Broken

Aerith's POV
"I'll be back once it's all over," I reassured him before I turned and left.

It was one of the few times in my life I've lied to people I... care about. I wasn't coming back. The Planet had told me, I would give my short life to save it and that would be that. I just hope Clou... they don't take it to hard. But it needs to be done, it's my fate as the last of the Cetra, after all. Just as it's Cloud's destiny to kill Sephiroth. I hope... No, what am I thinking? Of course he will! Everything will come out fine, even if I'm not here to enjoy it. And for what? To save a world for a bunch of people who couldn't care less, I thought bitterly. No, it's to save the Planet, my friends, and Cloud. Besides, everyone deserves another chance! So you're really going to sacrifice yourself for people like those in Shinra? No, I'm sacrificing myself to save people like AVALANCHE, the Planet and Cloud! Fine! But I'll be there to laugh when you're dead and Cloud marries Tifa! At least two people will be happy! But I could feel tears stinging my eyes. I... loved Cloud, but like the idiot I am, I'd never told him...

Thankfully, that's when I entered the City of the Ancients, or the Forgotten Capital. I felt peaceful and calm, like I did every time I entered my church, only here it was stronger, more powerful. But I could also here the Planet crying out for me to stop it's agony and to stop the Calamity from the Skies. My feet somehow knew where to go, and when they finally stopped, I was on a beautiful crystal alter. I sank to my knees, my hands clasping. My thoughts drifted from the life I was leaving behind, to the Planet and Holy as my prayer began. Holy, it would save them all, and it was my job to make it happen.


Cloud's POV

I winced as my footsteps echoed menacingly in the broken city. It didn't matter, I scolded myself, I had to find her before he did! If he found her before I did, something bad would happen, I just knew it. Why did she even hire a bodyguard if she intended to run off on her own? She needs me to protect her! Yet you hurt her... My mind stopped all thought at that, until: It wasn't my fault! Then who's was it? It was your hands beating her! He made me! Did he threaten you? Did he physically force you to? No? That's because you wanted to hurt her! No! She's dear to me! The words rang a bell... Then I remembered, Cait Sith's prophesy! "You will find what you seek, but you will lose something dearer." Cait Sith's prophesies were bogus! Do you really want to take the chance? I began running, my eyes frantically searching for my beacon of pink light that I... loved. Ha! You finally admit it! But, it's too late! No! It's never too late! I'll find her and I'll tell her!


Tifa's POV

"Cloud, we should get some rest, Aerith's obviously left. We can find her in the morning..." I suggested because Cloud looked dead on his feet, his eyes clouded in worry.

He really cares about her, I thought sadly. That's because she's made it obvious, but you've just sat and watched. Too scared to tell him your feelings! Cloud just stared at me for a minute before nodding. "Hey Cloud! Beds!" it was Barret.

We hurried over, and those two simply crashed, but not me. What was I so afraid of? Ruining my friendship with Aerith? Or worse, Cloud? Was I worried they'd laugh at me? I'm such a coward! And so immature! I'm twenty years old and I still fear being laughed at by a girl who sells flowers and wears pink? That not fair, Aerith is really nice! She deserves to be happy, what with the whole Cetra thing hanging over her... And you don't deserve to be happy with Cloud? Yes I do but- So she deserves it more? No! Maybe... How should I know? I mean how can I compete with her? She's so carefree, innocent, open-minded and out-going! She's also older and a Cetra! She's more of a heroine than I'll ever be! Tears stung my eyes, sliding onto the weird fabric of my pillow. And aren't I go crazy anyway? I don't remember seeing Cloud five years ago... Doesn't Cloud deserve the best? And right now, that looks like Aerith. Blubbering like a baby, you're pathetic! Tell Cloud how you feel tomorrow!

Cloud's POV

As I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong... I could feel it. I also felt that Aerith was here in this forsaken city, and so was Sephiroth. We had to find her! I quickly woke up the other two and began running. I had to find her. As I ran down the middle path, I saw a crystal staircase that hadn't been there before. She's down there! My mind was practically screaming at my feet to run faster. But I knew all the speed in the world wouldn't make me happy. I ran down the stairs into a weird, but strangely beautiful place, only made more beautiful by Aerith praying on a crystal alter, peaceful and not dead. Thank you! When was the last time I thanked anything, I wondered dryly. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I just need to get her out of here and tell her my... feelings for her. I started to run towards Aerith, but saw Barret and Tifa following. I shook my head they didn't need to know that I love Aerith. Besides, it would hurt Tifa.

As I walked over to the alter, my unease grew. What was going on? As I walked right in front of her I felt my hands grab the cold, reassuring metal of my sword, and horrifyingly, they pulled the sword out! What the? The tip was inches from Aerith's head, who just sat there praying, oblivious to the death that had come in the form of her love. No I won't kill her! You can't make me! But, apparently he could, because my hands pulled the large sword into a striking position. I couldn't stop it, but I had to! I couldn't kill her, I wouldn't kill her! But the sword began the descent that would end her short life... "Cloud!" "Stop!"

That was all I needed, I forced my arms to stop and got myself out of striking distance from Aerith. Just then, she looked up, I knew she must have known what I'd almost done, and yet

Aerith's POV

I smiled at him, noting the pained confused look on his face. I knew what must have happened, Sephiroth must have tried to make him kill me. Poor Cloud, he's gone through so much... My eyes widened in shock as I felt a tremendous pain in my abdomen. I let my hands drop as my ribbon fell from my hair, releasing my materia. It was glowing. My job was complete, but it was bittersweet because I could feel the life leaving my body as I fell forward. But, Cloud caught me before I hit the ground. The look on his face made me want to cry, it was so heartbroken, so guilty, so... angry. "Cloud, don't worry! Everything's fine!" I tried to say, but my lips no longer obeyed me as my eyes clouded in the death I knew had awaited me when I came here.

Suddenly, I was surrounded by a green and pink sparkle... I was in the Lifestream, I knew, but thankfully I could still watch over the world. Right now, I saw Cloud yelling at Sephiroth that it didn't matter because I was... dead. I watched as Cloud, Tifa, and Barret killed Jenova-LIFE. I saw Cloud's eyes widen as he was told he was nothing but a puppet. "No Cloud!" I yelled, wishing my words could penetrate the barrier that separated us. It didn't of course... It couldn't be true, it just couldn't be!

Wait, what was Cloud doing with my body? Was he going to bury me? "Take me back to Midgar, so I can be with my flowers..." I whispered. I knew it was selfish, but didn't I deserve it? Couldn't I just have this one wish granted?

Cloud's POV

I decided that (since we didn't have time to bury her) that we should let her sink to the bottom of the Lake of the Ancients... I can't believe I failed her, I thought as I entered the icy water. It's all my fault, I got her mixed up in all this and now she's dead! Some bodyguard I am! I stared down at her lifeless body that I held in my hands, hands that were stained in her blood because I should've saved her. That's when I let her body go, but not her. Her motionless body sank and sank until even I couldn't see her. Sephiroth would pay for taking her from me. He would so pay. With his life.

Tifa's POV

I can't believe she's dead. She is- was only two years older than I am, for peat's sake! How can she be dead? She is- was such a wonderful person, so full of love, light and good humor. And poor Cloud! He looked like his heart died. What am I going to do? Talk to him, you idiot! "Cloud, are you all right?" I asked trying to keep tears from spilling down my face.

Aerith was like my big sister- no. My best friend. She was someone I could count on to make a dark situation seem like a big joke, someone who understood how I- everyone was feeling and could make everything better...

"Do I look all right?" asked Cloud staring at the lake, blinking rapidly.

"I'm just trying to help, Cloud..." I mumbled feeling my cheeks flush.

"I don't deserve to be helped. I'm a puppet, remember? I almost killed her, and then I failed her! It's my fault, Tifa! I should've saved her! Not stood there like the weak idiot I am!" he said clenching his fist.

"Cloud, there was nothing you could have done! It wasn't your fault!" I said looking at him in horror.

Why was he saying this? It wasn't his fault, it was Sephiroth's! "Tifa, it was my job to protect her, I was her bodyguard!" he was practically yelling now, his eyes raw with anger and guilt mixed with sorrow.

"Cloud, calm down. Aerith was a good person but will beating yourself up for those horrible but uncontrollable events help?"

Cloud's POV

Tifa was right,it wouldn't help, but it was true. It was my job and I failed it, like I failed at everything else. But this time the cost was love. She's gone. I'll never speak to her again, never see her again, never laugh with her again, never comfort her again, and never ride with her on the Highwind. I flung my fist into the wall of the shell house in anger. If it was the last thing I do, I'll hunt down Sephiroth and kill him. But you're just a puppet and he pulls the strings! No, I'm no puppet! I'm Cloud Strife, the Ex-SOLIDER who now has more than the loss of his hometown as a reason to fight the monster, now, it was also because he killed my love. Strife, the name fits me doesn't it? Someone's sure getting a laugh at this...

Tifa's POV

No Cloud, I thought, my eyes widening. He was going after Sephiroth on a mission that seems suicidal. "Cloud..." I started but he cut me off with a look. "Can I talk to you, please?"

"Fine, but I won't change my mind," he said finally.

"Cloud, please think this through clearly! We all want to kill him, but this is suicidal! Wait- no that's not what I wanted to say! I'm sorry..." I finally blurted.

"For what?" he asked staring at me.

"For being jealous, for hiding- never mind. I'm just rambling now. But Cloud, whatever you decide to do, I'll be right there with you!" I said smiling half-heartedly.

No! Tell him you love him! No, this isn't the right time, he's- we're still really upset!

Aerith's POV

I'm getting more and more guilty as I watch Cloud and Tifa. I'd do the same thing if I had to, but man alive those two know how to load the guilt on a dead girl! I mean c'mon! It's not the end of the world! That's what I prevented! I felt tears sting my eyes.

"Aerith?"

"Zack?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm watching the world..."

"Mainly Cloud, huh?" he asked teasingly.

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, "So what if I am?"

Zack laughed devilishly, "You moved on fairly quickly..."

"What was I supposed to do, wait forever?" I asked, my eyes flashing.

"No. It's a good thing you moved on quickly..."

"Hey Zack, why haven't you joined with the Planet yet?"

"I'm not sure... I think it's because my destiny isn't fulfilled or something equally stupid... But anyway, why the tears?" he asked cocking his head.

"Oh... It's nothing... Just my stupid guilt. Hey Zack... What happened?"

"What do you mean?" he asked puzzled.

"Five years ago..."

After he told me, I just stared at him... This couldn't be true... "Then Jenova was right... Cloud..."

Boy had I made a mess of things... I can't believe I hadn't seen the coincidences before... And because of that, the heartbreak I had caused and the truth could cause his fragile mental state to collapse... Then he'd be broken.

Finished.

Well... I hope you like it... It's better than other fics I've done. Critisism it welcome... This is just how I imagined everyone thinking at the time of Aerith's death.

Oh, yay, I get to be the first to reply :D . What an adorable fanfic :fangirl: . I LOVED the way you had Cloud react to her death.

That was so sad and bittersweet :( . Kudos for not portraying Tifa as a selfish bitch, by the way. It's all too easy when writing a Clerith fanfic, and I personally liked her.

As for criticisms... tough one, but I always try to give people constructive feedback. Really, the only thing that comes to mind is to allow your voice to come through more during narration. Your use of language when desciribing their thoughts is very relatable and well done, I might add. Narration is an important part in telling a story. Allow yourself to express their emotions while narrating as well as thinking ^_^ . Overall, very good job. Keep writing!

Thank you so much! :blush:

Yeah, that actually was one of the reasons I included Tifa, she's really a good character and I hate when people call her really mean and uncalled for things...

Thanks for the feedback, I'll have to remember that. :D

awesome job dude. mesa hearts your writing!

Thanks alot for the fuzzy review :blush: . I need to start writing again....