Chapter 5 : Unless you have a death wish I suggest you leave here now -
Vincent
'Not much has changed here.' Cloud entered Costa de Sol heading straight for the docks. Apart from a few new hotels and bars the holiday resort hadn't really changed much, it was one of the few places on the planet that hadn't expanded much further. Nibelheim had done the same, only dozen new houses had been built but apart from that the village was the same as it had been 2 years ago. Everywhere else had at least doubled in size since no one had to pay for Mako power anymore each town was more wealthy and all the citizens who lived in Midgar had to move somewhere else, although most decided to move to Neo Midgar once it was complete.
Cloud walked down the busy street making sure if Aeris was still around that he wouldn't miss her and walk straight by. 'It's so hot here. Why couldn't she have run off somewhere nice and cool?' Even during the winter the temperature in Costa de Sol would stay the same blistering heat. Still this was only a short visit once he got to the docks its off to Junon and beyond.
'That's a thought. I wonder where she's going to go from there?' Cloud was sure that Aeris was going to cross the ocean but what after that? Junon was the worlds major travel city for sea and air, if you wanted to get somewhere Junon had a way. Fort Condor had turned into a small settlement but that's it nothing special there. There's the Chocobo farm. 'Seems a bit pointless.' And then Kalm which was now more famous as a pit stop for travelers, she may stop there for a night but nothing else. Finally the two Midgar's, Neo Midgar Cloud doubted Aeris even new that it existed and old Midgar. 'She could be going there I guess but what's there for her? There's the Shin-Ra building or what's left of it, the slums and... the church!'
Cloud's eyes lit up. 'That must be it Aeris has her home near there and her flower garden inside the church, what else could it be? That must be it. Ok now I know where I'm going I just need to catch the next ship there.'
'It still doesn't make sense why she's avoiding me. (Sigh) Maybe its not her, my heads been killing me plus those strange dreams perhaps it was just my imagination.' He walked down the stairs to the docks, a few extra ports had been built now and the Shin-Ra heliport had been converted into a tourist helicopter trip. 'I bet if Aeris was here she would be dragging me onto that thing. Heh seems quite funny now, she always wanted to see and do everything.' Cloud continued on to the ship, it was the only one left so if Aeris was still here and she wanted to cross the ocean then this would be the only way.
A few places around the world had started development on airports like Rocket Town and Neo Midgar but only Junon right now had any planes and airships to use so Costa de Sol was still the only way to get off this continent.
"Sir, are you wanting to board?" One of the ships crew was distributing tickets at the entrance.
'Hmm guess I'm not going to be a stowaway this time.' Cloud pulled some Gil out of his pocket. "Yeah sure, when's it leaving?"
"30 minutes sir, you don't have to board now but the ship will leave if you do not return in that time." The crewman gave Cloud a ticket and returned to his stance.
'Great that will give me time to have a look around and check if Aeris is still here. That's if she was here at all.' Cloud took the ticket and put it in his pocket. "Ok I'll be back by then." He walked back up the stairs checking each person who walked passed him. 'Now I think I'll check the beach first.'
The beach was huge, the sand shined gold as the sunlight hit the bay. The monsters that had populated most of the world had ruined all the other coasts, this was one of the few areas where people fought them off to protect it beauty.
'Meaningless really, its only land, the same as anywhere else. I really don't see the point.' Cloud headed down the bay only half concentrating on where he was walking. 'I can remember the first time we came here, Red was playing with some kids over near the bar, Tifa was having fun swimming in her new outfit, Barret as usual was nervous keeping watch fro Shin-Ra gards, Yuffie was working for the materia seller and of course was stealing it off him as well and Aeris was here on the beach enjoying the sun.'
He sat down on the wall watching the waves flow back and forth. 'And I was sat here in this very spot, its strange the things you remember.' Of the few memories Cloud had of the past too few were happy ones, this one however he liked a lot, everything was peaceful and calm.
'And then HE ruined it. That freak with his pathetic dreams of becoming a god. He killed her.' Cloud's peaceful thoughts were shattered by just thinking of that day.
Ever since then he couldn't set foot in the City of the Ancients without feeling sick. 'Even in death he still got the last laugh, or perhaps.' Cloud thought again of why he was here. 'Maybe not, perhaps there is such a thing as a happy ending.'
Standing up Cloud noticed some girls waving at him. 'I guess been the only person in the world with long, blond, spiky hair and a huge Ultima weapon strapped to my back it's quite hard for someone 'not' to recognize me.' Cloud waved back to the girls and they all giggled running back to their group of friends across the beach bragging that they met the great Cloud Strife.
'I always thought that's what I wanted through life, to have people recognize me in a crowd and know me for the great fighter I was. I spent years in the Shin-Ra army just because of that dream. But that's all it was, a dream. Now after actually achieving it I realized its not what I want at all, I'm not don't even know myself what I want from life now.' He looked down at his watch noticing the ship would leave in 10 minutes. 'Guess I should head back now, there's no sign of Aeris here, if she was here at all then it's most likely she already crossed over before I got here, either that or waiting on the ship I'm about to board.'
Cloud headed back past the beach and carried on towards the docks once more. 'I can see the end of this, when I find out its just some girl in a pink dress who looks a bit like Aeris.' He reached the stairs and slowly walked down. 'Cid and the others are never going to let this one drop, I'm going to be hearing jokes at parties for years to come.'
'It looks like the ships nearly full.' Cloud squinted his eyes as he looked up trying to keep out the sun while he glanced up at the others on the top deck of the ship.
"Are you ready to board sir?"
"Yeah sure." He gave the crewman the ticket still gazing up at the top of the ship.
"Quite a picture isn't she sir?" The crewman asked picking up some box and carrying it over to the entrance.
"It's much bigger than the last one I went on." Cloud looked back down feeling slightly dizzy from staring up at the sun too much.
"Say, would your name happen to be Cloud?"
'Great, figure someone else would recognize me. Maybe I should dye my hair a different colour I can't say I like yellow that much anyway' Cloud glanced down at the water and saw his reflection. 'I mean come on I look like a Super Saiyan.' He looked back to answer. "Yeah I'm Cloud."
"Oh good." The crewman returned to the stack of create and picked up another. "Some lady was asking about whether you had boarded the ship yet."
"Some lady? What does she look like?" Cloud was curious who it was. 'It could be Aeris, then again it could be Tifa or Yuffie perhaps they managed to follow me here.'
"Well she wore a long pink dress with a red jacket and some thick brown boots which just didn't seem to fit her, she's on board now I think."
'It's her.' Cloud ran aboard shouting a quick 'Thanks' back to the crewman.
He ran up the ramp leading to the top deck. 'So she was looking for me. Maybe that's why she ran away, she wants me to follow her.' Cloud quickly made his way around the ship, inside and out checking everywhere a person could hide. It was true this ship looked large from the outside but from the inside it was massive. 'This is pointless. There are so many places to be and I could easily over look somewhere without noticing.'
Cloud walked back up to the top deck. 'If I just stay in one place then I guess she might eventually come here or even better when the ship reaches Junon I can just wait at the exit until she leaves that way I cant miss here.' He smiled thinking it was the best way plus running around the ship had also started to make him feel sick again. Cloud walked over to the railings putting his head over the side. 'Ugh when I do find her I'm gonna make her pay for making me take another boat ride.'
"Excuse me." A hand tapped on Cloud's shoulder.
"Huh?" Cloud half turned to look who it was.
"Are you? Ah yes it is you."
"It is?" Cloud looked puzzled.
"Yes you are Mr. Strife, yes?" He held out his hand.
Cloud just crossed his arms not sure of what to make of the guy. "Yeah that's me. What do you want?"
"Ah excuse me." He pulled his hand back. "My name is Tysall, I know one of your friends Mr. Highwind."
"You do?"
"Yes I have a meeting with him next week about a project I would like him to take up." Tysall straightened his tie, he was the typical businessman in Cloud eyes.
"Oh yeah I remember him saying something about that, but still what do you want with me?" Cloud just wanted to get to the point, he really didn't want to talk much until he got of this boat.
"I heard about what happened at the Gold Saucer and wanted to make sure that mister Highwind was alright, I figured that you one of his companions would know." Cloud wasn't stupid, he could tell that this guy was lying but without knowing much about him or really caring at the moment he decided just to drop it.
"He was fine the last time I saw him." Just as Cloud finished his sentence he felt the wind around him pick up substantially. The seawater blew in Cloud's face causing him to look away. "Speak of the devil." The Highwind flew overhead straight past the ship and then circled and made another pass. "That's him right there." Cloud turned back to Tysall but found that he had disappeared. "Whatever." It wasn't like Cloud really cared about what Tysall was hiding right now, it wasn't important.
The Highwind flew out of sight back the way the ship had come. 'I guess he couldn't land.' If Cid had seen him it was unlikely that he could land on the ship and if the others were aboard it seemed pointless to risk a rope ladder. 'I wonder why he went back that way though.' Cloud looked back over the side of the ship, he could still make out Costa de Sol clearly. 'I feel like I've been on this tub for months already and were not even close to been half way there. Maybe I'll just go rest somewhere.'
Cloud headed towards the stairs figuring that his trip would seem shorter asleep. He reached the door and tried to push it open but it didn't budge. "Locked eh?" He took a step back and someone walked in front of him pushing the door. "Don't bother its loc..." As Cloud spoke the crewman pushed the door open and half walked through looking back at Cloud.
"You ok man? You don't look so well."
"I'm fine just a little sea sick." Cloud replied.
"You sure? Maybe you should go see the doctor on board." Cloud just shook his head and the crewman carried on through the door.
'It's nothing just a little light headed.' Cloud reassured himself and pushed the door again but once more the door refused to move. 'Huh? It's not locked.' Cloud couldn't understand why but soon it was clear to him. 'That pain, it's there again.' Cloud realized the same pain in the back of his mind was there once again pushing its way through his mind. 'Why? Who's causing this?'
Cloud dropped to his knees, his strength had left him, just keeping his eyes open was hard enough. 'Go away! Whatever you are just leave me alone.' He knew it was pointless the pain once again pushed all other thoughts out of his mind. Cloud let his body hit the floor unable to call the strength to keep it up and finally he closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable.
"How can this be happening?"
"I don't know there's just so many of them." Cloud ran down the corridor dragging Tifa behind him.
"Where are we going?" She asked trying to keep up with Cloud.
"We need to reach the main office she's most likely waiting there." He burst through the next door out into the main hub of the building running down along the open corridor, shots were been fired at them from the lower levels. "F%£k they can sense where we are." A bullet grazed Cloud's head as he dropped to the floor.
They both crawled along the floor the elevator was their only chance, the stairs were blocked off by the Soldiers it would be impossible to get past them all. The doors opened up behind them, Cloud turned and fired the gun hoping to by a few precious seconds. Tifa had called the lift and dragged Cloud inside while he was still firing. "Top floor!" He shouted. She punched the button and the doors slowly shut, bullets flying through the gap until it closed.
The elevator shook and started to move up. Cloud could hear gunshots been fired below, the fight was still going on. Still sat on the floor he leaned against the side of the lift staring up at the ceiling. "Cloud."
"What?" He rolled his head to face Tifa, blood was dripping down the side of his face from the bullet wound.
"Do you think everything will turn out ok?" She was propped against the wall opposite the doors. The blood in her hair made it stick to her back and legs, her arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts but she still managed to let out a simple smile.
"Yeah." Cloud pushed on his legs lifting himself up. "Everything's going to work out in the end, it.. always does." The gash in his side split open a little more as he stretched his body out causing Cloud to feel dizzy from the pain.
The elevator slowed to a halt as it reached the top floor. "Ok from here it's straight ahead down the corridor to the Mayor's office." Cloud pushed himself off the wall and began to walk to Tifa.
"Ok on the count of three, you ready?" Tifa braced herself for the run while Cloud just nodded."
"One,"
"Two," He pressed one leg against the wall ready to push off but as Cloud began to say three a shot burst through the door forcing its way straight through the metal. Cloud fell to the side feeling droplets of warm blood hitting his face as he fell to the ground, the bullet had missed him but then where did the blood come from. 'Tifa!'
Cloud shot up looking around the room. "Hey take it easy!"
"Huh? What's going on?" He jumped of the table.
"You shouldn't be up, you need to rest." A man looking like a doctor was the only other person in the room.
"Where am I? Where's Tifa?" Cloud checked his body for the wounds he had just a minute ago.
"You are onboard the transport ship heading for Junon, this is the medical bay." The doctor urged Cloud to sit back down on the table.
"The ship. It was just dream." Cloud laid his head back down on the table. 'I'm really starting to hate them.' "How long was I out?"
"You were brought here about an hour ago, it was strange you have been unconscious the whole time but I couldn't find anything wrong with you. The doctor looked at Cloud puzzled. "Has this happened before?"
"No." He lied. "How far from shore are we?"
"We will arrive in about hour. If I were you I would get some rest until then, when we get there I would recommend that you go to the hospital for a check up." Cloud just nodded and closed his eyes.
'When I get to Junon I have something more important to do, these little dreams can wait.'
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"This shouldn't be so hard, all I gotta do is look for the yellow dot in all this green." Cid flew over the open grasslands across from Corel, still no sign of Cloud.
"We should tie a leash around that guy that way none a this would keep happening." He had been flying around non-stop for the past 4 hours and had seen nothing.
"Any sign of him?" Cait Sith walkup along side him.
"Nope nothing." Cid took another cigarette out of his head strap lighting it on the one already in his mouth.
"You know that really is a bad habit." Cait reminded him for the hundredth time.
"Look if you remind me of that one more time I'm gonna set your fur on fire." Cid moved the cig up to Cait's fur singeing it a bit.
"Hey hey Ok I won't." Cait franticly put out the small flame on his body. "You know these body's aren't cheap!"
"All the more reason for you to shut yur trap." Cid adjusted the controls deciding he'd seen enough grass for one day.
"Where are we going?" Cait asked.
"It's worth checking out Costa de Sol again, I haven't heard anything from Tifa yet so I'm guessing he's in between the mountains and the beach." He turned to Cait. "What about you? Picking up anything?"
"Nope Cloud hasn't used a phone or anything for me to pick up on," The Mog shut down after speaking and Reeve walked through the door. "Unless he uses something electronic I can't find him." He finished the toy's sentence.
"Wonderful."
Silence.
"Uh so.. how are things." Reeve decided to break the silence after a few minutes.
"Err fine."
"Good.. Good." Reeve wished they could find Cloud just for something to do, he'd been stuck on this ship for the past day and he had nothing to do except his tarriot cards. "So um... how's Shera?"
"Huh, oh she's doing good, I've had a lot of work with building the new rocket and all but she still manages to stick her nose in."
"How's the baby?"
"Heh you can tell she's a Highwind, does nothing but kick all through the night." After finally admitting his feelings for Shera, which Tifa had nudged him constantly into doing Cid had finally settled down to have a family. Although settled down was probably not the right word for Cid, he still continued on as usual been the worlds greatest pilot and the fact of having a baby didn't seem to deter him from his two favorite pass times, smoking and flying.
"Have you thought of a name?"
"Not yet, we were going to wait until the runt was born and then decide." Actually that was Shera's idea, if it was up to Cid the kid would be called Cid jr. or Sidney if it was a girl.
"Oh." Another silence.
"Is that Costa de Sol coming up?" Reeve was the first to break it again.
"Yep, still no sign off Cloud though and I've been over this area twice." Cid was beginning to wonder if this was becoming a wild goose chase. 'We don't even know if Cloud left the Gold Saucer.'
"Do you think he managed to get on a ship? If Cloud was heading this way the its most likely he's going to Junon too."
"I guess so." Cid steered the Highwind towards the docks of the town and headed on a straight course. "If we don't spot him though I'm heading back to the Gold Saucer this is getting pointless."
The Highwind lowered down to the ocean, the speed of the jet causing the water to part beneath it. After a few minutes Cid caught sight of a ship heading in the same direction. "Hey Reeve there's a ship coming up go see if you can spot Cloud on it."
Reeve nodded and switched Cait Sith on. "If he's on that ship I'll be able to spot him." They both said at the same time and the two headed out the door up to the open deck.
"I don't know why but that really freaks me out." Cid shook his head.
Cait looked over the side trying to get a clear view of the ship. "You see him?" Cid voice came over the intercom, another one of his little add-ons.
"Not yet try getting a little closer." The Highwind moved in causing the seawater to spray up at the ship.
"I see him." Cait nearly feel off the side when he leaned closer to make sure it was him.
"You sure?" Cid kept the jet steady so Cait could get a good look but just then his Phs went off. "Hold that thought."
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'I'm sooo comfy.' Tifa pulled the blanket around her a little tighter not wanting to face the day yet, she opened one eye to have a look round. 'The suns was already high in the sky but it just felt too early to get up.' She wrapped the warm blanket around her again. 'I bet Vincent's been up for hours already.'
The Corel Mountains were freezing cold in the morning but in her tent under the thick blanket Tifa couldn't be happier. 'Just a little longer.' She closed her eyes again hearing a slight rustle from the tent behind. 'I guess that's Reno getting up.'
She pulled her legs up to her chest keeping as warm as possible when an arm wrapped around her waist. 'Yeah that's much better.' Tifa laid there a little bit longer until she finally realized that it wasn't her arm around her waist. 'If that's not mine then...'
"Morning honey." Reno leaned over and kissed her on the check "Last night was great." Tifa's eyes widened as she understood what was going on. 'Oh my God.' She jumped straight out from under the blanket and ran outside into the freezing cold not realizing she was just wearing her long T-shirt.
"What the hell were you doing in my tent?" She screamed at Reno as he crawled out unable to stand up for laughing.
"Haha tha-that was great hahaha you should have seen your face!" Reno pulled himself to his feet, his sides aching from laughing so hard.
"Like I would EVER sleep with a jerk like you." She shouted.
"Not a morning person are you?"
"Go away!" She pushed him out the way to get back to the tent.
"Aww come on I'm not that bad am I?" He walked up to her arms open but she took a step back. "Come on what's hug between friends?"
"I'm not your friend remember?"
Reno lowered his arms and sighed. "Look it was just a joke." For once he actually looked serious. "I know we were enemies before but, that's all in the past."
"In the past? You killed three of my friends, kidnapped Aeris and not to mention the amount of times you tried to kill me and the rest of Avalanche."
"Well... Yeah I guess but you got Aeris back and we never actually managed to kill you either doesn't that mean anything." Reno gave her a sympathetic look.
"Yes it means you're an incompetent jerk." She turned round wondering where Vincent was in all this.
"If you're looking for vampire boy he's trying to pick up Cloud's trail." Reno pointed off down the path. "He went down that way."
"Well since were all up I guess we should head out." Tifa yawned and turned back to Reno. "You can pack up the tents while I go make sure Vincent is alright."
Tifa got about a hundred meters down the path when she turned back round and headed back to her tent. "Did you forget something?" Reno tried hard not to start laughing again at the fact Tifa had nearly continued their journey wearing nothing but a T-shirt.
"Shut up!" She stomped back into the tent resisting the urge to take her anger out on Reno again.
Further down Vincent was tracking down Cloud making sure this was the way he went. 'He must have headed towards Costa de Sol, his tracks seem to lead in a straight line in that direction. He stood up following the trail with his eyes. 'I should head back to camp, hopefully we can catch up with Cloud when he reaches Costa de Sol.'
Vincent turned back and started walking back the way he had come. After a few minutes he stopped and looked round path. "Whoever you are come out."
Some footsteps could be heard but they seemed to becoming from both sides of the path. 'An ambush, I must be getting careless to fall for such a trap.' He un-holstered his gun and took a few steps forward listening for any movement. "Unless you have a death wish I suggest you leave here now." He heard some movement to his left and before his eyes even managed to look round he fired shot in its direction, something let out a scream and dived back behind cover, the bullet had missed but whatever was stalking Vincent had decided to take another approach.
Vincent ran up to a near by bolder and jumped on top trying to see what was hiding behind the rocks, he saw something dark move around in the shadows but as he raised his gun to shoot at it something else jumped onto his back causing him to fall forward dropping the weapon. He hit the ground hard and grunted when he tried to stand up but whatever was clinging to his back decided to make that difficult. "Relese me!" Vincent swung his arms behind him trying to hit the creature but it only seemed to worsen things as it dug its claws deep into his back.
"Aghh, get off!" Vincent pushed off the ground hitting the side of the bolder with his back, the creature been sandwiched in between. It let out a cry and loosened its grip on Vincent, but as it did its companion who had been hiding behind the rocks decided to join in.
For a few seconds Vincent had a clear look at the creature, it resembled something between an over grown lizard and a monkey, it ran towards him on all fours and then pulled itself up waving its arms around in a frenzy screaming at him. 'What is this creature? It acts like its completely mad but they managed to work together perfectly to form a trap.' It was furless, its black skin was thick rubbery and the eyes were completely white. These features only seemed to aid Vincent's thought that the creatures were insane, its movements didn't seem to make sense it more like it was just moving its legs and arms at random.
Vincent spotted his weapon on ground but before he could react the creature in front of him jumped at his face gripping its claws into his arms and biting into his neck. He slammed his back once more into the bolder causing the creature behind him cry out as it fell to the ground, the other was still tearing out chunks of his neck as Vincent tried to free his arms to grab at it.
After a few seconds had gone by Vincent started to feel dizzy from the lack of blood, he tried again to bring his arms up to pull the creature off but each time he did the creature just dug its claws further into his skin. 'I can't keep this up much longer.'
As Vincent closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable a huge bolt of lightning tore through the creatures back causing it to scream franticly and fall to the ground. It scurried off into the rocks leaving a thick trail of blood behind it, Vincent let out a slight grin as he new it wouldn't be long until it bled out and died. He dropped to his feet feeling light headed only barely a where of Tifa who was trying her hardest to patch up his neck wound.
"Is he ok?" Reno walked into Vincent's vision strapping his nightstick back into its holder.
"He's lost a lot of blood, I don't heve enough supplies to cure him." Tifa continued to treat the wound, pouring a potion into the cut. "We need to get to a store."
"That may not be too easy, it's just as far back to Corel as it is to Costa del Sol." From where he was stood Reno could easily make out the clearing that lead to the grass lands, going back to Corel would be quicker if they could use the train tracks but now they were in use again it would be a death trap to walk along them. The only way back to Corel would be back the way they came and that was a day's journey, plus now they would have to carry Vincent.
Tifa finished with Vincent's wound and turned to Reno. "Well either way we better get moving I don't think he can last too long without something stronger than a potion."
"What about Highwind?" Reno asked picking up Vincent's gun.
"Cid? Of course!" Tifa kicked herself for not thinking of it earlier, she pulled out the Phs and dialed up Cid hoping he wasn't too far away.
The device rang a few times before she heard a click and Cid's familiar voice. "Cid where are you?"
"Err bout half way between sunny town and Junon, why?"
"Vincent's been attacked." She explained. "He's lost a lot of blood I've tried to stop it but he needs help."
"Ok I'm on my way back." Tifa could hear him already adjusting the controls over the phone.
"Great meet us at the end of the mountain path to Corel." Tifa turned to Reno who was helping Vincent to his feet. When he was sure he could stand up on his own Reno used a cure materia on Vince to help, the wound mostly closed as the green light seeped into his neck but it was still only a quick fix. Vincent had still lost a lot of blood, Reno was surprised that he still managed to remain conscious.
"I'll be there in a half hour." Tifa was about to switch the device off when Cid started again. "Oh yeah I almost forgot about Cloud."
Tifa's eyes widened. "Did you see him? Is he ok?"
"Yeah he looks fine, well maybe a little sea sick but what else is new."
"He's with you?" Tifa asked a little confused.
"No he's taking a ship, looks like it's heading towards Junon." Tifa's instincts had been right. 'So he was heading overseas, but why?'
"Well there's not much we can do right now. Dammit by the time you get here and back out to sea Cloud will have reached Junon and then were back to square one." Tifa shot a look over at Vincent. 'It could be worse I guess, another few minutes and that.. thing would have finished him.'
"Don't worry Tif, I'm sure Spike knows what he's doing he can take care of himself. We can patch Vince up on board the Highwind its got enough supplies." Cid could tell by the tone of her voice that she was worried, the sooner they got to Junon the better.
"(Sigh) Your right Cid. Hurry up and get here."
"Be there in a flash." Tifa heard a click as Cid turned off his Phs. 'Ok now all I have to do is get Vincent to the end off this path without anymore surprises.'
"What's going on?" She half jumped remembering Reno was here.
"Cid's found Cloud crossing the ocean." She walked over and helped him to lift Vincent who was still only half conscious. "He's heading back to pick us up at the end of this path."
"Is Cloud with him?"
"No he was on a ship heading to Junon but at this rate I doubt we will catch up with him." Tifa felt slightly annoyed that if they had just stayed aboard the Highwind in the first place none of this would have happened. 'Too late now.'
Reno just nodded. Tifa still felt strange having Reno help her, she was use to fighting him every time they crossed paths. Two years ago if they had met, Reno would most likely been trying to put an end to Vincent's life not helping to save it. "Well then let's get a move on the sooner we get out off this dump the sooner we'll find your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend." Even though Tifa had accepted that her and Cloud didn't belong together she still felt upset that it was never meant to be. After waiting a few seconds she was surprised that Reno had kept quite and didn't decide to start making fun of her, instead he just helped carry Vincent along the path while staring at the floor. 'What's up with him? He's acting so weird lately, strange.'
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"Anything?"
"No nothing." Rude walked up to Red after searching the rest of the Stadium. "It seems this was the only incident."
"But why? This man is just as normal as anyone else, he doesn't look wealthy by the clothes he wore and his wallet didn't hold much either." Red couldn't understand what the man was killed for. 'Its like this man was just killed for the fun of it.'
"I questioned the woman who first saw the body but she just said she was trying to find a quite spot for a while and found him here well, what's left of him." Rude examined the pieces that were scattered around under the stand. "Did you find anything?"
"I'm not sure." Red walked over to one of the bloodstains on the floor. "You see here the footprints."
Rude examined the spot. "Looks like a normal footprint."
"Yes but look here," Red moved his paw and taped the ground. "The footprints carry on but these are different, they look like boots."
"So?"
"They do not appear anywhere else, they just start here where the others end." Red pointed out.
"...." Rude didn't know what happened here, he'd seen many things as a Turk but nothing like this. 'No attempt to cover up, no obvious reason to kill and no witnesses, what was the point?' He decided to go back outside, the smell was awful and making him feel light headed. Rude walked past the area where Red was examining quite fascinated by the puzzle when Rude heard a crack as he stepped on something.
"...?" He kneeled down and picked up the object.
"What's that?" Red had noticed the sound too.
"I'm not sure, it looks like some kind of claw or part of one anyway." Rude walked out and held the object up in the light.
"Maybe a creature found its way into the Stadium."
"With out anyone noticing, I doubt it." The security at the Gold Saucer was very tight and the chances of a monster finding its way here would be next to zero.
"It doesn't seem like there is anything else here." Red followed Rude out of the stands. "Perhaps we should take this piece to be examined."
"Do you have such a laboratory at Cosmo Canyon?"
"No but there is in Neo Midgar, what ever this piece is I'm sure the equipment there will help." He explained.
"...." Rude adjusted his sunglasses and nodded, it was pointless to stay here. 'Also Reno hasn't called back since he dropped off Elena at the hospital, I wonder why he decided to stay with Tifa.' Before Elena had gotten her self hurt Rude had seen Reno talking with some smart looking businessman and for once he thought Reno was trying to get them a job but when he returned Reno just said it was nothing.
Red headed over to the exit and Rude started to follow. 'When we reach Neo Midgar I should call him, if he knows how to do anything it's how to stir up trouble.'
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"Sir... Sir,"
Cloud rolled over not wanting to wake up.
"Sir we have arrived at Junon."
'Great I can finally get off this tub.' Cloud opened one eye still not happy about waking up. "How long till we dock."
"We already have sir, you are the last aboard." The crewman was joined by another who was carrying in fresh supplies from shore.
'Figures I'd be last out, now first I need to go to the top deck and make sure that Aeris doesn't get off before me.' He sat up off the bed rubbing his eyes. 'Wait a minute.' Cloud faced the crewman. "Did you say I was the last on board?"
"Yes, everyone else has left."
'F^£K!' Cloud fully awakened. "Aeris." He leapt out of the bed and ran up the stairs to the top deck, he reached the balcony and scanned the peer. 'I can't see her!'
Cloud ran down the ramp and out on to the streets of Junon. 'I don't believe this.'
"Oh it's you." Cloud turned and saw it was the same crewman who had helped him after he collapsed on board the ship. "You know you really should go visit the hospital here, I can make a quick call if you need an appointment."
"No that's ok." Cloud didn't have time to be visiting anywhere right now.
"Well ok then but if there's anyway I can help just let me know." The crewman headed back on board the ship.
"Wait maybe there is," Cloud shouted back. "Did you see a girl in a pink dress and red jacket leave the ship?"
The crewman stood there for a moment thinking. "I think I know who you mean, she waited behind for a while here but after everyone had gone she just left."
'Great she was right there all the time waiting for me, I just had to fall asleep.' "Did you see which way she headed?" If Aeris had stayed behind then she couldn't have gotten too far away.
"Over toward the middle section." He pointed towards to where the cannon had once sat.
"Thanks." Cloud sprinted off in that direction hoping to catch up with her. 'If it wasn't for that stupid dream I would have met her back there and that would be it.' Cloud scanned the people who he passed by. The actual city of Junon hadn't grown that much it was just the airport and docks which had been expanded, this made things a bit easier for Cloud.
After reaching the middle section Cloud slowed down checking each store he passed. When he entered the materia shop Cloud recognized some of the passengers form the ship. 'Great if they haven't gotten far maybe Aeris hasn't either.'
Cloud looked down the street at how many stores were left. 'Weapons shop, Items store and the Dinner.' He walked up to third one just taking a quick look in the stores as he passed by. 'You know I haven't eaten since yesterday, I could really go for a burger or something.' Deciding taking another half hour grabbing a bite to eat Cloud walked into the dinner. 'If I rent a Chocobo once I'm finished I should be able to catch up to Aeris.'
"What'll it be?" The waitress handed Cloud a menu as he sat down at the counter.
"I'll just have a burger and fries." He propped his sword up against the counter and handed the menu back without even looking at it.
"Ok that will be 50 Gil." Cloud gave her the money and returned to his thoughts. "It'll be ready in a few minutes." She turned and headed into the kitchen.
After awhile the waitress returned and handed Cloud his food. 'Been awhile since I've been out alone, usually Tifa would be with me for lunch.' He took a bite of his burger. 'I know me and Tif never really hit it off on our dates but then again she's become one of my best friends.'
Cloud watched a couple walk in from outside, he recognized them from the ship too. 'Strange if Aeris was waiting for me why did she run off in the first place.' He took another bit of his food. 'What will I say when we meet? Oh hi how you been? Have a nice trip from the afterlife? Wow you lost weight. Weathers nice isn't it?' Cloud had always wanted Aeris back but he never thought what he would say when he met her again. 'Why can't anything be easy?'
"Hey look it's that nice lady we met onboard the ship." Cloud heard the couple that came in talking.
"Where?" The man looked out the window. "Oh yeah I see her, she was very charming indeed."
"Do you think she would like to join us for lunch?" The woman asked.
"I don't know, what was her name again?" He sat trying to recall the name.
"Oh I, I can't remember I'm usually so good with names to."
"Air... it was like that, she said she was looking for someone." Cloud took interest in the couples conversation after hearing this.
"Yes that's right, I wonder if she found him."
"You think 'someone' is a him?" The man asked.
"Oh of course! A girl as pretty and charming as her would surly have a boyfriend."
"Erm excuse me." Cloud approached the couple. "Where is this girl you were talking about?"
The woman turned and looked at Cloud for a moment and then pointed out the window. "Over there see? I wonder if she found who she was looking for." The woman turned and looked back at Cloud but found he had disappeared.
Outside Cloud ran across the street as fast as he could. 'There she is!' Aeris was stood waiting near the T-junction which lead down to the under water reactor.
"Aeris!" Cloud shouted. Aeris heard him and turned to look at who was calling her. When she spotted Cloud and smile formed on her lips and she started running down the street in the opposite direction of Cloud.
'What's she doing?' Cloud ran faster trying to catch Aeris up. "Aeris wait!" She headed into the tunnel that lead down to the reactor. 'That's a dead end, what's she trying to do?'
Aeris stopped out side the lift and pushed the button, she tapped her foot impatiently waiting for the doors to open as Cloud approached. 'Hurry up!'
Cloud was just a few meters away when the lift doors opened and Aeris stepped in. Cloud skidded to a halt as he reached the lift, he looked inside just as the doors closed and saw Aeris smiling as she waved at him. "Aeris!" Cloud punched the steel doors as he heard the lift going down. "What the hell is she doing?"
Cloud franticly pressed the elevator button hoping that pressing it harder would some how make it return quicker. 'This is the second time I've been too late.' After what seemed hours the lift finally returned and Cloud leaped inside pushing the button for the lower level, there were only two floors the lift visited so Cloud could easily follow. As the door closed Cloud heard someone call his name from outside but by the time he realized the doors had already shut tight. 'Too late now.'
The lift hummed softly as it descended down below sea level. 'This kinda reminds me of the dream I had aboard the ship.' Cloud tried to remember the scene in his head. 'What was going on? We were in Neo Midgar, the mayors building at the center of the city. Who was shooting at us? Who was in the Mayor's office?'
The lift shook as it stopped and the doors slid open. Cloud stepped out and walked on ahead, the doors shut behind him and the lift headed back up. 'I guess someone wants to join me.' The reactor had just been left alone after been shut down, no one had any use for it and since the monsters down here hadn't been affected by Holy no one wanted to even come down to dismantle it.
Cloud headed down the corridor, he looked through the clear walls out into the open water. A strange noise could be heard up ahead but Cloud didn't take notice he just looked out into the water as he walked along. The sound grew closer and Cloud faced forward, one of the Shin-Ra security bots approached him. The spiked ball below the machine spined round as the bulk of the android levitated above. Cloud unsheathed his sword and watched the machine carefully. 'No problem.'
The machine charged forward at Cloud throwing a punch at him but Cloud rolled to the side causing it to miss totally. Before the machine could fully spin round Cloud brought his sword round cutting it clean in half. The two pieces fell to the floor sparks flying out of the holes, the ball below spun round pointlessly before smashing into the wall. Cloud withdrew his sword and started towards the reactor once more. 'Easy.'
As he reached the elevator he heard a soft hum and then the door opened. 'Guess she went down.' Cloud walked in and pushed the button, the doors shut and he went deeper into the reactors center. 'Why is she down here?' Air flowed up the clear tubes in each corner of the lift as it descended, once it reached the bottom the water flooded each tube.
"Aeris." Cloud called down the corridor hoping for an answer he but got nothing. As he carried on the air seemed to get warmer the further down he went. 'I don't remember it been this warm last time.'
He reached the sub-marine bay, the temperature had risen up a few degrees but seemed to level off now. 'Where is she?' There were no subs in the bay all of them had been brought up to Junon and used else where, there was no other way out. Cloud looked round noticing some construction equipment on the floor near a set of heavy-duty doors. 'Strange, they all look brand new but no one has been down here in over a year.'
Walking up to the doors Cloud felt the same sensation as he felt before his dreams. 'Not now!' He shook his head trying to get rid of the feeling and it seemed to work. 'I can't afford to loose it here, not when I'm this close.' He pushed the doors open and then was covered in a green light that flooded from inside the room. After standing in the light a few moments Cloud managed to open his eyes, he looked around the room and his mouth dropped in awe.
"What is this place?" Cloud took a few steps forward, the room glowed in a soft green light. It was around 10 meters long and wide, the walls were covered with computers each seemed to be performing its own task. In the center was a round pool the source of the green light. "Lifestream." To each side of the pool was a set of stairs that came up and joined above the Lifestream. "What the hell is going on?"
Cloud stood at the edge of the pool watching his reflection sway about in the green liquid. 'This is Lifestream but... it looks different as if.. as if it was deeper than usual, as if it lead further away, strange.' He noticed something else's reflection in the liquid. To his right was a crystal formation that had grown out of the pool, in the center Cloud could see a materia orb glowing brightly. He walked up and examined the green orb before reaching out to hold it but as soon as his fingers touched it a burst of energy shot Cloud across the room slamming him into the wall.
"Agh!!" He pulled himself to his feet. "What the hell was THAT?"
"Hahaha."
"Huh?" Cloud looked up at the ledge above the pool and saw Aeris giggling. "Aeris."
"You took your time." She said smiling.
He ran up the stairs ignoring the pain form the blast he just absorbed and took Aeris in his arms hugging her tightly while closing his eyes. "I can't believe your here." Cloud felt some sort of shuffling in his arms but he didn't care.
"Why Cloud, I didn't know you felt this way about me."
"Huh?" Cloud stepped back as he heard the voice, it was a voice that did not belong to Aeris but to someone who Cloud hated more that anyone or anything.
"Y-y-you," Cloud's eyes widened in shock at who was stood before him. "H- how?"
The man stood there in all black, behind him a long thin sword stretched out as he held it in one hand. The long silver hair flowed down his back, the evil grin on his face meant only for Cloud.
"Sephiroth." _______________________________________
"Are we there yet?"
"No." Barret replied.
"How much further?" Yuffie was complaining as usual.
"Not long."
"You keep saying that." She stomped ahead.
"Well if you would quit yer complaining and kept up the pace maybe we would be there by now." For the past day Barret had put up with Yuffie's complaints but was now seriously tempted to just gag her and carry her the rest of the way just for some peace and quite. "Look you can just make out the town out now."
Yuffie stared into the distance. "Aw gawd its 'that' far away." She kicked the ground in fury. "Why do we have to go to this stupid town anyway, its not like they have any decent stuff or materia.
"We're looking for Cloud remember?" This was the fifth time Barret had to remind Yuffie that they were searching for Cloud and not new materia.
"Oh, heh yeah of course, good old Cloud."
After another hour of walking and listening to Yuffie complain Barret finally reached Gongaga.
"Whoa this place has changed." Barret walked in through the gates. The small town had expanded quite a bit, new buildings could be seen in every direction either built new or still under construction. The destroyed reactor in the middle of town had been cleared away and in its place was now a memorial statue built to commemorate those kill by the explosion.
Most of the buildings in the area were hotels or small gift shops, most likely because those who travel from Costa de Sol and the Gold Saucer down to Cosmo Canyon will want a place to stay for the night, now the town had turned into a tourist trap.
Both Barret and Yuffie headed down the street keeping an eye out for Cloud. "So where do you think he'll be?"
"Dunno, knowing him he could be anywhere." Barret shot a glance down each ally they passed.
After a little while of searching and no Cloud, Barret was wondering if he came down here at all. "This could take a while to search the entire town, maybe we should get a room at the Inn over there just in case."
"You mean we have to stay? But, but its soo boring here." Yuffie complained hoping it would be enough to change Barret's mind.
"If we leave here today it means another night of camping out." Barret looked at her. "Do you really want that?"
Yuffie recalled the last night they shared together. "Err good point I'll go get us a room." She ran across the street towards the Inn.
"Yuffie." Barret called. She turned to look back at him. "Separate rooms." Barret threw and small bag of Gil at her.
"Gotcha." She caught the bag and ran into the Inn.
A few minutes later Yuffie returned from the Inn holding two keys. "No. 12 and No.18" She said handing Barret one of the keys. "Far enough apart?"
"Yeah at least I won't be able to hear your snoring anymore." Barret chuckled and started back down the street.
"Hey! I told you I DON'T snore." Yuffie yelled and chased him down the street.
When they reached the outer section of the town Yuffie stopped in front of one of the buildings. "Global Corp." She looked at Barret. "What's this place?"
Barret took a look at the building. "They're an electronics company, very high tech." The building was huge but not very impressive, the outside walls were a plain gray and through the glass they could see that inside things weren't much more interesting. "They have an office in Corel, this looks like it's their main building."
"Doesn't look like much." Yuffie stated.
"What ever it is it looks like they want to move in to some sort of space equipment." Yuffie gave Barret a weird look wondering how he new all this.
"How do you know?" She asked.
"Cid was talking yesterday but I suppose you weren't listening."
Yuffie rolled her eyes. 'Like who could listen to that old geezer talk?'
"He said that the owner wants to have a meeting with him next week, some guy named Tysall owns the entire company and wants Cid to do a job for him." Barret finished.
"Woo, hoo." Yuffie regretted asking about something so boring.
They turned and carried on down the street, Barret wondered how things were going in Tifa's group and whether Red had managed to find anything back at the Gold Saucer. "Spike sure knows how to stir up some mayhem, heh just like old times."
_________________________________________
The Highwind touched down on the ground at the base of the Corel Mountains. Tifa and Reno helped Vincent aboard moments later.
"So how's he doing?" Reeve walked up and met the trio.
"Ok." Tifa followed the arrows on the floor toward the conference room. "We need to fix up some of his wounds but it's the loss of blood that's the worst."
They sat Vincent down in one of the chairs and Tifa stretched out her arms free from the load. "As long as he gets some rest he'll be back to normal within a few days."
The room shook as the Highwind took off and Tifa ran off to meet Cid leaving Reno and Reeve in the conference room.
"Well I never expected 'you' to join Avalanche." Reeve sat down in one of the chairs.
"Me?" Reno pointed to himself. "Join Avalanche, ha don't make me laugh."
"So what are you doing here?" Reeve asked. "I can't say I've ever heard of this rule you told Tifa about."
"That's none of your business." Reno stated and then walked out he room.
Meanwhile in the control room Cid filled Tifa in about Cloud been on the ship. "So why do you think he was heading for Junon?"
"Dunno, Reeve said he look quite calm on the ship so I doubt it was anything serious." Cid explained.
"How long until we get there?"
The Highwind was one of the fastest ships ever built and Cid made sure that his ship was better than any other out there.
"Bout another 2 hours." Cid set the ship on autopilot. "We shouldn't be too far behind the ship when it arrives."
"Good, after we arrive I'll have Reeve take Vincent for a check up the rest of us will search the city." Tifa ordered.
"Wow." Cid laughed.
"What?" She asked.
"Your really starting to sound like a leader."
"You think so?" Cid nodded. "Huh well I learned from the best." Tifa turned and headed out the door.
"Yeah. I'm am the best aren't I." Cid said proudly putting his hands on his hips.
"I was talking about Cloud." She shouted back.
"%^£$, Spike? Better than me." Cid laughed taking out another cigarette. "Yeah right."
Tifa walked up to the open deck, when she opened the door she half expected Reno to be stood there again but this time he wasn't. She walked over and took her usual place leaning on the side railings. Looking over the side as the jet flew across the grasslands she let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. 'Wait a minute, did I just get upset that Reno wasn't up here. What is up with me?'
The door behind slammed making Tifa jump. "Oh its you."
"Were you expecting anyone else?" Reno walked over to the other side of the deck.
"No not really."
The two stood there awkwardly in silence.
"So ahhhh... you going to be leaving us when we reach Junon?" Tifa spoke up. "Since you know, we found Cloud and all."
"Maybe," He answered slowly. "But we haven't really found him yet and he might have moved on by the time we get there, sooo that means I haven't really finished yet."
"Yeah I guess."
"Why? You gonna miss me when I go?" Reno grinned.
"Ha yeah right, I just wanted to make sure I would get another chance to kick you butt." She laughed.
"Really and what makes you think you would succeed?" He walked over to her acting cocky.
"Well lets see, first there's the fact a beat you in the arena," She held up one finger.
"Luck." Reno replied simply.
"Second," She held up another finger. "Each time we fought when you worked for Shin-Ra we managed to wipe the floor with you."
"You had help."
"And third.." Before Tifa could finish the Highwind reached the ocean and lowered down just above the water causing the seawater to spray up from the jets totally soaking Tifa. "Ahh! Dammit!" She screamed. She tried to walk over to the middle of the platform but then slipped on the wet floor landing firmly on her rear end. "Oww."
Reno ran over to her helping her up. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, ow... I'm fine." She fully stood shaking her arm trying to shake off some of the water. "One joke and you dead." She said firmly.
"What makes you think I would make a joke?" Reno smiled. "Come on let me help." Reno took his jacket off and wrapped it around Tifa's shoulders.
"Thanks." She pulled the jacket around tightly, her hair completely soaked through stuck to her body. Reno led her to the door making sure she didn't slip again.
"What the hell happened to you?" Cid stared up at the two as they walked down the stairs.
Tifa walk straight past and headed towards the conference room, Reno followed closer behind. "Don't ask." He smiled making sure Tifa didn't see.
After spending a long time with a hair dryer and putting on a fresh set of clothes Tifa finally came out of the bathroom and headed over to the bridge.
"Feel better?" Cid grinned as Tifa walked in, she shot a quick look at Reno, obviously he had told Cid what happened.
"Fine, how long until we reach Junon?" She walked up to the window.
"Bout 10 minutes." Cid estimated.
Reno yawned board of been stuck in the same place for so long. "I feel like I've been in this thing for days."
"Would you prefer to walk?" Cid asked pointing to the door.
"Funny." Reno crossed his arms.
"Well boys you better get ready for when we land." Tifa jumped in. "Reno you and Cid are with me, Reeve you take Vincent to the Hospital and call us when you get back, clear?" They all nodded. "Good." She smiled and headed over to the exit.
"You heard the lady." Reno went with Reeve and helped Vincent to the exit while Cid brought the Highwind out of autopilot.
The Highwind set down at Junon airport and Reeve walked out helping Vincent to the hospital while Tifa, Cid and Reno headed out into the city.
"So where to first?" Cid asked.
"Um well... I don't know." Tifa stopped walking. "Where should we start?"
"If Cloud arrived here on a ship perhaps its best to start at the docks." Reno suggested.
"Hmm not just a handsome face." Tifa winked and started to run towards the docks.
Reno leaned over to Cid. "She wants me." He said smugly while Cid just rolled his eyes.
Tifa ran down the sidewalk and was just about to reach the T-Junction when she skidded to a halt and froze. Cid and Reno caught up a few moments later wondering what was wrong.
"Hey Tif you ok?" Cid tapped her on the shoulder.
"I-It can't be." Tifa pointed ahead at the girl stood at the T-Junction.
"Holy ^%£% is that who I think it is." Cid shouted out.
"...Aeris." Reno finished.
Before any of them could react the girl turned and ran down the tunnel and if not to add to there surprise soon after Cloud shot out of the store opposite and sprinted down the tunnel after her.
"Cloud." Tifa whispered, she shot off after him, Reno and Cid quickly followed.
Tifa reached the corner and shot a glance down the tunnel, she saw Cloud stepping into the elevator that lead down to the under water reactor. "Cloud!" She shouted but he didn't seem to hear. Tifa ran up to the lift and pressed the button constantly until it returned back up a minute later.
The three of them walked in and Cid pressed the button to go down. "You know I might be a little behind sometimes but I'm quite sure that Aeris was... well, you know."
"Dead." Reno finished.
Tifa stood there speechless. 'So that's why he came here. It all makes sense, well, apart from Aeris actually been alive and all.' The lift hummed softly as it descended down.
The doors slid open and the trio ran out into the ocean view corridor. Tifa could tell Cloud had come this way as one of the security bots laid in two pieces along the floor. "Do you think he went further down?" She asked as they reached the next lift.
"There are no other routes in this place, just this elevator. And after that there's just the sub-marine bay and the old reactor core." Reno stated.
"Guess you would know." Cid added.
Tifa ignored them both and waited for the lift to return. "Why would they be down here?"
"As far as I know the entire place was shut down after Shin-Ra was finished, the place is just abandoned now." Reno answered.
The doors opened as the lift arrived and they stepped in. "Well I guess were going to find out soon." Tifa pushed the button and the lift took them further into the reactor. When they reached the sub-marine level Reno lead the way towards the docking station.
"There's no one here." Cid pointed out the obvious.
Tifa turned to Reno. "Are you sure there's no other way out?"
"Positive."
"Agh!" The three turned in shock as someone cried out in pain.
"What the $£^% was that?" Cid shouted.
"It came from that room." Tifa pointed across the sub-marine bay.
"Strange," Reno started. "I don't remember that room. This equipment wasn't here the last time I came either."
"Do you think it was Cloud?" Cid asked looking at Tifa, she felt her stomach turn upside down at the thought.
"Come on!" Reno was already in the lead when she shouted the order.
________________________________________
"Uurggk" Cloud tried to speak as Sephiroth held his throat tightly.
"What's the matter Cloud?" He asked. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."
Cloud pulled on Sephiroth's fingers trying to pull them back far enough to breath. "W-w-where..." He choked. "Where is.... A-Aeri..."
"Oh her." Sephiroth brushed the hair out of his face. "She's right where I left her," He looked at Cloud puzzled. "You remember don't you Cloud?" Sephiroth waved his sword in front of Cloud's face.
Cloud tried to speak again but he couldn't find the air to do so. "You remember right? When she was on the alter?" Cloud threw a punch but he couldn't reach Sephiroth's face. "You failed her didn't you." An evil grin formed on his face once again. "Just like you failed now.
"Cloud!" Tifa burst through the door and saw Cloud struggling to free himself from Sephiroth's grip. The two shot a glance at Tifa and the others as they ran in, Sephiroth's grip on Cloud's throat loosened for a second and Cloud quickly took advantage lifting his legs up and kicking him straight in the chest. Sephiroth staggered back and lost his grip while Cloud took a step back and drew his Ultima weapon.
"Why are you giving me the dreams?" He shouted.
"Dreams? What are you talking about?" Sephiroth recovered quickly and laughed at Cloud as he drew his sword. "What? Do you really think you can beat me?"
"I did once before," Cloud leaped forward and preformed his Braver technique bringing the sword down as hard as he could. "And I'll do it ag..." The sword came down and Sephiroth just held his arm out to block the attack, suicide for any normal person. The sword hit dead on but to Cloud's horror the blade completely shattered as it hit Sephiroth arm, the force of the hit threw Cloud back into the wall.
"What the hell?" Cloud gasped.
Tifa and the other ran up the stairs to help Cloud but Sephiroth just held his hand out again casting Ultima. The spell hit all three of the fighters throwing them across the room.
"Agh! The %$£^ is this, people pinball?" Cid growled as he tried to stand up.
Cloud stood up once more, the shattered blade still in his hand. "Great now what?"
Sephiroth turned his attention back to Cloud. "Not as easy as last time Strife." He walked up to Cloud holding his hand out again, the center glowed as the fire spell formed. Cloud could see Sephiroth had all the mastered materia attached and this didn't help one bit. The fireball launched hitting Cloud dead on causing him to fall to his feet.
Down below Reno helped Tifa up, keeping his eyes on Sephiroth's moves. "How can he be 'that' powerful?"
"I don't know he.. he wasn't this strong last time we fought him." Tifa tapped the Comet materia on her arm, the green orb glowed brightly ready to be cast. Sephiroth didn't notice he spell been cast but as the huge comet crashed into him from behind he just tilted his head and waved at Tifa, grinning evilly looking no worse for wear.
Sephiroth cast another Ultima spell on Tifa and the others slamming them into the wall. While Cid fell unconscious Tifa and Reno could only watch the scene unfold before them, completely exhausted the two were powerless to help.
Cloud ran forward throwing six continuous punches but each one missed as Sephiroth dodged to the side gracefully. "Come Cloud can't you see that you cannot win."
Sephiroth reached out to grab Cloud by the throat once again but he barely managed to dodge to the side. "(Sigh) This doesn't have to be difficult." Sephiroth drew his sword.
Cloud looked down at the shattered remains of his weapon and then back again at Sephiroth. "Oh yeah, this is going well."
Sephiroth leaped forward without warning, his masamune pointed directly at Cloud's chest. Cloud tried to dodge to the side but Sephiroth's speed was too great and the sword ran straight threw Cloud's shoulder.
"Agh! %$^£." Cloud grabbed the blade trying to pull it out.
Sephiroth swung the sword round throwing Cloud to the other side of the platform. "Don't worry Cloud," He leaned over and picked him up by the neck. "You're not going to die just yet."
Sephiroth walk over to the ledge with Cloud still in his grasp. "You always wanted to visit the Promised Land didn't you?" He held his arm out over the glowing pool, Cloud dangled over the side trying to put his feet on the ledge. "Well, now you get your wish." Sephiroth released his hold on Cloud's neck."Have a nice trip."
Cloud swung his arms hoping for something to grab onto but he just fell further, his back hit the pool and a wash of green liquid covered his face.
Cloud tried to keep his eyes open as he sank further down into the Lifestream, in the back of his mind he could feel the pain growing like before. 'Great just what I need.' Cloud concentrated, this pain felt different somehow, it felt stronger and clearer. 'F^£k it.' He just closed his eyes and let the inevitable happen.
___________________________________________
Note: Yep like I said much bigger chapter. Thanks to those who reviewed I appreciate it. I have already started the next chapter since I couldn't post this one when I finished it so that will be along shortly. Don't forget to leave a review!
'Not much has changed here.' Cloud entered Costa de Sol heading straight for the docks. Apart from a few new hotels and bars the holiday resort hadn't really changed much, it was one of the few places on the planet that hadn't expanded much further. Nibelheim had done the same, only dozen new houses had been built but apart from that the village was the same as it had been 2 years ago. Everywhere else had at least doubled in size since no one had to pay for Mako power anymore each town was more wealthy and all the citizens who lived in Midgar had to move somewhere else, although most decided to move to Neo Midgar once it was complete.
Cloud walked down the busy street making sure if Aeris was still around that he wouldn't miss her and walk straight by. 'It's so hot here. Why couldn't she have run off somewhere nice and cool?' Even during the winter the temperature in Costa de Sol would stay the same blistering heat. Still this was only a short visit once he got to the docks its off to Junon and beyond.
'That's a thought. I wonder where she's going to go from there?' Cloud was sure that Aeris was going to cross the ocean but what after that? Junon was the worlds major travel city for sea and air, if you wanted to get somewhere Junon had a way. Fort Condor had turned into a small settlement but that's it nothing special there. There's the Chocobo farm. 'Seems a bit pointless.' And then Kalm which was now more famous as a pit stop for travelers, she may stop there for a night but nothing else. Finally the two Midgar's, Neo Midgar Cloud doubted Aeris even new that it existed and old Midgar. 'She could be going there I guess but what's there for her? There's the Shin-Ra building or what's left of it, the slums and... the church!'
Cloud's eyes lit up. 'That must be it Aeris has her home near there and her flower garden inside the church, what else could it be? That must be it. Ok now I know where I'm going I just need to catch the next ship there.'
'It still doesn't make sense why she's avoiding me. (Sigh) Maybe its not her, my heads been killing me plus those strange dreams perhaps it was just my imagination.' He walked down the stairs to the docks, a few extra ports had been built now and the Shin-Ra heliport had been converted into a tourist helicopter trip. 'I bet if Aeris was here she would be dragging me onto that thing. Heh seems quite funny now, she always wanted to see and do everything.' Cloud continued on to the ship, it was the only one left so if Aeris was still here and she wanted to cross the ocean then this would be the only way.
A few places around the world had started development on airports like Rocket Town and Neo Midgar but only Junon right now had any planes and airships to use so Costa de Sol was still the only way to get off this continent.
"Sir, are you wanting to board?" One of the ships crew was distributing tickets at the entrance.
'Hmm guess I'm not going to be a stowaway this time.' Cloud pulled some Gil out of his pocket. "Yeah sure, when's it leaving?"
"30 minutes sir, you don't have to board now but the ship will leave if you do not return in that time." The crewman gave Cloud a ticket and returned to his stance.
'Great that will give me time to have a look around and check if Aeris is still here. That's if she was here at all.' Cloud took the ticket and put it in his pocket. "Ok I'll be back by then." He walked back up the stairs checking each person who walked passed him. 'Now I think I'll check the beach first.'
The beach was huge, the sand shined gold as the sunlight hit the bay. The monsters that had populated most of the world had ruined all the other coasts, this was one of the few areas where people fought them off to protect it beauty.
'Meaningless really, its only land, the same as anywhere else. I really don't see the point.' Cloud headed down the bay only half concentrating on where he was walking. 'I can remember the first time we came here, Red was playing with some kids over near the bar, Tifa was having fun swimming in her new outfit, Barret as usual was nervous keeping watch fro Shin-Ra gards, Yuffie was working for the materia seller and of course was stealing it off him as well and Aeris was here on the beach enjoying the sun.'
He sat down on the wall watching the waves flow back and forth. 'And I was sat here in this very spot, its strange the things you remember.' Of the few memories Cloud had of the past too few were happy ones, this one however he liked a lot, everything was peaceful and calm.
'And then HE ruined it. That freak with his pathetic dreams of becoming a god. He killed her.' Cloud's peaceful thoughts were shattered by just thinking of that day.
Ever since then he couldn't set foot in the City of the Ancients without feeling sick. 'Even in death he still got the last laugh, or perhaps.' Cloud thought again of why he was here. 'Maybe not, perhaps there is such a thing as a happy ending.'
Standing up Cloud noticed some girls waving at him. 'I guess been the only person in the world with long, blond, spiky hair and a huge Ultima weapon strapped to my back it's quite hard for someone 'not' to recognize me.' Cloud waved back to the girls and they all giggled running back to their group of friends across the beach bragging that they met the great Cloud Strife.
'I always thought that's what I wanted through life, to have people recognize me in a crowd and know me for the great fighter I was. I spent years in the Shin-Ra army just because of that dream. But that's all it was, a dream. Now after actually achieving it I realized its not what I want at all, I'm not don't even know myself what I want from life now.' He looked down at his watch noticing the ship would leave in 10 minutes. 'Guess I should head back now, there's no sign of Aeris here, if she was here at all then it's most likely she already crossed over before I got here, either that or waiting on the ship I'm about to board.'
Cloud headed back past the beach and carried on towards the docks once more. 'I can see the end of this, when I find out its just some girl in a pink dress who looks a bit like Aeris.' He reached the stairs and slowly walked down. 'Cid and the others are never going to let this one drop, I'm going to be hearing jokes at parties for years to come.'
'It looks like the ships nearly full.' Cloud squinted his eyes as he looked up trying to keep out the sun while he glanced up at the others on the top deck of the ship.
"Are you ready to board sir?"
"Yeah sure." He gave the crewman the ticket still gazing up at the top of the ship.
"Quite a picture isn't she sir?" The crewman asked picking up some box and carrying it over to the entrance.
"It's much bigger than the last one I went on." Cloud looked back down feeling slightly dizzy from staring up at the sun too much.
"Say, would your name happen to be Cloud?"
'Great, figure someone else would recognize me. Maybe I should dye my hair a different colour I can't say I like yellow that much anyway' Cloud glanced down at the water and saw his reflection. 'I mean come on I look like a Super Saiyan.' He looked back to answer. "Yeah I'm Cloud."
"Oh good." The crewman returned to the stack of create and picked up another. "Some lady was asking about whether you had boarded the ship yet."
"Some lady? What does she look like?" Cloud was curious who it was. 'It could be Aeris, then again it could be Tifa or Yuffie perhaps they managed to follow me here.'
"Well she wore a long pink dress with a red jacket and some thick brown boots which just didn't seem to fit her, she's on board now I think."
'It's her.' Cloud ran aboard shouting a quick 'Thanks' back to the crewman.
He ran up the ramp leading to the top deck. 'So she was looking for me. Maybe that's why she ran away, she wants me to follow her.' Cloud quickly made his way around the ship, inside and out checking everywhere a person could hide. It was true this ship looked large from the outside but from the inside it was massive. 'This is pointless. There are so many places to be and I could easily over look somewhere without noticing.'
Cloud walked back up to the top deck. 'If I just stay in one place then I guess she might eventually come here or even better when the ship reaches Junon I can just wait at the exit until she leaves that way I cant miss here.' He smiled thinking it was the best way plus running around the ship had also started to make him feel sick again. Cloud walked over to the railings putting his head over the side. 'Ugh when I do find her I'm gonna make her pay for making me take another boat ride.'
"Excuse me." A hand tapped on Cloud's shoulder.
"Huh?" Cloud half turned to look who it was.
"Are you? Ah yes it is you."
"It is?" Cloud looked puzzled.
"Yes you are Mr. Strife, yes?" He held out his hand.
Cloud just crossed his arms not sure of what to make of the guy. "Yeah that's me. What do you want?"
"Ah excuse me." He pulled his hand back. "My name is Tysall, I know one of your friends Mr. Highwind."
"You do?"
"Yes I have a meeting with him next week about a project I would like him to take up." Tysall straightened his tie, he was the typical businessman in Cloud eyes.
"Oh yeah I remember him saying something about that, but still what do you want with me?" Cloud just wanted to get to the point, he really didn't want to talk much until he got of this boat.
"I heard about what happened at the Gold Saucer and wanted to make sure that mister Highwind was alright, I figured that you one of his companions would know." Cloud wasn't stupid, he could tell that this guy was lying but without knowing much about him or really caring at the moment he decided just to drop it.
"He was fine the last time I saw him." Just as Cloud finished his sentence he felt the wind around him pick up substantially. The seawater blew in Cloud's face causing him to look away. "Speak of the devil." The Highwind flew overhead straight past the ship and then circled and made another pass. "That's him right there." Cloud turned back to Tysall but found that he had disappeared. "Whatever." It wasn't like Cloud really cared about what Tysall was hiding right now, it wasn't important.
The Highwind flew out of sight back the way the ship had come. 'I guess he couldn't land.' If Cid had seen him it was unlikely that he could land on the ship and if the others were aboard it seemed pointless to risk a rope ladder. 'I wonder why he went back that way though.' Cloud looked back over the side of the ship, he could still make out Costa de Sol clearly. 'I feel like I've been on this tub for months already and were not even close to been half way there. Maybe I'll just go rest somewhere.'
Cloud headed towards the stairs figuring that his trip would seem shorter asleep. He reached the door and tried to push it open but it didn't budge. "Locked eh?" He took a step back and someone walked in front of him pushing the door. "Don't bother its loc..." As Cloud spoke the crewman pushed the door open and half walked through looking back at Cloud.
"You ok man? You don't look so well."
"I'm fine just a little sea sick." Cloud replied.
"You sure? Maybe you should go see the doctor on board." Cloud just shook his head and the crewman carried on through the door.
'It's nothing just a little light headed.' Cloud reassured himself and pushed the door again but once more the door refused to move. 'Huh? It's not locked.' Cloud couldn't understand why but soon it was clear to him. 'That pain, it's there again.' Cloud realized the same pain in the back of his mind was there once again pushing its way through his mind. 'Why? Who's causing this?'
Cloud dropped to his knees, his strength had left him, just keeping his eyes open was hard enough. 'Go away! Whatever you are just leave me alone.' He knew it was pointless the pain once again pushed all other thoughts out of his mind. Cloud let his body hit the floor unable to call the strength to keep it up and finally he closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable.
"How can this be happening?"
"I don't know there's just so many of them." Cloud ran down the corridor dragging Tifa behind him.
"Where are we going?" She asked trying to keep up with Cloud.
"We need to reach the main office she's most likely waiting there." He burst through the next door out into the main hub of the building running down along the open corridor, shots were been fired at them from the lower levels. "F%£k they can sense where we are." A bullet grazed Cloud's head as he dropped to the floor.
They both crawled along the floor the elevator was their only chance, the stairs were blocked off by the Soldiers it would be impossible to get past them all. The doors opened up behind them, Cloud turned and fired the gun hoping to by a few precious seconds. Tifa had called the lift and dragged Cloud inside while he was still firing. "Top floor!" He shouted. She punched the button and the doors slowly shut, bullets flying through the gap until it closed.
The elevator shook and started to move up. Cloud could hear gunshots been fired below, the fight was still going on. Still sat on the floor he leaned against the side of the lift staring up at the ceiling. "Cloud."
"What?" He rolled his head to face Tifa, blood was dripping down the side of his face from the bullet wound.
"Do you think everything will turn out ok?" She was propped against the wall opposite the doors. The blood in her hair made it stick to her back and legs, her arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts but she still managed to let out a simple smile.
"Yeah." Cloud pushed on his legs lifting himself up. "Everything's going to work out in the end, it.. always does." The gash in his side split open a little more as he stretched his body out causing Cloud to feel dizzy from the pain.
The elevator slowed to a halt as it reached the top floor. "Ok from here it's straight ahead down the corridor to the Mayor's office." Cloud pushed himself off the wall and began to walk to Tifa.
"Ok on the count of three, you ready?" Tifa braced herself for the run while Cloud just nodded."
"One,"
"Two," He pressed one leg against the wall ready to push off but as Cloud began to say three a shot burst through the door forcing its way straight through the metal. Cloud fell to the side feeling droplets of warm blood hitting his face as he fell to the ground, the bullet had missed him but then where did the blood come from. 'Tifa!'
Cloud shot up looking around the room. "Hey take it easy!"
"Huh? What's going on?" He jumped of the table.
"You shouldn't be up, you need to rest." A man looking like a doctor was the only other person in the room.
"Where am I? Where's Tifa?" Cloud checked his body for the wounds he had just a minute ago.
"You are onboard the transport ship heading for Junon, this is the medical bay." The doctor urged Cloud to sit back down on the table.
"The ship. It was just dream." Cloud laid his head back down on the table. 'I'm really starting to hate them.' "How long was I out?"
"You were brought here about an hour ago, it was strange you have been unconscious the whole time but I couldn't find anything wrong with you. The doctor looked at Cloud puzzled. "Has this happened before?"
"No." He lied. "How far from shore are we?"
"We will arrive in about hour. If I were you I would get some rest until then, when we get there I would recommend that you go to the hospital for a check up." Cloud just nodded and closed his eyes.
'When I get to Junon I have something more important to do, these little dreams can wait.'
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"This shouldn't be so hard, all I gotta do is look for the yellow dot in all this green." Cid flew over the open grasslands across from Corel, still no sign of Cloud.
"We should tie a leash around that guy that way none a this would keep happening." He had been flying around non-stop for the past 4 hours and had seen nothing.
"Any sign of him?" Cait Sith walkup along side him.
"Nope nothing." Cid took another cigarette out of his head strap lighting it on the one already in his mouth.
"You know that really is a bad habit." Cait reminded him for the hundredth time.
"Look if you remind me of that one more time I'm gonna set your fur on fire." Cid moved the cig up to Cait's fur singeing it a bit.
"Hey hey Ok I won't." Cait franticly put out the small flame on his body. "You know these body's aren't cheap!"
"All the more reason for you to shut yur trap." Cid adjusted the controls deciding he'd seen enough grass for one day.
"Where are we going?" Cait asked.
"It's worth checking out Costa de Sol again, I haven't heard anything from Tifa yet so I'm guessing he's in between the mountains and the beach." He turned to Cait. "What about you? Picking up anything?"
"Nope Cloud hasn't used a phone or anything for me to pick up on," The Mog shut down after speaking and Reeve walked through the door. "Unless he uses something electronic I can't find him." He finished the toy's sentence.
"Wonderful."
Silence.
"Uh so.. how are things." Reeve decided to break the silence after a few minutes.
"Err fine."
"Good.. Good." Reeve wished they could find Cloud just for something to do, he'd been stuck on this ship for the past day and he had nothing to do except his tarriot cards. "So um... how's Shera?"
"Huh, oh she's doing good, I've had a lot of work with building the new rocket and all but she still manages to stick her nose in."
"How's the baby?"
"Heh you can tell she's a Highwind, does nothing but kick all through the night." After finally admitting his feelings for Shera, which Tifa had nudged him constantly into doing Cid had finally settled down to have a family. Although settled down was probably not the right word for Cid, he still continued on as usual been the worlds greatest pilot and the fact of having a baby didn't seem to deter him from his two favorite pass times, smoking and flying.
"Have you thought of a name?"
"Not yet, we were going to wait until the runt was born and then decide." Actually that was Shera's idea, if it was up to Cid the kid would be called Cid jr. or Sidney if it was a girl.
"Oh." Another silence.
"Is that Costa de Sol coming up?" Reeve was the first to break it again.
"Yep, still no sign off Cloud though and I've been over this area twice." Cid was beginning to wonder if this was becoming a wild goose chase. 'We don't even know if Cloud left the Gold Saucer.'
"Do you think he managed to get on a ship? If Cloud was heading this way the its most likely he's going to Junon too."
"I guess so." Cid steered the Highwind towards the docks of the town and headed on a straight course. "If we don't spot him though I'm heading back to the Gold Saucer this is getting pointless."
The Highwind lowered down to the ocean, the speed of the jet causing the water to part beneath it. After a few minutes Cid caught sight of a ship heading in the same direction. "Hey Reeve there's a ship coming up go see if you can spot Cloud on it."
Reeve nodded and switched Cait Sith on. "If he's on that ship I'll be able to spot him." They both said at the same time and the two headed out the door up to the open deck.
"I don't know why but that really freaks me out." Cid shook his head.
Cait looked over the side trying to get a clear view of the ship. "You see him?" Cid voice came over the intercom, another one of his little add-ons.
"Not yet try getting a little closer." The Highwind moved in causing the seawater to spray up at the ship.
"I see him." Cait nearly feel off the side when he leaned closer to make sure it was him.
"You sure?" Cid kept the jet steady so Cait could get a good look but just then his Phs went off. "Hold that thought."
__________________________________________________
'I'm sooo comfy.' Tifa pulled the blanket around her a little tighter not wanting to face the day yet, she opened one eye to have a look round. 'The suns was already high in the sky but it just felt too early to get up.' She wrapped the warm blanket around her again. 'I bet Vincent's been up for hours already.'
The Corel Mountains were freezing cold in the morning but in her tent under the thick blanket Tifa couldn't be happier. 'Just a little longer.' She closed her eyes again hearing a slight rustle from the tent behind. 'I guess that's Reno getting up.'
She pulled her legs up to her chest keeping as warm as possible when an arm wrapped around her waist. 'Yeah that's much better.' Tifa laid there a little bit longer until she finally realized that it wasn't her arm around her waist. 'If that's not mine then...'
"Morning honey." Reno leaned over and kissed her on the check "Last night was great." Tifa's eyes widened as she understood what was going on. 'Oh my God.' She jumped straight out from under the blanket and ran outside into the freezing cold not realizing she was just wearing her long T-shirt.
"What the hell were you doing in my tent?" She screamed at Reno as he crawled out unable to stand up for laughing.
"Haha tha-that was great hahaha you should have seen your face!" Reno pulled himself to his feet, his sides aching from laughing so hard.
"Like I would EVER sleep with a jerk like you." She shouted.
"Not a morning person are you?"
"Go away!" She pushed him out the way to get back to the tent.
"Aww come on I'm not that bad am I?" He walked up to her arms open but she took a step back. "Come on what's hug between friends?"
"I'm not your friend remember?"
Reno lowered his arms and sighed. "Look it was just a joke." For once he actually looked serious. "I know we were enemies before but, that's all in the past."
"In the past? You killed three of my friends, kidnapped Aeris and not to mention the amount of times you tried to kill me and the rest of Avalanche."
"Well... Yeah I guess but you got Aeris back and we never actually managed to kill you either doesn't that mean anything." Reno gave her a sympathetic look.
"Yes it means you're an incompetent jerk." She turned round wondering where Vincent was in all this.
"If you're looking for vampire boy he's trying to pick up Cloud's trail." Reno pointed off down the path. "He went down that way."
"Well since were all up I guess we should head out." Tifa yawned and turned back to Reno. "You can pack up the tents while I go make sure Vincent is alright."
Tifa got about a hundred meters down the path when she turned back round and headed back to her tent. "Did you forget something?" Reno tried hard not to start laughing again at the fact Tifa had nearly continued their journey wearing nothing but a T-shirt.
"Shut up!" She stomped back into the tent resisting the urge to take her anger out on Reno again.
Further down Vincent was tracking down Cloud making sure this was the way he went. 'He must have headed towards Costa de Sol, his tracks seem to lead in a straight line in that direction. He stood up following the trail with his eyes. 'I should head back to camp, hopefully we can catch up with Cloud when he reaches Costa de Sol.'
Vincent turned back and started walking back the way he had come. After a few minutes he stopped and looked round path. "Whoever you are come out."
Some footsteps could be heard but they seemed to becoming from both sides of the path. 'An ambush, I must be getting careless to fall for such a trap.' He un-holstered his gun and took a few steps forward listening for any movement. "Unless you have a death wish I suggest you leave here now." He heard some movement to his left and before his eyes even managed to look round he fired shot in its direction, something let out a scream and dived back behind cover, the bullet had missed but whatever was stalking Vincent had decided to take another approach.
Vincent ran up to a near by bolder and jumped on top trying to see what was hiding behind the rocks, he saw something dark move around in the shadows but as he raised his gun to shoot at it something else jumped onto his back causing him to fall forward dropping the weapon. He hit the ground hard and grunted when he tried to stand up but whatever was clinging to his back decided to make that difficult. "Relese me!" Vincent swung his arms behind him trying to hit the creature but it only seemed to worsen things as it dug its claws deep into his back.
"Aghh, get off!" Vincent pushed off the ground hitting the side of the bolder with his back, the creature been sandwiched in between. It let out a cry and loosened its grip on Vincent, but as it did its companion who had been hiding behind the rocks decided to join in.
For a few seconds Vincent had a clear look at the creature, it resembled something between an over grown lizard and a monkey, it ran towards him on all fours and then pulled itself up waving its arms around in a frenzy screaming at him. 'What is this creature? It acts like its completely mad but they managed to work together perfectly to form a trap.' It was furless, its black skin was thick rubbery and the eyes were completely white. These features only seemed to aid Vincent's thought that the creatures were insane, its movements didn't seem to make sense it more like it was just moving its legs and arms at random.
Vincent spotted his weapon on ground but before he could react the creature in front of him jumped at his face gripping its claws into his arms and biting into his neck. He slammed his back once more into the bolder causing the creature behind him cry out as it fell to the ground, the other was still tearing out chunks of his neck as Vincent tried to free his arms to grab at it.
After a few seconds had gone by Vincent started to feel dizzy from the lack of blood, he tried again to bring his arms up to pull the creature off but each time he did the creature just dug its claws further into his skin. 'I can't keep this up much longer.'
As Vincent closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable a huge bolt of lightning tore through the creatures back causing it to scream franticly and fall to the ground. It scurried off into the rocks leaving a thick trail of blood behind it, Vincent let out a slight grin as he new it wouldn't be long until it bled out and died. He dropped to his feet feeling light headed only barely a where of Tifa who was trying her hardest to patch up his neck wound.
"Is he ok?" Reno walked into Vincent's vision strapping his nightstick back into its holder.
"He's lost a lot of blood, I don't heve enough supplies to cure him." Tifa continued to treat the wound, pouring a potion into the cut. "We need to get to a store."
"That may not be too easy, it's just as far back to Corel as it is to Costa del Sol." From where he was stood Reno could easily make out the clearing that lead to the grass lands, going back to Corel would be quicker if they could use the train tracks but now they were in use again it would be a death trap to walk along them. The only way back to Corel would be back the way they came and that was a day's journey, plus now they would have to carry Vincent.
Tifa finished with Vincent's wound and turned to Reno. "Well either way we better get moving I don't think he can last too long without something stronger than a potion."
"What about Highwind?" Reno asked picking up Vincent's gun.
"Cid? Of course!" Tifa kicked herself for not thinking of it earlier, she pulled out the Phs and dialed up Cid hoping he wasn't too far away.
The device rang a few times before she heard a click and Cid's familiar voice. "Cid where are you?"
"Err bout half way between sunny town and Junon, why?"
"Vincent's been attacked." She explained. "He's lost a lot of blood I've tried to stop it but he needs help."
"Ok I'm on my way back." Tifa could hear him already adjusting the controls over the phone.
"Great meet us at the end of the mountain path to Corel." Tifa turned to Reno who was helping Vincent to his feet. When he was sure he could stand up on his own Reno used a cure materia on Vince to help, the wound mostly closed as the green light seeped into his neck but it was still only a quick fix. Vincent had still lost a lot of blood, Reno was surprised that he still managed to remain conscious.
"I'll be there in a half hour." Tifa was about to switch the device off when Cid started again. "Oh yeah I almost forgot about Cloud."
Tifa's eyes widened. "Did you see him? Is he ok?"
"Yeah he looks fine, well maybe a little sea sick but what else is new."
"He's with you?" Tifa asked a little confused.
"No he's taking a ship, looks like it's heading towards Junon." Tifa's instincts had been right. 'So he was heading overseas, but why?'
"Well there's not much we can do right now. Dammit by the time you get here and back out to sea Cloud will have reached Junon and then were back to square one." Tifa shot a look over at Vincent. 'It could be worse I guess, another few minutes and that.. thing would have finished him.'
"Don't worry Tif, I'm sure Spike knows what he's doing he can take care of himself. We can patch Vince up on board the Highwind its got enough supplies." Cid could tell by the tone of her voice that she was worried, the sooner they got to Junon the better.
"(Sigh) Your right Cid. Hurry up and get here."
"Be there in a flash." Tifa heard a click as Cid turned off his Phs. 'Ok now all I have to do is get Vincent to the end off this path without anymore surprises.'
"What's going on?" She half jumped remembering Reno was here.
"Cid's found Cloud crossing the ocean." She walked over and helped him to lift Vincent who was still only half conscious. "He's heading back to pick us up at the end of this path."
"Is Cloud with him?"
"No he was on a ship heading to Junon but at this rate I doubt we will catch up with him." Tifa felt slightly annoyed that if they had just stayed aboard the Highwind in the first place none of this would have happened. 'Too late now.'
Reno just nodded. Tifa still felt strange having Reno help her, she was use to fighting him every time they crossed paths. Two years ago if they had met, Reno would most likely been trying to put an end to Vincent's life not helping to save it. "Well then let's get a move on the sooner we get out off this dump the sooner we'll find your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend." Even though Tifa had accepted that her and Cloud didn't belong together she still felt upset that it was never meant to be. After waiting a few seconds she was surprised that Reno had kept quite and didn't decide to start making fun of her, instead he just helped carry Vincent along the path while staring at the floor. 'What's up with him? He's acting so weird lately, strange.'
__________________________________________
"Anything?"
"No nothing." Rude walked up to Red after searching the rest of the Stadium. "It seems this was the only incident."
"But why? This man is just as normal as anyone else, he doesn't look wealthy by the clothes he wore and his wallet didn't hold much either." Red couldn't understand what the man was killed for. 'Its like this man was just killed for the fun of it.'
"I questioned the woman who first saw the body but she just said she was trying to find a quite spot for a while and found him here well, what's left of him." Rude examined the pieces that were scattered around under the stand. "Did you find anything?"
"I'm not sure." Red walked over to one of the bloodstains on the floor. "You see here the footprints."
Rude examined the spot. "Looks like a normal footprint."
"Yes but look here," Red moved his paw and taped the ground. "The footprints carry on but these are different, they look like boots."
"So?"
"They do not appear anywhere else, they just start here where the others end." Red pointed out.
"...." Rude didn't know what happened here, he'd seen many things as a Turk but nothing like this. 'No attempt to cover up, no obvious reason to kill and no witnesses, what was the point?' He decided to go back outside, the smell was awful and making him feel light headed. Rude walked past the area where Red was examining quite fascinated by the puzzle when Rude heard a crack as he stepped on something.
"...?" He kneeled down and picked up the object.
"What's that?" Red had noticed the sound too.
"I'm not sure, it looks like some kind of claw or part of one anyway." Rude walked out and held the object up in the light.
"Maybe a creature found its way into the Stadium."
"With out anyone noticing, I doubt it." The security at the Gold Saucer was very tight and the chances of a monster finding its way here would be next to zero.
"It doesn't seem like there is anything else here." Red followed Rude out of the stands. "Perhaps we should take this piece to be examined."
"Do you have such a laboratory at Cosmo Canyon?"
"No but there is in Neo Midgar, what ever this piece is I'm sure the equipment there will help." He explained.
"...." Rude adjusted his sunglasses and nodded, it was pointless to stay here. 'Also Reno hasn't called back since he dropped off Elena at the hospital, I wonder why he decided to stay with Tifa.' Before Elena had gotten her self hurt Rude had seen Reno talking with some smart looking businessman and for once he thought Reno was trying to get them a job but when he returned Reno just said it was nothing.
Red headed over to the exit and Rude started to follow. 'When we reach Neo Midgar I should call him, if he knows how to do anything it's how to stir up trouble.'
___________________________________________
"Sir... Sir,"
Cloud rolled over not wanting to wake up.
"Sir we have arrived at Junon."
'Great I can finally get off this tub.' Cloud opened one eye still not happy about waking up. "How long till we dock."
"We already have sir, you are the last aboard." The crewman was joined by another who was carrying in fresh supplies from shore.
'Figures I'd be last out, now first I need to go to the top deck and make sure that Aeris doesn't get off before me.' He sat up off the bed rubbing his eyes. 'Wait a minute.' Cloud faced the crewman. "Did you say I was the last on board?"
"Yes, everyone else has left."
'F^£K!' Cloud fully awakened. "Aeris." He leapt out of the bed and ran up the stairs to the top deck, he reached the balcony and scanned the peer. 'I can't see her!'
Cloud ran down the ramp and out on to the streets of Junon. 'I don't believe this.'
"Oh it's you." Cloud turned and saw it was the same crewman who had helped him after he collapsed on board the ship. "You know you really should go visit the hospital here, I can make a quick call if you need an appointment."
"No that's ok." Cloud didn't have time to be visiting anywhere right now.
"Well ok then but if there's anyway I can help just let me know." The crewman headed back on board the ship.
"Wait maybe there is," Cloud shouted back. "Did you see a girl in a pink dress and red jacket leave the ship?"
The crewman stood there for a moment thinking. "I think I know who you mean, she waited behind for a while here but after everyone had gone she just left."
'Great she was right there all the time waiting for me, I just had to fall asleep.' "Did you see which way she headed?" If Aeris had stayed behind then she couldn't have gotten too far away.
"Over toward the middle section." He pointed towards to where the cannon had once sat.
"Thanks." Cloud sprinted off in that direction hoping to catch up with her. 'If it wasn't for that stupid dream I would have met her back there and that would be it.' Cloud scanned the people who he passed by. The actual city of Junon hadn't grown that much it was just the airport and docks which had been expanded, this made things a bit easier for Cloud.
After reaching the middle section Cloud slowed down checking each store he passed. When he entered the materia shop Cloud recognized some of the passengers form the ship. 'Great if they haven't gotten far maybe Aeris hasn't either.'
Cloud looked down the street at how many stores were left. 'Weapons shop, Items store and the Dinner.' He walked up to third one just taking a quick look in the stores as he passed by. 'You know I haven't eaten since yesterday, I could really go for a burger or something.' Deciding taking another half hour grabbing a bite to eat Cloud walked into the dinner. 'If I rent a Chocobo once I'm finished I should be able to catch up to Aeris.'
"What'll it be?" The waitress handed Cloud a menu as he sat down at the counter.
"I'll just have a burger and fries." He propped his sword up against the counter and handed the menu back without even looking at it.
"Ok that will be 50 Gil." Cloud gave her the money and returned to his thoughts. "It'll be ready in a few minutes." She turned and headed into the kitchen.
After awhile the waitress returned and handed Cloud his food. 'Been awhile since I've been out alone, usually Tifa would be with me for lunch.' He took a bite of his burger. 'I know me and Tif never really hit it off on our dates but then again she's become one of my best friends.'
Cloud watched a couple walk in from outside, he recognized them from the ship too. 'Strange if Aeris was waiting for me why did she run off in the first place.' He took another bit of his food. 'What will I say when we meet? Oh hi how you been? Have a nice trip from the afterlife? Wow you lost weight. Weathers nice isn't it?' Cloud had always wanted Aeris back but he never thought what he would say when he met her again. 'Why can't anything be easy?'
"Hey look it's that nice lady we met onboard the ship." Cloud heard the couple that came in talking.
"Where?" The man looked out the window. "Oh yeah I see her, she was very charming indeed."
"Do you think she would like to join us for lunch?" The woman asked.
"I don't know, what was her name again?" He sat trying to recall the name.
"Oh I, I can't remember I'm usually so good with names to."
"Air... it was like that, she said she was looking for someone." Cloud took interest in the couples conversation after hearing this.
"Yes that's right, I wonder if she found him."
"You think 'someone' is a him?" The man asked.
"Oh of course! A girl as pretty and charming as her would surly have a boyfriend."
"Erm excuse me." Cloud approached the couple. "Where is this girl you were talking about?"
The woman turned and looked at Cloud for a moment and then pointed out the window. "Over there see? I wonder if she found who she was looking for." The woman turned and looked back at Cloud but found he had disappeared.
Outside Cloud ran across the street as fast as he could. 'There she is!' Aeris was stood waiting near the T-junction which lead down to the under water reactor.
"Aeris!" Cloud shouted. Aeris heard him and turned to look at who was calling her. When she spotted Cloud and smile formed on her lips and she started running down the street in the opposite direction of Cloud.
'What's she doing?' Cloud ran faster trying to catch Aeris up. "Aeris wait!" She headed into the tunnel that lead down to the reactor. 'That's a dead end, what's she trying to do?'
Aeris stopped out side the lift and pushed the button, she tapped her foot impatiently waiting for the doors to open as Cloud approached. 'Hurry up!'
Cloud was just a few meters away when the lift doors opened and Aeris stepped in. Cloud skidded to a halt as he reached the lift, he looked inside just as the doors closed and saw Aeris smiling as she waved at him. "Aeris!" Cloud punched the steel doors as he heard the lift going down. "What the hell is she doing?"
Cloud franticly pressed the elevator button hoping that pressing it harder would some how make it return quicker. 'This is the second time I've been too late.' After what seemed hours the lift finally returned and Cloud leaped inside pushing the button for the lower level, there were only two floors the lift visited so Cloud could easily follow. As the door closed Cloud heard someone call his name from outside but by the time he realized the doors had already shut tight. 'Too late now.'
The lift hummed softly as it descended down below sea level. 'This kinda reminds me of the dream I had aboard the ship.' Cloud tried to remember the scene in his head. 'What was going on? We were in Neo Midgar, the mayors building at the center of the city. Who was shooting at us? Who was in the Mayor's office?'
The lift shook as it stopped and the doors slid open. Cloud stepped out and walked on ahead, the doors shut behind him and the lift headed back up. 'I guess someone wants to join me.' The reactor had just been left alone after been shut down, no one had any use for it and since the monsters down here hadn't been affected by Holy no one wanted to even come down to dismantle it.
Cloud headed down the corridor, he looked through the clear walls out into the open water. A strange noise could be heard up ahead but Cloud didn't take notice he just looked out into the water as he walked along. The sound grew closer and Cloud faced forward, one of the Shin-Ra security bots approached him. The spiked ball below the machine spined round as the bulk of the android levitated above. Cloud unsheathed his sword and watched the machine carefully. 'No problem.'
The machine charged forward at Cloud throwing a punch at him but Cloud rolled to the side causing it to miss totally. Before the machine could fully spin round Cloud brought his sword round cutting it clean in half. The two pieces fell to the floor sparks flying out of the holes, the ball below spun round pointlessly before smashing into the wall. Cloud withdrew his sword and started towards the reactor once more. 'Easy.'
As he reached the elevator he heard a soft hum and then the door opened. 'Guess she went down.' Cloud walked in and pushed the button, the doors shut and he went deeper into the reactors center. 'Why is she down here?' Air flowed up the clear tubes in each corner of the lift as it descended, once it reached the bottom the water flooded each tube.
"Aeris." Cloud called down the corridor hoping for an answer he but got nothing. As he carried on the air seemed to get warmer the further down he went. 'I don't remember it been this warm last time.'
He reached the sub-marine bay, the temperature had risen up a few degrees but seemed to level off now. 'Where is she?' There were no subs in the bay all of them had been brought up to Junon and used else where, there was no other way out. Cloud looked round noticing some construction equipment on the floor near a set of heavy-duty doors. 'Strange, they all look brand new but no one has been down here in over a year.'
Walking up to the doors Cloud felt the same sensation as he felt before his dreams. 'Not now!' He shook his head trying to get rid of the feeling and it seemed to work. 'I can't afford to loose it here, not when I'm this close.' He pushed the doors open and then was covered in a green light that flooded from inside the room. After standing in the light a few moments Cloud managed to open his eyes, he looked around the room and his mouth dropped in awe.
"What is this place?" Cloud took a few steps forward, the room glowed in a soft green light. It was around 10 meters long and wide, the walls were covered with computers each seemed to be performing its own task. In the center was a round pool the source of the green light. "Lifestream." To each side of the pool was a set of stairs that came up and joined above the Lifestream. "What the hell is going on?"
Cloud stood at the edge of the pool watching his reflection sway about in the green liquid. 'This is Lifestream but... it looks different as if.. as if it was deeper than usual, as if it lead further away, strange.' He noticed something else's reflection in the liquid. To his right was a crystal formation that had grown out of the pool, in the center Cloud could see a materia orb glowing brightly. He walked up and examined the green orb before reaching out to hold it but as soon as his fingers touched it a burst of energy shot Cloud across the room slamming him into the wall.
"Agh!!" He pulled himself to his feet. "What the hell was THAT?"
"Hahaha."
"Huh?" Cloud looked up at the ledge above the pool and saw Aeris giggling. "Aeris."
"You took your time." She said smiling.
He ran up the stairs ignoring the pain form the blast he just absorbed and took Aeris in his arms hugging her tightly while closing his eyes. "I can't believe your here." Cloud felt some sort of shuffling in his arms but he didn't care.
"Why Cloud, I didn't know you felt this way about me."
"Huh?" Cloud stepped back as he heard the voice, it was a voice that did not belong to Aeris but to someone who Cloud hated more that anyone or anything.
"Y-y-you," Cloud's eyes widened in shock at who was stood before him. "H- how?"
The man stood there in all black, behind him a long thin sword stretched out as he held it in one hand. The long silver hair flowed down his back, the evil grin on his face meant only for Cloud.
"Sephiroth." _______________________________________
"Are we there yet?"
"No." Barret replied.
"How much further?" Yuffie was complaining as usual.
"Not long."
"You keep saying that." She stomped ahead.
"Well if you would quit yer complaining and kept up the pace maybe we would be there by now." For the past day Barret had put up with Yuffie's complaints but was now seriously tempted to just gag her and carry her the rest of the way just for some peace and quite. "Look you can just make out the town out now."
Yuffie stared into the distance. "Aw gawd its 'that' far away." She kicked the ground in fury. "Why do we have to go to this stupid town anyway, its not like they have any decent stuff or materia.
"We're looking for Cloud remember?" This was the fifth time Barret had to remind Yuffie that they were searching for Cloud and not new materia.
"Oh, heh yeah of course, good old Cloud."
After another hour of walking and listening to Yuffie complain Barret finally reached Gongaga.
"Whoa this place has changed." Barret walked in through the gates. The small town had expanded quite a bit, new buildings could be seen in every direction either built new or still under construction. The destroyed reactor in the middle of town had been cleared away and in its place was now a memorial statue built to commemorate those kill by the explosion.
Most of the buildings in the area were hotels or small gift shops, most likely because those who travel from Costa de Sol and the Gold Saucer down to Cosmo Canyon will want a place to stay for the night, now the town had turned into a tourist trap.
Both Barret and Yuffie headed down the street keeping an eye out for Cloud. "So where do you think he'll be?"
"Dunno, knowing him he could be anywhere." Barret shot a glance down each ally they passed.
After a little while of searching and no Cloud, Barret was wondering if he came down here at all. "This could take a while to search the entire town, maybe we should get a room at the Inn over there just in case."
"You mean we have to stay? But, but its soo boring here." Yuffie complained hoping it would be enough to change Barret's mind.
"If we leave here today it means another night of camping out." Barret looked at her. "Do you really want that?"
Yuffie recalled the last night they shared together. "Err good point I'll go get us a room." She ran across the street towards the Inn.
"Yuffie." Barret called. She turned to look back at him. "Separate rooms." Barret threw and small bag of Gil at her.
"Gotcha." She caught the bag and ran into the Inn.
A few minutes later Yuffie returned from the Inn holding two keys. "No. 12 and No.18" She said handing Barret one of the keys. "Far enough apart?"
"Yeah at least I won't be able to hear your snoring anymore." Barret chuckled and started back down the street.
"Hey! I told you I DON'T snore." Yuffie yelled and chased him down the street.
When they reached the outer section of the town Yuffie stopped in front of one of the buildings. "Global Corp." She looked at Barret. "What's this place?"
Barret took a look at the building. "They're an electronics company, very high tech." The building was huge but not very impressive, the outside walls were a plain gray and through the glass they could see that inside things weren't much more interesting. "They have an office in Corel, this looks like it's their main building."
"Doesn't look like much." Yuffie stated.
"What ever it is it looks like they want to move in to some sort of space equipment." Yuffie gave Barret a weird look wondering how he new all this.
"How do you know?" She asked.
"Cid was talking yesterday but I suppose you weren't listening."
Yuffie rolled her eyes. 'Like who could listen to that old geezer talk?'
"He said that the owner wants to have a meeting with him next week, some guy named Tysall owns the entire company and wants Cid to do a job for him." Barret finished.
"Woo, hoo." Yuffie regretted asking about something so boring.
They turned and carried on down the street, Barret wondered how things were going in Tifa's group and whether Red had managed to find anything back at the Gold Saucer. "Spike sure knows how to stir up some mayhem, heh just like old times."
_________________________________________
The Highwind touched down on the ground at the base of the Corel Mountains. Tifa and Reno helped Vincent aboard moments later.
"So how's he doing?" Reeve walked up and met the trio.
"Ok." Tifa followed the arrows on the floor toward the conference room. "We need to fix up some of his wounds but it's the loss of blood that's the worst."
They sat Vincent down in one of the chairs and Tifa stretched out her arms free from the load. "As long as he gets some rest he'll be back to normal within a few days."
The room shook as the Highwind took off and Tifa ran off to meet Cid leaving Reno and Reeve in the conference room.
"Well I never expected 'you' to join Avalanche." Reeve sat down in one of the chairs.
"Me?" Reno pointed to himself. "Join Avalanche, ha don't make me laugh."
"So what are you doing here?" Reeve asked. "I can't say I've ever heard of this rule you told Tifa about."
"That's none of your business." Reno stated and then walked out he room.
Meanwhile in the control room Cid filled Tifa in about Cloud been on the ship. "So why do you think he was heading for Junon?"
"Dunno, Reeve said he look quite calm on the ship so I doubt it was anything serious." Cid explained.
"How long until we get there?"
The Highwind was one of the fastest ships ever built and Cid made sure that his ship was better than any other out there.
"Bout another 2 hours." Cid set the ship on autopilot. "We shouldn't be too far behind the ship when it arrives."
"Good, after we arrive I'll have Reeve take Vincent for a check up the rest of us will search the city." Tifa ordered.
"Wow." Cid laughed.
"What?" She asked.
"Your really starting to sound like a leader."
"You think so?" Cid nodded. "Huh well I learned from the best." Tifa turned and headed out the door.
"Yeah. I'm am the best aren't I." Cid said proudly putting his hands on his hips.
"I was talking about Cloud." She shouted back.
"%^£$, Spike? Better than me." Cid laughed taking out another cigarette. "Yeah right."
Tifa walked up to the open deck, when she opened the door she half expected Reno to be stood there again but this time he wasn't. She walked over and took her usual place leaning on the side railings. Looking over the side as the jet flew across the grasslands she let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. 'Wait a minute, did I just get upset that Reno wasn't up here. What is up with me?'
The door behind slammed making Tifa jump. "Oh its you."
"Were you expecting anyone else?" Reno walked over to the other side of the deck.
"No not really."
The two stood there awkwardly in silence.
"So ahhhh... you going to be leaving us when we reach Junon?" Tifa spoke up. "Since you know, we found Cloud and all."
"Maybe," He answered slowly. "But we haven't really found him yet and he might have moved on by the time we get there, sooo that means I haven't really finished yet."
"Yeah I guess."
"Why? You gonna miss me when I go?" Reno grinned.
"Ha yeah right, I just wanted to make sure I would get another chance to kick you butt." She laughed.
"Really and what makes you think you would succeed?" He walked over to her acting cocky.
"Well lets see, first there's the fact a beat you in the arena," She held up one finger.
"Luck." Reno replied simply.
"Second," She held up another finger. "Each time we fought when you worked for Shin-Ra we managed to wipe the floor with you."
"You had help."
"And third.." Before Tifa could finish the Highwind reached the ocean and lowered down just above the water causing the seawater to spray up from the jets totally soaking Tifa. "Ahh! Dammit!" She screamed. She tried to walk over to the middle of the platform but then slipped on the wet floor landing firmly on her rear end. "Oww."
Reno ran over to her helping her up. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, ow... I'm fine." She fully stood shaking her arm trying to shake off some of the water. "One joke and you dead." She said firmly.
"What makes you think I would make a joke?" Reno smiled. "Come on let me help." Reno took his jacket off and wrapped it around Tifa's shoulders.
"Thanks." She pulled the jacket around tightly, her hair completely soaked through stuck to her body. Reno led her to the door making sure she didn't slip again.
"What the hell happened to you?" Cid stared up at the two as they walked down the stairs.
Tifa walk straight past and headed towards the conference room, Reno followed closer behind. "Don't ask." He smiled making sure Tifa didn't see.
After spending a long time with a hair dryer and putting on a fresh set of clothes Tifa finally came out of the bathroom and headed over to the bridge.
"Feel better?" Cid grinned as Tifa walked in, she shot a quick look at Reno, obviously he had told Cid what happened.
"Fine, how long until we reach Junon?" She walked up to the window.
"Bout 10 minutes." Cid estimated.
Reno yawned board of been stuck in the same place for so long. "I feel like I've been in this thing for days."
"Would you prefer to walk?" Cid asked pointing to the door.
"Funny." Reno crossed his arms.
"Well boys you better get ready for when we land." Tifa jumped in. "Reno you and Cid are with me, Reeve you take Vincent to the Hospital and call us when you get back, clear?" They all nodded. "Good." She smiled and headed over to the exit.
"You heard the lady." Reno went with Reeve and helped Vincent to the exit while Cid brought the Highwind out of autopilot.
The Highwind set down at Junon airport and Reeve walked out helping Vincent to the hospital while Tifa, Cid and Reno headed out into the city.
"So where to first?" Cid asked.
"Um well... I don't know." Tifa stopped walking. "Where should we start?"
"If Cloud arrived here on a ship perhaps its best to start at the docks." Reno suggested.
"Hmm not just a handsome face." Tifa winked and started to run towards the docks.
Reno leaned over to Cid. "She wants me." He said smugly while Cid just rolled his eyes.
Tifa ran down the sidewalk and was just about to reach the T-Junction when she skidded to a halt and froze. Cid and Reno caught up a few moments later wondering what was wrong.
"Hey Tif you ok?" Cid tapped her on the shoulder.
"I-It can't be." Tifa pointed ahead at the girl stood at the T-Junction.
"Holy ^%£% is that who I think it is." Cid shouted out.
"...Aeris." Reno finished.
Before any of them could react the girl turned and ran down the tunnel and if not to add to there surprise soon after Cloud shot out of the store opposite and sprinted down the tunnel after her.
"Cloud." Tifa whispered, she shot off after him, Reno and Cid quickly followed.
Tifa reached the corner and shot a glance down the tunnel, she saw Cloud stepping into the elevator that lead down to the under water reactor. "Cloud!" She shouted but he didn't seem to hear. Tifa ran up to the lift and pressed the button constantly until it returned back up a minute later.
The three of them walked in and Cid pressed the button to go down. "You know I might be a little behind sometimes but I'm quite sure that Aeris was... well, you know."
"Dead." Reno finished.
Tifa stood there speechless. 'So that's why he came here. It all makes sense, well, apart from Aeris actually been alive and all.' The lift hummed softly as it descended down.
The doors slid open and the trio ran out into the ocean view corridor. Tifa could tell Cloud had come this way as one of the security bots laid in two pieces along the floor. "Do you think he went further down?" She asked as they reached the next lift.
"There are no other routes in this place, just this elevator. And after that there's just the sub-marine bay and the old reactor core." Reno stated.
"Guess you would know." Cid added.
Tifa ignored them both and waited for the lift to return. "Why would they be down here?"
"As far as I know the entire place was shut down after Shin-Ra was finished, the place is just abandoned now." Reno answered.
The doors opened as the lift arrived and they stepped in. "Well I guess were going to find out soon." Tifa pushed the button and the lift took them further into the reactor. When they reached the sub-marine level Reno lead the way towards the docking station.
"There's no one here." Cid pointed out the obvious.
Tifa turned to Reno. "Are you sure there's no other way out?"
"Positive."
"Agh!" The three turned in shock as someone cried out in pain.
"What the $£^% was that?" Cid shouted.
"It came from that room." Tifa pointed across the sub-marine bay.
"Strange," Reno started. "I don't remember that room. This equipment wasn't here the last time I came either."
"Do you think it was Cloud?" Cid asked looking at Tifa, she felt her stomach turn upside down at the thought.
"Come on!" Reno was already in the lead when she shouted the order.
________________________________________
"Uurggk" Cloud tried to speak as Sephiroth held his throat tightly.
"What's the matter Cloud?" He asked. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."
Cloud pulled on Sephiroth's fingers trying to pull them back far enough to breath. "W-w-where..." He choked. "Where is.... A-Aeri..."
"Oh her." Sephiroth brushed the hair out of his face. "She's right where I left her," He looked at Cloud puzzled. "You remember don't you Cloud?" Sephiroth waved his sword in front of Cloud's face.
Cloud tried to speak again but he couldn't find the air to do so. "You remember right? When she was on the alter?" Cloud threw a punch but he couldn't reach Sephiroth's face. "You failed her didn't you." An evil grin formed on his face once again. "Just like you failed now.
"Cloud!" Tifa burst through the door and saw Cloud struggling to free himself from Sephiroth's grip. The two shot a glance at Tifa and the others as they ran in, Sephiroth's grip on Cloud's throat loosened for a second and Cloud quickly took advantage lifting his legs up and kicking him straight in the chest. Sephiroth staggered back and lost his grip while Cloud took a step back and drew his Ultima weapon.
"Why are you giving me the dreams?" He shouted.
"Dreams? What are you talking about?" Sephiroth recovered quickly and laughed at Cloud as he drew his sword. "What? Do you really think you can beat me?"
"I did once before," Cloud leaped forward and preformed his Braver technique bringing the sword down as hard as he could. "And I'll do it ag..." The sword came down and Sephiroth just held his arm out to block the attack, suicide for any normal person. The sword hit dead on but to Cloud's horror the blade completely shattered as it hit Sephiroth arm, the force of the hit threw Cloud back into the wall.
"What the hell?" Cloud gasped.
Tifa and the other ran up the stairs to help Cloud but Sephiroth just held his hand out again casting Ultima. The spell hit all three of the fighters throwing them across the room.
"Agh! The %$£^ is this, people pinball?" Cid growled as he tried to stand up.
Cloud stood up once more, the shattered blade still in his hand. "Great now what?"
Sephiroth turned his attention back to Cloud. "Not as easy as last time Strife." He walked up to Cloud holding his hand out again, the center glowed as the fire spell formed. Cloud could see Sephiroth had all the mastered materia attached and this didn't help one bit. The fireball launched hitting Cloud dead on causing him to fall to his feet.
Down below Reno helped Tifa up, keeping his eyes on Sephiroth's moves. "How can he be 'that' powerful?"
"I don't know he.. he wasn't this strong last time we fought him." Tifa tapped the Comet materia on her arm, the green orb glowed brightly ready to be cast. Sephiroth didn't notice he spell been cast but as the huge comet crashed into him from behind he just tilted his head and waved at Tifa, grinning evilly looking no worse for wear.
Sephiroth cast another Ultima spell on Tifa and the others slamming them into the wall. While Cid fell unconscious Tifa and Reno could only watch the scene unfold before them, completely exhausted the two were powerless to help.
Cloud ran forward throwing six continuous punches but each one missed as Sephiroth dodged to the side gracefully. "Come Cloud can't you see that you cannot win."
Sephiroth reached out to grab Cloud by the throat once again but he barely managed to dodge to the side. "(Sigh) This doesn't have to be difficult." Sephiroth drew his sword.
Cloud looked down at the shattered remains of his weapon and then back again at Sephiroth. "Oh yeah, this is going well."
Sephiroth leaped forward without warning, his masamune pointed directly at Cloud's chest. Cloud tried to dodge to the side but Sephiroth's speed was too great and the sword ran straight threw Cloud's shoulder.
"Agh! %$^£." Cloud grabbed the blade trying to pull it out.
Sephiroth swung the sword round throwing Cloud to the other side of the platform. "Don't worry Cloud," He leaned over and picked him up by the neck. "You're not going to die just yet."
Sephiroth walk over to the ledge with Cloud still in his grasp. "You always wanted to visit the Promised Land didn't you?" He held his arm out over the glowing pool, Cloud dangled over the side trying to put his feet on the ledge. "Well, now you get your wish." Sephiroth released his hold on Cloud's neck."Have a nice trip."
Cloud swung his arms hoping for something to grab onto but he just fell further, his back hit the pool and a wash of green liquid covered his face.
Cloud tried to keep his eyes open as he sank further down into the Lifestream, in the back of his mind he could feel the pain growing like before. 'Great just what I need.' Cloud concentrated, this pain felt different somehow, it felt stronger and clearer. 'F^£k it.' He just closed his eyes and let the inevitable happen.
___________________________________________
Note: Yep like I said much bigger chapter. Thanks to those who reviewed I appreciate it. I have already started the next chapter since I couldn't post this one when I finished it so that will be along shortly. Don't forget to leave a review!