Final Fantasy VII, The Sequel

BOOK ONE, Page 1- Vincent

CHAPTER 1: HOME

Cloud Strife leaned on the railing of the Highwind's main deck. Wind breezed across his face as he looked in the distance at what was once Midgar three days ago. He remembered everything that had taken place there: the destruction of the Mako reactors, the fall of Plate 7, the fights, intruding the Shinra building, the death of President Shinra, and most of all, meeting Tifa Lockheart, Red XIII, Barret Wallace, and Aeris Gainsborough. Aeris. She had saved the planet. To think, a flower girl that saved millions of lives. She stood up for herself and motivated the team. But now she was gone, part of the lifestream.

"What's up?" Cloud heard from behind him.

"Nothing much, Tifa," Cloud responded.

Tifa stood next to Cloud and also looked at Midgar's remains. "So many memories," she said, starting to cry.

"Is it Aeris?" Cloud asked.

"Yes," Tifa replied, wiping her eyes.

"Yeah, I miss her too," Cloud said comfortingly, putting his right arm around her. She put her head on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go inside," he suggested, walking Tifa into the engine room and then onto the navigation deck, where Cid was piloting. They walked up to him.

Cid asked Tifa, "Where do ya want to go?"

"Home," she answered.

"Home it is."

Cloud, Tifa, and Cid returned home to Kalm. Barret was helping out the people who had just moved from the slums move into their new homes as Vincent sat atop the chimney, watching the people below and also keeping a lookout for anyone who entered the town. Meanwhile, Yuffie was traveling around the continent looking for any new materia that might have surfaced after all the seismic activity caused by the Meteor and Red XIII had returned to Cosmo Canyon. Cait Sith was helping with the construction of Tifa's new bar: Tifa's Haven.

Cloud, Tifa, and Cid sat down at a table sitting outside Tifa's Haven. They watched as Cait Sith ordered people around with his megaphone.

"Already looks impressive," Cloud remarked to Tifa.

"Thanks," she said. "I can't wait until it's done. I'm going to try to make it look as much like 7th Heaven as I can."

Cait Sith ordered more people around. They really hated working for a cat and a stuffed mog, but they were getting paid.

"Well, I have to get going. I need to patch things up with Shera and work on the Tiny Bronco," Cid said. "I'll be takin' the Highwind, so call me if you need to go anywhere fast."

Tifa and Cloud said their byes to Cid. He waved at Vincent, still on that chimney, but no response. Cid climbed up into the Highwind and took off for Rocket Town.

Yuffie walked into the Chocobo Ranch and approached the little boy in the stable, who was feeding one of the chocobos.

"Hi, Yuffie! Can I help you?" the boy asked politely.

"I need to borrow one of these chocobos," she responded. "The mountain/river one."

"Sure thing," he said, running to the stable across from the one he was just at. He opened the door and led the chocobo out. She jumped on, thanked him, and left.

Barret lifted the heavy box up the stairs. In it was the hundreds of materia he and his friends had collected during their quest to destroy Sephiroth and Meteor. He set it down on the floor and took out one of each of the master materias and placed them in a pouch.

"What are those for?" Marlene asked.

"It's a secret," he told his little girl.

"Can you tell me? Pleeeease?"

"No, I promised Cloud I wouldn't tell anyone. You understand?"

"Yes."

Barret lifted her up and spun her around. She yelled in joy. He set her back down. "I'll be back in a little while, okay?"

"Okay."

Barret left the house and headed towards the materia shop. As he entered, the owner said, "Hello. How may I help you?"

"Can you take off a small piece of each of these and melt them into one?" Barret asked.

"Sure, I've done it before. But you understand that broken materia will become useless, right?"

"Yeah."

The materia alchemist took a chisel and knocked off a pebble-sized piece of each of the master materias. He took the three-one red, one green, and one yellow-and put them in a small metal case. He put it in the furnace behind him and turned around.

"So, what type of jewelry are you looking for?"

"A ring," Barret replied.

A few minutes later, the jeweler took out the case and put it in some ice cold water to cool off the case. Using a tong to open it up, he poured the liquid materia into a marble-sized mold and let it cool. He picked it up and began to shape it into a diamond. Once that was done, he polished it, put adhesive on the bottom of it, and put it in onto the gold ring. He gave it to Barret.

Barret handed the man 1,000 gil and looked at the ring with one eye. It was swirled with color, like a clear rainbow. It was beautiful.

"Perfect."

"I wonder what Vincent is doing up there?" Tifa asked curiously, looking at him. Vincent looked at her with his icy, piercing eyes from the chimney as if he had heard her from so far away. She turned back to look at Cloud.

"The sun's starting to set," Tifa remarked.

"Let's go on top of the house with Vincent and watch the sunset together," Cloud suggested.

"Do you think he'll mind?" she asked.

"Nah. Maybe we can talk to him about something. He really doesn't talk much."

"I wonder what he thinks about..."

Vincent sat, perched atop the chimney. The sun was turning orange and setting below the horizon. He saw Tifa look at him, and she suddenly turned away, resuming her talk with Cloud. They got up and headed toward the house.

Vincent thought about Lucrecia. He thought about his old life before he was transformed. All he did was think, and study each moment carefully. He wanted his old life back, and he wished there was some way he could.

Cloud and Tifa climbed on top of the roof. They both said hi to him, but he was too deep in thought to respond. They sat in front of him, watching the sun set as he did. Cloud wrapped his left arm around her. She leaned against him. Together, they watched the sun lower and the stars rise. After the sun had receded, they laid down and watched the stars.

"You know what this reminds me of Cloud?" she asked him.

"Yup. Nibelheim. When I told you I was going to join SOLDIER. I wanted to be like Sephiroth. Yes, I remember that day well."

Cloud sat up. Vincent stood up and left, retreating for the night. Tifa was starting to fall asleep. "Come on, let's go to bed now," Cloud said.

"I'm too tired. Carry me," she ordered.

Cloud obediently lifted her into his arms and slowly climbed onto the level concrete. He took her inside and placed her in her bed. He went to his bed, not far from hers, and fell asleep. He couldn't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow was the big day.

CHAPTER 2: THE BIG DAY

Sunlight poured through the window as Tifa woke up. She rubbed her eyes and could barely open them without being blinded from the rising sun. She looked over at Cloud's bed, seeing it was empty and made. She sat up and stretched. Cloud walked in, carrying a tray with breakfast, consisting of chocobo eggs (sunny side up), milk, and bread. He set it over her legs and sat down on her bed next to her.

"Thank you so very much," she said, hugging him, and then kissing him. "This is unexpected. Why did you do this?"

"I'm," Cloud wanted to say he was in love with her, but he wanted it to wait. He would express his true love to her later in the day. "I'm that kind of a person."

Tifa started to eat the eggs. "These are delicious. Who made them?" she asked.

"I did," Cloud replied.

"You're a great cook. I never knew you could even cook."

"I'm full of surprises." Little did Tifa know, the biggest surprise of her life would be happening in a few hours.

Cid parked the Highwind on the outskirts of Rocket Town near his backyard. As he walked towards his house, he looked at where the rocket had once been. But it had been destroyed in space, failing to obliterate Meteor.

Cid passed up the Tiny Bronco and stepped into his house. "Shera, I'm home!" he yelled.

Shera appeared from one of the other rooms. "Hi, Cid!" She hugged him. "Do you want anything?"

"Tea. And make it quick!"

Shera stepped over to the stove and started making tea. Cid put his feet up on the table and lit up a cigarette. "Anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing much. Now that the shuttle is gone, the mechanics of the city don't have any jobs. They're planning to move to Nibelheim."

Shera finished the tea and took it over to Cid. "So, what have you and Cloud been doing lately?" she asked curiously.

"Nothin' much. Tifa's opening a new bar, and Kalm is expanding. Most of the people from the slums live there now," Cid explained, taking a few sips of his tea.

"Why'd you come back here?"

"Just to see ya. I'll never forget how you helped me while we were on the rocket."

"And...?"

"And, I'm askin' ya if you want to come with me to Midgar. I figure I could find some parts to fix up the Tiny Bronco in all the ruins. I could use your help."

"Actually, I've been fixing the Tiny Bronco up while you were gone."

"You what?!"

"Don't get mad Cid."

"............Fine. But don't do it again!"

"I'm sorry, Cid. I'm just trying to help. And all you do is yell at me."

"I'm sorry Shera. Now, come on, let's get aboard the Highwind and head on over to Midgar."

The chocobo came to a stop, exhausted from the trip over the Mythril Mine. Yuffie fed it some Pahsana Greens. She looked across the vast landscape for anything shiny or suspicious. This materia hunt would take longer than she thought.

Yuffie looked all around the ground and on the mountains in the Junon Area. Nothing yet. She still had three more continents to explore, and the many other islands.

After searching the coasts and rivers, there was still nothing. She entered Lower Junon, and searched there too. She asked people if they had seen anything suspicious. No one had. She walked out to the beach and saw Priscilla and the dolphin playing around. Priscilla was riding it, when all of the sudden, she slipped off into the water.

Yuffie gasped. The dolphin pushed Priscilla's body onto the shore. Yuffie checked her pulse. Nothing. 'Not again,' Yuffie thought.

Yuffie administered CPR on the little girl. The dolphin swam back and forth, like a parent in a hospital waiting room, waiting for good news or bad. Priscilla's father came down.

"What happened?!" he asked anxiously.

Yuffie breathed into the girl's mouth. She coughed up some water and started to breathe again. Yuffie turned to the man and said, "Fell into the water. The dolphin brought her up to the shore, and I gave her CPR."

"Thank you so very much," he said. He carried Priscilla into their house. Yuffie followed.

While Tifa showered, Cloud met Cait Sith and the construction site. He and Cait sat at the table.

"So, Cloud, how's this plan going to work?" Cait asked him.

"Well, I plan on taking the Highwind over to the Gold Saucer. You made reservations for the gondola ride, right?"

"Yup."

"Well, we'll go up on the gondola, look at the Gold Saucer in all it's glory, and the words 'Tifa, will you marry me?' should light up below us. Did you prepare that?"

"Yup."

"It's great having you in two places at once. Thanks Reeve." Cloud patted Cait on the shoulder and got up. Tifa would be out of the shower by now. Cloud had one more thing to do.

Barret was in his house, having fun with Marlene. Cloud walked in.

"What's up Cloud? How ya feeling?"

"Nervous. You got the ring?"

"Yup. Right here." Barret took the ring out of a pouch on his belt and gave it to Cloud. Cloud put it up to the light and gazed at its dazzling beauty.

"A beautiful ring for a beautiful woman. Thanks Barret," Cloud said. He placed the ring in his pocket and left.

Cid arrived in the Highwind and parked it on the edge of town. He and Shera climbed down from the Highwind. Cloud was there to greet them.

"Hi Cloud," she said.

"Hello Shera," he replied. "Hi Cid. Thanks for letting me borrow the Highwind."

"No problem," he said nonchalantly.

"Tell Tifa I'll be waiting for her outside the Highwind."

"Sure thing."

Cloud climbed up the ladder and watched as Cid and Shera walked into town. He'd hoped they'd get along better. He stood on the deck and waited for Tifa. Meanwhile, he watched the town, everyone scurrying busily. The town was expanding rapidly from the people in the slums. Those who couldn't afford or find homes lived in the camp settlements outside of town. Tifa's Haven wasn't the only building going up. Buildings around Kalm were being built. Reeve, a former Urban Development Planner, had helped in the layout of the city.

Vincent was still in his slumber in the house's basement. He preferred the basement because it reminded him of his old home: cold, damp, and dark. When Vincent awoke, he would probably go back on top of the house's chimney to return in his deep thoughts.

Cloud finally saw Tifa. She ran over to Cait Sith and told him something, and then ran towards the direction of the Highwind. She looked up at him as she ran. Good. Cid had told her.

Tifa climbed aboard the Highwind.

"Why'd you want me here?" she questioned him.

"You'll find out," he replied slyly.

They walked onto the navigation deck. Cloud started up the ship and took off.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"It's a surprise," he answered.

"So, how is she?" Yuffie asked Priscilla's father.

"She'll be fine," he assured her. "I'll be right back."

He left the room. Yuffie stared at Priscilla's sleeping body. She was safe now. Who knows what would have happened if she wasn't there to save Priscilla?

Priscilla's eyes slowly opened. "Yuffie," she started, "Thanks." Priscilla sat up. Her hair was messed up and her body was shivering. Yuffie put a blanket over her back.

"Thanks," Priscilla said again. "I want you to have something."

"What is it?" Yuffie asked.

"An amulet. Over there, on the table." Yuffie looked over at the table and spotted a shiny object. She got up and took the amulet over to the little girl. "That's it."

Yuffie knew what it was. Materia. "Where'd you find this?" she asked curiously.

"It washed up on the shore about a day or two ago. It has no use."

Yuffie stared at this strangely colored materia. What was it? It wasn't the normal green, red, yellow, purple, or pink. It's strange white color looked familiar...

"Holy..."

"Holy what?"

"No, it's Holy. Holy materia. At least I think it is. I can't believe you found this."

Yuffie knew she had to get it back to Cloud. But she also wanted to find more materia. What if there were more kinds of materia? She'd have to notify him.

"Thanks," she told Priscilla. "I have to go now. You be careful."

"I will," Priscilla responded.

Yuffie left after Priscilla's father returned. She walked over to the elevator that led to Upper Junon. The guard in front stopped her.

"Sorry, you can't get through."

"What do you mean?"

"Sorry, lady, but I've been ordered by Commander Crefen not to let anyone through."

"Who's Commander Crefen?"

"Don't you know? He worked for President Rufus while Rufus was in Junon. He commanded the military attack against Sapphire Weapon and was the one who fired the gun into its head."

"Oh." Yuffie turned around and left. So much for the materia search. It looked like she'd be returning home quicker than she thought.

Cid found Cloud's golden chocobo behind his house. He hopped on and rode it to the front of the house, where Shera was waiting. She got on behind Cid. They left Kalm and headed for Midgar.

Cid stopped in front of the ruins. "Damage looks worse up close. I can't believe it...everything's gone."

"Well, I hope we find something of use in all this rubble," Shera said.

Together, they ventured across Midgar's ruins, searching for any piece of machinery. They had no luck; everything seemed to have been pulverized by the cosmic tornadoes. The ground was covered in debris from buildings and vehicles. Cid looked at the bright side, now they had plenty of building material for Kalm.

They rode and rode for hours. Cid found a few useful parts. They were traveling across the remains of a building when-

"Wow!" Cid exclaimed. He gawked at what was once the Sister Ray, now lying on its side. The machinery for it was on both sides, scattered everywhere. The cannon had several cracks around it, and a whole section of it was missing from the middle. A tornado must have ripped through it.

Cid walked closer to the gun and examined it, finding various tubes and parts strewn across the landscape, mostly near the gun.

"All right, let's go Shera. We've got everything we need." He heard no response. "Shera? SHERA?! Where the @#^&^ are you!!"

"Cid!" she yelled back. "Come here! You won't believe what I found!"

Cid saw Shera stand up from behind a pile of junk. She motioned for him to go over to here. He did, climbing over the debris in his path. When he reached Shera, he couldn't believe his eyes.

"How could it be?" he wondered. There was no mistaking what he was looking at: a flower.

"I couldn't believe it either," she admitted.

"The only place flowers grew were in Aeris' church and Aeris' garden. Both are destroyed. We're far from where it used to be. I don't get it." Cid scratched his head. "All this destruction is around us, and some tiny flower managed to grow out of nowhere?" Cid put his hand on his chin. "I'm confused. Come on, let's get back to Kalm, get the Highwind, and go back home."

Tifa heard the sound of lively music. As Cloud neared the object, the sounds grew louder. It was familiar...

"Why are we going to Gold Saucer?" she asked him.

"To go on a date," Cloud answered.

"Aww, that's so sweet of you." She kissed him on the cheeks and caressed his hair. "Didn't you go on a date with Aeris?"

"Yeah. It was fun. We had an important talk. Anyway, I think you'll like it."

Cloud flew the Highwind into a docking bay and parked. He paid the docking fee and helped Tifa out of the ship. They reached the Gold Saucer's main lobby.

Tifa followed Cloud to the Round Square. He took the two reservation tickets from his pocket and they both got in the gondola. The gears started up and the gondola took off.

Tifa looked down at the other Gold Saucer attractions. Cloud looked up and saw storm clouds in the sky. It was perfect: she would see the light message, and the fireworks would be spectacular.

They both looked out in unison. They watch as the chocobo racers raced past them.

"It's all so beautiful," she remarked.

Cloud was nervous. He hoped this would work. The next stop would it: the message would light up below them. He would gesture Tifa to look outside...

They came to a stop. Below them was Event Square.

Cloud looked down below. "Look at that Tifa." He motioned to something outside the window.

"What is it?" Tifa asked. She stared downwards. Cloud secretly opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a bouquet of flowers and pulled out the ring while she looked down.

"Oh my god," she said. She watched as words were lit up below her:

T I F A , W I L L Y O U M A R R Y M E ?

"Cloud, what's going-" she turned to look at Cloud. He was kneeling on the floor, holding up the bouquet of roses and a luminous materia ring.

"Tifa, will you marry me?"

"Oh my, oh my god." She started crying. "Yes! Yes, Cloud!" They hugged each other. Tifa and Cloud's eyes locked. As if reading each other's thoughts, they began kissing passionately. After one long kiss, they stopped, and she took the bouquet and slipped the ring on her finger.

The gondola started up again. Fireworks went off as Cloud and Tifa kissed each other on the lips, for what seemed to be a long, long time...

After finding more information about Commander Crefen from the residents at Fort Condor, she headed home. Yuffie returned the chocobo to Choco Billy and walked the way home. Along the way, she examined the materia. It was a pearl white and had a smooth texture. It didn't glow at all and didn't seem to have any function. It was good for absolutely nothing.

As Yuffie neared Kalm, though, a gentle radiance appeared to be coming from it. The closer to Midgar she went, the brighter it became.

She finally reached Kalm. Cait Sith was still bossing the construction workers around, but when she had left, nothing but the frame of the building was up. Now, most of the outside was completed, and electricians and plumbers were working on the inside. In no time, Tifa's Haven would be up.

Yuffie noticed Vincent on top of the tower. He had his back turned, looking at someone either coming into or leaving town. Not far from him were Barret and Marlene, standing at a parapet. She was on his shoulders, and would occasionally point out to something in the distance. Barret looked as if he was explaining to her what he had done at that place, and whatever else it was.

As Yuffie walked towards the house, she heard a chocobo come up from behind. She turned around and saw Cid and Shera.

"How are ya kid? Have fun?" he asked her.

"No. I'll have to explain it later," she told him.

"What's that in your hand?"

"It's Holy."

It was nearing 9 p.m. as Barret put Marlene to sleep and walked downstairs to the others. Yuffie and Barret sat on the couch, watching TV, while Cid and Shera talked to each other. Vincent stood quietly in the corner of the room. Cait Sith was also asleep, alone in a remote corner of the room. They waited eagerly for Cloud and Tifa's arrival.

They heard the door open. Cloud walked in with Tifa in his arms. She had a joyful look on her face. "You're looking at Mrs. Tifa Strife!" she exclaimed. They all exchanged hugs, except for Vincent, who remained speechless in the corner. He looked up at them once, and then looked down again. He looked at his claw hand and made it into a fist. He wanted his old life back.

CHAPTER 3: VINCENT

Cloud walked downstairs after getting dressed and saw Barret, Marlene, and Tifa in conversation at the kitchen table. Marlene looked extremely happy for Tifa. Cid sat in the fourth seat of the table and had his feet propped up on the table, casually smoking a cigarette. Shera was fixing him breakfast.

Yuffie and Cait Sith were watching TV together. Cloud accounted everyone except Vincent.

"Where's Vincent?" he asked them all. They all responded that they didn't know.

Cloud walked outside and looked around the rooftops. Nothing was perched on top of the chimney, except for a pigeon. Cloud walked back inside and went down to the basement.

He turned on the light and looked at Vincent's resting spot. No one.

Cloud returned upstairs and informed them he was no where in sight.

"Where could he have gone?" Tifa questioned.

They searched for him around the house, around town, and around the Highwind. He was no where in site. They returned to the house and sat at the large, round table.

"Okay, now, we can't find Vincent, but this meeting serves as a purpose to get everything straightened out, to get everyone updated. Okay, Yuffie, you go first."

Yuffie told them about her search, Command Crefen, and then about Priscilla. "She gave me this," she said, pulling out the glittering white materia. Cloud stared in awe at the Holy materia. "How'd she find it?" he asked interestedly.

"It washed up on shore. Maybe some current carried it there, or some animal took it and carried it around, dropping it at Junon. It got there somehow."

"Do you know why it's got this dim glow?"

"Yeah, when's it's near Mako, it glows, and we're near Midgar, you know."

"Okay. Now, Reeve-er, Cait Sith, what's up?"

Cait Sith told them how much Tifa's Haven was completed. He told them when it would be finished; in a few days, the walls and everything else would be up. Then they'd decorate it and buy the bar supplies. When it was done, Cloud and Tifa decided to have their wedding. He also informed them that Reeve would be coming to town. He figured they didn't need Cait Sith to spy anymore, but Cait Sith would be used for events at Gold Saucer.

"Thanks, Reeve," Cloud said. He looked at Cid. "Go ahead Cid, Shera."

"Well, me and Shera'll be returnin' to Rocket Town to finish the repairs on Tiny Bronco. It'll be done in a week or so, and after we pick up Red XIII, we'll fly here just in time for your wedding!"

"And there's something we found in Midgar's ruins," Shera continued. "A flower." She took it out of her pocket and handed it to Cloud.

"Oh my god, Cloud that's-" Tifa started, but Cloud interrupted, "That's the flower Aeris sold to me and the one I gave to Tifa."

"Are you sure?" Cid asked.

"Yes," Cloud and Tifa said simultaneously. Tifa took the flower and placed it in a vase. She walked back to the table as everyone stood up.

"Well, I guess that's it. Now all we need to do is find Vincent, wherever he is," Cloud said.

--Cloud opened the door with the key. He entered a room filled with the stench of death. The room was filled with coffins, each one displaying rotting bodies. But there was an exception. In the center of the room was a closed coffin.

"To wake me from the nightmare..."

Cloud approached the coffin. The lid flipped over and fell onto the ground beside the coffin.

"Who is it?" asked the mysterious figure, now sitting up in his coffin. "Never seen you before. You must leave."

"You were having a nightmare," Cloud told him.

"How bad was your dream?" Tifa asked, standing beside Cloud.