Chapter Three - Ahead On Our Way
It was the morning of the next day when Cloud finally awoke in his bed at the medical center in Edge.
Before his mind could process everything that had happened the night before, he noticed Reno was still asleep in the bed across from him. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought Reno was dead, but being the pest that he could be at times, Reno just wasn't that easy to get rid of.
Cloud still couldn't understand how he survived, either. He knew that he and Reno had tracked down Jenova in Wallmarket late at night and a short battle ensued. Though, the last thing Cloud remembered was his confrontation with Jenova, him falling and then everything turned white.
In that brightness, he found himself in a flower field with Aerith waiting there for him. For a brief moment, he really thought that was the end of his life and he had died, but just as he reached his hand out to hers, he woke up in that hospital room. As he found Aerith's flower held delicately in his hand, he knew it must have been some blessed interception on Aerith's part that still allowed him to be alive and breathing now.
With a heavy sigh, he pushed his head back into his pillows and closed his eyes. His thoughts swam with what had happened the night before and Jenova. He couldn't piece everything together for himself, but Jenova was back and she was planning something horrible for the planet. That was reason enough for Cloud to be concerned.
Without hesitation, Cloud knew that he had a duty to protect the planet, especially from the likes of Jenova, who had caused so much pain and suffering for so many. It was without question that he would do what he could to track the creature down and put a stop to her, like he and his friends had done so before.
But that's where Cloud stopped to think. Things were different now, for everybody. They were spread out across the planet now and weren't the traveling group of companions they once were. Everyone had their own lives to live. Barret was making up the time he'd lost with Marlene, Tifa was busy keeping the bar running, the others popped in every now and then, but for the most part, everyone seemed thankful to live their lives without having to protect the world another day.
Could he really ask or expect them to go on another adventure to protect and save the planet? If they'd done it all before, would they really want to do it all over again? And even if they didn't, could he track down and face Jenova all on his own?
He didn't really have the answer, but he knew that he was going to keep fighting on - to protect the world that Aerith had given her life to save.
Back at the Seventh Heaven bar, Tifa paced around behind the bar nervously, while Barret sat at a table and waited for a call from the hospital. The two had decided to keep the bar closed for the day and were waiting for updates on Cloud. For the sake of not causing Marlene and Denzel to worry, the two of them had decided against telling them for the time being. They figured it would be better to not cause any more mounting concern.
"I just don't understand how any of this coulda happened," Barret said. "Spike might be a dumbass and jump into danger, but he doesn't go gettin' himself hurt like that."
Barret was actually the one that had found Cloud and Reno in the early morning. When the burly man realized that Cloud wasn't in his room and that he hadn't gone out to do anything work-related, Barret grew concerned. He knew that if there was any place Cloud would go to at any time, it would most likely be Aerith's church, so in the early hours of the morning, he set off. On his way to the church, however, he saw an unusual pile of smoldering debris and Cloud's motorcycle just a short distance away from it. Upon further inspection, he had discovered Cloud and Reno's battered and bruised bodies. When he realized that they were still alive, although relieved, he immediately called for them to be brought into the hospital.
He looked around, thinking of what could have happened. From above, he could make out the top of the plate, as long as the winding highways and train tracks that circled throughout Midgar. He surmised that there must have been some accident that caused them to fall from a great height, but he'd have to wait for those answers later. However, most odd of all he found, was that Cloud and Reno's bodies seemed to be lying in a sole flower patch that somehow seemed to grow in the lifeless slums of Midgar. It was a miracle to say the least.
"His spiky little dumbass might be hurt, but at least he's still alive," Barret concluded with a huff.
Tifa shook her head and wiped the bar countertop down, "What was he doing all the way out there in Midgar so late at night, though? And with Reno of all people?"
"You know Cloud. He makes his way off all the damn time and he gives his reasons to no one," he said.
"I know, I know," she sighed.
Barret crossed his arms, "I guess we're just gonna have to wait and see what Spike has to say when he gets his head in check."
There was a sudden ring of the phone, which Tifa quickly raced up to get, expecting it to be the hospital.
"Hello?" Tifa paused, "Oh, Cid, it's you. No, no, I haven't forgotten. The place is all ready for you guys."
Barret listened as Tifa finished her phone conversation with the pilot. When she was finished, he looked up at her, "Cid on his way here?"
She nodded, "Yeah, he's leaving Rocket Town now and he's bringing Shera and Yuffie along with him for a little visit. They should be here by nighttime."
"Ah, so that was what that was all about. I forgot that they were coming," Barret said.
Tifa shrugged, "Yeah, they don't know about what happened to Cloud yet, either. I guess we're all gonna have to wait it out until they get here before we can learn what happened."
It was the early afternoon when a helicopter passed over the busy streets of Edge, heading towards the ruins of Midgar and the old Shinra Headquarters.
At the passenger seat of the copter, ex-President Rufus Shinra sat, looking down out the window and to the city below. From all the way up there, the people of Edge looked like nothing more than ants and Rufus himself didn't think much more of them, even when he didn't have too much going for him in the present.
While the company built in his family's namesake was once a thriving company that essentially kept the world spinning, like most other things, that too had changed. The name Shinra was nearly wiped from the planet. The company had fallen, people started going out of their way to avoid any sort of connection with them and the inheritance Rufus had kept through his family's company slowly started to wane, leaving him just to be a shell of the powerful man he once was before.
The worst part was that Rufus was very self-aware that all this was happening to him, though he'd never admit it and would still muster up the appearance that he had more power than he actually did.
"We're descending down, sir," the Shinra operative in the pilot's seat announced to the ex-President, as he began to direct the copter down towards the base of the Shinra Headquarters.
Rufus nodded and awaited for landing. As the copter reached its' destination, he saw Rude, Tseng and Elena arrive at their planned meeting spot at the front of the ruined Headquarters and waited further instruction from him.
Rufus emerged from the copter and was met by Tseng, who helped the ex-President down. "Sir, it's good you're here."
"Hm, yes, but it seems you're one man short," Rufus mused.
"Oh, Reno...right," Elena began, before looking to the others. "We...ran into some trouble mast night."
"Ah, so it seems that I was right to send you all in to investigate," Rufus smirked. "What happened?"
Tseng began, "Well, late last night when we went inside, we ended up...tracking down Jenova."
"Jenova?" Rufus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 'Didn't Cloud and the others destroy that creature?"
"We thought so, but it appears a part of her remained in the remains of the crater in the north and she regenerated herself fully," Tseng continued. "We tried to fight her off last night, but we were no match for her."
"Clearly," said Rufus. "All of you can't take on Cloud and his friends and you really thought you'd be able to win against a creature like Jenova?"
Elena bowed her head, "Our apologies, sir."
"What happened next?" Rufus looked around, "Where's Reno? He didn't go off and die did here?"
Elena continued, "No, after Jenova escaped, he and Cloud ended up chasing her down. We got a message From Reno saying that he had tracked her down in Wallmarket, but...that's the last we've heard of him."
"Hm, interesting," Rufus said. "Well, if Jenova is back, she certainly has a reason behind it all and it can't be good. It'll only be a matter of time before Cloud starts chasing her down, whether he wants to or not."
Elena looked to Tseng and Rude and then back at the ex-President who smirked, remaining deep in thought as if a plan was forming somewhere deep in his mind.
Rufus used all of this new information to his advantage as a plan clicked in place with a smirk on his face. "This could prove very useful to me and Shinra as a whole. With a threat like Jenova roaming the open world, that could cause quite a stir, especially if she's seeking to harm Cloud and his friends. Who knows what damage she can do?"
The Turks looked at each other, knowing that whenever Rufus had a plan in mind, it wasn't ever good for anyone outside of Shinra's inner circle.
Rufus continued, "If destruction and danger in the world was imminent, the people would be forced to put their trust in someone or something to protect them - and that's when the Shinra Company will come into play. We might not have the peoples' trust now, but if the planet was to be faced with another crisis, they'll be forced to put their belief in something powerful enough, with as many resources available to them, that would be able to protect them. After all, they'll want to put their trust where the power lies. It's not like the entire planet could be saved by one person, right? They'll want to trust a powerful entity."
Tseng squinted and scratched the back of his head, "So, Jenova's appearance is actually a good thing? Because...because it..."
"Because it forces the people having to rely on Shinra again," Rufus concluded with a smile. "We utilize Jenova to our advantage, let her cause a little trouble and leave it up to Cloud and the other to dispose of her. By the time they do, we'll have won over the people and I'll be working the way to making the Shinra Company the powerful organization it was not too long ago."
The other Turks remained silent, not entirely sure of what to make of what Rufus had planned. If Reno had been there, he probably would have thought that this entire charade was ridiculous, but they were left to hear Rufus out. The truth was, Rufus' plan was just as dishonest and corrupt as the Shinra Company had always been. Using fear and manipulation as a means of getting people to believe in something, letting other people do the job of protecting the planet while taking the credit for it, they were classic schemes taken right out of the old Shinra Company book.
Rufus knew it was deceptive and dishonest and relied entirely on the people of the world putting their false belief in him and his company, but he didn't care. If it meant rising back to claim the power he once had, that's all that mattered.
Rufus went back to the copter and opened the door, turning back to the Turks. He gestured to the three of them, "Get in."
Elena, Tseng and Rude slowly made their way over to the copter, hesitantly. The three made their way into the back of the copter.
"Where are we going," Elena asked.
Rufus smirked, getting in the copter and closing the door behind him. "We have work to do."
The copter rose and took off into the sky, leaving the shattered Shinra Headquarters behind.
Cloud had slept for most of the day, allowing time for his bruises to mend and his wounds to heal. He turned in his bed, a dream beginning to form in his unconscious world of sleep...
The rolling hills and grass plains stretched far beyond the dark sky that shrouded the plate that covered Midgar. It was late into the evening the day after Cloud and the others had escaped from the city after rescuing Aerith from the Shinra Headquarters. They had spent most of the day traveling from Midgar and headed towards Kalm Town, a fair distance away from the sectors which they had just escaped.
Many miles away from Midgar, along the endless grass fields, the embers of a waning fire illuminated in the night just next to a camp tent that had been pitched just a few hours before.
Inside the tent, Cloud's sleeping figure was sprawled out along the ground, his head cradled against the curves of his arms. The sudden sound of a branch breaking and grass rustling outside caused the blonde to stir, his eyes immediately snapping open. Instinctively, he reached for the handle of his sword that was just within reach and sat up to defend himself from the approaching intruder.
When he sat up and looked around, their newest traveling companion, Red XIII, was curled up and resting on the opposite side of the tent,, but when he saw the bundled pile of empty blankets just next to him, Cloud's heart sunk in fear.
"Aerith!" Cloud whispered out to himself in a panic, pleading that the innocent flower girl was unharmed. She was still awake right next to him when he had fallen asleep, but now, her absence from the tent at this late hour worried Cloud to no end.
Without a thought, Cloud sprung to his feet and went towards the entrance of the tent, sword tight in hand. He quickly unzipped the opening and bolted outside, only...to find Aerith perched next to the dying fire, snapping a branch in half and placing it along the flames, keeping the smoldering embers burning.
Aerith looked up from the fire at her bodyguard and smiled, "Hey you."
The blonde brought a hand to his forehead, feeling a great sense of relief wash over him when he realized she was okay. His eyes stayed wide as he caught his breath, "Aerith, you nearly gave me a heart attack! I thought something had happened to you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you up," she said with an apologetic smile. "You don't need to worry, Cloud. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
"I know that you can, Aerith," Cloud stepped out of the tent and went towards her. "But...I'm your bodyguard. I want to keep you safe at all times."
Aerith smiled to herself, happy that the flickering flames cast a glow across her face that hid her blushing cheeks.
Cloud took a seat down next to the flower girl, savouring the warmth from both her presence and from the small campfire in front of him, keeping him warm during the brisk night. A moment of comfortable silence passed between the two, only filled by the sounds of the crackling firewood and the buzzing of the night fireflies.
He turned to her then, speaking softly in question, "So, what are you doing out here so late? We're gonna be having an early morning if we're meeting up with Barret and Tifa at Kalm."
"I know. I just..." Aerith started, before looking down at her hands. She looked up at the blonde then and he saw a world of hope and wonder in her eyes. "...I wanted to see the stars."
"The stars?" He turned from her to face up towards the night sky. Above him, hundreds of stars blanketed their way across the darkness above. The bright stars dazzled brilliantly in contrast with the stark darkness that carried through the sky above.
He felt his lips twitch upwards at the flower girl's innocence. He knew that Aerith would appreciate the natural beauty of the planet, so it came as no surprise that she would stay up late to do so.
She let herself rest back, gently falling into the grass behind her. Her brunette hair pooled around her, as she looked up into the night with a warm smile. "I've...never seen anything quite like this before."
"Yeah, it's pretty nice out here, huh? " Cloud said, before turning back in the direction of Midgar. "We can probably see so many more stars because we're farther away from the city. Out here in the middle of the nowhere, there aren't a lot of towns and villages, so there isn't as much light like there is from the sectors."
Aerith tilted her head and smiled, listening to Cloud talk.
"What is it," he asked, staring down at her.
She shook her head lightly and laughed, "Nothing. I just...wouldn't know what stars would look like anywhere else. This is my first time seeing them."
Cloud tilted his head and stared at her, "Wait, seriously?"
"Mhm," she answered honestly. "I've never really even had a moment to look at the night sky before."
Cloud stared, his mouth slightly opened, as he turned from her to look back up at the stars. It was amazing how something so common and ordinary like looking at the stars meant nothing to anyone else, but to Aerith, it was breath-taking. It was new and exciting and kept her in a place of wonder, curious about all that the outside world held in store.
Cloud slowly glancedo over to her, taking in the wonder and excitement the flower girl exuded, and he couldn't help but feel the smile grow on his lips. Seeing someone so genuinely good and kind being able to appreciate everything that made their planet so beautiful and wonderful, even when it was something so taken for granted for, it made him want to travel the planet with her just to see as much of it through her eyes as he could.
He shook his head, trying not to get too deep into those thoughts. After all, they'd only really known each other for about a week now. Between escaping Turks, having bizarre adventures in Wallmarket and breaking into and escaping the Shinra Headquarters, Cloud and Aerith had quickly began to develop a closeness to each other and it felt nice. Even with all the quests and missions, the two of them sitting out here alone by the fire simply talking to one another, there was a simplicity that came with it - just being around someone you enjoyed being with.
It felt new and exciting and wonderful and maybe even a little bit scary for the both of them, but these small moments together, neither one would trade for anything else.
"I've only really seen the sky once before when I was a little girl," Aerith continued, sitting up and inching closer to the fire. "It...was right before my mother died."
Cloud frowned and looked at her, sympathetically.
"It was fifteen years ago already. She managed to save me and broke the two of us out of the Headquarters, but she was too weak to continue on," she said, looking into the embers of the burning fire. "I remember the two of us running across the top of the plate together and that was really the first and only time I'd ever seen the sky. It was dark and there was lightning. It seemed massive and endless, like it could just pull you up into it and you could be lost forever. We tried getting as far away as we could and then, my...mother died."
Cloud didn't really know what to do or how to react, especially in terms of handling others' feelings, but it felt right to be closer to her to comfort her. He shifted closer to her and let his arm rest, placing his hand lightly over hers.
Aerith felt her eyes begin to tear up, "I was kept in that building for the first seven years of my life and it all ended with my mother risking it all to save me, and she did. I'd spent every day with her, so when she was finally gone, it was like everything I'd known had disappeared. That's when Elmyra found me."
"I'm...so sorry, Aerith," Cloud said quietly, his shoulder just brushing up against hers, keeping his hand against hers to comfort her.
"It's okay," she turned to him and gave him a weak smile. She laughed lightly, "This is actually kind of silly, but for a long time when I was younger, I was actually afraid of the sky. I saw it once and it seemed so dark and scary and then my mother died. I thought that it could just sweep you up into it and that that you could be lost forever." She shook her head and looked in Cloud's eyes, "I know...it's...it sounds dumb."
"I don't think that sounds dumb at all," Cloud said back.
Aerith's small smile grew warmer then.
Cloud looked away and blushed, "For what it's worth, I think you're brave for everything you've been through. The way you grew up, running from the Turks, the way you traded your own safety for Marlene's. It's really something special."
She smiled to herself some more and playfully pushed her shoulder into his. "Well, I'm not always brave, you know."
"Well, neither am I," he said with a light smirk, pushing his shoulder playfully back into her's. "That's okay. We don't have to be."
Aerith nodded and laughed quietly, "Well, I know it's only the start of this new adventure, but it makes me feel a lot better knowing that I have my brave bodyguard with me."
Cloud blushed and smiled, "And...it makes me feel a lot braver knowing you're around, too." He got up from his seat and stretched, "I know it might be the first time you're traveling the world and seeing all these different places and things and it's exciting, but I know it can also be scary."
"I won't be scared," she looked up at him and smiled. "I'm excited to see the world I never got the chance to see before. And I'm happy I'll get to see it all with you there."
"I'll be there when we explore everything," he smiled and looked down at her. "Even the sky. And you'll realize that there's no reason to be afraid of it."
"Not when you're there with me," Aerith's cheeks blushed and she felt an indescribable warmth fill her soul. She watched as Cloud made his way to the tent.
He stretched and scratched the back of his head, "It's getting pretty late and we've gotta be up early to get to Kalm. You should get some sleep."
She turned to him and nodded, "I'm on my way, bodyguard."
"Goodnight, Aerith."
"Goodnight, Cloud," she said as she watched him enter the tent. She took a moment, a large sigh escaping from her and she couldn't stop herself from smiling. She felt this incredible feeling overwhelm her. It was slightly familiar, but far stronger than anything she'd ever felt before. It felt amazing and wonderful, like she could do anything with this incredible feeling.
And it was all for Cloud.
She rose from her seat and went over to the tent. Miles and miles above her, twinkling in the dark night sky, two stars shimmered brilliantly, matching one another perfectly.
"Cloud..."
"Cloud..."
"Cloud, wake up!"
Cloud was abruptly shaken awake by the young ninja who had gripped him by the shoulders. "Okay, okay. I'm up."
"Yuffie, go easy," Barret instructed from behind the ninja.
"Hey, I got him to wake up, didn't I," she defended.
Behind Barret were Tifa, Cid, Shera, Marlene and Denzel, who'd all come to see Cloud.
Cid stepped forward, slapping Cloud on the shoulder. "How the $# % are ya, Cloud? What the hell did ya do to go off and get #$%&^' hurt like this?"
"What Cid means to say is that it's good to see you, Cloud," Shera said, removing her coat and holding it, revealing her very noticeably pregnant stomach.
"Wow! Look at you," Tifa said, marveling at Shera. She carefully placed one of her hands on the woman's stomach.
"It's been awhile since I traveled, it's getting a little bit more difficult," Shera said, sitting herself down in a nearby chair.
"The baby must be coming soon then, right," asked Tifa.
Cid laughed, "Yep, she's a full nine months pregnant now. Little tike should be on his way any day."
"And you're so certain that it's a boy?"
"Yep, the way it's always kickin' at Shera's stomach, it's gotta be," said Cid.
"Real charming," Yuffie mocked and rolled her eyes. "If there's gonna be a mini-Cid running around, let's hope he's at least a little bit more bearable than you."
Cid sneered, "Can it! You just be #%$^&' grateful I haven't kicked you out of my goddamn house yet, you ungrateful # $%!"
Yuffie shook her head and laughed with mockery at him, "Ha. Ha. Yeah right, whatever."
"Well, looks like you can take those two out of Rocket Town, but you can't take the fighting out of them," Barret laughed. "Shera, I don't know how you deal with it."
Shera laughed and sighed, "Sometimes, I don't know how I do it, either."
The truth was that Shera couldn't turn Yuffie away or let Cid have his way and kick the young ninja out of the house. Even if Cid and Yuffie were always at odds and never got along with each other, Shera had a soft spot for the young ninja who just seemed like she wanted a place to call her home and someone to look after her. Even though it had only been a few months since Yuffie had moved in, with a new baby on the way and the constant fighting between the pilot and the ninja, their little house on the edge of Rocket Town was soon going to feel a lot smaller.
"But to be fair, I don't know how Shera's managed to put up with Cid after all these years," Yuffie laughed. "Old man's probably about to croak any day now, anyway."
"Yeah, you would like that, wouldn't ya?" Cid sneered.
Denzel moved up to Cloud's bed, "You're not too hurt, are you?"
Cloud shook his head and placed a hand down on Denzel's ruffled hair, "I got a little bit beat up, but I'm gonna be okay."
"Which brings me to ask, what the hell happened to you, Cloud?" Barret interrupted abruptly. "You disappear in the middle of the damn night and end up here with Reno of all people?"
"Thank God, finally somebody noticed me," Reno whined from his bed. "Yes, hello everyone. I'm here. My name is Reno and I'm doing just fine, too."
Barret turned back and laughed, "You calm your ass down. If it wasn't for me, you'd still be out lookin' like a mess in the slums, not that you deserve me helpin' you in the first place.
"Yeah, yeah, you're not wrong," Reno said, waving Barret off.
"We're glad you're okay, Reno," said Tifa, a bit reluctantly. "But really, what happened?"
Cloud sighed and scratched the back of his head, before he looked down at Denzel and Marlene. "I...don't think..."
Shera caught onto what Cloud was getting at when he looked at the two kids. As a soon to be mother, she understood that there were certain things that kids didn't need to be exposed to just yet. The dangers of the world and those that threatened to hurt them and their friends was one of those things.
Shera rose from her seat and went to the kids, "Marlene, Denzel, why don't you come with me?"
"But-" Denzel protested.
The woman took the two children by the shoulder and directed them towards the door that led to the outside hall. "It'll just be for a moment."
"Ugh, we always miss out on the good stuff," Marlene whined, before reluctantly being led out with Denzel.
Shera gave Cloud and the others a nod before disappearing through the door with the kids.
Once they were gone, the others turned back to Cloud and Reno. Tifa spoke up first, "Well, what is it?"
Cloud looked at his friends and sighed, "We encountered Jenova."
"Jenova...?"
"Didn't we finish off that creep right before takin' care of Sephiroth," Barret asked.
Cloud shook his head, "We fought her many times, but I guess we didn't destroy her completely since...well, she's back."
Reno rose up from his bed, "The old ex-President instructed me and some of the other Turks to look into a break-in at the Shinra Headquarters. When we started looking around, we came across Jenova in Hojo's labs. She escaped and Cloud and I tracked her down, but as you can see, she did a pretty bad number on us."
The next few minutes passed with both Cloud and Reno filling in Barret, Tifa, Yuffie and Cid on the events that had happened with Jenova the night before that ended up landing the both of them in the hospital.
"I don't know whatever Jenova has planned this time, but whatever it is, it won't be good," Cloud said. "She has a serious vendetta against all of us. Everyone on the planet, really."
"She was about ready to kill us both last night, but we got lucky somehow," said Reno.
Cloud nodded, "With a dangerous foe like her out in the world and planning on doing it harm, I can't sit back and let it happen. I'm not going to. I'll travel all over the world if it means tracking her down and putting an end to her...if it means protecting the planet."
"Damn, Cloud. Look at you," Barret smirked. "What happened to that cold, heartless dumbass who didn't give a crap about the planet and what the hell happened to it?"
"He's changed," Cloud nodded and exchanged a smirk back at his friend. "It's because of her. I'm doing this all for her, for Aerith. I'm not going to watch the world she gave her life to save get destroyed, even if it means risking my own life. I won't let everything she's done for all of us be in vain. I'm fighting for the both of us, for the planet she loved."
The friends remained silent then and looked at each other, before turning back to Cloud.
Finally, Barret shrugged, "Okay, so when are we leaving?"
Cloud looked at him, "What?"
Barret continued, "As much as you can be a spiky, little dumbass, you're our friend. You really think we're gonna let you do this on your own?"
"Exactly," Tifa added. "Besides, we have our own duties to protect the planet, too. That's what starting AVALANCHE was all about, after all, wasn't it? To protect the planet and make it better for everyone. If it involves saving the planet, we're in."
"Wait, really?" Cloud looked at all of them.
Yuffie shrugged and replied with a sing-song tone, "Yeah, sure. I have some frustration I have to get out on Jenova and some new monsters. Besides, it could be a lot of fun stealing...I-I mean, f-finding all new sorts of materia!"
"And with my airship, we'll be able to find the #$% # in no time," Cid said. "We could leave tomorrow, track that bitch down and be back before evening, no sweat."
The ninja crossed her arms, "Well, I don't know if it'll be as easy as Gramps says, but we're definitely willing to help."
Cloud looked at his friends, "I...I honestly don't know what to say. I didn't think you'd all be onboard. Barret, you have Marlene and you're still making up for time lost you had the first time you went to save the planet. Tifa, you have the bar to look after. Cid, you're wife is about to give birth and you're about to have a family and Yuffie, you're...well, I honestly don't know what the hell you're doing, but you have something you'd probably rather be doing, too, than risking your life again."
"Meh, point taken," Yuffie smirked. "But I'd be lying if I said that these adventures and almost getting killed every day wasn't a little bit of fun. Besides, as the others said and even though I hate to admit it, we're all sort of...friends now, I guess."
"Which means we're not gonna let you go off and do this damn thing on your own," Barret said. "We might all have our own lives, but sometimes there are just some things that are more important than us all, Spike."
Cloud nodded and looked at them, "Thank you, all of you."
"And with all of us fighting together, Jenova isn't going to know what hit her," Tifa said with a smile.
Cid looked at the group, "So, I got the newly repaired and enhanced Highwind waitin' outside the city. When do we start this little shin-dig?"
"We leave tomorrow," Cloud said with determination.
After the group of friends had decided to leave on their quest to track down Jenova the following day, Tifa and Barret returned back to the Seventh Heaven with the kids. Cid, Shera and Yuffie would be arriving back at the bar shortly, but Cloud and Reno had remained at the hospital for the night while they continued to recover.
At the door of the bar, Tifa flipped the sign on the window to say 'Closed'. She turned back to Barret and sighed, "Who knows when this place will be open again. We don't know how long we'll be gone for this adventure."
"Or when we'll come back for that matter. If we'll come back," Barret muttered.
She went to Barret and gave him a small squeeze on the shoulder, "Hey, don't talk like that. We'll be okay."
"Maybe. Last time, we barely escaped Meteorfall. Keep in mind the ones we lost along the way. Aerith, Biggs, Wedge, Jesse, even Dyne," Barret sighed and shook his head. "I just don't want all that to happen again. I know it's some damn dangerous business we get ourselves involved in, but I just don't wanna see anyone else get hurt. It's difficult enough bein' without Marlene."
"You haven't told her yet that you're leaving, have you," Tifa asked.
"Nope, not yet," he shook his head. "I didn't know how to bring myself to tell her that her daddy'll be leavin' her again. I don't know how she'll take it."
She sighed, "Well, you're going to have to tell her, Barret. We're leaving in the morning. Don't push it off til then cuz I think that'll only upset her more if she doesn't know sooner."
Barret nodded, feeling his tears well up in his eyes when he thought about leaving his little girl. "I already spoke to Elmyra and she's more than happy to take in Marlene and Denzel when we're away. I called her when we got back and she said she already had a room ready for them."
"That'll be good, she's looked after Marlene before. She'll be in great care with Elmyra," Tifa reassured.
"I know. Elmyra said she could use the company, too. I know I got it tough when I'm away from Marlene, but then I think how she's been alone ever since Aerith left us," Barret sighed. "I guess...I should appreciate whatever time I got with Marlene, huh?"
Tifa nodded and gave Barret a squeeze on the shoulder, "Yeah, you should go to her. Just enjoy what time you have left with her because tomorrow will come soon enough."
"Yeah, thanks, Tifa," Barret said, before he got up from the barstool and made his way upstairs for what Tifa was sure would be a tearful conversation between him and Marlene.
With a heavy sigh, Tifa cleaned up around the bar down stairs, putting away glasses and bottles behind the bar and straightening up the tables and chairs. It felt a bit weird to close and clean up the bar knowing that tomorrow wouldn't be just another day of business and that she didn't know when she'd be seeing customers in her place again.
She hoped that she was right and that she and her friends would be able to eliminate Jenova without losing anybody or anyone getting hurt, but it seemed like such an impossible feat with the planet's life in danger. She would have to hope for the best, and if not for her sake, then for Barret's.
She went to the wall and flipped the switch, the lights in the bar turning off and leaving the place in darkness.
Morning had soon come and before they knew it, Barret and Tifa were gathering what provisions they would need for the start of their journey. Barret had grabbed his satchel and filled it with a tent, potions and equipment they would use, while Marlene stood behind him, a sad expression on her face.
"Are you sure you have to go so soon, papa?" Marlene said in a quiet voice.
Barret turned back to her and looked at his daughter, sympathetically. "I'm sorry, baby. I promise I'll be back soon, Marlene. I promise."
"Okay, papa," Marlene said, going to hug her dad. She smiled as Barret wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and squeezed her tight. "Ow, papa! You're squeezin' me too tight!"
"I know," Barret smiled. "I just don't wanna let you go."
"Me, either," she looked up at her dad and smiled. "You go take care of things, okay? Denzel and I will be alright with aunt Elmyra."
There was a knock from outside the room then and Tifa appeared with Denzel, "Hey, come on. Cid picked Cloud up from the hospital and their waiting downstairs. We're ready to get going."
They had gathered their belongings and Cloud, Barret, Tifa and the kids had piled into Barret's buggy and made their way off towards Elmyra's house.
Although Elmyra had once lived in the slums of Midgar with Aerith and watched over Marlene there for some time, when Meteor came, in order to escape the chaos and destruction that ensued, she took Marlene and the two went to the town of Kalm, where she had a sister and extended family that lived there. Since then, her sister had moved to Edge when it became a more prominent city and Elmyra soon followed, finding her own home. Even with family nearby, nothing still felt quite right for the woman and she still felt lonely ever since Aerith's death.
Barret parked their buggy outside of Elmyra's home. It was a small house just on the outskirts of the city. The garden and yard of the home was filled with flowers, almost as if Aerith had planted them herself, but they knew it must have been Elmyra's doing, serving as a reminder of her daughter. The kids in the city loved to see the different types of flowers that Elmyra had planted in her lawn.
"Are we sure Elmyra can handle them," Tifa asked with a smile.
"Hey, don't talk like we're such a handful," Denzel defended.
"I'm sure Elmyra will be alright," Barret said with a smile. "She's looking forward to the company."
The group had left the car and went to retrieve Denzel and Marlene's belongings. Cloud stepped up to the entrance of Elmyra's house and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened and Elmyra appeared. Elmyra had a warm smile on her face, a sort of kindness that she carried with her that was very similar to Aerith's. She carried a niceness about her that made it very easy to get along with her. Ever since Aerith had left them, Cloud and Elmyra had seen each other a bit, the loss of Aerith and how they both missed her something they had bonded over. Having each other and the stories they could tell about the flower girl was just another comfort that temporarily filled the pain of losing Aerith.
"Oh, Cloud. It's good to see you again," Elmyra said, putting her arms around the blonde and pulling him into a tight hug.
Cloud remained still for a second, before placing a hand on Elmyra's back. "You, too."
"Don't forget about us," Barret said, leading Tifa and the kids up to the doorway of the house, their bags in his hand.
"Barret, Tifa. It's good to see you both, too," the older woman said, greeting the two. "Thank you for all you're doing. Barret's only told me a little, but I'm sure if it means protecting the planet, it'd make Aerith happy."
"Of course," Tifa smiled. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own with the kids? We'd hate to inconvenience you."
"Oh, not at all," Elmyra smiled and leaned down to greet the kids. "Marlene, look how much you've grown!"
"Elmyra!" Marlene said, throwing her arms around the woman. Elymra was practically like another mother to Marlene. She'd spent quite a bit of time taking care of the girl that the two really did love each other as a mother and daughter would. Marlene closely resembled Aerith when she was a young girl, too. Her brunette hair and the pink ribbon she'd wear in her hair made the resemblance all the more uncanny. Seeing Marlene brought Elmyra back to the time when she'd first adopted Aerith.
Elmyra leaned over and looked at the boy with a smile, "It's good to see you, too, Denzel."
Cloud tilted his head and smirked as she watched Elmyra ruffle Denzel's hair.
Denzel smirked and whispered to Elmyra, "I thought you might have forgotten about me."
Elmyra shook her head and quietly laughed, "Never."
Cloud examined the quiet interaction and furrowed his eyebrows. 'Huh?' he thought to himself. Had they known each other before somehow? He couldn't tell, but before he could think about it anymore, Barret and Tifa shuffled their way inside with the kids' bags.
"Come on, we should get you guys settled upstairs," Tifa said, directing the kids upstairs with their things.
Cloud watched as Tifa, Barret, Elmyra and the kids made their way up the stairs. He stared around the living room. It was quite a comfortable, cozy place that she had for herself. Off of the kitchen was the living room, where there was a large couch, a cat perched up on top of it. The tables and counters were filled with flowers that she'd brought in from her garden that filled the house with a sweet, floral scent.
He aimlessly wandered through the room and noticed a wall of pictures down the hall. He looked closely at the pictures, some of them were pictures of Elmyra's sister's family, other ones featured a younger Elmyra with her husband, who Cloud had learned had passed away quite some time ago.
His eyes soon softened as they came across pictures of Aerith that Elmyra had hung on the wall. There was a photo of the two of them in the garden in front of their old house. Aerith looked so little and feisty then, her big green eyes just as impressive as they were when she was a young woman. Cloud glanced over the picture with a smile. He'd found another picture of Aerith at a time when she looked to be a teenager. maybe fourteen of fifteen.
Then, he came across the most recent picture of Aerith, which looked like it must have been taken shortly before he met her. Aerith was sitting in the garden in a green dress, holding a beautiful, sunflower behind her and smiling beautifully for the photo, her loose hair falling back behind her. Cloud's eyes softened at the photo and his cheeks turned red. Aerith really was beautiful, he thought to himself.
A cough came from the hallway that alerted Cloud. He realized Elmyra was standing there and he fidgeted for a quick moment, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Elmyra! Um, sorry...I was just...just..."
"It's okay, Cloud. I know," Elmyra said, walking towards him and stopping in front of the pictures of her daughter. "I know what you're thinking."
Cloud nodded and turned back to the photos of Aerith. "I...miss her. I miss her more than anything."
"I know, me too. I miss her every day," Elmyra said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think every day without her will somehow get easier, but it never does. It's like that feeling of still being a parent waiting for your child to come back home to you, but you just keep waiting, wondering where they are. All I have now is our memories and these photos to remember her by."
He nodded and turned to Elmyra, "You know, now that I think about it, I don't think I'd ever seen a photo of Aerith before. I have a photo of everybody, all my friends, but none of her, when really...I need one of her the most."
"Well, in that case..." Elmyra went to the wall and took off the photo of Aerith, delicately tracing her fingers along the frame, a smile on her face when her eyes welled up with tears. She turned to Cloud and brought the frame up to him, "I want you to have this."
Cloud looked down at the photo of Aerith, as Elmyra extended it out to him. "Elmyra, I...I couldn't."
"You can, Cloud," Elmyra smiled and nudged the photo towards him. "I know how much Aerith meant to you...and from the moment she brought you to our home that night, I knew you'd meant something special to her, too."
Cloud grasped the frame of the picture, staring down at the photo.
"If I can continue to share my memories of her with you, if that'd make you happy, I know Aerith would be happy, too," Elmyra said with a genuine smile. "Please, take it. I have many memories and photos. The least I could do is share them with you. That's what Aerith would want."
Cloud looked down at the photo of Aerith, holding it so carefully in his hand, as if the slightest touch might ruin it. He'd always wanted something like this to remember her by, something he could keep with him to look at when he'd felt lost and broken without her. He'd had photos of everyone but her, but now thanks to Elmyra, he'd gotten something of Aerith's that he'd keep with him always.
It was a small act of kindess, but Cloud thought it was the nicest thing anybody had ever done for him.
He held the frame up to his chest and looked at Elmyra, appreciatively. "Thank you. I can't tell you what this means to me." His voice cracked.
Elmyra nodded and smiled, "I know. Just keep it close to your heart."
"I will."
The group had finished settling Marlene and Denzel down into Elmyra's house and were saying their goodbyes before setting off on the true start of this next adventure.
"Don't worry, I've got everything under control," Elmyra said, calling back from the house. "I'll take good care of them!"
"Bye, papa!" Marlene called out from the house, running up to give her dad one more hug. "Come back soon, okay?"
"I promised you I would," said Barret, before giving his daughter a goodbye kiss on the forehead. He watched as his daughter ran back into the house, as Elmyra waved them off.
Tifa nudged him, "You seem to be doing okay."
"I'm about a damn second from crying like a damn baby, so let's get on a move on, okay," Barret said in one big huff, trying not to let her see the tears in his eyes.
"Aw, you big teddy bear. You'll see her again soon," she said.
Tifa and Barret turned back to Cloud, who'd met up with Cid, Shera and Yuffie who had arrived in a buggy that Cid had kept stored in the cargo hold of the Highwind.
Cloud turned to the group, "Okay. That's it, then. I guess it's time to start looking for Jenova and finding out what she's up to so we can put a stop to her."
Barret shook his head, "Yeah, but how are we gonna track down a damn thing like that? We didn't know where the hell she went and we don't know where the hell she's going."
Cloud thought for a moment, before speaking, "Well, what did we do last time when we were looking for Sephiroth?"
"We went from town to town looking for clues that pointed us in his direction until it eventually led us to cross paths," Tifa said. "Though, it wasn't as...easy-sounding as that."
"Well, that's as good a place to start if there is one," Cloud said. "We can go from place to place collecting what information we can until it'll lead us right to Jenova. We'll finish her off then."
"Now hold yer britches just a second," Cid said. "I got this big ol' airship just waitin' to be used parked right outside the city. It'll get you where you need to go real quick with no fuss in-between."
"Hm, Cid's right, we can get to and from places faster, but we'll be missing out on possible clues in-between if we travel by land. Jenova could be anywhere," Tifa reasoned.
Cloud thought of a resolution, "Let's split up then, like last time. Some of us will travel by foot...or buggy, while the others will take the Highwind. We'll cover more ground more thoroughly that way. The group on the Highwind will fly to Junon and spend the next couple days searching the city and village, since there'll be a lot of ground to cover there. The group traveling on land will stop at the places in-between here and Junon - Kalm, the Chocobo Farm, the Mythril Mines. In a few days, we'll meet back up in Junon and discuss what we've found. Then, we cross the sea."
"I call Highwind," Yuffie cheered. "There's no way in heck I'm doing all that walking!"
Tifa nodded, "Barret and I will travel by foot then. We've done this route before. We know where to go and what's in store along the way."
Cloud nodded, "Then, I'll fly with Cid, Shera and Yuffie. Does that sound good?"
"No, it actually doesn't sound good at all." Reno suddenly appeared from behind one of the houses, shouting towards them. "You're forgetting one big factor in this little travel itinerary - me."
"What?" Cloud asked the redhead, "You're coming, too?"
"Wait, really?" Yuffie asked. "He is?"
"You make that sound so surprising," Reno rolled his eyes and laughed.
Cloud shrugged, "I just didn't think you'd want to help us."
Reno laughed, "I didn't, until that crazy alien bitch tried to kill me and then things got personal. So, I'm all for seeking out a little bit of revenge on Jenova. If that means having to play nice with you all for the time being, then that's just how it's going to have to be."
"Wow, how lucky are we," Tifa said, shaking her head and then rolling her eyes.
"You're the luckiest of all, babe, cuz you'll get to spend more time with me," Reno winked at her.
"Ugh, perfect." She replied quickly.
Cloud looked at the friends after an awkward moment, before breaking the silence, "Okay, great. Reno, you'll travel with Barret and Tifa on foot."
"Yes!" "Ugh..." Reno and Tifa replied in unison after Cloud's descision.
Cloud turned to Reno, Tifa and Barret, "Reno, you know the route from here to Junon, too. You and your Turk friends were practically stalking us for most of our journey. So, just try to stay out of trouble and try not to cause any trouble yourself."
"Will do, can't promise anything though," Reno smirked.
Cloud nodded, strapping his sword to his back, "Okay, I guess we set off to save the planet again from here."
Barret smiled and pumped his fist in the air, "Hell yeah! We gonna do this whole damn thing again! Tifa, Reno and I'll take care of things and meet back up with you in a few days. If we run into trouble or come across anything, we'll be sure to PHS ya! So, don't lose your phone, ya spiky dumbass!"
Cloud patted the phone in his pocket, "Will do. We'll take care of Junon and the harbor. You guys be safe. Don't let Reno sidetrack you."
"We'll try not to," Tifa said, as she, Barret and Reno got into Barret's buggy.
Cloud watched as the vehicle made its way off through the streets of Edge. He turned back to Cid, Shera and Yuffie.
Yuffie began to walk down the street and turned back towards the others, "K. Guess it's time to start the ball rolling and get going, huh?"
"Highwind's parked right outside the city," Cid said. "We're ready to go whenever you are, Cloud."
Cloud nodded and thought for a moment. He looked down at the framed picture of Aerith that Elmyra had given him. He stared at the picture for a moment longer before he looked up at his friends.
"Wait. Before we go, there's someone waiting for me someplace. I have to meet them there."
Cid nodded.
A short distance outside of Edge, along the rolling hills and roads, the Highwind stopped until it hovered just above the endless flower fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.
A rope ladder was thrown down over the side of the deck and Cloud lifted himself over, descending down until his feet were planted firmly against the earth. Once there, he turned to face the flower fields, the yellow and white petals of the carnations swaying in the gentle breeze. He'd gone there again that day, just like he had done every day, to see her.
Like every time he'd been there before, with every step he took into the flower field, the world around him seemed to melt away and it was like he had stepped into a different world.
As the gentle breeze swept through the field, Cloud looked around him and called out, his voice echoing down through the grasslands. "Aerith!"
There was a long silence that passed, just the sound of the wind blowing through the fields and the distant humming of the Highwind behind him to be heard.
"Aerith," he called out again, but was met by silence. "Where are you?"
"Cloud!" On the other side of the field, Aerith had materialized as a green aura circled around her. Once he'd spotted her, the glow around her faded and she looked whole. "I heard you and I came as soon as I could."
"Aerith," he whispered out to himself, his eyes growing brighter when he saw her. He raced across the field to meet her on the other end. He stopped just a few feet in front of her and took a quick moment to catch his breath, "I'm sorry I missed seeing you yesterday, but I-I had a dream about you. It was of the night we first left Midgar to leave for our adventure."
"I guess you had a dream of your first adventure right before the next one would begin," Aerith giggled.
Cloud nodded, "Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Before leaving, I had to make sure to see you here. It's Jenova, she's-"
"I know, Cloud," she closed her eyes and lowered her head, as if sensing something. "When I left you the other day, I felt a strange disturbance within the planet. I couldn't tell what it was, but when she tried hurting you, that's when I realized she'd returned. I sensed you were in danger, I had to help you, Cloud."
"You did more than help me, Aerith," Cloud blushed and his eyes softened. "You saved me, again. You always do."
Aerith smiled and leaned forward, placing her hands behind her back. "You know, I enjoy being your bodyguard, too. I'll always protect you."
"I know," He blushed and smiled when his eyes met hers, "I had to come see you again before I left. I...I don't know when I'll be able to come back here again or how long this journey will last. I'm...I'll-I'll miss you."
She tilted and looked at him with admiration, "Cloud, even though we might not be here in 'our place', you know that wherever you go, I'm always with you."
Cloud reached into his vest and retrieved the flower he had found in front of her church the other day, the flower he had purchased from her the first moment they met. He looked up from the flower and smiled at her. "I know."
She inched closer to him, her hands reaching out to hold his arms. "I don't know what lies ahead or what Jenova plans to do, but I will be there to do what I can to help you and our friends."
"It'll be up to all of us to protect the planet like last time," he nodded and smirked. "I'll do everything I can to keep it safe."
Aerith smiled coyly to herself and blushed, her hands clasped behind her back as she swayed back and forth. Along with the rest of their friends, she couldn't help but notice the change in Cloud. The once cold and stoic soldier was no more, replaced by a brave man who'd risk it all to protect the planet without a second thought.
Her eyes met his. "Oh, Cloud..."
He raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"
She shook her head and felt the crimson rising to her cheeks. She gently squeezed his arms, "I...I just...I..."
His eyes softened and his lips formed into a small smile.
She paused, feeling perhaps tongue-tied for the first time in her life. She felt the heat within her cheeks. "It...it just means so much to me that you're doing all of this."
"Well, it's because of you," said Cloud, honestly. "You've opened my eyes to a lot of things, Aerith. I'm doing this for the both of us."
Aerith nodded and smiled, "Let's go then, Cloud."
He smiled at her before turning around, looking out of the flower field and back towards the Highwind. He stayed there for a moment, looking up at the airship. "Aerith, I wish you could come with me, so I could give you that trip on the Highwind that I promised you."
Aerith leaned towards him and whispered, "It's like I said, I'm always with you." Her voice seemed to fade from around him and echoed within his heart, as she disappeared.
Cloud nodded and stared down at the flower in his hand.
He heard her voice echo from within his heart again, "Wherever you see flowers bloom, you'll find me there with you."
He nodded and slowly stepped his way out of the flower field, making his way back to the rope ladder that dangled from the Highwind. He began his slow ascent up, reaching the last few rungs, before Cid's voice came over the Highwind intercom.
"We ready to set sail, Cloud," Cid's raspy voice spoke.
"All set," Cloud said, climbing over the metal railing of the deck and beginning to pull the rope ladder up.
"All right then! We're gettin' outta here!"
Within a moment, the engines, machines and contols powering the Highwind soon began buzzing with activity and a moment later, the airship took off into the sky, blasting through the open air.
"Whoa," Cloud said, tightly gripping onto the railing, not quite anticipating the take off. The wind whipped through his spikes, as the blonde steadied his footing on the metal deck.
The Highwind soon balanced itself out against the air and flew smoothly through the sky.
"Alrighty, we'll be at Junon in no time," Cid's voice spoke again.
Cloud looked off over the side of the deck, watching the earth below begin growing farther and farther away. They passed over forests and the endless grasslands. Beyond that, he could make out the Chocobo farmlands and the twisting caverns and mountains of the Mythril Mines just beyond that.
Standing there, looking at the world below from above, he wanted nothing more than for Aerith to be standing there with him by his side.
It caused his heart to break when he thought of how he'd promised to take her on a trip aboard the Highwind one day, but he never got the chance to.
His thoughts were interrupted by Cid's voice over the intercom again. "Whoa, unusual sight, huh? Where the hell'd that come from?"
Cloud had been too distracted by his thoughts that he didn't even realize the amazing sight that surrounded the Highwind and floated down through the air.
He looked over the side of the deck and what he saw left him breathless and his heart soaring. Beautifully bloomed flowers, hundreds, in all types and colors, floated down from the skies above and encircled the Highwind, floating down back to the earth being carried by the wind.
It was like the Highwind was floating in a sea of beautiful petals that danced around the ship and flooded through the air. The beautiful blossoms grazed against Cloud's skin and circled around him, as if embracing him.
Cloud understood then. It was the start of this new adventure and he didn't know what was in store and what challenges were to be faced along the way.
But as the skies filled with beautiful flowers that floated around him, he smiled, because he knew that it was a sign that Aerith would be with him, always.