After that day the chocobo moved forward; but only a part of him. The other half of the chocobo was left behind where the pup who had shown him so much rested. The chocobo laid with it's head of feathers and beak pressed against the ground; hopeful that the pup would return to him. The chocobo thought for some reason that if he lingered long enough than the puppy would return. After a long long time of waiting and waiting the chocobo began to think that perhaps the puppy had return once and he hadn't recognized him. Maybe he came back not as a puppy but a grown wolf. It had been many moons and suns it was certainly possible. But he knew the puppy or wolf wouldn't give up until he found his chocobo. He knew it was only a matter of time.

A sad smile crossed Cloud's features as he reached his destination. He hopped off of Fenrir and took a few steps over to the large buster sword; rusty and worn from it's many years in the open but still just as awe inspiring as ever. Just as Zack had once been. Cloud found himself sitting in the same place he often retreated to; directly to the left of the sword he sat with his knees drawn up and his arms loosely around his legs. His head held up by his knees where his chin would often rest. He didn't know why he came here; maybe he was just habit at this point. He dismissed that; no... he came here because he was still waiting. There was still a story to tell and he would visit until his story was over; just like Zack had told his own.

The chocobo's other half lived on that day; moved ahead to live on just as the puppy wished he would. Only the chocobo's mind had all but shattered that day; he didn't just live for the pup, he lived as the puppy. Maybe because it helped him keep the pup close to him; maybe it was all just unintentional. He didn't know why his mind had tricked him to think as much but it ultimately led him back to where the puppy rested. The chocobo regained a part of himself and moved on once again; still leaving his heart behind to wait eagerly for the puppy to come back. The chocobo fought on; he survived every battle and lived. After every battle he would return only to find nothing; but no matter how sad it made the chocobo he refused to give up. He knew someday things would return to normal and he'd see the puppy once again; smiling as if nothing ever happened.

Cloud frowned as the day shifted quickly into night; how long had he been waiting this time? He debated on camping out but dismissed it. Tifa and Marlene would lecture him about it and he wasn't about to listen to that again. "Unfortunately this chocobo needs to turn in for the night; Until next time pup..."

Every week Cloud brought himself to visit the marked grave; every week he told more and more of his story. The friends he gained; how he defeated Sephiroth; how he defeated the remnants; how he wished that Zack had kept him... His words floated in the air but he was sure they reached Zack's ears.

Years went by but his routine was never phased; even as he grew old, even as he was beginning to die he went back. He had to meet his end where his heart still remained; he couldn't go back to the lifestream without it. The sword that marked the grave looked like it would shatter at any moment. No silver at all was visible at the now copper and brown rusted scrape metal. Without the grace he once carried he all but allowed himself to collapse on his back side taking in a shaky breath, "You can't deny me this time pup..."

The chocobo waited till his last breath. The air becoming thinner and thinner; his lungs ceasing to rise against the Chocobo's feathered chest. The chocobo's head rested; he was tired and he had lived as his pup had wished. But all he wanted now was to finally see the puppy; he waited so long; he did everything the puppy wished him to do and more. The tired chocobo closed his blue eyes as fresh tears brewed. Would he be denied seeing the other even in his approaching death? Was he really meant to circulate the lifestream alone? Was all his waiting in vain; did the puppy forget about him after all these years?

A warm wet nose nuzzled the chocobo's head; the weary bird raised it's head eyes wide as he gazed upon the animal before him. It was no longer a puppy but instead a wolf. The wolf smiled to the chocobo resting itself next to him.

Cloud took in a shaky breath; it felt like his first. Strong arms wrapped protectively around him; his head buried in Zack's neck as he breathed the fresh scent of Zack's raven black hair. He watched his hands ball into fists around the fabric; but his hands were no longer old or feeble. They were no longer wrinkled and worn; instead he blinked as he realized he was young again. He sat back on his heels and looked over Zack and than himself; they were the same age as they were when Zack had died. Zack chuckled at his 'chocobo' ruffling his hair, "You didn't think I'd leave you behind now did ya Chocobo head?"

Cloud smiled; a smile he only had for the pup before him, "Of course not.. but you sure took your time puppy..."

Together they faded into the lifestream leaving the rusted sword behind witness to the world of their memory.

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OOOOOOOOOOoooooook so DONE not great not long but DONE um....... sorry if it sucks -.-' I can't decided whether I like it or not the first chapter was a looot better but I kinda forgot where I wanted to go with this last chapter but I never wrote it down and I kind of forgot....... let me know if you guys like it if not I'll change it please Review and let me know Thanks for reading!