A few months later in the 7th Heaven bar. Tifa was busy cleaning the tables, while her sixteen year old daughter, Raiha sets the drinks and glasses before they opened the bar for business. The door opened and the bell that had been installed on the top of the door rang. Raiha turned to their customer. "Welcome to the 7th—"She paused and looked at their customer. "Mom it's him again!" Raiha announced. Tifa turned and saw who it was, wearing his familiar red jacket, with his red hair and brown eyes. "Well it's good to see you again." She said giving him a smile that she gave to almost all her customers. "So what will it be?" She asked. "The usual, just some cola." He replied, sitting in his on the bar stool as he rested his hands on the bar table. Tifa nodded. "One cola coming up!" She said filling in his order.
Suddenly a little spiky dark blond haired boy peeked out from arch that separated the bar from the house, and he can in and walking in. He looked at the customer. "Hi there! Who are you?" He asked looking up at him. "I'm Josh and I'm just your average traveler, and lemme guess you're Cloud and Tifa's youngest right?" Josh smiled ruffling his hair. "I'm Skye! And –Counts with his fingers– I'm five!" Skye said smiling. Josh patted his head. "Wow. You're a big boy now aren't ya?" He said smiling at Skye, who nodded and said with childish pride. "Uh huh, daddy and my big brother said I have to be the man of the house and look after my big sister and mommy while they're gone!" "And may I ask, where have they gone?" Josh asked. Skye shook his head. "I don't know." "Skye! What have I told you about disturbing the customers?" Tifa scolded him lightly. He ran back into the house and to his bedroom. "It's alright really; he seems like a nice kid, Tifa." Josh assured her. " I know, but he can be really hard to handle sometimes." She sighed."This is really good cola though." He pointed out. She gave him a small smile. "So what brings you back here?" She asks, the bar table with a wash cloth. "Well nothing much, I just wanted to meet the people who defeated Sephiroth…" He said, she froze for a second, and then stopped wiping the table. "We haven't talked about Sephiroth for years…" "Why did you have brought it up now?" She asked him, not being able to take her eyes off now seeing him as a sort of threat to the peaceful life that she made, by hiding the past from her children. "Well from what I heard there's a new group that has been trying to resurrect Sephiroth, and it's not the same as with the three remnants, but that's all I know, and I also got this phone call from a woman who claimed to an Ancient." He paused. "Aerith…" Tifa whispered so softly. He continued, " I tried to stop them myself, but you can see how that turned, these people are still trying a way to bring him back." Tifa stiffened as she heard his words and looked at him. "What about my children, will they be safe?" She asked him, concerned more about her family than anything else. "I don't know to be honest I just know." He replied. She looked at him, and let out a sigh. Tifa turned to the picture that hanged on the wall, it was taken a month after Skye had been born, we the family went to Costa De Sol for small vacation. She touched the glass frame, closed her eyes, letting out a small prayer, that they will remain safe, till her dying breath. The bell rang again, and she moved her hand away. The first thing she heard was, "Mom we're home!" She turned around and saw her eighteen year old son Zack, walking into the bar. He stopped when he saw Josh, for some reason there was something that he didn't like about him. "Oh so it's you again…" He managed to squeeze out of his mind, "I can see that Zack." Josh replied. Tifa sensed the tension in her son and walked over to him. "Zack why won't you go upstairs and give your brother some company." Tifa ordered him more than suggested. He nodded to his mother and went upstairs. When he was gone, Cloud came in, Tifa approached him, and said softly, "Cloud, this customer has information on Sephiroth that you might want to hear." He turned to her and nodded. "Go take Raiha upstairs, I'm sure you don't want her hearing this as much as I do." He said to her. Tifa nodded and quickly turned the sign to 'Closed' and lead her daughter upstairs by the shoulders.
Cloud looked at him; Josh just stared looking at the man who defeated Sephiroth twice. "So—" Cloud began, "what do you know?" He sat on the bar stool not too far from Josh, and waited for him to answer. "Well like I said, I only know that there's a group trying to resurrect Sephiroth, and I tried to stop them before, but well it didn't work out, so I was thinking I could ask for your help again." Josh explained. Cloud nodded and said, "Alright, tell me your name and your abilities, then I'll think about it." "My name's Josh Wagner, I'm traveler, and with many skill mostly with guns and I'm also a master in swordsmanship." Josh said. Cloud raised an eyebrow on the last bit and closed his eyes, shaking his head slightly. " Alright, well your welcome to stay here for the night." Cloud told him. "It'll be an honor. And don't worry I won't do anything stupid." Josh replied as Cloud stood up.
Soon Laura came out holding a book in her hand, she turned to Cloud. "I hope you won't mind?"She asked. Cloud shook his head. "No, go on a head, Laura. Make yourself at home." He said to her, she only nodded in reply and sat down on the far end of the bar. Josh raised an eyebrow, she glance at him, giving the ' I want to be alone' look, he got the message, and looked for Cloud who was waiting to show Josh his room. He followed Cloud as he was led to the guestroom, he looked at the inside when the door was opened, it was simple, with neatly made up bed, and side table that had a lamp on top of it, and it had a window on the far side of the room, despite it's simple appearance he had to admit it was pretty cozy. "I know it's not much, this was the only available space we could find." Tifa's voice suddenly rang out, as she stood behind Cloud. "This was Denzel's old room." She told him. "Denzel?"He questioned. She nodded, and this time Cloud answered. "You could say that he was our adopted son, and how he ended up in our lives is a long story." Josh nodded in understanding. "Well, make yourself at home." Cloud spoke closing the door, leaving him alone to explore the room. Josh just sat on the bed when they left, testing it's comfort, seeing it was comfortable enough he folded his arms and placed them on the back of his head and looked at the ceiling, thinking about many things, and by time he was done day had already turned to night. There was a knock on the door and Raiha came in,
"We're having some dinner,
would you like to join us? Since you are a guest…" She offered.
"Nah that's ok, I think I'm gonna just some sleep." He
told her. She nodded. "Ok, then have a good night sleep." She
said giving him a polite smile as she closed the door. Josh looked at
the ceiling again and stayed in the same position as he did before a
slowly he went to sleep. Suddenly what felt like moments later, he
heard a noise outside his door, slowly he went there and opened his
door to peek. He looked and saw Laura holding Skye's hand. "I'm
sorry, Laura…" Skye whined. She shook her head. "It's ok, it
couldn't be helped, just get in there and don't forget to wash
your hands." She reminded him. Skye nodded and didn't go in, she
thought and knew what was inside his head. "No, I'll be outside
waiting don't worry…" She said, keeping the irritation out of
her voice. He smiled and nodded again, then went into the bathroom.
Josh just continued to peek. Laura felt him and looked at his
doorways showing her crimson red eyes while giving him that
unfriendly look in her eye and. He closed his door and just went
thought whether she had or has a relation with Vincent Valentine?
Laura sighed and closed her eyes, Skye then came out of the bathroom. "Did you wash your hands?" She asked with her eyes still closed. He nodded his head slowly, she knew he was lying. "Wash them." She said. He pouted, wondering how did she figure it out, and went into the bathroom again and came out thirty seconds later. Laura opened her eyes and took his hand then led him back the bedroom. She watch Skye crawl back under his bedcovers, and closed the door softly when she was sure he was fast asleep, then she made her way back to her room, and let out a sad sigh, as she stared at the wedding ring which she still wore on her wedding finger, she closed her eyes, knowing that the wounds of her loss was still deep in heart, and the fact that their chances of having had been unfairly snatched from right under her. 'Well this is what I get for getting so close to a person… I just put the people I love in danger…' She thought in her head. Laura then shook these thoughts out of her head and sighed to herself again, then headed back to her bedroom, and had a peacefully though dreamless, since her nightmares of her wedding had come to withdraw.
The next morning came by pretty fast for them, Raiha and Tifa were the ones that were usually up early, Raiha took care of cooking breakfast, while her mother got the bar ready for business. Josh walked down to the bar and sat on a bar stool Laura sat in the far corner of the room reading a book again. This time wearing her usual attires. Raiha came to him, setting down a plate of eggs and bacon. "Would you like some toast?" She asked giving him a polite smile. "Sure." He said returning the smile. Raiha turned to Laura who sat far across the room. "Laura would you like some breakfast?" She asked her. "Some tea would be nice." Laura replied briefly, Raiha nodded and went to get some toast and make some tea. Laura gazed at Raiha for a second and went back to reading. When Raiha brought some toast to Josh, he thanked her and then looked over at Laura again and then decided to go over at her table. She glances at him, for a second before turning back to her book. "What is it?' She said still reading her book, "Nothing...You just seemed a bit… Lonely and I thought that you might need some company." Her eyes dazed at him for a second before turning back to the book." Do what you want." She replied bluntly."I just wanted to have a nice conversation with you...Instead of just reading that book." He started to eat some of his breakfast and then stopped halfway." Then start." She said, still reading. Josh just shook his head at her as he then reached over and took her book from her and then looked at the book. "So what book you are reading?" "LOVELESS." She said trying to take her book back. "Why?"She asked as Raiha brought Laura some tea, and looked. "Well well, you're really lively today." Raiha smiled. "Hmm… I haven't read that in awhile... hmmm." He said as he looked at the first act in the book. She sighed as he recited "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest." "My favorite parts of the book." He said turning the pages. She drank her tea, and he noticed her wedding ring. "Well, how's the lucky man?" He asked. "His name was Rei, and I'm a widow thank you very much." She said bluntly, while hiding her emotion, though it still hurt when she thinks about it, and somehow he managed to sense the sadness in her, "How?" He pondered. "He was killed, by monsters on our wedding day. I haven't been able to take this ring off ever since." She answered. The only words that came to Josh's mind were: "I see…"
Tifa came into the bar, and looked at Josh. "You better get ready, Cloud's waiting for you to go." She told him. Josh looked at her, perplexed. "Go where?"He asked. "To meet the others." Cloud answered this time. Josh nodded, and went out first. Cloud took a breather and looked at Tifa. She smiled, " I wish you luck." She whispered. He took a few locks of her hair in his hand, bringing it close to him. "I wish the same for you, take care of things here." He said, gently with a smile slowly walking towards the fenrir while still holding bits of her hair on his open hand, and then watching it fall back into place as he was moving away from her. He mounted on the Fenrir and puts on his goggles and rode off first, with Josh following him afterwards.
They took the usual route to the sector 5 church, and saw someone waving at them, at first Cloud thought it was Yuffie, but he saw the familiar crimson red eyes that she had, he no doubly knew who this was. "Hey! Cloud over here!" She yelled jumping and waving her arms in the air, and beside her stood the former Turk and once bearer of Chaos, Vincent Valentine. Cloud parked his bike, turned off the engine and took his goggles. "Vincent how did you—" " I have my ways." Vincent interrupted Cloud's question. "Hey who are you?" The girl asked. " Name's Josh." Josh replied. "Ok cool, hey I'm Luna! Nice to meet ya!" She said smiling. "Nice to meet you too." He said taking her hand and shaking it. Cloud reached for his phone, Vincent stopped him. " I already called the others." He paused for a second. "They should be here soon." "Yeah, and we've been waiting forever!" Luna added throwing her hands up in the air. Cloud nodded once, "Alright so, I think we should wait inside." He said to them. As usual Luna, was always the one inside first, followed by her father, Cloud, and then Josh. " Aw look at those pretty flowers!" Luna ran and squatted down to smell them. Vincent eyes gazed to his slightly immature sixteen-year-old daughter. "Aren't you going to ask how Laura is?" Cloud asked Vincent. "She's a strong young woman." Vincent started and he paused again. "She can handle herself, I'm sure of it." He finished. Cloud nodded though he didn't agree entirely with what Vincent said about Laura, but Laura was Vincent's eldest daughter and he raised her how he saw fit.
Josh looked around the abandoned church, as Luna continued to admire the flowers. He looked at her, and noticed her crimson red eyes, the same ones that Laura and Vincent had, but of course he already knew what the relation was between them. He looked at the flowers, and soon saw something was off, suddenly he felt the ground shake softly under him, getting harder and harder with in the minute. Suddenly there were growls outside the church grounds. Vincent and Cloud already had their weapons out, followed by Luna and lastly Josh. The doors swung open and just meters away from the four, stood probably hundreds of Guardhounds. "Papa… Aren't those the ones that––" Luna spoke as Vincent interrupted her, knowing what she was going to ask. " Yeah, Luna stay behind us, and keep your weapon close." He told her. She nodded and moved behind both of them and stood next to Josh. One of the Guardhounds growled and rushed forward, as the others followed. Cloud and Vincent immediately got into action and attacked. Josh pulled out his gunblade and killed forty of them, Luna threw her shruiken as it sliced twenty as it rotated like a boomerang as it flew back into her hand, she looked at the guardhounds that she killed and counted it to total the number twenty, she turned to Cloud as he continued to strike, Josh looked at him and killed one that was prepared to attack him. Suddenly in amidst of the battle, the Guardhounds growled and ran off.
All of them stopped and wondered why did they retreat. There were the sounds of cracking above where Luna was standing, and she looked up. Indeed the roof was cracking as if something was forcing it's way into the building. With one loud crack the roof broke and the debris was falling down fast, Luna got down on the ground and covered her head, prepared for it to crush her, but Josh rushed to her and used himself as a shield to protect her from the falling debris. He fell forward when the debris stopped falling. Luna shook him. "Josh, Josh." She called him. "Jeez that hurt…" He winced getting up. She smiled. "Thanks." "You're welcome." He replied, as more growls were heard on the roof. He looked up and saw more Guardhounds above them. Josh pulled Luna away as more of the Guardhounds jumped from the roof. When more of the Guardhounds came in from the roof, Josh aimed his one gun and shot forty out of sixty or seventy hounds that was coming from the roof. Luna threw her Shruiken again. " Duck!" She warned Josh.
The shruiken sliced through the Guardhounds and returned to her like a boomerang, and it almost hit Josh in the process. Josh saw the thing passed her and then just shot a hound that was behind Luna and just held the thumbs up. She giggled, and nodded.
Vincent and Cloud stood back to back holding their weapons close. Then turned to Josh and Luna. " Go, we've got things covered." Vincent told them both. "I'll keep her safe Vincent...come on Luna." He said as he led Luna to his bike and then just drove away with her also on holding onto Josh. Without noticing, there was about twenty or thirty hounds chasing the two as Josh got onto the highway.
"Josh the Guardhounds!" Luna shouted. He looked back for a few seconds. " AH! Dammit, hang on!" He said putting on more speed trying to shake then lose. Luna held on tighter as soon he put on more speed. Josh looked back again and saw that the Guardhounds were catching up with them, frustrated he pulled out his gun and aimed, shooting at least ten out all them. He then had enough and turned his bike around so he steered in reverse and shot more of the Guardhounds. Luna pulled out her weapon and threw it, she watched as it hit a few of them, but they got up again as her weapon returned to her grasp. Josh took it from there, he shot more, and watched as the Guardhounds fell one by one and this time, the didn't get up again.
Meanwhile back at the 7th Heaven... Tifa fell on the ground hard, and was slowly losing consciousness as she watched the group of Guardhounds slowly circling her children, in a small desperation she slowly reached her hand out to stop them, and immediately went unconscious after that. Zack watch as the exact moment as his mother, he stood infront of his sister and brother as his eyes widen. His mind fought to make a decision, the first option was to take his siblings out and leave his mother behind to face her fate or he could fight them off with all his got and not have enough strength to carry on… He growled knowing which option he had to take, so grabbed his sister's hand and carried his five year old brother by the waist, making a run for it. Zack kicked down the back door, trying to get away. He looked back as he was running and saw that they were still being chased. He took a leap to the skies and landed on a rooftop. Raiha and Skye were set down gently on the roof, as he found a wrench lying around, and waited for the Guardhounds to show up.
Luna mouth hung opened in shock, as they arrived, seeing the city being covered with dead monsters and Guardhounds. She heard a helicopter and looked up, seeing the words W.R.O. Luna sighed knowing that they'll handle it. She turned to Josh as he went to the 7th Heaven bar. He looked around, seeing the damage and finding it to be empty. Luna gasped and rushed in calling, "Zack! Skye! Raiha! Anybody!?" She started to panick a bit, and then Josh heard Zack's voice. He rushed out leaving Luna alone in the bar, knowing it was safer there.
Zack whacked the hounds with the wrench as trying to keep them away from his siblings. Josh heard the hounds yelps in pain and rushed forward to where the sound was the loudest with inhuman speed. He looked at one building and stopped, seeing someone on the top. He leaped up there in an instant. Josh shot all the hounds down and looked at him. "You alright?" He asked. Zack nodded, Josh looked at them and noticed someone was missing from the group. "Where's Tifa?" He asked him. "I don't know, I just saw her on the floor… I just…" Zack sighed. "I had to get my brother and sister out first…and… Dammit I just left her there!" " What kind of a hell of a son am I?" " Listen it's not your fault, you did what you had to." Josh told him, " Was there anyone else with ya?" He asked. " No just us, Laura left this morning." Raiha answered. "And where did she go?" Josh asked her " I don't know she just said she had some ' Business' to care of and just left, she always said that she doesn't want anymore blood on her hands." She told him, and then added. " She's been like this since her wedding day."and in the corner of his eye, he saw a group of five deformed men, wearing what seemed like red jackets, slowly ganging up on… He rushed to the alleyway, and brought out his gun then began firing at them, he watched as they fell to ground…dead… He looked at Tifa, who laid there unmoving with critical injuries. Josh looked around and made sure that no one was there… Slowly his eyes changed from brown to blood red, and he placed his hands on her, his body glowed red. Tifa wound's disappeared, and she looked good as new. He removed his hands away and took a breather, as Tifa slowly came to. "What? Where am I?" She moaned, and noticed that all her wounds had disappeared. She turned to Josh with one question in her mind. "How?" " Trust me you wouldn't want to know what I can do." Josh replied. She nodded, then looked around in frenzy, " Where are my children?" She panicked. "They're safe, Tifa." He assured her, as both of them heard Zack and the rest coming closer. Skye was the first one to hug her, second was Raiha, and the last one was Zack, who whispered "Sorry." in his mother's ear. She looked up at him and nodded. Tifa stood up and walked over to Josh, and then said to him softly. "I want you to take Skye to Cosmo Canyon." " So he'll be safe?" He asked. Tifa nodded. "He's young Josh, I don't want him to live with these memories. Infact, I don't want that for any of them." She said looking at her three children. "Believe me, I don't want them fighting, but Raiha and Zack needs to help us, so at least help me keep Skye away from here, so he won't have to fight and go through what Cloud and I had to go through." Josh nodded to her request, and walked over to his bike. Tifa went over to her youngest son and looked at him stare in the eyes. "Skye I want you go with Josh, ok. He's going to take you to somewhere safe." As soon as Skye heard the words 'Go' and 'Take' he held on to his sister and shook his head furiously. "No, I wanna stay with you!" He whined. Tifa placed a her hand on his cheek. "I know you do, but you have to go." She said to him. Skye shook his head again. "I wanna stay and help you…" He whispered. "Listen to me, Skye if you go with him, you'll be helping more than you know. That way I'll know your safe. So please be brave for me." She said, he nodded and wiped his tears and hugged. Tifa wrapped her arms around him. " Good boy…" She whispered in his ears. Skye let go and ran to where Josh was, he helped Skye onto the bike setting him on the front as Josh got on, knowing that he could protect him better like that. And then he looked at Tifa. "Don't worry, I'll keep him safe... I promise." He reassured her. " You better." Zack added in a brotherly way, as he folded his arms. Josh nodded and started his bike and rode off. Skye looked at the road that they took till they went out of the city. Skye somehow felt something was familiar about the place. Then somewhere in the cliffs, Skye saw someone with spiky black hair on the top of the edge waving at him. Skye blinked and looked again, but he was gone. He looked up at Josh as he concentrated on the road. Skye turned his head back on the road and just watched as they continued to drive.
By the time they reached Cosmo Canyon it was already nightfall. Josh took off his goggles and lifted Skye off the bike. He got off, and took Skye's hand, he lead him to the village near the Cosmo Canyon. "It's scary…" Skye whispered. "I know, but remember what your mom said, be brave." Josh told him. Soon he saw one of the villagers and asked. " Do know if Nanaki is still around?" "Oh him, he's up in the observatory." The villager replied. Josh nodded and thanked the villager and went up to the observatory. He went in and looked to see if there was anyone around. "Hello! Anyone?!" Nanaki stepped out. " Come now, there's no need to shout." Nanaki spoke as he approached them. Skye gasped and hid behind Josh, scared to see the 'talking dog'. Josh turned back to look at him. "It's ok Skye, he's an old friend of your mom and dad." He told. "Who are you?" Nanaki asked. "My is Josh Wagner and I was sent to bring this little boy here." Josh replied glancing at Skye for a second, " Cloud's offspring, if I'm correct?" Nanaki said. Josh nodded. "Come here, young one, let me take a good look at you." Nanaki said to Skye. Skye took a breath and slowly walked towards Nanaki. "My, you certainly have grown. The last time I saw you, you were still learning how to walk." Skye tilted his head to the side, and looked at him with wonder. Nanaki watched as Skye stood next to him, he slowly got down. Skye just looked down at him, " Well don't you want to climb on?" Nanaki asked him. Skye nodded happily and climbed on Nanaki's back. Nanaki turned to Josh, " It's best that you go and assist Cloud, I will look after things here."
Josh nodded. " Yeah, I will." He said to Nanaki, and then he looked at Skye, slowly he pulled out a red orb from around his neck and it to Skye. "Here, this is so you won't get lonely." He said. Skye looked up at him and smiles as he nodded. Josh messed up his hair again and went on his way back to Edge, noticing Skye waving at him through his review mirror.
His mouth slowly formed into a small smile as he drove, blowing a trail of dust as he rode like the wind.
