Eight people gathered in a vast field, surrounded by fresh scented green grass, filled with life, and hope. But, in the background, was the exact opposite of the grass.
Midgar was in ruins, devastated by it’s attack from Meteor. The aftermath of Sephiroth’s death had been quite a spectacle. Meteor had fallen to the Planet, it’s destructive force ripping apart the metallic metropolis. Holy had come, and failed to achieve it’s purpose, instead, acting as an assistant to the magic-made destructive force. And when all hope was lost, a faint spark of life could be seen in the distance.
A long, snake-like, tendril, glowing green spark of light to be exact.
The Lifestream had come.
In man-kind’s darkest hour, the Planet had come to the rescue. Defending itself, along with every life bearing creature on it. It came from everywhere and everything, surrounding the evil and taking it to rest. With a huge flash of a brilliant white light, it was over.
And now, the eight warriors who had gone through the agony of waiting, and plotting for the past moments, gathered together in awkward silence.
Yuffie Kisaragi was the first to break the silence:
“So uh...” a light smile appeared on her young features, “how bout’ them Dodgers?” she gave a small laugh, but was brought quiet when she saw this was neither the time, nor the place for a joke.
“This is it.” After a period of silence, the leader of this small band spoke. Cloud Strife was a man not wanting this group to dissipate. And the same could be said for all of them. But the time had come, and everyone must say their goodbyes.
“I’m going to miss you all so dearly.” A breathtakingly beautiful woman spoke next. Tifa Lockheart was confused with herself. After all this pain suffering at the hands of the tyrant Sephiroth, one would think such a woman as she to be overjoyed that it was over. But, truth be told, when he died, a part of her died as well. Truth be told, she was sad.
Another period of silence went by, everyone pondering their own thoughts.
“Yeah,” a gigantic stuffed creature started, “But we will see each other soon right?” The monstrous form of Cait Sith spoke hopefully. Although the robot itself had not thoughts, it’s owner, Reeve, was having mixed feelings at the time.
Vincent Valentine stepped forward.
“I suppose I should take my leave.” he exclaimed darkly. No emotion showed in his voice, as a his teammates looked to him.
Cloud nodded, and extended his hand. Vincent shook it solemnly. They released, he nodded to everyone else, turned, and walked slowly off.
“Guess I should be off too.” the young ninja said slowly. For a witty, humorous girl as she, everyone expected her goodbye to be a quick one. And a thought went through the minds off her friends, one that she thought would be over by now.
She answered their mental question, “No, I didn’t steal anything.”
A smile came to the 7 lips, as she approached Cloud. They stared into each others eyes for about five seconds, then, did something that would not have been expected out of Yuffie.
She and Cloud hugged.
Releasing him, she approached Tifa, and did the same. She went through everyone, until, at last, she reached the second to last people she was giving a farewell to.
The two stood in silence for a long moment.
“Barret?” Cloud’s voice sounded, wondering if Barret was going to wish the teen farewell.
And, with a long pause before it, Yuffie and Barret exchanged a long hug; then, oddly reluctant to release her from his enormous grasp.
And last, she came to Cid; who was lighting up a cigarette already.
The two exchanged a warm smile.
Suddenly, Yuffie’s hand burst up to his face, ripping the tobacco filled cigarette out of his mouth, dropping it, then she stomped on it. A muffled fury built up inside the ex-astronaut.
“Ha!” Yuffie burst out, “I’ve been wanting to do that forever.”
Highwind’s reaction two weeks ago would have been to ring the teen’s neck. But times had changed.
His smile grew larger, as did Yuffie’s.
They exchanged a huge as well.
“I’m gonna miss ya squirt.”
She released.
Running off, she turned and waved to her past teammates, and sped off to the Chocobo Farm, to collect her Black Chocobo, and head back to Wutai. She and her father had a lot of catching up to do.
The enormous Cait Sith bounded forward from the shrunken circle of warriors.
“Well guys,” the squeaky voice said, “I better get back to Midgar, I hafta’ get all the survivors I can, and I’ve wasted a lot of time already!”
The stuffed robot turned and bounded away, before it was stopped by a loud voice,
“Hey Cait,”
The stuffed moggle and cat turned to see it’s caller,
Barret Wallace approached it slowly, his head hung low. He raised it slowly, to look into the cat’s eyes,
“I... I’m sorry. Ya know, for all the times I yelled at ya. I guess, ya proved you’re trustworthy.”
Back in his small room where he was operating Cait Sith, Reeve smiled.
“Thanks Barret.”
Cait turned at bounded to the city.
Cid came forward next.
“Shit, I hate goodbyes.” he exclaimed.
A pause took place.
“What are you going to do now Cid?” Tifa asked.
“Go back home.” he said, “I got a woman who's lookin’ forward to this old shit coming home.”
He thought of the young woman who also occupied his home. She had saved his life only days ago, and it was proven that after all the years he yelled at her, abused her kindness and caring, she was right.
Cloud had told him to go back home, see what he was really fighting for.
And, truth be told, he was doing it for Shera.
“Good luck to you Cid.”
Giving Cloud and Barret a hard handshake, Tifa a warm huge, and Red XIII a paw to hand handshake he asked,
“Hey Red, you need a ride to Cosmo Canyon?”
Nanaki nodded,
“Yes, I’ll be to the Highwind after I say my goodbyes.” Cid said to all of them, then turned, and started for his gigantic ship.
Nanaki watched as Cid walked to the Highwind, then turned back to the other three.
“I’ll miss you all.” he said slowly.
The others nodded slowly. He came up to Barret.
The enormous man petted Nanaki’s head once as a farewell, and the two exchanged a nod; a gesture that spoke more than words.
He approached Tifa next.
The beautiful woman knelt in front of him.
“I’ll miss you Red.” she said slowly. She embraced him tightly, and Red returned the favor, his front paws barely reaching her long brunette hair.
They released slowly, and Tifa stood back up.
Next came Cloud. The man who had freed him. The man who had taken him along this long journey of the Planet, and to find his own answers.
He looked up to his eyes, and they met.
“Thank you Cloud, for everything.” he said greatfully.
Cloud nodded and smiled.
“I’ll miss you Red.”
They shook, much like a dog and it’s owner would shake. But this shake meant much more than such a trick could ever mean.
He turned silently, and made his way for the Highwind. He wasn’t sure if he could face Cosmo Canyon, and of what was to come. But he was about to find out.
The Highwind lifted off and it’s powerful engine roared as it shot like a bullet into the setting sun.
Barret Wallace stepped toward the last two of his companions, who were standing side by side, with barely an inch between them.
“Looks like it’s my turn.” Barret stated, the anxiousness to see his daughter already building in his voice.
“I take it your going to Marlene?” Cloud asked, even though he knew the answer.
“Damn straight!” Barret exclaimed.
He approached Tifa Lockheart.
They embraced each other tightly, and Barret took her into his enormous arms, as Cloud looked upon the two with a small smile, knowing Barret was the last of his team to leave him.
He let Tifa go, then turned to Cloud.
Tifa, knowing it was going to be an odd scenario, showed a great interest in Midgar, and stepped a few yards toward it, letting the two men talk.
“Cloud.”
“Barret.”
The two nodded to each other.
Cloud’s hand met Barret's, and the two met in a hard handshake.
“I’ll see ya later man.” Barret said, eventually letting Cloud’s hand go.
Both hands returned to the proper side, as a long moment of silence passed.
“Cloud,” Barret began, Cloud looked to him, “Were are you gonna go now?”
Cloud took a caring glance back at Tifa, who was staring into the broken city, then turned back to Barret,
“I don’t know.”
Barret allowed a small smile, and looked past Cloud, to Tifa, then back to Cloud.
“Tell her how you feel man,” he said, putting a firm hand on his shoulder. He thought of his deceased wife, then brought himself back to the present to finish his sentence, “Before it’s too late.”
Cloud too thought of Barret’s wife, who died at the hands of Shinra. He hadn’t known her of course, but he knew Barret’s point, and nodded. Not bringing up a single question of his statement.
He nodded again, “...I will. Thanks Barret.”
Barret nodded his head again before turning to Kalm. Then he turn and ran to see his daughter Marlene.
Cloud turned to Tifa, who was still staring into the city.
When he was beside her, his arms rose around her shoulders. She brought he head to rest of his shoulder, and the fragrance of her hair lit up his nose. A few loose strands fell to his neck, and slid across it, soothing him.
“What now Cloud?” she asked. No hint of rage was found in her voice, simply curiosity.
“I wish I knew Tifa. I wish I knew.”
She sensed their was a mental tension inside him, and she spoke up about it, “Whats wrong?”
The young man thought of all he had been through in the past couple months.
AVALANCHE.
Sephiroth.
Jenova.
Hojo.
Aeris’ death.
He thought of all the good of it.
He had made many new, wonderful friends. Who he cared for like siblings.
He had destroyed a longtime enemy...
“It’s Sephiroth...” he said slowly.
Tifa’s head came back to his shoulder,
“I know, I feel it too.”
He pulled her closer to him, revealing in the feeling of his body against her.
Tifa thought of her time in the lifestream, when Cloud had told her that, in his childhood, the reason he had joined SOLDIER was to impress her. Flattered at those words. She loved him. It was a thought she could not deny, and could not speak. If rejection came about, she could only jeopardize their tight friendship. And she would never want that.
Cloud looked at Tifa. His childhood friend. The one he had joined SOLDIER for. The one that he was truly fighting for. He loved her. He had since childhood. If that was not true, he would have never joined SOLDIER, he would have never met Sephiroth, he would have never found the truth about himself, he would have never met his friends.
He had to tell her. She probably didn’t feel the same. But it didn’t matter. Not to him. He had to tell her.
His arm came from around her shoulders, and he turned in front of her, staring directly into her brown eyes. Tifa gained a curious look as she gazed into his Mako eyes.
“Whats wrong Cloud?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, a loving moisture building up in them took in a long breath, then opened his eyes again. Her face was beautiful. Every detail flawless. Her scent filled his nose, adding meaning to what he was about to say. he prayed with all her heart she could return his love,
“Tifa, theres something I have to tell you...”
The End
(OOG: Okay, now before you go flaming me about: “HEY!!! WHERE THE HELL IS THE ENDING!!!”, let me tell you something; First of all, I totally suck at romantic scenes, so I figured I’d avoid that, and end it like I did. Second, I thought it was a pretty cool ending. I mean, you don’t find a lot of stories that end with a thinker. Most of them give you a black and white image, no thought, nothing that leaves you thinking. I just thought it would be a neat ending. I also put a lot of ‘at peace’ parts of the story. Yuffie and Cid, Barret and Cait, and so on. I made it kind of emotional, and I admit, it got kind of sappy at the end. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this story.)
Special thanks to:
Squaresoft for making the best game anywhere: the almighty Final Fantasy 7!!!
The ending of Final Fantasy 7, for leaving so many opportunities for FanFics,
And most of the FanFics I’ve read, for giving me inspiration, one way or the other!!!
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