"Cloud! You must be crazy! How can you trust that…. That KILLER! He destroyed out town, killed our families, and…"
P
Cloud shook his head. "I know Tifa. But… I also know it wasn't his fault. I don't know how to explain this. But I know he didn't want to. And he feels sorry about it."
P
Red shook his head. "How can you understand this?
P
Cloud was at a lost for words. Even he couldn't explain what had happened over the last day, or so. "It's really hard to explain. But I know." Cloud shook his head. He was confused, and that confusion wasn't helping him. "Dragon Shadow and Sefiroth saved me from Jenova… Saved us from Jenova. After I vanished from the castle, I found myself trapped in a room. There seemed to be no door, no exit, no escape… Then, Jenova entered, and she took control again. Only she did it through Sephiroth. Then, we were sent to trap Dragon Shadow, and Sefiroth. When they followed us through the pillar of light, the four of us were carried to another place…." Cloud proceeded to tell his friends what had occurred, up until the point they met, in the dragon's layer. The others were amazed. "… That's why I believe that I can trust them. At least for now. The link allows us to share thoughts, and speak. But it's also a limit. However, I'll let you decided."
P
The others looked at one another, then at Cloud, and finally, at the three figures standing in the distance. And shook their heads. This had taken them by surprise. Cloud looked up, and the confused, amazed, and surprised expressions on his friend's faces. He didn't know what to do. "I'll leave you for now. I think you need some time to get used to this. I still need the time too."
P
Cloud turned, and walked away. The others were left, trying to sort everything out. Tifa didn't even hear the others, as they began to debate. With Cloud's departure, Red took the lead. "I say that in this situation, we need all the aid we can obtain. And, as Cloud has said, it was not all Sephiroth's fault. Further more, Cloud was saved by Sefiroth and Dragon Shadow, as were we all. I believe this owes them some credit."
P
Yuffie, on the other hand, wasn't so easily convinced. "That monster attacked my town! He's the cause of Wutai's current condition! My father will disown me if he even THOUGHT I was aided by Sephiroth, or Sefiroth, or whatever he's called!"
P
Cait Sith looked at Yuffie. Suddenly very nervous. "Well, that wasn't all his fault. He was ordered by his superiors. I mean, Shinra did order the attack, it wasn't like he did it on his own…"
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Yuffie shot a dangerous look at Cait. "You think I don't KNOW that! Stupid cat."
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Cait said nothing. He only slumped over his moggle.
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Barret spoke up. "Well, I know this is the #$@#$# creature we've been chasing. Now what I don't understand is why he's changing sides. And why the @%#$ are their two of them?"
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Cid laughed. "I'm with ya on this one. This makes no #%*@! sense."
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Zack looked around, obviously very nervous. "I don't know how much my word's going to count. But what I have to say, is this. Sefiroth did risk his life to help Cloud, and you. I know, because I was there. Sephiroth helped us to escape from Jenova. Sephiroth hated being under her control. She made his do thing he didn't want to. Including the destruction of Nibelheim, and the summoning of Meteo. True, it was his choice, to an extent, to fight the battle against Wutai, but even then, she had a hold on him. The hold that was forged when she used Sephiroth to kill his brother."
P
Vincent watched the whole thing, not certain of what to say, or do.
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The others were silent as they considered this. Tifa suddenly realized what they had been discussing. "I don't care if it was his fault or not! He still destroyed my home town! Don't you care about that?"
P
Zack looked up at her. Unlike the others, he had no way of knowing how dangerous arguing with Tifa could be. "Do you think Cloud dose? It was his home town too. And I was there! I should have been dead. Just like Cloud. But because of that cursed Hojo, and his dame experiments, I'm alive. And I can feel her! It's hard, at time, to refuse her. Do you understand that?"
P
The others backed up. Neither Tifa, nor Zack noticed this. "You think I don't know that?" Tifa's voice was dangerously low. "I know that very well. I saw it happen to Cloud! Several times! And it was difficult for me to just sit their. I tried to help him, but I couldn't"
P
Zack met her dangerous look, with one of his own. They were like a wolf, and a wild cat facing off. "And tell me, who tried to help Sephiroth? Your help saved Cloud, but who helped Sephiroth? No one! He was left to his own! Do you know how hard it is to watch your friend's brother do things he hates? I saw him fight. But he could never win. You know why? Because she was too strong! Because she was willing to break him, no matter the cost!"
P
Nothing further was said, but the two continued to glare at each other. Those watching were amazed. They had yet to find one who was willing to face Tifa. And they'd never seen one last so long against her. And no one, other than Cloud, had been willing to argue with her on the topic of Sephiroth.
P
For a long time, no one said nothing. The center of the argument watched from a distance. Cloud watched as well. Both were good friends, but he knew that his aid in the situation would only complicate maters.
P
Red, and the others could only watch as the staring continued. None dared to enter that argument. Especially one about such a delicate situation. The two continued to glar at one another. Neither one wanting to admit they were wrong. Neither willing to back down. Each remebering the day that Sephiroth had attacked Nibelheim. Each remembering the deaths, destruction, chaos, and ultimate finally of that day. But their was something each remembered, that the other knew nothing of.
P
Tifa remembered all the times Sephiroth had apparently used Cloud. Shinra's cover-up of that day. And the change in Cloud's memories.
P
Zack remembered all those years of living hell. Years of torture, pain, helplessness, fear, hate, anger, and despair. His only companion, Sefiroth, who lived through the same thing. And Sephiroth, who helped them escape, yet was helpless to help himself.
P
Truly, it wasn't the Nibelheim massacre that was their main consideration. It was the years that followed. Red walked over to the two. "The rest of us are going to get some sleep before we leave. You two had best decided. Tifa, I know you hate Sephiroth, but perhaps you and Zack would benefit from sharing your stories of Sephiroth, and his brother."
P
Red didn't wait to see what would happen. He turned, and joined the others. Slowly, one by one, the others fell asleep. Soon, only Cloud, Zack and Tifa seemed to be awake. Cloud walked over to join the two. "I know the problem. Tifa, I know why you hate Sephiroth and his brother. I can understand that. But we need their help. Of all the people here, the four of us are the best equipped to deal with Jenova. Especially if she merges with that other creature the people of this world speak of."
P
Tifa began to cry. "It's just that I have a hard time admitting that it may not be his fault. I mean, if I quite believing that it was…"
P
Cloud sat down by Tifa. Zack looked at them, then got up and left. The stillness of the cave was broken only by Tifa's crying. And that soon faded from the cave.