Final Fantasy

When two worlds collide: Chapter 1

Prologue

In the world of the Ancients
"COME ON CLOOUUD!!"
Cloud looked up at Tifa yelling at him. Although the others could hear what she was saying, he was somehow deaf to the world, still locked in an entrancement as he reached out to Aeris's hand to touch her. They connected, and Cloud awoke.
The whole floor was shaking. Loose rocks fell from the sky. Cloud was still a little dazed as he saw Tifa scream out his name. Suddenly, a boulder hit the platform that Tifa was leaning on, and Tifa started to fall. It was at that point that Cloud was now fully awake. He ran, jumped up as the floor beneath him collapsed, grabbed Tifa in mid-fall, and held on to the remaining platform with the other. The shaking subsided as Cloud held on with one hand, holding Tifa with the other.
For a moment there was silence. Then Cloud spoke, "I think I'm beginning to understand."
"What?"
"An answer from the Planet…..the Promised Land….I think I can meet her….there."
Tifa moved her head against his chest. "Yeah, let's go meet her."
Cloud pushed Tifa up to the platform. She then pulled Cloud up with her.
In the pit, the green lifestream started to glow blue.
When Cloud was pulled up, he looked at Tifa. It was then that he started to notice how beautiful she really was, but he pushed the thought aside for the moment.
"Hey, where is everyone"
"HEEEEY!"
Tifa and Cloud looked towards where the familiar voice had called them. They were all there, Barret, Cid, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Yuffie, and Vincent. Tifa called back in response, and waved.
"I'm glad you're all safe!"
Barret turned to the others. "They all seem to be safe, too. But….now what're we going to do?"
Red XIII answered the question. "Holy should be moving soon, and that means this place will…"
Cid looked up to the sky. "Oh, Lady Luck don't fail me now…"
A shaking caused them all too look up, the cigarette in Cid's mouth falling to the ground as he opened his jaw in astonishment. The Highwind, as a response from Cid's prayer to Lady Luck, burst through the hole in the crater, and stopped just before it hit the lifestream. The lady in the swimsuit emblazoned on the Highwind was a welcoming site to Cid as they all rushed into the cockpit.

* * * * * * *

In the World of the Espers
"It's over Kefka."
The thirteen heroes of the world drew their weapons at Kefka. Terra led the assault, Atma weapon in hand, and the Paladin shield on her other arm. They all attacked Kefka one after another, Kefka using his magic to keep them at bay.
A look of determination was in all their eyes. Kefka noticed this when he used attack after attack after attack. Still, they kept attacking him. Celes charged up two Ultimas from the gem box, and Kefka felt the full force of them. He decided it was time.
"Life, dreams, everything. Where did they come from, and where are they headed? These things….I am going to DESTROY!"
He raised his voice. "THE END COMES, BEFORE CHAOS!!"
A decapitated head appeared in Kefka's hand, and then vanished. The whole tower began to shake as Kefka powered up his most powerful spell. Kefka's piercing laughter rang in their ears as they prepared themselves for the expected.
With a cry, Kefka unleashed the attack. The world became blood red as a destructive image appeared before them. A great light shone in their eyes, forcing them to raise their arms to stop them from being blind. Suddenly, a loud explosion and a great force of fire blew into their bodies.
Kefka grinned as he heard the screams and cries from the heroes as the were basked in his most powerful magic. After a while the light grew dim, and he looked at the devastation he had supposedly caused. What he saw turned his smile into a look of rage. Terra had held her Paladin shield up just in time, absorbing most of the spell's power.
"YOU BITCH, I'LL MAKE YOU SUFFER!!"
Terra's form changed into that of an Esper. Surrounded by a pink glow, she leapt into the air and powered the Atma weapon to it's full capacity.
"No-one will suffer from you anymore Kefka."
She lunged the Energy into Kefka's chest. Kefka screamed in pain as the sword came out of the other side. Terra brought the weapon out and stepped back towards the others. Lightning flashed all around them as Kefka knelt onto the floor, his wings limp, his black blood pouring onto the floor.
"No……this….is not…the end…I…..will…..return!"
"Return to hell, Kefka!" Locke cried out to the fallen beast.
Kefka disappeared in a flash of energy.
The heroes had won the war.
Suddenly, the tower beneath them shook under their feet.
"It's breaking up!" Edgar shouted, as if they didn't know already.
"There's no time, the Falcon's just this way!" Setzer shouted to the others
"Come on everybody, we have to work together!" said Celes as they prepared to run. Suddenly, Terra stumbled weakly to the floor. Celes ran to her side. "Terra, what's wrong?"
A piece of Magicite leapt from Edgar's hand, and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "What's happening to the Magicite?"
Strago answered the question, "The Magicite….magic is disappearing from this world."
Cyan continued, "The Espers, they no longer exist."
Celes was shocked as she realised what would follow. "You mean Terra too?!"
Terra struggled to get up, and walked toward the portal. "Come with me. With my last ounce of strength, I will guide you back to safety."
The heroes followed Terra's Esper form as the ran back to the Falcon.

* * * * * * * *

Holy leapt out of the crate, pushing the Highwind with it. Parts of the Highwind broke up from the force as the eight warriors were flung about in all directions within the control room. Cloud held on to Tifa on one of the railings. For Yuffie it was the ultimate in air sickness as she threw up on the left hand wall.
Cid held on to a floor railing, trying to reach and emergency lever.
"Shit!"
He reached up, and grabbed onto it, pulling it with him.
The inoperative twin engines detached from the main body of the aircraft, revealing an emergency engine. It fired up, and soon, the Highwind was stable. It was not as fast or as powerful as the original form, but it was certainly good enough for them. Cid took the controls of the Highwind, taking them to where Holy was travelling to…..Midgar.
Damn. And I spent so much time trying to take her back….

In Kalm, Marlene sat at the table, looking bored. Her father was away with his friends, and what they were doing was anybody's guess. Suddenly, she heard a familiar sound. The sound of a young lady's voice, not Tifa, but someone else that she knew.
"The flower girl?"
She dropped of the chair and walked to the window. Opening the window, Marlene noticed a red glow to her left. She turned her head…..and saw a large red ball of fire hovering over Midgar.
Meteor had arrived.
Red whirlwinds began to appear under Meteor, their force breaking everything that it had come into contact with apart. The furious winds shook Midgar as the Shinra building toppled over into pieces. Lightning and fire appeared from the buildings of the city as they were destroyed into pieces that rose into the air, circling over the destruction.
Marlene suddenly noticed a blue glow from her right, and saw the blue light of Holy rush out into the path of Meteor. The two most powerful magics in the world, the one of the black magic of destruction, and the one of the white magic of purity collided. The whirlwinds dissipated as Holy shifted underneath Meteor. The sight was visible for miles. Even the observatory atop of Cosmo mountain could see it with the naked eye.
However, Meteor was way too strong. It pushed through Holy, turning the blue Aura red as it encased Midgar in a firestorm. A rushing firestorm encircled around the higher plate of Midgar, causing fires to rupture out of the decrepit Shinra building as it was engulfed in the flames.
High in the clouds, the Highwind viewed the destruction before them.
Barret was concerned. He turned to the others. "Wait a damn minute! What's going to happen to Midgar? We can't let that happen!" He slammed his hand on the railing in anger.
Reeve, talking to them as Cait Sith, told them what was happening down below. "I had everyone take refuge in the slums, but the way things are now…." The cat dropped its head in sadness, and wiped a makeshift tear.
Red XIII walked up to the windscreen. "It's too late for Holy. Meteor is approaching the Planet. Holy is having the opposite effect." His face turned into one of fear. "Forget Midgar, we've gotta worry about the Planet.

* * * * * * *

Everyone followed Terra as they made their way through the destructive tower. Using all their skills, they navigated their way. Some of them seperated from the main group as bits of rock separated them, but they still managed to join up together.
Terra led them to a bridge of metal platforms. As the group followed her, Celes dropped her bandanna, or rather, Locke's bandanna, which she had kept from the lost island where Cid had died. As she turned to retrieve it, Locke, who had always been at her side, stopped, and turned.
"Come on, this floors going to fall."
Celes reached the bandanna and picked it up. The bridge gave way. Celes started to fall on one of the platforms. Locke ran up to the edge of the platform and jumped. Celes leaped up and managed to grab Locke's outstretched hand.
"Locke!"
"I won't let go…I promise."
Celes smiled as she was lifted back onto the remaining platform.
"You nearly bought it picking up that stupid trinket." Locke said quietly.
Celes continued smiling. The remaining floor started to give way as the others continued running. Locke grabbed her, and jumped to the other side. Celes kissed Locke on the cheek in appreciation before she ran to join the others.
For a second, Locke felt the cheek where Celes had kissed him with his hand, then followed her.

The heroes ran into the place which had once been Vector's Magitek research facility. All the time, pieces of Magicite leapt into the air and disappeared. Suddenly, one of the Magicite Terra was holding leapt into the air, but stayed there hovering in the air.
Terra turned to face it. It was Maduin, her father.
"Father?"
"Terra, we must depart now. We Espers will disappear from this world, forever."
A tear shed itself from Terra's eye.
"But if the human part of you has strong feelings for something, or someone…you will be able to remain in this world as a human….forever. Farewell."
Maduin disappeared in a puff of smoke. The others started to run with Terra. Terra paused, looked back at where her father had left, and continued to run.

* * * * * * *

The eight fighters were silent, thinking about what they could do, and realizing that there was nothing they could do. Even Yuffie, who was normally gasping and gulping from her air sickness, was silent, thinking too much about the fate of the planet to even be airsick.
Tifa and Cloud were at the railings. Cloud turned his head to look at Tifa, who was gazing out of the windscreen. She suddenly turned her head sharply, and noticed something.
"What's that?"
A green speck was visible in the ground. It suddenly erupted and spurted out a swirling green light. More eruptions came, and the sky was filled with the green energy. Barret walked up to where Cloud and Tifa were, amazed at what he saw.
"What the hell IS that…….?"
Cloud provided the only answer. He had seen it before, during his final fight with Sephiroth.
"……Lifestream."

In Kalm, everyone opened their windows to look at the wonder that had now appeared. The waves of energy that was the lifestream flew gently, but speedily, over the hills and the ground. It was approaching towards Midgar, where Holy was losing it's battle with Meteor.
"It's coming." said Marlene.
The lifestream glowed like dawn towards the cyclone of metal that was circling around Midgar. It surrounded Midgar from all directions. Meteor tried to push it back, but in vain. The Lifestream gathered round Midgar, then launched itself at the destruction. A great glow of light, so bright that everyone in Kalm and in the Highwind had to wince their eyes, emanated from Holy as it was recharged by the Lifestream. No-one dared close their eyes, however, so as to see what would happen.
When the glow subsided, Holy had pushed Meteor away from Midgar.
But it was still not enough. Meteor was still there.

* * * * * * *

Shadow ran towards a different path than the others. Interceptor noticed this, and followed Shadow. Shadow turned to Interceptor. "Interceptor, get going."
The dog still tried to follow him, but Shadow pushed it away. He turned to run, but then turned round and knelt at Interceptor.
"Stay well."
The dog stayed as Shadow turned to a small alcove. He sat down, waiting for death to come to him.
"Baram, I'm going to stop running. I'm going to start all over again."
He was not however, completely hidden. Relm had spotted him hunched into his corner, and ran up to him.
"Wait. Mr. Shadow, you'll die if you stay here."
"I have done too many bad things in my life, Relm. I deserve this."
"No. You can't die. We need you."
"I must stay here."
Relm tried a different tactic. "Fine. But first, I want you to take your mask off."
Shadow was stunned. What is this girl doing? But, she seems so….familiar….like she's a part of me.
"Take your mask off."
Shadow did as he was told. Relm saw the face that was hidden behind the mask.
"It's you isn't it?"
"What?"
"I see you in my dreams. I know who you are. You're……my father, aren't you?"
Shadow suddenly realised who Relm was. He had seen her too, in his dreams. She was his daughter.
"Relm….I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I know why you left me and mother behind. But I forgive you. Now I want you to come back to me."
"But….how can I? I have failed as a father."
"You treated Interceptor so well. Just treat me the same, and you'll do fine."
Interceptor walked up beside Relm and whimpered. Emotions came flooding back to Shadow. He thought he had killed them all, but emotions could not easily be destroyed. He understood everything now.
He ran toward Relm and they embraced each other like father and daughter. The ran back to the Falcon.

Setzer powered up the engines. Everyone was on deck. The engines fired up and Setzer pushed the throttle.
Terra jumped into the air and floated. "Follow me." She flew into the air and Setzer follwed her, moving through the tunnels of metal and earth that was now falling apart. At the final push, Terra and the Falcon shot out of the exit. Setzer couldn't resist crying out a "YEEEHAAAAA!"
Behind them, Kefka's tower collapsed into dust. A final explosion signified the end of the tower, the end of Kefka, and the end of his 'light of judgement'.
Celes ran up to the edge to shout to Terra. "Terra, it's alright now." Terra started to fade, and Celes realised the cause. "Terra, your power. It's starting to fade!"
With a last gasp Terra fainted and started to fall. Celes signalled to Setzer, and he responded by pushing the Falcon into a dive, trying to catch the falling Terra.

* * * * * * *

"Damn! It's still there!!" Barret cried in astonishment and dismay.
Red XIII studied the light before them. "Maybe, but the lifestream has strengthened holy, and has placed it into a stalemate. But it's still not enough to destroy meteor though."
"Yeah. I bet it's because of those fuckin' Mako reactors."
"For once, you are right." Barret grumbled at Red sayin 'for once', but kept his mouth shut. Red continued, "The Mako reactors decreased the power of the lifestream significantly."
"But surely we can power up the lifestream somehow?" Tifa asked.
"There is nothing we can do."
"There is." They looked at Cloud, who had been watching the fight between Holy and Meteor. "Materia. It's condensed Lifestream. If we put the materia into the Lifestream, it will form back into Lifestream and increase it's power." They all looked at Yuffie, who had stashed the party's materia into a bag to take back to Wutai.
"Wha? NO! You're not taking this from me!"
"Don't worry Yuffie." said Red, "The materia isn't strong enough."
"Not the regular materia. I meant the HUGE materia!" replied Cloud, "The Huge materia that's in Professor Bugenhausen's observatory!"
Red thought it over. "That may work, but…"
Cloud turned to Cid, "Cid, head to Cosmo Mountain, now."
"Alright, alright."
The airship turned and headed for Cosmo mountain.

They returned to the battle, the Huge materia in tow. Cid lowered the Highwind so that they were just above the green lifestream.
"Someone has to go down there and drop the materia into the center." said Red.
"I'll do it." Cloud volunteered. "I've been through the Lifestream before, I know what it's like."
"But….." Tifa shuddered at Cloud's request.
Cloud walked up to Tifa and held her hand in both of his own. "Don't worry. I'll return. I promise."
He kissed her on the cheek and turned towards the rope. Tifa placed her hand on the spot that Cloud had kissed her. Everyone said their good lucks, and he slid down the rope with the Huge materia.
He was about three quarters of the way down when a surge of the Lifestream knocked him off the rope, and he fell down into the Lifestream itself. Tifa screamed his name as he blacked out in the Lifestream.

He opened his eyes slowly and saw nothing. There was nothing but blackness around him. Had he died?
Suddenly, a green glow appeared behind him. He turned round, and saw a familiar person wearing a pink dress and a red jacket.
"….Aeris?"
"Hello, Cloud."
There was no doubt about it. Aeris was standing before him, her smile as radiant as it was before she….died. But she's dead. Does that mean I'm….?
"Am I dead?"
"No, Cloud, you're not dead. You are merely unconscious, lost in the Lifestream. But this is the Promised Land."
Cloud looked around himself. He was standing in a field. The sky was blue, the air was fresh, fresher than it was in Midgar at any rate.
"The Promised Land?"
"This is the place where all the good souls, the lifestream, of the Planet go when they die. The Promised Land is, in essence, heaven. This was where Shinra wanted to go, and could never go."
Cloud understood. The Promised land was filled with the Lifestream, or Mako as Shinra had called it. No wonder they wanted this place. But Aeris was right, they couldn't come here, and they never will now that Rufus was dead.
"Why am I here?"
"Cloud, I don't have a great deal of time here. My destiny is done. I now go to live in the Promised land."
"But….I wanted to be with you again."
"I know you had feelings for me. I love you too. But my destiny now lies here. Your future is with the one who truly deserves you."
Cloud realized who it was. Tifa. He had loved her when he was a child, and now that he was older, he still held feelings for her. He realized Tifa was the one he truly loved.
"We must part. Goodbye, Cloud."
"WAIT!"
"Your life lies with someone else. But please remember me. Farewell."
Aeris disappeared into the lifestream. Cloud was alone once again, but this time, he was filled with joy at the new future that lay ahead of him.
He woke up floating in the middle of the lifestream. Ahead of him, Meteor was trying to penetrate the newly charged Holy. He held the Huge materia above his head and released them into the Lifestream.

Holy grew in power as the Lifestream's energy was increased, a great glow of light surrounded the Meteor and covered it's whole size. Suddenly, a huge explosion rocked Midgar, Kalm, and everything within the area. The Highwind was rocked from the force of the explosion, and Cid had a hard time keeping the ship steady. Yuffie threw up once again. The rocking subsided, and Cid was able to keep it under control. They all stared out of the windscreen at the sight before them. Meteor had gone. Where Meteor had once been, the upper tier of Midgar was a ruin, but the lower tier was still fully intact, or as intact as it had always been.
"Are they all alive?" Tifa asked Cait Sith.
"A few injuries, but they'll be okay." was the reply.
The sky was no longer as dark and foreboding as it had been before. It was a blue sky, something which Midgar had not seen for decades. The ground was not a rocky wasteland, it was filled with grass, flowers and beauty. The Lifestream had reshaped the area around Midgar.
Cait Sith spoke, "It's gonna be a hard job keeping it this way, but we'll work on it."
"Cloud! Where's Cloud!"
Tifa cried out as she searched desperately for Cloud. The others looked around. Suddenly, Vincent lifted his clawed fingers and pointed to the ground.
"There he is!"
On the ground, Cloud was standing on a grassy hill, waving to the Highwind, a large smile on his face. Tifa smiled in return. Cloud had rarely smiled for years. He had changed, for the better.
The Highwind landed a hundred yards away from Cloud. He ran down the hill and stopped as he saw the door open and Tifa run towards him. They embraced each other in a passionate embrace, Tifa shedding tears of joy.
Tifa's head moved back, and they faced each other. Cloud was instantly stunned by her beauty. His lips moved towards hers, and they kissed.
Barret watched the two new lovebirds kissing each other as dawn was breaking, but didn't dare to interrupt. Instead, he turned his gaze towards Midgar, and watched as Reeve moved the people of Midgar out into the field through the emergency exit. Cait Sith was deactivated behind him. He got up towards Reeve, and walked with the others, minus Cloud and Tifa, towards the populace.
"Hello Reeve. So this is what you really look like, huh?"
"In the flesh." Reeve replied as he shook the former AVALANCHE leader's hand. "Where are the other two heroes? Y'know, Cloud and Tifa?"
"They're uh….engaged at the moment."
"I see."

Cloud and Tifa were still locked in their passionate kiss. When they finished, Cloud held onto her tightly, swearing he'd never leave her side again.
He looked back towards the new dawn that was rising from the east, a sense of pride and joy in his heart.
Thank you, Aeris.
It was over. Sephiroth, and Meteor, were destroyed. The world was saved.

* * * * * * *

Do it right Katerine.
Back on the ground, in the ruins that was once Mobliz village, Katerine was in labour. Her child was to be born. Duane, her husband, was at her side, holding her hand as she groaned and screamed in pain. The children were in front of the bed, wondering what was going to happen. They then thought the could hear Mama, Terra's, voice.

Got to stay awake.
A bright flash filled the sky.

For just a while longer.
The light dimmed. The crew of the Falcon were unconscious from the force of Setzer's dive.
"Just a little….longer."
Celes was the first to wake up. She looked around and saw everyone asleep on the floor. As she moved to arouse everyone, she noticed something else.
Terra was not there.
"Terra….where's Terra?….!"
She spotted Terra, in human form, near the side of the railing on the flight deck. She pulled her off the railing, and roused her. She woke up.
They all rushed towards Terra, who stood up alongside Celes. They were glad that Terra was safe, and that she was alive.
She turned to Setzer, who was currently piloting the Falcon. "Thank you, Setzer."
"Didn't I say it before? This is the world's fastest airship!" replied Setzer.
They flew through the air, looking downward at the World of Recovery now below them. The world, free from Kefka's grasp, was rebuilding itself. The trees were growing again, flowers blossomed everywhere. The houses that were destroyed by Kefka were now being rebuilt as the people found new hope within themselves.
They passed over Mobliz. Terra saw the children running out of the house, shouting to her that Katarine had given birth to a baby girl. Terra laughed with joy when she saw the children.
She then walked over to the front of the deck. She took off her ribbon, and let her long, flowing emerald hair blow in the wind.
It was over. Kefka was destroyed. The world was saved.

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