(Author's Note: Hey…my computers being stupid right now so this may be the only chapter for my stories that gets posted…oh well…anyways…enjoy chapter 10!)
Disclaimer: FF7 and Squaresoft are not mine. Rueh belongs to Rueh. Dete is mine…
Chapter 10
"See…they were no problem for me."
"Of course they weren't. Now come here. It's time."
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"It's been 3 days since we had that encounter with Rueh and Dete still hasn't woke up," Cassandra sighed.
"She'll wake up on her own. What we need to worry about is what is wrong with Rueh," Sephiroth stated.
"Hojo must have done something," Red said slowly.
"That's what we need to find out," Sephiroth said.
"Well…here's my idea," Vincent spoke up. "From what we know of Rueh and Dete we know that they have a mind of their own…the only possible way to get them to do what you want would be to control them…I think that somehow Hojo found a way to control Rueh…"
"So we have to figure out how," Cloud stated.
"Right."
"It could be possible but how in the world could he keep her under his control? Wouldn't there be times that she would be back to herself?" Barret asked.
"There would…I have to agree with Barret…it doesn't sound right," Cid said.
"But that's the only logical explanation that we have…unless someone else has any ideas," They all turned to see the door to the room where Dete stood leaning against the door frame.
"You're awake!" Cassandra exclaimed.
Dete nodded. "Anyways…he's controlling her somehow…put simply…the only real way to control her would be to brainwash her."
"Hojo…brainwashed her?" Tifa asked.
"That's the only thing I can think of and Vincent was going to say that," Dete said. Vincent nodded.
"So how do we undo what Hojo's done?" Yuffie asked.
"…we'll have to face Rueh," Sephiroth spoke up.
"Yes…but we're not ready," Dete agreed.
"I guess we'll just have to get ready then won't we?" Cloud stood up and stretched as the others nodded in agreement.
****
They all started to prepare themselves that afternoon. For the next couple of weeks they worked on getting stronger. Especially Dete. The strange thing was that she was never with any of the others when she trained. She always worked by herself.
They had tried to follow her out of curiosity to find out what she was doing but when they watched her all she did was target practice with her hand gun and go through a few sword drills that Sephiroth had taught her. They gave up after that.
They trained themselves for one month…then decided to go face Rueh and Hojo.
****
"It's about time they were ready. I was getting bored."
"Remember what I told you to do."
"Yeah whatever."
****
The Highwind landed in the same spot that it had when they went to find Rueh the first time. They walked off the airship and towards the crater that had once been the Forgotten Capital.
They got to the same place where the first encounter had taken place when Rueh met them.
"I was beginning to think that you wouldn't show up," she smirked.
"Why? You know that we would," Dete said.
"True but…whatever. To business."
"What has Hojo done to you?" Sephiroth asked.
"What do you mean? He has done nothing," Rueh looked a bit confused.
"Yes he has. You normally don't act like this," Cassandra pointed out.
"How would you know? You haven't seen me act at all for 7 years!"
"Rueh think about it…"
"What's there to think about? I've got a mission to complete while you're here so let's just get to it," Rueh snapped.
"What mission?" Cloud asked.
"Hojo's orders. Nothing you need to worry about," she replied coolly.
"Nothing good can come from Hojo," Vincent said softly.
"I don't really care. Now quit stalling and let's start this fight!" Rueh growled.
"Fine!" Barret shouted.
Everyone but Dete surrounded Rueh in a circle. She smirked as they started to attack. She dodged every one of them and delivered her own attacks. It didn't take long for Sephiroth, Cassandra, Red, Vincent, and Cloud to be the only ones still able to fight against her.
She cast a spell that left Cloud and Red unable to fight. Vincent lasted a little bit longer but was soon unable to fight as well.
Now Rueh drew her sword. This was the first time during the fight that she had drawn her weapon. She fought Sephiroth and Cassandra at the same time and was able to stop them from hitting her with their attacks. They were reluctant to attack thus making the attacks weaker.
"Come on! Show me your best!" Rueh challenged.
After a minute Cassandra was thrown backwards. She was unable to fight now due to the cut that ran up her left arm. Sephiroth soon was on the ground next to her unable to fight as well.
"Is this all you've got?" Rueh asked.
"I'm still here," Dete spoke up and stepped forward.
"So you are. Are you going to fight me?"
"If that's what it takes to get you back to yourself."
Rueh snorted. "Fine. Shall we begin?"
Dete drew her own sword in answer.
****