Author's Note: And this is the end!...sorta…Stick around for the Epilogue…

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, just anything outside of the game I own…Like my nice fluffy blanky that I like to cuddle! ^.^

Part 20

"Cloud…Don't worry…I got you…"

-Selena Talos

Her lips trembled as a cold wind swept through. From behind her she could hear the airship, but she didn't care.

"…Cloud…Cloud…" she whispered, slowly approaching them. She dropped her swords and broke into a dead run.

On the airship…

"Can you see them?" Cid called out. Tifa walked closer to the window, squinting at first, but then her eyes slowly widened as she watched Cloud collapse to the ground.

She could feel her heart freeze and she could hardly breathe.

"Cloud…CLOUD!!!!!" she screamed, but her gaze instantly switched to the fading orb feet away from Cloud and Artemia. There stood Selena, who began slowly approaching them, but suddenly broke into a dead run.

"WHAT THE HELL'S GOIN' ON DOWN THERE, TIFA?!!!" Barret yelled as he came up to her side, then the others followed suit.

Red XIII pushed through them and frowned.

"Brace yourselves…This just might be the end…"

The Battleground…

She flew at them, fury and pain burning her soul. When she came upon them, the Moon Goddess watched Selena with a small wicked grin while the young goddess rolled her lover over, giving him small shakes.

"Cloud! Cloud, look at me!!!! Look at me damn it!!!!!!" she screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks like sorrowful rivers. He wasn't opening his eyes. She could feel his pulse slipping away and it was killing her.

"Cloud…please…please, stay with me!"

"It will do you no good. As far as I can see, that man is as good as dead and…so are you…"

Selena turned her gaze upon Artemia just as the dark being brought her blade down one final time.

'Because life is a terribly beautiful thing, it makes me happy that I can give life to the world…to the universe…' was her only thought as she held her beloved tightly in her grasp, closing her eyes. However, the blade did not collide with flesh.

All she could feel was warmth like the sun.

When she opened her eyes, all she could see was a blinding light. Everything had been consumed in an aquamarine light and at its center, stood two bare beings in a loving embrace: Selena and Cloud.

She glanced up to look into his eyes, but they were closed.

"…Mother?" he asked softly, but Selena shook her head.

"No, Cloud…Selena…"

"Selena…I…I remember everything…"

His embrace tightened slightly and he leaned his head forward so their forehead met. His eyes slowly opened and they were the clearest blue she had ever seen. They reminded her of the sky.

"…Can we stay this way? Stay with me…" he pleaded quietly to her.

"Cloud…You will always have me…"

He closed his eyes and a small beautiful smile found its way upon his lips until they faded out together.

Back on the airship…

"Wooow! Pretty light!" Yuffie squealed as she pressed closer to the window to watch the aquamarine light glow and grow stronger with each passing moment. Soon the light had began to creep down the building like a vine, consuming everything in its path.

"Ugh…Tifa?"

Tifa and the other turned around to see Denzel waking up, struggling with his bindings.

"Denzel! Denzel are you alright?!" she asked as she ran to untie him. Once freed, he tried to stand up, but nearly fell over until Tifa caught him. She pulled him into an embrace, then glanced out the window to the light growing stronger.

Denzel followed her gaze and his eyes widened at the sight.

"It's…Selena, isn't it?"

Tifa glanced down at him and he pulled away from her to titter closer to the window.

"Denzel…" she began, but fell silent.

"…It's so beautiful…" he whispered in awe as the light crept its way toward the sky and he squinted. When the light touched and started creeping further into the atmosphere, it began to rain droplets of Life. The source of the life giving rain began to fade and when it finally dispersed, the battle ground was now covered with vegetation and flowers. At the center of it all, Cloud and Selena lay in each other's arms, and the Moon Goddess was nowhere to be found.

"Well, I'll be damned…" Barret uttered and suddenly, he felt a tug on his pant leg. He glanced down to see the recently acquired Marlene was awake and well. He gave a teary eyed smile, picked her up so she could get a better view of the changing city.

Vegetation and flowers began to coat Midgar in small places at a time, and within time, the dark mechanized metropolis was aburst with color and bloom.

Elsewhere…

"Well, would ya look at that, Rude? Flowers in Midgar, yo!" Reno laughed as he bent down to pick up a small daisy, twirling it slowly between his fingers.

He handed it to Rude and chimed "Ya know, I think we should pick some up for Elena. You and I both know how chicks love that kind of stuff."

Rude merely shook his head and followed after the red head.

"Mommy, looky, looky!" A small cried as she pointed to the old Shinra building. Vines and tree like roots began to overtake the building in one fell swoop while the people watched with amazement.

'What could have possible caused this phenomenon?' many had wondered.

"…Cloud…You will always have me…"

Author Note #2: And there you have it folks. Oh and if you want the alternate ending, I'll give it to you if asked for it. (mind you, I didn't think it was too wonderful, so that's why I opted for this one instead). Stay tuned for the epilogue!