Blue Ocean - Chapter 4

By: Bahamuts AngelVII

A/N: Any ideas?

Chapter 4

Cloud sped across the ocean, pushing his Chocobo faster and faster. Reno strained his Chocobo to catch up to Cloud. He raised his hand and waved to Cloud.

"Hey, Cloud! Can we slow it down a bit! I don't think my Chocobo can take this." He yelled out. Cloud nodded and slowed down to a better pace.

Cloud, Reno, and Yuffie were still miles away from Bone Village, which left them all to think about Tifa.
Tifa... Where are you? I want you to be with me... Tifa you were with me all the time... … I can't lose you now. I know I took you for granted but… I… When Cloud reached Bone Village, he quickly dismounted his Chocobo, and turned to see Reno and Yuffie copying his actions. He motioned them to hurry, and then he ran ahead through the village. He entered the Sleeping Forest, and he was carrying the Lunar Harp. The forest glistened and sparkled as it came alive, and Cloud wondered how Tifa got through. He wondered if she did get through.

Underwater

Tifa's body was floating at the surface, and the oxygen left her body. Tifa saw a bright white light. She started to run... float towards it. She entered the light, and felt herself falling... falling through nothing. She wondered how she was breathing, and then she realized she wasn't at all. Is this... the other side? Do I fall forever? Tifa wondered what would be on the other end. She looked down and saw a small gray altar. Is that... where Aeris died? Tifa saw a figure kneeling down. Tifa's eyes widened, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Oh. My. Gosh. It's... Aeris.

Tifa felt her body land gracefully upon the altar. She felt as though she was on a floating island, and wondered if it tipped. She didn't know what to do, so she just stood there for a little while, watching Aeris kneel over in prayer. Suddenly, Aeris appeared beside her.

"Tifa…" She said.

"Aeris! Aeris! Aeris… Aeris… Wow… I never thought I'd be talking to you again… I'm so happy! You're here… Aeris I've missed you so much! So has Cloud," Tifa said, her voice getting quieter with every word, "Cloud… Cloud loves you, you know… Take good care of him. He's really special to me."

"Yeah… Yeah, Cloud is so special. Does that mean… Does it mean, you want to… give yourself up?" Aeris asked, a strange grin spreading on her face.

"Yes… I'm willing to give myself up for you."

"Good. Let us begin."

Beach

"Reno! Yuffie! Let's go! Tifa might be still in here." Cloud yelled to them as they crossed into the forest. He shot off and ran into the depths of the woods.

"Tifa! TIFA!" Yuffie yelled, peering behind the trees.

Reno waited and followed Yuffie.

"Tifa! Tifa where are you?" Reno called, when Yuffie stopped.

"Tifa! Tifa? Tifa! Tifa are you there?" Cloud shouted.

"Maybe she passed through! Look! See? Footprints!" Yuffie yelled, and she stooped down low to get a look at the prints.

"Hmmm... Yuffie can you tell? It might be one of our tracks..." Reno asked, while he knelt down besides her.

"They belong to Tifa! Look, they're boot prints! And there's that little indent thing that Tifa told me about a while ago while we were in Cosmo Canyon! Let's go! COME ON CLOUD!" Yuffie said, pulling along Cloud. He seemed a little stunned and let Yuffie and Reno pull him along.

Cloud figured that Tifa got through, so he motioned Reno and Yuffie to follow him to the city. When he got to the fish that he had to pass through, he gulped and looked at his friends.

"Guys… Thanks for coming with me. I'm going to go on ahead… I need to speak to Tifa alone. If I need you, I'll call you okay?" Cloud asked, mostly making a statement.

Yuffie was about to object and say that she wanted to come too, but the look in Cloud's eyes stopped her. Reno glanced from Yuffie to Cloud. He elbowed Yuffie and held her by the waist. It was the perfect couple picture. Cloud felt sad, and then he remembered: Tifa.

"Okay, Cloud. Call us later." Reno replied, and he sad down on the bench.

As Cloud was passing through, he heard Yuffie's words, "I hope that he'll be alright." Cloud shook his head. They should be more worried about Tifa.

Cloud stepped into the entryway to the city. He looked around and saw the icy surface. He walked, and then ran over to the edge, and saw a dark figure in the center about the spot where he dropped Aeris.

Aeris? Is that you? Cloud ran towards the dark figure, and he tried not to slip around on the ice. When he got closer, he realized it wasn't Aeris, but Tifa.

Alternate Universe Altar

"So, Aeris. What do I do first?" Tifa asked, her voice coming out shaky.

"Ahh... yes. Here." Aeris handed Tifa a blue-pink materia. It glistened and slowly vibrated as it came to life. Aeris explained that it switched lives, the person giving up their life with their hands on top, the other on the bottom.

The materia started to slowly expand as Tifa held it in her hands. She felt herself slowly losing energy, and saw the orb growing brighter and brighter

"Are you ready to officially begin?" Aeris questioned. Tifa could feel Aeris' hands on the bottom of the materia.

"Okay... I'm ready," Tifa closed her eyes and focused all her life energy to the materia, when she opened her mouth to speak again. "Wait, Aeris, how come it has to be me?"

"It doesn't. I just wanted you out of my way."

Aeris positioned herself on the other side, holding the materia from the bottom. Aeris's body began to glow, her skin brightening, as Tifa's grew paler and paler. Tifa felt her legs going numb. Her body started growing weak and limp, and she knew that it would all be over soon. She would be a restless spirit traveling the Earth, waiting for Cloud, her one love.

She tried to think of all the happy times she had with Cloud, with everyone. She remembered when she first saw Cloud, how happy she'd been. She remembered Yuffie, being the pest that she was, and she couldn't help but smile. Cid and Barrett had always made her laugh, and Cait Siths' snide remarks always made Tifa giggle. She even remembered when she first met Aeris. Tifa felt like she should be mad at Aeris right now, but all she was just sad. She couldn't believe Aeris couldn't trust her. Didn't she know that if Aeris wanted her to, Tifa would just stay away from Cloud? Didn't Aeris know that all Tifa wanted was for Cloud to be happy?

Her body started turning to stone, starting with her feet, traveling all the way to her face. Right before she completely turned to stone, one last sparkling tear escaped her eyes. So I guess this is how it was meant to be... There's no turning back now… I… She was now a stone statue, holding the glowing blue-pink materia. Her figure still, lifeless, and her one perfect tear frozen on her cheek.

Aeris's Burial Grounds

"Tifa! NO!" Cloud put his hands against the surface and saw that Tifa's face was pressed against it. Is there time? Is there? There has to be…

"Reno! Yuffie! Come over here! Tifa is trapped under the ice. I need you to help me use Fire to unfreeze it!" Cloud shouted, and Reno and Yuffie came running over. They slid onto the ice and used their magic to thaw the ice.

After a while, the ice melted, and Tifa's face rose to the surface. Her skin was awfully white, and her body was cold. Cloud moved her hair away from her face and looked for a pulse. Come on… Please, Tifa. I'd give anything to bring you back… Cloud bent his head to Tifa's and held her close. Yuffie was crying and Reno was hugging her. Even Reno had tears in his eyes, even if it was unnoticeable. Cloud hugged Tifa and cried.

"I'm going down there." Cloud said. He stood up and let Tifa slid onto the ice.

"Take good care of her... She'll come back. I know she will." Cloud said as he pointed towards Tifa's lifeless body.

Cloud dove into the clear water and swam downwards towards Aeris's body. Aeris... I see you at last, my love. Cloud dove deeper and touched Aeris's face lightly. I love you, Aeris. Then, Cloud felt himself going faint. What's happening? Where am I going? Cloud started falling through nothing, following in Tifa's path. Tifa was here... I can feel it.

Cloud saw the altar, Aeris, and the statue of Tifa. When he reached the altar, he ran to hug Aeris. He embraced her warmly, and he kissed her.

"Aeris... Aeris?... I love you." Cloud said, tears springing to his eyes. He momentarily forgot about Tifa.

"Cloud! I knew you would come for me. My bodyguard. I'm alive now, and I'm ready to go back to the real world." Aeris was smiling, but it faded when Cloud remembered Tifa.

"Wait... Where's Tifa? Is that... Is that Tifa?" Cloud's hand trembled as he pointed towards the statue of Tifa.

"It's what's left of Tifa. What did you see in her anyways?" Aeris asked, her arms crossed.

"She's my friend... Aeris, how can you say that? Tifa was always trying to befriend you." Cloud said, his eyes narrowing.

"No, no. she wanted to steal you away from me! Didn't you see her? Every time I was with you, she… She was so jealous! Didn't you see… DIDN'T YOU! You saw… Cloud how… Why do you love her? She's nothing! You love me!" Aeris replied, taking a step closer.

"But I... I can't live without Tifa! She's my best friend! But Aeris," Cloud's voice got quiet, almost a whisper "Aeris couldn't… Couldn't you see? Tifa and I, Tifa and I are best… Were best friends. I thought you would see, see that we're best friends."

"So young, so naive. Cloud, that was the only way! I love you Cloud, and you love me! What does it matter?" Aeris hugged Cloud.

"You're right..." Cloud said.

"I can destroy Tifa's body right here and now, so she never has a chance of coming back..." Aeris offered, she took out her staff.

"Wait, no. Replace your body with Tifa's, so hers can rest forever in peace in your place."

"Good idea..."

Cloud knelt down and examined Tifa. She looked perfect to him, but then he noticed something as he looked over her face and her hair. He noticed something small on her cheek. He looked at it closely and realized it was her tear. His insides were shaken, and he remembered how much he really did love Tifa, if only as a friend. She had been there for him all the times he needed her most... I can't throw her away... after everything she's done for me... I won't let it end like this. Cloud stood up and turned to face Aeris.

"Aeris... I don't want to give up Tifa."

"It is really the only way, Cloud. It's either me, or her. Think about it. Do you really love Tifa? You love me! You even said so. Cloud, I'm just trying to help you... Who do you pick, Cloud?" Aeris asked.

"You know I love you, Aeris... I really do. I love you and that will never change!"

"So, who? You can only have one of us. Not both. One. Who do you love? Who do you want to be with the rest of your life!" Aeris asked, growing impatient once again.

Cloud gazed down at his hands, with tears streaming down his face. He looked up at Aeris and could only choke out two words. "I pick…"