Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Trials of the Cetra ❯ The Trials Begin ( Chapter 1 )

"Cloud, grab my hand," a voice says extending a hand down to Cloud.

The group from Avalanche has just defeated the evil Sepiroth and are trying to escape the North Cave before it collapses from the force of Holy that was summoned by Aeris to help defeat Meteor. Cloud looks up from where he is hanging on to the cliff, battered and bruised from his confrontation with Sepiroth and sees the body and face of his one and only love Aeris trying to reach for him and pull him up.

"Aeris?" Cloud questions confusedly thinking she was dead.

"Cloud, Cloud, there is no time grab my hand we need to get out of here right now before the cavern collapses," Tifa says as the image of Aeris disappears and Tifa is the one hanging over the cliff to try and save him.

Cloud grabs her hand and Tifa pulls him up onto the ledge. The gigantic airship, The Highwind, bursts through the wall of the cave and Cait Sith pulls the duo on the ground up into the airship and they all fly away.

On the deck of the Highwind, Cloud sits on the railing looking out to the battle between Holy, Lifestream, and Meteor. Several teardrops roll from his eyes has he remembers the sacrifice his love made for the world just a few weeks earlier. Tifa watches Cloud and sees something is bothering him so she walks up behind him and decides to try to cheer him up.

"Hey Cloud," Tifa says.

"Huh, oh hey Tifa," Cloud says.

"Cloud is something wrong?"

"Tifa you wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"Tifa I just want to be alone."

"Tifa leave him alone an come over here," Barret says.

Tifa obeys and walks over to Barret.

"Tifa the reason he's in such bad shape is because he misses ol' Aeris,"

"Oh I see, but I was just trying to help him."

"I know Tifa and so does Cloud but sometimes men like him just like to be left alone."

"Hey where is he?"

Barret and Tifa run over to the rail he was sitting on and look over the side. A dragon carrying a man on his back was headed towards Cosmo Canyon.

"Barret get Cid to head in that direction. We need to follow him."

"Tifa I told you, leave him alone. He's a grown up man and can take care of himself. Just don't worry about him and he'll be fine."

"Good luck in whatever you're trying to do Cloud."

Cloud lands outside of the Ancient Forest and summons back Bahamut.

"Planet, is this where I'm supposed to be?" Cloud asks.

"Yes. Go to the back cave and there you will find a gate into your heart," The planet answers.

Cloud walks through the whole forest until he comes to the cave and searches the wall for the gate the planet was talking about. Finally after an extensive search, he finds a place on the cave wall where his hand passes through the wall. Cloud walks through right at the place he held his hand through a couple of moments before.

Cloud walks through to a place abundant of energy and beauty. The place Shinra has been searching for, for so long. The Promised Land.

Cloud looks around at all the peace loving people and at the end of his staring he comes to a girl around his age with long, dark brown hair. She was wearing a toga.

"Could it be Aeris? No it couldn't be somehow she doesn't look the same."

Cloud is warped to the outside of a Greek looking courthouse after staring at the girl that looked somewhat familiar in a way. He walked inside the courthouse and down it's long pathway until he reached the main section of the building. Inside the court room, at the judge's chair, sat an old looking giant.

"Welcome my son and what might your name be?" The giant asked.

"The name's Cloud. Why have I been summoned here?" Cloud responds.

"To be given the chance to get back someone dear to you. You will have three tests to be given a chance to get Aeris."

"What do I have to do?"

"Complete the tests successfully and the girl will be yours but fail and you will be vanquished from the Promised Land forever."

"I thought only Cetra could get into the Promised Land anyways."

"Oh no my son, any person that seeks the Promised Land can come into our land of bountiful beauty. Isn't a person that seeks the Promised Land and someone who can communicate with the planet almost the same as a Cetra?"

"I don't know, I haven't figured that out yet but can I just get on with my tests."

"Yes. You will have a guide to accompany you on your trip. Her name is Ashley."

The girl Cloud saw before walks out from behind the chair shyly and walks up to Cloud.

"Are you ready to go sir?" She asks.

"Um, whenever the big guy says I'm allowed to leave I'm ready."

"Go my son, go out into the Promised Land and partake in the tests."

~* Highwind*~

"Tifa are you ok?" Cait Sith asks from behind his seat.

"Yeah I'm fine but Reeve did you get out ok?" Tifa asks.

"Yeah I'm fine and I'll be waiting in Junon where Shinra is planning to move the capital too."

"Who is in charge of Shinra now?"

"Yours truly."

"Congratulations!"

"Thanks. We are planning to build neo Midgar in the Whirlwind maze. Not exactly the easiest place to reach but we know the Mako reactors won't go dry."

"Reeve I thought you were going to try and get rid of the Mako reactors, after all they are killing the planet."
"I'm working on that right now. We are trying to make a new reactor with a new source of energy so the planet won't die and we will all live happily ever after. I'm also planning on starting up the space program again."

Cid comes zipping out of the cockpit onto the deck.

"Did someone say space program?" Cid asks.

"Yeah, we are going to send a team of scientists to the moon to collect mineral samples and we are still looking for a pilot. Is anyone I know interested?" Cait Sith asks.

"Damn right I'm interested."

"Ok the mission starts in two months. When you guys reach Junon, come see me Cid."