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Premonitions: Uncut	By : Hippo_and_Friends_with_Benefits Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 3901 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, and I am not making any money of of this writing.

Chapter List
- 70
- 71
- 72
Chapter 71: The Cabin at the Edge of the Clearing, and Other Events
The forest seemed different once the three of them had passed the cave. The large insects and carnivorous plants were gone. Instead, Cloud, Aerith, and Vincent beheld the trees and shrubs that they were used to. They each breathed a sigh of relief; escaping the forest would be easy now.
A few yards away from them stood a clearing. At the other side of the clearing, the three of them could see a cabin. It was about two stories high, and seemed large enough to have at least four bedrooms. The lights were on at the ground floor.
"A house is here?!" Aerith exclaimed. "But who would want to live in a forest like this?"
"This isn't the nasty part of the woods," Cloud explained. "We're nowhere near any giant flytraps."
"But still!" Aerith continued. "Who would want to be isolated away like that without any neighbors?"
"Someone who doesn't want to be found too easily," Vincent suggested. "Possibly someone who's on the run or in hiding."
At that moment, a man of roughly forty came from around the corner of the cabin. He was about as tall as Cloud, and had brown hair that was combed backward.
"You three lost?" he asked upon spotting the travelers.
"We're sorry," Aerith apologized. "We didn't mean to trespass."
"I'll take that as a yes," said the man. "It's okay. No offense is taken; we have nothing to fear. At least not anymore."
"Not in this part of the forest," said Cloud.
"The name's Parker," the man greeted. "You came from the nasty side of the cave?"
"We did," Cloud replied.
"Wow," said Parker. "I've never seen anyone from that side. You must be exhausted. Why don't you come in?"
"We wouldn't want to trouble you," Aerith said. "We were just on the way back to our airship."
"Nonsense," Parker insisted with a smile. "Not to mention, wouldn't you have to walk all the way back to get to your ship?"
The three of them nodded in agreement; it had not been something they had considered. None of them wanted to go back through nature's funhouse, and going around it would be much longer.
"My other half will be home this evening," Parker continued. "I'll drive you back to your airship then. In the meantime, come on in. You all look parched. I'll give your some refreshments."
He led the three of them around the cabin to the front door. On the front steps sat an eleven-year-old girl, playing with a couple of action figures. She did not seem the least troubled upon seeing Cloud and the other two.
"Daddy," she began, "who are these people?"
"Travelers," Parker replied. "They came from the other side of the cave."
"You mean the bad side of the forest?" the girl gasped.
"That's right, Sage," Parker answered as he led the three up the stairs and through the front door.
"And they didn't get eaten?" Sage asked.
"Barely," Vincent replied.
Parker led the three into the kitchen and signaled for them to sit down at the table. As they did so, he pour iced tea for each of them.
"Come to think of it," Parker said, "how did you get through the cave?"
"What do you mean?" asked Cloud.
"That cave is sealed," Parker replied. "Nobody can get in, or out."
"We did," Vincent said. "Perhaps solving the puzzle opened up."
"Puzzle?" asked Parker.
There was silence. Cloud knew he needed to figure out how to explain their situation to Parker in the simplest manner possible; their adventure was getting more complicated by the day.
During the silence, everyone could hear the front door open, followed by the rather loud steps of somebody approaching the kitchen.
Aerith grew concerned; they reminded her of the steps she used to hear as a child, when someone came to her house to take her away.
A few moments later, Reeve appeared in the kitchen doorway.
Aerith sat frozen in horror.
He just barged in here uninvited! she thought. What's he doing here? Did he track me down? Or does he have plans for Parker and Sage? No wonder they're hiding in the forest like this!
Parker got up out of his seat. He slowly walked over to where Reeve stood until the two men were inches apart.
Another ugly thought crossed Aerith's mind.
Could we have somehow led him here?
Parker and Reeve stood, silently facing each other, for several seconds. Then they kissed.
Aerith felt a wave of relief.
"Sorry I'm late," Reeve apologized. "My interview went longer than I expected."
"Did you get the job?" Parker asked.
"They said they have to do their evaluations and keep their options open," Reeve answered.
Just then, Sage appeared next to them.
"Daddy's home!" she shouted joyfully as she threw her arms around Reeve.
"Sage!" Reeve called as he hugged her back.
The three at the kitchen table observed how much Sage and Reeve looked alike.
Then, Reeve turned, noticing the guests.
"Hey Cloud!" he greeted.
"Wait a minute," Parker interjected. "That's Cloud?"
"That is Cloud," Reeve confirmed. "And that's Vincent. And that's...Aerith?!"
"That's right," Aerith said. "I'm alive. It's a long story."
"You know I had to tell your mother you died," Reeve said. "It broke her heart."
Parker looked at Cloud, Vincent, and Aerith. "So I guess you've already met my husband."
Reeve walked over to the table to join his guests.
Aerith immediately turned to Cloud.
"Did he switch sides while I was gone?"
"Remember when Cait Sith told us he had a 'real body' somewhere?" Cloud reminded her?
Aerith nodded.
"Here it is," Cloud finished as Reeve waived to her.
"So what brings you all out here, anyway?" Reeve asked.
"We were on the other side of the forest," Cloud began.
"The nasty side," Aerith added.
"To get the Quadra Magic," Cloud resumed. "I've also acquired a summon called Knights of the Round. Remember those premonitions we were all talking about?"
Reeve nodded.
"We think Sephiroth is having them, too," Cloud continued. "So we got all this powerful magic to even the odds."
"We were going to try it on Emerald Weapon," added Aerith, "but we'd drown before the spell was over."
"Cetra don't have gills, do they?" Reeve asked.
Aerith silently turned to Vincent; it seemed as if everybody thought that.
"I'll take that as a no," Reeve said. "Well, there might be a way everyone can."
Six ears went up.
"During the war, it was rumored that Wutai was developing a device that allows you to breathe underwater," Reeve continued.
Six ears went down.
"Rumored," Vincent echoed. "And if they do have them they're likely destroyed, or put away in the Pagoda."
"The Pagoda?" Aerith asked.
"Where Wutai keeps their treasures," Cloud said.
"Alright," Reeve said, "count me in."
Vincent immediately looked at Cloud.
"We're going to Wutai?"
"It appears so," Cloud replied. "We won't know until we try."
"When do we leave?" Reeve asked.
Cloud looked at Parker. "You do have a family to look after," he pointed out. "And a possible new job."
Just then, a familiar looking white creature, with a tuxedo cat on top, appeared in the doorway.
"Don't forget," added Reeve, "that I can be in two places at once."
Cloud smiled. "It looks like the band's slowly coming back together."
THAT EVENING...
The evening was spent at Elmyra's house. As Cloud, Aerith, Vincent, and Cait Sith boarded the Highwind earlier that day, Aerith suddenly pulled out her cell phone.
"Everything okay?" Cloud asked.
"Whenever my pants vibrate at your presence, that usually means my mom's texting me," she replied. She paused as she scanned the text message. "She invited us to dinner at her house tonight," she continued. "And she wants us to meet Ethan."
"Ethan?" Cloud asked.
"It looks like she has a boyfriend," Aerith said. "And it's Ethan Fowler. My grammar teacher my sophomore year. This will be interesting."
The "double date," as Elmyra had put it, did not become interesting, and it certainly did not become awkward until two hours in. Cloud had excused himself to the bathroom, leaving Aerith with Ethan and Elmyra. Both of them had been letting out an unfriendly vibe, which only Aerith could detect, the entire time. Now, it was time for them to express it.
"Aerith," began Elmyra in a stern tone of voice, "Ethan and I think we know why your premonitions have stopped."
"So do I," said Aerith. "I actually got killed by Sephiroth in the original timeline. I'm alive now because I was having premonitions about my death, and I got my hands on phase materia that makes me untouchable. This isn't really news anymore."
"So you tampered with history as well," Elmyra said.
"You really shouldn't be here," Ethan added. "You don't belong alive. You've upset the course of history."
"And how many people suffered from your selfishness?" Elmyra asked.
"Nobody," Aerith, who now wanted to cry, insisted.
"How many people died so you could live?" Elmyra continued.
"None!" Aerith replied defensively. "The whole situation was between Sephiroth and myself! It didn't affect anyone else's lifespan."
"How can you be so sure?" Ethan asked.
Aerith lowered her head.
At that moment, Cloud returned from the bathroom. The first thing he noticed was Aerith hanging her head in sadness.
"What's wrong?" he naturally asked.
"It's time to go home," she said.
THAT NIGHT...
Aerith stood alone outside her home on the back patio, watching the waves crash onto the beach. She had a lot on her mind, particularly what she had been told during dinner. Cloud had consoled her as best he could, and she did indeed feel better. He had told her how happy she made him, and that she had a purpose, but the concern continued to linger. Ethan Fowler had been someone she had respected for years. To add to it, her mother agreed with him.
She spent a great deal of time contemplating what she had been told. Could there be any way possible she could have exchanged anyone's life for hers? The only deaths, that she could think of, that were new in the timeline were those destroyed along with Junon. She could not think of anyone whom she might have remotely inconvenienced by still being alive, save for Sephiroth. She had even saved Midgar from being turned to dust. The more she considered it, the more it seemed that Ethan Fowler simply preferred the original timeline or was simply obsessed with science fiction paradoxes. Giggling slightly, she almost wanted to smack herself in the face for letting that get to her. There was nothing wrong with her still being alive. Nothing at all.
She entered the house to find Cloud in the kitchen. He was shirtless and washing the dishes.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm feeling better," she assured him. "I think my mom and even Ethan Fowler will get over it. It might not have supposed to happen, but I'm happy to be here."
"I'm happy to have you," he said.
She gave Cloud a sincere look before pressing her lips against his. She then took a look at the dishes in the sink.
"I think you could use a hand," Aerith offered. "But first, I think I need to be dressed like you."
Before Cloud could ask what she meant by that, she pulled her shirt off and tossed it a couple of yards behind her. She made eye contact with Cloud for but a moment before reaching behind, unhooking her bra, and casting that aside as well. She then kissed his mouth once more.
"That's better," she said as she began to scrub a plate.
"You were out back for a while," he pointed out.
"I've just had a lot of stuff on my mind, other than what my mom said."
"Like what?" asked Cloud.
"I thought Reeve was just a ruthless businessman," Aerith replied. "I never knew he had a husband and daughter to take care of."
"Neither did I," he said.
"You know what sucks, though?" she asked.
"What?"
"We're both topless in jeans together. A rear-view selfie with our bare backs would look so cute, but it's impossible to take one."
He kissed her again, and pulled her in for a hug, stroking her bare back.
The skin-to-skin contact made Aerith feel closer to him, causing her to hug back even tighter.
They then finished the dishes together.
LATE THAT NIGHT...
Cloud found himself in the field again. He stood up to see the familiar grass, flowers, and reeds, occupied by the butterflies and bumblebees. Looking upward, he could see the beautiful, blue sky once more. He could also feel the sadness that had been there the previous two times.
The path was there once again. It led downward, and around the shrub that stood in front of him. It was no different than before, yet a realization slowly began to materialize. Cloud began to feel that he was supposed to walk it. He considered that if he did so, perhaps he would have an explanation for this recurring dream.
And then, something else dawned on his mind.
What's behind the shrub?
Cloud realized that there was only one way to find out. He began to walk the path toward where it turned. As he got further down the path, the aura of sadness increased. He almost wanted to stop, knowing that it would get worse further down. Yet, he realized that he needed to continue. He had already made it farther than before. He took another step, and the sadness became worse. He took one more step, and that sadness grew stronger.
Soon, he realized the spot where the path turned was only a few feet in front of him. At the turn, he could see the shadow of a standing figure. The shrub was concealing whom it belonged to, but there was definitely a figure there.
Just then, a bumblebee buzzed by Cloud's ear, and he nearly jumped. He then sighed in relief, and almost wanted to kick himself.
"This is a dream, dumbass!" he said to himself. "You can't get stung! Or, at least it won't hurt!"
He then became nervous again, realizing that any "jump scenes" in a dream could cause him to awaken. That was certainly something he did not want. This was the third time he had had this dream. Once would be just a dream, but three times would have to mean something more.
For a few moments, he stood there, expecting to awaken. But he did not. Instead, he remained in the meadow, with the tall grass, reeds, flowers, bees, butterflies, and that sad aura that seemed to sting his heart.
By now, the aura was beyond mournful. Cloud felt so much sadness that he wondered if he would cry. But he knew he must go on. All he would have to do was round the bend and see who or what was behind the shrub. He also realized that whatever the shrub was concealing was likely the origin of the sadness.
As he took another step forward, Cloud could see that the shadow was humanoid. It was obviously a person.
But whom?
Cloud stood there, wondering. He was almost afraid to see whom it was. For every step he took towards the shadow, the stronger the sadness became.
He stepped forward again.
He then awoke.
"Goddammit," he muttered.
Aerith mumbled something and turned over in her sleep.
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- 72
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Premonitions: Uncut