A/N: By far the longest chapter ever by me, this is it! The final chapter you've all been waiting for! Well, hopefully. Anyhow, here's the final chapter, for you all, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 24

A blinding light erupted as Deus collided with Gast, rocking the world itself. Slowly the flare dimmed, and the Avalanches' sight returned.

Deus and Gast's hands were pressed against each others, each locked in place as they pushed against one another. Tifa could feel the actual power being conflicted. Light and Dark; Good and Evil.

Deus seemed to lose some focus, and slowly was being pushed backwards. Gast's grin of triumph was seen even from the ground. Deus pressed his wings back, giving him a surge of momentum that threw Gast off-balance.

Gast pounded his wings, flying away from Deus. Deus followed right behind him, matching his incredible speed, but backed away as a geyser of Lifestream burst in front of him, cutting off the chase.

From the ground, Tifa could only watch Deus sudden come to a halt, almost clashing against the wall of green. Her eyes broke away from Vincent's magnificent form to Gast, and something didn't seem right.

Gast had stopped right behind the pillar, his hands extended outwards. Suddenly she saw the glimmer of a pitch-black materia, and suddenly a large mass of black light shot from his hands.

"Vincent!" she cried, watching as the attack sailed right through the Lifestream without any hindrance. Deus's eyes grew wide as he saw the Lifestream part before him, but as he spread his wigns to move, the attack caught him, pushing him backwards. Tifa watched in horror as he plunged into another pillar of Lifestream and disappear from view.

"Damnit, no!" Cloud suddenly cried, rushing forward. He stumbled backwards as another geyser sprung out before him, causing him to lose his balance and fall down. The Avalanche members merely watched as the pillar Vincent had been thrown into erupted in a flash of dark light, disrupting the Lifestream and leaving nothing behind.

"No…" whispered Cloud once more, his voice hardly audible over Gast's maniacal laughter. He gritted his teeth, when suddenly something caught his eye.

'Cerberus,' said a voice in Cloud's head he had not heard for so long. 'It's yearning for its master…calling…

Cloud's head suddenly throbbed, and he pressed his hands to his head to drive out the voice. Who are you? What do you want? he mentally screamed, afraid he would snap like he once did at the Forgotten Capital of the Ancients.

Ancients…

He saw the blue ribbon slide from her hair…

"Help us, Cloud…Help Vincent finally win this battle."

Cloud eyes widened and his head snapped up, looking into the blue, caring eyes of Aeris. Zack was behind her, his body tense and ready. Cloud looked from Aeris to Zack and back again as Aeris extended her hand.

"He needs our help," she said simply.

Without knowing why, or even what she was speaking of, he took her hand, slowly rising to his feet. The demented laughter of Gast slowly died down, as his eyes focused on the scene below him.

"Cetra," he sneered, looking down upon them. "How dare you interrupt me after I resurrected both you and your love." Aeris did not turn to him, merely lower her head.

"We did not wish to come back," she replied, causing Cloud to look quizzically at her. "Zack and I were happy together, away from the death of this place. It was our Promised Land. All you did by reviving us was seal your own fate." Suddenly, without warning, Cloud took her hand and leapt up, sword bared. Zack slowly turned around, his sword swung over his back with his hand on the hilt.

"We'll all fight," whispered Aeris, now turning to face Gast, her rod in her hand. "We'll all fight for Vincent." Suddenly, Zack flew upwards with amazing speed, surprising Gast. As sword was countered by sword, Aeris turned to Cloud.

"Cloud, we can only delay for a short time," she whispered as Zack cried out in pain, sailing downwards toward the ground. "Quickly," take Cerberus to Deus; e remains dormant and incomplete without the weapon to guide him." She indicated the gun Cloud had noticed before he lost his sanity.

She suddenly turned around and ran to join Zack, now up again and fighting, though it was obviously futile. Gast seemed pleased and amused, savoring his power over them both.

Cloud stood still for a moment, wondering what exactly to do.

'Don't think! Grab Cerberus and run like hell!' the voice in his head cried. Suddenly, Cloud's mind was made up, and he ran forward and snatched the gun. Cloud was amazed by its light weight, being such a bulky weapon. However, Gast noticed Cloud's movements.

"Oh no, dear boy," he said tauntingly, vanishing in an instant and forming again in front of Cloud. He held his sword up, the tip touching Cloud's neck. "I don't think you should mess with that gun, it's far too dangerous for a mortal like yourself."

Cloud could feel the sweat run down his head as Gast raised his demonic sword. So this is how it ends? he thought, about to accept death.

'You fool!' cried Sephiroth's voice in his mind, causing Cloud to gasp in shock. 'Use the gun! Use the Cerberus and destroy this demon!'

The sword started to swing downwards, as Aeris and Zack cried out, both unable to move from the constant barrage of attacks.

Sephiroth! It's…it's you! Why?

'Don't question, just attack!'

Cloud raised the gun and fired.

Gast screamed in pain, the bullet slowly piercing his demonic skin. The air around him warped as it did with Lance, and suddenly a large hole manifested, blowing Gast back. Cloud could feel a shockwave brush over him as the bullet punctured Gast's skin, causing his legs to give out under him.

He crouched down, watching Gast sailing backwards. Why, Sephiroth…Why are you helping me?

A small chuckle answered him. 'You are my puppet, Strife.' he answered. 'You've heard my voice speak to you, but never realized it until now? Pitiful. Now take the gun to the Immortal, and destroy this abomination.' Cloud could feel Sephiroth's smirk as he said, 'I won't let this demon destroy Mother's planet.'

Cloud suddenly felt himself running toward the collapsed Lifestream pillar Deus had flown into. He was almost there when he felt the smooth steel of the blade cut into his shoulder, causing him gasp in pain. He felt the sword pull back, and he fell to his knees, gritting his teeth.

Cloud raised his head and looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting the gleeful ones of Gast. His stomach still held blood; it seemed as if Cerberus was a powerful weapon to be reckoned with.

"Foolish mortal," sneered Gast. "Thinking you could defeat me so easily? I'll not take lightly to such antics!" He raised his sword up, savoring his moment of power once more.

"No!"

Aeris and Tifa shot forward, rod and gloves ready, but as they drew close enough to attack, Gast spun about, whirling his sword around and throwing them back with a mighty gust. But as he watched them fly back, Zack leapt up from behind them, sword raised over his head.

He came down thunderously on Gast's own blade, the aura of Braver surrounding Zacl's body.

"You won't get away with this," grunted Zack through strained teeth. He pushed his blade harder, causing Gast to sink farther into the ground. "Cloud, go!" commanded Zack.

Gast pushed Zack off, causing him to stumble backwards off-balance. Gast swung his sword and slashed at Zack's chest, then swatted his face, a sickening crack echoing.

"Zack!" cried Cloud. He raised the gun once more, but Gast was already upon him. He slapped the gun out of Cloud's hand with his sword, then pressed the blade onto his chest.

"Barret, now!" Cloud cried, and Gast's face turned from surprise to confusion. Suddenly, a large beam engulfed Gast, and the hair on the back of Cloud's neck stood up. Here he was, inches from a super-heated plasma blast.

"Hurry your ass up, Spike!" called Barret, rushing forward. Cloud nodded but was suddenly frozen with fear as Gast leapt up from the nothingness below Barret, bringing his sword across his stomach. Cloud felt cold and empty as he watched Barret's lifeless body sail past him.

"I hope you've had your fun, human," Gast said angrily. "These little distractions are quite bothersome." He slowly stepped forward, looking down on Cloud. "I'll not miss this time!"

Cloud suddenly grinned. "Neither will I." He turned about and threw the gun behind him.

"Fool!" Gast cried indignantly. He lifted his demonic sword up, intent on the kill.

Until Deus's hand shot upwards.

He caught Cerberus as it sailed above him, and he slowly pulled himself out of the small crater the explosion had made. He brushed the dirt off him and gazed down at the gun. It held a slow beat; a pulse, as if it were a living being.

Cerberus beckons…

Deus suddenly looked up, spread his wings and shot forward, clothes-lining Gast. He choked, unable to say anything, and suddenly dropped his sword. Deus spun about and hurled him, causing him to sail through several pillars of Lifestream. Slowly they collapsed as he collided with them, clearing the cave of the dangerous columns.

Gast slid to a stop several hundred feet away, coughing and gasping for air. "Damn Immortal," he whispered, standing up. "I'll tear him apart!" He sped forward, spreading his black wings and holding his hand out as his sword rematerialized. He grasped it tightly in his hand, gritting his teeth.

Suddenly Deus was in front of him, his gun at point-blank. Gast grabbed Deus's wrist and moved to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullets as he swung his sword down. However, Deus merely caught Gast's own wrist, and they stood in mid-air, both at a standoff.

"Son-of-a-bitch," mumbled Gast.

"Bastard," retorted Deus. Deus smiled lightly. "I'm not going to let you harm anyone else here."

"Wha…?" exclaimed Gast, and suddenly Deus shot under him, causing him to stumble forward. Deus zoomed under and around him, coming up behind him and wrapping his arms under Gast's.

"What is this?" demanded Gast, struggling to get free, but Deus held fast. "What are you doing?"

"Holy has the power of the planet," explained Deus suddenly. "In other words, it controls the Lifestream, supposedly the life of the planet and the boundary world of the living and the dead. A limbo, of sorts."

Gast was about to question him when he saw Aeris step forward, her hand clenched tightly around her rod and a white, glowing materia. Gast suddenly grew fearful.

"You'll kill yourself too!" he cried hysterically. "Even I do not have the power to resurrect myself against the walls of the Lifestream!"

"I don't need to come back," whispered Deus. "Just take you with me."

"No!" screamed Gast, struggling madly. Aeris stood below them, her face stony, but the line of moisture that was present on her face gave away her emotions; she had shed tears for Zack.

Aeris lifted her hand, the Holy materia resting on her palm. She tightened her grip on her rod, steeling herself to follow through with Deus's plan. She lifted her rod up, but before she could move, Tifa grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing?" screamed Tifa. "If you do this, you'll kill Vincent, too!"

"It's the only way to get rid of this demon, Tifa," Aeris said weakly. "I don't want to do this, but…" She lowered her head.

"Tifa!" Tifa lifted her head, her eyes meeting Deus's. They were pure silver, but she could see the crimson behind them, and she knew Vincent was speaking to her, not the demon. "Let Aeris do this! Please, this is the only way!"

"No it's not!" retorted Tifa, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want you to die, too!"

"My death…is necessary as well." Tifa was taken aback, seeing a tear run down his cheek. "I have allowed my friends to die, my loved ones to die. Misery and tragedy follow me, regardless of what form I take. Aeris, fresh to life once more, watched again as her lover was killed by a demon after me." He shook his head, unable to complete his thought.

"This way…there will be no more sadness," he finally said, not looking into Tifa's eyes. "This way, there will be no more deaths at my hands." He looked up, determination in his eyes. "Aeris! Now!"

Aeris threw Holy up, then brought her rod down upon it, cracking the surface. Suddenly, the surface shook, and a great wave of the Lifestream shot up, breaking into hundreds of different directions.

Tifa felt someone push her to the ground, just as a strand of Lifestream shot past her, engulfing Aeris. Tifa watched as Aeris turned to her, smiling.

"Don't worry, Tifa," she whispered. "They'll be back." And she faded away into the Lifestream once more.

Tifa looked upwards toward Deus, only to find that he, too, had been swallowed up by the Lifestream.

"Vincent…" she whispered, tears falling down her face.

xxxxXxxxx

It was over before it began.

Deus felt the Lifestream pull at his being, slowly tearing him apart as he pressed Cerberus to Gast's temple. He pulled the trigger twice, assuring himself that Gast would not return, demonic or otherwise.

"I apologize, Professor Gast," he whispered, as the body fell and dissolved into the swirl of gray and green. "But I cannot allow this demon within you to continue forward." He fell to his knees, ready to accept the fate bestowed upon him.

"You shouldn't be so willing to die."

Deus's eyes opened, and he saw Lartsa in front of him.

He smiled slightly, crouching down so he was eye-level with Deus. "You just going to give up that easily? Huh, where was the Vincent that was so ready to fight onward?"

Deus dropped his head. "Taunt me all you will, Lartsa. This is my atonement for my sins."

Lartsa scoffed. "Which sins, Valentine?"

Deus glared at him. "Allowing Lucrecia to die, allowing Sephiroth into this world when I should of destroyed him, for throwing my friends, loved ones, and even the planet itself into danger…" He shook his head.

"Then so long as you're dead, everything is fine then?" Lartsa asked him, cocking his head.

"Yes…" whispered Deus.

Lartsa grimaced, standing up. Suddenly his foot shot out, striking Deus across the face. "You fool!" he exclaimed at a surprised Deus. "Because of your death, there will be more mourning and sadness than what you left!

"Had you not befriended Avalanche, then this would have been your best choice. Had you not fallen in love with Tifa, then this would have been your best choice. Now, you've ruined the life of your lover by throwing her into sadness again! Remember what she did when Cloud was in a coma?" Lartsa spat on the ground. "You're just running away, Valentine. Just like you sealed yourself into that coffin once more." He turned away, vanishing in the Lifestream once more.

"Vincent…"

Deus's head snapped up fully, his eyes wide and alert. He had heard her voice…

"Vincent…" she said once more, and Deus felt her arms wrap around his neck in an embrace. His body trembled with the sorrow that Lucrecia was here because of him, but he could not help but feel uplifted by her presence.

"You can't leave her, Vincent…" Lucrecia whispered into her ear. "Remember when I died, you were thrown into sorrow, thinking it was your fault. Tifa would do the same, after seeing how much she loves you…"

Deus suddenly understood: He had to go back.

"But…how?" he asked.

"You are the Guardian Angel," explained Lucrecia, releasing him. "Even death can't tear you from your love. But, before you leave…" Lucrecia walked around him, crouching down like Lartsa. Her long brown hair complimented her rich, dark brown eyes. "I think Barret, too, deserves another chance at life. It was him, after all, who started this whole thing when he created Avalanche."

"How can I bring back another?" asked Deus. "He has already died, and I cannot bring him back for fear of the demon latching onto him."

Lucrecia put a finger on his chest. "Remember, you are a vessel, Vincent. Just because you hold demons doesn't mean you can't play host for anything else." Suddenly, she was gone, and Deus felt a sudden pain in his body. He doubled over and screamed, losing sight of the gray and green around him…

xxxxXxxxx

Vincent felt Tifa's smooth hands brush his cheek, gently caressing his hair. He knew he was laying in her lap; the scent gave it away.

"Tifa…" he whispered, and he heard her cry out in surprise.

"Vincent!" She brought her lips to his, and he could feel her happiness coursing through her. She pulled back and whispered, "That was pretty stupid of you to do."

Vincent chuckled.

"But…" She kissed him again. "I'm willing to forgive you." Vincent's face formed a small smile.

"I love you, too, Tifa Lockheart."

"Wha' the fuck? How in the name of the lovin', fuckin' God am I still fuckin' breathin'?"

"I take it Barret's finally up?" chided Vincent, cracking open one eye to see Tifa's smirking face.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with that, too, huh?"

"Nope," he answered, closing his eyes once more and falling into a deep slumber.

xxxxXxxxx

Tifa leaned lazily over the counter, her head resting on her palm. It was another rainy day at Kalm, where Tifa and Vincent had returned to attend to the bar, The Flower Haven.

It had been a year since the battle at the Northern Crater against the Demonic Gast, but time had flown by so fast, Tifa couldn't recall all of it. She and Vincent had lived together since then, happily enjoying each others company on a well earned vacation.

Cloud had moved to live with Yuffie in Wutai, where she now presided over. It was also fortunate that he did, for she had a tendency to run off from her duties to go seeking another adventure. Barret and Elmyra had finally been engaged, much to the delight of Marlene. Red had left to continue his studies at Cosmo Canyon, but on his way encountered another of his species, one of the few remaining. Reeve still controlled Shinra, where the new Turk leader, Tseng, helped convert their dark reputation to that of a charitable organization. Cid had now created a new model of the Highwind, and sold the Highwind for an insanely large amount of gil that easily supported his family of three. However, this didn't stop him from constantly complaining and cursing.

Tifa sighed lazily when she suddenly cried out in surprise, feeling Vincent's familiar arms wrap around her bulging waist and his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Hello, Mrs. Valentine," he whispered, never tiring of calling her that. He nibbled her ear slightly and she giggled, turning around to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," she teased, meeting his lips halfway as they came down upon hers. They stood in silence for a moment, their lips moving against each others in love and passion, until Tifa pulled away.

"Tifa?" he asked quietly. She shook her head.

"Sorry, Vincent," she replied, rubbing her stomach. "It's just that…" She didn't finish her sentence, but Vincent could understand. He pressed his hand softly against hers, her own still resting on her stomach. He felt the baby kick slightly, and he smiled.

"It'll be a real fighter, just like it's mom," he whispered, kissing her neck. She moaned slightly before pushing him off.

"Oh, and what about you? I believe you fight just as well as I do." She smiled and returned his kiss with a fiery passion.

After a long time, they broke apart, and they both instinctively looked out the window. They didn't know why, but they simply just looked out together. The rain seemed to stop, as the sun broke through the clouds.

"Nature smiles for us," whispered Vincent. Tifa only nodded. She turned back to Vincent, and found herself staring into the deep blue eyes she loved.

"I love you," she whispered, pressing her head against his chest. She felt the words in his body before they ever came out.

"And I love you, Tifa Valentine."

A/N: Short, sweet ending. Thought of doing an epilouge, but that would have thrown off the whole 'end at Chapter 25' thing so I decided for sweet simplicity than dramatic closure. Hope you all don't mind! I'll post up the alternative ending if I get enough reviews, and I might work on a new sequel. If you're a very observant reader, you'll notice I left out someone that could possibly result in a sequel, but that's for later stories. Bye everyone, thanks for sticking around!