Hidden Identity (Book Two)-Complete

Year Five, Thirty-Five

Cloud POV

It's almost nightfall. Cress still hasn't showed up yet. Something must've happened to her! She could be dead for all I know! I should never have let her go on her own!

Out of nowhere, something slams into me, knocking me to the ground. All I can see is silver...hair? For a horrific moment, my mind thinks, Sephiroth!

"Cloud! I'm so sorry I'm late!"

Cress! She's here! She's alright!

I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. "I'm never letting you go ever again."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Good."

Her soft lips press into mine. I kiss her back, overcome with emotion. She's alright. She's okay. Everything's going to be fine.

"Cress! You made it!" I hear Tifa and Aerith cry out.

Reluctantly, I release her. She pulls away and helps me to my feet before going to greet the others.

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Aerith POV

Cress stands up, helping Cloud to his feet as well. Then, she looks at me with tears in her eyes. She runs to me and hugs me. "Aerith...I remember. I remember everything. I'm so sorry...and I understand...why you didn't tell me about...about Sephiroth."

I bite my lip, tears pooling up in my own eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I'm glad you're back, Sam."

We stand there for a minute or two, hugging and crying. She's back. She's really back. Sam.

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Cress POV

After greeting everyone, they sit me down in front of a huge campfire in the center of the village and explain everything they learned from Red's grandfather, Bugenhagen. Apparently, the Lifestream is actually all the souls every living thing on this Planet converging and swirling together. When a person, creature, or plant dies, their 'Spirit Energy' becomes part of the Lifestream. When a new life is created, a part of the Spirit Energy goes into them, and the cycle continues.

If the Spirit Energy were to disappear, the Planet would die. The production of Mako prevents Spirit Energy from continuing its cycle. Which mean, ShinRa is slowly killing the Planet. They, too, must be stopped. 

Also, Red's real name is Nanaki. Bugenhagen is a human-don't know how that works. And he seems to dislike his father who disappeared when he was younger.

"So, where do we go from here?" I ask out loud.

"Nibelheim," Cloud says determinedly. "I just know we'll find clues to where that bastard is there."

Nibelheim. That reminds me, I need to talk to Tifa about that incident. About Zack...

When everyone's asleep, I creep over to her and shake her awake. "Tifa. Can I talk to you, please?"

"Hmm? Yeah sure," she replies, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What is it?"

"The Nibelheim Incident. Was Cloud actually there?"

Her eyes go wide. "I...no...he wasn't."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm scared about how he'll react. And I'm confused. He knows things he'd only know if he was actually there..."

"I don't think...I don't think he ever was actually SOLDIER. I met him in Midgar before the Nibelheim Incident...he was only an infantryman...but something happened at some point. Somehow, his memories got messed up..."

"Then...he could've been there. There were two infantrymen with Sephiroth and that black-haired SOLDIER...neither ever removed their helmets or spoke to me. What if one of them was him?"

I look over at Cloud's sleeping form. "The black-haired SOLDIER. Zack Fair. He was Aerith's boyfriend and my childhood friend. We grew up together in Gongaga. Do you...remember what happened to him?"

"No, I'm sorry...it's all rather murky..."

"Okay, sorry for bothering you. Night."

"Night."

I go over to Cloud and curl up beside him. What exactly happened in Nibelheim? Will we find answers or more questions when we get there?

Well, another short chapter...