Chapter 7:

When the glacier crumbled Noreku and Cloud fell into the Lifestream and were washed away to Mideel where a local found them. Cloud was in critical condition with a severe case of Mako poisoning, Noreku was fine since his body was used to the Mako energy.

Due to Cloud's condition Noreku rushed him to the local hospital. The doctor didn't seem to believe Cloud could make it. About 5 hours after arriving at the hospital Tifa and the gang arrived at Mideel expecting to find information on Sephiroth but instead found Cloud and Noreku.

"Cloud! Noreku!" Tifa yelled in tears.

"Tifa?" Noreku said noticing Tifa run into the hospital.

"I thought you two were goners." She said hugging him. "I thought I lost you guys."

"Don't worry sweetheart we're still alive. But Cloud is in bad condition. He has a severe case of Mako poisoning."

"How'd that happen?

"When the glacier collapsed we fell into the Lifestream."

"Then how did you walk away fine?"

"When you join SOLDIER you have to have tests run on you that include Mako showers, so my body could handle it."

"Will he get better?"

"I don't know but I gotta stay here with him. I promised I'd protect him."

"I'll stay too." Tifa said holding tight to Noreku.

"Alright. Well everyone, we'll catch up as soon as Cloud's better." Noreku said to his friends.

"Bye!" They said before leaving Cloud, Tifa and Noreku.

About an hour later Noreku and Tifa decided to have some fun with Cloud, after they were overly drunk, and draw all over him in permanent marker. They drew glasses on him, a Hitler-stash, colored in a bunch of his teeth to make it look like he had missing teeth and random stuff everywhere else. Then that night Tifa and Noreku slept together in the shack next to the hospital, there they had sex for the first time with each other.

The next morning there was a massive earthquake that woke them both up. When they ran outside they saw chunks of the ground just falling. As they panicked they grabbed Cloud and tried to flee the city but the ground under them crumbled and they fell into the Lifestream.

When they fell into the Lifestream Noreku and Tifa woke up in an area that seemed like Cloud's broken mind.

There they helped Cloud recover his memories and help him remember Zack.

"So Zack was really the one who did all those things I pretended to do?" Cloud asked.

"Yes." Noreku replied. "Now I think you're ready to uncover you last lost memory."

"What is it?" Cloud asked.

"My death." A man with spiky black hair said.

"Zack?"

"Good to see you again Cloud. Are you ready?"

"Ya." Cloud replied as a white light appeared and everything fell silent.

Within the light an image of Zack appeared drawing the Buster Sword and getting ready to fight the Shinra army.

"The price for freedom is pretty steep." Zack said moving his sword so he could rest his forehead against it. "Embrace your dreams and whatever happens, protect your honor...as SOLDIER!" He yelled as he charged the army. He managed to defeat all but 3 of the soldiers. Those 3 shot down Zack leaving him dying in a pool of his own blood.

Then a shadow appeared in the distance. The shadow got closer and was revealed to be Cloud. As Cloud slowly moved closer he began to cry.

"Come here Cloud." Zack said breathing heavy. "You're going to live...for both of us."

"What?" Cloud said confused.

"You are," Zack said pulling Cloud's head to his chest, "my living legacy."

"Your living...legacy?" Cloud said pulling his now blood soaked head up to look at Zack.

"My dreams." Zack wheezed. "My honor, they're yours now." Zack said handing Cloud the Buster Sword. Then as Cloud screamed and cried for his friend Zack died.

"I'll live for both of us. I promise." Cloud said as he walked away, limping in a daze.

Then the white light vanished and Cloud, Tifa and Noreku woke up on an airship Cid stole from the Shinra. There Cloud explained the truth about him and that they needed to defeat Sephiroth. Cloud told them about how Sephiroth was waiting in the Planet's core for Meteor. But if they defeated Sephiroth, Meteor would be stopped, hopefully. So they headed to the North Crater to face Sephiroth.

When they got to the crater they headed straight down to the Planet's core to face Sephiroth. Once they found Sephiroth the battle started immediately. First Barret and Cait Sith attacked but it did nothing and they were knocked out. The same happened to Yuffie and Cid, followed by Nanaki and Vincent. Tifa was almost killed but Noreku deflected the shot. Sephiroth then went after Cloud; he raised his sword and lunged it at him. But blood splattered in Cloud's face as Noreku appeared with Sephiroth's sword skewering him through the heart.

"Noreku!" Cloud yelled as Tifa broke into tears.

"Cloud, I promised I'd protect you." Noreku said chocking on his own blood, as Sephiroth removed his sword and Noreku fell to the ground covered in blood.

"Noreku you can't die too!"

"Cloud don't let Zack down. Finish Sephiroth and always protect your friends. Embrace your dreams and protect your honor. And please keep Tifa safe for me." Noreku said in his last few breathes, then he lay on the ground cold and lifeless.

After Noreku died Cloud surged with power, drew his sword and began trading blows with Sephiroth.

"You bastard!" Cloud yelled hitting Sephiroth into the air. "He was like my brother! You've taken two people from me! Now I'm going to take your life from you!" He yelled as he unleashed his Omnislash, destroying Sephiroth completely.

After the fight Cloud took Noreku's body to where Zack's grave is and buried him there. He then laid the buster sword and Noreku's swords to rest in the Sector 5 Church as a monument to Zack and Noreku. Cloud started a small delivery business with Tifa protecting her as he had promised. ~The End~