Chapter One: The Gift of the Cerulean - COMPLETE

"...Are you sure about this, Cloud?" Claudia watched with a touch of sadness as her son gave her a short nod, his head hidden underneath the hood of his cloak. "I don't understand. You were never interested in the Minerva Trials: What changed your mind?"

Cloud swallowed at the demand, staring down at his mother, or, more specifically, the hollowness of her cheeks. When was the last thing she had a good meal? Fresh fruit or vegetables that weren't the last batch from a week prior? If she weren't concerned about his well-being then she would be well-fed and flushed with health. Instead, she worried about him and worked herself to the bone to make sure he was clothed and fed and Cloud couldn't bear to see her deprive herself any further.

"I was invited." Cloud confessed watching with a small amount of guilt as her face paled. He should have told her months ago, but he didn't have to heart to tell her the truth - that he had accepted the invitation to join and that he would be leaving her. "One of the conditions of those who accepted the invite is that the families are given blessings - food, clothing, shelter for as long as it's needed."

"You would have me trade my son's life in exchange for food, clothing, and shelter?" Claudia lowered herself into a chair and buried her face into her weathered hands. "Do you know how dangerous it is? The Trials? People don't come back and in return? We're given blessings? Everything we're given is drenched in blood."

"You mustn't think of it in such a light." Cloud bent down and took his mother's hands in his own. "I'm planning on going to the capital and succeeding and when I do I plan on coming back and taking you with me. I'm tired of seeing you suffer and starve and hide your pain behind a smile. I want you to enjoy life and live it as you were meant to, Mother." Cloud squeezed her hands tighter and held back his own tears. "So, I'm going to the capital to make our dream a reality and I mean to make us happy and safe."

"Even at the risk of your life?" Claudia allowed a few tears to slide down her sunken cheeks. "I know that you mean well, Cloud, but I would never ask you to risk your life for my comfort. What kind of mother would want that for their son?"

"What kind of son would want their mother to suffer for their sake?" Cloud countered softly. "A good, decent son, wouldn't want it and I refuse to see it a moment longer."

Knowing that her son's mind was made up, Claudia released a tired sigh before reaching over and tugging him into her arms. "You are indeed foolish, but if you are adamant about doing this then I will stand by your side and give you my blessing."

Cloud's shoulders slumped in relief and he was quick to return her embrace. "It'll work out. I promise."

"Do you know it will work out because you're confident or is that what Minerva speaks of?" Claudia reached out and placed her hand over Cloud's eyes. "Does she speak to you still?"

"Yes," Cloud responded. "She is still in need of me and I of Her."

"What does She-"

"She showed me nothing but the wide, open sea and another that will join me on this long journey." Cloud watched as his mother gave him a curious stare but he made no further comment as he rose to his feet and moved to prepare what little dinner was left on the shelves. For the second time in his life, Cloud hid the truth from his mother.

After all, he didn't dare tell her that person was none other than Tifa Lockhart.

"Lord Lockhart isn't going to be happy about you leaving for the Trials," Claudia said after a long, comfortable silence had settled over them. "He already thinks that you're a horrible influence on his daughter."

"Tifa doesn't want to remain in the village her entire life." Cloud protested in the poor girl's defense. "We're not all meant to follow in our parent's footsteps." At the comment, Cloud shot his mother an adoring look. "I wouldn't be here if you did what Grandfather wanted, right?"

Claudia narrowed her eyes at the teasing but made no move to make a rebuttal. He was right, after all. "Regardless," she continued. "You must be respectful during the trials. You are, after all, representing the entire village. And don't think I forgot about this other person in the vision that you have yet to tell me the name." She folded her arms and regarded him with a chiding look. "What is the name?"

"If I tell you then their chances will be ruined and I don't have the heart to strip that away." Cloud met his mother's gaze with one of firm determination before his lips pulled into a smile. "Besides, I want to see the look on your face when you find out."

"Cloud," Claudia stressed, wanting her stubborn son to acknowledge their current situation. "The Giff of the Cerulean isn't a toy. You can't dangle someone's fate in their face." Claudia shook her head when her son paled at the accusation. "I-"

"You know that I never allow someone to get hurt," Cloud murmured, hurt that his own mother would throw such an accusation in his direction. "You also know that I'm not allowed to interfere if it doesn't affect Gaia's fate." He stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her arm. "You and I both know who it is in that vision. You know me enough not to second guess it."

"I just don't want you to get hurt," Claudia whispered, allowing herself a brief moment of solace in her son's arms. "Lord Lockhart blames you for the death of his wife and the severe injury Tifa suffered when she was a child. He blames you for not using your gifts to prevent it."

"I can't save or protect everyone that visions allow me to see." Cloud's lips thinned at the excuse. He didn't have the heart to confess that he was told not to interfere with her death and Tifa's injury. It was something that Cloud still failed to understand because surely their fates didn't interfere with Gaia's Course, did they?

Did it?

"If he needs to blame me to find solace then I'm fine with it." Cloud avoided his mother's pitying gaze and continued in a lighter tone. "But, I'm more than willing to inform the temple that I've accepted the invitation to the trials."

Claudia's lips pulled into a fragile smile that failed to meet her eyes. "I'm sure they will be proud, Cloud."

Just as she will always be proud.

It didn't take the village long to find out about his acceptance and it was shorter still for Jason Lockhart to confront him in his home with a disapproving frown.

"The Trials are not a game, Cloud." Jason looked to Claudia for assistance, surprised when he found an accepting look in her eyes. It would seem that he would be on his own on this specific tirade. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"I am doing this for the village, Lord Lockhart." Cloud remained steadfast underneath the leader's hardening stare. He was determined to get his point across. "The village would be recognized globally if I am named Oracle. We would become a city-state-"

"I am perfectly fine with the state of our home and I have no desire to engage in the politics of the Minvera Court." Jason spat. "I have enough trouble with the affairs of the temple. I don't need the likes of the Order of Minerva stomping all over the village."

"His Majesty would beg to differ, Lord Lockhart. We are well aware of the fact that you refuse to allow soldiers to come and rid us of the rabid wolves that plague the mountain. We know about the letters and inquiries he has sent in regard to our safety."

"We have our own soldiers-"

"Who have done nothing to keep us safe and that is on your own orders." Cloud rose from his chair, ripping his wrist away from his mother's warning touch. He was treading on thin ice, but he could no longer care about the consequences. "Lady Lockhart-"

"You keep her name out of your filthy mouth, boy." Jason snarled, forcing them into cold silence. Jason took a deep, shuddering breath before continuing, his tone far colder than the air around them. "You, the one, who stole her from me. And as far as I am concerned? No one travels the mountain and disturbs her."

Cloud couldn't get another word in before Jason turned on his heel and left their home, the door slamming so viciously that it almost broke off the hinges. Wary, Cloud approached it, and slammed down the lock, turning to his mother who had grown pale and matched the wariness that he wore on his face. Cloud had always known that Jason had changed since the passing of his wife but to this extent?

Something had to be done.

"A messenger bird has already been sent detailing my acceptance." Cloud moved toward the desk and reached for the ink and pen, preparing to do something that should have been done. "If I can get this done then I am hoping both will arrive at the same time."

"Do what?" Claudia gave her son a confused look, watching as his hand moved across the page. "What are you writing? Who are you writing to?"

"I am asking for assistance from the capital - from the Order of Minerva-." Cloud's hand stilled at the implication. If he did this, and if it changed the Course, then what would happen? What doors would close and what would open?

"You think that they would remove Jason from his post?" Claudia joined him at the desk, biting her lips as she read the words over her son's shoulders. "He was born into it. It is his birthright."

"And the King has a right to remove him from it with just cause." Cloud rolled the letter and sealed it before handing it to his mother. "We have one last bird, right? It'll make it?"

"She's a little old, but she can make the flight." Claudia took the letter and moved towards the little cage perched near her bed. The messenger bird, Selphina, was given to her by her father when she married and she adored the little one, but she wouldn't be surprised if this served as her last flight. She turned to her son when she finished tucking the note into the small pouch her bird wore. "Are you sure about this? Once she leaves it's done."

"I'm positive." Cloud returned, watching as his mother opened the window and let the messenger bird fly into the night and was hopeful that she would bring help when she returned. After all, it's all he could do for the people of this village. It was all he could do for Tifa, who said nothing of her Father's behavior but bore the rage in silence. It was all he could do for his mother who would be left behind picking up the pieces of this decision, but he hoped that when he returned home one day, he wouldn't find a village broken by the death of one woman, but a village that was remolded with hope and determination and out of a shadow of a grieving man.