"Boy, it's good to be back," Yuffie stretched as she waltzed over to an empty chair and sat down.

"It's not like you did anything," Cid chuckled to himself. "Well, I take that back...you did give us a good meal."

"You are so mean to me!" Yuffie pouted. "Cloud, make him stop being mean!"

"Cid, stop being mean!" Tifa spoke up quickly. "And Yuffie, leave Cloud alone. He needs to rest."

"Tifa, really, I'm okay," Cloud said as he attempted to get out of the bed Tifa had placed him in. The Highwind had arrived in Wutai not fifteen minutes ago, and she had immediately rushed him to the pagoda so that she could hurl him into a bed...maybe a bit more forcefully than she'd intended to.

"Yeah, right," she countered. "If you make another move, I'm gonna have Cid tie you down to the posts."

"Okay, okay," Cloud sighed in defeat. "Geez, after all I've been through, you think I could win an argument with a lady."

"Get used to it, kid," Cid commiserated as he placed an arm around Cloud's shoulders. "Once you let 'em get a hold of you, they're like roaches. You can yell and scream and fight 'em all you want...but they stick around, anyway."

"I can not believe you just compared half the planet's population to roaches!" Yuffie screamed in the pilot's face.

"Cloud doesn't think that! Right, Cloud?" Tifa asked as she glanced down at her bedridden friend.

"Um..." Cloud smiled nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

Tifa's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly regained her composure and let out an innocent laugh. "Vee-ry funny, Cloud. Let's go, Yuffie. We'll leave the boys to themselves," she huffed as she got to her feet and went to the door.

"Yeah!" Yuffie agreed hastily. "But you know something about cockroaches, Tifa? They always get to the good food, first!"

"W-What?!" Cid cried in disbelief.

"Yeah, you heard!" Yuffied declared triumphantly. "Tifa n' I get first dibs on the food tonight! Oh, and Marlene, too, cause she's a girl!"

"That's not fair!" Cid argued as he followed the two women out of the room. Even though they were in the hall, Cloud could still hear the three of them squabbling.

Laughing quietly to himself, he decided that if he was going to be stuck in bed, he might as well get a good nights rest. Heck, he could barely remember the last time he slept in a real mattress with a real pillow!

Rolling on to his side, he tugged the covers up to his chin, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, the four friends and little girl returned to their parked ship, albeit under much more relaxed circumstances than when they'd left. They spent the time laughing; catching up on old times- generally goofing off and having fun, which was something they'd had very little opportunity to do as of late.

Admittedly, Tifa spent most of her time observing Cloud. Being the thickheaded person he was (which only made her love him all the more), he didn't even notice her long stares, though under the circumstances she couldn't really blame him. There were a few subtle differences about him, though. When and where the change had actually taken place, she could not say, but the fact remained that he was different somehow. He walked with an easy air, and he kept his head raised high, rather than keeping his face lowered. Cloud still remained somewhat quiet and aloof, but whenever he looked at her, his eyes conveyed all of the emotions that his face so desperately lacked. It was as if he had merely forgotten what it was like to express his feelings, thereby forcing them to emerge from his eyes.

Speaking of which, they no longer held that cold, hard and vacant stare that she was so accustomed to seeing. They now shone with an even greater vibrancy, if such a thing were even possible. Where they had once been so lifeless and dull, they now sparkled brighter than any star in the sky.

All together, Cloud exuberated an air of confidence and tranquility, and the impression was very...appealing, to say the least.

"Hey," Yuffie whispered to Cid as she pulled him slightly to the side. "Check out Tifa! She's eyin' Cloud so bad! Look, she's even blushing!"

"Hn," Cid grumbled. "Cloud's thicker than Shera's coffee. Tifa's gonna have a hard time getting his attention."

"I don't really think so," Yuffie argued. "Whenever Tifa's not lookin', Cloud steals a glance at her, too!"

"Hey!" Cloud spoke up quickly. "What are you two talking about over there?"

"N-Nothing!" Yuffie and Cid smiled together.

As they approached the ship, though, their conversation became more somber.

"You guys promise to come and visit me again soon, don't you?" Yuffie asked hopefully. "Cause, y'know, I'm kinda stuck here. Unless you feel like unearthing another planetary disaster- cause then I can make an exception!"

"I'm through with adventures," Cid declared solemnly. "I'm just gonna kick back and relax. I ain't so young anymore, y'know."

Tifa nodded in agreement. "I think I'm ready for a break from that stuff, too, Yuffie. But I do promise to come and visit you as soon as I can. Marlene will, too, won't you?"

"I'll see you soon, Miss Yuffie!" Marlene sniffed slightly.

"Well..." the ninja hesitated. "I guess as long as you promise. What about you, Cloud? You gonna be a stranger?"

"I'll come visit you, too," Cloud spoke with a slight grin. "You can teach me how to throw a shuriken or something."

"I'll hold you to that!" Yuffie warned as she reached out and squeezed Cloud in an embrace. She did the same thing for Tifa and a reluctant Cid before they said their final goodbyes. But as Tifa and Cid ascended the ladder to the ship, Cloud stayed behind.

"Hm? What's up, Cloud?" Yuffie asked. "Did you forget something?"

"Not quite," Cloud said seriously. He walked over to her and pressed something into her hands. Leaning close to her, he whispered, "This is my PHS. I want you to hold on to it, okay?"

"What for?!" Yuffie asked in an excited whisper.

"You said you would help us out if there was any trouble, right?"

"W...Wait a second, just what are you saying?" she demanded.

Cloud glanced up to make sure that Tifa and Cid were out of earshot before he continued. "Yuffie, it's not over yet," he stated simply. "This battle is over, but I can still feel the tension emanating from the planet. Something else is coming, Yuffie. Something much bigger and more dangerous than ever, and it's going to take all of our combined strength in order to survive."

"Is...that why you agreed to help Tifa hone her skills?"

Cloud nodded. "But that doesn't mean you can't help us, too. Yuffie, I don't think you even realize how powerful you truly are."

"You really mean that?" she asked with a slight sparkle in her eyes.

"Of course I do!" Cloud laughed. "So try keep that phone close to you all times, just in case, okay?"

"Right!" Yuffie saluted enthusiastically.

Cloud chuckled and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Good to hear, Yuffie. Well, until we meet again."

As Cloud turned to ascend the ladder, he felt the girl tugging against sleeve.

"You said there's an even greater danger coming," she posed thoughtfully. "What actual proof do you have, though?"

"Proof?" Cloud repeated as he glanced over his shoulder. "I don't have any proof. It's just a hunch."

"H-Hey!" Yuffie shouted as Cloud began climbing. "That's not an answer! Cloud! Get back here right now!!"

"Bye, Yuffie!" Cloud called over his shoulder.

"Oooh...!" she raged as she stomped her feet against the ground. "Cloud, you're a big jerk! You better not take too long to call me, or else I'm gonna throw this stupid phone out a two story window!"

Cloud laughed silently as Yuffie continued to spew empty threats and warnings at him while he climbed.

"Took you long enough," Tifa remarked dryly as she helped Cloud over the railing. "What were you two talking about?"

Cloud only briefly considered telling her before he dismissed the idea entirely. After all the mental stress she'd been through recently, it wouldn't do to have her worry over something that could be years away from even happening. He would tell her eventually...maybe after she'd had some time to cool down and relax. "Nothin," he answered with a playful grin. "Why? You jealous?"

"N-No!" Tifa huffed with a slight blush as she stormed off into the main part of the ship.

Cloud laughed loudly as he followed her down the stairs and into the cockpit, where Cid had just finished preparations for liftoff.

Glancing up and seeing Cloud's mirth, Cid could only begin to guess as to what may have caused it to happen. "You're unusually lively this morning," he remarked as he puffed away at his cigarette.

"I just got a new outlook on life, is all," Cloud informed him. "The way I see it, you only live once, so why not just enjoy it?"

Cid nodded in agreement, but Cloud couldn't help but feel slightly guilty at what he'd just said. It was certainly true that his perspective had been changed for the better, but he wasn't sure exactly how much of the happiness he was putting on display was truly genuine.

The bleak future he'd dreamed of last night left little room for such jubilation, and yet he had to do something. He refused to brood as he had before, and yet excess euphoria would dull his senses. It was a difficult call to make, and it would take some getting used to, but at the very least, he was interacting with his friends.

"Well, guys," Cid said in a voice tinged with sadness, "I guess this'll be the last time I do this for a while, so I'll say it once more for ole' times sake: where you headed?"

Cloud and Tifa exchanged glances. "Well," Tifa spoke up, "I wanted to go back to Midgar with Marlene, and...well," she trailed off and looked up at Cloud. "I don't know where you want to go, Cloud, but you're always welcome to visit me whenever you like."

"Hm," Cloud put a finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Y'know, it'd kinda be a hassle to have to go all the way to Midgar just to see you...what if...I just came with you? Would you mind?"

Tifa's face brightened and she let out a startled laugh. "What? You really mean it?"

"Sure I do. After all, I can't train you if I'm halfway across the world, now can I?"

"Mister Cloud's gonna come live with us?!" Marlene said as she excitedly tugged at Tifa's sleeve.

"Seems that way," Tifa nodded happily. "Then that settles it. Cid! Take us to Midgar!"

"You got it, Ace," Cid chuckled under his breath as he pulled on the acceleration.

Once the ship was on autopilot, Cid took up a chair next to his buddies and pulled out a deck of cards. He claimed that it was just to pass the time, but the look on his face told Tifa that it was just an excuse to hang out before they went their separate ways.

A short time later, he threw up his hands in disgust as Tifa took the winning hand for the third time in a row.

"You don't work in a bar for a decade and not pick up a few tricks," Tifa explained with a sly look on her face.

"Devil's luck, is all!" Cid grunted as he shuffled the cards with renewed vigor. "I'll get you this time!"

"It's useless!" Marlene sighed. "Miss Tifa always wins at cards."

"Tifa!" Cid gasped in mock horror. "You let little children play poker!"

"What?" Tifa shrugged. "It's just a game. Marlene's not half bad, either."

"I learned from the best!" the little girl added. "At least...that's what she tells me to say."

The conversation went downhill from there.

When it seemed as though Tifa and Cid were about to go at each other's throats over accusations of cheating, the Highwind's autopilot let out a signal that they had reached their destination.

The cards were quickly forgotten as the three friends exchanged forced smiles.

"Well..." Cid was the first to speak up. "I...I guess this is goodbye. And good riddance, too." He tried to make it sound like he was being serious, but he failed miserably.

"Look, it's not like we'll never see each other again," Cloud laughed. "We'll see you for the wedding, won't we?"

"W-What wedding?!" Tifa blubbered with a startled look on her face.

Cloud glanced over at her, which in turn caused her to blush furiously as she looked away. "Cid and Shera's wedding, of course!"

Now it was Cid's turn to choke. "W-What?!" he gasped. "Ain't a goddamn chance in hell you'll see me hookin' up with her, much less putting a ring on her goddamn finger!"

"But you like her cooking, don't you?" Cloud persisted.

"That ain't a good reason to get hitched!" Cid scoffed. "Dammit, now you've pissed me off! Look, just get outta here before I beat you over the head with a crowbar!"

"Okay, okay!" Cloud laughed as he retreated to the door. "Take care Cid."

"Huh, whatever..." Cid grumbled as he sat down in his pilot's chair. He put an elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm; he then proceeded to stare out of the window.

By the time Cloud, Tifa, and Marlene arrived at the entrance to Midgar, the sun was already sitting low on the horizon. At first, Cloud had been hesitant to travel the streets at such a late hour, but Tifa repeatedly assured him that the people of the city were different than they had been before.

Once he finally relented, Cloud quickly stated that he wanted to go see the remains of the Sector Seven Slums, but Tifa reminded him that their first priority was to get home and unpack.

Upon returning to the vicinity of her home, though, the sight of which she had not seen for what seemed like an eternity, she noticed a familiar face wearily trotting down the worn path.

"Marlin? Is that you?" Tifa asked as she ran up to where he was standing and turned him so that she could get a better look at his face.

The surprise on his face was clearly evident, but once it registered that he was actually speaking to Tifa and not her ghost, he let out a joyous laugh. "Tifa!" he said merrily. "It's so good that you're back!"

"It's good to be back!" Tifa agreed hastily. "How is everything? I hope it was too much trouble...to..." She narrowed her eyes and stared at his face. "Marlin, what happened to you? You've got little scratches all over!"

"Oh, well, I...uh," he stammered nervously.

"Oh, no!" Tifa moaned as she covered her eyes with a hand. "You opened the box, didn't you?!"

"I didn't mean to!" Marlin explained hastily. "I was a little tipsy, and some guy dared me to do it!"

"Then explain to me how that qualifies as 'I didn't mean to'!"

"I didn't take any of the gil, I swear!"

Tifa let out a weak laugh. "Marlin, I'm only kidding. I really could care less about the money. I'm just glad you weren't injured any worse than that. Thanks for looking after the place for me, though."

"My pleasure," Marlin bowed regally. "Here are your keys, Miss."

"Thank you," she replied as she retrieved the items from his outstretched palms. "Oh, and Marlin, I don't believe you've ever met Cloud. Cloud, this is Marlin. He's a regular at my bar."

"Pleased to meet you," Cloud said as he held out a hand.

Marlin accepted his invitation, and the two of them exchanged a hearty handshake. "Likewise. You gonna be her bodyguard or something?"

"Something like that, yeah," Cloud chuckled, much to Tifa's chagrin.

"Oh, good!" Marlin sighed. "I was always worried about her stayin' in that place all by herself, and with a little kid, no less. Oh! And speaking of kids...Tifa, there's some little boy who's been hanging around the bar a lot. I've tried to get him to go away, but he won't listen to me. I think he's a few screws loose, if you know what I mean."

"Is that so?" Tifa commented. "You think he's still there?"

"Probably. He was there when I left earlier today. Well, I guess I'll see you guys around, okay?"

"Take care," Tifa smiled as she waved goodbye.

"Are all of your patrons like that?" Cloud commented with a wry smile after Marlin had left.

"He's a little eccentric," Tifa admitted, "but he's a reliable fellow."

"Then what about kids? You get a lot of those hanging around your bar?"

Tifa furrowed her eyebrows. "No, I've never had that happen before...I guess we should go see if he's still there."

They didn't need to walk very far, for her home and bar was just around the next bend. Sure enough, there was a little boy huddled near the staircase with his chin propped against his knees. When they approached him, he neither looked or nor gave any indication that he even knew they were there.

"Hey," Tifa spoke gently. "You all right? I hear you've been hanging around a lot. Are you lost?"

The boy looked up at her with a vacant stare. "...No."

"Then where are your parents? They must be worried about you!"

"They're dead," the boy stated so casually that Tifa took a step backwards.

"Wha...? Dead?" she repeated slowly.

"Yeah," the boy nodded.

"Don't you have any aunts or uncles?" Marlene spoke up. "Can't you go live with them?"

"They're dead, too," the boy told her. "Once everyone was gone, I just kept walking and walking...I didn't really know where I was going, but...when I got to this place," he said as he looked up at Seventh Heaven bar, "I just felt like I had to stay."

"Surely there must be someone who can help you?" Tifa posed.

"No one will help an orphan these days," the boy replied with a hint of anger. "We're all on a road to oblivion, and everyone needs to look out for themselves."

Tifa's eyebrows furrowed as her thoughts drifted back to the night she'd first met Kether.

"You do not see merely because you do not want to see," he had told her. "This world is vast. There are towns you have not been to, people you have not seen- all of these that you are unaware of- but just because you do not know of them doesn't mean that they aren't there. People are suffering. People are dying..."

Her heart nearly broke at the thought of these words. At the time, she'd had a hard time believing them, but now, sitting right before her, was the proof.

Kneeling down so that she could look at him, she lifted his chin with her hand. "What's your name, little one?" she asked.

"My name?" he repeated with a confused look on his face. "It's...D...Denzel. Yeah, that's it! Denzel!"

"Okay, Denzel," Tifa nodded as she got to her feet. Glancing around, she noticed that Cloud was nowhere to be seen. Looking down at Marlene, she asked, "Did you see where Cloud ran off to?"

"He told me he was going to the Sector Seven Slums," Marlene informed her. "He said that he'd be back in time for dinner, and that you shouldn't worry about him."

"I see," Tifa replied thoughtfully. It was just like Cloud to run off without her even realizing it. She'd gotten an idea, and she wanted to know what he thought of it, but since he wasn't here, well, he just wouldn't have a say in the matter!

"Denzel," she addressed the boy, "are there any other children around here who have lost their parents?"

"They're everywhere," Denzel admitted. "But they don't show themselves much. I think they must be afraid."

"Well, I'll tell you what," Tifa smiled. "Why don't you go find some of them and bring them here? I'll be making dinner, soon, and I'll bet you all could use a good meal."

Denzel looked up at her with a shocked expression. "W-Wh...you really mean it?!" he gasped.

"Yeah!" Tifa nodded with a smile. "Find as many as you can- the more the merrier. We'll get you all cleaned up, and you can stay at my place for as long as you want. Consider my home your home. How does that sound?"

Denzel's mouth merely hung open in astonishment.

"Go on, now," Tifa laughed as she pulled him to his feet and gave him a little shove to get him started. "And hurry back, okay?"

"O-Okay!" Denzel smiled. In return, he reached out and embraced Tifa with all of his might. "Thank you so much!"

With that, he ran off into the streets and quickly disappeared.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Tifa smiled weakly and looked down at Marlene. "What do you think, Marlene? Do you think one person can make a difference in this world?"

"I think," Marlene stated, "that as long as you're willing to try, it makes all the difference in the world."

"Hm." Tifa looked up at the evening sky and pondered aloud: "I wonder what Kether would say if he were here, right now. Would he think I'm a fool? Would he be glad that I'm helping the very people he had tried to help?"

"He would," Marlene spoke up softly. "I know he would."

Tifa looked down at Marlene with admiration. The finality of her words left little room for doubt. It was almost as if...Kether had whispered his answer directly into the little girl's ears.

FFVII

Cloud walked slowly through the abandoned church with a heavy heart. How many years had it been since he'd set foot in this place? The very place where his adventure first began?

He was pleased to note that the yellow flowers, at least, were as alive and vibrant as ever. As if compelled by an unseen force, he knelt down next to them and began to pluck them until he had the makings of a tiny bouquet. With the flowers in hand, he slowly got to his feet and began walking.

Walking...on and on, with no particular destination in mind. Outside the city limits and into the vast wilderness of the Midgar planes he journeyed, eyeing the landscape that seemed to come alive as the night drew on.

Tiny animals skittered across the path as he drew near, and the familiar sounds of nocturnal beasts could soon be heard echoing through the night. Yes, the planet was truly alive- as alive as it had ever been.

He had not been wrong. Saving the planet from Sephiroth had been the right thing to do, if only because he would not be standing here, right now, under the clearest of skies with the stars shining over him. There was still a long way to go on the path that spread out before him, but Cloud felt more prepared this time. Prepared to accept whatever destiny had been given to him, and prepared to face it without reservation.

He paused briefly and glanced behind where he had already been. The lights of the city of Midgar slowly began to flicker on in a dazzling array of color that added renewed majesty to the indomitable spirit of humanity. Yes, humanity was worth saving as well- maybe even more so that the planet, itself, for while the planet may give life to humans, it is shaped by the will of humanity, and is thus subject to it. Whether that will be for good or evil, it was the responsibility of every person to make sure to live the life that the planet had bestowed upon them with grace and dignity until the time came for them to take their final breath, when they would be reunited with their mother and reborn anew.

Here. This was the place.

Pulling out his Buster Sword, he laid it out on the ground and knelt down next to it. He placed his yellow bouquet on the ground nearby and closed his eyes.

"I do not know what the future holds for me," he said quietly to himself, "but I will accept it without hesitation, because it is my future- to make of it what I will. Would that I had my way, I would never have a need to take this sword in my hands ever again, but I know that a time may come when it is necessary. If that is the case, then I will take up my blade once more...but not for myself. From this moment on, I will try to live...and fight for the sake of others. Because it is only then that a person is truly alive.

"Aeris...and Tifa. Without you, I would not be where I am today. I know I can never repay you, but it may help, in some small way, to know that it was because of you that I now find the courage I need to face my destiny. No matter what happens...I will love you both...now and forever."

A refreshing breeze blew over the plains and valleys of the land that seemed to carry on its shoulders the hopes and dreams of humanity. Looking up at the stars, Cloud saw more clearly than ever before the beauty of the universe that surrounded them. Yes, truly this was a life worth living.

And somewhere in the distance, the sound of children's laughter could be heard echoing through the night.

Final Fantasy VII: Orchrist

Fin