Final Fantasy VII: The Past of the Cetra

November 28, 2006, 6:41 AM

This is a fic I have been working on for about a month now. It is something completely original, off the top of my head though it bores all of our well known characters from Final Fantasy VII. My story ties into my friend CrimsonEyes1984's story just as it ended, mine is beginning. Mari is her main character in her story. She does not belong to me. She is just letting me use her. There are new characters involved which you may not like, but I would appreciate it if you would please not flame me for wanting to write this. It something that came from my head and something that I much enjoy writing so if you have anything bad to say, don't say it and if you don't like it, don't read it

plain and simple. Each chapter runs anywhere from 7-12 pages long, so I apologize for the lengthy chapters. I hope whoever reads this enjoys it. Also, THIS STORY IS NOT FOR CLOTI FANS, so if you're a huge Cloti fan, you probably won't like this story at all. This story has strong language and some adult content. I have made out a character sheet which you all can look at here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...aCharSheet.jpg
And now I will leave you with the prologue and the first chapter

~*FINAL FANTASY VII *~The Past of the Cetra

~Prologue~
3 years ago, the planet was on the verge of destruction. Cloud Strife and his friends were able to defeat Sephiroth, but Meteor was already attacking. Holy had stirred but wasn't strong enough to fight Meteor on it's own. Everybody was certain that the planet was to soon meet it's end when the Lifestream burst out of the earth and helped destroy Meteor. Many lives were lost in vain, many friends were gone. There was a deep, heavy sadness that had settled over their hearts, particularly Cloud's for losing the one whom he loved. 2 years after Meteorfall, the planet found itself on the verge of destruction yet again. The children were being infected with a disease known as the Geostigma, as well as our well known hero. Everybody thought at this point it was the end for Gaia when the planet turned to darkness from the reunion with Sephiroth. Cloud fought and destroyed Sephiroth for good, Sephiroth leaving behind the words "I will never be a memory" in his wake. The planet had been healed by the Geostigma and everybody carried on with their lives. A year later, Omega had awoken, and none other than Vincent Valentine was the one who saved the planet from yet another destruction, awakening Chaos from deep within him. End the end, Omega and Chaos returned to the planet, leaving Gaia safe once more, but something still stirred deep within, though nobody knew. Along the way, Vincent met a beautiful young red mage named Mari Silverwing and quickly fell in love with her. Shortly after Vincent saved the planet, the two wed.

Meanwhile, a young girl, lost when she was a child is taken in by a kind loving couple named Dierdre and Beau Sullivan who live in Kalm. They find her when she's just a baby in a pile of rubble, barely alive, and raise her as their own, naming her Andria. They began to notice a few strange things about young Andria as she grows, but brush it off as just their imagination. Andria begins having dreams of a girl looking much like her and green, swirling light. Desperate to find out about her past and who this girl is, Andria sets out on a dangerous journey throughout Gaia. Cloud, who has started to turn from his friends yet again, becoming antisocial again, still feeling the grief and loss from the woman he loved, Aerith Gainsborough, is on his way to an important meeting when he comes across the young girl. Desperate to keep her alive, he takes her back to Seventh Heaven to nurse her back to health. Everybody is stunned by the girl's shocking indentical look to their dear friend they lost only a few years ago. Rumors have been going around that there is possibly another Sephiroth clone, but nobody knows if it's true or not. Cloud and co. are warned to keep their eye out for anybody who might look suspicious.

Cloud journies with Andria to help her find out more of her past and in hopes to find this "supposed" Sephiroth clone. As Cloud and co. journey together, Mari and Andria's friendship grows as does Cloud and Andria's relationship. Tifa begins to notice the closeness the two share which causes somewhat of a rift in the group. Once Cloud mentions her ucanny resemblance of Aerith, it just leads into more problems. Cloud and co. speak with members of the Turks and Rufus Shinra, finding out that more of Jenova's remaining parts have been found and Sephiroth could be closer to reawakening. Cloud struggles with his feelings towards Aerith and with visions of Sephiroth more powerful than ever. Andria strives to find her way into Cloud's closed heart and settle her past and thus begins the journey of Andria discovering friendship, love, what she is and what she is destined to do.

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 1- Homecoming

The sun was just setting behind the horizon, casting a soft orange and pink glow over the low hills. People were ushering their children into their homes as night came closer to falling. The air was still and warm, with a slight breeze as a young woman about the age of 25 walked down the low green, sloping hills. She had long brown hair with tints of red, tied up in a ponytail that hung down to the middle of her back and long bangs that hung around the sides of her face. She wore a white, haltered top outlined in a sea green color. Her seagreen skirt hung down to her knees and brown boots that reached just above her ankles and buckled around the top. She had lightly tanned skin and brilliant emerald-colored eyes.

Andria Sullivan pushed back her long bangs that always fell into her face as she made her way towards her home in the small town of Kalm. The only sounds that filled the air was a soft rustling throughout the trees and small sounds of chocobos chirping in the distance. The chocobo farm wasn't too far away and Andria had grown used to hearing them. Andria wandered down the road towards her house, still curious as to what was going on with her. Lately she had been discovering odd things happening and even sometimes heard strange things within her. She had been brushing it off as nothing but she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling inside that something was indeed different about her.

The young woman had been taken in by Dierdre and Beau Sullivan when she was just a baby. She had learned that she was found under a pile of rubble in Icicle Village when she was only a newborn. Andria was rather shocked at first to hear the news, never knowing if she'd know her real parents or not. Yet Dierdre and Beau were still her parents in her eyes. She always had called them Mom and Dad, and even after finding out the truth when she was young that she was not their biological daughter, Andria still loved them both with all of her heart.

The sun disappeared behind the horizon as Andria got closer to her house. The gentle humming of crickets was now filling the air and Andria reached the front door of her home. She opened the door as the smell of dinner came wafting through the house. Sitting at the table was an older gentleman arching back in a chair and reading the newspaper. His brown hair was speckled with gray and he wore a white, button down shirt that was tucked rather untidily into a pair of black pants. He had warm, honey colored eyes and tanned skin which was slightly unshaved. He smiled as Andria approached him. She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hey there Andi babe, how was your walk?" Beau asked with a smile as she kissed him. He put a hand up on her head and rubbed it slightly. Beau and Dierdre had taken to calling Andria, Andi since she was a little child and was normally always called Andi by them. Everybody always called her Andi and every once in awhile Andria.

"Dad! You know how I feel about you messing with my hair," Andria replied playfully, fixing her hair as she stood up. "My walk was fine. It was rather peaceful this evening. Not much was going on."

"Well I'm just glad you're home in time for dinner," came a warm voice from the stove. Dierdre Sullivan had honey blonde hair that laidd on her shoulders and deep, blue-gray eyes. She wore a light pink dress and with a white apron tied around her waist as she stood at the stove cooking dinner.

Andria walked up beside her mother and kissed her too. "It smells good. What are we having tonight?"

"We're having roast beef and vegetables tonight. It was your father's request," replied Dierdre, pointing her spoon at Beau.

Beau just shrugged as he put his feet on the table, leaning back further in his chair. "Hey, what can I say? I like my meat and potatoes."

"And what did I tell you about putting your feet on the table mister?" Dierdre scolded gently, shaking her spoon at him.

Beau blushed as he removed his feet from the table and sat upright in his chair. "Sorry dear," he stated sheepishly.

Andria just laughed as she sat down at the table beside her father, discussing the days events with her parents and shortly there after, eating dinner and still chatting about the goings on of the day.

~~~~~

The roar of a motorcycle sounded just outside of Seventh Heaven in the town of Edge. Marlene and Denzel sat on the ground just outside of the bar playing jacks as the thundering noise made them jump.

"He's almost home!" exclaimed Denzel, jumping excitedly to his feet, holding onto Marlene's hand as he stood. "I can't wait to see him!"

"Me neither!" exclaimed the little girl, her brown ponytail swaying behind her as she jumped up and down with excitement, her giant brown orbs shining. "One of us should go get Tifa!"

"No way!" Denzel stated. "I've been waiting for him to come home for a whole entire week! You go get her! I'm not missing this!" Denzel turned around clenching his fists excitedly, looking eagerly down the road.

"Oh well fine then!" Marlene stated, sticking her tongue out at Denzel. She ran up the steps that lead into Seventh Heaven and flung open the door anxiously.

There was a young, well endowed woman, with dark, straight hair that reached the middle of her back, standing behind the bar, dusting it off with a cloth. Her long brown hair was tucked behind her ears as she worked. She reached over to turn on the sink and wash the dishes when she heard Marlene come in, calling her name anxiously and breathlessly. Tifa smiled as Marlene came running up to her. She grabbed a hold of Tifa's black apron and tugged on it excitedly.

"Denzel and I can hear him coming! He's almost home Tifa!" Marlene exclaimed excitedly. "Come on let's go!"

"Slow down," Tifa laughed. "Let me put my cloth down." The brunette laid her cloth on the bar and shut off the sink. She followed the anxious little girl who was now tugging firmly at her hand, pulling Tifa with all the strength that she could muster.

"C'MON Tifa! We're gonna miss him!" the little girl squealed, the excitement and anxiousness was imminent in her voice.

Tifa couldn't help but laugh at how adorable Marlene sounded. It had been been a little over a week and not only was she herself excited to see him but so were Denzel and Marlene. She knew Vincent and Mari Valentine would be happy to see him as well. It had been a week since he'd left. A little over a week actually. Tifa stepped outside as an overly elated Marlene tore out the door and stood beside Denzel. Mari and Vincent were sitting just outside of their home next to the bar as the big, black motorcycle came into view. The couple walked arm in arm up to where Tifa and the kids stood anxiously waiting the arrival and greeted them. Dust was billowing on the road as the motorcyle came thundering up to the front of the bar, slowing down and stopping. The slight smell of exhaust drifted across their noses, but they paid no mind. All that mattered is that he was home.

The engine quieted down to a low growl and then was shut off. The young man sitting atop of the bike had blonde, spiked hair and wore a pair of black shades over his eyes. He had black gloves on both hands, a deep, navy blue sleeveless, zip up sweater and a pair of black pants. He wore buckled black boots that clinked gently as he swung his leg over the bike. He wore a small, silver wolf earring in his left ear and over his left shoulder a leather cover with the same silver wolf emblem on the front and a long sleeve down his arm. He had straps across his chest that lead to straps on his back which sheathed a rather large sword. Cloud Strife jumped down from his bike and made his way over to the excited group. Marlene could hardly contain her excitement as she came running towards Cloud, who had just removed his sunglasses and was now kneeling down. Denzel tore after Marlene.

"CLOUD! YOU'RE HOME!" she squealed to the top of her lungs as she lept up into his arms, hugging him tight. Denzel came running over to him and Cloud opened his other arm. Denzel lept into it hard, nearly knocking Cloud backwards. He hugged both of the kids tight, letting them know without words just how much he missed them.

"Woah guys, did you miss me?" Cloud asked with a grin, looking at the kids, his bright, blue irises shining.

"Cloud you were gone for a whole week!" exclaimed Marlene. "You were gone way too long!"

"Yeah, don't leave us for that long again, ok?" Denzel added still hugging Cloud.

"Hey, I can't promise that," Cloud told them. "You know that I sometimes have to deliver things far away," he explained. "But the schedule isn't showing anything that far for quite sometime," he added as he watched their excited, shining faces fall. "So don't worry. No long trips for awhile."

"You promise?" Marlene asked, staring up at the older man with a pouty lip.

The blond just chuckled gently and tugged Marlene's ponytail. "Promise."

"Yay!" exclaimed Marlene and Denzel in unison and they both clung to Cloud with all of the strength they could muster in their little bodies.

Tifa laughed as she walked over to Marlene and Denzel, placing a hand on each of their backs. "Alright you two, let Cloud go so he can breathe."

She ushered the kids off as Mari and Vincent joined them. Mari was a thin, young, red mage with bouncy brown hair, bright green eyes and a warm, pretty face. She and Vincent had just recently wed and the two were literally glowing with happiness. He was a young man with long, silkened hair that was black as coal and eyes as crimson as the red flame in a fire that flickered with life. His left arm was cast in golden gauntlet, barely showing bits of his mutilated, black flesh from past events that Vincent had long put behind him. His fingers were long, golden and clawed which he placed on Mari's shoulder as Cloud stood up in front of the others.

"Welcome home Cloud," Vincent stated, his deep, baritone voice rolling from behind the collar of his coat. "We were wondering when you'd be back."

"I'm sorry, I just needed to get away for awhile," Cloud replied, no longer smiling. His face had turned solemn as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at the grinning face of Tifa, his childhood and dearest friend.

"You didn't want the kids to know, Cloud?" Mari asked as she approached the swordsman. She reached up and gave him a welcome home hug to which Cloud returned. Mari had always looked up to Tifa and Cloud as a brother and sister figure.

"Nah, it's not really for them to know is it?" Cloud replied as the magei let go and he turned and hugged Tifa.

"Cloud, we've all been worried about you," she mumbled into his shoulder. "I just hope you're going to be okay," she added as she hugged him. "We've really missed you too."

"I'm fine," Cloud reassured her and let go. "Like I said, sometimes I just needed to get away for awhile. I had some…things I needed to do."

"Well you know you could at least answer you phone when we called," Tifa stated, punching him playfully on the arm.

"Haha yeah. I didn’t always get the best reception where I'm at. You must have tried to call when I was in a bad area," Cloud remarked as he began walking up towards the bar where the kids sat waiting anxiously on the steps. He wasn’t about to tell them that he’d kept his phone shut off the whole time.

Tifa stood and watched as the spiked blond walked up the steps. Both Denzel and Marlene each took one of his hands and they disappeared behind the door. The only thing that could be heard was their voices chattering loudly to Cloud. Tifa hung her head slightly as they went inside. Mari approached Tifa.

"Excuses, Cloud. It‘s always one excuse right after another, isn‘t it?" the martial artist muttered under her breath. Tifa knew Cloud well enough to know that something definitely wasn't right with him and this time there was no shrugging it off as just her imagination.

Mari turned towards the gunman. "Cloud just…doesn't seem like himself," she pointed out. "He seems...I dunno...like something is wrong with him, do you agree?"

Tifa nodded her head in agreement. "There is something going on with him. I just wish I knew what it was. Cloud isn't himself. Not at all and I don't know what to do about it. He hasn't been himself for a few weeks now. It's like he's in his stupor again, going straight to his room as soon as he gets home from doing deliveries. He never listens to me and he won't talk to me about what‘s bothering him. Though, I have a pretty good idea of what it is. Imagine, it always will, huh?" she sighed, tucking some of her dark hair behind her ear.

"Cloud has been through quite a lot these past few years. We all thought when Sephiroth had returned a second time that Cloud was doing better, but the last few months I've noticed a gradual change in him and not for the better. I don't know what is going on, though I‘m sure we all have an idea what it could be. However, we need to respect him and his feelings. When Cloud is ready, he'll tell us," Vincent stated as he wrapped an arm around Mari's shoulders.

"Right and we'll be there to help him and be there for him, no matter what he needs," Tifa stated firmly, nodding her head. “We’re his family, that’s the right thing to do.”

"You really think he'll be okay Vincent?" the mage asked him, slight apprehension and worry could be heard in her voice.

"Cloud is just Cloud. He'll be alright eventually. I believe that Cloud is still hurting and he just doesn't want anybody to know about it. He never wants to burden us with his problems, you know how he is," Vincent replied. "I think a piece of Cloud will always hurt. However, we should at least give Barret, Cid and Yuffie a call and let them know he‘s back. None of us knew where he‘d gone and I know they were worried, especially Yuffie. I'm sure they'd love to see him since he's home."

Tifa nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah we'll call them tomorrow. It wouldn‘t be right to let them sit and worry."

The martial artist knew what Vincent was referring to. Over three years ago the beautiful young woman who was the last remaining Ancient, Aerith Gainsborough, on the planet was stabbed and killed by Sephiroth right before Cloud's eyes, before he even had the chance to do anything to save her. He still blamed himself for her death to this day, feeling it was a sin that he couldn't save her.

Cloud had walked around a little over a year ago with the heavy burden on his heart, feeling the pain of his loss and blaming himself for her dying. He had closed himself off from his friends, having been infected with the Geostigma and didn't want to risk losing anymore of his friends. Cloud had barricaded himself in the old church where Aerith's flowers still grew everyday, even though it had been destroyed during the battle with the three remnants of Sephiroth; Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz.

Cloud had also been able to heal the children who had been infected with the Geostigma with the rain water that had flooded the church, the water that had been touched by Aerith. That was the day that Cloud had first seen Aerith since she had died. Everyday, the blond would find time to go back into the church that was now in ruins but yet had been somewhat restored, the flowers still growing brightly and hoping against hope he would see her but had not. Not since that day. Cloud had seen her and Zack standing near the door of the church. She had been kneeling down to a couple of children and then stood and walked away, but before she was gone Aerith had turned her head back and smiled at Cloud. She told him everything was going to be alright. At that point, Cloud really believed it. He really believed that he wasn't alone anymore, but as time passed he was feeling more and more alone.

Everyday he had longed to be back with Aerith, everyday missing her more and more. Sure he felt her presence coming from the Lifestream and sure he had Tifa, Denzel and Marlene. He also had Vincent, Mari, Barret, Cid, Yuffie and all the friends he could possibly ask for and they meant more to him than anything, but there was still that small feeling of emptiness inside him, and he didn't know if that void would ever be filled. Sure Cloud knew how Tifa felt about him, but he just didn't feel that way about her. Yes Cloud loved her, but not the way he had and still loved Aerith. He loved her like a best friend, a sister almost who possessed motherly qualities when it came to him, and he knew Tifa would never understand that.

Tifa just sighed and bid good evening to Vincent and Mari as she turned and walked up the steps leading her into Seventh Heaven. Just above the bar was their home and where they all slept. Denzel and Marlene were inside alone, sitting at one of the booths chatting excitedly about Cloud being home to one another. Tifa approached the excited children and she tugged gently on Marlene's ponytail.

"Hey you two, do you know where Cloud went?" she asked the kids.

"He said he was tired from his trip and he went on up to bed," Denzel replied. "It's so great to have him home, isn't it Tifa?"

Tifa looked up the stairs and she knew she should probably just let the swordsman be. Maybe that's all it was. Maybe he was just tired. After all he had been gone for a week. Who knows how long he had been riding Fenrir. Maybe that's what was the matter with Cloud, and she was just assuming things. Who was she kidding though? Tifa knew what the problem was, she just knew better than to lay it on him full force.

"Yeah it is. Thanks kiddos," the martial artist smiled down at them. "You should probably head upstairs and get yourself ready for bed too. It's getting late."

"Awwww Tifa, do we have to?" complained Denzel.

"Yeah I'm afraid so," she grinned. "Now go brush your teeth, get your pajamas on and I'll be up there to tuck you in shortly."

Both kids got up from the table, groaning and grumbling about having to go to bed already. Tifa just put her hand to her mouth and giggled silently at them as she watched them slump across the floor with obvious disappointment and up the stairs towards their room. She turned and walked over to the sink behind the bar and begin finishing the unwashed dishes, looking up at the ceiling and wondering how Cloud was doing and if he was really asleep.

Cloud sat down on the edge of his bed, un-strapping the massive sword that hung sheathed on his back and laid it on the floor. He kicked off his boots, stripped off his gloves and lay them on the nightstand next to his bed. The blond fell back against the pillows, resting his hands behind his head. Cloud had been out to the Forgotten City, standing out at the water where he had laid Aerith to rest, feeling her presence all around him and hoping to see her there but didn't. He just felt her presence. Cloud had later left the Forgotten City and rode out to where his best friend Zack's grave was. He stood out by where the large buster sword was buried in the ground. Cloud had ridden just about everywhere, burying his emotions and trying to forget about everything that had happened within the past three years. He had wanted to distance himself from his friends so they wouldn’t know he had still continued to suffer.

Cloud could remember after Vincent saved the planet from Omega how he had went and searched, hoping to find him, but when he didn't Cloud thought for sure he had lost another friend when Vincent came back. Shortly there after he and Mari had wed and Cloud could remember feeling extreme happiness for them, but yet at the same time the pain in his heart wielded, and he remembered that if only he would have seen Sephiroth, if only he could have made it on time, he could have saved her and that would have been him and Aerith. Only too many times he'd push the thought back down into his stomach and just go on traveling, trying to forget the past. Just recently had he realized it'd been a week he had been gone and it was probably time to return home. Cloud rolled over onto his side facing the window and stared out at the blue-black sky as a few stars began appearing and twinkled down at him. He was interrupted in his thoughts when there was a gentle knock on his door. The swordsman remained quiet as Tifa came in.

"Cloud?" she spoke in low tones. "Are you awake?"

He remained still and quiet, faking the deep breathing that would suggest he was sleeping. The dark-haired woman approached him and rested a hand on his shoulder, but Cloud still didn't move. He didn't want to talk right now. As much as he cared for the girl it was something that she probably would never understand. He heard Tifa's soft sigh come from behind him.

"You must have really been tired," she stated as she removed her hand. "We're just glad to have you back home." The martial artist walked away from Cloud, opened the door and left his room, closing the door gently behind her so as not to wake him.

Cloud just sighed and buried his face against his pillows closing his eyes. "Yeah I'm tired," he mumbled. "I'm tired of feeling like this."

~~~~~

Andria lay on her side, wearing a white tank top and sleep pants, and her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She lay on top of her bed covers, looking out of her window. The girl still couldn't help but wonder what was going on with her. She could feel strange things going on within her body and the things she sometimes heard, well she knew it couldn't just be nothing. What was going on with her? At times she'd feel an odd tingling sensation in the tips of her fingers and sometimes she felt pressure in the palms of her hands. Andria had learned slowly ease away the pressure and it would just eventually go away, but now it was happening more and more frequently.

The honey-haired girl rolled over, looked up at the inky, starlit sky and mulled her thoughts over and over until she fell into a deep sleep. All was quiet and peaceful. She didn't hear nor awaken when Dierdre came tiptoeing into her bedroom to switch off her bedside lamp and put the covers over her sleeping body so she wouldn't get cold. She didn't feel her mother move back strands of her hair and give her a kiss on the cheek. Andria was deep in sleep, floating through a white void, not knowing what was happening. She had no control of her body or movements; she was just floating, drifting off through the white nothing when she heard a voice. It sounded mystical and slightly far away. It also carried a soft echo behind it.

"Who's there?" Andria called out as she tried to find her way through the nothing. "Is someone there!" she cried out, her voice echoing against the void.

"Andria," came the voice. The voice sounded a lot like her own, but slightly different. Andria's eyes widened as a blurry hand reached out to her. Feeling drawn, Andria reached out her hand and grasped the blurred one in front of her. Warmth spread through her body as soon as she touched the hand. She felt a surge like electricity power through her body and she almost felt recharged. Andria strained her eyes as a blurred face begin coming into view. She couldn't tell who it was.

"Who are you?" Andria asked the strange blurred being that floated in front of her.

Bright green swirls of light began gathering around her and mystical being and soon the female's facial features came slightly into view. The girl had long bangs like Andria, only parted in the center instead of at the side, the exact same hair color, facial features and even her green eyes. Andria thought for a moment she was looking at herself and when she tried to catch a better glimpse, the face smiled and blurred again before she could really take it in. The hand she was holding let go of hers and the female faded from sight.

"You'll understand soon," the voice came again and then it too faded.

"Wait! Come back!" Andria cried out. She had felt so connected to this girl, but why? Who was she? "NO, don‘t leave!" cried out Andria as she burst awake.

Her forehead was beaded with sweat and there was a strange, green glow surrounding her. It took Andria a moment to realize that she was back in her bedroom. The young woman looked around her room trying to figure out where the source of light was coming from when she looked down at her hands and gasped. Surrounding her hands was a bright, but soft green light. Andria held them up and studied them in shock. The green glow had been coming from her...the dream? Was it just a dream? What was happening to her? Who was the strange young woman that so resembled herself? The dream felt more than just a dream and Andria knew it. Somehow and some way she'd find some answers.

-----------------

Just to clarify, her name is pronounced Ahn-dree-uh and Ahn-dee

November 28, 2006, 5:50 PM

I love how you're writing this...your skills get better and better the more you write

It blows me away!

November 29, 2006, 5:38 PM

Thanks Crimson

I'll go ahead and post Chapter 2. I'm not sure if anybody has read this, but why not

(I've got 11 chapters written already

)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 2- Rumors and the Past

Andria had quite a lot of trouble going back to sleep the night before. The last time she looked at the clock it was closing in on 4am. Her curtains were drawn across her window and the covers were pulled over her head. It was dark in her room, but the young woman had no idea that it was nearly 1 in the afternoon. She was sound asleep when her mother opened up the door and peeked into her bedroom. She walked over to Andria's bedside and gently shook her shoulder.

"Hey Andi? Sleepyhead, you awake?" she cooed softly. "It's time to wake up. Lunch is on the table."

"Mmmm lunch?" came Andria's sleepy voice from the under the covers. "What time is it?"

"It's 1:00 in the afternoon," Dierdre replied, pulling the covers off of Andria's head. "I think it's time for miss sleepyhead to get up."

"1 already? Oh my gosh I didn't realize I had slept so late!" Andria exclaimed as she sat up in bed looking at her mother.

Dierdre just laughed. "It's alright dear, we all have to sleep in a little sometimes," she replied.

"Yeah but I was supposed to go and help Lynch at the Chocobo Farms today," she stated with a sigh. "He's going to be so disappointed in me." Andria slumped back against her pillows with a slightly distressed look on her face.

"Oh sweetie, he called earlier but I told him you were still sleeping," Dierdre told her, brushing some hair out of her daughter's green eyes. "Why were you up so late? I came in here about midnight to check on you and you were out. I even covered you up and gave you a kiss, and you still didn't wake. Did you wake up in the night? Are you okay?" she asked Andria concernedly.

Andria closed her eyes as the night's previous events floated back into her mind. They were what kept her awake for so long. She had laid awake for hours, wondering who the girl that looked like her was and where the strange green glow came from that had been surrounding her hands and why it was surrounding her hands. She had always just been a normal girl growing up, or so she had thought. I mean sure she healed rather fast whenever she had a cut or bruise or was sick. Her mother always noticed that about her, but always just assumed she had a high immune system. Andria opened her eyes to find her mother's concerned blue ones looking in hers.

"Actually Mom, there's something I want to talk to you and Dad about," she mumbled. "It's something kind of important."

"Well why don't you get up, go get cleaned up and then we can talk when you're ready," Dierdre suggested. "I'll be downstairs in the kitchen with your father."

"Thanks Mom," Andria replied as she stood up and stretched.

She waited until her mother left the room and then went into the bathroom and took down her ponytail. She ran a brush through her long hair and then undressed. She turned the knob on the shower and stepped in, washed her hair and conditioned it while she washed her body, her mind still muddled with the thoughts of the strange look alike and her green, glowing hands. She stepped out of the shower after rinsing her hair and body and dried off. She got dressed and put up her long hair in a ponytail, leaving her bangs to flow freely at the sides of her face as they always did.

Andria made her way down to the kitchen were her parents were sitting at the table just finishing lunch. There was a plate of sandwiches sitting in the middle of the table and a jug of water next to them. Andria sat down at the table but didn't eat. She turned and faced her parents in a rather serious manner.

"There's something I need to discuss with you," she began folding her hands together and placing them on the table.

"Damn Andi, I've never seen you this serious before," Beau replied, straightening up in his chair. "Is everything alright?"

"I...I honestly don't know, truth be told Dad," Andria began as she looked down at her hands. Since the glow around her hands the previous night she no longer felt the tingling and pressures against her palms and fingers. In fact it was the first relief she had felt since it started happening. "I...I think something is different about me," she finally spit out.

"How so sweetie?" asked Dierdre as she watched her daughter from across the table.

Andi reached up and twirled one of her tendrils around her finger, a habit that she had taken too sometimes when she got nervous, anxious or upset about something. "Well, something strange happened to me last night. It all started out I was dreaming...or was I not dreaming? I don't really know. This is so hard to say this properly," she said in frustration.

"Andi, whatever it is you can tell us," Beau said reaching across the table and putting a hand over his daughter's. "We're your parents. We're here for you and here to help you through anything."

"Thanks Dad," Andi sighed. "This is going to be really odd and strange to say, but I need to tell you. Please don't think I'm weird or anything like that." She looked up at them pleadingly.

"Andi sweetie, we would never think you were weird!" Dierdre told her, reaching over and ruffling her ponytail. "Now tell us what's going on."

Andria took a deep breath. "Alright. Last night I think I was dreaming, but I don't know for sure. It started out that I was just sort of floating through this white void. Everything was so bright and I can remember it being warm. I heard somebody calling my name. It was a female's voice. I saw her hand reach out to me and I remember grabbing it and her touch was so warm. I just instantly felt connected, you know?" She looked at parents who were watching and listening to her intently.

"Please, keep going," Beau stated.

Andria nodded and continued. "Well as I was holding onto her hand her face came into view and she spoke my name again. When I saw her face, she looked just like me! There was all of this green swirling energy around us. I've heard talk of what the Lifestream looks like and from what I could tell in this dream that is what it looked like but this girl! She looked just like me! She had my hair, my face shape, my eyes and the same eye color, everything! She then told me I would understand soon, but I had no idea what she was talking about. When she let go of my hand I felt like I didn't want her to let go. I felt...connected to her somehow," Andria explained. "Then when I woke up, my whole bedroom was literally basking in this soft green light. I looked around to find out where the source of the light was coming from...and...," Andria hesitated.

"Andi, please, tell us about this green light," Dierdre urged gently. "We're not going to get angry at you."

"Well...it was coming from my hands," she told them quietly as she lowered her head and hid her hands underneath the table. "The green light was coming from my hands."

"Green light coming from your hands?" Beau asked, his eyes widened in shock. "But what does that mean?"

"I don't know," Andi stated, bringing a hand up and resting it under her chin. "I do know that for awhile I would feel this pressure, sometimes really intense, in my palms and my fingertips. Eventually it would go away, but always an hour or so later it would return. Since my hands did that...that glowing thing last night they don't feel that pressure anymore," she told them. "I am so confused as to what is going on." She held her hands up and looked at them. "What's wrong with me?"

"Oh sweetie...nothing is wrong with you," Dierdre replied comfortingly, taking her daughter's hands in her own. "We always knew something was...well special about you. We just never did know what it was."

"What do you mean something special about me?" Andria asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you know something that I don't about myself?"

"Well, when you were 6 years old, your father was about back cutting wood and you were in the living room playing on the floor with your dolls. We heard a scream come from out back and your father was clutching his hand. It was bleeding something awful. He had literally just gashed it open. You ran over to him, but you weren't yourself. You kept saying 'Daddy, it'll be okay. I'll take care of you' in this soft tone of voice. Even though he was bleeding you put both hands around his wrist. I couldn't see what was happening but when you stepped back, the cut was gone. You both had blood all over your hands and wrists but there was no wounds," Dierdre told her. "Don't you remember that?"

Andria sat back for a moment, pondering this. She shook her head. "No...honestly I really don't remember it," she told them. "So I...you mean...I...I healed Dad?" she asked in disbelief, her green eyes widening.

"Yes you did. It was the only time I had ever seen you do it, but then again it was the only time we ever had an accident like that. When you were a child, if you got cuts or bumps or bruisies, you'd have them for about a day and then they'd be gone just like that," Beau told her with a snap of his fingers. "When you'd get sick, you weren't sick for very a long. The longest I had ever seen you be sick was for 3 days and that was it."

"So I'm...something like a mage?" she asked curiously. "I mean if I have healing powers then I'd be a white mage, right?"

"Yes, I suppose you could be," Dierdre said thoughtfully. "I mean as a child, I just brushed it off as nothing. I just figured you had a high immune system, but this is just very...oh this is so interesting."

"But Mom...don't you understand? If I'm a mage, I'm going to need proper training. Who is going to train me? Who can help me?" Andria stated almost desperately. "This is so confusing...where was it you said you found me again?"

"We found you beneath the Northern Crater, just outside of Icicle Village after it was attacked. We thought for sure you were going to die but you didn't," Dierdre told her. "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry." Her blue eyes began sparkling with tears. "What can we do?"

Andria stood up. "I know what I need to do. I need to make a trip to the Northern Crater. I need to see if there is anything I can discover about my past. Maybe there were other white mages that lived there? Maybe there are some there who can help me and maybe I can find something more about my real parents," she stated.

"No Andria, I don't think this is a good idea at all," Beau said uncertainly, shaking his head. "I don't like the idea of you going alone to some place as dangerous as the Northern Crater. Not alone. No, I won't allow it."

"Dad all of Gaia is dangerous!" Andria stated loudly. "Does it not matter to you what I am? Does it not matter to you that I need proper training! Don't you realize that if I keep all of my magic buried inside of me, it's going to eventually hurt me?"

"How do you know that Andi? How do you know that if you just keep your magic hidden you'll be fine?" Beau asked her. "You don't know because you've never been trained properly and you've been fine up until now!"

"I don't know how I know, but...I just know, okay!" she told him shouting now. "I am 24 years old and I think I'm old enough to know what I am and what I can do about this," she told him desperately. "Dad please."

Beau just stood up and slammed his kitchen chair into the table. He shook his head. "I do not understand this. Not one damn bit," he muttered under his breath and left the room.

"Mom," Andria's voice was tremulous. "Mom please."

"Oh Andi, I am so sorry," she whispered as she held her daughter's hand. "I am just so sorry this happened to you."

Andria pulled her hand out of her mother's. "What do you mean your sorry? Are you ashamed that I have magic? Are you ashamed that I may very well be a mage? I don't understand this. Not one bit…I'm going for a walk. I'll be back later."

Andria stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind her. It was frustrating enough that her parents seemed to think she had some sort of ailment. Andria had hoped against hope that she could count on them to understand. She was an adult. She had every right to go searching the Northern Crater and maybe find out some more information about herself and her past. Feeling the pressure building up in her hands, Andria ran out towards the woods and screamed as she put her hands out.

Bursts of white energy shot out of them and slammed into a tree, a cloud of smoke in it's wake. Andria stood there panting and looked at her hands that had now returned to normal. She felt angry and hurt that her parents were so strange about it all. She knew why she'd know if she kept her magic inside. She kept hearing those far away voices. Those voices had told her that if she didn't release her magic it would hurt her. She heard them stronger than ever after she had the dream of the strange girl the night before. Andria stood up against the tree and watching the soft, white clouds drift slowly by.

~~~~~~

Cloud was sitting at a booth in the bar, just finishing up the lunch Tifa had made him and the kids when his phone rang. Cloud reached down in his pocket and stared at the front of it.

"Oh great," he mumbled. "Not them again."

Tifa strode over to the booth and sat down across from Cloud. "What's going on?" she asked as she noticed his thin, blonde eyebrows furrowing.

"Oh it's Reno calling. I don't know if I should answer it or not," he grumbled.

"Go ahead and see what he wants. It can't be anything major," Tifa ushered. "He'll keep calling if you don't answer, Cloud."

"Yeah you're right," Cloud rolled his eyes and flipped the black, razor thin phone open, holding it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey Cloud it's Reno. Listen, me, Rufus and Rude are here at the Healin Lodge. We need you to stop by. There's something important we need to talk about. Can you make it out?" he asked.

"What's so important?" asked Cloud curiously. "Do you need me out there right now?"

"Yeah we actually kinda do. It's really important. C'mon Cloud," Reno urged on the other line.

"I just got home," Cloud told him stiffly. "Can't this wait?"

"No it really can't Cloud. Please. We really need to discuss this with you and it's something that can't just be over the phone," Reno said anxiously. "Please Cloud."

Cloud sighed. "Alright, I'll be on my way shortly," he told them and flipped shut his phone. Vincent and Mari had just walked in and overheard Cloud say he'd be on his way.

"What's going on?" Vincent asked curiously as he and Mari walked towards them. "You leaving again Cloud?"

"Yeah, I just got a call from Reno. He said he needed to talk to me. It was really urgent sounding. I wonder what they've done screwed up this time?" Cloud wondered.

"Hmmm wonder what it could be," Mari wondered outloud. "Well whatever the case may be, just be careful Cloud," she told him. "You sure never seem to be around anymore."

"I know. I'm sorry it's just that...," Cloud hesitated. "I'll be fine. I just need to get my sword." Cloud turned from the table and headed up the stairs to his room.

He stopped in front of the mirror on his dresser and studied himself. "What are you going to get yourself into this time, Strife?" he wondered aloud. Cloud shook his head and half chuckled as he reached down and picked up his sword that lay across his bed. He strapped it over his back and walked back down the stairs. Cloud was about halfway down when he heard Tifa, Mari and Vincent's voices, and he stopped before he came all the way down to hear what was being said.

"I don't understand him," came Tifa's voice. "He just got home and now he's off and running again? It's just like how it was a little over a year ago. We hardly ever saw him and when we did it was only for brief moment. I'm just afraid he's going to go back to how it was when he had the Geostigma," she told Mari and Vincent.

"Don't think like that Tifa. You know how Cloud is. He just likes to keep to himself. Cloud is a loner, but at the same time he doesn't like being alone. That's why he has his phone," came Vincent's deep voice, billowing up the stairs.

"Yeah if he'll even answer it," Tifa replied sarcastically.

"Hey look who's talking Mr. I Have a Phone Now," Mari stated playfully, lightly punching Vincent's arm. She then looked at Tifa. "Tifa listen, when Cloud is ready he'll tell us what's going on with him. We know he will. Just let it go and give him some time. He's only going to Healin and he won't be gone long I'm sure," Mari stated reassuringly, resting a hand on Tifa's arm. "Don't get so upset."

Cloud had had enough of his friends talking about him behind his back. They couldn't even begin to possibly understand what he had been going through for the past three years or what he had been feeling. He knew Aerith had forgiven him, but Cloud couldn't forgive himself. He thought he had, but as the time went by, the memories just came billowing back. At his friends’ words, the swordsman couldn’t help but feel slightly angry. Cloud made his way down the stairs and they instantly stopped talking as they heard his footsteps and saw him appear. Marlene and Denzel ran over to Cloud.

"You're gonna be back soon, right Cloud?" Denzel asked him anxiously. "I mean you're not going away for a really long time again are you?"

"You promised you wouldn't Cloud!" Marlene added, shaking her little finger at him.

Cloud smiled and ruffled their hair. "No I'm just going on a little trip. I'll be back in a few hours or so," he told them. "Don't worry. No more long trips," he assured them.

"Be careful Cloud!" Marlene squealed, hugging him around the waist.

Cloud chuckled as the two children scampered off up the stairs and then turned towards his friends. "I'll be back as soon as I find out what these idiots want," he said somewhat stiffly. "It'll be sometime later." Cloud walked briskly past them and out to Fenrir, his massive motorcycle that sat in front of Seventh Heaven. Cloud lept onto Fenrir, kicked into life and road away from the bar. Tifa, Mari and Vincent watched as Cloud sped off and disappeared from sight.

"He seemed a bit upset...do you think he heard us?" Tifa asked nervously.

"I don't know if he did or not, but whatever Cloud is thinking, well, one may never know," Vincent replied, resting his hand on Mari's shoulder. Tifa just sighed sadly and walked back up the steps and into the bar.

Cloud drove his bike faster down the road feeling slightly hurt and angry that his friends had been talking about him behind his back. The engine roared underneath him as he drove up the drive to the small Shinra lodge that he had previously visited a year ago. He shut off the bike, jumped off and put the kickstand down. He walked up the wooden steps and was greeted almost immediately by Reno at the door.

"Gonna have another go like we did last year?" Cloud asked bluntly as Reno tapped his shoulder with his weapon.

"Nah, no time for that now. We have some really disturbing and interesting information we recently discovered," Reno told him. "Come inside, we don't want anybody else hearing this."

Cloud followed Reno inside of the familiar office-like room and stood near the door as it closed. Rude was standing by the window wearing his usual black shades and his arms folded across his chest. Rude was a man of few words, but when he chose to speak, it was usually exchanging something sarcastic with Reno. Another man stood on the other side of the office near a desk. He was tall with a white suit jacket and white pants. He had light blonde hair that hung losely around his face. His face was thin with a sinister expression. He walked towards Cloud and extended his had.

"Cloud, thank you for coming," Rufus, president of Shinra, said as he shook Cloud's gloved hand. "Please sit down."

"No thanks. I'm kind of in a rush," Cloud told them. "What's all this about anyway?"

"We heard tell from an unknown source that there still lurks on the planet, another possible Sephiroth clone, remnant if you will," Rufus began. "Nobody knows his name or what he looks like, but we do know that somebody was discovered on Hojo's old lab."

"A Sephiroth clone?" Cloud asked curiously, leaning against the wall and folding his arms across his chest. "But I thought that all of the clones had been destroyed. The Remnants...weren't the last of them Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz?"

"That's what we thought. We don't really know if this is the truth or not, but if it is in any case we need your help Cloud," Rufus told him. "If indeed there is a Sephiroth clone, all he has to do is get his hands on something left of JENOVA's and Sephiroth could indeed return."

"Hmmm," Cloud's hummed in his throat, scratching his chin with his gloved fingers. "Yeah, I just got home. I really don't want to be chasing after something if it's nothing."

"Please Cloud, we need your assistance, we need your help," Rufus pleaded.

"Not interested," Cloud stated with a final tone in his voice.

"Cloud we need you to go up to the Northern Crater and to Mt. Nibel with Reno, Rude, Tseng and Elena. We're hoping if we can find the rest of JENOVA's remains, if this so called clone really does exist, then at least we can keep from another reunion," Rufus explained

"And what makes you think if you get your hands on anymore of JENOVA's parts that this supposed Sephiroth clone won't still come after you? It's no different than when Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo were alive," Cloud told them. "You don't know how Sephiroth's mind works. He'll end up getting what he wants, no matter if you have JENOVA's remains or not."

"That's why we need your help Cloud. You're the only one who can help us if the nightmare does return," Reno told him. "C'mon Cloud, don't make me beg," Reno smirked.

"Not interested," Cloud reiterated. He started to walk away but Reno and Rude stood in front of the door.

"Cloud please, just hear me out," Rufus told him. "We'll pay you a great deal of gil if you would please go up to the Norther Crater and up Mt. Nibel and help us find the rest of JENOVA's remains before the clone does. We really need your help on this. Cloud, you're the only one who can really delve in Sephiroth. If he indeed does return, we don't doubt you abilities to dispose of him just as you had before. Don't you want your friends and family to be safe? You realize what could happen if this clone gets his hands on JENOVA's remains," Rufus poined out.

Cloud stood for a moment thinking. If there was indeed another Sephiroth clone out there, what would happen? Cloud couldn't even begin to bare the thought of losing more loved ones to Sephiroth. I mean here it was he had Denzel, Marlene, Tifa, Vincent, Mari, Barret, Cid, Yuffie, Red XII and Cait Sith. These were beings he cared about and cherished more than anybody could possibly understand, and if he didn't go they could be harmed or maybe even killed. If Cloud didn't go with the Turks then he would blame himself if they were in anyway harmed or killed by Sephiroth. Cloud took this all into consideration and then turned towards the others.

"Alright, I'll go," Cloud told them.

"Thank you Cloud," Rufus told him. "This is greatly appreciated."

"Wow! Why the change in heart Cloud?" Reno asked curious, observing Cloud.

"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for others. I'll be damned if Sephiroth gets his hands on anymore of my friends," Cloud stated defiantly. "When do we leave?"

"We planned on heading out in the morning. We thought we'd take a couple of choppers and head out that way. It'd be alot quicker," Reno proposed. "What do you say Cloud?"

"Alright, I'll be here bright and early," he told them. Cloud started walking towards the door and opened it. Before he left and turned back, looking at Rufus. "I want my gil before we go," he added.

"Whatever you say Cloud," Rufus acknowleged.

Cloud nodded and left the lodge. He walked out and noticed the sun was almost set behind the horizon. He looked out at the sky. "I swear Sephiroth, if you're out there, I'll take you out as quickly as you came back."

Cloud jumped onto his Fenrir and kicked it into life. Rufus, Reno and Rude stood on the porch of the lodge watching as Cloud sped off into the distance, all three breathing the sigh of relief that Cloud was indeed going to come and help them. Cloud road fast all the way back to the front of Seventh Heaven. He jumped off of his bike and saw Tifa, Mari, Vincent and the kids sitting outside of the bar. Cloud shut off the bike and jumped down as the others approached him. The kids made to jump on Cloud, but seeing the look on his face, they thought better of it.

"Cloud what's going? What did Reno want?" Tifa asked.

"Let's go inside of the bar and talk," Cloud told her. "Vincent, Mari you can come too." Cloud turned and looked down at the kids. "You guys, I want you go on upstairs and get ready for bed."

"Awwwww Cloud!" whined Denzel. "Do we really have to! We've just barely got to see you!"

"Kids, listen to Cloud and go on," Tifa told them gently.

She could tell Cloud was clearly distressed about something and he preferred the kids to not hear what he was about to tell them. She put her hands on the small of their backs and lightly ushered them up the stairs. After she was sure the kids were out of sight and couldn't hear what was going on she turned back towards Cloud, who was now sitting down at the bar, resting his chin on his fists.

"What's this all about Cloud?" Mari asked. "What on earth is going on?"

Vincent stood next to Mari and looked down at Cloud who was still facing the table.

"Well, there has been a rumor that a clone has been found. There isn't much really that I know," Cloud began. "I have to go away again."

"Go away! You just got back!" Tifa exclaimed. "Why do you have to go and what do you mean by clone! We all know Hojo did some whacked out experiments. Who knows just how many clones are out there!"

"Tifa, this isn't just any old clone," Cloud told her seriously, still looking at the table. "There is rumor that it's another clone of Sephiroth."

Tifa gasped. "But...that can't be possible! Weren't all the Sephiroth clones done in? Didn't you just get rid of the last of them Cloud?" Tifa asked. "Those three silver haired brothers. Weren't those the only remaining remnants of Sephiroth?"

"We don't know anything at this point. All I know is that if I'm going to protect you guys I have to go to the Northern Crater and hopefully find the rest of JENOVA's remains. As long as they're down there, this Sephiroth clone could get his hands on them and well...I don't want to think about what could happen next," Cloud explained.

"So you're going to the Northern Crater and back to Mt. Nibel," Vincent's deep voice rumbled next to Cloud. "Are you sure it's safe going off with Rufus Shinra and the rest of the Turks?"

"Oh Vincent, don't worry," Mari spoke quietly, resting her hand on his arm. "Cloud's a big boy. He can handle himself."

"She's right. I'll be fine. I don't know how long I'm going to be gone though," Cloud told them, finally looking up at them. "This is something that has to be done. I don't want to lose anymore of you," he finally spit out and then felt highly embarrassed. "Look, with any luck we'll find the rest of JENOVA's remains and maybe even run into the Sephiroth clone. If that's the case then we can probably kill him before there's another reunion," Cloud stated. "I have to do this. I'm sorry."

"What about the kids?" Tifa asked. "They were so excited to finally have you home," she told him as his face fell.

"I'll tell them in the morning. There's no need for them to go to bed upset," Cloud replied. "I need to get to bed myself. I have a really early morning tomorrow."

Cloud bid Vincent, Mari and Tifa goodnight and got up from the table and headed up the stairs. Tifa listened until his footsteps faded and she slumped down into the seat he had been sitting in. "You know, I don't think Cloud will ever realize what he means to me...and to the kids," Tifa said quietly.

"On the contrary Tifa," Vincent spoke up. "I think this is why Cloud is going to the Northern Crater and Mt. Nibel. He wants to protect you and the kids. He wants to protect all of us and will risk his life if he has to. That's how Cloud is. He does things on his own accord."

Mari stood behind Tifa and put both hands on her shoulders. "Tifa, Cloud will be just fine. He's tough and if in fact there is a Sephiroth clone, well who better to dispose of him than Cloud?"

Tifa sighed. "Yeah I guess you're right."

"Mari, I'm going to head back to the house," Vincent told her. "Stay here as long as you need to."

"It's okay Vincent, I'll be along in a bit," Mari told him and kissed him as he said goodnight to Tifa and left the bar. Mari walked around to the side of the table, her hand still on Tifa's shoulder. "Everything will be fine Tifa. It's like I said earlier, don't get upset. Everything will be just fine. We know Cloud can handle himself. He and Vincent are both strong like that." Tifa shrugged and Mari sighed. "Listen, I'm going to head home. If you need anything just call me, okay?"

"Thanks Mari," Tifa replied quietly. Just before Mari left, she glanced down at Tifa and saw two crystalline tears fall from her eyes and hit the table. She hurried and left before Tifa noticed that Mari saw her, shaking her head sadly as she walked out of the door.

~~~~~

Andria woke up with sweat beading on her forhead and chest. The image of the girl's face was still burning brilliantly before her eyes. This time she saw the face extremely clear. The girl looked exactly like her. Was it herself or was it one of those strange voices she sometimes heard when she was alone? Who else in the world did look like her? Andria couldn't take this anymore. She lept out of bed and packed herself a bag. She silently opened her closet door and pulled out her white traveling cloak. Wrapping it around herself she walked over to her small desk that sat across her bedroom. She pulled a pen out of the drawer and piece of paper and began writing a letter.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm sorry that I blew up at you earlier, but there are just some things about me that you do not understand. There are things about me that I don't understand and I need to discover what is happening with me. I know you won't understand why I'm doing this, but I'm doing this so I can uncover and my past and find out what and who I really am. I know you're going to be angry at me but I'll be just fine. I'm strong and I can take care of myself. You just have to trust me. I'm not going to tell you where I'm going, you'll only just come running after me. This is something that I have to do to figure out what is going on with myself. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll find somebody who can teach me and aid me on learning to use my magic so it doesn't harm me. I can't explain to you why I know some of the things I do, I just do. Maybe once I find out more about myself, I can come home and explain things more properly. Please forgive me. Don't ever forgot how much I love you guys. I'll be home as soon as I can.

Love always,
Andi

"That should do it," Andria told herself as she finished her letter and gathered her bag, throwing it over her shoulder.

She left her bedroom quietly and tiptoed down the dark hallway. She took one last look around the house and made her way into the kitchen. She left the note on the kitchen table and quietly left the house. She would travel as long as she could through the night and then bed down somewhere, and planned on catching a chocobo at the farm in the morning. Andria took one last look at her house and left, heading out of Kalm and towards the Chocobo Farms, not knowing what was laying ahead of her.

December 5, 2006, 4:50 PM

I'm not sure if anybody is reading this or not ^^; I'll go ahead and post Chapter 3 anyway

Chapter 3- A Familiar Face

Andria didn't know for how long she had been traveling. The air was warm and yet she still felt chilled. She snuggled into her white traveling cloak, pulling the hood over her head so she wasn't recognized if anybody happened to be out that might knew her. She preferred to keep herself hidden, at least for the time being. But why did she feel so cold in the crisp, summer night air? Was it because of the fight she had with her parents? Was it because she left without them understanding why she had to do what she needed to do?

It was dark outside except for the sliver of the moon showing in the silk, black-blue sky. The stars twinkled down on her from the heavens as she quickened her pace across the path that would take her to the small chocobo farm just outside of Kalm in the morning. Andria had every intention on resting a bit before she made it there ,and then she would rent a chocobo and begin her journey.

The young woman didn't quite know what or where she was going or what she could possibly be getting herself into. She brought her bag down from her shoulder and checked inside of it to make sure that she had indeed remembered to pack her map. She pulled out the ancient looking paper and studied it. Andria had a long way to go before she would make it to Icicle Inn, just below the Northern Crater. She had praye