Final Fantasy 7 R: A New Beginning

The two ran out of Nibelheim, and ended up in the woods. Tifa found a frozen pond and knelt by the pond, looking at her reflection. She looked at Cloud and her breath froze as she spoke "It's too bad that we didn't bring any skates. Hey, we have some at home, don't we? It's not to far from here. Why don't I ran back and get them?" "You really don't have to, Tif. Why don't we stay here?" As Cloud spoke, a stream of Lifestream appeared in front of them. Cloud and Tifa stared in amazement as it faded to reveal…Aeris! Aeris ran forward towards Cloud. Tifa was in the way, and Aeris knocked her to the ground as she ran towards Cloud, hugging him fiercely. "Oh, Cloud, I missed you so much! I can finally be back with you, and I'll never let you go this time!" said Aeris, her arms still wrapped around Cloud. Tifa got up from the ground. "I can't believe it! Aeris, it's so good to see you!" tears of happiness streamed down Tifas cheeks as she ran forward to see her friend. Aeris completely ignored her. "Oh, Cloud, did you miss me as much as I missed you! Oh, I'm never going to leave ever again! I can't lose you this time!" Cloud smiled at her excitement, but at the same time he felt that she was smothering him. She tried to remove her hands from around him. He finally managed, only to have Aeris hug him again. "Alright, Aeris, I can't breathe. Let go" Aeris relaxed her grip on him. "Come on, let's go back to your house. I have to see it. Where is everyone?" "Well, everyone left, but Tifa is here." Said Cloud as Tifa walked over to him.
Aeris made a face that they couldn't see. "Damn!" she said under her breath. Then the pleasant smile was back on her face. "Hi, Tifa. How are you doing?" "Well, actually, I'm…" began Tifa.
"Well, that's just super dooper. Come on, Cloud, let's go." Aeris grabbed Clouds arm, and started to drag him back to the house that he and Tifa shared. When they got back to the house, Cloud sat down on the couch. Without receiving invitation, Aeris plopped down on the couch next to him. "Hey, Tifa, why don't you go back to your place and make us something to eat? You're such a great cook and it will give Cloud and I a chance to talk to each other." "Uh, actually, Aeris, I live with Cloud. Why don't you tell us how you managed to come back?" said Tifa politely. A bored look came over Aeris face. "Oh. Well, I had a special materia that would bring me back as soon as Sephiroth died. Good old Cloud here killed him so I came back. And that brings us to where we are now." Said Aeris as she looked adoringly into Clouds eyes. "Why don't I get changed and start dinner?" suggested Tifa.
"Yeah, yeah, that's fine" said Aeris, still looking at Cloud.
Tifa walked slowly to her room. She sat on the bed. "She doesn't seem the same. Aeris used to be so friendly with everyone. It seems as if the only person she cares about is Cloud." Tifa hung her head sadly. "I thought that maybe I had a chance with Cloud, but I'm going to lose him to her. There's no way I compete with her." Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Tifa, can I come in?"
Tifa looked up and smiled. She could never show her true emotions. Ever since her parents death, she always acted like she was happy. Inside she was a sad and lonely person, but you could never tell that. She always seems bright and optimistic. "Come in." she said. Cloud opened the door, and sat down beside her on the bed. "Tifa, are you alright? I have to apologize for the way that Aeris has been treating you. I would tell her, but she just came back, and I can't upset her. I'd better go back, she's probably wondering where I am." Cloud stood up and walked out of the door. Tifa looked down at the floor again. "Even Clouds noticing that she's acting strangely. I wonder what's wrong with her." Later that night, they were discussing where Aeris would sleep. "You can sleep in my bed, Aeris. I'll just sleep on the couch. I really don't mind." Offered Tifa. "Oh, well, I don't want to put you out. I'll sleep in Clouds room tonight. That's the easiest." Said Aeris happily. "No, I agree with Tifa. You sleep in her room, and she can sleep on the couch, okay? I don't want any arguments, okay? Both of you, no arguments." Said Cloud quickly. "Okay!" said Aeris happily as she ran off into Tifas room. Tifa realized that Aeris didn't have a change of clothes with her. "I better go see what I can find for her to wear." Said Tifa as she walked into the room.

A few minutes later, Tifa walked out of the room. "I guess I'm going to have to buy her some clothes. She didn't like anything of mine, except for my favorite nightshirt. I guess I'll give it to her, since she likes it so much." Aeris head appeared through the doorway. "Good night, Cloud, night Tifa, I'll see you in the morning." Cloud said goodnight, and before Tifa could say the same thing, Aeris slammed the door. "I guess I'd better get ready for bed, too." Tifa had a nightshirt in her hand, and she was going to go into the bathroom to change. When she came out of the room, and began to make a bed on the couch, Cloud stopped her. "No." he said. "You're not sleeping on the couch, Tifa." "Fine. I guess I'll sleep on the floor then." Said Tifa as she began to put the blankets on the floor. "No, Tifa, I don't mean that you're not allowed to sleep on the couch. I mean that you're not sleeping there tonight. You're going to sleep in my room. I'll sleep on the couch. As I said earlier, no arguing!" Cloud pretended to look angry, bringing a smile to Tifas face. "Cloud, I can't do that. I'm going to sleep on the couch. You deserve to have a good nights sleep." Said Tifa and went back to work. "And you don't? You're the one who did all the work today, you're getting a good nights rest." Said Cloud sternly. "I'm not sleeping in your room, and that's that!" said Tifa stubbornly. "You need more sleep than I do." "Fine. Then I guess we'll both sleep in the living room." Said Cloud and he sat on the couch. "That's ridiculous, Cloud." Tifa looked at him. "Fine, do whatever you want." Tifa curled up on the couch next to him. In five minutes she was asleep. Cloud smiled. " I know you too well, Tifa." He picked her up and carried her into his room, put her in the bed and shut the door. Cloud sat down, put on his headphones and watched TV. Suddenly he felt arms wrap around his neck loosely. Cloud turned his around quickly. "Tifa, go back to be- oh, Aeris. What are you doing?" At this same time Tifa woke up. "Where am I?" she looked around "Oh, Cloud, you're stubborn." Tifa got out of the bed, and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. She saw Cloud and Aeris there in front of the TV. "Cloud, have you ever been kissed by anyone?" asked Aeris, now facing Cloud. "Huh? Why do you want to know that Aeris?" said Cloud as he looked at her, a puzzled look on his face. "Because" Aeris whispered, " I want to be the first one." And she kissed Cloud. Cloud didn't stop her. He didn't even know if this was really happening or not. But after a while, he realized that this was true, and he pushed Aeris away gently. Tifa didn't notice that he pushed her away, and she silently ran off to her room. "Aeris," began Cloud, "You'd better go to bed. You'll wake up Tifa."
Aeris stood up. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow, then Cloud. Maybe we can go for a little walk in the woods or something." And she walked away, a flirtatious grin on her face.

Tifa sat sadly in Clouds room, thinking. She couldn't sleep now. She was too upset. She felt that she had to get out of the house. She quickly put on some clothes, and opened the window in the room. The house was only one story, so she could get out of the house with ease. Outside, she found the well, where many of her childhood memories took place. She sat on the well, just so that she could think. It began to rain, but Tifa didn't care. She didn't really care about anything, anymore. She cared about Cloud, he was all she had left to live for. She would do anything for him, but she lost him to a flower girl, whose 'love' was simply a crush. Tears began to fill Tifas eyes, as she thought about how Aeris had won. She had come back and in one day won Cloud back yet again. "Why do I always have to lose the ones that I care about most?" said Tifa, as the tears fell down her face. "My mother, my father, my friends, the rest of my family, and now Cloud. I always lose them, somehow. I have nothing left to live for." The rain still poured as Tifa sat on the well, sobbing quietly. No one noticed the young girl out there, whose heart was breaking. Cloud walked to his room that morning, with the intent of waking up Tifa. He found it strange that she wasn't awake yet. He knew that today he would confess his feelings for her. He knew that if he waited, Aeris would jeopardize the relationship that he and Tifa had. He saw sleeping her under the sheets, and he walked over to the bed. He started to shake her shoulder. Tifa rolled over and opened her eyes. "Morning, sunshine. How are you? I thought it was weird that you were sleeping so late." Tifa didn't say anything. If she tried to say anything, she would probably break down in tears. Cloud studied her face. "Are you okay, Tif'? How come you're so quiet? Are you feeling alright?" he felt her forehead. "Tifa, you're forehead is boiling! Stay there, I'm going to take your temperature." Cloud walked out of the room. "Maybe I overreacted last night. I could have been imagining things." Thought Tifa. "But I still don't feel well."
Suddenly Aeris burst into the room. "Hey, guess what, Tifa! Cloud and I are an item! Last night he came and told me how deeply in love he was with me. We're going out tonight for a romantic dinner! I just thought that I would share the good news!" Aeris bounced out of the room. Cloud was walking through the door at the same time that Aeris bounded out of the room. Aeris stopped, kissed him, and ran off. As she walked down the hall she thought to herself, "The damage has been done. I know Tifa saw me kiss Cloud. And I saw her outside by the well last night. I've done the damage, I just have to make it clear that she wasn't imagining things. She'll give up on Cloud, seeing as how she thinks that he's happy. Then I can have Cloud all to myself." "Here, don't take the thermometer out of your mouth, okay? Don't talk either. You know the drill." Said Cloud as he pulled a chair up beside the bed. "You don't look like you're feeling well. I was thinking that the two of us could go out for a walk in the woods today, seeing as how we couldn't enjoy ourselves due to an…unexpected visitor. I wanted to talk to you. There's something that I wanted to tell you, but I should tell you when you're feeling better. I don't know how you're going to react to what I'm going to say." "I already know what you're news is" thought Tifa miserably. "You're in love with Aeris, and you want to get rid of me so that you can live together. I know your secret Cloud. I lost you. I lost the last person in this world that I cared deeply about. I can't stand it." Tifas eyes grew wet with tears. She tried to fight them. She couldn't cry in front of Cloud. "Let's see what the thermometer says." Said Cloud, as he took the thermometer out of Tifas mouth. He read it. "You're burning up, Tifa! You've got a fever! You're staying in bed today, Tifa. I'm not going to have another argument with you Tifa, because we all know that I'm going to win." Tifa tried to smile for Clouds sake, but it was a very faint smile. The tears were still in her eyes, as well as the sadness in her heart, but she couldn't show it. "Alright Cloud. I don't feel like arguing." Cloud smiled, and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "If you need anything, holler, okay?" Cloud walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. "There's only one thing that I need" thought Tifa sadly, "And that's to hear you say you love me. But I know that it'll never happen." Now that Cloud was gone, Tifa let the tears come and she lay in the bed, sobbing just like the night before. "I love you so much Cloud, why can't you love me back?" she whispered to herself. It was still raining. Cloud sat on the couch, running his hand absent-mindedly through his hair. "Tifa seems upset about something. I've never seen her like this before. But, she's probably just under the weather because she's sick. I should do something nice for her later on." Aeris ran over to where Cloud was and sat right on his lap. Clouds eyes went huge with surprise. "Get off of me, Aeris!" yelled Cloud and he pushed her down on the ground. "Cloud, did I do something wrong?" Aeris asked, tears in her eyes. "You'd better feel sorry for what you did. These tears will do the trick!" she thought to herself. "No, it's just that I don't appreciate behavior like that. I'm sorry I overreacted, Aeris. Why don't you come sit beside me?" said Cloud. "Cloud, do you want to come for a walk with me today? It'll give us a chance to get out of the house. I don't mean to sound rude, but I didn't come back so that I could sit in a house, starting at the TV. I need to see the world. I was just thinking that you and I could catch up on old times. I missed so much and I need you to fill me in on everything." Said Aeris as she put her hand on Clouds. "I really shouldn't leave Ti-" said Cloud.
"Oh, don't worry about Tifa, she's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Said Aeris. "Just forget about the little slut, Cloud. You have me now, and that's all you need. You don't need that little skank to keep you company" Aeris thought to herself. She knew that she couldn't say this to Cloud. Not just yet. He still had a good relationship with his childhood friend. But Aeris made sure that his relationship would turn from love to hate. Aeris wouldn't rest until this happened. "Aeris, I really shouldn't leave her. I know that she's an independent woman, but I don't want to leave her all alone. I would feel guilty knowing that I went somewhere leaving her all by herself." Said Cloud. "But I guess I could ask her if I could leave her." Aeris smiled sweetly. "Good idea. Why don't you do that?"
Cloud looked at the ground. "Fine, Aeris. I'll go ask her." As Cloud walked to his room to talk to Tifa he thought "I know it's not fair for me to be mad at her. After all she did just come back, and she misses me so much, I should make her happy by going for a walk with her. But she doesn't seem like the same person I was friends with before. She seems different. And she seems very cold towards Tifa." Cloud knocked on the door. "Tifa, it's me. I need to talk to you for a second." Cloud opened the door. Tifa was still in the bed, but now she was curled up in a ball. Her eyes were red from crying. She knew that she was acting childishly, but she was an emotionally weak. No one knew this about her. Maybe it was because she was a physically strong person. She could kill a man with her bare hands. But underneath that exterior, lay a fragile, weak, person. Cloud sat on the edge of the bed. Tifa was facing the opposite direction. Cloud picked up her hand. "You're hands are freezing Tifa." Cloud held her hands in his, warming them up. "Is that better?" "What do you want, Cloud? You're going to get sick if you spend time with me. I hope you remembered that. Anyway, you shouldn't leave Aeris all alone out there." Said Tifa sadly. Even though she had lost Cloud to her, Tifa had to show some grace and dignity. Cloud looked at her with a bit of concern. Tifa never acted like this. "I'm not worried about getting sick. I came to tell you that Aeris wants me to go… run an errand for her. I have to go. I hope you don't mind, Tifa." Said Cloud, still holding Tifas hand. "No, I don't mind. Go ahead. I can take care of myself. Have fun, okay?" said Tifa. She never turned around to look at Cloud. Cloud stroked her hair and stood up. "I'll be back soon, okay Tifa?" Cloud walked over to the door before turning around so that he could see Tifa. "Cheer up, Tifa. As soon as you feel better, we can do something together, okay? Don't forget." Cloud walked out of the door, after looking at Tifa, who was still curled up in a ball. "Come on, Cloud, lets go! See I'm ready to go already!" Aeris was wearing some of Tifas clothes.
"Alright, Tifa." Cloud picked up the scarf that Tifa made for him and he and Aeris walked out of the door. Later that night, Tifa woke up. She was pleased to note that she was feeling better. Her fever had not been too severe and she felt that she was ready to get out of bed. She walked into the living room where she was sure she would find Cloud and Aeris. To her surprise they weren't there. "Aeris was right. They did go out for a romantic dinner. I guess Cloud really does love her." Again Tifas eyes filled with tears. She wiped the tears from her eyes roughly with her hand. "I have to quit crying. I can't mope about this forever." But no matter what she told herself, the tears came. Tifa finally stopped fighting the tears and cried, for what seemed to her like the millionth time in the past two days. Meanwhile it was getting late. Cloud wanted to go home and see how Tifa was doing, but Aeris kept on telling him that she had to see as much of the forest as she could. Finally she found a rock to sit on. "Cloud, come site down next to me." Cloud sat next to her. Aeris looked at him. The moon cast its light on Clouds face, and Aeris couldn't think about anything except for Cloud. "Cloud, there's something that I have to tell you. Maybe you already know this, but I love you, Cloud." Aeris then kissed Cloud. The rain began to fall. This time Cloud pushed her away as quickly as he possibly could. "Aeris, I don't feel the same way about you. I love you like a sister, but I don't love you in the way that you love me. I guess I should tell you this. I'm… I'm in love with Tifa." Aeris eyes narrowed. She never thought that Cloud would reject her. She had been working her charms on him all day. There was no way that he could resist her. "You love that little slut? How the hell could you have been fooled by her? She's just going to use you! She doesn't love you! Your love won't be returned! How dare you reject me!" Then right before Clouds eyes, Aeris transformed. She didn't look like Aeris anymore. She looked like a monster, twisted and evil. "How dare you?" Tifa was sitting at home, reading a book, trying to get her mind off of Cloud. Suddenly she had a feeling that something was wrong. Tifa ran over to her room She prepared for battle, just in case, and picked up a materia that was hers and hers alone. She knew that it was extremely rare. It was a materia that could locate a person and transport you to where ever that person was. She held it in her hands and thought to herself "Take me to Cloud. Take me to Cloud…" she was surrounded by a green light and she could feel the materias energy. "You're going to pay, Cloud. You're going to pay for rejecting me!" Aeris threw her hand up in the air, and a sword appeared in her hand. "I lied when I told you that I had a materia to bring me back. I made a deal with the Lifestream. I had to come back, but not like my old self. I had to come back evil, and cruel. I also had to kill one person that I hated more than anything on Earth. I WAS going to kill Tifa, but seeing as how you've been fooled by that little brat, I'll settle on killing you instead!" Before Cloud could do anything, Aeris stabbed him with the sword that she carried with her. Tifa was transported to where they were just to see Cloud get stabbed by Aeris. "CLOUD!" Tifa shouted, and she ran over to Cloud. Tears filled her eyes yet again. She completely ignored Aeris, and ran over to Cloud. "Tifa, get out of here, or you will die, too. Aeris is intent on killing you. It's either you die or she dies. And I would rather have Aeris die." Said Cloud, quietly. "What?" said Tifa and she turned around, seeing Aeris walking slowly towards her.
"Hello, Tifa. I've wounded Cloud and I will soon kill you. Prepare to DIE!" Aeris tried to stab Tifa, but Tifa flipped backwards, dodging the sword. Tifa ran forward. "I thought you loved Cloud. I guess I was wrong." Tifa ran forward, punching Aeris in the face. Aeris looked at her, as she wiped the blood from her nose. "I'm going to enjoy killing you." She tried to stab Tifa again, but this time she sliced Tifas arm. Tifa grabbed her arm in pain. "I can't give up. Not now. I can't let Cloud down." She then used her ice materia on Aeris. "Damn! Fight fair will you?" Aeris then cast lightning on Tifa. Tifa fell to the ground. Aeris was much better at using materia than Tifa was. Tifas eyes narrowed, as she looked at Aeris. Great rage grew within her. Aeris was the one who was keeping her away from Cloud. Aeris was the one who had wounded Cloud. Tifa had to kill her and she had to kill her soon. Tifa stood up, and kicked Aeris wrist. She had to keep fighting. Aeris dropped the sword as she grabbed her wrist. Tifa ran over to where the sword was. She looked at Cloud, who's eyes were beginning to close and she pierced Aeris through the stomach. Aeris fell to the ground, doubled over in pain. Tears fell from her eyes. "This was…my last chance. I couldn't die this time. And what 's worse was that I lost to you. Why?" "Because you're not meant to be in this world. You're not really Aeris, are you? Aeris was a kind and gentle person. She was like a sister to me. Everyone who knew her loved her. But you're not full of kindness and love like she was. You're evil. I have to finish you off. I am sorry to do this, because I love the real Aeris." Tifa then stabbed her again, this time killing her. Tifa dropped the blood stained blade on the ground, and fell to her knees. She then remembered that Cloud was still lying there, wounded. She stood up and walked slowly over to him. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Cloud. She gently held him in her arms. "I'm so sorry, Cloud. I didn't want to kill her. But I couldn't let her get away with what she did. I'm so sorry, Cloud. I know you loved her. I'm sorry." Clouds hand went up to Tifas cheek. "It's not your fault. It's hers. That wasn't really Aeris. And I wasn't in love with her. I never was." Cloud coughed up blood. Tifa wiped it away, gently. Her shirt was also stained with the blood that was oozing from Clouds stomach. "I… I'm going to die, Tifa, I know I am. So, I guess I have to tell you now." "Cloud, you can't die. I won't let you. I'll use my last ounce of strength to send you somewhere so that you can be saved." Tifa gently put him back on the ground so that she could help him. "No, no you won't, Tifa, I won't let you. I don't want any arguments from you, okay?" said Cloud, smiling. "Tifa, I can't let you die. I… I love you Tifa." Tears fell from Tifas eyes, splashing on Clouds face. "Oh, Cloud!" Tifa threw herself onto his chest and sobbed. " I love you, too, Cloud. If you die, I will come with you. Wherever you go, I will follow. I fought by your side in the North Crater. Why would I leave you know?" Cloud smiled as he drew in his last breath. "Then I guess we will be back together in the Lifestream then. We'll never be apart there." He then kissed Tifa gently. "I love you so much, Cloud. I'll never leave you." Said Tifa and she watched as Cloud died. "He stayed here long enough to tell me that he loved me. Now I have to go be with him." Tifa picked up the sword, and drove it through herself. Everything went black.

Cloud was in the Lifestream, searching for her. Tifa couldn't forget her promise. Suddenly she appeared. Clouds face brightened as he ran towards the woman that he loved. Tifa flew through the air to be embraced by the man that Cloud. "Wherever you go, I will follow." Cloud lifted her face, which was wet with tears of happiness, and kissed her. They were finally together. Tifa was now truly happy.