Final Fantasy VII: Resurrection

"Tifa will be glad to see you. She has a new Seventh Heaven in Edge. I'll ... see you there."

Aerith titled her head and drew in her thin eyebrows, slightly confused by how cold and uncaring Cloud's words sounded towards her and Zack. If anything, wouldn't he be happy to see them back? Aerith knew how much Cloud had suffered after her premature demise, so why was he treating her so unkindly? This wasn't like Cloud. Not at all. She tried hard to read what was in his azure eyes, but the blonde had reverted his gaze so as not to look at Aerith or Zack.

The little Cetra couldn't help the sadness that overwhelmed her heart. Certainly she did love Zack, with all her heart but she loved Cloud as well, just as much as Zack did. She'd always felt protective of him because she knew exactly how fragile he could be. The hurt became a little overwhelming and Aerith folded her arms over her chest, hugging herself, tears burning in her eyes once more as she watched the blonde man zoom off towards Edge, billowing clouds of dust in Fenrir's wake. Maybe it had been so long since Aerith really felt emotions and that's why she felt the way she did now. She was broken from her thought at Zack's soft, masculine voice in her ear.

"Perhaps we should go pay her bar a visit. You might even get that nice warm bath and something to eat, Aerith."

Aerith sighed softly as she felt Zack's warm arm slide over her now-slumped shoulders comfortingly. She stared up at her SOLIDER with tear-filled emerald eyes and then hurriedly looked away before he could see them.

"You up for seeing Tifa again?"

She nodded her head at him, sniffling softly and not really understanding herself why she was even crying and trying to hide it from Zack. Cloud was probably just needing a moment to take it all in perhaps? Or maybe he'd just come to hate so much that the fact that they were killed and now back in his life, they'd ruin it or disrupt it.

Unsure of herself, Aerith leaned against Zack's warm body. "Zack," she began, trying to keep her voice calm. "Did I...say something wrong, to Cloud I mean?" The tremulation resounded in her voice, as she was unable to contain it any longer. "I mean why was he...," her voice broke and she shook her elegant head. "Nevermind...let's go see Tifa." Aerith's heart warmed at the thought of the woman with long, raven hair and large chocolate brown eyes. Yes...Tifa will at least be happy to see me.
 
Red ran toward Nibelheim like a creature possessed, covering much of the distance that first day. Now on his second day of travel, he was quickly approaching the area of Nibelheim. He was tired, having only been able to manage snatches of sleep when he had stopped for the night. Every time he closed his eyes, Red would dream. And the dreams were not pleasant.

In his dream, Red would be in Nibelheim, standing in front of the door to ShinRa Manor. He would enter the building and go down, down past where they had discovered Vincent sleeping, down past the laboratory in the basement, somehow down below the building itself, into the very earth. There he saw the face of a man he hadn’t seen in several years. It was a face he had hoped to never see again. It was Sephiroth.

The silver-haired swordsman lay in repose, presumably still dead after all these years. But as Red watched, he saw Sephiroth’s eyes suddenly come open, the icy blue boring holes into Red’s consciousness. Sephiroth sat up, and reached for his ever-present masamune. Just as Sephiroth's hand was about to grip the hilt, Red would wake up, startled, a shot of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

It had been the same dream every time he closed his eyes. After the third time, Red gave up, roused himself in the pre-dawn murk, and continued his trek to Nibelheim. Anxiety now drove his every step.

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As he had approached Nibelheim, Red had felt the presence of something (or some things) powerful. The strength of the force grew stronger the closer he got to the town. He could almost feel it as a weight bearing down on him, and it was harder and harder to run the closer he got to Nibelheim. But he was determined. He had to know why the planet screamed so, and why it was coming from this particular village. This village that was the genesis of so much turmoil for the planet all those years ago.

Crossing into the village, Red caught a glimpse of something on the roof of ShinRa Manor. He immediately had the sensation that this was the source of the power. Hiding himself in the shadows of a ruined building, he crept his way close enough to be able to hear any conversation while remaining out of sight.

Red waited, listening intently.
 
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"Zack, did I ... say something wrong, to Cloud I mean? I mean why was he ... Nevermind ... let's go see Tifa."

"Why was he not Cloud, you mean?" Zack gazed at her softly. "Must be a huge shock to him too. He saw us both die, Aerith. It's going to take him a bit of time to adjust to having us around again. Don't worry. It's Cloud. He'll snap out of it. And if he doesn't, we'll just have to make him. You said nothing wrong." He kissed the crown of her head and held her for a moment. "I won't let him mope around too long, don't you worry."

He stared at the sword ont he ground before stooping to pick it up. His old Buster Sword, a present from Angeal so long ago. He half smiled, slipping the hefty weapon on to his back,wedging it beside the other. This would be a hard task for anyone else, but Zack was more than strong enough to carry the two big weapons without much strain.

He sighed, more than aware that Aerith must be exhausted by now. After all, Great Gospel was enough to sap anyone's strength and with the sudden resurface of the long dead couple, her strength must have been drained. And so he lifted her into his arms gently, holding her with all the love and tenderness he could muster. "Don't try and tell me you can walk on your own. You're tired, I can tell. So to save your embarrassment later when you collapse or something, I'll just take you from here." He smiled softly at her. "Besides, I've wanted to hold you like this for a long time."

He strode away from the gathered townspeople, Aerith light as a feather in his strong arms. The bar came in to view and a familiar face was stood before it, eyes fixed on the direction Zack and Aerith had come from. Tifa Lockheart, long time friend to Cloud and a beautiful woman to boot, seemed calm and resolved. He paused before her, still holding Aerith. "Long time no see, Tifa..." he said. "I don't suppose there's any chance Aerith can rest in your bar is there? She probably won't admit that she's fatigued... but she really needs her rest."

It was perhaps a slightly awkward moment; speaking to Tifa as though they had not once been dead. But Zack needed to act as normal as possible right now, if not for his own sake, then for Aerith's. He knew Cloud's attitude had seriously hurt her. By acting like everything was normal, he hoped to alleviate her mind of her worries at least a little. His bright blue eyes moved to meet Tifa's large dark ones. "It's good to see you again," he spoke with complete honesty, a smile furling the corners of his mouth.
 
"Elena, it's been a while. What are you doing here? With a weapon?" Elena recognised the semi-monotonous and depressed voice of Cloud Strife anywhere. Indeed, it had been a while, 6 years since they had fought and 6 years since the fall of ShinRa. That doesnt matter anymore though as it seemed that both sides have come to some terms. With a sigh, Elena answered back. looking at the dusty ground and the ants crawling nearby. Waiting. For Reno and Rude. Need to patrol Edge, hence the gun. As for why i am here and nnot patroling, the two idiots are late. There was a slight pause before Elena looked up at Cloud. What about you? Why aren't you at the bar?
 
Tifa watched Cloud closely and grimaced as he sped away, slightly concerned at his reaction. "This is not like him at all..." she mused. He had acknowledged her in some way before he left and typically, her spirit would lift but she did not feel its welcoming embrace. Instead, she felt a deep pang of sorrow for reasons unknown.

She then felt their eyes scanning her, and she turned slowly, meeting their gazes, most especially Aerith's. Pure joy washed over her, and the corners of her lips tilted upwards slightly as she nodded towards Aerith, who was being carried gently by Zack.

"Long time no see, Tifa...I don't suppose there's any chance Aerith can rest in your bar is there? She probably won't admit that she's fatigued... but she really needs her rest."

"It's good to see you again."

Zack had spoken to her and she broke her eye-contact with Aerith and regarded him with a shy smile. "Of course. What was I thinking just standing here? Come right this way, it's just a bit up ahead." She started to walk on towards the bar, leading the way, then stopped abruptly and looked back behind her shoulder.

She smiled momentarily at Aerith and softly said, "It's...really good to see you again." Turning fully so that she faced them, she continued lightly, "I don't know what happened back there, but we can talk about that later. You're both alive now and that's a blessing." She paused and her gaze dropped on the ground, her thoughts churning with possibilities. What is the meaning behind their sudden arrival? Despite the fact that Zack and Aerith are now here, both alive, Tifa cannot help but be cautious at the same time, for she knows that somehow, somewhere, trouble lurks around the corner. The question is, how soon will it strike everyone?

Mentally shutting her eyes for thinking anything other than the two people in front of her, she quickly reigned her thoughts from going everywhere and tried to maintain a positive attitude as much as possible.

"I'm sure Cloud will come along sooner or later!" she said brightly, her eyes twinkling.
 
"I'll be there soon enough," murmured Cloud under his breath. He smiled coldly at Elena. "It wouldn't hurt you to have a drink, you know. Leave Reno and Rude until later." He sighed inwardly. He was talking to Elena only because he needed to distract himself from thoughts of Aerith and Zack.

So many thoughts were rushing around inside his head. Zack Fair... He had almost run to embrace his old friend and companion, and Aerith... well, his delight had been beyond words. He had run from the past five years ago. He wouldn't run again.

"Come on." He began to move towards 7th Heaven.
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Alison smiled coldly at her brother and sister. "The objective is life," she spoke, looking at them, her eyes boring into them. "Take as much as you can. So that our master can rise from the ashes, and rule again.
 
" . . . " He allowed his eyes to sweep over the dark cliffs and then the young man would turn away and proceed to walk from both women. Though Emerald Jenova masqueraded, in the body of a child, he knew better then to think of her as such. " Easy enough. I tell you: It's like walking through a green field and, ever so casually, bending down to pull up handfulls of grass. Simple and quick. People break so easily." He would pause in speech and just breathe in the cool air which seemed, most of the time, to flow down from the frigid Nibel Mountains. "A part of me would have it the other way. At least they would offer a shred of entertainment. I find myself disappointed over and over again. "​

A smile drifted across Hisoka's pale lips. He had a feeling his disappointment would soon fade. Surely the Planet's defenders would arrive and seek to stop them from their assigned duties. Little did he know one was close by. The beast was skilled at cloaking his presence, as well as his scent. He kept his voice soft and low. " The others have yet to arrive. What a shame." The malevolent smile faded. " It would be smart to strike, against our enemies, together. When I speak of enemies - I refer to this Planet's defenders. They'll find us soon enough. Separated - we don't have half the strength we have together. A suggestion, if you will. Take it for what it's worth. "​

He waved his right hand, in a dismissive gesture, and would lower to sit on the edge of the roof. He tilted his head back and sheathed his katana across his back. Grey eyes gazed up at the sky. Rain always interested him - enough of it could put out the most fierce of flames. ​
 
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"The objective is life. Take as much as you can. So that our master can rise from the ashes, and rule again."

Jaimie smiled. How she longed to see the master reborn. It was why she had been causing so much trouble throughout the continent. The more discontent the miserable wretches around here experienced, the more likely they were to kill each other out of malice, spite, jealousy, and every other negative human emotion.

"It would be smart to strike, against our enemies, together. When I speak of enemies - I refer to this Planet's defenders. They'll find us soon enough. Separated - we don't have half the strength we have together. A suggestion, if you will. Take it for what it's worth."

Jaimie nodded her agreement. They would be much stronger together than split up. But then she had another thought. "You're right, of course, Big Brother. Our strength would be greater as a whole. We could destroy whole cities in a matter of minutes. But split up, we could cover the entire continent in a matter of days. That would give the Master more souls more quickly." She snorted derisively. "And really, who can stand against us, together or not? Yes, Sapphire was defeated. But we all know Sapphire was the weakest among us, and she was foolish to attack Edge directly. We three will not make the same mistakes.

That, dear brother, is my suggestion. Big Sister, I leave it up to you."
 
((OOC: Yuffie has finally arrived, and she is going all Crisis Core on Zack))
Short black hair tied back with a red ribbon worn as a headband was flicking in the wind. the oversized shuriken rested on her back, as there she stood on Edges city wall. Yuffie flipped down from the City walls. Standing almost immediatly after landing perfectly on her feet, she had been training for a few years to increase her ninja skills. Her training had paid off, she was much better now than she had ever been. She had decided ot see a few old friends in the newly re-built city of Edge. She headed through the passing crowds on her way to Seventh ~Heaven, her friend Tifas bar. On her way she noticed a familiar face. She ran up to Zack and threw out her patented air-punch combo "Hey Spiky its you, long time no see. Look im sorry about the past" She said stopping her combo and holding her hand out to shake Zacks hand. Her eyes strayed for a second and she was off again. She ran to Aerith and prodded her a few times "Are you real?" She said with a tear in her eye. She had seen Aerith die and yet here she was walking, and in the flesh. Her arms wrapped around aerith as she cried a little
 
"Of course. What was I thinking just standing here? Come right this way, it's just a bit up ahead."

Zack watched her lead the way, holding Aerith securely in his strong arms. How wonderful it felt to simply carry her, feeling the touch of her smooth skin against his. The SOLDIER's head tilted slightly as Tifa stopped. Was something wrong?

"It's...really good to see you again."

Fair felt within his heart that those words would mean everything to the girl in his arms. She had been taken away from her friends; to hear those words would be like returning home.

"I don't know what happened back there, but we can talk about that later. You're both alive now and that's a blessing."

If he was honest, Zack was thankful the perky brunette did not require answers at that moment. The first and only thought on his mind at that time was getting Aerith someplace comfortable so she could rest. He was a SOLDIER, conditioned and honed for the battlefield; he was used to fatigue. Aerith was far more gentle, her body not as trained for such strain. Whilst he had no doubts in his mind that she could cope, now that he was able to take care of her properly again, he was damn well going to do so.

"I'm sure Cloud will come along sooner or later!"

The twinkle in Tifa's eyes brought a small smile to Zack's lips, furling the very corners of his mouth. He could only hope she was right. Cloud was the one thing that bound the group. Fair smiled a little broader as Cloud's blonde head flashed to the forefront of his mind. He dearly loved the spikey-haired youth whose hair was a match even for Zack's.

Zack strode by Tifa, tightening his grip on Aerith slightly to prevent her slipping. "Sorry for being rude, Tifa, but Aerith needs to sit... and as much as I'd love to keep her in my arms, there's only so long I can keep a good hold on her. I guess ever SOLDIER's get tired finding themselves alive again," he gave her a sheepish smile as he walked into her bar and settled Aerith down, stretching out his arms. "You weigh next to nothing... but I guess I've got to get used to carrying things again..."

He kissed the top of her head and smiled. "Everything is going to be alright. We're back... We're with Tifa... and Cloud... and..."

His sentence was cut off as a voice straight from his past pricked his ears. A half-amused smile crossed over his face as he turned, arms folding across his chest, deep cerulean eyes resting upon the tiny ninja.

"Hey Spiky its you, long time no see. Look im sorry about the past"

"And Yuffie, apparently," Zack finished his sentence, watching Yuffie's little punch combo with a smirk. He extended his hand and shook hers lightly before watching her wander towards Aerith. Deciding to leave the girls to their little reunion, Zack took a few paces away from them and slipped the Buster Sword off his back. He turned it over in his hands, a face prominent in his mind as he stared at the large, broad blade. Though it was not the face of his old mentor which plagued him as his fingers ran over the materia slots. That blonde haired, blue eyed young man was the one he thought of. Zack had passed the sword to Cloud the day he had died...
 
For some reason, Cloud seemed more solemn and odd than usual, and he was already moody enough as he was. Watching the gold spikes walk towards the bar, Elena kicked hard at the dirt at her feet before glancing around the area for one last time. "*Sigh* I guess it'll teach those two a lesson if they wait for me. Maybe an hour or two would do..." Pushing herself off the wall she was leaning on, Elena caught up with Cloud and followed after him towards the bar.
 
Cloud nodded to Yuffie and smiled to Tifa, then looked at Elena, and jerked his head to invite her further in, before turning to Zack and Aerith, opening a side door to his temporary room whenever he was in Edge.
"Can I have a word?" he asked them both, as he walked into the room. A small enough place, with a simple bed, desk and closet.

He knew what he had to say to them.
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Alison nodded at her siblings. "We attack Edge first, and take as much life as we can. We will succeed where our sister failed."
 
Observing her surroundings Rosso concluded she was on the outskirts of Midgar. "So, it seems this world is not finihed with Rosso the Crimson, I wonder, would Weiss be here...? I suppose... it's time to return to my duties, the tainted still need to die..." Rosso then rose to her feet, blade in hand and began to walk to Kalm, soon the inhabitant's fates would be sealed.

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Jade Jenova, having been kept bored for almost a week tried to think of something to amuse herself. Aside from Midgar which was low on population now, there is not many populated areas left... "Hmm... Perhaps I could head towards that... canyon, maybe I could find some amusement there, the people should run like rats, it could be quite fun. Jade Jenova walked from her current location of Corel, and set off to her new destination...

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David looked to the sky, the air was cool and the sun was up, the sky almost cloudless. The world looked almost innocent, like nothing evil could exist in this world, he however knew completely different... The world was filled with evil, and it was upto him to cleanse it of people's misdeeds, even if he had to become evil himself. If he could do some good for the world, he was willing to sacrifice his goodwill, even that was a minor cost to him. However, alone he was unlikely to do much... He needed to find allies, and swiftly. If his senses were right something would happen, the day was too perfect... Something was lurking out there. Jumping down from a broken building in Midgar he tried to think of where to go first.
 
"We attack Edge first, and take as much life as we can. We will succeed where our sister failed."

Red was gone before the Jenova finished her second sentence.

Edge, he thought. They have to be warned. Tifa, Cloud, the people... they all have to be warned. If concern and purpose drove him before, Anxiety and outright fear drove him now. He had felt the sheer power emanating from that collection of beings. If they were to get their collective hands on Edge without the city having fair warning, the results would be disastrous. Catastrophic. Apocalyptic.

It would take time to get to Edge. And time was a luxury Red could not afford.

******

Red managed to make his way to the city of Edge within a day or so, record time for him. He would have rejoiced in that simple pleasure were not the reason for his haste so dire. He blazed his way to Tifa's new ... old ... new bar, the Seventh Heaven, dusty, travel-worn, and with a slight limp breaking his gait on his right foreleg. The flame-colored animal walked unceremoniously into the midst of those gathered in the bar and sat near a table. He picked up his right foreleg, brought the underside of that paw to his mouth and began working on a thorn that was lodged in a pawpad.

Finally extricating the thorn from his flesh, Red looked around the bar and noticed just how many people were there. It was a few more than he expected. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of two particular individuals. He had caught a glimpse of Cloud walking through the doorway that led to his quarters, and had heard his request for Zack and Aerith to join him.

"Hello everyone." Red looked at each of them in turn, his gaze falling on Zack and Aerith last. "Good to see you two again. It's been much too long." He lifted his muzzle slightly and sniffed the air. "Don't take this personally, but you both reek of the Lifestream. Although I suppose that's to be expected, all things considered."

Looking at the group in general again, Red continued. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but... well... I come bearing bad news. We need to, all of us, discuss matters."

His gaze went back to the newly reborn of the Lifestream. "Once Cloud is finished with you two, come back. This is best told once, and heard by all."

Red turned to Tifa, a tired look in his eyes. "In the meantime, dear maiden of the bar, I would kill for a bowl of water."
 
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