A week had passed, and together, the group had worked out a plan. Surprisingly, in that short amount of time, Merina had recovered almost completely from her injuries. Little else, however had changed… and everyone's world was about to be set spinning at high speeds…
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Reno sat at the edge of the bed, debating on whether he really wanted to get up yet. Despite everyone else's early rise policy, he preferred to sleep in. Still, he didn't feel like an argument if he showed up at 7th Heaven late.
Grumbling, Reno forced himself to get up and get dressed for the day. When he arrived downstairs, everyone else was already sitting at the bar or one of the tables, enjoying one of Tifa's wonderful breakfasts.
"So, we decided to get up at a decent hour this morning, Reno?" Tifa teased, handing him a plate.
"Yeah… I guess." He said, sitting at the closest table and digging into his food.
Cloud shook his head at Reno. "You're gonna have to get used to it eventually." He said.
"Yeah yeah yeah…" Reno said absently.
Merina, having already finished eating, put her plate in the sink and walked outside, letting the bright morning light into the otherwise dark bar. "Oh wow! There's… Flowers growing! I've never seen flowers in Midgar!" She said, delighted in the surprise.
Cloud joined his sister at the door. There were flowers everywhere. Many different colors, but all the same kind that grew in the church… "Aerith…" Cloud said, almost inaudibly.
Merina smiled. "Didn't you say today was your birthday?" she asked him, grinning.
Cloud nodded, then turned to the others. "You guys have to see this!" he said, then stepped outside into the sunlight.
Everyone crowded to the door, and stood speechless once they got there. Overnight, the entire ground had been covered in flowers. They made the once forlorn looking place into something beautiful. Everything seemed more alive…
Tifa grinned ear to ear and hugged Cloud. "She outdid herself for your birthday, Cloud…" she giggled, kissing his cheek.
Cloud smiled and hugged her back. "Let's go for a walk.. all of us." He said, stepping out into the flower fields that had sprouted up in the road.
Reno grumbled about not being able to finish breakfast, but Merina took his hand and soon the two were out the door right behind Cloud.
Vincent followed behind the two couples, too intrigued by the flowers to be frustrated by Cloud and Tifa.
Yuffie came out last, but ran all around the field. She noticed that if you stepped on the flowers, they sprang right back up. Upon this discovery, she began to roll around in them.
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I suppose I should have gone sooner, but I had too much to do. Shera and I… We've been having problems… she just ran off with some fisherman from the future… says his name is 'Wakka' or something like that. I don't know. I'm gonna rename the ship… but I haven't decided what yet. Regardless, the guys need me. I picked up Red XIII on the way, and Cait Sith too.
The day is perfect for flying, and I'm thrilled for it. Midgar is dreary as it is, all dead. Bad weather makes it all the worse.
"Is that… Midgar?" comes Red's voice from the front window.
"Of course it is! You think I don't know how to…" I stop mid-sentence when I see the view. Midgar has flowers and plants growing everywhere, especially around 7th Heaven. Nothing has grown there in so long, it's so strange… yet it seems right. Now with all the plates destroyed, it was merely a matter of time… Still, I thought it would be longer…
"Wow! That's Midgar! Cool!" Cait Sith exclaimed, just as surprised as myself and Red.
"Let's set 'er down and see what's up" I set the 'ship formerly known as the Shera' down on the edge of town and the three of us made our way there.
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Merina has been acting strange around me lately… I'm not sure how, she just is. Not that I mind. It's not really a bad kind of weird…
((Okay, pause for a second. I'm having a tough time with this chapter, so bear with me. I know the quality is not my usual, but this is a buffer chapter… ya know, like the middle movie in a trilogy? Just settin up some changes for future chapters))
I just don't know what to think of it. I suppose it makes me happy… but I don't really know.
"Reno! Hey, space case!" Merina had noticed me staring into space.
"Hey, now… I was just thinking"
"Oh, really? About what?"
"Just… stuff… you know, life and all that junk."
"Life and all that junk? Life is not junk. YOU taught me that… you know Reno, you should really. Mmph."
I don't know what came over me, but I kissed her then. I pulled her close to me and kissed her. After a shocked moment, she kissed back, slipping her arms around me. I wondered then, why had I waited so long? I can't believe I wasted all this time… not kissing her…
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Vincent, a man of few smiles, found himself sitting in the middle of the flower field, a small smile warming the normally cold look on his face. Though Cloud still clung to Tifa, he was making progress. He suddenly felt alright about everything. He knew Cloud would overcome the fear eventually. Cloud had to know that his friends were there for him… no matter what.
Cloud, arm-in arm with Tifa, stared at his feet, then over at Vincent. He chuckled as Yuffie, loud and crazy as ever, rolled right by Vincent in the flowers. Vincent simply shook his head. He looked up and caught Cloud's eye, and for the first time inb public, Cloud didn't look away.
After a few moments, everyone noticed the two staring. Even Yuffie watched silently as Cloud pried himself away from Tifa, strode across the flowers, and kissed Vincent. At this point, Tifa passed out and Yuffie giggled excitedly, jumping up and down.
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Cid stopped in his tracks at the scene in front of him. He wasn't sure what he was seeing. Reno was kissing some girl he'd never met, Vincent and Cloud were… he couldn't even describe it… and Yuffie was trying to wake up Tifa, who had apparently fainted.
Cait Sith just started laughing. For once, he couldn't think of a thing to say.
Red XIII just shook his head and smiled. "That Aeris…" he mumbled with a grin.
"Okay, Okay! BREAK IT UP!" Cid finally yelled, adding a laugh so as not to scare everyone. "Has the whole world gone whacko?"
Reno stood, helping Merina to her feet.
"It's the flowers…" Merina said.
"They seem to make us do things we were afraid to do." Cloud said, brushing himself off.
"You mean, things like me telling Yuffie she is the most gorgeous, wonderful woman I have ever met and now that Shera and I have separated, I'd like to take her on a date?" As soon as Cid said it, he put both his hands over his mouth, surprised at himself.
Yuffie blushed, kicking her toe in the dirt. After a few seconds, she leapt at Cid, throwing her arms around him in a big hug. He hugged her back, grinning.
Cait Sith's laughter was now echoing throughout the town, and others in the area had come out to see what the commotion was. Before anyone knew what had happened, the entire village was romping through the fields, finally doing the things they had wanted to do… some that they'd been holding back from their entire lives.
Tifa, however, was a bit dejected. She didn't really know what to say… not about anything. That is, until she felt strong arms lifting her off of her feet. "You know, I've always loved you…" Barrett said, smiling.
Tifa smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Everyone…" a voice rang out across the flower field, Aeris's voice. None of the other villagers seemed to hear it, however. They all stopped what they were doing to listen. "This place… is Joy. This place will be safe always. The planet… she is winning the battle… she is getting her life back. You must… help her. Destroy the Turks. They are out of control, now. They got a hold on Sephiroth's essence… they have no conscience, only a desire to hurt. Stop them, before they destroy more lives…"
Her voice faded away, and the others all looked at each other. They were all thinking the same thing. Game time.
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Okay, I admit it, not my best work
Reno: hey! I liked it
Cloud: Me too!
Vincent: Yeah
Yuffie: it was Awesomeness!
Okay… well you guys only liked it because you got to make-out
Yuffie: Nuh-UH! I like rolling in the flowers too!
Merina: Yes, well, perhaps there will be more kissing in the next chapter?
I suppose I could swing that… Now where did Reno Go?
Reno: Eeep… uh.. I… uh…
No bad things this time, Reno… I promise gives him a kiss on the cheek
Reno: sigh Whew… you scared me…