Hi ppl! Ok, 1st of all: I'm really, really, really sorry 4 the lil disappearance! About over 2 months ago ! lost the internet! But now I'm back! yay!

But wow, my 1st stroy finished oo

“Dad... you used to joke to me about watching out for stalkers... Even when hiding the truth from me, you gave me hints and clues about what could happen... what HAS happened... But is it over? Is the danger finally over? Can I finally get out and go home at long last? I never thought this moment would come!”

Aerith and the now human Cloud were standing at the top of the stairs of Gainsborough Castle’s main entrance. They started to walk down. Something was on her mind. She just had to ask. “How... did you manage to turn back?” Cloud sighed to the thoughts. “Sephiroth wanted to extract my Azoth to feed his power...but he couldn’t get it while I was still a wolf... so he used his powers to transform me back into a human. But you were there, so he separated us so he could also get your Azoth without me interfering.” Aerith smiled. “I bet he didn’t expect you to show up so soon. That file report said it took you about two hours to transform.”

“Mm...”

Aerith was about to ask another question but stopped herself. There were millions of questions threatening to burst out so she pursed her lips closed. She thought it was best to ask AFTER they got out. But, one question was alright to ask. “So... um... What now?”

Cloud was silent for a moment, thinking everything over. “I hid my motorcycle somewhere up ahead from the castle. After a three hour drive is a cave that has a sort of teleportation mechanism like the one we just walked through from the House of Truth. It will lead us to a path leading to the Icicle Inn.”

“Teleportation mechanism? Hmm, another reason why no one knows of this place. But... wow... The Icicle Inn? That’s where I’m from, although I don’t really remember the place.” Thinking about what Cloud just said, Aerith quietly chuckled. “Let me guess, we have to go through Cave 1 to get to Cave 2, find a hidden key to unlock Cave 3, but at the same time avoid the boogeyman!” she joked. He tried to prevent himself from smirking. “No, we don’t need to do all that. We just walk through until we find it. Anyway, when we get there, you can freshen up or something and I’ll call a contact named Zack Arkwright and then we’ll start off to Midgar when you’re ready...”

“Zack!?” Cloud nodded, expecting her reaction. “Being a college student was a cover to keep an eye on you.”

“So you’re saying that all this time he’s been some kind of spy!?”

“No,” he answered, shaking his head. “More like a barrier to prevent those like Hojo coming after you. We were too late when he attacked you and your parents that night... I’m sorry...” Aerith frowned a little, not feeling emotionally ready to hear more about that. “It’s alright...” “I still can’t believe all this was going on before this nightmare started and I didn’t suspect anything at all! But...things should be okay now. Cloud seems to have planned out everything.”

Aerith smiled to herself again, amazed with how different Cloud looked grown up. Even more so that her friend from childhood had been walking right beside her in the form of a wolf all this time. Of course, when she first found out Cloud was really a human; she had slightly hoped it was him... and when she doubted herself, it turned out she was right. This made her smile a little wider. She was so happy to be reunited with him. She had hoped so for a long time, but always imagined by bumping into him in the streets; nothing like this. By this time, they reached the entrance door and Cloud opened it. They both found an unexpected sight outside...

“Cloud, look! It’s snowing!”

Aerith ran outside, ignoring the freezing ground that prickled under her bare feet, lifting up a hand and tilting her head back to feel the small fragments fall softly over her skin. She sighed in content. The snow was gentle, gracefully falling down slowly over them from the white, cloud-filled, morning sky. “I thought it never snows in this part of the region!” Aerith said with amazement.

“...It doesn’t.”

Aerith felt her eyes water again, but this wasn’t out of fear, doubt, loneliness. This was pure joy! She felt heavy weight lift off over her shoulders. Thin, delicate tears fell down from the side of her face. She surprised Cloud again by giving him another tight hug. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” Cloud blinked and hugged her back again but moved back not long after, signaling the tall exit doors. They walked across the bridge and Aerith lifted up the key in her hand. At last, they were now standing in front of the large doors and Aerith knelt in front where the keyhole was.

It was that moment when everything was appearing in her mine... the moment she woke up in that dungeon... to this very moment now. All the horrendous things she had seen and experienced... it was making her breath falter a little and her hand was shaking. She couldn’t get the key in. She stopped when she felt Cloud’s hand touch her shoulder, “Hey...” She looked up over her shoulder. “...!” His expression... his eyes... It was exactly the same as the wolf’s... Something no other could imitate! Telling her everything was going to be fine... Aerith smiled again. “It really IS you!” She placed her spare hand over his. “Thanks, Cloud!” Then, she nodded to him, feeling calm again.

She turned back to the keyhole, slowly inserting the key in. She turned it around... and heard a click. Now unlocked, she pushed it open a little, letting out a breath filled with happiness. She turned to smile at Cloud but noticed that he was looking back at the castle. She did the same, thinking of how all that has happened, would now be a memory. She looked at Cloud...and saw anger; he was clutching his fist tight. His eyes looked broken. She could tell he had a terrible past inside those walls... long before all this started. Having enough, she turned around and opened the doors wider and then looked back to him. “Cloud?”

He eased himself and then turned to her. She showed him the key, silently asking what to do with it. He took it from her and then threw it, over the bridge, letting it fall to the small river down below. Cloud motioned his head to the path ahead of them. “Come on, let’s get you home...” Aerith smiled to that.

And so they started to walk, ready to start another journey together, a journey back to Midgar. It was going to be a long one, but she felt all right with it. The worst was over! Aerith kept her eyes on the road the walked on. Both Aerith and Cloud reached out to entwine their hands together, but didn’t take their eyes off the path. Aerith frowned a little...

“By the way, I’m sorry I yelled at you...and threw that stuff at you...”

“Don’t worry about that... Can I just ask you something?”

“Anything!”

“You aren’t going to call me “Cloudie” anymore, are you?”

Aerith laughed a little. “I’ll try my best not to...”

-Acta Est Fabula-

Well, I know I'm no pro at writing stories but I hope you liked this one! Thx for taking the time to read (and review)

Ok people...

anyone for Cloud's story?

MidnightRayn13: Woo! Hurray 4 Cloud! Dont worry, we all love him! (Dont't worry, the question above answers yours)

SeraphimLullaby: Thx! I'm glad you enjoyed that )

Mermaid Ninja: lmao, well, wolf-Cloud wasn't wearing those combat trousers was he? XD oop! imagination kicking in! lol

Beeria: XD come on girls! we all know what we're thinking of when it comes 2 the transformation!! Well, yours truly here is a MAJOR clorith fan, but it would b kinda too soon if they get together now...only the fututre shall tell us...