Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or the characters within.
Chapter 2-
The group has prepared for their trip. Barret left Marlene with Elmyra, Aeris's mother, to take care of her while he was gone. Red XIII was waiting outside and Cid was with him, smoking outside. Unfortunately, they would have to take a buggy all the way there since the Highwind was in need of repairs. In the hotel room where they were at, Cloud packed his belongings, which weren't much. An elixir, a few potions and his trusty Buster Sword. Cloud held it up. This weapon got me through many battles. But...it's not really mine. It belonged to someone else before.
Zack.
Cloud slowly began to remember his old friend. Probably his only real friend at the time. Zack was a 1st class Soldier. A real one, unlike him. But despite that, Zack stayed with him. Then that dreadful day when they left for their mission to Nibelhium with Sephiroth. Then everything turned into hell for both of them, literally. The town was set up in flames, with Sephiroth insanity after thinking he was the son of Jenova. His mother, Zack, even Tifa were hurt because of him. It was through his own willpower that he managed to actually defeat Sephiroth. But due to his injuries, he blacked out and the next thing he knew, he was in a chamber in Prof. Hojo's lab. And he wasn't alone. Zack had been captured as well. From then on, Cloud was put through a new nightmare each and every day as Hojo performed his sick experiments on him. From then on, Cloud's mind was a haze of images and blanks. The last clear image he remembers was in Midgar. He had awoken and Tifa was there. He mind was still hazy, but that much he remembers. It was there that he first joined up with Avalanche and the adventure began. What ever became of Zack? And why was he thinking about this now? Does this have anything to do with his trip?
"Hey Cloud."
Tifa. She came to check on him. She was about to say something else, but stopped. Cloud found himself unable to turn away from her. He owed Tifa a lot, he realized. Without her, he would have never discovered himself, never found out who he really was.
"Cloud?"
"Huh?" It was then that he realized also that he was staring at her too long. He could faintly make out a blush on her face.
"Sorry. I guess I zoned out again."
Tifa smiled, "As I was saying, everyone is waiting for us. And you know how much Barret loves waiting."
Cloud smiled back, "Of course. Well, let's mosey."
Tifa giggled a bit, Hehe, I can just hear Cid now.
Cloud set the sword on his back and walked downstairs with Tifa. The other where all waiting by the buggy and Barret was the first to talk.
"What took you so $%^&%^ long? Do you know how long we've been waiting here?"
"Barret! How many times do I have to tell you to watch your mouth?"
That was Elmyra. She had just walked out of the building, "You're lucky that Marlene is sleeping so she does have to hear that. Honestly, Barret."
Barret cast his eyes down, "Sorry."
The others chuckled a bit and Cloud walked over to Elmyra, "Thanks for agreeing to take care of Shira for me. She's gets uncomfortable in the stables."
Elmyra smiled, "No trouble at all, Cloud. Just you careful out there, alright?"
"Sure."
Cid opened the door of the buggy. "Damn. I hate buggies. Not enough room."
Barret turned to him, "Well, we could have taken the Highwind if a certain someone hadn't decided to try to add an extra booster and wrecked it."
"Hey, give me a break. It almost worked. At least I was able to avoid the mountain."
Both Cloud and Tifa laughed for awhile. Cloud then went to the driver seat, "Alright, let's...:"
"Don't even think about saying it!" Cid and Barret cried out in unison.
".....go."
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Northern Crater
The being moved around like a shadow in the darkness. It crawled out of the deep, its intention as clear as it was thousands of years ago. It began speaking, but not in a language anyone could understand. The sounds of jingling bell echoed out into the cold night sky.
___________
Former Shinra Headquarters...
An evacuation team was clearing out the secondary control port of the Sister Ray. Once that was finished, then the immense cannon could be removed entirely. However, as the workers busily removed the cannons components, they failed to see a distorted hand claw out of some of the wreckage and emerge into a darken part of the room. An evil chuckle was heard coming from the figure.
"Yes. I hear you Jenova."