Days of Exile

This will be the last chapter.

Chapter 60 – Ending

Year 0011 (Three Years After Meteorfall)

Life was not easy at all after the destruction of Meteor. There was a new chance at life for everyone, but to maintain that was not easy. Rebuilding a new town, finding supplies and food for everyone, the dangers of the mysterious Geostigma… Not to mention the exchange of powers from Shinra Electric Company to the rising World Regenesis Organisation. Doubts, threats and concerns were raised – could WRO do a better job at managing the people of Edge?

It was not a walk in the park. For two years behind the backs of the unsuspecting Edge citizens, the fallen Shinra and the rising WRO had worked hand-in-hand. Yes, Shinra played a part in Edge's growth, but not many people knew that. In their eyes, WRO had been doing a great job ensuring peace and prosperity in Edge. Nobody was ready to share about Shinra's involvement. Besides, Shinra was more than happy to work in the shadows.

Faster and faster, days, months, years, events and progress flew by Meia. Meia could barely keep track of what had happened.

In Seventh Heaven, Cloud remained missing in action. However, Tifa and Marlene had been keeping the bar up and running, being in contact with Cloud only when there were deliveries needed. Denzel, the little boy whom Cloud found a year back, had been suffering with Geostigma, as with dozens of people around them.

Day by day, lives were taken as Geostigma prevailed. Until Shinra discovered that Geostigma was contracted whenever somebody lost hope in living. As long as people do not lose hope in their lives, they would be safe from Geostigma. By then, many people had died and more still were dying by the minute. There was no cure still.

Then, the biggest thing since the Meteor crisis happened. Three men who claimed to be remnants of Sephiroth appeared, seeking JENOVA's remains. No thanks to them, Sephiroth was somehow reborn in flesh and blood. It took the AVALANCHE and Shinra (with WRO as backup) to defeat all of them once again.

On that day, a mysterious rain fell upon the entire Planet, healing everyone of Geostigma. That rain was so heavy that it created a pool in the Midgar… in Sector Five's church… Aerith's church. Many people called this incident the "Advent", for it brought upon the Planet great salvation and the final push they needed to finally be free of everything that had happened. There were many theories as to how the rain came about. People in the WRO, AVALANCHE and Shinra also had one common theory on who brought the healing rain to them.

"Thank you, Sister Aerith," whispered Meia softly, placing a flower in the pool.

Barret and Cid joined the WRO shortly after the "Advent", which was a good contribution to the team. They had been searching for an alternative to fuel. There was no reason why humans should regress with the lack of Mako. Right before the "Advent", they found out that oil was a very close alternative to Mako fuel. That was how airships, including Cid's brand new "Shera", could fly once again.

"Alternative fuel, who knew?" said Meia excitedly to Rod, Cassie and KK when she heard the news.

"We gotta be careful though," said KK. "We don't want to waste the resources like how we did for Mako."

"True, but I find it amazing that even in this fallen state of technology, we are still discovering things every day!" Meia beamed. "For all we know, oil may not be the only thing we have that can provide energy." She stretched her hands up in the sky. "One day, WRO will work out something to use the sun's power or something." She laughed. "Then we'll have unlimited power!"

Rod knocked her head, shaking his head. "You seriously daydream too much."

Yet in those simple two to three years, so much has changed. Lives had changed for everyone the moment Meia and the others left Shinra, yet they tried to live as normally as they could ever hope for.

For Meia, life was anything but peaceful. Day in and out, she had issues to settle and people to handle with. If she were to keep a journal like what her father did, there would be no space in her room to contain all her journals.

"That's because you tend to over-describe, little Meia," said Reno, resting his chin on her head. "What with all that excessive detail, no one needs to know that." He squeezed her chin. "And it's not like you will forget them. If I were to keep a journal, it'll be easy. Day One. Bashed some groupies, drank at the bar with Rude. Day Two. Bashed some groupies, had a great time with Meia…" He paused, pretending to consider. "… though she was less passionate than last night."

"I resent that," pouted Meia, lifting her head for a kiss. "Anyway, journaling is out of the question, Reno, and you know that."

"The vice-commander ain't as young as she used to be, huh?"

"Some people need rest. Period." Meia complained, though not very reluctantly. Many things have happened in the last ten years. With that, will be many more years of repair and restoration. She was exhausted over the last few years, but she was glad that she was involved. She was a part of restoring all the pain and destruction Shinra had caused for decades. Even if they were simple tasks like fixing pipes or big-scale projects like building hospitals, Meia was thankful for Reeve for giving her a chance at doing what she wanted to do.

There were a few things that she wished she could have done better, namely Shelke. It had been many years since her disappearance. It haunted her, more often now that her life was in balance and that she stopped having nightmares of her killings. Meia wished that she had been more proactive in finding her. How could a young girl just disappear from a group of SOLDIER escorts in just one morning?

When Shalua Rui joined WRO, Meia's guilt increased. So much so that she could not bring herself up to tell Shalua that she had met Shelke shortly after her disappearance from Junon. Shalua had believed that her sister was still alive. It showed in the determination and her conviction that the scientist showed in her job. She had believed that joining WRO, a company that carried the former ghost of Shinra Electric Company, would give her clues to finding Shelke.

Meia could not bear to cause her anymore grief.

A year after the "Advent", another shocking discovery was made. A team of citizens were wandering in the ruins of Shinra Building and discovered a group of people living underneath the Shinra Building for the last three years. The revelation of who they were chilled everyone to the bone.

Deepground. A secret Shinra force that not even the Turks or Rufus Shinra knew. The only person who knew of their existence was Veld and some selected executives. Reeve had no idea who they were either until Veld filled him in on the information himself.

The events of Deepground and the Tsviets rising against WRO created another ruckus over Midgar, but Meia was not there in that two week-long pandemonium. Reeve Tuesti had sent Meia a few days prior to Wutai, for the discovery for something else, but that would be another story.

When Meia returned from Wutai, the events of Deepground that led to the summoning of the Omega WEAPON had just ended. "Get some sleep, Meia," said Reeve Tuesti.

"But I…" Meia fought back her tears. "Lindy-"

"I know." Reeve shook his head. Meia looked away, not wanting to relive the memories of what happened in Wutai. "Tell the team to rest for three days. Kent and I will clean up the mess here. It's an order."

For once, Meia did not argue. The events of what happened in Wutai made her too tired, too angry, too defeated to do so.

"Yes, yes… I know, I guess I need to come over as soon as possible," smiled Meia, her cell phone pressed against her ear. "I promise I will… eventually." She chuckled at the response of the caller. Reno glanced at her and turned his finger in wide circles, signaling her to end the call quickly. "Hey Heidi, I've got to go now… Yeah, Reno pulled me out of my bed this morning for some reason…" She cast a suspicious glance at Reno, who shrugged. "I'll call you later. Once again, congratulations on baby Maurice!"

As she hung up, she told Reno the happy news of Randy and Heidi's new arrival. He took her hand and they walked out of Rod's garage together. Although they made light conversation, it was obvious to Meia that Reno was urgent about something.

"Seriously now, where are we going?" asked Meia. She was not in the mood for anything, to be honest. It was bad enough that she had to sound extremely happy for Heidi's new baby (not that she was not) so that Heidi would not suspect anything. Reeve had given her three days off for a reason. What could be so urgent that Reno had to wake her up at eight in the morning on her day off?

Reno stopped and looked at her. "Okay, I have to tell you this…" He paused. "We found Lindy."

Meia's blood chilled for a brief moment. "… Really?" She uttered, feeling her heart warm up again.

"Yes." Reno nodded. "She's fine. So… don't worry."

She hugged Reno fiercely. "I'm so glad…" She breathed. "I don't want to lose another-"

"I know…" Reno squeezed her back tightly.

Meia looked up at Reno expectantly. "So am I going to see Lindy now?"

Reno's response was a grin. "Nope, but it's something better. You'll see once we get there." That was all Reno said, no matter how hard Meia tried to probe him. They stopped outside Seventh Heaven. "Are you ready?" He asked with a cheeky and excited smile. All Meia gave was a look of confusion, but that was enough for Reno. They pushed the door and walked in.

When Meia laid eyes upon the girl sitting by the bar counter, her eyes widened in shock. Uttering the one name that she had unspoken in many years, the girl with the copper orange hair looked up and stared at Meia with her grey-blue eyes. Recognition flashed between both people.

"Vincent Valentine found her," explained Reno. "Apparently, she was in WRO while we were in Wutai so you did not see her at all." He grinned. "… Now you know."

His voice sounded like a buzz in the background. Meia walked slowly, but she picked up her pace. Faster and faster… Until she almost tackled the girl in a hug, not caring if the glass on the counter toppled over, its contents spilling out.

"It's you…" the girl choked. She had forgotten Meia's name over the years of brainwash and experimentation. But she did not forget her face. No amount of Mako and influence can ever take away the face of her very first friend in Shinra.

"Shelke…" Meia cried. She hid her face in the girl's shoulder. "Shelke… It's you… You're alive…" She wept tears of joy, for the final burden in her heart has been set down.

The happy ending has finally begun.

Thank you, everyone, for the last three and a half years.

At last, that ending! This ending was with me since the inception of Shelke. It was seriously difficult to keep this ending within me because I'm positively dying to share with all of you what happened in the end, but I'm super glad that I've pulled through.

I'm sorry that this chapter looked more like a summary of Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus, but well, I am eager to wrap up. If you are wondering, of course there is a story behind what happened when Meia and some others went to Wutai. We may never know what that story is, though. Of course, life will go on happily for them but it's time to close that book and let them live their earned lives to the end.

I'm going to try and thank as many people as I can, so bear with me for the long text.

Firstly, I have to thank the people who helped me in my research. You will be able to find their links on my blog.

The ever awesome Final Fantasy Wikia, for their information. Sometimes, I play cheat and read up on the characters' personalities instead of figuring it out myself. What a naughty author I have been.

Big thanks to these youtubers who post their walkthroughs: GoingCrazy201, FuzzfingerGaming, HcloudXIII and VincentValentineFVII. There may be more but I can't remember. The horror.

I cannot forget "lhyeung" for uploading the translated "On The Way To A Smile" novellas. Without him, half of this story will not be depicted as well for me to retell for you. He has taken down the viewing of the stories on his website.

Next, I would like to thank YOU! You awesome reviewers who take the time to write a sentence (or an essay for some of you *wink*) just to make my day extra special. I'm also talking about those silent but amazing people who show their support by following or favouriting my story! If I have never privately messaged you to thank you, I sincerely apologise, as I'm really busy and the mail notification gets tided over by other mail.

Some of you came to "Days of Exile" because you were the pioneer reviewers from "I Want To Be A Turk". If it weren't your support, "Days of Exile" would have NEVER been published. I know that we have come a long way and that I have lost many of you during the three year period. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the company and friendship that you've provided. I hope that all of you are doing well. I want to name you all but I think you guys want your privacy, huh? So unlike "I Want To Be A Turk", I will not mention names.

To JST (a friend of mine in real life who reads my stories, he say, 'whenever he's free') Thank you for reading and commenting my stories faithfully. I hope I have entertained you enough! And I pray you will find your Meia in your life too! Hehe.

Once again, as always with this story, some honourable mentions to these fanfiction writers. One being UnchainedMelody94, who first inspired me to write "I Want To Be A Turk!" when I was reading her "From Slum to SOLDIER". Second being Samantha Sheffield, whose story (Storm) was similar to mine, but encouraged me anyway to "WRITE IT!" and publish it. Next, to TheWritingArtist (now luckcharm) and xxTakaraxx for being a loyal supporter and faithful reviewer since the beginning of "I Want To Be A Turk!" Also, to Occupational Haz, for being the critical yet encouraging reviewer that every author needs!

I know I'm being extravagant with the thanksgiving, but once again, thank you for reading. I hope you will continue to support my other stories. You can check out "The Only Exception" or my blog at aichioluv dot blogspot dot com.

Happy new year in advance! I will continue to work hard in 2015, to pursue my next plot bunny!