New Year's Day
December 31st. It was New Year's Eve. The sun had already settled down and it was now time for the moon to make the call. Tifa and Denzel were outside with Cloud and Rudolph. Cloud had some bags and a fresh new ID for the road. Or for the sky.
"Well, this is it, Tifa." Cloud looked down at her childhood friend since he was on Rudolph.
"I hoped you had fun here." Tifa smiled.
"Yea, I did." Cloud turned to Denzel. "You best behave, Denzel."
"I will, Cloud! Marlene will watch me!"
"Cloud, will you come back?" Tifa said, twiddling her fingers.
"Of course, I'll visit. . ."
Tifa smiled even more brightly than ever. "That's a promise!"
God, I hate that word!
"Rudolph, let's ride."
"Alright!" Rudolph began to float higher and higher till he was all the way up. Tifa and Denzel began to wave. "We'll miss you, Cloud! I'll come visit!" Tifa shouted out. Sparkles were the leftover of Rudolph's flying skills as they dashed out of Midgar, heading for Smashville.
During their silent ride, the lights of other cities were very bright and beautiful.
"Rudolph," Cloud started, "I think I know what Christmas is all about now. Ever since you brought me here. . ."
"Go on." Rudolph encouraged him to continue.
"Spending time with your friends and family. The people you cherish the most. Thank you, Rudolph."
"Don't thank me. Thank Christmas."
"Oh, okay. Thank you, Christmas." Cloud spoke to the stars.
"Want to sing that song when we first met?" Rudolph grinned.
"Why not?" Cloud shrugged.
Baby, it's cold outside!
The Smashers were preparing for New Years. It was 11:55 PM. Many people, including the Smashers, were about to watch the glittery disco ball drop in Smashville. Cloud happened to be above Smashville during that time.
"The ball is about to drop, we should watch it." Rudolph suggested as he landed on a roof of a house. Cloud watched the small people from his distance. As he recognized many Smashers, he was able to catch everyone but Corrin.
"I see everyone but Corrin. . ." Cloud murmured.
"Don't worry, Cloud will come. . ." Miru comforted Makato who was in the verge of exploding. Her whole hair was bleach white and her eyes were full on purple. Cloud wondered who was the mysterious girl that was next to Miru. Cloud got off of Rudolph to watch the ball drop.
The countdown began. Everyone called out the numbers out loud.
"FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE-! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone shouted very loudly. It was like a party in Smashville. Music began to play very loudly, people began to chant and cheer. It was a brand new celebration.
"Feels great to back here." Cloud had to admit. The party in Smashville lasted until 5 AM.
Everyone headed back to their respected homes. Cloud decided to come in last when the Smashers began to head in the mansion.
Cloud brought Rudolph to the front of the door and told him to wait on the side of the mansion. He walked up to the door he so long missed.
"Sucks, I lost my keys. . ." Cloud had no choice but to ring the doorbell. The door creaked open very slowly. The red plumber appeared before Cloud. He looked tired and drunk that he didn't recognize the person. "Yes. . .?"
"Hey, Mario. . . It's Cloud. . ."
Mario scratched his head and yawned. "Cloud, huh? Cloud. . . Cloud. . . That name sounds very familiar." Mario eyes widened, hearing the name "Cloud".
Mario stared intestnly at the blonde. He touched his face as if he wasn't real. "Can this be?!" Mario turned his head away from Cloud. "EVERYONE, CLOUD IS BACK!"
"CLOUD?!" A giant glob of voices cried out. Stomping and running were the sounds when a giant crowd of Smashers rushed toward the front door. They all attack Cloud, bringing him inside the mansion.
"Welcome back!" Peach squeezed him.
"Cloud is back!" Ness jumped on top of him, so did Toon Link and Lucas.
"Welcome back!" Link said.
What is this feeling I'm feeling?
"How was your trip?" Ryu patted his shoulder. Many Smashers wanted to know his trip. Cloud was just speechless. Everyone was excited to meet him. They all missed him. Well, most of the Smashers. . .
Roy ran up to him and punched him in the arm playfully. "Dude, I thought you were dead ever since Corrin told us you were in the North Pole."
"No." Cloud had to talk. "I was in Antarctica by accident. . ."
Roy and other Smashers laughed. "Antarctica! Hahaha! Wow, Cloud!"
"How was Antarctica?" Pac Man asked.
"Horrible." Cloud adjusted his scarf to keep Toon Link from pulling it.
"At least you're back." Samus said.
"Cloud is back. That means we're as good as alive from Corrin and Makato!" Marth smiled. Ike nodded with a blank face.
Someone slithered behind the mercenary which gave Ike the chills. It happened to be the girl with the bleach white hair. "Cloud is back?" She spoke in a deep and dry voice.
She walked between the crowd to get to the blonde boy. Cloud recognized the same girl from earlier.
It's that girl!
The white hair began to disappear, bringing back her pink hair. Her eyes slowly changed back to the ocean blue.
"Wait, isn't that. . . Makato?"
And it certainly was Makato. Tears were forming from her eyes. "Cloud!" She gave a tackle hug to him. Other Smashers laughing as they both fell to the ground. Marth did the best he could to hold Ike down.
"Cloud is dead!" Ike growled.
"Calm down, Ike! It's just a reunion!"
Makato got up and so did Cloud. Makato frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just. . . you're back. . . and. . ."
"It's fine." Cloud sweat dropped.
Makato looked at her hands, realizing she was missing something. "Miru, present!"
Miru ran to Makato and gave her the yellow present. She presented the gift to Cloud. "This is your gift for Christmas. Merry Christmas. . ."
"It's not Christmas anymo-"
"I wanted to give you a gift!" Makato interrupted him. "I don't want you to be the only one without a gift." Makato held the present to him.
"Makato. . ." Cloud stared at the large present and grabbed it. "Thank you. . ."
Makato smiled brightly. "You're welcome! So, where's my gift?"
"Huh?"
You mean, I had to give her a gift? I don't remember recalling, but what the heck!
Cloud searched for at least some kind of item in his pockets. He felt something small and smooth in pocket and pulled it out.
"Put your hand out." Cloud said. Makato put her hands out and Cloud placed the mystery gift in her hands. It was a silver ring from the gift shop in his friend's nearby museum. Girl Smashers gathered around her shiny new gift. "Oooh!"
Makato read the words on the ring. "It says, 'Never Forget. Cloud Strife'." Makato faced her head to Cloud. "Thank you! It's beautiful!"
Cloud nodded and sighed. Phew
"I'm going to wear it right now!" Makato placed the ring on her ring finger. "Ah, perfect!" Makato walked away from the crowd happily, till Ike came along, following her. "Makato, why do you have that ring on your ring finger?"
"Till you get me a real ring, I'll be wearing this forever! 'Never Forget'!" She continued to walk away from the shocked mercenary. "Wait, Makato!"
Everybody continued their partying while Cloud decided to make his way to Corrin's chamber. He gave a couple of knocks. "Corrin? It's Cloud."
The door creaked loudly as the prince appeared. "Cloud?"
Cloud kept his lips sealed before he made the wrong choice into bursting of laughter. His eyes were full on red! Corrin slammed his door wide open, which startled Cloud.
"Guards! Get Cloud for me." He commanded.
"Yes, Master Corrin!" The guards grabbed Cloud by the shirt and pulled him into Corrin's room.
One of the guards forced Cloud into a chair while another guard closed the door. Corrin sat across from him. He wore a red robe and red sandals. His legs were crossed and his facial expression did not looked happy.
"You're finally back, Cloud Strife!" That sounded very sarcastic.
So much for the warm greeting. . .
"It really has been a very long time! I would say more than two weeks, Cloud!" That sounded even more sarcastic!
". . ."
"I've waited days, hoping for my present to arrive! I thought you got into some accident, Cloud! I cried tears for you, Cloud! That shouldn't happen again! Do I make myself clear?!"
"Yes, Corrin-"
"Lord Corrin to you!"
"Yes, Lord Corrin. . ." This is where Cloud had to face all of his annoying lectures.
"I've made a warm bed with food for you for your arrival, Cloud! It was rich food from Nohr! I didn't want the food to go bad so I let Kirby eat it! Kirby! I never let anyone tried my country's food, only if they are rich, Cloud!"
"I'm sorry." Cloud apologized, not knowing what else to say.
"Wait, what did you just say?" Corrin leaned over to him angrily.
"I said, I'm sorry-"
"Oh, no!" Corrin shook his head. "'Sorry' won't cut it! You must choose an apology gift for me. Here, I wrote a list." Corrin handed Cloud a list of apologies Cloud could possibly do or get for him.
Cloud read them outloud. "Strawberry Peppermint Chocolate Latte, Beef Wellington, Whiskey Glazed Flat Iron Steak and Grilled Potatoes,"
100 apologies later. . .
". . .Peppered Tuna with Nicoise Salad, Nohr Tiramisu, Creme Brulee: Hoshido Style, Chicken Korma, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi, Baked Dijon Salmon?! I can't afford this! This is crazy, Corrin!" The list was just a whole list of gourmet dishes.
"Are you disrespecting me, Cloud?!" Corrin popped a vein.
"Okay, okay! I'll do the Smothered Filet Mignon!" Cloud made his choice on the list.
"Good, I want it for breakfast." Corrin said. "By the way, where's my present?"
Cloud got up from the sofa. "I'll show you him."
They went to outside to meet Rudolph that was just standing there bored.
"Here's Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer." Cloud showed him the animal to Corrin. Corrin didn't say anything and walked up to him, petting him with animal proof gloves. "Impressive. . . I'll admit." Corrin said. Corrin eyed his tattoos and scars that were placed on his body. "But I see a few scars and tattoos, Cloud. Why is that?"
"He went rebellious against Santa." Cloud replied.
"Not convinced. But you got him so, thank you." Corrin petted Rudolph. Cloud eyed Rudolph.
Why wasn't he speaking?
Cloud noticed sweat dripping from his face. Did he somehow new Corrin? Was he that afraid of him?
"By the way, Cloud, you're missing one of the items I wanted for Christmas." Corrin grinned.
"How can it be?! You wanted Rudolph!" Cloud shouted.
Corrin raised his pointer finger. "But! I texted you for another present! So, Cloud. . ." Corrin checked his nails once more. "Where's my Frosty the Snowman?"
Cloud stared at the prince with a blank expression.
"Hm?! Cloud?! Where is he?! I'll make sure your execution is-! Stop staring at me, Cloud!"
Irritation was Cloud's friend. "You. . . ungrateful brat." Cloud muttered loud enough for Corrin to hear. "You never asked what I've wanted!" Cloud had millions and millions of veins popping from his head. He had enough of Corrin's bullshit.
"You know what I want for Christmas?!" Cloud stomped over to Corrin, "A strangle to your neck!" Cloud swiftly grabbed his neck and squeezed it.
"Cloud! Release me! Ahh!" Corrin panicked. "Guards-!"
"Master Corrin!" Guards came immediately to his side as they tried to remove Cloud away from Corrin.
"Die, you!" Cloud exclaimed.
"I can have you executed for this!" Corrin growled trying to remove Cloud's hands away from his neck. There was a lot of commotion at the night. Makato took a peak from outside.
"Don't try to stop me!" Cloud shouted.
"Cloud, you'll pay for this!" Corrin shouted back.
Makato stared at the horizon to see a soft blue color rising up. "Oh, the sun. On a new year."
Ike followed from behind. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Ike said.
"I wonder if this Christmas would be even better!"
Fin
A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you all have a Happy New Year!
