Final Fantasy 7
By Tayla Drago
(From Weapon still causing trouble all over the Planet wherever it goes, Sephiroth watches the whole thing on his end to have the powers from his mother being the Jenova and Rei combined into one; as Mako-Yakumo watches with him too with Meteor soon to fall to this world. Thinknig it'll clear all evil to make a new place for being reborn for the humans but the aniamls and plants...It will kill anyone with one powerful hit by Sephiroth's doing. For was indeed becoming a madman.)
Sephiroth: Soon, Mother...Soon everything will be reborn and for us to become one of all with the spirits joining our cause. And you, Yakumo, I'm unable to control your thoughts to work for me, but I can still control you moments to keep silence. You've done well for me so far, let's keep up the fine work, shall we?
(With Yakumo standing still for Sephiroth stroke his hand on her face and hair.)
Sephiroth: Glad we're not that much related you and I, I could still fall for you. And Cloud wouldn't do a thing to free on what you really become. This is your destiny, Yakumo. You'll grow to like your true form than you sister did. Come now, we got work to do.
(He walks somewhere for Mako-Yakumo to follow for the only thing left with her was Aerith's staff to use as a weapon.)
Sephiroth: Keep this up, Weapon. Those fools can stop you, but they can't never destroy you. Wipe the bad to make anew. For me, for her, for Mother, for us...
(Yakumo will soon be saved...As Reno, Elena, and Rude do something in this world in saving her somehow, but what...? Elsewhere, Tifa pilots the Highwind to the southernmost continent, to the town of Mideel to landing it down there to think Cloud might be there to go and see for themselves; for her, Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, Vincent, and Cid stick together and go have a look around 'while Tifa had to use Orbit for the time being in case of a battle'. Leaving Rose and DUdley to stay with the others back on the ship in case Shinra, Turks, or Rufus would to show up.)
Barret: This the place?
Cid: Only one way to find out. Let's have a look around, shall we?
Tifa: Right. Dudely. Rose. You two stay put, we'll be back.
(As they understood her orders, they do so. As the other seven headed to the village of Mideel which look nice to be in, like hand-made town looking well to start their search for Cloud there. Tifa then moves further into the town. She sees a small dog sitting in the shadows.)
Tifa: What's the matter? Are you all alone?
(He whimpers. She kneels down by him.)
Tifa: You got lost didn't you? Separated from someone you love...? Silly thing...
(She overhears two men talking next to a small house across the street.)
"...guess it's been about a week now since he washed up here on the shore...Poor pokey-headed young thing..."
"A real mess. It was like he fell out of the sky to still be sleeping and be treated here. Poor man must coming down with something bad."
(Pointed up to them.)
"It was really sad...but weird. He was holding this really long sword."
"I dunno. The whole thing feels unlucky to me. But the amazing thing was those weird blue eyes..."
Tifa: Wha!? (It couldn't be? Rufus made the Shinra armies throw Cloud off the ship? And he' still alive from the fall and still out cold!?)
Yuffie: It couldn't be him!
Cait: But what if it is?
Vincent: Then we're lucky.
Red Xlll: Only one way to find out...Tifa.
(She runs over to them.)
Tifa: Wh...wait a minute! What did you just say!? Excuse me! That young person you were just talking about...
"Yeah...a villager found him a little ways down the coast...It was about a week ago I think."
"Yeah, poor kid...He must've drifted from somewhere pretty far away...He looked very sick."
"No, no. I think he was heart broken from the looks of it."
Tifa: Cloud! It must be! It's Cloud!
Yuffie, Cait, Red Xlll and Vincent: Cloud!?
Cid: Heh, good job, Tifa.
Barret: You sure!?
Tifa: So where is he? Is he safe!? Where is he now...?
(One of them points up ahead.)
"Yeah...up ahead here...At the, uh, clinic..."
Tifa: He's alive...! Cloud...Cloud's alive! Cloud! (This is great! After getting him back, he'll get back his Yakumo!)
Cid: Hey! Wait for us!
(She dashes off to the clinic.)
Barret: Uh...? Yo, Tifa!
(The others follow her inside. Tifa arrives in the clinic.)
Tifa: Cloud!?
(A doctor turns to face her for the others to come inside as well.)
Doctor: Here now. The way you're running around here, you'd think Meteor fell or something.
Tifa: I'm sorry, but I heard that a friend of mine was being taken care of here...
(He crosses his arms.)
Doctor: A friend...?
(He nods.)
Doctor: Oh yeah...! That young fellow!? Don't worry. Your friend is next door. But I'm afraid his condition is...
(Tifa turns her head towards a small room, separate only by a thin curtain.)
Tifa: Here?
(She nods.)
Tifa: Over here.
(She runs into the next room. A nurse is taking care of someone in a wheelchair, hidden behind her.)
Tifa: Cloud...!?
(The nurse moves. They see that the person in the wheelchair is indeed Cloud. His head is in his lap. The others come running in.)
Tifa: Oh...Cloud! I'm so glad you're safe!?
(She runs up to him. Cloud raises his head to meet her...and it falls down again. His head bobs like a children's toy. He looks around as if confused.)
Tifa: ...!? Cloud...?
Cloud: Uh... aaa...?
(His head continues to bob, cretinous.)
Tifa: Wh...what's wrong...Cloud...?
Cloud: A...Gurk...?
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: Cloud! What happened to you...!? What did Rufus do when he threw you off? Answer me!
(The doctor crosses his arms.)
Doctor: Mako poisoning...Quite an advanced case...If he was near where this monster grew out of the grounds, must've affected him badly. It made him pass out, and fell from the skies...Amazing he's still alive, with this type of problem. And...Something else on his mind to make him be in so much pain, not just from the poison. We're doing all that we can for him. It appears this young man's been exposed to a high level of Mako energy for a protracted period of time from the area. He probably has no idea who or where he is now once he pass out...Poor fellow, his voice doesn't even work. He is literally miles away from us. Some place far away where no one's ever been...All alone...Or he knew someone he thinks he won't be able to see again.
(He shakes his head.)
Tifa: Doctor...!
Red Xlll: No...
Yuffie: Heart broken and poison from the Mako energy.
Cait: Who knew that could happen to a human being...
Vincent: It doesn't affect anyone that quickly. But the mind however...Once you go into depression when something bad or anger you can get, it will take hold to destroying your body. From going out cold, having trouble speaking, head hurting, unable to move, and it doesn't give out your body to being hurt like falling off a building or something. It saves you by instict. And for Cloud...Seeing Yakumo being taken away from him while getting affected by the Mako really hurt him badly. Sorry, Tifa.
Cid: Damn...that's evil.
Barret: That's bad...
Tifa: Cloud...His heart is hurt in seeing Yakumo leave and he's been poison too.
(She kneels in front of him.)
Doctor: Ahem! Let us excuse ourselves.
(He turns to the others.)
Doctor: Listen, would you all mind...waiting outside?
Barret: ...
(They all leave Tifa alone with Cloud. Tifa leans her head against his knees, crying.)
Tifa: Why...? What do you want me to do?" Please, Cloud...Talk to me...Tell me you see me, that you can hear me...Tell me, please...Do you want to see Yakumo again?
(Cloud just bobs his head.)
Tifa: I came this far believing in the memories we have together as friends...And your love for Yakumo...And all of us. This isn't happening...! This is too cruel...What would she think if she saw you now!?
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: Oh, Cloud...! I...
(Sadness for Tifa to seeing her friend Cloud in a bad condition. Back outside, everyone else waits for Tifa to come out soon.)
Barret: So what about him? You know...Cloud?
(The doctor crosses his arms.)
Doctor: I'll say it again, he's got Mako poisoning. I've never seen a case this bad...From passing out, head hurting, unable to speak, and unable to move. An immense amount of Mako-drenched knowledge was put into his brain all at once...And the feelings would cause that porblem to get worse from within a person. In his case, I get he lost someone closes to him. So sorry to hear. I mean no normal human could have survived it...It's a miracle he did! Maybe...Just maybe...Part of him knows that this someone's still alive. Friend? Family? Pet? Girlfriend...?
Yuffie: It was a girlfriend being taken away from him.
Doctor: Oh! Oh, I see...So sorry.
Barret: No wonder...After fallin' in the Lifestream for Yakumo to being float away from him, it splash all over his body when it happened. An' bein' washed up here...That's why he fell down.
Red Xlll: Meaning from that Lifestream of water was it to get all over on Cloud?
Cait: That means it'll take affect really fast when something gets you down or upset. In that case.
Cid: Seeing his love being taken away before his very eyes.
Vincent: It's no wonder why Rufus pushed Cloud off his ship. They didn't want to get affected, they were afraid. He wasn't trying to kill him...
Yuffie: Wait...He knew there might be luck...Oh! He saved him! Huh...?
Red Xlll: Now I'm confused. If he did, why didn't he try sentencing Barret and Tifa to die in front of the whole world to see?
Barret: You got me! I don't know!
Cid: It is weird...Was this part of a plan or soemthing? Like saving you guys was a bit...Too easy for Cait and Yuffie to do before we came in.
Doctor: If that's the case, the myabe this, hope. But remember, the light of hope can be found anywhere. Listen, if you give up hope... What will happen to him?
(He turns away.)
Barret: ...hope...Hey, but honestly, man...Do I really want him to come back? What did he do for this world? What can he do for us from here on out? He may be nothing more than Sephiroth's shadow who spied on us to get to Yakumo for power. And now...! Damn it! Why did he had to take her away!?
Doctor: Is something wrong?
(He turns to the doctor.)
Barret: No, nothin'. Nothin' at all, doc.
(Tifa comes out of the clinic.)
Tifa: ...
(All turn to face her.)
Cid: Tifa.
Barret: You okay?
Tifa: Yes...I'm sorry I had you all worried. And I have something I want to tell you all...
(She goes back into the clinic. Everyone follows her. When the others arrive inside, Tifa is standing near Cloud, facing away.)
Tifa: I don't care about anything else, only Cloud...
(She turns to face them.)
Tifa: I...want to be by his side...I don't care if he still loves Yakumo, I...I want to do it...
(They understood her. If Cloud and Tifa been with each other more for only them fro mthe beginning, they would've made a couple.)
Cid: Yeah. Right. Hang in there, Tifa.
Barret: Yeah, that's probably best...For Cloud...an' for you...Until we get him to get to his Yakumo. You okay with that?
Tifa: It's fine. I want them to be happy again. For now, I'll be there for him, Yakumo would've wanted me to. I know it. I almost hurt her and Aerith once bacause of Spehiroth's powers made us go crazy, Cloud saved me. No matter how much it hurt, I can take a punch. Yakumo and I are best friends, we love Cloud. I will do this for her until then. I know that Cloud is...Still in there somewhere.
(She nods, but doesn't bring her head back up, looking at the floor.)
Tifa: I'm sorry, everyone...At a time like this...
(She looks up.)
Cid: Don't worry. I'll stop by again sometime.
Barret: You take care now, Tifa. And take care of Cloud.
Yuffie: You get him back to normal no matter what it takes.
Red Xlll: We'll do our best to getting back Yakumo to normal.
Cait: We do? Her inner Mako self will kill us!
Vincent: It wouldn't hurt unless we tried. Tifa, just stay put with Cloud until then.
Tifa: Right...I want Cloud to be happy with Yakumo again.
(Barret then turns to leave, then looks at Tifa over his shoulder.)
Barret: Oh, and uh, Tifa...I don't like askin' this but...Is he really your childhood friend? And not from jealousy to hating Yakumo that he fell in love with instead of you?
Tifa: What do you mean?
Barret: You're holding that Orbit robot of hers...
(She looks at Cloud.)
Tifa: Huh!? Well...that is...I'm holding it on for Yakumo for hi mto use for battle in saving Yakumo. As I said, they can be happy together. I almost got jealous, but...I can never ruined on what makes Cloud happy then for me to be happy for him.
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: No, I'm sure of it! They will be together and happy again!
(He nods.)
Barret: Yeah...? Okay then...Sorry for askin' that.
Cid: Now, we gotta be headin' back to the Highwind. See you two later, Tifa. We'll watch over Dudley and Rose too.
Tifa: Alright, thanks. And you guys be careful. We'll be back soon. (I will help out Cloud. It's up to me now.)
(Barret nods. Then everything soon fades into black after that. The party is gathered on the bridge of the Highwind. Barret gazes out the front bay window; Cid sits sprawled on the floor. As the other four could only hope for Tifa to get Cloud to being himself again before they reach to Yakumo into saving her life.)
Barret: What're we gonna do now? What can WE do?
(He turns.)
Barret: Huh? Ain't there nothin' we can do? An' don' go tellin' us to wait for Cloud to get better.
Yuffie: I wish...I wish me or anyone else here knew what to do next.
Red Xlll: Tifa helping out Cloud...Yakumo being rescued...Things aren't going to be so easy for us.
Vincent: We just have to do what we can do best.
Cid: You said it, Vincent.
Cait: Oh, I've got some news.
Barret: Yeah, what!? That you a spy?
(He walks up to Barret.)
Cait: Yeah...I've already told you I was.
(He turns away.)
Cait: Both Gya ha ha and Kya ha ha are up to something. Wanna eavesdrop?
(Fading away from the ship, to fading back again in to the Shinra board room. Heidegger and Palmer are seated at the table. Reeve stands in the background. President Rufus flips his hair, then turns to face them.)
Rufus: Now then...We're faced with two issues. 1. Destroy Meteor. 2. Remove the barrier around North Cave and defeat Sephiroth with his slave Yakumo becoming a monsterous Makoinoid.
(He points at them.)
Rufus: Any ideas?
Heidegger: Gya, haah, hah, hah! We already solved the first problem! Meteor will soon be smashed to bits! The plan has already been put in motion. Namely, to collect Huge Materia from each region.
Rufus: Well...
(Scarlet enters.)
Scarlet: Huge Materia is a high density special type of materia made through a special compression process in Mako reactors.
(She makes an "I caught a fish THIS BIG" pose.)
Scarlet: The energy extracted from it is 330 times the strength of normal materia. Ha, ha, ha! How about that!?
(She crosses her arms and faces the others.)
Scarlet: We will gather all the Huge Materia together and ram it into Meteor.
(She looks at Rufus.)
Scarlet: That will cause a huge explosion! Reducing Meteor literally to bits.
Rufus: You're going to ram into Meteor? Do you think we have the technology to do it?
Scarlet: Don't worry about that! More importantly, we've got to collect Huge Materia from each area.
Heidegger: We've already collected materia from Nibelheim. All that's left is "Corel" and "Fort Condor". I've already dispatched troops to Corel. Ghaa, haah, hah, hah!
(Fading away again and then back to the bridge of the Highwind.)
Barret: Corel! What else can they do to Corel!?
Red XIII: And the Huge Materia...You mean the Huge Materia, don't you? I've heard about it. When our small materia hears the larger one, something should happen. I'm certain of it. That's why we're using the power of materia in our fight...
Barret: Can't let Shinra get a hold of the Huge Materia! Besides, when Cloud gets back, I wanna show him his Huge Materia. He's gonna be shocked.
(Cait Sith bounds up to Barret.)
Cait: So, what are you saying, Barret? Even though you're always knocking him, you really want Cloud to return.
(Barret turns to watch the clouds for a moment, then back to Cait Sith.)
Barret: I ain't sayin' nothin' 'bout nothin'. You just...shut your face! Every group's gotta have a leader.
(He beats his chest.)
Barret: An' that's me! Or at least I wanna be...But I ain't cut out to be no leader. I never knew that till lately.
Yuffie: Maybe we just got to try on some until Cloud comes back.
Vincent: And Yakumo being back to normal to sensing out the rest that we need to get.
(He walks toward Cid, then looks at the window.)
Barret: An' that's what is...Cait?
Cait: Wake up!
(Cait Sith hops away, surprised.)
Cid: ...ZZZZ... hmph?
(Cid shakes his head and stands up.)
Cid: Wha? What's goin' on?
(Barret nods.)
Barret: You been chosen to be the new leader. For now.
Cid: Pain in the ass. Forget it.
Barret: But for us to fight, we gotta have Highwind, and you.
(He sweeps his gun-arm.)
Barret: We need it to save the Planet. An' who's runnin' this ship? You! That's why you're our new leader. Ain't no one else can.
(Cid considers...)
Cid: Hmm...this ship's gonna save the Planet, huh? Ain't that gonna be just a little tough?
(He rubs his head.)
Red Xlll: We don't have much of a choice right now, Cid, just until we get them back in the team with Tifa.
Cid: Oh man, that went straight to my heart. I'm a man, too! Okay, I'll do it! Everyone, follow me!
(Barret nods.)
Barret: Awright, now here's the first job. The Operation Room's waiting for you!
Cid: Yeah!
(He practically scampers off to the the Operation Room. Barret runs after him.)
Barret: Yo, Cid! When you're ready, we're headin'for the Corel Reactor. C'mon Mr. leader, you'd better hurry.
Cid: We're going! Give me a second to get ready. Rose and Dudley, keep watch as we do the rest, we're going to be okay.
(Dudley and Rose made noises to do their best. For Cid helps Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, and Vincent ready to head out to prepare on things they needed to bring on the ship.)
"Looks like you turned out to be the leader after all, Captain...Good day, Captain!"
Cait Sith: Hmmn, the Huge Materia is at Corel, Fort Condor...I'm sure there was another place that had it. Where was that...?
Red XIII: Cid. Let's visit Cloud and Tifa from time to time.
Yuffie: They'll come back in no time. I just no it.
Vincent: And then Yakumo will too.
Barret: Yo, Mr. Leader! Get your pilot ass up here!
Cid: Right...! (Never thought being leader would be so hard.)
(Cid pilots the Highwind to North Corel for him, Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, and Vincent to begin their journey to finding the first part to stopping Rufus from getting the rest. For They fight really hard from all the training they been doing lately on their adventure to becoming stronger.)
Yuffie: You go, leader!
Cid: Come on, Yuffie, I'm just doing our best. Just keep going, you guys.
Vincent: Sure brings back some memories to being here again.
Barret: For some places, maybe.
(Cid and the other five headed north to the Corel Reactor. Two Shinra guards at the entrance accost them.)
Cait: Are we...?
Red Xlll: Guess we're getting close to where we need to be.
Cid: Well, in that case...
(They all show themselves to the guards to fight against.)
"You guys are...!"
(Battle sequence with the two guards. Barret and Vincent shoots some of them to go down 'out cold wise' as both Red and Yuffie use their skills to cutting their armor apart only; only with Cid and Cait punching to whacking some sense into the rest for all over them to go out cold in seconds.)
Cid: Guess we're safe for now...!
(We hear the sound of a train whistle.)
Red XIII: Ohh!
Yuffie: What's happening!?
Barret: Da-mn!
(They scatter to avoid the train as it rumbles out of the reactor towards Corel.)
Cait: Was that a train...?
Vincent: Seems liek it.
Cid: Looks like they're takin' off with the Huge Materia in that train!
Cait and Yuffie: Really!?
Vincent: This is not good.
Barret: NO! You damn boneheads!
Red XIII: Did the Shinra beat us!?
Cid: Hey, do you know who I am? I'm Cid - that's who the hell I am! Now just let me handle it!
(They all followed Cid as he runs into the Reactor. We hear another train whistle.)
Cid: Hey, hey, hey, hey-!
(Another small train, driven by Cid, trundles out of the reactor in pursuit. As it switches it to the engineer's compartment.)
Barret: How can they even drive this?
Cid: Don't ask me...I don't know!
Barret: What!?
Cait and Yuffie: You don't know how!?
Red Xlll and Vincent: ...
(Cid grabs the levers in front of him.)
Cid: Don't worry! I can handle this kinda stuff! Two levers; one on the right and one on the left...
(He flips the levers.)
Cid: I see, just alternate the two levers up and down, right!? Judging from the enemy's speed, I'd say it'll take about 10 minutes. We're gonna fly! Hold on tight!
Barret: Don't you think we are!? (Let just hope it works out for us.)
(Barret, Yuffie, Red, Cait, and Vincent do so in fighting in someone or something in their way if it comes. While Cid, begins to alternately flip the levers back and forth. The train gains speed until it catches up with the enemy train on the other track.)
Cid: All right! We're gonna jump!
(The party makes a flying leap and lands on the last car of the train. They leap from car to car, battling mini bosses, until they reach the head locomotive. A Shinra soldier is piloting the train.)
"What the! You... you guys!"
Cid: All right- Just hand over the Huge Materia!
"Sh...Whooooa-!"
(Battle sequence with the Shinra soldier. The six heroes give it everything they had to stop any of the soldiers trying to stop them first, neither of them don't stand a chance from Cid and his team.)
Cid: You got guts comin' after me! I'll never forget you!
Barret: Got no time for that now!
Red XIII: We got it going, but what about the brakes?
Cid: I KNOW, already! Just shut up and keep quiet! If we keep this up, we'll crash right into North Corel! Let's see...if we alternately use the levers to accelerate...It should brake if we move the levers up or down simultaneously!
(Cid, moves both levers up. The train gains speed.)
Yuffie: Not good...!
Barret: Hey, it's not working!
Red XIII: We're gaining speed!
Cid: ^%# ! The other way!? Just watch, this time, I'll...
(He moves both levers down. The train gains more speed.)
Barret: Hey... HEY HEY!
Vincent: Keep pulling!
Cid: SHI-!
(He jams both levers down once more until they snap off as the train rolls to a stop scant inches from North Corel. Cid, Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, and Vincent receive the Huge Materia.)
Cid: Hey...! We did it.
Yuffie: That was too close!
Barret: Never again with that!
"You sure are brave. I'm impressed! You guys are really something!"
(Pans over to show many citizens of North Corel come out of their homes to meet the party.)
Vincent: Looks like we saved a lot of lives today.
"Aren't you the ones that stopped the Shinra Train? The Shinra was just about to destroy our lives again..."
"It might be full of junk, but this is the only home we got, Barret!"
Barret: Of... of course! We're all born and raised in the coal mines! No matter how tough it gets, our hearts burn bright red like coal!
"To hell with Meteor! We're Coal Miners, ain't we? We'll dig a deep tunnel and hide from the Meteor!"
"That's it!"
(One of them turns to a small child standing by the well.)
"Hey, kid! How about givin' somethin' to these guys fighting the Shinra?"
(He nods and comes down to meet the party.)
"I got it out of the well. Isn't it an amazing rock!"
(He gives you the Ultima materia and retreats.)
Cait: Cool, two things in one day that we got with one important thing we needed. Thanks, kid.
Red Xlll: So far, so good I would say.
"Must've been a horrific battle. You have scars all over your body. I already talked to the Inn's owner, today you can rest for free."
Barret: Thanks.
(They stay the night at the Inn. Soon they wake up to continue on their journey after resting up and saving so many lives today, that was something to stop a runaway train thanks to Cid. With Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait and Vincent helped him out all the way through.)
Cid: Well...Shall we get going, you guys?
Vincent: Yes, let's.
(They soon leave Corel, with some people thanking the team in saving their lives on the way out. Barret's glad to seeing them alright again to not that him badly anymore. Cid and the party then traveled to Fort Condor a huge, majestic bird perches atop it. A doorman greets them as they arrive.)
Red Xlll: This place...
Cait: What is it?
"We've been fighting the Shinra for a long time at this battlefield. Even now, we're still settled in for a long war with them. If you aren't in a hurry, would you help us fight them? Listen I don't want to push but, if you've got something else to do, why don't you finish that first?
Cid: I guess we'll help you.
"Really!? Then go on up and they'll fill you in on the details."
(The man runs inside the fort. Cid and the others follow him. Climbing a rope ladder, they enter in the main room of Fort Condor, where they meet an older man sitting at a wood table.)
Yuffie: Well, this is something...
"Hmmn, now this is something. I never thought anyone would climb up here. Any minute now, this will be a battlefield against Shinra. You'd better get down before you get involved."
Vincent: Really?
Cid: A battlefield, we can't overlook that.
Barret: Shinra? The hell those jackasses doing here?
Red XIII: Shinra again.
"It appears you have a problem with Shinra, too. After all, your guys climbed up here. Why not listen to what I have to say for a moment?"
Cid: All right, talk on!
Cait: We're listening. Right guys?
(They all nodded in willing to help out.)
"Do you know what's at the top of this mountain?"
Barret: Huh? Something's up there?
Cid: No matter how you look at it, that's a reactor. And on top of it, is that the Condor?
"I can see you're very perceptive. Yes, it's a reactor and a condor. Looks like there's a special materia up in the Mako reactor. Then came the condor, so Shinra dispatched the troops to get rid of it. Their plan is to get rid of the condor and the people on this mountain and to get the materia from the Mako Reactor. Unfortunately, we don't have the ability to fight Shinra ourselves. That's why we have hired soldiers to help us. As our sponsor you can help us with a contribution or by fighting alongside of us...What do you think? You want to join us in our fight?"
Cid: If you go that far, what can I say. Well, we'll be able to do something if you leave it to us.
Barret: Hey! We'll come to the rescue.
Red XIII: Got it. I'm gonna lend a hand, too.
Vincent: We'll help out.
Yuffie: Anything to save the world of course.
Cait: You people can count on us.
(They set off. As Cid and the others climb up another rope ladder to the top floor. A lookout surveys the area outside through a window.)
"So shall I let you in on our strategy? The enemy is targeting this mountain's reactor and will be climbing to reach it. We must set a trap and hire soldiers to protect the place. Well, this is all we have...this village doesn't have any money. Even if we wanted to fight, our hands are tied 'cause we're broke. To hire one soldier, we need 400 gil. So, if we have 20 soldiers, we must have 8000 gil. That is, we would like you to use your own money to hire these soldiers, buy the trap, set it up and give the commands. We know that we're asking is selfish. We sent out our wives and kids to another village. We are resigned to our fate. Let's get it back to square one. If the enemy penetrates this shed, you'll have to fight them off immediately. I know it's a one shot deal, but I'm asking for your help. Now then, is there anything you wish to ask?"
(They had to help them out on this one, in order to get something done to saving the world.)
"Ready?"
Cid: Okay, we're ready.
(The battle begins.)
"This is the deciding battle. The enemy numbers more than ever before."
(The battle begins. This is a type of Warcraft-style real-time strategy game, in buying their own soldiers and attack the enemy, trying to prevent them from reaching the top of the fort. It's a long battle, but eventually they win. Going back to the look-out post again.)
"YES! We did it! That was wonderful! Thank you! I doubt Shinra will attack now."
(The watchman laughs, then spins to look out the window.)
"A, arrgghh..."
Red Xlll: Something up.
Barret: Did we mess up?
Red Xlll: No, look up there.
(The sky around the Fort darkens, and the egg the condor is protecting cracks, then hatches. A sphere of light envelops the condor, then it bursts into flame. The energy fades, and the condor screeches and tumbles off the side of the tower.)
Vincent: What just happened?
Yuffie: That bird...Just fell down...!
"Th, that light just now...The condor...The eggs...What!? Would you go outside and see what it was?"
(Cid and the others go out to the roof of the tower. They find that the egg has indeed hatched, and a not-so-tiny baby condor is sitting in the now-empty nest. Cid grabs a Phoenix summon materia from the ground. The baby chirps, flaps its wings, and clumsily takes flight. Cid goes back inside along with the other five do as well.)
"Gone...It's gone, to making a new...Be sure and report to my father, too."
Cid: We will, I guess...
(Cid and the others go back downstairs and speaks with the man seated at the table.)
"Everyone, thanks. I really mean it. Thanks. Although there isn't anything we can give you, we'll make sure you can stop in and stay any time, so be sure to drop by. Yes, yes, and there's one thing I forgot to tell you..."
(He gives Cid the Huge Materia.)
Cid: Huh? What's this?
Barret: Damn man, it's Huge Materia.
Yuffie: Yep, a Materia is a Materia after all.
"The truth is, this is the materia inside the reactor."
Cid: What the hell did we fight for?
"We weren't protectin' the reactor, we were protectin' the condors. When that reactor was built, they forced us to help. That's how we knew what was inside the reactor. I knew this day would come, so after the Shinra left, I sneaked in and took the materia. I didn't mean to fool you, but I guess that's how it ended up. I'm really sorry."
Cid: Just forget about it. Anyway, we're still alive.
"I see. If you put it that way...we're really grateful."
Cid: So the last Huge Materia that Shinra's after's in the underwater reactor in Junon?"
Barret: We gotta get there first and beat'em no matter what!
Cid: But ya know, Shinra's probably on high alert since we always mess with 'em.
"How 'bout we take a break and go see that little fella for a bit?"
Barret: You mus' mean Cloud...
Cid: Yeah, I'm worried about Tifa; she may've collapsed takin' care of the guy. How about checkin' on 'em? Down to Mideel!"
Red Xlll: Let's go do that then.
(Several thousand gil poorer but one Huge Materia richer, they leave Fort Condor and head to Mideel. Cid and the others arrived back in Mideel. The first sound that meets their ears is that of the homeless dog's whimpering. It comes trotting up to them as soon as they arrive and rolls over at their feet. They hurry to the clinic; the dog following close behind.)
Cid: We're back!
Barret: How's Cloud doing, Doc? Anything new?
Doctor: I'm sorry...But your friend's condition remains unchanged...You'll have to be patient and wait this out. These things take time. Just like fine wine, time is of the essence.
Yuffie: Nothing, huh? Ah, man...Poor Tifa...
(They all go to the next room. Tifa still watches over Cloud. Cloud still bobs his head.)
Tifa: ...It's no use...I don't understand a thing, Cloud. What should I do...? What if you never recover for the rest of your life? Or see Yakumo again in the condition you're in?
(A huge earthquake shakes the area. Tifa falls down.)
Tifa: Eyaaah!?
(Cloud slowly lifts his head up.)
Cloud: ...They're...They're...coming...!
(Cid spins to face him.)
Cait: Wait...Did Cloud just...?
Red Xlll: He did speak!
Yuffie, Tifa, and Barret: He did!?
Cid: What did you say, Cloud!?
Cloud: Uh...aaa...?
(Cid spins toward the doorway.)
Cid: Damn. What the hell's goin' on!?
(He and the others rush out, passing the doctor and nurse, taking a duck-and-cover position. Outside, the entire area quakes and flashes randomly red and yellow.)
Cid: What's this...!? The Lifestream is gushing up from below the surface of the earth!
Vincent: Hear that?
(The planet cries.)
Cid: Damn, that's...!? This is bad...!
(Tifa comes running out of the clinic.)
Tifa: Cid...!? What's wrong?
Barret: Damn! I'm not liking this one bit!
Cid: N, nothin'! You and Cloud get inside quick!
Tifa: But I...!?
(He crosses his arms.)
Cid: Hey, don't worry about a thing. I ain't about to die that easily. None of us are!
Tifa: Be careful...!
(She turns and runs back inside.)
Cid: Okay, here I go! Watch this!
(Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, and Vincent of course follow Cid.)
Vincent: He's mad.
Cait: Cid! Wait for us! Doing something like this on your own is suicide!
(Cid runs to the town square. Moves slowly to show the Ultimate Weapon circling in the sky overhead as Mako Yakumo was above them.)
Cid: Damn! That &%$^%$Weapon! Of all the times to show up...! We will have Yakumo back!
(Panning up towards the Weapon.)
Cid: OK then, come on! You &$^%$! You guys ready!? We beat this thing, we'll save Yakumo next, got it!?
Barret: Whatever! Let just do this!
Yuffie: At least we have to hold our ground against Yakumo.
Red Xlll: In that case, I'm ready to fight.
Vincent: This ends here...
Cait: Ah...Okay! I just don't want to die! So I'll fight with you guys!
Cid: Ready then? Okay...Go!
(Boss battle with the Ultimate Weapon as Mako-Yakumo backs it up by Sephiroth's orders. It was six heroes vs. the two creatures...Barret fires like crazy with his hand gun as Vincent uses his powers to moving fast and firing away; leaving Cait to using his gambling skills to make Weapon confused for Red to strike hard like a real wild animal leaving Yuffie to throwing her kunai knives everything into the creature, and Cid to stab to whacking really hard with his staff. Then trying to attack together into one, Mako-Yakumo jumps in to shielding Weapon in time Allowing her to use her staff to strike back all of them at a time in a fast moment to defend her on coming moves; it was too much for them to withstand. From her water skills ad Weapon firing powerful wave beams that destroyed half of the forest ground into huge holes being left out deeply. A close call there for all of them. Still, they didn't give up; though Weapon was stopping them all to go down to almost getting themselves killed for Barret to keep on standing, for Mako-Yakumo to handle the rest for Weapon to take off in the skies to wait for her.)
Barret: Yakumo...Stop this...! It's us!
(Yuffie grabs hold of Mako-Yakumo's leg to hold tightly on to, she sees her crying to being confused about it. Letting her guard down, the Mako with no control cuts Yuffie down hard.)
Yuffie: Ahhh!
Barret: YUFFIE!
(Red, Cait, and Cid see the horror to striking back to saving the real Yakumo, she uses her skills to punch Cait and his machine to the ground, Red being thrown by her to swing him right into the tree by grabbing his tail, and Cid's weapon to be cut in two by hers to getting hit really hard to the head. For Vincent saves Yuffie's life in time to healing her awful wound, allowing Mako-Yakumo to using her powers to drown Vincent in her water bubble to break out in time with his dark powers, and break free. But was very weak to getting back up to fight, leaving Barret left to see this all happen.)
Barret: SON OF A BITCH!
(He goes from combat skills to stop Mak-Yakumo to dodge all of his strikes to blocking his punch that he thought almost hit her, it didn't. She grabs the arm to squeeze it tightly to be crying in pain for her to beat Barret many times without him fighting back to go down. As she removes the bullets from his gun pack to turn them into a puddle of water in seconds.)
Barret: Yakumo...Please...Cloud needs you...!
(She just stares at them for Barret sees her crying, meaning...The real one was still in there somewhere crying for help.)
Vincent: (Is she...Crying...? Then that must mean-!)
(Weapon cries out from the skies, a sign for Sephiroth wants them to come back to him. And so Mako-Yakumo takes off to leaving them their as Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, Vincent, and Cid lost the fight but got out of it alive. After that it pans to show the Weapon circle once more, lazily, then mosey off.)
Red Xlll: Yuffie, are you alright?
(Vincent helps up Yuffie.)
Yuffie: I am...But I almost died. Thanks, Vincent.
Vincent: I would've died too if I didn't think quickly back there.
Cait: That was too close! Now those two are retreating!
Cid: You &^$#&$#! You tryin' to escape? Come back here and fight like a real man!
(Barret calls out to Yakumo the best that he could do for her.)
Barret: Yakumo! Come back to us! I know the real you is still in there somewhere! Fight back! Don't let this Mako thing beat you! Please, Yakumo! Cloud needs you, we need you!
(The Weapon releases one more cry and flash of energy before departing with Mako-Yakumo too. Soon it goes right back down to the six heroes, too late to save Yakumo in time.)
Yuffie: She's gone...Looks like you saw it too, Barret, the real Yakumo that we know and love is still in there.
Barret: That's good, but...Damn, man. Just a little bit more an' I wouldda smashed him...I would've...No! We would've saved her!
Red XIII: It looks like the Lifestream has settled as well.
Cait: I sure hope so...
(The ground begins to quake once more. Cid shakes his head.)
Cait: Red! You and your big mouth!
Cid: Damn, you gotta be kiddin'...!
(Vincent already senses more danger coming.)
Vincent: (Weapon's doing...!) Everyone! Brace yourselves!
(The ground begins to quake more violently as everything flashes more chaotically than before.)
Cid: Th, this's bad...! The main stream is kickin' up! Somethin' way bigger that that last one is on its way! No good! Get outta here...!
Red XIII: But what about Tifa and Cloud!?
Yuffie: Red' right! We can't just leave them here!
Cid: Goddammit! You don't have time to worry about anyone other than yourself! You don't know when that stream'll blow...
(Something in the ground gives with a bang.)
Cid: Whoa! There's no time, hurry!
Barret: In that case...Let's hope for the best! As we should start running like we never ran before!
(They all go sprinting out of the town. Cid stops and turns before leaving.)
Cid: Tifa! Cloud! Get outta here!
(Fading back to the clinic. Tifa turns.)
Tifa: This is bad...The tremors are getting worse.
(She turns to Cloud, his head bobbing frantically.)
Tifa: Wait a minute, Cloud. (If just in case...I might have to use Orbit for this one...)
(She runs into the main room, the nurse still duck-and-covering.)
Tifa: Doctor! Shouldn't we move him somewhere rather than stay here...?
(The doctor nods.)
Doctor: Hmm...It might be safer to take refuge in a wide open space.
(Tifa runs back in and kneels in front of Cloud.)
Tifa: Don't you worry about a thing, Cloud...I'll see to it that you get somewhere safe! Yakumo will see you again to save her life.
(He bobs his assent. The Weapon roars from outside.)
Doctor: No! The structure can't take it! Hurry!
Tifa: Yes!
(She gets up and runs around behind Cloud's wheelchair.)
Tifa: Ready Cloud? We're leaving now!
(Tifa wheels him out. As Tifa wheels Cloud out of Mideel. The ground behind them cracks, then collapses, the gaps following them closer and closer. Just as they are about to exit the village, a whole section of ground gives, tilts, and falls into the Lifestream, taking Tifa and Cloud with it. Following them down, Cloud's face expressionless, as they land without a splash in the rippling green of the Lifestream.)
Tifa: Orbit! Come out! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
(Tifa summons out Orbit to witness her and Cloud falling into the water-like Lifestream to go in after them. As Barret, Red, Yuffie, Cait, Vincent, Cid, and all the town folks with the animals got out in time for their homes were all destroyed, what's to come to Tifa and Cloud if they can't get out? It was all up to Orbit to saving them.)
Barret, Cid, Cait, and Yuffie: Tifa! Cloud!
Vincent: What happened to them and Orbit?
Red Xlll: Come back!
(Tifa and Cloud slowly float downward through the green Lifestream, while Orbit program to swim under to go in saving them hopefully in time since it had no affected on machines. The green fades and Tifa is left spinning, somehow artificially, in black space. She slowly comes to a stop, then sits up as if she were sitting in a chair.)
Tifa: Wh, where am I...? What's happening? I...?
(She stands up in the nothing.)
Tifa: Where's Cloud...!? Cloud, where are you!?
(She slowly turns, without moving her feet, as if she were on a turntable.)
Tifa: Huh...what...? Who...?
(She looks around.)
Tifa: Who is it...? I can't hear...
(Odd noises fill the gloom, alive but not human. Tifa spins around.)
Tifa: Wait a minute...! I don't know anything about that!
(She turns again, slowly, in the opposite direction.)
Tifa: No! It's not me...! I'd never do anything like that!
(She stands still a moment. The sounds continue. Then she clutches her ears and shakes her head violently.)
Tifa: No! Stop it...! Stay back!
(She begins to run in a random direction, not getting anywhere but to more blackness.)
Tifa: Somebody...help! Please!
(She stops, her body lit up fire-red. The sounds change, becoming something like radio static, intermixed with the sound of machine gun fire. She drops to her knees, clutching her head.)
Tifa: Cloud, help me!
(Crumpled on the ground, she begins to spin at dizzying speeds.)
Tifa: Eyaaaaghh...!
(With a great, grating sound, she spirals into the blackness. The blackness fades. Seeing Tifa stand up, slowly. She is on a great green platform, suspended in space. Soon to be dimming slightly. Planets and stars are born and die in the background. Three paths lead away from the platform. On each one sits a twin of Cloud, his head on his knees.)
Tifa: ... Where am I...?
"Go."
Tifa: Huh? Who said that? (Am I losing it now?)
(Brightening up all over. Tifa spins and looks up to see another Cloud, high above the platform. He is transparent. He clutches his head, writhing in slow motion, suspended in midair.)
Tifa: Cloud!? What is it, Cloud? What is this...!?
(She takes a step toward him.)
Tifa: Is this the inside of your dream? Or is it...your...subconsciousness...?
"Look at the three of the Clouds at a time."
(She looks down.)
Tifa: Excuse me? Who are you?
"I'm a friend. I'll explain later. You do want to get Cloud back to saving Yakumo's life, right?"
Tifa: Ah, yes. Yes I do!
"Then choose to finding the real him. Do that, and you two will go for Yakumo t saving her next. Please hurry!"
Tifa: (Should I really trust her...?) You're searching, aren't you, Cloud? Searching...for yourself...Part of you is...While the other is still heart broken because of Yakumo. Poor Cloud. I can help too. We'll work together to try and get the real you back! We'll do it for Yakumo! I'll do it, whoever you are! Just guide me!
(She crosses her arms, contemplative.)
Tifa: But... Where do we start...?
"I shall. Choose a path, either one of them. Learn about you, him, and Yakumo's..."
Tifa: Me, Cloud, and Yakumo? I'll try...Here goes.
(She speaks to the replica of Cloud sitting to the north. Past him, we see the gates of Nibelheim, faded slightly, as if in a dream.)
"The gates of Nibelheim...Five years ago, Sephiroth passed through these gates...And...That's how it all started...?
Tifa: It connects...to Nibelheim...? That's right...It's probably best to start from there...
(Cloud stands up. Tifa comes forward, toward the gates.)
Tifa: Let's go have a look, Cloud. I know it's not easy...But I'll be right with you...
(The images floats past Tifa and Cloud to the gates of Nibelheim. Tifa arrives there.)
Tifa: Cloud...look.
(She runs into the town, nodding in the direction of the courtyard.)
Tifa: Here's the well...
(She turns another direction.)
Tifa: And that's Gramps' Inn, too.
(She runs back through the gates, stopping by a rusted old truck reposing there.)
Tifa: The only truck in town. It's been here since we were little kids, right?
(She faces back toward Cloud's mind.)
Tifa: This is the Nibelheim you remember, right?
(She nods.)
Tifa: It's the same as my Nibelheim That's why this place is...our Nibelheim."
(Cloud materializes from thin air, seated restfully on the ground. He stands, looking at his feet as Tifa comes over to him.)
Tifa: Five years ago...two men from SOLDIER came...
(She turns toward the town.)
Tifa: Sephiroth and...a young and vibrant soldier.
(She turns back.)
Tifa: Can you tell me again what happened?
(Cloud blinks out of existence, then reappears behind Tifa, still staring at his feet. She moves aside as Sephiroth comes into the town. He stands in the gates a moment, then turns back. He takes no notice of Cloud and Tifa as this movie of Cloud's memories plays out. Tifa knows of Orbit trying to save their bodies back in the real world, to still holding on to Yakumo's hairpin to show it to Cloud when the time comes real soon.)
"Now watch. Watch everything..."
Sephiroth: So how does it feel?
Tifa: Five years ago...I saw the real Sephiroth for the very first time.
Sephiroth: It's your first time back to your hometown in a long time, right? So how does it feel? I wouldn't know because I don't have a hometown...
Cloud: Ummm...how 'bout your parents?
Tifa: So this is...the Great Sephiroth.
Sephiroth: My mother is Jenova. She died right after she gave birth to me. My father...I did have a half sister and a step-father, until...She sadly passed away. I never saw him since after having two more girls in the family and a new wife. Rei, I hope she's feeling alright and it makes me wonder about the other half sisters I do have. One's Yumi and the other is called Yakumo. Well, I'm proud of them living a good life, it's for the best. My Mother would've wanted that from my second Father today to move on.
(He laughs.)
Tifa: But to tell you the truth, I thought he was very cold.
Sephiroth: What does it matter...? All right, let's go. It's fine. Different we are and I am a bit, makes us on who we are. Fine the way we're born to be really. Now lets get going.
(He turns and takes a few steps into the town.)
Tifa: I remember, I felt a foreboding about him.
(She turns to watch as the Cloud of five years ago, flanked by two soldiers, enters. The soldier on the right stops to occupy the same space as the present Cloud. He walks through the soldier, to the other Cloud, turns, and seems to meld with him as they both occupy the same space. The present and past Clouds flash subtly. Tifa shakes her head.)
Tifa: No, Cloud.
"Quickly! Guide him through! Make him understand you."
(She turns away.)
Tifa: I've been hiding it for some time, afraid that if I told you...something terrible might happen. But, I'm not going to hide anything anymore.
(With a white flash, Sephiroth, the guards, and the past Cloud disappear, leaving only Cloud and Tifa.)
Tifa: You weren't here. Cloud did not come to Nibelheim five years ago.
(She turns away. Cloud looks at the ground. With a white flash, the Tifa of then, in her kawaii cowboy hat, appears, sitting on the ground. She is slumped over, staring at the ground, perhaps playing with a pebble or a blade of grass.)
"That's it. Keep going! Don't stop!"
Tifa: I...waited. But, Cloud...never came.
(The Tifa of then stands up.)
Tifa: The two that were ordered here were Sephiroth and another person...
(The Tifa of then stands up and dashes off into the town, not headed anywhere in particular. Sephiroth appears before Tifa once more.)
Sephiroth: All right, let's go.
(He turns and walks into Nibelheim. Soon fading into white, soon to catch a glimpse of the two soldiers and the young man with black hair, in Cloud's place, follow him to being Zack himself. Fades again into the green platform of Cloud's mind. The gates of Nibelheim are no longer there. The Cloud that sat there speaks with Tifa.)
"Now, go to the next one."
(And so Tifa continues to see the rest of the true past of theirs. Also why was Yakumo important in it?)
"You mean that member of SOLDIER who came with Sephiroth wasn't...Cloud...?"
Tifa: There's nothing...I can say...You must find the answer yourself...
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: If you can't...Then you...Take your time, Cloud. Slowly...little by little, okay?
(The Cloud of Nibelheim slowly turns away. Tifa speaks to the Cloud to the left. Beyond him, we see the well in Nibelheim, slightly washed-out. The Cloud stands up.)
"That starry night at the well...What if the memory was just a lie?"
Tifa: Don't hurry, Cloud...Don't answer too quickly. Just keep checking all those small emotions and it'll come back...Slowly...little by little...Right...like the sky that night...the heavens were filled with stars...
(Cloud and Tifa float up into space as the camera flybys to the well at Nibelheim , ending focused on the starry night sky to going faded into black all over again.)
Tifa: From the beginning... OK?
(Fades back in to the well, that night when Tifa and Cloud were just children. They stand on the well, Cloud staring at the ground.)
Tifa: Try and remember, Cloud. We use to play here all the time, you and I as best friends we were growing up.
(Cloud, a child, materializes. He is sitting on the edge of the well, dangling his feet. Then Tifa, also a child, is there too, sitting across from him, exactly as on that night long ago.)
Tifa: Right, I was wearing these clothes. That's you, too. You were so small then...
(She sits down next to her childhood counterpart, who doesn't see her.)
(She and her younger self both look at their respective versions of Cloud, in perfect sync.)
Tifa: Sephiroth once said...
(The present Tifa looks down again.)
Tifa: Cloud made up his memories by listening to my stories...
(Young Tifa looks back down. She swings her feet.)
Tifa: Did you imagine this sky? No, you remembered it.
(Young Cloud shakes his head.)
Tifa: That night the stars were gorgeous. It was just Cloud and I. We talked at the well...That's why I continued to believe that you were the real Cloud.
(She looks down. She swings her own feet.)
Tifa: I still believe you're the Cloud from Nibelheim...
(In a flash, Young Cloud disappears and reappears at the highest structure of the well, silhouetted against the night sky.)
"Keep going..."
Tifa: But you don't believe in yourself...
(Tifa and her child self both cross their legs in perfect sync, as if they were the same being. The present Tifa leans back to look up at young Cloud. Panning all the way up and fades to white.)
Tifa: These memories aren't enough. Fading back in and we are back in Cloud's subconscious. The Nibelheim well is no longer visible.)
Tifa: Cloud, what about your other memories?
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: No, not memories. A memory is something that has to be consciously recalled, right? That's why sometimes it can be mistaken and a different thing...
(She looks down, into the endless green space.)
Tifa: But it's different from a memory locked deep within your heart...That's why it must be a fake. If he could recall up that memory...Because of me getting killed, but saved by a Mako being being Yakumo's sister Yumi who saved me, saved her, she saved you, and she came once more getting Yakumo to freedom and died before her eyes. I guess the cause that you were a SOLIDER like the other one was to...Sephiroth having powers like you, Cloud, to being reborn by your girlfriend's inner half of a Mako being she was born with...If only...That's it! What about some memory that has to do with me and her?
(She turns to the Cloud of the well.)
Tifa: I say something and you don't remember it...But you say something, and I remember it, too...Then we'll know that's our memory...For me almost dying, that Zack person being another SOLIDER, Yumi, Yakumo, and from five years ago!
(She nods.)
"That's it. You're doing it."
Tifa: I am?
"Keep it up!"
Tifa: Talk to me. About anything, some important memory to you...Now that you mention it, why did you want to join SOLDIER in the first place? I always thought it was a sudden decision you made...
(Suddenly, the transparent Cloud high above speaks. Tifa doesn't hear.)
"...I was devastated...I wanted to be noticed."
(The Cloud of the well echoes these same words.)
"...I was devastated...I wanted to be noticed. I saved a woman's life without knowing it was a Mako creature...To being Yakumo's older sister who saved...Three of our lives that day..."
(The next words come only from the Cloud of the well.)
"I thought if I got stronger I could get someone to notice..."
(Tifa nods.)
Tifa: Someone has to notice you...? ...who?
(The Cloud above speaks again.)
"Who...?...You know who! ...Yakumo, that's who. I didn't know it at first when I saved her. She saved me...Like nothing ever happened. Then I saw her again five years later for me to save her to saving me, that's when we met. She was cared by Aerith and her step-mother to becoming stronger and remembering...Like you and I are, Tifa.
(The Cloud of the well speaks differently.)
"Yakumo..."
Tifa: Not just me...But...Yakumo too? Why!?
"Yes. It was you, Tifa. Him and her."
Tifa: So...Yumi saved us for Yakumo to saving Cloud from almost dying, be captures by Hojo to being tested on to having ESP powers of a Mako creature, to getting free from Yumi's dying breath, and Aerith came into her life...To seeing you again, Cloud!? Is that what you're telling me!? Trying to remember!?
"Tifa... did you forget... about those days?"
(She turns away.)
Tifa: Look...I...
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: I'm sorry...But what are you talking about? I was hurt that time to almost dying from Sephiroth to losing...My memories. I still wonder how I was still alive then.
(For the first time, it shows Cloud, as a teenager, leap down from a high stone column near the place where Nibelheim once could be seen.)
"No... it's all right. You were having a hard time back then."
(Teenage Cloud looks down.)
"You were so busy with your own things, it's only natural you don't remember me back then."
(Tifa walks over to him.)
"Remember..."
Tifa: 'Back then'?
"It's important to me...I hate to say it but...It's a very important memory...Do you want to see it?"
(Teenage Cloud runs over to stand next to the third and final Cloud. Past him can be seen a window, without a building past it to look into. Tifa speaks to the Cloud seated there.)
"...a sealed up secret...wish...Tender memories...no one can ever know..."
(He slowly stands up and moves out of the way so that Teenage Cloud can run past him to stand by the window. Tifa follows him.)
"Do you want to know where this window goes to, Tifa?"
Tifa: Fine. I'll go...
(It was floating past Tifa and Teenage Cloud, through the window. We see that the window leads to Tifa's room. Inside, Tifa looks around. Both Teenage Cloud and an adult Cloud are there.)
Tifa: My room?
(Young Cloud nods.)
Cloud: It was my first time there.
Tifa: Was... it?
Cloud: I only used to look up at it from outside.
(Started flashing white. A teenage Tifa is now sitting on the floor at the foot of her bed, her head bowed on her knees. Three boys are standing around her.)
"Hey, look!"
(Soon to show out of Tifa's window. One of the boys looks out of it.)
"Cloud's coming!"
(Through the window, we see Young Cloud come running up the path. The boy turns to Tifa.)
"You think he wants to come in?"
(Tifa looks up a moment, then puts her head back down on her knees. The present Tifa speaks.)
Tifa: Was that the first day you came into my room?
(Another boy walks up to Tifa.)
Tifa: ...that's right. We lived next to each other. But I really didn't know you that well.
(The third boy comes up.)
Tifa: I've known you since we were children and I always thought we were close...
(The teenage Tifa looks up, shakes her head, then bows it back down. Then switches back to the overhead view of Tifa's room.)
Tifa: Now that you mention it...I don't recall you ever being in my room...
(Young Cloud nods.)
"Tifa always used to be with this three-some."
Tifa: ...That's right.
(Young Cloud turns away.)
"I used to think...they were all stupid."
(Tifa spins to face him.)
Tifa: What?
(He turns back to face Tifa.)
"You were all childish, laughing at every little stupid thing."
(She turns to look at her former self and friends, then back to Young Cloud.)
Tifa: But we were children, back then.
(He turns away slowly.)
"...I know. I'm the one that was stupid. I really wanted to play with everyone, but I was never allowed into the group."
(He turns to face Tifa dead-on.)
"Then later...I began to think I was different...That I was different from those immature kids.
(He turns away.)
"That then...maybe..."
(A double of the adult Cloud, motionless up to this point, materializes. It stands, flashing in and out of existence. Then it speaks. Young Cloud doesn't seem to notice.)
"Just maybe, they would invite me in."
(Tifa spins to face the double.)
"I thought that might happen, so I hung around..."
(Young Cloud speaks.)
"I was so prejudiced. And...weak."
(The double speaks again.)
"That night I called Tifa out to the well...I thought to myself Tifa would never come, that she hated me."
(Tifa nods.)
Tifa: Yeah...it was so sudden. I was...a bit surprised.
(She turns to face Young Cloud.)
Tifa: But...It's true that we weren't THAT close, but...
(She turns to face her young self.)
Tifa: After you left town, I really thought about you a lot.
(She holds her face in her hands.)
Tifa: I used to wonder how Cloud was doing. I wonder if Cloud was able to get into SOLDIER?
(She spins back to face Young Cloud.)
Tifa: I started reading the newspapers, thinking that there might be an article about you.
(Young Cloud looks down.)
"Thanks, Tifa. Tell him what you told me, later. He'll probably be so happy."
(Tifa nods.)
Tifa: OK! Huh?
"This is only the beginning to remember more for the two of you. Please continue on..."
(She looks at the double, then the original adult Cloud, then back to Young Cloud.)
Tifa: What happened on this day? Was it a special day?
(Young Cloud does a little hop.)
"This was the day..."
(After a long pause, the double speaks.)
"Tifa's mother..."
(Fades into white.)
Tifa: The day Mom died...
(Fades again to showing the window once more, and young Tifa sitting on the floor, looking very small.)
"This is what really happen to you, Tifa Lockhart. And to Cloud Strife, the real him as well."
Tifa: I want...to see...mom...
(She stands and runs out. The scene fades to the Nibel Mountains.)
Tifa: ...I wonder if there's anything beyond that mountain?
(Goes down to show Tifa, surrounded by her three friends, on the mountain path. One looks ahead at the mountain, then back to Tifa.)
"Mt. Nibel is scary. Many people have died there."
"No one crosses that mountain alive..."
(Tifa turns to face the boy. She spreads her arms skyward.)
Tifa: How 'bout those that died?
(She turns.)
Tifa: Did mama pass through the mountains?
(Tifa walks a little way along the path, then turns back.)
Tifa: I'm going!
(She spins on her heel and heads down the path. Her friends follow. Two of them pause, consult with each other, then one of the them turns and goes running home. He bumps into Cloud, who had been following, on the way. Cloud runs along the path, pauses to look ahead at Tifa and her two remaining friends continuing, then keeps following, out of sight. Soon fading back to the bridge across the deep gorge. Tifa walks resolutely across it. Her two friends look at each other, then turn tail and run home, again brushing past Cloud. Apprehensively, he takes a step onto the bridge, then, without looking back, goes sprinting across it. Going into black. When it fades in again, we see young Tifa and young Cloud lying crumpled on a white part of the area. Tifa and Cloud look on. A black silhouette of an adult Cloud stands in the center. Tifa goes up to the dark Cloud.)
"I don't remember what path I walked. Tifa missed her step. I ran to her...but didn't make it in time. Both of us fell off the cliff. Back then, I only scarred my knees, but...
(Tifa's father and another man from the village comes running up to them, shocked. Tifa's father picks her up in his arms, while the other screams at young Cloud.)
"Cloud! Why'd you bring Tifa to a place like this!"
(Cloud pulls himself up on one elbow.)
"What the hell's the matter with you!?"
(Tifa's father carries her off.)
"What if she dies!?"
(He walks after Tifa's father, leaving Cloud sitting on the ground. The dark Cloud speaks again.)
"Tifa was in a coma for seven days. We all thought she wouldn't make it. If only I could've saved her...I was so angry...Angry at myself for my weakness. Ever since then, I felt Tifa blamed me...I got out of control...I'd get into fights not even caring who it was."
(It then fades into black again.)
"That was the first time I heard about Sephiroth. If I got strong like Sephiroth, then everyone might..."
(Going back right in to Cloud's subconscious. A Cloud still sits on the steps to the window, but where young Cloud had once stood, now stands an adult Cloud. The dark Cloud stands alongside.)
"If I could just get stronger...Then even Tifa would have to forgive me..."
(Tifa nods.)
Tifa: So that was it...Sorry, Cloud. If I had only remembered more clearly what had happened, I could have done something sooner...
(The adult Cloud shakes his head.)
"It's not your fault, Tifa."
(She turns away.)
"No. It wasn't nobody's fault. Not yours or his."
Tifa: But, I remember back when we were eight!
(She nods.)
Tifa: That's it! Now I know!
(She turns back to him.)
Tifa: You weren't created five years ago. And Yumi as a Mako during the time came to our village...She saved me. That's explains everything! She saved my life first to erasing Cloud's on that day to have the power to being saved in return to being there for me as friend! My childhood memories weren't all made up!
(She turns to the dark Cloud, then to the other.)
Tifa: Hang in there Cloud! Just a little longer! You've almost found the real you! Seems that Yakumo's middle sister was helping us the entire time, she came to save our lives. Now I know!
(Both Clouds nod, then touch their faces, in perfect sync, as the same being.)
Tifa: Let's go back to Nibelheim again...!
"Yes! You two are almost there! Hurry! Hurry!"
(The dark Cloud walks into the normal Cloud, melding their bodies with a small metallic sound. The resulting adult Cloud runs toward the representation of the gates of Nibelheim. Tifa follows him.)
"The truth is right there. We almost have the answer right in the palm of our hands."
(Tifa runs into Nibelheim and motions for Cloud to follow. As they run through the courtyard toward Shinra mansion, Tifa stops.)
Tifa: Cloud, wait. Where are you going?
(Cloud turns to her.)
Cloud: ...The reactor...?
(He nods.)
Cloud: To the reactor! The Mako reactor of five years ago! For you, me, Yumi, Yakumo, and Sephiroth...It all happened there! Come on!
(He runs off and Tifa follows. Going to fade into white. It fades in; showing at the pod room at the Nibel reactor. Tifa and Sephiroth are at the top of the stairs. We see them wrestle briefly with the Masamune, then Sephiroth wrenches it away and slashes her as he did five years ago. We see her fly backwards, in slow motion, landing, broken, at the bottom of the stairs. The black-haired young man, Zack and Yumi, both come running in, his huge sword on his back.)
Tifa: Hey! It's Cloud!
(Panning upwards to show Sephiroth turn without a word and enter Jenova's room.)
Cloud: No...That's Yumi as a Mako creature...And that's...Za...ck... Zac...k. Zack...
Tifa: You remembered!
(Zack rushes, leaving Tifa where she lies, up the stairs, after Sephiroth. He sprints into Jenova's room for Yumi to follow him after using her powers to heal Tifa before she left the room.)
Tifa: That's right! It was Zack who came to Nibelheim with Sephiroth! Then, where were you, Cloud?
(After a long, silent pause, Zack flies backward out of Jenova's room, landing atop one of the pods, in exactly the same position as Tifa lies.)
Tifa: Cloud...Did you...see it all?
(There is a big flash of white. One of the guards that accompanied Zack runs into the pod room. The camera pans wildly as he glances in horror around the room.)
Cloud: I saw...everything...
(The guard dashes up the stairs to where Zack lies atop the pod for Yumi was unable to save his life in time to heal him to getting weaker. Before that, he stopping Yakumo's bloody chest from bleeding out back outside, it was healing for him to save her in time; in seeing Yumi heal her more before she and Zack entered inside before the guard went in after to follow. He then grabs Zack's sword and, laying it across his back, dashes up the stairs. Inside Jenova's room, he rushes up to Sephiroth. Sephiroth turns just in time to stabbed through the stomach by the guard.)
"Mom...Tifa...my town...the girl...give it back..."
Sephiroth: Aaarrrgh...who...who are you?
(The guard pulls his sword from Sephiroth's body. Sephiroth kneels down, clutching his stomach for Yumi to drain him of all his energy into her body for all the power she needed to survive a bit longer. The guard slowly backs away, shaking his head.)
"I had so much respect for you...I admired you..."
(Yumi finally speaks up for the first time.)
Yumi: You...You took my sister! You took our parents! I will save her! I'll save Tifa...! I will kill you!
(Panning down again to show the guard and Yumi, facing away from Sephiroth and looking down at the floor, breathing heavily.)
Tifa: Cloud!? Yumi!?
(The guard removes his helmet. It is Cloud.)
Tifa: That's what happened...
(Fading back to the Mako fountain in the Nibel mountains. Zack stands in place of Cloud. Tifa walks toward the fountain, while the guard looks on. Leaving Yumi to fly off to seeing the two would be okay, but Zack and Tifa's Father were unlucky to being saved...)
Tifa: You were there. You were watching me.
(Shifts to the Mako reactor in the Nibel mountains. The guard blocks Tifa from entering the Mako Reactor.)
Tifa: Yeah, I remember.
(Tifa turns away, her hands on her hips.)
Tifa: Hmm...so it was you. Yumi saved me...To you being okay to being healed by Yakumo to have Zack's memories from the effect and me losing my memories, that's what she did to us.
(Fades back to black.)
Zack: Hey, Cloud. If you're feeling sick, why don't you take that mask off?
Cloud: Yeah...
(Still fading in. Back on the truck carrying Zack and Sephiroth in search of their monster. The carsick guard is Cloud.)
Cloud: It was her, and Yakumo alright. I got out alive after Sephiroth murder the rest of the SOLIDER army but me, I got lucky. I saved Yakumo that day to saving me back...I owe her sister my life. I mean...Yeah...this is...me. I...never made it as a member of SOLDIER that I try to almost."
(The carsick Cloud slumps down as Zack walks energetically around the back of the truck, doing squat thrusts and the like.)
Cloud: I even left my hometown telling everyone I was going to join, but...I was so embarrassed...I didn't want to see anybody.
(Fades back to the gates of Nibeheim. Sephiroth enters the town, followed by Zack, flanked by two guards. One guard is Cloud; he has forgotten his helmet. He runs off screen, then returns, masked.)
Sephiroth: How does it feel? It's your first time back to your hometown in a long time, right?
(Fades again to the Nibelheim courtyard. Every building is in flames. The guard that was lying outside of Cloud's house moves a little.)
Cloud: I'm...
(Fades on and on to the pod room at the Nibel reactor. Cloud, his helmet off, exits Jenova's room.)
Tifa: You saved me because...You were my friend. No. My best friend ever that I ever loved. If you were happy in love with someone you cared so much, then I was happy for you.
(Cloud comes down the stairs and lifts Tifa's broken body. He gently lays her down against one of the pods.)
Tifa: All this time, you were there with me. After my Father was...! I don't believe it. From Yumi, Zack, you, and Yakumo...
Cloud: Sorry...I didn't get there...fast enough...Yumi had to help me out since she tried to save your father's and Zack's life, it was too late. She wasn't strong enough but for you, me, and her sister. I didn't know what happened to Yakumo or Yumi afterwards...I owe them so much for saving the both of us back then.
Tifa: It's all right...Cloud.
(Panning up to show Sephiroth exit Jenova's room, her decapitated head in one hand.)
Sephiroth: Just like you. Where are you, Mako!?...! You can't...Escape...Must have your...Powers...
(He descends the stairs, Jenova's head swinging back and forth, and leaves the pod room. Cloud gets up and prepares to follow, but Zack catches him as he leaves.)
Zack: Cloud...Kill Sephiroth...
(Cloud nods and leaves the pod room. Shifting to the entryway of the reactor. Sephiroth walks determinedly out of the reactor, despite his wound to the stomach. Cloud exits the pod room as Sephiroth reaches the walkway across the Mako pit of the reactor, the hole in the Lifestream.)
Cloud: Sephiroth!
(Sephiroth stops, then looks back over his shoulder at Cloud. Cloud rushes him, preparing to kill. Sephiroth neatly stabs Cloud through the chest with the Masamune. He lifts the sword, and Cloud with it, off the ground.)
Sephiroth: Don't...push...your luck...
(Yakumo comes running inside to see the horror and still weak to reach out to them both.)
Yakumo: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Cloud: (The girl!)
(Cloud dangles there for a few moments, then by sheer will alone, brings himself back to the ground. Sephiroth's sword arm begins to tremble. Cloud reaches up and grasps the sharp edge of the Masamune.)
Sephiroth: ...It can't be!
(Cloud summons his strength. He lifts the sword, still through his chest, raising Sephiroth an inch above the ground, then two inches. With all his might, he flings the sword to the side. It slides out of his body as Sephiroth flies into the wall above the Mako pool. He falls down, down, into the Lifestream. Cloud slumps to the ground and goes into white after that. As Yakumo goes over to Cloud's body to start healing him while she was still bleeding a bit.)
Yakumo: Don't die...Please...Don't die...
(That's when her healing ESP powers of a Mako started to work. Coming back in again, to Cloud's subconscious. Tifa and Young Cloud stand in the center of the great green platform.)
"Now you know everything...Well done, you two. Now for the climax."
Tifa: Cloud...
(Young Cloud turns to her.)
"Then...this is goodbye, Tifa. Until we meet again..."
(He stands straight. The three Clouds guarding Nibelheim, the well, and the window, translucent, all stand in unison.)
Tifa: ...!?
(The three Clouds turn and walk forward, forming a triangle around Young Cloud. One by one, each steps forward, fusing with his body with a small metallic sound. And the writhing, transparent Cloud high above, floats back down to earth with a hig-pitched whine. He lands crumpled before Tifa. She kneels next to him.)
"Tifa! The hairpin of Yakumo's! Show it to him now!"
Tifa: Cloud!
(He tries to stand.)
Cloud: Uh... Ah, Uh...!
(He flashes brightly, then loses the transparency in his body. He sits up.)
Tifa: Look, Cloud! Yakumo's hairpin! She's waiting for you to save her from Sephiroth. She's become a Makoinoid of doom! Please remember! She's calling out to you, the real her! You gave this to her, remember? Oh, Cloud...! Love her, remember her again! She loves you! I need her! She's my best friend...! Her sister saved you and I to letting Yakumo live, I owe her so much from almost hurting her that time, I let Aerith die because of that...! I won't let her leave us again...So please...Please...Remember her, Cloud, please...?
(Cloud holds the hairpin to start remembering Yakumo for all the good times he had with her so far of their love for each other to all come back to him, also Orbit to saving him and Tifa's life in time right now. The voice kept on calling out to them over and over again.)
"Cloud...She's waiting for you..."
(They see it was Yumi's spirit that was still alive like a ghost who spoke to them all along to guiding them through and it worked, side affected from saving their lives from five years ago worked to getting their memories back.)
Tifa: It can't be her...!
Cloud: Yumi...?
"Yep. My body's gone, but not my spirit. Hurry...Save Yakumo, save my sister. Her hairpin, Orbit, and you, Cloud Strife are the only ones can bring her back to normal, by true love. Hurry before Sephiroth keeps her as a weapon of Mako Energy forever. She'll die!"
(Cloud then sees images of Yakumo smiling, laugh, angry, sad, crying, and her powers to care one of another. Friends, family, step-family, Aerith, Zack, and Cloud, her true love.)
Cloud: Yakumo!
Yakumo: Oh, Cloud. Hi, Cloud! Yeah, Cloud! We did it! Cloud...I love you so much. Ha!
(She then goes away, for Cloud keeps Yakumo's hairpin to hold on to for he was back for Orbit to getting the two to safety for Yumi's spirit was in it the entire time to heal, it worked.)
Tifa: Orbit was...Yumi...
Yumi: Yumi Lefy's the name, my sister's Yakumo Lefy. You two can still save her, stop Sephiroth, Weapon, Meteor, and save this world. You can do it!
(Cloud now comes to, he was back to normal again.
Cloud: Uh...Yakumo...She's...Alive. Tifa...
Yumi: Now you two remember it all thanks to me.
Tifa: Oh, Cloud...! It's really you, isn't it?
Cloud: Yeah...Tifa...We finally...meet again...Orbit...Thank you. With this, I can sav Yakumo...I can see her again.
(He stands.)
Tifa: You stupid jerk! You had us all worried sick! Yakumo's a monster now for you to pass out and disappear on us!
(He crumples to the ground.)
Cloud: Sorry. Krgh...! I'm better now...! Really.
(She kneels down.)
Tifa: Cloud!? Are you all right!?
(They soon hear the cry of the planet.)
Cloud: V, voice...Their...
(She shakes her head.)
Tifa: I see. We're...in the Lifestream aren't we?
Tifa: Everyone's waiting. Let's go back, Cloud. Back to everyone...Let's go get back the Yakumo we all know and love.
Cloud: Yeah, I guess so...Come on, Tifa. Let's go home...Orbit, take us up.
Tifa: Thank you again, Yumi. For everything. We will save Yakumo for you.
(He stands as everything goes into black all over. When it fades in again, showing both Cloud and Tifa float upwards through the green of the Lifestream as Orbit carries them out of there to flying back up on shore in time. As Yumi's spirit fades away to seeing them leave, it goes white all over little by little for Yumi to say this to them on their way out.)
Yumi: Good luck, Tifa and Cloud! My machine will aid you on the rest of the journey! Go save Yakumo and be careful! Tell her that I said hi!
(Goes away after that. Seeing Yakumo just standing around back at Sephiroth's unknown area...She felt Cloud was back of the real her while the Mako self ignored it. For more tears to come down from her eyes to be suffering after hearing his voice.)
Cloud: Yakumo...Just hold on a little while longer, okay? I'm coming to save you as promise. Your knight and shining armor's coming with friends...Wait for me.
(What will happen next? At least Cloud Strife was back to normal for him and Tifa to remember it all thanks to Yumi who her spirit was still around to aid them within Orbit. The battle for the final showdown will soon be happening to saving the world real soon by Cloud and the others as the heroes of AVALANCHE!)