Sinking… no, constantly falling… faster, never-ending into the depths of his subconscious mind. It was dark like the soul he had kept from everyone outside his own world. He was alone, in the darkness, keeping his own thoughts to himself. His feet caught solid ground but he was still in obscurity. Wherever his eyes wandered it was the same. The same dark room he had been in his dreams…nightmares. Then pictures began to appear in his eyes.

Memories…

Colorful lights that were given off by the fireworks from a place so vibrant and sparkling.

Images…

Bright emerald green eyes and chestnut-brown hair swaying on a pale, lively face that shattered within his confused mind.

Flashbacks…

A glint of silver, maniac laughter…and blood. Blood that splattered everywhere…blinding his own deep blue eyes.

Then he heard a cry. His eyes shot open and then he realize he was on an altar and in his arms was a girl. Her face was pale, as if life had been drained out of her. He felt for a pulse but he found none. He once again gazed at the girl’s face and he heard the cry grew louder for the second time. It was the sound of his heart cracking. It was the cry of his heart that could never be healed of grief, of blame and of hatred. His eyes grew dim and his whole body shook.

"T-This…this isn’t happening!"

He tried to shout the words but no one could hear it but himself. The girl just lay there, peacefully, a smile was on her lips. Her frozen lips that would never move or speak ever again. Her beautiful eyes that held the sparkle of life and of hope were sealed for eternity. When he was about to turn back to her killer he returned to the darkness once more.

Because…

"Who are you?"

Cloud… you are.

"S-Stop it!!"

You are… a puppet.

The words were taunting him, teasing him…pulling him even deeper into the darkness. Then two strong arms started to forcefully take over his body. He resisted and when he turned back his nightmare came to life. A dark man with piercing green eyes and a bloodthirsty gaze was mirrored in his eyes.

You’re a puppet… a being made for my Reunion.

"A puppet? Reunion? But… those memories."

The man laughed maniacally and he held out his arms to the bewildered soldier.

Reminiscences that are not even yours. Come now, puppet, embrace my darkness. Become one with your God.

He looked at his hand and he furrowed his eyebrows. Slowly, valiantly, he took out his sword and he pointed it to the smirking man.

“I am not your puppet. I have memories. Memories that will set me apart from you! They’re mine and no one, not even you, can take them away from me!”

The man just stared at him, smiling wickedly. His grip on his sword tightened and he glared at him with his fierce blue eyes. He pursed his lips and he jumped towards the man his sword cutting through the thick air. Light was produced whenever their blades collided with each other. His body grew tired but his spirit was strong. The man, sensing the soldier’s weakening, grinned deviously and with his black wing he flew up in attempt to use his final blow. The soldier breathed hard as he watched the one-winged angel take flight. He closed his eyes, aware of the deadly man’s intentions. With a deep breath he jumped towards the diving man with all his might. He twirled the humongous sword and he took it aback. He prayed to the heavens one last time to give him strength. When he knew he had stored enough energy in his sword, he shot his glowing azure eyes open and slashed through the man’s body. The power that burst out of his sword consumed the man leaving only a great radiance that slowly began to eat the darkness. He was blinded by the brilliant light and his thoughts were finally freed.

.-+-.

Her eyes were closed but she felt the coldness and dampness of water that surrounded her whole body. She tried to open her eyes but her actions came to vain. When she was about to give up the eyes of her soul opened to the current events that were happening. She saw through the darkness a figure of a man slowly lowering her to the depths of the water that surrounded them both. She cannot see his face but she saw through his heart guilt, sadness and anger for a reason she has no inkling of. She tried to move her lips but she cannot speak. When her body was a few feet away from the surface her arms were freed. She flew her eyes open and she raised a hand to the man but his back was turned. She watched as the surface of the lake drew further away. She watched as the human shapes gazed at her from the hazy other world. The light that twinkled on the lake's facade became weak and distant as she sank. She fell smoothly into the depths of the Cetra ruins, The Forgotten City. The last thing that she saw before she was consumed by darkness was a tear that formed a ripple on the lake’s glassy surface.

.-+-.

“Tell me… Aerith.”

The green-eyed girl glanced at the man beside her. They were walking through a bright hallway with large windows that gave a wide view of the setting sun at the horizon.

“How will you know if what you are looking for is in front of your eyes?”

Aerith furrowed her eyebrows in thought and she held a hand to her chest. The man, noticing that the girl has girl stopped, turned back. A draft slowly blew in from the windows creating a heavenly aura between them.

“I guess…” Aerith gazed at the quiet town of Hollow Bastion and sighed. The man stared at her serene face and thought quizzically how a woman like her can not be so sure at a time as serious as this. Aerith returned her eyes to the man and smiled. “My heart will tell me. I feel it deep in my soul. He’s coming back.”

The man smiled at her and turned towards the great oak door at the end of the hallway.

“Well, then, before that time comes there’s a matter of business to attend to… for now.”

Aerith walked to his side and breathed heavily, smiling.

“You’re right, Leon. Let’s go meet the others.”

Leon opened the wooden door and the two disappeared into the darkness.

.-+-.

Yo…

Nnn…

Wake up.

My head.

“Hey you! Wake up, Spikey!!”

He slowly fluttered his steely blue eyes. He clenched his teeth when a bolt of pain traveled across his body. His eyes wandered across a dimly lit room and they fell upon a brusque looking blonde man with a cigarette between his lips.

“Where am I? What happened?”

The blonde man stared at him blankly and shrugged.

“You’re in Hollow Bastion inside the King’s Castle. As for what happened, I found you lyin in the streets moaning somethin’ I don’t understand. Maybe the Heartless placed a number on you and you fell dead-unconscious. Thought you was a goner, too, if weren’t for yer stupid ramblin.”

He scratched his head and memories of his last encounter started to flood into his mind. He crossed his eyebrows in confusion and shot a serious look at the man between circles of cigarette smoke.

“Do you know where I can find a silver man with a single wing on his back?”

The man drew back, agape.

“A man with one wing on his back? I know there’s a hell lot of strange things goin on in Hollow Bastion but I never heard of some damn man with a wing stuck in his back. You should ask Aerith… or Leon.”

He stared intently at the man when he heard the woman’s name.

“Come again?”

“I said, I have never heard of…”

He shook his blonde head, anxiously.

“No! The name… the girl’s name.”

The man raised a blonde eyebrow at him suspiciously.

“Aerith? Why? Do you know her?”

Aerith… His blue eyes darkened as he watched his fists shake. Where have I heard that name before?

“What’s your name boy?”

He averted his gaze at the man with the cigarette.

“Cloud… Cloud Strife.”

The man stood up and grinned at him.

“The name’s Cid Highwind and don’t ya forget tha’ name alright?” Cid stretched his arms and ran a gloved hand across his blonde hair. “Well I’ll be going now. Gotta lot of stuff to do. See ya round kid!”

Cid turned his back on the confused man and turned the knob.

“Wait!” Cid shifted his gaze to Cloud. “Take me to her… to this Aerith. Maybe she’ll tell me where I can find him.”

Cid crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised an eyebrow at the odd looking blonde.

“Ya know? You give me the creeps, kid.” Then he shrugged and opened the door that led outside the room. “If you wanna meet Aerith then follow me. I think she’s in the library with Leon and Yuffie.”

Cid Highwind slowly opened the door and disappeared into the darkness. The blue-eyed man stared at the darkness, anxious. He stepped forward a feeling of apprehension stirred up within him.

Aerith…

.-+-.

“Aerith!!”

Emerald green eyes shot up to a pair of brown ones.

“Yes, Yuffie?”

The young ninja smiled at her. “Yeah.. I was thinking that if all of this ends, well, you know… A girl of my special abilities…”

Aerith stared at Leon across the room and giggled when she saw him rolling his eyes. She knew too well of his peeve for unnatural noise; and knowing Yuffie of her mouth that can only be stopped when in battle. They were a peculiar group but she loved them. Each one of them. And she loved her town…which is why she wanted to protect it. But sometimes there would be nights when she will have unwanted dreams and nightmares that would keep her up the whole night thinking. Dreams she never understood. Faces she never recognized and feelings that stirred up within her soul. She knew all her answers will be answered in time but anxiety got the best of her.

“Are you even listening to me?”

Aerith giggled again at the sight of the pouting Yuffie.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“Good!” The young ninja smiled at her and turned her back on Aerith. “Which is why I want that…”

Aerith sighed and gazed at the sunset longingly.

Hmmm… When shall I have what I want? She furrowed her eyebrows in remorse. What do I want?

“Hey Aerith…”

The brown haired woman glanced at the sulking man leaning on a bookcase. The man shot a serious look at her that made her feel shivers down her spine.

“Got word from Cid today…he found an unconscious man lying in the streets that surrounds the city.”

Aerith gasped at the mention of an unconscious man. Leon chuckled at her reaction. He can’t help but notice her concern for everyone in Hollow Bastion. That’s what he admired from the green-eyed girl.

“What happened to the man now?”

“He’s resting in a room in the castle… Maybe, later, we’d go and check up on him.”

Aerith smiled warmly at Leon. It was one of her smile’s that Leon found endearing.

“I’d like that very much.”

When Leon was about to answer back the door’s knob slowly turned. All eyes went to the door.

“Maybe I spoke too soon…”

.-+-.

“Yo, kid…”

Steely blue eyes went to stare at another pair of light azure eyes. A sweat trickled from the pilot’s face as the fighter shot him with a bloodthirsty look. Cid swallowed hard and he averted his gaze to something else.

“Where the hell are you from anyways?”

Cloud raised a blonde eyebrow in question. He looked forward and saw a bright glow coming from the windows ahead. He stopped when light draped his semi-muscular body. Cloud gazed at the sunset and for once he felt pain throbbing in his chest.

“I…don’t know.” He glanced at Cid who gave him a psyched look. “What do you care anyway?”

Cloud took heavy steps forward leaving the bewildered pilot scratching his blonde head.

I don’t have a home.

Even though how much I want to…

No one to call family.

Even for a little while…

I’m all alone.

I can say…

“I belong.”

The words left his mouth, unknowingly. Cloud looked back and saw Cid with a raised eyebrow.

“Were here.”

The silent fighter stealthily went to Cid’s side. He stared hard at the wooden door something aroused within him. Mixed emotions he never fathomed existed. He grew deaf when Cid slowly turned the door knob. His breathing grew short and his world had stopped.

.-+-.

A/N: Slight edit.. Watch out for the final chappie! x3