A worried Cloud Strife looked out the window. His head peered down at the story pitfall.The busy Terre city was brightened by the buildings’ lights. The night was without a gleam of light not even of the moon. His black undershirt was covered in sweat. The fear has caught on to him. Cloud’s fear of death.
"I can’t handle it anymore." Cloud thought.
"If I see it- I’ll go crazy. No more of it. Why now?!I can’t stand this shit! .... Tifa, dead?! No, I don’t what life’d be like. It’ll be too- too- lonely. If this happens. No...." Cloud said.
"It’s like something would be missing.... No, I am just worrying too much!!" Cloud yelled.
"I fight. There will be a consequence. Always a consequence..."
"It’s just a fact." Cloud thought to hhimself.
"I am just gonna see the same thing happen, again." he said.
"I’ll walk it off. Maybe..." Cloud said. Cloud walked in the medium sized room and picked up a remote from a wooden and four-legged table. He picked it up slowly to try to get his mind off of his agony that was with him since that tragic day in the forgotten capital. The pain that followed him since that day of losing someone dear and not to see it happen again. Strife wiped his face with his undershirt and looked at the television.
On TV it was an encore presentation of Loveless, a adaptation of the play that was in Midgar.
" *Audience applauds*
Jacob: Why?!
*Jacob’s head bows down at a coffin*
Jacob: Was it my fault?! Or wasn’t suppose to be!
Jacob: Well, farewell. Farewell to this.
*Looks at Coffin with a air of sadness*"
"This is just making it worse," Cloud thought. He pushed the remote control as he tried to avoid the events that occurred long ago. He kept on pushing the button rapidly.
His head lapped on the pillow and closed his eyes. He stared and opened up his eyes at he TV more aggressively. His hand clutched a pillow and he raised up and threw it onto the ground.
"Is this some kinda sick joke! It’s like their reading my mind!" Cloud screamed.
The door knocked softly on Cloud’s left side. He stood and walked to the door and said: "Who is it?" in a pestered tone. He put his pillow over his face. Then Tifa walked slowly towards the depressed heap that was Cloud Strife. Feelings for her. everything else seemed to oppress him. She looked at him with her eyebrows down and looked at his Mako eyes.
"I think there’s something wrong with you. I can tell." Tifa said wearily.
"Nothing’s wrong...." Cloud said with no emotion. Tifa walked up to Cloud sat on the queen-sized bed. She sat right next to him.
"Nothing?! C’mon. Just tell me." Tifa’s voice grew louder a bit.
Cloud looked the opposite side and didn’t say a word. Tifa’s eyes perred at Cloud as he denied to her the stuff happening to him.
"It’s something. I’ll be quick because it’s not- not- *pauses* a happy topic for me. After everything. I think if this ‘Second’ Crisis would occur. I think I couldn’t handle it-" Cloud stopped.
"Handle the battles." Cloud said.
"It might lead to killing my friends or any person for that matter." Cloud said.
"That’s the price we paid to fight for this planet. Aeris..." Cloud looked down and sighed.
"It was sad. I know how you feel. It’s the pain of seeing someone. ...Pass away." Tifa said.
The black cordless phone rang. The phone rang about twice until Cloud picked it up. He looked at Tifa and said: "It’s Reeve. He says he’ll come here and escort us to the city exit. -Yeah uh-huh. Andthey'replanning a complete evacuation until things calm down."
Reeve’s voice became louder and footsteps padded next to Cloud and Tifa’s room.
"I am right there." Reeve said into the phone.
"Were?" Cloud asked.
"Here." Reeve said as he opened the door. He walked precisely to Cloud.
"Uhm, that was lame. I know- I know." Reeve said.
"We gotta get the hell outta here! So pack up." Reeve yelled.
"Why so early?" Cloud asked.
"TUNA Junon base picked up a message that they might destroy the place. So just in case. No one will be harmed. Casualties to a minimum. ... I hope." Reeve said as Cloud packed his gym bag and Tifa’s black briefcase. Then Cloud and Tifa followed Reeve as he walked down the winding spiral stairway of the hotel.
" If this place is blown into smithereens. We don't know what would we do." Said Reeve sadly.
"-What about Prof. Arron?" Tifa asked.
"He’s already on the High Wind." Reeve said.
"So, Cid is here." Cloud said as they went down to the fourth floor.
Cloud,Tifa, and Reeve were at the exit door of the hotel. The circular building’s lights began to dim. The bellhops, and the hotel staff were packing up and escaping like most of Terre’s citizens. They walked out and went into a red station wagon. Reeve went inside and turned the activation key. The red car started and went onto the black cement road. It was clear driving.
"Why now?" Cloud asked.
"It just happens." Tifa said.
The car hurried on to the airport exit, which was a few miles south from downtown Terre. The Reeve looked up at the black and dense sky. A huge green ray of light brightened the sky.
"The hell?! This looks bad! Buckle up!" Reeve yelled franticly. He slammed the accelerator as his teeth grinned and the speedometer and RPM gauges rose up. The car sped through the empty road, but leading into a huge block of traffic. The green ray was ingulping the city. The tops of buildings were melted to puddles. The huge traffic jam stood looking at the phenomena. Reeve turned off the car and opened the door. He looked at Cloud in a fearful look on his face.
"Run. We can’t get through this traffic." Reeve said. Cloud and Tifa opened the doors. The road shook as they tried to run to the airport. Strife looked right. The sights of people burning into a green flame.
"Whoa s*it! Just run!" Reeve said as he ran fast as he can to the airport. He was far away from Cloud and Tifa.The three ran as far from the green beams as they covered Terre. A small child ran to Cloud and screamed: "My mommy! She’s in there!"
"What?! I'll help you,kid." said Cloud. "You're right. we can’t let one more -die." Tifa said.
"I’ll come with you." Tifa said again.
"No-" Cloud was interrupted.
"But... Okay." Tifa said.
Tifa sat there as the green flame came closer aiding the lost child and kiled him.
Cloud ran left into an alley. He looked franticly around the alley seeing nothing but charred rubble of a building that once stood in front of the brick alley.
"...No (Damn, poor kid. Poor me.)" Cloud said and ran back to were was.
"No-No-No." Cloud said as he nodded his in grief of not finding the child’s mom. The pain of became stronger inside him. He ran back to where Tifa at the road as the green rays were coming closer.
"Anyone there?" Tifa asked.
"....Sorry. No one." he said full of despair. The child looked at Cloud as the green ways swallowed the block the three were on and nearly escaped. Helooked at Cloud and a tear dropped from his eye. The child walked into the green flame and disappeared, as did his mother.
"He didn’t run. He wanted to see someone dear. Like me." Cloud thought as they started to run.
The green beam came closer. His focus changed to escaping death.
"WERE GONNA DIE!" Cloud yelled as the space between the two and the green ray lghtened. He held Tifa’s soft hand as the green inferno came closer. He looked everywere in what was part of downtown. Strife found and opened compact car and drove it straight to the airport. The green rays were about a mile away behind them. The car sped towards the airport entrance. Cloud looked to his left at the rear view mirror. The rays of light were slowly fading and what was left of downtown was ruined. Buildings destroyed, people killed, the small periodof genocie was over for Cloud and the others. or Cloud and the others. Barett’s dream was destroyed and most of Terre was gone.
"How come it didn’t hit us?" Tifa asked.
"It looked like life energy." Cloud said as they started walking to the airship
So this is her prophecy. " Cloud said sadly.
"A warning sign.we have a bumpy road from now on.
Strife and Lockhart walked into the airport were the Highwind-Alpha stood
A sadden saddened Barett and Cid standing next to the opened door. Cloud approached Wallace with grief.
"Well, Terre’s- Gone. Forever,I think Rufus is serious." Barett said.
"What could we do?! Now.." Barett said.
Cloud walked into the silver airship slowly.
"Hey! Why you going in there so early." Barett said as his bad hand gripped Cloud’s shoulder. Cloud’s hand flew Barett’s hand off.
"Just leave me alone. Damn it!" Cloud snared.
"He’s changed. I guess." Barett said to Tifa.
"Poor Cloud." Tifa thought.
"What the f*ck is his prob, sis?" Cid asked.
"He still feels the pain after Aerith died." Tifa said.
"He doesn’t wanna talk to us. .....Not even me. He just tries avoid us." she said sadly as a tear fell from her eye.
"What happened to you, Cloud? I guess the pain will always come back even if you put in the back of your mind." Tifa thought.
Barett, Cid, and Tifa went up the ramp to entrance of the Highwind. The airship’s fans began to spin. It spun faster until it was able to fly. Then the Highwind slowly gained attitude. In the cockpit Cid and his crew dressed in navy blue uniforms were at the controls. Everything on Highwind-Alpha was state of the art. Radar, Computerized navigation, and jet engines. Professor Arron at the aftermath of the green flame looking in shock. Cid was pushing on the throttle with his cig, as always, usually in his mouth. He looked back at Barett.
"were to Prez?" Cid said.
"Junon." Barett said as he looked around the huge bridge.
"I didn’t know that thing was ggonna do this?!" Arron said.
"It’s my fault. Shouldn’t have found that cursed piece of s*it." Arron said weakly.
"I know." Barett said.
Meanwhile, Tifa was in the command room. Cloud looked at the world map were the flag of TUNA flew. Tifa looked at him slowly. "My planet. All these places’ll be gone. I have to do something." Cloud said to Tifa.
"Why do you think it’s all your fault for this? You think you’re to blame? Well, it’s not!" Tifa said in a strong voice.
"Aerith told me. I could’ve said this earlier to Barett......... This happens and now millions of people were ...killed." Cloud said.
"You can’t kick yourself like that. What’s in the past will stay and you can’t change it-" Tifa continued.
"-I can’t take it anymore." Cloud yelled.
"I think you need help." Tifa said.
"No! This is something I have to deal with it myself!"
Cloud yelled as he ran up to the outer deck. He ran as far from his friends. Cloud looked back and saw nothing on the deck of the airship. He looked up and down left and behind him right in every direction possible.
"No! Stop! STOP! Don’t-" Cloud yelled. He looked down in front of him. His eyes widened and sweat was over his forehead. He looked down. It was starting all over again... Aerith was on her knees. Motionless, not moving a muscle. Looking straight at the crystal dome that enclosed the Centra capital. Strife now was paralyzed. In standing position. Then he looked up and a black caped appeared in front of him. It was Sephiroth, the product of Shin-Ra’s scientific experiments. A soul of pure evil with no hesitation or thought Sephiroth holding his long sword, Masamune. His sword plunged into Aerith’s body. She fell and her eyes closed. The pink ribbon and ‘white’ matereia fell.
"NO!!!" Cloud yelled in a high volume.
That flashback disappeared and another vision went through his eyes. A red aura went around his eyes. Cloud crouched and slowly went on his knees and the past had haunted him once again. He looked back and heard Tifa said in a weak voice :" Good- Good- bye...." A black shadow fell over as she bled on the floor. Her eyes closed and dragging herself to Cloud. The dark shadow went over her and her hand tried to grasp Cloud by the hand. Tifa arm fell as she lay lifeless. Face down her arm was a few inches from Cloud. He looked back and a familiar face was behind him.
"Tifa’s right. You can’t keep on tormenting yourself like this or this will happen." Aerith said in an ominous voice.
"She’ll die?!" Cloud asked.
"It’s sad.... ...sad to say this- you have to-" Aerith put her head down.
"Forget about it. :-( You can’t bring me back." she continued.
"We’ll meet after death. You’ll have believe it. Blaming yourself for my death is wrong because I made that choice. I chose ending my ‘life’ because it would save the planet." Aerith said happily.
"For what?" Cloud asked.
"Your so dense. You always been always were. But put were in front of always. It was for everyone that helped me. Perhaps something I owe to the people on the planet. I guess I found my promised land- It was with you, Cloud." Aerith said.
"It’s too hard. It feels impossible! I am- I am- afraid-" Cloud said to Aerith.
"To see anyone die because of fighting." Cloud continued.
"You have to choose what path you want. The dark road or the light road. I am just suggesting that you choose the light road. To happiness and peace." Aeirth replied.
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked.
"I wish I can tell, but you have to find it yourself." Aerith said. The red aura disappeared and Cloud returned back to the deck and Tifa held onto him and shaken back and forth.
"What was that screaming?!" Tifa asked franticly.
"Nothing." Cloud said.
The Barett was behind him and looked at Cloud with his right eyebrow up. ^_- His face looked at him with a light air of worry.
"You’ve changed man. You like a light bulb. On and off! Make up your damn mind!" Barett said.
"Calm down, Cloud. You were screaming ‘NO!’ and talking to yourself." Tifa said. He looked at Tifa and frowned. He looked at her and said: "I think I should go back home. Some rest." Strife said.
"At a time like this man! You’ trppin’! Look what happened you dumbass!" Barett roared.
"Barett, you’re trying to help him, but I think your making it worse." Tifa said to Barett.
"I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU BOTH SAY! I JUST WANNA GO HOME. I DON’T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THIS ANYMORE. I’D RATHER LAY AND DIE IN PEACE. NOT BY FIGHTING. SO GO AHEAD. KILL YOURSELVES!" Cloud yelled. Cloud ran back down into the Highwind’s main room. Tifa looked at Cloud run back. She closed her eyes and cried. She put her head down and covered her face. Her dark brown eyes looked at the door.
"Cloud, you’ve-you’ve changed. He’s fighting inside him. It’s making him go crazy. It’s his guilt." Tifa said to Barett.
"Don’t worry. He haz to fight it himself." Barett said.
"I just wanted to help him and he yells at me and runs away all the time. He’s avoiding all of us." Barett said.
"-But we need him. He’s the only one, Tifa. He’s gotten us out of lottsa’ shit." Wallace said.
Tifa walked back into the Highwind as the sun rose up on toward the ocean.
"I feel sorry for him. I think you be the one who can only talk to him, Tifa." Wallace said slowly and then sighed.
"Even if this planet tears itself into pieces. He probably wouldn’t give a damn." Barett said.
".............." Tifa replied.
"He can’t make up his mind. Cloud talks about it and the he yells at me. It’s like I am losing- him, again."Tifa said.
"We’re screwed." Barett said in despair. The speaker in the outer bridge sounded.
"*Static* we’re about to descend in altitude. Please come inside." one of the personnel said.
Lockhart and the president walked back inside the Highwind-Alpha in sorrow for Cloud.
They walked slowly into the airship. Just five miles away from Junon.
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