To Save the Planet

by Ex Oxide

After the first North Crater encounter with Sephiroth the party is recovering. But Meteor has been summoned and time is running out for our heroes, is Holy's power all it's cracked up to be? Sequel to My Little Angel and Unwilling WEAPON giantess gts

4. Return to the Planet

Later at the North Cave the party is gathered. It's the last meeting before the foray into the stronghold of Sephiroth.

"Well, it took some doin' but we're here." Cid says.

"I still can't see how I managed to fit in there!" Tifa says stretching. "I'll be cramped for days…"

"What is important is that we're." Cloud states. "North Cave is a big place and we should probably split up. We should decide the teams now." Nobody says anything. "There are eight of us so one group will have two people. Tifa and I volunteer for that so the rest of you can decide for yourselves." With that Tifa scoops Cloud up on one shoulder and they walk off.

"Cloud?" Tifa asks once they are out of earshot. "Are they …afraid of me?"

"Yeah, they are." Cloud replies from her shoulder. "I thought they would be."

"But why? I don't want to harm anyone."

"On a conscious level they understand that I'm sure. But we humans are scared of the unfamiliar. It frightens us."

"Unfamiliar? They know me, we're like family!" Tifa protests.

"Not you so much as what you have become. What you are capable of. When we fought WEAPON we did our damndest to succeed. We failed horribly. We had no chance at all. When you defeated it with a few punches and kicks it showed them how powerful you really were."

"I did what I had to so I could help! Any one of them would do the same!"

"True. But it was a very potent lesson to learn. In Sector 6 the entire area was destroyed by your presence."

"It wasn't my fault! I didn't mean to-"

"Exactly. You didn't mean to. They know that and do not hold you responsible. However all of that occurred without you even trying."

"But-"

"Now you're mad. You pick up the big red thing and take it apart. Then you've got Scarlet and Heideggar in one hand and they're about to be pasty. At this point there is nothing we can do to physically stop you. All we can hope is to not experience the same fate."

"I would never-"

"Hear me out. Next you storm up to the Highwind and snap the propeller blades like twigs. Not hard for you but take the next two days to repair."

"I know I shouldn't have done that." Tifa says contritely.

"Now you come back. Cid confesses to hitting me and everyone expects you to punish him in some way. Even though you don't there was nothing anyone could've done to stop you. You could've pulped him and that would have been that."

"We are friends! I would not consider such a thing!"

"Even joking around it scares them. When you said you might've eaten Goldie Cid's face fell as he realized that somewhere there was some chance of him losing his best friend."

"I don't need to eat. The Planet sustains me like this."

"That is beside the point. Your casual movements scare them. The ground quakes when you move. Their ears ring with your voice. Your nonchalant treatment of me creeps them out. Those same hands can destroy just as easily as help."

"I would never hurt my friends!"

"Just consider this; this would take some getting used to and they have not had the experience that I have. They are already terrified of Sephiroth and Meteor. There is a lot on their minds. They know you won't hurt them but they cannot help but watch you warily."

"I have not changed. I am still who I have always been. That person would not hurt them, why should I?"

"It is not fair to expect them to accept such a radical change in so little time. I trust you because I love you. They may not have that connection with you."

"…You're right. It makes it no less painful for me though. I feel alone and reaching out to my friends frightens them." Tifa sighs. "A conflict that never ends and I've got other battles to fight. The luck of the draw I suppose." They proceed further into North Crater.

Cid, Barret, and Vincent walk quickly through the cavern. Intending to get to the bottom of things with swiftness they was no time looking around.

"This is it guys. That bastard's down there waiting." Cid says. "Can't believe I went this far with you goofballs…"

"I never would've guessed we'd end up here lookin' for Sephiroth." Barret agrees. "Or that I would've had anything to do with him.

"Many things defy belief." Vincent says thoughtfully.

"I know what ya mean. Nobody could've told me Holy was some kind of transformation spell. The whole thing is messed up if you ask me."

"Pretty crazed ain't it?" Barret mentions.

"Depending on where you draw the line for sanity anything may be 'crazed' as you say."

"Huh? You're gonna have to speak English." Cid states.

"I feel what he's sayin' though. How you see it is how you call it. See crazy call it crazed. We always see things different though."

"I'm sure Sephiroth sees what he is doing as perfectly logical." Vincent says.

"What are ya getting at?"

"You got to be realistic. Jus' because it's something you're not familiar with does not make it wrong." Barret says wisely.

"It does but only in the light of one's own vision. This is inherently flawed and always incomplete."

"Hmm…" Cid ponders as they advance further in the cave.

Red XIII, Cait Sith, and Yuffie trek through the underground pathways carefully. Some are quite narrow and demand attention. All the attention to the walking and maneuvering only accents the distance yet to go.

"Man, why couldn't he be right here waiting for us?" Yuffie carps. "Sheesh, way down there?"

"Tired already?" Cait Sith asks. "We haven't gone that far yet!"

"No, I'm just losing my nerve. I was already psyched up to fight but now it's going away."

"You should master your fear." Red XIII states. "Then you would always be ready."

"Master my fear? I have been scared stiff since I saw Sephiroth! We got to fight him, Meteor's coming down, WEAPONs everywhere, Tifa stomping around…"

"You are afraid of Tifa?" Red asks.

"Yeah! Aren't you?"

"No, it is not our way to be fearful."

"Stuffed toy for a body, not really attached to it." Cait Sith says absently.

"Well you weren't stuck in the cargo hold with her! I thought she was gonna squash me by mistake! I was too worried about her to be airsick!"

"Why are you afraid of her? She is our friend." Red reminds her.

"She's huge! Duh!"

"Seems alright to me. Pretty cool about the whole thing overall if you want my opinion." The Shinra spy mentions.

"Didn't you see the way she went ape crap on that WEAPON? Couldn't even nick it, she went to bustin' it up real fast!"

"There is little basis for fear." The feral party member says.

"She snapped those thingies off the Highwind like this!" Yuffie snaps her fingers. "Those things are thicker than my arm!"

"She was more than a little distressed at the time as I remember. I would've been too in her situation."

"Did you yourself not say that there has been enough pressure to push one over the brink?" Yuffie contemplates Red XIII's query as they travel deeper.

Cloud and Tifa are making excellent time. With long legs stepping over the terrain easily it's no wonder they're covering ground so quickly.

"We should camp here." Tifa says, sitting. "My legs are killing me."

"Whatever you say." Cloud replies sliding off his companion to the ground.

"We weren't going to make it to the bottom today. We would need to have started earlier."

"We could have if someone hadn't overslept…on purpose!" Cloud yells the last bit up at his partner amiably.

"Well I didn't feel like getting up right then." Tifa smiles.

"Didn't feel like it…" Cloud mutters pulling out cooking equipment.

"What are you making?"

"Nothing for you, lazy!" He starts a fire.

"Selfish"

"I'm selfish. Oversleep, slow everybody down for a few zs and I'm selfish. Yes, justice in action."

"I didn't hear any complaints." The barmaid says.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh." Tifa thinks back to what they talked about earlier.

"Don't worry about it. I doubt there were any at any rate." Cloud says dismissively pulling out tent pieces. "They never want to get up anyway…"

"What's that?" Tifa asks.

"Tent. You endorse them so I'm giving it a go."

"Hmm…"

"No, I don't think you can fit."

"Don't bother putting it up. I don't think you'll be using it."

"You don't?"

"Nope."

"Not my decision is it?" Tifa smiles mischievously and shakes her heed. Cloud sighs. "I thought as much."

In the campsite of Cid and his crew a discussion is taking place. It has taken some time but now the subject of the discussion has made it to Tifa and Cloud.

"Let's just say you were in Cloud's position and Shera was in Tifa's position, would you see things differently?" Vincent proposes.

"No! Shera's a head case too! Me an her ain't that close!"

"Why not? She's pretty and around your age…" Barret hints.

"Shut ya trap!"

"For the sake of argument let's say you and Shera are close." Vincent says exasperated. "Would you see things differently then?"

"…Maybe." Cid relents.

"Think about it." Barret elaborates. "It ain't that far out. The idea makes sense. They been close and still are close no matter what."

"True love, almost too simple to comprehend." Vincent says wistfully.

"She attacked my baby! How do you explain that?"

"I ain't." Barret says flatly. "I'm jus' tryin' to get you to understand that Tifa the way she is isn't that crazy. That what she's done isn't too crazed neither. If you think she's cracked from get go, whatever. I know you're wrong but some things ain't gonna change."

"Hmm…"

"She probably disabled the airship because she had some things to sort out and didn't want us around at the time. It may have been for our own good. Keep in mind she could have easily destroyed the Highwind but chose not to."

"She's got the most sense out of all of 'em and ain't done no bad by anybody on purpose." Cid considers.

"Everything has a reason."

"She's still the same person, just more to see I suppose."

"That's the idea!"

At Yuffie's campsite dinner is about done. It is eaten in short order as table manners aren't their primary concern right now.

"Why does she get to loom over everybody?" Yuffie wonders with her mouth full. "What if I wanted to?"

"There is nothing to be done about it now." Red replies. "All we can do now is help her any way we can."

"But she's scary!"

"So? Your duty is to your company. Personal problems should be left at home." Cait Sith says. "Shinra company motto."

"What if she flips again? What then?"

"We will deal with problems as they occur."

"I could be dead the next time they occur!"

"Think about it this way." Cait Sith begins. "How often have you seen Tifa angry?"

"…Never."

"How many times have you seen her suddenly flip out?"

"One."

"Would you go crazy for just any old reason?"

"No."

"Why would you assume she would? You've got to attack problems logically. Personal safety aside, evaluate your situation. Rather than safeguarding your life assess risk of danger. Why prepare for something that will not happen?"

"Do you really believe she is a danger to you?"

Yuffie looks as though she would like to speak but says nothing. "…"

"If she is what will you do? Do you have a plan?"

"No…"

"I believe you should trust her."

"While logic stipulates that one should not worry about factors out of your control that you cannot change nor anticipate. Basically the same thing."

"I…don't know…"

Cloud wakes up on top of Tifa as routine goes. Her fingers wrapped around his midsection keep him warm as he is once again unable to move from atop her breasts.

"I'm going to miss this." Cloud says aloud.

"Why? Am I good for a bad back?" Comes from under him.

"Among other things." Cloud replies.

"About time you got up. I thought you would sleep all day."

"What time is it?"

"No clue. I've been waiting for you to get up. Figured I'd let you sleep in." She giggles. "Since you've been getting up so early everyday."

"How long have I been asleep?" Cloud says sitting bolt upright on her boobs. "We've got to go!"

"Relax. We made good progress yesterday. We've got time." Tifa smiles. "You didn't sleep THAT late I'm sure."

"Well in that case shall we go?"

"Let's." Tifa agrees. She picks up Cloud and the bag then walks off.

"You know what?" Cloud remarks from his perch on Tifa's shoulder. "You've got me spoiled rotten."

"Do I?" Tifa chides.

"Yeah, you've got the bag, me, and you're just stepping on the monsters. It's the easy life."

"Well there has to be some perks to having me around other than as a mattress. Why have you bother with the simple stuff anyway? It'd take too long and you would be wiped out."

"I'm not useless now!" Cloud retorts.

"I don't know…" Tifa teases. "What can you do?"

"All sorts of stuff!"

"Like what?"

"Try me."

"Can you reach this high?" Tifa raises her hand high.

"No."

"How about hold this with your pinky?" She holds the knapsack out suspended with one digit.

"No."

"Can you even keep up with me?" She sets him down and begins to walk at normal speed. He's running to keep up and she stops to have a laugh at the cost of a bit of his pride.

"Try something I can do!" Cloud demands slightly winded. "You know that isn't fair!"

Tifa looks around. "This looks like the bottom…call the others. Let them know we're here."

"Roger." Cloud dials up his cohorts. Relatively short bursts of conversation ensue. "Done."

"You know what else you can do?" Tifa says eyes lit up with an idea.

"What?"

"Give me a foot massage." She sits down.

"You can't be serious."

"Why not? You can do it can't you?"

"At a time like this?"

"We've got time."

"Come on!"

"I carried you all the way here. The least you can do is this small favor." Tifa shrinks in size. Now her height is only sixteen feet. "It's draining more energy? Damn this!" She sounds irritated. "Go on, your job should be easier now."

Cloud gets to one knee as Tifa kicks off her boots. "Pink socks?"

"Is that a surprise?" She slips her socks off. "It's what happens when you have more than one pair. They might be another color." She presents her feet to him. Even though she just decreased in size they are both around a yard long.

"They only issue you one pair of socks in SOLDIER! I didn't know they came in other colors!"

"Whatever you say, get to it." Tifa looks at him expectantly.

Cloud stares at her feet unsure how to proceed. He sees the scar she got from a snake so long ago and touches it. Surprised at the smoothness of the skin he rubs it again. "Why are your feet so smooth?"

"I wash them." Tifa replies. "Another thing they probably didn't cover in your SOLDIER training huh?"

Cloud starts rubbing in a pattern caressing the sole of the foot. Tifa coos encouragement from above. He increases tempo until he feels a lump.

"That is where there was a rock in my shoe. It hurt like heck." Tifa shakes out a boot. A stone the size of a golf ball falls out. "That thing."

"That's not too fun looking." Cloud remarks trying to massage the tension out of the knot. He succeeds and what is best described as a gasp of relief is heard. He is almost knocked back as she withdraws that foot and puts the other in its place. "Hey!"

"Sorry." Tifa apologizes. She watches as he lavishes attention on her other foot. At this point she is more impressed with the sentiment rather than the act itself and she allows him to stop after a few minutes.

"They feel a lot better now, thanks." It was true they did feel better. Not so much from expert care as simple attention. The feeling of Cloud tending to her feet was pleasurable in and of itself. The sensation of being the object of his devotion gave her a special thrill.

"You're welcome." Cloud replies. "Don't say I never did anything for you."

"Just hope it isn't the last thing you ever do." Tifa says soberly looking at the path to the heart of the Planet.

Crouched in a tunnel, Barret, Cid and Vincent are none too happy. Taking sniping positions on what is a very large group of monsters in a very tight space is something that was not quite allotted for.

"Get offa me!" Cid demands. "Let me out of here!"

"No." Vincent replies unslinging the Winchester rifle.

"Too many out there." Barret agrees cocking the A.M. Cannon.

"I don't care! Let me out!"

"Shh. Stop making noise." Vincent says lining up a shot.

"What are you, a chocobo?" Barret asks targeting an enemy.

"Me an Goldie are a little claustrophobic so what?"

"You've got to calm down. This is the best place to take decent shots without being attacked."

"That's what you get for traveling with marksmen." Barret affirms.

"Whatever. Say Vinnie, why aren't you using the Outsider? You're gonna pay a fortune for the damn thing."

"Shots won't group outside fifteen feet. That's why I carry a rifle. For ranged work."

"I thought even you knew that one, Cid."

"I did. I just had to mention how much he was gonna pay for that sucker." He goes back to watching them shoot, trying to calm himself. "If Tifa was here she'd flatten the lot o these thing like pop cans." Cid thinks to himself. "But her and Numbskull #1 already made it to the bottom. They're waiting for us and these guys are taking all day!"

Yuffie and her team walk quietly, trying to avoid detection. So far it appears to be working. Enemies don't pay them any attention. A boon of possessing ninja skills indeed.

"You are trying to avoid fighting?" Red whispers. "That is not like you."

"A real smart guy once told me that battle was not meant to be fun." Yuffie replies voice low. "That means I don't need to be engaging in it."

"Using you mind instead of your fist, very smart." Red says approvingly.

"I may as well not be tired when I get there."

"Ninjitsu seems to be handy for that."

"You aren't doing too badly at it either. You're a natural."

"The others are at the bottom already. Maybe if we could stealthily hurry?" Red suggests.

"Good idea. Cait Sith speed it up."

"OKAY." Cait Sith replies. "UH OH." Monsters turn their direction.

"Tell me you did not just speak into an M-Phone." Yuffie says aggravated.

"I DIDN'T JUST SPEAK INT AN M-PHONE. IS THIS THING BROKEN?"

Red XIII shakes his head. The incident has left him with a headache. "Perhaps if we just hurry?"

"I think we should speed it WAY up." Yuffie agrees. "Run!"

At the bottom of the crater everyone has managed to meet up. It was a long way for everyone to have come and is the homestretch to the quest. Everyone knows this and it's an automatically somber moment.

"We're all here." Cloud says. "Good to see you."

"This is it." Tifa says grimly. "We are going to do it."

"The fight for the Planet is in its last act." Vincent says philosophically.

"Let's just wish for a happy ending." Yuffie adds.

"We've come a long way." Cid says tiredly. "Don't screw up!"

"All we can do is fight our very hardest." Cait Sith says.

"Failure is not an option." Red XIII growls.

"This ends today!" Barret declares. Everyone looks around at one another. The looks of determination and resolve bounce around until they fall on the leader of the pack.

"Okay, one last check. Everybody got the weapons and materia they want to bring to the final battle?" Everyone nods. "Let's go!"

They enter the threshold. A large area lies within. They are at the top of it while the monsters are rising from the bottom as one cohesive unit. It's an intimidating sight. Everyone looks at each other and gathers their nerve, getting ready.

"Cloud!" Tifa yells. "I can get through but only two people can come with me! Who is it going to be?"

"Don't ask me! I'm staying behind, we'll meet up later!" Cloud yells back. "Who wants to run point with Tifa?"

"I'm goin'" Cid says. "I ain't got time to be afraid." He steps forward.

"Count me in." Yuffie seconds. "I'm no fan of big droves of anything." She steps forward.

"You ready?" Tifa asks. They nod. She scoops them up under her arms and leaps from the landing.

"Oh &#!" Cid swears hurtling through the flock of monsters. "Why did I volunteer?"

"Aieeee!" Yuffie screams at the top of her lungs eyes tightly shut.

"We're almost there!" Tifa reassures them. "Hang on!" She lands in a forward roll. "Phew!" She releases her passengers who are amazingly enough in one piece.

"We made it." Cid says disbelievingly. "We're behind the herd!"

"What is this place?" Yuffie whispers in what is an eerie hush. "It's weird…"

"Look out!" Tifa cries standing over Yuffie and stopping Jenova from attacking her. "Move!" She commands holding the primeval being back.

Yuffie can't move, however. She's petrified with fear. Eyes locked with Jenova and Tifa towering above her she cannot form a conscious thought. It is as though her feet have fused to the ground.

"Yuffie!" Cid yells. "Damn it! Quake!" Cid casts Quake on Yuffie who falls and eyes torn from the fiend flees. "You gotta be careful!"

"Master my fear, master my fear…" Yuffie keeps repeating like a mantra. "Master my fear, master my fear…"

"I need a hand!" Tifa calls out abruptly, bound in the arms of the ancient evil organism.

"Gotcha!" Yuffie throws the Crystal Cross. It amputates a tentacle that has Tifa's arm bound.

"On it!" Cid performs a Boost jump and liberates Tifa's other arm. She cocks it back and delivers a devastating punch to the genetic aberration landing the blow right next to him. "She means well, I know so." Cid thinks drawing back.

Jenova tries Bio magic on Tifa. Since she's so big the poison takes effect slowly. The genetic aberration tries to attack her physically while the poison takes its toll but an Esuna leaves the monster up a creek as her victim lands more heavy hits. Jenova counters with Ultima.

Tifa dives in the way and absorbs most of the damage for the party. Her Crystal Bangle yields under the strain shattering into a million pieces as the potency of the spell throws her backward with the force of the spell.

Cid and Yuffie don't miss a beat though. With their large comrade landing near them Yuffie has already cast Full Cure on her and Cid has countered with a Kjata Summon on her behalf. Tetra Flare does considerable damage to the alien but it is still advancing. Tifa rises and charges forward angry that her armlet has been destroyed, meaning to end it.

"You ready?" Cid asks Yuffie. She nods and they are on Tifa's heels. As Beat Rush, Dragon Dive and Blood Fest begin the triple combination Limit Break has Jenova from all sides and it can't move. As Tifa finishes with a Meteor Strike her comrades jump back prepared for the worst. But their fears are unfounded, as Jenova moves no more.

"She did nothing but act in my defense." Cid considers. "Wasn't nothing to be afraid of."

"Even though I was all amidst her feet I didn't get hurt." Yuffie realizes. "She's still a skilled martial artist no matter how big. She knew what she was doing."

Cloud and his people are just finishing with the swarm of creatures. After that trial nobody feels like doing much more but it's just beginning.

"I wonder what happens now..." Cloud ruminates putting away the Crystal Sword.

"I dunno." Barret replies.

"They look done down there." Cait Sith mentions.

"It is good they have succeeded." Red agrees.

"It is not over yet." Vincent says, sliding new rounds into the Outsider and slamming down the magazine.

"Let's proceed down-whoa!"

Everything goes black then vision returns. Everyone is floating in a circle. They all look hurt. At the center of the ring is Sephiroth himself. He says nothing but you can feel the disdain radiating from his being at their presence here in his sanctum.

"Sephiroth!" Cloud hisses. "I can't move!" It isn't long before the rest of the party notices similar problems. "We cannot lose here! We're so close…"

"Cloud!" Tifa says suddenly. "We can do it!" She flashes bright. "Come on!"

"The true power of Aeris's prayer, who is with me?"

Though most of the party is too tired or unable to move one comes forward. "Let us end this." Vincent says quietly. They float up to Sephiroth who has taken the form of an angel then the battle begins.

Cloud starts off strong. He casts Ultima with MP Turbo to more than double its power. Sephiroth is knocked back. Vincent follows with Demi 3 and Tifa tries to pound the seraph. Demi fails and she manages to inflict some damage with a couple crushing blows. Sephiroth counters with a Shadow Flare attack that sends Tifa off reeling then takes flight.

"I can't reach him!" Cloud yells.

"Too high up!" Tifa agrees.

"I'll take care of this." Vincent brings his trusty rifle into action from his shoulder and begins to fire. The precision fire is hitting the wing of the archangel. As with any flying creature it has a weakness for being shot down.

"Yeah!"

"Bring him down!"

Indeed the shots are having an effect. Sephiroth is losing altitude. As soon as he is within range he counters with explosive force that affords him some space. Tifa and Cloud have to draw back.

Vincent is undeterred. He has drawn the Outsider and has been rapidly firing since the savior has reached their level. Rhythmically firing reloading and slamming the magazine with machine efficiency he can barely avoid another Shadow Flare that the enemy tries to sneak in. "Got to be more careful." Vincent thinks coming out of a roll gun trained on Sephiroth. "No mistakes…"

"I call upon a power you cannot understand." Sephiroth pronounces and a light appears behind him.

"What?" Vincent depresses the trigger. The Outsider explodes in his hand and he is knocked to one knee. "Sorry…" He says as he passes out and falls from the air they stand on.

"Vincent!" Cloud bellows, rushing to his fallen comrade.

"Cloud! Look out!" Tifa screams pursuing him.

"What?" Cloud looks up just in time to see Tifa match the strength of Final Heaven to Super Nova. The light is blinding and he can't see. His next sight is of Tifa flying away from the ferocity of the attack. "No…"

"You can do it…" She whispers before she fades from view.

"But I can't. I need you…"

"What's wrong?" Sephiroth taunts. "Realizing your place, pathetic-" He stops as the Crystal Sword is inside him up to the hilt because of Climhazzard.

"I've had enough of this!" Cloud claims leaping into the air dragging the blade up with him. "You've hurt too many!" He unleashes a crushing Meteor Rain on the saintly visage. "But now you've crossed the line." He comes down with a perfect Braver finish.

"This can't be. I am all powerful-" The spawn of Jenova falls in two pieces.

"I won…" Everything fades away.

In the bottom of the crater everyone is gathered again. It's the end of the road for them. With the battle finished everyone is just trying to figure out everything that's happened.

"What the hell happened?" Cid demands. "How'd we get back here?"

"He did it." Tifa replies somberly looking at Cloud on the ground.

"So what now?" Barret asks. "Does Meteor hit or what?"

"That is the Planet's choice." Red XIII says.

"I say we go home." Yuffie suggests.

"Not a bad idea." Cait Sith agrees.

"Uh oh." Tifa says out of the blue. "Now it's time, isn't it?"

"Whom are you talking to?" Vincent asks glaring at the remains of a prototype pistol he was not too happy with. "Is something wrong?"

"The Planet has decided. You all have to leave this place." Tifa doubles in size.

"How are we gonna do that?" Cid says sarcastically. "Magic?"

"I'll help." She doubles to sixty-four feet.

"I'll walk thank you!" Cid states.

"This place is going to come crashing down on your head pretty soon!" Tifa retorts grabbing the unconscious Cloud. "Hop on!" She doubles in height again.

"You don' have to tell me twice!" Barret jumps on. The rest follow suit apart from Cid.

"I'm going to fill this place up in half a minute! You had better hurry!"

Cid looks around. The place is trembling and Tifa is taking up increasingly more space. "Alright…" He jumps into her palm.

"Lie flat and hold on!" Tifa commands clasping her hands together. "It'll only take a minute."

"#$! She knows I'm claustrophobic!" Cid thinks beginning to wheeze and cough in the enclosed darkness.

Yuffie shudders in terror. "Please don't mash me, please don't mash me!" She repeats over and over under her breath. She can hear Cid gasp for air. "She isn't squeezing him is she?" Yuffie thinks panicking. "Can't she tell she's killing him? She wouldn't-"

Suddenly light floods the area. Yuffie can see Cid coughing having been brought on by an asthma attack.

"ARE ALL OF YOU ALRIGHT?" Comes from above.

Everyone looks up. Tifa is gargantuan. There is so much room in her hand it could be a helipad. Everyone is having trouble comprehending her massive size.

"CLOUD? IS CLOUD AWAKE?"

In the dark under a red moon Cloud and Sephiroth stare each other down. Sephiroth with the Masamune while Cloud holds the Crystal Sword. They stand on nothing in the dark cosmos and wait at the ready.

"That sword is second to mine." Sephiroth says. "As you are to me."

"I am my own person." Cloud replies. "There is no comparison."

"You cannot defeat me."

"I have not come this far to fail."

They both rush forward simultaneously. Cloud tries for Climhazzard but taller swordmaster knocks it aside easily as a second moon gleams overhead. He launches a beautiful counterattack that nearly leaves a frighteningly sharp ribbon of steel residing in Cloud's ribs forcing the ex-SOLDIER to regroup.

"I'm going to have to try something new." Cloud realizes. "He is no legend for nothing."

Sephiroth laughs quietly so one can barely hear it. "It will all be over in a flash." He whispers.

They lock eyes while the crimson satellites blaze overhead. Suddenly they're flying at each other again, oversize blades at the ready.

"Last dance of sword!" Cloud yells sword raised.

"Blink moment." Sephiroth says calmly.

"OMNISLASH!" Cloud roars striking.

"Shadow Counter." Sephiroth whispers fading from sight.

All you can see are the blood colored spheres shining over where the battle occurs. You can hear the sounds of crystal and steel collide but you can't see the combatants.

"It feels as though my life has been lived in anticipation of this instant." Cloud reflects to himself leaping high. "I must win." The auburn orbs gleam brighter and he can see the white-haired warrior. "There he is…" He makes his move.

Sephiroth raises his katana to deflect Cloud's assault but it is too late. The Crystal Sword comes down upon him with lethal force. He staggers back injured badly, his mouth an O of surprise. He falls to his knees transfixed at the sight of blood on his hands. Amazed because it is his own. The legendary steel falls from his hands and he follows.

Cloud looks up at the moons. "Thank you."

The moons flicker and blink becoming a familiar face. The surroundings fade and he can hear someone calling his name.

"Cloud? Cloud?"

He wakes up. Tifa's face fills his line of sight. The celestial twins that are her eyes are focused on him. He stands and signals her.

"GOOD. CALL THE HIGHWIND AND HAVE THEM COME GET YOU." Tifa doubles in size becoming one thousand feet tall. "SIGNAL ME WITH A FLARE ONCE YOU'RE ALL ABOARD."

The Highwind arrives pretty quickly. Everyone gets on, Cloud last and the flare is fired. As they fly above Tifa's head he jumps off landing in her hair.

"What the #&!" Cid screams. "He crazy?"

"Sure looks like it." Barret agrees.

"There is no saving him now." Red states.

"Why'd he do that?" Cait Sith wonders.

"He's as good as done down there!" Yuffie affirms.

"My guess is he didn't want her to face this alone." Vincent says wistfully. "Even at the price of his own life."

In the Northern Cave Tifa waits for Meteor to hit at one thousand feet tall. She realizes what she must do and sets her will to do the deed.

"I have all the energy the Planet can spare." Tifa thinks. "This is it. I have to stop Meteor by myself." She tries to concentrate. "All right this is for everyone!" Meteor contacts her hands. It's hot and pushing down hard. "Got to hold on!" She thinks biting her lip.

Abruptly she feels more power flowing into her. She glances around and can see the Lifestream rising from the ground. She can feel herself doubling in size again and again.

"I can do this!" Tifa believes at eight thousand feet tall. She pushes Meteor back and can't move it any further. "I have to!"

On the Highwind everyone watches the epic struggle at the top of the world. History in the making is taking place before them and they just watch and hope.

"Doesn't look like she can do it…" Cid says sadly.

"She's givin' it one hell of a good go." Cait Sith decides.

"There's gotta be sumthin' we can do to help!" Barret exclaims.

"No, there is nothing." Red XIII shakes his head.

"All we can do is wait." Vincent affirms. "It's in her hands now."

"Literally." Yuffie sighs. They continue to watch the event unfold.

From his position in Tifa's hair he watches as Meteor is at a dead halt. It's a moment that he doesn't understand since she's come so far. He can't comprehend the difficulty of the stuggle, only that she isn't winning it.

"You can't move it any more?" Cloud says aloud. "I know you can do it. We're in this together!" He begins to ponder. "There has to be something…you just need a little more…" He comes up with an idea.

Cloud begins to pray.

Below him Tifa is having a really hard time. Her body is considering buckling under the strain and it doesn't seem possible to continue doing this.

"I can't quit now! I'm the Planet's last hope!" She feels her feet slipping tearing trenches in the landscape. "I've got to whoa!" She feels a rush of power unlike before. "What is this?" Tifa wonders doubling in height three times more. Now at better than twelve miles tall she looms out of North Cave and casts her shadow over the world. "Wow…" She crushes Meteor in her hands and empties the dust into the crater. "I really did it. I can't believe it…"

On the Highwind everyone else is having trouble believing it too. An event that changed the course of civilization has just come to a close and for the better. It's a heavy thing to witness.

"Did you see that?" Barret gasps. "She smashed the big rock jus' like that!"

"I saw, I just don't believe it!" Cid replies.

"I don't think you are the only one having trouble with that." Cait Sith says.

"Tifa succeeded. It is astounding everything turned out so well." Red XIII states.

"Yippee, no more Meteor!" Yuffie rejoices. "Yay!"

"Now the world is as it was." Vincent concludes.

They look at Tifa who can be seen from everywhere on the Planet. Indeed all citizens of the world cast their eyes to their savior. She gazes over the world like a benign goddess and smiles. Cheers go up from everywhere as they realize the crisis is averted. Those aboard the Highwind cheer too, happy that it is all over.

Tifa is in the field of flowers again. After all she's done she has to wonder why she's here again. She looks for an explanation fully expecting to see Aeris but can't see her anywhere.

"Down here!" Aeris calls up.

Tifa sits down. "Aeris, I want to know…" She picks the Ancient up. "How?"

"Easy!" Aeris replies. "With their help!" The meadow fills with people.

"They helped?"

"Yes. It was their energy you borrowed to become large enough to stop Meteor."

"The Lifestream…"

"Yes, that's it. Even those who perished in Sector 6 gave what they could. They forgive you."

Tifa looks around. She can see many familiar faces. "But how did I get that last bit of energy that sent me over the top? I don't think the Lifestream was enough."

Aeris shakes her head. "You're right. This is why I had to try and guide you. I didn't want you to make the same mistake I would've made."

"What are you talking about?"

"Of going on alone. I refused the power because the Planet showed me a vision of myself as an evil monster. I would not allow myself to become that so it chose you instead. You were going to make the same error if not for Cloud."

"Cloud?" Tifa is perplexed.

"You cared for him more than anything. He would let nothing stand between you and him. That devotion to one another held you both together. You might have given in if not for him."

"I would've." Tifa admits, remembering how close Costa del Sol came to destruction.

"Energy given freely is more powerful than that which is taken." Aeris explains. "That is why the Lifestream made you so big. We saw your plight and wanted to help."

"That still doesn't explain where that last surge came from."

"It does. You were not alone when you faced Meteor."

"I was. I put everyone in the airship and confronted it by myself."

"Untrue. One person was with you the whole time. He refused to leave no matter what the cost."

"What are you talking about? No one would be foolish enough to stand in the path of- oh."

"Hi." Cloud says stepping out of the crowd. Tifa picks him up and places him next to Aeris.

"You stayed behind? But you knew-"

"That you were going to face the hardest trial any human has ever had to deal with?" Cloud interrupts. "You expected me to leave you behind to do it alone?"

"He was with you the entire time." Aeris continues. "He saw your dilemma and prayed to the Planet to give you strength."

"That much more? It was an incredible burst of energy all from him?" Tifa is incredulous.

"That was the power of his love for you. The very essence of his existence. There was no way he would let you fail."

"How was he able to give me this boost? I thought…"

"The Planet took the spark of life from him while he was still living. He offered himself and…" Aeris doesn't finish.

"Now I'm here." Cloud takes a deep breath. "To say my final farewell."

"So you…died to help me?" Tifa shakes her head. "No, this isn't right."

"I did what I had to. You were in so much pain I couldn't bear it. I did what I could to shoulder the load."

"Your soul was ripped from your body while you were still alive. Did you think I wanted you to go through that for me? I can't imagine how that felt."

"Don't worry about it." Cloud says easily. "It was worth it. I would do it again."

"Don't say that!" Tifa bursts out. "No, that isn't what I want! What about me?"

"You're safe. That is all that matters. Didn't you know?"

"What about us? Without you there is no us!"

"I had no choice. If it comes down to you or me I pick you no question."

"Wahhh!" Tifa begins to cry.

"Please don't cry. It really tears me up when you cry."

"Then I have no choice." Tifa says between sniffs. "I'm taking you back with me."

"He sacrificed himself willingly." Aeris says. "He paid full well knowing what would happen."

"Yeah, well I'm sure you understand." Tifa replies. "I'm not having this. It is as simple as that. I didn't come this far and do all that I have done to lose in the victory lap!"

"I know." Aeris smiles. "You deserve it anyway."

"I can't go Tifa." Cloud objects. "I have to return to the Planet you have to understand."

"Understand what? I own you don't I?"

"Uh…"

"I distinctly remember you saying 'my life belongs to you. You can take it whenever you want.' Well I'm taking it now!"

"But-" Mako blue eyes meet with magma red ones and he stops short. "You can't…"

"What else could you possibly have to say? You're mine. I'm not letting anyone or anything take you away from me." Tifa looks around. "You hear that Planet? He's mine and you can't have him!" She switches Cloud to her other hand and wraps her fingers around him tight. This fist she holds over her heart.

"Well I guess this is goodbye." Aeris says.

"Yeah, I have one more question though. What did you say last time? When faced with the most difficult choice follow…?"

"Your heart." Aeris finishes. "But I don't need to tell you that." She laughs. "Great job saving the Planet! See you!"

Tifa nods and the scene fades away. She wakes up with Cloud lying nearby.

"Tifa I have to-" Cloud is cut off by a kiss. "Hey…"

Tifa just stares at him, almost angrily. "I have to do everything." She invades his personal space again. "Save the Planet and take the initiative. Lazy little bum!" She kisses him again.

"Whoa!" Barret calls. "We interruptin' sumthin'?" Tifa pays no mind as she continues to tax Cloud's air supply.

"Guess not." Cid says. "Couldn't pry them apart with a crowbar."

"Would you want to?" Vincent asks. "That does not seem safe."

"Not to even think about." Cait Sith agrees.

"They deserve a break." Red XIII states. "Leave them alone."

"Leave them alone? Let's leave them here!" Yuffie whines. "I want to go home! They'll be here when you get back!" Everyone laughs.