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"Cid," Vincent said to his old friend, "I can't help feeling Mecha is in Mideel." They were cruising in the fixed Highwind over the ocean to get to the Golden Saucer.
"Vincent... Please... We all miss lil' Mecha, but we ain't spendin our time mopin around. We are out lookin for her." Vincent's red eyes flashed. Cloud wandered in then seeing Vincent's anger.
"Cid, enough, that is his daughter we are searching for... give him the courtesy of being kinder about it." Vincent silently walked from the room to find Sephiroth. He was in the Choco-stall as he was a lot of the time.
"Still miss her?" Vincent asked him.
"I should have done more..." he replied. His hair had turned to a dark gray and was lightening all the time. Soon they would find out. Soon it would be all over. "I promised I'd help her find out who Sephiroth is..."
"There was a reason we didn't tell her Seth.. I know she's told you about Jenova by now."
"I would like to know so that I don't blow it for her."
"When we found out that Mecha heard the voice of Jenova we were afraid. Aeris and I... well we asked the group not to tell her when it came time to tell the other children. We feared for her sanity. That and maybe she could find out whether it was him or Jenova that did all of those things." Sephiroth nodded. Jared soon walked in, still upset about Mecha's loss.
"Take a nap Jared," Sephiroth said to the poor boy. Jared nodded and lay down in the straw.
"Tell me if we find Mecha ok?" Vincent nodded to Yuffie's son. Vincent wandered from the stall up into the rain with Nanaki.
"It's been six months Vincent."
"I know, how much longer before we find her?"
"I don't really know Vincent, but I hope it's soon. For everyone's sake."
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"There you go Mecha." Mecha touched her head and felt over the scar that had formed above her eye.
"Will it go away Dr. Morris?"
"I don't think it will Mecha." Mecha nodded solemnly and fastened her cloth on her head and put her hair in its original way. The doctor had gotten used to the strangeness of the two different colored eyes. Mecha wandered outside into the sunny day and caught a ship to Costa Del Sol. The ride across the ocean was smooth until Emerald weapon popped up and searched for a meal. Mecha groaned and a man with shaggy black hair with a bandana tied around it ran up on deck and proceeded to fight alone. It was Reeve! She swiped up the nearest weapon, which happened to be her sword and ran towards the monster with the sword out to her side. Emerald powered up for an attack to kill Reeve as she ran. Reeve raised his fists and began to call forth Knights of the Round. Each knight brought forth their attack on Emerald. Mecha reached the giant green weapon of the planet as the summon was ending and brought in her own attack. She snickered as her blade cut through Emerald's chest area, stopping his upcoming attack. Reeve saw the blade stuck in the giant weapon and thought that KOTR had left a sword in Emerald. He saw someone in a red cloak run up to the weapon to retrieve the sword as Emerald retreated into the ocean.
"Vincent!" he screamed as Mecha savagely pulled her sword from Emerald and leaped on deck. She sat down and watched the giant green creature lower itself into the sea once more.
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Cloud was with Cid on the bridge when Emerald attacked an unsuspecting ship. They watched a small battle ensue between Reeve and the giant creature. Then the creature began to retreat and a person leapt upon it and savagely ripped a weapon from the living weapon's chest and leap back onto the ship.
"VINCENT!" he and Cid yelled. Vincent ran to the bridge.
"What?" Cloud pointed to the ship. Vincent looked at the ship with his red eyes. "So? What about it?"
"Emerald attacked the ship." Vincent stared at him in disbelief, "and Reeve is aboard."
"That doesn't tell me where Mecha is Cloud.."
"It might."
"How..."
"Moments after Emerald surfaced it began to retreat. Reeve couldn't have done that so fast." Vincent stared at the ship.
"Follow it then.. I want to see who made Emerald retreat so fast."
The Highwind landed just outside of Costa Del Sol as the ship docked. The group moved to the docks quickly and watched the people come off the ship.
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Reeve had watched Mecha all the way to Costa Del Sol since Emerald retreated. She climbed up to where he couldn't see her any longer until she saw him walk down the ramp. She came from her hiding place and exited the ship. Only to come face to face with none other than Vincent. She quickly stepped around his right side and he grabbed her with his good hand. She cast a blue eye at him in a glare.
"Don't glare at me like that Mecha." She softened.
"I'm sorry..."
"Everyone has worried about you. At least you can show a little courtesy and say hello."
"Hello everyone.." Vincent looked worried at his child.
"I'm taking you home.." Mecha looked afraid. "You are my daughter..." Mecha then relaxed. And almost let her tail slip out. Vincent whispered in her ear about the tail rule and she tightened around her waist. Aeris walked into town finished with the current bout of tears. She looked at Mecha and began to cry again. Vincent took Aeris's hand and beckoned for Mecha to come. He called to Cid to take the Highwind to Nibelheim and wait for them. Sephiroth tried to follow, but Cloud stopped him. He looked to Cloud who shook his head.
"It's just them on this walk Seth..." Cloud moved his hand and Sephiroth watched them walk away. Jared moved beside him and watched too. Cid, Nanaki, Cloud, Tifa, Jordan, Reeve, Yuffie and Barret watched them.
"Jared seems a little different since meeting Mecha," Yuffie commented on her son.
"I don't see the look in Seth eyes that was there when I first met him," Cloud followed in the comments.
"Mecha doesn't shy away from this new person," Cid noted
"And I've noticed she almost let out her tail around them once," Tifa stated, "She must be getting used to them."
"But mind you Mecha has been missing for months," Nanaki was catching the logic, "And you noticed how silent they were the whole time... except for when Vincent spoke to them."
Barret hmpfed and said, "Still can't trust Mecha for shi'!" everyone looked at Barret quickly as he continued, "You know that critter in her head Je-." Cloud slapped his hand over Barret's mouth and got this weird sweatdrop look on his face with the biggest grin he could manage.
"Yeah critter in her head, we all know that Barret," Cid interjected.
"All except Jordan and Jared," Seth uttered abruptly as Jenova cackled to someone other than himself. Reeve was lost in the conversation and walked out to the Highwind quietly. Cid followed suit and soon everyone followed. All except Sephiroth, who noticed Mecha's sword a few feet from the ship. He picked it up and walked aboard.
"Cloud..." he said. Cloud looked at him. There was a hint of fear in his eyes as he looked at Sephiroth.
(He's going to kill you now Sephiroth!)
'It won't matter! I'll have died happily!' but it calmed as he saw only the Seth appearance of him.
"What is it Seth?" Sephiroth held the sword to Cloud.
"Mecha left this." Cloud took the sword warily. And walked to Cid to tell him that Mecha left her weapon behind. The engines rumbled and the ship lifted off the ground.
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The airship flew over Vincent, Mecha, and Aeris. It landed in front of them and Cloud ran out carrying a buster sword. The sight was familiar, except for the way he was dressed and the short length of his buzzed hair. He ran to them and gave the sword to Mecha.
"Don't forget your sword Mecha," he panted, before running back to the ship. Mecha blinked and moved the sword to her back and hooked it on its pegs. Aeris looked at Mecha for a moment before releasing Vincent long enough to untie her hair from its' ribbon causing it to tumble down her back.
"Mecha, sweetie?" Mecha looked at her mother.
"Yes Mom?" that caused Aeris to smile. Aeris walked to Mecha and tied the ribbon in her hair near the cloth on her head. Mecha blinked at that and reached up a hand to her mother's hand as she tied the ribbon in her hair. She lay her hand across Aeris's as Aeris finished. Aeris took Mecha's hand and Mecha looked away trying not to release the tears in her eyes. She remembered now. Aeris was her mother. She hadn't been very clear when she called Aeris mom, but now she was. Vincent saw this action and moved next to Aeris who was rubbing her head in confusion.
"Aeris.."
"Yes, Vincent?" Vincent put his arm around Aeris.
"She remembers that you are her mother." Aeris blinked.
"A little action helped her remember?" Vincent nodded and smirked.
"Remember when she was little?" Aeris blinked, so he continued. "You used to tie her hair in lavender ribbons. She looked like a miniature you." Mecha released Aeris's hand and rubbed her face.
"Mother..." Aeris put a hand on Mecha's shoulder to comfort her, which it did just a little.
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Sephiroth was looking out the window of the airship as they landed near Nibelheim. It was days later and they had already decided that the children were going to deal with what perils lie ahead. Sephiroth sighed. They had taken Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie, and Barret to their respective homes after the decision was made. Marlene tapped a foot restlessly on the deck of the ship.
"Why do we have to wait for ol' red eyes and his family!" she cried exasperated. Cid cut a glance at the younger girl.
"Because... we are deciding who is the leader of the young people! Vincent has an important mission for all of us!" Vincent and Aeris strode up alone to the party.
"I have decided..." he said tiredly.
"Decided what?" Nanaki asked. Everyone turned to Vincent.
"The strongest will lead..." Aeris took the opportunity to go inside the mansion.
"How will we find that out?" Vincent cut his eyes to the speaker, who turned out to be Jordan.
"Mecha is rounding up monsters as we speak... they will be chasing her. She has already expressed that she doesn't want to be the leader. She thinks it will be unfair to the rest of you..." everyone nodded except Sephiroth.
"I don't want to be leader either," he muttered. Vincent cast a red-eyed glare at him.
"You have to compete Seth. There is not a choice." Sephiroth sighed and waited for Mecha. She soon appeared with the monsters tailing her. But only Vincent knew that she was there at the head of a few thousand Nibel wolves. Vincent pointed at the oncoming flood of Nibel wolves. "Don't kill the one in the red cloak!" everyone knew what he wanted and immediately charged the wolves. Sephiroth stood back and Cid shoved him into the wolves, forcing him to fend for himself. His eyes flashed once in anger, but he realized that a few wolves were pouncing at him. He spun a gun from his side and shot a wolf down. Jared finished off a wolf and Jordan downed one too after Sephiroth shot down his second. The fight in the thousands of wolves would last a few hours while all 3 fought to fend themselves from being killed and eaten.
Mecha lost her power of wolven form after the fight had raged on those few hours. She had been running amongst the wolf brethren and she formed into her more human form in the midst of the wolves. Her cry of pain rang out and all 3 heard. Jordan was immediately taken down and Cid rushed in to save the boy. He finally dragged Jordan from the flood of wolves all scratched and beaten. Jared fought to get to Mecha, but he soon was down and dragged from the wolves. Sephiroth however heard the cries and knew it was risk his disguise or Vincent's daughter. The wolves were now beginning to focus their attention on the fallen girl. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he brought his hand in an arc and Nibel wolves for seven feet at his side flew into the air cut through. He cleared the wolves around Mecha quickly. Vincent saw this and narrowed his eyes.
"THE DAMN SON OF A BITCH!" he cried and plunged into the wolves to get to his daughter before Sephiroth did. He was a little late as Sephiroth hiked the unconscious girl onto his shoulder. Most of the wolves left scattered and Sephiroth carried the girl to Vincent, who glared at Sephiroth, until the unconscious Mecha was placed into his arms. Vincent looked at Sephiroth's left hand at the Masamune.
"So now you know.." Vincent glared in hate at Sephiroth.
"Yes, but I don't understand... why when you had our trust did you act differently?" Jenova decided to interject at that point.
(So now they know! Kill them! Kill them now!)
The howling Jenova put into his head rang in his ears until he had to cover them. "No!" he cried, "Jenova, I won't hurt them again! Leave me alone!" Vincent blinked and everyone looked. Mecha began to awaken, having regained enough energy "I wish to be rid of you!" he ran slipping a little in the grass. Mecha blinked.
"Is he ok?"
"I don't think so..." Mecha extracted herself from Vincent's arms and ran after Sephiroth calling for Seth. She heard Jenova's cackling cries about going to the northern crater. She stumbled over the rocks in the field as she tore after Sephiroth. Rain began to fall heavily. Mecha was blinded and still ran after Sephiroth calling.