The mood at the Seventh Heaven tavern was a somber one. Everyone had heard of the vicious attack on Cosmo Canyon. Tifa moved from table to table, dispensing drinks and taking orders, a calm expression on her face hiding her inner turmoil. She kept one ear on the conversations around her, you never know what alcohol loosened lips might say.

No mention of Barret who was still missing, but she had received word that the children had been relocated, so at least little Marlene was safe. Something else caught her attention though. "I heard Rufus has hired some elite bounty hunter to hunt down the princess." One man said in a loud whisper a table over. Tifa moved closer to listen.

"Bah, nothing he has done has caught her these past ten years. He sent the whole army and that still didn't work, what's one man gonna do? The resistance has her somewhere safe, mark my words." His companion said not even bothering to whisper.

Tifa wished that were true but they'd had no word or sighting of Aerith in the two days since the attack. "I don't know about that, this fellow, I heard, he's special got some real uncanny abilities. Might not even be human."

"Bullshit, we're all human, cept those Cetra and the Lady Aerith is the last and she ain't even full blooded. Goddess keep her safe, she's the only light we have left against that greedy cruel son of a bitch."

Tifa moved away, frowning slightly. Rumours of magically enhanced warriors had reached her ears before but they could be just regular talented warriors, people did tend to exaggerate. But she wouldn't put anything past Rufus. She headed behind the bar and started pouring more drinks.

She itched to go out herself and search for her dear friend and the princess she hadn't seen for years. Aerith had been hidden by Tifa's parents for several months, 10 years ago. They had been killed protecting her and Tifa was determined that they would not die for nothing. She wondered if she would even recognise Aerith now, the princess had been 12, herself 10.

"Um excuse me." Tifa shook her head to clear her thoughts and turned to the customer with a smile. "What can I get for you…?" The words died on her lips as she stared at the young woman in the too large cloak peering anxiously at her. "I'm looking for a woman named Tifa, can you help me?"
"Holy shit." Tifa gaped at Aerith, who stared back.

"Tifa? Little Tifa?" Aerith whispered. "When Barret mentioned your name, I thought surely it couldn't be the same little girl. But it is you, isn't it?" Tifa snapped herself out of her daze and hurried around the bar to Aerith's side.

"Come, quickly." She grabbed Aerith's hand and took her upstairs to where she lived, above the tavern. Tifa spoke a word and waved a hand then Mako infused candle light lit up a small living room with a cosy glow. "Do you know what happened to Barret?" Aerith asked a moment before Tifa was going to ask her the same question.

"No, and I guess you don't either." Tifa said with a sigh. "I'm so sorry, your majesty." Aerith made a face. "Please don't, its Aerith. We used to play together, do you remember?"

Tifa smiled in response. "You made me a flower crown and said I was a princess too." She said fondly. Then her parents had died and Aerith had been whisked away by the resistance and Tifa had been left with nothing. Her smile disappeared and she turned away from Aerith, forcing the memories of blood and fire away. The resistance had taken her in, cared for her, taught her to fight. And one day, she would have justice.

"Tifa… your parents, I'm so sorry." Aerith touched her shoulder gently. "I'm okay, really. What happened was Rufus' fault not yours." Tifa said firmly. "And I will kill him one day." She set her shoulders and turned back to Aerith.

"Right, first things first. We notify the resistance immediately that you are safe and plan our next move. I have a sending crystal so we can contact them straight away. They've been insane with worry about you. " Aerith's stomach growled suddenly, startling both of them. Tifa laughed. "Well maybe dinner first, you just wait, I'm a fantastic cook, you're in for a treat."

"Goddess curse it." Cloud had followed yet another group of Cosmo refugees to only find, that the princess was not among them either. She must have fled on her own, separated from her protectors somehow.

There was a small fishing village a short distance from the way he came, perhaps he could find clues there. Rufus' soldiers had been sent to scour every small village surrounding Cosmo Canyon but they weren't known for their competence in finding the missing Cetra. He stopped at a stream and dismounted from Fenrir to let the bird drink and have a break from his weight.

He bent to refill his canteen and his eagle eyes caught sight of chocobo tracks a few paces downstream that didn't belong to Fenrir. Curious, he moved closer, scanning the ground carefully. Evening was falling so it was getting hard to make out anything in the gloom. There. In the sun dried mud was the imprint of a small boot, woman sized. Someone else had been here recently. A small round hole next to it, like the end of a stick had been pressed into the earth.

"Or a staff." He muttered, a smirk appearing on his face. The Cetras were known for their skill with magic and the use of staffs or staves to channel it. But this didn't tell him where she was heading. Just that she had been nearby in the last day or so. He glanced up towards the mountains. "Surely she didn't head to Nibelheim, did she boy?"

Ten years ago the nobility in Nibelheim had been killed and replaced with lackeys loyal to Rufus and the place was crawling with imperial guard. It would be utterly foolish of her to find sanctuary there. "But who said royals were smart." Cloud spoke out loud. Fenrir finished drinking and came over to head butt his owner gently. Cloud rubbed his beak. "Okay, buddy. I know you're hungry. We'll eat and rest for a while then check out Nibelheim."

-
After dinner Tifa drew Aerith a large bath, heated by fire materia then left her to bathe while she went to use the sending crystal.

It only took a few moments and Cid's voice came though. "What's up missy? Heard from Barret?"
"No, but Aerith is here. She arrived a short time ago, alone." Cid was stuck speechless for a moment then let out a loud whoop. "Great one Teef!"

Tifa winced. "Keep it down old man."

"Yeah yeah, okay. We need to get her away from Nibelheim before she discovered, there's too many Rufus bootlickers in your town. You're a hell of a fighter girlie but even you can't take em all."

"Then what, get her to Gongaga? To Zack and his group?"

"Nah, nah, too dangerous to head back that way. Bring her to me."

"Through the mountains?! Are you crazy?" Tifa exclaimed.

"Well you can't go by sea, Rufus' goons run all boats in and around this area, you know that."

"You want me to hike through mountains, infested with monsters and dragons with the princess." Tifa stated flatly.

"Don't you go through those mountains by yourself and also helping others run supplies all the time? You know those mountains like your own home girl. I'll send Vincent your way, you'll be fine. Besides don't you have Biggs, Wedge and Jessie?"

"You know as well as I do, that they have their own important duties." Tifa sighed. "It's fine. I'll handle it. Anything I need to know?"

"No updates on Yuffie at the moment. Nanaki's recovering nicely. Reeve says Rufus is planning something big, but no details as of yet. A lot of our people are still scattered or unaccounted for."

"Which is why you don't have more people to help me with Aerith." Tifa realised

"He killed a lot of us, love." Cid's voice now strangely gentle.

His voice grew harsh. "But we ain't done yet, not by a long shot. Take care of that girl."

"Will do, boss."

"Goddess guide you, Tifa."

"Goddess guide you." She replied automatically and powered down the crystal. She took a moment to compose her thoughts, keep her worries and grief hidden as always. Then she went to organise for a trip into the mountains. They would leave at dawn.