Return

Chapter Four

Disclaimer: I do not own FFIX, or FFVII. But the story is mine! You hear, MINE!!

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"Are you okay Zidane?" Asked Mikoto. After arriving at their world, Zidane was knocked unconscious by an unknown force.

"Yeah, I'm ok." He said as he rubbed the back of his head. He jumped to his feet and then turned to Cloud. "Hey, are you ok?"

Cloud, without looking at Zidane said, "I'm fine."

Mikoto walked up to Cloud and put her hand on his shoulder, "We'll find your girlfriend-"

"Fiancée!" interrupted Cloud.

"Fiancée, I'm sorry. We will find her and save her." She said.

"But nothing will happen if we stay here. Come on! Let's go to Black Mage Village!" Zidane said as he ran out of Garnet's room.

"Why? What is in Black Mage Village?" Asked Mikoto as she ran behind him.

Cloud just walked their way not caring if he got lost. Garnet stayed quiet the whole time.

"Cloud…" She said softly, trying to sound concerned.

Cloud stopped, but didn't turn around. "I'm really sorry for what happened. If I didn't notice the stain…"

"Please…it was no one's fault. Don't blame yourself. Believe, don't. I know what happens if you do blame everything on yourself." Said Cloud, and with that, he left her room. I'm sorry…

"Come on Cloud!" Garnet heard Zidane call out, "Geez, you're slow!"

Garnet turned to her bed; she plunged on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Princess…I mean Queen Garnet, are you ok?" Steiner said as he came in the room.

A tear escaped Garnet's eye, "I'm fine…I'm fine Steiner.

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"Here we are! Black Mage Village!" Said Zidane as he, Mikoto, and Cloud stood at the entrance of the small village.

"It feels great to be back home again." Said Mikoto, she took a deep breathe letting all the air she can get fell her lungs.

Zidane raised his eye brow at Mikoto, "What? But we only left it for one day…"

"And one day isn't a long time…?" Said Mikoto.

"I guess so…" Said Zidane.

Cloud took a few steps foreword and studied the place carefully, "This village, it's run by black mages." He said.

"Of course, why do you think it is called Black Mage Village!?" Said Zidane jokingly.

Cloud shrugged and continued to walk around the village. Mikoto and Zidane looked at each other and shrugged also.

"Where do we go from here?" Asked Cloud.

Zidane shrugged. "I don't know, ask some people if they saw a cross dresser guy any where maybe?"

"Not funny Zidane." Said Mikoto, who did not like mocking at all. Zidane looked down. "I'm sorry."

Don't you feel jealous?

\\ Jealous? Why? //

Look at them…Zidane…Mikoto…they seem to be very happy. They have each other.


\\ I have Tifa. //

No, no. You 'used' to have Tifa.

\\ Leave my mind! //

Cloud fell to his knees; Mikoto and Zidane ran to his side. "Cloud! Cloud! Are you ok?" "Cloud! Hang in there buddy!" was the only thing he heard before everything went black.

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Hahaha! You're so weak!

Cloud found himself in a forest of some sort…the same forest he met Aeris in his dream before her death.

\\ Sephiroth? //

Hahahaha! No, but close enough.

A man, tall and slim, with long white hair and feather on top wearing a dress of some sort appeared in front of Cloud.

\\ Who are you!? //

My name is Kuja…

\\ Kuja…//

Yes, it is I. I kidnapped your little Tifa…

\\ Bastard! //

You cannot do anything about that…

The image of Kuja started fading.

\\ No! Wait! //

Cloud ran over to him, but the image faded.

Once a peaceful place, made by nature…

Is now a dreadful creature…

Full of monsters lurking around…

There everything that is lost will be found…

Cloud fell to his knees…and woke up.

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"Thank goodness! You're awake!" Said Mikoto as Cloud woke up, "Zidane, he's awake!"
Cloud sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "Where am I?" He asked.

"You're in the inn." Zidane said as he came into view.

"Did I pass out?" Cloud asked. Mikoto just nodded. "I had a dream…" Cloud said.

Zidane became pretty interested, "What kind of dream?" He asked.

"I saw Kuja…"

"KUJA!!" Both Mikoto and Zidane yelled. "What happened?" Asked Zidane.

"Once a peaceful place, made by nature…

Is now a dreadful creature…

Full of monsters lurking around…

There, everything that had been lost will be found…" Cloud said.

"Iifa Tree…" Zidane said. Mikoto blinked, "What?"

"It is the Iifa Tree. It was once a beautiful place before the mist took over it." Zidane said.

"So, that means we'll go there, right?" Asked Cloud.

Zidane turned around and slammed both fists together. "Damn right we will!"

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Ahh…Burmecia…

\\ Don't you dare Kuja! Don't you dare! //

Hahahaha! Oh, Zidane. Do you care for this rat creature…?

\\ DON'T CALL HER THAT!! //

Did I make you mad? //

\\ You're using me…using me to tell you where I am… //

Oh, you just figured that out?

\\ I won't tell you where I am! //

Then more of your friends will…

\\ Shut up! //

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Tifa paced back and forth in the small dungeon, Eiko and Vivi just followed her with their eyes.

"M-m-miss Tifa…please stop…" Said Vivi.
Tifa stopped, "I'm sorry Vivi, I-I'm just nervous a-and worried. Yes, just that." She said.

"It's ok Miss Tifa. Everything will be ok." Eiko said.
"I hope it does Eiko. I really do." Tifa said as she sat down next to her.

They heard footsteps.

"Th-things won't be ok anymore…" Said Vivi.
The dungeon's doors flew open and Kuja entered and pointed at Tifa; Tifa's eyes grew wide.

"You!" He said. Tifa stood up. "Come with me."

He took her by the wrist and left the two children alone and the doors closed behind him. Eiko and Vivi got to their feet and ran to the door. They heard the struggling cries of Tifa. They looked at each other. "We need to do something." Eiko said.

"B-but what?" Asked Vivi.
Eiko shrugged, "I don't know." I don't know.

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Author's Note:

So, what do you think? What will happen Tifa? What about Burmecia? Will Cloud, Zidane, and Mikoto save the day? All that and a lot more in the next chapter of…RETURN: KUJA'S RETURN. Review.

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END

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