Ok this is how it works. Both endings continue from chapter 16. So I encourage you to read both until one satisfies you. I'd appreciate it if ppl review for both as well. Let me know which approach was better. Enjoy AxelxTifa luvahs. Thanks you for making this story such a success. I owe it all to you.
The beginning of each ending is a bit similar so please bear with me.
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Ending #1
Her screams came out from her mouth muted and strained. It did not reach him. Her feet stopped dead in their tracks as she shielded her eyes from the resonating explosion. Dust and smoke clouded the air around her. Coughing and wheezing she managed to squint through the clearing smoke.
The Dusks, they were gone.
Slowly, she felt it. Axel's presence was fading. Her eyes still couldn't locate him through the smoke. She only heard bits and pieces of a conversation.
Teary eyed and darkness throbbing, she reached out in front of her blindly, trying desperately to follow the voices.
Please, Axel, don't leave me. Please…
The voices were getting closer. His sweet sweet voice was heard in barely a whisper, weak and fading as he spoke. It broke her heart as she listened.
"You're fading away"
"Well, that's what happens when you put your whole being into an attack, you know I what mean? Not that Nobodies actually have beings…right?"
No, Axel. Stop it. Stop it!
She covered her ears as the smoke cleared away and she saw the two figures in front of her, still so far away. She wanted to run to them. She wanted to yell but her legs were weak and her voice was caught in her throat.
"Anyway I digress. Go find Kari. Oh I almost forgot…sorry for what I did to her"
His other purpose. That's what it was. That was why he left her. He couldn't bear the thought of not atoning for his sins to Sora. He wanted to apologize to Sora and help him find Kairi. He wanted to…see Roxas.
"When we find her, you can tell her yourself," Sora stood on his knees besides the fading black figure lying feebly on the ground.
"Think I'll pass. My heart just wouldn't be in it, you know? Haven't got one?" Axel managed a weak laugh even in his current state.
Damn you Axel, you and your stupid humor! This is no time to joke! No time to…
"Axel what were you trying to do?"
Hot tears bubbled across her eyes, nails digging into her knees. He was so far. Her voice would not let her call out to him. Her throat hurt. Her chest hurt. Her whole body hurt. Every incoming breath was heavy and every exhale only throbbed the pain in her chest more.
"I wanted to see Roxas. He…was the only one I liked…He made me feel like I had a heart. It's kind of funny, you make me feel the same-"
Please Axel, stop talking. No more. No more…your voice, it hurts. It sounds so weak, so tired. You sound so tired. Axel please…you promised not to use it!
Tifa shook her head in denial as she staggered toward Sora and Axel. Goofy and Donald watching closely and sadly. The expressions on their faces made it worse. It pierced through her painfully, cutting through every strong emotion she thought she had. This couldn't be happening. It was like she was stuck in a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
"Kairi's in the castle dungeon! Now go!" Tifa watched as Axel raised his palm weakly to use the last of his energy to open an exit from the realm.
The black portal opened in the middle of the kaleidoscope walls and Sora looked up at it. "Axel…" He lowered his head in regret as he watched Axel disintegrate into black dust before his eyes.
As she saw Axel's dying figure evaporate into nothingness, her heart stopped. Her eyes were wide and tears were streaming out but she couldn't feel them.
Sora shook his head at the spot in which Axel had sacrificed himself. Nodding at his two companions, they knew they could waste no more time for the opportunity given to them by Axel. He died just so that they could make it to Kairi. They couldn't leave his death in vain.
Tifa watched as the group of three emerged through the exit, still unaware of her presence. As they disappeared her feet began to stagger towards it. Her hands rose like a zombie's in front of her, her body swaying side to side drunkenly.
No, no, no, no! Axel where are you? You can't be gone! You can't-
"Y-you-cant!" her voice was drowned in her own quivering weaknesses as she walked toward the exit. Finally reaching it, she crashed down to her knees.
She knew she should've been going through the exit before it closed but her will had been broken. She didn't care about escaping the realm. She didn't care about the possibility of being trapped in it. She didn't bother wanted to follow Sora and his company.
Her damp fingers felt the cold glassy floor in which Axel's body once lay. It was cold and not a trace of warmth marked that he was once there.
There wasn't even a dead body to hold in her arms and cradle. She couldn't hold his lifeless body close to her heart as she trailed her fingers through his lively hair. There was nothing. There were no cold lips to press hers against one last time in a final kiss goodbye. His presence was as if it never existed. Her heart could no longer find it.
His voice echoed in her head. I don't know how you made it out before but don't let go of my hand and get lost.
That's right. He got mad at me for staying in the realm before. She opened and closed her hands in front of her, reaching out, as a child would do to their parent.
Your hand…I need it Axel. I can't move. I can't speak. I can't get up…unless you grab my hand. I'm lost.
The exit was closing in front of her. Her knees were heavy and weighed like stones on the floor. She couldn't breath.
"Axel, give me your hand!" she screeched as her tears continued to scrape down her cheeks. Her bangs stuck to her face and her body slowly shook its way to fetal position. She huddled her knees close to her in need of warmth, in need of him.
Her fingers felt along the floor. Caressing nothingness, her sobs made her vision blurry. The colorful walls began to fade as they had done last time she was trapped. She didn't care. The darkness didn't scare her.
In moments, the air grew heavy and nothing but pitch black pooled around her vulnerable body.
She didn't need to worry about Nobodies. They would all be after Sora.
She fisted the floor angrily.
"Why didn't you ask me for help! I would've fought beside you! Why!" she screeched and cracked her voice at nothing.
He just wanted to see Roxas. He just wanted to repent for his sins against Sora. Damn him, he had no heart so its not like he felt any guilt. Why did he do it?
"You said- you wouldn't leave me. You said- you'd be my f-fire"
Gasping to form her words, it was hard. She began to grow dizzy.
"It's so dark. I need…I need your light just one last time"
Her pleas were submerged into the blackness of her unconsciousness when she passed out.
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Time was eternal in the realm. The darkness was eternal. There was no warmth. There were no corners to turn, no paths to walk upon. Once swallowed into its depths, the chances of leaving were slim.
There were only three options of escaping. Escaping the realm by luck, by becoming the darkness or insanity.
With her body so weak and now being passed out for who knows how long, insanity seemed like the most likely option.
It was a voice that woke her up. A voice caught her attention, just as it had last time.
She blinked slowly, shaking her head and remembering where she was. Her ears picked it up again. It was faint but strong in her heart.
"Tifa…"
It was calling out to her. Her trembling eyes burned once she realized the familiarity of it. Her fingers clamped over her lips, frantically looking around for the source of the voice.
His sweet sweet voice.
"Tifa…get up. You're stronger than this"
Tifa shook her head, "N-no I'm not! I'm not! I need you"
"Tifa, come here" it called out to her. Her eyes looked up into the black ink in front of her. A figure began to form from the darkness. A black slim figure, walking towards her as his solemn green eyes glared down at her.
Tifa wasted no time in standing up. Her knees felt like they'd fold any second and she'd just collapse back on the floor. Only her confused will kept her standing, staring at the figure, waiting.
She stared up at him blankly. She couldn't tell how much time had passed since she had been in the realm. If this was insanity kicking in, she didn't' care. If this was an allusion, a product of her own irrational mind, she'd rather be crazy. If she was able to live this artificial fantasy through her insanity and stay in the realm for all eternity, she'd take it.
His slender arms opened as he stopped in front of her. Tifa rushed into his arms. He was warm. He felt so real. His arms settling around her back felt so real. His fingers stroking her hair gave her all the effects through her body as it usually did. He felt like he always did. If he wasn't real, this allusion couldn't be sweeter.
"Axel-" she sobbed into the black material on his chest and he hushed her, gently running his fingers down her long hair.
"No more tears babe," his husky voice tickled her hair as she nuzzled her head beneath his chin.
"I- I can't. It's dark, you can't be real"
There was a pause before he replied to her, "Fire helps you see in the darkness. There is another light awaiting you still"
Her large brown eyes looked up into his. Her knees almost gave way once she met his gaze but his strong grip around her body kept her standing up against his body. They were so beautiful. Large lively devious emerald eyes painted with a touch of ink below them. They hypnotized her into easing her sobs.
"A-nother light?"
Axel nodded to her. It was then that the image of Cloud's face and his words dawned through her mind.
There's still a life waiting for you in our world if you will it. I will do everything in my power this time not to repeat the mistakes I have made.
She shook her head up at Axel, triggering her damp eyes to water up again. He hushed her, his fingers on her lips stopping her.
"I- I don't understand. How did you get here? Are you really here?"
"I guess I am a product of the darkness. My existence appears through the calls from your heart. The heart that we share"
Her fingers rose to caress his warm cheek. He closed his eyes briefly at her touch. She gasped as she felt something damp and warm fall down his cheek. A tear. It was a tear.
"Tifa, I love you. I didn't lie. I'll always be in your heart"
Her thumb wiped away his stray tear. She clung onto his back.
"I don't care if you're not real. I wanna stay here with you"
Axel shook his head. Nearing his face to hers, his breathe cooled the dampness on her face.
"You don't belong in the realm. Do me a favor and stop disobeying me. Don't ever come back into the realm by yourself"
"But Axel-"
Her words were cut off by the touch of his lips brushing against hers. Softly at first until she pulled him tighter, he leaned in and held her head to his. Slowly, lovingly, sadly, their lips continued to taste one another's, to cherish one another. His lips were moist against hers this had to be real. After a long moment, Axel pulled away.
Noses touching he smiled at her. She smiled back. His mischievous smile mirrored on her. It couldn't be helped.
"I love you too Axel"
"I know Tifa, I know…" With a last lingering stare into her eyes he brought his fingers to her eyes. Hesitating at first, she allowed his hand to pass over her eyes, making them close. The comfort of his grasp around her body let him have control of her.
She felt his hot breathe whisper into her ear, "Thank you Tifa"
Before she could open her eyes again she felt his lips seal against hers again. She melted into it. Her body holding onto his as her fingers held tightly as if it were her very life slipping from her. Her body felt weak, she felt so tired.
The warmth of his lips on hers was the last thing she felt before everything went blank again. That was the last thing she remembered.
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She gasped heavily like she had just emerged from holding her breath under water. Her body jerked forward roughly before a warm body steadied her. Her fingers were still clinging onto something, warm and safe.
It wasn't dark anymore. She slowly began to register the blurry shapes around her as the objects in her room at the Inn. Her fingers wrung the warm black material of the body holding her.
"H-how did I get here?"
"I don't know. I found you collapsed at the Bailey and I brought you here"
"Y-your arms…" she meant his embrace so tightly locked around her as they lay in her bed.
"I'm sorry. You were calling out. Your hands reached out in your sleep…I apologize"
"It's fine," her words trailed off as she nuzzled her face into his chest. She was in so much pain but her eyes were long dry. There were no more tears. She told Axel she wouldn't cry anymore.
"Oh Cloud, it hurts…" she clung onto him as he trailed his hand through her hair.
"I know Tifa. Let me be the light to ease your pain"
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Two years had passed since they had returned to their own world. The worlds were rid from Xemnas and the grasp of the Organization thanks to Sora and his faithful companions.
Turning off the lights to the bar, it was time for closing. She already told everyone that the bar would be closed from business tomorrow in the event of a birthday celebration. She invited everyone to come.
Her feet led her through the hall into the orphanage. Upon arrival a mob of children bombarded her with pleas and hugs.
"Mom, mom, when is Cloud coming home?" asked Denzel tugging on her sleeve. They all called her mom. She was the mother of every motherless child in the orphanage and Cloud was their father.
A smile spread across her face as she ruffled his hair, "Be patient. He'll should be here any minute".
Almost on cue, the lock to the door jiggled its way opened and Cloud stepped in. The children cheered and ran to crowd the blond man coming in from another day's full of work at his delivery service.
"Mommy, mommy!" A small child hopped out of Cloud's arms and squeezed through the crowds of children towards Tifa. The difference between this child and the rest was that he was the only one that called her mommy. She was his real mother.
His bright green eyes seemed to light up every room he entered. Two small traces of ink were stained beneath his large glistening eyes.
"Did you have fun going to work with daddy?" She took the small child into her arms as she picked him up. His small stubby arms wrapped around her neck as he placed a wet kiss on her cheek. He nodded his head enthusiastically.
It was strange. This child could not be explained. It was a normal pregnancy without any complications. He was as human as human could get. Although at times he seemed vague with his emotions, emotions were there. A heart beat in his chest.
Answers could not be found in Ansem the Wise's study. He was no longer alive to offer any theories. After re-visiting Sora's world with Cloud, Sora told them that Ansem's last wise words to him was that not all the mysteries to the heart could be explained. He was right. This was impossible and yet here he was, this existence in her arms.
Knowing this, Cloud did not show any dire feelings towards the situation. After he said he would change that day in the Inn, he did. He became the constant father figure and protector for all the children including the one that he clearly knew wasn't his own. Yet he loved each and every one as if they were.
After she had found out, she realized this must've been what Axel meant when he said there was a light still waiting for her and that he'd always be with her.
He lived with her every day, in this child's jester-like smile, in his laughter and in the warmth she felt when she held him.
The child caught his mother in a daze and poked her cheek. "Mommy?"
She shook her head, "Oh I'm sorry Roxas. Did I space out for a second?"
He nodded and Tifa ruffled his brown messy locks of hair. She looked back at Cloud still amidst the children around him, tugging at him with questions and asking to play games with them. Cloud smiled at her and she smiled back. The man she had always loved had now become the man that would love her back for the rest of their days.
"Ok, let's go. We gotta polish this place up for tomorrow. It's your birthday"
Little Roxas cheered with his arms in the air and Tifa placed him back on the floor so that he could run back towards Cloud.
One of the children poked Cloud clearly confused, "Birthday? Whose birthday?"
Roxas poked the little girl about a year older than him, "Mines. Got it memorized?" he stuck his tongue out at her before running off again and she chased behind him, giggles echoing all over the room.
Cloud crossed his arms and shook his head at Roxas' deviant behavior. That little boy was going to be a handful.
Tifa laughed loudly as they ran after one another. She sighed.
Memorized huh? Just as mischievous as his father… my little fire in the darkness.
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OMG I tried not to cry myself while writing this one. It's a bittersweet ending but I wanted an ending that would make sense with what really happened in the game. I thought it was cute and little Roxas was a nice touch. Ok read on for ending two if you like.
