Welcome to the seventh chapter of Crossfire. Originally I planned on combining this chapter with MGS4's epilogue, but due to the intense beauty of that masterpiece's epilogue, I decided to split Crossfire's finale into two slices. Here you'll view the end of Act 5, and then you'll witness the epilogue of this here adventure.
With all of my heart, I thank you for joining this project of supreme emotion. This will forever remain one of the greatest adventures I have ever written-and it's not of an immense size! The impact of Crossfire is colossal, though, and that's what really counts. XD I'm happy I have touched the hearts of two dear friends! I love them with all of my heart and soul!
Warning: Yep, you guessed it. Emotions, Old Snake, boy/boy love...if you're not into any of that, why are you still here? Seriously, people these days...XD
He waved, greeting a vehicle that wished to remove him from his final battlefield. He waved, thoroughly refreshed by Heaven's joyful teardrops. The whirring blades of a helicopter approached his ears, driving itself deeper into his eager eardrums. His smile acknowledged the inevitable departure from Liquid's battleship, awaiting the jubilation of a rejuvenated world. As he waited for the helicopter to lift him into the skies, he stood upon the battleship as a flower, absorbing every raindrop. Absorbing every breath of new life, new hope and new wonder. A battle had come to an end, but it didn't just symbolize the end of a single confrontation. It symbolized the end of a lifelong duel, and painted the world in hope's colors. All souls were finally at peace, whether they remained amongst the mortals, or walked with the angels. Even Liquid, who had spent his life in pursuit of power, found eternal peace in the arms of light. A maiden's arms swept his soul away, transforming his body into a mass of stars. With a smile forever locked on his mortal body, the brother Snake longed for drifted away...forever lost on the rain-soaked winds. The old soldier watched his brother's departure, smile tinged with sadness as stars left him. Grief was ephemeral, though, fated to vanish once loved ones came into view. A mere glance of a familiar blonde crushed sadness out of existence.
Even from a thousand miles away, Snake could feel Cloud's heart. At that very moment, the blonde was a portrait of distress. Tears were soaking his cheeks, and his blue eyes were ablaze with longing. His heart was suffocating, withering away without a certain someone's presence, and he needed instant rejuvenation-or else he'd drown. Clutching the end of Hal's ladder, he felt his heart soar at the mere sight of Snake. His face, heart and soul lit up, reaching out for his precious source of oxygen. "Stay there," the old male called out, voice and tears filled with joy. Seeing Cloud for the first time in ages lifted his heart into supreme euphoria. He was no longer thirsty, for his elixir was only a few feet away!
He ran. He ran towards the one that gave him life, eyes reaching and singing. Cloud felt his tears mingle with Heaven's tears as he sobbed, reaching out to his forever lover. The old soldier was soon locked inside of his arms, and not even Hell could tear them apart. Cloud gripped him with feverish intensity, unwilling to let go in fear of losing Snake permanently. The hero returned the strength of his grip, taking in his angel's fragrance. Both were soon lifted into the helicopter, taken far from the desolate battleship. Sobbing, the Strife refused to let go of Snake-unable to speak, but able to shower the other in kisses. Sweet, soft kisses rained upon the old male's face, each of them drenched in love. Snake exchanged a smile with his lifelong companion, the one and only Otacon, before speaking to Cloud. He buried the blonde's head into his chest. "It's all right, baby," he said soothingly, running his fingers through Cloud's hair. "It's all right. It's all right."
Only Cloud's sobs were heard for several moments, soothed into soft whimpers by Snake's loving voice. Otacon, piloting their helicopter with the greatest of ease, looked back at them with a radiant smile. Something kicked him in the side a second later, causing him to gasp. "Snake," he began, his gentle voice blessing Snake's ears. "How were you able to escape from your final bout with Liquid unscathed?"
Beaming from ear to ear, Snake provided an answer. As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Cloud silenced his tears. His ears absorbed every one of the old soldier's syllables, as his nose absorbed the fragrance of his rain-soaked lover. He listened to Snake as if his words provided the water of life, inhaling every last drop of the precious water.
"Good question. Liquid had me up shit's creek without a paddle, but a friend came down to take care of me."
"A friend?" the soft-hearted otaku asked, eyes widened in curiosity. He returned his eyes to the road ahead. "Who are you referring to?"
"No one special," his old friend said warmly, nuzzling his forehead against Cloud's. Glowing from the much-needed contact, Cloud began to plant kisses on his mate's neck. "Just a guy with silver hair, black clothes and a black wing. Some guy named Sephiroth."
"Are you kidding me?!"
"I kid you not, Hal," the old legend replied, radiant with affection. He hadn't used his friend's birth name in eons, which added warmth to his magical words. As he delivered the remainder of his response, a tearful Cloud peered into his face with the sweet inquisitiveness of a baby bird. His lover was a glittering butterfly, releasing the spirit of life through hand expressions and words. "True to form, he came from the skies. Healed me. He also offed Liquid, and here's a real shocker! Sephiroth became bored with him! The surprise of the ages, isn't it?"
The Strife and otaku exchanged glances of astonishment. Disgust soon filled Cloud's face, giving him the aura of a horrified infant. "I knew it! Your brother was nothing but a joke to him! I knew their little party wouldn't last!"
The old soldier cupped his mate's face, using his fingers to caress it. They nuzzled their foreheads together, eyes filled with starlight. "Liquid found the truth in the hardest way possible," Snake explained, nose nuzzling against Cloud's. "The truth should've been obvious. Tried to warn him, but he didn't listen. His horse was too high for his own good, babe."
"Are you all right?" Cloud asked instantly, his blue orbs alive with concern. Snake said nothing for a moment, examining all possible answers with closed eyes. A smile twinkled on his face during silent reflection, exuding the brilliance of a diamond. His answer came wrapped up in the winds of tranquility.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I'm about to start a new life with my friends, my family...and...my husband."
At the first mention of his newfound role, Cloud's face lit up like the moon. Both lovers gazed into each other's eyes for what felt like an eon-a long, wondrously beautiful eon. "You still wanna marry me, don't you?" the old hero asked, pretending to fear a dark and miserable outcome. For a moment, Cloud looked as if Snake had just slapped him. Warm, tender euphoria quickly broke out on his face, spreading across his face as melted sunshine.
"If I could, I'd marry you right here and now."
Lovers snuggled against one another, rubbing their noses together. Silence drifted between the helicopter's inhabitants for a short while, just as gentle as a mother's soft arms. At one point, Solid Snake and Otacon exchanged smiles, silently overjoyed with the world's end. Their connection didn't require a frequent use of vocabularly, as it was one of the deepest friendships known to man. Communicating with facial expressions was enough at times, and a simple smile spoke volumes. Both souls were finally at peace, having buried inner and outer conflicts. No longer were their souls plagued by filthy pasts, cleansed of all grief and filled with rapture. Otacon and Snake were reborn souls, able to spread newborn wings in the wake of war-as many other souls were. Death gave birth to life, life gave birth to happiness, and happiness gave birth to immortality.
The world, devoid of Liquid and Sephiroth's presence, was finally devoid of war. Machines and soldiers alike were falling into retirement, tossing away their belligerent personas in favor of peace. Engineers, soldiers and medics were returning to their homes, happy to be rid of their burdensome responsibilities. Orders of commanding soldiers were replaced with warm wishes for the future. Soldiers of the novice levels were embraced by their superiors, while commanders gave titanic appreciation in the form of speeches. Boats charted surviving soldiers away from Liquid's battleship, and each rider drank from the cup of ever-flowing life. Thoughts of weaponry were exchanged with images of friends, lovers and family members.
Snake's family experienced a tearful, joyous reunion with Cloud's family. Even though several members of both families had been in close contact during the battle, emerging from the war endowed everyone with bliss. Both families acted as if they hadn't see each other in ages, tearfully embracing every member of their hearts. Snake embraced a weeping Cid, Sunny was reunited with her weeping father, Barret crushed everyone in a searing group hug-and all hearts were connected by tight, unbreakable bonds. Snake ended up returning to Cloud's arms, who vowed never to release him again. Tifa, on her own end, embraced a blushing Hal. While her lifelong friend was busy falling in love, she fell for Snake's shy sidekick. Suppressed by his intricate relationship to Naomi Hunter, she forced herself to stay silent for a painful amount of time. Seeing his tear-stained, joyous face aboard the battleship made the wait worth it. I'd wait all over again, if I had to. I'd wait forever to tell him my feelings. He's worth more than a million ages!
New beginnings emerged across the globe. Meryl Silverburg and Johnny 'Akiba' Sasaki organized their marriage, inviting two lovers to join the ceremony. Four hearts would marry on the same day, forever tied to one another in glorious matrimony. The loved ones of their world were due to join hands, and join hands they did. Eternal legends united their hearts, sealed in immortality by heavenly vows.
As vows were made, friendships were born. Meryl, after repairing a broken relationship with her father, apologized to Cloud for her frequent shows of hostility. Cloud, without the slightest bit of scorn, dismissed her apology and embraced her. The future's promises had cast his heart a million stories into Heaven, and he never held the smallest bit of contempt against her in the past. After he learned of her first love from Hal, Cloud decided not to hold anything against her-be it anger or hatred. A single embrace sealed them together as friends, followed by fervent orders from Meryl. True to form, she delivered demands with a robust fire.
"If he does anything to hurt you, you let me know! I'll beat the living shit out of him!"
"He's a bit of a brat, so if he gives you any trouble, bring him to me! I'll deal with him!"
Of course she still loved him. She would always love the man she knew as 'Solid Snake'. Her heart longed for him even as all hearts stood underneath the silvery heavens, dancing underneath a flower show (courtesy of two departed spirits). As Aerith and Zack blessed two newborn unions, she watched as her first love showered Cloud Strife in kisses. She watched as they gazed into each other's eyes, lost within the seas of euphoria for eternity.
She then felt Johnny tug on her arm, and heard the merry chatter of Drebin's monkey. Her husband, glowing with affection that would never die, laughed as Little Grey inhaled a bottle of wine. "Looks like we won't be able to toast to anything," the blissful blonde declared. Meryl gave him a smile that resembled angel's wings.
"We'll do just fine. We've been all right up to this point, so we'll manage from here on out."
I'll manage too. After all, I've got the future staring at me in the face.
Born from the hands of Aerith Gainsoborough and Zack Fair, pink and sky blue petals made their descent. Sunny, Marlene and Denzel danced underneath the flowery skies as a ring, rejoicing at the advent of the future. While a wrestling competition took place, and Cloud held his husband underneath the joyous ether, Hal Emmerich was drawn into a conversation. The other members of his conversation were Tifa and Drebin, who was a little bit tipsy. "Things are definitely a bit different now, aren't they?" the former weapons dealer asked, hands outstretched to the heavens above. "No more SOP system, flowers fallin' in places of bullets...it's like we've stepped into a completely different dimension! Wouldn't you all agree?"
"Yeah, I've got you on that," the ravishing Lockhart said with a nod, speaking as if a simple recipe was up for discussion. "We stepped out of a hellhole and into what I like to call a fairy tale. We're no longer surrounded by guns and death! Everything's just peachy. Isn't it, honeybun?"
Stammering, blushing, Hal Emmerich (formerly known as Otacon) provided a response. "Th-th-that's r-r-right," the otaku said, but before another word could fall from his lips, Tifa spoke. Turning to Drebin, she spoke with the unparalleled sweetness of a curious puppy. With every syllable she gave, she drew a certain someone deeper into a whirlpool of magic. "Everything will be much brighter now," she said sweetly, enchanting Hal with every breath and movement. "Looks like I'll have to start planning our wedding."
"Our w-w-wedding?! B-b-but Miss Tifa-!"
"You mean you haven't proposed to her yet? Man, what's with you? Cloud and ol' Dave over there acted as if they were married from the start! You're takin' your own sweet time in gettin' to her, and nobody's gettin' any younger!"
"Drebin, she can't marry me! I don't deserve her!"
"I'm not buying that hogwash, sweet pea," the Lockhart announced, poking Hal in the chest. "In case you've forgotten, David tried to feed that same crap to Cloud. They are now happily married, and are two seconds away from making love right before our eyes. I see us going down the same path, Hally."
'I do too,' the otaku's heart said, showering the world in sunlight. Little Grey removed a hatch on his master's vehicle, allowing white flower petals to rise into the heavens-accompanied by effervescent doves. Meryl slammed Ed's arm onto a table, David Strife kissed his mate, and two departed hearts smiled.
Aerith and Zack smiled, pleased with the new world order.
This was composed to 'Cloud Smiles' of the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children OST. That was the perfect accompaniment to this chapter. XD
Featured in MGS4: Guns of the Patriots, Ed is a member of Meryl's Rat Patrol. He performed Meryl and Johnny's wedding ceremony in the original ending of MGS4. XD I'm not saying anything else on the original end, because a very dear angel just purchased her copy of Kojima's masterpiece! And if you're familiar with the end of Act 5, now you know why the Hal/Drebin conversation was drastically altered. XD In order to grasp the full beauty of their conversation, you must experience the entire adventure-from start to finish. I have NO desire to ruin ANYTHING for the lady Zephyr, regardless of her wishes. One must experience the original adventure's spirit without interruptions. XD
Stay tuned for the Crossfire epilogue!
Lots of love!