CHAPTER 4: TIFA'S SECRET
Yuna came too and unknown amount of time later, she looked around she was in a white room. She tried to move her arms only to find them strapped down.
"I see your awake." A voice said it was female, Yuna could find a face to match the voice however, but it didn't sound like Tifone.
"Who are you?" Yuna asked. "Why am I here? What are you going to do to me?"
"Don't worry, for now your safe." The voice explained. "We need Tifa here, to further our research."
"How do you know her?" Yuna asked. "Where am I?"
"Enough questions for now." The voice said. "When you awaken, you'll get the answers." Yuna was about to protest when she heard a hissing sound. Her eyelids began to grow heavy and soon she was in a deep sleep.
*****
Tifa came through the portal and looked around, she was in Kalm. It was different, like it was when she first decided to live there. When she returned over a month ago the town was under martial law. During their brief visit Tifa was hospital bound thus unable to check on the progress of her town. Since then and the public fall of the LeGrance family with Victor LeGrance being arrested and sent to jail. Life returned to normal in the small town, Tifa's old bar the New Heaven however was destroyed during the turmoil.
Tifa saw in it's place was an exotict dancing bar named Guilty Pleasures. Tifa shook her head as she walked past it. She felt someone bump into her! Tifa looked and saw a young woman on the ground she had light brown hiar that went down to her shoulders. She had on a sleeveless brown shirt and jeans.
"Sorry!" the girl said.
"You ok?" Tifa asked as she helped her up. The girl nodded and went on her way. Tifa shook her head as her hand went to her materia pouch. It was gone! Tifa uttered a silent curse and quickly followed the would be thief. Tifa followed her until she saw her scale a fence and drop down to the other side. Tifa shook her head and followed.
The girl dropped down to the other side of the fence, she saw the brown haired woman whose pouch she filched give pause. The girl wasted no time and turned and sprinted down an alleyway. There saw saw four young men all seemed to be waiting for her.
"What we got here?" one asked he had short dark hair.
"Pretty number." Another one who was bald observed as he circled her.
"Gonna share?" the dark haired one asked. The girl shook her head.
"It's mine!" she declared. She found her arms grabbed by the other two, she yelped in protest as the leader took the pouch. He peered inside.
"Holy cow!" he exclaimed. "Look at all this materia! Nessie, you hit the mother load." He motioned for the others to let go of her.
"Huh?" Nessie questioned, she didn't even have time to look at what she grabbed. "This mean your going to give it back to me?"
"60-40 split." The leader offered. "You get the 40."
"That's not fair!" Nessie exclaimed. "I stole it! I did all the work!"
"Hey Ness." The leader said. "Four of us, one of you. Take it or leave it." Nessie fell silent, she saw the other three circle her. Nessie felt her hands tighten into fists. "Take her out boys!"
The bald one lunged at Nessie who dodged the blow and watched the clumsy blow hit his friend. Nessie kicked him in the midsection, he gasped and doubled over, then Nessie brought her knee up hard catching him in the chin, his head snapped back and he fell to the ground. Another one a blonde took a wild swing at her, she dodged and clipped his legs, he fell to the ground, Nessie stomped on his chest driving all air out. The last one of the three swung at her, she grabbed him by the shirt and threw him onto his friend. She cast a glare at the leader who decided to run.
"Hey!" Nessie called out.
She went to follow only to see him vanish down the alley, only to see him drop to the ground. The pouch dropped to the ground but a black gloved hand grabbed it. Nessie saw her come out, it was the same woman she stole from, she had long brown hair, she was a pretty woman far as Nessie could tell. She had on some sort of karate outfit.
"Umm hi." Nessie said nervously. "I'm Nessie, umm sorry about accidently taking your pouch before."
"It happens." Tifa said with a slight smile, she could tell the girl was nervous. "I'm Tifa, I saw you take out those three." Tifa pointed at the three young men on the ground. "Your pretty good."
"I'm the best around here." Nessie bragged. "Hey I got an idea, how about we fight, first one to knock the other down gets the pouch!"
"It IS my pouch." Tifa replied. "but alright, you want it so bad, lets see how good you are." Tifa placed the pouch on the ground and stood there. "You take the first swing."
"What?" Nessie exclaimed. Who was this woman, she was really pushing it, Nessie smiled, if she took her out all that materia would be hers, she could sell the bad one's and still have a good amount of money. "Ok, your on."
Nessie went up to Tifa and took up her fighting stance. She swung her fist at Tifa's stomach a sure knockdown blow. Tifa dodged, Nessie followed up with a with a kicked, tifa also dodged the kick, not only that but Tifa's hand shot forward and lighted slapped Nessie!
"HEY!!" Nessie cried. "Your not even trying!" Tifa smiled and shook her head. An act that angered Nessie. "I'll show you!" Nessie threw another kick at Tifa this one Tifa deflected with her hand. Nessie fumed and without knowing it her leg shot out aimed at Tifa's head! Tifa caught the kick with her hands and swept Nessie's other leg out from under her! Nessie fell to the ground with a thud!
Tifa looked at the girl, she was angry, but also down. Tifa reached her hand to help pull the young girl up. Instead of taking it she swept Tifa's legs, Tifa staggered but grabbed the girls arms.
"OW!" Nessie cried. "Knock it off!"
"Calm down." Tifa advised as she let go. Nessie took advantage and took another swing! This time Tifa grabbed the arm and drove nessie face first to the ground. Tifa applied pressure to the arm causing Nessie to cry out.
"Stop it!" Nessie cried. "Your hurting me."
"Settle down." Tifa said. "Next time you pull a stunt like that something gets broken!"
"You wouldn't." Nessie hissed. Tifa let go.
"Try me." Tifa offered. "I would like to see you explain a broken arm to your parents. Listen just relax, calm down."
"I need materia." Nessie said. "a cure one. I saw your pouch and thought it had money in it." Then Nessie had a thought. "Your not Tifa Lockhart are you?" she hoped the answer was no, because if she was, Nessie knew she could be in trouble.
"I am." Tifa replied.
Nessie felt her heart sink, what did she do, she tried to beat up a celebrity! Someone who saved the planet!
"Umm listen I'm really sorry about before!" nessie explained.
"Just relax." Tifa comforted. "I don't want to hurt you or else you would be like these guys." Tifa motioned to the four men just now getting to their senses. "Walk and talk with me. Tell me why you need a cure materia."
"It's my grandfather." Nessie said as she walked. "He's taken care of me since I was really little. He's sick now, I'm afraid.. he might die." Tifa nodded, she listened but remembered Aeris' talk of destiny. Tifa had the time before she had to meet her clone in a day. She handed the girl a cure materia. Her face lit up. "You mean it?!"
"Long as I get to go with you." Tifa replied. "And you don't try this again." Nessie nodded and lead Tifa down the road to an old white house. She went in with Tifa behind her.
"Grandpa!" Nessie called out. "You here?"
"Of course I am." A husky old voice replied, as an old man wheeled himself to meet the young lady. "Your dirty Vanessa, you get into another fight?"
"They jumped me Grandpa!" Nessie replied. The grandfather wheeled himself to a table where he grabbed a leather strap, he returned to Nessie and handed it to her. "Aw Grandpa!"
"Outside, fifty hits on the large brown rug." The grandfather ordered.
"Grandpaaaww!" Nessie protested. "It was self defense."
"I know darling." The grandfather replied. "Still, you can't solve all yer problems with fists, I'm sure your friend can vouche for that. Now go before I up it." Unhapplily Nessie obeyed.
"Odd punishment." Tifa noted. "Tifa, by the way."
"I know who you are." The grandfather replied. "Call me Harv. I know it's odd, but I won't hit her, wouldn't be right. She needs something to keep her focused. I don't know how she got mixed in with all this fighting mumbo jumbo. Started when some guy came here afew years back. Named Zangan, mentioned how he could help the kids. Nessie wanted to join but I forbade her from doing so. I know she sneaks off to the old theater to watch old movies and uses them. I'm sorry I'm rambling."
"Master Zangan was my teacher." Tifa said. "If you want I could teach her some, I can't stay for long, but I can try to help her."
"She needs to help herself." Harv replied. "Keeps her feelings all bottled up, can't be good for her."
"I know she worries about you." Tifa said. "It's why she was in the fight. People tried to take the materia I gave her to help you. Listen I know you dislike it but I know from experience it can help."
"Whatever happened to people talking out their differences." Harv grumbled. "Now it's fight, fight, fight. I don't want her going down that path. I raised her since she was four, after her mom passed away. I just want Vanessa kept safe."
"I understand." Tifa replied. "You do know that she is old enough to make choices for herself right?"
"Yeah." Harv agreed. "She ain't a little kid no more, her mom would like how she grew up. Listen, Tifa, she's the only granddaughter I've got. Now I know I'm being selfish but I want her safe as long as possible. Nothing wrong with that is there?"
"Of course not." Tifa assured him. "You have every right to want to keep her safe. She also has a right though, to want to keep her only family safe." Harv was about to respond when Vanessa came in, she placed the strap down on the table where she found it.
"Good girl." Harv complimented. "Now why don't you get some clean clothes on. I'm sure your friend would like to stay."
"It would be nice." Tifa replied. Nessie nodded and went off. Thus the night began to pass.
Several hours later the three of them sat in the living room. Nessie who was now in a demin shirt and matching pants sat next to her grandfather. Tifa sat on a sofa, she was amazed at Nessie's cooking and how she handled herself. It was almost like she was looking at herself. Harv despite his gruff exterioir cared about his grand daughter. Though the night was late Harv excused himself to go to bed. Tifa watched the tenderness he showed with Nessie. He wheeled himself into the next room and closed the door.
Tifa noticed Nessie starred at the door for quite some time.
"Nessie?" Tifa asked.
"I worry about him." Nessie stated. "He's not well, but he won't tell me. He wouldn't even let me use the materia you gave me on him. I don't know what I'm going to do… after..after.." Nessie stopped, Tifa gently approached her and lead her to the couch. She reminded Tifa so much like herself. "What did you do? When everything was taken from you?"
"I started over." Tifa said. "It wasn't easy, in fact it was hard. I have friends now, who are like my family."
"Where are they?" Nessie questioned.
"One is here." Tifa said. "she was taken and I'm going to get her back."
"She's important to you?" Nessie asked.
"Very." Tifa agreed. "She's really helped me out since I've known her. She's quite possibly the best thing to happen to me."
"Wish I had someone like that." Nessie said wistfully.
"We all do." Tifa comforted. "You'll find whoever it is."
"thanks." Nessie relied. "Hey you have anyplace to spend the night? We have an extra room."
Tifa thought for a minute, she planned on finding Kara and trying to stay with her. However the hour was late, tifa was tired from the day.
"If you'll have me I'll stay." Tifa said. Nessie nodded with a big grin. She lead Tifa to the guest room.
"Here you go." Nessie said as she opened the door for tifa. "There are clothes in the closet. Hey, thanks for everything."
"Your welcome Ness." Tifa said. "I hope things work for you. Thank you as well, and goodnight." Ness smiled as she left and Tifa closed the door.
Tifa dropped her small bag containing a fresh set of clothes on the ground as she went to the closet. She found a gray nightshirt, Tifa stripped off her clothes and slipped on the nightshirt. Tfa smiled as it was a perfect fit, she then shut off the lights and lay in bed. She thought of Yuna, her friend who was unfairly involved in this business between Tifone and herself.
"I'll find you Yunie." Tifa whispered. "We'll be together again, it'll take more than a copy of me to keep me from saving you."
*****
Yuna awoke it was dark but she could tell she was on a bed and she was unshackled. Whoever her captors where it was apparent she was deemed a non threat. Yuna shook her head to try to clear it, she had no clue where she was. Just then Yuna heard footsteps, she got to a sitting position.
"I see your awake." The voice said.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Yuna demanded.
"Please be calm." The voice advised, Yuna could tell now it was a female voice. The same who talked to her before. "We have no intention of hurting you. I hope you can provide us with information."
"How did you find me?" Yuna asked. "Are you with her Tifa's clone?"
"In a way." The woman responded. "Fear not she's in our custody."
"So you had nothing to do with her attacking me?" Yuna questioned.
"We had to have some sort of insurance that our main target would show up." The woman explained. "Our sources stated that you're a close friend to her." Yuna's eyes widened Tifa!
"Leave her alone!" Yuna shouted as she gripped the iron bars that held her prisoner.
"I assure you, we don't intend for her life or your life to be in danger." The female said.
"Then why take me?" Yuna asked.
"As we said." The woman explained. "You're a close friend of her. When she comes to rescue you we will have obtained the data we need from her."
"Then I'll be free?" Yuna questioned. No response came, Yuna heard footsteps as they faded. She sighed as she lay back down on the bed. Her eyes where now adjusted to the darkness enough to see a form standing outside her cell. The figure cast a glance at Yuna then walked off. Yuna sighed, she had no clue where she was, there where no windows in her cell.
Yuna knew she was in trouble, she had no idea where she was or who was holding her. Even worse was she had no way of finding out, her captor was a woman of few words apparently. Yuna closed her eyes and Lenne's image flooded her mind.
Lenne, she was why Yuna was off alone, she was mad at Lenne. When she first brought Lenne back to life she thought it was her own doing. Now however she found out she was used, fooled into doing so. How could Lenne do it, all this time she thought Lenne was her friend, yet a friend, wouldn't do this. Yuna angrily shook her head. Yuna thought she knew Lenne better, maybe she didn't, maybe it was like she suspected before. That all this time Lenne was mingled with her and Yuna thought she knew her, she didn't know a thing.
"Are you going to sit there all night?" a voice questioned from next to her. Yuna could tell it was male.
"Where?" yuna questioned looking around.
"In the cell next to you of course." The man replied. "I forgot no matter how beautiful some of you human's may look, you lack the ability us Tier'dahl have to see in the dark."
"You're a dark elf?" yuna asked.
"Of course, my dear." He replied. "And don't worry salvation is at hand."
"Salvation?" yuna questioned. "You're here to rescue me?" Yuna then paused as she thought she heard something. She then heard a noise by her cell she looked and saw a cat woman unlocking her cell. She noticed the person "Ebon!"
"Come on." Ebon said as she moved to unlock the strangers cell.
"Still mourning her loss are we?" the stranger asked.
"Loss?" Yuna questioned. "Ebon, what does he mean."
"No need to worry about it anymore Yuna." Ebon replied. "My sister is free forever from the curse. Now come on, you have another friend who is waiting for you."
Yuna nodded and followed Ebon, still unsure of what happened. They got to an intersection. Where Ebon pointed down the hall.
"Ralax." She said looking at the man. "Down there are your connections. Yuna come with me."
Yuna nodded as she followed the cat woman a question nagged at her, though she was hesistant to ask it.
"So." Yuna started. "where is your sister? If she's freed where is she?" Ebon paused in her step and looked at Yuna her emerald eyes locking with hers. They shimmered with sadness. "Ebon?"
"Gone." Ebon replied. "The Mandrake curse, was just that a terrible curse. It made her immortal, with the taunting vision of paradise. When Sapphire, was free and no longer Mandrake. The curse finally took it's toll. She died, while talking to me, in my arms. Again I'm alone."
"No." Yuna said taking her hand. "You have us, you can stay with us." The dark furred catwoman smiled at Yuna.
"I'll keep that in mind." Ebon replied. "Now we have to hurry, as I said you have someone waiting for you."
Yuna followed Ebon down the underground path, it was quite a long path and the already weary Yuna was fading fast. Ebon noticed this and went to Yuna, she proceeded the lift Yuna in her arms.
"I'm sorry, I should have known you would be weakened after your captivity." Ebon explained. Yuna remained silent and simply nodded with a slight smile. In all truth she was unsure why she was so tired, did they do something to her? With that flowing through her mind Yuna drifted to sleep.
She awoke an unknown amount of time later due to a gentle shaking. She looked up at Ebon who set her down.
"We're almost there my lady." Ebon said.
"You don't need the formalities." Yuna replied. "Your not my servant, you're my friend."
"She's like that with everyone." A voice said. Yuna looked to where it came from. Yuna saw a light purple, gold and white robe! Yuna sprang forth forgetting how tired she was with a gleeful cry!
"Shaden!" Yuna embraced the dark elf. "I was wondering where you went to. Did you find her? Is Dras avenged?" Blushing the dark elf returned Yuna's hug. She forget how Yuna could get, she missed her.
"I've decided to return to the only family I've ever known, as has Ebon." Shaden replied.
"Family?" yuna questioned. Then it finally dawned on her. Tifa, Lenne, Katejina, Shaden, Marjorie now Ebon. All of them had either lost or left behind everything. Now with this small group they where like a family. "Yeah, I guess we are like a family, aren't we?"
"We wouldn't all be like this is you didn't accept us for who we were." Shaden reminded Yuna. Yuna nodded with a smile, to be honest she thought nothing of it, she simply treated others the way she would want to be treated, a simple logic that in this case worked wonders. Just then Yuna heard a clattering on the ground shaden and Ebon heard it as well but both of them expected it. Yuna saw the cuase.
The upper part of the body was that of a female dark elf who donned a simple white outfit, however it was her lower part that terrified yuna, for her lower part consisted of eight spider legs and a spider thorax to match.
"Ah Jinex." Shaden said causually. "Your just in time, this is my friend I've been telling you about Yuna."
"I beg forgiveness mistress." Jinex said her voice had a low tone to it. "It seems that Lady Yuna does not look to good."
Shaden cast a glance at Yuna who stood stock still. Almost frozen in terror, Shaden placed a hand on Yuna's shoulder.
"Relax." Shaden whispered in her ear. "Jinex is harmless, I've known her for quite some time, she's rather gentle."
"Her…her…her bottom half is a spider." Yuna stammered.
"You fear spiders beautiful one?" Jinex asked. Yuna managed to nod her head. "Do not fear me, I mean you no harm, come I sense your tired ride on my back so I may prove I am not dangerous."
Hesitanly Yuna approached while Shaden and Ebon watched with interest. Yuna carefully climbed on the back part of Jinex.
"This isn't that bad." Yuna commented. "Jinex, what are you?"
"Well." Jinex said as the group started moving again. "In Norrath I am called a Drachnid, on Ivalice I'm reffered to as a Drider. Much like Shaden we are looked at in a very… negative light."
"How so?" Yuna questioned.
"The majority of Drachinds at least on Norrath are Tier'Dahl who shunned their dark god. It's what they would have made me if they decided to spare me if they caught me." Shaden explained. "Also from what I heard on Ivalice, the driders are little more than bloodthirsty brutes."
"It is true." Jinex admitted. "Most of the driders I've seen on Ivalice are simple killing machines. They kill and move on with little interest in much else. I fear they lose any trace of sanity they once had."
"So there are Dark elves on Ivalice as well?" Yuna questioned.
"Oh yes." Shaden replied. "When we get back I'll have to point you out to some of the more friendly ones."
"Get back?" Yuna asked. "where are we?"
"Tifa's home world." Shaden replied. "Jinex, can you take Yuna to where she can rest? Ebon and myself need to take care of afew things."
"Only if the Lady Yuna is comfortable with me being her esort." Jinex replied. Yuna nodded wearily as she began to drift off to sleep.
"Guard her well." Shaden instructed.
"It will be done my mistress." Jinex replied.
She watched Shaden and Ebon leave and she continued on her way with a slumbering Yuna on her back. She went through the underground passage until she saw a tunnel which she decided to take. She came up to the town of Nibelhiem, Tifa's old home. Since the defeat of Darkness and Brimstone the horrors that once occupied this town where gone. This however did not make it any better to live in. Jinex saw multiple shadows scury across the landscape. Doing her best to ignore them, she went to the old Shinra mansion the only safe place. There she gently shifted Yuna to a bed, and she awaited the rising of the sun.
Yuna awoke hours later, she was in a room, she noticed the room as she saw the picture of Tifa's mother. The morning sun was bright outside, she didn't see Jinex anywhere, did she simply leave? Yuna ventured outside, there near an old cemetery she now only saw Jinex but Shaden and ebon as well, yet Yuna felt something was wrong even as she approached. Shaden noticed yuna and was quick to go to her Ebon not too far behind.
"What's going on?" Yuna questioned.
"Nothing for you to worry over." Shaden replied. Yuna nodded as she continued forward. She noticed that now Ebon, Jinex and Shaden both seemed visisibly worried.
"Are you sure nothing is wrong?" Yuna asked again. Shaden went to a tombstone and pointed. Yuna looked at the tombstone and all color drained from her face. "N…no…it can't be true!"
"The records are faulty at best." Shaden replied. "Yet something like this."
"Where is she?" Yuna asked.
"Yuna please." Shaden begged.
"Where is she!?" Yuna shouted.
"Kalm." Shaden replied. Yuna replied by summoning Valefore. She quickly climbed on it's back and flew off giving no one else a chance to react. Thus they where forced to wait.
*****
Tifa awoke early that morning feeling better than she did in ages. She quickly showered and got dressed. She noticed a figure outside, Tifa smiled as she went outside. She saw Nessie practicing her martial arts, Nessie noticed tifa and smiled as she resumed. Tifa waited patiently for Nessie to finish.
"I see you practice." Tifa replied after Nessie finished.
"When Grandpa lets me." Nessie said. "So your leaving?"
"Afraid so." Tifa said with a nod. "My friend needs me, I don't want to let her down." Nessie was about to reply when she saw something, Tifa looked up. Her heart lept! It was Valefore and yuna! Yet something about they way they came down caused her worry.
"Come on!" Yuna called out when she landed.
"Tifa?" Nessie said the doubt clear in her expression.
"I'll be ok." Tifa assured her. She then went to Yuna and got pulled onto Valefore and the two took off.
"Where are we going Yuna?" Tifa asked. Yuna remained silent. "what's wrong?" Yuna didn't respond. "Yunie?"
"Shut up!" Yuna barked. Tifa looked away from yuna hurt by her harsh words. As she did she noticed Nibelhiem bellow them. Yuna landed Valefore and grabbed Tifa by the wrist! Having enough Tifa snatched her arm away!
"What the hell is going on?" Tifa demanded. Yuna replied by grabbing tifa's arm again and pulling her towards the cemetery! Tifa followed hoping after she was shown what was so damn important that Yuna would relax. Tifa then noticed Shaden and Ebon. Both adverted their eyes. Yuna pointed at the stone. Tifa glared at Yuna but in the end read it, and her face grew pale and her body shook. The stone read:
HERE LIES TIFA LOCKHART
AN ANGEL LOST TOO SOON
END CHAPTER FOUR