A/N: Nothing much to say here. Umm... well, this is my first FF7 fic. Hope it goes alright. And while I'm here, better claim that I don't own the characters either. So now you know!!!

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Chapter 1: Flaming Experience

Tendrils of long, auburn hair picked up into the chill breeze and whipped rashly into the girl's face. She drove slender fingers over her scalp then brought them quickly to her cracked lips and let the warmth of her breath attempt to ward off the bluish tint. The other arm wrapped a thick fur blanket over her small, trembling form, all the while dragging it up closer to the base of her chin. Wisps of the dark-reddish fur bristled against her nose, but she failed to notice through the biting cold. She took heavy, stomping steps through three feet of fresh snow, her slightly too large of boots proving difficult to walk in. She watched their meek struggle with a bowed head and narrowed eyes. The eyelashes were heavy and frozen, tiny droplets of water crested around each one.

Silently, she counted every step she took and somehow hoped the distraction would bring her to warmth faster. A gust of wind pushed from behind, upturning her hair and plastering long bangs to her face once again. She clutched the blanket tighter and brought it past her chin to right under her eyes. The numbing pain of her exposed legs at which the blanket no longer reached failed to comply to her mind's wishes for another step and caused her to stumble slightly. Her arms were thrown out in reach of support but instead swung around to regain balance. Much to her disdain, the left boot had cloven its own path under the surface and now not only held her frozen foot, but a large clump of flaky snow.

"For the love of..." Aeris sighed in exasperation, wiping her rosy cheeks with her free hand. This was too much. Progress was already hellacious enough, plus now wearing the burden, was beginning to prick her patience.

She made a feeble attempt to wiggle her toes loose from the brown boot, but there was no response from the knee down. "Come on," she prompted, though she knew it was to no avail. Instead she brought her eyes up to scan the horizon. The fog was thick as filled her nostrils as she made to sigh. The pristine glory of pearl-white powder was indeed better to view from the warmth of one's own hearth than actually experience it.

It was then that it dawned on Aeris that she had traveled too far with down-cast eyes to know where she was anymore. She briefly considered taking off her small pack to pull out a map, but the effort seemed to no appeal and it was impossible to differentiate this piece of land from the next. Her tongue, the only thing vibrant enough to move, clicked against the roof of her mouth as she pondered her next move. She guessed it must've been high noon when she first left her previous camp and she had be traveling five hours at the least. So if the sun wasn't as bright and the air getting cooler, it must've been around...

Aeris paused her calculations when she felt her left foot began to burn in a fiery-needle-poking' kind of a way, as she had put it for the past week or so. She decided it was time to find shelter.

Easier desired than done.

The Northern Continent, during the pressing season of winter, was not easy to navigate nor traverse. Aeris traced her mind back to the last time she had sighted a cave. Her brows furrowed in frustration, suddenly wishing she had kept her eyes up more often. This morning she had left one cave and that was the first and so far the last she had seen all day today. It would take her twice as long to get back as it had to get here, thanks to the surprise storm, and Aeris was too stubborn to give up a day's journey anyway. Her bottom lip protruded by habit, but split at the sudden strain. "Ouch," she whimpered and began to suck at the small drops of blood that formed.

For the past few days Aeris had adapted the habit of talking to herself, seeing as how she was her only company. The Planet had grown silent ever since she had reached this continent. Aeris knew that it wasn't completely hushed or gone, but its presence waned and sometimes swayed back and forth with uncertainty. It wasn't like the Planet to make a mistake or be unsure of itself, and something inside Aeris said that it was far from being irresolute, but more so anxious.

Prior to reaching the Northern Continent, the Planet had firmly instructed Aeris in her actions, sending shrill vibrations and voices to heed her caution or press her forward. It had sung brilliantly and filled Aeris with pure certitude. Now it merely whispered soft chants barely audible to the girl's inner ear, mourning some unforeseen loss. It had lately been acting as a harbinger, wooing deceit and grieving for Aeris's misfortune for no particular reason. This had not gone unnoticed by the host herself, but her attitude was becoming slightly dour towards the Planet. It ignored Aeris's every question and thought, sending a light shhhhh..' every time she addressed it directly.

At first these conditions had worried Aeris to no ends. She had expected the exact opposite, seeing how resonant the Planet was that last time she was near The Forgotten City. It was a clear memory the way it had sung with heavy pulsation and nearly begged to be called upon. It was a child returning home, calling to the comfort of familiar walls and sensations. When the Planet had immediately hushed and fled to the corners of Aeris's mind, the girl took it as a sign to leave and escape as well. But the Planet had been quick to stop her, screaming in deep, foreboding tones to turn around and proceed her journey. The words were often repeated, even now, when Aeris doubted her continuation: Expurgate. Expurgate the Cetra.'

Upon first hearing the Planet's comment about a Cetra besides herself, Aeris became hopeful, tears welling in her eyes with vivid thoughts of her mother and the Ancients she had often spoke of. But the Planet had meant otherwise, never correcting Aeris as it allowed her to find the answer independently. And find it she did. Accompanied by a painful wailing, Aeris had woken with a start in her room at the Icicle Inn five days ago. At that moment, during another session of the Planet's chanting, her mind reeled with the possibility of the other Cetras that the Planet had mistakenly meant.

It was no mistake, Aeris had eventually admitted after coming to terms with herself over the sleepless night. Expurgate the Cetra' focused itself on either of two beings, both of which Aeris still cringed upon thinking about.

The second night spent at Icicle Inn, Aeris had asked the Planet about the possibilities. Her only answer was that same drowning Shhhhh...' which resulted in vulgar thoughts from Aeris. Find the answer from the Planet proved impossible, no matter how many time she had inquired the subject. Instead, she decided it was best to confront the problem face-to-face and just let the stubborn Planet have its way.

So this is where she traveled now, in search of The Forgotten City, which would hopefully lead to some answers. The last time she was there her experiences were not kindly remembered. It caused her to frown even when it was such a comfort zone. The last few months or so had taught her otherwise about putting trust into individuals and open spaces. Even though her short trek with Cloud and the others had shown her plenty of hospitality, it never gave her the full lesson of real life in the outside world. Sometimes it would agitate Aeris to think she was treated like such a fragile child. Just because she was the last of her kind didn't mean she should be forced to live in a box. But at the moment, in a current state of frozen limbs, a nice, dry box sounded reasonable.

A small smile began to shape Aeris's lips at the thought of someplace warm, but it stopped short when the familiar tightness of dried skin startled her. Sighing, she came out of her short reminiscence and looked back at her demanding situation. All the while she had been thinking, her body had been screaming for heat and release from the wetness that soaked her through. Even the Planet seemed to be scolding the daydreaming session.

Aeris once more scanned her surroundings for any sign of, well... anything! To her great fortune, the fog had disintegrated some bit and she was able to spot a cluster of trees in the near distance where a short cliff protruded from the thick snowy base. With any more luck there would be a pile of rocks of some sort or at least a dry place to squeeze her numb body between. She hurried along with a sludgy left foot.

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Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Aeris bent over to catch her breath, watching as the air filed out of her lips and floated away like weightless puffs of cloud. Her knees cracked noisily when she straightened up and stood at full height. She took one hand to carefully slide the ice from her lashes while rearranging her blanket with the other.

The cliff bordered off into a small hill hidden from the girl's view by the coarse trees at the farther distance from which she initially spotted the landing. Under the trees there was a drastic lack of snow, maybe one or two feet at the most. Her boots trudged along until her fragile hand came to rest on the rough bark of a pine. She used the tree to support her weight while she set down her blanket and pulled off the left boot. The shoe was tipped upside down as she shook it harshly from side to side, watching clump after clump of watery snow come splurging out.

As soon as the snow seized and only drops at a time fell from the boot's leather fringes, Aeris set it down close by and examined her now soaked sock. The sodden thing already hung halfway off her food, exposing a deathly pale heel. She delicately pinched the tip of the cloth and dragged it off the rest of her foot to lay it atop the boot. Next, she inspected each blue toe, forcing their movement with the help of her hand. When they began to quiver independently, she chirped gleefully. The silly grin was soon wiped off her face as the familiar pricking burn soon followed. "Ooh!" she squealed and began to rub the foot vigorously while still attempting to grip the tree.

When the pain subdued, Aeris fitted the bare foot back into the boot and wrung out the sock. The water hit the snow with a small splatter that rather turned to the shatter of ice. What temperature out here was it anyway? She swung the blanket back over her shoulders and the frozen sock was put near her underarm where it was becoming warm again. The cloak was wrapped around even more firmly before she set out again deeper into the forest.

Aeris had been following the brim of the hill to where it once again became sharp and jagged with protruding rocks to form another cliff. She heightened her speed slightly when the rocks became denser and more so piled on top of one another. The Planet even urged a lighter foot, pushing against her being with hopeful excitement. The girl ran clumsily until she hit a small clearing that lacked the density of saplings. Only a few mature pines towered over the area, holding mountains of snow in their broad branches. The actual ground was nearly visible, the few inches of snow mixed to the muddy brown of dirt.

The frozen girl gleefully jumped out of the thick snow in which she had been struggling. Under the gracious awning, Aeris released her death grip from the blanket and swiped her bangs from her eyes. The clearing was small, but supplied enough room to make camp if necessary. Before jumping to conclusions though, Aeris inspected the boulders around the area, testing crevices to fit her frame.

Luckily, she sighted two slabs of greyish-brown rock wedged firmly into the ground along the side of the cliff wall, creating a miniature shrine of dry land. It slanted along the forest floor above upturned roots of a tree that appeared to have fallen centuries ago. The snow stopped about three feet from the entrance of the tiny cave, for the nooks in the ground were likely to be let into small animal holes, never giving the snow enough support to pack itself in. Aeris deemed this little sanctuary to be the most secure landing to rest for the night lest there be another storm.

Stepping under the ledge of the two boulders, Aeris moved aside the loose dirt and set her doe-skin pack off to the side, but still within reach. She then shed the heavy pelt and folded it halfway into a corner. The cool air hit her shoulders harshly, sending unmerciful shivers to control her already chilled body. She sat back onto the blanket, noting the cave's five-foot diameter to curl herself into.

A cold draft under Aeris's arm caused her to suddenly release the drenched sock she had been holding there. That's right,' she reminded herself with slightly angled lips.

She set the sock close next to the entrance of the half-dome and turned her attention to her feet. Aeris's usually nimble fingers had a difficult time unstrapping the clasps of the boots, so she resolved to just pull the things off unmindfully. The left foot wiggled happily to be free of dank clamor, but the right screamed at the release of its previous storage of warmth. The sock was immediately yanked off and the girl went to work on restoring its flesh color.

As soon as the first trigger of a stinging sensation reached the foot distantly, the Ancient scrambled to divert her attention before the full-fledged pain hit. She arranged both boots neatly in another corner, taking time to be more organized than was common of herself. After they were as aligned as humanly possible, the girl set her pack in her lap and dove her hand inside, grappling for the soft exterior of the crust on the bread-loaf she had brought. Instead she retrieved a frozen block of the stuff, grimacing at what was her dinner-to-be.

When the intense throb of pain began to diminish, Aeris practiced moving the toes of her right foot, glad to see at least one was working properly. Her mind no longer needing a physical distraction, she removed her short, red jacket and was left clad only in her skimpy pale pink dress. Her back and bottom pushed up against the back wall as far as possible and she once again pushed the loose dirt outward and accessories away from the center. Then, calm as she could, balancing her mind in perfect unison with her body's posture, she called to the Planet.

Aeris had be lacking practice with her magic, especially among the elements. During the only time they were actually needed, her strong points were of healing stature, not physical conjurations or alchemy. Indeed it was in her knowledge, especially embraced by her ancestors, but the techniques were raw and unfamiliar. Otherwise she would have long ago cast fire of some sort while freezing in the storm.

Her main fear was control. Healing spells required subconscious reins, the receiver only accepting the necessary amount by instincts. Likewise, elements were fabricated upon the initial desire, but the amount of power was dependent upon the summoner and could easily skip right out of submissive territory. Overwhelming zeal was a dangerous factor when considering physical magics and must be entirely handled when the caster decides how much force is going to be needed. Wild conjurations were unpredictable and seemed to possess their own shrewd humor.

This was far over Aeris's head. Already she was debating whether the idea was being analytical or simply insane. One shoulder angel spoke of loosing control, releasing flames to everything within her power's range, destroying her food, clothes, and most dreadfully, herself. The other angel argued that it would be much nicer to burn to death than to freeze overnight. Back to the first angel, it explained being awake during one death, peacefully asleep in the other. The second angel: it was cold right now, and fire sounded damn good right now.

Aeris had to agree with both, but seeing as how she couldn't depict which angel was good and which was bad, that second one was just too tempting. And no thanks to the Planet for helping her choose. Her own insanity was leading her to follow imaginary' sprites on her shoulders. See,' she insisted toward herself, this cold weather is getting to you. Another reason to at least try the stupid spell.'

The Cetra straightened herself on the edge of the pelt, relaxing her neck and shoulders back, lifting her chest to take in a languorous breath. Her legs were crossed tightly, bringing them away from the center of the cave as well and away from feasible danger. She raised and placed her hands before her softly; slowly, as she was accustomed to performing when casting healing spells, and put the left hand lightly behind the right for support. Her breathing became deeper as she focused all attention inward, invoking the Planet with the ancestral song that continuously flowed throughout her soul since birth. There was no answer. Everything inside Aeris was quieter than death. The Planet refused to stir, let alone reply to the Cetra's call.

Aeris frowned, choking down the sudden panic that the Planet had actual left her, angry with the summoning. It would have really worried her, had the Planet not done this before. Tired of the stubborn resistance, Aeris concentrated on her breathing, listening to the expand of her lungs; the sound of brisk air. She felt the microscopic ice particles melt upon her lips, tongue, and throat. She saw the darkness behind closed eyes, yet observed the Lifestream within herself. She tasted the dirt, could smell fertile soil, and finally sense the Planet's presence.

A chant rose tediously from the depths of Aeris, filling her being with a satiating comfort; a reassuring embrace. Fibers of air, earth, water, and fire, all that was, surrounded her. Still, Aeris paid them no heed, but rather let the song caress the Planet until in swooned submissively. She called to it directly, stating her indications instead of asking. The Planet shied, becoming silent again, but Aeris held it firmly, pressing her hands subconsciously closer together.

Finally there was a release. The Planet let loose its bonds and nearly toppled the young Cetra's mind with battering force. Jerking slightly, Aeris rearranged her seat and began to sing in harmony with the Planet, letting it fill her. She brought her hands apart until only the thumbs and forefingers were touching and formed a spade-like triangle facing the ground.

"Heat," she whispered shakily, "fire." Within her core, Aeris felt the swelling of matter, starting at the base of her spin and rising to meet the junction of her skull and shoulders. The tingling fibers swam down her arms and warmly slithered around and through her fingers.

Aeris almost slipped in the excitement of the new sensation, forgetting to keep the flow under control. Her eyes snapped open when she felt the imposing surge of burning heat rise from the center-point in her body and race through to the ends of her arms. There was a sudden, brilliant burst of light as fire secreted beneath her palms. It lasted only a moment before it was completely gone, long enough for Aeris to feel the flames lick between the pads of her fingers. She snatched them back, surprised out of her trance and concentration. Her face cringed as she expected to suddenly feel searing pain at any moment, but none came. Uncertain, the girl turned her palms upward, shocked to note their unblemished appearance. She squinted her jade eyes, pondering whether she should chance the risk again.

That appealing angel had returned.

Finding the resolve needed, Aeris closed her eyes and searched for the Planet. Relief flooded her when she found it waiting, perhaps a bit anxious, but unlikely to flee. The girl only needed to place her hands before her again, touching fingertips, and the Planet sang on its own. Inside the her mind, Aeris attempted to join the chorus, adding her own archaic fluctuations, but the Planet blocked her efforts, easily drowning her out in the sound of a thousand remote voices.

The calming warmth flustered at Aeris's spine, rising in pulsating throbs to the beat of the song; the beat of life. The girl sat in placid stillness, letting the Planet show and teach her the flow of matter and elements. It embraced her as would an attentive mother, kneeling behind the shoulders, moving the pupil's hands for them, weaving intricate designs through the air. Enigmatic symbols began to form and Aeris became aware of the flow leading again down her arms and through her fingers to where it rested in her palms.

Open you eyes, child,' prompted the Planet. Watch.'

Aeris did as instructed, letting heavy eyelids slide upward lazily. The Planet became louder, all the voices chattering at once, whispering secrets and talking to the flames. They pounded in Aeris's head, rhythmically pressing her inner being, hypnotizing her as the clamor grew. In the trance of summoning and chants, Aeris's eyes followed the movements of her hands: fingers splayed and still circling a small space of air as wisps of fiery aura were left in the patterned wakes. Resting in her palms all the while burned a life in bright oranges and yellows. It sat patiently, waiting for the release. Fire...' spoke Aeris in awe to the Planet which still guided her.

Fire,' it repeated and finally let go. Aeris's core let off a singed end, completing the flow that threaded through her whole self. It came up her spine, down her arms, through her hands, and forcefully clasped her palms together.

The warm sensation was gone, leaving only loose threads here and there that flickered to life then quickly died out. The darkness of the night sky filled the cave and a pressing hush fell over the land, though there had been no actual sounds outside of the Cetra girl's ears. Her ecstatic expression dropped drastically, for there was not a trace of the flames anywhere. Had their reality only been an illusion as trickery for her firm hand with the Planet?

Aeris again felt for the vibrant awareness, searching her whole body. Her mesmerized form remained plastered in the position she had last been in while acting out the summoning. The palms felt cool against one another and her frail body began to shiver when the cold from outside creeped in. Aeris's eyes burned and she suddenly felt as though she would cry. But a soft, almost inaudible voice stopped her.

Iummmmmm...' it cooed reassuringly. Open your hands.'

Slowly, almost reluctantly, Aeris pulled her hands apart at the top. She sucked in air swiftly, gasping at the sight before her eyes. In the direct center of her palms lay the orb of flames, vivid once again and producing an aura that contained more heat than simple embers ever could. It was weightless, hovering mere inches from her flesh. The close proximity did not burn the hands of its dominator.

Set it down where you wish, it is yours to do with as you please. Treat is as you would a living being, for it is me. It is you.'

Aeris tenderly pulled her hands completely apart, letting the orb drop from her grasp. It didn't reach the dirt, but instead hovered as it did in the girl's hands. Do I just leave it like that?,' she asked the Planet.

It listens with ears unturned.'

The Ancient thought over the words carefully, unsure of how to interpret the proverb. She certainly didn't remember Cloud or the others instructing' their magics. It simply did what it did. And most definitely happened at a much quicker rate than what she was going at. Feeling a bit foolish, Aeris gazed skeptically at the flames and commanded, "Stay there."

Nothing.

Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Aeris tried again. Same result. What am I doing wrong?' she asked meekly. After a long, silent pause, Aeris tried to be firm with the Planet again. What must I do?'

Desire it...'

Wondering if she hadn't been desiring' it this whole time, Aeris focused on the patient embers once more. Okay, that wasn't working either. Desiring isn't happening,' she chimed sarcastically.

Envision it...'

Giving an irritated sigh, the frustrated girl looked harshly at the fire. She desired the flames to stay. Closing her eyes, she saw the flames stay. When she reopened them she gave a smug grin and silently thanked the Planet. The tiny fire sat connected to the ground, feeding hungrily off of thin air.

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In all the excitement of her first conjuration, Aeris hadn't noticed the wind pick up into harsh gusts. She prayed there would be no storm, but honestly doubted such a blessing. Besides, she was far too content with her own accomplishments to complain. The fire, the first element magic she had actually made, was petty-looking, but it releasing incredible warmth.

Aeris pulled the pelt from beneath herself and curled into as tight of a ball as she could, throwing the blanket fur-side down over her body. She watched the tiny flames for a bit, wondering how long it had taken all of her friends to master this kind of skill. And so advanced. They all did it so quickly and casually while it nearly gave her a migraine and took about twenty minutes. Still, she was proud. This was step one in completing her task at hand. Step one of twenty million it seemed.

Aeris sighed sleepily and was inevitably brought to wondering how Cloud and the others were doing. The last she had heard it wasn't good news. And that was quite a while ago, not to mention. Nobody had sighted them from the many she had asked on her journey. It was the Planet's instructions that led her to where she was now, in search of The Forgotten City. What was there? Who was there? And what did the Planet mean by expurgate the Cetra'?

Oh well, thought Aeris unmindfully as she fell into much needed slumber.

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A/N: Ookay, this chapter is probably confusing. If not to you, then it is me. I think I've got the main jest of the storyline down, though. The only trick now is putting it into organized chapters. Curse my sloppy ways!!!! Ahem, well, please leave reviews and comments!