AN: Phew, this is a super long chapter, 31 pages! Can you believe that? Oh, and for the record, some of these lines come from Final Fantasy VII: The Last Order...yeah I watched it, and it was awesome. I added Reno and Rude more into this story, because well...I love them! So please read and review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII, and all of the characters, plot, and quotes belong to Square Enix...except for Silver, Aiden, Ariel, and Jack, they all belong to me.

I hope you enjoy!


A Monster is Born

"We are...monsters. We have neither dreams nor honor."
-Genesis Rhapsodos


It's been three days and they still have no idea where to find this mystery person. Reno and Rude check into the Inn with Zack, that Shinra Guard, and with Silver, but no Sephiroth—though no one questions his absence. And each day, Silver would wake them up and ask them to help her find this person, which would take the whole day, today is no different. Waking up at 10:00 am sharp, and they still have no luck, so Reno, being the impatient man he is, started whining and cursing at Silver, though she paid no mind to Reno, which grated on his nerve. Usually his partner, and/or Tseng would shout at him to calm down, and since Reno has to get his anger out, he fights them…but this girl is ignoring him and his temper is about to burst. Sure, he could take his anger out on Rude, but the taller man would probably give him a good beating for being so childish.

But every time he asks Silver where they were going, all that she would say is, "Shut up," it's infuriating, to say the least, hearing those words coming out of a girl's mouth and not do anything about it. He doesn't fight those "damsel in distress" kinds of girls. Women, who are trained to kill, or to fight, are the ones he fights. So all he would do is scowl at the back of Silver's pretty head and silently curse at her.

Rude however, is the only one who's enjoying his partner's discomfort, though he makes sure is smirk is close to invincible, so Reno won't see it and get on his case. But he just can't help but see how much the young girl can cause such frustration towards Reno, never has he seen such hatred in Reno's eyes—never. Amusing as it is, he just can't help but be a little cautious of his partner. Rude knows the limit to Reno's anger…so keeping a close eye would probably the responsible thing to do.

Meanwhile, Silver's is glancing at every single house they pass by, every single garden and every single building they pass by and Silver's eyes are on it. She's curious, like a little kitten, but she's only staring at the building's because they look familiar, though, not extremely familiar like Sephiroth, Zack, Cloud, Reno, and Rude are to her…but she still felt like she's been here before. Her frustration is bottling inside, and she can feel her eyebrows tightening up, and her fist began to shake a little. Not knowing anything about her life is infuriating, she just wants to punch a hole through something. And it's helping her none with the red-headed man whining behind her.

"Yo, kid, my patience is running low," Reno growled. But Silver didn't looked behind her to look at him; she just kept walking around aimlessly. Rude had to contain a smile when he saw Reno make a face at Silver. Yes, that was very childish, but that's why Rude is glad Reno is his partner.

"She's only eighteen, you know?" Rude reminded Reno.

Reno, however, only dismissed his comment with a snort, "Could have fooled me."

"You're not that much older than her, are you?"

"No."

"How old are you, again?"

"Twenty," Reno cocked his head to the side, and glanced at his partner out of the corner of his eye.

"Hm," Rude grunted. "Then why do you call her a 'kid'."

"'Cause she's short, yo," Reno scoffed, disbelief colored his tone. Silver has to be the shortest eighteen year old he seen, probably the shortest girl he has seen—besides children of course.

Rude didn't reply to Reno instead he looked straight ahead like he has for the past hours. And even though Silver can hear every single word coming out of their mouths, she didn't respond to them, no matter how much it bothered her being called "short". She's not short…she's just not tall as others. Scowling at herself, Silver finally stopped in her tracks, realizing that walking around and hoping for a miracle won't cut it.

"Yo, watch it," Reno yelled before he crashed into Silver, stopping in time.

Silver merely turned around to face Reno and gave him a scowl of her own. "You watch it, jackass," Silver glared at the red-headed man, he glared at as well, though it didn't intimidate her as he thought it would. "Keep your mouth in check, Turk. Believe it or not, I also have a temper, and if you want to, you can see the hell I can bring into your life."

Reno merely scoffed at her threat, and roughly poked her chest. "Watch you say, kid, don't want to make any threats you ain't gonna make."

Silver's angry demeanor went to a blank mask, her scowl is gone, her glare is gone, and even her fists loosened up. She cocked her head to the side, and blankly stared up at Reno. "Be careful what you say…you just might regret it."

For some odd reason, Reno is scared of the girl, though he didn't show it. Her calm demeanor is much more deadly than her anger. He made a mental note not to piss this girl off, though, he'll still do it, but to a certain point. He doesn't want to face her wrath.

"Whatever you say, short-stuff; just tell us where we're going."

"I already said that I don't know."

Reno smirked, though his glare made his half smile seems less than smug. "That was what? Three days ago, I thought for sure you'll know where you were going….Guess you're just an idiot."

Silver narrowed her eyes at the Turk. "I've never been here before, so excuse me for not knowing my way around."

Reno eyes widen in surprise and let out a loud chuckle, nudging his partner with elbow to get him to laugh as well, but Rude only looked down at the girl, his eyes filled with concern, and thanks himself for wearing sunglasses all the damn time. "Then…how did you find your way here?" Silver shrugged but said nothing else. "How do you know this person you want to speak with if don't know anybody here?" Rude asked.

Reno's eye took notice of Silver's sudden gloomy face, but she quickly composed herself before Reno could really decipher her sadness. "I owe a friend."

"You owe a friend," Reno repeated her answer slowly, implying to her to give a more elaborated answer. Silver suddenly scowled up at the red-head, and Reno thought that maybe this girl might be bi-polar. If she is, then that'll explain her sudden mood changes, and her fiery attitude.

"It's none of your business, Ginger."

Reno raised an eyebrow, insulted by the name, and scowled at his partner when he heard him snort. Reno was never particularly fond of that name—in fact, he hated it. His father would always put him down about his hair, saying things like "Red hair is feminine," or, "Real men aren't gingers." So what if he got his hair color from his mom? So what if he got most of his looks from a woman he never knew? His dad always made him feel less than a man, and hated him for that. That's why he became a Turk in the first place, to get away from his father and show him that he's better than his father thinks. Reno hasn't seen his father in over four years, so, hearing that name come out of the girl's mouth ignited some fire in him, as he dangerously narrowed his eyes.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do, he just wanted to see some kind of fear in Silver, get a reaction out of her…but he saw nothing. This girl must be made out of stone or something, because all he saw in her eyes was nothing—nothing at all, like she can't even feel anything. Usually his glares would make some fear him, and others might challenge him, and maybe some—like Zack—would only laugh at his face. Any of those would have been good, even if the idea of someone mocking him irritated him, but not as much as seeing absolutely nothing on her face.

Even Rude would have reacted in some way; maybe a little glare of his own can be seen through his shades. It scared him, how much he isn't able to read the small girl in front of him. He's able to read everybody else easily, as if he was reading a book of their emotions, even if it's just one glance, Reno would be able to decipher anybody's feelings—even Rude's…but not this girl.

"What do you suggest we do then, short-stuff?" Reno quietly asked Silver. Out of the corner of his eye, Reno can see Rude slightly frown at him…for some reason, but he ignored him and his attention went back to Silver.

"I don't know…maybe we should ask some people around?"

Reno scoffed. "No shit, Sherlock. We could have done that hours, hell even days ago."

Silver gave him a funny look, but otherwise, ignored him. She then proceeded to turn her back towards his front and began walking towards an elderly woman, walking her ways towards a shop.

"Feisty, isn't she?" Reno couldn't be sure, but he could practically feel the amusement radiating off of Rude…and he's not even looking at him.

"Hmph," Reno tilted his head to the side, and watched the way Silver smiled at the woman, finally seeing softness in her eyes, made him feel a little more relaxed. Even if her eyes are less guarded then usual is enough for Reno to know that she at least has a heart, and that's she's not completely emotionless. Her big, and soft smile, even made his scowl want to twitch up. Dammit, Reno thinks to himself, her smiles are contagious.

But even as he fought his smile down, he couldn't help but think how cute Silver looks when she smiles. Her smile reminds him of a rose; if people hold them too hard, the thorns will make them bleed, but if people hold them gently, then the thorns won't hurt, and people are able to see the beauty the roses hold…exactly like Silver.

So instead of smiling, he let his lips tuck up into a smirk, as usual, and watch with interest as the change of emotions on Silver's face. First it was friendly, then it was amused, then confusion, then slight irritation—which Reno found funny—and then it was relief. And Reno could tell by the way Silver's lips moved that she said a "Thank you" to the woman, before running her way back to the Turks.

"I'm guessing you hit the jackpot," Reno said once Silver stopped in front of them, smiling slightly. Even if her smile is genuine, Reno couldn't help but notice the tension in her eyes. Hah, he thinks to himself, I can finally read you! He never felt more proud of himself in his life, and decided that he shouldn't be angry anymore. So instead his glare turned into a cocked eyebrow, and his smirk held some smugness. "Where to, Silver?"

Hearing her name come out of the rude man, surprised Silver, but she kept it in check as she began walking the way the lady said Aiden's house would be at. Luckily for them, that elderly lady is the step-mother of Aiden's wife, whose name happens to Ariel. She's glad that she'll be able to keep Aiden's promise, but at the same time, she's scared of how Ariel might react to his death. Would she hate her, blame Silver for his death, or would she only cry and say nothing at all? And what about their kid, Jack, how is he going to react when he learns that his father died protecting her?

Silver felt like slapping herself for being so irresponsible. If she didn't jump onto the beast's neck then maybe he would still be alive, maybe if she just died, he could be here, making other people happy. Silver force the tears that threaten to fall, in her eyes. She won't show the Turks how weak she is—she can't. It's instinct, being protective of her emotions, and sharing them with others is a sign of failure—to her, that is.

"Which way?" Rude asked when they stopped at a two-way trial. They could go on the left trail, or they can go on the right trial. Silver doesn't remember the old lady saying anything about a two-way street, and she mentally cursed the old woman, though half-heartily.

"We go left," Reno pointed a finger on the left side, and Silver made a sound at the back of her throat. "What?"

"I doubt we're supposed to go there."

Reno raised an eyebrow at her opinion, but smirked and waved his arm at the trails. "Then, oh my smart lady, where do you suggest we go? I mean, you were the one who asked for directions."

Silver glowered at the Turk, and eyed his partner, silently asking for help. Rude only shrugged his stiff shoulders. "You should listen to him, he's usually right."

Silver's eyes glared at the red-headed Turk even further, when Reno sent her a smug smile. "If you're wonderin' how I know these kinds of things, you just gotta pay attention to your surroundings," Reno tapped the corner of his right eye. "Being observant has its perks, don't cha think?"

"Hmph," Silver grunted and silently began walking the way Reno said—albeit, ruefully, but obeyed anyhow. Being stubborn about this sort of thing won't do any good; it'll just cause her to be lost in a large village. A sudden thought sparked in her mind, as she casually stole at glance at Rude over her shoulder. "Why are you still with me?"

Though Silver couldn't see it, Rude's eyes washed in confusion. "I got orders to keep you company."

"Much to my dismay," Reno added bitterly.

Silver paid Reno no mind, as she slowed her pace so that Rude would be walking next to her. "But if you wanted to, you could have leaved…I wouldn't mind."

Though Rude fought to keep his posture, he couldn't help the furrowing of his eyebrows come together in confusion and in concern. "I do as what I was ordered to do, no matter what, and I never back down."

Silver shyly smiled up at Rude, before looking ahead at the trail, keeping her pace so that it'll match Rude. And Reno watched from a few steps behind, how much they connected. He could even see a small twitch on Rude's chin. He felt something creep its way to Reno's stomach and heart, almost a feeling of anger and longing. He couldn't be sure what it was, but he didn't like, and it's all direct towards Rude.

At times, Reno wishes he could as compassionate as Rude, and like Tseng, and he tries, but he could never be nice to anybody. So seeing Silver smile at Rude made Reno want to scowl at his partner, but he resisted the urge, and instead damned this funny feeling he's feeling inside. Even as the two quietly talked amongst themselves, he couldn't hold back a bit of rage twirling inside him. He has no idea why he's acting this way, and wishes it would just stop.

"Do you know which house this person lives," Reno asked, not only to distract this feeling in him, but to also make sure that Silver hasn't mistaken the house passing by as stranger's houses.

"Yeah, the lady was pretty specific about the house." Reno nodded, and proceeded to ignore the two people in front of him.

And while Silver made friendly conversation with Rude, she couldn't help but be nervous about meeting Ariel and her child. Silver's sure that things aren't going to work out right. Maybe it's just her cynical side that is making her think these negative thoughts. Either way, she's too nervous for being it okay. And when she suddenly sees the house that the lady describes right beside her, she couldn't help but let out a tiny squeak.

"This is it?" Rude asked when he saw the tiny girl stopped in front of the brown and white house. Silver simply nodded, and swallowed loudly before she hesitantly took a step closer to the house.

Though she's nervous, she couldn't help but feel safe around this house. It just has this homey feeling, like the Inn had, but more pronounced. The roof is made out of brown wood with a chimney at the top, the rest of it is all white, even the window frames, and door were white. Though the pots of flower resting on the window frames made it seem less boring, the same goes for the two narrow gardens on each side of the sidewalk leading them to the door.

"Remember, the sooner you to talk to this person the sooner we can get out of here," Reno reminded her, though he said it gently, sensing her quiet fear.

Silver nodded, not looking at Reno, and knocked on the hard wood. She braced herself when the door swung open.

Silver held her breath as she watched a pretty woman give them a friendly and welcoming smile. The woman, has soft looking light brown hair, grey doe-like eyes, and a petite frame—though she's taller than Silver. She probably stands at 5'4.

"Hello," she said warmly. "May I help you with something?"

Silver let the breath she was holding, out, and another one in before answering. "Uh, yeah, I'm looking for Ariel Walberg?"

The woman grinned and stuck her hand out for Silver to take. "That's me." Silver shyly smiled at her and gently shook her hand. "What can I help you with, sweetie?" Ariel rolled her eyes at herself, before widening her door. "Where are my manners, come inside, I was just making some of my delicious meatloaf. Hope you guys are starving."

"Starved," Reno replied in a smart Alec tone, and took a step inside.

Silver scowled at the Turk, and apologized for his rudeness, before timidly taking a step inside the warm house. Rude had to duck his to he could step inside, and gave Ariel a tiny smile.

"I'm Silver, if you were wondering," Silver pointed at the tall dark-skinned man. "That's Rude, and that one," Silver pointed at Reno. "His name is Reno."

Ariel closed the door behind her, and smiled at each of them, before waving her hand at them so they could follow her into her small kitchen. "Sit, please."

They did as she said, and each took a seat on the large wooden chairs, each of them resting their hands on the round table. Rude and Reno each sat at either side of Silver, though Reno was way too close for Silver's comfort but she didn't say anything about it.

"I'm sorry, let me just serve some food for ya. My son is still sleeping, and by the time he'll wake up, he's going to be starving, so sorry for the little food I'm giving you."

"No problem," Silver's eyes glanced at Reno out of the corner of her, surprise by his soft tone. She can completely see Reno's shield off, his face is soft, his green eyes look soft, even his smile looks soft—everything about him looks so warm. She couldn't help but feel a little flutter in her stomach when she saw him, and scowled at herself for feeling this, and tore her eyes away from the red-head.

Silver smiled at Ariel when she gave each of them their plates of meatloaf. Her mouth started watering at the smell, and waited patiently for Ariel to give her the fork. Once she got it, Silver immediately stabbed the fork in the meatloaf and quickly began eating. Reno raised an eyebrow in surprise, but understood her hunger as he took a bite of the delicious food.

"Guess you guys were serious about being starved," Ariel giggled at the sight of the three hurriedly eating her food, even the tall burly man let his demeanor go from serious to desperate. "So, Silver, what is it that you want to see me?" The older woman asked when she saw Silver finishing off her food.

The young girl swallowed her food before answering. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach burning in her, and she cleared her throat, making sure that lump in her throat would disappear. "It's…um, it's about…Aiden."

Ariel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as she took a seat across from Silver, resting her chin on her knitted hands. "What about him?"

Silver is surprised by the woman's uncaring attitude toward her husband. He never came back, so isn't she worried. "You do know him…right?"

"Of course, he's my husband."

"He hasn't been here, and you don't seem to care?"

Ariel snorted at Silver's upcoming attitude. "No need to get feisty with me, Silver. Of course I care about my husband, why else would I marry him?"

"Well you don't seem to care."

The sentence that came out of Silver's mouth caused Ariel to glare at the smaller girl. "Of course I do! The only reason I don't seem concern is because he always disappears into the woods, that's his job, getting meat for the village, and that can take days, maybe weeks for him to come back home with enough food!"

Both Rude and Reno took a peek at Silver, to see her reaction. But they both relaxed once they saw Silver's fist relaxing, and saw that her scowl is gone.

"I'm sorry…I didn't know."

"Hmph," Ariel's gaze softens at Silver's quiet tone, and smiled at her, forgiving her for her accusation. But then she frowned and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion when a sudden though hit her. "How do you know Aiden? I've never seen you before."

Silver winced once she realized that now's the time to tell Ariel about her husband's death. She can feel the prickling of the tears coming out, and lump in her throat made her pause. Silver blink furiously, making sure she won't show any kind of emotion, and cleared her throat before continuing.

"That's why I came here. You see…Aiden's," Silver took a deep breath, feeling that lump in her throat constricting the words from coming out. "Aiden's dead."

Reno's breathing stopped all together. Hearing those things coming out of Silver's innocent mouth gave him a moment of shock, and stared wide-eyed at her, burning holes at the side of her head. Rude, however, kept his cool, though that didn't stop from him stealing a glance at Silver. While Silver watched the reaction of Ariel, fearing the worst, but what she saw on her face was the last thing Silver expected. Ariel's face is completely blank, there's nothing there at all, though her eyes are widen, but Silver doesn't see anything in them.

"Ariel," Silver called out timidly, worrying at the paleness of Ariel's face. "Ariel…are you okay?"

The brown-haired woman suddenly started blinking, like she was awakening from a dream, though her face is still emotionless. "How?" Silver winced at the echo like tone in her voice.

"I-I don't know how to say it…He died protecting me." Silver ducked her head down, ashamed at looking Aiden's caring wife. "He found me dying in a pond and saved me, and then tried taking me to the village…but a beast popped out of nowhere and it started attacking us. I did something idiotic and irresponsible and Aiden died because of it, and then I killed it while Aiden was dying." Silver let a tearless sob out. "I'm so sorry, Ariel, really. I didn't mean for that to happen, please forg—"

"It's okay."

The benevolent voice interrupted Silver's pleading, as she raised her glassy eyes up at Ariel, and immediately wishes she hasn't when she sees Ariel's dead eyes and thin-set lips. But she couldn't but feel wrong for being forgiven to easily, even if the way Ariel said it was sincere, she just wanted some justice—revenge against Silver would be good for her, Silver thinks to herself. Anger, began sparking in her

Silver shook her head, clenching her fist and slamming them on the table. "No! It's not okay!" Reno tried calming her down by gently grabbing her shoulders, but Silver shrugged him off and stood up, leaning over the table with her fist still on it. "You should say that you hate me, that you want me dead. Say that you hate me!" Ariel didn't say anything. "I caused your husband's death—I did it! Slap me, punch me, hurt me—do anything…please." Silver whispered, forcing her tears from coming out.

The older woman simply gave her a sad smile and cocked her head to the side. "You want to be blamed, is that it?"

Silver nodded. "I'm sorry…but it's all my fault."

Ariel nodded and stood up; locking her pale hands and letting them hang down in front of her abdomen. "Alright…Silver," the young girl locked eyes with the older one, letting her know that she'll take whatever Ariel throws at her. "I hate you, you're useless…you're a murder. You ruined my life…You ruined my son's life. How am I supposed to tell him that his father died protecting a worthless twit like you…tell me how? I don't want anything to do with you, I wish you would just disappear…that'll make the world such a better place…with you being dead. I hope you rot in hell." Though every single word that came out of Ariel's mouth impacted Silver in such ways, she knew that Ariel doesn't mean them. She knows by the woman's dead like tone, and her motherly look that those words were just lies…but it doesn't mean that they don't hurt.

"That's what you wanted, right, being blamed? Well, you got it, doesn't feel too good, huh?" Silver's answer is a single tear coming out of her beautiful eyes. "I'm sorry, but if you'll excuse me I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back soon."

Silver began wiping off the tears off of her face, but found it useless when she hears a door slam shut and then sobs of anguish came after. A soft sob escaped Silver's, and more tears came flowing out of her eyes. So she closed her eyes, and slowly sat back down, her hands playing with each other, and her head ducked down, making sure that those Turks don't see her sadness, though she knows it's useless, she just doesn't want her dignity to die away.

Cursing under his breath, Reno tried to find a way to comfort the small girl, but every time he tried to make a move, he would always stop himself from doing so, and scowls when he sees Rude's large hand gently rubbing Silver's back in a comforting way. Cursing under his breath once again, Reno began rubbing the back of his neck, feeling very awkward around the crying girl.

"Silver….do you want to go now…since you're," Reno stopped mid sentence and took deep breath before continuing, "Since you told her what you wanted to say?"

"No…That wasn't what I was supposed to tell her. It was something else." Reno couldn't see Silver's face hiding behind her thick black hair, but he could hear the sadness in her voice, and it made his heart give a thump, a very painful thump.

He begins rubbing his heart, frowning, and wondered why it hurts seeing the girl before him looking so sad. Deciding to distract himself from the pain, he gently placed his hand on Silver's shoulder, shaking her slightly to get her attention. She didn't respond to him, but Reno saw her tilt her head slightly, indicating that she's listening to him.

"Do you wanna call Sephiroth…tell him what happen?" Though Reno knows that the two just met, he couldn't help but feel like they had some kind of connection, especially when he saw the way Sephiroth gently dragged her, and scolded her like a parent would do to their children. As amusing as it is seeing the best SOLDIER in all of Gaia being gentle with a small and fiery girl, he knew that Sephiroth cared for the girl. "Do you?" Reno asked again, when Silver didn't say anything.

Instead of responding to him, Silver simply shook her head, sniffling and placing her hair behind her ears. And Reno could now see the tears flowing out of one side of her face, though her eyes are empty…like they were dead.

"You sure?"

Silver slowly raised her head, turning her head so she could fully make eye contact with the green-eyed man. She smiles slightly, though that didn't hide the emptiness in her, Reno noticed.

"Yeah, positive…thanks though, for caring, I mean."

"Don't mention it."

And as Rude watch the two make connection, he couldn't help but smirk a little at his friend's walls being broken down by this single girl. That's…difficult to do, Rude muses. He wasn't able to see the warm side of Reno since they started working with each other until recently. So seeing his best friend smiling with warmth is a big relief, to say the least.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Reno asked, jerking his head toward the wall besides them, indicating Ariel's crying.

Silver nodded. "Yes…I think that she just has to let go of all of that…anguish."

"What about you?" Reno nudged the girl with his elbow, cocking his head to the side.

"I'm fine."

"Bullshit."

Silver narrowed her eyes at Reno, and poked him on the chest, causing him to flinch and rub where she poked. "Believe what you want…but I'm fine, I was just ashamed that I caused that man's death, nothing more."

"Whatever you say, short-stuff."

Silver scowled at him, her resentment that was gone is now back, though that scowl turned into a little "o" at the small, sleepy voice, knocking on a nearby door. "Mom? You okay in there?"

"This will not end well," Rude mumbled, turning his head to that it will face at the exit of the kitchen.

Silver nodded, agreeing with him, and got up off of from the chair, and slowly walked her way out of the small kitchen, the Turks following right behind her.

"Mom? Why are you crying? You're scaring me." The boy—Jack started pounding on the door.

Turning a left, Silver is met with a narrow and long hallway, and in the middle of it, on the left side, is a small boy, about her size, if not, taller, pounding both of his fist against a door. "Mom! Open the door."

"Kid, leave your mom be," Silver punched Reno in the gut, making him "oof" and rub it, scowling down at the girl. "The hell was that for, yo."

"You idiot, don't you see that he's scared, his mom is crying her lungs out. Just stay quiet, will you," Silver hissed between her teeth.

"Who are you people?"

Silver's attention snapped back to the young boy. Slowly she walked closer to her, holding up her hand, indicating to the Turks to stop in their tracks. When Silver was only a few steps away, she found herself being toward over the boy, and curses herself for being so short. But his tall figure isn't the only thing that surprised her, it's the way he looks. He's the spitting image of Aiden—minus the eyes—Silver could even see a bit of hair growing on his chin.

"Who are you?" Jack asked, menace in his voice.

"I'm Silver," she answered softly.

"Why are you here?"

"I came here to talk to your mom…and you."

"About what?" Silver couldn't help but flinch at his hostility. She's not scared—not at all—just ashamed of looking at him in the eye. He knows that Silver made his mother cried, and for that, he hates her.

"About your father."

Jack crossed him across his chest, and tilted his blonde head near the door. "Mom, come out…please." She didn't, and that caused Jack to sigh out sadly, and uncross his arms. "Just tell me what happened to my dad…I can take it."

Silver shook her head. "I don't think you can."

Jack scowled down at the small girl, eyes narrowing. "What do you know about me? Nothing, so don't say that I can't handle it, because I can. I'm stronger than my mom."

"Your dad's dead."

There she said, blunt and simple, and the blank look on her face made that sentence come out as harsh, and uncaring. Silver is angry at herself, for saying it like that, seeing that pain-struck look on the kid's face made her want to hug him, and punch herself, though she composed herself, and braced herself for what he had to say to her.

Jack raised his hand, and Silver closed her eyes, waiting for that hand to strike her face. "Get out."

Silver opened her eyes again, seeing Jack point behind her—towards the door—his face is cover with tears, and chest if huffing, his chin is twitching…he's so angry….so, so angry. Silver tried to grab his chin, to tell him what his father said, but he her pushed roughly away, and pointed towards the door again. "GET OUT!" That yell only made Ariel's cries more painful to hear. But Silver nodded, ducking her head down, and began walking back to the Turks.

Reno, glaring at the young boy, rested his hand on Silver's shoulder once she stood next to him and didn't take it off when all three walked to the door. Silver waited until Rude and Reno walked out, before she began, but stopped herself from doing so. She held onto the door, her back facing Jack's, and decided it was now or never to tell him.

Looking over her shoulder, Silver watched Jack glare at her from afar, his left hand resting against the wall. Silver frowned at the boy, and allowed a single tear to come down her face, showing him that it pained her to tell him, and began opening her mouth.

"Before you father died, he told me something—he promised me to tell you and your mother this, and I'll be damned if I don't. He said that'll he'll always be with you, that you shouldn't be sad, you shouldn't be worried…his presence will always be here," Silver pointed to her heart, "protecting you, and making you happy." Jack simply tore his eyes away from Silver, and didn't respond. "Just remember that."

Silver gave him a firm nod before walking out, and closing the door behind her.

There Aiden, I kept my promise. And now your son hates me, and your wife is in terrible grief…hope you're happy, Silver thinks to herself, scowling, and crossing her arms, walking past the two worried Turks.


It's been hours— six Hours. It's been six hours since Reno and Rude has heard Silver spoke. Not even a small sigh can be heard out of her, and though they would never admit it, they're worried about her. And Reno is dying to get out of the insipid village, but bites his tongue from saying so. So instead of whining, he and his partner just silently walked behind the sad girl—they didn't know where she was going, and neither did she, but they think that she deserves some time to think—to grief openly.

Reno decided then that he isn't a cold-hearted man, he just proved to himself that he does feel sympathy…That's a nice feeling, feeling emotion, Reno decided. He couldn't be sure when was the last time he ever sympathized with anybody, of course he helped Shinra save lives…but he also helped kill others, and that usually took bits of his humanity away from Reno.

He's pretty sure that he has assassinated more people than Rude has. Though Reno tries to tell himself that he only killed those people because he was told to do it, but he knew that he would be lying to himself. His father, Gordon Maki, always hated his only son—Reno is sure of that. The constant verbal, emotional, and even physical abuse caused Reno to bury so much hatred in him, that he releases it during fights or kills. Is he ashamed…yes. Is he sorry…no. He can't take back what he did, so he shouldn't be dwelling on things of the past…it's not worth his time.

"You can go if you want."

The sudden voice caused Reno to blink a few times, and shook his head a little, clearing his mind of all thoughts, and stared at the back of Silver's head.

If Reno didn't have such good hearing, he would have thought that no one had said anything. But he did hear those soft words come out of Silver's lips, even if she's walking like she has before, acting like she never said anything.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you want to leave this place Reno…go…if you want," Silver didn't stop walking, nor did she raise her voice any further.

Reno shook his head, and sent Rude a sideways glance, in which he responded with a, "Your call."

Sighing, Reno began ruffling his short red-hair. "Fine, Silver." The young girl stopped, and turned half-way around, so that one side of her face can be seen. "We'll leave, but you have to come with us, yo." Silver shook her head, making Reno scowl. "Too bad it isn't your decision to make."

Silver scowled, but she still wouldn't look their way. "The hell it is. What are you going to do? Drag me to Midgar?"

"Yes," Reno smirked at Silver's reaction. She finally whipped her head to that she would look at Reno, albeit glaring at him, but at least he could see some kind of emotion in her.

"No."

"What?"

"I won't go, you can't make me…I can't leave," Silver shook her head. "Not now…please."

"Reno," the red-headed Turk glanced at his taller partner. "Leave her be, if she doesn't want to go, then don't force her."

Reno scowled at his partner, disbelief written across his face. "What's up with that, yo? Weren't you the one that insisted that we dump this chick into Midgar? And we came all the way here, stay here for days, we followed this girl around this damn village, then watched this girl suffer, and once again walk around the village for hours like a couple of idiots, for what?" Reno shook his head. "I ain't gonna go home empty handed— I didn't come here for nothing, dammit." Reno then proceeded to turn his head towards Silver and walked towards her, roughly grabbing her arms and dragging her back to the trail that would lead them to the town. "You're coming with us whether you like it or not, yo."

"Let go of me!"

Reno didn't listen to her please, and Rude did nothing to stop him, he just stayed quiet, walking behind them, shaking his head at his partner.

"Stop squirming, will ya? I'm trying to kidnap you."

Silver tried punching on the chest, but to no avail. "All the more reason to squirm."

Silver, once again tried punching Reno's chest, and this time, the punch hit Reno square on the chest, making him wheeze, and stop momentarily. Silver tore her arm off of Reno's grip and began running, but before she could even take three strides, she felt Reno's surprisingly strong arms wrap themselves around Silver's waist and pulled her into his chest.

"Reno, let go!"

But he didn't. He lifted Silver up and he moved around so that he would continue on the right trail, afraid of getting lost in the darkening sky. Reno scowled once he realized that pushing her is much more difficult than pulling her.

"Don't make this difficult, Silver!"

"Then let go of me!"

"No."

Suddenly, they all stopped in their tracks once they hear not one, but several ear-splitting shrieks. Their heads shot up to the sky when they saw what they believe is an orangey light, but no, it's not, its fire. More cries came after a loud explosion, and Silver woke up from her momentarily distraction. Feeling the loosening in Reno's arm, she knew what she had to do. Silver pulled her leg forward and snapped it back so that it'll hit Reno straight on the groin, and ran like there was no tomorrow.

"Son of a bitch! That stupid little twit! My fucking bal—" Reno stopped mid shout, and instead resorted himself to drop down into a fetal position and whimper in pain.

Rude stopped besides him, looking at Silver's body disappearing into the darkness. "Hmph…serves you right."

"Oh Goddess, no man deserves this kind of pain—no one."

Glad that's its dark, Rude smirked. Even though he can feel a bit of fear creep its way inside of him as he hears those sounds of agony. They're probably an hour away from the town and he can hear those shouts, those explosions, and those tears of pain.

"What do you suggest we do?" Rude asked once Reno stood up, albeit, wincing and grabbing onto his groin, but took the pain anyway.

"Let's just go back."

Rude's head snapped down to look at Reno sharply in the eye. "What about those people, we can't just leave them there."

Reno frowned and looked up at the flames licking the sky above them. Rude watches as Reno's eyes soften and he can finally see some worry in them, but the red-head shook his head and looked back up at Rude, scowling from the pain he feels between his legs.

"Don't worry, the SOLDIERs are there."

"What if they're not?"

Reno dismissively waved his hand in the air. "Don't worry about it, yo, they haven't left. I bet Sephiroth finally left that Shinra Manor, hearin' those screams outside."

Rude raised an eyebrow in question. "You sure?"

"Positive."

"What about Silver?"

Upon hearing that name, Reno's eyes burned with hatred and his scowl became more profound. "Screw her. Let's just leave that little twit here, I don't care. Let's just go back to the helicopter."

"Where'd you park it?"

Reno pointed to the trail left of them. "Probably somewhere there, I remember seeing this place when we landed…but people were actually walkin' around."

"You sure?"

"Yo, you question' my memory?"

Rude cocked his head to the side. "Not at all."

"Then let's go."

And so they did, walking side-by-side, like partners normally do, except Reno is scowling and hissing every time he takes a step, and cursing the young girl in his mind. Hopefully, he thinks to himself, he never gets to see that girl ever again, but even as he thinks this, Silver's face is stuck in his thoughts.


Silver feels like she's been running for hours by the time she made it to the village's central, and wishes she hasn't when she sees the chaos before her. Everything—everything is on fire, the buildings are on fire, the trees, the ground, even the people running by her are on fire, screaming in agony. She couldn't believe what's happening right before her eyes, she couldn't even feel the hard ragged gasping coming out of her burning lungs, and she could only feel the pain constricting her heart watching the village burn into ashes.

"Who would do this?" She whispers to herself.

A loud whimper escaped her mouth once her eyes lay upon the dead, bloody bodies on the ground. So much blood…so much death. Elders, adults, young adults, teenagers, even children and babies were lying dead on the ground. Silver slapped her hand over her mouth, to keep her from screaming. So, so much blood. Snapping her eyes away from the bodies, Silver decided to look for any people who would need help…but there isn't any, they're all dead.

Panicking, Silver began running again, and this time, away from the bodies, from those lifeless corpses. Even her strong legs were about to cave in on her as the overwhelming sensation kept bringing her down. There are so many who are close to death, but she sees more who are dead. Silver could feel bile of puke come its way out of Silver's mouth, but she held it in, and kept jogging.

"Silver!" The black-haired girl stopped in her tracks and looked around the blazing field for the person who called her name. "Silver, over here."

"Zack." Silver lets out a sigh of relief once she spots Zack coming after her.

Zack expression made Silver take two steps back. His face…it's so…angry—so full of hatred. Silver swallowed the scream that threaten to come back and hugged Zack around the waist, afraid, and hurt. "Zack…what happened?"

Zack hugged her back protectively, and looked around for Cloud, and the tour guide he got to know. "I can't," Sephiroth's face attacked his mind, and Zack cursed him. "Sephiroth, Silver—he did this, he did it!"

Those words sent waves of shock throughout Silver's body that she literally jumped out of his arms. Knowing him for three days made Silver think of him as a friend, he's easy to get along with—unlike a certain blue-eyed silent boy—and can believe any word that comes out of his mouth…But this, this is just too much for her to take. Sure, she only knew Sephiroth for less than a day, and never saw him after those few minutes of meeting each other, but he didn't look like that kind of person that would just randomly attack, and ablaze a whole village, murdering people in the process.

"That's not true," Silver shook her head, hoping that his words were lies. But he could tell by look of his face, by the set of his scowl, by the set of his glare, and by the set of his posture, that what he said is true.

"That bastard…I'm going to kill him."

"Where's Cloud?" Silver asked, distracting her from his words and from the queasy feeling in her stomach.

Zack's eyes sadden, and look around for the young boy. "I..don't know."

"Oh, no," Silver couldn't help but feel worried for the young boy, though they never really got along, she does care for him. Her fear worsens when all she sees in Zack's eyes is despair, there's nothing in them but that, and she's more scared of that than his anger. It looks like he has given up. "Don't worry," Silver spoke, hoping to revive his last string of hope. "I'll look for him. After all, he's a tough kid, right?"

Zack didn't smile, but at least the sad stricken look is gone, though the fire around them and the dead bodies is enough to make both of them feel helpless.

"I'll go with you," Silver nodded and began walking side-by-side with Zack. "We should also look for survivors too."

"There isn't any," Silver said to herself, making sure that her voice is quiet so that Zack wouldn't hear.

She isn't as optimistic as Zack is, and therefore, is much more realistic. She knows, by the hundreds of lifeless bodies lying on the ground, that there might a huge chance that there won't be any survivors…hopefully there is, but Silver is doubtful.

Silver suddenly broke into a run once she realized that the possibility of Cloud being dead is high.

What about…

Silver suddenly fell onto her knees, tired of running, and tired of worrying as new faces popped into her mind.

"Silver?" She felt Zack's large hand grabbed her arm, but she quickly pulled away. "Silver, come on, we don't have time for this." She didn't care. If she doesn't protect Aiden's family she knows she'll feel like she failed him.

"You go," the young girl half-shouted at the SOLDIER, she looked up at Zack's worried face and gave him an encouraging nod.

"Alright, just…be careful."

"I will."

Zack pats Silver's head and begins running, dashing his head left to right for any signs of survivors.

The girl's mind drifts off to Ariel and Jack, and wonders where they could be. She silently begs to whatever God there is that they're safe and sound, and that she'll be able to find them. Forcing herself up, she began jogging around the burning village, going in the direction Ariel's house is located at.

Her thoughts blinded her from what is in front of her, and crashed to an elderly man, making them both fall onto the bloodied ground.

"I'm so sorry, si—" Silver's eyes widened at the size of the old man, burly, and tall, he seems like an intimidating man, especially with those icy blue eyes. Gray hair and a gray beard, one would think that this man should be weak from age, but he looks healthier than any other young man she has seen. And there's something about him that she can't place, he's just so familiar to her.

The older man looked down at the small girl before him and sighed in relief that there's at least one survivor. He smiled down at the girl, and stuck his hand out, silently asking if she needed help. Silver hesitantly took his hand, though her widen eyes never faltered.

"Kid, you alright?" Silver nodded—albeit slowly, but the man guessed that she's still in shock at the village's massacre. "What happened to your family—where are they?"

The question he asked, Silver has been asking herself that all this time. Who are her family, is she from this once homely village, are they looking for her, does she even have a family? Silver doesn't have answers to those questions.

"I don't know."

The man frowned, his eyebrows furrowed in worry. "Hmph…come with me then."

Silver shook her head. "I can't, sir, you see, I'm looking for someone."

"Who?"

"Ariel and Jack Walberg."

The man's eyes sadden, but the scowl showed the anger behind his sadness, and Silver wonders what happened to them, though she fears the worst. "Sir, what happened to them?"

"Kid, the name's Zangan, not 'Sir'." Zangan, where had she heard that name before? "And about Ariel and Jack…it isn't too good."

Silver's eyes widen in surprise, and cursed the tears flowing out of her eyes. "What happened to them?"

Zangan can see the hesitation on his lips whenever he opens them then closes them, deciding whether or not to tell her the truth. Zangan nodded, deciding to himself before opening his mouth, and Silver braced herself. "You want to listen to the good news or the bad news first, kid?"

"The name's Silver not 'kid', and I want to hear the bad news."

Always prepare yourself for the worst, Silver thinks to herself.

Zangan raised an eyebrow at her sharp tongue, but nodded. "You see, Ariel's…Well, she's…." Zangan rubbed the back of his neck, not sure how to form the words. "She's…"

"Dead," Silver answered for him, already expecting his words. The small girl let the tears fall, but she kept her face an emotionless mask.

Zangan sighed, glad that he didn't have to give the young girl such fowl news. "Took the words right out of my mouth."

Silver isn't amused. "What's the good news, then?"

"Jack survived—the kid sure did put up a fight with me from tearing him away from his mother."

Silver let out a sigh of relief; though felt a stabbing ache of the twelve year old out alone. "Where is he now?"

"Out of Nibelheim, I made sure of it."

Jack, the young boy out in the woods alone, frightened her, but she guessed it's better in there than in being in the blazing village. "Thank you." Silver whispered at the older man, lifting her head so that she can meet his blue eyes. "Thanks so much—I don't know how to repay you."

Zangan smiled sadly at Silver, and touched her shoulder. "Just help me find some survivors…alright?" Silver nodded, both sad and relief of the news she just received. Ariel…gone, but hopefully she's happy being with Aiden again, that thought alone made Silver feel a little less tense. But Jack…alone in the forest, sad, angry, scared, that just put more weight on her shoulders. The village…burning, people dying from left to right, and it's all Sephiroth's fault, which made her angry, betrayed, and murderous.

"Do you know who did this?" Silver asked the old man, making sure that is was indeed Sephiroth.

Zangan scowled and began walking, avoiding any eye contact with her. "Yeah, it was that Shinra SOLDIER, the one with the white hair…Sephiroth." Silver let out shaky breath, hoping to calm down her beating heart. "That bastard…he just started killing people for no apparent reason, the buildings…they're burned to ashes now. Fucking Shinra."

"Shinra?" Silver felt that click in her mind once again when she heard that name.

"You never heard of Shinra, Silver?"

Silver frowned but nodded slowly. "I think so…I feel like I heard it from somewhere," Silver shook her head, "but I don't know what that is."

Zangan frowned at the girl in confusion. "How is that? Shinra is all over Gaia, they practically own this planet." Silver simply shrugged and never responded back. Silver avoided eye contact with the elderly man by looking down at the floor, for any living body.

A sudden movement caught Silver's attention. It's a few yards away, but she can faintly see a man struggling to get up. "There's a man over," Silver grabs Zangan's hand and runs to the injured man.

"Sharp eyes, kid." Zangan commented, kneeling down next to the man. Silver copied his movements and checked the man for his injuries…but…he's been pierced, Silver can see blood seeping out of his abdomen.

Silver took off her white T-shirt off, thankful that she chose to where a tank top, and pressed it against the man's wound, hoping to stop the bleeding, though the man hissed in pain, and struggled, she did not loosen the pressure, better to feel pain then be dead.

"Please…stop," the man whimpered.

"Sorry, sir, but she's only trying to help you," Zangan reassured the man, making the other man rests his head on his lap.

But the young man shook his head. "No use…I'm already…dead."

"No, just hang on, you'll be alright." Silver just put more pressure on her shirt, cursing the flowing blood coming out. It just won't seem to stop—there's so much blood coming out of him. He's too pale, too close to death.

"Silver," Zangan grabbed Silver's shoulder, but she ignored him. "Silver, he'll get better, I got materia on me."

"Materia?" Silver stopped what she was doing and stared at the young man bleeding. He's shaking his head, pleading not to.

"No…no materia," he coughed, and Silver winced when blood splattered out. "I want to…be…with my family."

"Your family?" The man nodded slowly, and closed his eyes, wincing in pain.

Silver raised her head to meet Zangan eyes, he too has a pain stricken look upon his face. "You sure?" He asked.

"Yes."

Silver never took her eyes off of the old man as he put something round and glowing back into his large pockets…Materia? Silver guessed it is, since she can't find another word that belongs to that little object.

"What do we do now?" Silver asked her eyes back on the dying man.

"We wait."

Agonizing, Silver thinks, watching a man suffer slowly into a painful death. This is wrong…so wrong. Just watching him, and do nothing does not fit will with Silver…but that's what he asked…to die, to be with his family. This man must have watched his family being murdered—Sephiroth be damned.

"Zangan! Zangan!" The sudden voice made Silver jump, and glare when she saw the man's eyes open wide.

Silver lifted her head up, and spotted a girl run her way towards them. She heard Zangan sigh in relief. "Tifa! What are you doing here? Get out of here now!"

Silver felt her whole body tense at the name. Tifa…Lockhart? Tifa…Silver has heard of that name somewhere, like she seen almost everybody she met. But Tifa and Cloud…they mean something to special to her, but doesn't know what that is, and that frustrates her to no end.

The girl came closer, and Silver's shock is almost palpable. The girl has long dark brown hair, pale skin, brownish—almost reddish eyes, and is wearing a cow-girl suit. Yes…this is Tifa…but Silver never met her in her life…well, in her few days of her "new" life, since her memories are all lost, which makes her wonder how she knows these people. Tifa stopped next to Zangan. Her face…it's so sad, so angry, but her eyes fill with sympathy once she spots the small girl kneeling next to the dying man, her hand covered in blood.

"Master…" Tifa's red-brown eyes lowered down to Silver, and kneeled down with them. "Are you okay sweetie?" Tifa grabs Silve4r's bloody hands.

Silver scowled and tore her hands away from the taller girl. "My name's not sweetie, it's Silver, and for your information, I'm older than you…" Silver wonders how she knows this, but that information is in the back of her mind, kind of like common sense.

Tifa didn't react to Silver's words, instead she stood back up and she let her eyes wonder to the injured man, and wished for him to get better, and then to Zangan. "What on earth is going on? Why did things turn out like this?"

Zangan looked down at the bleeding man before responding. "It seems like Sephiroth is behind all of this?"

Tifa's eyes widen in surprise. "Huh?...Sephiroth?" Tifa lowered her eyes. " Impossible, why would Sephiroth do a thing like this?" Silver saw Tifa's eyes panic a bit, and the tall girl raised her eyes once again. "Master, have you seen my father?"

"Your father was at the Mako Reactor…"

Tifa began running, but the weaken voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Don't…" All heads snapped to the wounded man. "Don't go…Sephiroth…he's up there."

Tifa eyes darken, and ignored the man, turning her back and running towards the mountain.

"Wait, Tifa!" Zangan yelled after his student. "You can't do anything even if you go!" She ignored him. "Tifa!"

"I'm going with her." Zangan shook his head at Silver, but his eyes were only on Tifa's disappearing body. "I'll keep her from endangering herself," Silver tried convincing Zangan once again, in which he nodded—albeit ruefully, but agreed anyway, and his attention went back on the brown-haired man.

Getting up from her position, Silver ran till she reached the stairs and turned a left where the mountain is at, she can faintly see Tifa's body up ahead, but made no attempt to call her. Just follow, she must know her up Mt. Nibel. But Tifa sure is fast, but Silver forces her legs to keep going, no matter how much it hurts breathe in the smoke polluting the village's air.

When she gets her hands on Sephiroth, she hopes that'll she'll be able to kill him…Silver swears that she'll do her best to avenge the only home she has ever remembered, and the people who lived in it.


Gordon Lockhart lays half dead on the hard ground, blood seeping out of him. How did this all start? He wonders. Where is Tifa? Tifa, his only daughter…he hopes nothing bad happened to her, he doesn't know if he can take it…but he'll be dead before he'll know what happened to her. Sephiroth. Gordon wonders why he followed the SOLDIER up to the Mako Reactor. Did he have a death sentence or something? Did he not want to see his daughter again? No—he was just furious, so furious in fact that he didn't even think of his daughter while pursuing Sephiroth. It was impulse, wanting to hurt someone who hurt anything close to him.

Just like he did with Cloud. He hasn't seen that boy in two years…he regrets blaming Cloud on Tifa's injury; he knows it wasn't his fault. But he was angry, so angry that Tifa was so irresponsible enough to climb the cold mountain all by herself, of course, he understands that she was so in shock with her mother's death that she was in denial. Gordon just wished she hadn't been hurt. And now, he wishes he could see Tifa once more. And Cloud…he wants to apologize to him.

But it's too late now, is it?

"Father!"

Gordon's ears perked when he hears his daughter's voice. He tries to call her out, but he can't find his voice…he's slipping away.


"Father, where are you?" Silver runs along with Tifa, sad, and angry. They never spoke with each other, Silver just listen to Tifa's pleas.

Though once they reached the outside of the Mako Reactor, Silver sees a body limp on the ground. Blood all over the man's body, and a long sharp sword stabbed into the ground besides him. The sword has blood all over it…everything has blood, Silver exclaims. Everywhere she goes, there's blood, though that blade itself gives Silver this bad vibe coming from it…such a bad vibe.

Silver stood behind Tifa when the taller girl kneeled besides the man and cradled him onto her lap. Silver is guessing that this man is her father. He sure does look like it.

"Hang in there, dad." Tifa's voice sounds so strong, so sure, but Silver knows how useless her words are.

Tifa's father raises his hand, and Tifa immediately holds on to it. "Father!"

"Tifa…run away…now."

"Hey, hang in there, dad!" Tifa begins sobbing, but her voice is still so steady. But Silver saw how her father's hand went limp in Tifa's hand, and turned her head away from the gloomy scene, and tried to drown out Tifa's cries.

"Tifa?" Silver called out.

The younger girl suddenly stopped crying. She stood up, her head facing the ground. "Sephiroth, right? She asked her head father. "Sephiroth did this to you, right?"

"Tifa." Tifa's dead-like tone reminded Silver so much of Ariel that a soft sob escaped her mouth, though a little flutter of fear hit her, when Tifa began walking towards the long sword.

"Sephiroth…SOLDIER…Shinra…Mako Reactor…" Tifa pulled out the sword from the ground, and began screaming. "I hate it…I hate it all!" She ran towards the Mako Reactor, ready to fight.

"Tifa!" Silver called after the young girl, afraid of what might happen to her if she faced Sephiroth and chased after her.

Tifa ignored Silver's cries of please, so Silver instead chose to run faster up the stairs. She could see an opening, probably where it holds the Mako Reactor, and cursed Tifa's fast legs.

"Damnit, Tifa!"

And she still wouldn't stop, Tifa's out looking for blood, and there's nothing that's going to stop her. But…Sephiroth might be one exception to that, Silver thought. She isn't sure how skilled Tifa is at fighting, though something is telling her that she's exceptional…but Silver also has a feeling that Sephiroth is much more skilled than anybody will ever be.

They reached the opening, and Silver stopped, and didn't notice the other girl enter. She has a horrible feeling that she can't quite place, fear is running through her veins and she has no idea why. It's just…Jenova. That name…it won't go away, she heard of it though, from somewhere, she just doesn't remember, but it must have been bad. Sephiroth…Jenova…Cetra? What is that? What do they mean? How are they connected?

A sudden cry snapped Silver out of her thoughts, and ran inside, setting her fears aside. It's dark in there, but there's enough light to see a figure falling down the stairs. Silver ran toward the fallen body, tears coming out, once she realized who that person it.

"Tifa!"

Kneeling besides the girl, Silver cradled Tifa on her lap, looking for any sign of injury, which unfortunately, there is. A large gash across her stomach is seen, a lot of blood coming out. Silver's seen too much blood to last a life time; she's tired of it, so tired.

Suddenly remembering who is responsible for her wound, Silver lifted her head up, and glared at the figure on the top of the stairs, and he stares back, a smirk set on his lips.

"You monster! How could you!" Silver screamed with every fiber of her being. She isn't screaming for what he has done to Tifa. She's screaming at him for herself, for the village, for the people, for Tifa, for Tifa's farther, for Zangan, for Zack, for Cloud…for everybody. She's doing this for them— they're anger coming out of her. "You're a monster! Why? Why would you do this—why!"

He didn't respond, nor did her screams of anger faze him. He only continued to smirk, and turned around, entering the room in search for his "mother".

She feels so betrayed. She growls in frustration, and closes her eyes to keep the tears from coming out, but snaps them open when she hears Tifa mumble something.

"Tifa?"

The only response Silver got was, "Cloud," before Tifa went limp in her arms. Silver knows that she didn't die, she could feel her breathing, and just brushed Tifa's long dark hair out of her face.

Her anger…it's too much for her to bear—it's just too much. She wants to let it loose. Her fist is shaking so hard, her hard breathing is coming out of her nose. Pure fury is what she's feeling right now, she hates this feeling—all this anger in her just makes her want to explode, and she knows who to take it out on.

Gently laying Tifa on the floor, Silver got up and ran up the stairs and entered the small room, closing the door behind her. The room—it's so green. There's a large thick rope in front of her that leads to a large round table thing, and on top of the white table is what seems like chamber of some sorts—a tube…but it's shaped into something…not from this planet. And man that she holds all her anger on is standing in front of the tube.

"Sephiroth!" Silver's scream echoed throughout the room, making sure that the man can hear her.

The figure standing from afar slowly turned her way. "How could you? You bastard, why would you kill those people?"

Sephiroth simply cocked his head to the side. "…They deserved it. You humans abandoned my mother, and I will not stand for it."

"That's no excuse! You killed innocent people, you killed children— I fucking hate you!" Silver reached the peak of her anger and charged towards the SOLDIER making sure that she doesn't fall off of the rope.

Silver watched for Sephiroth's move. She saw Sephiroth's arm twitch and stopped in time before his sword could pierce her. Silver did a round-house kick to knock Sephiroth's sword out of his hand, but she didn't expect him to be so fast when he took a step back. Silver growled and jumped out of the way before his Sephiroth tried stabbing her. She watched him, calculating, though what made her heart constrict with fear is that there isn't any humanity left in his eyes, just this certain crazy gleam. His smirk…much the same.

Silver charged at the man again, and this time ducked down before the sword could swipe her. She swept her strong leg across the floor and tried sweeping Sephiroth off his feet, but he jumped out of the way before Silver could even touch his ankles. Growling in frustration, Silver sent him a forceful punch, but once again, Sephiroth dodged her attack. But she continued punching him, kicking him, charging him, dodging him, while receiving small, but painful scratched, but to no avail. They've been fighting in circles, and while Sephiroth looks like he hasn't even broken a sweat, Silver is exhausted. She wonders if he's only toying with her.

Taking a few steps back, Silver took a little breather, though Sephiroth sighed in frustration. "I don't have time for this, Silver."

Silver scowled and shook her head, and charged at him. This time though, she did a split, avoiding his sword, and did quick jabs on his stomach, but Sephiroth dodged them, and jumped out of the way. Growling, Silver quickly got up, but did not make a move.

Sephiroth cocked his head to the side, a sadistic smirk placed on his lips. "You're quite fast. Agility is better than strength is what I always say." He then frowned, and took a step toward Silver. "This is no time for playing, I must retrieve my mother."

"So you can what? Kill more innocent people," Silver shook her head. "I won't have it!"

Silver ran towards him, quickly jumping over the long sword, and kicked Sephiroth Square on his gut, but this only seem to annoy Sephiroth more than it hurt him, when he whipped his sword across Silver's right cheek. Luckily Silver moved out of the way to receive minimal damage, but that didn't stop Silver from hissing, and touching her wound. It stung…badly, and she feels the wet, sticky blood. Deciding it was now or never, Silver took a step back so that she could get a good aim at his sword, and kicked it out of his hand, this time it worked perfectly. Before Sephiroth even has time to go for his sword, Silver upper cut him on his chin, making herself flip and then land perfectly on her feet. She crouched, ready for his next attack.

Sephiroth, angered by her kick, charged towards the young girl. Silver knew that he was fast, but she didn't realize he was this fast. In a blink of an eye, Silver is caught in Sephiroth's right hand; he's strangling her, her feet dangling in the air. Silver tried scratching his hand, but his leather is his shield, so she tried punching him, but that would only keep her from breathing, so she held onto his large hand, so she then tried kicking him, but that seem to do nothing to him. He was only toying with her, he wasn't even trying. This made Silver's hatred spark even more.

"Fuck you," she hissed between her teeth. Sephiroth merely smiled evilly at the girl, before throwing her across the room. Silver screamed and knew that she was going to die, but she landed back on the right side of the entrance, her back and head bumping onto the hard wall.

She hissed when she felt her head impact hard on the wall, and Silver can feel something wet going down on the left side of her head. A headache is forming, and she stands up, wincing and hissing from the pain, and faced Sephiroth, but his figure is back on the tube like thing once again, completely ignoring her.

"Sephiroth," she whispered to herself, remembering what she said to the 1st Class Soldier the night she woke up from sleep. "You're not human…you're a monster, a sick, sadistic, monster…I hope you die."

A sudden explosion, made Silver fall to the floor and avoided getting killed by the smashed door. Silver stood up in her fighting stance, and waited for the intruder, but felt like falling when she saw Zack coming in. She immediately hugged him, crying into his chest. All of her anger, all of her pain, is coming out of those tears.

"Zack—Zack, you're okay. And Cloud, how's Cloud?"

Zack gently pushed the girl away from him when he saw something blood coming out of the side of her cheek and head. Cupping his left hand on her chin, he lifted her head up to get a better look at her face. He frowned at her wound, and inspected her body for more injuries. There are small scratches all over her body, her tank top is ripped with tiny slashes, and he can see blood coming out, though her face received the most damage. Zack lifted his eyes and looked past Silver, seeing the man who caused all this destruction completely ignoring them. His eyes darken, and lowered his eyes to meet Silver's.

"He did this to you, right?" Silver nodded. Zack scowled and pulled her out of the room. "Get out of here, I'll take care of him, and take Tifa to safety, understand?"

His serious attitude made Silver nervous. "Got it."

She ran down the steep stairs, worrying about Zack in the back of her mind. But he can take care of himself, after all he is a 1st Class SOLDIER just like Sephiroth, he will be able to kill him, if not, at least weaken him.

Silver kneeled besides Tifa's body, breathing heavily, and tried to wake her up. "Tifa," she didn't respond. "Tifa," and she still wouldn't wake up. Hearing the explosion and crashes in the other room made Silver on a verge to hysteria. Cursing under her breath, Silver decided that she would have to carry her.

Tugged her hands under Tifa's legs and upper body, Silver used all of her strength to carry her, and she was able to, but the thumping in her skull made Silver put Tifa back on the ground, and cradled her head.

"Tifa."

The sudden voice caused Silver to cover Tifa's body with her own protectively. A Shinra Guard is standing before her, looking down at Tifa's body.

"Get out of here," Silver hissed between her teeth.

The man dropped down to her his knees, and kept looking at the young girl. "Tifa," he repeated.

Finally recognizing his voice, and seeing bits of blonde hair sticking out of his helmet, Silver relaxed, and went back to kneeling. She grabbed the man's hand, and gave a reassuring squeeze. "Cloud?" The man nodded.

"Tifa…is she…" he left his question unspoken.

Silver knew what he meant and shook her head, but winced from the pain. "It's okay, Cloud, she's—"

Before she could even finish her sentence, something came crashing out of the other room, landing against a wall on the other side of the left hand side of the stair well. Realizing that that something is Zack, she yelled, and ran towards him, jumping over the stair well, and sat next to him, grabbing onto his hand, being careful not to damage his arm any further.

"Zack!" The dark-haired man slowly opened his eyes, his mako eyes not even focusing on her face. "Zack!"

"Cloud!" Silver turned around and asked for help, but Cloud walked towards them, stopping in front of a large, big, and thick sword. "Cloud?" he didn't say anything to her, he just picked up the large sword, and began running up the stairs and into the room where Sephiroth lies. "Cloud!"

She was about to stand and run for him, but strong hands, grabbed her arm and pulled her down. Silver's widen eyes, met Zack's half closed ones, and she let her fear show.

"It's okay…he's stronger than you…think."

Silver stubbornly shook her head. "NO! He's just a kid…I won't let him die—I can't!"

The silver-eyed girl once again tried getting up, but to no avail. Even on the brick of life and death, Zack is still so much stronger than she is. "You're weak compared…to him," Zack pointed to her wounds. "He was just…having…fun with you." Zack grimaced in pain, before continuing. "He could have killed you in seconds…if he wanted…to."

"I don't care, it's Cloud we're talking about— he's still a kid."

Zack smirked slightly. "So are you."

"I'm the same age as you." Silver frowned at Zack's light tone. He's being playful, he shouldn't be playful—he's almost dead, dammit.

"Could have fooled me."

Silver flicked Zack's forehead, and took hold of his hand again. "This is no time for being so light, Zack, you're half-dead."

Zack said nothing, though his gaze immediately went up to the top of the stairs. Silver turned her head so that it'll be facing at the top of the stairs. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Cloud running down the stairs, and picked up Tifa, carrying her out of the Mako Reactor. Silver noticed that Cloud didn't have his helmet on.

"Did he…kill him?" Silver asked.

Zack only grunted in response, and squeezed the girl's hand. "Go…go…he still might be alive."

"What about you?"

Zack laughed, but there was no humor behind it, just bitterness. "Like you said…I'm already half-dead."

Silver grimaced at his words, but said nothing. She wouldn't leave him, he's too weak, and he can barely keep his eyes open, let alone talk. Silver tries to hide her tears but using her thick hair as a veil, but she can hear Zack scoffing. "No need to hide."

Easy for you to say, Silver scoffed. She noticed how Zack is willing to show how he feels no matter what, he doesn't hide himself, not like she does, and sometimes, Silver wishes she could be like Zack; carefree, funny, cocky…but she isn't, and has to stop dreaming of the day that she'll be happy, cause even though she doesn't remember anything of her past, she knows that she has suffered, and right now, she knows that her suffering isn't over yet.

A sudden crash made them both snapped their heads towards the entrance to the other room. "Dear God," Silver mumbled.

Silver hears footsteps once again, and turned her head so that it'll be facing the entrance to the building. Cloud is coming, with determination in his eyes. And out of the corner of her eye, Silver can see Sephiroth coming out of the tiny room, his sword on his left hand, and a…head? On his right. Creepy, what is that anyway?

Jenova…A little voice in the back of her head answers. Jenova? Mother.

Sephiroth's words attacked her mind. "This is no time for playing, I must retrieve my mother." Is that head…his mother? They both have the silvery white hair, but…Silver has a strong feeling that he has it all wrong.

Sephiroth is clutching his stomach with the same hand he's holding his sword with and Silver realizes that there's blood dripping out. He smirks evilly down at Cloud. "A bastard like you…"

"Cloud…" the blond-haired boy stopped in his tracks when he heard Zack's voice, "finish him."

"The likes of you…" Silver felt a shiver of fear go down her spin when she saw how crazy the silvered-haired man looks.

Grabbing the large sword next to Cloud, he yells, "Sephiroth!" before charging at him.

Sephiroth grimaces before deflecting Cloud's attack. "Don't think is that easy!"

Silver cried out when the SOLDIER pierced Cloud through his chest, and swung him into the room. Sephiroth slowly walks in after, leaving Silver seething in hatred. The young girl tried getting up but Zack kept pulling her down.

"Zack…stop!"

"Go to Tifa…if Cloud dies, he wouldn't want her to…die as well."

His words stopped Silver in her rage and considered his words. Cloud likes her, she knows that much, and Tifa as well…Silver heard her whisper his name affectionately. Tifa has a better chance of survival if her wound is treated…Cloud might not even make it out alive. Tifa will be in grief if Cloud dies…Tifa might die if she doesn't get help, and Cloud might get defeated anyhow. Silver knows though, that she needs to protect Tifa—for Cloud. He wants to protect her. Silver isn't sure how she knows that fact, it's like common sense. Protecting her is what he wants, he wants her to live.

Nodding, Silver hugs Zack, making sure that she doesn't hurt him, before standing up, but she couldn't help but looked down at him with worry. "What about you?"

Zack uses what strength he has left to lift his head and meet her eyes. He smiles softly at her. "Remember…I'm half-dead."

"Right."A tear slips out of Silver's eyes when she sees Zack's blue eyes close.

Nodding to herself, she ran down the few steps and out of the Mako Reactor. It's dark and smoky out, a reminder of what had happened earlier. Scowling, Silver looked for Tifa.

"Tifa?" She called out, but no one answered, though she spots a large figure, and runs towards it.

"Tifa?" Recognizing, the long dark hair, Silver relaxes, but her guard is still up, since she doesn't know the person whose caring Tifa.

"Hey, you!"

The figure stopped, and turned around, revealing that the person caring Tifa is Zangan. Sighing in relief, Zangan smiled at the tiny girl, and patiently waited for her to stop next to him.

Silver isn't sure if she should be relieved seeing Zangan or confused, since she thought that he left the village a while ago. "Zangan?"

"Silver." Zangan grinned at the girl, but immediately turned serious. "We have to go."

Silver shook her head. "We can't just leave them here."

Zangan's head lifted up at the sky. "Shinra is comin', we have to leave."

Silver lifted her up as well, and she could faintly see a helicopter coming its way. Confused, Silver frowned and looked back at the older man. "They can help us."

Zangan scoffed and began running down the stairs, ran past Tifa's father and down the hill, with Silver running right beside him. "But like you said, they practically own this world, they can help us."

"We can't trust them," was all he said. He stopped in his tracks, Silver stopping with, and looked back at the building. "Let's hope they make it out alive."

Silver's heart gave a little squeeze at his words. Even as Zangan began walking again, she kept looking at the building, wondering when all of this had gone wrong. It felt like minutes ago when she was just with Reno and Rude, and now…now everything, and everybody is dead. Silver has a bad feeling leaving Cloud and Zack alone in there, and it becomes even worse when she sees a helicopter land. Why, she wonders, why are these bad vibes attacking her body?

"Yeah…let's hope," she mumbled before she caught up Zangan and an unconscious Tifa on his back.

The martial artist master gave Silver a sideways glance, eyeing her bloody face, scratched body, and dried-blood hands, though he knows whose blood that belongs to. "What happened to you?"

"Sephiroth," she mumbled, and Zangan understood perfectly. His darkened at how Silver kept scowling and kept rubbing her temples, as if she was trying to get rid of an headache. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"Midgar."


Dead…everything's dead. Burned to ashes…blood—too much blood. Silver….what happened to her? Did she survive, or did she die? How could this happen. Zack, he was there, why couldn't he have stopped Sephiroth? The Great Sephiroth, that's what he is, he's too great, too powerful.

Silver…Reno regrets ever treating her and the village badly.

Silver…why is he such a jackass? Why couldn't he have chased Silver into the village and help those people.

Silver…she's gone.

The village…it's burned to ashes.

The villagers…they're dead.

Sephiroth…he killed them.

Zack…he's half-dead.

Cloud…he's hanging on by a single string of life.

Shinra…they're doing nothing about it.

Reno should be mad, if not, infuriated, by their actions, but he's not. He understands why Shinra must hide the massacre, though it hurts to know what those people's destinies were. Silver. He couldn't believe that she had died—though he had no proof of it— knowing her for three days made him think like that. She's fiery, always holding this certain determination gleam. Even her anger is enough to scare other people into oblivion. She's also tough and won't take shit, though Reno is certain that Silver isn't tough enough to defeat Sephiroth…no one is. But…this Cloud guy…he was able to take down Sephiroth, but he was nothing, just a normal soldier, nothing more, at least, that was what he observes those days of staying in Nibelheim.

Reno and Rude stood next to Tseng who's speaking with Hojo in a silent conversation, and watched Zack's body laying on a gurney, breathing heavily, bleeding. And Cloud also laying on a gurney, is being pushed right behind Zack.

But Hojo stopped the medics, and inspected Cloud's bleeding body. "Insteresting. Very interesting."

Reno scowled, and walked away, Rude following in suit. He never liked Hojo, always found him creepy…and greasy.

The other Turks investigated the area and paid no mind to the two partners entering the helicopter.

"It was just a few hours ago." Rude mumbled. Reno said nothing. "Do you think—"

"I don't really care, Rude." Reno snapped at his partner, knowing where his question will lead. But Reno does care, more then he should. "I don't care."

Rude grunted. "It won't make a difference if you did, everybody's dead."

She's dead…Silver's dead.

Dead.

Why does his heart hurt so much?


AN: There you have, I hope you liked it. And I'm beggin you, please review.

I'll all give you virtual cookies if you do?