A Love Lost
A FFVII Fan Fiction by ArcaneWeapon
Author's Note: Well it's been over a year now since I started Lost Love, my first fan fiction story ever. I love the Cloud/Aeris pairing and I feel LL was too rushed; I didn't spend enough time exploring their characters. So now I'm returning to the pairing for what I hope will become my favorite thing I've written. Just a few notes: This is in no way related to LL, it is not a sequel. The majority of this story takes place after the game, but once again this has no relation to Advent Children in any way.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cloud, Aeris, or any of the other FFVII characters in this story, obviously Square Enix does. It should also be noted that most of the spoken dialogue in this chapter is taken directly from the game.
Introduction: Love Lost
The past few days had been very tiring for Aeris. Since leaving the rest of her friends in the inn at Gongaga village she had traveled nonstop until she finally reached her destination, the City of the Ancients. Specks of mud spattered the hem of her pink dress, the right sleeve of her small red shirt had a tear in it, and her long brown hair, bound with a small pink ribbon, had a few small sticks and leaves tangled in it. She had only caught a brief glimpse of herself in the reflection of the pool outside the small temple before she had rushed down the steps to her final destination.
Now she stood on a small platform, the top of a pillar similar to the ones she had jumped across to reach it, surrounded by water. Slightly out of breath she grabbed onto one of the railings and let her racing heart return to normal.
Today I will stop Sephiroth and save both the Promised Land as well as the Planet itself. This is my duty as the last living Cetra and I will not fail! Aeris happily thought.
Deciding that she was finally ready, she slowly walked to the center of the small shine and gently got down on her knees. She clasped her tiny hands together causing her bracelets to clink together quietly, brought them up to just under her chin, and began to pray with her emerald green eyes closed. She lost track of time as she prayed, completely absorbed in unlocking and using the power of the materia bound in the ribbon holding her hair up in it's braid. Suddenly, a distant and recognizable voice caught her attention.
"Cloud!"
Cid? She thought in confusion. What are you doing here?
"Stop!"
And Tifa as well?
"Ugh... what are you making me do?"
Upon hearing Cloud's voice she raised her head and opened her eyes, blinking them once to clear the haze that was the result of keeping them closed for so long. She saw him standing directly in front of her, dressed in his same black armor with his spiky blond hair and crystal blue eyes she had come to know so well since she had first met him. To her surprise, however, he was trembling violently and his sword was raised as if he had been about to… attack her.
Ignoring the raised sword and the burning rage fading from his eyes she smiled up at him, glad to see him again. A strange whitish blue light started to shine down and she heard the faint rustling of a cloak from above before there was a searing pain in her back.
Something sharp blazed a trail through her insides before entering her sight as it pierced through her stomach. Her muscles tensed, spasmed, and then relaxed as she slumped forward over the blade. Her eyes opened wide in shock as her brain sluggishly attempted to figure out what had just happened, but she kept her smile. She heard a man behind her laugh softly and then just as suddenly as it entered her body, the blade was removed.
Sephiroth….
As hard as she tried to stay kneeling it was impossible. She started to fall forwards and saw the ground rushing up to meet her. Her eyes started to close on their own and the white and black marble squares below her began to fade out of focus. The last thing she was aware of before darkness engulfed her was her ribbon coming undone and the materia hidden there falling away.
Have I failed when I was so close to my goal?
She was back. For a moment Aeris was filled with confusion as to what was going on. Then she saw Cloud catching her lifeless body before it could hit the ground and realized she was still dead.
I'm part of the Lifeforce now…
"...Aeris," he whispered in shock as he gently shook her body, desperate for some sign that she wasn't really gone.
"This can't be real!"
"Don't worry," Sephiroth replied emotionlessly, "Soon the girl will become part of the Planet's energy. All that is left is to go North. The Promised Land waits for me over the snowy fields. There I will become a new being by uniting with the planet. As will this girl..."
"Shut up!" Cloud snarled as he bowed his head over her lifeless body. He snapped his head back up to stare hatefully into Sephiroth's cold eyes. "The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don't mean a thing."
Aeris watched as he slowly gazed back down upon her body.
"Aeris is gone. Aeris will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry... or get angry..." he sobbed, hugging her body tightly.
Cloud… You really did care for me deeply. I'm so sorry this had to happen. Aeris tried to wipe the tears off of his cheeks but her hand just passed through his head.
"What about us… what are WE supposed to do?" he muttered as he gently set her body on the ground. "What about my pain?" he asked trembling.
"My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!"
"What are you saying? Are you trying to tell me you have feelings too?" Sephiroth asked, looking at Cloud, a hint of confusion touching his voice.
"Of course! Who do you think I am?" Cloud demanded, standing up to glare at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth let out a short laugh before responding, "Stop acting as if you were sad. There's no need to act as though you're angry either."
What is he trying to say about Cloud? I'm so confused…
"Because, Cloud. You are..." Sephiroth began as he started rising back into the air.
"… a puppet."
"I'm… a puppet?" Cloud whispered in confusion as Aeris thought the same thing.
Aeris noticed the rest of her friends rushing over, jumping from pillar to pillar as fast as they could to reach Cloud and her body. Everyone gathered around Cloud except Cid who walked over and stood in front of her body. He gazed down on her in sadness then raised his head skyward to mutter a prayer for her before walking over to join the rest of the group.
Next Tifa walked over and knelt down by Aeris' body. She reached out and touched her face and hair and then covered her own mouth to choke back a sob before rushing off while closing her eyes so the others couldn't see her tears.
Finally Cloud walked over and gently picked her up, cradling her in both arms. Aeris followed him as he slowly carried her outside and waded into the pool. Cloud just stood holding her in the middle for a while, gazing down into her eyes. He wasn't crying, but she could feel the hate, anger, and mainly sorrow inside him.
"Farewell… Aeris," he quietly whispered before releasing her body.
It floated for a little bit before sinking down out of sight. Cloud turned away and walked back to the rest of the group. Aeris started to follow him when she felt a hand on her shoulder holding her back followed by a strangely familiar voice.