Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Legend of the Final Materia ❯ Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Suddenly the barrier collapsed and surrounded Shukera's body. Six light beams shot out of the aura around Shukera's body and formed six pools of light around her. The pools of light took shape and everyone gasped as their friends appeared on the ground before them. The barrier then disappeared into Shukera's body.

With the barrier was gone, several people raced to the crater with the single tree seedling in the middle and danced around it as they cheered. Someone had built a bonfire, a sign that the celebration was going to last a good long time.

Despite the joy that everyone shared, Cloud and his friends still remained unhappy. Grief for Aerith filled them, weighing heavy in their hearts. And nothing they were doing had any effect on Shukera. They were just about ready to give up.

Raijin knelt down next to Shukera and held her hand. Tears ran down his cheek as he whispered, "Come on Shukera, everyone that you and Aerith saved are here to thank you. Shin Ra is gone, you are free."

Selphie cried, "I miss her spiritness, her energy!!" Irvine held her as she punched his chest out of frustration with her free hand.

Quistis began stirring and she opened her eyes. She rubbed her head as she weakly sat up. Groggy and confused, she looked around her and asked in a weak voice, "What's going on??"

Selphie spotted Quistis and lashed out at her, "You did that to them!!! You and that damned bitch Scarlett!!!!" She walked up to Quistis and smacked her across the face. "You don't deserve to live!!!"

Irvine grabbed Selphie's arm and dragged her away from Quistis before she killed her. "Calm down Selphie!! Keep it together, if not for yourself, do it for Bethany and Shukera!!"

Quistis blinked, still not knowing what was going on. Her head was foggy and her mind was confused. She tried to remember what happened but nothing came to mind. By Selphie's reaction to her, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Squall walked up to Rinoa and knelt down next to her. He placed his hand behind her neck and lowered his lips to her cheek. He kissed her gently before he whispered into her ear, "Hey Rin, time to wake up. I'm waiting for you."

Rinoa opened her eyes and focused on Squall. She quickly sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly ad tears flowed down her cheek like a gentle rain. Squall whispered in her ear, "Its ok, it's over now."

Seifer moaned and stirred. He brought his hand up to his head and rubbed it. He opened his eyes, sat up, and looked around confused. "Huh?? WH…what happened?? Where am I??" He saw that the Shin Ra building was no longer there and gazed around until his eyes fell upon Fujin lying on the ground, unconscious. He lowered his head and closed his eyes as he began to feel guilty for Fujin's condition. For the moment he didn't know what to do except sit there feeling the guilt build up inside him. Finally he reached his hand out to her and nudged her gently. "Fujin…come on Fujin wake up."

Fujin stirred slowly at first, then opened her eyes. She saw Seifer and smiled, "You…alright??" It amazed Seifer, after everything that happened, she still cared and worried about him. He moved closer to her and wrapped her into a tight embrace. "Yeah, better than I have been in a long time."

The last two forms opened their eyes and sat up slowly. Eyes of aqua looked up at everyone, then looked away. Reno dragged his hand through his spiky hair and rubbed his head. "Damn my head hurts!!!" He dropped his hand and looked at the bald headed guy next to him. "We're alive." He almost sounded disappointed.

The spiky headed blonde faced the pair on the ground with his arms folded and looking rather upset. "How the hell you two lived is beyond me!" He flashed his angry blue eyes at Reno, and spat, "Aerith is gone…" He drew his sword and pointed it at them as grief took over.

Barett walked over and placed his hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Hey man, let it go. They were given a second chance for a reason. You saw what happened, it wasn't even them. Besides, all that shit is done and ova, let it go!"

Cloud sheathed his sword and nodded, "Yeah, I guess so." He flashed a disgusted look at Reno then walked away. Barett drew in a deep breath and faced Reno and Rude. For a moment he peered down that the two of them. Sighing, he shook his head and walked off.

Rude glanced over at Reno as he replied, "What do you say we get ourselves lost?? I have the feeling we are not so welcomed here."

Reno gazed at the ground where Shukera laid motionless and lowered his head. He didn't know what happened and thinking about it only gave him an even bigger headache then he started out with, but something deep down inside told him that he had a hand in what happened to her.

Rude remained silent and nodded knowingly. They were going to hang around long enough to find out what was going to happen with Shukera.

Nanaki sat next to Raijin and lowered his head, "Grandfather might be able to help her. I think we should take her to see him."

Cloud nodded in agreement, "Let's go to Cosmo Canyon. I'm sure Nanaki's right about Burgenhagen."