Time again for another chapter. Now that we finally stated Crisis Core story stuff, what will happen? And how will things for with Cloud and Sephiroth? Let's find out!

Ch. 49

The journey was somewhat lengthy, even though they had traveled via helicopter. But finally, Sephiroth and Cloud had arrived in Wutai. Upon first glance, it looked much different than the bustling city of Midgar that Cloud was used to. It reminded Cloud of his hometown, though only slightly because there was still quite a few differences in the landscape.

"So this is Wutai…" Cloud trailed off as he disembarked from the helicopter.

"Indeed. Just a small landmass to the far west. It's nothing very impressive," Sephiroth told him.

Cloud took it all in with what he could see. The looks of the infrastructure resembled that of older times. He cited various ancient looking structures, not on their age but just in how they appeared. Despite the fact that he wanted to explore this land that he had never been to, he knew that he was going to stay with Sephiroth and do as he would say. And besides, they were still at war with Wutai, a leisure exploration wouldn't be right.

"Now what?" Cloud decided ask, seeing that Sephiroth was staying quiet and surveying the land. "I mean where do we go from here."

"I'm just here to do some investigating. Remember you're with me so make sure to keep up," Sephiroth said quickly as he walked off in the direction of what looked like a forest.

"Oh okay then. I'm right behind you," he uttered back, following without question as he was still trying to figure out what to make of the place.

The two of them stayed to the shadows, trekking across the new and unfamiliar land. Well at least unfamiliar to Cloud in the technical sense. He knew that Sephiroth had already been here before and then he recalled some of the simulations actually took place in Wutai. Though now really being there was a whole other story. This was real, and if something happened like in the simulations… Cloud would have to be ready to fight.

They shuffled through some of the area, Cloud making sure to keep an eye out all around him as he had no idea what could happen. Sephiroth meanwhile was calm as ever as he continued to march forward unabashed by anything. Cloud assumed he was ready for anything and knowing the lay of the land was an advantage as well. He was just glad after seeing the vastness of this foreign land that Sephiroth had decided to keep him by his side. "If he wasn't leading there's a good chance I might could get lost."

There was still no words coming from Sephiroth. He kept quiet and stood tall as he walked. Cloud eventually had the courage to walk up beside Sephiroth rather than trailing behind, but there was still that cold and distant look in the man's eye. Something that Cloud couldn't quite understand. It was different than his normal cold and serious demeanor, but yet was still cold… but somehow it just felt different. Maybe it was about the mission they were on because of Genesis. Cloud wasn't entirely sure thought. Since he couldn't seem to find the right words to explain how he was seeing Sephiroth, he decided to keep a mental note of it for later.

Eventually there was some sound up ahead of them and Sephiroth came to a dead stop. Cloud noticed this and did the same, though unlike Sephiroth, he began to look around for the source of the sound.

"I would venture we're being tailed, maybe even hunted. Keep your guard up," Sephiroth commanded as he just continued to remain strikingly calm.

Cloud silently wished that he would be able to have that air of calmness about him one day. Just as he allowed his mind to wander for a moment, he felt something whiz by his head. Snapping back to the present, he glanced toward where he had felt it to see a sharp piece of metal imbedded in the ground about 5 feet away from him.

"A shuriken?" Cloud questioned. He tried to remember the simulations he had gone through as he unsheathed his sword.

Before too long, more weapons came searing towards the student and mentor. Cloud moved his sword various directions, blocking the small barrage that was coming towards him. Metal clanged against metal as each sharp object found its new home in the dirt.

Just as Cloud was busy deflecting, he saw a few figures come from the shadows behind the trees and charge quickly at Sephiroth. Before he even had time to react to inform Sephiroth, he heard a quick slicing sound. The two that had been trying to attack them now lay on the ground motionless. It was almost as if Sephiroth had not moved, but Cloud knew he had to.

The onslaught of weapons then stopped, allowing Cloud a bit of a breather and time to think. "I know that I have seen him sort of fight before. But that was just too fast. Wow…"

Cloud straightened up once he saw that the enemies around them were cleared out. Though Sephiroth was quick to speak after that. "There are more coming. They would not just send a few men without reinforcements."

"You think so?" Cloud asked quietly. He couldn't take his eyes off the unmoving bodies.

He had fought people in the simulation before. He had attacked many enemies… but now this was real. This was a real dead body that was bleeding out before him. It was hard to stop staring at it, but Cloud couldn't help himself.

Suddenly Sephiroth's hand on his shoulder jolted him from his frozen position. "This is not the time to take in the body count. I know the sight is rather unpleasant, but they are the enemy. It has to be done."

"Yeah, I know. It's not just that though. It's their uniforms. Why… why are those SOLDIERs? They attacked us?"

Sephiroth stared at Cloud before turning his attention back to the men surrounding them. "Concern yourself with that for later. Focus on the now. If you want the answer, then remember your training and think."

Cloud hesitantly agreed, though he knew that Sephiroth was right. He did want to prove himself after all, and this was a good chance to do it. But he was curious what was meant by the last thing that was said. Remember his training? But how could that help against people that looked like SOLDIERs? He tried to think but didn't have as much time as he wanted.

He brandished his sword high and started after the many men that were attacking them now. Several clangs of metal was heard, as well as the sound of skin and armor being pierced and sliced. Cloud made sure not to kill the men though, leaving marks along their bodies that were non-life threatening. He did not understand what was going on so he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

After the men were defeated and sprawled across the ground, Cloud tucked his sword back into its sheath. Once Cloud took a closer look though, he noticed a difference in the uniforms. Most of the men were wearing mainly 3rd class uniforms, which were quite noticeable. However, the others, which there were far less of, were all sporting mainly 2nd class uniforms of the maroon color. He was about to say something about it when his eyes widened at what happened next.

Sephiroth approached each person and stabbed them completely through. The ones that were still moving writhed in pain and then went limp. Others that were already unconscious most likely never felt a thing. A mix of confusion and shock formed in the pit of Cloud's stomach.

"W-What was that for?!"

"I told you. Remember your training if you want the answers. Remember the simulations. What did I say when you asked why there were SOLDIERs attacking you then?" Sephiroth hoped to remind Cloud as he moved towards one of the 3rd class men.

He approached the man and removed his helmet. Upon seeing the mans' face, Cloud gasped in shock. But then he finally remembered what Sephiroth had been trying to tell him all this time. He hated himself for not realizing it sooner. He was so focused on what was on the surface that he didn't think any deeper.

"I see. So… they were Wutai troops. In disguise."

"Yes. This is what you were training for."

"So all of that you put me though… it really was based on real things. I guess I just didn't expect to deal with it so soon."

"You insisted on coming here. So I expect you to apply everything you've learned so far," Sephiroth stated coldly.

Cloud noticed that Sephiroth had moved towards one of the men that was in the 2nd class uniform and stopped briefly. He went to remove the man's helmet, and once he did, he dropped it.

"What is it?" Cloud asked curiously as he moved closer.

Once he got closer, he could tell that the man's face was not like the other Wutai troops. In fact, he seemed like someone that Cloud had seen before.

"Genesis. You've gone this far I see," Sephiroth muttered nearly silent. Had Cloud not been right next to him he would never have heard.

"Wait… Genesis? But how does that make any sense? Why would he be wearing a 2nd class uniform?" Cloud asked, not able to stop himself from saying his questions out loud.

Sephiroth looked as though he did not want to attempt to explain, but he did anyways. "Remember the 1st class that disappeared with a bunch of SOLDIERs? That was Genesis. Apparently… this is what he's done to them."

He trailed off and looked away as Cloud stood with his mouth agape. "But… what is this?"

Sephiroth didn't answer him however and started to walk away in another direction, deeper into the forest. Cloud then started to follow behind him after that but was soon stopped as Sephiroth turned to face him.

"I am going to find out something. Alone. Stay around here and do what you can," he spoke swiftly.

Before Cloud could even ask or double check with Sephiroth, he was already gone. Now it was just Cloud, and the dead bodies around him. He stared down at them for only a second and already started to feel sick. Shuffling back he moved away until he was out of sight from them. He knew though that eventually the bodies would be gone and called into the Lifestream, but until they he didn't want to have to look any further on what had just happened.

Cloud leaned up against a tree and breathed out slowly, trying to clear his mind. "It's a war… people are supposed to die. But still… I don't like the sight of the dead bodies… it makes me feel uneasy. Sephiroth though… he doesn't seem phased by it at all. Maybe that is because he has done this for so long? That would make some sense I guess."

He walked around some, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that had given him. But there was something else bothering him as well.

"Sephiroth really seemed suddenly caught up in something. Just the mention of Genesis, and he left. I wonder what it's all about?

Cloud tried to pace some more, but noticed that things began to look different. Cloud halted all thoughts and looked around. He wasn't too far from the village itself apparently, but he had no idea where exactly he was from where Sephiroth had left. There was a giant archway in front of him though with some stone steps leading up to the top. He tried to figure out if he should go back or just proceed.

As he stood there deciding, the sound of leaves rustling distracted him. Now that he thought more about it, he figured more men could come up trying to attack. Cloud readied himself for whatever was about to come. Though whether it was Wutai men in disguise or the strange Genesis-looking SOLIDERs from before, he knew he could fend them off.

But what he saw jump out of the bushes was the last thing he expected.

What he saw there was a little girl, maybe only a few years younger than him. She was a tad shorter than him and was paler even than he was. She had short, black hair that was parted to the right side with bangs dangling on her forehead above the white headband she wore. Her eyes were a deep brown like the ground below them and she was grinning cheekily. She sported a turquoise tunic with yellow outlines that was wrapped around her body, with a yellow sash around the waist that tied it all together. The remainder of her outfit was some simple short white shorts with a pair of yellow and white shoes.

"Um, what is a little kid doing in this warzone?" Cloud directed his question to her.

"Kid?" the girl scoffed. "I'm no kid, I'm Wutai's greatest warrior! And I am here to save everyone!"

Cloud stared at her, heavily perplexed. He couldn't tell if this child was serious or if she was just being an energetic child. Either way Cloud took a couple steps back, trying to think what the best solution would be. He already knew that he did not want to fight, or worse harm, a child. But if the child fought him… would he just try and defend himself and not attack? Cloud pondered it a bit more as the child ran up to him.

"I'll take you out like I did with all the other bad guys!" the girl shouted. She made a fist and looked like she was ready to throw a punch. And for a moment Cloud thought she did, but she stopped a few inches short of his stomach. "Pow! What! Bam! You're going down bad guy!"

The girl continued to punch the air in front of Cloud, but she still looked serious with each strike. But still never did any of them come even remotely close to him. And that made Cloud all the more confused.

"Um… you're just punching the air," Cloud stated.

The girl shook her head at him as a huff came from her mouth.

"I am not! I'm the best ninja there is. I'm just hitting you so fast you can't see it! Haha!"

She continued to punch the air, and even did a few kicks at him in the air as well. Mostly, her eyes were closed as she did it, not noticing that cloud was just standing there and staring blankly at her. Eventually, she stopped and stared up at Cloud, almost looking expectantly at him.

He wanted to laugh at her antics, and it was interesting to him to see such playfulness at the time. "What is it?" he nearly said with a chuckle.

"You're supposed to fall over and pretend that I defeated you!" the girl exclaimed. "The other spiky haired bad guy did it!"

"The other spiky haired bad guy?" Cloud thought to himself. "Who could she be talking about…"

"There was another man that was around here? What color of hair?"

"Yeah, but not here. It was up there in another place," she said as she pointed towards the stairs. "His hair was black. It was spiky like yours too- Wait! Why am I telling you. You're the enemy!"

"O-Oh, I guess you're right," Cloud said before he rubbed the back of his neck. But he at least started to get an idea of whom she was referring too. But before he could really think on it he would have to get away from the little girl, he wasn't sure what else could happen if she stayed around him any longer. Or worse what could happen if Sephiroth returned and saw him conversing with a little Wutai girl.

"Now, I'll have to get rid of you for telling you that! Haha!" She brought her energy back up like before, and once again punching the air at Cloud again.

This time, he played along. Each punch he feigned dodging some of the 'attacks' for a few seconds. But then he allowed some of them to hit him. He started to act like that it was hurting him as well, using his hands to pretend as though he was being hit. Soon enough, he fell to his knees and groaned a few times before collapsing to the ground. He closed his eyes to make it seem as though he was knocked out and waited to see what the little girl would do.

He could hear her laughing cheerfully. "You are now defeated and I have saved Wutai!"

Cloud then heard her footsteps heading off into the distance. When he opened his eyes he saw that she was running off, back towards the village itself. Now that she was out of sight Cloud stood back up and let out a sigh, thankful that it had all gone smoothly.

He stood there and thought to himself though because of what she had said. "So Zack is here as well? I guess that he was sent here to help out too. I wonder if I will encounter him out here at some point? What could he be up to…?"

Heh so Yuffie finally showed up for a moment. The sneaky little ninja, but hmm Zack and Cloud are both in Wutai. Will they see each other soon? Find out next time!