The final chapter. A sort of Epilogue, so it's rather short. Look out for a sequel!!!

It seemed like he'd been walking this path only yesterday, his body riddled with bullets, barely able to stand on his feet.

He was much stronger now than he'd been then. It'd only been a couple of years, but Cloud wasn't the same young boy he'd been when he'd met Zack. He was no longer carefree and

foolish, but burdened with the heavy weight of his past, and memories that burned permanent scars into his mind.

He was weighed with the anguish of losing so many that he'd been close to.

So many lives that he couldn't save.

To him, every drop of their blood was on his hands. It was his fault.

It was always his fault.

Zack...Aerith

He trudged slowly along the desert plain, the Buster Sword on his back. The first time he'd made this journey towards Midgar, he'd barely been able to lift the relic, let alone wield it, but

over the years, it became a true extension of his arm, and the sword had become a part of him, weightless.

He glimpsed the cliff in the distance, and sighed, preparing himself to revisit the fervent memories that he'd striven so hard to shut out, so hard to let go of.

As he neared the sight, he tried not to shudder.

Ragged strips of material fluttered in the gentle desert breeze, stretched over the shattered and sunken bones of the SOLDIERs that had lain here, rotting over the years. He bit his lip,

not sure if he could handle seeing what remained of Zack.

He walked up the cliff, keeping his eyes to the ground until he was sure he was standing in front of the spot where his friend had fallen.

Hesitantly, he looked up, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

A thick circle of dark blue and black flowers were growing out of the desert dirt, swaying gently in the breeze.

"A-Aerith..." he stuttered, wondering why she'd done this- to his knowledge, for someone she didn't know.

"Thank you." He said quietly, unsheathing the Buster Sword from its holster on his back.

He raised it in front of his face, much like Zack used to do, reciting the words his friend had mumbled under his breath every time he did.

"Embrace your dreams, and whatever happens, protect your honour." He said quietly, before flipping it, and plunging it into the centre of the flowers.

As if on cue, there was a great clap of thunder, and rain immediately began to pour from the heavens, just as it had the day Zack had passed.

The skies seemed to be grieving, as the ashen clouds were heavy and the rain fell in fat drops, spattering the ground with formidable force, turning the dirt to mud.

"Thanks Zack. For everything." He whispered, closing his eyes and tilting his head up to the heavens, enjoying the warm rain as it fell on his face, reminding him he was alive.

After a full hour in silent vigilance, the rain slowed, and he stood back, opening his eyes and looking at Zack's tombstone. He ran his hand down the hilt one last time.

"Goodbye Zack." He whispered, and turned his back on the grave. "I won't ever forget."

There was a light breeze, much too warm for Fall that washed over him then, bathing him in warmth and contentment.

It came, and went, and within its embrace, a familiar voice whispered in his ear.

"Seeya Cloud."

HOLY SHIVA I'VE FINISHED!!!

I just want to thank everyone who's reviewed and supported this story, especially Ziggy. Sorry about the length of this chapter, but it's sort of an Epilogue. If I start a sequel, which is highly likely, I'll post a note about it on here, so if you're interested, don't take off Story Alert if you've got it.

Thankyou everyone for your excellent reviews, I feel I've improved my writing quite a bit since the beginning, so I hope you've all enjoyed this. Thanks,

Lucifer