The recurring nightmare would always be the same. He would reach the altar, only to see Sephiroth swoop down and impale his love, and for no other reason that to hurt him and his friends. She had smiled at him to the very end. Even when he laid her to rest in the crystalline lake just outside the Ancient City, where she had died, where she had rejoined the Planet, she was smiling. No evil, no matter how pure, could ever destroy the beauty of her innocent, gentle smile.
But tonight, the dream was different. Once again, he had reached the altar. Once again, he had sensed a presence over their heads, descending upon them. But when he looked up, he did not see Sephiroth. Instead, he saw a dark form, clad in the blackest of black. The feeling of terror he had felt when he laid eyes on it was like nothing that he had ever felt before, even if it was just a dream.
Just a dream?
No, this was not just a dream. Why, after so many times, had the dream changed? Why would it not be Sephiroth that came down from above? And who, or what, had taken his place?
Cloud rubbed his aching head. He was sure that the thing in black was not someone or something he had seen before. Even with all the holes in his memory, he was absolutely positive.
Aeris, where are you?
He wished she could be there with him now. Just having her close would make him feel so much better. She would understand. She always understood. But there was no sense in hoping for the hopeless. She was gone.
But the memory of the dream was not. Nor was the terrified look on her normally tranquil face. Cloud shuddered at the image in his head. He pulled his covers over himself and curled up tightly.
There's no sense in worrying about this now. It can wait until morning. Maybe I could talk to Tifa? No…
He didn't want to get Tifa worried. She worried too much about his sorry ass as it was.
Cloud closed his shining eyes, and tried to relax. His last thoughts before he fell asleep were of Aeris, as they always were. He almost felt her deep, emerald eyes on him as he drifted off.
The City of the Ancients.
A lost treasure, hidden by time, under the Forgotten Capital.
It was not like anything else on the planet. Beautiful, crystalline, and filled with the essence of the Cetra, it was the resting place of the Ancient's wisdom, as well as the mysterious power of Holy.
The air here was pure and cool. Below, a shimmering lake of water and Lifestream reflected what little light there was, magnifying it, and creating a breath-taking glow that filled the city, all the way to the very top of the crystal staircase that was the only way in or out of this place. It was calm and tranquil, and warmed by the spirits residing here. And somewhere, at the very bottom of the lake, was the White Materia, glowing pale green with the power of Holy, and the essence of the very last Cetra, Aeris Gainsborough.
This sacred city had been hidden by the Planet, to protect it from harm, for centuries. The few who knew of its existence dared not reveal its location to the world.
But now, after so many centuries, the Ancient City was once again inhabited. Less than a year ago, a lone creature had discovered this place, and came here to rest.
Ever since then, the tranquillity of the city has been shattered.
Whatever this creature was, its essence alone brought a coldness to the city, and dimmed the pale glow of the Holy materia. The city did not shine as it used to. The Lifestream running through the lake became thin. The once pure air had become thick with a dense fog. The purity of the city had been corrupted.
To its inhabitant, the importance of this city was meaningless. It settled here for quite some time to rest, and slipped into a long slumber.
The city regained a small element of peace while it slept, but the damage being done by this dark creature became worse every day. If it was not removed from here soon, the city may never be able to heal.
But now, what little peace this city held onto was shattered.
A pair of eyes, long closed, had opened.
They glowed with darkness.
The calm, crystal waters of the city began to ripple for the first time in history.
The air became frigid.
The glow of the city all but went out.
And a powerful force had risen once again.
An evil presence permeated the air of the Forgotten Capital above.
And the voices of the Cetra were drowned out, as the City of the Ancients slipped into darkness.
Author's note:
Ooh, mystery! Ooooh! Hopefully I've done enough foreshadowing here to get your attention, no? Wondering what's going to happen? Read on! Not wondering what's going to happen? Read on anyway! Comments welcome!
