Only the Chosen

By: Angela Gonzales

There is not much of a summary that I can submit but I feel that I must warn anyone who reads this may find it to be too controversial for some or too offensive for others. All that I can ask is that you (the reader) to view it with an open mind.

Note: It is not intended for anyone who can't handle 'Rated R' material.

Disclaimer: The characters, items, places, etc. of Final Fantasy VII are property of Squaresoft, Inc. No infringement is intended.

"Only the chosen"
        The dazzle of the green light flowed over the hills. All of it came from the love and light of the planet. The green glow of the planet clashed against the red and orange glow of the Meteor attacking and destroying everything it touched. The people were power less against the battle. A small group, however did all that they could do by making it possible for the planet to defend itself, and destroy the source of the evil… Sephiroth.
        Cloud and his team could do nothing now, but just watch and hope. Tifa was saying come on under her breath, Barret was praying that his daughter was not under the meteor in the city of Midgar. Cid only thought of keeping the Highwind under control as it circled in the air to observe the spectacle. Vincent was quiet and still leaning on the handrail. It was like as if all of his sins that he had been burden with for so long wash away. Yuffie was petrified and griped the handrail as hard as she could. Cloud was surprisingly calm. In fact, it was a little disturbing to him that he had no thoughts at all. It was an opening of a new level of understanding for him, yet his mind was clear.
        The white supernova of light and energy caused everyone to shield their eyes. Cloud somehow was able to withstand it. To him, it was like everyone was in a white room with no walls, no floor, or no ceiling. It was boundless to him. Everyone seemed to be frozen in time, yet Cloud was able to walk around and examine everybody. It was a little freaky that everyone was frozen, then Cloud touched Tifa’s arm, and quickly pulled back his hand when he felt what was like an electrical shock run through him. Cloud just stared into Tifa’s covered face.
        “You saved the planet, Cloud.” A familiar voice said.
        Cloud jumped and spun around to the source of the voice. It was a glowing orb that was slowly taking a human form. The features were still transparent, but it was becoming recognizable.
        “Aeris,” Cloud gasped.
        “Yes, it’s me.” Aeris smiled, as her body became more and more solid, she became real.
        “How-“ Cloud walked to her.
        “Don’t think, just listen.” Aeris smiled. She was so happy to see him again, but she had to do what the planet asked her to do. “The planet is grateful for what you have done, but there is one more thing that you must know.”
        Cloud waited quietly.
        “The white materia is supposed to eliminate all that threaten the planet, including Jenova specimens.” A second figure stepped forward.   Cloud stared at him in surprise.
        “You…” Cloud started to say to him.
        The second figure raised his hand as a gesture to ask Cloud to let him finish what he had to say. “Please, before you say anything, I just wanted to say thank you.” He stood by Aeris. They were at peace.
        Cloud was confused. “For what?”
        Sephiroth just smiled. “All my life I was a prisoner, held by the Jenova cells that were within me. In my mind, I was screaming trying to stop all of the evils that I was forced to do. The only thing that I could do was wait to die, but the torture didn’t stop there. What finally freed me was that final confrontation that we had alone. It was then when you destroyed the Jenova inside me.” Sephiroth sighed and lowered his head. “I am not as strong as you are. You managed to conquer the Jenova cells within you. You were able to change the essence of that anger and evil for the planet, into a driving will to defend what you thought was right.”
        Aeris chimed in, “Right now, you are being judged by the white materia, for you are the last person who still has the power to put the planet in danger again.”
        “Me? But I would have no idea how. Why am I still a danger to the planet?”
        “Because of the knowledge that you are about to receive.” Aeris said.
        “Once the white materia is finished, it will need a new guardian.” Sephiroth said.
        “Normally, a Certa would protect it and pass it on through generations until it is needed again.”
        “But there are no more Certa.” Cloud said. He had an idea why they were here.
        “Not quite. You see, there are those who have a mixed heritage of Certa and normal people. No mater how distant that heritage is there is still a power with in all of them to overcome any influence to hurt the planet. You are a perfect example.”
        “Perfect example of what?” Cloud was uneasy about what they are going say.
        “Do you know why your father died?” A third voice said.
        “Mom?” Cloud was shocked.
        “He died to protect us, to save you.” She said.
        “Why did you never tell me?” Cloud was not expecting this twist of events.
        “Because I was scared. You see, your father was half Certa, and Shin-ra were after him. Together, we fled Midgar, and tried to get as far away as possible. We settled in Nibleheim, and were very happy. But it did not last for long. They found him again. He told me that they would never stop until they had him, so he fled to lure them away from me, and our newborn son.” She sighed and tears streamed on her face. “They caught him, and he died by Hojo’s hands.”
        Cloud fell on his knees, “I never knew. Can I see him?” Cloud looked up.
        “I’m sorry, but when the white materia was used last time, it was to destroy him. He’s gone.” Sephiroth said. “There was no one around to save him like you did for me.”
        There was a flash of light.
        Aeris spoke, but her voice started to echo, “It has been decided. Your heart is true and strong, instead of being destroyed, you will start a new race of Certa to protect the planet. Your duty is to be the guardian of the white materia and pass it through the generations. In return, you will gain new abilities and communicate with the planet.”
        “Like a Certa.” Cloud looked up. “Wait, what about the black materia?”
        “It has been destroyed.” Sephiroth said. His voice echoed too.
        “Remember us, Cloud. We will be with you, always.” The echoes of his mother’s voice rang in his ears as the three of them faded away.
        I understand, but… Cloud thought. Then he felt the touch of a hand on his face, and instinctively he opened his eyes.
        “Are you okay?” Tifa asked.
        Cloud found himself buried under some ruble. He sat up. He was back on the Highwind, but it looks like it just crashed landed. He quickly looked to see if there were any injuries. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Tifa helped him on his feet.
        Tifa looked at him and noticed that his eyes were a little distant. “Cloud? Are you sure that you are okay?”
        Cloud paused for a moment. “I just need a little time to think, that’s all.”
        “Hello? Is anybody alive in there?” Cloud nor Tifa recognized the voice. Tifa went to see who it was, while Cloud saw some movement.
        “Barret! Are you okay?” Cloud ran to help his friend up.
        “Heh, that was one hell of a ride!” Barret cleared the dirt on his face.
        “I’m going to find the oth-“ Cloud was interrupted by a child’s voice.
        “Papa!” Marline ran and hugged her father. She was so happy to see him. It made even Cloud smile.
        “Marline! But, how did you get here?” Barret was rubbing her back in a warm embrace.
        “Mr. Reeve wanted to help when we saw the airplane go down.” Marline smiled.
        Barret just remembered that it was Reeve who was the Shin-ra spy that controlled Cait Sith, the fortune telling toy cat riding on a huge Mog, and it also was him who kidnapped Marline and Aeris’ adopted mother to force the group to not interfere with Shin-ra.
        “Marline, have you been treated well?” Barret looked at her. She looked all right.
        “Yep, Mr. Reeve took us to a huge building and we got to ride an elevator and saw the city from the top, and then we went on a helicopter ride to this town, and he even gave me ice cream.” The way Marline said this, it was like she had a good time under Reeve’s care.
        Barret hugged Marline again.
        Cloud’s attention was to the others. They seem to be okay. They were talking to someone new, Cloud assumed that it was Reeve. He then took one last look at the Highwind, and saw the crushed remains of Cait Sith. It was no real loss because he was just a remote controlled robot. Still, Cloud felt a little sad, Cait Sith was a very interesting character.

        "Aw, shit!" Cid complained. He just felt that he lost a dear friend.
        "Relax, you can put it back together, can you?" Yuffie was referring to the Highwind. She was just anxious to do anything that would make Cid shut up, even if it meant helping him, but Barret held her back.
        "Just let him blow off some steam, okay?" Barret felt sorry for Cid, but he would have felt even worse for him if Yuffie did something to provoke him even more.
        "It's so good to finally meet you all," Reeve said, as he shook everyone's hand.
    Barret seem to have forgave Reeve for kidnapping Marline because in the end, he ended up protecting her, and Barret would have no idea what to do if he lost her.
        Everyone was rejoicing. Their long battle was over, and it was time to start anew.
        Cid calmed down a bit, and was carefully examining the engine of the Highwind. He was surprised that the ship was in better condition than he first thought. What gave him hope was the idea that it was possible to repair the airship, so that it would fly once more. Cid's concentration was broken by Barret's heavy laughter.
        Cloud seemed to have some kind of idea, but Cid had trouble to hear what he had to say. He was too far away, but from what he could tell, everyone seemed to loved his idea. Barret even patted Cloud on the back. Well, it was more like hit on the back, form the way Cloud almost fell over.
        "Then let's hurry and party hard at Cosmo Canyon!" Barret exclaimed.
        Cid somehow didn't feel like partying, he was just tired.

        “Okay, first you move very slowly, then move your wrist like so, and then you pull away quickly with the materia.” Marline was going through the motions as she spoke.
        “Very good!” Yuffie smiled.
        “Teaching her to be a materia thief already.” Nanaki said with a little humor.
        “I prefer to say ‘Materia Hunter.’ Besides there is nothing else to do until we get to Cosmo Canyon.”
        Nanaki stretched and yawned. His comfortable position was making him sleepy. Yuffie had a point. The trip to Cosmo Canyon had become boring.
        “There must be something better to do other than learning how to be a thief!”
        “It’s not stealing, it borrowing!” Marline pouted.
        “That’s my girl,” Yuffie hugged Marline. They became fast friends and were giggling at their little private joke.
        Nanaki let out a growl out from his throat as Yuffie pulled her feet up on the seat.
        “Um, nice kitty er, doggie, um…” Yuffie trembled.
        “Don’t patronize me, girl.” Nanaki wanted to scare Yuffie so that she would behave herself. Secretly, he was having fun.
        Marline jumped down and started to scratch behind Nanaki’s right ear. “Please Red, don’t be such a grouch.” Marline was scratching lightly through Nanaki’s fiery red fur.
        “A little to the left kid, and you got yourself a deal.” Nanaki looked at Marline.
        “Okay Red!” Marline smiled and began to scratch away.
        Nanaki didn’t mind being called Red. In fact, that was what everyone called him, except for the people at home. “Ooh, that’s the spot.” Nanaki smiled.
        Marline giggled and Yuffie relaxed a little. Nanaki closed his eyes. He was almost asleep.
        Cloud also shifted a little in his sleep and Yuffie noticed the materia in his sword. The Master Magic materia was just too tempting to pass up as a prize.
        It took less than a second, and she had the materia in her hand. Unfortunately, at the same time, Cloud started to lean on Yuffie as if she was a pillow. She was trapped.
        Nanaki started to breathe heavily as he drifted off to sleep. Marline saw Yuffie’s predicament.
        Yuffie stayed still. She didn’t want to wake Cloud up, but both of her arms were pinned. Marline took out the ribbon in her hair and started to tickle under Cloud’s nose. She was hoping that Cloud would move over and free Yuffie. Instead he opened his eyes.
        “Uh,” Yuffie had to think fast.
        Marline quickly took the materia out of Yuffie’s hands and put it back in Cloud’s sword. Cloud didn’t even notice.
        He sat up. Yuffie was free again. Cloud didn’t say a word, but leaned the other way against the window and fell back asleep. The materia was out of reach again.
        Marline and Yuffie both let out of sighs of relief.
        “That was close,” Marline said.
        “Yeah, at getting busted.” Nanaki said. He was glad that he was naturally a light sleeper.
        “You just don’t give up, do ya.” Tifa yawned. She woke up when Nanaki waged his tail against her leg. He did this deliberately.
        Yuffie did give up and eased into a comfortable recline in her seat.
        Tifa stretched and noticed that everyone else was a sleep.
        “Man, I’m beat!” Yuffie yawned.
        “Well, it has been a very long day.” Nanaki was closing his eyes again.
        “Believe it or not,” Tifa moved her glove a little to see her watch. “It’s only two-thirty in the afternoon.”
        “No kidding!” It was more like seven PM to Yuffie.
        “How much longer to Cosmo Canyon?” Tifa asked.
        “The last I checked, three hours.” Nanaki said. His eyes were still closed.
        “Are you sure that the driver knows where Cosmo Canyon is?” Yuffie asked.
        Nanaki simply looked at her, “Cosmo Canyon is his home too.”
        Yuffie felt stupid, but before she could say anything, she heard a faint mutter.
        Nanaki lifted his ears. He heard something too.
        “I think that Cloud’s talking in his sleep.” Tifa concluded.
        “I wonder what he is saying?” Marline leaned closer to Cloud.
        The four of them listened closely. There was nothing else to do anyway.
        “Tceles…” Cloud mumbled.
        “T what?” Tifa asked.
        “I think that he said tee cells.” Marline said.
        “It sounds like another language.” Yuffie said.
        “…b hsup.” Cloud muttered again.
        “Bishop?” Yuffie asked.
        “You know, I think that I heard that phrase before…” Nanaki was trying to remember.
        The vehicle suddenly hit a rough bump and it tossed everyone inside. Barret and Cid grumbled a little and went back to sleep. Reeve woke up in the front seat. Vincent just watched the scenery as it passed by. Cloud didn’t respond. Yuffie grabbed Cloud’s arm and let it drop.
        “Man, he’s really out cold!” Yuffie was simply surprised.
        Tifa was getting worried. Nanaki too. Cloud was normally a light sleeper. Sometimes, he would complain about Barret’s snoring.
        “Look at that.” Nanaki said.
        Cloud’s lips were moving incoherently as if he was talking to someone.
        “Tceles b hsup.” Cloud muttered once more.
        Nanaki thought carefully. The word, ‘Tceles,’ reminded him of something, but he didn’t know what. At least he remembered that he saw it in the vast library at Cosmo Canyon. But the information really specialized in the study of the planet, and of the Certa race and culture. “Wait. I think it may have something to do with the planet.”
        “What do you mean?” Tifa asked.
        “I think that the answer is at Cosmo Canyon.”
        “What a coincidence.” Yuffie said.
        “Do you think that we should wake him?” Marline asked.
        “I think we should let him sleep.” Nanaki said. “Besides, it is still a long way to Cosmo Canyon.”

        She stood up and stretched as soon as she got out of the van. It felt good. She then closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. Tifa loved the exotic smells of Cosmo Canyon. She decided to buy some of the spices and inscents before it was time to party, but first everyone had to unload their equipment and check in at the inn.
        “Hey, wake up. We’re here!” Cloud smacked Yuffie’s arm.
        “Mmm…huh? What?” Yuffie was so groggy.
        “We’re here.” Vincent calmly said. “Get your things.”
        “Yep. After we party hard tonight,” then Barret lowered his voice, “and recover tomorrow,” Reeve and Cloud thought that was funny. Then Barret finished. “Marline and I are going to North Corel.”
        “Are you sure that the people are going to accept you?” Reeve asked. He remembered way back when he first met Barret and everyone else as Cait Sith, and the mishap in the Battle Square of Gold Saucer. As well as their unexpected stay in Corel Prison.
        “It’s going to be tough, but remember the train that we stopped from crashing into town? Well, it made everyone stop and think. In time, I think that it will be okay. Besides, it’s still home. And Marline deserves to know where she came from.” Barret decided that it was time to settle down to raise Marline in peace.
        “That’s true. Then I would like to wish you the best of luck.” Reeve admired Barret for his dedication.
        “So what are you going to do?” Barret lifted up some supplies.
        “Well I guess that I am now homeless since Midgar was destroyed from the Meteor. So that means that it’s time to move on.”
        “Any thoughts on where to go?”
        “Well,” Reeve grunted when his load became too much to carry, but he recovered. “Actually, I like the big city with all the hustle and bustle of people, so I guess my next stop is Junion.”
        “Junion? What about family?” Barret asked.
        Reeve sighed. “I called my parents to tell them to evacuate Midgar, but they figured since they lived in the outskirts that they would be safe, but…”
        “I’m sorry.” Barret meant it.
        “I found out on the way here. A friend in Kalam organized a rescue party for the survivors of Midgar. He found my parents, but it was too late.”
        “Why wasn’t the city evacuated?” Barret asked.
        “And go where? Everyone figured that they were doomed. Many people panicked, and others just stayed in their homes.” Reeve was angry that his parents didn’t listen to his warning.
        “Then why did you take Marline to Kalam?” Barret figured that Shin-ra would have had some way to figure where Meteor was going to hit.
        “I saw the calculations early and decided to leave with her and Elmyra. That battle we had with Diamond Weapon gave me enough time to do just that. When I came back, Scarlet and Heidigger had me arrested for defecting. There just wasn’t enough time to announce it to the public. I was just lucky that the guards were too panicked. Otherwise I don’t think that I would able to escape.”
        “Any survivors?” Tifa asked.
        “They found 70 so far. Midgar is in ruins.” Reeve said with a heavy heart.
        There was a moment of silence then Tifa spoke.
        “But there were over three million people in that city!”
        “The death toll is unimaginable.” Reeve wiped his eyes dry.
        Tifa hugged Reeve, “I’m so sorry.”
        Reeve accepted Tifa’s affection. “I’m going to be okay. Besides they don’t want me to mourn them.” Reeve sighed. “At least they were happy and they are in a better place now.”
        “That is a brave way to look at it.” Barret put his hand on Reeve’s shoulder. “C’on. Tonight when we party, let’s celebrate their lives. Besides I have to fulfill a promise I made to some friends who didn’t make it to the end.”
        Tifa immediately thought about Biggs, Jessie, Wedge, and of course, Aeris. “He’s right. Let’s get ready and party in their memory.”
        That was the best idea that Reeve heard all day. It motivated him to continue with his life and to keep on striving. But more importantly, it made him feel better.
        “Well in that case,” Reeve let out a smile. “We have some major partying to do.”

        He opened his eyes. The dead silence was torture to him. He tried to move, but was covered in debree. One of the first things that he noticed was that his body was stiff and numb.
        He just rested his head back and closed his eyes. Trying to think rationally, he made an attempt to remember what had just happened.
        He recalled staring into a sealed chamber. Inside, there were a few containers of some biological goo. He knew that there was more, but this was all that remained. Suddenly, there was a flash of memory that took him many years back. He saw the complete source of the cells. A corpse of what looked like a woman with wings and severely discolored skin. They tried to revive her. The horrific and unnatural screams that he heard next forever echoed in his ears.
        He suddenly felt like he was falling. He heard voices everywhere. So many angry voices yelling at him, until two individual voices appeared as the other thousand voices faded away. These two voices were talking to each other, discussing his fate.
        He was alone in a cold, dark place. As he looked around, faces of the people he knew appeared and then faded away. Most of them had suffered greatly because of him.
        "We should have never interfered." A woman appeared. She was wearing a lab coat, then she vanished.
        "Lucrecitia," he called out her name.
        He then heard a child's giggle from behind him. He spun around to see the child.
        The child said nothing. The young boy just looked at him with absolute disgust and walked away, fading into nothing.
        "Why did you interfere?" A young man's voice asked.
        He looked again. He saw a teenage boy wearing a Shin-ra escort uniform. He had a fatal wound in his chest and he was covered with blood. He recognized the boy, it was Cloud.
        "Why DID you interfere?" Yet another male voice asked.
        He was becoming dizzy and everything was becoming distorted. He saw the second young man and gasped in surprise. It was the child he saw earlier but much older. The second young man had a deep slash in his abdomen, there was blood everywhere. He stared at him. There were terrible burns on his face. He couldn't face the second figure anymore. He couldn't face his son.
        "You have committed terrible crimes against us." The first young man said.
        "How do you plead?" The second figure stood next to the first figure.
        He closed his eyes. He wanted this nightmare to end.
        "Hojo."
        He jumped and saw her again.
        "Lucrecitia?" Hojo was disparately searching for any kind of comfort.
        "We should have never interfered. Now we must pay."
        "You? But why? How?"
        "You interfered with Jenova. I gave my son to Jenova. We must pay."
        "Guilty." Cloud barked. But it was only an image of Cloud.
        "Death." Sephiroth barked. He was only an image too.
        "You may have escaped from Holy, the white materia, but you can't hide forever." Lucrecitia was so sad.
        Suddenly Hojo's surroundings changed. He was trapped with fire. A small town was burning to the ground. He saw Cloud again. This time there was no injury or blood, only soot on his face. Cloud was trapped in the past. He screamed in anger and ran after Sephiroth.
        Again, Hojo's surroundings changed again. Now he was in the interior of the near by Makou Reactor. Cloud ran through him as if he had no matter. In his hands, he had picked up a sword.
        "No!" Hojo screamed.
        It was too late as the borrowed sword bit into Sephiroth's abdominal cavity.
        "No…" Hojo turned his face away as his son slumped to the floor. Hojo began to run as an attempt to escape. He didn't get very far as he saw the two of them again down the narrow walkway. Cloud's back was facing him. Sephiroth was still standing.
        Sephiroth thrust his extremely long sword deeply into Cloud's chest. The madness that Sephiroth suffered from gave him the strength to lift Cloud up while he was still impaled.
        Cloud ignored the pain long enough to grab the blade with his bear hands and jerked the blade suddenly.
        Sephiroth lost his strength and balance as Cloud slumped to the floor and Sephiroth fell off the narrow walkway to the reactors below.
        Cloud crawled a few feet and collapsed again. Hojo watched as the same events all those years ago unfold before him.
        Cloud's blood puddled on the floor and came into contact with Sephiroth's blood. At that moment, he fell lifeless to the floor. They killed each other.
        Hojo then saw himself run to inspect the bodies. The other Hojo ordered to have Sephiroth's body to be place into one of the many Makou chambers.
        He then stood over Cloud's body. The mixture of blood caused an incredible reaction. It glowed a bright red and steam started to rise. This red glow was spreading all through out Cloud's body.
        Hojo had seen this reaction before. It was the initial stages of Jenova cells fusing into a living being. The younger Hojo ordered to have Cloud's body to be placed into another Makou chamber.
        Then everything faded away and he was alone again.
        "You should have left them there." Lucrecitia said solemn then looked into his eyes. "But you didn't. You repeated the cycle and played god. You used more Jenova cells to reanimate them."
        The surroundings faded again to an underground lab. Hojo knew this place very well.
        "Who said that you can play god?" Sephiroth stepped forward. He was not wearing a shirt and his skin was flawless.
        "You should have let us die. Why did you interfere?" Cloud stepped forward. He was also topless.
        "Do you know what you have done?" Sephiroth said.
        "You are a monster." Lucrecitia faded away.
        "No wait!" Hojo tried desperately to reach for her.
        The thousand voices came back louder, and angrier than ever, cursing his existence. Cloud and Sephiroth stood still, staring at him with intense hatred.
        Suddenly bright red slashes appeared on their skin, each leaving a scar as the light faded. Every one of those scars inflicted on both of them were by Hojo through his gruesome procedures.
        All for what? Hojo thought. To advance science? No, it was to glorify himself. The many voices turned into laughter, and Hojo was the fool.
        In an instant, Hojo found himself helplessly pinned. Standing over him was himself. He was going to become the next specimen in this experiment.
        Hojo screamed, begging himself to stop, but to no avail. His screaming became more intense as his chest was slowly cut open.
        Everything suddenly became white to him. That was when he saw it. An inity that was breathtakingly beautiful, and extremely evil. Now everything was clear.
        Jenova was far more superior than the planet that gave life to these puny living things. The time has come for him to evolve by absorbing the very essence of the planet to gain his rightful place as a god.
        Hojo awoke with a jump, and with supernatural strength, tossed the debree away from him. He stood up in the basement vault that was his private lab. He saw the anti-Makou generators that ran along the parameter were still working. It protected the last of the Jenova cells and himself.
        He filled the syringe with the remaining cells and injected himself. The rush of power that raced through him was better than life itself.
        He let out a scream to announce his strength and to released some of his energy. He like his new found powers. He had no use for the Jenova cells anymore, he can simply use his own to raise an army of fighters of Jenova. He was ready to take on the world, and all who stood in his way.

        “To us.” Barret announced as everyone raised his or her mug. Each of them were filled with a home made alcoholic brew.
        “Cheers.” Everyone said and took a sip.
        The amber light from the sunset created a warm and cozy atmosphere. The tiring job of unpacking their gear was finally over. After that, everyone was given a chance to shower and change their clothing. Somehow, everyone looked the same. It didn’t matter, because no one seemed to care.
        “Hey, Cloud. There was a question that I wanted to ask ya.” Barret took a healthy gulp.
        “Sure, what is it?”
        “During our final battle, were you ever afraid?”
        Cloud thought for a moment. He couldn’t remember. “No, not really.”
        “I was.” Tifa said.
        “Me too.” Yuffie said.
        “Nah, I never was.” Cid said joyfully. He looked like he already got a head start for drinks.
        “What about you?” Cloud asked.
        “Well,” Barret had to gather his thoughts. “The only thing I thought about was Marline. I didn’t want to let her down.”
        Cloud accepted that as an answer, then looked at Reeve.
        “Well, truthfully,” Reeve put down his mug. “I was terrified. But I had to keep fighting, and I’m glad that it’s finally over.”
        Tifa smiled, it is not often that a grown man is brave enough to say that he was afraid.
        “Red?” Tifa asked.
        “I really don’t know. I just simply didn’t think about it.” Nanaki had his own place at the table, and he was seated comfortably in a chair like everyone else, but instead of drinking from a mug, there was a bowl in front of him.
        “Hey, Vincent, how a-“ Yuffie just noticed that Vincent was gone. “Where did he go?”
        “Oh, he said that he had to take care of something. It took a while to convince him to at least make an appearance.” Cloud announced.
        “I didn’t think that he would.” Barret was handed another drink.
        Yuffie stared into her mug. She had barely taken a sip. Then she saw the signal that she was waiting for. Marline had slipped pass the rest of the group, and waved briefly to Yuffie then disappeared from view to their meeting place that they arranged earlier. She had something to take care of too, but she wanted it to be unnoticed. It was time for her to make her exit.
        Yuffie stretched casually and yawned. “Man, I think I drank too much, I think that I’m going to call it a night.”
        “Yuffie, sit down.” Cloud ordered. “You are not leaving until you had at least two drinks.”
        Tifa whispered to Cloud, “But she is too young to drink.”
        Cloud whispered back, “I know, but she is obviously up to something, and I want to make sure that she can’t do it.”
        Oh, Tifa thought.
        “Yeah, two drink minimum.” Barret said.
        “But I…” Yuffie wanted to be able to think clearly while she took care of her ‘personal business.’
        “C’on, you don’t want us to think that you are up to something.” Tifa hinted.
        Yuffie sighed, then figured that she could wait a while so she can sober up to carry out her plans with Marline. How is she going to tell Marline?
        Vincent suddenly appeared. Yuffie hated it when he did that; it always gave her a jump because he was so quiet. Marline was next to him. It looked like she just got busted.
        “I found her by the item shop, she said that she was waiting for someone.” Vincent quietly said.
        “Marline, you know that you shouldn’t go out on your own like that.” Barret said.
        “I know.” Marline was afraid to get into trouble.
        “So who were you waiting for?” Cloud just started his second drink.
        Marline couldn’t tell them the truth, it will make everyone mad. Then she saw that Yuffie shook her head briefly, then took a drink.
        “I, I was waiting to play with some kids.” Marline lied.
        “Here, let me take her back to the room.” Reeve got up. “Do you want to go and see Miss Elmyra?” He was referring to Aeris’ adopted mother.
        “Nah, there’s nothing to do there.”
        “Trust me, I have a surprise for you, and it’s in her room.”
        “What is it?”
        Reeve whispered into her ear. Marline’s face lit up with joy. “Really?”
        “I promised, didn’t I?”
        “Alright!” Marline jumped for joy, and started running to Elmyra’s room.
        Barret was confused. “Tell me, what was that surprise?”
        Reeve smiled. “Well, in Kalam, Marline complained of being bored. So I told her that I would get her,” He trailed off. He wanted everyone to try to guess what it was.
        “What?” Barret didn’t want to guess.
        “A…doll?” Tifa guessed.
        Reeve shook his head.
        “A game?” Yuffie asked.
        “Close.” Reeve smiled.
        “Okay, I give. What is it?” Cloud finally asked.
        “A playstation.” Reeve smiled.
        “But she is only four, how do you know if she would even want something like that?” Barret was never aware that Marline was interested in that kind of thing.
        “Because she told me.”
        Cloud smiled to himself. He remembered when he was a kid.
        “Reeve that’s so sweet!” Tifa was delighted that Reeve did something so nice for her.
        “Thank you, Reeve. Now I know that she won’t be getting into trouble, unlike someone else I know.” Barret was obviously referring to Yuffie.
        “Hey!” Yuffie countered.
        “I think that it’s now a four drink minimum.” Reeve teased Yuffie.
        “Hey wait a second. You said only two!” She knew that this would definitely screw up her plans.
        Cloud and Barret laughed. Cid was smiling at the joke, his cheeks were red.
        Yuffie picked up her mug and took a sip. She couldn’t deny the fact that the brew tasted good. Then she thought that since Marline was taken care of, she could carry out her plans in the morning, or tomorrow night. Yuffie chugged faster. If they are going to make her drink, then she is definitely going to make then regret it. She chuckled to herself, what an interesting way to get her revenge.
        Yuffie slammed the empty mug on the table. She didn’t notice any difference, maybe the brew was kind of weak.
        “Alright! Now we got ourselves a real party!” Cid cheered.
        Everyone also cheered with Cid. They didn’t really care how loud they were, and no one else seemed to mind the noise, in fact, there were other groups celebrating as well. It was one big party!

        The crackle of the flames in the campfire at Cosmo Canyon eased Vincent’s mind as he was trying to ponder his fate. He had no family, Cloud and everyone else were his only ‘friends’ but he felt no special bond for them. The thought of going back in that coffin to sleep once more seemed to disturb him. He slept long enough. Over 25 years was his best guess. Has it been that long? It was before Sephiroth was born, not to mention Cloud, Tifa, Aeris, Yuffie, and most likely Reeve as well. Cid and Barret were just children, and Red was just a pup.
        What a waste of his life.
        What a waste of his mind, body, and soul.
        He remembered why he was put in that coffin. Hojo put him there for trying to convince Lucrecitia to cancel the experiment, and not to go through with it at all to spare her unborn child. It was the only time in his life when he seemed to care about the well being of others, even love them.
        That came to an end when Hojo shot him. Hojo was a very hateful person. He wondered what Lucrecitia saw in him anyway. Not only did he try to stop Hojo in the beginning, but Hojo was insanely jealous that Lucrecitia and Vincent were falling in love.
        What happened next was too graphic to describe except that after Hojo shot him, he remembered being placed on one of his many operating tables. It was there that Hojo did some personal experiments that was for the sole purpose of torturing someone beyond what can be done before. The Jenova cells were too valuable, so Vincent was spared from that hell. He felt sorry for Cloud.
        Whatever Hojo did to him could not be understood, but it did give Vincent an unusual ability to physically transform into other beasts as his limit breaks. Though the downside to that was that he also went berserk, so he had no control of his actions.
        He wanted to stop thinking about it. It was all too painful for him to endure just by pondering it.
        He stared into the campfire that was called the Cosmo Candle. It is said that this candle burns continuously. Though the only time it was extinguished, Cosmo Canyon was in great danger. The Legend of Seto, Red’s father who gave his life stopping the attacks for a force known as the GI. While Red’s mother died fighting the GI that infiltrated the sanctuary of their home. Red found out about the truth about his father recently, before that he grew up thinking that his father was a coward.
        Vincent started to wonder that maybe he may still care about others after all by the way his thoughts were drifting about other people that he knew well. However, he was no closer in figuring out what he should do with his life next. He just sat, quiet in deep thought as he watched the sunset.

        “Hi everyone!” A woman stepped into the pub.
        “Hey, hey! Shera, how are you?” Barret raised a mug.
        “Hey Shera!” Cid stood up but staggered so much that he was about the fall over.
        “Okay Cid, I think that you had too much.” Tifa pulled him down.
        “Yeah, so how are you?” Reeve asked. He knew her as Cait Sith, so he will have to introduce himself to her later.
        “Well, I was going to tell Cid about the Highwind, and how we managed to transport the wreckage back to Rocket Town, but repairs are estimated to be over three months. But it looks like that I am going to have to wait until tomorrow.” Shera was not surprised that everyone would be celebrating like this
        “Nah, I heard ya.” Cid was resting his head on the table. Of all of the people Cid has worked with, Shera has been a very dedicated assistant, though a bit slow because she tended to be a perfectionist in her work, but over all the best. Cid felt that he could do nothing without her.
        “Wanna drink?” Cloud smiled.
        “Ahh…. What the hell? I can crash in Cid’s room for the night. Um, you guys are staying at the inn upstairs, right?”
        “Hell yes. Isn’t that right Yuffie?” Cid leaned on Yuffie as if she was his new best friend.
        Man, what an ass! Yuffie pushed Cid off her. Cid leaned back, and Yuffie pushed again. There was an empty seat between Red and Barret, so she got up quickly before Cid could lean on her again.
        Whoa, this room is spinning, Yuffie though. Tifa giggled at Yuffie because she was staggering pretty badly.
        “Uh, Yuffie, are you going to be alright?” Nanaki asked.
        “Yeah I’m fine, I just don’t want to get all buddy, buddy with Cid. If you know what I mean.” Drunk or not, Yuffie had an image to keep. So she made herself act as sober as she can, to show that she was still graceful and dignified. She tripped.
        Everyone couldn’t hold in their laughter and there was a loud up roar. Yuffie couldn’t help it too, she was laughing just was hard as everyone else. Cloud got up to help Yuffie to her new seat. Everything was spinning for him too. Standing up strait was extremely difficult for him, but at least he was not as bad as Yuffie who couldn’t even get up from a crawling position.
        “Well don’t just stand there. Are you going to help me or what?” Yuffie realized that she was wasted pretty badly.
        Cloud lent a hand to help Yuffie back up to her feet. She was almost there, gripping her hand on Barret’s shoulder for balance, she finally sat down in her new seat. Cloud was back in his seat too, but he had to grip his hand on the table in order to keep form staggering himself.
        “How about another drink?” Barret asked Cloud.
        “Nah, I think that I am going to wait for a while.” Cloud rested his elbow on the table to support his head.
        “I could use another.” Tifa smiled.
        Cid fell asleep with his head on the table.
        “Me too,” Nanaki said.
        “Cloud, you big wuss!” Yuffie smirked. “I’ll have another drink.”
        “Say whatever you like, but I don’t want to get sick.” Cloud countered.
        Tifa quickly changed the subject. “Hey Barret, wanna play the gil game?”
        “Yeah sure, count me in!” Barret loved these kind of games.
        “Me too.” Reeve said.
        “Gil game?” Shera asked.
        “You mean you never played it?” Cloud asked.
        Shera shook her head.
        “So what is it? We are not as ‘experienced’ as you guys.” Yuffie said.
        “You don’t have to be when you run a bar.” Tifa bluntly replied.
        “It’s really simple.” Barret put his mug down. “We put a drink in the center of the table, and bounce a gil coin and try to land it in the drink. Whoever does that, gets to choose who is going to retrieve it.”
        “Eww, by sticking your hand in the drink?” Yuffie asked.
        “No, you gotta drink all of it so you can get it back.” Tifa finished.
        “The object of the game is to be the last one not passed out.” Cloud added.
        “Sounds like fun.” Nanaki said. “Hey Cloud, can you bounce the coin for me?”
        “Sure. As long as no one forces me to drink it.”
        “Okay I’ll do it.” Shera said. She had the advantage over them because she was still very sober.
        “Why not?” Yuffie shrugged.
        Tifa put a new glass in the middle of the table.

        Marline was getting pretty bored. What Reeve got her was nice, but so confusing. So she got easily frustrated with some of the demo games. Not to mention that it took Ms. Elmyra a while to figure out how to hook it up. She’s now asleep, so Marline had no one to talk to.
The only thing that was on her mind right now was the plans that she made with Yuffie. She really wanted to go and see what it was that she was talking about. She had an idea.
        If I was able to sneak out like before, then I can do it myself, she thought. Marline turned off the equipment and opened the door. She could see what was going on perfectly from the second floor stairway of the interior of the inn and pub. She slowly crept down, and stopped ever so often to see if the coast was clear. At the bottom of the stairs, she sat and waited for the perfect time to sneak past everyone and out the door.

        The coin landed in the glass with a clink. Cloud smiled, it was the third time in the row that he did this successfully.
        “Hmm….” Nanaki grinned. He couldn’t make Yuffie drink it again, she had the last drink, and Barret was no fun because it was too easy for him to finish the glass. Tifa? Nah not her, Barret would probably target her. “Reeve, go get it.”
        “Okay, but it is going to take a while.” Reeve reached over and started drinking.
        Yuffie was getting pretty hungry and saw some crackers on another table in the center. The crackers at this table were already eaten. Yuffie reached over. It was too far away. So she scooted out of her seat and moved a few feet to the other table and reached again. It was still too far away. She stood on the chair, but her balance was too risky to stay like this. Finally, she climbed on the table and got what she was looking for.
        Reeve was still sipping away, taking short breaks every few swallows. Yuffie wanted to see what was going on better. Standing on the table was the best way to do this.
        “Geez, Yuffie!” Nanaki exclaimed.
        “What? I just wanted to get a better view.”
        “C’on, get down before you hurt yourself.” Barret advised.
        “Since when did you care about me?”
        “Fine then. Yuffie, get your scrawny little ass off that table before I go and hurt you!”
        Barret’s sudden change in tone was enough to convince her and she got back into her seat.
        “Man, I’m getting hungry.” Nanaki said.
        “Yeah.” Tifa replied and motioned for the waitress.

        That was easy. Marline thought. She thought about thanking Yuffie when she got back.
        Uh-oh, Vincent was still at the Cosmo Candle. Marline hid, again waiting for the right time to go up the steps that lead to the item shop, which was on the way to where she wanted to go. Vincent just stared into the flame. It was now or never, she wasted no time to the item shop and hid again, just in case he followed her.
        After a few minutes and no Vincent, she cautiously got out of her hiding place and peeked out the window. Vincent was still at the campfire. She was home free, as she started exploring and trying to find her way to the observatory that was somewhere on the fourth floor.

        Elsewhere on the planet, it was calm and peaceful. However it was short lived as the land was invaded slowly by short, dark creatures. Each were mean, powerful, and can kill very quickly. They were all under the command of their master, for he created them. So they were blindly obedient.
        They quickly separated into smaller groups and began to travel to the various town and cities of the world to carry out their mission with such incredible speed. However the group that was headed for Cosmo Canyon had a special objective…

        “C’on Barret. Drink it!” Tifa said.
        Everyone else dropped out of this contest a while ago. It was just between Tifa and Barret. The smell of food was a great motivation for them to stop drinking for a while.
        Barret picked up the glass and just stared at it. He couldn’t drink anymore. He thought that he was going to be sick.
        “Uh, maybe you guys should take a break for a while and eat something. It will make you feel better.” Cloud was begging to sober up, but he was having fun watching the show.
        “So will you admit that I won?” Tifa seemed to have played this game with Barret many times before.
        He put the drink down. “This time. But you know that I’ll win next time we play.”
        Tifa grabbed Barret’s drink and chugged it with ease, she retrieved the gil coin.
        “Geez, Tifa! I had no idea you can drink everyone under the table!” Reeve was just shocked. Apparently he was not the only one, except for Barret that is.
        “Heh, you have no i...” Tifa’s voice trailed off and Cloud couldn’t hear anything anymore, only a faint whistle, a cry for help.
        To everyone else, nothing happened and they were still talking to each other, unaware of this cry.
        Cloud, Marline is in danger! Aeris’ voice rang in his ears.
        He looked up stairs, but the door to Elmyra’s room was wide open. He stood up. Something was terribly wrong.
        “Where’s Marline?” Cloud said with a little panic in his voice.

        She pushed the door open and entered the observatory. The sight was truly amazing.
        “Wow!” She ran up to one of the four large floating crystals. The huge materia.
        Yuffie was right when she said that this was best that the planet had to offer. Marline even saw her reflection in one of the many flat, crystallized sides. This was pure materia that was formed naturally. She was in awe.
        Unfortunately she was not aware of the three strange creatures that just sneaked in behind her. Their target was insight, and they lunged to attack.
        Marline shrieked in fear as she was knocked over, and was cornered by one of them. The features of the creature were never like she saw before with its long, domed head with a huge mouth with sharp teeth, and tentacle like hands full of claws. She shivered in fear as the dark colored creature growled and changed its stance for an easy attack.
        Suddenly it lunged at her, and Marline could do nothing but shield her face and scream some more.
        A surprise blow to her side sent her tumbling out of the way, and now the creature was on top of Cloud. Reeve was with him, and he quickly picked up the small child to get away, but he didn’t make it to the door. Another creature tackled him, but Marline was able to run out of there.
        Reeve managed to kick the creature out of the way, but it was after him again. Cloud wrestled with the other creature that tried to attack Marline, but it was far stronger than he was. The creature started to ram Cloud into the equipment, and finally a strong slap sent him flying.

        The next thing that Cloud was aware of was a sharp sting raising up his arm. He quickly sat up.
        “Cloud, you’re awake!” Tifa took off the damp cloth that was pressed against his arm, the source of the stinging pain.
        “What the hell happened?” His head was hurting, not to mention it was combined with a mild hangover.
        “Vincent came just in time and saved the both of you. He managed to kill one of those creatures, but the other two got away with the huge materia.”
        Cloud stood up. Despite of his discomfort, he wanted to find out what exactly happened. “How long was I out?”
        “About three, almost four hours.”
        “Four hours!” Cloud was in disbelief. “…. Is Marline okay?”
        “She’s a little shaken and bruised, but she’s fine.”
        “And Reeve?”
        “He got a nasty scratch on his leg, but also okay.” Tifa looked at Cloud. “Come here. That scratch on your arm looks pretty bad too.”
        Cloud sat beside Tifa as she continued to take care of his right arm.

        “What kind of ideas were you putting into her head?” Barret was very angry.
        “Please not so loud!” Yuffie had her head in her hands.
        “We all knew that you were up to something. Was it to steal the huge materia?”
        “No!”
        Barret slammed his fists on the table. “Don’t lie to me. You were weren’t you?”
        Yuffie’s eyes started tearing up.
        “That’s enough!” Reeve couldn’t watch this anymore.
        “…. Y…yes. And I…I’m…. I’m so sorry!” Yuffie was crying.
        Barret got what he wanted. The truth, an apology, and a guilt trip. He backed off. He is going to have to have a very long talk with Marline later.
        “But we got a bigger problem to think about.” Nanaki was worried. “From what I could tell form that creature that Vincent killed, it could have kill anyone in an instant, but didn’t. I think that the target was the huge materia.”
        “But why?” Barret sat down.
        “In the wrong hands it can be a very dangerous weapon.” Vincent reasoned.
        “So what do we do?” Reeve asked.
        “Head north to the City of the Ancients and retrieve the white materia.” Cloud walked in, Tifa was with him. He seemed to be fine.
        “Yeah. Fight fire with fire.” Barret stood up, then thought about something. “But who is going to use it? The last I heard only an Ancient could use that materia and…” Barret didn’t want to finish his sentence.
        “We’ll figure it out when the time comes. But it is the best thing that I can think of right now.”
        “So how are we going to get there?” Tifa crossed her arms.
        “The Tiny Bronco is still here.” Cid spoke for the first time. There was a huge bottle of aspirin in front of him.
        “But I thought that you wanted to take it back to Rocket Town to get it fixed.” Reeve was talking to Shera earlier about this. “That small plane still can’t fly.”
        “But it can travel in shallow water. We can dock at Bone Village and walk form there.”
        “Alright. So who’s going?” Cloud wanted to go now.
        Barret was quiet. Then he made his mind. “Reeve, can you stay here and take care of Marline? I need someone who's strong enough to protect her in case those creatures come back.”
        Reeve nodded.
        “I’m going.” Tifa had no need to think about this decision.
        “Me too. I feel responsible for putting Marline in danger. I feel that I have to make up for it somehow.” Yuffie popped some aspirin as if it were candy.
        “I think that I better stay behind.” Nanaki said. “There are a lot of things that I need to look up, and examine this creature. There are a lot of scientists here who can help me. I think I will be more useful that way.”
        “Okay. Vincent?” Cloud looked up. Vincent was waiting by the door and only responded with a nod of his head. “…. I take that as a yes. Cid?”
        “There is no way in hell I am going to let you jokers pilot that plane. Of course I’m going!”
        Everyone nodded in agreement and started their preparation to travel once again.

        Everyone had to pack light because of all of the walking that they were planning to do. Cid was in the pilot seat checking the status of the Tiny Bronco.
        “Hey, it looks like we have to make a pit stop at Rocket Town to refuel.”
        “Sounds good to me” Yuffie wearily replied to Cid. She still felt like crap, and just wanted to sleep.
        “Hey Cloud! Wait up!” Shera ran to deliver a message. She was out of breath when she met up with him. “Red wants to see you. He says that it’s very important.” She huffed.
        “Thanks.” Cloud started to walk over to speak with Red.
        I wonder what for? Tifa thought, and followed behind him unnoticed.

        Nanaki’s home in Cosmo Canyon was the living quarters that was adjacent to the observatory. Cloud saw a very worried look on his face.
        “Cloud, thanks for coming.”
        “What is it?”
        “I need to take a blood sample from you.” Nanaki has to be blunt about this. He knew that Cloud didn’t want to go through that any more than him. He was one of Hojo’s specimens too.
        “Why?”
        “Because, I noticed that there was some kind of bacteria on the creature that clawed you and Reeve up. I think that it’s some kind of virus.”
        “I see. And you think that we have been infected?”
        “I don’t know yet, but I got a really bad feeling.”
        “Alright.”
        A virus? Tifa was outside the door and overheard everything. Red, I really hope that it’s nothing. Tifa didn’t want to even think what would happen if she lost Cloud. She really cared for him, but there was something inside her that was wanting more. She thought about the night before their final battle with Sephiroth. She wanted to stay that way, and longed to be with him just like they were on that night forever. The thought of what could happen really upset her, and she ran off back to the Tiny Bronco. Everyone else had to know about this too.
        “That’s it?”
        “Yep. Oh and uh, can you get Reeve for me.”
        Cloud nodded and left for the inn to summon him.

        Nanaki stared into the test tube that contained the sample. It was a very odd shade of red. Must be some kind of Jenova side effect. He put it in the test tube rack and was looking over what he had found out so far.
        He had trouble thinking because he was getting tired of wearing his headband and slipped it off with ease. He continued to review some more but something caught his eye. The sample was beginning to glow a little and small swirl patterns emerged. Nanaki moved his headband off the table to get a closer look. Nothing.
        “Hey Red. You wanted to see me?” Reeve was curious on what he was called up here for.
        Nanaki pulled his attention away from what he just saw and told Reeve what he told Cloud.

        “Red? What’s the matter?” Reeve asked when he was done taking the sample.
        “I want you to take a look at this.” Red jumped down and retrieved his headband and placed it back on the table. The same glow and swirls appeared.
        “…. What the hell?” Reeve just looked into the sample, though he had no idea what it was. Nanaki removed the headband from the table again. The sample returned back to normal.
        “Can you hand me one of your materia?” A theory occurred to him.
        “Sure.” Reeve reached over the test tube rack and the sample reacted again. He pulled his hand back.
        “That is so weird.” Reeve moved his hand to bring the materia closer to the sample. The closer it was, the more active it seemed.
        “I am going to have to take a look at it much closer.”
        “Alright, I gotta get back to Marline.”
        Nanaki nodded and Reeve left the room. What the hell is going on? Can he even help Cloud with all of the shit that Hojo did to him? He hated it when he was captured a long time ago form his own home for Hojo’s amusement. Though he was very grateful that Cloud was the one who liberated him form the Shin-ra Headquarters and have been fighting by his side ever since. That was how he met most of them, and felt that he still owed it to Cloud to do this.
        Nanaki started his work, but the ironic thought of him studying Hojo’s work as a peer seemed to amuse him. It was like revenge against him for the inhumanities that he committed on an intellectual level.

        It was rather a short trip from Cosmo Canyon to Rocket town because of their mode of transportation. Shera was the first to jump off.
        “Thanks for the lift. Now let’s get this baby refueled.” Shera ran off to get some equipment.
        Cid was happy to be home again, but something seemed to be not quite right…
        “Captain, you’re back!” Two technicians ran up to greet Cid.
        “Captain we got big problems!” The second technician reported.
        Problems? Like what? Cloud wanted to listen to their conversation, but his Personal Homing Signal was beeping. A PHS for short, Cloud dug it out of his pocket and turned it on.
        “Cloud, this is Red.” Nanaki’s voice came through the speaker.
        “What’s up? Did you find anything?”
        “No, I’m afraid not, but some of the people here are missing.”
        “Missing?”
        “I don’t know what happened, but Reeve is missing too.”
        “Oh no. And no one has a clue about what happened?”
        “…. No. But I have noticed that several of them were also scratched or bitten by one of those creatures that took the huge materia last night.”
        “Are there any victims who are still there?”
        There was a moment of silence.
        “Actually, I’m beginning to think that they were all victims.”
        Cloud was silent.
        “Cloud, are you there?”
        “…. Yeah I’m still here.”
        “Look, I don’t know what this means, but you really got to watch yourself and make sure that you are not alone.”
        “I am not going to disappear.”
        “… I really hope so, but still be careful. Okay?”
        “Alright, but please try and find something and take care of Marline.”
        “No problem, I've been doing that already.”
        “Red, you’re a lifesaver.”
        “I know. Bye.”
        “Yeah.”
        “Missing! What do you mean missing?” Cid had trouble believing what the technicians just told him.
        “It’s just that. They started disappearing soon after those creatures attacked.”
        “You mean last night? They attacked Cosmo Canyon too. Geez, many of them are out there?”
        “I don’t think that it matters.” Cloud said. “Red just called. Several people are missing from Cosmo Canyon too, including Reeve. Red and I think it has something to do with those creatures because everyone who was scratched or bitten disappeared.”
        “But what about you?” Cid looked at the bandage on Cloud’s arm.
        “I don’t know. But we have to act fast.”

        Nanaki was pacing back and forth in his home. He hadn’t taken a break all day and it was getting late. He no closer to finding a solution than he was this morning.
        “Excuse me Nanaki.” The woman who owned the pub knocked at the door. She was holding a plate in her hands. “I’d thought that you would be hungry, so I brought you something.” A young woman walked in behind the first woman.
        It was a very nice gesture that brightened up his mood. “Thanks. I haven’t eaten all day.” He started eating.
        “Nanaki, I want to introduce someone to you.” The pub keeper motioned for the younger woman to step forward. “This is Heather. A student in biology, but she also she was an intern of Hojo’s.”
        “Really?” He noticed that she wasn’t wearing a white coat, just a shirt and jeans.
        “More like ex-intern. As soon as I found out what type of experiments that he was doing, I had to quit.”
        “Nice to meet you.” Nanaki liked her already.
        “Well, I see that you guys have a lot of work to do. I’ll check on you later, okay?” The pub keeper left.

        “I don’t like this.” Tifa was upset.
        “I don’t like it either.” Cloud said. He had just told everyone about what Red told him today.
        “Poor Reeve.” Yuffie was having chills up her spine.
        “But where did they go?” Cid took his feet off the table when Shera returned.
        “Probably the same place where those creatures came from.”
        “Cloud, stop doing that.” Tifa was being a little too protective.
        “What?”
        “Quit scratching your arm.”
        Cloud wasn’t paying attention about that and stopped what he was doing. His arm suddenly itched even more. There was a look of mild annoyance on his face.
        “So where did the creatures come from anyway?” Barret was pacing back and forth in the dining area of Cid’s home.
No one had a clue.

        “Come to me my child.” A mysterious voice echoed.
        “Where?” He asked back. He couldn’t see who was calling him because of the bright light behind the figure. The only thing that could be seen was a vague silhouette of a man.
        “Come to me, in the land of ice and rock. The gateway to the inside.”
        “Who are you?” He shouted.
        “Come my child. Be with me.”
        Cloud awoke with a start. Whatever that dream was, it was really freaking him out, and couldn’t stop sweating. It was too hot in this room and he had to get out of there.
        Come to me.
        Cloud didn’t know what to think, but he stepped out the back door of Cid’s house and sat on the grass. It was a little cooler out here, but he couldn’t help but feeling that he had to go somewhere.
        Come to me, my child.
        What am I going to do? Cloud stared blankly at the horizon to the north.
        Cloud don’t it’s a trap! Sephiroth’s voice rang in his ears.
        What the hell is this? Could didn’t even dare to say anything out loud.
        The huge materia. Someone is trying to use it to make another black materia!
        What! Cloud was shocked.
        Up north in the crater. Hurry!
        What about everyone else? We’re going to get the white materia tomorrow.
        Take them with you. They are the only ones who can save you.
        It’s very hard to fight this feeling. What is it?
        Jenova.
        No. It can’t be!
        Fight this feeling for as long as you can, but sooner or later it will overwhelm you.
        There was a knot in his stomach.
        And then I’ll just disappear like everyone else.
        Hang on for as long as you can!
        The back door swung open, and Tifa ran out. She was so glad that he was still here.
        “I think I know why people are disappearing.” Cloud was sorry that he worried Tifa this much. She ran and hugged him.
        She was just simply glad that he didn’t disappear.

        “Are you sure?” Nanaki asked.
        “Positive.” Cloud’s voice came through the speaker of his PHS.
        “Well it explains a couple things.”
        “What did you find?”
        “Well first these creatures are not natural. They were created. Also they seem to have some kind of venom sacks in their mouth and in their claws. Someone is definitely behind this.”
        “Any idea who?”
        “No. But what I’m wondering is how you managed to stay around for so long. Everyone else turned up missing in less than 12 hours.”
        “Red, I really have no clue. I was hoping that you could tell me.”
        “Alright, I’ll look at that blood sample again. There may be a clue there.”
        “Okay.”
        “Goodnight.”
        The speaker became silent, and Nanaki returned to what he was doing.
        “Hey look at this.” Heather was looking through a microscope.
        Nanaki looked through the eyepiece and saw what looked like normal red blood cells with some kind of unknown black slivers. They looked like tiny worms.
        “Okay, and now look at this.” She changed slides and readjusted the view.
        Nanaki looked again. It was the same thing that he saw before, but this slide had some kind of defense against these parasites. It looked like an antibody attacking the invaders.
        “Where did this blood sample come from? Of all the people we checked, this is the only one that has some kind of defense.”
        Nanaki was silent for a moment, then spoke. “It’s Cloud’s…”

        He couldn’t sleep for most of the night. He just kept pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
        Thankfully, Tifa was with him. He felt the need for someone to watch him and keep from doing something stupid.
        “Cloud, will you sit down? You are really driving me nuts.”
        He did, but he couldn’t stop his hands from fidgeting. Tifa just noticed that the bandage on his arm had gotten dirty and stained from the inside out.
        “Do you have a tranquilizer? I can’t take this anymore.”
        “Yeah, sure.” She got one out of her bag. Normally this would be used to cure someone from fury, or the inability to fight correctly and becoming like a berserker, but Cloud looked like he was heading that way anyway.
        Suddenly he felt like he could catch his breath again. Tifa began to remove the bandage.
        “Oh man. This has gotten infected.”
        What else is new? Cloud was not at all surprised.
        “I really think that you should see a doctor about this.”
        “Can it wait until morning?” He was finally able to close his eyes and calm down.
        Tifa sighed. When it came to things like that, he would always procrastinate. Even as a child.
        “Cloud, I am really scared. I’m worried about you.”
        “I’ll be fine.”
        “No really. I care about you.”
        “Mmm?”
        “I just wanted to be able to tell you something….” She just realized that he fell asleep.
        Well at least someone is getting some sleep, she thought. She curled up on the couch to watch him as he slept.

        The hum of the engines of the Tiny Bronco propelled the seaplane as it traveled in the water. It was a shame that there was no time to repair the tail, otherwise it could take to the air. But it seemed to be for the best, Cid thought, because there were only two seats on this plane, so everyone else had to resort to riding on the wings. The second seat was used to store whatever they had with them. It was smooth sailing, and Cid reached to the brim of his cap to get a cigarette and light up.
        Tifa loved the view. The bright sun, the clear water, and the warm breeze. She watched as the dolphins raced along side the Tiny Bronco trying to catch a ride in its wake. Though the only problem for her was…
        “Urk!” Yuffie hated being seasick, and wondered why she kept putting up with it. She sat still on the lower left wing, feeling every wave.
        “Hey, are you going to make it?” Tifa asked. She was sitting on the wing above her.
        “Oh sure, just fine.” Yuffie sarcastically said. She felt that she was going to be sick again.
        “Maybe if you stop reading that book you’d feel better.”
        “I wasn’t reading it. It just got in my way.”
        “Can I see it?”
        Yuffie handed the book to her. “Hey do you have any tranquilizers?”
        “No, I’m out.” Tifa never thought about of the other uses of a tranquilizer until now.
        “Here.” Cid tossed one to Yuffie.
        She almost didn’t catch it.
        “Hurry up and take it before you ruin the paint job!”
        “Gee, thanks for caring about me!”

        Tifa reclined back and read the cover of Yuffie’s book. ‘Materia Forever’ …. Figures, she thought. She opened the book and started looking over the pages.

        “Barret, I’ve heard that joke before.”
        “Damn it Cloud, you’re really no fun!”
        “Alright you guys really want to hear a good joke?” Cid looked over to the lower right wing.
        “Aright, let’s hear it.” Barret was readjusting the gun prosthetic on his right arm. It has always proven to be an effective weapon.
        “Ok, so there was this Turk who went into a Gay bar….” Cid started.

        Heard it before, Vincent wanted to say. He knew all of the Turk jokes, he used to be one. The shore of their destination could be seen. After a few minutes he could see Bone Village. There seemed to be nothing happening there. It is usually full of diggers searching for rare artifacts, but it seemed to be deserted. As he watched, there was some vague movement, then sudden flashes of light.
        Gunfire.
        “… and he says…” Cid was telling his second joke.
        “Quiet.” Vincent said. “Look at that.”
        “Are they under attack?” Tifa asked.
        “Cid, is there anyway we can go faster?”
        “Nope, unless you guys want to start falling off.”
        “Alright, everyone grab on to something!” Barret yelled.
        Cid increased the speed.

        The gunfire stopped about a minute before they reached ashore. Cloud and Barret jumped down and ran to see if there was anyone left.
        “Shit! We’re too late!” Barret ran to one area to at least try to find one person. Cloud had just started checking the foreman’s office and living quarters.
        “Is this place deserted?” Tifa asked. She had just caught up with them.
        Cloud had a solemn look on his face. He knew where they were taken.
        Everyone wondered around aimlessly in the small area of Bone Village. Tifa was on the upper level when she stepped on something.
        “Hey guys! I think that I found something!” Tifa picked up a pair of shades, but one of the lenses was broken.
        “Yeah so?” Yuffie saw no connection.
        Vincent took them from Tifa’s hand and noticed what raised her suspension. A small emblem engraved on the side of the frames.
        “That is a Truks’ emblem.” Vincent showed everyone else the marking.
        “Why would the Turks get involved?” Cloud examined the glasses and found the Shin-ra emblem on the other side of the frames.
        “Those damn bastards! I bet that they have something to do with all this!” Barret wanted to avenge the deaths of three of his friends by their hands.
        “No I don’t think they have anything to do with this.” Cloud said.
        “What the hell makes you say that?”
        “Because in the foreman’s office I found a log, but the last date was two days ago, and before that, it was recorded that they were attacked by those same creatures and everyone received some kind of injury.”
        Yuffie heard a jingle at her feet, and kicked some spent gun shells around, it was still hot.
        “Oh yeah, what a coincidence, everyone got a scratch.” Barret was all worked up, and wanted to kick some ass.
        Cloud shot him a look, he was getting all worked up for nothing, and it was beginning to piss him off. He walked away from the group, he had the sudden urge to punch something.
        “Nice going.” Cid bluntly said.
        There was a faint sound of pops, it was coming from the Sleeping Forest. They were standing right next to the entrance, though no one ran in just yet.
        “Is that gunfire?” Yuffie got closer to the entrance to get a better look, but she saw nothing.
        Cloud took a deep breath and re-joined the group, but he ignored Barret. It was better to wait until he calmed down.
        Tifa pulled out a rare artifact out of her bag. It was the only way to prevent them from getting lost in these woods and never being able to find their way back. Hence the name, Sleeping Forest.
        “Ready?” Tifa was preparing to use this artifact, the Lunar Harp.

        “Hold your fire! We’re almost out of ammo.”
        There were three individuals, two men and one woman who were chasing after a creature. It was badly injured.
        One of the men open fire anyway. It critically hit the creature and it stumbled. The three of them were rapidly gaining up on the crippled creature, who suddenly disappeared over a hill.
        “Okay, we got him cornered.” The leader said. He pulled out his primary weapon, an electrode rod. The other two quickly took positions that would put them at an advantage in this ambush.
        Without a cue or a signal, they made their attack. Surrounding the creature was easy.
        Before the three could do anything, more creatures surrounded them. They were the ones who were just ambushed.
        They were fighting for their lives.

        “Cloud, will you wait up?” Tifa was having trouble keeping up with him.
        Cloud kept running until he was able to get a good view of the battle up the trail. He counted at least twelve creatures against three people.
        “It looks like the Turks got themselves in trouble.” Yuffie said. It was easy to tell that they were Turks from the way they dressed. Like clones in dark suits.
        “So what do we do?” Tifa asked.
        “Not a damn thing.” Barret refused to even offer help to them.
        “Do you think that they may know something that we don’t?” Yuffie was wondering if they were here for the same reason that they were.
        “Who cares?” Cloud started running, he had his sword ready.
        “Goddamn lunatic!” Barret was in disbelief that Cloud was actually going to help out a Turk.
        “If we do nothing, then we have sunk down to their level.” Tifa took off as well. Yuffie followed.
        Cid looked at Barret. “She does have a point.” He took off behind Yuffie.

        Reno had just barely dogged out of the way, and skillfully used his weapon to paralyze another in a pyramid shape field. He raised his electrode rod for another attack. Elena was on her last magazine of her Makou gun, she had no other weapon than that, except for the materia in her armor. The third individual, Rude, had already run out of ammo and had to resort to his fists and materia.
        Reno swung the rod in a devastating attack against one of them, but he failed to notice the other creature that was behind him.
        The sudden yell of another voice caused him turn just in time to see an enemy, Cloud, killing a creature that could have surely killed him.
        The other two looked up and saw more of their enemies run to their aid. The battle was quickly turning to their favor, but more of them kept on coming. Elena started to cast fire on some of the creatures, but it had little effect, her other materia, Mystify, was useless since it only could cast confusion.
        Tifa kicked one of the creatures while Yuffie attacked with her Shuriken. Cid had dived in beside Cloud and both were covering each other’s back. His spear was proving to be a useful weapon because it also pushed a creature back each time Cid attacked.
        Tifa’s martial arts combo was powerful, but it left her vulnerable from behind. There was a sudden sound of gunfire. Tifa saw that Barret had just entered the fight. He raised his gun arm and fired away.
        Vincent was easily holding his own ground with his handgun. Apparently, he tossed Elena a spare clip because she was using her gun again.
        Somehow during battle, the bandage on Cloud’s arm was ripped off revealing the infected wound.  It was painful, but Cloud kept on fighting, favoring his other arm. He charged into a large group of them, but suddenly all of them let out a high pitched shrill that caused all of the fighters to cover their ears.
        The creatures stopped attacking and surrounded Cloud. The shrill noised changed to soft chirps as if they were expressing some kind of affection. One of them nudged its head on his injured arm as if it was a loyal pet, then ran off. The others followed, leaving Cloud very confused.
        “What the hell just happened?” Cid was the first to speak.
        Cloud didn’t care, his arm just hurt.
        “Where the hell did you guys come from?” Reno demanded.
        “You’re welcome.” Tifa remarked.
        Elena let out a ‘humph’ sound, Rude was quiet as always.
        “We didn’t need your help.” Reno said with an attitude.
        Cloud just saw a small cut on Rude’s cheek.
        “You guys better keep an eye on your friend there.” Yuffie remarked.
        “If that cut was caused by one of those creatures….” Tifa was interrupted by Elena’s sudden remark.
        “We already know. Your friend in Cosmo Canyon already sent messages out to the world.”
        There was a catfight brewing between Elena and Tifa.
        “Well screw you too!” So much for being kind, Tifa regretted for even trying.
        “And what about you? What’s so special about you that these ‘things’ all of the sudden became friendly?” Reno was referring to Cloud. “And what the hell happened to your arm?”
        Cloud was about to say none of your business but Yuffie spoke.
        “Because he was already scratched up by one of them.” Tifa smacked Yuffie for giving out information.
        “Heh, then you guys better keep an eye on him.” Elena was waiting for another fight.
        Barret pointed the Gattling gun that was grafted into his arm at them.
        “I suggest that you get the hell out of here before I put some holes into you.”
        Reno was glaring into Barret’s eyes and decided that he was not bluffing. He made a slight motion of his hand. Elena and Rude stared to back away, waiting for Reno to say his last remark and move on.
        “Next time.” Reno started to make his exit.
        “Hey, you forgot this!” Tifa tossed the broken shades to him.
        There was a look of fury on his face, and he continued to walk away. Elena and Rude followed, but not before Elena glared at Cloud, then quickly studied his arm. It looked more like third degree burns that surrounded his arm with a few very deep scratches in it. Cloud was watching her studying him. As soon as she realized that she was gawking, the turned away and left with her comrades.

        Cloud couldn’t take it anymore and began to reveal this as soon as the Turks were out of sight. He clinched his other hand onto his the upper part of his injured arm and closed his eyes. The extra exertion from the fight only seemed to aggravate it. He didn’t say anything, but just took a deep breath, and grit his teeth.
        “I guess we should take a break here.” Tifa suggested.
        “Barret, I thought you said that you weren’t going to help them out.” Yuffie was just curious.
        “I wasn’t. I was helping you guys. Screw them.”

        “I think that this will work.” Heather said as she carefully extracted some of the few rare antibodies in the sample.
        “We won’t know until we test it, and I am not asking for volunteers.” Nanaki finished combining the last of the inactive components of the remedy. Heather added the last ingredient.
        “I don’t know if that will be enough.” She said vaguely, then had a quick flash of an idea. Suddenly she started to quickly walk out the door.
        “Wait, where are you going?”
        “To get my bag. Before I quit, I stole some of Hojo’s notes because I was planning to expose what he was doing to the world, but I just remembered reading something that was very similar to those anti-biotic cells.”

        The rest of the way to the City of the Ancients turned out to uneventful, but Yuffie was getting a feeling of dread. She couldn’t stop thinking of the bad memories that happened the first time they were here.
        She also kept thinking about what she saw that day. She had never seen another human being murdered right before her eyes. There was no way that they could have gotten there sooner. She had the worst feeling of vulnerability at that moment. Despite being around friends who could protect her, there was nothing that could be done against this killer.
        Cloud was only a few feet away from her, Yuffie recalled. He had his sword ready, yet this killer was able to stun him enough so that he could kill the one person who stood in his way. Yuffie had nightmares after witnessing the event, but she wondered about Cloud. How did he feel when Sephiroth easily possessed him as an attempt to make him do his dirty work? If Tifa wasn’t there to yell for Cloud to stop, he wouldn’t have been able to snap out of it, and most likely kill Aeris for him in that state, and would have never been able to remember what happened.
        When Cloud snapped out of it, he was dazed. That was when Sephiroth came in for the fatal blow to poor Aeris. Cloud was so close to Sephiroth when Aeris collapsed into his arms, that he would have been an easy target too. She never knew why Sephiroth didn’t kill Cloud that day, or why he kept tormenting him by possessing him repeatedly. Did Sephiroth want to be defeated, or did he want to drive Cloud insane?
        Yuffie watched Cloud as they approached a walkway made out of coral that led to the heart of the ancient city. He seemed to be normal as he took the lead. Does he ever think about what could have been? Yuffie kept watching Cloud, carefully thinking about what and now. He’s hiding something, she thought, in fact, she was sure of it. What could it be?
        “I say let’s camp here tonight because it is a whole days walk to Icicle.” Barret gazed at the ancient ruin. Still the same, and the weather was getting colder as they continued to travel north.
        “Alright, I’m going on ahead to get the white materia.”
        “I’m coming with you.” Tifa said.
        “No. I think that I better do this alone.”
        “Why?” Tifa wanted to do what Red asked her to do and keep a constant eye on him.
        “Please, its something that I must do. I don’t know how to explain, but trust me.”
        Tifa was quiet, Barret put his hand on her shoulder. “C’on Tifa. Give him a break and let him do this.”
        Tifa closed her eyes and nodded.
        “I’ll be back, don’t worry.” Cloud ran ahead to the center structure that led to the interior of the city and shrine hidden underground that was made out of crystal.
        “Does he know something that we don’t?” Yuffie waited until she was sure that Cloud couldn’t hear.
        “He's been acting strange.” Tifa was making every effort to calm down and believe that he will come back without fail.
        “I think that he’s hiding something.”
        “Yuffie, I want you to follow and keep an eye on him, but don’t let him find you.” Barret requested.
        “Relax, I am a highly trained Ninja. He won’t find me.” She took off and quickly disappeared in the shadows.

        There was sudden panic in Cosmo Canyon as the creatures returned. Everyone ran into their homes, Heather was still outside when she saw one of them.
        She hurried as fast as she could to the pub, and saw a small boy trip and fall in front of her. He was crying loudly. She paused just long enough to pick him up and start running again.
        The creatures rapidly came closer to her, but Heather couldn’t run any faster because of the extra weight.
        Another creature jumped in front of her, she skid to a stop. More creatures surrounded her.
        “Hang on to me as tight as you can, kid!” She was searching in her pockets to find a single orb of materia that she always kept for self-defense.
        A circle of green light and a light breeze came out from nowhere, small blue sparkles of light appeared as more circles of light emanated from her in waves.
        A strong green mist covered all the creatures, then a sudden force of energy hit them all at once. The creatures shrieked out in pain, and started to run away.
        She continued to run to the pub, but her left ankle couldn’t support her weight correctly. The woman who owned the Pub ran out and took the boy out Heather’s arms, and retreated into the safety of the building.

        Barret’s PHS was ringing loudly, and as soon as he turned it on, he could hear Marline crying.
        “Marline, are you alright?”
        “Papa, I’m so scared! The monsters came back!”
        “Don’t worry Marline, daddy will fix it. Just stay indoors.”
        “I did, but I am really scared!”
        Barret heard Elmyra’s voice in the background. She was trying to comfort Marline.
        “Marline, I want you to listen to me. Tifa and I are going to get rid of the creatures, and rescue Reeve. I’ll come back to you. I promise.”
        Marline sniffed.
        “Alright?”
        “… Okay.”
        “Aright then, I want you to be a good girl, and be brave. It’s almost over.”
        “Okay.”
        “Okay, then. Can I talk to Elmyra?”
        “Sure.”
        There was a moment of silence then Elmyra’s voice came through.
        “Can you tell me what happened?”

        Heather made it back to Nanaki’s home, with her bag.
        “Are you alright?”
        “Yeah, I just strained my ankle, but I’ll live.”
        “I saw you use the Ultima materia. It seems to be an effective repellent.”
        “Yeah, it took a lot out of me. I won’t be able to use it again for a while.”
        “Oh my god.” Nanaki just saw a scratch on her wrist.
        Heather was quiet, then looked at Nanaki. “I guess that it would be a good time to test that antidote now.”  No wonder her hand was stinging so badly.

        The tranquility of the crystalline city was truly beautiful. It was a pity that no one lived here anymore. The echoes of past generations of Certa whispered into his ears. He paused for a moment and gazed at the structures.
        Yuffie was following close to him, unseen in the shadows. The light, cool breeze caused a faint whistling sound through out the city.
        Cloud had the feeling that he was being watched, and turned around. He was alone, and continued his way to the shrine.
        On the platform that Yuffie was on, she could not be seen, until she came out of where she retreated to when Cloud started to turn to look her way. She was hanging on the ledge to keep out of sight, and quickly hoisted herself back up when the coast was clear to continue her watch.
        The last landmark to the shrine was a pool of water, and some steps that stood out from the water. He was right back to where Aeris was slain. He stopped at the corner of the platform and sat, looking into the water.
        Yuffie kept quiet, and made sure that she was carefully hidden. From her view, she watched as Cloud looked deep into the water, but there wasn’t enough light to clearly see the bottom. He stuck his hand into the water, then sat strait and looked ahead.
        “I know that you’re here, so you don’t have to spy on me anymore.”
        Yikes! There is no way that she could be spotted.
        He looked to the entrance that led to the rest of the city. Yuffie was in another location.
        “Well, come out.”
        He’s bluffing, Yuffie thought, and kept silent and still. She wasn’t going to fall for that trick.
        He was quiet, and saw no one. Maybe no one was following him after all, yet he still  had the nagging feeling of being watched. He shook it off as paranoia, and looked back into the pool.
        This is sacred ground Cloud, there is no need to put a barrier between yourself and this place. Aeris’ voice sang into his ears.
        “Sacred ground?” Maybe he was being watched, but now that feeling was gone.
        Take off your glove and bandage. The water will help sooth it.
        Cloud did what he was told, but stopped to take a look at his hand. There was a tattoo there, but it looked like it was never finished, only a few marks. There was no way to determine what his number was in the Jenova Project. At this point, he didn’t care about that anymore.
        He slowly reached his arm into the water. There was no more pain or irritation, just a cool refreshing feeling.
        He just realized that the barrier that Aeris was talking about was his weapon and armor.
        The white materia started to glow, revealing its location at the bottom of the pool.
        He removed the rest of his armor, and placed his sword on the platform.
        He looked again into the water, the materia was still glowing.
        “How can I use it?” Cloud wondered to himself.
        In time of great need, you will know how.
        “Is there anything else that I should know?”
        No because it will come to you when you want it, but there is a question.
        “A question?”
        The persecution of the Certa by Shin-ra is over, yet why do you hide from your friends?
        “I don’t know. I guess that I don’t want to be treated differently.”
        They are your friends, and a friend is a person who knows everything about you and loves you just the same. By hiding from them, you're only hurting them.
        “I guess that’s true. But what if no one believes me?”
        They will. You have to trust them.
        Cloud was silent, in deep thought.
        Now go, and get the white materia.
        The orb of materia was still glowing at the bottom of the pool. Cloud jumped in to get the materia.

        Who was he talking to? Yuffie figured that she has to go back and tell Tifa about this, but she was not finished watching him.

        “I don’t believe it. I thought that this genetic line was dead.” Heather couldn’t deny the evidence.
        “It looks like there was some manipulation to his DNA. No wonder he was able to produce those antibodies.”
        “Do you think…. Hojo was successful in his attempt to transform someone into a Certa?”
        “I don’t think so, we better check Cloud’s personnel data. We’ll just have to hack into the Shin-ra database that’s here.” Nanaki didn’t want to assume that Hojo was right, it was still a monstrous experiment committed on innocent people. Out of all of them, only two were able to function in the long run, while the others became mindless shells who died off as time passed. The price was extremely high, and it was only a relentless pursuit by Shin-ra to find the fabled ‘Promised Land’ that can only be found by a Certa.
        “Can I see your computer Nanaki?”
        “Sure, and call me Red. That’s what my friends call me,” He moved out of the way.
        She smiled and started her search, then she looked over  the stolen notes. “He may have been a genius in biology, but he was an idiot in everything else. He wrote several passwords here.”
        Nanaki watched as she was searching the database like a pro.

        In a cold, barren land that was cruel to life, there was activity. The people who disappeared were being summoned by a powerful unknown force, then they were met by another creature. The people were not afraid, and the creatures were not hostile to them. Each creature lead who ever came to them, one by one to their master.

        “Bingo!” Heather found the personnel file.
        Nanaki started reading it out loud. “Name: Strife, Cloud. Birth date: August 19.” That’s less than two weeks, he noted to himself. “Birthplace: Nibleheim. Height 5’ 7’’.”
        He continued to read it, then found something strange. “Father: Unknown?”
        “Shin-ra always try to find out everything about you, it’s very rare that they had to list something as ‘unknown’.”
        “It looks like that the last update was five years ago because it says that he’s 16.”
        Heather read the last part of the file. “Died while on active duty on a patrol mission near Nibleheim. Current commanding officer: Sephiroth.” She looked at Nanaki. “Died? But didn’t you speak with him not too long ago?”
        “It was just a cover up by Shin-ra to hide the truth. Sephiroth found out that he was a product of the Jenova Project and went insane. He burned Nibleheim to the ground and killed most of its inhabitants, anyone who survived became Hojo’s laboratory specimens.”
        “But I was just there in Nibleheim. It is still there, and full of people.”
        “Yes, I know. Shin-ra rebuilt the town and hired actors as ‘townspeople’. When we found out, it was the biggest insult to Cloud and Tifa.”
        “Tifa? Who’s that?”
        “Another friend who is also from Nibleheim. She was there when the Sephiroth incident occurred, and was seriously wounded by him. She was lucky. Her mentor who was training her in martial arts found her and escaped, carrying her with him before Shin-ra came.”
        “Hmm. I don’t get it. I know that Shin-ra funded the project so that they can find the Promised Land to strip it of its abundant Makou energy. But why go this far? I wonder how many innocent people died just for this?” Heather was really disgusted that she was even associated with them at all in the past.
        “I remember Aeris telling me that when she was very young, Hojo held both her and her mother captive, until they escaped when she was five years old.”
        “Why hold a mother and child captive?”
        “Because they were both Certa. Aeris was half, while her mother was a pure Certa. Maybe there is some kind of information on them.”
        Heather found the data. “Whoa. This is so weird.”
        Nanaki looked at what she found. A DNA model. “Hmm, there seems to be an extra element into it, instead of the four that's found in normal strains for every creature on the planet.”
        “It looks like they were never to identify it.”
        “Can you cross reference Cloud’s sample with this?”
        “Sure, and I can also cross check with what’s already on record too.”
        “How long will it take?”
        “Um, not too long, but I would think about an hour.”
        “Speaking of time, how are you feeling?”
        “Fine. I think the antidote works.”
        “We have no time to be absolutely sure, I’ll contact as many people I can so that they can come here and get this. I think that we do have enough for everyone.”

        “You did? That’s great!” Tifa was delighted.
        “What?” Barret wanted to know.
        “They found an antidote.” She replied to Barret.
        Tifa was listening carefully to the PHS that was pressed against her ear.
        “Yeah.”
        “Right. We’re heading there tomorrow.”
        “Um, he’s not here.”
        “Don’t worry, Yuffie’s keeping an eye on him.”
        “That urgent? What’s the matter?”
        “…What?”
        “A-are you sure?”
        “…No wonder he's been acting strange.”
        “And it was because of him you were able to find the antidote?”
        “Oh my god. I really hope that’s not true.”
        “You are?”
        “Uh-huh. I understand.”
        “Okay, thank you.”
        “Take care.”
        Tifa turned the PHS off, she had a shocked look on her face.
        “Well what?” Cid really didn’t like the tone in Tifa’s voice during that conservation.
        Tifa looked to the ground, and took a breath.
        “Hey guys! He’s coming back.” Yuffie returned.
        “What did you see?” Barret asked.
        “Well, not much. Except that he was talking to himself a lot, it was like he was having a conservation with no one.”
        “Quiet. Here he comes.” Cid said calmly.

        Tifa stood up and ran to Cloud and gave him a big hug.
        “Thank god that you’re okay!” Tifa was really upset, but happy.
        “What’s wrong?”
        “Um, she was just very worried that you wouldn’t return.” Cid said.
        “Cloud, they found an antidote.” Barret said.
        “That’s great. But how is everyone going to get it?”
        “Red said that he took care of it, but wants us to continue to Icicle so that you can be treated.” Tifa managed to regain her composure.
        “So what is our next move with the White materia?” Vincent was almost like a fly on the wall.
        Cloud hadn’t thought about it yet.
        “I have a suggestion.” Yuffie said, “Let’s eat. I’m starving!”

        The distraction of preparing for the night eased Tifa’s mind, and the rations that they bought in Cosmo Canyon were actually tasty.
        Cloud calmly stared into the campfire. He was thinking about what he needed to say, but wanted to wait for the right time and words. He took a breath.
        “I have…” Cloud spoke at the same time Tifa spoke “Cloud I…”
        “You go first.” Cloud said.
        Tifa was nervous. “Um, Cloud? Why did you never tell us that you were an Ancient?”
        There was a murmur among everyone else. Could it be true?
        Cloud sighed, then looked at Tifa. “What tipped you off?”
        There were more murmurs from everyone.
        “Cloud?” Barret was uneasy.
        “I…I was about to tell you.”
        “Are you saying that you’re an Ancient?” Cid wanted to know more.
        “So who were you talking to at the pool?” Yuffie asked then covered her mouth.
        Cloud looked at her, annoyed. Then looked to the ground.
        “Um, Red found out. It was because of your blood that they were able to find an antidote. He’s also trying to find out…” Tifa felt sorry for brining it up.
        “If the Jenova Project was a success or if I was born with it?” Cloud finished the question. He kept his eyes fixed to the ground, never in his life has he felt this exposed. If he started the conservation, it would have been on his own terms, but now he was on the defensive.
        “I’m sorry for bringing it up.” Tifa really felt bad.
        Cloud stood up to walk away. “Excuse me.”
        Tifa got up and followed him.

        “After all this time…” Barret said. “Hell, I knew that he was messed up from the first day that I met him, but … why did he never say a word about it?”
        Yuffie thought back to what Cloud said at the pool. “Maybe because he didn’t want to be treated differently.”
        “But we all knew that Aeris was an Ancient, and we treated her just like everyone else.”
        “Did we?” Vincent asked. “I don’t think so, remember on how everyone kept their distance from her while we were headed for the Temple of the Ancients, because no one knew what to say to her? The only one who truly treaded Aeris like a normal person was Cloud.”
        “Yeah, I didn’t really speak to her much because of that. I didn’t know what to think.” Cid admitted.
        Yuffie looked to the ground. She didn’t know what to say to Aeris either. “I wonder how she felt?”
        “I guess there were several times when I didn’t know what to say, and I kept my mouth shut.” Barret sighed.
        “Either way, Cloud didn't ask to be this way. It was forced upon him. He’s probably resentful because of it.” Vincent pointed out.
        “What makes you so sure?” Cid asked.
        “I've been watching you all long enough to figure it out.”
        Yuffie hated this feeling. “Aw c’on! It’s not like he died or anything! He’s the same person and there is nothing different about him except what we know about him. That’s no reason to punish someone just because they are different! Vincent’s right. Its not like he asked for this or waited in line to be one of Hojo’s guinea pigs. He had no control over this, and he's the same way now just like he was this morning. So I think that we should ignore the fact that he's an Ancient. He just wants to be just like everyone else.”
        Everyone was silent around the campfire. Then Barret sighed.
        “Alright, then let’s not mention it at all and pretend that this never happened. At least, until we know exactly how he feels about this.”
        Yuffie nodded in agreement.
        “Okay so nothing happened.” Cid took a drag from his cigarette.
        Vincent was quiet. How did he feel about this anyway?
        They had no idea that they were being watched by someone else and heard everything.

        It seemed like everything he knew that was constant in this world was suddenly turned upside down. There are things that will always stay the same for everyone, and that is usually where they draw their confront from. He understood that this is really necessary for the planet, but he was never ready for this kind of responsibility. The world was literally on his shoulders.
        He walked to a grassy area and sat on a hill. The only thing that he could see clearly was the stars above him.
        Cloud, don’t worry. Your friends still care for you, they were just surprised. Give it some time to sink in. This time it was his mother’s voice that whispered into his ears.
        “Please, just leave me alone.” He had his face buried in his hands.
        “Are you sure?”
        Cloud turned around and realized that Tifa followed him. She sat down beside him.
        “Hey, I am really sorry for bringing it up like that. I should have talked to you privately first.”
        “That’s alright. I was about to say something anyway, but when you asked that question, it caught me off guard that you already knew.”   He was gripping the blades of grass with his fingers.
        “I’m sorry.”
        They were quiet for a moment. He was gazing at the stars.
        “Cloud talk to me. Why did you never say a word about it?”
        “It’s… complicated. Do you really want to hear the whole story?”
        “No, not right now. I can wait until you feel like talking.”
        He paused and sighed.
        “Can I…. Show you something?” Cloud was hesitant, but he was tired of hiding it anymore.
        “Yeah, sure.” Tifa looked into his eyes. It reminded her of the day he left Nibleheim. They were so innocent, yet scared of the unknown path that was up ahead. There was another that is even more terrifying than before that was laid before him, and he had no choice but to follow it.
        He showed her his tattooed hand. Tifa just realized that it was the first time since they met again, and introduced him to Barret, that he never showed his bare hand until now.
        “Cloud, you don’t have to hide like this anymore.” She held his hand into hers. Then grabbed his other hand and removed that glove.
        He was beginning to feel a burden fade away. Tifa got closer to him, she smiled then gently pushed back some of his hair that had been moving in front of his face because of the wind. The touch of her fingertips made him want to touch her face.
        Tifa let him put his hand on her cheek. She couldn’t stop from trembling.
        “There…. was something else that I wanted to tell y-“
        “Shhh.” Tifa gently placed her finger on his lips and moved closer.
        Cloud felt like that he was losing control of himself as he beard his soul to her. He hugged her tighter. The sudden feeling of euphoria was overwhelming and he didn’t want it to stop. Tifa didn’t want it to stop either. There was an internal peace that filled them, Tifa rubbed her hands on his back. Cloud stopped just long enough to gaze into her eyes. Her hands continued to explore his body.
        He still had something very important to tell her but that thought quickly faded away, as he started to softly kiss her neck, the soft smell of her perfume kept him wanting even more. Then he gasped in surprise when she reached in a forbidden area. He kissed her again deeply.
        What’s happening to me? Where’s my self-control? I can’t believe that we’re doing this out in the open.
        “Guys, I’m sorry to interrupt but…” Barret had an urgent matter on his hands.
        They stopped embracing. Barret could hear Cloud whisper ‘damn,’ and let Tifa go. He was laying on his back on the hill. The feelings of that he had just a moment ago quickly drained out of him, leaving him exhausted and very embarrassed. It looked like Tifa was feeling the same thing too.
        “Yeah, what is it?” Cloud sighed.

        “How dare you do this to me!” Elena growled.
        “Exactly, how long were you spying on us?” Cid asked.
        She glared at everyone.
        Barret just returned to the campsite, Cloud and Tifa saw what was so urgent.
        “Why are you here?” Cloud asked.
        “What makes you think that I am going to tell you, Ancient?” Elena used that word as if it was a racist remark. Tifa got into her face and grabbed her collar. She was in a fury.
        “Listen you little bitch, I would just love to kick your ass into next week, and I am-“
        “Stop it!” Cloud didn’t want Tifa to get ugly about this. She glared once more into Elena’s eyes, and backed away.
        “I am going to ask you again. Why are you here?”
        “Humph! Why don’t you ask the planet, or whatever it is that you do.”
        Tifa took a step closer, she was really fed up with her.
        “I already did.” Cloud got into her face. “Why the hell is Reeve so important to you?”
        Elena glared even more. She didn’t want to believe what she just heard everyone talk about earlier, but this little demonstration proved to be extremely accurate. No, it was just a lucky guess.
        “Because he’s a Turk.” Reno approached them, Barret pointed his gattling gun at him. Reno put his hands up. “And we have a code. And that is to never abandon your own. We learned about Reeve’s disappearance the moment we lost contact with him while we were in Kalam. A little girl told us that he was missing and that you already left to look for him. We’ve been following you ever since. As soon as it was obvious that you were heading for the City of the Ancients, we tried to get ahead of you.”
        “Reno?” Elena was surprised that he would just give out information like this, or even surrender himself with out a fight.
        “Rude disappeared, and as much as I hate to admit it. They do have an advantage over us. It’s just pointless to get in their way.”
        “Wait, you want to join forces with us?” Cid asked.
        “He’s obligated to uphold the code, and since he is the leader, he must do anything and everything possible to protect his own.” Vincent said. “That was why he reluctantly helped us when Elena and Yuffie were held captive by that man in Wutai. When it comes to protecting each other, their word is their bond.”
        Barret kept thinking about his friends who died because of them.
        “… Cut her loose.” Cloud reluctantly said.
        “But Cloud!” Tifa looked at him.
        “You got to be kidding!” Barret didn’t want to hear it.
        “Do it!”
        Yuffie cut the ropes and Elena stood next to Reno.
        Barret lowered his gun, “Fine. Just stay the fuck out of my way.”

        Tifa couldn’t sleep. There was so much that was going through her mind. So much has happened today, and she felt that she couldn’t catch up with everyone else.
        So what now? We have the Turks hovering over our shoulder, and Cloud. She was sure that everyone’s view about him has changed. She knew that her view on him changed. The thought of that kiss tonight repeated over and over in her mind. She rolled over to see Cloud while he was sleeping, only to find empty sheets.
        She quickly sat up, and sighed in relief to herself when she saw him sitting by the fire. She got up to be with him.
        “Sorry that I woke you up.”
        “You didn’t. I couldn’t sleep anyway.”
        Cloud was massaging his upper arm, it was the reason why he was awake.
        “Does it still hurt?”
        “Don’t worry about it. I just have to hang on for one more day.”
        “Let me take a look at it.”
        Tifa was shocked at what she saw. What started out to be a few simple scratches turned into a very nasty infection that has spread almost to his shoulder. On the scratches themselves, it looked like something was growing on his arm, as it was pulsating with his heartbeat.
        “Gruesome, isn’t it?” Cloud was trying anything that would take his mind off it.
        “Cloud, there is nothing I can do. I don’t even know where to begin.” Tifa started to search her pockets, “Here, let me use the restore materia.”
        “No. I tried it already. It just made it worse.” Cloud felt another wave of pain.
        “Cloud…”
        “Don’t worry. One more day and we can take care of this.”
        Tifa picked up her PHS, “I am going to call Red, maybe he’ll know what to do.”
        Come to me…
        Not again, he thought.
        Come to me now, my child.
        Cloud was making every effort to ignore that.
        Tifa kept making attempts to use her PHS. It wasn’t working.
        “Here, try mine.”
        Tifa tried again, this time using Cloud’s PHS.
        “Nothing. It’s dead.”
        “Look at that.” He saw something in the sky.
        You didn’t come. Now you must be punished for disobeying me.
        Great, what could be possibly worse?
        Tifa saw red flashes of light in the northern sky. “What’s that?”
        There was a sudden tremor as the planet screamed in pain, Cloud felt it too. It was making him sick to his stomach.
        “Wha?” Yuffie sat up. There were more tremors.
        “An earthquake.” Barret stood up.
        Reno noticed that there was something wrong with Cloud. The tremors became more violent.
        “No…” Cloud saw some creatures come out to attack. He was in no condition to fight.
        “Oh shit…of all of the possible times of day.” Cid hated being awakened like this.
        Tifa remembered what Red told her. “Cloud, where’s your sword?”
        He pointed.
        She picked it up and was frantically searching for the right orb of materia.
        The tremors continued, and the creatures surrounded them.
        Suddenly a thick green mist covered the creatures followed by a blast of energy. Just like Red said, all of them shrieked and ran away. She turned to see Cloud. He passed out.
        “Tifa, what’s wrong with him?” Yuffie ran to help her.
        Vincent saw what was happening to Cloud’s arm, and knelt down to get a closer look. He was running a high fever. “We have to get him to a doctor now.”

        Barret was cussing even more. None of the PHS worked. It was just a useless piece of junk.
         They couldn’t call Icicle for help. Yuffie and Cid quickly got their things together. They had no idea what time it was, but they had to move fast.
        “He’s just going to slow you down. You’ll never make it there in time.” Reno pointed out.
        “Alright then I am going on ahead to get help.” Yuffie was very adept when it came to traveling.
        “With all of those creatures? You’ll never make it on your own.” Tifa appreciated her eagerness to help out, but it was too dangerous.
        Yuffie hopelessly looked at Tifa. She couldn’t think of anything else that she could do. Vincent stood up.
        “I’m coming. It’s safer to travel in a group.”
        Cid was pacing back and forth. “Ah, the hell with it. I’m coming too.”
        “Are you guys sure?” Barret asked.
        Yuffie put her pack on. She was ready to go.
        Barret reached to remove an orb of materia from his gun and tossed it to Yuffie. It was another Ultima materia. “I want it back when you return.”
        Yuffie nodded and started to run, but she slowed her pace so that Cid and Vincent catch up. Then they were gone.

        It’s amazing that he has resisted me for this long.
        He walked among the rows of people who were under his power, they were all mindless slaves with no soul, their eyes had faded to a silver-gray, and all of them were losing the color in their hair and skin. They were becoming as white as the snow around them. Slowly, their spiritual energy was being drained away, but he needed so much more. He was well aware of a vast source of this energy that was referred to as the Lifestream by philosophers. Right now, the gateway to this stream was sealed shut. He couldn’t get through, but he knew someone who can.
        Creating a new Black materia was going to take far more spiritual energy than to just simply use it, but he needed a lot more people before he had enough to combine the four huge materia together into one.
        The Lifestream can supply all of the energy that he needed. Until then, he had no choice but to use whatever resources he had on hand. When the spiritual energy of each person was gone, they will die, but it was only a small fraction of his need.
        He also needed one last element, but acquiring that will take time. It will not be long before he will grow wearily of his calls and fall into his control.
        He thought carefully. Most of these people who became his children are not fighters, and they have too many flaws. He will need stronger ones, but no one who came met his expectations.
        He had already decided that this one was perfect for his needs, but he is only one person. Also, he is an unstable one, and could become a dangerous threat if left unchecked.
        He waved his hand and some of his children came. The creatures that were keeping watch welcomed their master with friendly chirps. He had to make preparations to make sure that this one will be forever his, as well as his vast untapped powers.

        “Look, all I am asking is where do you think these people disappeared to.”
        Barret really hated this guy, and he wasn’t going to give out any information.
        “Do you know that I lost several friends because of what you did in Sector 7? And the only thing that I'm thinking about now is whether I shoot you in the back, or blow that pretty face of yours off.”
        “Those were orders.” That was all Reno needed to say.
        “You bastard! You entered the detonation codes yourself to blow that pillar up. You killed everyone in Sector 7! You even killed many people who were living above that plate when it came crashing down to the slums below!” Tifa shrieked.
        “And you have no right to talk!” Elena shouted. “Do YOU know how many people you killed because of your terrorist activities in Midgar?”
        “That was to save the planet from you leaches sucking the life blood of it and killing us all!” Barret shouted back.
        “Oh yeah, you were really brilliant!” Elena had a lot of sarcasm in her tone. “So your solution was to blow up a couple Makou reactors to stop it? You idiot! That accomplished nothing since they were easily rebuilt.”
        Tifa couldn’t say anything to counter what she said. What Elena said was unfortunately the truth.
        “You want to know why I hate you so much?” Elena was in Tifa’s face.
        Reno crossed his arms. He had a similar story to tell. It was the reason why he became a Turk.
        “My brother was in the Sector 1 reactor when it blew up from a bomb that you placed on the core, and what was worse, when you blew up the reactor in Sector five, I lost most of my family and friends.” She pointed a finger in Tifa’s face. “And I swear, someday I will make you pay dearly for it!” She looked at Cloud. He was still unconsciousness, she pulled out her gun. “I can do it right now and kill him right in front of you. I know how important he is to you.”
        “Goddamn you!” Tifa punched Elena in the face as hard as she could.
        Elena lost grip of her gun, and punched Tifa back.
        It was a wild brawl between them, each were scratching and pulling hair.
        Reno did nothing. He reacted the same way when he encountered another terrorist group in Junion. They killed many people who were important to him too.
        Barret jumped in to try to break them up, but he failed to and was smacked in the face for his trouble. He backed away and saw Reno. He still did nothing except to sit down. The only thing that he could think about was what happened on that day many years ago when he was young. He swore that he would never let another anti-Shin-ra faction to harm this many people again. Yet, it seemed that over the years, he lost sight of that goal and became used to doing so much dirty work. It even got to the point that he even enjoyed it.
        The women seemed to be equally matched for each other in unarmed combat. It was a constant stalemate between them. Both of them were shouting derogatory names and profanities to each other. Barret shouted several times for them to stop, but he was ignored.
        One final blow by Tifa sent the two of them to tumble down the hill. Both of them were just simply out of breath, and couldn’t fight anymore.
        “This is pointless! It’s not going to bring them back!” Tifa threw her hands in the air.
        Elena shook her head and mumbled out more profanities at Tifa, but it was barely audible.
        Barret and Reno ran down the hill. Elena just simply broke down and was sobbing, everyone that she wanted to avenge their deaths for are not going to come back. She had spent all of this time wasting her time and energy thinking about revenge. Now she was just alone with nothing except for her pain. Reno sympathized with her, but this was no way for a Turk to act, even for a rookie. Barret and Tifa left them there and climbed back up the hill.
        “You alright?”
        “I’m fine.” She was okay, just a bit bruised from the tumble down the hill. A quick use of the restore materia was all that she needed to recover from the fight.
        In a few minutes, Reno returned back up the hill to get their gear together. Barret still glared at him.
        “What? You want to fight me too? It’s not going to prove anything.”
        “No, but it will make me feel better.”
        Reno looked at Barret and Tifa. “Look, let me tell you something. Almost all of us lost most of our family and friends because of the likes of you and your rebellion factions. I did the same thing that she did all those years ago. And what did it get me? Nothing!” He let out a smirk, “You think that you are so self-righteous about your ideals and goals that you become blind to all of the innocent bystanders who just happen to be in the way. You think that were monsters? I suggest that you take a long look at yourself. You’re no different!” Reno started to walk back down the hill. Then realized that he had one more thing to say. “For many of us, the Turks are the only family we have left. That’s why we put up with you so that we can save our own. We have no one else in the world who would even care.”
        “… North Crater.” Tifa said.
        Reno waited.
        “That was where Cloud said that they were being taken to.”
        “Thank you.” Reno left with Elena.

        “Hey Tifa, mind if I ask you something?” Barret waited a few minutes after the Turks left. “In all the time that I’ve known you, I don’t think that I have ever heard you say those words like you did during that fight.”
        “I’ve never been that angry before.” She was fine now. “Besides, I think that I have been hanging out with you too much.”
        Barret let out a laugh, it was most likely true.
        There was a sound of a horn blaring, then a truck became visible on a trail that was to the west of them. As soon as it reached its destination, Yuffie jumped out of the back of the truck.
        “Damn, that was quick!” Barret figured that about three hours had past when they left.
        “Well, we didn’t make it to Icicle, she found us.” Yuffie was referring to the driver.
        A young woman stepped out of the truck, “It this the one?” She had a strange twain in her voice. She must have been from a rural area.
        “Thank you. …” Tifa wanted to thank her by name, but she didn’t know it.
        “Dee. Dee Mackclaine.” Dee shook Tifa’s hand.
        “Thank you very much Dee, I’m Tifa.” She pointed to Barret, “This is Barret.”
        Barret just nodded his head, he had a lot of things to do.
        “And Cloud.”
        Dee walked over to where he was sleeping. “Good lord! What the hell happened to him?”
        “We were attacked by those creatures…” Dee interrupted Tifa.
        “Then we gotta get him back to town! We just got some medicine that really works, and…” Dee saw some movement. She had already learned the hard way that it was the creatures’ preferred way to attack.
        “We have to go, now.” It was all that Dee needed to say.
        Dee had already returned to her truck and turned the engine on. Barret was the last person to climb abroad. The creatures were moving with great speed. Yuffie had already used the Ultima materia, but they were so spread out that she only managed to hit just a group of them. Barret pointed his gun arm and fired away.
        The truck’s tires skid as the sudden force of acceleration was applied to them. Then there was a sudden burst of speed. Some of the creatures had jumped onto the bumper. Barret was face to face with one, who was quickly introduced to his gun.
        “Barret!” Tifa shouted and started to try to move in to help.
        He quickly turned to the side of the truck and fired. It fell off and hit the ground with a thump.
        The truck continued to speed away. Tifa searched the other side for more creatures, it was clear. She sighed with relief and turned to Barret.
        “Shit.” There was a rip in his one of his pant legs. He looked at the fresh wound, those damn bastards, was the only thing that came across his mind. It stung like hell.
        “Oh no.” Tifa didn’t want anymore friends to suffer like this.
        Yuffie was in the middle of the front seat, and she opened the small window that was on the back of the passenger compartment.
        “What happened?”
        “Barret got scratched.” Tifa had to say loudly because of the wind, which was getting colder as they were approaching an arctic area. It won’t be long before they will be seeing snow.
        Yuffie turned to Dee, and then reached behind the passenger seat. She found a small box.
        “Here.” Yuffie reached outside and handed Tifa a first aid kit.
        “Thanks, hey how long will it take for us to reached Icicle?”
        Yuffie turned to Dee and relayed the question.
        “About two hours.”
        Not much longer, she thought.
        “Hey Yuffie!” Tifa wanted to know something.
        “Yeah?”
        “Why was she out here in the middle of nowhere?”
        Yuffie replied quickly. She asked the same question earlier.
        “Dee’s part of the local ski patrol.”
        “But why is she out here? There’s no one skiing.”
        “To keep a look out for the creatures and warn everyone in town.”
        Yuffie tuned back when she heard a strange noise. Dee’s CB radio has crackled back to life. They must be in range again. Dee picked up the receiver to inform someone on the other end about what happened, but she was using so many code words it that really confused Yuffie.
        “Hey, do you guys know someone by the name of Nanaki?”
        “Yeah, he’s a friend of ours.” Cid was pressed against the passenger door.
        “He’s in town. He hitched a ride with Frankie when he went to Cosmo Canyon to get the medicine.”
        Yuffie had no idea who Frankie was, but she was happy that Red was there.
        “Hey, Tifa! Guess what?”
        “Yeah?”
        “Red’s in Icicle! He got a ride from someone. He’s waiting for us!”
        That was the best news that Barret and Tifa heard all day. It won’t be much longer.

        What is this place? He felt like he had been wondering within this strange labyrinth for several hours. Where was everyone? Who’s behind this?
        There was a deep, malicious laughter that echoed everywhere. Cloud was fed up with these games.
        “Who are you, show yourself!”
        Instantly the wall beside him shattered into several pieces as if it was glass. It looked like that it was leading to a cave. Deep inside, there was a strange green glow that illuminated the depths the cave. He took a step forward then stopped.
        It must be some kind of trap.
        The earth shook as another tremor was passing through. Again, he felt it. Might as well hit me with a sledgehammer, he thought. He looked down the pathway that was still the interior of the labyrinth. He could hear several voices. Are those the missing people?
        With extreme caution, he ventured deeper into the labyrinth. Then the sudden crackling sounds quickly alerted him that there were more creatures nearby. He reached for his sword. It wasn’t there. He was completely unarmed and without any materia to fend them off.
        Great, now what?

        “Look at that.” Vincent spotted more creatures. He stood up in the back of the truck. They were becoming surrounded.
        “Hang on, it looks like we just encountered some more speed bumps!” They were almost to town. Dee picked up the receiver and handed it to Yuffie.
        “Here, call for help. I got my hands full.”
        “But, you were using all those weird code words. I have no idea what to say!”
        Cid snatched the receiver from her hand and started talking. He knew all of the phrases and was using them like a natural.

        Cloud had been running. If he was going to fight, then he better find another area to hold his ground instead of the confines of these walls.
         Then he quickly skid to a stop, it was a dead end. The creatures had cornered him. He quickly took a stance, armed or not, he was not going to give up without a fight.

        Tifa screamed, that last bump was very unexpected. Barret was literally acting like a Kamikaze with his attacks, Vincent was covering for Tifa as she was trying to make sure that Cloud would make it. One final bump sent the truck flying and it skid on the side of its frame. All four of them who were riding in the back were easily ejected away from the wreckage.
        Tifa landed in the soft snow and quickly jumped up. Where’s Cloud?
        “Come here ya bastard! I got somethin’ for ya!” Barret was still firing away. Then there was a sudden click. He ran out of ammo.
        Suddenly, more people had entered the fight, some of them were using an Ultima materia, and they quickly drove them away. Nanaki ran ahead of the group.
        “Well, it’s about time!” Barret was out of breath.
        Tifa was searching frantically, then stopped in shock when she found just the bandage. Then the torn remains of the sleeping bag that he was in. There was no sign of Cloud. Tifa could do nothing, but cry.

        He couldn’t remember what had just happened, all he knew that there was a strange blue light that attacked the creatures, and then they just vanished into nothing.
        Also the walls vanished, and he was standing out in a vast open area. He looked around in all directions. It was a dreary skyline as far as the eye could see and there were no landmarks to help him figure out where to go.
        He had to get back to everyone somehow. This time he tried to ask the planet for help, but there was no answer. It was not like he was being ignored, but it felt like that he couldn’t talk at all, he couldn’t even yell to see if anyone was out there. There was nothing that he could do except to pick a direction and hope that it will get him back.

        They had searched the area for over a half an hour before more creatures were spotted again and they had to retreat. Tifa felt numb, she had only one thing on her mind and everything else didn’t seem to matter. The rest of the trip to Icicle was a somber one for everyone else. Tifa found that she couldn’t even think.
        Come to me.
        Barret looked around. Who said that?
        Come to me now, my child.
        “Did you hear something?”
        Yuffie paused. “…No.”
        Cid shook his head.
        Nanaki stood up. “Was it something along the lines of ‘come to me’ or something else like that?”
        “Yeah.”
        “All I can say is that it is a good thing that we are almost there. This virus or whatever it is has been taking effect faster and faster. People are starting to disappear in less than 3 hours now.”
        “But he was scratched over 2 hours ago.” Yuffie pointed out.
        “Don’t worry, we’ll be in town in about five minutes.” Dee announced to everyone.
        Come to me my child.
        “…What the hell is that?”
        “Oh yeah, a lot of people reported of hearing a strange voice before they disappeared. I just hope that we don’t have to tie you up.”
        Barret looked at Nanaki.
        “…I’m joking. But seriously, from what I gather these ‘calls’ have a powerful effect on people to just go to the source. The only clue that we have is what Cloud told us.”
        “Heh, so he hears voices huh?”
        “I wouldn’t know, but Aeris told me that she did all the time. Though most of the time it was just like background noise to her.”
        “Will you please stop it?” Tifa was already upset and hearing them talk about Cloud like this was making her feel worse.
        “I’m sorry Tifa.”
        Tifa sniffed, she was fighting back tears. She knew that Cloud didn’t want her to cry.
        “Red, what about this scratch? It is starting to hurt like a moth…”
        “Yeah, everyone said something like that too when it came to their injuries.” Nanaki really didn’t appreciate it when people used profanities when it was possible to express it in another way. He was raised with the thought that it was simply disrespectful to those around you, but he never said anything about it. He also understood that there are times that it couldn’t be avoided, though it seemed that Barret and Cid were the exception.
        “You mean that Cloud was enduring that for the last three days?” The thought just occurred to Cid.
        “It looks like it. Also from what I heard, as time passed, it just got worse and worse.”
        “Man, that must suck.” Yuffie was glad that she wasn’t scratched.
        The engine of the truck turned off. They finally made it.
        “…Um, Red. I’m going to go and see if I can find Cloud. But I don’t know what to look out for.”
        “Tifa if you don’t mind waiting for about an hour, then all of us can go and get him back together, alright?” Nanaki knew that it was what Tifa wanted to hear, and there was no way that he was going to let her go out there alone.

        “Yay! Do-do’s back!” A little boy ran past everyone else and hugged Dee really tight.
        Do-do? Yuffie had heard some strange nicknames but this one really stood out.
        “Hey-a squirt!” Dee was trying to walk, but the boy had tightly gripped her leg. Fortunately he was rather light, and she could at least keep moving. “Okay, you can let go of me now.”
        He ignored her, as she kept moving.
        Tifa noticed that the whole town population had been hiding out at the inn. It was the largest building in town to accommodate the tourists who came to ski. Outside of the building, it was completely deserted.
        “Is everyone here?” Yuffie asked.
        “Yeah.” Dee managed to pry the little boy off her. “It’s actually the safest place in town since those monsters can’t break through the walls. We’ve been hiding here. Everyone is really scared about this.” She turned to the little boy. “Hey, you better get back downstairs, soon. It’s the safest place, okay?”
        “Okay, and mom’s really mad at you.”
        “Sorry, but it’s my job,” she knew that she will definitely hear about this later.
        “Now scoot, and get back downstairs!” He ran off.
        “Now what do you mean that they can break through walls?” Barret was wondering what hurt more: the scratch, or the shot of the antidote.
        “Yeah, most of the houses here are old, and have wooden walls. But the inn was made out of sturdier materials. They keep trying to get through, and I wonder how much longer these walls will hold up. That’s why we have the kids staying in the pub down below.”
        “Makes since. This is the closest town to the North Crater.” Cid pointed out.
        “North Crater? Is that were they came from?” It was news to Dee.
        “Yeah, we were trying to get a friend of ours back who disappeared, but now it looks like we just lost another….” Barret couldn’t believe that he just considered Cloud as a causality.
        Tifa quickly walked away, she didn’t want to hear about it anymore.
        “…So you guys are on a suicide mission to rescue them?”
        “Yep, that about sums it up.” Cid thought that this mission was a bit on the suicidal side too, but he liked taking risks like that.
        “Dorothy Lynn! Did I, or did I not tell you to not go out like that?” An older woman charged at them.
        “It’s my job, I can’t just quit. Especially now since they need me.” Dee was hoping that she would start yelling at her a bit later.
        “I don’t want to lose you like I lost your father. Now please promise me that you won’t go out anymore!”
        “…I can’t. I’m sorry. But it’s my job to help out people, just like dad.”
        “Um, miss?” Yuffie said quietly. The woman looked at the small teen. “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here. She saved us.”
        “Oh yeah and who’s going to save my daughter when those, those ‘things’ try to hurt her!” She was yelling at Yuffie.
        “Mother stop it! These are my guests, not punching bags!”
        “Mommy, don’t be angry. Do-do’s helping people too.” The little boy wanted his mother to stop.
        She hugged the little boy, she didn’t want to lose anymore loved ones. She started crying.
        “C’on, I’m still here. Let’s get you back downstairs.” Dee escorted her away. “I’m sorry about this. I’ll explain when I get back.”

        Yuffie was still shaken for being yelled at like that, and she felt sorry for the lady. She was pretty sure that Tifa was feeling the same way too, and at the moment, their situation seemed to be hopeless. Dee returned.
        “I’m really sorry about that. She’s been really upset ever since Dad disappeared yesterday. She’s scared that I will disappear too since we both have the same job.”
        There were more shrills outside, the creatures came back. Suddenly everyone became quiet. Tifa and Barret were looking out through a boarded up window. It looked like the creatures were just passing through at the moment, but along with them, it looked like there were a few people walking along side them.
        “What’s going on?” Barret whispered to Tifa.
        She just watched closely at the events outside. She was hoping to see Cloud among them, it would make getting him back a lot easier. She sighed in despair. They were all strangers to her. She walked away from the window.
        “I’m tired of doing nothing. We have to get going.”
        “Tifa we are. We just have to wait to make sure that Barret will be okay.” Nanaki sympathized with her.
        “I’m fine. I say that we leave as soon as the coast is clear.”
        “Yeah.” Yuffie picked up her coat.
        “I know a shortcut to the North Crater. I can take you there. I’ll just have to take my Dad’s truck.”
        “Can you? It will make things much easier for us.” Tifa was becoming hopeful.
        “Yeah.”
        “We expect to do a lot of fighting once we get there. Do you have any fighting skills?” Barret was assuming control over the group.
        “No not really. I’ll probably just be in the way.”
        “How about a weapon like a gun?” Vincent asked.
        “Yeah a gun, but I’ve been only shooting at targets. I never shot at a living creature before.”
        “I think that I have one that you can use.” He walked away from the group to look through his items. Aside from his most powerful gun, the Death Penalty, he also always carried around a back up weapon. He knew that it wasn’t powerful, and that he only kept it as a momento, but it would be a very good weapon for a beginner. He returned with the second weapon and handed it to her.
        She pulled it out of its hostler. It was something that she could use with ease. She practiced a lot with a similar gun at the target range. She then found the engraved label on the side of the barrel, Quicksilver. She nodded to the others. She can do this.

        It looked like that he was finally getting somewhere. The scenery was slowly changing, and it felt warmer than before, but everything was also becoming darker too. He kept having this feeling that there were other people who were ahead of him. A vague movement of a shadow caught his eye. It looked like a person.
        “He…hello?” He just discovered that he wasn’t silenced anymore.
        The shadow stopped. It was definitely a person. He started running to this shadow, then he was able to see who this shadow belonged to: a little girl.
        She had a terrified look on her face, but she seemed to be happy to learn that she wasn’t alone either in this scary place. Cloud was kinda surprised. He was not expecting to find child in a place like this. There were tears streaming down her face.
        “Hey are you alright?”
        There was even more terror on her face.
        “I’m not going to hurt you.”
        She tried to say something, but no sounds came out.
        “Do you know where we are?”
        She just looked at him, then tried to speak again. She was silenced. She can only cry.
        “Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you, okay?” Cloud kneeled down to her level.
        “Did you see anyone else?”
        She shook her head no.
        “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here.”
        She jumped at Cloud and held on to him tight. She didn’t want to be alone anymore.
        “Can you tell me your name?”
        She still couldn’t speak, but her lips seemed to be easy to read.
        “Your name’s Alice?”
        She nodded.
        “Mine’s Cloud.”
        She blinked at him. She wanted to say something.
        “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to speak a little later. I couldn’t speak for a while either.”
        She nodded then looked to the side, there were more creatures approaching.
        There was no way that they could survive a fight against so many of them. He picked up Alice and started to run. The creatures kept getting closer, and closer. Cloud just looked back to see where they were, but he failed to see that the ground ahead of then suddenly dropped into a slope.
        The fall down the hill was quick and painless, just very unexpected. He kept on moving with Alice, but it looked like the creatures had already caught up with them. They were completely surrounded. Alice whimpered and hugged Cloud for dear life. He was looking around for another option.
        The creatures chattered together in unison, and slowly moved forward on one side, while the other side was slowly moving backward. They were forcing them to go somewhere. He stood still. This was something that he refused to accept.
        The one side got closer to him, growling and snaring as they approached. Finally, one of them bumped its head on his shin. A realization came to him.
        This isn’t real. It’s some kind of an illusion.
        There was a sudden scream. He quickly looked. They had Alice. He didn’t even realize that they somehow managed to take her out of his arms.
        “Hey!” He started to move in their direction.
        “Help me!” Alice suddenly was able to talk again.
        “Let her go!” One of the creatures tackled Cloud. He was pinned to the ground.
        She screamed once more before a sudden flash of light temporally blinded him. A small group of those creatures vanished with the girl.
        “No!” He gave his word that he would help her, and was frustrated that he failed.
        More creatures surrounded him and made sure that he pinned securely to the ground. For some odd reason, they seemed to be interested in his left side. Suddenly one of them grabbed him by the throat and forced his head down to the ground.
        What the hell are they doing? Cloud abruptly heard a loud ‘click’ and they let go of his neck, but they were still restraining him. They were definitely doing something to him, but what?
        They’re not real, he kept thinking to himself, and kept struggling. Then there was another mysterious blue flash and all of them vanished into thin air again.
        He was back on his feet. There was that laughter again.
        “Stop it! This has gone too far!” He refused to be a part of this game any longer.
        “It’s not real.” He was saying this over and over to himself. The laughter became louder and louder.
        “IT’S NOT REAL!” Suddenly everything around him was falling apart, it was like glass shattering.

        He suddenly looked around at his new surroundings. He knew where he was. He was just here a few days ago to confront Sephiroth in that final battle. Why was everyone being taken here? He saw what looked like to be hundreds of people. Among them, he saw the little girl, Alice.
        What happened to them? He saw many people had the same infection that he had wherever they happened to be cut. He wondered through the crowd and found Reeve and Rude.
        “Reeve, wake up.” Cloud grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. It was like he wasn’t there.
        “Please Reeve, snap out of it!” It was hopeless, Reeve just blankly stared at him with silver eyes. His skin and hair already faded away to white. There was that same laughter again.
        This time the laughter had a face to go with it. He knew it very well.
        My god, he didn’t even look human anymore, and he stood in shock. He was sure that he killed him when he tried to help Sephiroth, how was he able to survive?
        The master made eye contact with him. So he was able to break free anyway. No matter, he thought, he already knew what to do.
        The painful memories of being held captive for five years began to flash through his mind. He had to get out of there and go for help, but he didn’t want his friends to walk into one of his traps either. He ran to find them.
        The master calmly waved a hand, and the creatures made no attempt to stop him. He was doing exactly what he had planned. A smile crept up on his lips, and he couldn’t hold in his laughter.

        They had just arrived to the path that lead strait into the crater. The laughter could even be heard out there.
        “It looks like that Cloud was right.” He continued to race on ahead to take the lead.
        “Reno! Wait up!” Elena was exhausted.
        The both stopped at the entrance to a cave. It felt warm inside, and there was a mysterious green glow from deep within.
        They had no idea what to think. Then there was a sudden movement behind them. With a jump, they prepared for battle, then lowered their weapons when they realized that it was just a truck.
        “So I see that you finally made it to the party.” Reno said with a grim humor.
        “Cut the bullshit, we got a job to do.” Barret bluntly said.
        “Yeah, so do we. So stay out of our way.”
        “Fine, and you stay out of our way.” Tifa barked.
        Reno entered the cave.
        “Ellie?” Dee thought that she recognized the blonde haired woman.
        Elena turned to see who said that. She hadn’t been called that in a very long time. Then she just saw someone that she hadn’t seen in a long time either. “Dee?”
        “Ellie is that really you?” Dee got closer.
        Yuffie whispered to her, “Don’t do it, she’s a Turk.”
        Dee didn’t care, and hugged Elena.
        “I thought that I would never see you again.” Everyone else was seeing a side of Elena that she always kept to herself.
        “Likewise.”
        “Why are you here?”
        “I’m here to get dad back.”
        “Uncle Bob? What happened to him?”
        It was clear to everyone what their relationship was to each other. Elena had a sad look on her face as Dee told her what happened.
        “Okay, this is really heartwarming, but we're running out of time.” Barret cut in.
        “Why are you with these losers?” Elena asked.
        “Because we’re going to rescue everyone. Please, will you join us? The more people we have, the better our chances will be.”
        Elena looked at Dee, it had been years since they last saw each other and she would do anything to help her. She was contradicting herself.  Helping her would mean helping them. She didn’t know what to do.
        “Elena.”
        Her train of thought was broken.
        “Elena, she’s your family. Consider yourself lucky that you still have someone in this world. Rude and I would give almost anything to see our families again. Treasure it while you still can.”
        She knew that Reno was right, but if she was going to help her cousin, it would mean helping those who are responsible for killing her immediate family in the first place.
        “Please, Ellie. Help us.”
        She looked at Reno. The only thing that he was interested in was getting his friends back. He nodded to her as a signal that he was going to let her make this decision.
        After another moment of deliberation to herself, she nodded. “…For you, anything.”
        Almost everyone was silent. No one was too thrilled about having to work with the Turks again.
        Vincent broke the silence and made his move.
        “Let’s go.” He pulled out his handgun.

        The tunnels kept winding, and it seemed to be a lot longer than he remembered. The instant that he started running, the pain in his arm returned with a vengeance. It was forcing him to slow down. Just about all of his endurance was gone, but he had to keep going. It wasn’t much farther.
        Suddenly he tripped on something. His body was hurting even more. Now there was a sharp pain in his side too. He looked down at it. His shirt was stained.
        Was that blood? He stopped to take a closer look. He didn’t like what he saw.
        “That son of a bitch.” He whispered to himself. The pain in his side was the result of yet another one of his procedures. It looked like that when he tripped, he tore some of the stitches. There was not much that he could do except keep moving. He tried his best to keep constant pressure on that wound.
        Finally, he was becoming very dizzy and had to stop to rest. He heard some familiar voices, but he had no idea if it was real, or an illusion. It felt like that it was quickly getting colder. He must be near the entrance.
        Just rest, he thought. Everything was becoming too much for him to endure anymore.

        Slowly, the whole group ventured deeper into the cave. The deeper they ventured, the warmer it got. There was no need for anyone to wear coats or anything to protect them from the cold out side.
        They had only one objective, but everyone was pretty much quiet, there was not much to say to each other, and the tensions were unusually high among this group. Suddenly Tifa saw Cloud.

        The source of the voices were getting closer, he wanted to get up to meet them in hopes that it was not an illusion, but was too tired to move.
        “Cloud, can you hear me?” Tifa wanted to get some kind response from him.
        “…….Yeah. Please tell me that this is real.” He was starting to shiver.
        “Yes it’s real. C’on, we have to get you out of here.” She tried to pull him up, but he screamed in pain.
        He couldn’t stop coughing, and had a strange taste in his mouth.
        “Shit, what happened to you?” Barret asked. Seeing blood come out of someone’s mouth was not a good sign.
        Tifa gasped in shock. There was a lot of blood, no wonder  he’s shivering.
        Cloud swallowed deeply then took a breath. “… Hojo’s still alive.”
        “Hojo?”
        “Yes, he’s …… behind all of this…..”
        Tifa took out a restore materia. “I don’t care if this will make your arm worse, but we got to take care of that wound.”
        He nodded, and prepared for the side effect to his arm.
        She literally put everything she had into using this materia to access the higher level spell that was called by some as ‘Cure3’. It was definitely working on clearing up his side, but the infection on his arm was quickly spreading.
        Cloud accepted the trade off, and was finally able to get back up on his feet again, though he was still shaking. He also felt a little dizzy and very cold, but at least the incision on his side was healed thanks to Tifa’s efforts.
        “I found Reeve.” He managed to say, then looked at Reno, “…and Rude.”
        “Where?” Reno asked.
        “Just down there, but…” He was still out of breath. “It’s like that they are not really there. Like they were possessed or something.”
        “C’on Cloud, we have to get you out of here.” Tifa urged.
        “…. No. We have to get everyone out.”
        “Here.” Yuffie handed him a small object. The White materia, she was holding on to it for him.
        He held it in his hand and it briefly shone with a light blue light. It was responding appropriately when it was held by someone who was compatible with it.
        “C’on.” Reno told Elena.
        “... Wait, it’s a trap.” He started to walk towards them, but he had to put a lot of effort into it.
        “But there’s no other way to go. It’s not like that we can take a different route.” Barret observed.
        “Then I have to come, I’ll let you know when I see it so that we can avoid it.”
        Cid saw something strange. “What the hell is that around your neck?”
        Cloud put his hand on the side of his neck. What is that, some kind of collar?
        “Man that thing looks really high tech.” Barret was looking for a way to get it off him.
        “I can’t find a lock.” Otherwise Yuffie could try to pick it.
        “There’s nothing we can do out here. The answer lies deeper inside.” It was quite a while since Vincent said a word, but then again, that was his way.
        “Hey Cloud, I have the antidote with me. We must treat you.” Nanaki said urgently.
        He nodded. There were still a lot of things that he had to do. He looked at the White materia. It glowed again.
        “Um, Cloud. I forgot to bring your sword with us.” Tifa wished that she did, now he will have to go unarmed.
        “Don’t worry about that. I can still fight.”
        “I hope so…..” Barret’s voice faded away just like the same way it did during that party.
        He waited to hear something, but instead he was beginning to feel strange.
        It’s time to act.
        That damn voice again. Cloud quickly looked around thinking that they would be ambushed or something. It looked like that it was clear.
        You can’t resist me forever, Cloud. You must be tired.
        He was, but still he had to fight it.
        Rest.
        He shook his head.
        “No…” he managed to whisper. Tifa was very worried, but he still couldn’t hear her.
        Sleep now child.
        He still kept fighting until he fell into an unnatural sleep.

        “Cloud?”
        There was a strange laughter. He looked up. Tifa was shocked. The color in his eyes had turned red instead of the ‘Makou’ blue.
        “Barret,” Tifa couldn’t speak anymore when she was grabbed by the throat by him. It wasn’t Cloud, but someone else in his shell!
        “Let her go!” Barret tried to make him let go.
        He smacked his arm into Barret’s face with an unnatural strength. Barret was slammed against the cave wall.
        “Cloud stop it!” Yuffie shouted.
        “…. Cloud, please.” Tifa struggled to say.
        “Cloud, what the hell’s wrong with you?” Cid was helping Barret up.
        “… He’s dead, and so are you!” Even the voice that came from him wasn’t natural.
        Nanaki charged at him. He was armed with a syringe full of the antidote. A sudden flash of light easily knocked him back. The antidote was all over the ground.
        Reno charged him and swung his electrode rod in the back of one of his knees. Normally it will knock someone down no matter how strong they were.
        He jerked a little as he temporally lost support from his leg, but he quickly recovered. With a free hand, he grabbed Reno by the collar and threw him just like he did to Barret.
        “Don’t move.” Dee pointed the gun at him.
        It distracted him momentarily and Tifa took advantage of that, by kicking him in side that she just healed a few moments ago. He lost his grip on her, and she got away. He then turned to the one who was pointing a gun at him. He was enraged that he was distracted like that.
        “What are you going to do, shoot me?” He started to walk towards her.
        “I…. I mean it! I’ll shoot!” Dee was shaking. She had no combat training like everyone else.
        He still walked to her.
        “Stay away!” Dee took a step back. Elena and Reno came to back her up.
        “You can’t do it, can you?” There was a look of extreme anger and hatred on his face. It was as if his mind was becoming twisted for Hojo’s bidding.
        Dee closed her eyes, and stared to squeeze on the trigger. He just simply snatched it from out of her hands.
        “Pathetic.” He threw the gun away from everyone’s reach. He turned to Tifa.
        “The master demands to see you.”
        “Cloud snap out of it! Please.”
        Suddenly there was a flash of fire, and he staggered. Elena used her materia a second time, but when the flames disappeared, he was gone.
        “Where’d he go?” Yuffie was quickly searching where he was.
        Tifa screamed.
        Cid turned, but she was gone.
        “Goddamn it! Now he has the both of them!” Barret wanted to put an end to this now.
        There was a faint sound of Tifa’s voice.
        “We must hurry.” Vincent charged forward. Everyone followed him.

        Tifa woke up as soon as she was thrown to the ground. Instantly those creatures surrounded her. She couldn’t get away.
        “So, you’re the one.” An unknown voice said.
        She quickly looked at her surroundings. She couldn’t remember when she was taken, or how she got here.
        “You should consider yourself honored to be chosen.” He came closer.
        She barely recognized him. It was like as if he was showing his true form.
        “Hojo.”
        “Things have changed since we last met, and now you will submit to me.”
        “Ha! To you? Never!”
        “You wouldn’t want me to erase your memory like I did his.” He pointed to Cloud. He was perfectly still. Just a soulless, mindless puppet waiting for the next strings to be pulled.
        “No….” Tifa didn’t want to believe that he was gone like that.
        “You,” She wanted to kill Hojo. No one deserved to die like that.
        No, he not dead! She refused to accept it.
        With a simple wave of his hand, the creatures cornered her to a small alcove with in the stone wall. The only hope that she had was that everyone else would get here soon.
        Hojo walked closer to her. “So how does it feel to be chosen?”
        She spit in his face.
        “You don’t even want to know your fate?” He wanted to break her spirit.
        “Not particularly.” She was trying anything that would stall him.
        Please Barret, get here soon.
        He motioned for Cloud to step forward. The color in his hair and skin had already faded away even his eyes had faded to a silver gray color.  This time there was no expression on his face, no personality like the one he showed in the tunnel. Just gone.
        “Perfect isn’t he?” Hojo walked around him. “If I had known that he was already a Certa, I could have done this a long time ago. Too bad his father didn’t survive very long. He was of a more pure strand.”
        “What?”
        He smiled. “Didn’t you know? No. Of course you wouldn’t.”
        He continued his tangent blabbering, “All his life his powers were dormant, but I revived them.”
        “A hybrid of Certa and Jenova. If he was of a more direct generation of Certa, he would have never been able to survive this long.” He quickly turned to face Tifa. “Jenova cells tend to have that effect on them.”
        “It’s a pity that I was too young and naïve to understand this. Try and create a Certa? That could never be done. But an actual Certa, can be…enhanced.” He was looking for the right word to describe it.
        “What you see before you, is the final product.” He was proud of his life’s work. “A genetic superhuman with the powers of both Certa and Jenova. All of the changes with in him have been infused into his DNA. Now he can do his real task.”
        “What’s that?” Tifa was dreading the answer, but she still had to keep stalling him.
        “Ah, that’s where you come in.” He looked at her and smiled. “Once he unlocks the secrets of the Planet, and opens the Lifestream, I will ascend to the level of a god.”
        “You’re crazy!”
        “Am I? I have never been this sure about anything in my life. It’s my destiny.” He took another look at her, it made her feel very uncomfortable. “But what’s the point of becoming a god, when there are only these worthless beings around? So I shall destroy all of them and create a new race, using him as the proverbial Adam, and you as Eve.”
        She gasped. It was a fate that became very terrifying to her.
        “Seize her.” He ordered.
        Cloud took a step forward. Then it was as if that personality that she saw earlier came back, with looks of anger, hatred, and those red eyes. There was a wicked smile on his face.
        “Stay away from me!”
        The creatures parted a bit, opening a clear path for him to walk through. Then closed it after he past.
        She backed away as far as she could, but the creatures and stone walls surrounded her.
        “Please Cloud! Don’t do this!”
        He came closer.
        She started to fight and kick him away. “Somebody help!”
        Then everything was dark, as she slipped into unconsciousness.

        “This way!” Barret was racing ahead. Then quickly skid to a stop. The path separated into two directions.
        “Damn.” Cid looked down one path, then the other.
        “Which way?” Yuffie huffed.
        Reno picked the path to the right. “We’ll go this way.” Elena and Dee stood next to him.
        “Okay, we’ll take the other way.” Barret said as the group quickly split into two.
        Then a thought occurred to him. He just treated Reno like he would to a friend, but he’s an enemy. He must be going soft.
        “Uh-oh. We got company!” Yuffie saw so many creatures race towards them.
        “Quick, hand me the Ultima materia.” Barret looked at Yuffie.
        “But I already gave it back to you!”
        He paused as he remembered something.
        “Shit!”
        “What?” Cid kept his eye on the approaching creatures.
        “Tifa had the materia!”
        “Oh man! We’re screwed!”
        “Just stand your ground.” Vincent raised his pistol to attack.

        “Why do you hate them so much? I mean, they seem to be nice people.” Dee was trying to start a conservation to help distract herself for the moment.
        “You know about the terrorist activities in Midgar, right?”
        “Yeah, it was in the news, they killed a lot of innocent by standards from what I heard.”
        “Well, the rest of my family and most of my friends were killed because of that.”
        “What?”
        “Yeah.” Elena sighed. “So now, you’re the only family that I have left.”
        “I… I’m sorry. Mom’s going to be very upset about this.”
        “I doubt it, she never liked her sister anyway.” It was one of the reasons why they didn’t see each other in so many years.
        “…So, what do they have to do with it?”
        “Because they’re that group! They’re the ones who are responsible for this!”
        Dee was shocked. They are responsible? She always thought that that terrorist group was a bunch of murdering monsters, but them? What was she going to do? Part of her family died because of this. It was beginning to upset her. She really liked them.

        Vincent’s advice paid off. They were actually winning against them. Nanaki and Yuffie had already used a limit break, each caused considerable damage against them. Slowly, they started to back off, then turned around in a hasty retreat.
        “Alright! We won!” Yuffie jumped for joy, it seemed to be a long shot in this battle, but they still won.
        Vincent looked to the ground. “I think that we’re on the right track.” He touched the ground and then lifted his hand up. “Cloud was here.”
        “Vincent, mind if I ask you something?” Cid was really bothered by this.
        “Do you ever feel anything? I mean, from the moment that I met you, there was always this exterior that basically said to the world, ‘I’m here and I don’t care.’ I never even saw you crack a smile. How can you be so cold about all this?”
        “He’s right. Do you ever feel anything?” Yuffie asked. “We’re your friends. You can be honest with us.”
        “I lost that a long time ago.” He caulked his gun. “And if we don’t hurry, Cloud will have that taken away from him too.”
        Nanaki had a chill up his spine. “I guess that I was lucky.”
        “Hey Red don’t worry, we’ll get everyone back.” It was the only thing that Barret could think of to say about this.
        “C’on.” It seemed like Vincent knew what to expect from him.

        The tunnel lead to a huge room. The three of them stood there is disbelief. They found the missing people. Reno scanned the room with his eyes and then spotted a second tunnel. It must be the way to Hojo.
        Then he saw some movement from that tunnel. Barret and his team just came through. At least they had no risk of going in circles.
        This sight appalled Dee. Men, women, children, and the elderly were all victims of these creatures. She wanted to free them. There were so many people in this room and she failed to recognize anybody.
        “If we defeat Hojo, then all of these people will be free from his control.” It made sense to Vincent. “It’s the only way to save them all.”
        “I have to agree with him.” Reno overheard that remark. Out of all of them, he trusted Vincent the most. He was never involved in those activities in Midgar, and more importantly, he was a Turk.
        Dee had trouble facing the group. Elena silently fumed, after this is done, then she will get her revenge. It may not bring them back, but it will give their deaths some meaning and justice.

        He had just finished and pulled it out. Hojo smiled. Them he turned to hand some items to a near by creature. The procedure was over. He was sure that it was successful.
        Cloud had stood still throughout the entire episode. It was as if he was frozen. He could do nothing as Hojo did his work.
        Hojo started to walk away from her, as she was still lying on the floor, unconscious. He was still holding one of the instruments that he used to implant something in her. Cloud was slowly becoming aware of what he just did to her.
        Hojo’s expression changed from delighted to a frustrated anger when he saw Cloud’s face.
        A tear? Does he still have some memories left?
        With intense anger, he struck Cloud’s face. He only jerked from the impact, but nothing else.
        “Hey! Do you want to try that on me?” Barret came in just in time to see him slap his friend.
        He was surprised that the others had made it this far. It looks like that he is going to have to take care of this himself.
        “Where’s Tifa?” Yuffie demanded.
        “Oh don’t worry, she’s right here.” The crowd of creatures started to move away, reveling Tifa. She was starting to wake up.
        Cid ran over to help her. She felt very sore.
        “You bastard! What did you do to her?” Barret pointed his gun at him, but unfortunately, Cloud was in the line of fire.
        “He wants to create a superior race using Cloud.” She got up on her feet.
        He laughed. “And don’t even try to bother to leave with her. She is very valuable to us.”
        Tifa’s eyed widened. She feared the worse.
        “Oh god, no.” Did Hojo already seal her fate? She felt so helpless.
        “A superior race using Cloud…” Vincent thought about this. “… And I assume also using Tifa?”
        Hojo knew him, but he had also forgotten about him as time passed. “My, you are a smart one, Vincent. You always had the talent of observing everything, and understand completely about it. That’s what got you into trouble the first time all those years ago.”
        Vincent didn’t care for his comment; he knew that by the end of the day, only one of them would still be alive.
        “With Tifa?” Barret had a terrible thought about what he forced Cloud to do. He had to say something. “So you had to resort to possessing him to rape her?”
        “Rape? That’s a very harsh word.” Hojo crossed his arms.
        Yuffie had that same feeling of vulnerability again, but this time it was for Tifa and not Aeris.
        Hojo waited to see the reactions of everyone, before he ended this charade.
        “To put your mind at ease, my dear Tifa. He never touched you. That approach is too…brutal.” He really didn’t care about that, just a bit sarcastic. “It would have also been too unpredictable to risk.”
        “So what did you do to her?” Nanaki really wanted to make sure that Hojo could never hurt anyone ever again.
        “It was better that I intervened by selecting the best traits from the both of them, and I’m sure that you can figure out the rest.”
        “You bastard.” Tifa was feeling angrier than she felt violated.
        “You know, for a while I thought that all of these people who came to me were simply worthless, but it seems that the only thing that they were useful for was luring you here. Too bad that their usefulness has ended.”
        He motioned for the creatures to do this job.
        “They’re going to have to get by us first!” Reno had just entered the cavern.
        For once, Barret agreed with him.
        Cloud blinked his eyes, he was starting to wake up, but he could barely remember anything.
        Cloud listen to me! Aeris shouted. You have to fight him! Wake up!
        Just try to remember. You are much stronger than this!
        His mind was blank.
        Cloud, can you remember me? It was his mother’s voice.
        Please try to remember us.
        There were brief flashes of memory that came to him, but it was all still too vague.
        Keep trying, and don’t lose hope!
        Everyone prepared to fight against these creatures again, then they suddenly stopped. They seemed to be confused as to what to do.
        “Why have you stopped? You will do my bidding!” Hojo was scolding them.
        “No.”
        Everyone looked around real quick who said that?
        “They will do mine.” Cloud had broken free again. Though his complexion was still very pale.
        “Cloud?” Tifa wanted to run to him.
        He just looked at Hojo, and the creatures backed away, it was like that they were no longer a threat.
        Tifa ran to him and started sobbing as soon as she hugged him.
        “Oh god Tifa, I’m so sorry.” He was wishing that all of this had never happened.
        “Your skin feels so cold.” She felt that there was no need for him to apologize.
        The rest of the group came closer to them. They wanted to welcome their friend back.
        “No! You can’t get away from me that easily!”
        The object that was around Cloud’s neck started to glow. There were sparks that came from it, as the collar became brighter. It was causing intense pain to him, and it knocked everyone who was near by him away. This was Hojo last resort.
        “You damn fool, this is what you get for disobeying me!”
        “Stop it!” Tifa yelled, but he ignored her.
        “After all I did for you. You would have still been dead if I had not found you in that reactor!”
        “You should have left me there.” He managed to say.
        “I gave you life again, and THIS is how you repay me? Without me you would have been nothing more than a corpse!”
        “…. Go to hell.”
        The collar had reached to full power, and he screamed briefly. He fell to his knees as the collar appeared to lose its effect on him.
        He stood up and glared at everyone. He had those same red eyes again. He then walked to face Hojo to await his next instruction.
        “I’ve put it off long enough. Unlock the planet, now. It’s time that we finish this.”
        He glanced at the creatures momentarily, and then they took off to do something. Hojo may have lost control over them, but he still controlled Cloud.
        “Cloud stop!”
        He walked past the group, to the edge of a near by cliff. Down below was the source of the green glow.
        “What are we going to do? We have to stop him!” Yuffie didn’t know what to do next.
        Nanaki looked at Hojo. He was preoccupied.
        “… The White materia.”
        “But we don’t have it, Cloud does.” Barret said to Nanaki.
        Hojo laughed. “Wrong.” He held it up. “I have it.”
        Cid was starting to think that the end was truly near.
        Suddenly Yuffie charged him.
        “Yuffie!”
        She jumped into the air with her Shuriken, but at the last moment Hojo caught one of the sides. He grabbed her by the throat.
        “Stupid child!” He threw her into the crowd of creatures, her back slammed against the stone wall.
        He quickly noticed that something was missing.
        “Tifa!” She tossed a small orb. It was the White materia.
        The second that Tifa had it in her hands, she heard a scream from Yuffie. The creatures started attacking her, and she suddenly had a very long scratch on her back. She curled up into a ball. Barret wasn’t lying when he said that it hurt like hell.
        Tifa shoved the materia into Barret’s hand, and then she ran into the crowd of creatures.
        Her hunch was right, they didn’t bother her. She found Yuffie.
        “You’re crazy running into them like that.”
        “Not as crazy as you attacking him like that.”
        There was a tremor as a major gateway was being opened.
        “Go, don’t worry about me. Just hurry up and kick his ass.”

        Reno tried to reach Cloud, but the bright light and increasing heat was keeping him back. As the gateway opened wider and wider, a light green mist surrounded Cloud. The rush of energy only seemed to make his stronger, as he began showing a Jenova trait of flight. It was something that Sephiroth did frequently while he was still alive.
        Dee blinked in disbelief. That was physically impossible.
        More mist surrounded him, as the gate became wide open.
        He was back on the ground again, and he walked past the group to reach Hojo. There was a very strange aura around him that could even be seen.
        Some of the creatures returned with the four large crystals. The huge materia. They were place in a square formation. Each of the huge materia had so much power sealed within it that is started to float as soon as they were placed into position.
        Cloud was standing perfectly in the middle of them. All four of them started to glow. This wasn’t Hojo’s doing, but Cloud’s under Hojo’s control. The light was gradually becoming more and more intense.
        Tifa held the White materia in her hand. Barret had given it back to her when she came back. It too was glowing.
        She only had one thought. It can free him.
        She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Then she started to run into the light, to Cloud. As soon as she entered the parameter that was created by the positioning of the huge materia, she saw him. She didn’t know what to do with it, but she pressed it against his chest. Her hand felt like that it was getting very hot, and had to let go. A sudden explosion of light and energy knocked her away, she crashed into Barret.
        The light around him and in the collar quickly faded. Cloud was awake again.
        This was an outrage to Hojo. Instantly the collar started to glow again.
        This is becoming a stalemate. Vincent had to act fast.
        There was a single sound of a bang that echoed everywhere.
        Tifa screamed, suddenly time slowed down to her. The only thing that she saw was Cloud suddenly jerking back and fall onto the ground.
        Vincent lowered his gun and started to walk to where Cloud fell.
        Everyone was silent. It was just a shock, even to Hojo.
        He looked very carefully at him. Suddenly the collar lit up again, and Cloud was about to attack. He had no choice but to aim his gun carefully, and shoot him at point blank range.
        He stopped moving, and Vincent put his hands on Cloud's neck.
        “No!” Tifa didn’t know what to do.
        “Do you really think that it is really going to stop me?” He suddenly had a bright flash of orange and red light around him. A limit break that he was saving just for this event.
        He was laughing hysterically, and with an evil grin, he said his two last words. “Jenova Rebirth!”
        More light was surrounding Hojo as he started to lose his human form. This was terrifying to everyone, even the creatures had already ran away. Vincent was still next to Cloud.
        “Tifa, concentrate on fighting.” Barret wanted to make sure that her mind set was to her best advantage.
        More of the new traits could be seen, as he became much taller, what was his solders had grown much bigger with arching tips, the skin had changed into some kind of protective shell, and was turning to a dark green all over.
        There was a loud snap, and he was finally able to get the collar off.
        “Are you alright?”
        He nodded, even though his ears were ringing loudly.
        Vincent helped him back onto his feet. They both saw the last stages of Hojo’s transformation.
        … In time of great need….
        The White materia in Cloud’s hand started to glow brilliantly. He knew what to do.
        “Cloud!” Yuffie just now saw him, he was all right!
        He took a quick look at Tifa. She was so glad to see those blue eyes again. Vincent backed away and threw the collar to the ground. There were two bullets lodged into it. It was destroyed.
        He held the materia in both of his hands. There was a more powerful blast of light that emitted from him compared to when some one used normal materia.
        Hojo had finished his transformation, and launched a basic attack at him, Ultima.
        It literally had no effect on him, the mist just went around him as if he was in a protective shell.
        Cloud was putting everything that he had into using this rare materia. Swirls of green and blue light surrounded him as he was charging up.  He was no longer standing on the ground, but floating above it. He was concentrating so much into this materia, that he never noticed this.
        He wasn’t going to give up that easily. He started to use every single attack that only those of Jenova can do. A fiery attack called ‘Red Light’ followed by an aquatic attack known as ‘Aqualung’ and a fierce lighting attack called ‘Tail Laser’.
        They were all easily deflected, but Cloud couldn’t attack just yet.
        There was a snare from Hojo. He started using Sephiroth’s attacks. A mind altering attack, the ‘Pale Horse’ that also had no effect. He wasn’t trough yet as he prepared for a unique summon attack, the ‘Super Nova’.
        Cloud felt that he was getting stronger. As he was charging up, the materia was repairing the damage done to him by Hojo. He was almost ready.
        Cloud, we trust you.
        He didn’t know who said that, except that it was from the planet.
        He just closed his eyes and trusted his gut feeling.

        Everyone else stood a good distance away from this fight. It was surprising on how far this had gone. No one seemed to realize that once this was over, they would be enemies again. Everyone just forgot about all of the resentment that they had for each other, they were only one team.

        His eyes were set on the target, he was ready. Cloud moved higher up, and reached his arms above him. One final glare and he released everything that he had built up against Hojo with a strong yell. Hojo never had the chance to use the summon, and he was surrounded by this light.
        The intense power quickly penetrated the outer shell, and blew it away. He was literally being ripped apart by this force.
        He could hear Cloud’s voice perfectly clear.
        "You have committed terrible crimes against us. No one will hear your plea now.”
        Hojo was back in that dark, cold place. Just like in the vision that he had before.
        Cloud crossed his arms, another figure came forward from no where. It was his son.
        “You have no idea or comprehension of all the pain you caused for so many people.”
        Aeris appeared. “What a pity. You already knew that down deep inside how insecure you are. You are only a small person with no conscience or remorse.”
        “You literally wasted your life trying to achieve perfection, but you became something that was far from that goal. You truly are a heartless monster.” Lucrecitia appeared from behind him.
        “The only thing that you have achieved to do was to destroy so many lives. It’s now finally over.” A woman with dark brown hair stood next to Aeris. It was her real mother, Infana.
        “Not only did you destroy lives, but you also destroyed the lives of their loved ones as well.” Cloud’s mother appeared. She put her hand on his shoulder. Cloud was kinda surprised, she felt real to him.
        “Your relentless thirst for obtaining this power that you craved so much has stained my hands with their blood.” An older man said. He was Hojo's predecessor, Professor Gast.  He started the research on the Certa by interviewing Infana. He had him killed to obtain his position, he also knew that he was Aeris’ natural father.
        “Because of you, I will never be forgiven.” Gast said.
        “Nor I.” Lucrecitia said.
        “We are now going to have justice for all that you done.” Cloud said finally.
        “Just think, we’re just a few people that you hurt.  Think of the many other victims who have no identity to you. Just nameless, faceless individuals.” Sephiroth wished that his life had been better than just a Jenova slave.
        “But you don’t really care to know.” Another person appeared. It was Cloud’s best friend, Zack, and coincidentally Aeris’ first love. Together, they endured five years of his procedures, and they managed to escape together, but he never made it, only Cloud survived.
        More and more people appeared. They were all attacked by him in someway. They crowed around Hojo.
        “You were even cruel enough to victimize children too.” Cloud knew a few who survived the fire in Nibleheim only to be his specimens.
        More and more people came closer to him. With each touch, from any of these people transferred the pain that they had suffered to him. After that, each person faded away. They can finally have peace.
        It was long and grueling to him but time didn’t matter. What felt like hours or days to him was only just a moment to everyone else. Finally, Cloud and Sephiroth remained. Hojo had tried several times to say something or even scream, but he was completely silenced.
        “So what should be done to him?” Cloud looked into Hojo’s eyes. They were on the edge of insanity.
        “If he’s destroyed, then he will never understand exactly what he has done.”
        “It’s really upsetting to think that everything that he has done is going to last many years after this.”
        Sephiroth said nothing. He knew what had already happened today.
        “Of all the things that we can do, there is no way to go back to change the past.” Cloud really wished that he could, even if it was for only one day so that he can save Tifa from all of this terror.
        “And if we destroy his body so that his mind can still suffer there will be a risk of him trying to do something like this again.”
        “So we have to go through with it. He must be completely destroyed.”
        “Well, I guess that leaves only one thing left.” Sephiroth walked to him and put his hands on his father’s face. The constant torture that he endured was from the moment he was conceived poured into his mind. Hojo received it all in the short span of an instant. Now he can rest too.
        “Cloud, you’re the only one left. Farewell for now, maybe we’ll speak to each other again.”
        Cloud was alone with Hojo.
        What do you say to someone who has hurt you beyond description? Cloud could only think of one question that he has been pondering for a long time.
        “Why?”
        Hojo was forbidden to speak, but slowly Cloud figured it out himself. It was a trivial reason. To answer an ancient question that man has asked since time began. Is there a god?
        He only looked at him. He felt an intense sadness within him. Of all of the reasons…. It was never worth pursuing to find the answer for.  What made things even worse, was that this reasoning was twisted by the fantasy of becoming a god himself.
        What if there was no god? What if there was? There must be some reason why things are the way they are. It was never meant to be messed with. The planet must have suffered just like any other person. Justice must be served for the sake of the planet and also for Red and Vincent.
        Then he thought of Tifa. Her suffering is just beginning because of him. How can he follow the ancient rule of ‘an eye for an eye’ if the pain has yet to begin? He can’t.
        The only thing that he could do in her behalf was to take the pain that she already has, the source of it, and pass it on to Hojo.
        When he gives Hojo his own pain, he decided to act as a receptor to take away the pain from the planet and his friends, but Tifa was the only person who was really on his mind.
        Hojo was showing that he was afraid, and was desperately trying to get away from him. Of course, he couldn’t go anywhere.
He took one last look at Hojo. He was truly a pathetic person.
        Was he doing the right thing? Cloud was beginning to feel like an executioner. What a terrible thought.
        He thought about it once more. He was doing this for everyone, they must have peace.
        His hands seemed to lock around his face. He saw many things: his own memories including the ones that were buried deep inside his mind that he was not even aware of. Vincent being shot and every second of what he experienced while he was on Hojo’s table. Red being forcefully taken from his home and everything that was done to him, even down to how he lost his right eye because of him. Tifa and the thoughts and fears that she has, what exactly he did to her and how it made her feel so violated, and degraded.
        There was a moment, and Cloud took a breath during this short interval as if it was a break. The planet, every moment when Hojo changed something that was perfectly balanced, the constant pain of having its own life’s blood being slowly drained away for his purposes and for the people that he worked for as a source of greed. The pain of the violent tremors that he caused, and also for all that Sephiroth did because of him playing god with the Jenova cells. The constant threats that it feared, and the release of the weapons as a futile attempt to try to defend itself. The memory of that violent explosion in the north crater that almost killed himself and his friends, and the meteor with its devastating damage it caused.
        Suddenly his grip was released, and he staggered back. Cloud’s face was wet with tears for all of the sympathy he felt for everyone. Hojo was in convolutions, it was the final strain that his mind could take.   It was totally destroyed.
        Cloud stood and watched as Hojo disintegrated. He was finally defeated.
        He closed his eyes and sighed with relief.
        When he opened them, he saw Tifa kneeling beside him. That last attack really exhausted him. He sat up and hugged her as tight as he could. He was still overwhelmed.
        “Are you alright?”
        “I saw everything.” He whispered.

        There was an intense feeling of disorientation, as everyone became aware once again. Where were they?
        Reeve looked around, it looked kinda familiar. Then he saw some people that he knew.
        Rude stepped away from the massive group of people. Reeve ran to him, it was a welcome sight to find a friend once again.
        Suddenly an object in Rude’s pocket was ringing loudly and constantly.
        Reno heard the sound echo, and realized that he had set his PHS to a constant re-dial and forgot about it. He saw his friends, the Turks were together again as a whole. Each of them was so happy to see each other again.
        It looked like they were very close, almost like an adopted family. Yuffie observed.
        “Man, you guys missed on hell of a show!” Reno was explaining to them what happened. Then he mentioned Cloud.
        “You mean that they’re here too?”
        Elena nodded.
        “Hold on, I’ll be back.” Reeve had to see everyone else too.

        “What happened to the huge materia?” Yuffie seemed to have only one thing on her mind.
        “Gone. The planet took them back.” Cloud got up.
        “Oh man! So we came all this way just for nothing?” Yuffie really wanted to be able to take them home with her. It would make her father very proud.
        “I wouldn’t say nothing.” Tifa found something far more special than that.
        “Oh please!” Yuffie rolled her eyes. Then she saw what they were about to do.
        “Aw c’on guys! Get a room or something!”
        They weren’t paying attention to her, so she let out a quiet ‘humph’, and left them to say hi to Reeve.

        “Barret!”
        “Reeve!” It looked like that their group was whole once again too.
        “Oh, man it’s so good to see you!” Yuffie gave him a huge bear hug.
        It seemed that Reeve was a part of both teams. He cared for both of them just as much, but…

        “Um, Tifa?” Dee had to know. She had been really bothered with the whole thing.
        “Is it true, that you’re that terrorist group who blew up those reactors in Midgar?”
        Tifa had regrets over those events. “I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
        Dee was just simply torn, Elena was standing back watching this conservation.
        “At the time, we didn’t even think that it would do as much damage as it did, we just wanted to disable to core. But…”
        “We had no idea that the first bomb was so powerful.” Cloud joined in. “If you really want to blame someone, then blame me.”
        “Why? Barret only hired you to take that job.” Tifa was wondering why he was doing this.
        “Because both times, I was the one who placed the bomb on the core and entered in the detonation code. But...”
        Dee didn’t know what to think. Hearing this was hitting a few tender spots in Elena’s mind.
        “I think that we were set up when we were in Reactor 5.”
        “What makes you say that?” Tifa tried so hard to put these events out of her mind.
        “Because Jessie and I made sure that the second bomb was less powerful, and that it would only destroy the core without destroying the reactor itself. When we were caught just outside the reactor, that bomb had already gone off, the timer was set for only 2 minutes. But then the reactor exploded anyway. It was much bigger than the first explosion.”
        “Are you saying that…” Tifa knew how ruthless Shin-ra could be, they would even kill its own citizens to protect its interests.
        “Well, it’s what I think, but there is no way to prove it anyway.”
        “I wish that there was something that I could do to start saying ‘I’m sorry’ but I don’t even know where to begin.”
        “So what Ellie said is true…” Dee trusted them, but knowing this was hurting her.
        “She has every right to hate us, but you have to think about our side of the story too,” Tifa felt that she at least owed an explanation. She knew that Elena was listening to them. “All of us were badly hurt by Shin-ra. Barret lost his wife and his best friend when they destroyed the mining town of Corel because of their suspicion of using Makou generated power instead of coal. Red, Vincent and Cloud were used as guinea pigs in their lab experiments. Yuffie’s hometown, Wutai was conquered by the Shin-ra forces and killed many people there. They took everything away from Cid, including his dreams of space travel. And…” Her voice faded away, she didn’t want to bring those memories back.
        “Do you want me to finish Tifa?”
        She nodded.
        “Because of Shin-ra’s actions, our hometown, Nibleheim, was burned to the ground. We both lost our families that day. Then they tried to cover it all up by rebuilding it and made it look like that it never happened.” He just had a thought. “You know, I’m beginning to think that we’re the only survivors left from that disaster.”
        “You all suffered just as much as Ellie?”
        “…In some cases even more, because of Hojo.”
        “I just hope that this ‘war’ is truly over. I don’t want to have these feelings of anger and hurt anymore. Sometimes I wish that there was someone else other than us who felt the same way.” Tifa sighed.
        Elena heard too much, and walked away. She was so lost in her grief that she never even thought about if any of them lost something too. She had a lot of thinking to do.

        “So what was this I hear about missing quite a show? What happened?”
        “Well, it was so cool! I never saw anything like that before.” Yuffie smiled.
        “Yeah, it-“ Cid was interrupted abruptly.
        “Hey!”
        Reno was walking strait to Barret. He wanted to settle a score once and for all.
        Nanaki groaned. Not another fight.
        They were both face to face to each other. The tensions suddenly ran extremely high. Reeve was worried, what was he going to if they started fighting?
        They were glaring at each other, it became a staring contest. Finally Reno ended it when he extended his hand. It was a gesture of peace.
        Barret was motionless. He still wanted to avenge the deaths of this three friends, Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge. He still never had gotten over them passing. Maybe it was time to let it rest. He knew that all eyes were on him, it was all up to him to decide what to do next. Then he thought about Marline, he just wanted to make sure that she will never have to fight like they had to. It was for her.
        He accepted the gesture with a handshake.
        “I think that you restored my faith for my family and friends. It’s time that I have to let this rest.” Reno said.
        “Yeah, me too.” His intense feels of hatred seemed to vanish at that moment.
        Tifa smiled, it was like she had gotten her wish.
        “Did I…. Miss something?” Cloud was confused, what happened?
        “You have no idea.” She walked to the rest of the group.
        He was kinda hoping that she would tell him, and not leave him in suspense like that.

        “So how are we going to get everyone out of here?” Cid was looking at the huge crowd of people.
        “Hmm…Good question.” Nanaki had no idea.
        As hard as everyone thought about it, there were no ideas to figure out the answer.
        “We have to do something, it’s not like we all can just walk out of here, it’s just too cold.” Cid pointed out.
        “Hey Cloud.” Tifa just got a long shot idea. “Didn’t Sephiroth say something that he could travel in the Lifestream?”
        “Yeah,”
        “Can we?”
        It was one of the wildest ideas that he had ever heard, but it was the only one that seemed to make sense. Though he had no idea if it could be done for this many people.
        “Tifa do you have any idea what you’re suggesting?” Barret wanted to find a more realistic way.
        “We have no idea where it will lead us.” Nanaki was looking at the open gate.
        Reno walked to edge of the cliff. “Can it be done?”
        Cloud shrugged, even the planet didn’t know.
        “But if Sephiroth could do it…” Yuffie’s thought faded away, and forgot what she was going to say next.
        “Yeah, but it also seem to drive him even more insane.” An observation that Nanaki made a while ago.
        “So there’s a risk involved.” Vincent stated the obvious.
        “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” Cloud finally said.
        “I think that we should at least try.” Reno spoke his opinion.
        “Yeah, me too.” Tifa said.
        Cloud sighed and thought for a moment. Just about everyone was wondering what was going through his mind. Is he really starting to behave like a Certa? He rolled his eyes to himself and shook his head.
        “Alright, we’ll try it.” He was resenting the fact that it was put onto him.
        “Cid, why is everyone putting him on the spot like that?” Reeve whispered.
        “Just watch.” He whispered back.
        He walked to the edge and looked into the open gate.
        I can’t believe that I have to really do this. He put the White materia into his pocket. It couldn’t be used for this purpose. He looked strait into the planet. Now how do I do this?
        Tifa was beginning to feel guilty. Maybe they should have never pushed him like this. Will he be able to do this under this much pressure? She was going to have to owe him a huge apology when this is over.
        From Reeve’s point of view, he saw some kind of activity from inside the gate. Swirls of light started to surround Cloud, and then he saw the same thing that everyone saw before when he was opening the gate. Rude was watching this too, it was surprising to the both of them.
        Then suddenly everything disappeared, and he dropped back to the ground, landing firmly on his feet.
        “Damn it!” He really didn’t want to do this anyway.
        It’s not going to work this way. It was a voice that he was unfamiliar with.
        He looked again into the Lifestream.
        You have to change your way of thinking. As long as you resent it will never work!
        He took a deep breath. Change my way of thinking…
        He made another attempt, the swirls of light came back quicker and brighter than ever.
        With a sudden flash of light, it was all over. He looked around. They were all still here. He was too tired to try again.
        Did it work? Tifa looked around. Everyone was still here.
        “Hey look at this!” Nanaki just looked inside the huge cavern where all of the missing people had been. They were gone.
        “Then why are we still here?” Yuffie wondered.
        “I can’t do everything,” Then he shrugged, “Besides, I didn’t know where to go.”
        “I guess that it’s alright. I have to get my Dad’s truck back.” Dee just wished that she was able to find him here.
        “Then let’s go, I really don’t want to stay here any longer.” It has got to be one of the worst days in his life. At least it was coming to an end.

        Ten people in the back of a pick up truck made it a very undesirable traveling arrangement. Elena was up front with Dee so that they could talk alone for a while. Everyone else did whatever  they could to make the best of this situation.
        Reeve was so relived, this issue of split loyalties seemed to resolve itself as he watched Yuffie ask them questions about what it was like to be a Turk. He really didn’t know if it was her legitimate curiosity, or if she was just making small talk.
        “Reno, how did everything go in Kalam?” He wanted to know if there were more survivors found in Midgar.
        “Well after we organized everything, it seemed that everyone didn’t need anyone else to tell them what to do. When we left to go find you, we found over 300 people.”
        “Wait. You were the one who organized the rescue party in Kalam?” Cloud thought that it would be very uncharacteristic for an organization such as the Turks to do. They usually worked for the highest bidder.
        “Yeah.” Rude said something for the first time.
        “So you were the friend that Reeve was talking about.” Tifa was pleasantly surprised.
        It seemed that everyone had badly misjudged the other. Reno was seeing the reasons why Reeve liked them so much.
        Cloud just nodded, no one told him what happened, so he was just playing along with it. He was betting that Tifa was enjoying this.
        “Hey Cloud, I have never seen that look on your face before.” Barret always liked to find new ways to tease him. “Is that because you’re a blonde? You look so lost.”
        There were some smirks and giggles from everyone else.
        Cloud knew that he was just messing around, but this really was getting to him.
        “Will some PLEASE tell me what the hell’s going on here?”
        Just about everyone started laughing, and the joke was on Cloud, but at least he was finally able to get an explanation.

        “See? They seemed to be able make peace, why can’t you?” Dee pointed out.
        “Yeah, but….” Elena sighed. “You won’t understand, and I hope that you never have to.”
        “Maybe, but everyone else does.”
        “It doesn’t matter, they at least had some time to think about it. It’s not fresh in their mind. They didn’t have someone that they cared for die in their arms.”
        “Why don’t you ask them? You’ll never know if you don’t ask. And if you can’t ask them, then ask your friend Reno, maybe he’ll know something.”
        Elena sighed, then saw some lights ahead they had just arrived.
        “Will you stay here for a while? I’m sure that your friends won’t mind to pick you up later.”
        Actually, it didn’t seem to be such a bad idea. Maybe she could use the time off to think it over. She knew that everyone else was just planning to stay for only a few minutes to re-fuel the truck so that Dee can take everyone back to Bone Village. That was not going to be enough time for her to do what she needed to be done.
        “…Yeah, I’ll just let the guys know.” Since she was the only girl in the group, that was what she always referred them as. It was her own private joke.

        While everyone was waiting inside the inn, Barret had the wildest idea, but even he was having trouble to at least agree with it. Was it a good idea? He kept thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong if it backfired.
        He just stood back and watched everyone as they interacted between the two groups. It looked like that everyone was being as diplomatic as possible, Rude looked like that he was telling Yuffie some more pick pocketing tricks, and Cloud was actually talking with Reno without either one of them hurling insults to each other, though Reeve and Vincent was with them. Would it be a good idea?
        “Alright Barret, whenever I see you like that, it means that you have some kind of hair-brain idea.” Tifa was remembering all the time he spent to carefully plan something, like attacking those reactors.
        “Nah, it’s dumb.”
        “C’on, what is it?” Nanaki was a little bored while waiting.
        “Hold on.” He wanted to talk to Reeve first before doing anything else.

        “Well it was a good strategy, but you hit too high.”
        “How so?”
        “You didn’t knock me down when you hit the back of my leg.”
        “Since when did you become such an expert?”
        “C’on it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book.”
        “So exactly how much do you remember?” Vincent just wanted to know.
        “Well, not much. It was more like,” He was trying to remember a little more, but couldn’t. “I dunno, it feels like it’s just fading away. You know, like a dream?”
        “Yo Reeve, can I have a word with you?” Barret cut in.
        As Reeve was leaving, Elena came to speak with Reno. From the look that she gave him, Cloud got the hint and left.

        “Well hello there.” Tifa was wondering why a little girl would wonder their way.
        “Can I pet your doggy?” It got Nanaki’s attention.
        Tifa was playing along. “I don’t know, you’re going to have to ask him first.”
        “Oh gee, thanks Tifa.”
        “…You can talk?”
        “Yep. He’s just like any other person.”
        “It looks like Red made a new friend.” Cloud was amused.
        “Very funny Cloud.”
        That name seemed to remind the little girl of something and turned around. Cloud blinked in disbelief, she looked like that girl…
        “Are you Alice?”
        Her eyes lit up.  It was him. She gave him a huge hug, though it was a bit tight. Tifa let out a little giggle when she heard an ‘oof’ out of him.
        “It looks like that you made a friend.” Nanaki countered with a grin.
        “…There you are!” A young woman came over to them.
        “Mama, look! He’s the one I told you about.” Cloud let himself be led by her. “He found me in that scary place and took care of me.”
        “Oh really?” She looked at him. “You must be Cloud. Thank you for taking care of her.”
        “…Uh… well…I. “ He didn’t think that he did a good enough job and didn’t deserved to be thanked, but he had to say something. “Don’t mention it.”
        “Hey guys! The truck’s ready!” Dee announced to everyone, though the brief reunion with her father delayed their departure for about ten minutes.
        “Well I’m glad that she’s okay, but we gotta go.”
        Alice waved good-bye as everyone left.

        Barret insisted on returning to Cosmo Canyon and no one seemed to mind. Thanks to Dee’s help, and the speed of the Tiny Bronco, their trip was a little more than four hours. Tifa gave Dee her Lunar Harp so that she could find her way back. It was also a token of her appreciation.
        While on the Tiny Bronco, Cloud took the opportunity to explain everything to Tifa. He started this story from when they were still on the Highwind to about using the White materia. There was still one thing that she wanted to know.
        “What was all this talk about you being dead? You look okay to me.”
        He pulled knees up to his chest in a protective position. It must have hit some kind of nerve because now he almost looked like a scared child. He sighed, “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
        “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that it bothered you so much.”
        “Don’t worry, you didn’t know.”
        It made Tifa feel bad for bringing it up.
        He sighed again, “But I guess that you deserve to know, at least what I can remember.”
        “Don’t worry, you don’t have to say anything.”
        The look he gave her, it showed that he was hurt, but he started to gather his thoughts so that he could explain it to her.
        “Well remember when I told you my story while we were in Kalam, but later it seemed that I was way off on some details, and extremely accurate on others?”
        “Yeah, it was so confusing.” She thought about their encounter with the Lifestream once before, but everything seemed to be a blur to her. The only thing that she could remember was that it was at that time when he learned the truth.
        “It turned out that for some odd reason I had someone else’s memories, but I was still there just not seen. Of course you knew that already, but there’s more to this story.”
        She nodded.
        “Well when I was telling you what happened while we were in Kalam and had to end my story abruptly, it was because I just simply couldn’t remember anything after that."  He paused for a moment so that she could have a chance to remember.  "That's when everything seemed to start. It was a very long nightmare that lasted for five years.”
        “Cloud I’m so sorry, you don’t have tell me any more, okay?”
        “No, I really think that you should know.” He continued back to this story. “Well, after I saw you pick up Sephiroth’s sword when he left it behind after he killed your dad, and then ran up to him so you can confront him, I tried to help you, but by the time I got to you, he had already snatch it out of your hands and cut you across the chest.”
        “Yeah, I remember that.” She moved her top a little to show him part of the scar she got because of it.
        “Well I’m glad that you are okay now, I really thought that you were going to die.”
        “Thanks, and I’m glad that you turned out to be okay too.”
        He smiled a bit. “Well, my friend, Zack made to Sephiroth before I did. That was a quick fight, Zack fell down the stairs. It was then when he asked me to kill Sephiroth. So I picked his sword, and charged right into him. He happened to be distracted trying to get Jenova out of the chamber so it was easy to ram it right into his stomach, but I didn’t stick around to see if he would die just yet, I left and tried to tend to you.”
        “I can barely remember that, but at least I can remember a little.”
        “Well to my surprise, I saw him manage to walk down the stairs with Jenova’s head in his hands. I was so enraged, that I didn’t think. I can truly say that what I did next was the absolute stupidest thing I have ever done.”
        “And what would that be?”
        “I ran behind him and screamed his name to get him to stop. Then suddenly I felt something very cold right here.” He pointed at his chest, but it was a little above and to the right of his heart. She put her hand over that spot and felt a huge dip in his skin through his shirt.
        “…Ouch.”
        “I don’t remember much after that, except him telling me to not push my luck. Then the next thing I know, he fell off the platform, and I fell onto it. I tried to keep moving, but everything felt very heavy and very cold.  Then it was like I couldn’t move at all. The scariest part was when I realized that I couldn’t breathe, but I could hear Hojo’s voice. Then, nothing. I can’t remember anything else after that except for a few vague flashes of being on one of his tables and being inside a Makou chamber. The only thing that I do know was that there was a lot of pain, and that Zack was there with me. Then we escaped.”
        Tifa wanted to hear more.
        Cloud corrected his story, “Well it was more like he escaped and dragged me with him. I was so drugged up that I couldn’t remember anything. Then I woke up, the drugs were beginning wear off and I found Zack dead. Someone shot him in the head several times and must have left me for dead as well. I didn’t know what to think, so I wondered ahead to the nearest town. Then completely blacked out.”
        “…And that was when I found you.” Tifa finished.
        “Yeah, that’s the end of it.”
        She sighed. Maybe it was a little too much information for her. No wonder he’s so messed up.
        For the rest of the trip, he didn’t say too much after that.
        This conversation was just between them, while on the other side of the plane had a different mood, it was one of excitement and eagerness.
        It seemed that whatever Barret’s idea was, it became the topic of conversation, and the cause for all of the excitement.
        Though Barret did have a question to ask that had nothing to so with the current subject.
        "Yo, Red. I've been meaning to ask you something."
        Nanaki gave him his undivided attention.
        "Now don't take this the wrong way, but it's about you, Vincent, and Cloud." Then he reluctantly added, "…And Sephiroth."
        He nodded, he didn't mind the question.
        "Well even though you all have something in…common," he had to figure out the right words to make it not hurt any of them. "There's something that just doesn't add up."
        It got Vincent's attention and he listened quietly to what he was going to say.
        "Well, we all know that Sephiroth could do it, and uh, we all saw Cloud do just recently, and the first time that I met him," Vincent nodded.  "He did it too. But uh, why can't you?"
        "You mean to fly?"
        "Yeah. For the longest time I just assumed the it was that damn Jenova shit until something dawned on me. With all of the stuff that happened recently that involved Jenova, he seemed to be immune while it literally kicked Cloud's ass." Cloud heard his name called and looked at Barret. "So it means to me that Vincent doesn't have any of that shit and neither do you. But if that is the case the why can they fly, but you can't?"
        "Because I was never exposed to Makou."
        "But Shin-ra had a lot of people to exposed Makou, especially whenever someone joins that SOLDIER group because they thought that it would make them stronger."
        "No that's what I meant. Those people had a very low dose, while the three of them had been exposed to so much of it, that it could easily kill someone if that person received it all at once."
        Vincent nodded, it made since to him, he received a very intense therapy before he was laid to rest, but it was just another attempt for Hojo to kill him.
        "Are you sure about that, or is it just a guess?"
        "I spent a lot of time working with a former intern of his. When she quit, she stole a lot of his notes, that was what I read from it."
        "Quit huh? Like suddenly getting a conscience?"
        "No, it was more like ignorance then morals. That was why she quit."
        "Hmm, so I guess that Cloud was already exposed to a lot of it before he got that bad case of Makou poisoning, that was the first time I saw him do that."
        Cid wanted to know exactly how much was too much. "Hey Cloud I hope that you don't mind me asking you this but-"
        "Five years." He bluntly replied.
        "…Okay…" Maybe he should have never asked.
        "I think that it's time to change the subject now." Vincent didn't want to hear anymore of it.
        Reeve cut in.
        "Going back to your idea Barret, I think that it may work, though it's still a little crazy."
        "…Sounds like fun." Nanaki was taking his mind off the old subject.
        Barret sighed to himself, it looked like it would have been a lot better if he just simply kept his mouth shut about it. Then he started back to the same topic that everyone was talking about before this.
        Yuffie on the other hand made sure that she had plenty of tranquilizers and she slept most of the way from Bone Village. Though it was a relief that there were people there once again. Everything seemed to be returning back to normal, but what was everyone going to do next?

        Tifa spent a lot of time pondering that. What was she going to do? The news that she from Red only seemed to scare her about what lies ahead. She sighed and looked up at the stars, though she knew that it was in the middle of the afternoon. The isolation of the observatory was helping her to think.
        She was recognizing constellations, and her surroundings made her feel like if she was in space or something, as she saw a few planets pass.
        Holograms.
        Tifa shook her head. Technology these days, it’s even advanced enough to check out something like this in only a few hours. She sighed again. How was she going tell Cloud? What if he didn’t want anything to do with this or if she never saw him again?
        He wouldn’t do that. She knew him too well to know that, but she had no idea on how he would react to this. If it was under different circumstances, she probably wouldn’t mind, but this happened against their will. It was making her want to cry with the thought of how easily they were both victimized like that. What was making her feel worse was what Cloud told her earlier that day, she knew that he really didn’t want to talk about it, yet he felt that he had to tell her.
        She heard a soft click of a door closing.
        “Hey.” If she wanted to tell him, now would be a good time.
        “Hi.” He was still rather quiet. It was clear that he was a bit scared, or that he hadn’t really quite recovered from what he was talking about earlier.
        He had never felt this awkward before when it came to speaking to her. They both knew each other all their lives, but he was extremely worried about how much this would damage their friendship. The thought of the worse possible thing that could happen really terrified him.
        It was a long moment of silence before he sat down beside her on the floor.
        “Um, Red just told me, but no one else knows.” He said this quickly.
        Tifa felt her heart sank, and she just leaned against Cloud, resting her head on his shoulder. Tears just ran down her face. “I’m so scared.”
        “Yeah, me too. But we’re going to stick together, alright? I’ll never leave you.”
        Those words definitely made her feel better, as she started to think about what to do now.
        “You’ve helped me out so much, and looked out for me so many times. Let me return the favor, I owe it to you.”
        “Really?” She didn’t even think about the many times she did look out for him.
        “Yeah, there are so many times that you helped me, and I realized that I never had the chance to thank you for it.”
        “…Don’t mention it.” She whispered.
        “Um, there was something that I wanted to give you to show on how serious I am when I said that I’ll take care of you.” He put a small object in her hand and closed it. “That is, if you let me.”
        She gasped in surprise when she saw the object. A ring.
        “…Is this a proposal?”
        He nodded, then held his breath waiting for the answer.
        “Is this because of what happened?”
        “No. I wanted to say something some time ago while we were in the City of the Ancients, but there were too many… distractions. It was just now that I had the chance to get something for you to show for it.”
        She froze. She couldn’t think, or speak. Only feel her heart race. It was something that she wanted, but now it all of the sudden it became real for her, she didn’t know what to do. Then something inside her made her smile and she put the ring on.
        “…Yes.” She was about to bubble over with happiness, and she tightly hugged him.
        He didn’t know why, nor care how could one feel this happy, he just was.
        “So what do we do now?” She whispered.
        “I don’t know, but Red has invited us to stay here until we think of something.”
        “He’s so kind, but what are we going to do about this?”
        “You could end it, or keep it, I’m not sure. But whatever you decide, I’ll support you, okay?”
        “It would be too cruel to end it, and if…” She hugged him tighter.
        “…And if we keep it, you’re afraid that it may be another Sephiroth.” He had the same thought as well.
        “Yeah that’s it exactly.”
        “Tifa, do want to know what I think?”
        She nodded.
        “How do you think Sephiroth grew up? I’m willing to bet that it was not in a home with family, but in lab somewhere.”
        “Yeah, so?”
        “…Did you ever think that if he grew up in a different way, he would have never done those terrible things?”
        “I guess so.” Tifa knew that he was referring to a child’s up brining, but there was another thing that was on her mind.
        She didn’t wanted to be reminded of what Hojo did to the both of them everyday for the rest of their lives, it would too hard to endure. It felt like that this whole thing would have no meaning to it if they left it at that.
        “I think that…” Whatever she said next is going change their lives forever. Is it something that was worth doing?
        “Don’t worry, you still got time to think about it.”
        It seemed that she already decided, but there was just one thing.
        “If we do keep it, I want to make it mean something other than this.”
        “You mean like a closure to put it behind us?”
        “Yeah.” She kissed him. It was making her feel better.
        “Wait, you mean now? Here?”
        She nodded.
        “But what if someone walks in?” He couldn’t ignore this feeling, but he had to be more realistic about this.
        “And what if they don’t? It kinda makes it daring and exciting.”
        “I guess so bu-“ He was interrupted by another kiss.
        It seemed that they both left behind their logic and reasoning, and were acting solely on how they felt.

        “Damn it, where’s everybody?” Barret was pacing back and forth.
        “Don’t worry they’ll come.” Reeve looked at his watch, it was still too early.
        Yuffie and Marline seemed to be having fun on their own. Yuffie was showing her all of the possible places that could be used as a hiding place.
        “Yuffie are you putting more ideas in her head again?” Barret really didn’t want his daughter to be like her.
        “No, not really. I’m just showing her how she could hide almost everywhere. Who knows it might come in handy someday. You know, if she is ever in danger?”
        “Heh, it looks like she got you there.” Reeve laughed.
        “Heh, heh, heh…” Pure sarcasm from Barret.
        “Though it would be really scary if she starts dressing like her.” Reeve was just making a joke.
        “…And what’s that supposed to mean?” She liked the way she dressed.
        “Hmm? Nothing.” Reeve was playing innocent.
        “I know what that means. You dress like a punk.” Cid was teasing her.
        “Hey! You know that you’re starting to sound like my dad, it’s not fair!”
        “It looks like that you’re starting the fun without us.” Reno and Rude walked in.
        Barret was just reminded on how crazy this idea was.
        “Hey it’s Reno!” Marline ran to say hi to them.
        “Hey squirt! How are ya?” He gave her a playful rub on the head that messed up her hair.
        Barret’s jaw was about to hit the floor. Then he looked at Reeve.
        “Hey I couldn’t leave her alone in Kalam when I went back to Midgar.” He held his hands up as if saying ‘hey don’t be pissed because of this.’
        “Do you have any more gum?”
        “No, I’m sorry. I ran out.”
        “Oh. Well that’s okay. C’on I want you to meet my daddy!”
        “We already met.” Barret was still a bit shocked.
        There was a look of confusion on Reno’s face. “She’s yours?”
        “Reeve, I thought that you said that she was your sister’s.” Rude said.
        “I don’t have a sister. She’s Barret’s kid.”
        “Man, she doesn’t look anything like him.” Reno wanted to say ‘no fucking way,’ but it looked like his facial expression said it for him.
        “Where’s Miss Elena?”
        “She’s taking some time off.”
        “Hey guys. Sorry that I’m running a little late.” Nanaki just showed up.
        “Red!” Marline gave Nanaki a huge hug.
        “Look at this.” Barret was talking quietly to Cid. “It’s like she doesn’t care about how we think or what happened in the past. Only who she likes or dislikes, and I don’t see anyone who she doesn’t like, do you?”
        “No. She doesn’t know anything except what she sees. It’s like she’s setting an example or something.” Cid was just thinking on how closely connected they really were, but they just never cared to see it before.
        “So I guess that leaves Cloud, Tifa, and Vincent to show up.” Barret did a final head count.
        “Do we have to wait for them? I say let’s finish what we started.” Cid was just wanted to start having fun and party again.
        No one ever expected the possibility of everyone actually sitting down at one table for a celebration.
        “What do you mean finish what you started?” Reno asked.
        “Well the night after meteor was destroyed, we celebrated. It was our way to honor all of those who didn’t make it, for their sake.” Reeve quickly explained. “But we were never able to finish it.”
        “I see. It must’ve been a major leap of faith for you to invite us like this.” Rude said quietly.
        “Yeah it was. He had to talk to me first to help him figure out if it was a good idea or not.” Reeve found a seat.
        “Why did you do it?”
        “I did it for Marline’s sake. I don’t want her to be forced to fight like we did.”
        Reno looked at Marline who was seated on Barret’s lap. Cute kid.
        “C’on people! This is a party, not some kind of hostage negotiation. Stop being so damn rigid and stiff and sit your asses down and let’s get this show on the road!” Seeing everyone trying to act so careful so that they don’t start fighting was really annoying Cid to no end.

        Vincent was once again back at the Cosmo Candle. Though it felt like there was something missing. He didn’t know what it was, but it felt like excess baggage. Though there was no obvious reason why except for the fact that he knew that Hojo was defeated once and for all.
        He had been spending a lot of time thinking about what Cid said in the cave. How can he be so cold? When was the last time that he felt anything? He was feeling something now. He was alone.
        Does he have to be alone?
        Why feel something now?
        His thoughts were drifting to the past, long before he encountered Hojo. Everything that he could remember seemed to be so foreign now. It was like those memories belonged to someone else, not him.
        Who was that person?
        Who is he now?
        It seemed that the most valuable thing that Hojo took away from him was his self-identity. The name Vincent was the only thing he had left of that life before. His last name had no meaning and might as well be forgotten.
        Why not forget Hojo? It was just another chapter in life that finally came to an end.
        What about now? What will this new chapter bring to him? He didn’t know, except that this time he had control.
        What to do now?
        What does he want to do?
        He sighed and let his mind go blank. There are people who cared for him, but how much he didn’t know. Was that better than nothing? He looked at the pub.
        They told him that he was welcome to join them, but can he handle it?
        He had that feeling again, loneness.
        There must be a reason why felt like this. Maybe that it was at long last time to be human once again.
        Human. It seemed that for all of these years he was just a shell. Ever since Hojo did all of this to him, he never thought of himself as a human being. It was a sad, but true thought for him.
        He closed his eyes, he felt tired. Then he felt something on the side of his face. It had been a very long time since he had that feeling. There were several times when he thought that something like that could happen to him ever again. It just did, perhaps it was time that he did something about it.
        With a final sigh to himself, he stood up. There was something that he could do about it now.

        “I don’t see it.”
        “It’s right there. Right below the bright one.”
        Cloud look up at the ceiling of the observatory. He couldn’t see what Tifa was talking about. Then suddenly a pattern appeared.
        “Oh yeah, I see it.”
        Tifa snuggled closer to him. He had proven to be a very comfortable pillow. She sighed in contentment.
        It really didn’t matter if anyone came in now, there was nothing to see that would give anyone any funny ideas. They were just looking at the stars, nothing more.
        He was feeling pretty tired yet his heart was still racing. It was an intoxicating feeling for the both of them. It made it very easy to doze off.
        Tifa had already did. He just stared back at the ceiling.
        What were they going to do? They couldn’t go back to Nibleheim, it was simply a mockery to them now. He kinda liked Midgar, but now it was in ruins…
        He yawned and stretched. He couldn’t think anymore so he just simply didn’t bother. He only closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep.

        “I didn’t realize that you two were still here.”
        Tifa opened a sleepy eye. It was Red.
        “C’on, everyone’s wondering where you two are, and I can’t cover for you guys forever.”
        “Oh yeah the party…” Cloud had forgotten about that.
        “It started over an hour ago.”
        They were both groggy.
        “Well are you coming or what?” Then Nanaki smiled to himself, “Or I can let everyone keep on guessing on what you guys are up to.”
        “You wouldn’t…” Tifa was sitting up.
        “Well, I am running out of excuses.”
        “Alright, alright, we’re going.” Cloud got up, then helped Tifa up.

        It turned out that Nanaki was only joking about everyone guessing.
        Everyone started to guess several hours later.
        Tifa was thinking that it was because what they announced to everyone is what started it.
        They were having too much fun. Yuffie had already retired for the night, this time they knew it was for real.
        Cid got into a competition with Reno at who could tell the nastiest joke, of course they waited until Marline fell asleep and Barret put her to bed.
        Everyone else was laughing so hard. It was hard to decide the winner of this contest. Eventually Barret told a few, then Cloud, then just about everyone else was literally taking turns at this.
        Vincent sat quietly and watched everyone. He was still thinking about many things, but at least that feeling of being alone was forgotten. As he listened, it seemed that he had already heard them all before. Then he surprised himself when he actually thought of one. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
        “What?” Tifa saw that.
        “Nothing.”
        “Yeah right. What is it?” Cid lit another cigarette.
        “Those jokes are so old. I’ve already heard them all.”
        “Alright then, since you know so many, why don’t you tell us one.” Reno challenged.
        Vincent quietly sat. Then shrugged to himself. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
        Everyone who knew him were kinda surprised with what he was doing. They never thought that he would and they couldn’t blame it on the drinks since he only had water.
        “There were three men and one woman who crash landed on a deserted island. After a few months everyone got extremely…”
        Tifa was a little shocked. Did he just say that?
        “…So they decided that each guy would take turns with the girl every week.”
        Cloud and Barret exchange looks, they were just simply in disbelief at what they were hearing since it was from someone who was usually so silent and grim.
        “So for three years everyone was happy with that arrangement. Then one day for no reason, she died.”
        Cid nodded. A joke about death. It was starting to sound like something Vincent could do.
        “For the first week, it was bad. The second week it was very bad. The third week it was just simply terrible.” His facial expression was the same as always, none. “The fourth week it was almost unbearable. The fifth week was so bad, that they finally had to bury her.”
        “Oh man that’s so sick!” Tifa was completely shocked.
        “Uh, gross! That’s just…” Cid was laughing too hard.
        After a few more reactions, then everyone started to calm down Barret really wanted to know something.
        “Tell me something, what possessed you to tell that joke?”
        “You don’t like it?” His face was still deadpan.
        “It’s not that, in fact it was funny as hell, but what made you tell it?”
        “To prove a point. I heard them all before, but it looked like you all needed proof.”
        “Point taken.” Cloud nodded, though still a bit shocked, but the reasoning definitely sounded like him.
        “That has got to be one of the sickest jokes that I have ever heard.” Reno was still laughing at it.
        “…Yeah.” Cid knew that he beat the both of them with just one joke.
        Although Vincent told no more jokes, everyone else had plenty to tell, though it was no longer a competition at who could tell the nastiest one, Vincent won hands down. It changed to see if they could tell ones that he didn’t know, or at least to get him react in anyway. There was never a winner in that contest.
        Vincent realized that he was actually enjoying this attention. It seemed that he was never alone after all. It was like those days long ago. It still felt alien to him, but at lest he could relate to what it was once again.

        This party turned out to be a success since before they knew it, the sun was coming up. It was then when everyone started to say their good-byes to each other. Though it became extremely hard for everyone. No one wanted to go, but they wanted to be able to go home as well.
        It was a good thing for Nanaki that he was already home.
        Reeve left with Reno and Rude to pick up Elena. They were going to meet each other in Rocket Town.
        Cid gave them a lift since he was going there anyway. He didn’t know what to do there, but there were a lot of projects that he wanted to finish.
        Yuffie returned home to Wutai to continue her training, but she promised Marline that she would write to her, she talked Cid into making a short detour to drop her off.
        Vincent decided to go on a personal quest to some how regain some of the things that he lost. He said his good-byes to everyone and then just disappeared early that morning.
        That left Barret, and Marline.
        “I remember when I first met you Cloud. I hated your guts.”
        Cloud let out a laugh, “Yeah, when I first met you I thought that you were an asshole.”
        “Who would have thought.” Now they became best friends.
        “You know, right now it feels the same like it was when this whole thing got started in Midgar. It was just the three of us against the world.” The third person that Cloud was referring to was Tifa.
        “Yeah it does in a way.”
        “That’s so freaky.”
        “Promise me something. Promise me that we’ll always keep in touch.”
        “Yeah, it’s a promise.”
        “Take care Barret.” Tifa was giving him a big hug.
        “Yeah.” It was hard for him to believe that it was finally over. He had some thoughts about what to do, but now it was a reality. Suddenly he had no thoughts at all about it, like if it was blocked from his mind.
        “I hate long good-byes. We are going to see each other again soon. So instead of saying good-bye, let’s say that we are going to see each other again soon.” Tifa was giving Marline a hug.
        “Don’t worry, we’re going to see each other soon. But it looks like that we just need a little time to get it all together. After that, we’ll see each other often.”
        Barret nodded. “Right. It’s only going to be for a short while and we will see each other again.”
        “Okay until next time then.”
        “Yeah. Next time.”

        Then it was just Cloud and Tifa.

        Author’s notes: There were a lot of lose ends that needed to be taken care of so I had to continue on with the story. There wasn’t much that I can say, except it seemed like this story seemed to write itself and I was just another reader, I never expected to do this.
        Yes I must admit, this story is rather controversial but there seemed to be no other way to tell it without resulting in this level of emotional impact for everyone. If anyone did happen to find this story to be a little too offensive, or if they strongly disagree with the basis of the theories of the actual story line, then I apologize here. Please don’t e-mail me about it.
        Another reason why I spent so much time resolving the loose ends is because there will be no sequel to this story that will be written by me.
        So I submit it you, the reader to enjoy. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

FF7Aeris =^_^= FF7Aeris_98@Yahoo.com or at FF7Aeris_98@Hotmail.com

        On a somber note, this story is dedicated to my sibling who came into my life when I was 3 and left just before I turned 21. We did many things together, like play games or gang up on my sister (or the other way around), fight, annoy, tease, and most importantly, look out for each other.
        He spent a lot of time helping me with this story, only to die less than an hour after I closed the word processing program. Mom is taking it very hard, and I find myself doing things thinking that he will come and watch me as I worked, or as I played the PSX.
        He had many nicknames. The one he had for the longest time had faded away and then change, from 'tampon' to 'old man.'
        I'm going to miss that old cat.
        If you didn't know any better, he would easily convince you that he was a human being. That is, until he decided that he wanted some attention and would attack the PC mouse or the knock PSX controller out of my hands (I lost many games that way).
        Sleep now dear brother, and remember that mom misses you.