Chapter 88: Everything's Alright

Denzel's funeral was held three days later. I was there with Tobin, along with Zack, Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Jessie, Cid, Shera, Reeve, Parker, Sage, Yuffie (who sat separately from Zack), Vincent, Lucrecia, and Red XIII. We were all dressed in black, except for Red XIII, for obvious reasons.

We all cried when passing his open casket. Needless to say, we all really hated Sephiroth after that. Cloud and Tifa were both visibly distraught; even though they didn't take care of him in this timeline, they had full memories of the original one (where he also died, though at a much older age). To them, it almost seemed like losing a child. God only knows what would happen if we didn't save Ada in time.

As Rufus was President of the Eastern Continent, he got to preside over the funeral. I give credit when credit is due; he did deliver a nice eulogy. The Prime Reno, Rude, Elena, and Tseng were also there, mainly to provide protection to the president.

Zack took it hard; Denzel had given his life to save him. Without his sacrifice, he would not have been able to defeat the two Sephiroths. Rufus mentioned that in the eulogy, and it gave Zack some comfort, as well as a voice from beyond did.

"You see?" he heard Aerith's voice say. "Everything's all right."

When the funeral was over, we all mingled briefly, and then began to head home one by one.

Zack spotted someone who had been lingering; someone he really wanted to talk to.

"Yuffie," he began

"Please," she requested, "not another word."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Zack lowered his head.

THE NEXT EVENING….

It was ten at night. Tobin had gone to bed early, but I sat at my desk in my tank top and jeans, working on this memoir you're reading now. I was typing up the time Tobin and I were taking those pictures of Tifa posing while she was running for president.

You know, in those shorts.

Eventually, typing in front of the screen made my eyes tired, though I wasn't quite ready for bed. I closed my laptop and walked to our bedroom balcony, stepping outside into the gentle breeze.

I gazed at the stars. Zack was now a hero to everyone, erasing his final doubts on the matter. Healing rain had saved his life, along with the lives of others who were infected.

It seemed like the pandemic was over, but then, something else crossed my mind.

"People were inside when it rained," I said aloud. "The pandemic's not over. Those people are still infected. They can spread it around again."

"Oh, don't worry about that," a familiar soprano assured me.

I turned my head.

Sure enough, Aerith was standing beside me. But tonight seemed to be different. She was wearing a sparkling, emerald green spaghetti-strap gown with a pair of heels to match.

"A vaccine is being worked on," my sister continued. "You'll never believe where it came from."

"Where?" I naturally asked.

"I'm not going to spoil it for you," Aerith giggled. "You need the thrill of finding this out for yourself."

I simply smiled; I knew this had to be good.

"That's a beautiful dress," I complimented. "It matches your eyes."

"Thanks!" she replied happily.

"So what's the occasion?" I asked, still smiling.

"Well…." Aerith began, but trailed off.

And then, the smile abruptly faded from my face.

I realized the answer quite quickly.

She had done everything she had wanted to do, and was at peace with everything.

And I realized she was moving on tonight; she was here to say her final goodbyes.

"Aerith," I began, with an unintentional shaky tone of voice, "is the hour at hand?"

Aerith closed her eyes and nodded softly.

"Yes," she replied.

She then looked down at her dress.

"A girl wears lots of different dresses in her life," Aerith continued. "A sweet sixteen dress, a prom dress, and a wedding dress, to name a few. But this…this is my final dress."

She then tried to smile.

"And if the worst is true," she added, "my going-out-of-existence dress!"

I knew this was inevitable, and I tried my best to prepare for that moment. But, now that the moment was approaching, I was lost for words. There was no way I could accept this peacefully.

Especially after finding out she was my sister.

"Just think," Aerith continued, "we've all come a long way in the last two years."

"There's hardly a life you haven't touched," I said to her.

Aerith gave me a smile.

We then both became silent. We stayed that way for a few moments.

Finally, I said something, partly to jumpstart the dialogue, and partly to keep my sister there with me a little longer.

"Do you want to cry?" I asked.

"I don't think so," she replied. "This happens to everyone eventually."

"I'll miss you," I said honestly.

Aerith gave me a sincere look.

"Listen," she said, "if I do end up going somewhere….I'll give you a sign. I don't know how long it would take, but please keep looking. I promise I'll give you one."

She then froze in position, as if she was concentrating for a moment.

Then, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. She felt solid; she must have concentrated hard to do this.

It lasted for a few seconds. Then, she went right through me.

"Sorry!" she giggled.

"No worries," I replied, smiling.

"I have an idea," Aerith began. "I'll give you a sign on your birthday. That way, you'll know when to look."

"That's a good idea," I agreed.

"Wherever I end up going...it may take me a while to learn how to communicate...if I can," Aerith warned me.

"I can wait," I assured her. "For years if necessary."

It seemed strange; I didn't really get to know Aerith until these last few days, but, at this moment, I felt as if I had known her for years.

Aerith froze in concentration for a few more moments.

Then, she hugged me once more, and kissed me on the cheek.

"I love you, sister," she whispered.

"I love you, too, sister," I said in return.

This time, she broke the hug before she became ghostly again. She backed a little, and I could see her eyes were wet.

It was time.

Then she turned, and stepped up onto the ledge of the balcony. She began to walk forward, literally suspended in the air. Her long, beautiful brown hair blew gently in the breeze as she continued to walk.

She seemed so majestic, like a queen walking toward her throne, or a bride walking to the altar, or a graduate walking to get her diploma.

Finally, when she was about a hundred feet from the balcony, she spread her arms out.

I knew this was it.

Aerith rose into the air, the breeze still gently blowing her long, brunette hair. She rose higher and higher, until she was far above the ground.

Aerith began to glow brightly.

Then, she flickered away.

I was now staring at an empty space.

Aerith was gone forever.