TIFA: [V-O]
CLOUD: (groans) T-Tifa...?
Hey Tifa! Long time, no see!
TIFA: Oh my God, it is you!
It's been so long.
CLOUD: Yeah. Five years really flew by, didn't it?
TIFA: Five?
CLOUD: (yells)
TIFA: Do you remember the last time we saw each other?
CLOUD: (yelps) (static)
???: [V-O]
CLOUD: Sure do!
I joined SOLDIER,
I joined SOLDIER, came back home,
I joined SOLDIER, came back home, went up Mount Nibel,
saw Nibelheim get burned to the ground,
saw Nibelheim get burned to the ground, fought Sephiroth,
saw Nibelheim get burned to the ground, fought Sephiroth, took a nap,
saw Nibelheim get burned to the ground, fought Sephiroth, took a nap, and now I'm here.
TIFA: How did you know about Nibelheim?
CLOUD: Uh, 'cause I was there. I mean that's a pretty hard thing not to remember.
I mean that's a pretty hard thing not to remember.
It's not like someone injected memories into me or something, right?
(laughs) That'd be weird.
(Cloud laughs) (Tifa laughs uncomfortably)
TIFA: Yeah. Real weird.
CLOUD: I gotta say, you worrying about me is a breath of fresh air.
Back when we were kids, the Tifa I remembered used to always trick me into doing things
that would jeopardize my future and well-being.
TIFA: Uh...
...
PSYCHE!
Hah, gotcha bitch! Heh!
Just like when you were a kid, you dumb asshole.
(Tifa laughs nervously) CLOUD: Oh... Goodie.
TIFA: So... uh...
What you been up to recently, uh...?
You finally get a job?
CLOUD: Do you count being a former First-Class SOLDIER a job?
TIFA: No.
CLOUD: Then I am unemployed!
TIFA: You know if, uh, I mean, if you're looking to make a quick buck...
I got some friends that are about to do a mission.
I mean, nothing crazy, or violent, or ILLEGAL or anything like that.
As long as you don't f**k up, things should go smoothly.
So, what do you say? Wanna do me a solid?
CLOUD: Uhhhh...
TIFA: Do it, or your pube hair is going straight into your mouth all the way down to your goddamn stomach.
CLOUD: All right, fine I'll-I'll do it!
(sighs)
Just like back in the day.
TIFA: Haha, yep. Just like back in the day.
Five years ago.
(laughing nervously)
TIFA: [V-O]
TIFA: (groaning)
TIFA: What...?
What is this place?
CLOUD: Tifa...?
TIFA: Cloud? Why are you...
...everywhere?
This place...
It's your subconscious...isn't it?
CLOUD: I...don't know.
TIFA: Do you have any idea why you're here?
CLOUD: I don't know...
TIFA: Well, I do.
You're looking for the truth.
Trying to piece together broken memories.
Right?
CLOUD: I don't know...
TIFA: Okay, not really much help right now, but it's okay.
'Cause I'm gonna help you find the truth.
CLOUD: I'm scared...
TIFA: I know you are, Cloud.
But it... It has to be done.
CLOUD: I don't know...
...where to start.
TIFA: I think I do.
Nibelheim.
Five years ago.
CLOUD: This was...
The mission...
TIFA: That's right.
What do you remember?
CLOUD: I remember...
Sephiroth...
...was there.
TIFA: Good.
Anything else?
CLOUD: He killed a dragon and made her children orphans...
Probably starved to death...
Sweet multi-kill.
TIFA: I remember you telling us that.
But I don't think that's actually what happened.
And if it did...
you wouldn't have known.
Five years ago...
You never came back to Nibelheim.
I know, because...
Because I waited for you.
But...you never came.
CLOUD: It was Zack...
...that came to Nibelheim?
TIFA: Yes.
It was.
CLOUD: Why...
...didn't you tell me?
TIFA: Because I was scared.
Scared that if I told you the truth that...
...something would have happened to you.
But I was wrong.
I lied to you all this time, and...look where we are.
CLOUD: Does that mean that... Hojo was right?
That I'm... Not... Cloud?
TIFA: No. No, you are Cloud.
Because if you weren't...
...then this wouldn't have happened.
Do you remember?
CLOUD: This was the first time we met.
You introduced yourself.
Asked if I wanted to do you a solid. I said your eyes were pretty.
I wasn't looking at your eyes...
TIFA: Yeah, I had a feeling.
I remember we were here on this water tower too, but I didn't say-
YOUNG TIFA: "Hi, my name's Tifa. Want to do me a solid?"
TIFA: I think it was...
YOUNG TIFA: "I'm thinking of joining a fisting academy."
TIFA: Wait, hold on.
YOUNG TIFA: "I f**king love dolphins, bro."
TIFA: No.
I said...
YOUNG TIFA: Why did you ask me up here?
CLOUD: Tifa...
What do you remember from that night?
TIFA: I remember being up on the water tower.
Starry night sky...
The sounds of Zangan...training.
It's just...
Some details like why we were up there. It's just...
Kind of blurry to me...
CLOUD: Tifa...
Were we...
...ever friends?
TIFA: Yeah. Of course we were.
YOUNG CLOUD: No.
We weren't.
TIFA: We...were never friends?
YOUNG CLOUD: I'll show you.
TIFA: Hey, it's--this is my room.
YOUNG CLOUD: Those were your real friends.
KID #1: What are we gonna do today, Tifa?
KID #2: We could do something dangerous for your amusement.
KID #3: (slurring) I'll drink whatever you make.
TIFA: Wow. These kids are—
YOUNG CLOUD: Dumb, stupid, and immature?
Yeah, I thought you all were. That's why I never hung out with you guys.
Or...
You guys never hung out with me.
TIFA: Wait, if we never did, then how do you know what—
KID#1: Hey, look. Isn't that Cloud?
KID#2: What does he want?
KID#3: Want us to go beat him up for ya?
YOUNG TIFA: No...
Just... (sniffling)
Let him in.
TIFA: Wait...
I remember now.
YOUNG CLOUD: I lived next door to you.
I used to only see what your room looked like from the outside.
But I wanted to see you today.
Because...
TIFA: Today was the day...
TIFA: [V-O]
YOUNG CLOUD: [V-O]
(wooden planks breaking) (Young Tifa and Cloud screaming)
CLOUD: Tifa missed a step.
I ran in to save her, but I didn't make it in time.
I only scraped my knee when we fell hundreds of feet.
But you...
TIFA'S FATHER: The hell is wrong with you!? My daughter could've died!
No wonder all the kids in town hate you!
Maybe, if you weren't a weak little shit, none of this would've happened!
Do me a solid, and stay the f**k away from her!
CLOUD: Your dad's words rang in my head.
If only I was stronger, I could have saved you.
I was angry at myself.
At my weakness.
Then I heard about this program called SOLDIER.
Then one day you woke up from your coma.
TIFA: You asked me...
YOUNG TIFA: Why did you ask me up here?
YOUNG CLOUD: I...
...wanted to see if you were all right.
You know, after...
YOUNG TIFA: Eh. It's just a week-long coma. It could happen to anyone.
How about you?
You doing all right?
YOUNG CLOUD: I'm... I'm leaving Nibelheim.
To go join SOLDIER.
YOUNG TIFA: Oh.
Any reason why?
YOUNG CLOUD: Yeah. See, there's this guy called Sephiroth. He's, like, the best!
He's super strong, cool, and has tons of friends, and parents that love him, probably.
I want to be just like him.
Strong. So I can protect the things I care about.
Nibelheim, my mom...
And you.
YOUNG TIFA: Do you think you'll ever come back to Nibelheim?
You know, after you make it?
YOUNG CLOUD: Once I'm a First-Class SOLDIER, I'll be sent on missions.
And if one of them is in Nibelheim...
YOUNG TIFA: I'll wait for you.
So I can punch you.
YOUNG CLOUD: Punch me? Why?
YOUNG TIFA: Well, after those other goobers left me at Mount Nibel,
I need a new friend to practice my Dolphin Blow on.
CLOUD: (snorts)
YOUNG TIFA: You want me to try it now!?
YOUNG CLOUD: N-N-N-N-N-NO, it's a great name! Haha.
But alright, I promise.
I'll come back to visit you.
But not as Cloud Strife, the weakling.
But as Cloud Strife, THE FIRST-CLASS SOLDIER!
TIFA'S FATHER [OS]: Shut the fuck up!
TIFA: You joined SOLDIER...
Because of me?
Cloud, I—
CLOUD: It's okay, Tifa.
You don't need to apologize.
TIFA: Well, can I at least say sorry for how my dad reacted?
CLOUD: Reacted...
React...
TIFA: Cloud?
CLOUD: Reac...
CLOUD: Reac...tor...
TIFA: Cloud, are you remembering something?
CLOUD: [V-O]
TIFA: [V-O]
TIFA: YOU'RE Ramirez!
TIFA: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
TIFA: [V-O]
SEPHIROTH: (straining) The... Promised... Land...
ZACK: Cloud...
Stop... Sephiroth...
CLOUD: (yells in pain)
SEPHIROTH: Who the HELL...do you think you are!?
[Cloud grunts]
SEPHIROTH: What!?
CLOUD: I'm Cloud...
From Nibelheim!
AND I'M SOLDIER, DAMN IT!!!
(Sephiroth screams)
???: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
ZACK: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
ZACK: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
ZACK: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
TIFA: Cloud!
CLOUD: Hey, Tifa. Long time no see.
TIFA: Cloud...
Ugh, you asshole! You had me worried sick.
[Cloud grunts]
TIFA: Cloud?!
CLOUD: Sorry! Just getting over an identity crisis is all.
So, I guess I never really was in SOLDIER, huh?
TIFA: Yeah...
Buuuuuuuuuuuut...
You did technically defeat Sephiroth, and he WAS the top guy.
CLOUD: Yeah, you're right!
I whooped his f**king ass!!
And if THAT doesn't make you a First-Class SOLDIER, then I don't know what the f**k does.
CLOUD: I can't wait to tell the others!
TIFA: F**K YEAH!!
So...
Ready to go?
CLOUD: Yeah. I'm ready.
CLOUD: [V-O]
TIFA: [V-O]
CLOUD: [V-O]
TIFA: [V-O]
YUFFIE: Can we check their pockets?
EVERYONE: NO!
♪Outro Fanfare♪