Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII; Square Enix does. If I did… well, let's just say I think Cloud's prettier than the FF7 girls…
Notes: Based off of Case of Tifa info (damn you, Case of Tifa).
I'm Sixteen in my Head
9. All's Kalm
We've finally arrived in Kalm… Would have been more logical to stop here first to pick up Marlene, but… Then, I'd have to see Elmyra and tell her how I let you die, Aerith.
Even now, Barret is carrying me on his shoulder because I was too scared to walk… I'm getting the weirdest looks from the people here… "It's not what it looks like," I grumble to a pair of giggling girls… Barret sticks out like a sore thumb, so it isn't that hard to figure out I'm 'the Cloud Strife.' Ah, the joys of fame.
… Many people are wearing their only set of clothes; good thing Reeve got to work evacuating everyone. There wasn't as many people dead as there could be.
I could see Tifa bound past this brute as I'm set onto the ground. I turn as Tifa knocks on the door. I'm dead.
"I have faith in you, Cloud."
… I'm kinda getting used to hearing Aerith and Zack interrupting my thought… I guess this is my punishment for letting them die…
A small little woman opened the door, a man beside her. Woo-hoo, wrong house! "Oh, you must be here for Elmyra," the little brunette says as she steps out of the way. DAMNIT!
Marlene ran past the adults, jumping into Barret's arms. "DADDY!"
I enter the living room and see Elmyra on the sofa… At least there aren't any blunt objects around… "I'm sorry, Ms. Gainsborough, but Aerith's—"
"—She's dead, isn't she?"
I look at Tifa and Barret, but they seem as confused as me. How did she…? "Uh, yeah… She was killed by the guy who tried to… She died saving this Planet…" And because I couldn't save her. "I'm so sorry."
Barret and Tifa gave their apologies only for Elmyra to raise her hand and shake her head. "You all did what you could. There's no need for you to apologize." None of us spoke. We're all thinking the same thing: did we really do all we could?
I didn't get a good view of the town before, but I can see now that a lot of the houses have been turned more into shelters than homes. The inn proudly displays a sign reading, 'Free Rooms.'
I guess everyone is trying to make this world a better place. "Come on, let's go home." Did I just say that? Huh.
We all stop at the edge of Kalm. "Where to?" Barret questions.
"Our suspended reality…" Because fighting is what our reality is now.
"What the hell do ya mean by dat?"
"… Our normal lives." Can you really call anything we do 'normal'?
"We'll find one." We have to, because we can't continue this reality. Turning to Tifa, I ask, "Right?" She deserves a normal life.
"Yeah!" Marlene is always so chipper… We probably look like a very strange family to others…
… If you'd like, please take the time to tell me what you think of this.
Wow… That was so not funny.
Chibi Aerith plushies to Seluchen123, Rend, tenchiamanda1987, and silver chocobo15.
