Defiers of Fate
Living in a world controlled by the Shinra fal'cie, Cloud and friends are bestowed the Focus as Terra L'Cie to bring ruin to Gaia.
Fiction Rated: M Adventure/Drama


Chapter 2: The Promise

Cloud left ten minutes ago, promising to be back within the hour. She hoped so, her stomach was growling. Finally crying about Marlene's ordeal made her body realize she hasn't eaten since yesterday. Cloud told her to close up shop while he ventured off to get them some take out from across town. She obliged since she wasn't in the mood to serve customers and business was slow tonight. Edge Festival started today at Midgar Port, the real opening was tomorrow at the sky city itself. Tonight was the fireworks over the ocean. She smiled, thinking it'll be nice once Cloud gets back, they can sit on the roof eating dinner and watching the display. The bar phone rang, interrupting her thoughts.

"Seventh Heaven, this is Tifa speaking," she answered.

"Hey Tifa! Its Zack, how ya been?"

Her eyes narrowed. Its been months since she talked to Zack. She didn't interact with him since he's departure from SOLDIER last spring because of the fallout, but she still considered him a friend. Despite Cloud's disapproval for Zack dating Aerith, she thought he was perfect for her friend.

"I remember you," she teased.

"Yeah," he laughs nervously. "Cloud isn't around, is he?"

"Umm, no. He went out to grab dinner for us."

"Oh, sounds like a date!," he teased her back.

"No, no! Its just a dinner Zack. I was outta town on vacation," she explained.

"He still hasn't made a move on you Tifa?"

"Zack, why did you call?" Ignoring him was the best option. Denying it would only get him to tease her more about her feelings towards Cloud, and she was beginning to fluster. Zack though had this idea that Cloud requited her feelings, and she didn't believe that. They grew up together, nothing more.

"Well, I wanted to come by and talk to you."

Sighing, she took a glance at the clock. "How soon can you get here?"

The bar door opened, "Already here!" he closed the phone, stepping inside.

"Well, you got fifteen minutes, Cloud should be back soon." Closing her phone as well. She then turned her attention to her customers, which were only three. "Okay, I'm gonna be closing soon, so last call and a free drink." She stepped out and motioned for Zack to step into the back, "come on."

He followed her into the kitchen, and was pacing in front of her. Putting her hands on her waist, she reminded him that he only had fifteen minutes.

Putting a hand through his hair, he laughed nervously, again. "Sorry, but I came by to get your approval."

"For?," she arched a brow.

He dug into his pockets and held out a small velvet box. "I'm gonna ask Aerith to marry me, " smiling triumphantly.

"Zack, thats great! When?"

"Tonight, during the fireworks. I gotta go meet her soon. So I have your approval?," hope found in his voice.

"Of course, I'll even help out."

"I'm pretty sure you'll be the Maid of Honor, Teef."

"And who would be the Best Man?," she asked. She really wish Cloud would get over his anger with Zack, he was the first real friend he had when they moved here ten years ago.

Zack scratched the back of his head, "Well, we might have to go the untraditional route, depending on how things go tomorrow."

"Your going to Cloud's birthday party." It wasn't a question, its was a statement.

"If we're gonna do this, we should tell him together."

"You should so sure that she'll say 'yes'," she teased again.

"Hey! Don't jinx me!," he exclaimed, pushing her.

"I'm kidding, I'm sure it'll go as planned," she reassured him, patting his arm.

Looking away, he agreed. "Well I gotta get going, I don't want Aerith to wait or an early run in with Chocobo Head. I'll see ya tomorrow Teef."

After waving him off, she went back to the bar, making the last drink of the night. The other two customers had left with their gil on the bar top, accept one man. She never seen him before, but he must be in town for the fireworks. But it didn't seem that he would enjoy the fireworks, judging by his appearance. He looked like the someone to prefer to be alone then the center of a crowd that the night's festivities would bring. He wore black twill pants with black boots, along with a black long sleeve shirt and — surprise — black leather gloves. It was complete with a red dismantled cape and a clean cut bandana around his raven hair. Asking for the last drink he wanted, he peered at her with his red eyes. "Disaronno on the rocks."

She poured him his drink adding the ice first. Sliding the small chilled glass over, she had to ask, "What brings you to Midgar?" She knew it wasn't the fireworks.

"I'm looking for... my companion," he replied, swishing the liquor in his glass.

"Do they leave around here?," she asked on, taking a washcloth to the counter. Cloud would be back soon.

"No. Chances of you knowing her are slim," he sipped his drink.

"Well, I hope you find her." He wasn't much for small talk it seemed.

Placing gil on the counter, he nodded, and made his silent exit.


"Meet me at the Pier 3 tonight at 8, I have some things to take care of first before our date."

Looking up at the sky above her she sighed, thinking of her parents. What would they be thinking? They were members of the Shinra, and she was now a Terra L'Cie. If she does complete her Focus, she'll see her parents again, right? She smiled, they wouldn't be mad, and they'd be happy to hear that she was with Zack. They always said they liked it when he came around their home when he was still friends with Cloud.

"Whats with the smile? Thinking of me of course," Zack came up on the side, face into hers. Looking at him he had that dashing smile. He was so full of himself at times, but she loved it. Every part of him.

She laughed. "Sorta. I was thinking about my parents, and Cloud, how things used to be."

"Hmm." He was silent.

"I was hoping tomorrow I could tell Cloud the truth," breaking the silence. "He'll be so mad, knowing I hid it from him." She looked down the lights reflecting of the water from the fireworks.

"Don't worry, I'll take the blame. I've hid things from him before."

She nodded, knowing the reason behind his SOLDIER resignation. She couldn't blame Zack for not telling Cloud the truth, for the truth hurt so much. She half-wished that he knew so he wouldn't be apart of SOLDIER anymore either, after hearing about Zack's mission in Nibelheim. It just hit too close to home for Cloud and Tifa, literally.

Loud cracks interrupted her thoughts as fireworks blasted into the sky, and cheers were heard from the beach. She smiled, and look up at Zack. He had the look of a child on his face, amazed by the display. He turned to her, smirk on his face, putting his arm around her for her to embrace him back.

He pointed to the fireworks, stating the obvious shapes they became as the bursted out across the sky, and them laughing as the Moogle one made an appearance with an echoing "Kupo!" upon its arrival.

"I'll never forget this night," Aerith said, turning to him. He just wants to make her happy and forget for a little while, and his plans usual work.

"Yeah, its special." He dug into his pocket with his free hand, "I got us something at the store yesterday."

"Oh really?" She was curious now.

"Yeah, I don't know much about jewelry, but I like them. I hope you do too," he put out his hand, showing her two silver rings. One plain band, and one with a diamond. She teared up. Was he really asking her this? Even after her fate?

He knelled down to the ground, holding up his hand with the rings.

"Zack, I—"

"I'll stand by you, I promise. Aerith, will you marry me?," he looked up to her with his puppy eyes, one he knew she couldn't resist.

And she couldn't resist.

"Yes!," holding out her hand, and he quickly slipped her diamond ring on. Beaming at her, he jumped into the air. "She said 'yes'!"

She laughed, looking down at her ring. "Can I put on your ring?" He handed it to her knowing what she wanted to do. Before she slipped it onto his left ring finger, he pulled his hand back.

"Aerith, you have to be knelling," he explained, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Knelling before him, she slipped the silver band onto his finger, "I accept you, Zack." Grabbing her hand, he pulled her to her feet, stealing a kiss under the fireworks.

Smiling down at her, he asked, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"To tell Cloud that I've become a L'Cie?"

"Hey, our engagement is way bigger news!"

She laughed, he was always a good distraction. He turned to the sky, and she still looked up to him.

"Man I can't wait to see the look on his face. Spiky will be a little ticked, but I'm all right with that. Maybe becoming his brother will make us friends again." He turned back to her, winking, knowing it was far from the truth.

She laughed again, playfully agreeing. She took his hand in hers, looking up at display. "Their gorgeous, aren't they?"

"Its all we need Aerith, just you and me," he whispered into her ear, reassuring her.

Nothing was gonna bring her down with him around it seemed. She kissed him once again, more passionately this time. As he began to lean into her more, she broke it.

"Let's go back to your place," she winked at him suggestively, then ran off down the pier.

She left him dumbfounded, his mouth hung open. Realization obvious on his face about her proposition towards him. He smiled, and chased after her not wanting to turn her down. "Hey, wait up!"

Tifa shivered at the cold on the roof, bringing the fleece blanket designed with dancing Carbuncles around her more. Wearing her tank top and skirt on the roof was a bad idea. She looked down at her boots, tapping the sides together as she waited. The fireworks would start soon, and Cloud was probably gonna miss them.

It had been over an hour, and he still wasn't there. What was taking him so long?

The first of the fireworks started, this year with Carbuncle dancing in the sky, followed by some Cait Siths. Is Marlene watching this too?

"Sorry I'm late," Cloud climbed out her bedroom window. "I went to the Festival to grab us food. Everywhere was closed," he scooted over to her, opening the bag.

She shook her head, "Its all right, what'cha get us?"

"Some hot sandwiches and the home-made lemon ice you like," he offered her the cup. "Still frozen."

"Oh!," she squealed, grabbing the cup from his hands and digging her spoon in. Bringing the frozen treat to her lips, she moaned. "Thank you Cloud," slipping another spoonful into her mouth. She makes it a point to get it every year. She smiled knowing that he remembered.

"I also stopped at gift vendor. He had some interesting stuff," he began digging into his pocket.

"Cloud, no presents."

Ignoring her, he grabbed her hand, placing the metal object into her hand, folding her fingers up around it before she could see. "I insist."

Unfolding her hand she looked at the ring, taking in a breath. It looked all too familiar. She knew he was interested in Fenrir, despite it being a Terra L'Cie, and got him an earring with Fenrir crested on it. She was now looking at a ring that held the same crest, and she smiled. They thought too mich alike at times.

"Its a protect ring," he explained. "I joined SOLDIER to protect you, and Zack reminded me of that every time when I had thoughts of quitting, but I continued on training for you. If our parents can't be there for us," he looked at her, "I'll be there for you, I promise."

"Cloud, you've always been there for me." She slipped on the ring, leaning onto his shoulder.
"Ever since Nibelheim, we've been together."

She thought back to the past events from ten years ago, before she moved here with Cloud into his cousin's house. She was born and raised in Nibelheim, just like Cloud until a few days before her parents anniversary. Her parents and Cloud's were neighbors, close friends and wanted to celebrate privately, so sent the two of them to stay at a family friends house for a few days. Tifa remembers playing in the backyard with Cloud when they were called inside by Cid and Shera, who explained to them that going back home was no longer an option.

"I'm sorry kids, but you can't return home tomorrow. Nibelheim has some Terra L'Cie inside, causing trouble," Cid grumbled at the kitchen table where they sat.

"What do you mean Terra L'Cie?" Cloud yelled. "How they'd get there?"

"There is a ruin there that held a Terra fal'cie, making someone there L'Cie. They completed their Focus," Shera explained. Being upfront about this was important.

"What about our parents? They made it out, right?," Tifa asked in hope. But with the look on Cid's face scrunching up and looking away, she knew.

"The town was crystallized upon the Focus, I'm sorry," Shera sympathized. She knelled in front of Tifa, bringing her into a hug. Tifa cried, and Cloud ran out of the room, up the stairs slamming the door.

Cid lit a cigarette, "Should I go up there, Sher?"

Still holding Tifa, she nodded. The table chair screeched across the floor as Cid got up, making his way to the stairs. "This ain't fair to them," he grumbled as he climbed the stairs.

"Shera, whats going happen to me and Cloud? Where are we gonna go?," Tifa sniffed.

"Well, Cloud has some family in Midgar you can stay with. You remember Aerith, right?," she asked. Tifa nodded, not wanting to talk anymore.

"Your gonna stay with them," Shera began, lifting Tifa's chin up to dry her eyes with a tissue. "And go to the school there. I heard its really nice."

"And Cloud will be with me, right?," Tifa asked again with a sniffle.

"Of course," Shera smiled. "Just don't tell anyone you or Cloud are from Nibelheim, okay?"

And they were still together, always friends since before the incident. She moved into Aerith's house, her family being the only ones to know the ordeal, quickly became friends with Aerith and went to school with her and Cloud. Cloud didn't go to high school, applying for the SOLDIER Academy and got in, meeting Zack, his first real friend since moving there. Tifa went on to high school, graduating early the same year as Aerith, and inherited a bar from her boss Barret Wallace when he passed away. Marlene was left behind and Tifa volunteered to take her in, giving Marlene the same gift she was given by Aerith's family.

Things have changed a lot since the beginning of the year, first with Aerith's parents passing away in the car accident. Aerith was devasted on the inside but on the outside had a smile on her face, knowing that's what her parents wanted. Cloud and Zack stopped talking after Angeal was killed in action and Zack quitting SOLDIER, right before he and Cloud were gonna be promoted to First Class. And now Marlene...

She's only six, and a Shinra L'Cie.

"Tomorrow, we should go see her," Cloud suggested, putting his arm around her.

"Yeah, lets go see her." Tifa snuggled into Marlene's blanket more, looking at the fireworks.


AN: Okay, second chapter. I feel I'm lacking description, so any pointers are welcome.
I also through in some quotes from the movie and game in there, the last line being similar to ending of Final Fantasy VII.