"Oh Nannaki these flowers are so beautiful, don't you think?"

Nannaki barked agreeably and chased his tail happily. Suddenly a loud crash was heard outside and, running to the widow, Aeris saw a tornado lift up a man and throw him far into the horizon. Aeris screamed and then grabbed Nannaki tightly to her as the tornado came her way. The Tornado picked up her church and Aeris and whisked them away....

Upon waking Aeris looked about her to see where she was. Tiny little houses surrounded her and to her amazement tiny little people came out of those houses. Aeris quickly grabbed Toto...uh...I mean Nannaki, and lifted him so that the little people couldn't hurt her best friend. Looking around she saw her church behind her and then cried out in terror as she saw two feet protruding out from under her church. The tiny people cheered. Aeris was shocked that they were cheering at the death of a woman but soon found out that she had been a wicked witch. There was dancing and merry making and soon a bright light appeared and a beautiful woman with wings came out of the light.

"You are in the Land of Oz my dear," she said, smiling at Aeris. "Don't worry, you and your little dog will be fine."

"I thank you for your hospitality but I would really rather go back to Midgar."

The kind woman smiled at this and nodded. With a wave of her wand, the shoes found on the feet of the witch that had been killed now were suddenly on Aeris. The kindly woman explained that Aeris should keep these on for protection and should go see the Cetra in the Forgotten City, for only he could help Aeris find her way home. Just as Aeris was leaving, pink smoke shot up from the ground not far from her and suddenly there appeared a horrid creature. Her body was sleek and metallic and her face was as smooth as metal. When she talked, neither teeth nor mouth could be found behind her lips and she had holes for eyes. Her head consisted of her face and that was all. There were a great many wires protruding out of the top of her forehead and running down her back. They hummed with power and her metallic lips smiled as she came into view of Aeris.

"Hello my pretty," she said in a voice as silky and golden as the sunrise, "I see you have defeated my sister. No matter, I was trying to kill her myself. Do be a dear and give me those sparkling crimson slippers you have on." This was said with a sneer, and in Aeris' head the kind woman's voice could be heard.

"Do not give her the slippers. That is Jenova; she is full of evil and is not to be trusted."

Aeris slowly nodded and looked at Jenova.

"I...I'm sorry but I can't. She told me not to."

Jenova's smiled soon turned into a deep frown and she turned to the kind woman.

"Listen Lucrecia, get in my way again and you die," Jenova said with a sneer. Her metallic features smoothed and became calm as she looked upon Aeris once again. "Be careful my dear, things can happen here that can be dangerous to your health."

With that, she disappeared.

After many good-byes, Aeris set off on her journey to the Forgotten City. Smiling, she began skipping and was soon far away from the tiny village and well on her way to the city. She stopped skipping as she suddenly heard a groan.

"Who....who is there?" she asked, looking about her. She then saw a tin man. The tin man looked real and all except his hair was silver/metallic and his hair was a deep golden blonde.

"Help me please," the man said, motioning to his rusted arms and legs. Aeris was surprised when she found an oil dispenser in her hands. *How did this get here?* Shrugging off the thought she quickly oiled the man up until he could move.

"Hello sir, how are you?"

"Great, after that. Thank you very much!"

"What is your name?"

"My name is Cloud."

"Where is your family, where is your house?" Aeris asked in curiosity.

"I...I dunno. I just know my name."

"Oh....ok. Well, I must be off now. I'm going to see the Cetra!"

"Oh, I am so stupid!" Cloud mumbled, sitting down. "I'm a nobody! I'm just a stupid clone."

"Oh come now," Aeris said, "you are somebody."

"No, I am not. I was made in a lab to be exactly like someone else...I'm just a copy!"

"You stop talking like that! Now look at you, you're an individual! You have your own thoughts and your own opinions!"

"Oh if I only had an identity! If I only was somebody!"

"Well, if the Cetra can find a way for me to go home, I'm sure they can find a way for you to have an identity."

"Really?"

"Of course...now don't cry anymore or you will rust!"

"Oh...ok."

"Now come on, let's go." Aeris' bright smile lifted Cloud's spirits. Quickly getting his sword he journeyed with her. Holding hands they skipped down the road whistling and laughing.

Suddenly looking about them they felt scared. The day had turned to night and nice trees looked barren and foreboding. Some gibberish could be heard and Aeris looked in the direction it was coming from. She could see a tall, handsome, and broad form standing in the darkness and could hear some quiet talking coming from him.

"Hel---hello?"

The lightning struck and Aeris screamed as she saw a shirtless man standing in the sudden light. His long silver hair was wild and uncombed. His eyes emitted a throbbing glow that intensified his insane babbling.

Aeris composed herself once again, calming herself with the thought of Cloud and his sword.

"Are you ok?" Aeris asked the babbling man.

"I...I don't kno-know...I-I c-can't keep control. I lost my sanity...I keep calling it...it...it doesn't come back."

"Don't worry," Aeris said, taking his hand, "we are here...the Cetra can give you sanity."

"Promise?"

"I promise...now let's get out of the dark. There is mansion just on the horizon over there...see it? Let's go."

The three walked steadily until they got to the mansion. It had begun to rain before they reached the mansion, so once inside they were all thoroughly soaked. Aeris had to keep calming down the frightened Sephiroth. Cloud watched suspiciously, having both hands tightly on the handle of his sword, watching Sephiroth sternly.

"Cloud, may I see you?" Aeris called from another room. Giving Sephiroth one more stare, Cloud walked into the other room.

"What are you doing?! You have been mean to poor Sephiroth ever since we found him!"

"It's not that easy...you wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"He.....it's just that....he...he is the guy I was cloned after."

"....oh." Aeris held her hand to her mouth. She rushed to Cloud hugging him tightly. Soft sobs where coming from Cloud as they stood there in each other's arms.

"You're nothing like him Cloud. Look at you...you're the most unique person I know. You reassured me in the dark, you followed me, and you were kind to me even when you did not know me."

Cloud's hug softened as he smiled in delight. And then Aeris noticed something...he felt softer. His hard tin exterior was a little malleable...Aeris shrugged it off as probably from the rain. The hug ended when she heard a scream in the other room just as thunder cracked out side.

Aeris saw Sephiroth shaking in the corner as the rain pounded outside. Aeris rushed to Sephiroth. Kneeling down, she took his hands and began whispering soft words. She stopped when she heard a noise from upstairs. Turning, she saw Cloud nod before he ran up the stairs. For some reason, Aeris felt assured that Cloud could handle it and went back to calming Sephiroth down. Upstairs, Cloud slowly began to walk around the hallways. A flash of lightning illuminated the hallway and in front of him a crimson-clothed figure stood.

"Leave this place," his deep, quiet voice whispered behind a red scarf-like object.

"Why? We are only..."

"You must leave. I can't control myself...much...l-longer." And with that, he jumped on Cloud. The force of the jump knocked Cloud and the man through a wall and into another room. They exchanged a few blows before Cloud was finally able to pin down the red clad figure.

"The monster within..." the man said, and suddenly he grunted in pain as his skin began turning blackish purple.

Cloud hit the man again. "You are a man. Not a creature. Whatever sin you committed is not so horrible...."

"I am responsible for many deaths..." the figure interrupted.

And you will be responsible for you own," Cloud finished for him.

You don't know me...why should you care?" the figure asked, his skin slowly lightening back to white.

No, I don't know you, but I don't want to lose you before I get a chance to."

The man stared into the green eyes of Cloud as he nodded. His features were normal again and he took of the cape and bandana from his body.

"Vincent," he said softly, extending his hand.

"Cloud," Cloud murmured as he stood and took the hand of Vincent, pulling Vincent up.

Aeris frowned in despair as she stroked Sephiroth's cheek.

"I...I don't know...so many voices.."

Aeris shushed Sephiroth, trying to calm him. Aeris jumped slightly as she heard a racket that sounded like fighting coming from upstairs...she ignored it for the moment.

"I s-see a woman.....a mask... a mask of a metallic face...smooth and beautiful."

"And a kiss to die for," Jenova said, appearing behind Aeris.

Aeris jumped up and screamed, backing away from the wicked woman.

"Oh, you should be scared, deary. I'm going to take those slippers now, and I'm going to take away what small spark of hope has been giving to these three wretched men!"

Something in Aeris snapped just then. Maybe it was the smirk on the metallic face, or the tone and pitch of Jenova's voice, or maybe it was the strong bonds she had made with these men in this short time. Green thin threads began forming around her, spinning violently, weaving a web around Aeris so beautiful and radiant that Jenova had to shield her eyes.

Although Aeris did not even notice her, Lucrecia appeared behind her. She looked at Jenova and began saying something only Jenova could hear.

"Do you not see it now, Jenova? The Cetra is standing before you...Aeris is your destruction."

With a scream the beautiful pattern weaving around Aeris shot out two threads. These threads spun around Jenova and engulfed her. Brighter and brighter they became until it was impossible to see anything in the room. Then, Jenova and the threads were gone.

Silence overtook the room.

Sephiroth stopped shaking. "They...they are gone! The voices are gone!"

Sephiroth lifted Aeris up and spun her around, finally setting her down with words of gratitude and tears of joy. Neither he nor Aeris had heard Lucrecia but somehow Sephiroth knew Aeris was behind his cure.

Cloud raced down to find out what was going on. Jumping to the ground the tin man saw Aeris standing there. Aeris turned and, seeing Cloud, she ran to him and they embraced. Aeris pushed Cloud back to look into his eyes. His eyes were not metallic anymore and his skin was more like bendable plastic than tin. Aeris looked into those pools of green and kissed Cloud.

Her lips were greeted with hard cold lips...but as her kiss intensified, Cloud's lips became softer....wetter and finally Aeris could feel warmth from Cloud lips. Vincent came down and saw the happy scene. Sephiroth was standing in joy and Cloud and Aeris were kissing. Without even realizing it Vincent did something he hadn't done in years. He smiled. He smiled the rest of the night and he became happy.

The kiss had to end sometime and it finally did. They all sat together by the fire staring into the warm flames.

"The sun is coming up soon Aeris...want me to show you how to get to the Forgotten City so that you can get home?" Vincent asked.

Aeris stood up and looked about the room. The soft glow of the fire illuminated Cloud's soft features, Vincent's content smile, and Sephiroth's long silver hair. She looked down at Nannaki who had been hiding under the couch ever since they'd entered the mansion. She looked at everything and smiled.

"I think I'm already home," Aeris said with a warm soft smile. "I think I'm already home."