Silmeria - Okay, I got a few comments asking if I can make a glossary of some of the terms? I would be more than happy to do that! All meanings such as what Sentinels and Guides are will be at the end of the end of chapter. Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Five - A Moment of Courtesy

Midgar was, in Cloud's terms, incredible. The winding roads, lit signs and crowds of people made him feel overwhelmed, but that didn't stop him from walking down the streets and breathing in the air and taking in the sights that left him breathless and a little claustrophobic. He remembered Tifa telling him that Midgar was once filled with pollution and corruption. That the city once was under the tyrannical thumb of Zack's grandfather and that the man cared little for his people and preserving the land. It didn't seem possible that someone from Zack's bloodline to be so cruel, but the memorial located in Minerva Town spoke otherwise. He had been on his way to make a payment to a small brewery for Tifa when he had stumbled upon it. It was a statue of the Goddess Minerva and on her shield, were the names of the people who had lost their lives during the siege to overthrow Zack's grandfather. It was the fact that Minerva's entire shield was covered caused Cloud's heart to skip a beat. The sight of so many names caused him to reach forward and place his hand along the shield and trace the name in reverence and prayer. He hoped that they found peace in their last moments and that the Goddess rewarded them well in the Lifestream.

"Are you visiting?"

Cloud turned, startled at the voice, to see a young woman holding a bouquet of flowers, her green eyes assessing Cloud carefully. The first thought that entered Cloud's mind was how beautiful and ethereal the woman seemed. What she wore was a simple pink dress with a red jacket and a brown, sturdy boots. Her long hair was tied up in a braided ponytail with a bright, pink bow. The small smile that she bore was bright and filled with a hint of caution. It was enough for Cloud to relax and realize that not a lot of people probably visited the memorial.

"I was just passing by." Cloud responded after an awkward pause. "It's my first time seeing the memorial."

"Oh." the woman relaxed at his response, and her lips pulled into a wider smile. "Well, do you know what this memorial stands for?"

"From what my friend told me, it's a memorial for the people that lost lives during the siege to remove Za-I mean, Alpha Sentinel Fair's grandfather."

The woman blinked, a curious frown marring her brow and Cloud prayed that she hadn't caught the slip up. It wasn't in his best interest to call Zack by his name. He didn't know how loyal most of the people in Midgar were towards him and he didn't know if spies from other cities lingered in the metropolis.

"Alpha Sentinel Xavier wasn't the most pleasant man." the woman admitted sadly. "Unfortunately, power corrupted him and the memorial is the end result, but the people who overthrew him were valiant and successful and the Midgar that you see today is the fruit of their efforts. Did you know that it was them that re-named the towns?"

"Them?"

"AVALANCHE." the woman replied. "It was the name of the resistance that took down Alpha Sentinel Xavier. Alpha Sentinel Fair was second-in-command."

"Really?" Cloud could imagine Zack going underground and forming such an organization. Even if it meant betraying his blood, Zack would protect his city and his people. It sounded so much like him that a small smile pulled at his lips.

"Yes and for their efforts, the members of AVALANCHE were pardoned by the Council of Midgar and Alpha Sentinel Fair was given the Crown to rule Midgar."

"Wait. What about his father?"

The woman shook her head, her green eyes darkening at the question. "Unfortunately, Alpha Fair's father died in the crossfire and his mother died of a broken heart. So, he lost a lot during the years of his grandfather's reign."

"I didn't-" Cloud lowered his head, his heart skipping a beat at his careless question. "I didn't know. I shouldn't have asked."

"It's quite alright." the woman reassured gently. "You didn't know. Oh dear, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself." the woman held out her hand. "My name is Aerith. Aerith Faremis."

Cloud looked up, staring up at the upturned palm in shock. That wasn't a normal greeting. That was Guide's Greeting. His face heating, he reached forward and placed his palm against his own, and intertwining the fingers.

"Cloud. Cloud Strife."

"It's nice too meet you, Guide Strife." Aerith pulled away, her lips twitching at the flush still gracing Cloud's pale cheeks. "Caught you off guard?"

"A little," a chuckle escaped Cloud's throat. "Didn't expect that greeting. Not a lot of people do it anymore."

"Well, I'm not a stickler for tradition, but there is some things that I still like to hold onto, you know?" Aerith stepped closer, her eyes excited. "For instance, I still in indulge in prayer."

"Minerva's Prayer?" Cloud struggled to hold the excitement from his own voice. Minerva's Prayer was a small ritual done at the beginning New Year. It was meant for Guides to pray for an exciting new year that was filled with safety and prosperity. It was something he and his mother indulged in when the clock struck midnight. In truth, he hadn't prayed since he left Nibelheim and he missed it.

"Of course." Aerith swept past him and placed the bouquet of flowers at the edge of Minerva's Shield. "My Sentinel joins me when he has the time, but he usually just asks me to give him a small prayer before he heads off to work." Aerith's lips twitched. "He says that he needs it."

"His job must be stressful." Cloud stated, staying his curiosity at asking who her Sentinel was. It was a private question and unless the Guide divulged, one didn't ask. "I hope it isn't effecting his health?"

"No," Aerith let out a small, bashful laugh. "He's quite adept at things not getting to him, but his boss has a tendency to make him see red? I think that's the saying?"

Cloud nodded, wondering what kind of asshole boss her Sentinel had. "You said that the towns had names?"

"Yes, Alpha Xavier gave them numbers, but AVALANCHE blessed them with names: Minerva, Bahamut, Shiva, Odin, Eden, Ramuh, Ifrit, and Leviathan."

"Do the town names have any real significance? Other than the fact that they were named after Spirits?"

"No, AVALANCHE decided that decided that the Spirits that lent a hand deserved a town." Aerith sighed in fond exasperation. "They were silly like that, you know?"

It did seem silly, but he could tell that AVALANCHE was proud of their victory and it wasn't too far-fetched to thank the Spirits in such a way. "It is, but I see the sentiment."

Aerith hummed in agreement before her checking her watch and shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I have to go, I have a small meeting that I have to get to. Do you mind saying a small prayer for me?"

"Of course."

"Thanks! See you later, Cloud."

Cloud nodded, turning back to the shield and watching it gleam under the sun. It was certainly well-made and whoever did it made it with heart. It was only as he clasped his hands together and lowered his head in prayer that he finally recognized Aerith's name. Aerith. Aerith Faremis of the Medical Guide Corp.

And Alpha Guide.

Cloud's head shot up and he looked around, but Aerith had vanished with the wind, only leaving the scent of her perfume behind. Well, Cloud huffed, that was embarrassing. How could he not recognize the daughter of one the most talented Guide's on Gaia? Was he really that dense?

Or maybe she didn't want to be recognized? Maybe she just wanted to have a normal conversation? Who knew?

He pushed the thoughts away as he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to start his prayer when a cough interrupted him. He kept his eyes closed, ignoring the interloper when the man coughed again, this time, Cloud swore that it was filled with amusement. No. He promised Aerith that he was going to do this prayer and then he had to go see the man at the brewery. But try as he might, the man kept interrupting his prayer by coughing not once, twice or thrice, but an astounding eleven times when Cloud suddenly turned around, his cheeks flushed with anger at the rude behavior.

"I hope you choke out a lung, asshole-AH!" Cloud stepped back from the statue of Minerva to see Zack standing not even five feet away wearing a manic grin and bright eyes. Minerva help him.

"Zack?! I-I mean, Alpha Sentinel-" Cloud sighed, his shoulders slumping in surrender when Zack let out a roar of laughter. What was the use, really? The humiliation had already set in and there was no turning back now. What a day this was turning out to be. Tifa was going to laugh herself sick when she found out.

"I'm sorry." Zack gasped out between chuckles, tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks. "I just couldn't help myself, you know? When you didn't lift your head after the second time, I had to do it. The opportunity was there, Cloud. It was there."

Cloud snorted, struggling to hold back his own laughter as he watched Zack try and fail to calm down. If happy could be made into a person, then Zack was it. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was just taking a walk." Zack responded, sniffing and wiping away his tears. "You?"

"I was supposed to be making a payment to the brewery that Tifa uses, but I ran into the memorial and I met someone and then you came along." Cloud turned back to the statue. "This is a beautiful work of art."

"And it's also something that shouldn't have been made." Zack joined him at the statue, his face pensive at the sight of it. "So many people died that day and the days before. I can't stomach the sight of it."

"Zack-"

"Do you know the story of the Goddess and Spirits?" Zack asked, his blank eyes staring at the memorial. "Of how the world came to be?"

"I-No," Cloud turned his eyes away from the Alpha Sentinel, giving him a moment to compose himself. "Will you tell me?"

"This world is and was torn by constant strife." Zack began softly. "At first, this world was a paradise filled with boundless forests, oceans, rivers and pathways to the Lifestream. The Spirits and the Gods were one and they loved one another as brother and sister, but like all paradises, it became corrupt and filled with greed and strife." Zack gave him a sharp smile before continuing, his voice bitter and filled with sorrow. "The Spirits became discontent with how they lived. They wanted more. More energy, more devotion, and more awareness to the world, but it was one thing that the Gods would not grant. What would Spirits do with devotion? More energy? To the Gods, the Spirits were all equal in their eyes, no matter how much power you wielded, you were no better than anything else, but, but the Spirits didn't see it that way.

The larger Spirits, such as the Draconic King Bahamut and Ice Queen, Shiva, decided that they deserved the lands to the North and South while Lord Ramuh thought he deserved to rule the skies, but Minerva along with Jenova disagreed thus launching the world into the First War of Gaia. This war burned the bountiful forests and turned the oceans and rivers dry. Turned the lands to deserts and wastelands. Thousands of Spirits returned to the Planet in the First War, but in the end the Goddesses won and sealed the Spirits away into Orbs of Power."

"Materia." Cloud breathed, blushing with pleasure when Zack nodded. "What happened after?"

"Minerva, seeing Gaia in such disarray decided to start anew. This world that she and Jenova created was ruined and both despaired until Jenova decided that this world could be put to better use and thus, the Cetra were born. The Cetra loved and embraced Gaia and built homes and cities and devoted much of their time and lives to the care of Gaia which pleased them immensely, but as always, history repeats itself."

"The War of the Goddess." Cloud finished. "And the destruction of the planet anew."

Zack nodded, a smile pulling at his lips. "That's right and the planet was born anew for a third time." Zack looked around, his lips returning the frown. "It was just like that for Midgar, you know? It was a paradise, a reprieve for Guides and Sentinels lost until my old man decided that he wanted more, you know? More power, more prestige. It grew to a point where people suffered and when you allow your people to suffer then it's time to revaluate your goals on what you consider a good thing."

Cloud swallowed at the harshness in Zack's tone and it made him to a very cold realization:

Did Zack strike down his grandfather?

Was the man there at those final moments? Did he watch the life fade from Alpha Xavier's eyes? Did he mourn or raise his sword in triumph? Cloud shook his head in empathy, he hoped that he would learn the answer one day, but until then, he would be more than happy with being Zack's friend. To give the man a little bit sense of relief.

"Zack?" Cloud asked softly, holding out a hand in the man's direction. "Will you do me a favor?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"Will you pray with me?" Cloud grasped Zack's hand and smiled at the warmth and confidence that it held. "For the people lost?"

"I-" Zack's eyes widen and much to Cloud's surprise, a pleased flush graced the Alpha Sentinel's tan cheeks as he squeezed Cloud's hand in return. "Of course, I'd would love to."

Cloud didn't comment on the happiness he felt coming from Zack in large waves. He didn't comment when Zack didn't let go of his hand and he didn't comment when Zack stepped a bit closer to him than was appropriate. He did, however, smile when Zack murmured a small prayer for Cloud himself. Thanking the Goddess for allowing him to meet such a good person.

And Cloud, well, he figured that it was okay to return the sentiment. It was true, after all.

Glossary:

Sentinels - Once the Swords of the Cetra, Sentinels are beings with enhanced sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Sentinels are among Jenova and Minerva's first creations. Rankings are dictated by the number of senses that have awakened. Alpha's are all five, Beta's are three to four, and Omegas are one or two

Guides - Guides are emphatic beings who keep Sentinels under control through touch, speech and mind. Like Sentinels, Guides are also dictated by rank. The more powerful their empathy, the higher the rank.

War of the Goddesses - The war between the Goddess Jenova and Minvera that caused the gene that allowed Sentinels and Guide to be to become near extinct. Although thousands of years have passed, Gaia is still recovering.