"Everyone, listen up!"
Arthur called out, his voice cutting through the chatter inside the Seventh Heaven hideout.
"I've got something important to tell you."
Barret grumbled, crossing his massive arms.
"This better be good, dragon boy. You just interrupted my quality time with Marlene."
He added with a playful threat,
"I swear, if this ain't serious, I'm gonna beat you up. Even though I can't quite beat ya up!"
Cloudia stood silently nearby, her gaze fixed on Arthur.
She could tell whatever Arthur was about to tell them was very important.
Sephira, who Arthur had given a new life to, was at his side. She had two silver wings on her back
She was eager to hear what Arthur wanted to tell them.
Aerith gave Arthur a small, knowing smile.
Yuffie and Tifa exchanged a look.
They had always sensed something was different about Arthur, too.
He just didn't quite fit in, and it was hard to put their finger on why.
His knowledge, his way of seeing the world—it all seemed a bit out of place.
"You're finally going to tell us, aren't you? Something you kept secret till now."
Tifa said gently. She knew there was something he had been keeping from them.
"We've been waiting for so long!"
Yuffie added, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Arthur took a deep breath.
"I'm not from here,"
He began, his voice low and serious.
"I'm from another world entirely. Not from any timelines"
The words hung in the air. The secret was out.
"Wow,"
Yuffie finally managed, her voice barely a whisper.
"That is... that is not what I expected."
She had thought maybe he was from a different timeline or something similar, but another world was a whole different story.
Tifa was speechless, her mind trying to make sense of his words.
The room fell into a stunned silence as everyone processed the incredible truth he had just shared.
"There's more,"
Arthur continued, his gaze sweeping over the group.
"The reason I'm telling you this now is because... I'm leaving. Soon."
A hush fell over the room.
"I'm going back to my world,"
He said,
"And Aerith is coming with me."
Aerith gave everyone a gentle nod, confirming his words.
Yuffie's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?! You can't just leave!"
She stomped her foot.
"I want to go too! I'm an awesome ninja! I'd be a huge help in a new world!"
Sephira, who had been listening quietly, moved closer to Arthur.
"I want to go with you, too, wherever it is."
She said, her voice soft but firm.
"You're the one who made me while, to be myself and not just memory. I want to stay by your side."
Tifa stood frozen, her heart aching for some reasons.
She wanted to go with him more than anything, but the words wouldn't come out.
'He already has Aerith… What am I even thinking…'
Tifa was attached to him because of how capable he was.
He saved her and everyone and was close to her when she needed someone most.
Cloudia, noticing the silent struggle on Tifa's face, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tifa,"
She said, her voice calm and encouraging.
"Go with him. You want to, don't you?"
Tifa looked up at Cloudia, then back at Arthur. The choice was clear.
…
Arthur gazed at the shimmering portal, the gateway to the world outside the Tower Dungeon.
By his side stood Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, and Sephira, his companions for this journey.
"Listen up, everyone,"
Arthur began, his voice calm and clear.
"I need to tell you how this portal, the Tower Dungeon, actually works."
He gestured to the portal.
"Each 'floor' of this tower isn't just a level, it's a whole world. It's a huge place, like a planet. Later, I'll take you all to explore each one. But for now, we're going to go straight to the top, right to my home, which is outside the dungeon."
He paused, letting the information sink in.
"Think of it like a really tall building, but instead of small rooms, each floor is its own complete world. We're going to use a special shortcut to skip all the floors and go straight out."
"So, we're skipping all the cool worlds to go straight to your place?"
Yuffie asked, her voice a mix of awe and disappointment.
"Are we at least gonna see any monsters along the way? Big ones? With lots of treasure?"
Arthur chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, Yuffie. No monsters and no treasure. We're just going through. But trust me, once we get to my world, you'll find plenty to be amazed by."
Aerith stepped forward, her hand finding Arthur's.
She didn't say a word, but her grip was tight and reassuring.
A silent promise that she was ready for whatever came next.
Sephira looked at the portal with wide, curious eyes, her silver wings shimmering in the soft light.
"A world outside of this place... I can't imagine what that's like."
"We will see soon enough,"
Tifa said gently, her hand resting on Sephira's shoulder.
She gave Arthur a look of quiet confidence, a simple gesture that said,
"We are ready."
With a final nod, Arthur led them toward the shimmering gateway.
As they stepped through, a swirling vortex of light and color enveloped them.
It was a dizzying journey through what felt like an infinite tunnel of stars, a blur of forgotten worlds and cosmic dust.
The sensation was fleeting, lasting only a few moments before it all came to a halt.
They stumbled out of the portal and onto a solid rooftop.
The group blinked, their eyes adjusting to the sudden change in light and scenery.
The air was different, cooler and tinged with the scent of a bustling city.
Instead of the familiar stone walls of the hideout or the natural beauty of the planet, they were standing on a helipad, surrounded by a breathtaking panorama of futuristic buildings and flying vehicles.
The portal, now just a shimmering ripple behind them, closed with a soft pop, as if it had never been there at all.
"Wow…"
Yuffie breathed, her jaw hanging open as she took in the view.
Below them, a vibrant city sprawled out in every direction, bathed in the golden light of a setting sun.
Tifa stared at the impossibly tall building they were on, its sleek, metallic exterior reflecting the cityscape.
"What is this place?"
Arthur smiled, a sense of deep relief and homecoming washing over him.
"This,"
He said, gesturing to the massive 'A' and the surrounding glass towers,
"is Stark Tower."