The Highwind - What We're Fighting For

Cloud's Speech

Cloud and Tifa Await the Others' Return

Back on the Highwind

---

Everyone has gathered back on the bridge of the Highwind.

Cait Sith
Shinra's...... finished.

Cloud
Meteor's gonna fall in about......

Nanaki
Seven more days. That's what Grandfather said.

Cloud
Nanaki......
You want to see everyone in Cosmo Canyon again?

Nanaki
.........yes.

Cloud (turning to Barret)
You want to see Marlene, right?

Barret
Don't ask me that.

Cloud
We'll beat Sephiroth...
Then, if we don't release the power of Holy in seven days......
There won't be a planet left to protect.
If we can't beat Sephiroth...
It's as good as death for us.
We'll just go a few days sooner than the rest who'll die from Meteor.

Barret
Don't be thinkin' you're gonna lose before ya even fight!

Cloud
No!
What I meant was...
What are we all fighting for? I want us all to understand that.
Save the planet... for the future of the planet... Sure, that's all fine.
But really, is that really how it is?
For me, this is a personal feud.
I want to beat Sephiroth. And settle my past.
Saving the planet just happens to be part of that.
I've been thinking.
I think we all are fighting for ourselves.
For ourselves... and that someone... something... whatever it is, that's important to us.
That's what we're fighting for.
That's why we keep up this battle for the planet.

Barret
You're right...
It sounds cool sayin' it's to save the planet.
But I was the one who blew up that Mako reactor......
Lookin' back on it now, I can see that wasn't the right way to do things.
I made a lot of friends and innocent bystanders suffer...
...At first, it was revenge against Shinra. For attackin' my town.
But now......
Yeah. I'm fightin' for Marlene.
For Marlene... For Marlene's future...
Yeah... I guess I want to save the planet for Marlene's sake...

Cloud
Go and see her. Make sure you're right, and come back.
All of you. Get off the ship and find out your reasons for yourselves.
I want you to make sure. Then I want you to come back.

Cid
Maybe ain't none of us'll come back.
Meteor's gonna kill us all anyway. Let's just forget any useless struggling!

Cloud
I know why I'm fighting.
I'm fighting to save the planet, and that's that.
But besides that, there's something personal too...
A very personal memory that I have.
What about you all?
I want all of you to find that something within yourselves.
If you don't find it, then that's okay too.
You can't fight without a reason, right?
So, I won't hold it against you if you don't come back.

Everyone leaves, including the Highwind's crew, except for Tifa. Cloud turns to her.

Cloud
What are you going to do, Tifa?

Tifa
Did you forget?
I'm... all alone. I don't have anywhere to go.

Cloud and Tifa leave the airship and stand below in the twilight.

Tifa
Everyone's gone...

Cloud
Yeah, we don't have anywhere or anyone to go home to.

Tifa
You're right...
But... I'm sure someday... they'll come back, don't you think?

Cloud
Hmm... I wonder...?
Everyone has an irreplaceable something they're holding on to...
But this time, our opponent...

Tifa
Hmm... But that's all right, even if no one comes back.
As long as I'm with you... As long as you're by my side... I won't give up even if I'm scared.

Cloud
.........Tifa......

Tifa
No matter how close we are... We were far apart... before this.
But when we were in the Lifestream surrounded by all those screams of anguish, I thought I heard your voice...
...sniff... you probably don't remember this...
But deep in my heart I heard you calling my name... Or at least I thought I did...

Depending on Cloud's actions throughout the game, the dialogue continues differently.

Later, some time after the sun has risen, Tifa stands looking up at the Highwind.

Tifa
.........

Cloud
We'd better go.

Tifa
But, I still...!?

Cloud
It's all right, Tifa. You said so yourself yesterday.
At least we don't have to go on alone.

Tifa
Yes... That's right!

Cloud
Okay! Let's go!

Together they return to the Highwind.

Tifa
The airship is too big for just the two of us.
Yeah, it's a little lonely without everyone.

Cloud
Don't worry. It'll be okay.
I'll make a big enough ruckus for everyone.
Besides, I'm the pilot.
No more flying around casually like before.
We won't have time to feel lonely.

Tifa nods. Suddenly the airship starts up.

Tifa
Huh!?

Cloud
It's moving......

They run to the bridge. Cait Sith stands motionless in the corner, and they find Cid and Barret at the helm.

Cloud
Barret! Cid!

Barret
O, oh...... is that okay with you?

Nanaki bounds up from the stairs.

Cloud
Nanaki!

Tifa
Why didn't you tell me!?

Nanaki
But, you know, Cid.

Cid
Hey, Nanaki.
If you butt in now, you never know what they'll say later......

Tifa
......Were you listening?

She runs off, embarrassed. Cloud turns away, scratching his head, and notices Vincent arriving.

Cloud
Vincent!

Everyone turns to look. Vincent turns away.

Vincent
Why such a puzzled look?
You don't want me to come?

Cloud
No, it's just that you're always so cold. I thought you didn't care what was happening.

Vincent
Cool?
Hmm...... I guess that's just how I am, sorry.

He jumps over to his usual spot.

A light flashes red.

Barret
Well lookey-here. The Shinra Manager's come back.

Cait Sith
Uh, excuse me but...
I wanted to come with the main group, but I couldn't get away......
So some people in Midgar took me in.
I know I have a stuffed animal body, but I'll work really hard!

Barret
I guess that's everyone.

Nanaki
No, Yuffie's missing.

Barret
She ain't gonna show up.
'Least this time she didn't steal our materia. Guess we gotta be thankful for that.

Yuffie drops down from the ceiling and shakes her fist at him.

Yuffie
How could you say that!?
I came all the way here after being seasick as a dog!
I didn't go through all that just to have you guys have the best parts all to yourselves!

Cloud
Welcome back, Yuffie.

Yuffie
Gee, Cloud...... that's so nice of you to say that. ......You sick?
Well, whatever. I'm gonna be in my reserved seat in the hall...... waiting...... upp! ......Urk!

She runs out of the bridge.

Cloud
Thanks everyone.

Barret
We didn't come back for your spikey headed ass!
We came back for Marlene. Guess it's jes' my...... whatcha call, feelings or somethin'.
I, uh I ain't got now words now......

Nanaki
......Although she's not here, she left us a window of opportunity...

Cid
We can't let it go like this.

Cloud
......Aeris.
She was smiling to the end.
We have to do something, or that smile will just freeze like that.
Let's all go together.
Memories of Aeris......
Although she should've returned to the planet by now, something stopped her and now she's stuck......
We've got to let go of Aeris's memory.

Cid
Has anyone here changed their mind?

Cloud
I'm counting on you, Cid.

Cid
Yeah, yeah......
There are 2 levers here that've been buggin' me for a while now...
Let me try them out.
All right, so what should I do?
You decide, Cloud.

Cloud
This is our last battle.
Our target is the North Cave. Our enemy is...... Sephiroth!
So let's move out!

Cid pulls the levers. Jets open up on the Highwind and it blasts off.

Cloud
We're almost to the North Cave! We're on our way, Sephiroth!

Cid
Man, I'm going to stick it to him!

A warning sounds.

Cloud
What is it, Cid?

Cid
Errrrggh! Some incredible force! Losing... control......!

Cid's crew runs onto the deck and joins him at the helm.

Cid
Get the hell outta here, flunkies! Didn't I tell you all to go home!?

Crew
Yes, sir. This is our home!!

Cid
Oh ma--......stop trying to act so cool.
All right, you jokers! Hold me down with everything you got!!
Geronimo!!

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