Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction / Starcraft Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Tassadar's Legacy: The Crusades: Sylvanis ❯ Confessions, rocket airships, and orphans ( Chapter 9 )

Both Cid and Cloud looked up when I burst onto the bridge. It'd taken a while, but I finally found it. Panting, I caught my breath, "Cid, how fast can this thing go?" He answered, "The Shera can put us out at around 100 knots normally. But Cloud here has us puttin out the jets. We'll arive at Midgar in an hour. @#$%$#@ @#$% kid. I can't thank you enough. Now Tifa'll stop badgering me with those @#$%&^& sob stories. @#$%." I grinned. Despite what he said, Cid seems nice. I bet he complains so people don't think he's just a big softie. Then I frowned and got back to the reason I'd run here, "Cid, can we go any faster? I didn't leave a note for Tifa and she's gonna freak when she sees I'm gone. She was already worried I was going to leave and not come back regardless if we found a way for me to go home or not. I'm worried." Cid nodded and said, "Well, I wasn't gonna do this, but I do have somethin I've been messin with that might cut our travel time in half. Here's hopin." With that, Cid hit a few switches and hit a large red button. Suddenly the ship made a bunch of whirring sounds as if the ship was morphing or something. Cloud gestured me over to a video feed off to the side and I watched as The Shera formed into something that looked like... a rocket. And we're heading up. My eyes nearly buldged out of my head and I said, "Cid, you're crazy. How long can this ship handle the pressure of a vaccuum?" He chuckled somewhat morbidly and said, "Long enough kid. Long enough." Then he hit another button and suddenly I felt like I was going to be lifted up into the air and slammed into the back as the ship suddenly jetted off. I would have too, if Cloud hadn't grabbed me as we both held on. We watched out of the giant front view port as we kept going up and up, till blue faded to black. Then we finally slowed down, and I cautiously made my way to the edge. It felt weird since my feet were barely holding to the ground, as if I were underwater, and I leaned over the edge and gazed in wonder at the blue green planet. "We're skipping over the atmosphere aren't we?" Cid nodded and said, "Like a rock skips over a pond. You've got space travel on your planet kid?"

I nodded and said, "We've sent quite a few rockets and satellites up. We've even been able to walk on our moon. Recently, the hype for going to space seems to be over, though I think it's a bad idea to not invest something into it. Over population is a big problem on my world. It'd be a good way to solve that if we made colonies in space and built colonies on the moon and other planets. I'd figure it's the same for you guys, especially since your planet seems a lot smaller than ours." Cid laughed and said, "It's big enough. We can't overpopulate too much. Nature here is a little untouchable, so plenty people end up chow for the creatures of our planet." I nodded and said, "That makes sense. How long till we get there now?" Cid answered, "15 minutes kid. Enjoy the view while ya can. We'll be going back down in a bit." I nodded and continued to watch as the planet practically rolled underneath us. The view is incredible. "This is amazing." I whispered, awed. Cloud nodded from his position beside me and said, "it is. The rest of our group should see this too. How long can the Shera stay up here Cid?" Cid scratched his chin and said, "Probably an hour at most. That viewport yall are lookin out of is made of some high grade stuff, but I can't find any @#$%@#$ material that can completely withstand this  environment for any long length of time." I said, "An hour is a good long time though. And maybe I could help you out a bit there. If it weren't for this giant viewport, how long could we be up here?" Cid looked up and scrunched his eyebrows, thinking. "Two weeks, depending on supplies. The viewport is the main reason we can't stay up here long. I don't want to go without it, but if we could start a farm up here, I bet one could live on the Shera indefinitely." I nodded and said, "Why don't you just make a shield that can open and close over the viewport then? Keep the inside pressurized while it's closed, so that way it can be open for an hour at a time, and you can be up here for longer?" Cid got this twinkle in his eye, and said, "That's a great idea kid. I like the way your mind works. That'd solve the problem of reentry too."

My heart plummeted a little and said, "Please tell me we can survive reentry?" Cloud, who hadn't understood half of what we said, suddenly looked up in alarm. Cid however waved us off, "O' course we can. I designed the Shera. If we can get out we can come back. I'll just have to do a whole lotta repairs, but we'll make it just fine." Somehow that didn't reassure me. A few minutes later, I gripped the railing as Cid said, "Alright, grab hold of somethin, we're goin back down!" With that, we tipped down towards the next continent, and I watched as a few minutes later, the view blossomed into orange from the heat, and the ship started shaking. Clouds rushed past us and pretty soon, Cid was pullin back on the stick laughing. I imagine if I didn't feel like I was going to be flying over the edge of the railing at some point, I'd probably be enjoying myself too. We soon leveled out, and I spotted Midgar not too far away. I grinned and said, "Way to go Cid!" "That's Uncle Cid ta you Kid." He called out, smiling at the praise all the same. I watched as Midgar came closer and closer into view, with Edge just on the outskirts of it. The place looks like a wreck, but Edge still seems to be the dull thriving hopeful grey it was when I left. Curious at all the snow, "I asked, "Why does it snow here when it's so warm elsewhere? We're not that far north, and it only seems localized over Midgar." Cloud answered, "It has something to do with the accident a long time ago when a man named Sephiroth called down a large meteor to crash here. The planet saved itself from the disaster, but I think it was still scarred from it. At least we only have to put up with nightly snowstorms during the winter and fall. It could be worse." I nodded that it made sense.

Cid touched the airship down as a small crowd had gathered to look on and he said, "All that are goin, get off my ship." I nodded and said, "Thank you Ci- Uncle Cid." I caught myself and he grinned and said, "Jus' don't make a habit of it." he winked. I grinned, and Cloud and I made our way towards the back of the ship. We entered a cavernous bay, and among the number of vehicles in it, I spotted Cloud's motorcycle, the Fenrir. Cloud made his way toward it, and getting on, gestured for me to get behind him, so I did. Cid hit a button near the back, and large ramp descended so we could drive out. "See ya around Kid. Cloud." Cid gave us a short wave and Cloud nodded and I waved back, then we took off down the ramp. I grabbed onto Cloud for dear life. We're certainly going at breakneck speed. I just barely turned around as a shadow passed over us and I looked up to see the Shera flying off. Ten minutes later, Cloud and I were parked outside the Seventh Heaven Bar and Restaurant, and we got off and made our way inside. "Cloud!" Marlene called as she ran up to us and gave him a hug. I looked around for Tifa, but she wasn't there. It seems Marlene is looking after the bar herself again. Cloud noticed this too and said, "Marlene, **** ***** Tifa?" Marlene gave a small frown of concern and Cloud and her had an entire conversation right there with me wondering what was going on. Finally Marlene went back to waiting and Cloud turned to me and said, "Wait here and get breakfast. Marlene said that Tifa's been in your room this entire time and hasn't left even when Marlene went to get her." I winced and nodded, as Cloud turned and went behind the bar, and up the stairs. I sighed and sat down in my booth in the corner, and Marlene came up with the picture menu. I stared at it blankly as I thumbed through it, till a tiny hand was laid on my arm. I looked up at Marlene and she said quietly, "It's ok." I nodded, remembering when Marlene learned that from me, and even though I was feeling a little nauseous, I picked something for breakfast.

---

Cloud knocked on the door to the guest room Tifa had been letting Matthew stay in. No one answered. Frowning apprehensively and letting concern steal over the butterflies that had been developing in his stomach, he tried the door handle. It was locked. Thankfully he knew the trick to get it open even if it was locked, and he jiggled the door in such a way that it popped open on it's own quietly. Cloud froze as he spotted Tifa. She was curled in on herself on one half of the bed with her back to the door. Cloud walked up to her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder and called out, "Tifa?" Slowly, Tifa turned to Cloud, and he froze at the sight of the dried tracks of tears on her cheeks and asked, "What's wrong Tifa?" Tifa shuddered and said brokenly, "I did... something foolish and he left... I was afraid he would... you saw how he clinged to me in his sleep. He needs us Cloud. Why did I do that..." Cloud gently sat down on the bed and pulled Tifa in his arms. She squeaked and looked at him wide eyed and said uncertainly, "Cloud?..." Cloud smiled gently at her and said, "Matthew is fine. He's downstairs getting breakfast." Tifa was still looking shell shocked and after a moment asked, "So he didn't leave?" Cloud shook his head and said, "Not in that sense." At Tifa's confused look, he explained, "Matthew came to talk to me last night. He even got Cid to give him a ride on the Shera. He's made some modifications to it again. When we came back, we were in space. We should have him take us up there sometime." Tifa's eyes went round and asked, "Matthew got Cid to take him all the way to the City of Ancients in the middle of the night?" Cloud chuckled and said, "I'm surprised too. I imagine Matthew got quite an earful." Tifa nodded.

Cloud hesitated and said, "I've been doing some thinking lately... helped along by some rather forceful advice." Cloud grinned ruefully and Tifa suddenly looked scared and said, "What did Matthew say to you?" Cloud answered, "Nothing bad. He just told me what I needed to hear. And now I'm here to do something I should've done a long time ago. Something I've wanted to do a long time ago." Then Cloud bent his head down and kissed Tifa.

---

I sighed as I toyed with the remains of my bowl of rice and eggs. It'd already been nearly half an hour and I'd eaten as much as I could take, but I think I might throw up if I ate another bite. Marlene helpfully came up and took the bowl. After a few more minutes of waiting, I finally got fed up and slipped out of the booth and went behind the bar. Slipping quietly up the stairs, I made my way to my door and was about to open it when my hand froze on the doorknob. What's that sound? I could hear thumping coming from inside, and... is that moaning?... My face burned, but grinning from ear to ear, I walked back down the stairs and sat down at my booth, suddenly feeling rather ravenous. I waved over to Marlene and she came back over and I pointed at the menu. She took in my ear splitting grin and smiled relieved, and handed the menu over. I thumbed through it and ordered something tasty I'd had a few days ago that was so far my favorite. A big bowl of beef soba with rice and egg rolls. A few minutes later I was digging in and still grinning like a loon. I finally finished, and belched loudly. Some of the patrons stared at me and I grinned ruefully and said, "Gomen." At least I remember that bit of Japanese. They went back to their own conversations and I yawned. Seems my sleepless night has finally caught up with me. I grabbed the bowl before Marlene could come over and took it behind the counter. I stuck it in the food processor to be cleaned and shambled up the stairs, suddenly exhausted. I almost opened the door to my bedroom, but the grunts and muffled screams and the very dirty things Tifa was shouting for Cloud to do pierced through the fog in my head and had me heading for a more quiet, and empty, bedroom, chuckling and blushing and grinning all over. I stumbled to the closest bed and fell down on it, not even bothering to change or get under the covers and I was out.

---

"matthew..." Someone was shaking my shoulder a little. I groaned and blinked blearily. It was Tifa. Blearily I sat up and said, "You two are finished?" Tifa's cheeks went scarlet and she asked, "You heard us?" I grinned and said, "I couldn't not hear you. Though that was only because I'd run out of patience and come to see if Cloud needed help saying what he needed to say, but I decided not to when I heard that he said what he needed to just fine. I'm glad for you two." Tifa smiled a bit, a very happy "I just got laid" smile, but her eyes still looked worried. She asked, "What about you?" I yawned and shrugged and said, "I just wanted you to be my mother. Under different circumstances... no, I don't think we would have worked out actually. I imagine you'd have gotten tired of my pessimism after a while. You need someone who completes you, and I don't think that person is me." I was talking to myself though. Tifa was there, and she'd asked the question, but I was convincing myself it wouldn't work in the face of Tifa's happiness. In truth, I was feeling a bit depressed. Tifa scooped me up and suddenly my depression flew out the window as she kissed my cheek and said, "None of that. I know what you're really thinking. It's all over your face. Even if I'm with Cloud, I'm still your mother. And I guess Cloud is your father now too." I grinned at the thought and said, "Well, we'll have to see about that. Is he going to teach me how to shoot?" A voice called out from the door and said, "Uncle Vincent Can teach you that. I'd more likely teach you how to survive off the world and sword fighting." I grinned at Cloud's answer and said, "That works." Cloud came over and ruffled my hair then smiled down at Tifa and said, "I'm heading to the church tonight to keep company with the orphans. Would you like to come?" Tifa shared that smile with Cloud and I briefly felt a wave of jealousy wash over me, but I quashed it.

Tifa nodded and said, "Yes I'd love to. I had a feeling you would. I was just getting Matthew up so we could go." Cloud nodded and said, "I'll go get Marlene." When Cloud left, I asked, "What about the bar?" Tifa said, "This happens occasionally, and people mainly come in for lunch, so if I put a sign out saying we'll open late and close early, it'll be fine." I nodded and said, "What time is it?" Tifa looked at the clock on the wall and said, "It's 6:46. I'll have to teach you to read them." I frowned and said, "I know how to read them, but this is your room. I haven't exactly looked around and didn't know you had a clock up." Tifa chuckled at my indignation and said, "That's alright. We should get going. There's a change of clothes for you in your dresser." I nodded and followed Tifa out of the room, still yawning. I put on the clothes and went downstairs to see Cloud bidding farewell to the last customers. He turned around and saw me and came over to me and said, "I owe you." I smiled back and said sincerely, "Be a good Dad and we'll consider it even." Cloud smiled a true honest warm smile at me and said, "Sure." Tifa came up from behind Cloud and wrapped her arms around his chest and said, "Shall we get going, Dad?" She put an emphasis on the last word that had us both blushing at the implication. I grinned and said, "How many of your friends are going to flip once they figure out you two are a couple?" Cloud groaned and Tifa laughed, as Cloud said, "All of them." Marlene, who'd been made aware of the situation while I was sleeping, said something to Tifa and Tifa said something back that made Marlene laugh, as we made our way out the door into the slightly chilly air. I frowned and huddled a bit more into my jacket to keep my face warm. Tifa had an arm looped with Cloud's and I walked behind them with Marlene towards the blue pickup Tifa had driven me in ealier. Cloud and Tifa got in the cab, while Marlene and I climbed in back, sitting next to each other.

As soon as we took off, Marlene huddled against me, and I looked down at her in surprise. She's wearing a pretty nice coat, so I wouldn't have thought her cold. But then again, the slipstream from the car is making it more chilly. I put an arm around her to keep her warm, and looked around as we drove down the road. I noticed some people wave to us so we waved back. Soon, we pulled out of Edge and onto the highway where I'd hunted rats. Unfortunately for us, the hulking gargantuan king rats were still there. Cloud stopped and got out as he muttered, "What in the world?..." I got out too, and Cloud eyed me in surprise as I pulled my knife out. In response, Cloud pulled his sword out and glanced pointedly between his giant meat cleaver and my dagger that looked like a toothpick in comparison. I scoffed and said, "Never judge a weapon by it's size." Cloud grinned and said, "Took the words right out of my mouth. Glad I won't have to teach you that lesson." I casually flicked him off grinning, and he looked in surprise then grinned back and  I said, "Just let me have a bit of fun first ok?" Cloud gestured me to go first and I gladly did so. Large rats or no, Cloud was with me and wouldn't let me get seriously hurt. Plus I'd been itching to have a bit of exercise for a while now. Taking my knife out and stretching a little, I walked up to the rats, not even bothering to hide, but not rushing either. Cloud eyed my approach in surprise and watched as both rats suddenly whirled around and charged at me, squealing in fury. I grinned and pressed the symbol making my knife disappear. Whether my supposedly becoming disarmed was noticed by the rats became apparent when they charged headlong without using their claws to parry a blade that they thought wasn't there. I promptly twisted to the side, and let the rats momentum rip itself open as it ran into my invisible knife.

The thing squealed in pain as greenish black blood oozed from it's side and looked at me with fury. I heard a sound behind me and twisted around but I needn't have worried. Cloud was already there cleaving the rat trying to sneak up on me in two. I turned back around and regarded the two still looking at me. Feeling suddenly weary, I put away the dagger and said, "I'm done. I'm still tired..." Cloud rushed forward past my shoulder and with one swing, both rats were cleaved in two and disappeared. I couldn't help but admire his technique. He spun his blade around then hooked it behind his shoulder, then headed back for the truck. I climbed into the back where Marlene said something to me in Japanese but i didn't understand it yet, so I settled back and in about 15 minutes, we pulled up in front of Aerith's old church. We climbed out and suddenly were greeted by a number of children of various ages. I couldn't understand a word they were saying, so I hung back a little. I followed them inside, and was surprised to find how much cleaner everything is. Some kids were splashing in the pool of water where the flower bed used to be, while others seemed to just be running around and playing tag. Some older kids were hanging out here and there, working on something or other. I felt a little overwhelmed at the number of people and wondered why there were so many orphans. I felt a tug on the sleeve of my jacket and looked down to find a tiny little girl smiling up at me. I smiled back. Then she ran off after the group I assumed were playing tag. What was that about? I wondered. Shrugging, I looked around and spotted Marlene drawing with a few other kids, while Tifa and Cloud were practically being climbed on by some of them. Yawning, I spotted a sleeping roll, and wanting to go back to sleep, I walked over to it and plopped down and closed my eyes.

---

Cloud heard Tifa chuckle over the noise of kids laughing and shouting in his ears and looked over at her. She mouthed, I think you'll have to find someplace else to sleep Cloud. Cloud looked over to his old sleeping spot to find Matthew had already collapsed on it and little Roxie poking him wasn't rousing him. Cloud smiled a little at the sight and said loudly, "I think it's about bedtime for all of us." A loud chorus of "aawwwwww do we have to?" rang up from around the room and Cloud chuckled. He'd never get enough of this. Some of the older ones had already headed off at his words and Cloud told the younger ones still clinging to him, "Don't worry, we'll all get to play in the morning." With that Cloud and Tifa took the kids into the back room of the church where a number of beds had been assembled and the place cleaned up, including the hole in the roof. Cloud and Tifa took turns with each kid, making sure they got to sleep, then Cloud headed back into the main chapel and picked me up and came back to lay him in a bed and covered me up. I was still asleep the entire time. As soon as Cloud and Tifa were sure they were all down for the night, Tifa and Cloud headed for the upper lofts where beds for adults with separated rooms had been set up. Tifa wasn't really sure if Cloud wanted to sleep together after what had happened today, but before she could head to a separate room, Cloud took her hand and lead her to the room he usually slept in. Smiling lovingly at her, they met together in a kiss, which soon became heated, and they spent a good portion of the night practicing the art of silent love making.