"This place is marvelous..." Marduke Racoon sighed as they entered one building of the Ancient's City which was now crawling with workers and strange creatures, his slaves. Racoon smiled, he was able to use the Black Materia's power to manipulate the weak creatures of the planet and turn them into his laborers.

"Excuse me, sir. There is something I think you should see." The Butler approached him. Racoon nodded and followed the old man into another building, Lifestream was pouring at the center over a huge crystal. Racoon gazed at it's beauty.

"This would be an excellent addition to my museum." He went closer. He bent down and started inpecting the wirtings on the ground. Ancient's writing, he could see the crystal glowing amidst the Lifestream falls and then he saw her...

Racoon gasped...it was Aerith, her image in the crystal. Then like a movie, she looked up and smiled. Racoon stepped closer and stared at her beautiful face... he wanted her, only her. Then a few minutes later, he saw her fall, he saw a black robed figure behind her, and through the pain and sword, her smile never faded. "So, this is how she died..." Racoon cried, tears softly falling down his cheeks.

Immediately, Racoon turned and stepped out of the building, he would have her soon, there was nothing to be sad about. There was nothing to worry about either, he was sure that Avalanche was somewhere among the ruins of the highwind.

He found his way to the central building, a shell-shaped structure and smiled as he passed by the lake. Again he paused and marveled at it's beauty. Then some men emerged form the building holding out a glowing orb.

"The White Materia!" Racoon jumped up and grabbed it. He laughed out uncontrollably. "We will soon be together my love!" He took out the Black Materia from his pocket and stepped into the waters of the lake. After a few encantations, the lake began to glow, and the wind rustled violently scaring some of the workers off. Racoon was in the center, he was floating on the air.

Then the waters separated and a woman emerged, her eyes were closed, her smile still warm, her long brown hair flowing with the wind, then she opened her eyes. They were green and they sparkled like gems.

Racoon held out his hand to her. "Aerith, come to me...."

It was almost midnight. The snow covered trees were glowing like silver against the star-filled evening sky. The air was crisp and piercingly cold to the skin, but Cloud had little concern for it all. Something bothered him, about Marduke Racoon, the Black Materia, the pictures of Aerith and now the sabotage of the Highwind. They were being used again, led around like blind dogs, now someone wants them dead.

Cloud stared at the sky, and he remembered looking up at a similar sky almost thirteen eight years ago in Nibelheim with Tifa, then again a year ago at the Golden Saucer with Aerith. Cloud shook his head, again he felt the pang in his chest. He was so brave to say the words that they had to let go of her memory a year ago before they battled Sephiroth, but now it seems that he was the only one who didn't.

"Are you still awake?" The voice startled Cloud, buthe did not turn. It was Vincent, he walked past Cloud and sat on a tree stump. "What are you thinking of this time?" It was unusual for Vincent to start a conversation with anyone. Even after all this time he was still mysterious to Cloud in a lot of ways, however a good friend and fighter.

Cloud didn't answer instead he started walking back to the lodge. "I saw you come out of Ilfana's home...I know, you're thinking about her again aren't you?" Vincent said. Cloud stopped on his tracks and turned around to face Vincent. He was still looking at the sky.

"Cloud, stop letting her memories oppress you" Vincent's words were harsh, although his voice was surprisingly warm.

"I'm not...I just..."Cloud couldn't continue, again his emotions were eating him up. He never learned to let it all out. There was still so much he kept to himself, and inspite the support of his friends, especially Tifa, he never was able to recover from the emotinal distressed that has still remained at the back of his mind.

Vincent laughed soflty to himself. "What's so funny?" Cloud snapped as the laughter grew more audible.

"I don't believe this." Vincent said, standing up. "I can't believe that I am seeing myself being reborn in you, Cloud."

Cloud stared at the snow-covered ground. It was strange, he understood what Vincent was talking about. Like him, he lost a loved one too...Cloud froze, did he just say loved one? Cloud shook his head and tucked his arms in his pockets. "I don't kn---"

"You still don't, Cloud?" Vincent cut him off. "You should know by now, it's been a year and yet you still feel the same way. You still keep it in your heart." He walked up to Cloud and pointed at his chest. "Settle it now, Cloud. Don't ignore it, don't deny it either. Or you'll end up like me...or worse...Sephiroth."

Cloud shot a glare at Vincent who's eyes were coldly focused on him. He never thought he'd hear those words, from Vincent none the less. Although, it bothered him, Vincent was right. He had to stop torturing himself with guilt because he could not stop Sephiroth from killing her. Because he failed her.

"I was blind..." was all he could say. "Thank you, Vincent. I understand now." Cloud smiled and headed for the lodge.

"So, was I."