Chapter 11 – Supervisor
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FFFF – Final Fantasy Fun Facts - One of the world's first civilization, this race of people were capable of hearing the voice of the planet. The Cetra could guide the flow of the planet's spiritual energy, this being how they cultivated life on the planet's surface.

Cetra is said to have opened up lifestream veins to make the land fertile; a demonstration of this power is shown at Aerith's house, as one of the few, of perhaps the only, place in Midgar where flowers and vegetation flourish in abundance.

One of the lines in the game script says – "The Cetra were born from the Planet, speak with the Planet, and unlock the Planet."

Aerith, one of the Cetra, possesses much of this power, cultivating magical plants where they don't grow. She can also request the planet to tell her a few things and, at times, delve into the planet's life force to see the future.

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"Cloud, Cloud, Cloud! Listen to me! Please!!" Aerith begged Cloud, who was sitting on the couch. It was already time for them to sleep, but they were sitting in the common room, and Cloud was in front of her, his legs and hands crossed as he looked down at her.

She dragged her knees closer to him, making cute eyes, "Cloud~~!"

"Explain yourself."

"Right," Aerith rested her palms on his knees, smiling, "I am from the race called Cetra."

"Oh, them," Cloud thought one of the voices told him something about that race. They used to be the primary race on the planet until Jenova landed, and while they were able to defeat and seal Jenova, it nearly destroyed their whole civilization.

"Is there a reason why you didn't tell me?"

"Not really," Aerith said, "It was a silly reason…I should have told you about it."

She pressed her lips, smiling softly, looking down, "I am not even sure why I didn't tell you. Maybe because I don't like talking about it?"

Cloud looked away, "Do whatever you wish, but if you are going to pull something off like what you did today, I'd like to know."

Aerith pushed his knees to the side, leaning forward, hugging him, resting her head on his stomach, "Cloud, you did well too, today."

"Aerith," Cloud wanted to pull away in embarrassment, but she clung onto him, and that smile on her face, even though he didn't want to push her away.

He raised his hand above her head, but he didn't stroke it. He hesitated, pulling his hand away and keeping it back on the side, "You too. You did well too."

"You two talked things out?"

Cloud looked up at Tifa, her wet hair drying with a spell, nodding, "Yeah."

Tifa glanced toward Aerith and looked away without saying anything. She smiled, sitting down beside him, "Then, we should rest too; we have to prepare for an alien invasion."

And so, two days later, since it was a Saturday, they had holidays, and they were sitting in the spectator's area, watching everyone practice for the upcoming Quidditch match.

"Shouldn't you two be in practice too?" Fred enviously looked back at Cloud and Tifa.

They, too, wanted to play, but first years weren't usually chosen; the two behind them were exceptions. And yet, for some reason, they would rather sit out practice.

"No, we have some plans today," Cloud used three or four chairs to lie down, resting his eyes.

While Aerith was in the front row, Tifa and Angelina were sitting beside him, looking back with her knees on the chair.

"Not today. We are taking a break," Tifa had her system window open. The truth was that yesterday, they went to talk to Mar-Vell, and there, they learned more about the situation they were in. It wasn't as simple as picking a fight with one person of one race; instead, it was much more complicated.

The Kree and one other race, the Skrull, were at war, but it was more of the Kree committing the atrocities against Skrulls, and Mar-Vell found out. Now that she knew of it, she was trying to make a Light Speed Engine that would allow the Skrulls Race to go to a distant planet.

Because of Aerith's warning, Mar-Vell knew that the Kree were coming, so she had hastened her plan. She planned to send the Skrulls Race much faster, but even with all the help, she doubted that she could make it in time.

Although she didn't say it, Mar-Vell seemed ready to face death, hoping that they would help the Skrulls once she distracted the Kree.

'Though…' Tifa glanced towards Aerith, 'She acted strangely for a while…there is something she's not telling us.'

In Aerith's smile, she could tell that her usual bright smile was replaced by a fake one to not worry anyone.

"You three have been a bit squirmy for the last few days. Is everything ok?" Alicia worriedly asked.

Aerith made the peace sign, grinning, "It's all good; we have been studying more since Tifa and Cloud are busy with Quidditch, and they are being left behind."

"Sheesh, it's just the first year; why would you try so hard," George breathed out, "Well, I guess that is expected from the ones dominating the top three." 

Cloud yawned, gazing at the sky before sitting up, "We should go study."

Tifa glanced towards the virtual screen before them, but there was no Mission. Since that day, there hadn't been one, so they were lucky that it was a Saturday and they were free to go whenever.

They planned to leave soon but thought. The system would show them a mission, no information.

[Mar-Vell's plane has been shot down.]

[New Fast Travel point is available.]

[System is against intervening in this event. The event has been set as a fixed point. Changing it could lead to a Catastrophe.]

"Could it be? Saving Mar-Vell might bring the attention of the Kree Empire, and that would be a disaster for Earth," Tifa worriedly looked at Cloud, "Should we interfere?"

Cloud glanced towards her hands, turning into a fist, trembling, "Don't ask me that when you are like that."

He clicked on Fast travel, teleporting, forcing Tifa and Aerith to teleport.

They were on a crash site when they appeared, and barely any time had passed.

Aerith raised her eyes to look at Cloud, only to find that he had already used Human Transfiguration the moment they teleported. She used it on herself and Tifa before taking a good view of the crash site.

Mar-Vell was in the back seat while the woman piloting the fighter plane managed to get out, to check on her.

"You see that one Cloud? Today, after Mar-Vell dies, that woman will destroy the Energy Source but be fused with its energy. Even though the Kree would take her, the Planet says that she will become the Hero that will protect it."

Cloud felt his heart thump erratically, and a memory came flooding in, one that even he wasn't sure was his own or not.

The feeling with the memories took over his hand, the feeling of killing someone precious, their blood on the sword; the sword drove inside their body, and their last moments.

He was standing over it, looking at the blurry man, dying; his skin had turned white, scaly, breaking down, some genetic deterioration.

"----- you have my thanks."

"Angeal…" Cloud crouched in front of him, feeling the pain in his neck and his head throbbing.

"----…this is for you…."

Cloud looked up at the large broadsword being held by the man taking his last breaths; even now, he had the strength to pick this weapon up and make it look effortless, "Angeal?"

Cloud could feel tears coming out of his eyes, yet his hands moved, taking up the weapon, "I am…sorry…."

"If you want to be a Hero, you need to have dreams…and honor."

"Protect your honor."

"Angeal!!!" Cloud screamed, the water raining down from the sky as the person in front of him took their last breath. He could feel the battlefield change, and it was almost as if there was another person in his arm, handing him the sword.

And the next, he was near the crash site, and not a moment had passed.

[Angeal Hathway's Will Acquired.]

[---- ----- Will Acquired.]

[Because of Keyblade's Influence, your heart awakened a new power.]

[Buster Sword Keyblade, acquired.]

Even though numerous messages were coming from the System, Cloud couldn't focus.

He gripped in the air, and a pitch-black ordinary Keyblade which looked like a key, appeared in his hand, turning into the Buster Sword, "I refuse! Why is it? Why does someone have to die so that the Hero can be a Hero?! If so, I'd rather not be the Hero!"

"No, Cloud!" Aerith tried to stop him, but he moved too fast and used the Keyblade to create a Shield, deflecting the energy bullet fired at Mar-Vell.

Cloud appeared in front of her, sweating, gasping for breath, staring at the cloud of dust.

"Wait, who are you?" Danvers wasn't sure who he was or what just happened while Mar-Vell couldn't help but sit up, "It's you."

Cloud narrowed his eyes without replying to her when the man walked out from the dust, holding the pistol, "Oh, a native managed to stop my attack. But swords, this planet is still so primitive, or are they some technology?"

The man turned his eyes towards Mar-Vell, "Mar-Vell, you have fallen so much. To think you would help those Skrulls. I will kill you myself."

"You are not going to get to her!" "You won't be touching her!"

Cloud rushed straight to him when he felt a sudden change in his gravity, getting pushed back. He glared at the man, toward the gloves he was wearing, when he noticed something.

'Tifa…'

Tifa lashed her leg out, slamming it into Yon-Rogg face, pushing him back, "I don't care about the hero thing. What matters to me is…I don't want to see her die!!"

"Hmph, weak," Yon-Rogg slammed his palm on Tifa's stomach, using Gravity powers he got from the gloves to shove her back.

Cloud barely landed on his feet when Mar-Vell raised her gun.

She apologized, "Sorry…."

"Nooo!!!" Yon Rogg shouted, but he couldn't stop the bullet or the explosion that happened right after, releasing immense energy that hit Carol Danvers and Tifa.

It reached for Cloud, and Cloud felt the hunger in his cells, wanting to take that energy, raising his hand when abruptly the time stopped.

With time, their thoughts stopped, and an orb of scarlet light appeared in the center. Its voice echoed in their ear.

[Warning! Warning! If the current events are allowed to happen, this planet will be destroyed! The System is forced to interfere with the Events.]

[System Implores the Supervisor to Take Over.]

It didn't get any reply, and so it spoke again.

[System Implores the Supervisor to Take Over.]

It was about to speak again when the voice answered her, and the only person here moved.

"Yes," Aerith closed her eyes, slowly opening them with a mako glow, "I'll set things right. As promised."

It was when they first opened their eyes after arriving here. Everyone thought Cloud was the first to wake up, but that wasn't true. It was her. Although, Hospital Wing wasn't the place where she found herself.

Past,

"Where am I?" Aerith tilted her head, looking at the darkness surrounding her. A scarlet light appeared in the darkness, talking to her.

[So the negotiations can be made, information will be provided ahead of time.]

Aerith blankly blinked when she felt the information hit her brain like a truck. She held her head, taking as much time as needed since there was no time here.

"I see, so you want us to do something for you? In return, will you fulfill our wish? Then where are they? Cloud and Tifa? And what did you mean by provided ahead?"

[The world is dangerous, but Cloud Strife is a double-edged sword. He is mentally unstable, and reverting him to an age where his transformation to Jenova would begin would make him more dangerous.]

[The System has calculated numerous instances where that instability would lead to a World Ending Disaster. Sometimes from outside, the other from Cloud Strife himself.]

"Jenova…then why would you even choose Cloud? If it's so dangerous. Not like I don't understand…he has potential, and with Jenova's powers, and if he manages to remain Cloud. I understand all that, but it's all a big if."

[Because Cloud Strife is a double-edged sword. The system has observed that every one of those instances has a silver lining. A supervisor must ensure that these instances don't result in a disaster. You, Aerith Gainsborough, have been chosen for that role.]

Aerith rested her hand in front of her chest, breathing in, "Umm…what kind of things will I have to do?"

[Everything necessary, but the hardest would be…letting someone die when you can save them.]

"Oh, and here I thought you are heartless," Aerith smiled, tilting her head, "What if I refuse?"

[Then the Three of you will be sent back to your world, and System will have to develop another possibility.]

Aerith lightly smiled, "And that would mean…they wouldn't get the chance either. To change their future…to save everyone precious to us, right?"

[Yes.]

"Either way, it doesn't feel right. I don't want to take away that chance from them, and yet…I wouldn't say I like that happiness would come from letting others die."

Aerith got on her feet, placing her hand on her chest, smiling at the scarlet orb, "Very well, I will do it. I will be this Supervisor, in return…I don't wish for a reward!"

[Are you sure? You have all the time in the world to think.]

Aerith pressed her lips, grinning, "If I have more time, I will probably cave in. So please, let's do this before I change my mind."

[Very Well, Aerith Gainsborough has been designated as the Supervisor. When Supervisor is needed, she will be granted special privileges.]

Present,

Aerith turned her gaze towards Cloud, and his hand was about to touch the blue energy, "You are not ready for a power like that, Cloud. Jenova cells will feed on that more than you will…sorry about this."

She pointed at him, and his human transfiguration disappeared before he did. She turned her eyes towards Tifa, who got hit by the energy, "System…is Tifa here for Cloud?"

[No.]

"Oh, then why is she here?"

[System found an amusing possibility. Tifa is here because of that possibility. Her being able to keep Cloud together is a bonus.]

"Is that so," Aerith sent Tifa away, smiling, "That's good."

Aerith walked over to Mar-Vell, watching her in stopped time, "So if I let time move…she will die, and this upcoming disaster will be solved?"

[Yes.]

"I see…" Aerith bit her lip, struggling with the choice she had, destruction of the world or death of one.

She clenched her fist, remembering what Cloud shouted before attacking.

"Why does someone has to die…so that the Hero can become the Hero?"

[There are numerous reasons. If gives the Hero character and backstory, the death is also a constant reminder of their duties and assures that they keep walking the path of the Hero.]

Before System could keep giving her reasons, Aerith said, "System…that's not what I wanted to know. It's not fair…."

The system's light gleamed as if it was about to say something when Aerith gave her answer, "It's alright. I have decided. I will fulfill my role as the Supervisor…."

She crouched down, taking Mar-Vell's hand, "Sorry…."

X--------------------------------------------------------------X

About Keyblades – Keyblades are mysterious weapons that have the power to open or close any lock or door, be it to a physical object, to the heart of a person or world, or a gate or pathway between worlds.

It is unclear how Keyblades are formed or come into existence, but it requires a person's heart. Few have manifested two Keyblades; Cloud is one of them.

Fenrir, the Keyblade that represents his bike, and Metal Chocobo, the one that resembles his Buster Sword.

There are more critical, mysterious, and OP powers of Keyblade, but that is for later.

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