A/N: WOOOAH. Sorry for not updating. I was at a cute leadership camp for two weeks...nothing electronic. If you read my profile page, you'll understand why I was freaking out.

This is the last chapter. Yes, I know you have all liked it. Yes, I love all of you reviewers. Yes, I hate all of you who haven't reviewed. (maybe that will guilt-trip you into reviewing one last time, neh?) And YES, I love Final Fantasy. They should totally do a patch-up on Final Fantasy VII. I'd play it again...

Reviewers: Reels, Ogro, Reform Joms, Kish's Kittie, drakan101, cai-ann, RyougaZell, Witcher Co, slverzshdow, and Kohryu. You are all my favoritish.

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R.P.O.V. (Rikku Point of View)

2:15 p.m. Burial Tombs, New Yevon Temple, Bevelle, Spira 10000 A.B.

I really miss Cloud and the others.

Yuna and Paine do too, I know that much at least. Maybe even Tidus does. But one thing: I was more than just a tiny bit depressed when I awoke wrapped in a cotton, scratchy blanket (mostly because there was no Marlene to shout for breakfast). In the wicker huts of Besaid Island, I groggily tossed myself awake, before the snoring bundles around me could even move, hearing the somber ocean rolling ever peacefully on. In the still morning hours, I caught a ride on Celsius and went to the New Yevon Temple.

It really wasn't that bad to be back. One moment, Zack had been leading me up the imagined heaven stairs, and he had truly smiled, eyes and mouth both, saying, "Rikku, be strong. You will find your place." Then, I was gently deposited in the lonely Farplane, lying on the indescribably soft ground. What was it even made of?

Paine, Yuna, and Tidus hadn't been far behind either; they landed in a glow of light. For a moment, shock hadn't registered as we glanced at each other, puzzled. And then, we all exploded, racing for the doors back to our lives and reality.

Yuna and Tidus had gone back to Besaid Island. It figures. I mean, now Yuna was Miss Popular again, and I had to be peppy, I had to be flourishing, a role-model for the kiddies. But you know, I didn't really want to be anymore. I wanted to spend time with Pops, Brother, hey, even Gippal. I mean, I could at least relate to Gippal on some level.

But I had business to attend to first.

So now, here I was, drifting slowly into the shadowy Burial Tombs hidden far, far below the temple's entrance. I don't even think those creepy, annoying, humming guards knew I was here. I doubted anyone knew I was here, sneaking around like a felon.

I really wasn't expecting to find anything. I just figured…you know…maybe I could talk to one of them.

The tunnels all looked the same since the last time I'd been down here. Back then, Yuna, Paine, the Leblanc Syndicate and I were messing around, trying to find Vegnagun. I knew the defenses were insane, and that I wouldn't be able to beat them. I avoided shadows like the plauge. Things flickering and growling in the shadows were generally lethal.

Hours had probably passed, and I kept wandering, like a lost soul. A half-hearted flicker of a grin came onto my face. I didn't forget what any of them looked like, from Tifa's sweet, smiling eyes to Vincent's sallow, drawn, yet content face. Cloud's stoic, barely smiling persona was an enigma of the present, but I figured once I found his tomb, I would remember.

Stopping at an intersection, I peered around, staying well hidden. There was no sense to draw any of the fiends attentions. Left and straight, there were both long corridors, but right…

I turned right.

This was shadowy, gloomy, and I could feel the slope heading ever downward. There was barely any light, and it seemed just like a hollow corridor, leading nowhere but straight to death. It made me shiver under my aqua bodysuit I had pilfered from the supply cabin.

The further I descended, the more I saw runes on the walls. They seemed to be old, far older than I'd ever encountered. The metal and wood began to weave together, only to be replaced by stone fifty yards further. Torch brackets were set into the wall. Fumbling, I grabbed my own torch from my belt, flashing it over the first sparker I could find.

The dark only grew, but I continued on resolutely, absolutely sure this was the place now. On the walls, the runes began to morph into engraved pictures. I saw the Cetra, JENOVA, and the many battles that took place thereafter. I was obviously getting closer.

When the corridor ended, the room grew into an enormous circular area. On the floor, I could see different symbols leading to nine alcoves. With my heart pounding, I gazed up to view the scenes on the ceiling.

It depicted the final blow that the Savior of the Light, Cloud Strife had given to the Vice Saint, the Ruler of the Planet Sephiroth. They were seemingly floating in the sky, angels of death. It showed the determination, the hate in Cloud's narrowed mako eyes compared to the insane coolness in Sephiroth's helpless state of terror. It made me frown at the unearthly features, the angel faces. It didn't look at all like Cloud.

I knew that guy.

I turned to the tiled floor. There were different designs; they ranged from gloves, to a spear, to a claw, to a fire, even a gauntled machine gun. Turning in circles around the alcoves, I suddenly recognized one symbol on the floor. The wolf's head, Cloud's symbol. With my heart pounding, I walked in a dream to it. Time seemed to slow as I stepped through the arch into the room beyond.

There were more scenes, more climatic events. All had Cloud, some with the rest of AVALANCHE, some with Zack and Sephiroth. A famous one seemed to be showing Cloud's sympathy and grief as he stared out over onto a broken, destroyed section of Edge, hand on a giant Buster Sword.

I gaped, dumbfounded. I had stood in that very spot, felt that wind, seen Zack's sword...

There was nothing else in the room, no chairs, no treasures, nothing. The only thing was a giant tomb jutting out from the wall, ornate and amazingly detailed. No doubt artisans from millennia ago had crafted it with their own hands, not machina-made like the stone coffins were now.

I hesitated. Did I really want to see Cloud's destroyed body?

My feet took me there as an answer.

When I stood directly beside it, I touched the tomb with one finger. It was stone, hard, bone-crushing. Gingerly, I knelt on the side, absent-mindedly tracing ruins. I'd never be the same, knowing that Cloud was here in the present, defenseless, dead. A corpse. He had been my brother for however short a time.

But I had to see, had to know if…

With my hands shaking, I undid the hidden clasps on the bottom. Al-Bhed had similar tombs, and this wasn't any different. Odd. I lifted to my full-height, and with a quick, deep breath, I threw open the casket, gritting my teeth, prepared for the worst.

Shock made me numb, and I almost let go of the top. I peered all the way around inside, and found nothing. Only dust stirred on the stone, dust bunnies running around playfully. Relief, sharp and relaxing, hit me, and I closed it carefully, reverently.

My lips twitched, and I laughed, not caring how it reverberated through the darkness.

Somehow, I was glad he hadn't let them bury him.

C.P.O.V. (Cloud Point of View)

Edge 7000 A.B.

Life returned as normal, but somehow, there was something different.

Ever since I'd made the decision that I wanted to be cremated, not buried, the entire world seemed lighter. It had made me shiver just thinking about the cruel things people could do to my bones, who could wage wars over them. I did not want to be a corpse.

I wanted to be free to go wherever I wanted, on whatever whim I so desired…

Tifa's eyes had given me that 'are-you-serious?' look when I told her that, but after I explained I didn't plan to die for a couple of years, she had almost grinned, hiding it behind her long ebony hair. I knew she was suppressing it, and only half-heartedly frowned.

Only yesterday, Cid had come with me to the idea to write down everything we had undergone, calling on each other when we needed inspiration, ideas. The coot, I was surprised he even suggested it. He had even offered to force everybody come to the Bar every Thursday night, so they could all help. I accepted with an unbreakable face, even as Cid scowled, took a drag on his cigarette and stomped back outside, muttering about the god-damned generation of haters that couldn't do anything but look like they had a spear shoved up their ass.

The first few days that Rikku and Yuna had been gone, I felt their presences everywhere. I could feel them in the walls, in the backyard when I sparred with Tifa, I could sense the peace that was going to overwhelm my world. My future.

This morning, the miracle of Midgar was officially announced: Shin-Ra had openly announced their association to the W.R.O., and had given them a large grant as proof. Reeve had been more than thanks filled, but not astonished. I think he knew who it was even before that greedy bastard flowered in the public.

Sometimes I sat with Tifa on the dark rooftop, both of us lying close enough to be one, her head on my shoulder, my body her blanket. The stars were pinpricks of light, of joy, of peace. I felt that the urge to fight was starting to deteriorate. There was nothing holding me back from going out to the Edge Flatts and simply honing my skills; I did that only on Saturdays, as pure leisure. I did not have the drive or restlessness.

But my life was not falling apart anymore. There were no more worries except the bills and food, and the bar helped keep those up, as did my deliveries. Everything was simply perfect. It made me edgy, trying not to just sit down and nap. When there was a crisis, we all were together; we were a family. Now, everybody was staying in his or her respective homes, multiplying, growing.

Marlene and Denzel were starting to take notice of the people in their school, and I think because of it, they both became closer. Denzel began to want to take Marlene out on dates, which she accepted gratefully. Slowly, they began to become more than brother and sister. It was awkward for all of us. That includes Barret and Tifa.

Barret now was working with his oil fields, and yet he still made time for Marlene. She often went with tantrums and promises to Denzel to visit soon. It made me astonished how both of them were growing up, how they were maturing. I realized it had been five years since the last fall of Sephiroth, two years since the Deepground incident, and only four months since Yuna, Rikku, and Tidus vanished.

As for Tifa…

I still hadn't made up my mind. Should I simply marry her and be done with it? In our friendship and the past couple of years living with her, I had found no matter how much Aerith meant to me, how much I wished she was back, Tifa was there. She never tried to press herself onto me, unless I was about to do something stupid.

But we were content, and nobody seemed to mind, although I was sure that Barret was going to bash my head in if I didn't propose soon. He was always like that.

I just wanted to lay down at night with her, knowing that despite whatever was going on, she loved me. She had made it quite clear she already knew I was devoted to her both physically and mentally. I could never intentionally hurt her.

One of the more fond memories I hold close to my heart was Father's Day.

Denzel and I went out on a bike-building excursion. He was getting to be older, more curios about where he had really come from, but for some reason, he still thought of me as his father. Maybe it was because I got him an old junker bike. For weeks thereafter, both of us tried to fix it up, while Marlene hung around, chatting as women generally do.

My world, my entire life was focused on my family and friends now. I could be killed driving Fenrir down the highway as some idiot managed to get around one of the huge trucks and hit me instead. I could get fat and lazy, maybe even abusive and arrogant. No matter whatever happened, I wanted to let everyone know how much I valued them. This was spent every Thursday as we wrote down our history. We actually talked about serious subjects, and I was content.

Then, the bomb was dropped.

I was going through the guest bedroom, sorting through drawers and paperwork. There, hiding almost under the carpet, I saw an envelope labeled to me in Rikku's scrawling, almost illegible writing. With a smile, I snapped it open, and began to read. And there it was.

Hehhehehehhehe. I knew somebody would find this. You know, Cloud, I'm not actually from your generation. You'll never see me again. I can only say, put one plus one together, and you'll have the future. Yuna almost found this, so I have to be careful. She would probably burn it.

Yes, if you haven't figured it out, I'm from the future. We all were. Before you go all psycho and call Tifa in, screaming about how you were deceived, let me tell you this: all of you have opened my eyes. Before, I was only out for glory. I hated Yuna. She's a little prep. Simply watching you, I saw how much you can give and how little you can receive. But I saw how you can make the most of it with your family by your side. Yuna's my family. I think I want to be like you.

I never told you, but I know Paine did not die. She was never evil to begin with. I'm sure she'd apologize for shoving more mako into your veins. We're all going back to Spira, 300 years in the future. Once I get there, maybe I'll give your tomb a buzz, eh? No, I joke, I joke!

But, tonight, we were visited by Aerith. She told us she could take us back. This is our choice. We've learned so much, and I hope that you understand. Aerith is so happy it's hard to believe. She followed us the entire time we were in the Shin-Ra building. She helped Tidus become real again. She wanted to talk to you, and maybe she will. I'd put my bets on Tifa though. ;)

Don't take this so seriously. However rude I may sound, just know you made a difference. I don't think nobody knows how much you could have meant. I plead with you: let no stories be passed on about Yuna, Tidus, Paine, or me because ya know, it could mess with our lives. I'm looking out for us, but you have a right to know.

But please, send on my grievances to everybody, especially Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel. Oh, and Reno, since Yuna did spend some time with him. I'm stealing ideas, like how extracting the all energy from our planet is really BAAAAAD, and I'm going to make the Shinra of our generation begin to see the hazards of it. Last I left, he was going to practically drain it, and let us live in luxury. I don't want to see that happen. I don't like mako.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Like it? I just barely made it up.

And I have to say, I really liked Edge, once I got used to it. I think you'll do well. Besides, somebody has to keep Tifa in line, right?

Byby!

Rikku

I stared at it, in shock, but a smile began to spread across my face. Everything clicked together in that instant. She, not to mention Tidus, Yuna, and Paine, had read about me, and she would read every single line in our history that would be passed down generation after generation…

"Tifa…" I called, moving to find her in the house.

R.P.O.V. (Rikku Point of View)

6:40 a.m. Besaid Island, Spira 10000 A.B.

I was sitting on top of the ancient ruins in Besaid overlooking the sea, holding the AVALANCHE Chronicles that belonged to Yuna in my lap, stroking its leather-bound spine, emerald eyes entranced. I couldn't do anything but simply marvel at how this had been written by AVALANCHE as a whole. It was amazing they could pull everybody together to do just this one thing. I laughed thinking about all of the parties they would have had to have to get this all done...and all of the gambling that would have been going on too. They must have all gone broke.

I had read the entire thing before, years and years ago. For some odd reason, I wanted to study it more now, knowing all about the characters. I knew everybody's personality now, and despite the distances, the time, I felt closer. As the sun began to rise, blinding me with the warm light, I read the final page, the page I was waiting for: a goodbye to everyone, everywhere.

'In life, there are so many trails, so many choices that beg to be taken. Roads will be closed and opened, depending on your attitude. You will never be down every single road, nor should you try to take the shortcut.

'Life is hard, brutal. It is the longest and hardest thing we'll ever do. Even painful, eternal reincarnation and hell are bliss compared to Life.

'Know these things: a little madness, a little kindness makes for happiness. Friendships will last if they are put first. Some pursue happiness, others create it. Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice.

'With this final page, this final goodbye, I say this to you:

'Friendship and love is the key…to everything.'

'Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.'

For half a second, I was confused at the familiar ringing of words.

Then I felt tears in my eyes. Cloud had read my letter. He knew. The silence opened up a world of music for me, and I hugged the stolen edition closer to my chest, taking a shaky breath. The joy slid down my cheek like living jewels as I watched the world wake, watch it portray its sleepy existence.

And I smiled.

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A/N: I'd like to close this with a little smile and twinkle to you. You've done a great deal of good for my writing skill. I'm putting down my thoughts, and letting you read them. What an activist! Now, please REVIEW.

Also, since nobody has mentioned it...on the dates, and times...A.B. stands for After Beginning. After the Beginning of Final Fantasy! WOOP. I made that one up. Keeps me in line. Anyway, maybe I'll cook something else up! Visit me sometime, and drops suggestions! I'll do whatever you want me to!

Peace out!