The Legacy
Thoughts raced around her head as she poured Corel wine in four beer mugs before sliding it down the counter. Tomorrow is going to be her birthday yet a frown came upon her face whenever she thought about it, she was turning 24 an age that she wanted to skip.
"Tifa. You have the blood of a Wutaian Goddess." A gentle voice came.
Tifa, at the age of 4, looked at her mother.
"What do you mean?" A hint of confusion plastered on her face.
The older woman chuckled and gave an angelic smile.
"You'll become a full pledge Wutaian Goddess at the age of 24, the prophecy says 'once a young girl is born with royal blood or the rarest blood: Goddess drop it is said that a new castastrophy will start and the last Wutai Goddess will step down her throne. Once the girl becomes 24 in age, she will be visited by the last Wutai Goddess who will show/teach her priorities and she is to take her throne to protect Wutai for a Second World War will start once again.'" Her mother stated.
"But mother…I don't want to be the protector of Wutai! Why another war at Wutai when I become 24?" the girl asked a glint of worry in her eyes.
"I don't know…but I hope that the prophecy isn't true." Her mother said quietly, her eyes closed and her hands on her lap while Tifa looked at her mother with confusion.
Tifa sigh, hoping that her legacy as a Wutaian Goddess will never happen she just wishes to have a normal life like everyone else. The sound of the bar door opening snapped her out of her thoughts as she looked over to see the newcomer. A gentle smile crept upon her face as she came out from behind the bar to hug the newcomer. Every night at around 8: 30, the blonde delivery boy would arrive at the bar to spend more time with his family; usually he and the bartender would exchange hugs but they were a bit hesitant to do so in front of the customers of the bar. The regulars huffed in jealousy to see the two sharing a small tender moment.
"How was your day Cloud?" Tifa asked her arms still looped around his neck.
"…okay…I guess." The blonde answered his hands placed on her hips.
"Dinner is on the dining table." Tifa stated as she pulled away and walked behind the counter.
Cloud nodded and headed towards the dining room.
Once the clock strikes ten o'clock the bar closes, and she starts to clean the tables, counter, and the remaining dishes. Once finished, knowing that Cloud would be too busy with his maps and delivery receipts and the children would be asleep by now, she walked out the door take a small evening stroll around Edge and maybe Midgar. Her thoughts wander around her head once again as she walked down the streets of Edge, never noticing that her foot took her to Aerith's Church.
Opening the church doors and was greeted by the sight of Zack's buster sword and the small pond of holy water where white and yellow flowers float around. She noticed that the sword was a bit dirty and needed polishing. Taking out her black handkerchief, dipping it in the water where she started to scrub the dirt off the sword until it looked good as new.
"There you're all cleaned up." Tifa said softly as she stow away her dirty handkerchief in her pocket and turned towards the pond where she caress the petals of the flowers that float around.
She never noticed that she had stayed in the church more than two hours. Her watch chimed signaling her it was two in the morning and she hasn't returned to Edge. A floating blue ball passed through the church doors and circled her then it went towards the altar where the ball started to flash white and deform into a human body. A woman stood on top of the altar, wearing a red and black kimono and a headdress filled with gold dangling things in it, she seemed to be around her mid twenties.
"Tifa Lockhart. We finally meet. I am Ayumi Kawasaki. I am the last Wutaian Goddess." The woman stated as she walked towards the brunette. Tifa backed a bit, scared of the God.
"It seems like you already know why I'm here." Ayumi stated as her auburn eyes examined Tifa.
Tifa gave a small nod, fear were evident in her eyes.
"Good. I do not want to give a long speech on why I'm here. And as we speak…your prophecy has just begun."
A small gasp escaped her lips, her eyes widening in fear.
"We shall start your lesson tomorrow night. Meet me at the small hilltop near Edge at midnight." With that Ayumi's body disappeared.
Tifa still speechless walked out the church doors, tears streaming down her face in fear. By the time she reached Seventh Heaven, her tears were gone but shock still filled her body. The door swung opened, as distressed looking Cloud appeared.
"Sorry I was gone for too long." Tifa stated quietly as she walked through the door.
A sigh of relief escaped the blonde's lips.
"If you're going to take a walk for more than three hours, you should leave a note or tell me so I wouldn't…worry." He stated his face a bit flushed.
She felt her cheeks burn. She halted for a while trying to regain composure.
"I'll…ki-keep…that in mind. Goodnight Cloud." Tifa stuttered as she headed up the stairs.
She lay on her bed, blanket pulled up to mouth, her eyes showed anxiety. After five minutes she drifted to sleep.
The sound of heels was heard in the quiet palace, the bang of the gong introducing the female who walked through the cherry wood doors. Her auburn eyes wandered around before she floated up the oriental red carpeted stairs towards her throne, a frown evident on her elegant face.
"Ayumi, how did the conference between you and the legacy go?" A stubby old woman asked, as she walked up to the Goddess.
"She didn't say anything. She seems like she doesn't want to inherit the throne, she was a bit troubled when I saw her. But the prophecy must be fulfilled." Ayumi said, eyes closed.
"Of course she doesn't want to inherit the throne, and I don't think no one would want a Second World War with Wutai. Even when you had turned 24 you didn't accept the prophecy, you would try to elude me." The old woman said calmly as she placed her hand on the goddess' shoulder.
A small smile crept on Ayumi's face.
"I guess so. How did you feel when you became the first goddess of Wutai?" Ayumi asked the old woman.
"Like any other woman would do. Shock, scared, and etcetera. But at my time I had more than the job to protect Wutai. I was the one who created these walls, to maintain the peace between our people, and I created the disciplinary rules." The old woman stated.
Ayumi looked down in sadness.
"Why do we have the rule 'Goddesses of Wutai should never love or marry.'?" Ayumi asked, reminiscing her past. Before she would escape the palace ground to watch her ex-boyfriend go though his daily life until he married her best friend. She knew if she didn't became a goddess, it would have been her in her best friend's place.
The old woman looked at her.
"That would make us Goddesses weak and vulnerable." The old goddess stated.
"What happens if I told you? The legacy has a family consist of two children and a male companion?" Ayumi asked.
"Well then…she must leave them. She has her job as stated in her prophecy." A smug look plastered on her face.
Tifa sat up her face filled with shock. Was she eavesdropping on the goddesses' conversation? A note was resting on her side table, a vase of roses stood nest to it.
Tifa…please head towards the living room! It's URGENT!
The brunette had a confuse face.
'If this was urgent, why couldn't Cloud just wake me up?'
Rushing towards the living room where she could see Cloud, his back turned.
"Cloud what is it?" Tifa asked skidding inside the room, where a black grand piano stood.
Her mouth went agape.
"Happy Birthday Teef." Cloud said.
A gentle smile came upon her lips, her fingers brushing against the ivory keys.
"Can you still play?" Cloud asked.
"I don't think I can play the piano like before." Tifa replied as her right hand wrapped around her balled up fist.
Cloud gave a questioning look.
"My hands have grown rougher." Tifa stated her body shaking.
The blond wrapped his hands around hers.
"Your hands aren't rough. They're like…erm…magic." Cloud stated his cheeks burning up again.
This time Tifa gave him a questioning look.
"You're able to cook food, nurse anybody, and you can…err…clean the rooms very well." Cloud said as his face slowly turned red in embarrassment.
"Oh Cloud! Thank you." Tifa said as she flung her arms around him.
"Tifa! Happy Birthday!!!" Two familiar voices rung out from behind them. Denzel and Marlene standing with drawings stretched in between their hands.
Her friends came around the afternoon to greet and give their present to Tifa, and left at midnight. Cloud fell asleep on the couch, Tifa giving a little chuckle on how cute he looked like when he sleeps.
"Tifa Lockhart. We must commence your training now." Ayumi's voice came from behind.
Tifa swivel around, auburn and crimson orbs met.
"But you said tomorrow night at midnight?" Tifa stated.
"Yes I have. But we mustn't waste anytime, Wutai will soon be in a state of calamity if we dilly dally." Ayumi said firmly.
"Why couldn't you do it?" Tifa asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Because dear I'm already over a hundred years old, and I'm very weak. That's why hearing about the prophecy that a Second World War with Wutai will begin in the next 30 years, we needed to give the prophecy to a pregnant woman who will deliver a baby girl. It seems like your mother was chosen. And also the reason is that we goddesses can't be the protector of Wutai forever, there must be someone who needs to take her place." " Ayumi stated.
"But dear! We should not dilly dally now! Lets us now start the lesson!" Ayumi stated, and a flash of light blinded Tifa.
I'm thinking of holding this Fanfic until I finish my other stories that are currently in progress. But if ever you want me to finish this story first then the other stories that are currently in progress just say so in your comments on one of the story, it would help me see which story has a lot of viewers or hits. The grand piano scene…I took a small idea from one of the doujinshi I have read…although just a little…but I shall credit the person who made the little scene. Anyway please review…or something xD