Novelization: Advent Children
Chapter 9
In Edge, the rain continued to fall steadily, and the people looked up into the sky as the darkness cleared. Children with Geostigma watched in joy as the infection was washed away.
In a quiet alley, Rufus Shinra, too, was cured of the disease by the healing rain, as all four of his Turks looked on. Reno and Rude’s fate, it seemed, had not been sealed by the explosion on the bridge. Tseng and Elena, too, were quite whole.
The Sierra lingered above the city, and those aboard stood watching as the rain came down.
“Oh, yeah! We rock!” shouted Yuffie.
“See? What’d I tell you foo’s?” Barret added.
“A little push is what he needs,” declared Tifa, “That’s all.”
“Y’all calm down,” said Cid, “Hold on to yer briches.”
He turned the Sierra towards the rooftop where Cloud stood, waiting for them, victorious. Tifa gazed up at the glass ceiling of the Sierra, where a single drop of rain had found it’s way through a crack.
“Somehow, I knew you were there,” she said, “Thank you.”
*~*~*~*~*
Cloud gazed at the Sierra, then closed his eyes, letting the rain wash over him.
Without warning, a shot rang out from behind him, and Cloud stumbled forward from the impact, falling to his knees.
Yazoo lowered his weapon, groaning softly, as the rain that washed away the Geostigma from those afflicted slowly ate away at his body. Loz, too, was near death. They were, after all, merely remnants. The stolen materia shone from within their bodies.
“We’ll go… together,” he managed weakly, his gun slipping from his hand.
“Together,” Loz echoed, “We’ll play.”
Cloud turned, gathering his strength and rushed toward them, the tip of his blade dragging along the ground and sending out a shower of sparks. He leapt, sword poised to strike them down. With everything they had left, Yazoo and Loz used the materia. A massive explosion engulfed them all.
“Cloud!” Tifa shouted, as she watched in horror.
*~*~*~*~*
From the window, Denzel and Marlene also saw the explosion.
“He’ll come back,” said Denzel, “He said that he would.”
They stood in silence, hand in hand, watching… hoping.
*~*~*~*~*
Brilliant white surrounded him. Cloud felt as though he were floating… drifting. Everything was so peaceful… so silent.
A gentle hand touched his forehead.
“Mother?” has whispered, too content to let his eyes open.
“Again? Why is everyone calling me their mother lately?” Aeris’ voice asked.
“I guess they must be fond of you,” a new voice replied. This voice Cloud also recognized… Zack.
“This one’s a little too big to adopt,” Aeris laughed.
“Tough luck, friend,” said Zack, “Sounds like you don’t have a place here.”
With that, they drifted away from him. And Cloud at last made peace with his memories.
*~*~*~*~*
When Cloud awoke, he was still floating. Small hands held him steady, and after a moment, he realized that he was indeed floating. He had awoken in the church, his body supported by the water in the pool that had formed there. All around him were children… the orphans he had fought to protect.
He stood slowly, looking around. People from all over Edge were there.
“It’s like she said,” said one little girl, “Wait here, and Cloud will come back.”
“welcome back!” Marlene called from the edge of the pool. Cloud turned and saw his friends and allies gathered at the water’s edge.
“I’m back,” Cloud said simply.
“There are still children with Geostigma,” Nanaki pointed out.
“Yeah,” replied Cloud, as he waded towards them.
“Hey,” Tifa said to Denzel, “Let’s get you fixed up.”
Cloud reached out a hand to Denzel.
“Come on,” he said, “I’m here.”
“It’s ok,” Tifa assured him, smiling, and Denzel stepped forward. Cloud picked him up, and set him in the water. He cupped his hands, and raised them above the boy’s head, showering him with water from the pool. The effect was immediate. The healing water washed away the infection. Denzel gazed at his reflection in the surface of the pool and smiled. Cloud nodded, and Denzel turned to the others. As one, the other children jumped into the water as those not infected cheered them on.
Cloud silently surveyed the scene around him. As he looked toward the door of the church, his eyes falling upon a familiar figure clad in a pink dress. The woman was crouched beside two young children, speaking to them. As Cloud watched, the woman rose and walked toward the door. A second figure leaned lazily against the doorframe.
As he watched her go, Aeris slowly turned back to look at him and smiled.
“You see?” she said, “Everything’s alright.”
And she turned once more, and walked away. Zack gave him a friendly wave and followed her. And then they were gone.
‘I know,’ Cloud thought to himself, ‘I’m not alone. Not anymore.’
And he smiled.
~fin~
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