Chapter 44: Epilogue

"It was great working with you Zidane. I don't think we could have done it without you." Cloud smiled as he shook the genomes hand. The two, along with their respective crews, were onboard the Highwind as it soared above the exploding carcass below. The wind flew through their blonde heads as their crews also shook hands.

"I know you couldn't have done it without us!" Zidane smirked. "Well, Cloud Strife, I don't know what to say really. It's been quite the trip."

"It's hard to believe it's over…" Tifa shook her head.

"Quite a formidable villain, that EON, but he stood no chance to the combination of our forces!" Steiner applauded.

"Well, I'm glad we made it out with our skins intact." Vivi said as he blew dust off his monster hat.

"Well, not all of us…" Vincent sighed.

"Yes, let us have a moment of silence for our comrades that have fallen." Fratley said.

All of the heroes placed their hands and their hats (minus Vivi) over their hearts, allowing a moment of sympathy.

"Zidane, I have a question." Freya said as the silence ended.

"What?" Zidane replied.

"With EON no more, how do we get home?" Freya quizzed.

"Aw shit. I forget about that." Zidane sighed.

Immediately the populace began to converse among themselves about the dreaded situation.

"Yo foos can park your mugs in Kalm if you wants." Barret grinned. "That's where Marlene, Elmyra, and I live,"

"Thanks, but we must decline." Fratley said.

"Yes, we have our own loves to get back to, right Zidane?" Steiner eyes the thief.

"Sure do. There's got to be some way. You guys don't have a Shimmering Isle or something?" Zidane puzzled.

"No clue 'bout that, but remember what Kuja was talking about. Maybe they can use the lifestream to get back!" Yuffie said.

"The lifestream?! They'll get mako poisoning!" Red replied.

"Not so, we can give them patented ShinRa mako uniforms!" Reeve said as he stumbled on deck.

"REEVE! It's been like forever!" Yuffie shouted.

"Good to see you Reeve! We missed you!" Tifa glanced.

"Who's this guy?" Vivi asked.

"Oh, I'm Roy Reeve, president of ShinRa. You may know me as Cait Sith." Reeve grinned.

"So you're the guy behind the mechanical cat…" Freya said.

"What's this about lifestream suits?" Steiner interrupted.

"They only work for a limited time, but you can survive in the lifestream within these suits. That way you can travel to your own dimension." Reeve explained.

"Now there's a chance that you won't end up in your dimension. Like the Shimmering Isle, you could end up anywhere!" Red XIII explained as well.

"Well, it's nothing or something. Take us to the lifestream!" Zidane said.

"Aye aye!" AVALANCHE cried out.

"Hey, where's Cid?" Tifa asked.

** *

"Shera! I'm back in our dimension!" cid cried out over the radio.

"Cid?! Cid Highwind! Oh my god! What ever happened! We witnessed a giant explosion and a series of smaller ones from over here!" Shera's voice came in over the radio.

"We killed the son of a bitch! EON is no more!" Cid smiled.

"Thank the heavens! I'm so glad you're alive Cid. I love you so…"

"And I love you, Shera."

"Cid, I want you to know that …you're a father!"

"What?! I'm I'm a daddy! Where's the parade! The celebration! Why wasn't I ^&&n notified?!"

"I see you haven't fixed your tongue like you promised."

"Well, what is it? Is it alright? When was it born!?" Cid nervously lit up another cigarette.

"She's a girl. She's perfectly fine, the most beautiful creature anyone has ever seen. She was born at six o clock yesterday morning. Oh look! She's opening her eyes again, those magnificent blue eyes…"

"I can already tell she's the most beautiful thing in creation. Blue eyes huh, just like her old ^&*in man!"

"Cid! Watch your language around her. You don't want her to become a filthy old mechanic like you, do we?"

"Absolutely not. We don't want her to be anything like me! But if she's going to be the first woman in space, she has to know something."

"Little Aeris…"

"My little Aeris…Aeris, can you say your daddy's name?"

"Cid, she can't say anything yet! She's only two days old!"

"Oh right…maybe she'll squeal in recognition or something…"

"I hope your not to scarred and bloody for the wedding."

"Woman! If I can clean a turbo ShinRa engine that came from under the ocean, I can clean myself up! The weddings only three months away!"

"Only three months away. Little Aeris, wave to your daddy on the other side of the radio!"

"Hot damn. I can't wait to see her.. Whats your daddy's name, my little girl?"

Suddenly, a tiny sound came through the radio receiver in the Highwind's cockpit. "%^&*!"

"Cid! She can't even speak yet and she's already cursing like a sailor!" Shera's angry voice rang through.

"…She'll be just like her old man…" Cid leaned back in his chair with a smile.

** *

Over the tropical skies of Mideel, the Highwind hovered noisily, awaiting orders.

"Well, this is it, Mideel." Vincent sighted.

"It looks like a dump, are you sure we're supposed to go through here?" Zidane commented.

"Positive. This is the only sure way in." Cloud said. "We're low enough to jump…"

"I got you. Are we ready guys?" Zidane looked over his shoulder at the mako suit clad gaians.

"We're all ready." Freya said as she zipped the helmet on.

"Well Cloud, may we meet again someday…" Zidane shook the hand of the AVALANCHE leader once more.

"Yea, See you again sometime, hopefully on peaceful times." Cloud smiled.

"See ya!" Zidane and crew waved..

The AVALANCHE crew waved as the Gaians jumped off the siding, into the Mako pit below. Hopefully they'll make it to their world. Cloud grabbed Tifa, who grabbed him back. Together, with the rest of the crew, they watched their descent into the murky green lifestream.

"Tifa, let's go home." Cloud said.

** *

Some time later…

The Alexandrian castle was a glow with special lanterns, set for the return of the Gaians. A great party was set up for the returning friends, who had emerged at the site of the Shimmering Isle. Weary with travel and homesickness, Steiner, Vivi, and Zidane were carried towards the castle by welcoming guests. Freya and Fratley had gone to Burmecia to repair the damages done by EON.

"Well, they pulled it off. I could think of no one better to do it." Regent Cid thought as he sipped his wine with Doctor Tot on a castle balcony.

"I agree. Some how, we've been blessed with such heroes." Doctor Tot smiled.

"Steiner!" From below the balcony, Beatrix ran through the crowd towards her loved one. Pushing and pulling, she strangled the crowd until she could jump onto Adelbert Steiner.

"Oh Steiner! I didn't think I'd ever see you again!" Beatrix hugged her man rather tightly.

"I would never leave you for long, my dear Beatrix." Steiner replied as he carried her.

"Never leave me again, Adelbert."

"I won't…Beatrix?"

"Yes?"

"Will you … marry me?" Steiner got on his knees, his huge arms still carrying the soldier woman.

"OH Steiner! Yes!" Beatrix threw her arms around the giant as they embraced and kissed like never before.

"Vivi! Vivi you're back!" Violet rammed through the crowds, her many children lagging behind.

"Violet! My love!" Vivi jumped up and placed his gloved arms around his wife.

"I thought I'd never see you! First Kuriko, then…" Violet started to cry.

"There, there. Kuriko is in a better place. I've seen it before. I won't leave you again, Violet." Vivi patted his wife on the back as she cried into his shoulder.

"Now where's my woman?" Zidane smirked as he watched the crowds. If he knew Garnet, she would be throwing people right into the air to get him. Then she's beat him up for leaving her.

"Zidane! Zidane!" Garnet, the queen of Alexandria, flew through the crowds and jumped on top of Zidane.

"Glad to see you to Garnet. You never looked more beautiful!" Zidane replied.

"You idiot! Don't ever do that to me again!"

"I won't ever be without you, Garnet…"

"Really?" Garnet sniffed back a tear.

"Garnet "Dagger" Til Alexandros the third…" Zidane got on one knee. "Will you m-m-m" Zidane got stuck on "M"

"Yes? What is it?"

"M-m-m-m-ar-er-maer-"

"Will I marry you, Zidane Tribal?"

"…yes…"

"…Of coarse I will!" She then immediately plastered her face to his, and together, they kissed amidst the fireworks…

                ** *

                "And things turned out good after all. Cloud asked Tifa to wed him at Cid's reception. Barret and Elmyra became engaged as well. Zidane and Garnet became king and queen of Alexandria, and Adelbert and Beatrix Steiner became the finest married guards in the land. Vivi and Violet, all though saddened by their daughters loss, moved on and remained in Alexandria with their friends. Freya and Irontail also became wed and as the captains of the Burmecian Dragon Knights, were top soldiers of Burmecia. All though things don't go quite well at first, things will always get better." Memoria finished her inking in her book, as she watched the baby moogle play in the grassy fields of some far off world. She closed the book and let the wind flow through her brown silky hair. Not to far off, a train whistle was heard. She looked off into the direction it came from and smiled. She knew that all worlds have heores and villains. And this one was no exception.

                On that train, four young adults were sleeping, dreaming dreams of the world. And the word SEED was sewed on their outfits...

THE END

[[[Final Fantasy and all related characters are © Squaresoft. Kuriko and the Eternal Moonlight are © Kuriko. EON, Judgment, Grand WEAPON, Memoria, and affiliated characters are © MFZ Productions (Hypes). May it Be © Enya. Kick Your Legs Higher is © SEGA (used from the game Space Channel 5). Lieutenant Wayne is © Leone McHealy. All Rights Reserved]]]