Another Time, Another Place

Authors Notes- Contains slash, angst, swearing, violence and character death.

Pairings- Sephiroth x Kuja, Cloud x Aeris, Vincent x Tifa, Rufus x Tseng, Reno x Yuffie.

Disclaimers- I own none of the characters mentioned hither.

Sephiroth lay Kuja gently on the grass and placed the sword besides him. He wouldn't need it again. Already he could hear the stirrings of the Planet as it prepared itself to rally against Meteor and Sephiroth. Perhaps this was for the best. The one person he'd thought he could love and he had to kill him. Long silver hair blew behind him in the wind as he stared upward and waited for the end. None of it really seemed to matter any more. The sky darkening slowly, as it headed towards him. He could see the individual craters in the surface now. It was all but blinding. Would Holy really come in time?

He was answered by a faintly musical sound, like a stream running down a mountain. He glanced down to see the ground being pushed aside by the force below. Tiny pricks of light showed, like stars. Then they grew in strength and pure green light erupted upward in bright columns, forming a wall of holy magical powers. The wall reached upward to Meteor, sweeping forward to encompass Sephiroth. He stood steadily and calm as the Lifestream came towards him. It was as clear and as beautiful as the light of dawn. For that's what was happening- not just an ending, but a dawning of a new life too. 'Another time, another place' he murmured to himself as the green glow simply swallowed his waiting figure and took him to another world where Kuja awaited him.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"Look!" Yuffie cried. They watched, awed as the sudden rush of sparkling light swept upward. Sephiroth stood calmly before and was simply engulfed by it as it reached up. They fell back blinded by the pure holy light as it swept upward like the fingers of the Planet, reaching out and covering Meteor like an avenging hand. A high, musical note trembled as the fiery missile was swallowed up with green pure light and they collapsed, the ground trembling as the power of Holy rushed upward to destroy the invader and save the Planet.

- - - - - - - - - - -

When they woke up, there was no sign of Meteor. The sky was a calm and clear blue, undisturbed by any danger. It was as ever nothing had ever threatened the Planet's life. They walked to the place where Kuja had died and found the hill had simply disappeared. A wide pool of glowing Lifestream was the only trace of what had taken place.

"It's so beautiful.." Yuffie murmured, staring into the clear depths. "I guess that's the end for Sephiroth, huh?"

"He won't come back," Vincent said, joining her. "Even if he could, I think there's someone to hold him to the afterlife,"

"You mean-" Yuffie looked up at Vincent and wondered what he saw in the Lifestream that she couldn't. Vincent said nothing and Yuffie was left to wonder. But then Reno came up behind her and put an arm round her shoulder and she forgot all about Vincent's enigmatic words.

Cloud was alone from the group, kneeling at the other side of the lake. Tifa pulled away from Vincent's possessive grip. She knew what he waited for and she prayed that it would happen too. She walked over and knelt beside him.

"Cloud?"

He looked up and tears were in his glowing eyes. "She isn't coming back, is she?"

Tifa didn't know what to say. "If Aeris made a promise, then Aeris will fulfil it," She said firmly. If there was a way of coming back, she knew the Cetra would return. Rufus looked equally worried and for a moment she worried about the two. She couldn't rule out suicide, by the way two identical blue-eyed gazes stared into the depths of the Planet. The temptation to jump in and join their lovers in the afterlife.. it must be overwhelming. Then just as she was beginning to suggest they should leave the silent lake, there was a sudden glow as a beam of sunlight raced down from the clouds, flooding the pool with light.

Yuffie gave a startled shout as a face began to form in the green pool. Aeris, smiling, her finger on her lips as the pool flushed with light. It grew in intensity until she had to look away from the blinding whiteness.. and then as it faded, two figures appeared, walking slowly through the lake, side by side.

"AERIS!" Cloud exploded and almost jumped in to meet the Cetra. She walked towards him, her pink dress swirling around her in the green lake. The sun sparkled around her, making her seem more of an angel than ever before, with her pure eyes full of love for Cloud. A slight breeze blew wisps of her chestnut hair behind her as she walked through the glowing lake. His arms reached out as she approached the edge and he pulled her into a deep embrace, his hands wrapped around her slender waist. There was a sweet scent of flowers clinging to her hair as he buried his face in it and for the first time in five years, he felt whole again, like he had found himself. Tears ran unashamed as he clung to his angel.

Meanwhile Tseng (looking less angelic but quite magnificent to Rufus anyway) bounded out of the lake and was immediately pounced upon by Elena, Rude, Reno and Rufus who was alternating between scolding him for doing something so stupid and crying with relief.

Tifa watched the reunion between Cloud and Aeris and reached to hold Vincent's hand.

"No regrets?" He asked her quizzically. She shook her head thoughtfully.

"I'm glad she's back," She answered truthfully as Vincent pulled her into an embrace. The Cetra disentangled herself from Cloud after a few minutes and came round to meet the rest of the group again.

"So that's it for Kuja," Cloud commented, staring into the Lifestream with a faint touch of sadness breaking through his joy.

"Don't be sad," Aeris said, reaching out for him. "Kuja could have lived if he'd really wanted to. I'm sure wherever he is, he's happy.. him and Sephiroth both,"

"Hey, what's this?" Yuffie asked, pulling a glowing red materia from the side of the lake. " A summon materia!" She exclaimed, staring at the materia with more love than she'd ever shown Reno, the Turk thought resentfully.

Aeris took it and examined it. "I think... I think this will summon Sephiroth and Kuja. If you ever need them," She said slowly. "It's a very powerful materia, Yuffie. Be careful it doesn't fall into the wrong hands,"

"All-RIGHT!" Yuffie yelled. "I bet this could totally waste Knights of the Round!" She clipped it into her shuriken proudly and ran back over to Reno.

"Won't that be dangerous?" Cloud asked Aeris, worried. She shook her head.

"Not with Kuja there too," She answered him. "I'm sure Sephiroth is no danger any more," He took her hand gently and they began to walk back to the Highwind. For the first time since Aeris had died, Cloud felt his broken heart heal.

- - - - - - - - - -

Conclusion.

Aeris and Cloud moved back to Costa Del Sol where Aeris found the climate ideal for growing flowers. She took over the shop in Tifa's place and the pair of them lived a peaceful and content life, raising many children and passing on to the afterlife after many happy years together. They were beloved in the local area and Aeris was always happy to help anyone in trouble.

Tifa and Vincent needed to get away from life for some time while they sorted out their own problems. After a year or so wandering the world, they settled in Wutai after Yuffie joyfully gave up leadership and named the two of them her heirs. They ruled the place better than Yuffie might have done and lived happily enough. Vincent was finally able to forgive himself and found an uneasy kind of peace. Tifa was able to get on with her life knowing Cloud was content. After Tifa passed away at the age of 87, Vincent toyed with thoughts of suicide before joining Red XIII in Cosmos Canyon. His sadness was minimal, knowing Tifa would wait for him in the afterlife. After Red XIII finally died centuries later, he himself would return to the Planet himself and meet them all again.

Rufus and the Turks managed to rebuild Shinra together with the most unlikely assistant- Barret. Despite the resentment many people still bore towards Shinra, once the company was rebuilt it looked into alternative power sources and converted the old reactors, finally convincing the population that Rufus Shinra had changed. It wasn't instant of course- there were even a few assassination attempts, thwarted by Tseng who was as fiercely protective as ever. Thousands of jobs were created with the rise of Shinra and the world was lifted from the primitive state it had plunged into following the end of Mako. A new and better age was born. Barret was named Vice President and under his direction, Corel Town became more prosperous than ever. Rufus and Tseng remained together for the rest of their lives and Rufus never had to hear the Lifestream again, having redeemed himself in the eyes of the Planet. Marlene eventually inherited Shinra when they passed away, and proved to be a born leader.

Cid went back to Rocket Town. Rufus apologetically continued to fund the space programme, much to Cid's delight. He became known as an astronaut as well a pilot, and raised yet more children with Shera. He still couldn't tell them apart.

Red XIII continued to live at his beloved Cosmos Canyon. After the rest of them passed away, Vincent joined him and they spent hundreds of years guarding the canyon. Together the two of them saw off minor threats to the world, although none were ever so dangerous as Sephiroth. Red XIII even found a mate after Marlene (who turned out to be an excellent scientist) found a way to use DNA to reconstruct lost species. He died content knowing his heirs would guard the world after he was at peace.

Yuffie and Reno worked under Shinra as Turks, a job which suited Yuffie's adventurous spirit perfectly. Although Reno knew he came second to materia in Yuffie's heart, they lived a happy life without the responsibility of ruling Wutai. Only once did Yuffie have to use her most deadly summon materia during their somewhat dangerous lifestyle and after her death, it was kept under high security by Shinra.

The Black Materia was never recovered. Aeris believed it had fallen into the Lifestream and that it was no longer at risk from being used to summon Meteor. Perhaps it was for the best. A thing of such power could not be left for anyone to abuse.

And somewhere in the lifestream- another time, another place, two lost souls found peace with each other at last. They finally discovered what it truly was to live.

The End.