Joined Worlds

Joined Worlds
by Sailor Poison

Chapter 14

Cid followed Rinoa into the next room. There Laguna sat in a chair.

Cid, “What are you going to do?”

Laguna, “I haven’t decided yet. . . “

Rinoa, “The others are outside. . . fighting Karijan.”

Laguna, “Hmm....... “

Cid, “Damn, you could end this all...... Killing you could do the same thing!”

Laguna, “Really, Racverno.”

Cid, “My name is Cid! Cid Highwind! Not Racverno. That was the name of that damn thing in my arm band. It is long dead.”

Laguna, “No, it isn’t dead. Asleep within you maybe. . . “

Cid, “They killed it.”

Laguna, “Then you won’t feel it come back if I do an experiment.”

Cid looks him in the eyes, “Bring it on.”

Cloud and his guardian were giving them hell. They were doing their damage to Cloud also. They barely even hit close to his arm band. Cloud came swinging the gunblade in Tifa’s direction. He no longer seemed to hear them. He could only hear Karijan in in his mind, urging him to kill them. The others tried to get through to him. His finger was on the trigger. He left a wide opening for Squall. Before he can pull the hammer back all the way, he feels something tear through his chest. Cloud toppled from his mount. His body then relaxes and the guardian vanishes. Tifa was next to him, along with Barret.

Tifa, “...... He is dead. “

Barret places a hand on her shoulder

Tifa, “Let go to the next room and finish this.”

But Laguna walks through the door, with Rinoa and Cid following.

Laguna, “No need.”

He walks over to Cloud and kneels.

Laguna, “Poor Karijan. You try so hard for me. This world doesn’t need us to care for it. Come forth and undo the harm.”

Karijan briefly reappears next to Cloud and his injures were healed.

Squall, “What is going on?”

Cid, “The bracelets were only tools, doorways for the guardians. I was still with Cid even though my bracelet was destroyed. There is another realm we really come from. A place different from here. Some of the hosts memories go to the King so he may decide if he needs to step in. We should never have been called forth.”

Cloud woke up. Laguna helps him to his feet.

Laguna, “We are sorry about those who have died.”

He removes Cloud’s arm band and Rinoa’s arm band. Zell wanders in, holding his head.

Laguna, “Come Karijan, you have some more damage to undo.”

Cloud nodded his head and stands behind Laguna. Cid, Zell, and Rinoa took their places behind Laguna. The five suddenly vanish.

They made their way back to Ragnarok. The men in the desert prison were making their way home. The heroes decide to go back to Balamb Garden. There they were greeted by Xu who leads them to Kramer’s office. All five are with Kramer.

Laguna, “We have been waiting for you.”

Cid reminds Laguna, “They had to get here the old fashion way.”

Zell laughs some and Rinoa smacks his arm.

Cloud, “I have undone the damage I have done. They won’t remember who killed them.”

Squall, “You mean.... “

Cloud hands the gunblade to Squall, “It might be best if Cloud doesn't take this home. The owner will want it back.”

Laguna is holding the arm bands. He somehow fixed jewels in them.

Laguna, “Can you put these back in the ruins? Our hosts won’t remember what has happened during this time. . .They will only remember what they can handle. This is for the best. I better put my host back before I leave.”

Cloud, “And remove the impostor, sir.”

Laguna chuckles, “Thanks for reminding me, Karijan.”

Then Laguna vanishes.

Cloud, “I am very sorry for the trouble I caused.”

He bows to them. The something changes in his stance. Cloud straightens his pose.

Cloud, “Why am I bowing?”

Zell, “What happened?”

Rinoa, “How did I get here?”

Cid, “Umm, why the hell are they staring at us?”

Tifa gives Cloud a hug, who is rather confused.

Tifa, “I am so happy to see you again.”

Cloud pats her on the back, “Yeah, I guess. . . “

Squall also hugs Rinoa, his hug is hard and expressing what he can’t say.

Cid had enough of this, “Can we go home now?”

Two days later the gateway was opened. Yuffie was hesitant on going through.

Yuffie, “I want to stay here for a bit.”

Cloud, “Are you sure?”

Yuffie, “Yes, I might want to take some classes and well.... “

Cloud briefly glances at Zell, “I’ll miss you, Yuffie. Come back soon....”

Yuffie smiles, “Thanks! Can you give dad this note for me?”

Cloud takes the note, “Sure. . . “

Vincent walks through without saying a word.

Cid, “I can’t wait to see my baby again!, “ and in an after thought, “and my wife.”

Cid walks through. Yuffie explains to them that Cid’s baby is his airship.

Tifa, “We have alot to talk about Cloud.”

Tifa walks through.

Cloud, “It was nice to meet you all, I think . . . ”

He goes through to his world. He can tell from the landscape they are near his home town.

Cloud, “Barret, call Highwind on PHS.”

The Highwind picks them up quickly. First, Cloud and Tifa drop of Yuffie's note and travel back home. They get some distance, before anyone speaks. Cloud pulls something from his pocket. It is the large raw diamond he found.

Cloud, “Before whatever happened to me, I was climbing a mountain to get my mind straight. I found this and thought of you. I was going to have it cut and put into a ring. . . . Though there is no reason I suppose.“

Tifa, “You were going to propose to me again?”

Cloud, “I do love you. . . “

Tifa, “I am sorry, Cloud. I needed time to think and all I did was hurt us both. I do love you.”

Cloud offers her the raw diamond, “Will you marry me?”

Tifa smiles and touches his hand, “Yes, I will.”


The end