Resurrection
Chapter 1
Written by Jarrett and David

Cloud reached for the drink on the table in front of him. He took a swig
and resumed his previous position, his head buried within his arms on the
table. The drinks were finally getting to him, and it showed. But, this
drinking binge was just what he needed. He needed to get over the horrible
fact that was eating at him since that day, slowly but surely making him
crazed. He knew she was dead, and there was nothing that he could do about
it, until now.
A man in a brown cloak with the hood covering the majority of his face
walked into the bar and sat at a shady table in the corner. Even though
Cloud couldn't see him, he felt him for some strange, mysterious reason.
Cloud looked up, compelled by this feeling that he was getting, and looked
for the source of it. He looked around the room, looking for anything out of
place. His gaze finally made its way over to the figure in the corner.
Just then, Cloud heard a faint, distant voice in his head: "Come on over, I
won't bite." Shaking off the strange occurrence, Cloud got up from his seat
and slowly walked toward the man. As he got closer, the voice resumed:
"That's it, just a little closer." Finally, Cloud made it to the table where
the mysterious figure sat. Suddenly, the chair began to move out from its
position under the table. Startled, Cloud started inching backwards. "There
is no need to be alarmed. Go ahead, sit down."
Still a little frightened, Cloud reluctantly sat down in the chair. Eager
to find out what was going on, Cloud piped up. "Who are you?"
"Ahhhh. a little impatient are we? You will find out who I am in good time,
my friend," the man said, still talking to Cloud with his mind. "But first,
I will tell you why I am here. Something seems to be troubling you.
something related to the death of a loved one. Am I correct?"
"Y.yes. That is correct." Cloud said surprised at the fact that this
stranger knew about Aeris. "How did you know about that?"
"How I know of it is of little importance. I am here to remedy this
problem. Your deceased friend, this. Aeris, died before her time. Sephiroth
was a powerful being. He was able to kill Aeris before she was supposed to
die. That is the only reason why I am giving you the opportunity to
resurrect Aeris."
Cloud's eyes lit up at the thought. "You mean. Aeris will be alive again?
I'll be able to be with her? Please, tell me how I can do it!"
"Before I explain anything, I must warn you," the man started. "The journey
you will have to undertake will be a perilous one. You will need to use
everything in your power to succeed. Would you be willing to take on this
journey?"
"If it gets me back Aeris, then yeah!" Cloud said, thrilled at the idea.
"Okay. Now I will explain. There is something within the City of the
Ancients that would probably seem familiar. It is the key to this
resurrection. You must find it before I can help you any more."
Confused, Cloud spoke up. "What exactly am I supposed to be looking for?"
Cloud stared at the man, eager for an answer.
"I know it will be hard for you, but look back on that day. If you do, you
will see what it is. I will try and refresh your memory for you." Suddenly,
Cloud was transported to the scene of Aeris' death. Cloud looked around,
painful memories flooding into his head. He was in a large, bright room. In
the middle of this room was a platform, lit by the brightness above. There
was a girl on her knees praying in the middle of the platform. Aeris! A
single tear ran down Cloud's face as he saw her.
Just then, a cloudy figure dropped down from above. Cloud was transported
yet again, this time to the platform. Cloud finally recognized the figure.
Sephiroth! He realized that he was witnessing Aeris' death again. Cloud was
right, as Sephiroth's mighty sword came down, slicing right through Aeris.
Cloud flinched at the sight as another tear ran down his cheek.
Then he saw it. Aeris' materia that she kept in her hair! Her hair band
came loose, releasing the radiantly white materia. It fell to the ground,
bouncing all the way down a stone path into a pool of water.
Cloud stared at its every movement until it broke the surface of the water.
He looked over at Aeris, now limp and pale. A slight smile grew across his
face, remembering how beautiful she was. The smile faded as his emotions
toward her changed. He remembered that she was dead. Tears began running
down his face as he reappeared in the bar, at the table where the man sat.
"Now do you see? You know what you must do now. I will contact you when you
acquire the object." the man explained as he rose out of his seat. With a
final look, he walked to the door of the bar and walked out. Cloud realized
his duties. He decided to call upon the help of his friends once again. They
all spread out after the death of Sephiroth, so it would be quite a task. He
got up and walked out of the bar, eager to embark on the epic journey ahead
of him. He smiled as he mounted the Shinra motorcycle that he acquired
before. He started it up and drove off out of town, on his way to find his
friends.