Chapter Five of the Crossroads Stories
"I'm bored." Cindy lay in the sun on a branch near the balcony.
"Again? You seem to get bored a lot lately." Jill replied, barely looking up from her book.
"Yeah, it's just that I've done everything. I've read all the books, I've explored EVERY corner of the crossroads, I've even memorized the ding-dong Magic Database . . . I'm bored!"
"Let's go somewhere else then."
"Where?"
Jill put down her book and thought a moment. "Let's make a random portal, just end up where-ever we end up."
"Hmm." Cindy sat up and smiled. "Sounds interesting."
"Wanna take Seph and Brian along?"
"Yeah! Brian doesn't have much to do here . . . Let's go!" Cindy leapt onto the balcony and followed Jill down into the WereDen.
They found Brian and Sephiroth playing Magic: The Gathering in the Library. "Hey guys, who's winning?"
Brian glanced up as Seph placed another card on the table, looking smug. Brian looked and moaned, "Seph just won."
Jill sauntered over, "Mmm, good job Sephy . . . We were wondering if you two wanted to come with us."
"To where?" Brain asked.
"Who knows? I'm making a random portal."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Seph asked, crossing his arms.
"Not really. Come on, let's go!" Jill grabbed Seph and pulled him along while Cindy pushed Brian ahead of her. Jill created the portal and the four stepped through.
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Cindy and Seph landed in a pile of rubble, "Midgar . . ." Cindy breathed. The ruined city lay abandoned around them. ("Jill! Where are you?")
Jill giggled in Cindy's head. ("I'm sitting on Brian, who's laying on Yuffie.")
("In Wutai?")
("Yuppers.")
("Seph and I are in Midgar, we'll try to get to you. Stay put.")
("All right . . .") Cindy shook her head, "Which way?" She asked, looking around her. Seph began to trudge through the mess and Cindy hurried after him.
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Jill helped Brian and Yuffie up. "You're here?" Yuffie shrieked.
"Yeah, sorry for landing on you . . ."
"It's all right, What are you doing here?"
Jill shrugged. "We just ended up here."
"No matter, come on, let's go to Turtles Paradise and catch up." Jill nodded and followed the younger girl.
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Cindy laughed. "What is it?" Seph asked.
"Yuffie and Jill are getting drunk." she answered. "She has strange tastes in liquor." she added shaking her head.
As they worked their way through Midgar, Cindy gawked at any familiar sight, Aeris' Church, the Shinra Tower, and train yard.
Suddenly she found that they were walking past the stairs that led to where Hojo was killed. She growled, sensing a change. ("My son? Alive?") The echoing voice in her head was faint, with an undertone of confusion and pain from . . .
"Sephiroth? What's wrong?" Seph was down on one knee, clutching his head, a grimace on his face. Cindy touched his shoulder and he shoved her away. Through the extra flow of thoughts in her head she finally understood, "Hojo" she breathed, looking up.
Hojo was staring down at them, "My son, the mighty Sephiroth, back from the dead. He has returned to me."
Seph began to regain his composure. "What?"
"Not a chance, Hojo! He isn't that man anymore and you can't make him change.
He's stronger than you and so am I!"
Hojo chuckled, "You think that?"
Cindy glanced at Seph. "Better?" she whispered, he nodded. "Grab my shoulders then, we are outta here!" He did as she asked and found himself on the back of a
Ki-Rin/Unicorn cross.
Cindy bounded away, taking huge leaps higher and higher until she was above the rubble.
"Why are we running? I'm not afraid of Hojo."
"You have no sword and no Materia . . . and he's a LOT stronger now than he was the last time you saw him." Cindy answered tersely.
Seph chuckled, "Doubtful." Cindy took a landing hard, jarring him. "Are you upset with me?"
"No Shit, Sherlock!"
"Why?"
She planted her hooves, sliding to a stop. "When were you going to tell Jill and me you had a mental connection with us?"
Seph only shrugged in reply and Cindy began to move again. ("Jill!")
("Yeah Cinny?") Jill's voice was drunkenly slurred.
("How much have you been drinking?")
Jill giggled. ("Let's just say it's a good thing Yuffie's too drunk to see the bill.")
("Gawd, Jill. Do you think you could find Brian and tell him Hojo is alive?")
("Find Brian, Hojo is alive, right.") Cindy could feel Jill rise, take one step, then another . . . and crash onto the carpet, passed out.
"Oh joy, it's always good for Jill to pass out when I really need her!" Cindy muttered.
Finally they plunged out of Midgar, "Where are we going?" Seph asked.
"To find Cloud."
Seph groaned, "Why him?"
"Because I feel like it. He should be in Kalm."
"Cindy, Kalm is that way." Seph said pointing to the right. Cindy turned and soon they reached Kalm.
("You do the talking, Seph. I don't think they'll answer a unicorn.")
"And what am I suppose to ask these people?"
("Duh, where Cloud Strife is!")
"All right, all right."
In no time at all, they had his address and were walking up to the quaint little cottage. Cindy stood behind Seph while he knocked.
Tifa opened the door, her face contorted with shock. "Uh . . . Cloud?" she called.
As soon as Cindy saw Cloud, she shoved Seph into the house. "Sephiroth!" Cloud hissed, grabbing his sword.
With a whinny, Cindy passed Seph and reared up in front of Cloud, teeth bared and hooves flaying. Slowly, Cloud lowered his sword, "Cindy?"
Cindy shifted to human form. "Hi guys. There's a problem."
"Hojo is alive." Seph added, "We saw him in Midgar a short while ago."
"How can he be alive? We killed him." Cloud stated.
"My guess is the Jenova cells he injected himself with had something to do with it." Cindy replied.
Cloud nodded, "Probably. Did he say anything?"
"He said something about his son being alive." Seph answered, "Funny, I never knew he had a son."
Cindy's eyebrows shot up and her ears moved back. "You never knew?" she murmured.
"Knew what? Who his son was? Obviously not."
Cindy thought a moment, "You were shut in the Northern Crater when that was revealed."
"Cindy, what are you talking about?"
Tifa spoke up. "You're Hojo's son, Sephiroth."
He stared at her, his mouth set in a thin line. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not. Ask Cindy. She seem to know an awful lot."
Cindy nodded, "It's true, Seph, Hojo's your father."
"We'll need to stop him, none-the-less." Cloud interrupted. "We'll meet everyone in Cosmo Canyon." He went into the other room and grabbed the PHS. When her returned he turned to Tifa, "Tifa, get out Chocobos ready. Reeve has a ship waiting for us in Junon. Let's go."
The four filed out of the house, after Cindy returned to the cross breed form.
("Seph, get a bridle, I need you to guide me to Junon.")
"Why can't I just point?"
"'Cause that knocks me off balance, plus I'm half-asleep from all the energy I used getting out of Midgar."
Tifa lent Seph their spare Chocobo Bridle and it fit neatly on Cindy's head after a few minor adjustments. She chewed on the bit absent-mindedly while Seph mounted.
The instant he gathered the reins, she tensed. He was used to handling Chocobos, whose hard beaks required a firm hand. Such a grip was painful on Cindy's soft mouth.
She backed up, gagging the bit and reared. ("Loosen up, Seph! That hurts!") She bounced her hind legs, kind of a half-buck. ("Loosen the reins, please!")
Finally, he did and whispered in her ear, "Baby."
She bucked, ears laid back, and sent him flying. ("Am not.") she snorted.
Cloud laughed as he and Tifa rode up. "Argument?"
Seph glared at him as he picked himself up and dusted off his clothes. "Not at all. Are we going?" He leapt onto Cindy's back and she broke into a run.
After finding a comfortable pace the Chocobos could keep up with, Cindy's eyes fluttered shut and her mind quieted. To Sephiroth's surprise, she had fallen asleep.
The three riders gave Midgar wide berth and Seph woke Cindy up to cross the mountain range. In a few hours, they reached Junon. The afternoon was warm and the Chocobos were tired. Cindy's flank was marred with sweat.
Seph dismounted and guided her carefully through the maze behind their companions. Trying not to attract attention, they met Reeve outside the new Shinra Building. He was busy making adjustments on Cait.
"Sephiroth!" he exclaimed when he spotted them. "And Cindy, I presume. I hardly believed you when you said they were here on the PHS, Cloud."
"Yeah," Cloud replied, "Godo said Yuffie and some other girl were passed out at the bar. I guess that girl was Jill, so they won't be meeting us."
"I couldn't get a hold of Vincent either." Reeve added.
"He's probably in Nibelhiem." Tifa answered. "We'll pick him and Yuffie up in the Highwind."
"Too bad I can't come. Being the new president means I have to stay here for now . . . But I'm sending Cait along. He'd be more help then me anyway. The ship's waiting, as soon as you are aboard, it'll be off. Good luck, all of you!" Reeve returned to the building, leaving Cait behind.
In a few seconds, Cait sprang to life. "Come on guys, let's go!" He yelled, hopping away.
They reached the harbor and quickly found the ship. A horn blast welcomed them as Cindy yawned. "I'm more tired now than I was before!" She whined. "I can't fight like this."
"So sleep on the ship." Seph answered.
Cloud nodded, "Reeve arranged a truck to drive us to Cosmo Canyon, we can all rest the way there."
"Amazing, you two agreed on something." Cindy replied, climbing up the gangplank. She had disappeared in to the Shinra Suite before the others even made it onto the decks.
The ship shoved off, working it's way to Costo del Sol. Seph leaned against the railing, watching the water.
Cloud walked over, "Why'd you come back? How could you show your face here again?"
"I didn't know we'd end up here. Jill set up a random portal. If I had known, I wouldn't have come." Seph looked at Cloud, saw a hatred burning in his eyes. "I know I can never atone for my crimes here."
"You sure about that?"
"What? Can't you let it go, Cloud? Do you really want me to die for her, for all the people I killed? An eye, for an eye? I already did, at your hand, I can't die again."
"Let's find out!" Cloud yelled angrily, unsheathing his sword.
Seph dodged the first strike, then rushed forward, grabbing the hilt. The men began to fight for the sword.
"Cloud, stop!" Tifa grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him back. He knocked her back. "Cait! Get Cindy to help."
"I'm on my way!" The cal rode his stuffed mog into the suite. Cindy had returned to human form and crashed on the couch. "Cindy! Wake up! Seph and Cloud are fighting, we have to stop them."
Cindy mumbled something and rose. She yawned and stretched, "Hmm?"
"Cloud's trying to kill Seph, come on, hurry!"
Cindy leapt for the door, shifting into the cross-breed. Cait followed her onto the deck. Could and Seph were still fighting for the sword. With an angry whinny, Cindy leapt between them, forcing them back.
"Cloud! Let your hate go! Seph is not the man you remember. He has a good heart now and he's sane!" Cindy shifted to human form. "Seph, Cloud, behave yourselves." She climbed onto the rail. "I won't stay around for your fights. Seph, if you kill him, you'll have to deal with Tifa and Me. And Cloud, if you kill him, you'll have to deal with Jill and Me!"
"Where are you going?"
"Cosmo Canyon, I'll meet you there." She leapt from the rail, shifting into a purple dragon. She roared twice and flew off. She soon disappeared from sight.
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She flew through the night, landing in Wutai in the early dawn. She found Brian,
Jill, and Yuffie asleep in Godo's home. She nuzzled Brian affectionately, waking him. "Cindy? Godo said Hojo was alive."
"He is, Jill knows, if she were awake." She turned to Jill. ("Jill, heal yourself, we are needed.")
"But the hangover's the best part." Jill whined, opening her eyes.
"Deal, chicka. Heal Yuffie, we have to go to Cosmo Canyon."
"So terse, Cinny. Are you PMSing?" Jill asked, but Cindy was already gone leading Brian, leaving Jill to her magic.
Jill and Yuffie found them outside. Cindy had grown into a huge dragon, stomping impatiently, Brian sat on her back, waiting.
Yuffie paled, "We're flying?"
"Don't worry, Yuffie, dragon's flight is as smooth as riding a Chocabo." Jill smiled. "Raye Wing." The spell lifted them up onto Cindy's back. They settled themselves and Jill yelled. "Let's go, Cinny!"
With a roar, Cindy spread her wings and bounded forward. She flapped hard, soaring over the temple of the five gods before turning in an easterly direction, toward Cosmo Canyon.
At dawn's first light, they landed in the settlement next to the eternal flame.
Barret had already arrived, they could see him and Marlene sitting next to the eternal flame. Marlene was peeking out from behind her father's bulk.
Cindy turned as her friends climbed, she could make out the Highwind outside the canyon and Cid making his way up.
Cindy shifted to human form and sat next to Brain. Jill sat next to her, "What's wrong, Cindy? Why'd you come get us?"
"Because I didn't want to be around Cloud and Seph's glares and all but fights."
"WHAT!?" Cindy sent her a mental picture of the scene she broke up. "You left them after that?" Cindy nodded. "How?!"
She shrugged, "I just did. I was mad at Seph, mad at Cloud, so I left."
"Why are you mad at Seph, did he start the fight?"
"No, Cloud started that . . . Did you know our mental connection included Sephiroth?"
"What? I had a feeling, but he never told anyone!" Jill said, a little irritated herself. "Cin, block me out or you'll go deaf, this message is for Seph." Jill smiled maliciously.
Cindy shifted to wolf form, moaned and put her paws on her ears.
("SEPHIROTH!!!!!!!!") The sound almost echoing off the land. ("You had better answer me now, or I'll make you really angry when I see you!")
Barret jumped in surprise when his PHS rang. Answering it, "Uh, Jill, it's for you." He said handing it to her.
"Hello?" Jill said puzzled.
"You . . . yelled?" Seph's voice came from the speaker. "It almost hurt. Couldn't you have waited until I arrived? We're almost there."
"You mean it didn't hurt? Oh well, guess I'll have to try harder next time. One
question, dearest, Why exactly didn't' you inform us of our shared connection?" Jill fumed.
"I thought you knew."
"Sweety, how much of MY mind can you read? What I mean to say is. . . . the other night, when I slipped into your room during the storm. . . . Umm, could you see my dream?" Jill stammered, blushing crimson.
Cindy looked up and panted a grin, watching her friend. Jill glared at Cindy.
"I'm afraid so. . . " He let the sentence drop.
Seph heard Jill gasp, as the PHS hit the ground. "Oh, my. . . ." Jill whispered, as she cloaked herself in a black cloud. "Ugghh!" Cindy cackled maliciously.
All of the sudden, Cindy burst into flames.
"When you decide to apologize, I'll make it stop." Jill growled from with in her cloud.
"Ow, Ow, Ow!" Cindy yelped as she ran in circles. "Make it stop! Put it out, put it out!"
"Apologize." Jill called in a sing song voice.
"Gawd, I'm sorry! Now put it OUT!"
"For some reason, I don't' believe you." Jill called still in her cloud. "But, I'll cut you a break." Jill then waved her hands, and Cindy became a block of ice. Jill smirked,
"That'll teach you to play nice with a sorceress."
Cindy shifted into a saber tooth tiger, bursting from the ice. She roared, tail lashing.
Slowly, Jill shifted into a white tiger. She bared her teeth at Cindy. "Gggrrrrrrr!" she roared.
They leapt at each other, wrestling for the upper paw. "Cindy, Jill, stop it!" Brian yelled, pulling Cindy's tail viciously as Red bit down on Jill's. Jill roared and attacked Red.
Barret tackled her and pinned her to the ground. "Yo, control yourself. You're attacking your friends!"
Jill returned to her human form and smiled innocently. "I wasn't gonna hurt him, or Cindy too bad. I was just gonna teach them both a lesson. Her for laughing," looking at Cindy then at Red. "Him for jumping into a cat fight. I apologize to Red but not Cindy. She didn't need to laugh." Jill then glared at her best friend.
Cindy shrugged, "Sorry. Can you heal me now?"
"Okay!" Jill giggles, brushing a healing spell over Cindy.
"Ahh, much better." Cindy sighed.
"You guys are crazy!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"And violent too," Barret grumbled.
Cindy looked up as happily as any puppy. "Voluntarily!" She piped.
Jill could envision the anime teardrops appear next to the three AVALANCHE
members. She laughed.
"What's so @#$@$$% funny!?" Cid yelled. Cloud, Tifa, Cait, and Seph followed him closely.
Jill looked over her shoulder, "Oh, they're here. Nice of you guys to join us."
Seph passed the others and stopped in front of Jill, his arms crossed. "Cindy told me to behave myself, but at least I never charbroiled my best friend." Cloud muttered something under his breath, and Tifa jabbed him with her elbow. "Apologize, Jillian."
"You have to do better than that, sweety. My answer is NO!" Jill smirked at Seph.
The group watched her in surprised silence. Saying no to Sephiroth?!
Seph sighed, "Jilli, please."
She smiled, "Oh, all right. . . Cindy, I'm sorry for turning you into a Canine bon-fire and a wolf-sickle. . ."
"And?" Seph asked.
Jill looked at him, "But she started it!"
Cloud rolled his eyes, "I realise we just got here, but we have to move on. We must get to Nibelhiem, to get Vincent."
Jill smiled slightly, "Vincent." she murmured.
Seph rubbed his temples with on hand, "I think I'm getting a headache." He whispered.
Jill kissed Seph on the lips, "I'll behave." she smiled.
Cloud snorted, "Let's move."
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They reached Nibelhiem in mid-afternoon. They wondered into the town. Cindy spotted Vincent on the roof of the Shinra Mansion. She pointed it out to Jill then ran forward. "Vincent!" She called.
"What are you all doing here?" he called.
"We tried to get a hold of you on the PHS." Cloud yelled.
Vincent shrugged, then jumped. He landed on his feet, right in front of Cindy. "I turned that off a long time ago. What do you need me for?"
"Hojo is alive."
Vincent froze, "I see." He answered coldly. "What are we going to do about this?"
"We just finished getting everyone together to decide." Tifa answered.
While they talked, Cindy sensed something. She turned to see Seph walking away. She walked over to Jill, "Where's her going?"
"For a walk . . . he says he has a headache." Jill sighed. "I don't think he likes my thoughts very much."
Cindy nodded, "He's got good reason, you know."
"I know, but I can't help it!"
Cindy chuckled, "Me neither. . . but fortunately my boyfriend can't hear it."
Jill made a face, "Lucky!"
AVALANCHE moved off, going into the inn to make plans. The magicals followed close behind them.
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"We should do this, we should do that," Yuffie whined. "Make up your minds!"
"Really." Cindy grumbled, "This is all but boring."
"Well, what do you think?" Barrett demanded.
"Me?" Cindy gasped in surprise, "If someone else doesn't come up with a plan, I tend to just rush in without a thought."
Barrett threw his hands up in disgust, "Then quit yer complainin'!" Cindy blushed, and shrugged.
Cloud shook his head, "What'd Sephiroth ever do for you?"
"He loves me." Jill replied simply.
"And he's saved our lives many times." Cindy added. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she growled. Worry etched itself on Jill's face. Cindy's face grew stern, and angry. "Hojo has Seph in Midgar."
"How do you know?" Cid demanded.
"Seph's defenses slipped, Hojo is trying something very bad."
"Then let's go!" Cid shouted, puffing a cigarette, "To the Highwind!"
"Screw the Highwind!" Jill cried, with a wide sweep of her hand, the group disappeared.
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They found themselves in the lobby of the half-demolished Shinra building. They looked around in surprise. Cindy shifted into a wolf, sniffing the air.
She followed the odor to the farthest wall. Pawing it, Cindy revealed a secret stairway leading down. "This way."
A scream drifted up the stairs, a man's scream. "Sephy!?" Jill whimpered. She gasped and fell to her knees as she grabbed her head. White pain flashed in her head, overwhelming her senses.
Brian caught Cindy as she too, fell. Her lips were pulled back in a pained snarl. "Stop . . . Hojo . . . You . . . Must . . ." She struggled to look at Cloud. "Save Sephiroth . . . Please . . ." Cindy whined and passed out. Jill had fainted beside her.
"Cid, Yuffie, stay with them. The rest, follow me." Cloud ordered, tramping down the stairs.
Soon they reached the hidden laboratory Hojo was cackling. "This time, you won't try to destroy the world. This time, THIS TIME, you shall conquer it . . . for me."
"Never." Seph's voice was strained, breathless. He was strapped down to a examination table. Seph strained against the bonds, "I'll never commit those crimes again, especially not for you."
"You will do exactly as I say! You have no choice!" Hojo prepared another needle and jabbed it into Seph's arm. Seph cried out, then relaxed into a drugged stupor.
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Upstairs, Jill dreamed that scene, it jolted her awake. "No." Was all she said. With a touch, she woke Cindy, who shifted into a dragon and followed her friend down the stairs.
"Let him go!" Cloud growled. "We won't let you succeed in your plans!"
"The failure, how surprising. I didn't think your rag-tag group would make it through Midgar."
"Well we did! And now you're goin' down for good!" Barret yelled.
Hojo shrugged, chuckling madly. "Doubtful."
"What do we do?" Yuffie cried.
"Slam him with summons." Cloud answered. "That's how we beat him last time."
A growl behind them caused them to glance back. Cindy and Jill stood in the doorway. "You guys soften him up. We'll finish him." Jill whispered deadly.
Hojo found himself battered by knights, dragons and elemental beings. He tried to fight back, but whenever he got the strength he was attacked again. He began to stumble.
("Jill, hold him . . . and make yourself fire-proof.") Cindy sent as Hojo fell.
Jill jumped forward and grabbed him. "Okay, now what?" She asked as her magic went to work. She watched as Cindy took a deep breath, "Oh."
The Cindy-dragon spat fire at the two, completely incinerating Hojo. Not even ashes were left.
"Effective." Jill smiled approvingly, Cindy preened herself conceitedly. Seph moaned and moved weakly against the straps holding him down. "Sephy!" Jill cried rushing to his side.
Cindy shifted into a man-wolf, "This place reeks of poisons and drugs!" She growled. Jill paled at Cindy's words, struggling to free Seph.
"Cindy, my magic isn't working . . ." Jill was near tears, Seph's breath was coming in weak gasps.
"Don't worry, Jill, Hojo wouldn't poison him." Cindy moved to the table Hojo had been using. She sniffed at the jars and vials. "Eck!" She cried, pulling away and snarling, "This is what stopped your powers, Jill." She accidentally smashed the jar and cried out. "Ooo, this stuff really doesn't like our magic!" Her voice took on a more bestial tone.
"Why? What happened?"
"It burned through my hand and blocked my magic, I can't shift . . . Cloud or
Barret, whoever. Carry Seph, I want out of here, now!" She dropped onto all fours, limping on her hurt hand.
For the first time, Jill felt the wall that had formed between her and Cindy. It was a block, not a loss of magic. "Cindy, why are you blocking me?" A growl was the only reply.
Jill stayed at Seph's side as Barret carried him. There was a strange feeling in the air, a lack of balance.
"The strongest fell first," Cindy murmured, then whined uneasily.
The silent group trudged out of the building and found themselves in the new town of Midgar in front of the hospital. Both Cindy and Seph were checked in for observation.
Jill followed the doctors escorting Cindy. "What aren't you telling me, Cin?" she asked.
"I didn't want to worry you," Cindy sighed, "but, the stuff that doesn't agree with our magic . . . Seph stank of it, like Hojo shot him full of it."
"So?"
"It wouldn't have effected Seph, unless . . ."
"Unless what?"
"What Secudan did to bring him to our dimension put our magic into him."
"You mean that stuff could hurt him now?!"
Cindy nodded, "Stay with him, Jill, watch over him and pray to Sirius either he recovers or I can shift again before any bad can happen."
Jill stopped, watching her friend until she turned a corner, then rushed to Seph's room.
The doctors ran test on both Seph and Cindy. Trying to find a way to counteract the drugs. Cindy became their guinea pig, trying their hopeful cures.
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Nothing worked, but finally, after a worried-filled week the drug wore out. Cindy shifted to full wolf, estatic to be out of the awkward half-form. She raced to Seph's room and leapt onto the bed. Brian rushed into the room, panting, "You could have waited for me." He griped, scruffling her fur.
Cindy fell into her "dumb dog" routine, wagging her tail and washing faces, and whining happily. She continued until Seph managed to knock her off the bed. She shifted to human form and propped her elbows on the bed, "So, how're you feelin'?" She asked brightly.
Seph sighed, "Tired."
"You should be, just rest." Jill replied, then glanced at Cindy. "Why are you so hyper?"
"Too much caffeine and not enough running room . . . They kept me shut up the whole time!"
"Poor baby." Brian murmured teasingly.
Cindy looked at him with an evil grin and leapt. "Ai-yee!" She yelled, tackling him. They wrestled for a few seconds before Cindy pinned him. "I won!" She cried happily as Cloud, Tifa, and Red walked in. She blushed, leapt over the bed, and landed in a chair behind Jill.
Jill laughed at the bewildered looks on their faces. "Don't ask."
Cloud helped Brian off the floor, then walked up to the bed. "I came to apologize, I misjudged you."
Seph nodded, "It is understandable. I may have acted similarly, had I been in your shoes."
"Are you going back now?" Red asked.
Jill nodded, "I'd feel better to be back home."
"Will you visit again?" Tifa asked.
"Probably. Hopefully there won't be anymore bad guys." Cindy smiled. "No more of that yucky stuff either."
"That I can agree with." Seph said. "But, you don't mind, if we are leaving, I need to get dressed."
"Can I stay?" Jill teased, Cindy's eyes flashed mischievously.
"No," Seph pointed at the door, "Out."
They waited for him in the lobby, Jill had chased Cindy out telling her it run around the building a few times. As soon as Seph joined them, they met her outside.
"Are we going?" she asked, breathing hard.
Jill nodded and opened a doorway. "Bye, guys!" Cindy waved and bounded through, followed by Brian. Jill led Seph through after a final wave goodbye.
"I'm bored." Cindy lay in the sun on a branch near the balcony.
"Again? You seem to get bored a lot lately." Jill replied, barely looking up from her book.
"Yeah, it's just that I've done everything. I've read all the books, I've explored EVERY corner of the crossroads, I've even memorized the ding-dong Magic Database . . . I'm bored!"
"Let's go somewhere else then."
"Where?"
Jill put down her book and thought a moment. "Let's make a random portal, just end up where-ever we end up."
"Hmm." Cindy sat up and smiled. "Sounds interesting."
"Wanna take Seph and Brian along?"
"Yeah! Brian doesn't have much to do here . . . Let's go!" Cindy leapt onto the balcony and followed Jill down into the WereDen.
They found Brian and Sephiroth playing Magic: The Gathering in the Library. "Hey guys, who's winning?"
Brian glanced up as Seph placed another card on the table, looking smug. Brian looked and moaned, "Seph just won."
Jill sauntered over, "Mmm, good job Sephy . . . We were wondering if you two wanted to come with us."
"To where?" Brain asked.
"Who knows? I'm making a random portal."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Seph asked, crossing his arms.
"Not really. Come on, let's go!" Jill grabbed Seph and pulled him along while Cindy pushed Brian ahead of her. Jill created the portal and the four stepped through.
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Cindy and Seph landed in a pile of rubble, "Midgar . . ." Cindy breathed. The ruined city lay abandoned around them. ("Jill! Where are you?")
Jill giggled in Cindy's head. ("I'm sitting on Brian, who's laying on Yuffie.")
("In Wutai?")
("Yuppers.")
("Seph and I are in Midgar, we'll try to get to you. Stay put.")
("All right . . .") Cindy shook her head, "Which way?" She asked, looking around her. Seph began to trudge through the mess and Cindy hurried after him.
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Jill helped Brian and Yuffie up. "You're here?" Yuffie shrieked.
"Yeah, sorry for landing on you . . ."
"It's all right, What are you doing here?"
Jill shrugged. "We just ended up here."
"No matter, come on, let's go to Turtles Paradise and catch up." Jill nodded and followed the younger girl.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cindy laughed. "What is it?" Seph asked.
"Yuffie and Jill are getting drunk." she answered. "She has strange tastes in liquor." she added shaking her head.
As they worked their way through Midgar, Cindy gawked at any familiar sight, Aeris' Church, the Shinra Tower, and train yard.
Suddenly she found that they were walking past the stairs that led to where Hojo was killed. She growled, sensing a change. ("My son? Alive?") The echoing voice in her head was faint, with an undertone of confusion and pain from . . .
"Sephiroth? What's wrong?" Seph was down on one knee, clutching his head, a grimace on his face. Cindy touched his shoulder and he shoved her away. Through the extra flow of thoughts in her head she finally understood, "Hojo" she breathed, looking up.
Hojo was staring down at them, "My son, the mighty Sephiroth, back from the dead. He has returned to me."
Seph began to regain his composure. "What?"
"Not a chance, Hojo! He isn't that man anymore and you can't make him change.
He's stronger than you and so am I!"
Hojo chuckled, "You think that?"
Cindy glanced at Seph. "Better?" she whispered, he nodded. "Grab my shoulders then, we are outta here!" He did as she asked and found himself on the back of a
Ki-Rin/Unicorn cross.
Cindy bounded away, taking huge leaps higher and higher until she was above the rubble.
"Why are we running? I'm not afraid of Hojo."
"You have no sword and no Materia . . . and he's a LOT stronger now than he was the last time you saw him." Cindy answered tersely.
Seph chuckled, "Doubtful." Cindy took a landing hard, jarring him. "Are you upset with me?"
"No Shit, Sherlock!"
"Why?"
She planted her hooves, sliding to a stop. "When were you going to tell Jill and me you had a mental connection with us?"
Seph only shrugged in reply and Cindy began to move again. ("Jill!")
("Yeah Cinny?") Jill's voice was drunkenly slurred.
("How much have you been drinking?")
Jill giggled. ("Let's just say it's a good thing Yuffie's too drunk to see the bill.")
("Gawd, Jill. Do you think you could find Brian and tell him Hojo is alive?")
("Find Brian, Hojo is alive, right.") Cindy could feel Jill rise, take one step, then another . . . and crash onto the carpet, passed out.
"Oh joy, it's always good for Jill to pass out when I really need her!" Cindy muttered.
Finally they plunged out of Midgar, "Where are we going?" Seph asked.
"To find Cloud."
Seph groaned, "Why him?"
"Because I feel like it. He should be in Kalm."
"Cindy, Kalm is that way." Seph said pointing to the right. Cindy turned and soon they reached Kalm.
("You do the talking, Seph. I don't think they'll answer a unicorn.")
"And what am I suppose to ask these people?"
("Duh, where Cloud Strife is!")
"All right, all right."
In no time at all, they had his address and were walking up to the quaint little cottage. Cindy stood behind Seph while he knocked.
Tifa opened the door, her face contorted with shock. "Uh . . . Cloud?" she called.
As soon as Cindy saw Cloud, she shoved Seph into the house. "Sephiroth!" Cloud hissed, grabbing his sword.
With a whinny, Cindy passed Seph and reared up in front of Cloud, teeth bared and hooves flaying. Slowly, Cloud lowered his sword, "Cindy?"
Cindy shifted to human form. "Hi guys. There's a problem."
"Hojo is alive." Seph added, "We saw him in Midgar a short while ago."
"How can he be alive? We killed him." Cloud stated.
"My guess is the Jenova cells he injected himself with had something to do with it." Cindy replied.
Cloud nodded, "Probably. Did he say anything?"
"He said something about his son being alive." Seph answered, "Funny, I never knew he had a son."
Cindy's eyebrows shot up and her ears moved back. "You never knew?" she murmured.
"Knew what? Who his son was? Obviously not."
Cindy thought a moment, "You were shut in the Northern Crater when that was revealed."
"Cindy, what are you talking about?"
Tifa spoke up. "You're Hojo's son, Sephiroth."
He stared at her, his mouth set in a thin line. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not. Ask Cindy. She seem to know an awful lot."
Cindy nodded, "It's true, Seph, Hojo's your father."
"We'll need to stop him, none-the-less." Cloud interrupted. "We'll meet everyone in Cosmo Canyon." He went into the other room and grabbed the PHS. When her returned he turned to Tifa, "Tifa, get out Chocobos ready. Reeve has a ship waiting for us in Junon. Let's go."
The four filed out of the house, after Cindy returned to the cross breed form.
("Seph, get a bridle, I need you to guide me to Junon.")
"Why can't I just point?"
"'Cause that knocks me off balance, plus I'm half-asleep from all the energy I used getting out of Midgar."
Tifa lent Seph their spare Chocobo Bridle and it fit neatly on Cindy's head after a few minor adjustments. She chewed on the bit absent-mindedly while Seph mounted.
The instant he gathered the reins, she tensed. He was used to handling Chocobos, whose hard beaks required a firm hand. Such a grip was painful on Cindy's soft mouth.
She backed up, gagging the bit and reared. ("Loosen up, Seph! That hurts!") She bounced her hind legs, kind of a half-buck. ("Loosen the reins, please!")
Finally, he did and whispered in her ear, "Baby."
She bucked, ears laid back, and sent him flying. ("Am not.") she snorted.
Cloud laughed as he and Tifa rode up. "Argument?"
Seph glared at him as he picked himself up and dusted off his clothes. "Not at all. Are we going?" He leapt onto Cindy's back and she broke into a run.
After finding a comfortable pace the Chocobos could keep up with, Cindy's eyes fluttered shut and her mind quieted. To Sephiroth's surprise, she had fallen asleep.
The three riders gave Midgar wide berth and Seph woke Cindy up to cross the mountain range. In a few hours, they reached Junon. The afternoon was warm and the Chocobos were tired. Cindy's flank was marred with sweat.
Seph dismounted and guided her carefully through the maze behind their companions. Trying not to attract attention, they met Reeve outside the new Shinra Building. He was busy making adjustments on Cait.
"Sephiroth!" he exclaimed when he spotted them. "And Cindy, I presume. I hardly believed you when you said they were here on the PHS, Cloud."
"Yeah," Cloud replied, "Godo said Yuffie and some other girl were passed out at the bar. I guess that girl was Jill, so they won't be meeting us."
"I couldn't get a hold of Vincent either." Reeve added.
"He's probably in Nibelhiem." Tifa answered. "We'll pick him and Yuffie up in the Highwind."
"Too bad I can't come. Being the new president means I have to stay here for now . . . But I'm sending Cait along. He'd be more help then me anyway. The ship's waiting, as soon as you are aboard, it'll be off. Good luck, all of you!" Reeve returned to the building, leaving Cait behind.
In a few seconds, Cait sprang to life. "Come on guys, let's go!" He yelled, hopping away.
They reached the harbor and quickly found the ship. A horn blast welcomed them as Cindy yawned. "I'm more tired now than I was before!" She whined. "I can't fight like this."
"So sleep on the ship." Seph answered.
Cloud nodded, "Reeve arranged a truck to drive us to Cosmo Canyon, we can all rest the way there."
"Amazing, you two agreed on something." Cindy replied, climbing up the gangplank. She had disappeared in to the Shinra Suite before the others even made it onto the decks.
The ship shoved off, working it's way to Costo del Sol. Seph leaned against the railing, watching the water.
Cloud walked over, "Why'd you come back? How could you show your face here again?"
"I didn't know we'd end up here. Jill set up a random portal. If I had known, I wouldn't have come." Seph looked at Cloud, saw a hatred burning in his eyes. "I know I can never atone for my crimes here."
"You sure about that?"
"What? Can't you let it go, Cloud? Do you really want me to die for her, for all the people I killed? An eye, for an eye? I already did, at your hand, I can't die again."
"Let's find out!" Cloud yelled angrily, unsheathing his sword.
Seph dodged the first strike, then rushed forward, grabbing the hilt. The men began to fight for the sword.
"Cloud, stop!" Tifa grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him back. He knocked her back. "Cait! Get Cindy to help."
"I'm on my way!" The cal rode his stuffed mog into the suite. Cindy had returned to human form and crashed on the couch. "Cindy! Wake up! Seph and Cloud are fighting, we have to stop them."
Cindy mumbled something and rose. She yawned and stretched, "Hmm?"
"Cloud's trying to kill Seph, come on, hurry!"
Cindy leapt for the door, shifting into the cross-breed. Cait followed her onto the deck. Could and Seph were still fighting for the sword. With an angry whinny, Cindy leapt between them, forcing them back.
"Cloud! Let your hate go! Seph is not the man you remember. He has a good heart now and he's sane!" Cindy shifted to human form. "Seph, Cloud, behave yourselves." She climbed onto the rail. "I won't stay around for your fights. Seph, if you kill him, you'll have to deal with Tifa and Me. And Cloud, if you kill him, you'll have to deal with Jill and Me!"
"Where are you going?"
"Cosmo Canyon, I'll meet you there." She leapt from the rail, shifting into a purple dragon. She roared twice and flew off. She soon disappeared from sight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She flew through the night, landing in Wutai in the early dawn. She found Brian,
Jill, and Yuffie asleep in Godo's home. She nuzzled Brian affectionately, waking him. "Cindy? Godo said Hojo was alive."
"He is, Jill knows, if she were awake." She turned to Jill. ("Jill, heal yourself, we are needed.")
"But the hangover's the best part." Jill whined, opening her eyes.
"Deal, chicka. Heal Yuffie, we have to go to Cosmo Canyon."
"So terse, Cinny. Are you PMSing?" Jill asked, but Cindy was already gone leading Brian, leaving Jill to her magic.
Jill and Yuffie found them outside. Cindy had grown into a huge dragon, stomping impatiently, Brian sat on her back, waiting.
Yuffie paled, "We're flying?"
"Don't worry, Yuffie, dragon's flight is as smooth as riding a Chocabo." Jill smiled. "Raye Wing." The spell lifted them up onto Cindy's back. They settled themselves and Jill yelled. "Let's go, Cinny!"
With a roar, Cindy spread her wings and bounded forward. She flapped hard, soaring over the temple of the five gods before turning in an easterly direction, toward Cosmo Canyon.
At dawn's first light, they landed in the settlement next to the eternal flame.
Barret had already arrived, they could see him and Marlene sitting next to the eternal flame. Marlene was peeking out from behind her father's bulk.
Cindy turned as her friends climbed, she could make out the Highwind outside the canyon and Cid making his way up.
Cindy shifted to human form and sat next to Brain. Jill sat next to her, "What's wrong, Cindy? Why'd you come get us?"
"Because I didn't want to be around Cloud and Seph's glares and all but fights."
"WHAT!?" Cindy sent her a mental picture of the scene she broke up. "You left them after that?" Cindy nodded. "How?!"
She shrugged, "I just did. I was mad at Seph, mad at Cloud, so I left."
"Why are you mad at Seph, did he start the fight?"
"No, Cloud started that . . . Did you know our mental connection included Sephiroth?"
"What? I had a feeling, but he never told anyone!" Jill said, a little irritated herself. "Cin, block me out or you'll go deaf, this message is for Seph." Jill smiled maliciously.
Cindy shifted to wolf form, moaned and put her paws on her ears.
("SEPHIROTH!!!!!!!!") The sound almost echoing off the land. ("You had better answer me now, or I'll make you really angry when I see you!")
Barret jumped in surprise when his PHS rang. Answering it, "Uh, Jill, it's for you." He said handing it to her.
"Hello?" Jill said puzzled.
"You . . . yelled?" Seph's voice came from the speaker. "It almost hurt. Couldn't you have waited until I arrived? We're almost there."
"You mean it didn't hurt? Oh well, guess I'll have to try harder next time. One
question, dearest, Why exactly didn't' you inform us of our shared connection?" Jill fumed.
"I thought you knew."
"Sweety, how much of MY mind can you read? What I mean to say is. . . . the other night, when I slipped into your room during the storm. . . . Umm, could you see my dream?" Jill stammered, blushing crimson.
Cindy looked up and panted a grin, watching her friend. Jill glared at Cindy.
"I'm afraid so. . . " He let the sentence drop.
Seph heard Jill gasp, as the PHS hit the ground. "Oh, my. . . ." Jill whispered, as she cloaked herself in a black cloud. "Ugghh!" Cindy cackled maliciously.
All of the sudden, Cindy burst into flames.
"When you decide to apologize, I'll make it stop." Jill growled from with in her cloud.
"Ow, Ow, Ow!" Cindy yelped as she ran in circles. "Make it stop! Put it out, put it out!"
"Apologize." Jill called in a sing song voice.
"Gawd, I'm sorry! Now put it OUT!"
"For some reason, I don't' believe you." Jill called still in her cloud. "But, I'll cut you a break." Jill then waved her hands, and Cindy became a block of ice. Jill smirked,
"That'll teach you to play nice with a sorceress."
Cindy shifted into a saber tooth tiger, bursting from the ice. She roared, tail lashing.
Slowly, Jill shifted into a white tiger. She bared her teeth at Cindy. "Gggrrrrrrr!" she roared.
They leapt at each other, wrestling for the upper paw. "Cindy, Jill, stop it!" Brian yelled, pulling Cindy's tail viciously as Red bit down on Jill's. Jill roared and attacked Red.
Barret tackled her and pinned her to the ground. "Yo, control yourself. You're attacking your friends!"
Jill returned to her human form and smiled innocently. "I wasn't gonna hurt him, or Cindy too bad. I was just gonna teach them both a lesson. Her for laughing," looking at Cindy then at Red. "Him for jumping into a cat fight. I apologize to Red but not Cindy. She didn't need to laugh." Jill then glared at her best friend.
Cindy shrugged, "Sorry. Can you heal me now?"
"Okay!" Jill giggles, brushing a healing spell over Cindy.
"Ahh, much better." Cindy sighed.
"You guys are crazy!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"And violent too," Barret grumbled.
Cindy looked up as happily as any puppy. "Voluntarily!" She piped.
Jill could envision the anime teardrops appear next to the three AVALANCHE
members. She laughed.
"What's so @#$@$$% funny!?" Cid yelled. Cloud, Tifa, Cait, and Seph followed him closely.
Jill looked over her shoulder, "Oh, they're here. Nice of you guys to join us."
Seph passed the others and stopped in front of Jill, his arms crossed. "Cindy told me to behave myself, but at least I never charbroiled my best friend." Cloud muttered something under his breath, and Tifa jabbed him with her elbow. "Apologize, Jillian."
"You have to do better than that, sweety. My answer is NO!" Jill smirked at Seph.
The group watched her in surprised silence. Saying no to Sephiroth?!
Seph sighed, "Jilli, please."
She smiled, "Oh, all right. . . Cindy, I'm sorry for turning you into a Canine bon-fire and a wolf-sickle. . ."
"And?" Seph asked.
Jill looked at him, "But she started it!"
Cloud rolled his eyes, "I realise we just got here, but we have to move on. We must get to Nibelhiem, to get Vincent."
Jill smiled slightly, "Vincent." she murmured.
Seph rubbed his temples with on hand, "I think I'm getting a headache." He whispered.
Jill kissed Seph on the lips, "I'll behave." she smiled.
Cloud snorted, "Let's move."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They reached Nibelhiem in mid-afternoon. They wondered into the town. Cindy spotted Vincent on the roof of the Shinra Mansion. She pointed it out to Jill then ran forward. "Vincent!" She called.
"What are you all doing here?" he called.
"We tried to get a hold of you on the PHS." Cloud yelled.
Vincent shrugged, then jumped. He landed on his feet, right in front of Cindy. "I turned that off a long time ago. What do you need me for?"
"Hojo is alive."
Vincent froze, "I see." He answered coldly. "What are we going to do about this?"
"We just finished getting everyone together to decide." Tifa answered.
While they talked, Cindy sensed something. She turned to see Seph walking away. She walked over to Jill, "Where's her going?"
"For a walk . . . he says he has a headache." Jill sighed. "I don't think he likes my thoughts very much."
Cindy nodded, "He's got good reason, you know."
"I know, but I can't help it!"
Cindy chuckled, "Me neither. . . but fortunately my boyfriend can't hear it."
Jill made a face, "Lucky!"
AVALANCHE moved off, going into the inn to make plans. The magicals followed close behind them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We should do this, we should do that," Yuffie whined. "Make up your minds!"
"Really." Cindy grumbled, "This is all but boring."
"Well, what do you think?" Barrett demanded.
"Me?" Cindy gasped in surprise, "If someone else doesn't come up with a plan, I tend to just rush in without a thought."
Barrett threw his hands up in disgust, "Then quit yer complainin'!" Cindy blushed, and shrugged.
Cloud shook his head, "What'd Sephiroth ever do for you?"
"He loves me." Jill replied simply.
"And he's saved our lives many times." Cindy added. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she growled. Worry etched itself on Jill's face. Cindy's face grew stern, and angry. "Hojo has Seph in Midgar."
"How do you know?" Cid demanded.
"Seph's defenses slipped, Hojo is trying something very bad."
"Then let's go!" Cid shouted, puffing a cigarette, "To the Highwind!"
"Screw the Highwind!" Jill cried, with a wide sweep of her hand, the group disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They found themselves in the lobby of the half-demolished Shinra building. They looked around in surprise. Cindy shifted into a wolf, sniffing the air.
She followed the odor to the farthest wall. Pawing it, Cindy revealed a secret stairway leading down. "This way."
A scream drifted up the stairs, a man's scream. "Sephy!?" Jill whimpered. She gasped and fell to her knees as she grabbed her head. White pain flashed in her head, overwhelming her senses.
Brian caught Cindy as she too, fell. Her lips were pulled back in a pained snarl. "Stop . . . Hojo . . . You . . . Must . . ." She struggled to look at Cloud. "Save Sephiroth . . . Please . . ." Cindy whined and passed out. Jill had fainted beside her.
"Cid, Yuffie, stay with them. The rest, follow me." Cloud ordered, tramping down the stairs.
Soon they reached the hidden laboratory Hojo was cackling. "This time, you won't try to destroy the world. This time, THIS TIME, you shall conquer it . . . for me."
"Never." Seph's voice was strained, breathless. He was strapped down to a examination table. Seph strained against the bonds, "I'll never commit those crimes again, especially not for you."
"You will do exactly as I say! You have no choice!" Hojo prepared another needle and jabbed it into Seph's arm. Seph cried out, then relaxed into a drugged stupor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upstairs, Jill dreamed that scene, it jolted her awake. "No." Was all she said. With a touch, she woke Cindy, who shifted into a dragon and followed her friend down the stairs.
"Let him go!" Cloud growled. "We won't let you succeed in your plans!"
"The failure, how surprising. I didn't think your rag-tag group would make it through Midgar."
"Well we did! And now you're goin' down for good!" Barret yelled.
Hojo shrugged, chuckling madly. "Doubtful."
"What do we do?" Yuffie cried.
"Slam him with summons." Cloud answered. "That's how we beat him last time."
A growl behind them caused them to glance back. Cindy and Jill stood in the doorway. "You guys soften him up. We'll finish him." Jill whispered deadly.
Hojo found himself battered by knights, dragons and elemental beings. He tried to fight back, but whenever he got the strength he was attacked again. He began to stumble.
("Jill, hold him . . . and make yourself fire-proof.") Cindy sent as Hojo fell.
Jill jumped forward and grabbed him. "Okay, now what?" She asked as her magic went to work. She watched as Cindy took a deep breath, "Oh."
The Cindy-dragon spat fire at the two, completely incinerating Hojo. Not even ashes were left.
"Effective." Jill smiled approvingly, Cindy preened herself conceitedly. Seph moaned and moved weakly against the straps holding him down. "Sephy!" Jill cried rushing to his side.
Cindy shifted into a man-wolf, "This place reeks of poisons and drugs!" She growled. Jill paled at Cindy's words, struggling to free Seph.
"Cindy, my magic isn't working . . ." Jill was near tears, Seph's breath was coming in weak gasps.
"Don't worry, Jill, Hojo wouldn't poison him." Cindy moved to the table Hojo had been using. She sniffed at the jars and vials. "Eck!" She cried, pulling away and snarling, "This is what stopped your powers, Jill." She accidentally smashed the jar and cried out. "Ooo, this stuff really doesn't like our magic!" Her voice took on a more bestial tone.
"Why? What happened?"
"It burned through my hand and blocked my magic, I can't shift . . . Cloud or
Barret, whoever. Carry Seph, I want out of here, now!" She dropped onto all fours, limping on her hurt hand.
For the first time, Jill felt the wall that had formed between her and Cindy. It was a block, not a loss of magic. "Cindy, why are you blocking me?" A growl was the only reply.
Jill stayed at Seph's side as Barret carried him. There was a strange feeling in the air, a lack of balance.
"The strongest fell first," Cindy murmured, then whined uneasily.
The silent group trudged out of the building and found themselves in the new town of Midgar in front of the hospital. Both Cindy and Seph were checked in for observation.
Jill followed the doctors escorting Cindy. "What aren't you telling me, Cin?" she asked.
"I didn't want to worry you," Cindy sighed, "but, the stuff that doesn't agree with our magic . . . Seph stank of it, like Hojo shot him full of it."
"So?"
"It wouldn't have effected Seph, unless . . ."
"Unless what?"
"What Secudan did to bring him to our dimension put our magic into him."
"You mean that stuff could hurt him now?!"
Cindy nodded, "Stay with him, Jill, watch over him and pray to Sirius either he recovers or I can shift again before any bad can happen."
Jill stopped, watching her friend until she turned a corner, then rushed to Seph's room.
The doctors ran test on both Seph and Cindy. Trying to find a way to counteract the drugs. Cindy became their guinea pig, trying their hopeful cures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing worked, but finally, after a worried-filled week the drug wore out. Cindy shifted to full wolf, estatic to be out of the awkward half-form. She raced to Seph's room and leapt onto the bed. Brian rushed into the room, panting, "You could have waited for me." He griped, scruffling her fur.
Cindy fell into her "dumb dog" routine, wagging her tail and washing faces, and whining happily. She continued until Seph managed to knock her off the bed. She shifted to human form and propped her elbows on the bed, "So, how're you feelin'?" She asked brightly.
Seph sighed, "Tired."
"You should be, just rest." Jill replied, then glanced at Cindy. "Why are you so hyper?"
"Too much caffeine and not enough running room . . . They kept me shut up the whole time!"
"Poor baby." Brian murmured teasingly.
Cindy looked at him with an evil grin and leapt. "Ai-yee!" She yelled, tackling him. They wrestled for a few seconds before Cindy pinned him. "I won!" She cried happily as Cloud, Tifa, and Red walked in. She blushed, leapt over the bed, and landed in a chair behind Jill.
Jill laughed at the bewildered looks on their faces. "Don't ask."
Cloud helped Brian off the floor, then walked up to the bed. "I came to apologize, I misjudged you."
Seph nodded, "It is understandable. I may have acted similarly, had I been in your shoes."
"Are you going back now?" Red asked.
Jill nodded, "I'd feel better to be back home."
"Will you visit again?" Tifa asked.
"Probably. Hopefully there won't be anymore bad guys." Cindy smiled. "No more of that yucky stuff either."
"That I can agree with." Seph said. "But, you don't mind, if we are leaving, I need to get dressed."
"Can I stay?" Jill teased, Cindy's eyes flashed mischievously.
"No," Seph pointed at the door, "Out."
They waited for him in the lobby, Jill had chased Cindy out telling her it run around the building a few times. As soon as Seph joined them, they met her outside.
"Are we going?" she asked, breathing hard.
Jill nodded and opened a doorway. "Bye, guys!" Cindy waved and bounded through, followed by Brian. Jill led Seph through after a final wave goodbye.