Chapter 7: The End of Serenity

            "I'm going to bed, love," May announced as she set down a tray of used beer mugs on the counter. "These old bones can't handle the late nights."

            Tifa leaned over the bar and smiled. "Get some sleep, May. Your bar is in good hands."

            "You have been such a gift to an old woman," May beamed.

            "Goodnight, May," Mark said as he grabbed up the tray of mugs and headed for the kitchen to wash them.

            May nodded and headed for the stairs. She stopped before a painting of a young man on the wall and blew a kiss to it. It was a ritual that May did every night. Tifa had noticed this and curiosity was getting the better of her.

            "Was he your husband?" Tifa asked.

            "Yes he was. He was a good man. The older I get the happier I am?"

            Tifa raised a brow at her odd last statement. "What do you mean?"

            "It means I'm even closer to being with him again."

            Tifa watched May as she slowly made her way up the stairs. The last thing she had said made Tifa suddenly depressed. She threw the towel in her hands up onto a shelf and walked out from behind the counter. She walked over to a chair and had a seat. There was only one person in the bar. A lot of the townspeople were at home with their families. This was mostly because of the heavy snowfall. The one person who was there was Russ. He was always there, no matter what the weather was like. Tifa was just waiting for him to do something stupid so that she could throw him out and maybe close the bar early.

            She sighed and put her feet up onto the table. She missed everyone so much. At times she had to just pretend like she was happy to keep from crying.

            "He died right after they were married," Mark's voice grabbed her attention.

            "What?" Tifa asked.

            "I heard you talking to May about her husband," he responded.

            "Oh, really. That is so sad." Tifa said.

            "There were some men that broke into their house. He saved May's life but lost his own."

            Tifa shook her head. "There is so much evil that lies in the hearts of men."

            "May raised my dad all alone. She says it made her stronger."

            Tifa had known that Mark was May's grandson, but she hadn't known the story behind their family.

            "And where is your father now?" She asked.

            "He died fighting the demons a few years back," Mark said as he came over and took a seat beside her. "You see, Tifa, evil is not only in the hearts of men. It is everywhere."

            His words made her a little uneasy, but she took them in. "That is why there is good," she responded.

            The door to the bar opened and five people walked in, dusting the snow from their jackets. Tifa got up and returned to behind the bar. She watched them argue as they made their way toward her. There were two women and three men. One of the men had a tattoo along the side of his face and was carrying on loudly about something.

"What was up with that guy? He tags along with us until we get here. Then he disappears!"   

"Don't worry about it," one of the women told him as she sat down at the bar. She tucked a few strands of blond hair behind her ear. "We don't need him to find our way out of here."

            "I know, but he was the only person we've met so far who hasn't thought we were crazy!"

            "Calm down chicken-wuss. I'm sick of hearing your voice. We're all tired and hungry, and yes, we know, that guy is gone. He was possibly our only hope at finding out what is going on, but that doesn't mean that your whining will change anything," a man with a long white trench coat spoke up.

            "You want to start something?" the man with the tattoo asked, bringing up his fists.

            The blond at the counter rubbed her temples and looked up at Tifa. "Give me the strongest thing you can put together without killing me."

            Tifa began to make her drink. "Long day?" She asked.

            "It's like traveling with children," the blond commented.

            "Where are you from?" Tifa asked.

            The blond shook her head. "Not here."

            "You've been traveling? How long?"

            "A couple of days. Hey, how about that drink?"

            "Oh yeah, here," Tifa handed the glass to her. She then looked up and saw the other woman kneeling down and petting Mark's dog.

            "Hey doggy!" She squealed. "You are such a sweet doggy. Yes you are!" She had the dog on its back and she was scratching its belly. Tifa was amazed.

            "That dog doesn't like anyone," she told her. The woman looked up with a big smile on her face. She had short brown hair that was curled out at the end. She stood up and extended her hand.

            "I'm Selphie," she chimed.

            "Tifa."

            "You wouldn't happen to know where we could all stay for the night." Selphie asked.

            "There is an inn down the street. Or you could stay here. You'd have to share rooms though. We only have two."

            "There is no way that I'm going to stay in a room with those two," a man in a cowboy hat piped up. He had been at the back of the room looking at the game and guns displayed on the wall. He pointed to the two men who were still arguing from before.

            The blond at the counter downed her drink in one gulp and threw some coins onto the bar. "We have to stay somewhere," she commented.

            Tifa picked up the coins and studied them. "These aren't the correct currency. I'm sorry, but I can't accept this."

            The man with the trench coat stopped his argument when he heard this and leaned across the counter. "Look, we'd really appreciate it if you'd help us out here. We haven't eaten or slept in three days. We don't even know where we are. So, maybe if you could just overlook this..."

Tifa didn't like his patronizing tone of voice. The way he leaned across the counter also told her that he was trying to intimidate her. It made her angry. "I'm sorry, but someone has to pay for this place and we can't exchange this currency. Where are you from anyway?"

            He scowled at her and was about to engage her in verbal combat when the door of the bar opened again and they all directed their attention toward it. A man in a long black trench coat entered. The first thing that Tifa noticed was the large double bladed sword he had slung across his back. His hair was long and dark and rested on his shoulders. She felt a sudden uneasiness come over her and she reached under the counter and wrapped her hands around her fighting gloves.

            "Is this the residence of Junah?"

            Tifa thought over the name and remembered that it was Mark's last name. She looked up at Mark who was suddenly pale.

            "Why do you ask?" Tifa found the courage to say.

            The man stared at her with cold, emotionless eyes. "I've come for the map."

            "The map of what?" Tifa asked. "As you can see, this is a bar. Not a tourist shop."

            "I don't think you want to piss this one off," the man with the white trench coat warned her. She saw him reach for a sword he had concealed at his side.

            "You feel it too?" the blond whispered to him as she got up from her stool.

            Tifa looked around the room in confusion. The five who had entered the bar where slowly pulling out their weapons. The cowboy loaded a large shotgun. The clicking noise made the dark man's eyes narrow. He reached up behind his head and grasped the middle of the two blades. Tifa slid on her gloves and knew deep within herself something bad was about to happen. She didn't want Mark or May to be hurt.

            "I'm a Junah," she found herself saying. She couldn't believe the words that had just come out of her mouth. Mark stared at her with wide eyes. The dark man smiled and moved forward, but the man in the white trench coat stepped in front of him with his sword drawn.

            "Seifer," the blond woman called out to him. "Don't."

            "I can handle this," he snarled.

            "Move," the dark man ordered.

            "Leave," Seifer fought back.

            The dark man ripped his sword up off his back and down at Seifer in a quick movement that Seifer barely had enough time to block. The force that the man exerted immediately removed the sword from Seifer's hand. The dark man then picked him up and threw him into the wall behind the bar. Glass went everywhere and Tifa covered her face to protect it. When she removed her hands she saw the dark man standing before her.

            "The map," he said holding out his hand.

            "I don't know what you are talking about," she told him.

            He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her up against the wall. "Your father would have had it passed down to him by his and in turn he would have given it to you."

            A shot fired and the dark man released Tifa. She slumped to the floor and coughed, trying to take in air. She looked up and saw the dark man holding his arm. Red liquid dripped down his fingers and off his hand. She backed away from him and stood up. The cowboy had fired his shotgun. The dark man smiled and turned toward him.

            "Cowards use such weaponry," he sneered, "How would you fare at close range combat?"

            The cowboy's face didn't change at the dark man's threat. He just raised his shotgun again and fired another round. The dark man held out his palm and the shot was stopped in mid air. He laughed and returned the round at the cowboy. The cowboy ducked and the rounds passed over him harmlessly.

            Tifa ran at the dark man and laid her fist into his back. He turned and she delivered a kick into his side, but none of this was effective. She suddenly realized the danger she was in. He swung his sword at her head and she ducked and rolled away from him. She got up and saw May running down the stairs with something clutched to her chest. She ran past everyone and out the door. The dark man noticed this and went in pursuit of her.

            The blond unraveled a whip from her side and threw it at the dark man. It wrapped around his throat, but he grabbed it a pulled her to the ground. The man with the tattoo tried to stop him as well. He threw a punch, but the dark man grabbed his fist and squeezed it. The sound of bones cracking filled the air and the man cried out.

            "Zell!" Selphie cried. She took her nunchaku and swung them into the dark man's side. He released Zell and brought his sword around to strike her, but his motion was interrupted by Tifa. She had cast a lightning spell that had sprung up between the two. The man stared at her.

            "You are one of them. One from the other worlds," he said.

            "One of them? You mean there are others? Who are you?" Tifa asked.

            "My name is Corbett," the man answered. "My name should be the least of your concerns."

            "You're not from this world?" Selphie asked with surprise.

            "No," Tifa responded, "I take it you are all from another world as well?"

            Selphie nodded and helped Zell. She looked at his crushed hand with concern and fear.

            "Are you alright?" she asked him.

            "Man, it hurts," he told her through gritted teeth. "I want to kick his ass."

            Corbett smiled. "This has been entertaining, but I need to bid you all farewell."

            "Not without a fight!" Zell screamed at him.

            "I thought that was what you called that pathetic display," Corbett quipped.

            Tifa looked at the door. She hoped that May was far away. She was glad that she was out of this mess, but she still couldn't let the man leave. Corbett turned to leave, but Russ stepped in front of him. Russ hovered over Corbett and looked ten times stronger.

            "I won't let you hurt May," he said bravely.

            "Russ!" Tifa screamed. "Get out of here!"

            Her pleas were in vain, however, as Corbett slammed his fist into the giant drunk. Russ was thrown back into the wall. He hit hard enough to cause an indent in the stone. Tifa covered her her mouth. She knew that no one could have survived a blow like that.

            "Argh! What do you want?!" Tifa screamed at him.

            "The map," Corbett answered again.

            "We don't have a map!" She cried.

            "I know," Corbett smiled. "The old woman does."

            He then left the bar. No one could stop him. The ones that had tried were all on the floor. Tifa ran after him, but the bar suddenly exploded in brilliant flame. She felt herself flying through the air and the heat engulfing her. She felt herself hit something hard and she felt all of the wind leave her lungs. She collapsed on the ground and when she had caught her breath she realized that she could no longer feel the heat. She risked opening her eyes and saw herself surrounded in a transparent, blue shell. All around her the room was burning. Everything was falling apart and crashing to the ground. Next to her was Mark. He was unharmed, like her, but unconscious. She ran to him, grabbed his arms and began dragging him toward the door. She felt someone grab her arm and she turned to see the blond, pulling her toward the door. A beam from the ceiling fell down in front of the door, blocking it. The blond then pointed toward the window and stared off at full sprint. She crashed through and rolled out into the snow. Tifa drug Mark to the window and passed him to the blond on the other side. She then leapt through herself. They walked a few paces before the bar erupted in more fire, sending them all to the ground.

            Tifa looked up and saw the cowboy with Seifer over his shoulder. Selphie had Mark's dog in her arms. Zell ran to them and helped them pull Mark away from the flames with his good hand. Together, they all collapsed in the snow at a safe distance. Tifa looked at the bar and felt tears of rage welling up in her eyes.

            "That was May's bar! You bastard! That was May's bar!" Warm tears began to fall over her cheeks.

            Zell touched her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

            "No! I'm pissed!" Tifa announced angrily. She got to her feet and looked around for the man. Lights were coming on and people were looking out their windows at the inferno that was once May's tavern.

            Zell turned to the others, "Quistis, Irvine, Selphie, are you alright?"

            "Yes," Quistis answered. "Thank goodness for Shell, huh?"

            "That was too close," Irvine said as he brushed the singed areas off his hat. "I hope Seifer wakes up soon. I don't want to carry his dead weight."

            "Thanks for the concern Irvine, chicken-wuss," Seifer groaned as he sat up slowly. "I feel like I was hit by a truck."

            "May," Tifa started, "You have to help me find her!" Tifa picked up Mark again and drug him over to a gawker who had just come out of his house.

"Take him inside and take care of him!" Tifa ordered.

            The man nodded and took Mark from her. The dog followed his master and Tifa felt better knowing Mark was safe.

            "There are fresh footprints," Irvine pointed out. Tifa followed his gaze and a sudden urgency filled her.

            "That way leads out of town. What is May thinking?"

            "She wants to lead him away from these people," Quistis pointed out. "Wouldn't you do the same?"
            "Oh, May," Tifa said, as she ran past all of them.

            "Should we follow her?" Zell asked.

            "Of course!" Selphie scolded him. "She needs our help! Besides she might be able to help us."

            "What are you waiting for?" Seifer said as he got to his feet. "An invitation. She might be our key home."

            "Oh, and our helping her has nothing to do with just that," Quistis retorted throwing her hands up into the air. She shook her head at Seifer and then ran after Tifa. The others followed.

            Tifa came to the end of town and saw Corbett standing over May. A golden orb was in his hands. He hadn't noticed her yet. He put the orb in his trench coat and turned to leave. It was then that he saw Tifa. Her fists were balled and tears were streaming from her rage filled eyes.

            "Is she dead?" Tifa asked.

            Corbett's face remained emotionless. "Do you really wish to continue this?" He asked. "I am surprised that you survived my fire, but to continue this fight would mean your death."

            Tifa looked at May. She could see her breathing. Her chest was rising and falling slowly. A glimmer of hope filled Tifa and she went into her fighting stance.

            "You stole something from my friend. I want it back!"

            Corbett shook his head. He then advanced in the blink of an eye and was upon her. He swung at her, but she ducked and punched up into his gut. For the first time, she saw pain flash across his face and he backed away from her, holding his stomach. His shocked expression was quickly replaced with a cruel smile that chilled Tifa's blood.

            "It has been so long since I've felt pain," he told her.

            She came at him again and punched him. He didn't fight back. She continued to pummel him until she realized that he was playing with her. She spun around to kick at his chest, but he grabbed her foot and spun her to the ground. She rolled over and looked up at him.

            "I have never met one like you. One who has courage, even when they know there is no way they can win." He told her. He spun his sword around to the other blade and placed it on her chest. She looked up at him without fear, even though she knew that nothing could save her now.

            A sharp explosive sound cracked through the air and Tifa saw deep crimson burst from the left shoulder of Corbett. He grabbed the new wound and glared at where the shot had come from. Tifa looked behind her, expecting Irvine to be there, but instead her eyes met with a welcomed site.

            "Vincent!" she called out to him.

            Vincent came closer to them, with his gun out before him. It was pointed at Corbett's face. "Tifa," he acknowledged her, "Get behind me."

            She got to her feet and ran to him. She threw herself into his arms and held onto him with fear that he would fade away if she let go.

He hugged her with one arm then pushed her gently behind him. Quistis and the others came up behind them.

            "Vincent," Quistis said when she recognized him.

            "Hey," Zell spoke up. "Where did you go? We needed you back there!"

            Vincent didn't answer. His entire focus was on Corbett. Tifa suddenly realized that Vincent had been the one that they had been traveling with.

            "Fight me without that gun," Corbett taunted Vincent. The wound on Corbett's shoulder was slowly healing much to all of their horror and dismay.

            "Who the hell is this guy?!" Zell exclaimed.

            Vincent put away his gun under the folds of his cloak and stepped forward. Tifa grabbed his arm.

            "No," she told him.

            "I can take him if he pisses me off enough," Vincent told her. "I'm almost there."

            "What does he mean by that?" Selphie asked.

            Vincent and Corbett ran at each other and began to fight without their weapons. Corbett took blow after blow without much effect. Vincent couldn't keep up with Corbett's attacks. In the end Vincent ended up on his face, in the snow. He growled and Tifa knew what would come next, but she wondered if the chaos beast he would become would be enough to stop Corbett.

Vincent's back produced massive dragon-like wings and his whole body changed into that of a demon. Corbett backed away a bit in surprise. Vincent, now Chaos, flew above Corbett. He produced a large ball of energy within his two palms and threw it at Corbett. Corbett did the same and the two forces clashed in mid air. Everyone hit the ground to avoid being hit with the impact. When they looked up, both Corbett and Chaos were untouched.

Corbett suddenly realized he was getting too weak to stay and fight all of them. He backed up a few steps from them and then disappeared.

"What?!" Zell exclaimed. "Where did he go?! Did he just up and leave?!"

Chaos returned to Vincent and rested in the snow. Tifa ran up to him.

"That was amazing," she told him.

His only reply was a weak smile. Tifa then remembered May and she went to her. She dropped to her knees and held her in her arms.

"May," she said.

The old woman opened her eyes and smiled up at Tifa weakly. "You are such a gift to an old woman."

"We're going to get you some help, May."
            "No. I don't want it."

"But, May," Tifa pleaded.

"Listen to me. I'm an old woman. I've lived my life."

Tifa looked away and tried not to cry.

"That man took the map?" May asked.

Tifa nodded.

"Then I am truly sorry," May told Tifa. Her speech was starting to break up. "I have to… ask you to do something for me. I wish… that I didn't have to."

"Anything, May," Tifa told her.

"Take my locket and open it," May ordered.

Tifa undid May's clasp and opened the locket. There was a picture of a young red haired woman and the man in the painting in the bar. Tifa took out the picture and looked on the back. There were six numbers written on it.

"You must go there," May told her. "My husband was given that map and was told to protect it. I was horrible for never giving it to Mark. I guess I didn't want him to have the responsibility."

"The responsibility of what, May?" Tifa asked.

"To make sure no one… found the gate keys."

"The gate keys?"

"Divina….will give you help."

With that, May fell limp in Tifa's arms. Tifa laid her down gently in the snow and stood up. She stared at the numbers on the back of the picture. She felt Vincent come up beside her.

"They look like coordinates," he told her.

"May must have copied them off of the map that Corbett stole," Tifa added.

"What are the gate keys?" Quistis asked.

Tifa shook her head and then started back into town. Vincent picked up May and followed her.

"What now?" Seifer called out to Tifa.

She stopped and turned to them. "I'm going. I told May I would."

"Going where?" Zell asked.

"Divina," Tifa answered.

"We're coming with you," Selphie told her. "We don't know why we are here, but this definitely has to have something to do with it."

"I haven't experienced power like that in a long time," Quistis said to them. All of them, but Tifa and Vincent, knew that she was referring to Ultimecia.

"You are going to need our help," Seifer told Tifa.

Tifa nodded and motioned for them to follow her.