Leaving Midgar

The next morning, the sun was vibrant and red as it rose on a shattered Midgar. The president dead; Sector 7 destroyed. It was a calamity in every sense of the word. In Sector 5, the residents were organizing food and supplies for the survivors of the collapse. A doctor tended to patients. And in Aerith's home, Elmyra called out.

"Marlene!"

"Coming!" the precocious child cried out. She was on the rooftop patio, watering the flowers. A drop of water fell, and she could swear ...

"Daddy...?"

***

"Marlene! I’ll come back," Barret said, his voice husky and choked with emotion. Tifa rubbed his large bicep, kissing him on the cheek. "We will," she said firmly. Then she looked at Cloud. "So what now?"

"Sephiroth. Long as he's still out there, I…" Cloud sighed deeply.

"Yeah, yeah. Your twink ass couldn't finish the job. Don't mope," Barret said.

"We can. We will," Aerith said firmly. The rest of the group all nodded. To save the planet, they must defeat Sephiroth. But so much easier said than done.

***

The party walked to the precipice, then began to carefully descend towards the ground. They were free of Midgar. Free of the city that had shackled and poisoned and attempted to kill them. Aerith could feel a presence, and her skin goosebumped. It felt ...and smelled like ... Zack? She smiled, almost sadly.

"I'll miss it. The steel sky," she said, turning towards the horizon. A whole world out there.

Cloud looked to the horizon too. It was a big world out there. A lot of trouble could be had out there. And the party wasn't exactly squeaky clean after Midgar. He was confident of one thing, however, something that made his stomach tighten and his penis leak. Cloudette would return.