I've become a bit drabble mad these days, so I thought I'd start a thread for the stories I've written so far, and any that I might scribble down in the future. I hope you enjoy reading them. ;)

The first one is from Cloud's point of view, sometime after FFVII but before AC.
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Pure as Snow

"I remember Aerith a lot," I told Bugenhagen that day in Cosmo Canyon. Then I'd realised, corrected myself.

"No, that's not it. You haven't remembered. You haven't forgotten."

And that was the truth. Would it ever really be possible for me to forget her? Could anyone really forget her? Somehow, she always managed to bring forth laughter and easy smiles to us all. It was her gift. And she was my gift. Aerith always brought out my mischievous side; a side of me that I wasn't aware existed. She'd tease me mercilessly, and then pretend to be offended at my playful retorts.

"Oh!" she'd cry. "You really are terrible, Cloud!"

I remember one afternoon on a cold day in Wutai; she decided to climb Dao-Chao, the mountain at the north end of the village.

"Yuffie says you can look out over the whole of the village from up there, Cloud!" she said excitedly. "Don't you want to see it?"

"We can see it just fine from here." I told her, sitting up on the futon. "Plus, it's - "

"Dangerous, too cold, we could catch our death in this weather, blah blah blah," she finished for me. "Honestly, Cloud, you worry far too much about things."

"I'm just trying to look out for y - the group." I frowned, and she grinned.

"I'm capable of looking after myself, lived in the slums, remember?" I folded my arms, looking away. "And don't sulk."

She strode across the wooden floor to my futon, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet, then leading me past the small pond, out of Godo's house, past the town's general store and down the path towards Dao-Chao's base, ignoring my protests.

"Come on, Cloud, it'll be fun."

"It'll be cold." I grumbled, but for some reason, I couldn't let go of her hand just yet. I fell into step beside her as she carried on up the mountain path, any further protests dying on my lips as she smiled, entwining her slender fingers with mine.

We talked about a lot of things, that day. Aerith told stories of her childhood back in Midgar, her faint memories of a snowy village she thought was her birthplace, her many narrow escapes from Shinra troops - easy to outwit, she said, and looking back on our infiltration into the HQ in Midgar, I had to agree. At her prompting, I talked about places I'd visited during my time as a SOLDIER and the missions I'd been sent on. By the time we got back to Godo's, it was dusk. Aerith's face was flushed with the cold, her red cheeks striking against the paleness of her face. Her fair skin tone struck me as somehow reminiscent of winter mornings back home in Nibelheim, the pristine carpet of snow before the villagers' footprints disturbed it. Fresh, pure, unspoiled.

I guess that's how I'll always remember her.

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This second one is a Kingdom Hearts ficlet, taking place just before Cloud and Aerith are reunited.

All That Matters

He'd come back to her. She could feel it, standing in the library of Hollow Bastion, Yuffie and Leon at her side. Cloud had come for her. There wasn't a moment when she didn't think about him, and sometimes Leon's standoffish nature reminded her so much of him that she had trouble keeping the tears from springing to her eyes. She wondered what had happened to him when their world was overtaken by the darkness, whether he was safe, whether he had found anyone he knew or whether he had awoken in a strange new place, alone, as she had until Yuffie and Cid had found her. But most of all, she wondered whether he had looked for her, as she had looked for him.

She'd searched the whole of Traverse Town for him, for a familiar spiky blonde hairstyle, for a familiar pair of blue eyes, glowing with a light that was somehow otherworldly. She'd begged Cid to take her to other worlds on the Gummi Ship, but he'd refused after they'd been attacked by Heartless Ships not two seconds after they'd left the atmosphere. Every time there was a new arrival in Traverse Town she'd asked around about him, and every time she'd got nowhere nearer to finding him. And now he'd found her.

Cid swung open the heavy doors of the library, and as the three of them turned in unison, Cloud Strife stepped in beside him. Overjoyed, Aerith ran to him, stopping a few paces away and clasping her hands behind her back. She tilted her head to look at him, smiling. But something was wrong. Cloud's eyes wouldn't meet hers, remaining fixed on the ground, and everything about him seemed to give off an aura of shame and defeat.

"Cloud?" she asked softly, slipping a slender hand under his chin and raising his head she could meet his eyes. He averted his gaze.

"Aerith, don't..." he said miserably, gently pushing her hand away. "I let you down. I got lost in the darkness, and I couldn't find you."

She laced her fingers with his.

"You're here now, aren't you?" she asked with a smile.

"But I..."

"Shh, Cloud. Don't worry about anything. All that matters is that you searched for me. I couldn't have asked for anything more."

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The other two are fics I wrote a while ago and posted on FF.net.

Whispers - Aerith takes a moment at the City of the Ancients before praying for Holy.
Barefoot - Aerith, on the way to the Temple of the Ancients.

I didn't read your ff.net ones yet, but your two others are very good! Are they finsihed? I actually cried during the first one when he said that they talked a lot ... *bottom lip trembles* You're really a magnificent writer, you know? You know how to evoke emotions from your readers. And at the end when he said that's how he'll always remember her... *eyes fill with tears* And the kh one where he says he let her down *dabs eyes* excuse me, i have something in my eye!!!

Thank you so much for your comments, Cloudsgirl! I'm really pleased that you enjoyed my drabbles. They're both finished - I like to keep things short nowadays otherwise I lose sight of what I'm trying to get across in the fic. My memory's getting worse in my old age. :D

You really got teary eyed over my humble little fics? I think that's the best compliment I've had in ages. :lol:

I agree with Cloudsgirl... I loved both your drabbles! They're so touching and beautifully written. You brought out Cloud's feelings for Aerith so well!

There's only one problem with them: they're too short! :lol: I'd love to see them written into fics. You're a talented author, which makes me want to read your ff.net fics soon. :rolleyes:

Let me just say that these are the PERFECT length. I can't stand FFVII epics for some reason, and these fit my bill of demands.
They're also WONDERFUL. I loved the first one the best. However, unlike Cloudsgirl, these didn't make me sad. The tone was always one of soft, quiet joy, just like Aeris. They're perfectly in character, and just perfect all the way around.

Aw...that was cute ^_^. I can't find any nitpicks, the characterizations were perfect, and the balance between dialogue and description is perfect as well.

I've said that I loved Pure As Snow over at Devotion, and I love this new one too! KH fics always make me feel happy. ^_^

My request: Extend your ff.net fics! They feel like intros to multi-chap fics begging to be written!

@Aly: Thanks, hon! It really means a lot to me that you like my stuff, and that you, Miss Editorial Writer Extraordinare, think that my drabbles are well-written. :lol: I haven't written that much FFVII multi-chapter stuff, only One of the Few, which is an AU fic, and Promises - a post VII vignette. Neither of them are finished, 'cause I'm just that lazy.

@Sefie: It's nice that you guys both got a different feel from the fics, shows they can be interpreted differently depending on how you look at them, so I'm pleased about that. I love long fics, but not when I've read up to the latest chapter and then have to wait for the author to update! The suspense kills me! :D Having said that, I never managed to get caught up with I Know What's Beneath the Snowfields because it's beautifully written but just too long. :(

@Pinkribbon: Aww, thank you so much! I'm glad you thought I did okay with the characterisation because I actually find Aerith a difficult character to write. It's hard to write her as a happy character without making her a bit ditzy, which I try really hard to avoid because she's not.

@Clorith: Thank you! They make me happy too. It was so great when CxA stories started popping up in the KH section, there aren't that many in the VII category at ff.net for some reason. :( Plus, Cloud and Aerith got their happy ending in KH! Mm, I could try continuing the ff.net ones, just have to wait for inspiration to hit. *scuttles off to play FFVII again*

Got inspired. Had to write this down before I forgot it. Probably needs editing but eh... Thoughts and suggestions for improvement are always welcomed. ;)

CHINESE WHISPERS

He stood outside her house, staring at the large wooden door. He was cold, no, freezing would be a better description, but he couldn't bring himself to raise a hand and knock just yet. It was dusk in Icicle Village, and the village's inhabitants were all indoors, in the warmth. The light spilling from each window promised refuge from the cold, a a chair by the hearth, a warm stove. Only Cloud Strife and a lone snowman with a battered old top hat on its head remained outside in the frost. He wondered what she'd say if he knocked, if she opened the door to see him standing there.

AVALANCHE had gone their seperate ways after the mission was over, after Midgar was in ruins and the Planet was saved. Cloud had opted to remain alone, despite Tifa's offer of a room in the inn she now owned in Junon - formerly the Turk's Bar, now renovated and renamed Seventh Heaven. He hadn't seen any of his former comrades in a while, but a week ago he had received a phonecall from Reeve (now elected Mayor and overseeing Midgar's reconstruction) to inform him that a young lady in a pink dress had supposedly emerged from the Sleeping Forest while the excavators were packing up to leave. Apparently, she'd asked if anyone knew of Cloud Strife's whereabouts, but since he was now travelling the world alone, no one, not even Tifa, could say for sure where he was. With no way to leave the Northern Continent, the girl had taken a chocobo to the nearest town, saying she would ask around.

And here he was, standing outside the house he'd been pointed to by the barmaid of the nearby pub, hardly able to believe that Reeve's story was true. After all, it had been told to him by one of the labourers working on Sector Seven, who'd heard it from a friend who knew one of the excavators who'd been there when it happened, and who'd also been there when Cloud Strife and his group had passed through on their way to the Forgotten City, and Reeve had stressed that Cloud really shouldn't get his hopes up. But sure enough, when Cloud had asked the barmaid about a woman with green eyes and braided hair, she'd smiled and said that a lady living in Ifalna Gainsborough's old house fit that description. He stared up at the brightly lit windows and wondered exactly what he'd say to her. Would she blame him for what happened? How was it possible that she was alive? A white cat, almost invisible in the snow, padded up as he got lost in thought, in memories of her. Cloud watched detachedly as it gave a yawn and scratched at the wood, opening its mouth again to mew loudly.

The door opened.

Emerald eyes met his as the cat bolted past her and up the stairs. And everything, doubts, memories, and rational thoughts melted away as she threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly. His hands came up to stroke her face, to run through her hair, down her back, to just touch her, and then her mouth was on his as he held onto her desperately. Tears slid down both their faces, and Cloud felt her smiling as they kissed again, his arms around her tightly, refusing to let her go because it was her. She was Aerith. She was alive.

I love it, I love it!! Please continue!!

Either that, or preface it... LOL! Either way, I agree with Clorith... I'd love to see you build your drabbles into actual fics. You're a very good writer, you depict Cloud's personality and feelings for Aerith very well, and you do a great job incorporating the game's events into your stories. Very well written! :D

*wipes at eyes* Madame Batolli, you're so goooood! I agree with Clorith and Anastar, you should turn your drabbles into real multi-chapter (<----- don't know if that's a real word! :lol:) stories!

You really keep everything at a decent length with detailed scenes but not too detailed scenes. On top of that, you portray Cloud's love for Aerith so beautifully!!! :)

Madame Batolli

*huggles* This is going up to my site - hope you still don't mind. :lol:

@Anastar: Thank ye, Aly! I would continue it, but it's just a one-shot. :P I do have a multi chapter CxA fic here named 'One of the Few', but... well... it's really not very good. :lol: Mind you, I did write most of it two years ago, and I'd like to think my writing has got a little better since then.

@Hopeful Angel: Hee, thank you! It really makes my day when someone reads my writing and thinks it's any good. ^^ Also, it's really flattering that you (and Aly and Clorith) would like me to write some longer fics. I linked my multichapter CxA fic above, but be warned, it's eyeroll-worthy.

@Crisis: Of course I don't, dahling! Go right ahead. ;)

Here are three Tifa-centric ficlets for ya.

The first, Communication, was written back in Febuary of last year, and was written partly as a response to those rabid CloTis that think Cloud and Tifa always understood each other so well and were canon during the game. Mostly, though, it was written because I wanted to do a Tifa fic.

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COMMUNICATION
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"Hmm."

Cloud Strife looked up from his plate to gaze questioningly at his friend, who was at present engrossed in a copy of Metropolitan magazine. Her expression was doubtful as she licked her thumb and turned the page.

"...Huh."

"What?" Cloud asked, his fork raised halfway to his mouth.

Tifa looked up from the article to fix him with an tentative stare. He put the fork down.

"This's kinda interesting." she told him, turning the magazine around and holding it out to him, so he could see the title. Cloud leaned forward, reading the headline aloud.

"Communication." He grinned at her expectant expression. "What's it about?"

Tifa gave him a look.

"Apparently, seventy-five percent of relationships fail due to lack of communication."

"But you're not in a relationship." Cloud said, both turning back to his plate and missing the look of disappointment that flashed over his friend's face. "So why are you so interested?"

"Because..." Tifa started, looking down at the magazine. She looked searchingly at Cloud, who was now flicking between channels on the television, and gave a sigh, flipping the page over.

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This second one was in response to Aly's "A Love For Tifa" challenge thread - it had to be Rude, because the pairing is cute. I'm not entirely happy with it, and
Human Touch by Lirillith does this kind of Tifa/Rude pairing a million times better, but ho hum.

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RECONSTRUCTION
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It was a surprisingly quiet night in the bar. Tifa supposed it was because most of the SOLDIER candidates had left Junon for Midgar to complete their training; they had their final test to finish off - a mission they would be assigned to randomly, some perhaps to the marshland to battle the Zolom, others maybe farther afield to the forests around Cosmo Canyon to confront the dwindling numbers of Mako-enhanced monsters in that area. After Meteor, she had thought it would be the last she'd hear of SOLDIER. However, it seemed Shin-Ra had been down, but not out. With Reeve the newly appointed President, the elite army had banded together once more, but with a different purpose: to destroy every last monster created as a result of Hojo's experiments and the Mako reactors. Now that she owned the former 'Member's Bar', Tifa got to hear a lot about the state of Shin-Ra these days, and indeed, of SOLDIER, from the clientele.

She was sort of glad of the quiet, really. The hopeful faces of the squaddies reminded her of Cloud. She wondered if he had been the same, full of ambition, optimistic that he'd excel, move up the SOLDIER ranks, become as reknowned as Sephiroth - who was still respected, still a hero to the teenage candidates, she thought sourly. Even after everything he'd done, the people he'd hurt, Nibelheim. Aerith.

Tifa missed her terribly. Memories of the conversations they'd had, Aerith's mischievous teasing, their chats together as they'd travelled around, were all she had of the young Cetra. She could remember their laughter as though it was minutes ago. Despite their feelings for Cloud, they'd still been friends. Aerith wouldn't have allowed it to be any other way. Neither would she.
Cloud hadn't stayed for very long after Meteor. She had known he wouldn't, known that there was something missing, something that Cloud needed to search for by himself. Someone. She'd known from the moment he'd told her, while they were in the Northern Crater, that he thought he could meet Aerith. It had been like a knife to the heart, but she couldn't blame him, knew he would never intentionally hurt her. He didn't know how she felt. So she'd supported him, accepted his decision.

She didn't know where he was, now. It wasn't that he hadn't told her, just that he hadn't known himself where he was going. Tifa hadn't tried to stop him. She wanted to see Cloud happy, although for a while after the battle she'd childishly imagined AVALANCHE staying together after the fighting was over, sitting around and chatting, sharing memories like they had done during their journey.

Vincent was the first to leave, then Cloud. Cid, Nanaki and Yuffie had returned home, Reeve remained in Midgar. Barret had visited regularly for a few months, but eventually his visits became few and far between. It had been around six months since she'd seen her friends. Since she'd seen anyone she knew from the journey, actually. Well, with three exceptions.

"...Are you still open?"

Tifa's eyes darted from the bar's surface to the door, and she blinked in recognition. The bald head, the sunglasses, the expensive looking suit. Rude. She had thought that the Turks had disbanded after the fight, but it seemed that Reeve must have still needed them for something or other. The three of them shown up at the bar a few times, Reno and Elena getting steadily more intoxicated and arguing loudly about some throwaway comment that Reno had made, or the fact that Elena's chair leg was on the edge of his jacket and had made a mark, (why he'd cared, she had no idea. Reno wasn't exactly the poster child for neatness) and Rude sitting there, quiet and impassive as usual. She'd watched him knock back the same amount as the other two, but if he were as drunk as they were, he didn't show it. Lately, though, Rude had taken to showing up alone. Tifa smiled, nodding her head.

"Of course. Want anything?"

"Just a beer."

She'd known exactly what he'd order, and supressed a smile as she half-turned to grab a glass.

"Seems a bit slow tonight." Rude commented, looking around as she filled it.

"The squaddies've all gone back to Midgar." she explained, passing him the drink.

"Ah. Thought it was tomorrow. Reeve mentioned delaying it."

"How's he doing? I haven't heard from him in a while." She hadn't meant it to sound so bitter, but Rude seemed to pick up on it. He shrugged.

"Reconstruction's kept him busy."

"Good. Uh, I mean, it's good. What he's doing." Tifa focused her attention on polishing the bar, feeling a little awkward. They stayed silent as Rude downed his beer, Tifa wiping down the bar with a dishrag.

"You've been polishing that same spot for about five minutes." Rude told her, sounding amused.

"Gotta make sure it's clean." she said with a smile, dropping the cloth.

"Close the bar."

"What?"

He stood up, inclining his head a tad.

"There's a cafe not too far away."

"Was that you asking me for a date?" Tifa asked.

"...Was it obvious?"

"It was straightforward." she said with a grin.

"Was that a no?"

She turned away, the smile never leaving her face.

"It was a 'get me my coat and we'll see'."

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Aaand, the last ficlet is a look at an AC Tifa - I wanted to show how the past two years have changed her, and I ended up making her a tad bitter. I suppose some may consider her OOC.

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AFTERMATH
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It's been just a little over two years. Two years since the sheer power of Meteor and Holy left me speechless. Two years since I heard Sephiroth's voice. Two years since I saw Aerith's smile. I wonder what she'd say if she could see me now. Most likely she'd chide me for acting the way I do. For being so defeatist, for feeling so miserable. We saved the planet two years ago, and I always thought that staring death in the face would lead me to some great epiphany regarding life. And this, the aftermath, would be the part where that happened.

I'm still waiting.

But then again, perhaps I was just naive, back then. I always thought that after we saved the planet, we'd all live happily ever after. Maybe we'd carry on travelling around together, maybe we'd drift apart - Vincent would return to Nibelheim, Nanaki to Cosmo Canyon, Aerith to her church. I never thought she wouldn't be there to see the end of our journey. Sometimes Barret will ask me about Cloud. I always let him know how the courier service is going, trivialities like that. But I know what he's really asking me, and he knows what I can't bring myself to say. She wouldn't have wanted it this way, I'm sure, but Aerith will always be there.

"Where's Cloud?"

I scan the room for a moment before I realise.

"...He's not here."

I don't know why it even surprises me any more.

Finally got a lil' bit of inspiration. It didn't last very long, but long enough at least to generate this drabble, italics abuse and all. :)

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Acceptance

"She wouldn't want this, you know."

Cloud has his back to her, but Tifa can tell he heard what she had said - he's moved his head slightly in her direction. He says nothing in reply, and she gazes at his back, praying that he'll turn around, that he'll stop dwelling on what happened, that he'll stop hurting. He stays still, and she lowers her eyes to the floor; she still can't seem to reach him. She wants him to let her help, no, needs him to let her help. She needs him. And she knows that the person he needs the most is the one person who can't be here.

Cloud doesn't move, even as he hears her footsteps retreating down the stairs. He knows that what Tifa said is true. Aerith wouldn't want this. But he can't overcome his grief, his guilt. He wants to see her again, to hear her voice. If death is the only way to reach her, he'll embrace it. He needs her to tell him that what happened wasn't his fault, that he didn't let her die, that she still loves him. He needs her.

She wouldn't want this.

But somehow, even knowing that just isn't enough.

Oh, that's so sad!! :( I love the way you use POV in your fics, it makes them interesting to read, and your sentence structures varies. It's nice.

But mostly it's the cleris-ness. I actually think the characters were all pretty in-character. I hope you drabble so more soon! ^_^

Thank you, Seii! :huggle: When it comes to POV in my fics, I always try to choose the one I think will work best. Sometimes I get it wrong, so I'm glad you liked the way they were written. And I'm also glad you thought the characters were in-character! That's a huge compliment. :wub:

No prob!! :D

But then you never know, my interpretation of the characters' personalities are distorted and wrong, because I am a bias cleris. :rolleyes:

WRITE MORE SOON!! :huggle:

That's right, you are a nasty, close minded heathen! As are all of us here. :lol: But seriously, thank you!

Okay, here's a quickie that for some reason took me two days to finish. I couldn't end it properly. :cry:

Hope

The three of them once again entered the desolate village, once again walked the same path into its depths. Last time they'd made the journey, they'd all been sick with worry, trying to find their way through the forest as fast as they could. Last time they'd walked the twisted road leading to the heart of the Ancient City, Aerith had been alive.

Now they stood frozen in front of the roaring waterfall, transfixed as the last moments of her life played out, projected onto the surface of the crystal clear water. Once again, she looked up from her prayer, gazing at him with those clear green eyes. Again, she fell forward, eyes closing slowly, almost as if she was drifting off into sleep. And again, the White Materia fell from her hair, bouncing gently off marble and falling into the pool with a faint splash that hadn't registered at the time as Cloud rushed forward to cradle her body. But there was something he'd seen in her eyes this time that also hadn't registered back then. And that was why he fought on.

:sad: Beautiful. :cry: You had better spend more time writing, this stuff is too good!! Oddly enough, I tend to like drabbles better than full out fics. It's like snacking on fanfiction. ^_^

thats so cool! :woot: i love it! love it!

Finally, a new one. I was reading The Lovely Bones and I liked the idea that the main character could stand there beside the people still living and see them from her heaven, so this is loosely based on that idea.

No title yet though.

_________

I don't think it even registered to begin with. All I knew was that one minute I'd been smiling, and the next, something shifted. I felt as though I'd somehow been torn from myself, wrenched away to become detached from everything. It wouldn't dawn on me until later that what I felt was my spirit as it was forced out of my body. For a moment all was dark, although I was sure I could hear Cloud's anguished voice somehow.

And then suddenly it was as though someone had switched on a floodlight, my friends were battling again, Tifa's eyes glimmering with tears as she attacked the Jenova-monster repeatedly, relentlessly. It was only after the fight was over that I looked down and saw myself slumped on the marble altar and realised what had happened to me.

Cloud lifted me into his arms, face ashen, eyes staring down at me in disbelief. I could hear his thoughts as they rushed through him, the jumble of grief and despair and loss as though it were a part of me. And he carried me, up, up, wading into the beautifully clear lake I'd took the time to stand and admire on my way in, unaware that my burial would soon take place there. Tifa and Yuffie remained on the shore, their occasional sobs the only thing breaking the silence. I watched as Cloud's lower lip began to tremble, and he gently lay me into the water. He cried as I slowly sank out of sight. I cried with him.

That is so sad. It feels like Aeris is alive after she is dead, retelling the events, which is interesting.

-sniffles- Your drabbles are the best. You're a fantastic writer.

Your Storys Are Good but FINISH THEM!
So they can be even better :D

Thanks guys! :huggle: It's been a while since I wrote, but here's a quick, post AC ficlet. Cloud POV.

Flowers

"Aerith wouldn't want that."

I've heard those words so many times in the past three years. Ever since we were seperated in the Forgotten City and I watched her sink out of sight, people have told me what she would have wanted and what she wouldn’t have. That she wouldn't want me to be miserable, that she would have wanted me to move on with my life, that she wouldn't want me to be alone. Sometimes I wonder how they know what Aerith would want. I could never tell. It was difficult for me to read her, because she always seemed so optimistic. The only time I ever saw her falter was in Cosmo Canyon when we were all sitting around the bonfire. The next day she was back to her usual self. But I always wondered how she really felt. What would Aerith really want?

She turned from the sunset to face me, flowers swaying at her feet.

“What’s wrong, Cloud?”

“Do you want me to…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Do you want me to move on?”

She looked surprised, but walked towards me and sat by my side.

“Cloud, it isn’t my decision.” Her hair danced in the breeze. “But I’ll always be waiting here. You know you can come here anytime.”

“I know.” I turned to look at her. “But what do you want? Honestly?”

Aerith smiled.

“I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.” I told her, turning back to the horizon. Flowers stretched on for miles in front of us.

That was so sweet Madame it actually made me tear up a bit. XD

:sad: It's so bittersweet. I love it.

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written a drabble... Well, first, thanks for the comments on Flowers, girls. :huggle: I'm always grateful for feedback, and I'm happy you thought it was good!

Second, here's my first drabble in a while. Tifa POV, let me know if I've improved or got worse over time, haha.

Friends

I have this friend. There was a time I thought I needed us to be in love, to be a couple.

He's handsome, and quiet, and introverted, and a little strange sometimes. I'm probably the one who knows him best, but I often used to wonder whether I really knew him at all. I found it so hard to understand him at times, and I'd get frustrated with him because he wouldn't help me to help him. But I love him, so I'll always be by his side, no matter what.

A while ago, there was this girl. She was beautiful, and talkative, and extroverted, and a little strange sometimes. She would smile at him, and tease him, and laugh with him. He always seemed brighter when she was around. More open. Easier to talk to. We travelled around the world together, we saw things that I never dreamed I'd see. We fought things I never dreamed existed. We met countless people, learned countless things, battled destruction, we somehow were allowed to unlock the secrets of the Planet. And through it all, she was by our side. She was closer to him, somehow. Closer than I could get, and it hurt. But she'd smile, and I could never blame her for winning his heart the way I'd hoped I would someday.

Then she left us forever.

And so did he. A part of him, at least. I tried to be there until the end and beyond it, a constant comforting presence by his side. It was hard for me, because I needed the same thing from him, and he didn't, couldn't, provide it for me. But we're here now, still together through everything. I can still see her smile, and I know he can too. I know that she's still with him, and even now, three years later, she still carries his heart how I wanted to. Nothing will ever change that, and nothing ever should.

Where was I? Oh yeah... I have this friend. There was a time I thought I needed us to be in love, to be a couple. I was wrong. The love I really needed from him, I had all the time. And it was always enough.

Beautiful Yukari. You really showed Tifa's true feelings. Bravo! :cheer:

Thanks, Kit!

I can't believe how long I've gone without posting a ficlet. Damned university/work combo, getting in the way of everything.

Hokaaaay.

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Cosmo Candle

~~~~

They're sitting around the bonfire, and there's a chill in the air. Not just because it's a clear night in late summer, but also because she's not herself right now.

She was excited to hear what Cosmo Canyon's Elders had to say, listening intently to every word, every scrap of knowledge on the Cetra that they had to share with her, but when a dusty old scholar told her that the Promised Land probably didn't exist, she was indignant and ready to argue, because her mother told her she'd find her Promised Land and who was he to smile patronisingly at her and tell her that what she was looking for was nothing but a folktale? Then, just as the words formed on her tongue, they melted away again because what would she say?

When Cloud sits by her, she can't even gather her scattered thoughts for long enough to listen to him. She thinks she hears him ask if he can help, and all she can do is shake her head, not trusting her voice. The crackling of the bonfire and the hum of villagers' conversation far away in the background is a constant, but there's silence among them. Usually she'd be the one keeping the conversation going, and without her chatter things are subdued and slightly awkward. Eventually there's just Tifa and Cloud and her, and she stares into the flames with her knees pulled up to her chest as Tifa stands and murmurs a goodnight.

"It's late."

She turns slightly, bathed in the golden glow of the fire, and Cloud wishes he could make things alright.

"You should get some sleep."

"I knew I was the only one left." she says. "I thought they might know more, though."

She looks away, up into the sky, and he follows her gaze.

"Do you think there's a reason for it? Is there something I'm supposed to do?"

"Hmm?"

Cloud moves closer to the bonfire, closer to its warmth and light so he can see her expression.

"What do you think, Cloud? Tell me."

And he can see it glimmering in her eyes and on her face, unease and doubt and things that can't be hidden behind a smile, at least not tonight, when the glow of the bonfire shows them up for what they are.

"I don't think there has to be a reason for everything."

"Why's that?"

"Some things just happen."

Aerith looks straight at him.

"So it's okay?"

He doesn't understand, but he nods in reply.

"It's okay."

She moves forward, and he opens his mouth slightly, perhaps to say something else, but her lips are on his before he can speak, and he's too surprised to react at first. He can feel her hand on his shoulder, and now he's aware of nothing but the scent of flowers and the warmth of her kiss. Then she's all smiles and self-assured and herself again as she stands up, and he asks her why.

"Some things just happen." she says.

Another Tifa one. Very much a contrast to the 'Friends' ficlet. Angsty, bitter Tifa, even though I was trying to keep her in character. Oh, and run on sentences are my NBFs. Ho hum.

Pictures

The door's closed. He's gone again, and she knows he'll come back (he always comes back) but she's alone with herself and she doesn't want to be, because she doesn't like the things that run through her mind when there's no Denzel to distract her, no Cloud to be cheerful for, no Marlene to ask her for help with her painting because Tifa can always take the brush and fix up whatever's wrong and make it perfect.

She thinks of two years ago, of that hope that danced inside, and she thinks that maybe if she could just find the words (because Aerith would just come right out and say it) and if she had just grabbed that chance then things would be different and there'd be no need for pictures like the one she still has in her room.

(You know, Tifa, the one you put on his desk and he never said a word about it and sometimes you wonder if he even knows it's there.)

Oh well. He's not a part of it anyway, not really, he's standing off to the side as if he doesn't even want to be there. (Then why be there, Cloud?) She's the one standing with the kids, smiling into the camera, and why can't he see that the smile didn't reach her eyes then and it's no different now?

She's angry with herself for how her heart still flutters when he looks at her, angry with Aerith because why did she have to be the one, why wasn't Tifa enough, why did she run away, why didn't she just wait? She's angry because the fact that Cloud's unreachable hurts so much more now Aerith isn't here. (You were there all along, though, weren't you?)

She's angry at Cloud for not seeing through her smiles, she's angry that he still leaves for so long even though everything's supposed to be alright now.

Sometimes she's angry that he comes back at all.

Whoa it's great!

It sounds very true. It's faithful to the movie but also to...life and real feelings.

Thanks, Coral! :huggle: I'm really glad you liked it.

Eek, double post! *bans self* I've got another Tifa-centric ficlet for you. I've been pretty much focused on Tifa due to building my minisite dedicated to her, (link's in my sig, please visit, plugplugplug) so it's not really surprising that the fic was about her. Let me know if you like it or not.

Ribbon

Denzel asks her why she wears a pink ribbon around her arm, and she doesn't know how to put it into words, because just saying that it's for Aerith isn't enough. It's only been two years, but she's already almost forgotten her face.

If she tries hard enough, focuses on memories from two years ago, she can remember standing in the basement of Corneo's mansion and hearing footsteps on the stairs, picture a friendly smile in the gloom, and a silk dress.

If she tries hard enough, she can remember walking sandy streets in blazing hot sunshine, a red denim jacket bundled in Aerith's arms, her profile as she looks forward, unpierced earlobes, wisps of wavy hair coming loose from her braid.

If she tries hard enough, she can remember dim candlelight, a wooden table, the sound of drums. She can remember alcohol burning her throat, green eyes smiling at her.

But the ribbon is the first thing that springs to mind when she thinks of Aerith. How she would sometimes reach up and check it wasn't coming unravelled after a long battle, how it would flutter in the breeze as they walked through endless stretches of fields towards the next town, and how if the breeze were strong enough, Aerith would sometimes reach up and hold it in case it blew away.

And then there's that memory that's always burned into her, that she tries to keep buried but refuses to fade even after two years; the memory of the ribbon unravelling and fluttering to the ground, landing silently at Sephiroth's feet.

I'm sorry I can't offer much in the way of constructive crit, but I've realized I've never actually commented on this thread and thus this is my attempt to recitify my rather grave error. XD;;

Your writing's always so pretty Yukari! I love it very much! And I'm jealous of your ability to write stories cohesively and keep all of the characters in-character. :lmao:

P.S. Spun Sugar = one of my favorite songs. A++ shrine name. :]

Excellent writing... it is so vivid and introspective. Love it :). Also I feel you've captured Tifa's feelings perfectly... I'm not of the crowd that believes she would hate Aerith or be overly jealous of her.