Authors notes: Here it is! The second story I promised. I enjoyed the Dagran/Tifa paring so much, so it gave me even more ideas for the poor souls :)
I hope you'll enjoy it, now onto the story!
Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy VII and all its characters, and Mistwalker owns The Last Story and all it's characters. I just borrow the amazing characters for a short while for this fan fiction story.
Prologue Tifa:
Tifa's life had once again been smashed into pieces. Her life had not turned out like she had hoped for. After all the fighting was over, she and Cloud had tried to live like a family in the small bar in Edge. Her world had slowly changed, the first blow came when the two children moved away to Corel, to live with Barrett.
Cloud and Tifa were engaged to be married, and on the night on their engagement party, she broke things off and left their home. He had once again lead her on, and she had figured out that she was an substitute, and his feelings for her could never come close as his feelings for a certain deceased cetra.
This was not the only reason for her breaking things off with Cloud. She had started having dreams about another man, and those dreams felt like they meant something special. The dreams came every night, and when she woke up, a feeling of loss swirled around inside her. The dreams showed her his whole life, from childhood up to the point when he dies. She had experiences things with this man, she had felt his rage, sorrow, pain and lonesomeness. Her heart seemed to reach out to his, and she always wished that she could remember his face. When morning came , his face would become a distant memory, one that she could not trigger, no matter how hard she tried.
Her friends who had moved on with their lives, had a hard time accepting that she wanted to be alone, and move on with her life. All of them would always share a special bond, but since they all lived in different parts of the world, it became natural that they were not as close as before. Tifa was now living with Vincent in an apartment in the new Shinra headquarters.
The world was once again in trouble. Towns had disappeared over night, and materia stopped working. Panic and Chaos soon followed, since the people depended on magic in their daily lives. The lifestream was also in a state of chaos, as Sephiroth once again managed break free, and pull the strings of fate to his advantage.
Chapter 1: When Hearts Connect.
Tifa found herself in yet another dream, and the handsome man was standing right before her. His hazel eyes seemed confused, and the aura around him felt darker. She looked around, and found them standing in a dark and unwelcoming place. Darkness was the only thing that surrounded them, and the man sank down on his knees.
''What have I done?'' He murmured softly to himself, and his arms slowly dropped to his sides. His face became distorted with grief.''I've lost control of my body to the power I thought could fix everything. The wish I had for a better world has been twisted...''
Tifa knew what would happen, his friends would defeat the demon that took over his body, and this strong man would die. This was the first time she got to see what the real him felt inside, other times she had been a spectator, watching from the side lines as the monster got killed, and reverted back into this man.
''I did not want this to happen. I don't even know why I became so attracted to the Outsiders powers..'' He continued to talk to himself, as his breathing became more irregular. He let a frustrated sigh pass through his lips, and he ran a hand through his hair. Then he closed his eyes, as if he had completely given up.'' I don't want to die, not like his...''
Tifa blinked away tears she felt would well up insider her eyes. It felt weird experiencing his emotions, she felt his rage and frustration, and his pain made her heart ache. She slowly walked over to him, and dropped onto her knees. With trembling hands she reached out, and wrapped her arms around him, sharing what little comfort she could give him.'' It's going to be all right, I'm here for you...''
Tifa bolted up from her pillow, her body glistering with sweat. The usual empty feeling lingered in her, and once again his face disappeared from her mind. His arms had wrapped themselves around, her and just as he was to say something, she had woken up. Who was he, and Why did she feel so connected to him?
''Tifa?'' Vincent's voice could be heard from the hallway outsider her room. She quickly threw on her clothes, and walked over and opened the door. Their crimson eyes met, and she could see from the look on his face, that something had happened.'' Reeve has just summoned all of the gang to the conference room.''
''Oh, did he say what it was about?'' Tifa asked, and stifled a yawn as she followed him out into the small hallway. She have gotten used to his very polite, and few answers, so she choose not to press him further. She ran her fingers through her hair, and stretched her arms, as she watched her companion lock their front door.
''World crisis, what else could it mean since all of us are requested to attend.'' Vincent slowly replied, surprising her with his sarcastic reply. She must have looked shocked, because he only raised one of his midnight black eyebrows when she stared up into his face.
The elevator took them directly to the spacious conference room, and inside Tifa saw all her friends assembled. Her eyes hardened slightly when Cloud, came walking towards her. She put on a neutral expression, and gave them all a small smile as a silent hello, before she walked over to sit next to Marlene, and Denzel on a small black sofa.
''What are we waiting for, can someone please tell us what's going on?'' Cloud spoke up, and got everyone's attention. He stood and leaned his slim body against the black double doors, his blue eyes roamed over his friends curious faces.
''Grown impatient, in older days, eh?'' Zack said with a smirk on his face, as he and Aeris appeared out of nowhere. He stood in his usual soldiers uniform, and his eyes were filled with same mirth that they contained when he was alive. His pleased smirk got even more devious, as he noticed the look on Cloud's face when Aeris looked at him with her green eyes.'' I assume that you've noticed that materia won't work any more?''
''duh of course, I was practically the first to notice!'' Yuffie spoke up impatiently, her brown eyes were eyeing her pile of useless materia that lay in front of her on the table.''It was the saddest day in my entire life...''
''Don't start your fucking rant again, grow up numskull!'' Cid bellowed harshly to the depressed ninja princess. His eyes shifted over to their old leader, and he only rolled his eyes at the site of him. Cloud stood with a far away look on his face, as he stared at spirit of the deceased flower girl.'' It's nice seeing ya again, little lady, but please start speaking your business before chocobo head over here shits his pants...''
Barrett and the kids snickered at the old pilot's comment, but stifled their laughs when Tifa shot them a dirty look. Her crimson eyes softened, when the two children leaned against her, and she chuckled softly too. It was funny seeing the depressed hero look like a complete fool.''It's good to see you both, but I assume the situations is serious?''
''You're right, Tifa.'' Aeris spoke softly, and smiled at her friend. Her kind green eyes shifted became serious, and all trace of the smile she just had on her face disappeared.''Sephiroth is behind the recent strange occurrences of late. Somehow he has gained access to the planet's memory and gone back in time to change things to his advantage.
''The planet wants us to stop him, yes?'' Nanaki quickly voiced his opinion, as his tail flickered back and forth. Something he seemed to do when something intrigued him, and his eye fell on the two spirits standing in front of him.
''You all know that 2000 years ago, Jenova came to this planet, yes?'' Aeris softly spoke, her hands fidgeting with the buttons on her red jacket.'' Well, 1000 years before that, there was an ancient civilisation, the one who founded materia, and the one we all hail from. Back at that time, the planet's will acted very differently. Gaia had several consciousness, or as she calls them, guardians that were scattered around the planet. They watched over the people, and would sometimes interfere if something went out of control..''
''This is all very fascinating, but get to the point yo!'' Reno interrupted her impatiently, from where he stood next to Rude. His cat like eyes roamed over the flower girl's slim body, and that earned him a cold glare from the cetra.'' We don't have all day, if you know what I mean...''
''Shut it, Reno.'' Cloud coldly snapped at the turk, his mako blue eyes glared at the red head. His whole body tensed in an unspoken threat, that Reno seemed to pick up on, and he backed down again.'' Go on, Aeris...''
''Thanks, Cloud.'' Aeris smiled sweetly at the blonde, before her face turned serious again. She walked over to the wall, and pointed towards a spot right out into the ocean.'' Here used to be an Island back then, and the planet has traced the source of the time interference to this spot. Some of the guardians, back at that time have completely disappeared, and that means that the memory of that location has been lost. Gaia did however gain access to one memory, and she knows that some things have been tampered with.''
''How can she know that, if the other memories have been lost? And how come she can't just simply remember them?'' Reeve asked from the chair he sat on, as he scribbled down what was said, if they needed to remember anything later on.
''Because it was the planet's daughter, the goddess Minerva who guarded the planet in that era.'' Zack explained with a proud smile on his face, as he remembered seeing the beautiful goddess when Genesis was cured from his degradation.'' When Minerva appears, Gaia goes into a healing sleep, and they take turns doing that. Minerva became mortally injured, and has slept since then, and only she knows the truth. Gaia can't access her memories, and the only way she can know something is to connect with the guardians from that era.''
''A great war was fought at that time, because of an extraterrestrial life form known as the Outsider was summoned down to the planet years before. Two warriors were granted the use of that power, and they brought peace to the planet. Sephiroth has done something, because one of the warriors was killed, and that's why the forgotten capital, and materia stopped working. That warrior is the reason for the Gurak race evolving into Cetras, and they will later be the one who creates materia.'' Aeris finished speaking, and her eyes roamed over her friends stunned faces.
Tifa's eyes widened, as she listened to the tale from their planets history. She gasped as she suddenly, remembered the Outsider, this was connected with the man from her dreams. She felt her friends eyes on her, and she quickly flashed them a reassuring smile.'' It's nothing, I just felt a pain in my stomach...''
Zack's eyes narrowed slightly, as he watched the fist fighter closely. He had watched her and Cloud's life from the Lifestream far to many times, not to recognize that fake smile. She reacted to the information Aeris shared with her and he believed he had seen a spark of recognition in her red depths , and he intended to find out what went on inside that pretty head of hers.
''Us knowing this will help us, how?'' Cid once again spoke up, and he curiously eyed the two spirits. A cigarette dangling between his lips, and his fingers played with a teaspoon.
''Gaia, wants two of her planets heroes to travel back in time. The man still lives, but is mortally wounded, only a certain binding spell will be able to save him from death. But those two who accepts this, will have to stay there forever, since the spell binds them to him, and that era.'' Zack explained, and ran his fingers through his black locks.
''That spell required two people to keep that man alive so the time line will be fixed, and Gaia has even granted us two, to be able to be candidates for a second chance of life.'' Aeris told them with a small smile on her face, and her green eyes immediately locked with Cloud's blue orbs.'' You have 24 hours to decide, and to say your farewells.''
''I say this is a done deal!'' Barrett shouted happily, and bounced off the couch. The two children only looked up at him curiously from either side of Tifa.'' Chocobo over there, and Aeris will go back. Our greatest swordsman, with the planet's best healer.''
''I have no objections, to this.''Cloud said, with a serious look on his face. The usual cold look in his eyes softened, as Aeris only smiled in return.
''Then I will return the same time tomorrow.'' Aeris spoke softly, and tucked a lock behind her ear. Her green eyes settled on her companion, and she curiously wondered why he kept staring at the silent fist fighter. She waved goodbye to her old friends, and slowly faded away.
''This kinda sucks, but let's make damn sure this farewell thing is a blast!'' Yuffie shouted, and grabbed hold of the two children. Her happy exterior only masked the sadness she felt from seeing Cloud off, she put on a brave front for the children.''Let's go back and order the biggest take out party ever!''
Tifa stood up from the sofa, and walked into the middle of the room, where the first class soldier stood and observed her closely. She turned around and flashed her friends one of her warm smiles.'' I'll meet you all back at the bar, I need to speak with Zack alone for a few minutes.''
''Why is that? I did not know you knew each other that well...'' Cloud suspiciously asked her, his blue eyes going back and forth between them.
'' Whatever her reasons is, that's not our concern.'' Vincent said wisely, and glared at the few remaining people who still lingered by the doors. His cold glare got the other moving, and before he closed the door behind him he turned his gaze towards Tifa again.''I'll wait for you downstairs.''
Tifa turned and found herself inches away from Zack's face. She blushed and backed away from his intense observation. She put her hands on her hips, and arched on eyebrow as his blue eyes stared into her face. Her thought was still on the strange man from her dreams, and she itched to ask him if he knew about the spell that could save him.''I...-''
''I want you to tell me, why you reacted so strongly to hearing about that warrior.'' Zack simply asked, not beating around the bush. He laid his hands on her strong shoulders, and his eyes bore into her crimson eyes.''I could even feel your reaction from over here..''
''Do you know how to preform that spell?'' Tifa asked him, as she stared up into his eyes. Her emotions were running wild, she had to be the one who travelled back in time, her dreams must mean something.'' Please tell, me!''
''Actually there are two spells. The one Aeris is referring to will only keep the warrior alive for a set amount of time, enough time to fix the time interference. The second spell risk the lives of all three who's under it, but will completely restore his life.'' Zack explained, and his eyes widened as pain flashed quickly insider her red orbs.''Why is this so important to you?''
''Zack, I need to be the one to travel back in time.'' Tifa anxiously spoke, her hands gripping his solider shirt, and her eyes looked pleadingly into his eyes.'' I have been having these dreams for months, about that man. I feel connected to him, and I can't let him die...''
''You, too!?'' Zack said astonished, his face turning even more serious. He let go of her shoulders, and backed away from her, running a hand through his black locks.''I've seen events from that time, and sometimes I even believed to have felt another presence in my dreams, that must have been you..''
''I know I don't have any right asking you for favours. I was awful to you, the last time we met in Nibelheim. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?'' She softly pleaded with him, her fingers still holding onto his shirt.'' And please go back with me, to that era?''
''There's nothing to forgive, I understood that you lashed out because of your pain.'' He replied, and his lips curled into a warm smile.'' And how can I say no, that that face? Or pass down the chance to be amongst the living again, count me in!''
Tifa and Zack had decided that, he would come to her room later that night. She had returned to her friends, and spent one the night with them. They had talked about old times, and just enjoyed each other company. There was as always an underlining tension between some members of the group, and that was because of her and Cloud breaking up. She felt sad that this was the last time she would see them, but in her heart she knew that she was doing the right thing.
After returning to her room, she packed a backpack with some things she wanted with her. Three sets of gloves, and all of her materia was neatly packed, along with some personal belongings that she could not leave behind. She sat down at her desk and quickly wrote down her goodbyes to her dear friends.
Hi guys,
When you're reading this, I will be long gone. I know this was a cowards way out, and I apologize for that. I wish I could have got the guts to tell you my reasons for choosing this path. Since before the break up with Cloud, I've started to have these weird dreams. When I heard the tale from Aeris, it confirmed that the dreams I've been having was about the past, and about that warrior. This may seem strange to you all, but I feel connected with him, and I feel that it was my destiny to go back and help fix the time line. I have always put others needs and dreams before mine, because that was what I wanted at the time, but now I have finally found something that I want to do, and I hope you can support me in this.
Yuffie:
I will always think of you as the little sister I never had. I thank you for all the fun times we've had together, and I hope you will get over that stupid pride of yours, and make up with your father. I want you to have the remaining materia that I left behind, use it well and think of me when you use it..
Barrett, Marlene, and Denzel:
You will always be my family, and love you dearly.
I wish that I could have seen you children grow up, but I know Barrett will do a wonderful job, since he's such a good father. I left all my money to you dear children, and my two chocobos are now yours. Please stay out of trouble, and keep your father out of trouble.
Reeve, Reno and Rude:
We have not always been the best of friends, but I've grown fond of you and count you as my dear friends. I trust that you will keep up the good work at the new Shinra headquarters, and that you will continue work well with my old companions. Reeve, don't let your work put you in an early grave. Reno, you need to cut down on drinking, and find other amusements. Rude, you're a wonderful man, stop selling yourself short, and ask that woman you've had you eyes on out on a date.
Cloud and Aeris:
I know you wished for a new start, by travelling back in time. And I hope that you'll believe me when I say that I did not mean to ruin things for you. I will always count the two of you as my close friends, despite the sad things that happened between me and Cloud. You will always be my childhood friend, and like family to me, but I gave you five long years of my life, and will not apologise for taking this chance to start a fresh.
Cid and Shera:
I wish you all the best, you have always been very kind to me, and I've always seen you as older siblings. I hope Cid will learn how to speak more properly when you decide to have kids. But since you never even try to tune it down, I would guess your children will be as foul mouthed as you, and Shera, make him do his own damn tea once in a while.
Vincent and Nanaki:
Last but not near least, you two are my rocks. It's thanks to you two that I managed to bounce back so quickly after getting my heart broken. You two has always supported me, and I thank you for being my friends, it has been a true honour having known you. I wish you all the happiness in the world, and Nanaki please forgive Deneh for her harsh words and be happy with her. Vincent, I thank you for letting me live with you these past months, and I will always treasure the advice you gave me...
With all my regards, Tifa.
''Are you ready?'' Zack spoke from behind her, where he appeared in the middle of the spacious bedroom. His kind blue eyes softened, as he noticed the tears she had to blink away.''Got everything packed?''
''Yes, I'm ready.'' She answered him softly, and laid the letter down on her desk. She turned around, and looked around the room one last time, before accepting his outstretched hand.'' Let's go and fight to protect our friends futures.''
They arrived in a weird chamber, where large pillars and blocks lay smashed all over the place. The floor was covered in water, and the whole place seemed unstable. Their eyes were drawn to injured man sitting on the floor, leaning against a large chain. Blood flowed from a sword wound, that seemed to have injured his heart.
''It's him!'' Tifa gasped, and ran across the water covered ground. Seeing his face brought back the dreams she had seen him in, and the strange feeling inside her disappeared. She knelt down, and touched his shoulders, gently shaking him awake, and his eyes fluttered open and he stared into her face.''Hey there.''
''Who..are..It's you, I remember seeing you two before...'' Dagran asked her confused, his eyes stared into her face. He looked up at the strangely dressed man standing behind the woman.''It's dangerous here...you better get out of here.''
Dagran's hazel eyes roamed over the two persons faces. He had seen them in some of the dreams he had lately, and he could not really remember them all that well. But he felt calm in their presence, and his heart seemed to connect with them, and he felt himself feeling safe with them.
''We are here because of you.'' Zack calmly replied, and sat down next to Tifa. His blue eyes roamed over the man's beaten body, and he was impressed that he still lived with wounds like that.''Do you want to live?''
''Because of...me?'' Dagran replied, looking even more confused than before. His hazel eyes observed the two strangers closely,and could not believe the two persons he had seen in his dreams were here before him.
''There is not much time to explain.'' Tifa spoke, and ripped apart of her shirt, and pressed it against his wound. Her concerned eyes, looked into his tired eyes, and she pleaded with him to trust her.'' We have come to save you, but in order for our spell to work. You need to be willing to trust us, and want to continue living.''
''This spell that can save your life, is very dangerous, and can kill us all.'' Zack explained quickly, and laid his hand on the dying man's shoulder. His face turned serious when his blue eyes looked into the pale face of the man sitting before him.'' That spell will bound us together, and I'm sorry that this explanation probably makes no sense, but you're seconds away from dying, and I ain't got time for the whole history lesson.''
''I want to live...and if this is the only way...so be it.'' Dagran whispered weakly, as his vision began to burr slightly. He could feel the cold hand of death on his soul, and he tried to fight it with every fibre of his being...
A bright light surrounded the three companions who's lives would be completely changed from this day forth. The light conjured up a barrier around their unconscious bodies, as the spell began to work it's magic.
This spell was not an ordinary spell, not only was it dangerous, if one of them would not open their hearts each other, the consequences would entail death.
When they awoke from their long sleep, the world outside would be in a state of chaos, and they would be throw into the ongoing war between the humans and the Gurak. Friendships would be formed, and old friends would soon become enemies.