Mother's love
Cloud has been gazing from afar, unaware of his surroundings and doesn't even seem to care…it's been a week since the incident, and the way Cloud acts just gets worse than ever.
"Cloud, with that gloom, you can kill all Aerith's flowers in one stare" Zack tried to lighten him up, if that statement was enlightening. Cloud ignored him and continued his stare from afar.
"Hey Cloud, you know you-" Zack's persuading was cut as Aerith touched his arm and gave it a light squeeze. Her eyes were having sparks in them; she gave him a light smile.
"Let him be, it won't last for long" she said as she headed down to the place where Tifa disappeared. Zack followed her.
"What do you mean? What's with those sparks in your eyes?" he asked curiously "His been like that for a week and you still think it won't…" Zack stopped before saying the last word as he saw Aerith's destination and was quite surprised. Angeal was there and he seemed to have placed a barrier around the place Tifa vanished.
"What's going on" Zack asked, nearing over barrier, something was glowing inside, but he can't seem to recognize it. It had a shape of a body with wings.
"An Angel?" Zack asked Aerith. She just smiled at him. That's when Zack realized, when Tifa was disappearing, they weren't that sad at all, there were sparks in their eyes, Tifa and Angeal. That means…
"She's coming back?" Zack had a smile on his face, a big one at that.
Aerith never responded, but Zack seemed to catch the meaning.
"Man, when Cloud hears about this!" Zack was about to run to his best friend, but Aerith plucked a wing off him.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"You're not telling Cloud" Aerith stated, waving his feather "If you don't want another one of these plucked off"
"But why can't he know?" Zack asked, confused.
"Let him know for himself" She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then went off. Zack stood at his spot for a long time. After a couple of minutes, he flew to his favorite spot, lay down the soft clouds and began to daydream.
Night has come and Cloud fell asleep on the spot his been for a whole week. He fell soundly asleep, unaware of the glowing angel floating above him.
She spoke without moving her mouth "Cloud…"
She reached her hand out and ruffled Cloud's spikes. She spoke once again, her voice getting watery.
"Cloud… I'm sorry… You had a horrible life…I'm sorry…It was my fault" tears of guilt and sadness overflowed her eyes. She lowered her head and kissed his forehead "I'll make it up to you… Because of her, you had a meaning, a meaning to continue living … a meaning I never had given you…"
With a last kiss she disappeared. Cloud opened his eyes slowly until he was wildly awake. He stood with a sudden movement. He spun around, looking for something or someone…expecting to see anything, but seen nothing.
"Mom…?" He touched his forehead, he felt it. He knew he felt it…it was too real to be a dream, she was here.
"Tifa…" he lowered his head. He looked from a distance, his imagination playing with his thoughts again.
He saw Tifa, she was spinning in a pretty dress, and she was smiling, spinning and dancing around.
"Cloud" she called out. He was about to run to her, to take her back in his arms, where he knew she belongs…but, she quickly fades.
"…NO!" Cloud began kicking the clouds, he knew he was going insane, but he has to control himself…he wanted to …he has too.
"Tifa" He mumbled, he spread his wings and began to fly back to the mortal world. He went directly to Tifa's room which was preserved by Yuffie.
He inhaled that sweet scent that was Tifa. The pictures posted on the wall, her childhood and friends. He also looked at the two pictures that were on the table. The most important to her. A picture of her and Yuffie and the other, him and her. The pictures had smiles, filled with life. If only he can turn back time and go back to that exact moment, he would enjoy it more than ever. He would wish it would never end. He lay on her bed as he sighed.
"Just for tonight…" he pleaded up the sky "Just for tonight, let me feel as If she's still here"
With a small tear that flows from his eyes, he fell into a deep slumber. He didn't hear the closing creak of the door.
The next day…
"Hey Cloud" Zack was waiting for him. He flew up as he surfaced the clouds.
"I just…" Cloud spoke without finishing his sentence. Zack sighed.
"I understand…it's been 8 days?"
"Yeah…."
"Enough of the sad moments Cloud" Zack grinned. Cloud wasn't still ready to move on. The only thing that gave him a sense of life, a worth, Gone in the wind. He can never move on at such a short time.
"Zack I-" Cloud was cut as Zack placed a finger on his mouth.
"Nu uh… No explaining, you'll soon realize what I meant…" Zack flew away.
Cloud was confused and curious; he flew to Aerith and began asking.
"You'll soon find out, Cloud… Those lonely days end today" she spoke filled with glee and excitement. Cloud doesn't seem to understand what was going on.
He began asking others but they seem to give him more confusion.
"Just you wait"
"You will know later"
"It's coming…"
"Do not worry"
Even Genesis and Sephiroth won't speak; Cloud was left with one option. Angeal.
He entered his study. Angeal was reading a book of rituals, one that Cloud has never known about, but he put it aside, something was up that he doesn't know.
"Its no surprise you do not know…You've been glooming at one spot for nearly 8 days" Angeal spoke.
"You know the reason" Cloud's voice was harsh.
"Yes, but… If you hadn't let tears overflow, you would have seen it and have understood…"
"What is going on, Angeal? Tell me"
"What authority do you have?"
"I am Cloud Strife, Son of Claudette Strife, The most powerful Angel known and the Master of Fenrir the last of the Star gazers"
"Star gazers?" Angeal was testing his knowledge.
"Wolves that took care of the stars knowledge of the future, past and destinies"
"My, I'm impress you still have that knowledge and more impressed that you used for the very first time, yours and your Mother's authority"
"I can't deny… I have royal Blood"
"Yes…supposedly the finest and thickest Royal blood, though it's mixed with Human blood now…"
"I still am the rightful heir to the throne"
"And so you shall… As long as you have found your beloved"
"She's vanished…She's …" he couldn't say it…the word that would truly proof passing away.
"There are many fine women out there, a lot of fishes in the sea" The words set Cloud in flames.
"DON'T YOU DARE…NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE HER, NO ONE" Cloud hold Angeal by his throat.
"True love…I see she was right… she made a right decision" Angeal whispered to himself.
"What was that?" Cloud asked, still not letting him go.
"Cloud, let go of him" Sephiroth ordered.
"Royalties…" Genesis shook his head. Cloud lets go of Angeal and sent a glare at Genesis "Shut up Book Boy"
Genesis ignoring the so called insult and let Cloud pass and off.
"Even you never said a word" Sephiroth said.
"Of course, spoiling surprises aren't fun"
"You think of it as a game for him?"
"No…It's quite more than a game…Its destiny…"
Cloud flew far and wide, until he noticed Fenrir, rolling around the clouds. Cloud flew to him.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Master…please helps…" Fenrir pleaded. Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"Yes…Thank you…That's the spot…ahh" Fenrir was kicking. Cloud rolled his eyes. He continued scratching Fenrir's back.
"Can I stop now?" Cloud asked.
"A bit more"
"I've been doing this for half an hour!"
"Yes…you may stop"
"Finally!" Cloud checked his numbed fingers. Fenrir lay down in relief, his itch, finally gone.
"Say Fen…" Cloud began. Not sure if the little guy would tell him what the heck is going on.
"Yes Master?"
"Well, do you know-?"
"I know" Fenrir cut Cloud off, knowing what he was about to say "I know of the future…you will ask me of the strange happenings"
"Haven't I told you that I hate it when you use those powers on me?" Cloud was annoyed; he didn't like Fenrir finishing off his sentence with the right words. Well, it was Fen's power, can't be helped.
"As expected from Master, not wanting to be halted from his words"
"Well, you know what I'm talking about, going to tell me anything?"
"The stars say that by this time, it is right to show you rather than tell"
"Show?" Cloud was now getting out of his mind if he doesn't found out what's got everybody busy and weird.
Fenrir walked and Cloud followed him. After a short moment, Cloud noticed where they were heading.
"No…NO…" Cloud shook his head. He doesn't and he can't go back to that spot, to the place where she vanished, she went away.
"Do you not get curious why people are there?" Fenrir pointed his snout to the crowd of angels surrounding that spot. In the middle, a light glowed, filled with warmth and love.
Cloud went nearer, getting attached to the feeling he was getting through the light. The feeling was so familiar. Like its been years since his felt it again. With this familiar feeling, he remembered only one thing. His eyes widen.
The crowd noticed Cloud and all gave him way to the center. Aerith came running to him from the center, she was filled with joy.
"You're just in time" She said with tears in her eyes. She pulled Cloud closer to the center of the light. He didn't protest to her pull. As he reached the center, his eyes widened with shock.
"Tifa…" He said in a whisper. He can't believe it, his eyes must be playing tricks at him but Zack's grin says it's not a dream.
The light was fading slowly. As it fades, Tifa's features began to bloom. The looks of the situation was like she was being reincarnated.
Cloud looked at her with disbelief, how and why? But that didn't mattered, his eyes was filled with more confusion to see what was on her back. Wings.
As the light fades, Tifa was completely naked. Cloud quickly took the clothe that Aerith holds and wrapped it around her. He felt her soft skin, her warm breath, she was real; she was alive.
"Tifa?" he whispered in her ear.
No answer came, but after a few seconds, eyes flicker and went wide awake. Red eyes burned into his Blue deep ones. Tears formed in Cloud's eyes.
"Don't cry" She let out a giggle and wiped his tears with her hand. Her skin so warm and soft on his skin, a very familiar touch. Cloud embraced Tifa tight; he never thought he'd see her again. That he won't ever get to embrace her small body this way.
"I missed you…" He whispered in a muffled voice. He felt Tifa's arms wrap around him.
"I'm back" she replied.
The crowd cheered and gave applause. Zack was pretty noisy that he received glares from Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal.
"Just clapping? No fun" Zack said.
"It is how we are" Sephiroth stated.
"You guys are boring" Zack said and bent down to hug both Cloud and Tifa. Aerith joined them too. Fenrir on the other hand, unable to neither clap nor cheer fearing he'd look wild like Zack gave out a roar.
Everyone looked at him with smiles and cheered louder. Tifa looked at Cloud, confused at the reaction of others.
"When a star gazer roars, it signifies victory or happiness" Cloud explained.
"Star gazers?"
"Fen's kind" Tifa nodded, understanding only half of it.
Cloud and Tifa stood, they looked at Angeal. Cloud did the talking.
"You knew?"
"Yes"
"And you never told me" it wasn't a question.
"A surprise isn't supposed to be spoiled"
"But….How?"
Angeal knew the question was coming and so he said "Her"
Suddenly a light glowed behind Angeal, he stepped aside, revealing a blonde woman, beautiful, shinning with splendid wings on her back.
Everyone was surprised, and more was Cloud. It was her…Claudette Strife.
"Mom?" Cloud moved forward to her.
Claudette smiled. Tears again formed his eyes. Claudette held Cloud in an embrace, her own tears forming in her own blue eyes.
"A man does not shed tears" she wiped his tears, while hers overflowed.
"How…why…" Cloud didn't know what to say, his mother…his beloved mother…finally came back for him.
"Do you not recognize the necklace in her neck?"
Cloud remembered their family crest, it was the necklace that somehow appeared when Tifa was sick, but he shoved it away.
"Apparently, Cloud never did pay attention to anything…even in class since he had discovered Hojo" Sephiroth stated.
"The lad only cares of his interest" Genesis said, in hands was his favorite book.
"Speak for yourself, 'Book Boy'" Zack grinned. Genesis wielded his sword an inch away from Zack's teeth.
"Insult me, you get it"
"But how come Cloud never gets wielded!" Zack complained.
"I have limitations of angels I can threat" he finished the conversation with the opening of his book.
Zack pouted, Aerith grinned and gave Zack a hug. That got him to smile.
Cloud smiled bashfully, embarrassed at his behavior. His Mother smiled, knowing everything going on since her angelic side has been ripped out of her. Claudette turned to Tifa.
"Your highness" Tifa bowed. Claudette shook her head.
"It is I who should give gratitude. You have given him something important, and that is Love" Claudette embraced Tifa. It was long since she felt again a Mother's embrace, Tifa hugged back.
"Time has come…" Claudette said, letting Tifa go.
"Time?" Cloud asked.
"I have done what I must; I have no more to accomplish"
"But Mom…" Claudette placed her finger on Cloud's lips to shush him. He obeyed.
"I will always watch over you, my son" She kissed his cheeks as she fades "My Beloved Angel"
And then she was gone. Cloud bowed his head in respect and whispered "Goodbye…Mom"
He looked back at Tifa and was happy to see her amazed to be able to control her wings with basic movements.
"Fly Tifa!" Zack said, taking off of the clouds. Aerith giggled and flew with Zack. Tifa was still unused having wings.
"Come on" Cloud flap his wings and flew gently, taking hold of Tifa's hand "I'll be right here beside you"
She nods her head and tried to flap her own wings, at first it was difficult, yet after some time she began to fly. Amazement and wonders filled Tifa.
"Wow…" Tifa didn't know what to say. She hasn't had an experience such as having her own wings to fly.
Other Angels also began flying, dancing around in twist and turns, it was a beautiful experience, something that she can never forget.
Cloud lets go of her hand, and she flew on her own, she dances on air with twirls. She hasn't felt as light in ages as she can remember her old life. The only time she felt light was when Cloud would take her for a stroll, flying up the sky at night, while Yuffie…YUFFIE.
"Yuffie!" Tifa shouted, she looked below the clouds of mist and tried to check her sister. How can she forget the family she had always loved?
As she looked below, she saw Yuffie in her room, with Vincent behind her.
Yuffie's eyes were closed as if feeling the night breeze through her short hair. Vincent stood just behind her, looking above, as though he sees Tifa and others spying on them, well, maybe he does.
"Say Vince…"
"Yeah?"
"You once mentioned of your brother"
"Yes…"
"His not dead, isn't he?" She turned to him, her eyes now open and filled with sincerity as if she knows everything about Vincent. He raised an eyebrow. She turned her back to him.
"I've known something was up… You and Cloud had a different relationship, not just acquainted"
"…" Vincent was silent; Yuffie took it as a yes.
"I saw him, yesterday…he was in Tifa's room…and…he had Wings" That surprised Vincent. Even Tifa and the others were surprised.
Angeal gave Cloud a glare, while Cloud gave an apologetic look.
"So Vince, you're an angel too?" Yuffie asked and it was serious.
No point in lying.
"Well, there are circumstances, I am not fully fledged, neither is Cloud…He is a half angel while I only inherited few blood that just enables me to see him"
"Then, why did I saw him?"
"Because" He looks up the sky as if directly at Tifa "Your sister's up there with him"
Yuffie had her eyes wide and she looked up the sky. Even only a glimpse, Yuffie noticed, in a far away distance, Tifa was crying with joy. She smiled, and then looked back at Vincent again.
"One last Question…" She bowed her head. Vincent raised his eyebrows again, what should he expect?
"Why can't you fly?"
Everyone raised an eyebrow now. Vincent was silent. Fly?
"Oh come on, Tifa gets your big brother that's hot with wings for additional charms, and his not even fully fledged. Your not fully fledged like him, though you have little blood, at least you have some, well you could at least be able to fly I mean…" Yuffie was back to herself that loves to nag.
Vincent sighed and smiled. Yuffie never changes.
The ones spying also gave out their laughs.
This day was to be remembered, where a love was reborn, truth untold, and A Mother's love unfolded. Yes, truly a memory to cherish for the rest of their lives.
Took me long enough for this. Sorry about that, Hope you like it, though I think it was lacking or something…well, please Review and Thank you for reading this through the end! I'm off to finish the others! Thank you again and please review!