Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Squresoft characters, ideas, ect, although if I did I'd be one happy lil onna!

Lost Hearts and Souls

Chapter 1: No Luck to Spare:

The life stream began to swell, spilling forth and covering the earth. Tifa stared in awe as she watched green vapor rise high into the star filled sky. Near her, on the deck of the High Wind are Barret, Cloud, and Vincent. The rest of her friends and the Highwind crew are in the cockpit. Everyone has their full attention on the giant ball of fire fast approaching, Meteor. The Highwind shakes violently, and Tifa looses her grip on the railing and crashes into Cloud.

Cloud "You OK?" He secures an arm around her waist helping her regain her balance, while giving her his boyish grin. Tifa gives him a weak smile. Being that close to him always made her heart flutter. She couldn't stop the blush growing on her face, even as she mentally cursed her self for being so weak.

Tifa "Sorry" she says avoiding eye contact.

Cloud simply nods and begins to wonder how the others are holding up. He looks over at Barret who looks an unsightly shade of green.

"Barret you ok over there?" yells Cloud. Barret tries his best to look cool, only halfway succeeding. Only the knowledge that Marlene was miles away from this hellish sight kept him together.

"Fucking peachy" Barret replies sarcastically

Ulp, I think I'm gonna be sick, Barret braces himself as the ship continues to vibrate.

Cloud holds Tifa's hand to reassure her and she gives him a look of pure gratitude. Nearby Vincent's face holds an unreadable expression. Behind his scarf, he's smirking at the absurdity of it all.

We save the world from Sephiroth only to be blown to bits by Meteor, seems fitting. He thinks crossly. Death holds no fear over him as his guilt-ridden soul believes it is what he deserves for allowing Lucrecia and the child be sacrificed to science. His blood red eyes narrow, as he contemplates the fate set before them, and his companions.

Down in the cockpit, the crew scurries about trying their best to keep the Highwind stable.

"Ahhh, what should I do?" screams a pilot in training Lv4.

The novice pilot begins running in circles. Cid stops barking orders to the other pilots temporarily when he sees one of them in hysteria. He strolls up to the young man and jacks him up by his collar.

"Get control of yourself you idiot! Go back to your station and get to #$ work! " Yells Cid.

"Y, yes sir!" The young man wipes Cid's spittle from his face and runs back to his assigned area. Cid fishes around in his pockets to find he only has only one Cigarette left.

"Damn, I'll save you for the last, " he says to the cigarette, and shoves it in his coat pocket.

RedXIII paces back and forth, tale swishing, wondering if he's lived up to Seto's expectations.

In the corner across from him Yuffie clutches to the stuffed body of Cait Sith. I've worked so hard to collect all of this loot for Wutai's future but Gawd now we're all gonna eat it.

"I don't wanna die," wails Yuffie

Cid struggles to keep control at the helm. For some reason all he can think about is Shera, and of how good she's been to him. Yuffie's wailing pierces into his thoughts.

"Shut your yap will ya?" She answers only by crying louder.

Cid pulls out his last cigarette and takes a nice long drag.

We're screwed, he thinks calmly

The ship shakes even more violently. While holding Tifa's hand Cloud looks at her in a new way, as if seeing her for the first time. Her long black hair and slim body are outlined in the red glow of Meteor. He realizes just how devastatingly beautiful she really is. He squeezes her hand. Her wine colored eyes lock with his, making it hard to swallow.

"Tifa I..I want to thank you for believing in me. His throat feels so dry, as if there is sand coating it. He turns away scratching the back of his head momentarily. "Tif, if we survive this…"

With a sudden jolt the Highwind swings hard to the left and Cid looses control of the ship. His last cigarette falls from his mouth, and he manages to step on it before it rolls away. He looks up to see Meteor staring him in the face. It's really #$ close now.

"SHI----T!" yells Cid

Everyone is tossed about the aircraft. Cloud is tossed into the air and almost thrown over, but Tifa catches hold of his hand.

"Cloud!" She cries, watching him dangle off the side of the ship.

She grips his hand determined not to let go, but he's slipping. After everything they've been through together, she simply cannot lose him now. Cloud clenches his teeth grabbing the railing with his other hand, and begins to hoist his self up. Yet another surge of energy hits the Highwind and Tifa is thrown away from him, landing flat on her back.

Cloud losses his grip completely and falls.

"No!" She screams. Tears begin welling in her eyes as her mind thinks how unfair it is. Her best friend, and protector torn from her in the blink of an eye. She never even got to tell him the truth she'd harbored in her heart all these years.

"No.." She mutters in a low voice as a determined look forms on her face. Her eyes searched around frantically until they found the rope ladder tethered nearby. She didn't think twice, couldn't, not with so much on the line. The martial artist jumped over the railing after Cloud. Her blood rushed to her head as she nose-dived through the sky in an attempt to catch up with him. He was in her sights and nearing, just a little closer. It was then that the ladder's slack ran out, jarring her whole body. Tifa held on in a daze of grief and pain, dangling in the sky.

Up above Vincent noticed the threads of the rope unraveling fast from strain, just before they snapped. The silent gunman moved so quickly no one actually saw it happen. If there was one person on the team he had truly grown to respect and even admire, it was that martial artist. He sprinted to the edge and vaulted off in a swirl of crimson cape and ebon hair. Tifa's mind was focused only on her soldier as she freefell through the sky. She fainted just as Vincent grabbed her held tight as they plummeted to the ground. The wind ripped at his hair and stung his eyes as he tried to transform into chaos. It was no use, when he needed the foul beast it would not summon.

It would seem this is the end, he thought before succumbing to darkness.

As Cloud falls to his death he feels strangely relaxed. In his mind's eye he could still see Tifa's face calling to him over the airships railing. He'd held on to her hand as long as he could, not only for himself but also for the promise he'd made to her.

"I'm sorry Tifa.." He fixes his gaze on the blinking lights of the airship. The light suddenly becomes increasingly bright, until he has to close his eyes.

So bright and warm.

"Take my hand " speaks a familiar voice.

He knows the voice but can't quite place it. He opens his eyes only to find he's no longer falling through the sky, but...floating? Green translucent bubbles dance before his eyes.

"Lifestream...?" He wonders

" Time is running out, come on take my hand Cloud." Begs a familiar voice.

"Who's there?"

At first all he can see are the bubbles, then a hand. He obeys and grabs the soft slender hand. A face comes into view. He sees a beautiful girl with very long brown hair waving around her.

"Could it really be…her?. " He breaks out into a cold sweat upon realizing who was before him. He recalled how she looked when he laid her to rest in the Ancient City. When the truth hits him his eyes become as wide as saucers. He stares longingly into those emerald green eyes.

"Aeris" he softly whispers. He begins to wonder if he's already dead.

"Mm hmm, yes I understand, " She murmurs, as if speaking with someone only she can hear.

" I'm sorry, the planet needs you. " she gives him a sad smile.

"What do you mean?" Though he doesn't fully understand what's happening he's just relived to see her again.

"The city, please go there Cloud." She takes her hand away and begins to glow. A light envelopes her, brightens, then she 's gone. He notices there is a pink ribbon in his hand. He clutches it.

"Wait" He shouts

"In Zarghidas…. " Aeris' voice echoes through the mist. The bubbles condense and obscure his vision. He closes his eyes and begins to feel a pulling sensation about him. There is a loud roaring sound in his ears, which becomes nearly deafening. Then all is quiet.

Ramza Beoulve wanders aimlessly through the streets of Zarghidas City. It's late in the evening, and the normally crowded streets are empty. Ramza thinks back to all of the battles he's faced. He wonders if all the fighting will ever end.

"Excuse me."

Ramza, lost in his thoughts, was caught completely off guard and nearly jumps at the sound of her voice.

"Ahh! cough Ahem, Hello" he replies shakily

The woman stifles a laugh. Ramza notices that she's dressed in the white cloak most common healers. He thinks how fragile she looks with her quaint pink dress and big brown boots. She has the most enchanting green eyes he's ever seen.

"Would you like to buy some flowers, they're only a single gold"

Flowers? I can't believe she's selling flowers in a time like this. After a moment he remembers Beowolf and Reis. Surely he would want to give them to her as a gift.

"Sure, why not." She hands him three long stem roses for one gold.

"Thank you." The woman looks at him for a while. She thinks he's fairly handsome, and about in his early twenties.

Maybe he's an army commander? "Few people actually take the time to buy flowers these days. What ever happened to all the chivalry? "Man, what I wouldn't give for MY knight in shinning armor to come and take me away!" she blurts out. Ramza gives her and odd look.

Oh man, he must think I'm a complete nut.

She smiles and quickly leaves to cover her embarrassment.

"It's just the times," he murmurs gazing into the sky. Returning his attention to the fresh red roses his mind is filled with images of his kidnapped sister.

"Alma.." His other hand clenches his sword as continues on his way. It is late in the evening, and he must return to the others and prepare for the next assault.

A/N: This is my first fanfiction, which I'm really enjoying writing. It is actually a rewrite from a few years ago so please R&R to let me know if I should continue on with this madness

Tiffany Hartline