The Forgotten City

The group sees only Nesiara, Kieron, and Yui when Aerith asks, "Where are John and Nora?"

"They went North, John wanted to confirm something but that was some hours ago. Now I'm worried since they wouldn't take that long," says Nesiara as she was worried for her daughter and the others could hear it in her voice.

"We should camp here for today until they arrive," says Nesiara as it was getting late and the nearest inn would be in Junon a place governed by Shinra.

They built the tents for today as they make a campfire when Cloud asks, "Did Sephiroth attack?"

"He did, but Kieron held him back," says Yui as she was preparing the dinner with the girls when Vincent arrived and was still keeping an eye on Zack without Zack knowing it.

"He seems to be normal to me," whispers Vincent to Cloud as Cloud didn't look towards Zack to not attract his attention.

"John said that he could be wrong but we will know sooner or later," whispers Cloud back as he really hoped John was wrong.

The food was served when John returned while carrying Nora in his arms. Nora was unconscious as she was still having a firm grip on her sword.

"What happened?" asks Nesiara seeing her daughter like that as she ran over towards John.

"She had a hard test to prove her worthiness to Excalibur," says John as he smiled before saying, "And she succeeded. She fought bravely against a man that was older than Logan and Jack."

"How strong was he?" asks Nesiara as they walked towards a tent.

"He pulled us into the Warrior's Realm and pushed us out including the Godking and his Shadow. Both seemed surprised that he could do that. Also, he used some energy that represents Elements as Ki," says John as he never heard of Qi and it sounded like Ki to him.

He put Nora in the tent and laid her down as he wanted to release Nora's hand from the sword

"Maybe, we shouldn't tap into that if even the other two were surprised by it," says Nesiara as she was looking after her daughter that was fighting against her father's strengths not letting go of her sword.

"How did everything go with the Temple?" asks John as he gave up taking the sword out of Nora's hand.

"They did well getting the Black Materia from the Tempel while your son fought against Sephiroth and his clones. He retreated in the end before the others came out. I also brought them into the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim," says Nesiara explaining to John everything.

"Then our next destination is the Forgotten City. After that, we will see who is good and bad. I really am hoping that I am wrong with Zack," says John as he was looking after his daughter not leaving her side.

"Do we begin to train them seriously after the Forgotten City?" asks Nesiara as John nods.

"Yes, once we are in the Forgotten City we will know who we can trust and take them to Paradise to train them in the Time Chamber," says John as he looked at Nesiara.

"What are we going to do while you train them?" asks Nora as she just woke up from hearing them talk as she let go of Excalibur.

"You are finally awake," say John and Nesiara at the same time in a warm tone as they were happy that she was awake.

"I had a pleasant dream where everyone was raising their cup to my success of proving my worthiness," says Nora as she felt refreshed instead of exhausted.

"You did good," says John as he pets her head while Nesiara hugged her daughter.

"You three will of course accompany us. You won't be lazing around while the others are training seriously," says Nesiara as she puts her daughter back on her blanket and continues, "But you should rest for today."

"I'm fine really," says Nora as she wanted to stand up when both her parents hold her down.

"You will rest. I saw your fight against Arthur and he wasn't going serious but it even took everything out of me while I was watching so rest," says John as he didn't really want to argue with his daughter since she had a long fight not long ago.

"Fine," says Nora as she showed some emotions making both smile while Nora was smiling as well while showing them her back.

They leave the tent as they joined the other beside the campfire when Cloud asks, "Where are we going now?"

"The Forgotten City is our next destination. There Aerith will perform Holy," says Nesiara as both Cloud and Vincent were looking quite serious knowing that it was there were Aerith died.

Cloud wanted to ask something when John took out a harp and says, "I already have everything we need. We will fly with the Bronco to the Northern Continent tomorrow."

"So why did we get the Black Materia then?" asks Cid as he was the only one that didn't know why they wanted to stop Sephiroth when John explained it to him.

"So that Sephiroth wants to become a God by using the Black Materia to summon Meteor. This is a really a fucked up plan he has there," says Cid as he seemed serious now knowing why everyone was trying so hard to stop Sephiroth.

"Well now that everyone knows about his plan we should talk who should carry the Black Materia and keep it safe," says John as he looked at Zack.

"Zack, how about you carry the Materia. You as an Ex-SOLDIER should know how to protect things that are important," says John as everyone opened his eyes wide from hearing that.

"You really want me to carry the Black Materia? The person that you trust the least," says Zack as he knew that John wasn't trusting him.

"See it as your chance to win my trust," says John as he looked at Aerith and says, "Aerith can you please give it to him."

Aerith nods as naive as always never questioning anything since she trusted everyone in the group when she gives the Black Materia to Zack while saying, "Keep it safe, Zack."

She smiled at him before she sat down again between Tifa and Yui as Zack was looking at the Black Materia intensely before putting it away while sighing making Cloud sigh in relief from seeing that.

They all go to sleep while John was keeping some clones nearby watching the tent Zack was sleeping in. But Zack didn't do anything except to sleep making him gain some trust from John.

The next day they all boarded the Tiny Bronco as Cid was behind the steering wheel and says, "Take your seats, we are taking off."

They were overflying the Eastern Continent when Aerith asks, "The Forgotten City, what is it really?"

"It's a city built by the Cetra long ago. Once there we might meet Ghost and Monsters alike. What I really don't want to happen is that the Weapons created to defend the planet awaken. But if it happens we won't be helpless," says John as he really didn't want to interrupt the Weapons from sleeping.

"What are those weapons that you are mentioning?" asks Barret as they overflow Midgar.

"They are the protectors of the Gaia. Gaia created them when Jenova crashed on Gaia. Gaia wanted to defend herself so it created them but the Cetras were faster as they sealed Jenova away and the Weapons went to sleep," says John as they were overflying the ocean right now.

"So they are guardians but why don't they wake up to attack Shinra?" asks Barret as he really was curious about that.

"See it like this. Would you use a rocket launcher against an insect? I don't think so. It would do more collateral damage than it would do good," says Nesiara simplifying it for Barret why the Weapons are still sleeping.

"I can see land," says Cid as John walked towards him.

"Land on the water like always. We will walk the rest since we need to pass a forest to get there," says John as Cid began the descent.

They landed and walked North as they arrived at the Sleeping Forest when John takes the Lunar Harp out and plays it making a path appear for them.

They walked said path while John kept playing the harp until they arrived at a long bridge and everyone was stunned to see a city on the other end of it.

"That is Aerith birthright," says Nesiara as she pushed Aerith forward wanting her to be the first to enter the city.

The others agreed with that idea since it was a Cetra city and she was the last Cetra. They followed behind her as John stops playing the harp and put it away.

They encounter some monsters that made their nest in the Forgotten City because no one lived here. They fight them off while going deeper when they arrived at the Water Altar.

"It's here. This is the best place to perform the ritual to summon Holy," says John as Aerith nods.

"But we will begin tomorrow. We should rest for today since it is getting dark from all the wandering," says Nesiara as she hugged Aerith while whispering, "Nothing will happen to you."

"There should be beds in the houses we passed to get here. We will sleep there for today," says John as Zack was still around and didn't show any type of possession making John sigh in relief for now.

They begin to eat together before going to sleep as John and Nesiara shared their bed when Nesiara says, "It seems we can trust them all."

"It seems-," says John when he feels an ominous aura coming from one of the houses.

Nesiara felt it too as both stood back up. They went into Aerith's room that was in the house beside them and she wasn't there.

"She didn't," says John looking at Nesiara as she was also restless.

They rushed towards the Water Altar as the feeling was dragging them there when Aerith was praying there while Kieron was fighting Sephiroth.

"You will never stop me," says Sephiroth as he looked at Kieron who had Sephiroth's sword stuck in his chest.

"It seems you got stronger," says Kieron as he took out Ea and continues, "Let's see how you deal with this."