Hello guys I am back with another chapter. I'm really excited about where the Journey is headed and I hope you guys enjoy the ride.

I wanted to thank everyone that has reviewed, favorited, alerted, and read the story. It means a lot to me. Also I wanted to offer a special thanks to Sorrow has a Human heart, for the awesome Beta work.

Alright people let's get this show on the road!

Chapter 14:

A week had come and gone since Tifa and Aeris were captured by Shinra, Vincent's small snippet of Jenova's plan, and Prince Mishima's informative meeting with Shears. Life was settling into a pattern at Shinra Incorporated, but something was brewing beneath the surface of Gaia.

The Director of Administrative Research sat at his desk, looking through a stack of documents. Veld closed his brown eyes, shoving the documents away. Felicia, what are you up to, he thought as he leaned back into his comfortable leather chair. It groaned in response to the shift. His mind traveled to when he, his wife, and Felicia/Elfe lived in their comfortable home in Kalm, before everything he cherished was taken away. They were happy there. Shinra was treacherous at best. Yet, the Turk had known no other life outside of Shinra Inc. This was his home. Where to draw the line? Veld was tired.

Veld's recent success of bringing in Princess Tifa and the Cetra Aeris, the most sought after treasures in Gaia, bought him some time. But how much? When will Oswald show his hand? I have to protect my daughter . . . at all costs. Even at the cost of my own life. He looked up at the soft rap at his door, and bid them entrance.

"Come in." The doors slid back with a mechanical hiss, revealing Tseng walking through the opening. The young man paused before his desk, patiently waiting for a response. Veld chuckled inwardly. "At ease, Tseng."

"Sir," Tseng relaxed, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk, and looked his superior directly in the eyes. The Wutanese men never disgraced one another with superficial chatter. "Why have we ceased our plans to invade Corel and destroy AVALANCHE?"

"Because President Shinra wants to test out his new weapon, THEIA, on Corel." Tseng nodded his head, and Veld continued. "Scarlet is testing the weapon tomorrow on an island off the coast of Icicle. Shinra is giving her another chance to test her weapon, after it failed last week. She assures everyone that it will work this time." Veld rolled his eyes leaning his chin on his fist.

Tseng nodded his head once more before catching Veld's eyes."Isn't your daughter in Corel?"

"Yes," he said narrowing his eyes. "What of it?"

"You're just going to let her die?" Veld chuckled bitterly at Tseng, sitting upright in his chair.

"Are you questioning my loyalty to Shinra, Assistant Director Tseng?"

"No, sir," Tseng said, visibly backing off of his director, leaning back in his seat.

"Good." Veld and Tseng smiled at one another, the unspoken agreement passing between them. "What news do you have on the escaped specimen from Nibelheim?"

"We have yet to collect any concrete leads, sir. The specimen eludes us at every turn." Tseng said, his smirk deepening. Both Turks were aware that the room was bugged, and were putting on quite a show.

"This displeases me, Tseng. Should I give you an incentive to bring back the Shinra property?"

"No, sir. That will not be necessary. We will get the job done. We always get it done."

"Good. Keep that tradition alive. Dismissed." Tseng rose to his feet, giving Veld a bow before leaving out of the room.

Veld leaned back into his chair once more, pleased with the understanding he and Tseng shared.

Rufus stood at the windows, looking out at the city of Midgar. The plate that covered slums had several of the sections missing. They were still being constructed to shield the rich from the poor. He saw several men in hard hats working relentlessly on the plate, though he doubted it would ever reach completion. Sparks flew into the air as the welders mended the metal together. Pointless really, Rufus thought bitterly. You can hide the slums father, but it still remains underneath. The young Shinra was conflicted. He knew of suffering, but not of poverty. Oswald made sure of that. How could Lazard survive down there? He shrugged at his thoughts, filing them away in his mind for another time.

Rufus' mind traveled to the woman who had stolen his attention over three years ago, and had managed to hold it. A small smile pulled at his lips at the thought of her. She was fire incarnate. Brazen, fierce, and determined; yet she was warm and kind. His exact opposite. Fire and ice, I suppose. He chuckled at the thought. Tifa appealed to him as no other woman had before, and probably never would afterwards. In the years that he searched for her, he had often asked himself: Why her? What was it that fascinated him about her? She was beautiful, but so were a lot of women he'd dated and bedded.

"What do you think it is, Dark Nation?" The black panther resting beside his leg raised her head from her paws. She tilted her head and snorted, before returning to sightseeing with the young Shinra. He chuckled. "I figured you wouldn't know." Rufus leaned against the window, his white clothed arm resting above his head, and the other hand tucked in his pocket. Tifa was special.

He turned at the knock on his door. "Enter," Rufus said, as he continued to gaze out the window. The mechanical doors slid back, and the object of his fascination appeared in the opening. He watched Tifa enter with two infantry men flanking her through the reflection in the window. He smirked at her sassy outfit. Tifa wore a white midriff tank top showing off her defined waist line, a silk red wrap skirt that came to the knee and held together by a single chopstick, and tweed sandals. Her extremely long hair was in a French braid, falling pass the small of her back, and her white locks framed her face.

"Ah, Princess. Do come in." Rufus turned to greet her. Dark Nation perked her head, running to Tifa. The Princess smiled at the panther, kneeling in front of her to scratch behind her ears, and her silver locks fell into her face. Rufus smiled. Dark Nation barely likes anyone but she happens to like her. The large feline purred, her tail swiping back and forth hitting the chair behind her. He thought back to the first time the panther met Tifa, and how the cat was almost instantly putty in the Princess' hands.

Rufus returned his cold eyes to the guards. "Leave us."

The guards bowed their heads before leaving the room, and Tifa rose to her feet, meeting Rufus's gaze. "You wanted to see me?" she asked politely.

"Yes, would you like to take a seat?" Rufus waved toward the white leather sofa against the wall. She nodded allowing him to guide her there with a hand on the small of her bare back. Dark Nation immediately placed her large head in Tifa's lap. She laughed and continued stroking her. "Can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Why did you need to see me? We were supposed to meet tomorrow for lunch."

Rufus chuckled, taking a seat beside her. Always blunt and to the point. "I wanted to ask you something."

"And it couldn't have waited till tomorrow?" she asked, smiling down at Dark Nation, who put a heavy paw on her sandaled foot. Tifa giggled. "Hey! Your paw is heavy, Dark Nation!" But, the feline refused to move it.

Rufus looked at Dark Nation and rolled his eyes at his pet. "It could have, but I need to file my report. It's a couple days past due. I need to know about your stay here. Are you being treated nicely?"

Tifa turned, narrowing her eyes at him. She swiped her silver hair out of her face. "Sure, I'm being treated great for a prisoner and lab rat."

Rufus bit his tongue to keep from rolling his eyes at her. "Princess you are not a prisoner here."

"So Aeris and I can leave whenever we want?" Tifa challenged.

"Are we having this argument again?" Rufus asked calmly, but Tifa brought her arms against her chest, much to his and Dark Nation's displeasure. "So, we are having this argument again. Tifa~"

"No! You asked me a question and I'm answering it. I am being treated fantastically for a prisoner."

Rufus glared at her. "I assure you our prisoners do not receive the treatment you and Miss Gainsborough have been receiving."

"Lucky me," Tifa dead-panned.

Rufus took a deep breath and swiped his hair from his eyes. "What can I do to make you feel more like a guest," he held up a hand to stop her, "besides letting you leave?"

She leaned towards him, looking him dead in his beautiful azure eyes. "Nothing." Rufus nodded his head, looking into her crimson depths. "So you would deny me the opportunity to get to know you?" Tifa paused, tilting her head, and Rufus smiled inwardly. Got her. "I want to know what makes you laugh, Princess; what your goals are and what you dream about? I," He paused, taking her hand in his own, she looked at him strangely but did not resist. "Tifa Lockhart Kisaragi, want to know everything there is to know about you."

Tifa's defensive demeanor softened, and she watched him carefully. "Why?"

"I do not really know," he shrugged, looking at their joined hands. Rufus smiled softly, meeting her eyes again. The hardness in her posture disappeared, replaced by curiosity. "There's just something about you. Something that makes me want to know more, and you deny me at every turn."

Lazard stepped off the train at the sector five station, rolling his eyes at a man that bumped him as he passed. His mother had called him, declaring that he needed to come see her immediately. "I wonder what is so urgent that I had to come down here," he groaned as he noticed a drunken man lying in front of the stairs. Adjusting his glasses, he stepped over the man and walked down.

Lazard hated coming down here. It was a constant and painful reminder of what he could have been. These were his people and he wanted to help them, but you have to want the help. Life as a slum rat was hard. When Rufus and I take over Shinra Corp, we'll make the necessary changes, I promise. As he continued walking down the street, Lazard saw a child begging a couple ahead of him for gil. They pushed the child aside, threatening to do him bodily harm. Lazard narrowed his eyes at their backs, berating them in his mind. The eight year old boy looked at him with frighten eyes, shying away from Lazard. He simply smiled at the child, reaching into his wallet.

"Here you go." Lazard offered the boy 200 gil.

The boy's eyes shined brightly. "Thank you sir," the boy shouted over his shoulder as he ran down the street.

Lazard smiled, watching the boy disappear around a corner, and continued walking. He neared his old house at the edge of sector five. There was only one other house in this area, the Gainsboroughs'. He knew his father was tearing Midgar apart for Aeris, but he refused to reveal her location. He couldn't bring himself to betray a fellow slum rat, or maybe it was his way of getting back at his father. He shrugged at the thought. It didn't really matter at the end of the day. He glared at the house in front of him. What will it take for her to allow me to move her to the surface? How can she stand it down here?

Lazard fished around in his pocket for his key. He opened the door to his old home and walked into the living room, preparing to fuss at his mother for dragging him down here, but paused. His mother was sitting on the couch with the Prince of Wutai's arm around her. Four Wutai Knights glared back at him. Another man sat in a recliner not too far from the Prince, exuding authority.

"Prince Mishima?! What is the meaning of this?!" Lazard yelled at the man, and dragged his eyes to his weeping mother.

Two Wutai Knights that he hadn't seen grabbed him from behind, placing him in a chair facing the couch his mother and Prince Mishima were sitting. He noticed one of the Knights working on something under the chair, then rising to his feet. Lazard prepared to get up, but Prince Mishima raised a hand.

"I would not stand if I were you. You see, there is a bomb strapped to your chair, and if you get up, you will kill us all. I do not think you would want to be responsible for the death of Wutai royalty. That would give Wutai reason to declare war on Midgar. So do us a favor, and remain seated," Prince Mishima said, too calmly.

Lazard gasped, narrowing his eyes at the Prince. "You're crazy!" Lazard hissed at him.

Prince Mishima nodded his head. "Yes. All great people have a little crazy in them, and I happen to have a lot," Mishima said with a shrug. "You have a very lovely home here. Very cozy," Mishima chuckled. "You have a lovely mother too, who loves you very much. Alice was willing to forfeit her life to protect you, but we gave her an incentive, and she happily agreed," Mishima shrugged again. "Well, I would not say happily, but she was more content maybe? General Nagano, what do you think?"

"I would say compliant, my Lord," the man sitting in the recliner spoke up, wearing an amused expression.

Lazard turned at the chuckles that slipped from the lips of the Wutai Knights glaring at them. He then turned his gaze to his mother, who was pressed tightly against the Prince.

"Everything is going to be alright, mother," he reassured her, and fresh tears streamed down her face as she nodded at him.

Prince Mishima leaned his cheek against hers, and smiled at Lazard. "Of course everything will be fine."

"What do you want from us?" Lazard growled at him.

"I thought you would never ask."

Cloud paced the living room of the apartment he and Zack shared. First Class SOLDIERs were given a fully furnished apartment upon promotion, and Zack was a beneficiary of Cloud's success. Otherwise, he would be in the dormitory with the rest of the Second Class SOLDIERs. The dormitory was better than the Third Class barracks, but it was no apartment.

Zack sighed throwing his head over the back of the sofa."Cloud! Sit down man; you're gonna wear a hole in the floor."

The blonde paused glaring at his best friend. "We have to get the girls out of here Zack, and I can't think of a single way that won't implicate us. You saw how tired Tifa's been looking. She looks terrible. They're pulling her through the ringer! I know those damn scientists are doing something to her, and I can't take it."

Zack sighed, his mind traveling to how weak Tifa appeared earlier. It broke his heart. He had to protect her somehow, but what was he suppose to do? "I know, Cloud," he whispered, and suddenly chuckled. "When did we switch roles? You're usually the calm one, and I'm all hyped up."

Cloud gave a small smile at the thought. "I guess it's because it's Tifa and Aeris. I finally get Tifa back, and I'm still powerless to help her. I joined SOLDIER to make a difference; to protect those I care about, but the people I work for are the ones doing this to her. It's too much." Cloud deflated, scratching the back of his head. "I want to save her . . . like I promised her I would, but I can't."

Jealously flared in Zack's heart. "You promised? That night at the water tower before you left?"

Cloud nodded his head to Zack's question. "That's when I made that promise." His eyes pinned to the floor, he took a seat beside Zack on the couch.

"Tifa doesn't blame you, Cloud. Neither does Aeris. They know how much it means for us to have made it as far as we have, but I want to get them out as badly as you do. And we will." Zack placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "We will, bro." Cloud nodded his head, and Zack continued, "Besides, if push comes to shove I'm sure Sephiroth or Angeal would help us out."

"I don't want that monster anywhere near Tifa!" Cloud growled, his glowing pale blue eyes flashing dangerously. "I'll kill Sephiroth if he ever hurts her."

Zack narrowed his eyes at Cloud. "What's your deal? What's with all the Sephiroth hate? Why would he hurt her?" Cloud rolled his eyes to the ceiling in response, rubbing at his temples, but Zack pressed, "Come on Cloud, you can't drop this own me without an explanation."

Cloud warred with himself, frowning at the sound of Sephiroth's warning drumming through his ears. "You're right. I do owe you an explanation, but if I tell you... you can't breathe a word of it anyone. Got it?!"

"Yeah, got it, jeeze!" Zack put up his hands in defense.

Cloud sighed, licking his lips before he began. "Remember how I told you I thought Lazard was lying about a tornado hitting Nibelheim?" Zack nodded his head, and Cloud continued. "Well I did some looking around. I had to know the truth. So, I hacked into the Shinra archives, and saw the footage of what really happened. Sephiroth lost his mind and attacked Nibelheim. He destroyed everything; killed nearly everyone. Tifa was the only one who could stop him, and he nearly killed her too."

Zack sighed, leaning back into the cushions. "Damn. Now everything makes sense." He turned his gaze to Cloud's back. "How long have you known?"

Cloud looked back at him and blew hard. "Two years."

"So, you let me go to a fake funeral for my parents and friends from Nibelheim, and you knew the truth the whole time?!"

"I had to keep you safe. You were moving up the ranks so fast, I couldn't let you get distracted~"

"But you could be distracted? Cloud, we're best friends . . . brothers! I could have handled it! You didn't have to carry that alone!"

"You're right! We're brothers, and it is my job to protect you and keep you safe. You can't hide your emotions like I can. What you feel is on your face! Then what happens if they find out you know the truth? You'll disappear in the dead of night. They'll take you somewhere and I'll never find you again! You were all I had, Zack!"

"What about Angeal? And Genesis?"

"Sephiroth's brothers," Cloud spat. "I couldn't trust them then. So I sat on the information."

Zack leaned forward, his knee bumping Cloud's. They sat in silence for a long time, each rolling around in their own thoughts. Finally, Zack cleared his throat.

"Sephiroth's okay now, right?" Cloud glared at Zack, forcing him to explain. "I mean, he's not still . . . you know, crazy?"

"He destroyed our town! He nearly took Tifa away! What do you mean, 'is he okay'?!"

"Cloud, Sephiroth and the others are our only hope of getting the girls free. Who would really question them? They're Generals for crying out loud!"

Cloud jumped from his spot on the couch his lowering his eyes to slits. "Don't you dare!"

"Come on, Cloud. You know I'm right. Sephiroth has done nothing but help us since we got here. You said it yourself: He lost his mind. He wasn't himself!"

Zack then ducked as Cloud hurled the glass that was on the table at him, and watched as it shattered on the ceramic tiles of the floor. Cloud grabbed Zack by his shirt, lifting him from his spot on the couch, and slammed him against the wall behind him. Zack's eyes widen in fear as he braced himself for whatever Cloud might do. His feet dangled off of the floor as Cloud locked him against the wall with his forearm.

"Don't you ever defend that monster to me," Cloud snarled lowly. "I don't care how much he's helped us! He destroyed our home. He took away our parents and nearly took away the only girl I have ever loved."

"I love her too, Cloud!"

Cloud slammed his fist into the wall beside Zack's head, causing him to screech. The normally mild mannered man trembled in anger as they stared at one another. "Don't," Cloud said, with a shuddering low tone through clenched teeth. He continued glaring, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Zack said, with tears shimmering in his royal blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Cloud. But I do," he whispered.

Cloud's harsh expression softened as he took in the fear radiating off of Zack and he sighed. "Just don't." Cloud released him, and marched out of the apartment, leaving a rattled Zack against the wall.

Tifa was led down the hallway after her meeting with Rufus. She shook her head at the conversation between them. She found him to be charming and polite, but cold and distant at the same time. It was if he had a wall up at all times. How do you trust someone if they won't show themselves? Rufus Shinra was beyond gorgeous, but what were his true motives? What did he really want from her? She shrugged at her mind's musings as they walked through the glass doors, leading to the hallway where she and Aeris shared a "cell".

Tifa watched as the guard in front of her swiped his card. He opened the door, holding it open for her. "But Rufus says I'm not a prisoner," She rolled her eyes at her thoughts.

"This way, Princess." The guard waved her towards the door. She gave him a polite bow of her head as she stepped through. The Princess turned to look at the guard behind her, who was wearing a stern expression. "Sure Rufus, I'm not a prisoner. What could I possibly be thinking," Tifa snickered at her thoughts. The second guard looked at her strangely, as he closed the door behind them.

"What's so funny?" His gruff voice sounded like grating sand paper.

"Just thinking." Tifa replied with a smile. He shrugged his shoulder, before they all continued walking to the apartment. The first guard swiped the card again opening the door for her.

"Thank you." She bowed her head at them as she entered the apartment. The door closed behind Tifa as she walked toward the couch.

Aeris came out of her room then, taking a seat on the adjacent sofa and frowned at Tifa's silence. "Are you okay?"

Tifa looked at her, and nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm okay. It's just that . . . Rufus was a little weird today."

Aeris tilted her head. "How so?"

"He was talking about how he wants to get to know me, but I keep denying him." Tifa shrugged, and Aeris giggled.

"I told you he liked you. Maybe more?"

Tifa shook her head at the thought. "That selfish prick wants something, but I don't know what it could be."

"Perhaps he showed you a little of himself today. Ice does melt, you know," Aeris said, giggling at the thought. "He is really cute."

Tifa shrugged and nodded her head. "That he is, but he's so . . . weird. All he ever wears is white. Who does that?" Aeris outright laughed, falling to her side, before letting Tifa continue. "He's so cold and impersonal, like everyone and everything is beneath him."

"Everyone has a defense mechanism. Perhaps that is his way of protecting himself?" Aeris sat up in her seat smiling at Tifa.

"I don't know, maybe? Let's talk about something else. Rufus Shinra is a complicated subject."

"As you wish," Aeris shrugged, with a knowing look on her face. "Did you get it?"

"Of course I did," Tifa said producing a key-card from her bosom area. She waved the card back and forth, as Aeris followed it with her eyes. "I took it off of Rufus before I left. Did you get the map?"

Aeris nodded, running back to her room. She reappeared, holding a pamphlet in her hand. They opened the map, spreading it across the table.

Tifa narrowed her eyes at the drawing. "Where did you manage to get this?"

"From one of the tables in Tseng's office. He never saw me take it."

Tifa smiled at her. "Well, look at you."

"Honey, I grew up in the slums. I know a thing or two." The girls giggled among themselves, but things turned serious. "So we're really doing this?"

"Yes ma'am. Tonight."

"Should we tell the boys? I mean they should know right?"

Tifa shook her head at Aeris. "No, the less they know the better. They've worked too hard to get where they are. We can handle it, you and me." Tifa smiled at Aeris, who began laughing.

"The Princess and the Pauper."

"No, equals. Friends." Tifa took Aeris's hand.

Aeris shook her head, giving Tifa's hand a squeeze. "Sisters."

Lazard glared at Mishima, who simply smiled back at him. Prince Mishima suddenly chuckled.

"So, are you going to continue to glare at me, or are you ready to hear my proposal?" Mishima said with a wave of his hand.

Lazard barred his teeth. "What is that you want?"

"That is what I want to hear. I need for you to set up a meeting with your father." Lazard's eyes bucked, but he quickly recovered.

"I don't know who my father is," Lazard replied coolly.

Prince Mishima shook his head. "That is not what your mother told me. I am fully aware that you are the bastard son of the Oswald Shinra. However, I knew that before she confirmed it. A beautiful waitress shared the information with me during pillow talk." Lazard began grinding his teeth, listening to the Prince carry on. "I am also aware that you work for your father. Director of SOLDIER, am I correct?" Prince Mishima narrowed his eyes at the young Shinra, who remained silent. He reached forward, retrieving his Katana from the floor, and held the tip of the blade at Alice's throat, making her squeal. "You are the Director of SOLDIER correct?"

"Yes," Lazard hissed, "I am the Director of SOLDIER."

"Good. Now we are making progress. I need for you to set up a meeting with him exactly three days from tomorrow. Can you make that happen?"

"My father is a very busy man."

Prince Mishima narrowed his eyes, pressing the blade deeper into Alice's skin. "You can make that happen, yes?"

"Yes, just don't hurt her!" Lazard pleaded with the insane monarch. "I'll do whatever you want. Just let her go."

"Good. Also, I need for you to disable the power grids in sectors two, five, seven, and eight tomorrow night at exactly nine o'clock. Can you make that happen as well?"

"That will be difficult," Lazard hesitated, and Mishima pressed the blade deeper, drawing blood from her. She sobbed. "Yes, yes I can do it."

"Good. Now, was that so hard?" Mishima taunted, and Lazard glared at him. "Now, tell me, how is Princess Tifa? Is she well?"

"We have taken serious measures to ensure that she is treated very well."

Prince Mishima nodded his head as a dreamy smiled tugged at his lips. "Excellent. I may not have to kill anyone then." Prince Mishima chuckled. "She is beautiful, is she not?"

"The Princess is beautiful. Will you allow my mother and I to go free?"

"Tifa is perfect. She will be my Queen. Make no mistake, for every blemish to her perfect body, I will return to you all ten-fold. Are we clear?"

"She has not been harmed. Rufus has made sure of that."

Prince Mishima's dreamy smile faded. "Oswald's other son, the legitimate heir of Shinra Corporation. He longs for her as well? It matters not. I will deal with him too."

"Please don't hurt my brother," Lazard pleaded once more.

Mishima narrowed his eyes at him. "He is not on my agenda as of yet, but if he comes between Tifa and I, he will be dealt with accordingly."

"I understand. He won't come between you. Let us go! I'll do what you ask!" Mishima turned his gaze to Alice shivering beside him. "I enjoy Alice's company. I think I will take her as an assurance for you to fulfill your duty to me."

"Please don't."

"Yes, I think I will." Mishima nodded his head, agreeing with his idea. "Tell me Alice, do you like Wutanese food?"

Alice burst into frighten sobs quivering in fear.

"Shhh. Do not fret. No harm will come to you as long as your son fulfills his tasks. Take her."

Two Wutai Knights gently pried her from the Prince's embrace. Her wails and sobs flowed out of the house and into the night.

Lazard shook with rage."You said~"

"Young Shinra," the Prince began, cutting Lazard off in mid-sentence, "I assure you I will not harm one hair on your mother's head. Just as you have kept Tifa safe, I will provide your mother with the same care. I am a man of my word. At the conclusion of my meeting with Oswald, she will be released, whether I have achieved my goal or not. You have my word as a warrior and Prince of Wutai." The Prince rose to his feet, as well as General Nagano. Mishima nodded his head at one of the knights, and they disappeared into the kitchen area. They looked down at Lazard. "Young Shinra, it would be in your best interest to remain seated in that chair until the timer dings in the kitchen. In exactly 15 minutes, the timer will chime, and you will be allowed to stand."

"What if I don't wait?"

"Then you will explode. There is a pressure switch underneath your chair. Should you move before the chemicals disable the switch, you will die. It has been a pleasure meeting you. You can expect a call from me in the morning to confirm that your first objectives have been completed. Sayonara, young Shinra." Prince Mishima and General Nagano left with the Knights, leaving Lazard to sit in the house, and contemplate his next moves.

Sephiroth marched down the hall, heading toward his apartment. His body was wracking with pain after Hojo's "tests". It took all of his strength just to walk. He leaned over slightly, taking careful steps, but straightened to his full height when he noticed Lt. Commander Essai coming towards him. Essai instantly offered the General a salute, pausing in the middle of the hallway. Sephiroth gave him a salute in return, but stopped in his tracks as Essai attempted to talk to him.

"General, Sir."

"Lt. Commander?" Sephiroth stood tall and erect, waiting for Essai to speak. There was a tremble in his lower back, but he made no action to reveal his pain.

Essai dropped his salute. "Have you heard any news concerning Sebastian or Rick, sir? They have been missing for three weeks now."

"I'm sorry; I haven't." Essai's face fell but he nodded. Sephiroth felt the tremble climbing up his spine. "Anything else Lt. Commander?"

"Um . . . no, sir. I was just wondering about that is all, sir." Essai saluted once more before making his way down the hall.

Sephiroth continued to his apartment. He felt faint as he made it to his door, at the end of the hall. Quickly reaching into his coat pocket for his key-card, he opened the door in haste. Sephiroth closed the door, falling backward against it. A small grunt slipped from his lips as he shut his eyes.

After gathering enough strength to move, Sephiroth fell away from the door, removing his long, heavy leather coat in one move. He limped to his bedroom, slinging the coat in the chair in the corner. He hobbled to the bed, not even attempting to remove his boots or the SOLDIER harness from his chest as he lay across it. Angry black, blue, and purple bruises trailed along his back. Sephiroth felt his body mending the damage, but the pain would take longer to subside. He let out an agonized sigh as he shifted on the bed to get more comfortable. Closing his eyes, he instantly found sleep.

Sephiroth opened his eyes to a wooden water well. He was in full battle gear. The General clenched his eyes as he realized where he was. Opening them slowly, he noticed a bar, 7th Heaven, to his left, and other homes lining the cobbled street. Guilt rose in his chest. The beautiful, small village held a peaceful and inviting air. He took a few steps forward, his eyes falling on Mt. Nibel in the background.

"Nibelheim," he whispered.

He continued looking around, his hand reaching out to touch the wooden water tower. The town was void of people. An eerie quiet flowed about the village. Too quiet. He glanced over his shoulder, expecting someone to be standing behind him, but was happily disappointed. His emerald eyes turned back to the mountains, just as he saw something in white disappear around the houses. He took off in a full sprint after it. As he approached the last position of the apparition, he noticed that they were in the distant grassy meadow.

Sephiroth chased after the moving white, realizing that it was a person, a female, in a white gown. He increased his speed, catching up to her quickly.

"Stop!" he ordered her, and she obeyed him, stopping by a tree. He noticed a brook to his left, but turned his attention to the woman, whose back was to him. "Who are you?" he asked, but she remained with her back to him.

"You know me better than you think."

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at her cryptic response. "Turn around." Sephiroth commanded but she remained in place. "I said, turn around." He grabbed her slender arm, turning her to face him, and gasped. She smiled up at him, her eyes washing over him, as recognition set in. "Lucrecia?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, my son. I'm your mother." His hand fell away as he took a step away from her, and she continued. "Your eyes are just as I remember them. I have loved you since the moment you were conceived," she said, reaching out a hesitant hand, pressing it against his cheek. He wore a shocked expression, as her cool hand caressed him. Sephiroth nearly recoiled from her touch; but found it comforting. "I have been watching you for some time now."

"How . . . how is this possible?"

She giggled at him, "Gaia has allowed me to speak with you. I have waited for this moment a very long time." He leaned into her palm bring his gloved hand around hers. She smiled at him, stepping closer. Lucrecia wrapped her only child in her arms, drawing him near, and he accepted her embrace. Sephiroth leaned his head against her temple. She ran her fingers through his hair. "I am so sorry that I left you."

Sephiroth raised his head, pulling away from her embrace to see her. "You're really here?"

"Yes, I'm really here." She tucked one lock of his hair behind his ear. "There's so much I want to tell you."

"Why? Why are you here now?"

Lucrecia nodded her head. She took his large hand into her small one leading him to the brook's edge. "I am here to ask a favor of you. I have no right to ask but . . ."

"I'll do anything you ask."

She smiled up at him, and his face held hope. "I need you to protect Tifa." Sephiroth's eyebrows rose in shock. He turned to her looking into her green eyes. "I don't understand."

Lucrecia nodded once more as she took Sephiroth's other hand into her own. "Tifa has a very special purpose for the planet, and so do you. Your journeys are intertwined, although neither of you can see this yet."

"Excuse me?" Sephiroth asked, tilting his head at her evasive speech. "What are you talking about?"

"Gaia has chosen Tifa as its Alpha WEAPON, and has chosen you for her Paladin." Sephiroth chuckled bitterly, turning away from his mother. She placed her hand on his back as she continued. "She is very powerful, but she cannot achieve her destiny alone. As powerful as she is, she is just as vulnerable."

"This is a sick joke, right? The Princess hates my guts. I have destroyed this girl's life. How could Gaia even expect her to accept my help?"

"I know it seems impossible now, but believe me, son, she will." Sephiroth looked over his shoulder at her, and she finished. "Your paths are deeply intertwined."

"Tifa would rather kill me than allow me to protect her, of that I am sure." He turned to his mother, his emerald gaze washing over her. "Although it is great to see you, I know that this is some sort of new dream I have concocted to torture myself. You aren't real and this moment is not really happening. I am simply dreaming after another one of father's horrible experiments." Lucrecia flinched at the admission of his pain, and he hesitantly reached out a hand wrapping it around the nape of her neck. He brought his forehead to rest against hers. "This is but a strange, beautiful dream."

"No, Sephiroth. I am here with you right now. I am so sorry for everything that you have been through. Your pain is entirely my fault. If only I were stronger. If only I protected you better, kept you safe. Your father and I would have raised you together."

"Father did raise me," he confirmed, opening his eyes to gaze at her.

She shook her head. Lucrecia brought his head down to her lips, kissing his him. He met her eyes as she raised his head. She looked in the distance, a sad smile hanging on her lips.

"Will you think about my request?"

"I already told you I would do anything that you ask."

"So, you believe me?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "No. I believe this is a dream, but I will honor your request. It is a decision I alone came to when I realized she was alive . . . to make up for my sin against her."

Lucrecia smiled at him, looking into eyes so similar to her own. "I love you, my beautiful son. I have always loved you and will always love you. Never forget that." Sephiroth nodded his head. "I love you too, mother," he said the very foreign words, but found them not as difficult to say or feel as he thought it would be. Sephiroth looked around at sudden blare of the alarms. He looked back at her. "Mother?"

"It's time to wake up."

Sephiroth was snatched away from his vision, his hand reaching out for Lucrecia, who was no longer there. His eyes gazed upon his room, finding it empty.

"Mother?" he asked. Sephiroth looked around, the blaring screech of the alarms filled his apartment. "A very wonderful dream," he whispered into the dark room, and stretched, thankful that his body was completely healed.

Sephiroth got up from the bed, slipping his heavy coat onto his shoulders. He turned at a knock on his door, and growled. What in the hell is wrong now, he thought as he stomped to the door. Flinging it open revealed Genesis in full battle gear.

"What's going on?" he asked the red head, who wore an excited grin.

"Tifa and Aeris are attempting to escape."

Sephiroth tensed at the sound of the Princess's name. "Where are they now?"

"Fighting their way through the tenth floor." Sephiroth couldn't help the amused smirk peeling his lips, and Genesis nodded his head. "I'm excited too. Let's go."

The SOLDIER Generals took off in a sprint down the hall toward the stairs.

Alrighty then! That's that. I hope you guys enjoyed that. Until next time, Adios!

~Auktober