�It has to end now.�
His opponent was silent, the cold smirk that traced the lower half of his face saying all that need be said.
�The killing you have done, the chaos you�ve left behind you.� It all ends here.�
For answer there came the singing of metal on rock as the all-too familiar blade rose to eye-level.� He could almost see the blood that still dripped from it�the blood that, though easily wiped clean from a blade, could never be erased from his memory.� Those icy green eyes stared at him from over the tip of the sword.
His own sword came up in answer, and from deep within came a primal reflex�long buried within the mires of his soul.� A yell that echoed the Planet�s cries flew from his throat, and his body set itself into motion.
Before it had even begun, it was already over.� His body had responded unlike it had ever done before, and he released every ounce of hatred, every fragment of vengeance, upon his foe.
Those same cold green orbs that had hitherto stared him down were now wide in shock.� A thin stream of brilliant red poured down between them, and the silver-haired warrior slumped to his knees, eyes still fixed on the one who had vanquished him.
The dark one�s breath grew ragged, his eyes glazed over, and a single word escaped his lips amidst a burst of blood.
�Revenge��
He didn�t have time to watch the rest of his foe�s demise.� His mind whirled as he made his escape, trying to shake off the feeling of his mortal enemy�s last word.� All around him, the world was falling apart.� He felt his footing go out from beneath him, and he reached out desperately.� There, grasping his wrist in an instant, was his most loyal friend, by his side through every battle since the very beginning.� The young woman heaved mightily, willing her own strength into him, and together they managed to haul him onto the ledge.� He buried his face in her long brown hair for a moment, and then looked around for an escape route.
All around was chaos, as though his foe had reached up from the grave to take him by the foot and drag him down as well.� Then, in the flash of an instant, he caught sight of their salvation.� He grabbed hold of the rope that dangled before them, and she took hold of his waist.� Together, they climbed to the safety of the massive airship above them.
He felt his cheek touch the solid, cool floor of the airship, and he released a long-held sigh of relief.� He heard a voice, faint and distant in his ear, and he shivered.
�Revenge��
He grimaced, and the voice changed tone, shifting into something he knew, something he longed to hear.
�Cloud, are you OK?�
Cloud slowly got to his feet and nodded.� He looked into the face of the woman who had risked everything to save him and smiled.� �Yeah.�
She smiled back, and then her face changed to a look of shock as a crack sounded below them.� The airship rocked with the impact of something, and the entire crew fell to the deck.� Cloud crawled to the railing and looked out over the horizon.� The green strands of the Lifestream were reaching out like tendrils from the crater below.� He could see Midgar, far off in the distance, and then there was a blinding flash of light�
�And then there was silence.
Cloud awoke with a humming sound in his ear.� The humming faded as he lifted his head, and he realized that it was coming from the airship�s engine.� He got up onto his knees and looked around.
Barret was sitting against a bulkhead, shaking his head slowly.� Yuffie was in her usual position, head hung over the railing.� Red XIII was on his feet, prowling slowly toward the side of the ship.� Cait Sith was trying to right himself again, having toppled over in the impact.� Vincent was looking out over the horizon.� Cid was crouched down beside Tifa, who was slumped against the side of the airship.� Cloud stumbled over to her side.
�Is she OK?� he asked.
Cid nodded as Tifa moaned.� �Yeah.� Just a little cut.�
Cloud watched her face for just a moment, and then brushed a lock of hair from her eyes.� Her eyelids fluttered, and she looked up at him with a smile.
�Are you all right?� he asked.
She nodded.� Her smile faded.� �What�s going on?�
Cloud got to his feet.� �I�ll go find out.�� He gave her one more quick smile before heading for the railing.� He stepped up beside Vincent and looked out over the horizon.� The entire sky seemed to be awash with giant tentacles of green light.� Midgar seemed to be burning, far off in the distance.� The entire city was bathed in a hellish haze.
�The Planet is getting its revenge for its enslavement under Midgar�s yoke,� Vincent observed.
Cloud nodded, and they lapsed into silence.
After a moment, Cid spoke up.� �I can see a clearing a few kliks out.� We can land there.�
Cloud and the others braced for a bumpy return to the surface.� Cid gritted his teeth as he worked the controls, and his face curled into a grimace as he tasted the tobacco leaves that broke through the paper of his cigarette.� After several heart-pounding moments, the Highwind settled onto the ground with a slight shudder.
The sky above rumbled with the sound of thunder as the battle-weary warriors stood in the open field, staring in wonder at the slowly fading stalks of green light that glowed through the clouds.
At long last, the rumbling stopped, and the Planet was still.� The world held its breath for a moment, and then Tifa smiled as a bird sang in the distance.
�There�s hope yet,� she observed.
The others agreed with relief.� A cool wind blew across the field, kissing the faces of the brave fighters.
�So, what now?� Cloud finally asked.
Barrett shrugged his massive shoulders.� �I kinda thought there�d be more to it.�
�A hero�s welcome, you mean?� Red XIII inquired archly.� �I�m not entirely sure how much of the world is left to greet us.�
�I�d tend to think that the Planet would protect the innocents that live upon it,� Vincent conjectured.
�There�s only one way to find out,� Yuffie declared.
Cid piped up.� �Let�s go back up and see what�s left.�
Barrett spun around to face him.� �Ya think we could go back to Kalm?�
There was eagerness in his voice, and Tifa knew why.� Barrett was worried for his daughter.� She was relieved to see that Cid had caught it as well.� �Of course, Barrett,� he replied.� He turned to the others.� �Let�s fly.�
Barrett�s knuckles poked up against his dark skin as he gripped the railing of the Highwind tightly, his eyes staring straight out in search of some sign of life as they approached Kalm.� A few wisps of smoke rose into the air from some smoldering buildings on the outskirts of the town.� Tifa ran a reassuring hand down Barrett�s immense bicep.� �I�m sure she�s OK,� she assured him.
Barrett took his eyes off the scene before him long enough to flash a smile at Tifa, and Cid began the approach.� Barrett�s eyes locked back onto the town as they descended into the field outside the town limits.� A few moments later, the Highwind touched down on the charred grass.� Barrett rushed over to the gangplank as it extended and hurried down to the ground, his heavy boots thumping on the plank as he ran.
When he was halfway across the distance between the ship and the town, he heard a small voice ahead of him.
�Papa?�
�Marlene?� Barrett�s deep voice boomed in reply.
�Papa!�
Barrett�s face split into a huge grin as he saw Marlene racing out of a house at the edge of town.� She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her and bounded into his waiting arms.� He scooped her up and held her in his enormous embrace, squeezing her tightly.� Tears of joy poured down his cheeks as he laughed.
�I think there may indeed be hope,� Vincent observed from beside Tifa.� The rest of the crew were still standing on the deck, looking out at the scene below.
Tifa shook her head, her bangs flicking her forehead.� �I�m sure of it now.�