Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Search is Over ❯ Forgive Me ( Chapter 7 )

Note: I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Chapter 7: Forgive Me

 

Cosmo Canyon slept quietly at night as all the men, women and children dreamed peacefully in their beds. The only room that buzzed with life was the video-monitoring room that hosted the number of television screens. The screens displayed all the live-transmissions from the various points of interest such as the Midgar Ruins, the Mideel mako-lake and most especially, the Northern Crater.

 

Nanaki and his friends were mainly interested in the images that were transmitted from the Northern Crater, hoping that they wouldn't spot Sephiroth rising from the mako. Normally these monitors only picked up the rare sighting of a bird or stray monster that braved an adventure. During those rare instances most of the animals were smart enough to stay away from the rocky cliffs, but occasionally one would stray too close and then plummet to their doom in the mako lake below.

 

Tonight the monitors picked up the shape of another creature that dared to venture near the Crater. No one was awake to see it, but in the morning when Nanaki would review the tapes, he would notice that the creature was not some stray bird or random monster but his friend and ally, Tifa Lockheart.

 

* * *

 

Cloud couldn't contain his excitement as he ran to Aeris and smiled broadly.

 

“Aeris, I can't believe it's you! I didn't think it was possible to bring you back . . . I mean . . . how?”

 

“Oh silly Cloud, I see you haven't changed since I last saw you,” Aeris smiled sweetly as she held her hand out. “Try to take my hand.”

 

Cloud did as he was told and stood shocked as he saw his hand go right through hers as if she was only an illusion. He stared at the girl sadly as he said, “You're . . . you're still dead then.”

 

“Don't be sad Cloud. I may not be alive with you all, but I'm far from dead. I'm in the Promised Land where I belong,” Aeris said trying to comfort her friend.

 

“Yeah, I thought that's where you'd go. I told Tifa once that I thought I could find you there. I spent some time after we defeated Sephiroth trying to find a way to reach you or bring you back, but couldn't find one. But now that you're here, now that I see you right in front of me, I'm not sure what to say,” Cloud laughed as he scratched the back of his head.

 

“You don't have to say anything Cloud, I already know what you wanted to ask me and I want you to know that I forgive you,” she said.

 

“You . . . you forgive me? Even though I couldn't protect you like I promised?” Cloud asked surprised.

 

“Yes, I forgive you. I know that you didn't want to see me harmed or even killed, but I don't want you to blame yourself for my death. There were some things that had to happen, events that needed to take place in order to defeat Meteor. In all honesty, if I had survived, I don't think we would have been able to defeat Meteor with the power of Holy alone. I needed to return to the planet,” Aeris said with conviction.

 

“There was . . . no other way?”

 

“No, there wasn't. The planet needed the help of all the Cetra to utilize the power of the lifestream. I knew this, that's why you shouldn't blame yourself for my death. It was my choice,” Aeris said retaining that same sweet smile.

 

Cloud stared into her vivid green eyes and smiled. Aeris always had a special gift to ease his worries. He was certain it was because of those eyes. As he gazed into them, he noticed how they were still full of life and happiness. Death hadn't faltered her beauty or her grace.

 

“Thank you. . . thanks for forgiving me,” Cloud smiled.

 

“The savior of the planet shouldn't live in despair. It's only fair that you're able to find some happiness in this world.”

 

“Yeah, and I think I have,” Cloud muttered as he thought of Tifa.

 

“She's a lucky girl,” Aeris giggled, hearing Cloud's thoughts.

 

“You . . . you know about that?” Cloud said surprised.

 

“Of course! But that leads me to the reason why I need to talk to you,” Aeris said seriously. “I'm afraid that Tifa and everyone else is in danger.”

 

“What? What's threatening us now?”

 

“While I was in the Promised Land, I sensed a disturbance from the Northern Crater. My mother, Ilfana, and I looked into it and discovered something evil. Sephiroth's alive,” she said while putting her hands protectively over her stomach where Sephiroth's sword impaled her.

 

“That's what I feared,” Cloud said as he clenched his teeth. “Nanaki suspected the same thing, but we weren't sure. Has he done anything to Tifa?”

 

“I'm afraid so. It's nothing life-threatening, but she's going to need your help,” Aeris said sadly.

 

“What did the bastard do to her? I swear I'll kill him if he's harmed her,” Cloud shouted.

 

“What he has done is nothing compared to what he will do. I have a feeling that he's trying to revive Jenova and to do that, he needs to give her a host,” Aeris said.

 

“And he plans to use Tifa? She'd never agree to help him.”

 

“I know, but I fear that he's manipulating her somehow. I still haven't been able to determine how because his mental energy is too strong and he's blocking us, but I'm certain that Tifa's life is in danger,” Aeris said with worry etched on her face.

 

“Shit! I have to reach her before it's too late,” Cloud said while pulling out his PHS to call Tifa.

 

“Cloud, she's not going to be at home. I already can sense her presence on its way to the Northern Crater. You need to go there and save her. But be careful, you might have to fight Sephiroth as well,” Aeris pleaded.

 

“Don't worry, Vincent will be with me and Nanaki already told me some useful information that might stop Sephiroth for good,” Cloud said as he gave Vincent a playful smirk.

 

Vincent only cocked his eyebrow up as he watched Cloud.

 

“If you're referring to Jenova's weakness to fire, I already know everything,” the stoic man replied.

 

“Good, then we're set!” Cloud said as he prepared to set off.

 

“Be careful, both of you. I'm going to try and help as much as I can, but without a corporal form, I'm limited in my powers,” Aeris said.

 

“Don't worry, we can handle it,” Cloud said confidently.

 

“Oh, Cloud before I forget! Zack wants me to tell you something. He says `I'd tap that ass if I were you,'” Aeris said slightly confused at Zack's meaning.

 

Cloud blushed when he realized that Zack was referring to Tifa. He sighed in defeat knowing that Zack hadn't changed at all. He still had a light-hearted attitude and that certain playboy's charm that he never understood.

 

“Do you know that that's supposed to mean, Cloud? I sometimes never understand him,” Aeris said hoping to get some insight into her boyfriend's behavior.

 

“Yeah, sort of, but you don't want to know what it means,” Cloud said reassuringly, trying to spare Aeris of Zack's perverted propensities.

 

“But I should stop wasting your time, you have someone special you need to save,” Aeris said with a smile.

 

“Yes, yes I do. Thank you again, Aeris,” Cloud said with a wink as he quickly ran towards the exit with Vincent in tow.

 

The two men raced to their chocobos and hastily headed towards the Northern Crater. Cloud and Vincent both checked to ensure they had some fire materia equipped and concentrated on the ensuing fight. Last time they had fought Sephiroth they were accompanied with the aide of all their friends, but this time it would only be two men against both Sephiroth and Jenova. They knew that there was a possibility of being overwhelmed, but saving Tifa took priority over re-strategizing how to best defeat their old nemesis.

 

The pair finally reached the edge of the Northern Crater and spotted a sight that made Cloud's heart sink. A few meters away stood Tifa's chocobo calling out in bird-like chirps for its master. Vincent quickly ran to the chocobo and looked down.

 

“She's over there Cloud,” Vincent shouted.

 

Cloud and Vincent sprinted down the small slope towards the rocky cliffs of the Crater. They could see the faint image of Tifa getting larger and larger as they got closer to her.

 

“Tifa!” Cloud yelled in between breaths.

 

He watched as his childhood friend stopped a few inches shy of the edge of the cliff. Her back was facing them and she didn't appear to have heard him.

 

“Tifa! It's me, Cloud!” he said once more after finally getting within a few feet of her.

 

Cloud and Vincent stood cautiously as they watched the wind blow Tifa's long black hair behind her. She still hadn't turned around or even acknowledged that she had heard them. Vincent tried to inch his way towards her and pull her to safety, but as he was within arms reach Tifa finally spoke up.

 

“Don't!”

 

Vincent and Cloud were shocked by her response.

 

“Get back or I'll jump right now!” Tifa commanded.

 

Vincent immediately retreated back to Cloud's side while Cloud fought his urges to walk closer to his childhood friend.

 

“Tifa, what are you trying to do?” Cloud asked.

 

Tifa finally turned her head slightly and faced both men, letting the wind blow her hair in her tear-stained face. Cloud could see the redness in her eyes from hours of crying. He clenched his fist in anger over the pain Sephiroth already inflicted on her.

 

“Tifa, please come back over here where it's safe. We're here to save you,” Cloud pleaded.

 

“Don't you see Cloud, I'm just trying to make you happy. It's what everyone wants,” Tifa sobbed.

 

“How is throwing yourself into that mako-lake going to make me happy? Nobody wants to see you die Tifa, we all love you,” Cloud said in desperation.

 

“Yes it will. You'll get to have Aeris back,” Tifa said while closing her eyes to hold back the tears that were already streaming down her face.

 

“I don't want her back, Tifa. I just want you,” Cloud said lovingly.

 

Tifa just shook her head. “You're just saying that. I know that you and everyone else hate me. I just hope that you can be happier once I'm gone.”

 

“What are you talking about? No one hates you! Just come over here and we'll sort everything out, I promise,” Cloud said frantically, confused as to what Tifa was saying.

 

“Cloud, forgive me,” Tifa said softly as she let her body fall backwards into the deep mako-lake.

 

(continued…)