Intrinsic Devotion

I had known.

I had known from the moment that ancient, dry coffin lid was lifted off of me by a spiky-blond young man, a lively young woman behind him. From the way they had spoken to each other, the side-glances and barely noticeable gestures, I could discern their newly-founded attraction towards each other, even if they hadn’t noticed it themselves.

I had known.

They were doomed to a tragic demise from the moment their eyes first met.

At first, I was deeply disturbed by her resemblance to you; the way her bangs fell, the way her hair was tied back. Even some of her motions were parallel to yours. And when she smiled…It was downright startling. I couldn’t restrain my thoughts from probing into my memories of you, and you began again to haunt my mind. I cannot help but wonder why life must be so cruel to the young and the innocent. I wish I could have given them a warning…Ominous premonitions and the like have always been rather correct when impressed upon me. As I watched their relationship develop, I noticed it was similar to ours in the early days. Innocent. Curious. Playful. Cloud had always been rather stoic and upright in his mannerisms; prone to shyness and blushing profusely when Aerith made a remark or acted in any way that could appear flirtatious. I suppose that I decided it would be best to leave them be, and let them enjoy their time together…No matter how short it may turn out to be.

But don’t be sad, love…

Star-crossed lovers are always the ones who fall.

And fall they did.

The day when we followed Cloud into the Temple of the Ancients would shatter his world. I had felt a particularly strong wave of discord that day; and when Cloud lost his mind, nearly destroying the very woman he came to find – I had known.

This was the end.

As your child came falling down, down upon the kneeling form of the innocent woman, we could all merely gaze on as the metal slid through the Ancient’s pale skin. Her heartbeat seemed to grow ten times its normal volume, and every beat could be heard as it slowly stopped. Cloud was horror-struck, and seemed to be going into shock. He began to tremble as he held the poor girl…And I merely walked by, shaking my head as I went.

It had happened before.

I had known that it would happen...Because it had happened to us, my beloved.

Cloud and I…

We have much in common.

Both of our most beloveds left us to suffer in cold silence…

But a sun sears through the midnight’s macabre façade.

Such intrinsic devotion mustn’t be for naught.

So…You mustn’t cry, dear.

Because if history…Inevitably repeats itself…

So will fate.

Fate brought us together.

And fate cannot keep us apart.