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Princess Tifa wandered through the rose garden of the castle of Nibel, her dress slightly hiked. There at the water fountain sat her fiancée, Prince Cloud, humming a romantic tune. Prince Cloud, in Tifa’s eyes, was the handsomest man the princess had ever laid eyes upon. His blond hair was pointy and wild like a chocobo, and his eyes were blue like the sky. Every time she saw him, she couldn’t help but to smile, and now was no exception, knowing he was sitting on the fountain of promise, as many would call it. Tifa had the fondest memories of this fountain, as did Cloud.
But perhaps the fondest memory of all that both of them shared of this landmark was the night under the starry night sky in which Cloud had been so daring enough as to take her there after a dance. Although Tifa was shy, she accepted this gesture - she was only thirteen at the time. There, their love was mutually realised after Cloud made a promise to rescue her if ever she needed him, like a knight in shining armour.
The future couple had realised their love for one another then and there, and that same night, they kissed. However, it wouldn’t be until years later, filled with many royal duties in between time to see each other that they would go on to desire the rest of their lives at one another’s side. The prince had invited the princess out for lunch by the old river on that beautiful summer day.
Cloud bought along the esteemed pork sandwiches from the marketplace of the kingdom of Nibel, the kingdom where Cloud lived. The two smiled as they ate and laughed. As they finished the last crumb, they looked to each other with a tender smile. Instead of their hands reaching for the basket, they reached each other’s hands. Immediately, their hearts began to race before they blushed and looked to each other with a giggle.
What followed was a long stare into one another’s beautiful eyes, then little by little, with the ambiance of the river and the chirping of newborn birds, their faces came closer and closer. Neither Cloud nor Tifa knew why the other moved - it must have been subconscious. Nonetheless, they continued to move their faces closer towards each other until they eventually kissed. How long had it been since they’d done this? They asked themselves. With Cloud now twenty-one years old and Tifa twenty, they’d felt as though they’d kissed dozens of times, although they were few and far between. Despite this, each kiss felt as wonderful as the last.
“Princess…” Cloud then whispered. Though she seemed unphased.
“Princess…” Cloud quietly called again. This time, Tifa looked to her prince with an attentive gaze. Following this, Cloud slowly pulled something from his waist coat. Tifa watched as Cloud did this before he revealed a fully bloomed red rose which went on to be presented to the princess. This seemed a strange gesture from someone like Cloud who normally wasn’t much of a gift giver, but at the same time, Tifa welcomed this gesture, for it warmed her very heart.
“My prince, thank you,” Tifa said. With this, Tifa gently took the rose from the prince’s fingers and once again, they kissed. To her surprise, however, that wasn’t all her handsome prince had to offer. From the pocket of his jacket, Cloud took out a small leather box which again was presented before the princess’ eyes. Cloud was quiet, as he often was - a man of few words, but Tifa waited until the box was opened, revealing a sapphire ring clutched on by a silver band. It was now Tifa’s turn to be speechless as she cupped her hands over her face and started to shudder.
“Princess Tifa, though red is the rose that grows in our garden, and fair is the lily of the valley, over the clear water that flows from the river, I confess, my love is fairer than any. Will you marry me?”
Tifa shuddered at this sudden invitation before Cloud took Tifa’s left hand and slipped the ring over her finger. With a smile towards Tifa’s face, now full of her tears, Cloud waited, before he saw her nod twice.
“Y-YES!!!” She cried. With this, Cloud took Tifa into his arms, embracing her. Once again, by the river that flowed, they kissed, and from that moment on, Tifa knew she’d found the man she’d end up with for the rest of her life. She wanted to be held by him forever and ever. She felt she’s ascended to the heavens above, dancing a waltz with Cloud who guided her every step. It was too wonderful to end.
Now, having been three months since the princess’ engagement to her beloved prince, Tifa felt more in love with her fiancée than ever. She went over to him to hug him, before Cloud kissed her head. In his lap she sat, cuddling him. She wanted to be marry him right away, she knew, but these small moments still meant the world to her.
As the prince gave her another rose, he spoke, “Tifa, are you ready?”
Knowing what Cloud meant, the princess nodded. After placing another rose in her hair, Cloud lifted Tifa up and carried her towards his noble chocobo who for years had loyally served Cloud on his endeavours. Cloud mounted his loyal steed, before he made his way over to the bushes to pick one more rose, and slowly made its way to the church that sat on the hill. Remembering that wonderful day when Cloud proposed to Tifa, the princess smiled at her husband to be, and with a smile in return, Cloud cupped Tifa’s face and kissed her lips, lovingly.
Within the church, filled with the healthiest roses of Summer, Cloud and Tifa exchanged rings, whilst around them, the people of their kingdoms watched their hearts become one. Tifa would have felt equally as happy if Cloud had rescued her from the evil dragon Valvados who seemed due to come back, though perhaps she’d miscalculated. Either way, when the minister announced their marriage to the crowd, both Cloud and Tifa alike had their hearts filled with happiness as they kissed and the crowds cheered.
Tifa knew every day onward that she spent with Cloud would be filled with the greatest of happiness of a long and healthy life together. Though there would be hiccups from time to time, they knew they would be able to manage, for they had each other. That was all that mattered to them.