Chapter 7: "Always"
"Jesus Cloud! What happened?!", asked Barret.
"I don't think I even know.", he said.
"Now just give the man some space.", said Cid from behind. "It's no good just to keep askin' him questions he doesn't have answers to."
"Thanks Cid." Cloud saw Aeris turned around, leaning by the front of the ship.
"What happened with Tifa?", he asked her.
"It's all my fault Cloud!", she said a little distressed. "I should've never come back. She's having a lot of emotional trouble. You might want to see her."
"No, she wanted to be alone. She wanted me to show you something. But it's a long ride there, so get ready." ,he said, looking toward the direction Tifa left in.
Tifa lay in her bed, coverlets strewn about, her head deeply nestled in a pillow. Tearstains were numerous where her head was buried amongst the bedspread. But she felt lying here as she had done for hours would do no good. Miserably, she moved herself outside, only to see the well that towered before her. She climbed up, almost subconsciously, and gazed into the eternal heavens, as the stars had been her comfort for so long. Tears overflowing, she closed her eyes, and could almost feel the warm embrace of Cloud's arms, as they had felt so familiar, because it was only 3 hours ago. She opened her eyes, still harboring great sadness, and looked at the spot next to her, where Cloud would usually sit. She pictured him as the little boy at the night of the promise, and then as the grown version. She smiled a little, taking some comfort on how he's changed in ways, but he was that same little boy protecting her. She then could picture her and Cloud kissing again, but she only felt in the deep shadows in her heart that it was all forfeit.
"Be strong.", she told herself. That is what she always said. But she couldn't help but feel immeasurably weak. Overwhelmed with so many memories here, she quickly headed to the stables.
"Here it is.", said Cloud, pointing to the small house with no lights on, as it had turned dark. They quietly stepped in, as Aeris looked around curiously, at it did look peculiar, because it was her father's small lab. There were a few machines leaned against the wall, and a desk and chair in the back of the room, as well as a rug on the floor in front of it.
"This is what she wanted me to show you.", he said, looking at the machine with a blank screen on it, he turned it on, put a tape in a slot beneath it, and a picture was displayed on the screen of Professor Gast her father, and Ifalna her real mother, but on the tape they were not yet married. On the first two tapes, they showed the Professor asking Ifalna about the Cetra and Weapon, as her mother was the one with the heritage of an Ancient. These images flashed before her eyes as she witnessed how her parents had originally met, as a Professor trying to find out the questions about the Planet, and the last tape, how she had gained her name and the ending. The way her father had been shot trying to save his wife and daughter, and her mother desperately trying to escape and save her daughter. After taking all this in, Aeris grew a slightly pale color, as she knew what happened to her mother, but she had no idea who or what happened to her father. As Tifa entered the stables, she sat next to Choco, because she felt emptier as she looked at the vacant stable stall that is Knight's. She wondered what he and Aeris were doing right now. A few more tears trailed down her cheek. Choco craned his neck over and nudged her face sympathetically and wiped off a tear.
"Thanks Choco. But I'm not sure that will help." She felt colder as she stayed in all these places, so she decided to leave for a while, until all her nerves where calmer, and she could face Cloud again. "Come on Choco. Let's go."
"I hope that wasn't too hard for you to watch.", said Cloud as Aeris was still looking at the blank screen.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just gonna look at the rest of the house for something on my parents."
"Okay, I'll be up here.", said Cloud.
She rode for hours on Choco, the wind swiftly blowing through her hair, and ruffling Choco's feathers. Her mind needed an excuse to just be free from all the feelings welling up within her, although she knew the freedom couldn't last. But for now, all she needed was the freedom of the wind rushing against her body through the cool night air, although daylight was swiftly dawning upon the world. She rode through the day, of course giving Choco a rest, but he enjoyed the exercise and also he felt sympathetic for his mistress. She rode everywhere through the world, regarding that Choco was extremely fast, and was a gold chocobo. She simply wanted to be released of the tether made by the worries of the world, and as much as she realized this could never be, she felt that to be with Cloud again was even farther away. She rode west, towards the sun as it was setting in the corners of the continent.
"Well Cloud, I guess that's it.", said Aeris, giving up.
"Huh?! Wha-What!?", he exclaimed after being awakened suddenly by Aeris.
"I said that I'm done looking through the house."
"How long has it been?", asked Cloud.
"About fourteen hours.", she said.
"I'm sorry Aeris."
"No, it's not your fault."
"But I wish I could do something."
"It's okay. Let's go." As they left, Cloud's elbow accidentally hit the machine and a ledge fell of the old, worn wall, hitting him on the head.
"AAHH!", he yelled. He looked at what hit him, and what came down with the ledge as another tape.
"What's that?", she asked.
"I don't know. The label is smeared like if it got wet. But there aren't any leaks in this place."
"Put it on. We might figure out what happened."
So they put on the tape, and another picture was on the screen, but it was completely black.
"Hmmm, how does this work? Oh, here it is.", said a female voice. The blackness had disappeared as someone removed the cap on the camera. The person walked back, away from the camera, and presented them self, revealing their identity. "Uh, hi Cloud. It's Tifa. Um, I don't quite know how you found this tape, but if you're seeing it, ummm.I don't know quite how to say this, and if I had already said it, this might sound stupid now. Uh, I hope that we never grow far apart. There was something about you, even before you left Nibelheim seven years ago. I don't quite know what that was, but now I think I know what that was. I never did thank you for saving me on Mt. Nibel, or at the mako reactor there. And I didn't really thank you for keeping your promise at the well.", she said as she dipped her head so that you couldn't quite see her face. "I guess I didn't thank you for a lot of things. But there is one thing I didn't thank you for, that you don't quite know about." Her head leveled back with the camera, a few tears beginning to well up in her eye. "I never thanked you for teaching me how to love." Cloud was surprised at these words as he watched the tape, but he continued it to play. "Back then, it was still all fun and games, and then my master Zangan began teaching me how to fight. But I could have never learned to love without you. Since you left, I looked everywhere in the papers on how you were doing, but they never told me anything. I always thought about you, even though then we were never that close. And when the men from Shinra and SOLDIER came, I thought for sure you were coming, but I didn't see you. But even then when I didn't know you were there, and you didn't have to save me and could've gotten away with it, you didn't. And you even got yourself pretty messed up for it. And I don't know how I could've quite gotten away with it, from myself that is, if you didn't live because of me, and when you showed up at my bar in he sector seven slums, I think I knew. I think I knew what happened. I had fallen in love." Cloud had felt something surging through himself as he heard these words, as when he was younger, he would watch Tifa from afar with her group of friends. And to think when he had finally gotten the girl, he would ignore her for someone else. "And that cocky little guy from Nibelheim who thought me and my friends were stupid for laughing all the time was the one that taught me to simply love with all you have. I suppose I'm boring you with this story, so I'm not going to keep delaying the inevitable. Cloud.I.love you." And the tape ended.
On a cliff of a mesa, Tifa sat overlooking Cosmo Canyon, that was a rich red color in the light of the sun, with Choco behind her, taking a rest from an exhausting day's ride. She was looking at the magnificent sunrise, the clouds painted with its vivid tinting, its rich purples and pinks, feeling the warm desert air dry her tears. She was sitting there amidst all the serenity and peace outstretched before her. In the distance on top of another mesa, sat a heavily forested area, the Forest of the Ancients. With that sight, bitterness struck her again, and she could only wish to be held in Cloud's arms. She wished to hear his heart beating as she laid her head on his chest and feel the world carry on without them. Yet she felt this would no longer be. Mixed feelings rose in her spirit and she felt she didn't know what to do . As she sat heartbroken, looking into the horizon, she saw a strange, misshapen silhouette and felt the earth rumble beneath her. Weapon had revealed itself.
Aeris and Cloud were still both looking at the screen when the tape ended, as Cloud heard Tifa's tape play in his mind all over again.
"I have to see Tifa.", said Cloud out of nowhere.
"Um, sure just wait outside, I have something to do.", said Aeris as Cloud walked out the door. He left Aeris inside, as a video began playing.
"Choco, let's go!", said Tifa to her chocobo as she climbed onto it. She rode to the edge of the world to meet the incoming enemy.
Aeris emerged out of the building, quietly shutting the door.
"Are you done?", asked Cloud.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Then let's go." As soon as they both mounted Knight, Cloud's PHS rang.
"Cloud we got a crisis!", cried Cid. "Weapon's finally come back!"
"We'll be there!", said Cloud.
"That's not all!", continued Cid. "We can't find Tifa! She's not responding to her PHS!"
"Oh no, Tifa!", cries Cloud. "Go Knight!"
Tifa saw the looming figure of the giant Weapon as they both drew nearer. She felt she had to stop it. Even if it cost her life.
"Cid! We're here!", yelled Cloud as soon as they got to the bridge.
"Good! Hold on to your pants and don't piss in em'!", yelled back Cid. He pulled a lever and a force that jolted some of them back knocking others down. They were flying at never seen before speeds, heading towards the battlefield.
Weapon slowly trudged its massive body onto the shore, letting out an ungodly cry to the world. Tifa disembarked and looked up at her adversary.
"Cid! Can you move any faster?!", yelled Cloud against the force hitting his body.
"Just hold on!", Cid yelled, pulling the other lever.
Tifa summoned Odin to start the battle, wishing she had taken the 'Knights of the Round' materia with her. It had barely been scratched and its power was impossible to sense. It stood angrily before her and struck her back, but her will was too strong. She unleashed her full limit, but the weapon still stood strong, and used Trine against her.
"There it is!", cried Cid.
"And there's Tifa!", yelled Barett. Cloud disembarked and dashed to Tifa's aid. When he got there, she was weakened to her knees. Weapon lifted its giant hand and it was speeding toward the ground, aimed at Tifa. Cloud dove and saved her, moments before being crushed. She opened her eyes weakly and saw Cloud saving her again.
"Cloud.", she muttered, but she had quickly blacked out.
"You bastard!", he yelled back to Weapon. He charged in with his Ultima sword, and swung madly. Nonetheless, he was still thrown down like a rag doll. Every time he charged in, only to be thrown back, still glowing red with fury. Each time he was greatly weakened, but kept fighting. Aeris, quickly ran to the battlefield, and saw Cloud being struck back constantly, always getting weaker.
"Cloud! Stop! Let me do this!!", she screamed.
"No! I won't lose you again!.", he cried back.
"You have to! Or we're all dead!", she cried back, tears accumulating as she could not bear to see Cloud in his worn condition. He was finally hit until he could move no more, and was left vulnerable. Aeris ran to him and knelt beside him, looking him in the eye.
"Go back to Icicle Inn!", she whispered.
"What?", he breathed back.
"Just look. I love you.", she said with a tear rolling down her cheek, walking towards the Weapon.
"No Aeris! Wait!", but she had already left. The rest of the team had finally caught up and saw a light emerge where Aeris was headed. The light immersed the corners of the Planet, and then faded. He had desperately tried to move, but he was too weak. Yuffie found him, and ran over to cure him.
"Don't worry about my wounds. Take care of Tifa.", he ordered. He slowly got up and looked to where the crater was, where Aeris and the Weapon once stood. With a tear in his eye and a pain in his heart, he felt coldness overshadow him again.
"Aeris.", he whispered as he broke down. "Aeris!", he screamed "Why do I keep losing you!" He knelt on the ground, fists tight, tears building up, heart pulsing in his head. He felt a warm hand comfort him and kneel beside him. It was Tifa, and she too was crying. Cloud bade her closer with his arm and leaned together.
"Tifa.",he choked out. "Why are you crying?"
"Don't look at me that heartlessly.", she said. "She was still my friend even though she loves you. I just want to see you happy."
"Hey.", said Cid quietly. "Look, I'll go tell Elmira." Cloud said nothing and both he and Tifa stood up. "I.have to go.", he said, looking north. He whistled a shrill noise and Knight answered his call.
"I'll go with you Cid.", said Tifa. "I was her friend. I should go." Cloud nodded and headed north.
A short time later, he found Icicle Inn and entered Professor Gast's laboratory. He found a tape lying on the desk and inserted it. A picture of Aeris then popped on the screen.
"Oh, hey.", she began. "Cloud, if you're watching this, that means that the worst has happened. After listening to the tape about Weapon, and everyone's description of it, I have identified it to be Ancient weapon. The reason it is called that is because an Ancient is called to stop it. The reason being is that the Planet trusted the Ancients to decide whether man deserved to exist or not, so if needed, it would send out the Ancient weapon to give judgment, and if an Ancient was not brought forth, the society of man would crumble. I was the last Ancient, so I had to go." Tears began streaming down her face. "I'm sorry Cloud." Her last words rang in his head. He couldn't believe she could leave him again. He took out the tape and flung it in sorrow at the desk, almost destroying it. He climbed back on Knight, and rode back to Nibelheim. His heart was shattered like glass, as if he couldn't recover the pieces. As if something would always be missing. A part of himself. He put Knight back in the stables, and walked back into Nibelheim. Tifa saw him as she walked in, his head slightly bent, his eyes red from tears, as a cold shadow clouded his eyes. She decided to leave him alone and not risk making him cry. He went up the stairs into his room, and fell into the mass of sheets on his bed, feeling the heavy weight of remorse follow him to sleep. In his dreams, he floated listlessly through the darkness, where it was cold and empty, much like the way he felt.
"Cloud.", he heard a call.
"Cloud!"
"AAH!", he screamed as he was now standing upright. Aeris was looking back at him smiling.
"Why do you do that?", he exclaimed.
"Shhh.", she signaled, putting a finger over his mouth. She moved closer, embracing him and kissed for a long time.
"Why did you leave me?", asked Cloud as they moved apart.
"It had to be done."
"But-"
"No. It was my duty as an Ancient. And I couldn't let innocent people die."
"So it's duty over love then?"
"Of course not.", she said. "At that moment I had not felt that the world couldn't save itself, because it had grown powerful enough to do so. It was about saving you."
"But for once I need to save you."
"You already have.", she said referring to the church when he first met her.
"That doesn't count."
"Of course it does.,", she said resting her head on his shoulder. "Besides, you already have someone here to love you.", she said, and a projection of Tifa in her room crying appeared and then faded.
"But-"
"No. She loves you. And you, her. That's what matters. Besides," she continues. "You have me right here.", she said as she put her palm over his heart. She pulled away, walking slowly away from him.
"No!", he yelled after her. "Don't leave!" He tried running toward her, but he couldn't get any closer. She stops, then turns around, with her gentle expression.
"You need not worry Cloud. I'm always with you. I'm the reflection in the water. I'm your light through the darkness. But more importantly, I'm always here. In your dreams. Just on the threshold of sleep. I don't care what you are, just who you are. For I will always welcome you into my arms, your heart beating against mine. Till then, your soft kiss will linger on my lips and I shall return to you. I love you. This I promise. Always."
"Jesus Cloud! What happened?!", asked Barret.
"I don't think I even know.", he said.
"Now just give the man some space.", said Cid from behind. "It's no good just to keep askin' him questions he doesn't have answers to."
"Thanks Cid." Cloud saw Aeris turned around, leaning by the front of the ship.
"What happened with Tifa?", he asked her.
"It's all my fault Cloud!", she said a little distressed. "I should've never come back. She's having a lot of emotional trouble. You might want to see her."
"No, she wanted to be alone. She wanted me to show you something. But it's a long ride there, so get ready." ,he said, looking toward the direction Tifa left in.
Tifa lay in her bed, coverlets strewn about, her head deeply nestled in a pillow. Tearstains were numerous where her head was buried amongst the bedspread. But she felt lying here as she had done for hours would do no good. Miserably, she moved herself outside, only to see the well that towered before her. She climbed up, almost subconsciously, and gazed into the eternal heavens, as the stars had been her comfort for so long. Tears overflowing, she closed her eyes, and could almost feel the warm embrace of Cloud's arms, as they had felt so familiar, because it was only 3 hours ago. She opened her eyes, still harboring great sadness, and looked at the spot next to her, where Cloud would usually sit. She pictured him as the little boy at the night of the promise, and then as the grown version. She smiled a little, taking some comfort on how he's changed in ways, but he was that same little boy protecting her. She then could picture her and Cloud kissing again, but she only felt in the deep shadows in her heart that it was all forfeit.
"Be strong.", she told herself. That is what she always said. But she couldn't help but feel immeasurably weak. Overwhelmed with so many memories here, she quickly headed to the stables.
"Here it is.", said Cloud, pointing to the small house with no lights on, as it had turned dark. They quietly stepped in, as Aeris looked around curiously, at it did look peculiar, because it was her father's small lab. There were a few machines leaned against the wall, and a desk and chair in the back of the room, as well as a rug on the floor in front of it.
"This is what she wanted me to show you.", he said, looking at the machine with a blank screen on it, he turned it on, put a tape in a slot beneath it, and a picture was displayed on the screen of Professor Gast her father, and Ifalna her real mother, but on the tape they were not yet married. On the first two tapes, they showed the Professor asking Ifalna about the Cetra and Weapon, as her mother was the one with the heritage of an Ancient. These images flashed before her eyes as she witnessed how her parents had originally met, as a Professor trying to find out the questions about the Planet, and the last tape, how she had gained her name and the ending. The way her father had been shot trying to save his wife and daughter, and her mother desperately trying to escape and save her daughter. After taking all this in, Aeris grew a slightly pale color, as she knew what happened to her mother, but she had no idea who or what happened to her father. As Tifa entered the stables, she sat next to Choco, because she felt emptier as she looked at the vacant stable stall that is Knight's. She wondered what he and Aeris were doing right now. A few more tears trailed down her cheek. Choco craned his neck over and nudged her face sympathetically and wiped off a tear.
"Thanks Choco. But I'm not sure that will help." She felt colder as she stayed in all these places, so she decided to leave for a while, until all her nerves where calmer, and she could face Cloud again. "Come on Choco. Let's go."
"I hope that wasn't too hard for you to watch.", said Cloud as Aeris was still looking at the blank screen.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just gonna look at the rest of the house for something on my parents."
"Okay, I'll be up here.", said Cloud.
She rode for hours on Choco, the wind swiftly blowing through her hair, and ruffling Choco's feathers. Her mind needed an excuse to just be free from all the feelings welling up within her, although she knew the freedom couldn't last. But for now, all she needed was the freedom of the wind rushing against her body through the cool night air, although daylight was swiftly dawning upon the world. She rode through the day, of course giving Choco a rest, but he enjoyed the exercise and also he felt sympathetic for his mistress. She rode everywhere through the world, regarding that Choco was extremely fast, and was a gold chocobo. She simply wanted to be released of the tether made by the worries of the world, and as much as she realized this could never be, she felt that to be with Cloud again was even farther away. She rode west, towards the sun as it was setting in the corners of the continent.
"Well Cloud, I guess that's it.", said Aeris, giving up.
"Huh?! Wha-What!?", he exclaimed after being awakened suddenly by Aeris.
"I said that I'm done looking through the house."
"How long has it been?", asked Cloud.
"About fourteen hours.", she said.
"I'm sorry Aeris."
"No, it's not your fault."
"But I wish I could do something."
"It's okay. Let's go." As they left, Cloud's elbow accidentally hit the machine and a ledge fell of the old, worn wall, hitting him on the head.
"AAHH!", he yelled. He looked at what hit him, and what came down with the ledge as another tape.
"What's that?", she asked.
"I don't know. The label is smeared like if it got wet. But there aren't any leaks in this place."
"Put it on. We might figure out what happened."
So they put on the tape, and another picture was on the screen, but it was completely black.
"Hmmm, how does this work? Oh, here it is.", said a female voice. The blackness had disappeared as someone removed the cap on the camera. The person walked back, away from the camera, and presented them self, revealing their identity. "Uh, hi Cloud. It's Tifa. Um, I don't quite know how you found this tape, but if you're seeing it, ummm.I don't know quite how to say this, and if I had already said it, this might sound stupid now. Uh, I hope that we never grow far apart. There was something about you, even before you left Nibelheim seven years ago. I don't quite know what that was, but now I think I know what that was. I never did thank you for saving me on Mt. Nibel, or at the mako reactor there. And I didn't really thank you for keeping your promise at the well.", she said as she dipped her head so that you couldn't quite see her face. "I guess I didn't thank you for a lot of things. But there is one thing I didn't thank you for, that you don't quite know about." Her head leveled back with the camera, a few tears beginning to well up in her eye. "I never thanked you for teaching me how to love." Cloud was surprised at these words as he watched the tape, but he continued it to play. "Back then, it was still all fun and games, and then my master Zangan began teaching me how to fight. But I could have never learned to love without you. Since you left, I looked everywhere in the papers on how you were doing, but they never told me anything. I always thought about you, even though then we were never that close. And when the men from Shinra and SOLDIER came, I thought for sure you were coming, but I didn't see you. But even then when I didn't know you were there, and you didn't have to save me and could've gotten away with it, you didn't. And you even got yourself pretty messed up for it. And I don't know how I could've quite gotten away with it, from myself that is, if you didn't live because of me, and when you showed up at my bar in he sector seven slums, I think I knew. I think I knew what happened. I had fallen in love." Cloud had felt something surging through himself as he heard these words, as when he was younger, he would watch Tifa from afar with her group of friends. And to think when he had finally gotten the girl, he would ignore her for someone else. "And that cocky little guy from Nibelheim who thought me and my friends were stupid for laughing all the time was the one that taught me to simply love with all you have. I suppose I'm boring you with this story, so I'm not going to keep delaying the inevitable. Cloud.I.love you." And the tape ended.
On a cliff of a mesa, Tifa sat overlooking Cosmo Canyon, that was a rich red color in the light of the sun, with Choco behind her, taking a rest from an exhausting day's ride. She was looking at the magnificent sunrise, the clouds painted with its vivid tinting, its rich purples and pinks, feeling the warm desert air dry her tears. She was sitting there amidst all the serenity and peace outstretched before her. In the distance on top of another mesa, sat a heavily forested area, the Forest of the Ancients. With that sight, bitterness struck her again, and she could only wish to be held in Cloud's arms. She wished to hear his heart beating as she laid her head on his chest and feel the world carry on without them. Yet she felt this would no longer be. Mixed feelings rose in her spirit and she felt she didn't know what to do . As she sat heartbroken, looking into the horizon, she saw a strange, misshapen silhouette and felt the earth rumble beneath her. Weapon had revealed itself.
Aeris and Cloud were still both looking at the screen when the tape ended, as Cloud heard Tifa's tape play in his mind all over again.
"I have to see Tifa.", said Cloud out of nowhere.
"Um, sure just wait outside, I have something to do.", said Aeris as Cloud walked out the door. He left Aeris inside, as a video began playing.
"Choco, let's go!", said Tifa to her chocobo as she climbed onto it. She rode to the edge of the world to meet the incoming enemy.
Aeris emerged out of the building, quietly shutting the door.
"Are you done?", asked Cloud.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Then let's go." As soon as they both mounted Knight, Cloud's PHS rang.
"Cloud we got a crisis!", cried Cid. "Weapon's finally come back!"
"We'll be there!", said Cloud.
"That's not all!", continued Cid. "We can't find Tifa! She's not responding to her PHS!"
"Oh no, Tifa!", cries Cloud. "Go Knight!"
Tifa saw the looming figure of the giant Weapon as they both drew nearer. She felt she had to stop it. Even if it cost her life.
"Cid! We're here!", yelled Cloud as soon as they got to the bridge.
"Good! Hold on to your pants and don't piss in em'!", yelled back Cid. He pulled a lever and a force that jolted some of them back knocking others down. They were flying at never seen before speeds, heading towards the battlefield.
Weapon slowly trudged its massive body onto the shore, letting out an ungodly cry to the world. Tifa disembarked and looked up at her adversary.
"Cid! Can you move any faster?!", yelled Cloud against the force hitting his body.
"Just hold on!", Cid yelled, pulling the other lever.
Tifa summoned Odin to start the battle, wishing she had taken the 'Knights of the Round' materia with her. It had barely been scratched and its power was impossible to sense. It stood angrily before her and struck her back, but her will was too strong. She unleashed her full limit, but the weapon still stood strong, and used Trine against her.
"There it is!", cried Cid.
"And there's Tifa!", yelled Barett. Cloud disembarked and dashed to Tifa's aid. When he got there, she was weakened to her knees. Weapon lifted its giant hand and it was speeding toward the ground, aimed at Tifa. Cloud dove and saved her, moments before being crushed. She opened her eyes weakly and saw Cloud saving her again.
"Cloud.", she muttered, but she had quickly blacked out.
"You bastard!", he yelled back to Weapon. He charged in with his Ultima sword, and swung madly. Nonetheless, he was still thrown down like a rag doll. Every time he charged in, only to be thrown back, still glowing red with fury. Each time he was greatly weakened, but kept fighting. Aeris, quickly ran to the battlefield, and saw Cloud being struck back constantly, always getting weaker.
"Cloud! Stop! Let me do this!!", she screamed.
"No! I won't lose you again!.", he cried back.
"You have to! Or we're all dead!", she cried back, tears accumulating as she could not bear to see Cloud in his worn condition. He was finally hit until he could move no more, and was left vulnerable. Aeris ran to him and knelt beside him, looking him in the eye.
"Go back to Icicle Inn!", she whispered.
"What?", he breathed back.
"Just look. I love you.", she said with a tear rolling down her cheek, walking towards the Weapon.
"No Aeris! Wait!", but she had already left. The rest of the team had finally caught up and saw a light emerge where Aeris was headed. The light immersed the corners of the Planet, and then faded. He had desperately tried to move, but he was too weak. Yuffie found him, and ran over to cure him.
"Don't worry about my wounds. Take care of Tifa.", he ordered. He slowly got up and looked to where the crater was, where Aeris and the Weapon once stood. With a tear in his eye and a pain in his heart, he felt coldness overshadow him again.
"Aeris.", he whispered as he broke down. "Aeris!", he screamed "Why do I keep losing you!" He knelt on the ground, fists tight, tears building up, heart pulsing in his head. He felt a warm hand comfort him and kneel beside him. It was Tifa, and she too was crying. Cloud bade her closer with his arm and leaned together.
"Tifa.",he choked out. "Why are you crying?"
"Don't look at me that heartlessly.", she said. "She was still my friend even though she loves you. I just want to see you happy."
"Hey.", said Cid quietly. "Look, I'll go tell Elmira." Cloud said nothing and both he and Tifa stood up. "I.have to go.", he said, looking north. He whistled a shrill noise and Knight answered his call.
"I'll go with you Cid.", said Tifa. "I was her friend. I should go." Cloud nodded and headed north.
A short time later, he found Icicle Inn and entered Professor Gast's laboratory. He found a tape lying on the desk and inserted it. A picture of Aeris then popped on the screen.
"Oh, hey.", she began. "Cloud, if you're watching this, that means that the worst has happened. After listening to the tape about Weapon, and everyone's description of it, I have identified it to be Ancient weapon. The reason it is called that is because an Ancient is called to stop it. The reason being is that the Planet trusted the Ancients to decide whether man deserved to exist or not, so if needed, it would send out the Ancient weapon to give judgment, and if an Ancient was not brought forth, the society of man would crumble. I was the last Ancient, so I had to go." Tears began streaming down her face. "I'm sorry Cloud." Her last words rang in his head. He couldn't believe she could leave him again. He took out the tape and flung it in sorrow at the desk, almost destroying it. He climbed back on Knight, and rode back to Nibelheim. His heart was shattered like glass, as if he couldn't recover the pieces. As if something would always be missing. A part of himself. He put Knight back in the stables, and walked back into Nibelheim. Tifa saw him as she walked in, his head slightly bent, his eyes red from tears, as a cold shadow clouded his eyes. She decided to leave him alone and not risk making him cry. He went up the stairs into his room, and fell into the mass of sheets on his bed, feeling the heavy weight of remorse follow him to sleep. In his dreams, he floated listlessly through the darkness, where it was cold and empty, much like the way he felt.
"Cloud.", he heard a call.
"Cloud!"
"AAH!", he screamed as he was now standing upright. Aeris was looking back at him smiling.
"Why do you do that?", he exclaimed.
"Shhh.", she signaled, putting a finger over his mouth. She moved closer, embracing him and kissed for a long time.
"Why did you leave me?", asked Cloud as they moved apart.
"It had to be done."
"But-"
"No. It was my duty as an Ancient. And I couldn't let innocent people die."
"So it's duty over love then?"
"Of course not.", she said. "At that moment I had not felt that the world couldn't save itself, because it had grown powerful enough to do so. It was about saving you."
"But for once I need to save you."
"You already have.", she said referring to the church when he first met her.
"That doesn't count."
"Of course it does.,", she said resting her head on his shoulder. "Besides, you already have someone here to love you.", she said, and a projection of Tifa in her room crying appeared and then faded.
"But-"
"No. She loves you. And you, her. That's what matters. Besides," she continues. "You have me right here.", she said as she put her palm over his heart. She pulled away, walking slowly away from him.
"No!", he yelled after her. "Don't leave!" He tried running toward her, but he couldn't get any closer. She stops, then turns around, with her gentle expression.
"You need not worry Cloud. I'm always with you. I'm the reflection in the water. I'm your light through the darkness. But more importantly, I'm always here. In your dreams. Just on the threshold of sleep. I don't care what you are, just who you are. For I will always welcome you into my arms, your heart beating against mine. Till then, your soft kiss will linger on my lips and I shall return to you. I love you. This I promise. Always."
