I recently read this story over again and realized how shitty my writing was DX so hopefully this is better now lol, anyway, hope you enjoy the final chapter…finally. And remember…this is a split between Ever After/FFVII/and my own twists XD
I do not own FFVII
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"I know why you're familiar….," Cloud was lost in thought as he road to Aerith's home. He had said she was familiar, and now he finally remembered.
"I hate you, dad!"
As the little prince ran out of the castle and into the rain outside, he soon disappeared. He ran and ran until finally he fell. Dizziness overtook him, though he could tell he was in some kind of forest.
"Hello, hello!"
"…?"
"Are you alright?"
Such a sweet voice…
"Yeah."
"Can you get up?"
"I'll try…"
"Hello, hello!"
He opened his eyes to see a girl about his age, looking down at him. She had such a nice smile.
Cloud sighed; Aerith was the little girl that saved him when he was a kid. They had gone their separate ways soon after their meeting, but he had hoped they would meet again someday. And they did.
As Cloud walked up to the home of the flower girl the front door instantly opened. It was Aerith's step mother.
"Why, hello there, prince Cloud." She smiled mischievously.
Cloud felt uncomfortable, "is Aerith here?"
Cloud noticed Scarlet's worry in her eyes.
"Um, I'm afraid she isn't here anymore, your highness." She bit her lip.
Cloud frowned, "where is she then?" he demanded.
"I sold her…to a man named Rufus."
Cloud had never felt so angry in his entire life. Rufus? The man that kidnapped her days before.
"Where are they?!" Cloud yelled scaring the woman.
"I don't know, sire," she shook her head.
"Tell me, or you'll soon see a rope around your neck," he threatened.
"No, please, sire!" she bowed, afraid for her life.
Cloud, the silent softy that he was, wouldn't really hang her, but he needed information.
"Tell me where she is…now!" he took out his sword.
"Ok, ok!" she whined, "they headed toward the Shinra kingdom!"
Cloud didn't say anything else, but made haste to find his flower girl.
(())
"Let's stop men!" Rufus ordered.
"Break time!" Hojo continued.
All the men sighed and sat on the ground. They had been traveling without a break for a while now.
Sephiroth rode over to Rufus' horse.
"How are you doing, Aerith?" he asked the girl riding on the horse with Rufus.
"…"
Sephiroth smirked, "fine, I see."
Aerith looked to the ground very unhappy. All she could think about was Cloud. What would he do if he ever found out what had happened to her? Would her step mother even tell him?
"Cloud….," she whispered. She missed him, already.
Soon they were on the road again.
A few days went by and they reached the Shinra kingdom. Aerith was exhausted from sitting on a horse for days. Rufus had been a gentleman to her, but Sephiroth wouldn't stop giving her evil looks. She didn't know what he was planning, but she knew something was wrong with him. She knew she would have to stop him, no matter the cost.
"Rufus," Sephiroth called getting off of his horse.
"Sir?" Rufus got off of his horse and helped Aerith down.
"Bring the girl to my place." He said and walked off.
Rufus looked at the flower girl who had her mouth wide open. He could see the fear in her eyes. There was something else there, though. Something was different about this girl.
"What does he want with me?" Aerith asked, hoping for an answer but thought she wouldn't get one.
Rufus shrugged, "you never know with him."
Aerith frowned as Rufus led her to Sephiroth's home. It was quite big when you got close to it, like a miniature castle. Rufus opened the door for the girl. She slowly walked in and when she did Rufus closed the door leaving her alone in the house.
(())
Cloud was breathless when he rode into Shinra kingdom, but he didn't stop there. He rode frantically around the city until he saw a familiar face. Hojo.
He became furious once again.
He got off of his horse and slowly walked up from behind Hojo. He put the tip of the sword on the nape of his neck.
"Where's Aerith?" he demanded.
Hojo froze, and put his hands up, "hey, now! Be careful!"
Cloud stuck the sword into his flesh, "Where is she?"
"Ow, ow! Stop it!"
"If you don't tell me…I'll cut them off." He threatened.
"You're serious aren't you?!" Hojo panicked, "Ok! She's at Sephiroth's house!"
Cloud's eyes widened, "what?! Where is his house!?"
(())
"So, Aerith." Sephiroth smiled, "How do you like my home?"
Aerith grimaced when she looked at the evil man, "I don't like it," she replied.
"That's too bad because you're going to stay here for the rest of your life."
As Sephiroth began to walk toward Aerith she spotted a rack of swords close by. If she could grab those she could escape. Aerith's stomach became uneasy when Sephiroth stood over her. He was so much taller than her.
Aerith reached for a sword but Sephiroth was much faster. He grabbed her by the wrists and pushed her back.
"No!" she yelled and put out her hand.
Sephiroth walked forward then suddenly froze. She had done it again. It was coming in handy. Every time evil was coming after her. Seal Evil.
Aerith sighed and ran out of the door.
"Aerith?"
Aerith stopped and looked ahead. Cloud was running toward her.
"Cloud?" she began to run toward her.
Cloud smiled as he ran to her, but that smile soon faded when Sephiroth was right behind Aerith with his sword.
No!
"Aerith!" he yelled.
Aerith, unaware about the man behind her reached her arms out for Cloud.
No!
Aerith's smile began to fade when Sephiroth put his sword through her stomach.
"Aerith!!" Cloud screamed.
Sephiroth smiled as he pulled his sword out of Aerith and slowly she fell to the ground.
"No!" Cloud yelled and pulled out his sword, jumping for Sephiroth.
Cloud in his rage attacks Sephiroth, but Sephiroth who is far stronger than Cloud blocks all of his attacks easily. Finally tired of Cloud, Sephiroth sticks his sword in Cloud's stomach and lifts him off the ground.
"Ugh…," Cloud coughs blood and looks at the silver haired man.
"You failed to save her, and now you'll die too," he began to laugh.
Aerith.
"No…," Cloud growled and pushed the sword into him more.
"What?" Sephiroth eyes widened.
When Cloud got close enough he stuck his sword into Sephiroth.
"You lose….," he breathed, and pushed Sephiroth back with a fire blast.
Sephiroth choked out blood and slowly fell backward, going over the side of a cliff.
Cloud took the sword out of him and looked toward Aerith. He began to walk to her slowly, and fell a few feet away from her.
"Aerith…," he whispered.
Cloud looked up to see a light green materia. It was Aerith's.
"What does it do?"
"Absolutely nothing!"
"Nothing?" he reached out and touched the fragile marble.
"Aerith…," he said before he closed his eyes.
I want to be forgiven.
By who?
Aerith…
I never blamed you; you came for me, that's all that matters.
//Ahead On Our Way//
"Cid?" Zack walked into the King's study room.
"Zack," the king said sadly.
"You alright?"
The king sighed, "seems like yesterday Cloud was a little kid running off somewhere…," he looked down.
"I know," Zack replied.
"But today's a big day, huh?"
"Yeah."
"I'm retiring…this isn't for me anymore…," Cid trailed off.
"It's time," Zack changed the subject.
"Of course," Cid smiled, "I guess I should stop moping, huh?" Cid chuckled.
Zack smiled and walked out of the room with Cid. It was a big day in the kingdom.
"Cloud!" Zack walked up to his friend. "Ready?" he grinned.
"Yeah, let's go." Cloud confirmed.
(())
"Why have it here?" Cloud and Zack walked into an old church.
"This is where we met…," Cloud trailed off. "Well, the second time."
"Second time?" Zack asked, confused.
"Nothing," Cloud shook his head.
"Hey, Cloud," Zack grinned.
"Yeah?"
"Look," Zack nodded in the direction of the entrance to the church.
Cloud turned around and became breathless. He had never seen such a beautiful flower before.
"Aerith," he smiled.
She walked up slowly and looked up at Cloud. They stared at each other for a moment until Cid came in.
"Let's get this #$#* wedding going!!" he stopped to see Aerith, and blushed, "Oh, sorry, Aerith didn't see you there…"
Cloud slapped his forehead, but Aerith giggled, "It's alright."
"Cloud?"
"Yeah?" he looked down at her.
"Ready?" she smiled.
"I've been ready," he smiled back.
And in the end, love did conquer all.
Zack sighed, "Where's my happily ever after?" he groaned as he watched Cloud and Aerith ride off in their carriage for their honeymoon.
As the curtain fell on their window, he could see them lean in for a kiss.
"Zack?"
Zack turned, "Ye-," he stopped when he saw Tifa.
She smiled, he grinned.
"I think that's a sign, huh?" He looked to the sky.
"What?" Tifa asked.
"Nothing," he chuckled and shook his head, "want to go do something? I heard about this place called the Gold fair….," they both walked out of the church.
And they all lived happily ever after…
-fin-
