Chapter 9


"You always were a smart one, Cloud." Aeris said. "Amazing...how someone so smart could

actually be so stupid."

"What are you talking about Aeris?" Yuffie demanded.

"You were absolutly wrong about Syreen, Yuffie. I wasn't lying at all...at either

Gongaga or Junon."

Cloud and Yuffie looked at each other in bewilderment for a moment, then gasped (it can't

be....)

As if she heard them, Aeris answered, "It is. I am Syreen! I came back to fulfill her quest.

And whatsmore, you can't stop me! I am embodied with the lifestream. I cannot die!"

Cloud and Yuffie were speechless. (How could I have been fooled all this time?) Cloud wondered.

(Twice, I have fallen victim to her lies. How could I have let this happened?)

Aeris interrupted his thoughts, "Now you'll have to excuse me, but I have to run. There are

so many things to attend to."

With that, she vanished.

Both Cloud and Yuffie were stunned, but Cloud recovered first. "What can we do to stop her?"

"Most of the team survived Aeris' attack, we can reunite with them."

"Most...?" Cloud said worried.

"Oh, Cloud...Tifa...her wounds were too great. She died that night."

Cloud's hands balled into a fist. (I'll avenge you, Tifa. Even if it kills me, I will

avenge you)

Yuffie shook Cloud back to his senses. "C'mon Cloud! I know where she's going to!"

"Wha-how?" Cloud asked.

"Just because you were out like a light in Gongaga didn't mean I was. There are so many

things a skilled ninja can learn under the cover of night."

"So where is she going to be, oh all powerful ninja?"

"I'll tell you later. The crew is recuperating in Nibelheim. We should meet there."

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Cloud shivered slightly as he entered Nibelheim. Nestled at the bottom of a great mountain

chain, Nibelheim could get pretty cold in the winter. But that wasn't the only reason Cloud felt a

coolness in his heart.

Yuffie jolted him out of his reverie. "Come ON! The gang's at the inn. We need to hurry."

Cloud nodded, still not at full attention. He walked into the inn and up the stairs, mentally

measuring his chances against Syreen/Aeris'. (Well, they've served me well before, and...)

As Cloud walked into the room, he was stunned. Nearly everyone was cut, bruised, or broken

in some way. Red XIII had a cut done his side. Barrett had a rather nasty looking gash on his head.

Cid had a broken arm, but that wasn't keeping him quiet.

"Where ya been Cloud? I wanna go bust that mother#%#^@ up! Go around ruining my damn wedding

and all! Who does that chick think she is?"

The group murmered in agreement. "How do we go about this Cloud?" Vincent asked.

Cloud tightened his grip on Ultima Weapon. "The same way we always do. Togther."