AN: I am so happy how the ending turned out! I was dreading rewriting it but it turned out even better than I anticipated!

Chapter 43: Careful Steps

-April 17, 2009-

"Oh!" Donald exclaimed suddenly, pulling out the colorful block from Deep Jungle, "This gummi block is different from the others. Do you know what it's for?"

The brunette eyed it silently for a moment before shaking his head, "Ask Cid. He should know." The duck nodded and led the boys towards the door. The girls stood still, waiting for a moment for Leon to stop us, "Wait. Take this with you." I took a small stone from him, "This stone holds some mysterious power. I've been carrying it for luck. I want you to hold onto it."

Sora tilted his head, trying to look over my shoulder, "How do you use it?"

I giggled as Leon shrugged, passing by us, exiting the house. Donald led us out the door and back to the first district, into Cid's shop. Sylvia grinned and screamed his name.

"What? Hey! If it ain't Silver!" Cid grinned, "Guess you found your friends then!"

"Most of them, Gramps," She ignored his angry remarks with a smirk, "But here. Leon said you'd know what this is." She snatched the gummi block from Donald, setting it on the counter.

"What've you got there?" Cid turned it over in his hands a few times, "Well, if it ain't a gummi block!"

"What's this one for?" Sora asked eagerly.

Cid's eyes widened almost before Sora had finished his question, "You're kiddin' me! You're flyin' a gummi ship and you don't know nothin' about-"

Sylvia rolled her eyes, "Hold your horses, Gramps. Some of us DO know what it is."

Cid nodded with a smug, almost proud look, "A'right then. If ya say so."

Sora smiled at Sylvia, "You know about this stuff? That's awesome!"

She smirked, "Or it's easy as fuck and you're an idiot."

I smacked the back of her head, "Don't be rude. Or a show off about something you know nothing about. Seriously, Sora. Don't listen to her. She actually has no idea what she's talking about. Ever."

Sora frowned, uncertainly. Kassy grabbed his hand, squeezing it with a smile. I snorted as a light red crossed his cheeks, a small smile appearing.

Sylvia rolled her eyes, turning back to Cid, "Anyway, can you install it for us, Gramps?"

"If you stop calling me that, Silver." He replied, seething.

"If you stop calling me Silver." She shrugged.

"I liked Silver though!" He grinned, "But I got this thing I gotta go deliver first."

"What do you need to deliver?" Sora asked immediately.

The blond held out an old maroon book, "Just this. It's real old. When the guy brought it in, it was practically falling apart. Too beat up to restore it to the way it was. But overall, I did a decent job puttin' it back together. Anyway, you mind deliverin' it for me? It's the old house past the Third District. Through a door with a big flame on it." I snatched the book before Sylvia could reach for it.

The ground began shaking for a few seconds. Everyone gripped someone or something to balance. Sora was the first to recover, "Wh-what was that?"

Cid hadn't even bothered to grip the counter, "Hmm? The bell at the gizmo shop is ringing. Go check it out if you want, but deliver that book for me first. When you're done, stop by the house in the Third District. I'll be there."

Sylvia grinned, saluting, "Sir, yes, sir!"

The group headed out the door and into the Second District in a good mood. As we neared the door to the Third District, I paused, "Guys… I'm kinda worried about Cloud."

Sylvia snickered, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "Well, Mrs. Strife, what do you propose you do about that?"

I gaped at her, crimson staining my cheeks, "S-Shut up! I just-"

Kassy giggled, "And what about Leon? Aren't you worried about him too, Mrs. Leonhart?"

"Guuuuuys!" I whined, cheeks darkening, "Seriously though! You guys meet with Ri- I mean stuff without me. I'm gonna go find Cloud." I mumbled a goodbye and ran off to find Cloud.

I didn't have to look very hard. Atop of the gizmo shop he fought the last of a group of heartless. I watched from just over the edge of the ground, standing on the ladder for a few moments before pulling myself up, "Hey, Cloud…"

The blond straightened, facing me with a blank expression, "Elena."

"Are you okay?" I grit my teeth, "Sorry that was probably a stupid question. Of course you're not okay. I mean can I help in anyway… or something…"

He turned away, looking out towards the valley of the Second District. I made my way over to stand next to him. The others were traveling through towards the Third District. I couldn't help the soft smile as Kassy snatched Leon's stone from Sora's hands, who chased after her.

"Elena?" I smiled over at him, only for it to falter with the look on his face. Anger, sadness. Broken, "Tell me where he is."

I doubt the answer would make him feel better. I took a deep breath, "If I tell you where he is… Promise me you'll continue to help us. Continue to travel with us until we find him."

His lip curled into a soft snarl, "I don't have to pro-"

"Please, Cloud!" I squeezed my eyes shut, tears burning, "There's more going on than you think!"

"What does it have to do with Sephiroth? Just tell me where he is!" He pleaded, anger seeming to drain.

I tried to tell him. I really did. All I knew was darkness.

Cloud's POV

I caught her just before she hit the ground. I shook her, "Elena? Elena!" What was going on with her?

Slowly she opened her eyes half-way. They were pitch black, "She cannot speak of it." It was her voice, but another woman's voice doubled with it.

"Why? And who are you? What's wrong with Elena?" My grip tightened slightly.

"I am before. She is after. She cannot speak. It will throw everything out of chaos. It cannot be fathomed the consequences of knowledge that should not be here in the first place." She spoke slowly, a warning.

"Before…" I frowned, "The Princesses? You're the previous Anti-Princess. Why are you warning me now?"

"She begins to care for you. She cannot protect loved ones if there is nothing to protect. She cannot speak of the past. Any of them. You cannot know until the time is right." She raised her hand, curling her fingers over my shoulder, squeezing gently, "Protect her whilst I cannot. Please I beg you."

"You know, Elena?" I grasped her hand, "How?"

"When she discovers the truth, she has the choice to tell you. Until then I will not say. Please protect her." She pulled me closer before pressing her lips to mine. Her grip loosened a moment later as she slumped backwards once more in my arms.