of depression on everyone's face. Even people like Tifa, who kept a smile on still had a telling look. Dear god, and this is only when Aeris left. I decided to sit next to Cid who was driving. It started getting late now, the sun was already past the horizon and I could see a star here and there in the sky.
"Hey old man, how you holding up?"
"Just dandy, how's that injury you got from that girl?" I could tell he was insulting me. It made my day just a little lighter.
"She bashed my head in with a pole Cid, a lot of people would get knocked out from that."
"Real mans hard headed enough to take it." We both got a good laugh out of that. "What do you want kid, we ain't anywhere close yet. It will probably be noon, hell even evening by the time we get to the north continent." God that is a long time to be stuck on a plane. If there's one thing I miss, it's the travel time in the game. What did it take? Ten seconds, maybe fifteen to get from Gongaga to Bone Village? Now it takes near two days to travel. I can't wait to ride the Highwind, everything's going to be easy after that.
"So why are you bugging me?" He asked.
"Haven't talked to you in a while. Plain and simple as that."
"You know you don't have to know everybody's business, Darkness and that brute only talk when they want... but that lug head sure talks a shit load when he wants. It's a godsend when he finally shuts up." I knew the second person Cid was talking about was Barret, but Darkness was a new one for me.
"Darkness?"
"That Vincent guy. Always sittin around by himself and saying two words a day. Fucker creeps me out but damn he can fight." Oh that makes sense.
"Hey Cid, tell me what the Highwind was like, you built it right?" I need something to pass the time. I'm sure Cid will more than oblige.
"Don't even get me started. The Highwind is the pinnacle of air travel. It can hold thirty four people, has a built in Chocobo stable, strategy room, and the main deck has a beautiful view in the air. All my design too. It can travel three hundred eighty six knots thanks to my engine schematics. I modified a 16-s Ge engine and..."
It was good listening to Cid talk about his plane in detail. It seemed to be the only thing that he wouldn't bad mouth and would explain in full detail. I barely knew what he would mean by what types of accelerators he used or how his ascending aid air flow tube was one of his best designs. But I would still listen about how he had had a hand in building "Every goddamn nut and bolt" that the ship used. Cid is really a cool guy when you talked to him about stuff he liked.
The next day Cid was right. In the morning we still couldn't see the outline of the North Continent and by noon we didn't have any change. So I was once again stuck with having to entertain myself on a boat for what seemed to be an eternity, and one thing I knew about myself was I never did like to be bored for too long.
"I'm surprised you found the time to make this...and had the resources." Cloud said. After yesterday he would talk to the group, though a little more reluctantly. But being a fellow man that had broken down into an insane version of himself allowed me to identify with him more. It was kind of awkward to me to find my friendship with him strengthened in that regard, but it must have been a comfort for him.
"Leftover wrappers and a rock can be a godsend Cloud." I look back down at the wing of the tiny Bronco. On it was a white square outline that alternated the Broncos red wing and a white square I filled in. On it I had letters placed in formations. I had created a chess set. But the queens on each side were switched with U's and some of the pawns were not P's but upside down D's
"You do know this shows you have unhealthy eating habits." He sat down and moved his knight wrapper piece.
"I travel with you guys fighting monsters on a daily base. I am getting more exercise needed not only to run off my sweets but get some decent muscles too. I am actually in better shape than I was before I met you guys." It was true. After Junon when I realized I was getting muscles I started losing some fat. Granted I had an already decent weight and body fat to muscle ratio considering I was eighteen, but after all of this I lost a lot of what I had in fat and I had slightly more pronounced muscles.
"What are you guys doing?" I saw Tifa walk up after I moved a pawn. She raised an eyebrow at the odd picture of Cloud and I moving pieces of wrappers around on the plane.
"Chess." He stated. She kneeled down and looked at the wrappers closely.
"Wow...you have nothing to do Nathan?"
"I can't drive the plane since I had that argument with Cid."
"And I still say as a pilot I knew what I was doing." He yelled back.
"I was driving just fine!"
"Not this again, honestly what's the point about arguing about this? We're more sailing anyway since we are at sea." I open my mouth in rebuttal only to realize Barret was right on that. I felt really awkward at the thought.
"Well shit I just realized I was wrong...that sucks." I moved my rook and Cloud moves his knight again.
"Nathan!" I suddenly feel extra weight on my back and ignore it. Continuing my battle of wits with Cloud who had taken one of my pawns.
"Nathan I know you hear me!" I feel more weight and sigh.
"What is it Yuffie?"
"I need to borrow one of your materia." She demanded.
"For what exactly?" I took Cloud's knight with my rook. He moved his queen, seeming to ignore what was happening off the game.
"I'm bored! I need something to have fun with." Yuffie whines.
"And you need one of my materia for this?" I gave her a blank face while moving my bishop.
"Come on, it will be big and loud and fun to watch! Please Nate, just one time?" She pleaded. I chuckled a little, finding it cute. I pulled out my Fire materia and handed it to her.
"Make sure it has a tail when you blast it and explodes in the sky before skidding off the water." She squealed and took the materia. Tifa looked at me as if I was crazy.
"You just gave one of your best materia to Yuffie? Just to see a big fireball because you're both bored?" Tifa asked. I smiled as Cloud moved another wrapper piece.
"We like it when things go boom." Another piece moved.
Time flew by after that and soon enough we saw the outline of the Northern Continent coming up. When we landed you could clearly see the snow capped mountains and the forest of weeping willows similar to the ones around the Ancient's temple. When we entered we eventually came upon some bizarre looking sights.
Bone Village was very literal. The huts that occupied the area were made from old fossilized remains of creatures form thousands, if not millions, of years ago. But there were also junk piles all around the area. One of these was what looked like a fighter jet that crashed nose first into the ground right next to one of the larger fossil remains.
"Oh, tourists! Welcome to Bone Village, I am the head of excavation here. Did you all come to see the sights and find yourselves some exotic souvenirs?" The man in a green jumpsuit asked.
"Now, we need to get to the City of the Ancients." Cloud said. The man whistled.
"Good luck with that. You'll never get past the Sleeping Forest." He said.
"I'm sure we can take whatever it has." Barret said. The excavation head laughed.
"It's not monsters you have to worry about. The Sleeping Forest protects the city, if you go in you only come back out the same way." The group mulled over his words.
"Is there a way through?" Cloud asked.
"There is a legend that says the only way to get past the forest is by playing the Lunar Harp."
"Lunar Harp?" Nanaki asked.
"Its melody is said to be the only thing to wake the forest." He explained.
"And where would it be?" Cloud asked.
"You're in luck actually. Reports from the excavators around here say it's in the area, you just need to dig it up."
"Then can we borrow your equipment so we can find it?" Tifa asked.
"What are you nuts? This is delicate equipment we work with here. We can't just lend them to you...however I can spare a few guys to dig it up for you for a small fee." The gang seemed to brighten up. At least we didn't have to fight for this item from an eccentric amusement park owner.
"Alright everyone get one hundred gil. Each of you choose a spot and hope that's where the harp is." Although I thought it was a waste of money, we hired ten men to excavate. I climbed up the ladder and started tracing my steps. I didn't know the exact location but it was around a small hole that the harp was located. I soon find what I was looking for and set my man down. I met up back with the group.
"Alright ready the charges!" Immediately a large explosion sounded behind us and we all covered our ears. When the dust from the detonation dissipated we saw the man smiling.
"We'll be able to tell if any objects are around and start digging. You should sleep in our camp though; it will take up the night." The group nodded and went inside the large tent. Inside were basic military framed beds, nothing special. But good enough to sleep in.
"Everyone eat and rest up." Cloud ordered. Everyone ate what we had for rations and just sat around. Being in an excavation site was boring no matter what world you're from. No one really talked. Ever since we landed everyone was a bit on edge about being so close to finding Aeris. While everyone ate, I packed a few rations for myself. I don't know how long the journey was but it seemed to take a day for everyone to get to the city, sleep, and then get to the temple inside. I would need food as well as plenty of elixirs and potions if I ran into any trouble along the way. Everyone soon said their good nights and went to sleep.
I waited for a few hours, making sure everyone was out before moving out of my bed. When I decided to leave it was well past midnight. I made sure not to make any noise when I left the building. I had the urge to say something to everyone before I left but I held it back. The slightest peep would have woken some of them, especially Vincent. He seemed to be the only one who never really needed sleep which worried me, but he dozed off in the middle of the night. I started looking around in the dark until I found the chest out front of the large tent. I opened it fast so the creaks wouldn't wake anyone and pulled out what I wanted.
The Lunar Harp was really beautiful considering it was underground for who knows how long. The strings had a silver radiance while inside the moon shaped instrument. I took it and climbed up the ladder and went into the forest. For a while it seemed like a fairly normal forest. A few monsters here and there but avoidable. It wasn't until later when the trees started to light up bright white, the bark on the tree's becoming smooth looking and the whole area being lit despite it still being night. The Sleeping Forest was beautiful. I pulled out the harp and realized one clinical error in my plan.
"I can't play an instrument...dumb-ass." I almost slapped myself. I obviously needed to play the harp and here I was thinking I just needed it in my possession. Maybe I can wing it. I sang choir before so I know my notes. I plucked one string experimentally. It makes a sound, but it's hard for me to hear, but at that moment I felt like the whole forest stopped. Though it was hard to hear I knew what the string was tuned to and could guess the rest of the way. Now I just need to remember a simple song to play, something from a game that could be looped. I sat on the ground for a few minutes before I started plucking strings.
If I remember correctly the theme is high D, A, high D, A, B, high D. Sure enough I can hear the notes play Prelude to Light. Sure enough I felt a heavy energy pass through myself as well as the forest. I kept playing the strings over until I felt satisfied the forest was awake. I set down the harp for when Cloud and the others came along, I don't know if they needed it but it would be a good idea to leave it behind. I started jogging through the forest path. The trees seemed to be more lit than usual as I ran too.
Out the corner of my eye I saw a red orb floating and disappearing. I stopped and waited for it to appear again. The materia would flash in different spots but it soon came back from when I first saw it and I nabbed it. I pocketed the Kjata materia and started to jog again. It wasn't long until I came out of the forest and into an odd white landscape; the plants around here now seemed to look like they were made out of stone or coral. I rushed over and grabbed the water ring out of a nearby chest and put it on for the next boss fight. I continue running until I came along a path. I stopped and looked out in the distance. The large stoned tree-like structure standing out on the uneven and odd colored plains.
The City of Ancients was huge; it looked like a fossil just waiting to be discovered. The morning sun was starting to rise and I saw how the light would reflect off of it. The rays made the whole city look...alive in a sense. From here I could feel the energy of the place, much like the temple it felt as if it was still active even after so long. From what I can tell it was about half a day's journey if I ran. I would have to pick up the guard, magic, and power sources as well as the Comet materia here too; it would help if I had some more serious magic and enhancements to defend myself and Aeris with.
"Hopefully things will be different. I don't want to remember this place as one of my friend's coffin."
Cloud woke with a start. He breathed heavily as he assessed his surroundings. He was relieved when he found himself still in the camp. Ever since his encounter with Sephiroth he didn't sleep well. He would now feel like he was always being watched or monitored... even controlled. He shook himself out of it and got up. It was morning now; the excavators must have found the harp by now.
"Everyone up." He called. He started walking around. Everyone still seemed restless even after what seemed like a decent night's sleep for them. He guessed they all were on edge.
"Let's go, it'll take some time to get to the city I bet."
"Hey where's Nate?" Barret asked. Cloud looked over and saw that Nathan's bed was empty.
"He's probably out walking. Call his PHS." Tifa took hers out and started calling while the rest of the group kept getting ready.
"He's not answering." She said, sounding a little worried.
"Alright spread around the camp and find him." Everyone went off to look for Nathan. They had searched for twenty minutes before everyone was starting to worry.
"Any sign?" Cid called out.
"None here." Cait came back.
"I can't find him." Yuffie reported.
"I haven't been able to find him." Nanaki added.
Now Cloud was starting to worry. First Aeris disappeared, and now Nate? This wasn't going to bode well with the group.
"Where could he possibly be? We looked everywhere." Tifa said.
"Not everywhere." Vincent interjected. "Has anyone picked up the Lunar Harp?" he asked. Everyone shook their heads. Cloud went to the chest that it was supposed to be in and found it empty.
"It's gone..." He was confused now.
"Wait...so Nate went by himself?" Barret asked.
"But why?" Tifa questioned.
"Perhaps he has an ulterior motive." Vincent said. The group looked at him oddly but Cloud noticed a particular glare coming from Tifa.
"Nathan wouldn't do anything stupid, he had a reason." Nanaki countered.
"How are we supposed to get into the Sleeping Forest now?" Tifa switched topics.
"That's a good question, how?" Barret said.
"We can't just stand around. We need to move ahead. Maybe he left clues." Cloud said hopefully. Everyone seemed to agree and they started walking through the forest. Cloud couldn't believe Nathan would steal the harp and leave on his own. Why would he do it?
Was he guilty he couldn't persuade Aeris to accept their help? Was he making a stupid choice? What could have made him think this was a good idea?
"Wow...these trees are really something." Barret said. The team had finally gotten to the opening of the Sleeping Forest. The sight was one to behold. The trees had a magnificent glow the team had never seen before.
"Look!" Nanaki said. Cloud stopped in the middle of the path and found the Lunar Harp just set in the path.
"He left it here?" Tifa said, confused.
"So he wanted us to follow him?" Cait said, also confused about the circumstances.
"He might have left it here for us to use." Nanaki said. It made sense to Cloud. Nathan did do odd things but much like in Wutai when he borrowed their materia he returned all of them, including an extra summoning materia. Tifa picked up the harp and started plucking strings. They all felt the air in the forest sweep over them as it played. Tifa having played the piano as a kid helped.
"Let's keep going, we have a ways to go." The group traveled through the forest until they were in a desert like area, but it wasn't dry, more like aged. The entire place looked untouched from what they could see. They started following the ancient roads and were heading for the city. Cloud made sure to keep tabs on the group. Everyone was off, he could tell that much. Even the ever stoic Vincent shifted his eyes as if waiting to be attacked. They had encountered monsters along the way but were able to fight them off with their numbers. It only served to make him think how Nate got through on his own. It took them most of the day to travel to the Forgotten City.
"Man this place is old." Yuffie said.
"Must be at least a few hundred years old, it might have been here thousands of years ago." Nanaki said looking around.
"Aeris is here? But where?" Tifa thought out-loud. Cloud led everyone on a forked path. He decided to explore some of the odd seashell shaped houses. What surprised him was that if there was a chest, its items were already taken, serving to prove Nate was ahead of them. One house he explored actually seemed new compared to the rest of the city, it had beds that hadn't been turned to dust.
"Yo there's some beds." Barret pointed out the obvious.
"Convenient." Vincent mumbled.
"Maybe we should rest. We traveled most of the day; if Nathan's ahead he can't be far." Nanaki pitched. Cloud didn't want to sleep but he couldn't deny the group was a little winded. Most of the group took beds while others just sat on the ground, leaning on the walls. Cloud was one, he knew his limitations. Being a SOLDIER let him go without sleep for at least four days before succumbing to fatigue. It made him wonder how Vincent survived on just resting his eyes. He remembered vaguely when he asked one time while traveling and he said that he had enough sleep after thirty years. He knew though. Vincent had nightmares much like him; Vince could apparently survive on the barest amount of rest.
The sun had set and the group was comfortable. Night was beginning to fall and Cloud's nerves were high. He knew Sephiroth was near, somehow he could just sense it. He didn't know how far but he could feel a chill roll down his spine only the silver haired general could. What freaked him out was that he knew Aeris was there too. But he couldn't feel her.
"I feel it..." He stood up. He was thinking about leaving when everyone else had started shifting.
"Cloud? What is it?" Tifa asked.
"Aeris...she's here...and so is Sephiroth." Everyone was alert now.
"How is he here, how do you know?" Yuffie yelled.
"I can feel it in my soul." He could only describe it as a... pull. A force telling him to go somewhere, yet it allowed him to know where he was going. But this time he felt something else. It was dangerous.
"We have to find her." No one argued and the group moved out. It was night now. They went to the center of the whole place and found yet another shell building, yet it was larger. Inside they found nothing of interest until they went down a stairwell. The stairs were suspended somehow; they led down through some large area under the structure. Below them was what appeared to be a castle. The group went down to find the place didn't have the signs of age or time the upper buildings did. The team went down lower until they reached the castle. Cloud looked around to see a familiar pink dress in the middle of a small atrium.
"Aeris?" He asked out loud. She didn't respond. Cloud ran down until he found himself at the bottom of a few pillars. He started to hop up when the rest of the gang showed up.
"Is that really her?" Tifa asked, he voice filled with hope.
"Stay back; it might be a trap... I'll go first." Cloud said. He climbed the rest of the pillars and slowly walked up the stairs. When he was at the top he couldn't have been happier to see Aeris so peaceful. She was okay; he didn't have to worry anymore.
Suddenly his vision flashed red. He felt the same thing he felt when he gave Sephiroth the Black Materia. He wanted to warn everyone but his mouth kept shut. He body wasn't listening to him! His hand reached for his sword and unsheathed it. He took a step forward, then another, then another. He kept walking until he was right in front of Aeris. His arms started to lift the sword and attack her. He tried to fight it. His arms were shaking form the conflict of control. He almost swung until he heard his friends shout.
"Cloud stop!"
"What are you doing?"
"Cloud!
"Don't do it!"
"Keep fighting!"
The chorus of voices snapped him out and he fell back. His body was listening to him again. He was shocked.
"What are you making me do?" He caught his breath. He looked at Aeris only to see her staring back. He wanted to say something, sorry at least. But the moment she smiled at him he froze. She seemed so peaceful. He was happy they got her back.
There was suddenly a shift in shadows above her and he looked up. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the long black cloak, the sharp green eyes, and the shimmering steal of Masamune start to fall. Time was too fast for him. He couldn't warn her, he couldn't defend her, he couldn't save her.
His heart broke and he felt himself frozen in fright. When Sephiroth crashed down onto the ground, he wanted to scream at not Aeris being pierced, but for the man who pushed her out of the way.