Across the Ages

Author's Notes:

Pairing: Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy VII and Claire 'Lightning' Farron of Final Fantasy XIII

Setting: A rift in space-time connecting Nibelheim with Bodhum, two places separated by nearly two-thousand years.

Warning: Rather fluffy first chapter. Do not read unless you want to suffocate from the fluff. There are also a lot of Final Fantasy references and Norse mythology references.

Envoy: This story is part of something called 'Project Odyssey' that I have initiated. I can't say anymore, only the fact that a lot of stories will intertwine, leading up to the release of the story under 'Project Odyssey'. This will take at least a few years to get all the data together and right. So please, be patient.

Cloud: You know some people speculate if Lightning is my descendant right?

Envoy: And?

Cloud: *shrugs* Just sayin'. Oh, hey Light.

Lightning: I hate that all I am is just a recycled character design and that people bash on me for it. Damn you Tetsuya Nomura.

Cloud: *pats Lightning's shoulder and hugs her before releasing her* It's alright, what did I say? Don't listen to others, alright?

Lightning: But it's so frustrating that people see us as brother and sister sometimes or as cousins. And there as so few who even try to put us together. *growls* Why the hell did I have to meet you? Why the hell did I let you past my barriers? Why the hell did I fall for you? *she suddenly pulls him back into a hug and buries her face in his chest and silently sobs*

Cloud: *sigh* Envoy, could you… give us a moment please?

Envoy: Very well. *Cloud nods and picks up Lightning bridal style and carries her off with him* While their talking, let's start the story.

*side note* Cloud is 7 right now and Claire is 6.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything mentioned in here.

Chapter 1: Under Yggdrasil We Meet

A boy from nearly two-thousand years into the past meets a girl who shares a fate similar to his on the falling star. Though they are separated by time and space, their hearts reach out towards one another as children; as young adults fighting for the gods; and as grown people when the worlds collide when a man schemes to ignite a war of mystical swords. The god slayer of the cold, windy mountains and the light that flashes in the storms above a meteor shall meet, and their destinies shall be intertwined.

She waits for her fellow soldier in the city in the sky and he journeys through time to meet her once more.

This is the story of the Hero of Midgar, Slayer of Gods, and Lone Wolf: Cloud Strife and the Rose among the Soldiers, Guardian of her Home and Summoner of the Splitting Sword: Claire 'Lightning' Farron.

A young child with spikey blonde hair, a pale yet somehow tanned skin, cyan eyes garbed in the clothing of the people of Nibelheim, consisting of a blue shirt, brown pants, and boots stared up into the sky and shielded his eyes as rain fell upon Gaia.

Though it was always rainy in the Nibelheim region, the rain was usually cold and stinging; though this rain was warm and soothing as it hit his skin. He didn't know how far he had wandered from Nibelheim due to the fact that he was standing in a grassy plain with numerous Midgar Wild Roses and other flowers dotting the landscape. The young boy had just wandered around in his free time and his feet had somehow carried him all the way here.

His eyes darted back and forth as he tried to find a landmark or something so he could estimate his distance from his home. His eyes widened though when he saw his town of Nibelheim almost two miles away. The young boy twisted his head around and gazed at the wide plain that somehow appeared out of nowhere on this barren mountain.

'This place is only seen by those chosen by fate.'

The young boy's face turned to shock as he heard someone, or something, speaking to him.

'Do not fear young cub. You are safe.'

"Where am I?" the blonde child asked.

'You are in The Garden of Midgard young cub.'

"The Garden… of Midgard?" the child repeated.

'Indeed you are.'

The child gazed in wonder at the garden as he wandered it. His eyes marveled at the beauty all around him; beautiful Midgar Wild Roses, Light's Hope, Rebellious Roses, Onion Chrysanthemums –ironically having the best smell-, Wind's Journeyers, Esper Tulips, Galbana Lilies, Gaia's Heart, White and Black Tulips, Lion Lilies, Magick Daises and Fayth Dreams all swayed as one in the gentle breeze that followed the soothing storm. Nearby, three babbling brooks could be heard, their calming waters splashing soundlessly. In the middle of the garden, surrounded by nearly millions of the twelve flowers, stood a massive tree with a wide trunk, green leaves and flowering lotuses that towered high above the highest peaks of the Nibel Mountains.

'That is Yggdrasil, the World Ash Tree, the Guardian of All Realms.'

"Yggdrasil," the name left the boy's lips and carried to the wind. The tree swayed slightly as it heard its name called by one of the few chosen. From near one of its roots, a wolf cub trotted out from its shelter and cautiously, if not timidly, approached the young blonde boy. When the cub stopped in front of the boy, it sat on its hind legs and allowed its tongue to loll out of its mouth and then barked at the boy with a friendly look in its eyes. The boy observed the wolf cub before him and noted that it was a Nibel Timber Wolf with its fur a dull grey color and on its forehead a patch of white fur in the shape of a two triangles stacked atop one another. A smile graced the boy's lips and a smile in the cub's eyes shined through to the blonde. The boy laughed as he bent down slightly to pet the cub on its head and giggled uncontrollably as his hand was licked.

'The young cub's name is Fenrir, and he shall be your guardian from now on.'

"Fenrir," the blonde repeated once more. The wolf cub barked once more and ran around in a circle and looked at his new charge. The boy smiled at the wolf and petted it once more. Fenrir pushed his head closer to the child's hand and growled contently. His ears suddenly perked up when he heard something coming from the other side of Yggdrasil. Fenrir barked at his new charge and ran to the other side of the World Tree, his charge not far behind him.

On the other side, both Fenrir and the boy stopped as two figures came into their field of vision. Sitting with her back against the side of a brown Mustang with a white patch of fur in the shape of a diamond on its snout, not far from the World Tree, was a young girl with pale pink hair that hung down her left shoulder. She was garbed in a white button up blouse and a tanned, brown skirt that reached mid-thigh. Oddly enough, her clothes do not seem soaked – the boy looked at his own clothes and realizes he is dry as well-, even though the gentle rain fell upon her. Her bright and shining sky blue eyes were focused on the Midgar Wild Rose that she held in her right hand.

The young boy just stood there with Fenrir beside him and stared at the girl so focused on the beautiful rose in her hand and marveled at her. He had always thought that his mother was the most beautiful thing in the world; but now, he had to correct himself in his assumptions. To him, her focused gaze and slightly pouting face seemed irresistibly cute and endearing. He now knew how his mom felt whenever he pouted and understood why. His eyes stayed on her figure and saw a smile cross her lips as she pushed back some of the hair on the right side of her face and placed the Midgar Wild Rose behind her ear.

'Do not worry; all flowers are without their flaws in the Garden.'

The boy nodded, having almost shouted to tell the girl that the Midgar Wild Rose had many thorns. He then remembered that she was holding it rather tightly between her fingers and rebukes himself for not paying attention to the other details of the girl other than her eyes and cute face.

A neigh soon broke through the sound of the slow rain as the Mustang nudged the girl in the shoulder. The girl turned to the horse and the horse in turn turned its head towards where the boy and wolf cub were. The girls eyes widened suddenly as she gazed upon the blonde and then her cheeks flushed a color close to that of her hair. The wolf cub barked beside the boy and then turned its gaze to the boy. The boy looked down at Fenrir and then back at the blushing girl sitting against the Mustang. Fenrir then trotted from its charge's side toward the girl, the boy following in a subdued pace.

The girl stood up and clasped her hands in front of her body as the boy came closer and as her blush grew deeper. The boy then suddenly stopped about a foot away from the girl and flushed a bright red as he observed the girl in front of him, his head scratching the back of his head.

The tension between the two was noticeable, but not stifling. It was the type where it's two people meeting each other once more.

"Hi I'm," they both said at the same time, breaking the silence and shattering the tension between them. Their eyes locked when they did so and the two laughed uncontrollably at their own shyness and that of the other's. His laugh sounded rather cute to the pinkette while her giggle sounded melodious to the blonde.

"Err… My name's Cloud, Cloud Strife," the blonde said timidly.

"Hi, Cloud. My name's Claire Farron," the pinkette answered back.

Soon, a companionable silence fell between the two as they gazed at each other's eyes. The two blushed once more and looked in different directions with a small smile gracing their lips. The two caught each other's eyes once more and Cloud chuckled as Claire giggled. Though they both were shy people, the two felt that this person could understand them the most.

The blonde's eyes soon land at the Mustang and marvel at it. Claire's eyes followed to where the blonde was staring and giggled behind her hand.

"Her name's Epona," the pinkette responded to Cloud's silent question. Her eyes soon found the Nibel Timber Wolf sitting beside the blonde and asked, "What's this guy's name."

The blonde grinned and petted the wolf's head as he answered Claire. "His name's Fenrir."

Claire then gestured to Epona and then soon sat back down, resting her back against Epona's side. Cloud soon took a seat in the grass beside the pinkette and scooted a bit closer to Claire until he was a comfortable distance near her. His cyan eyes met her sky blue ones and then his gazed turned towards the area between them back to her eyes. Her eyes said 'Maybe.'

That was enough for Cloud.

The then sat in silence and drank in the presence of just having someone else with them in this beautiful garden. Neither paid attention to the fact that the calm storm had stopped and that the sun's warm rays began to shine down upon them.

"I've never seen you 'round here. Where are you from?" That question that had escaped from Cloud's lips had soon exploded outward as both the blonde and Claire began to give information about their home, their respective families, and their lives.

Both had come to realize that they had only one parent left, both having only their mothers around. They both also had the same dream of wanting to become a soldier, he a SOLDIER in Midgar and she a Guardian Corps member of Cocoon. They both also found out that even though they were shy, they were both strong people at heart who would protect others and because of that trait they were picked on sometimes.

As they talked with one another, both did not realize that they had scooted closer to one another until Claire was resting between Cloud's legs, his back resting against Epona's side, with her head leaning back into his chest, Fenrir curled up in her lap, growling contently as the pinkette stroked his fur.

Both did not realize this though, they were times apart from one another.

Cloud had believed that Bodhum was just on the other side of the Nibel Mountains and reasoned that the only reason why he never heard of it was because her never ventured far from Nibelheim. Claire had reasoned that Nibelheim was that village that wasn't far off from Bodhum, nestled in the nearby unnamed mountain range.

As the hours wore on, the two sat there in the field of flowers, under the shadow of Yggdrasil with Cloud stroking Claire's hair as the pinkette sighed contently with her head resting on his chest, the two realized that they would soon have to depart from the company of the other. When twilight fell upon the Garden of Midgard, the two realized their time was up.

"I… I had fun," Claire mumbled.

Cloud smiled down at the pinkette. "I had fun too."

Both soon felt a warm spreading forth from their hearts, soon spreading too their entire bodies. A smile spread across both their lips as they felt a second warmth fall upon them.

Cloud saw that Claire was a girl he could feel comfortable around because she seemed as soft spoken, shy and kind as he was… that, and the fact that she seemed to not blow up at him for just standing there staring at her face as she sat looking at the Midgar Wild Rose. He felt that he had won something because of that due to the fact that it meant he was something special to her now. She had told him that if he hadn't been who he was, she would have just shouted at them to stop stalking her and buzz off. When he had asked why, she told him because she felt that he had captivated her as well.

Claire saw that Cloud was a boy who didn't make fun of her because of her exotic hair color and the fact that she was always so quiet around them and never responded, unless they went too far in bullying her. She also felt something akin to pride when she realized she drew the attention of the boy and had Cloud captivated with her own normal self. She felt somewhat guilty when Cloud asked when she was going to shout at him for staring at her, but had quickly told him she didn't because he captivated her as well.

"Will I… see you again?" Claire asked as she stared into Cloud's eyes.

'Tell her you will.'

"Of course," the blonde smiled. He did not realize he was telling a lie.

Claire smiled up at the blonde and then sat back up and stared at him before hugging him fiercely. Cloud was caught off guard for a second before he wrapped his arms around her frame. He soon felt her shake. He pushed her away a bit and saw tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Concern was laced in his voice.

"It's just," she sniffled, "It's just you're my first friend. And I don't want to lose you."

"You're my first friend too," Cloud whispered, "You won't lose me. You won't alright?"

"I know I won't." She furiously swiped at her tears trying to fend them off. "I just have a bad feeling that I won't see you for a long time." Her tears came back in full force once more.

The young blonde's heart felt like it was being ripped out as he watched his friend cry her heart out. He contemplated what to do and then remembered seeing a teenaged boy and girl do this. Cloud pulled her back into a hug and slowly stroked her back and spoke words of comfort for her. When her body stopped shaking, the blonde pulled back from her and, rather timidly, place a chaste kiss on her lips. He then quickly pulled back and realized that Claire was blushing and soon felt his own cheeks flush.

"What was that?" Claire murmured, touching her lips.

"I ummm… saw an older boy do that for an older girl when she was crying and I thought it would work too."

Claire smiled at Cloud and then quickly pecked him on the lips before pulling back just as quickly. "Thank you, Cloud." The smile that graced the pinkette's lips was soon matched on the blonde's.

The boy nodded to his friend. "I'll see you again."

"You better," she smirked.

Cloud was soon nudged by Fenrir as Epona gently nudged Claire. The Nibel Timber Wolf looked expectedly at its charge as it nudged something on the ground. The blonde blinked owlishly before picking up the object on the ground, finding out that it was a ring. On the ring was a Nibel Timber Wolf with a circle hanging from its mouth. Cloud looked back at Fenrir and saw the wolf cub nod at him and returned the nod. The blonde turned back to see a necklace dangling from Claire's hand. The main piece of the necklace was in the shape of a lightning bolt with two diamonds beside it: one black and one gold and a diamond and ruby combo on the bottom of the bolt.

The two looked at each other expectantly before Claire scooted closer to Cloud and unhooked the chain holding the necklace before hooking it back in behind the blonde's neck before placing another kiss on his cheek. The blonde boy blushed before motioning to the ring in his hand. The pinkette nodded and held out her hand, unknowingly holding out her left hand. Cloud soon slipped the wolf ring onto Claire's left ring finger and placed a kiss on her cheek as well. Both did not realize that the left ring finger meant a proposal or marriage, but both were ignorant to that bit of knowledge.

Soon, the two were standing a distance from one another, smiles having graced both their lips once more with Fenrir sitting beside Cloud and Epona standing beside Claire.

"Goodbye Claire! We'll meet here again tomorrow!" Cloud shouted, waving his hand good-bye.

"Goodbye! We'll meet again Cloud!" Claire shouted back.

And then the two departed to their separate homes, their hearts filled with memories of their friend, the time they spent in each other's company, the warmth of the time and the four kisses that they shared.

'What is this feeling in my heart… Claire?'

'What am I feeling… Cloud?'

Both would never know that their paths would only cross after years apart until they were separated by time and space.

Claire clutched the letter in her hands, the paper threatening to rip to pieces, as tears fell from her eyes. Her mother had given this letter to her when she told her she had met a boy named Cloud Strife and said that it was in their family for generations, going back as far as the time on the former Gaia turned Pulse. Her mother told her that it came from the great Hero of Midgar, Cloud Strife, a person dead since two thousand years.

To my first friend and love,

Claire Farron,

If you're reading this, then you found out that I am from nearly two thousand years in the past. I'm sorry I lied to you. I didn't know I was lying anyway.

Please don't cry Claire, we'll meet again. Our paths have already crossed four times since the last you saw me. The next time we meet, we will be fighting for gods and I will be on the side of Chaos – God of Discord. You will have to stop me from facing him if you are to save me from my fate. Because of that altered destiny, we will fight side by side as we should have. The next time we shall meet, I shall be wrapped once more in darkness. Save me. The last time we shall meet, my nemesis will have returned. Fight with me once more.

Now, I am already waiting trough time until I shall awaken, as per orders of Soren, so please… wait for me my love.

Your first friend and love,

Cloud Strife

P.S. I guess me placing that ring on your left ring finger means we're fiancés now, huh?

By the time Claire had read over the letter ten times, a small bitter-sweet smile had crossed her lips.

"Cloud," she murmured to the winds, "I'll be here."

…

"Mom, what's a fiancé?"

A meeting that bridged the expanse of time and space has come to a close on their home world.

They shall meet once more, under the banner of Harmony and Discord.

The Lone Wolf and The Rose among the Soldiers shall dance once more.

Author's Notes:

Envoy: …Weird. Well, better than them meeting unexpectedly and then soon falling in love. I did it like this so that way there is more romantic development or something like that. Also, I try not to have my romances overly girly and unbelievable.

Soren: If you have a question why the events occurred like they did: I manipulated the universe to allow this impossible meeting to occur.

Cloud: Weird take on how we met huh Light?

Lightning: I think it's kinda… *mumbles something*

Cloud: *smiles* If you'll excuse us Envoy, Soren. *takes Lightning in arms once more, receiving a startled 'Eep!' in response, and jumps off*

Soren: …

Envoy: …

Soren: *smirks* Bow-chick-a-wow-wow.

Envoy: *facepalm* Leave 'em be.

Soren: *shrug* Review please!

Light's Hope: Final Fantasy (Warrior of Light): A white flower with a yellow core.

Rebellious Rose: Final Fantasy II (Firion): A red rose that grows anywhere

Onion Chrysanthemum: Final Fantasy III (Luneth): A red chrysanthemum with a purple core

Black and White Lily: Final Fantasy IV (Cecil): A lily with white and black petals

Wind's Journeyer: Final Fantasy V (Bartz): A dandelion with petals that break into the wind

Esper Tulip: Final Fantasy VI (Terra): A purple tulip with an otherworldly glow

Midgar Wild Rose: Final Fantasy VII and XII (Cloud and Lightning): A simple red rose, whose beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

Lion Lily: Final Fantasy VIII (Squall): A lily resilient to all that grows in the loneliest places

Gaia's Heart: Final Fantasy IX (Zidane): A flower in the shape of a heart, blue in color

Fayth Dream: Final Fantasy X (Tidus): A blue chrysanthemum with fireflies dancing about it

Magick Daisy: Final Fantasy XI (Prishe): An orange daisy with magical healing properties

Galbana Lily: Final Fantasy XII (Vaan): A lily that grows in the Estersands of Dalmasca

Fenrir: Wolf that killed Odin, Son of Loki, Unslayable Wolf in Norse Mythology

Epona: Goddess of the horses in Norse Mythology

Yggdrasil: The World Ash Tree that holds up the nine realms in Norse Mythology