Chapter One

 

 

 

 

“Ouch!” cried Angel Aeris, as she hit her head on a branch.  “I’m tired, hungry, and my head hurts. Couldn’t you do this another time?” she complained, but was ignored. 

“If you come with me, you will understand how very important this is to the world,” explained Sephiroth, tugging harder at Aeris’ arm. 

“I was sleeping peacefully in the Life Stream, when you decided to pull me out to bore me with your blabber,” Aeris retorted as she finally pulled her arm away from Sephiroth.

“I thought you wanted to see Cloud.  If not, I might as well let you go home,” sniffed Sephiroth. 

“OK.  Cloud’s too old anyhow. Bye!” answered Angel Aeris.

As Angel Aeris fluttered off to the Life stream, she looked back to see Sephiroth turning around and pulling out a clear bottle.  She thought nothing of it, and went on.

Sephiroth snickered to himself, carefully examining the bottle in his hand.  Inside of it was a green light, flickering like the flame of a candle. 

“Ah, well. If Aeris doesn’t want to witness the death of Cloud and his friends, so much the better,” Sephiroth said with an evil grin growing on his face.

“Evil Aeris will live!” he laughed with his well-known cackle. 

               

It was an hour later when Sephiroth reached his “lair”.  A stench of fungus and mildew hovered in the air.  Sephiroth almost stepped on Fluffy, his pet snake, as he rushed to get to his lab.  Fluffy hissed at his master as he recoiled to prevent from being squished.  Sephiroth was too excited over his malicious plan to create the second most powerful being that he ignored Fluffy. The lab was not out of the ordinary.  It had the usual lab tools: chain saw’s, butcher knives, phoenix downs, death potions, and everything else that was needed. 

When Sephiroth was ready, he pulled out the bottle with the green light.

“Bwahahahahahaha…” he chuckled evilly as he poured the contents of the bottle into a jar with some other things inside of it.

A sudden shock of lightning blasted from the sky, and for a while, everything was so quiet it almost made Sephiroth want to scream.  But at last the moment he had been waiting for arrived.  The green light mixed with the other ingredients, and slowly began to solidify.  A gaseous substance swirled around the now solid light.  The jar in which everything was being contained in began to rattle.  Then the jar exploded.  Little pieces of sharp glass shattered everywhere, also hitting Sephiroth.  Sephiroth was not concerned about himself, though.  Lying on his lab floor was his creation, Evil Aeris.

Her hair was much darker than that of Angel Aeris’, and she wore a deep burgundy dress, with a black dress shirt.  Her face was pale and stern, and there was a sense of evil that made even Sephiroth shiver with fright.  On Evil Aeris’ neck was a silver medallion that encircled a piece of smooth, black materia. As her eyes opened, she cocked her head to one side, looking almost as innocent as Angel Aeris would.  She smiled at Sephiroth, looking at him through her long eyelashes very girlishly.  She curtsied elegantly and pirouetted to Sephiroth’s side.

“Why hello, there. What may I do for you, sir?” she asked Sephiroth, who now had a look of accomplishment on his face.

“Well,” he said as he thought for a moment, “How good are you in using materia and weapons?  If you are good, we will be able to finish Cloud off quickly.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Does the word “evil” sound like anything to you?  I thought that maybe you would remember what I am, but I suppose that’s too much to ask for. Do you want me to repeat what I just said? I don’t want you to forget,” Evil Aeris patted Sephiroth’s shoulder dramatically.

Sephiroth glared at Evil Aeris, although glaring had little use for the hyper girl.  Evil Aeris joyously pranced around her creator’s lab, touching everything she saw.  Sephiroth gaped at her, not able to say anything. The chaos went on until Evil Aeris fell asleep on a lab table.  When Sephiroth had left the room to feed Fluffy, Evil Aeris woke up and looked around. 

“Sephiroth,” she called out. “There are men advancing toward this area.  They don’t seem intent on making friends.”

“What?  That’s impossible, no one knows of this place.  Besides, they wouldn’t stand a chance if what you say about yourself is true.” Sephiroth said as he looked out of a crack in his wall.

“It seems that you have been discovered, then.  How about lending me a weapon? And don’t try to give me some stick or tree branch to use like the other Aeris uses.  I want something like…” Evil Aeris paused while she thought.

“How about a sword?” Sephiroth suggested.

“No.  Swords are too heavy and flimsy.  I want a gun.  Not a big gun, but one that has a knife connected to the nose of the barrel. That way I won’t have to use my foot if I run out of ammo.” The girl shook her head as she looked at her foot. 

Sephiroth looked injured as he glanced at his long sword.  He shrugged it off and went to get Evil Aeris’ weapon.  The sound of men yelling filled his ears as warriors steadily marched toward his home.  Sephiroth knew that he was getting too old to fight, so he would have to stay in the background for this battle.  He sighed with regret, remembering how much energy he had had when he was younger. 

When Sephiroth had reached his destination, the sound of battle cries of the warriors was so close that it was almost like the men were sitting right next to him.  Evil Aeris’ gun was not frequently used, so a layer of gray dust had formed over the years.  Sephiroth disliked guns, and actually, he had never really used them.  He collected weapons as a hobby (even evil people have hobbies).  Sephiroth quickly turned around and hurried back to his lab.  Evil Aeris was waiting for him, and she did not look happy.  Her face was creased in concentration, and her foot was tapping a steady beat.

“There you are.  I don’t like to wait, you know,” she said as her lips puffed out in a frown.

“Then let’s get started, shall we?” Sephiroth said as he held out Evil Aeris’ gun.

“Thank you. I would have rather had a smaller one, but it will do.”

“I’m glad that you like it anyway.”

“I’m glad that you got it for me.”

 Sephiroth grabbed Evil Aeris’ arm and led her outdoors.

                The warriors were big and burly.  Most of the men wore plain shirts, and no armor.  A man on a black chocobo led the men, but he was not big and burly.  Instead, he was thin and boyish. He carried a big sword, a sword that Sephiroth automatically recognized.  Sephiroth’s eyes narrowed as his enemy’s son approached him.  He stepped forward and took out his long sword.  He grinned when he saw the look of shock cross the face of Cloud’s son.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You won’t be needing that, Sephiroth,” the boy said, eyeing the sword warily.

“Oh?” Sephiroth said as he moved even closer to the boy.

“Yes.  My father wanted me to tell you that he knows what you have done, and that he will be looking forward to killing you once and for all.”

“Interesting.  How did he find out about all of this?  No one comes here, so no one could know about this.”

“That’s what you think, old man,” Cloud’s son snorted and motioned one of his men to come.

 

By this time, Evil Aeris had thought of a plan.  She stepped forward, and stood staring blankly at her creator’s enemy, looking dumb struck.  Then, when Cloud’s son looked at her, she rolled toward him and quickly took out her gun.  Her gun was now pointed directly at his head.  His response was a whimper, which made it even more hilarious to Evil Aeris.

“Your father is not exactly smart, is he?” she asked him as she took his sword out of it’s sheath.   

“Why do you say that?”

“Most people with brains never send a loved one to go and threaten an enemy.  He should have known that Sephiroth planned this all along. I hope he won’t miss you too much,” Evil Aeris threw Cloud’s sword to Sephiroth and pushed the boy off his chocobo.

Then, she shot a shrub on the floor that was right next to his head.  Cloud’s son fainted. All of his men ran.  For fun, Evil Aeris chased them into a marsh south of a chocobo ranch.  There, the Midgar Zolom devoured them.  When Evil Aeris got back to Sephiroth’s home, Cloud’s son had been tied to a tree right next to Fluffy’s home. Cloud’s son visibly flinched back when he saw her, and it delighted Evil Aeris to see someone so frightened of her. 

“What’s your name, boy?” she asked him with her hands on her hips.

“Cloud Jr. and I’m not a boy,” Cloud Jr. said, defiantly sticking his chin up in the air.

“Your parents aren’t creative, I see.”

“Neither is Sephiroth.”

 Evil Aeris laughed at Cloud Junior’s last remark.  She walked up to Cloud Junior’s tree and comfortably rested an arm on the branch.

“You’re not as dumb as I thought.  I guess I should let you live for another hour.  I’ll let ya’ choose how you’re going to die.” She said with a straight face.  Sephiroth stepped out of his “door” with one eyebrow raised.  Evil Aeris’ eyes twinkled as she laughed mysteriously as the sun set in the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

 

“I don’t think you should kill a boy for who his father is!” Evil Aeris almost screamed.  She and Sephiroth had been debating if Cloud Jr. should be killed, or should they let him live as one of Sephiroth or Evil Aeris’ minions. 

“He must be killed.  Cloud must be hurt as much as possible!” Sephiroth bellowed at Evil Aeris.

“If Cloud found out that his son had been turned into evil, he would be so sad that he wouldn’t be able to fight.  We could strike Cloud and his friends down, and the boy could become powerful and evil.  Just think, you could be the conqueror of Cloud’s son.  Think of how legendary you would be!” she said and pointed at Cloud Jr.

“No!”  Sephiroth wailed.

“Yes!”

“Urrgh…” mumbled Sephiroth in defeat.

“Good.  Doesn’t it make you feel good to agree with someone sometimes?  Losing builds character, after all.” Evil Aeris said nodding approvingly at the defeated Sephiroth.  Sephiroth let the remark pass, and moodily walked to his room.  As he sat on his hardly efficient bed, he thought about what had happened in the last two days.  He knew it wasn’t proper, but he had an odd feeling whenever he saw or thought of his creation.  It was almost as if… Sephiroth shook his head fiercely and thought of something else.  If Cloud’s son were to become evil like him, he would need training.  He supposed it would be a good idea to tell him about all of Cloud’s unfavorable characteristics.  He would also have to convince him that his father left him to die in a fight that didn’t really concern him.  Sephiroth slowly drifted off to sleep, considering all of the things he could do to convert Cloud Jr. to evil.

The sun shone bright in the sky, and that was not a good thing for Sephiroth.  The sun was his worst enemy.  The darkness was safer, and a lot more comfortable.  Evil Aeris had untied Cloud Jr. from Fluffy’s tree, and had fed him some cheese.  She was talking quietly to him, and he listened intently to her words. 

“Your father left you to die in our masters hands,” Evil Aeris was saying.

“But…”Cloud Junior’s eyes seemed blank as he tried to remember something.

“No buts!” Evil Aeris barked.

“Ok, Ok.  My father didn’t love me and wanted to kill me.” He said in a bored tone.

“I wonder what you would look like if you had no head.” She mused cynically. 

                Cloud Jr. backed away from his teacher slowly.  Evil Aeris laughed which made Cloud Jr. inch back to his seat right next to her.  Evil Aeris quickly kissed her pupil on his cheek and continued to teach him the evil ways as if nothing had happened.  Sephiroth’s face turned from a color of bright red to white to his normal skin color.  He didn’t know how he really felt, and it made him angry to feel so confused.  Evil Aeris saw Sephiroth and smiled.  Cloud Jr. didn’t turn around and ignored Sephiroth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“How are you today, boy?” Sephiroth said, rubbing the word “boy” in.  Cloud Jr. did not reply and Sephiroth snickered viciously.

                “Oh be nice, Sephiroth,” Evil Aeris said defensively.  Sephiroth blinked his eyes in an innocent way and clasped his hands together.

                “Who, me?” he asked with a wide-eyed expression.

                “Don’t do that, Sephiroth,” Evil Aeris said, doubling over with laughter, “or you’ll make me uncross with you.”

                Cloud Jr. wanted to change the subject, so he asked Evil Aeris a question.  She immediately answered him using lucid gestures and sounds.  Cloud Jr. knew he liked his evil teacher, and he wasn’t afraid to admit it.  He also knew that he hated Sephiroth.  He had a feeling that the both of them liked Evil Aeris, so he tried his best not to look at his opponent.  He was gradually forgetting his family and friends except for his mother, Tifa.  Tifa was a high spirited woman who deeply cared for her husband.  She was the only person he was able to talk to back at his home.  But now he would have to forget his mother.  He sighed a bit solemnly, then concentrated on what Evil Aeris was saying.

                After a fitful supper of beef and carrot salad, Evil Aeris stepped outside to breathe some fresh air.  She liked her little family, and she was content with the state in which her family held her at.  Although both Sephiroth and Cloud Jr. hid their feelings, she knew they liked her a lot more than they acted.  After a while, a strong breeze grew, so Evil Aeris went inside.  Cloud Jr. was explaining to Sephiroth how his father found out about his teacher’s existence.  He had drawn a map of a twisting tunnel underground.

                “It took years to build that tunnel,” Cloud Jr. said.

                “Is this tunnel able to withstand water?” Sephiroth asked as he turned to look at Evil Aeris.

                “Could you start a fire, Sephiroth?  I’m really cold, and I don’t want to get sick.” Evil Aeris interrupted.

Sephiroth instantly went to get firewood and Evil Aeris instantly stole his seat near the empty fire pit.  She pulled out a comb that was in one of her pockets and calmly combed her long luminous hair.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cloud Jr. turn away.  To prove her hypothesis about him liking her, she scooted over to his side and rested her head on his shoulder.  He looked bewildered and moved away from his teacher.  She grinned at him and scooted closer to her pupil and put her head on his shoulder and also wrapped her arm around his neck.  Cloud Junior’s face flushed and he froze in his place.  Sephiroth came back after a while, and saw Evil Aeris sitting next to Cloud Jr.   Luckily, her arm was placed on the floor, and her head has rested on a pillow.  Cloud Jr. was still frozen in his place. 

 

Sephiroth dumped a bucket of water into the fire.  Everyone had gone to bed except for Sephiroth.  He wandered around inside and outside his home, thinking deeply over Cloud Jr.  His creation’s pupil was rude, and liked Evil Aeris.  Sephiroth sniffed at the thought of a pupil liking a teacher.  In the back of his mind, reminded himself that a creator liked his creation.  He ignored the thought about him liking Evil Aeris, and walked quietly to his room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                “Good Morning,” Evil Aeris murmured quietly the next day.

                “Did you sleep well?” Sephiroth asked in a quiet voice.

                “Yes, did you?” Evil Aeris questioned her creator.

                “If you think that staying up till one o’clock in the morning is sleeping well, I suppose I did.” Sephiroth said a bit ruefully.

                “What kept you up so late?” Evil Aeris asked as she rubbed her hands to keep warm.  Sephiroth did not answer, and a moment later Cloud Junior walked into the room, rubbing his eyes sleepily.  Evil Aeris glanced at him with an evil smile, and his face turned red.  While Evil Aeris smiled at Cloud Junior, Sephiroth glowered at both of them with a look of profound disgust.  It seemed to Sephiroth that Evil Aeris had decided that her dumpy, ugly, dull-witted pupil looked better than the great, distinguished, handsome, and magnificent Sephiroth.  He turned and stamped away to get his breakfast.  He stared at the wall for sometime, and for a moment, realized that he liked Evil Aeris.  He knew that he would have to admit it sometime, but he didn’t think he was ready for the truth.  White puffy clouds filled the sky, and for once, the clouds comforted him.  He took a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen to where Cloud Jr. was sitting.

                “Do you remember what we were talking about yesterday, boy?” Sephiroth asked bluntly.

                “I’m not a boy!” Cloud Jr. exclaimed in an exasperated tone.

                “Actually you are,” Sephiroth said in a matter-of-fact way, “now do you remember what we were talking about yesterday?”

                “Do you mean the tunnel?” Cloud Jr. asked stiffly.

                “Exactly.  You didn’t answer my question about the tunnel being water proof.”

                “Well…” Cloud Jr. trailed off.

                “Well!” Sephiroth pressed.

                “Well, it’s not water proof, I suppose.” Cloud said with a shrug.

                “What do you mean by ‘I suppose’!” Sephiroth yelled at the boy.

                “It’s not as if my father tried to flood his tunnel in!  It would take days to clear out all of the water in one sector!  I don’t even think there’s a way to carry so much water!” Cloud Jr. shrieked at Sephiroth.

                “Then we’ll have to find a way to carry that amount of water.” Evil Aeris mused.

                “What?” both of the arguing men sputtered.

                “If we want a battle with Cloud, we will have to get his attention.  It would be better than to barge into Cloud’s house and challenge him,” Evil Aeris said calmly.

                “I never thought of that,” her pupil said sheepishly.

                “Of course not.  Only women can think of good ideas.” Evil Aeris said with a smirk.

               

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the next thirty minutes, Evil Aeris collected all of the water materia she could get.  She smiled when she saw Leviathan materia.  After a while, Cloud Junior got reckless and tried to talk to Sephiroth, but he got no reply.  Usually at his home on cloudy days like this, Cloud Jr. would ride his black chocobo to Cosmo Canyon.  There, he would wait until dark and go to Bugenhagen’s telescope and watch the stars twinkle in the night.  He missed his good life, but now he couldn’t turn back.  He was different, and he had done too many bad things with the most evil people in the world.  Going back would dishonor his family, and mostly his father.  Cloud Junior’s teacher tapped him lightly on his shoulder and he came out of his dreamland.  He looked at Evil Aeris’ terribly beautiful face, and forgot all of his wanting to go home.  Somehow, Evil Aeris seemed to read her pupils thoughts and patted him gently on his back.  That seemed to make him feel better.

                “This is the plan. We’re going to cast all of the water materia in the underground tunnel three times in a row.  Then, after the water is far away from us, we will leave this stone carved message.” Evil Aeris patted a stone with writing on it, “This stone will direct Cloud and his friends to the forest of Mideel.  We will meet there in two weeks.  At the forest of Mideel, we will fight to the death.”

                “There’s one problem,” Cloud Jr. said as he looked at Sephiroth and Evil Aeris, “I’ve never used materia before.”

                The room was silent for a long time and the only sound was the crackling fire’s sparks sizzling as they touched the cold floor.  Sephiroth was about to say something but Evil Aeris turned away to a table.  She took out an egg timer, and turned back around.

                “Shall we get started with your training then?” Evil Aeris asked Cloud Jr. with a wink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Three

 

               

 

                Cloud Junior’s training was going well, except that he kept on casting the spells on the wrong things.  Each time he messed up, Evil Aeris had a look of bafflement on her face. One particular time, Evil Aeris had stared at Cloud Jr. with a look of total astonishment as he casted Heal upon a by-standing tree.  When he tried out Fire materia, he casted the spell in the wrong direction and burnt the whole entire field.  Luckily, Evil Aeris casted Leviathan.  However, the field still stayed black.  Although Evil Aeris was training Cloud Junior for the flooding of the tunnel, she knew that her plan would never work.  She had gone to examine the tunnel before, and saw that if pressured slightly, it would collapse on itself. 

                One day, when Cloud Jr. was trying out Ice, there was a sound of the dry grass crackling.  The sound of a running on chocobo pattered in the distance.  This distracted Evil Aeris’ pupil, so he casted Ice on the grass that surrounded him and Evil Aeris.  When the man on a chocobo appeared from the crest of the field, Evil Aeris gasped and placed her hands protectively on Cloud Junior’s shoulders.  The man on a chocobo was actually a woman.  The woman had a grim face, and she had a gleaming white shield attached to her arm.  The shield, Cloud Jr. noticed had the seal of Wutai carved into the middle.  Cloud Junior knew who the woman was.  She had been one of his father’s close friends; a materia keeper named Yuffie.  She blinked as she saw Cloud Jr. and Evil Aeris.  Slowly, she got off of her chocobo and quickly paced forward to where Cloud Jr. and his teacher stood.  Evil Aeris stepped in front of Cloud Junior, and took out her gun.

                “Cloud… Cloud Junior? Is that you?” Yuffie asked in a quivering voice.

                “Yes.” Cloud Jr. said harshly.

                “It’s been so long!  You were eleven years old the last time I saw you.”

                Cloud Jr. was now nineteen and he shuddered as his memories of his childhood came back into his mind.  Cloud Junior had a good memory, so he remembered the last time he had saw Yuffie.  She was younger, and had carried a tiger looking puppy that talked.  The last time he saw her had been seven years before he left his home and became evil.  Evil Aeris looked questioningly at Cloud Junior, who stood glaring at Yuffie with cold eyes.  Yuffie sighed and stepped forward.  She did not look down and ended up slipping on the ice on the floor, becoming unconscious.  Cloud Junior’s teacher looked at him and grinned as she picked Yuffie up.  It took a while to get to Sephiroth’s home, but when they reached it the Wutaian had started to stir in half consciousness.  The same tree that had been Cloud Junior’s temporary home became handy again. 

                “Cloud Junior!” Yuffie abruptly yelled, as she became aware of her situation.

                “Yuffie!” Cloud Jr. said in a mocked tone.

                “What have you turned into?” Yuffie asked in tears.

                “I am what I have always been.” Cloud Jr. replied flatly. 

Evil Aeris took her pupil aside and asked him, “How does she know you?”

                “She is one of my father’s friend.”

                “Do you think she will talk?”

                “Probably not.”

                Evil Aeris sighed and walked up to Yuffie.  The two women stood staring at each other, and sparks seemed to pass each of their eyes.  Evil Aeris suddenly slapped Yuffie, then turned away.  Sephiroth was inside, drinking tea.  As Evil Aeris drudged into the room, Sephiroth looked at her with one raised eyebrow, his way of asking a question. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evil Aeris understood what he meant, and she snapped, “Don’t even ask.”

Sephiroth quickly moved out of her way as she walked to her quarter, bringing a thundercloud that trailed behind her.

Outside, Yuffie had her face turned away from Cloud Junior, her face still red.  Cloud Jr. had comfortably sat himself on a large root on the tree, which Yuffie was confined to.  There was a silence that frightened Yuffie.  Cloud Jr. had always been a chatterbox, and he was never quiet at home.  Cloud’s son had made a change that was so horrible that Yuffie didn’t want to look at him.  Yuffie was just about to ask him why he betrayed everyone, when Sephiroth stepped out of his “doorway”.  Sephiroth had not changed, except for one thing.  There was a sense of lost dignity in his eyes.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?  How is your son?  How is your husband?” Sephiroth asked with a smug expression on his face.  Yuffie didn’t answer and pursed her lips to signify that she was going to be silent.

“I see,” Sephiroth said quietly.

“Why… why have you done this to Cloud Junior?  What kind of monster are you?”  Yuffie asked from clenched teeth.

“Ah.  That subject.  You see, I haven’t done this to your friend’s son.  The young lady who slapped you wanted him alive and needed a follower.  I wanted him dead, and I could try to convince the girl to change her mind.” Sephiroth said a bit sourly.  Evil Aeris had been standing right behind Sephiroth, and hissed at both Sephiroth and Yuffie.  Sephiroth jumped as he heard the sound and turned around.

“Why have you come to take Cloud Jr. away from me?” she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper.

“Take him back?  I was just riding and I stumbled upon both of you.” Yuffie answered with her face still turned away.

“Sure.  You already knew that we where here, so you came!” Evil Aeris accused Yuffie fiercely. 

“Yes, I already knew you were here, but I did not come here to take him back.  Besides, I knew that if I tried to get him, you would kill me instantly.”

“But you thought of it!” Evil Aeris screeched and pulled out her gun.  Sephiroth grabbed Evil Aeris’ arm tightly.  He quietly whispered in her ear, and she relaxed a bit.  Evil Aeris sarcastically kicked dirt onto Yuffie, and walked away with Sephiroth still next to her.  Sephiroth came out later, and fed Yuffie a tiny loaf of bread.  She refused to eat at first, but ended up gobbling the bread and every speck of crumbs.

A starry shadow of darkness had now blanketed the sky.  Everyone except for the captive Wutaian had gone inside to get warm.  Cloud Jr. felt sympathetic for his father’s friend, but knew if it showed, he would instantly be put out in the cold with her.  He agreed that he wasn’t too sympathetic for her, though.  As the crackling fire died out, Cloud Jr. went to sleep in his room.  Evil Aeris had fallen asleep in a rocking chair, and Sephiroth had carried her quietly away to her bed.  Cloud Junior sat in bed, wondering what they would do with Yuffie.  He yawned sleepily and soon fell asleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“She’s gone!” cried Evil Aeris early the next morning.  Both Sephiroth and Cloud Jr. looked abashed as they saw the rope that tied Yuffie up cut in half.  Evil Aeris ran around in circles, cursing in languages that her pupil had never heard of.  Fluffy slithered out of his little den, and Evil Aeris immediately growled at him.  Fluffy hissed back at her and slithered off next to Sephiroth, who patted him gently on the head. 

“That’s it!” Evil Aeris said and clapped her hands together, “We’ll use Fluffy for a bloodhound!  He can smell better than us, can’t he?”  Fluffy flicked his tongue out at her and very quickly slithered back to his den.  Evil Aeris picked up a long stick and pointed it threateningly at Fluffy’s den.  Sephiroth gasped and Evil Aeris rapidly turned around. 

There, in a nimbus of blue, floated Angel Aeris.  Cloud Junior, bewildered, turned from Evil Aeris to Angel Aeris over and over again.  He coughed and silently walked back to Sephiroth’s home and disappeared into the darkness.  Angel Aeris lifted the cut ropes connected to the tree, and grinned.  She patted Sephiroth on the shoulder, and gravely looked at Evil Aeris, who was fuming. 

“You are playing a difficult game, Evil Aeris,” Angel Aeris said seriously.                    

                “So are you, dear over-dressed butterfly,” Evil Aeris said impulsively.                                                          

                “You still have time to change.”

                “Change? Why would I change?”

                “I know how you feel, Evil Aeris.”

                “You know nothing, and you shall never grow out of your dullness,” Evil Aeris replied hotly.

                “I was afraid it would come to this,” Angel Aeris said sadly, “Sephiroth.  I know that your love for Evil Aeris is greater than it seems.  I also know that Cloud Junior loves her very deeply, too.  If you don’t return Cloud Junior, you two will kill each other!”

                Sephiroth stiffened visibly, and Evil Aeris pulled out her gun and shot many times at Angel Aeris.  The bullets, of course, the bullets flew right through her.  Evil Aeris sank to her knees and began to weep.  Sephiroth approached her slowly, and patted her shoulder.  She slapped his hand away, and leaned her head against a tree.  She curled up into a ball and sniffed wordlessly to herself.  Cloud Jr. stepped out from Sephiroth’s den, and looked desperately at Sephiroth and then despondently looked at Evil Aeris.  He lightly touched her head and walked over to Angel Aeris’ side.  The blue nimbus enveloped Cloud Junior, and a moment later he was gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

 

 

 

                Cloud Strife’s elaborate house was located near A chocobo ranch.  The wind there was strong, and the need for a thick coat was never changed.  Cloud Jr. had not talked ever since he had left Evil Aeris and Sephiroth two days ago.  Tifa had tried to convince him to wear a cloak, but he refused and sat in his room all day.  He looked longingly out at the sky, but was not allowed to leave his home.  It was easy for him to escape, but he would quickly die with no food or mount to ride upon.  As Cloud Jr. dozed off, he surmised that Evil Aeris had already forgotten him.  He remembered her beautiful face, so pale and stern.  Feeling sorry for himself, Cloud Junior left his room in search of someone to talk to.  Cloud Jr. found himself talking to a hyper boy five minutes later.

                “…And then, I walked up to the wild and fierce chocobo and threw my saddle onto him and then I rode him, really, I did, then I called him Coco and he seemed to like it so I kept him and now he’s six years old, pretty old for a chocobo, and I’m going to race him in a chocobo race tomorrow, do you want to come and watch him ride, he’s so cool and he can jam into other chocobo’s and he’s going to win because he’s the best and I, the great Montahan, trained him so he has to win…” he kept on blabbering, so Cloud Junior slipped away, leaving the boy talking to a vase.

                The next person he talked to was better, and he was as “hyper” as the other boy, “………………………………………………………..uh………………………..what…………………are……………………….you……………………………….looking at?………………………………….”  

Finally, Cloud Jr. got tired of talking to annoying people and walked off to his father’s room.  The door was carved with ornately designs of trees and birds that where so realistic that Cloud Junior looked at its beautiful curves for more than ten minutes.  When he started to attract a crowd, Cloud Jr. stepped into his father’s room.  Cloud was sitting drowsily in his working chair, and his yellow spikes of hair were matted down.  Unlike his mother, Cloud was always serious and quiet. 

                “Hello, Cloud Jr.” Cloud inclined his head to his son.

                “Hello, Cloud.” Cloud Jr. said cruelly.  Cloud slowly turned to look at his son, his eyebrows creased in an angular line, and his intent eyes glowing even more than usual.  Cloud Jr. walked up to his father in a smart matter, and bowed curtly to his father.

                “Oh don’t do that, it makes me sick.”

                “Of course, Cloud.”   

                “Can’t you be polite enough to call me “dad” or “father?” Cloud asked in a pleading voice.

                “No.” Cloud Junior answered back rudely and left his father’s workroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Cloud Jr. grinned happily to himself as he re-pictured his father’s pleading face.  When he got back to his room, Tifa Strife was sitting on his bed.  She wore a plain red dress, and she wore no jewlery.  Tifa did not smile, and she motioned her son to come to her.  He immediately walked forward, and sat next to her.  Tifa seemed to fix her son’s coat absentmindedly.  She smiled at him, noticing how much she was acting.  She sighed a withering sigh, and cleared her throat uncomfortably. 

“My son,” she began, “I have noticed that you have been corrupted by Sephiroth and his creation.”

“But, I wasn’t corrupted!” Cloud Junior said, shocked at his mother’s words.

“Yes you have.  See, you even talk back to me!”

“I’m angry at Cloud, that’s all.”

“Why do you call your father that?  When did you learn such bad manners?  Not from me, of course,” She said with her hands on her hips.  Cloud Junior looked at her helplessly.

                “Now I don’t think you should be locked up in here, but your father doesn’t trust you yet.  Until you start behaving yourself, the only outdoors you’ll be seeing is from windows.” She said in a final tone.

                “Yes, mother.” Cloud said politely, but was still hurt by his mother’s words.  Tifa quickly embraced her son and walked out of his room, her dress flying behind her.

 

                “Well, Sephiroth.  What shall we do?” Evil Aeris asked in a subdued voice.

                “We should just let Cloud have his son back. We could fight him with or without the boy.” Sephiroth said in a bored tone.

                “I never knew you were such a weakling, giving up so easily,” Evil Aeris replied crisply.  Sephiroth looked at Evil Aeris with harsh eyes, then walked off.  Evil Aeris sniffed and continued to think of a way to get Cloud Junior back.

               

                Cloud stood looking at his son, who undoubtedly didn’t like him anymore.  However, he was not going to give up.  He knew the only thing he could do was to teach him his manners again.  Yuffie was not available to teach Cloud Junior, because of a misfortune.  Yuffie was very much shaken after her brief encounter with Cloud Junior, and was not going to go anywhere near him, even if her life depended on it.  She just stayed home, curled up on the sofa, crying her head off because her son wouldn’t stop clawing at her furniture that had belonged to Godo, her very strict father.  Of course Red, called Nanaki by his wife, always comforted her and sternly disciplined his unruly son, named Moki. However, Yuffie stayed very sad after her encounter with Evil Aeris and Cloud Jr.

                The rest of Cloud’s friends were either taking care of their children or on some kind of mission.  This left Cloud only one choice for a teacher: himself.  Now, Cloud knew that he would have to convince his son that he needed manners, but it would be very difficult to do even that.  Tifa was the only person who could convince Cloud Jr. to listen to his father.  Tifa could not teach her son his manners because she was too sensitive.  Cloud would have to try not to smack his son across the face too many times.  That would be the most difficult thing for Cloud.  He was used to smacking people around, so he had to learn to control his bad temper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I am not going to put up with your bad manners,” Cloud rehearsed in his bedroom mirror, putting on a bold face.  Unfortunately, he did not look convincing.  Solemnly, he repeated, trying not to look as if he were pleading.  His act went downhill, until even Cloud laughed at himself.  He decided that the only way to teach his son his manners was to be his own, normal self.  Cloud looked at himself one more time in the mirror, and rehearsed a different line, actually with only one word different. 

                Three weeks later, Cloud got enough courage to go up to his son and speak to him. 

                “Cloud Jr.” Cloud said as he approached his son.  Cloud Junior did not answer, and continued on with what he was doing as if his father was just a mere distraction.

                “Boy…” Cloud said crudely.  Cloud Jr. whirled around and scowled at his father, who answered back with a smug grin on his face.  Cloud Junior clenched his teeth together, and forged a smile. 

                “Hello, Cloud.  What are you up to today?  Are you going to scare more people with your face?  If so, I should warn the Chocobo Sage to hide from you.” Cloud Junior said rudely.

                “Why would I do that, when my boy here can scare everyone without even being seen?”

                The two looked pensively at each other, speaking volumes of colorful language in their eyes.

                “I must be going, Cloud.  It’s been nice talking to you, and I will be longing for another conversation with you,” Cloud said pertly and left without saying another word.  Cloud awarded himself for his victory with a tankard of beer.  That turned out as a problem, because Tifa could smell alcohol on a person miles away.  Cloud received a long lecture, and the next day when Cloud felt sick, he believed every word that his wife had said.  Cloud Junior continued his silent strike at his father until he was so annoying that Cloud couldn’t stand it, not that he could have anyway.  Cloud Junior wailed for quite some time as Cloud made his son do the laborious task of hurling himself onto a wall to kill (invisible) bugs.  Tifa later made her husband make food, do the laundry, dishes, and house cleaning, as she mended her son’s wounds.  Cloud decided that it would be a good idea to let his son leave the house, for both of their physical and mental health.

               

 

 

“Mother,” Cloud Junior winced as Tifa plucked a splinter out of his arm, “Couldn’t you at least try to make this hurt a little less?  Falling of the roof-top hurt much less than this does.”

                “No.  I think you deserve this.  Why were you on the top of the house, anyway?”  Tifa asked without any emotion in her voice.

                “Well… I was looking at the sky, you know, because of the flocks of geese.  They interested me, and I suddenly felt sick, so I fell?”

                “Try again.”  Cloud’s wife said flatly.

                “Ok, ok.  I was on the roof with Cyrinas, a girl I know, and was showing off, and a moment later, I was on the floor.”

                “And what were you doing with Cyrinas on the roof?” Tifa asked in a hardly tolerate voice.   Cloud Junior blushed furiously, and his mother’s shocked look made everything even worse for him.

                “Next time you try to fly, sprout wings.” She said and continued to pluck at her son’s prickled arm rhythmically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * * * * *

The moon was as bright as a pearl in an azure sea, and the wind tussled Evil Aeris’ hair.  She clenched her fist tightly as she looked down at the large manor owned by Cloud.  Sephiroth signaled Evil Aeris to come, and she slowly, still looking maliciously at the manor, walked down the path leading to Cloud’s house.  For a normal person, walking in the dark would have been difficult, but Evil Aeris lived in perpetual darkness, as did Sephiroth.  It was cold, but Evil Aeris didn’t care much.  She was concentrating on the decision of how she would kill Cloud and Tifa.  She felt a little sorry for Tifa, but Cloud’s wife had also helped in the fight that destroyed Sephiroth’s plan to be all-powerful.  But the thing that Evil Aeris was concentrating on the most was the decision of killing or taking back Cloud Jr.  She was quite hurt that he would like another girl, and was very willing to diminish the traitor.  As Evil Aeris almost walked herself into a tree, Sephiroth grabbed her out of the way roughly. 

“Ouch!” Evil Aeris cried a little bit too loudly.  Sephiroth put one finger to his lips, then turned around and kept on slinking along like a cat. 

“Cloud!” Tifa’s whispered shout echoed along the hallway.  Cloud had been looking at the pathway leading strait to his home intently for a while, with his sword in one hand. 

“Cloud, what are you doing with your sword! Tell me that you haven’t decided to die because your son likes a girl! All people fall in love after all,”

“Cloud Junior loves someone!” Cloud almost dropped his sword.

“Uh… you didn’t know?” Tifa asked as she backed away.

“No, you think?”

“Well… then why are you holding your sword?”

“That, Tifa, is why.” Cloud pointed at Evil Aeris and Sephiroth down below.  Tifa stood in horror as the two evil people walked carefully across the path. 

“…and we won’t tell Cloud Jr.” Cloud said bleakly.  Tifa looked at her husband sorrowfully, hugged him briefly, and then hurried away.

 

Because of the need for silence, it took Evil Aeris and Sephiroth another half-hour to get to the front step of Cloud’s door.  The air was still and foggy, and Evil Aeris felt as if she was being watched.  Above her, she saw a faint flicker of something moving.  She spun around to look at Sephiroth, who had already seen the figure.  He looked quite annoyed, and perspiration hung on his face.  He very slowly took out his long sword and backed away from the door.  Evil Aeris took out her gun that glistened from present shining.  Evil Aeris followed Sephiroth’s movement.  From behind the door came at first quiet footsteps that gradually became louder and louder.  Evil Aeris felt a sudden joy come over her as she imagined Cloud being killed slowly in her hands.  She almost wanted to run the door open, but gradually, someone from inside opened the door.

Cloud Strife stood fully prepared to fight, with his renowned sword clasped in his hand.  Cloud Juniors father did not look very intimidating.  The only thing that frightened Evil Aeris was his eyes.  Cloud’s eyes were a soft dark blue that seemed to seep through Evil Aeris.  She flinched back but straitened and smirked at her enemy.  She decided that torturing him slowly would be the best way to dispose of him.  She slowly pulled out a rope from beneath a belt that was strapped around her thin waist, and snapped it loudly. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud didn’t move from his position in front of the doorway.  He seemed as if he was blocking Evil Aeris’ way to Cloud Junior.  This infuriated the girl, and she spat at him.  Cloud squatted down to the floor and picked up a rock.  Sardonically, he threw it at Evil Aeris.  Frozen in surprise, she stared blankly at Cloud Junior’s father.  As the rock hit Evil Aeris’ white face, bright red blood trickled down her face.  She was about to pick the rock up again and throw it back, but decided against the foolish act.  Instead, she wiped the blood off of her face and held her rope out to Cloud.  He pointed the tip of his sword at Evil Aeris again with sarcasm, but then slowly turned it to Sephiroth.

“So we meet again,” Cloud said and then took on a battle position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

 

Chapter Five

               

 

 

Evil Aeris hopped out of Sephiroth’s way.  Sephiroth, with his long hair streaming behind him, seemed to be on fire.  He lunged forward, but Cloud’s quickness countered Sephiroth’s attack.  After a while of lunging and blocking, Evil Aeris tired of watching and stepped closer to the door.  Although Evil Aeris was sure that Cloud was not looking, he jumped defensively in front of his large door.  Evil Aeris pouted, but soon began to think of another way to get to Cloud Jr.  She had no equipment to climb a wall, and the door was blocked.  Her eyes brightened as she looked at her materia. The idea had never come to her.  She could blast her way through the walls!  No longer unsure of her way to get in, she walked away from the two fighting men and pulled out all of her materia.  It took her a while to get a crack in the sturdy walls, but as soon as she did, everything became easier.  An hour later, she had a hole wide enough for her to get in.  Evil Aeris rested herself for a while, the stepped into the dusty room she had gotten into. 

                The room was colorfully decorated with bright pinks and purples.  The room totally disgusted Evil Aeris.  The colors were too joyful!  As she turned to look at the door, she saw a vase holding three lilies.  She hated lilies more than any flower.  She threw the vase across the room.  Then, she picked the flowers up again, but ripped the petals off and tore the flowers into shreds.  When Evil Aeris left the room, it looked as if a monster had lived in it for billions of years.  The determined girl skipped around the hallway of Cloud Juniors home.  It took thirty minutes to get to the great door of Cloud and his wife’s bedroom.  The door, ornately carved with pictures, made Evil Aeris feel giddy.  She didn’t care how she felt at the moment, however.  Passing a finger across the handles, she yanked the door open and gasped as she saw Tifa Lockheart standing next to her husband. 

                “Did you kill Sephiroth!” Evil Aeris asked, almost in tears.  Cloud shook his head, but did not speak.  His arm was bandaged and his face had some scratches on it, but he seemed to be in good condition.

                “Then where is he!”

                “He left,” Tifa’s sweet voice answered.

                “Without me!”

                “I believe so.  He did seem to be a little worried, though.”

                “Good.” Evil Aeris nodded.

                “Why don’t you just leave, child?” Tifa asked plaintively.

                “And why would I do that?”

                “Our son does not need your evil ways.  He did nothing that harmed you.”

                “What do you mean!? He left me!”  Evil Aeris said, verging on tears.

                “That was not his fault.” Tifa said calmly.

                Evil Aeris pulled out her whip and lashed it toward Tifa.  Although in a skirt, Tifa dodged the whip very smoothly.  The evil girl cursed loudly at both Tifa and Cloud.  Nothing seemed to startle Cloud’s wife, and soon Evil Aeris exhausted herself.  She sat down on a chair, with her whip at hand.  Cloud remained standing, but Tifa sat down on a chair and began to read a book placed on a table. 

                “Aren’t you going to do something?” Tifa asked with fictitious curiosity.

                “Aren’t you?” Evil Aeris sniffed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                A mumbling voice came from outside the room, and soon the door opened.  Cloud Junior rubbed his hand across his face. 

                “Is something wrong?” he asked, without looking around.  Tifa and Cloud looked startled and stepped forward.  However, Evil Aeris had already stood up.  She placed one icy finger on Cloud Junior’s warm arm and glared at him.  Cloud Jr. jumped and backed away from Evil Aeris.  She raised one eyebrow, then speedily rapped her whip around her captive. 

                “It’s nice to see you again.” She smirked.

                “Wh… wh… what are you doing here!?” Cloud Jr. stuttered.

                “I’ve come to take you away, for the last time.  I believe this will be the last time you breathe, my dear.”

                Tifa shuddered, then collapsed to the floor.  Cloud picked her up and then stared harshly at Evil Aeris.  He stood up, and slowly picked his sword up.  His eyes turned an even deeper blue, and his eyebrows creased.  To her surprise, Evil Aeris was shivering.  She winked at Cloud, then dashed away, with her the squirming Cloud Jr.  

                “No-------------o!” bellowed Cloud.  He muttered some choice oaths, then ran after his son’s captor.  Because of Evil Aeris’ fitness, she ran much faster than Cloud.  Although Cloud was slower than Evil Aeris, he had an advantage.  Evil Aeris had to carry one more person than Cloud had to.  But when Cloud caught up to Evil Aeris, she did not have Cloud Junior with her. 

                “What did you do to him?!” he gasped as he caught his breath.  

                “Do?  I left him… somewhere.  Would you like to search for him?  By the time you find the spot where I hid him, I’ll have already gotten him,” she said smugly.

                “Then prepare to die, demon child!” Cloud yelled as he charged toward the girl.  Evil Aeris sidestepped her opponent, then scampered past him.  Cloud sped toward the direction that the evil girl ran.  Much to his dismay, he ran straight into a dead end.  He pounded his fists on the wall, all the while cursing.  He scratched his chin thoughtfully. 

                “She ran so fast that she could not have possibly gotten Cloud Jr.”  he thought.  He woke the people in his manor, then set out a search crew.  No one found Cloud Junior that night or the nights after.  Cloud didn’t really care, though.  He was already readying for a search of his own, outside of his home.  He knew that it was seriously dangerous, but so was leaving Cloud Jr. in the hands of the most evil people in the planet.  In the morning one week after his meeting with Evil Aeris, Cloud stepped outside of his manor with his armor and weapons.  He also carried a blanket, extra food, Band-Aids, and many other things that Tifa had packed into his supply bag.  Cloud very well knew that carrying such things like Band-Aids would just slow him down, but he decided not to open his mouth.  Tifa was very strict about being ready for anything.  She reminded him that bug bites could kill a person in a matter of hours.  She also told her husband very seriously that some fish bit people.  He nodded at everything she said, actually not hearing anything that she said.  When he was ready, packed with the most stupid things, he set off in the direction of the swamp of the Midgar Zolom.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                It did not take Cloud a long time to reach the home of the Midgar Zolom.  It was quite misty, so Cloud wore an extra layer of clothes.  He continued through the plains near the chocobo ranch, stopping to rent two chocobo’s.  He was sure that he would be able to get his son back, so he wanted to be prepared.  In a matter of days, he reached the little cave that belonged to Sephiroth, but he did not stop by.  He knew that Sephiroth, Evil Aeris, and Cloud Jr. would not be there.  He did, however, leave some of his things in little areas in the layer of Sephiroth.  Now that he had fewer things in his bag, he traveled quicker and soon stumbled upon a vast clearing.  It was hard to see far away because of the heat waves rising from the earth.  Instead of being cold, Cloud was burning hot.  His pace slowed almost into a dead stop.  He had water and food, but he had been in the sun much too long.  But Cloud didn’t stop.  He wore white clothes to keep him from being too hot, and drank water nearly every hour.  After five days, the heat wave had disappeared and Cloud regained his fast pace.  For many weeks Cloud wandered around, going through different types of weather.  Many times he would come across an unnamed river with fish.  Although he hated the taste of fish, Cloud would rather save his better tasting food for when he needed it.  After a while, Cloud had doubts about his finding Cloud Junior.  As he was about to turn around to go home, he saw a moving figure in the distance.  He remembered about mirages, but also remembered that mirages only appeared when it was hot, and it was not.  He grasped his sword and slowly crept toward the figure. 

The figure was not only a human it was Sephiroth.  Cloud growled from between clenched teeth, and started to ready him for an attack.  Sephiroth, surprised, turned around and then, turning back slowly spurred away.  Cloud the reins of his scared chocobo and chased his fleeing enemy.  As Cloud gained on Sephiroth, he spotted a little hut in the direction that Sephiroth was running.  It seemed totally deserted except for a clothesline hanging on a tree and a wooden pole.  As Cloud and his enemy reached the hut, Evil Aeris stepped out of the doorway.  She wore a plain black dress, with her hair let loose across her shoulder.  Sephiroth gasped, then feeling that his situation was bad enough, turned around to face his enemy.  He was unarmed, and was wearing no armor.  He had no materia either.  Cloud grinned and then launched himself toward Sephiroth.  Sephiroth speedily jumped out of his enemies’ way then threw some punches at Cloud’s back.  It only caused Cloud minimal pain.  Cloud turned around, swinging his sword above his shoulders.  If Sephiroth had been armed and prepared, the attack would have failed.  But because of the situation, Sephiroth was absolutely hopeless.  The blow ended up in Sephiroth’s neck.  Amazed, Cloud stood with his opponent on the floor.  When Cloud regained his composure, he wiped his bloody sword on the ground.  As he turned to look at where Evil Aeris had been, he felt a keen feeling of being watched.  Cloud turned back around and saw much to his disbelief, Cloud Junior in full armor.

                Cloud Junior’s eyes had no color, and seemed blank and uncomprehending.  Clouds son’s sword was pointed directly at his father, and his eyes were set.  Cloud shook his head, putting his sword on the floor.  Cloud Jr. sniffed and started to walk toward his father.  Cloud sighed, then picked his sword up.  Behind him, Cloud could see Evil Aeris approaching both of them.  She was grinning openly, with her eyes alight with joy.  Cloud, following his son’s moves, walked toward Cloud Jr.  Time seemed to stand still for some moments.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud Jr. was the first person to attack.  He swung his sword at his father’s hip, but Cloud blocked the attack with his sword.  Sparks flew in every direction, making the two men glow.  Cloud’s attack to his son’s thigh was purposely ineffective.  If he could, Cloud thought that he would be able to exhaust Cloud Junior enough to stop fighting.  He most definitely didn’t want to bring his son’s dead body back to Tifa.  Cloud tried to kick his son off of his feet, but Cloud Junior’s legs were too sturdy.  The two battled on for minutes, then an hour passed.  Just as he had hoped, Cloud Jr. collapsed on the ground after an hour of battling.  Evil Aeris was fuming, and she was visibly shaking.  She flicked her hair out of her face, then pulled out her gun-knife. 

The next battle brought Cloud to the floor.  Evil Aeris was a better fighter than Cloud had expected.  She moved in and out of all of Cloud’s attacks.  Cloud was too weak after fighting Sephiroth and his son to give enough effort into his attack.  When he fell onto the floor, and was readying to be killed, Cloud Junior stood up.

“Evil Aeris.  Please, spare his life.  He meant you no harm, and it would be better to just let him live in agony than to kill him here.  Don’t you want him to die in pain?” he spoke in a hushed voice.

“What?!  He murdered a defenseless man, and he almost took you back!  Do you want to go back to your boring life?” she said with tears streaming down her face.

“If it will stop you from killing him, I must.  No one needs to die, at least not today. Sephiroth deserved to be killed, but this man does not,” he said with no emotion.

“He does too deserve to die!  What, are you out of your mind!  Don’t you have any feelings?!” Evil Aeris wailed.  Cloud Junior did not reply.  Evil Aeris shook her head, then threw her weapon at Cloud.  Cloud flicked the poorly thrown weapon away.  Evil Aeris shrieked, and dumbly charged Cloud.  Cloud Junior grabbed her away from her opponent, and smacked her across the face.  Her mouth opened thoughtlessly, and her furious struggle stopped.  She wrapped her arms around Cloud Jr. and wept in his shoulders.  Cloud Jr. looked at Cloud sadly, and turned back to the little hut. 

“No!” Cloud shouted.  Cloud Junior slowly turned around, his eyes unemotional. 

“No, not this time!  Tifa, Barret, Yuffie, me, we all won’t let you go again!  I traveled billions of miles to find you, and now that I’ve found you, I won’t leave without you!” Cloud said with steel in his voice.

“Then you won’t be leaving.”

“Tifa, your mother, is waiting for you!  Don’t you remember the girl you like? Umm… Cyrinas, right?  We all want you to be normal again.  You may think that you were always like this, but you weren’t.  You had feelings, and people around you cared for you.  But I guess that you don’t care, now that you have your evil little friend, and a little home.  You’ve become so little in such a short time!” Cloud said.  Cloud Jr. looked at Evil Aeris and the hut.  Then he looked at Cloud, and the waiting chocobo’s.  His eyes became lost in thought, and then they cleared.  He sighed then took a step toward his father.  Evil Aeris pulled at his hands, but he continued to walk toward Cloud.  With hatred in her eyes, Evil Aeris slashed out a hidden dagger and struck Cloud Jr. in the back.  Cloud Junior lurched forward then toppled over.  Evil Aeris dropped to the floor, and picked her dagger up.  She kissed Cloud Junior’s cheek, then swiftly stabbed herself in the heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Cloud ran to his son’s side, and rocked his fallen son side to side.  Stars were scattered in the sky.  Cloud curled up to his son and fell asleep.  As he settled into a dreamless sleep, he felt unnatural warmth about him.  He peered up at the sky, and noticed a blue light beside him.  He sat up and saw the beautiful figure of Angel Aeris.  She sat down on the floor and laid her hand on Cloud Junior’s head.  She sighed sadly and placed Cloud’s hand in hers.  She smiled at him, and then stood up.  She wove her hands through different gestures, and when she finished her movement, Cloud Jr. began to stir.  He looked up at his father, then sighed happily.  Cloud felt for Cloud Junior’s pulse, and as he found it, he smiled. 

                “Goodbye, Cloud,” Angel Aeris whispered. Angel Aeris flew away, and with her was the new Angel Aeris, whom was once Evil Aeris.

 

 

 

Here ends the story of Evil Aeris and Cloud Junior

By: Cynthia Mitchem