Chapter 6
Sacrifice
Cloud woke up early the next morning, anticipating the battle ahead. He knew that it was likely he wouldn't walk away from this one, but he vowed to take Jenova with him. Tifa was worth his life; he'd always believed that. He got up and quickly got ready. Strapping his sword onto his back, he went downstairs, only to be greeted by Priscilla.
"Cloud, where're you going?"
"I have to go now. Tell your grandfather I said thanks."
Priscilla nodded, "Okay, Cloud. I'm glad I got to see you again."
Cloud slipped out quietly, leaving the village and turning toward the mountains in the north. The events of the night before played over and over in his mind. Tifa's fear, her pain...Jenova would pay for it all. Suddenly his memories flashed to the kiss. Feeling her in his arms again, it was a second chance that he in no way deserved. He'd been so cold to her for so long, pushing her away, especially after Aeris's death. And despite it all, she'd always stayed right by his side, giving him strength and hope. He knew she'd follow him into certain death without a second thought, and he could do no less for her. As long as you're by my side, Cloud...I'll keep on fighting, even if I'm scared. That's what she'd said to him not too long ago, the night before they had faced Sephiroth in the North Crater. And she had been scared. They had been sitting side by side, talking about their adventure and their childhood, when she had suddenly lay her head on his shoulder and started sobbing. He'd wrapped his arm around her, trying to soothe her fears. Seeing her cry had always hurt him. Her tears finally ceased, and she had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He remembered the quiet sense of peace that had filled him as he looked down at her resting on his shoulder; it was that moment that he had begun to realize that his feelings for her were far deeper than simple friendship.
Taking a deep breath, Cloud forced himself back into his nightmarish reality. He wasn't too far from the mountains now, and the sense of Tifa's presence was becoming stronger. Trudging along for another hour, he reached the foot of the mountains that separated the Junon area from what was left of Midgar. Staring up at them, a fierce determination filled his eyes, and he started up the mountain to face the final battle.
The small boat carrying Avalanche made landfall early in the morning. Jumping out, Yuffie quickly surveyed their situation.
"Look! It's Cloud's boat! He must've come here." she cried.
Red was intently studying the nearby land formations, "We are close to Junon. Cloud probably went there first. He may still be there."
"Well then, I guess we get moving. It's a long walk to Junon from here." Barret commented.
The group started the long hike to Junon, with Cid muttering under his breath like always.
"If we had the damn Highwind, it wouldn't take so long."
Yuffie patted him on the back, "Hey, come on, old man. It's not that bad. Besides, we're going to save Tifa!"
For once, Cid didn't protest when Yuffie called him 'old man.' "Yeah...I hope we can save her..."
"We will save her." Vincent said suddenly, surprising the others. He usually stayed quiet about most matters, speaking only when he deemed it necessary.
The group continued on in silence, each focusing on the battle ahead. This would be more than a battle for Tifa's soul, they were again holding the fate of the Planet in their hands. As they reached Junon, Priscilla met them near the gates.
"Hey...You're Cloud's friends aren't you?" she asked.
"Yeah. Did he come here?" Yuffie replied.
Priscilla nodded, "Yeah, he stayed here last night. But he left earlier this morning."
"Where did he go?"
She motioned toward the mountains, "That way, but I don't know why."
"Thanks!" Yuffie cried, then turned to the group, "Okay, then. He's gone up the mountain, so we have to follow him. Jenova must be up there."
Now sure of their direction, the group made quick progress toward the mountains, hoping to reach Cloud before something happened. When they reached the foot of the mountains, Barret called the group to a stop.
"This is just like before. Not all of us may make it out of this one, and I don't want anybody to be forced into this battle. So, if any of you have any doubts, go back now." he said.
The group stared at him in silence, none of them backing down from the fate ahead of them.
"There's no way I'm gonna abandon them now. No way." Yuffie said.
Cid looked up at the peak of the mountains, squinting against the sunlight, "That kid went up there to save her, not caring at all about himself...He didn't hesitate, and I'm not going to."
"Sephiroth must pay for his crimes." Vincent said quietly.
"I agree." Red added.
Barret turned to the last member of the group, "Reeve?"
"I couldn't live with myself if I left Tifa and Cloud in the clutches of that thing." he replied.
"Good. Then let's go." Barret commanded, leading the group up the mountain.
Cloud was nearing the top of the mountain, and he was beginning to sense a growing evil that seemed to permeate the mountain. Glancing around, he caught sight of a cave that delved deep into the heart of the peak. He turned toward it, his body tensing for battle. As he entered the cave, he instinctively pulled Ultima Weapon from his back, and crept deeper into the cave. The tunnel suddenly opened up into a wide room that was faintly lit by a few holes in the walls. He walked in slowly, his sapphire eyes glowing faintly in the dusky light. The air had become oppressive, making breathing harder.
"Tif?" he asked quietly into the darkness.
His response was her evil laughter. Tifa stepped out of the darkness, a beam of sunlight falling across her malevolent eyes. "So you did come. I knew you would. Anything for love, right, Cloud?" she shook her head in disbelief, "You're so predictable...and weak."
Cloud stared at her silently, ignoring the remarks that were nothing more than echoes of Jenova. She's in her power again.... "I came to fight Jenova, not you, Tif."
Tifa sighed, "I thought I told you not to call me that. I'm not your 'Tif'."
"So you are trying to stop Mother's conquest again? You cannot stop her alone. Even you are not that stupid." Sephiroth added, taking his place beside Tifa.
"Let the fool believe what he wants...it is irrelevant." Jenova said, taking form only feet from Cloud. "Child, are you willing to give your life for someone who no longer loves you?"
"Yes. Because that's not Tifa, it's just an extension of you. Tifa...she's in there fighting, I can sense it, and she does still love me. Even if she didn't, I can't leave my best friend behind." he replied, his voice quiet.
"Very well. Then you will meet your fate." Turning to Tifa, Jenova gave her the command to attack.
Tifa ran at Cloud, unleashing her Final Heaven attack on him. He fell back, managing to bring his blade up in time to ward off a blow to his chest. He realized that he had no choice; he would have to fight Tifa in order to save her. Squeezing his eyes shut, he drew on his magic, and doublecast Ultima on her, sending her flying back. She hit the ground hard, lying there in a daze. Hesitating for a moment, he had to force himself to cast Bolt 3. Her body went rigid as the electricity coursed through it, then she went limp, slipping into unconsciousness. Tif, I'm sorry...I had to. Sephiroth stepped forward, raising Masamune into a defensive position.
"No, Sephiroth. Leave him to me; I will finish this." Jenova commanded.
Nodding, he slipped quietly back into the shadows to watch the battle with his glowing turquoise eyes.
Cloud stared up at Jenova, his eyes narrowed in hatred. Not waiting for the massive inhuman being to make her move, Cloud ran at her, driving his sword into one of the four tentacles that waved restlessly. A cry of pain shrieked off the rocks and another tentacle whipped at him in reflex, its razor edge biting deep into his back. Clenching his teeth, Cloud slashed madly at Jenova's massive body drawing streams of blood forth. Jenova cast Aqualung, leaving Cloud disoriented. Taking advantage of his confusion, she slammed him backwards, sending him flying into a large boulder. Fighting unconsciousness, Cloud stumbled to his feet, wiping away some of the blood that flowed from a gash in his head. Blinking spots from his vision, he approached her again, only to have a tentacle whip out and jab into his ribs, bringing forth a gush of blood. Cloud fell to his knees, struggling with the intense pain. Sweat was now pouring down his face, flowing into the cut on his head and stinging profusely.
"Surrender, child, and I will spare your life."
"No."
Jenova struck at him again, knocking him to the ground on his back. Most of his strength had left him, and he struggled to merely breathe. Ultima Weapon lay a few feet away, and he stretched out his hand to grab it. Whipping out with a tentacle, Jenova knocked the sword against the far wall and cut a deep gash in Cloud's arm. Glaring down at Cloud's battered body, Jenova prepared to strike the final blow.
Gunshots erupted from the entrance, and the rest of the group came running into the chamber.
"Hey, get away from him!" Yuffie cried, hurling her Conformer.
Vincent and Red took defensive positions in front of Cloud, while the others stood at Jenova's feet preparing for battle. As one, they attacked, evoking hideous screams from Jenova. Cloud shakily raised himself up, taking a moment to cast Cure 3 on himself, then retrieved his sword. He joined the others, raising his blade.
"Stop!" A voice commanded. "Stop, or I kill her."
The group halted their mad assault, turning toward the voice. Sephiroth stood over Tifa, his sword at her throat. He glared at them, daring them to challenge him.
"Your attack ends here. Surrender."
"Hell no!" Cid cried. He started toward Sephiroth.
"Cid, no!" Yuffie screamed.
Vincent grabbed the pilot's shoulder, "Stop." Cid looked at him for a moment before falling back into the group.
Sephiroth pressed the tip of the blade against Tifa's skin. Cloud tensed, seeing Tifa's death and Aeris's play in perfect clarity in his mind. No, this has to stop. Before he even realized what he was doing, Cloud ran at Jenova and leaped up, driving Ultima Weapon up to its hilt in her heart. Dropping back to the ground, he pulled the blade down, tearing her body. A hideous scream pierced their ears as Jenova fell over in a bloody heap. Cloud felt a pressure lift from his mind, and he looked up in time to see Sephiroth stumble and fall to the ground unconscious. Cloud ran to Tifa's side, cradling her body in his arms. Please...let her be free... He couldn't bear the thought of having to kill her. Not caring that the others were watching, he bent down and tenderly kissed her lips. "Come back to me, Tif..." he whispered.
Cid went to Cloud's side, looking down at the young man cradling his love. "Is she okay, kid?"
Cloud looked up, his eyes haunted, "I don't know...I had to fight her. I thought I just knocked her out."
Cid knelt in front of the pair, and took Tifa's hand, "C'mon, sis, wake up. We all need you...Cloud's waiting for you."
A moment passed in complete silence, then Tifa's sudden deep breath broke the stillness. She stirred in Cloud's arms, her hand clenching around Cid's. Her eyes fluttered open, searching uncertainly, then focusing on Cloud's face. "...Cloud...?" a weak smile touched her lips, "I knew you'd come..." Finally feeling someone holding her hand, she glanced over, eyes widening in surprise, "Cid?"
"You scared us all, you know." he whispered, his voice harsh with emotion.
Tifa's smile broadened, "The great pilot Cid Highwind crying?"
"Shut up." he mumbled.
"Cid, everyone, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you all like that."
Barret and the others had gathered around Cloud and Tifa.
"Tif, what are you talking about? It was all my fault. I broke my promise." Cloud whispered.
Tifa returned her attention to Cloud's face, "Cloud...no. It wasn't you...Please stop blaming yourself."
Reeve chuckled, "We'd been trying to tell him that the whole time."
Tifa stared into Cloud's eyes, seeing the tears that were beginning to form there. She slid her arms around his neck, hugging him as well as she could while he was cradling her in his arms. "Cloud..."
"Tif, I missed you."
Yuffie coughed, "Yeah, sure, ignore all of us. We helped Spike, too."
Tifa turned back to her friends, "I'm not ignoring you. Thank you. All of you." Glancing to the back of the group, she caught Red and Vincent's eyes, "Hey, don't you two have anything to say?"
"I am glad we found you, Tifa." Red whispered.
"Tifa..." Vincent's voice trailed off, his usual cold tone broken. Tifa searched his eyes for a moment, seeing something in them that she couldn't quite decipher. As soon as she saw it, it disappeared, "Welcome back, Tifa."
Cid climbed to his feet, "See? You took something from all of us." His tone was light, but barely enough to cover the group's turmoil.
Cloud helped Tifa to her feet, and she smiled at her friends, "You guys...you didn't have to do this for me."
A sudden rustling caught the group's attention. Turning, they saw Sephiroth stumble to his feet.
"You!" Yuffie cried, running at him, Conformer held ready.
"Yuffie, stop!" Tifa yelled.
The ninja halted, looking at Tifa in confusion, her look mirrored by the rest of the group.
"Guys, he...Sephiroth's not evil. He's been freed, too. Everything he did, it was under Jenova's power." She turned to Cloud, "Even Nibelheim. I've seen the true Sephiroth, and if you blame him for what he did, then Cloud is guilty for my death, and I am responsible for stabbing Cloud at Corel."
"Tifa, that is enough." Sephiroth broke in suddenly, "They cannot forgive me. I was surprised that you were able to. My crimes, whoever was pulling the strings, are not easily forgotten. They will haunt me for all eternity."
Tifa felt a tremor of pain coming from Cloud. She brushed it off as a battle wound, and turned to the others. "Guys, please....I know we've fought against him for so long, but..." Another twinge of pain came across their bond, then suddenly erupted into full agony. An instant later, Cloud cried out in pain, stumbling drunkenly. Tifa ran to his side, wrapping an arm around him to support his weight. "Cloud, what's wrong?
Cloud leaned against Tifa, struggling against the pain. It felt as though waves of fire were coursing through his veins, searing blazing agony in his body and mind. He reached out to Tifa's presence instinctively, only to find that he couldn't feel her. "Tifa...what's going on?" he managed to speak through the pain.
"I...I don't know. Are you wounded?"
"No."
Tifa felt him beginning to collapse, and she gently lay him on the ground, brushing back his sweat-damp hair.
"Jenova." Sephiroth said, catching the group's attention, "I thought she would do this."
"What do you mean?" Red asked.
"She knew that she may be defeated. Jenova prepared for that possibility. During Cloud's battle, she infected him with a poison."
"Somebody give me an antidote!" Tifa cried, still stroking Cloud's hair. His eyes were staring semi-focused at her face.
"It is no use, Tifa. Nothing you possess could cure it."
She whirled on Sephiroth, "What!?"
He slowly shook his head, "I am sorry."
Tifa's jaw clenched as she fought tears, "Then what do I do?"
The group sat silently, their once high spirits destroyed. Only moments after recovering Tifa, they were facing losing Cloud.
"Cosmo Canyon." Red broke the oppressive silence, "The elders may have a solution."
"Then let's go." Tifa said, then returned her gaze to Cloud's sapphire eyes, "Just hang in there."
Author's Note: Okay, this is the end. Yeah, you read right. The end. But, before you freak out and try to summon a Bahamut to annihilate me, let me say this. THERE IS A SEQUEL. I promise. I'm gonna be working on it very soon. As in a few days from when I post this. If you're asking, why a cliffhanger, then I shall answer. I like them personally. The new book series I'm reading taught me the value of cliffhangers. I think they're far more interesting than tying it all up nice and neat. More suspense. Once again, I'd like to thank my friends and net readers/reviewers. You guys are great, and I hope you don't hate me too much now. Let me also say this. I've been working on this fic for 3 years. With school and all, it's hard to get anything done anymore. I got almost to the end, then decided that I didn't like many parts, and rewrote it. Completely. From beginning to end. So, this is actually what I jokingly refer to as Shadows of Darkness version 2.0. Lame I know. I'm actually content with this version, and if you ask my friends, they'd tell you that was a rare thing. Hope you all enjoyed this fic and the twisted tale within. Until then, if you haven't read The Bond of Friendship, you can read that. Once again, thanks everyone!
Sacrifice
Cloud woke up early the next morning, anticipating the battle ahead. He knew that it was likely he wouldn't walk away from this one, but he vowed to take Jenova with him. Tifa was worth his life; he'd always believed that. He got up and quickly got ready. Strapping his sword onto his back, he went downstairs, only to be greeted by Priscilla.
"Cloud, where're you going?"
"I have to go now. Tell your grandfather I said thanks."
Priscilla nodded, "Okay, Cloud. I'm glad I got to see you again."
Cloud slipped out quietly, leaving the village and turning toward the mountains in the north. The events of the night before played over and over in his mind. Tifa's fear, her pain...Jenova would pay for it all. Suddenly his memories flashed to the kiss. Feeling her in his arms again, it was a second chance that he in no way deserved. He'd been so cold to her for so long, pushing her away, especially after Aeris's death. And despite it all, she'd always stayed right by his side, giving him strength and hope. He knew she'd follow him into certain death without a second thought, and he could do no less for her. As long as you're by my side, Cloud...I'll keep on fighting, even if I'm scared. That's what she'd said to him not too long ago, the night before they had faced Sephiroth in the North Crater. And she had been scared. They had been sitting side by side, talking about their adventure and their childhood, when she had suddenly lay her head on his shoulder and started sobbing. He'd wrapped his arm around her, trying to soothe her fears. Seeing her cry had always hurt him. Her tears finally ceased, and she had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He remembered the quiet sense of peace that had filled him as he looked down at her resting on his shoulder; it was that moment that he had begun to realize that his feelings for her were far deeper than simple friendship.
Taking a deep breath, Cloud forced himself back into his nightmarish reality. He wasn't too far from the mountains now, and the sense of Tifa's presence was becoming stronger. Trudging along for another hour, he reached the foot of the mountains that separated the Junon area from what was left of Midgar. Staring up at them, a fierce determination filled his eyes, and he started up the mountain to face the final battle.
The small boat carrying Avalanche made landfall early in the morning. Jumping out, Yuffie quickly surveyed their situation.
"Look! It's Cloud's boat! He must've come here." she cried.
Red was intently studying the nearby land formations, "We are close to Junon. Cloud probably went there first. He may still be there."
"Well then, I guess we get moving. It's a long walk to Junon from here." Barret commented.
The group started the long hike to Junon, with Cid muttering under his breath like always.
"If we had the damn Highwind, it wouldn't take so long."
Yuffie patted him on the back, "Hey, come on, old man. It's not that bad. Besides, we're going to save Tifa!"
For once, Cid didn't protest when Yuffie called him 'old man.' "Yeah...I hope we can save her..."
"We will save her." Vincent said suddenly, surprising the others. He usually stayed quiet about most matters, speaking only when he deemed it necessary.
The group continued on in silence, each focusing on the battle ahead. This would be more than a battle for Tifa's soul, they were again holding the fate of the Planet in their hands. As they reached Junon, Priscilla met them near the gates.
"Hey...You're Cloud's friends aren't you?" she asked.
"Yeah. Did he come here?" Yuffie replied.
Priscilla nodded, "Yeah, he stayed here last night. But he left earlier this morning."
"Where did he go?"
She motioned toward the mountains, "That way, but I don't know why."
"Thanks!" Yuffie cried, then turned to the group, "Okay, then. He's gone up the mountain, so we have to follow him. Jenova must be up there."
Now sure of their direction, the group made quick progress toward the mountains, hoping to reach Cloud before something happened. When they reached the foot of the mountains, Barret called the group to a stop.
"This is just like before. Not all of us may make it out of this one, and I don't want anybody to be forced into this battle. So, if any of you have any doubts, go back now." he said.
The group stared at him in silence, none of them backing down from the fate ahead of them.
"There's no way I'm gonna abandon them now. No way." Yuffie said.
Cid looked up at the peak of the mountains, squinting against the sunlight, "That kid went up there to save her, not caring at all about himself...He didn't hesitate, and I'm not going to."
"Sephiroth must pay for his crimes." Vincent said quietly.
"I agree." Red added.
Barret turned to the last member of the group, "Reeve?"
"I couldn't live with myself if I left Tifa and Cloud in the clutches of that thing." he replied.
"Good. Then let's go." Barret commanded, leading the group up the mountain.
Cloud was nearing the top of the mountain, and he was beginning to sense a growing evil that seemed to permeate the mountain. Glancing around, he caught sight of a cave that delved deep into the heart of the peak. He turned toward it, his body tensing for battle. As he entered the cave, he instinctively pulled Ultima Weapon from his back, and crept deeper into the cave. The tunnel suddenly opened up into a wide room that was faintly lit by a few holes in the walls. He walked in slowly, his sapphire eyes glowing faintly in the dusky light. The air had become oppressive, making breathing harder.
"Tif?" he asked quietly into the darkness.
His response was her evil laughter. Tifa stepped out of the darkness, a beam of sunlight falling across her malevolent eyes. "So you did come. I knew you would. Anything for love, right, Cloud?" she shook her head in disbelief, "You're so predictable...and weak."
Cloud stared at her silently, ignoring the remarks that were nothing more than echoes of Jenova. She's in her power again.... "I came to fight Jenova, not you, Tif."
Tifa sighed, "I thought I told you not to call me that. I'm not your 'Tif'."
"So you are trying to stop Mother's conquest again? You cannot stop her alone. Even you are not that stupid." Sephiroth added, taking his place beside Tifa.
"Let the fool believe what he wants...it is irrelevant." Jenova said, taking form only feet from Cloud. "Child, are you willing to give your life for someone who no longer loves you?"
"Yes. Because that's not Tifa, it's just an extension of you. Tifa...she's in there fighting, I can sense it, and she does still love me. Even if she didn't, I can't leave my best friend behind." he replied, his voice quiet.
"Very well. Then you will meet your fate." Turning to Tifa, Jenova gave her the command to attack.
Tifa ran at Cloud, unleashing her Final Heaven attack on him. He fell back, managing to bring his blade up in time to ward off a blow to his chest. He realized that he had no choice; he would have to fight Tifa in order to save her. Squeezing his eyes shut, he drew on his magic, and doublecast Ultima on her, sending her flying back. She hit the ground hard, lying there in a daze. Hesitating for a moment, he had to force himself to cast Bolt 3. Her body went rigid as the electricity coursed through it, then she went limp, slipping into unconsciousness. Tif, I'm sorry...I had to. Sephiroth stepped forward, raising Masamune into a defensive position.
"No, Sephiroth. Leave him to me; I will finish this." Jenova commanded.
Nodding, he slipped quietly back into the shadows to watch the battle with his glowing turquoise eyes.
Cloud stared up at Jenova, his eyes narrowed in hatred. Not waiting for the massive inhuman being to make her move, Cloud ran at her, driving his sword into one of the four tentacles that waved restlessly. A cry of pain shrieked off the rocks and another tentacle whipped at him in reflex, its razor edge biting deep into his back. Clenching his teeth, Cloud slashed madly at Jenova's massive body drawing streams of blood forth. Jenova cast Aqualung, leaving Cloud disoriented. Taking advantage of his confusion, she slammed him backwards, sending him flying into a large boulder. Fighting unconsciousness, Cloud stumbled to his feet, wiping away some of the blood that flowed from a gash in his head. Blinking spots from his vision, he approached her again, only to have a tentacle whip out and jab into his ribs, bringing forth a gush of blood. Cloud fell to his knees, struggling with the intense pain. Sweat was now pouring down his face, flowing into the cut on his head and stinging profusely.
"Surrender, child, and I will spare your life."
"No."
Jenova struck at him again, knocking him to the ground on his back. Most of his strength had left him, and he struggled to merely breathe. Ultima Weapon lay a few feet away, and he stretched out his hand to grab it. Whipping out with a tentacle, Jenova knocked the sword against the far wall and cut a deep gash in Cloud's arm. Glaring down at Cloud's battered body, Jenova prepared to strike the final blow.
Gunshots erupted from the entrance, and the rest of the group came running into the chamber.
"Hey, get away from him!" Yuffie cried, hurling her Conformer.
Vincent and Red took defensive positions in front of Cloud, while the others stood at Jenova's feet preparing for battle. As one, they attacked, evoking hideous screams from Jenova. Cloud shakily raised himself up, taking a moment to cast Cure 3 on himself, then retrieved his sword. He joined the others, raising his blade.
"Stop!" A voice commanded. "Stop, or I kill her."
The group halted their mad assault, turning toward the voice. Sephiroth stood over Tifa, his sword at her throat. He glared at them, daring them to challenge him.
"Your attack ends here. Surrender."
"Hell no!" Cid cried. He started toward Sephiroth.
"Cid, no!" Yuffie screamed.
Vincent grabbed the pilot's shoulder, "Stop." Cid looked at him for a moment before falling back into the group.
Sephiroth pressed the tip of the blade against Tifa's skin. Cloud tensed, seeing Tifa's death and Aeris's play in perfect clarity in his mind. No, this has to stop. Before he even realized what he was doing, Cloud ran at Jenova and leaped up, driving Ultima Weapon up to its hilt in her heart. Dropping back to the ground, he pulled the blade down, tearing her body. A hideous scream pierced their ears as Jenova fell over in a bloody heap. Cloud felt a pressure lift from his mind, and he looked up in time to see Sephiroth stumble and fall to the ground unconscious. Cloud ran to Tifa's side, cradling her body in his arms. Please...let her be free... He couldn't bear the thought of having to kill her. Not caring that the others were watching, he bent down and tenderly kissed her lips. "Come back to me, Tif..." he whispered.
Cid went to Cloud's side, looking down at the young man cradling his love. "Is she okay, kid?"
Cloud looked up, his eyes haunted, "I don't know...I had to fight her. I thought I just knocked her out."
Cid knelt in front of the pair, and took Tifa's hand, "C'mon, sis, wake up. We all need you...Cloud's waiting for you."
A moment passed in complete silence, then Tifa's sudden deep breath broke the stillness. She stirred in Cloud's arms, her hand clenching around Cid's. Her eyes fluttered open, searching uncertainly, then focusing on Cloud's face. "...Cloud...?" a weak smile touched her lips, "I knew you'd come..." Finally feeling someone holding her hand, she glanced over, eyes widening in surprise, "Cid?"
"You scared us all, you know." he whispered, his voice harsh with emotion.
Tifa's smile broadened, "The great pilot Cid Highwind crying?"
"Shut up." he mumbled.
"Cid, everyone, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you all like that."
Barret and the others had gathered around Cloud and Tifa.
"Tif, what are you talking about? It was all my fault. I broke my promise." Cloud whispered.
Tifa returned her attention to Cloud's face, "Cloud...no. It wasn't you...Please stop blaming yourself."
Reeve chuckled, "We'd been trying to tell him that the whole time."
Tifa stared into Cloud's eyes, seeing the tears that were beginning to form there. She slid her arms around his neck, hugging him as well as she could while he was cradling her in his arms. "Cloud..."
"Tif, I missed you."
Yuffie coughed, "Yeah, sure, ignore all of us. We helped Spike, too."
Tifa turned back to her friends, "I'm not ignoring you. Thank you. All of you." Glancing to the back of the group, she caught Red and Vincent's eyes, "Hey, don't you two have anything to say?"
"I am glad we found you, Tifa." Red whispered.
"Tifa..." Vincent's voice trailed off, his usual cold tone broken. Tifa searched his eyes for a moment, seeing something in them that she couldn't quite decipher. As soon as she saw it, it disappeared, "Welcome back, Tifa."
Cid climbed to his feet, "See? You took something from all of us." His tone was light, but barely enough to cover the group's turmoil.
Cloud helped Tifa to her feet, and she smiled at her friends, "You guys...you didn't have to do this for me."
A sudden rustling caught the group's attention. Turning, they saw Sephiroth stumble to his feet.
"You!" Yuffie cried, running at him, Conformer held ready.
"Yuffie, stop!" Tifa yelled.
The ninja halted, looking at Tifa in confusion, her look mirrored by the rest of the group.
"Guys, he...Sephiroth's not evil. He's been freed, too. Everything he did, it was under Jenova's power." She turned to Cloud, "Even Nibelheim. I've seen the true Sephiroth, and if you blame him for what he did, then Cloud is guilty for my death, and I am responsible for stabbing Cloud at Corel."
"Tifa, that is enough." Sephiroth broke in suddenly, "They cannot forgive me. I was surprised that you were able to. My crimes, whoever was pulling the strings, are not easily forgotten. They will haunt me for all eternity."
Tifa felt a tremor of pain coming from Cloud. She brushed it off as a battle wound, and turned to the others. "Guys, please....I know we've fought against him for so long, but..." Another twinge of pain came across their bond, then suddenly erupted into full agony. An instant later, Cloud cried out in pain, stumbling drunkenly. Tifa ran to his side, wrapping an arm around him to support his weight. "Cloud, what's wrong?
Cloud leaned against Tifa, struggling against the pain. It felt as though waves of fire were coursing through his veins, searing blazing agony in his body and mind. He reached out to Tifa's presence instinctively, only to find that he couldn't feel her. "Tifa...what's going on?" he managed to speak through the pain.
"I...I don't know. Are you wounded?"
"No."
Tifa felt him beginning to collapse, and she gently lay him on the ground, brushing back his sweat-damp hair.
"Jenova." Sephiroth said, catching the group's attention, "I thought she would do this."
"What do you mean?" Red asked.
"She knew that she may be defeated. Jenova prepared for that possibility. During Cloud's battle, she infected him with a poison."
"Somebody give me an antidote!" Tifa cried, still stroking Cloud's hair. His eyes were staring semi-focused at her face.
"It is no use, Tifa. Nothing you possess could cure it."
She whirled on Sephiroth, "What!?"
He slowly shook his head, "I am sorry."
Tifa's jaw clenched as she fought tears, "Then what do I do?"
The group sat silently, their once high spirits destroyed. Only moments after recovering Tifa, they were facing losing Cloud.
"Cosmo Canyon." Red broke the oppressive silence, "The elders may have a solution."
"Then let's go." Tifa said, then returned her gaze to Cloud's sapphire eyes, "Just hang in there."
Author's Note: Okay, this is the end. Yeah, you read right. The end. But, before you freak out and try to summon a Bahamut to annihilate me, let me say this. THERE IS A SEQUEL. I promise. I'm gonna be working on it very soon. As in a few days from when I post this. If you're asking, why a cliffhanger, then I shall answer. I like them personally. The new book series I'm reading taught me the value of cliffhangers. I think they're far more interesting than tying it all up nice and neat. More suspense. Once again, I'd like to thank my friends and net readers/reviewers. You guys are great, and I hope you don't hate me too much now. Let me also say this. I've been working on this fic for 3 years. With school and all, it's hard to get anything done anymore. I got almost to the end, then decided that I didn't like many parts, and rewrote it. Completely. From beginning to end. So, this is actually what I jokingly refer to as Shadows of Darkness version 2.0. Lame I know. I'm actually content with this version, and if you ask my friends, they'd tell you that was a rare thing. Hope you all enjoyed this fic and the twisted tale within. Until then, if you haven't read The Bond of Friendship, you can read that. Once again, thanks everyone!