Chapter 13: The Fall of Hollow Bastion – Cid's New Toy
The three ran down the dark street, all around them Heartless began to form and take shape. Cloud resisted the urge to take his sword and fight them off and instead continued to run towards the huge castle in the center of town.
The entire city was in chaos as the shadows raided every house they came across. In the back of his mind Cloud silently hoped that they wouldn't come across anything bigger to slow them down.
'Straight in and out to get Cid, then pick up Zack, he'll most likely be helping fight off the creatures near the castle.' He looked over his shoulder and saw Aerith and Yuffie keeping up with him. 'Then that just leaves the problem of getting away from this place. I don't know how to use the rift opening method Sephiroth knows about.'
"Hey look!" Yuffie shouted while pointing ahead. "I can see the gates."
Cloud snapped out of his daydreaming and looked ahead. In front of the huge metal gates of the castle he could see the Soldier reinforcements fighting away the shadows. SeeD members were also fighting them off but even with their combined force the fight was becoming in favor of the shadows.
The three stopped just a little away from the fighting, Cloud didn't want to get involved anymore than he had too. "So where will Cid be?"
Yuffie just looked at him and shrugged. "How should I know?"
"Wonderful."
Aerith shook her head sighing. "Don't you two listen to him?"
The two stared blankly back at her. "...?"
She sighed again before explaining. "He keeps going on about that project for Ansem, you know, the one he complains about every morning?"
"Oh yeah." They both replied.
"He's most likely in the work station."
"Make sense I guess." Yuffie turned round and pointed at the castle. "Well, the station is over there. So how are we going to get through?"
Cloud examined the situation, the castle was been attacked from all sides but so far the Soldier's and SeeD members seemed to be holding the shadows off at the gates. "Ok, simple." Cloud handed his bag over to the girls. "Take this and find Cid, I'll help distract the shadows while you slip by."
Before giving the two a chance to argue Cloud drew his sword and ran straight a head at the on going fight. Aerith stood with both her arms dragged down by the heavy bags. 'He does this on purpose I know it.'
"So are we going?"
"Huh?" The flower girl looked down as Yuffie took the other side of the bag to help lift it. "Yeah, I guess it's now or never."
The two ran ahead straight through the fighting, the shadows didn't seem to take any notice of them and continued to attack the Soldier's defending the castle. Aerith gave a quick look back and saw Cloud fighting off one of the shadows up until something strong hit into her back. After hitting the ground she soon felt a pair of hands pull her back up.
"Aerith are you ok?"
"S-Squall? Uhh yeah I, just a bit dizzy." She brushed the dirt of off her hands. "What are you doing here?"
Squall took a quick glance round to make sure nothing was coming their way before answering. "SeeD has orders to keep these creatures away from the castle, every member has been called into action. What about you? This place is too dangerous for you two."
"We're here for Cid." Yuffie answered.
"Cloud says we need to leave here soon but first we came here to find Cid." Aerith picked up her and Cloud's bag again. "Have you seen him?"
"No but, I haven't been looking, have you tried the work station?"
"That's our next stop." She made another quick look to make sure Cloud was ok. "You should come too."
"Come where? Wait it doesn't matter, I can't leave now the city is in chaos."
"Well Cloud said it doesn't matter, this place is history soon." Yuffie just finished speaking as Squall leapt at her, the SeeD member grabbed hold of the ninja before throwing her to the side. As he did one of the small armored shadows attacked the spot Yuffie had been standing in, it swung its claws through the air and managed to make contact with Squall's arm, tearing the flesh apart.
Squall let out a small cry as the creature ripped though his arm, along with the pain off the attack he suddenly found that he could even move it at all. The shadow spun round to make another attack only to be hit in it's face by Aerith's staff, the force of the impact bent the shadows form and sent it though the air a few meters.
"Quick, come on." She quickly retracted the weapon and went to aid Squall.
"I'm, I'm ok." Squall rubbed his arm hoping to get some feeling back in it. "You should hurry and find Cid before things get worse."
"What about you?" Yuffie added.
"I'm ok, this should hopefully ware off after a while."
"And if it doesn't?" Aerith tapped her foot on the floor becoming impatient. "You'll be helpless."
"I'll be fine." He dropped to his knees as the numbness spread to his leg.
The flower girl didn't look to convinced, she took hold of Squall's arm and dragged him aside, forfeiting her bag as a result. "You're coming with us." She nodded at Yuffie who took hold off his other arm.
"Right, so stop complaining and help us get to the work station."
Squall glanced between the two girls and gave in, the numbness in his body was not getting any better. In fact it was becoming worse climbing up his arm and on to his chest. 'Hell, if I can't break away form two girls what chance do I have against these things?' Reluctantly he nodded and pointed towards the direction of the workstation, all the time feeling worse and worse about abandoning his post.
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Cloud lunged forward and cut the shadow in front of him clean in half. These smaller ones were actually easy to take out as long as they weren't in groups.
He shot a quick glance at where Aerith and Yuffie had been last and sighed in relief that they were finally heading towards the castle. 'Finally, now I can get out of here.'
He turned to run towards the castle but then was suddenly hit by something out of place. 'Wait, Zack, he was should be here.' The blond Soldier looked at the fighters and the few that had fallen. 'He's not here. Great, another delay.'
A few more of the fighters had fallen, if it was this bad here he didn't even want to think how bad it was everywhere else in the city. 'Nothing I can do about it now.'
Cloud sheathed his sword and ran towards the Soldier compound and barracks figuring it was the place he would most likely be. Zack had decided to stay in the barracks instead of living somewhere else, he said he liked not having to make his own lunch or laundry. 'Lazy pain in the ass.'
He reach the barracks and ran inside, unfortunately the place was empty apart from one of the smaller shadows. It didn't take any notice of Cloud and instead seemed to be attacking the lights that hung down from the ceiling, of course the two meter gap between it and the light made it quite difficult. 'Idiot.' Deciding to leave the creature to its task Cloud move on to the next building, the training area.
Inside the building was basically one big empty room so Soldier's and SeeD members could practice easily. 'Empty again.' Cloud clenched his fists getting impatient, the only thing in the room was another shadow, though, this one seemed bigger. As it took form it began to be surrounded by some sort of armor, attached to its arm appeared and huge shield that oddly seemed alive its self. The creature overall looked like a huge gorilla in and suit of armor.
Cloud initially decided to ignore the creature but by the time he had turned to the door the huge armored creature had charged at him and already covered half of the gap between them. 'Fast for walking pile of metal.' Not too put off by the creatures hulking size Cloud drew his sword and stood his ground, as the monster approached he swung his sword fiercely but as the blade made contact with the shield the small animal like face grabbed hold of it pulling it away from him.
Cloud stared helplessly as the shield 'thing' spat out his sword on to the ground. 'Helpful.' The other part of the creature then charged at him again and slammed the shield in to Cloud knocking him off of his feet.
A wave of pain washed over his chest from where he'd been hit, the creature was much stronger than it looked.
"Need some help?"
Cloud looked up seeing an open hand and a face with a cocky grin on it. "Where the hell have you been?"
Zack laughed but didn't bother to answer. "You just stay there then and I'll handle this". The black haired Soldier raised his weapon and stared at the armored shadow. Once again the creature lunged forward and tried to bulldoze its opponent down. Zack took a quick simple step to the right while aiming his sword sideways.
The creature charged into the empty space Zack had occupied only moments ago and instead of hitting its target it felt the Soldier as he rammed his sword deep into the monsters side. The black substance inside the armor melted away after the single fatal wound had been made, after a few seconds all that was left was an empty shell.
"Easy." Zack grinned and propped his weapon up against his shoulder. "Well.. once you've trashed a few of them."
"Great now move it." Cloud stood up and retrieved his sword. "We don't have much time."
"Still in a good mood I see." He sighed while shaking his head. "So what you got planed now."
"We're meeting up with Aerith and the others in the work station." Cloud turned and walked towards the door.
"So you patched things up then?" Zack couldn't help let the smile escape on his face. "I knew you liked her."
Cloud turned round and grabbed hold of his arm and pulled the younger Soldier ahead of him. "Stop talking and start walking. If you haven't noticed already this place is under attack."
"Ok, ok. So why are we going to the station?"
"To pick up Cid before we leave."
"Leave?" Zack scratched the back of his head as he followed Cloud out of the building. "Why do I always feel like I'm missing something."
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"What are you talking about?"
"Look old man get your gear packed and move it." Yuffie dragged Cid away from the desk for the third time.
"Cid please, Cloud says we don't have much time left." Aerith pleaded with the pilot.
"Cloud? Sounds to me like he's gone of his block again." Cid pulled away from Yuffie and went back to the two components on his desk.
"But he's serious, we have to leave for Zanarkand now."
"Zanar-what? You sure he's not going nuts?"
"Yes, now will you please hurry up."
Cid turned to face her and saw the serious look she had on, he sighed before answering. "Fine fine, I'm coming. Where is this place then? On this continent or over the ocean."
"Cloud says its another world."
The pilot nearly dropped the cigarette in his mouth as Yuffie answered him. "Another world? Ok, now you sure he's not going nuts?"
"Cid." Aerith stared at him.
"Ok, ok. Actually it not such a crazy thing when I think about it."
Yuffie looked a little stunned. "It's not?"
Cid scratched his head while looking at some of the papers on his desk. "If this Zanarkand is another world, do you have any idea how to get to there?"
"Erm no, Cloud said we would need to figure that out after we got out of the city." Aerith looked curiously at the grin that was building on Cid's face. "Why, what do you have in mind?"
"Heh, just a little something I've been working on." He picked up some of the papers and walked over to one of the large steel doors. "You coming?"
"Umm... sure." Aerith and Yuffie exchanged looks before following. "Squall you coming?"
Squall walked down the stairs returning from his look out position, his leg had mostly recovered but his arm was still useless. "Now what?"
"Just follow me." Cid pulled back the two steel doors and walked through.
Aerith followed next as dropped her mouth as she saw the huge ship docked inside the hanger. "Wow."
"Whoa cool, what is that thing?" Yuffie ran in and immediately after. "Did you build it?"
"Of course, once you figure out how to use those pieces the rest is simple."
"Does it work?" Aerith walk up to it and ran her hand over the strange looking substance. The soft looking jelly like material was actually rock solid.
"Of course it works." Cid snapped. "I built it didn't I."
The flower girl smiled at his cockiness, ever since she was a child Cid had always taken great pride in his work.
"So lets go."
"...?" The three stared confused. "Go?"
Cid push a button on the side of the ship and the ramp lowered down to the floor. "Yes, as in leave this place?"
"Were taking the ship?" Yuffie asked.
"It can travel to other worlds?" Aerith added.
"Of course, I think." Cid scratched his head again but then shook off his doubt. "You got any other way off getting off of this rock?"
Aerith looked at the other two, Yuffie seemed excited to bored the ship, even Squall looked curious to the new addition of Cid's work.
"What about Cloud?" Yuffie asked as she headed towards the ramp.
Aerith answered instantly. "We're going to wait for him."
"Maybe I should go look for him." Squall offered and turned to exit the room.
"No, then we'll have two people missing instead of one. I'm sure Cloud will be here."
At that point they heard steps coming from the stairs in the next room, Aerith ran over and was the first to greet the person.
"Hey I finally found ya." Zack jumped off the last three steps as he was met by the group.
"You took your time." Yuffie complained.
"Hey, well, we kinda ran into some trouble."
"Trouble?" Aerith repeated. "What kind of trouble? And where's Cloud?"
Zack sighed and tried to delay his answer, he purposely blocked the stairway knowing what would happen. "Well..."
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Outside in the middle of the courtyard the two Soldiers stared each other down. All around them the other fighters continued to fight the heartless, they dared not interfere knowing they were out classed.
"I was surprised by your defiance." Sephiroth scowled at the blond Soldier, he was no longer amused by Cloud's resistance as before.
"I don't care, what ever plans you had you can just forget them." Cloud held his weapon in his hands ready for any attack. "I won't listen to your crap anymore."
Sephiroth's look grew darker. "I have put too much into this to have it ruined by you." His hand brushed by the handle of his sword.
Cloud grinned happy he was causing such a problem. "Like I said, I don't care. I will never help you."
"Very well." He griped the handle lightly. "Then I guess there is no other way this can go."
Cloud braced himself griping the sword tighter while aiming the blade towards his target. "Fine."
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And that's all for now, I should hopefully have part 3 up shortly. As usual thank you to all my usual reviewers along with some new ones, I'm glad you all like the Zanarkand idea too.
The three ran down the dark street, all around them Heartless began to form and take shape. Cloud resisted the urge to take his sword and fight them off and instead continued to run towards the huge castle in the center of town.
The entire city was in chaos as the shadows raided every house they came across. In the back of his mind Cloud silently hoped that they wouldn't come across anything bigger to slow them down.
'Straight in and out to get Cid, then pick up Zack, he'll most likely be helping fight off the creatures near the castle.' He looked over his shoulder and saw Aerith and Yuffie keeping up with him. 'Then that just leaves the problem of getting away from this place. I don't know how to use the rift opening method Sephiroth knows about.'
"Hey look!" Yuffie shouted while pointing ahead. "I can see the gates."
Cloud snapped out of his daydreaming and looked ahead. In front of the huge metal gates of the castle he could see the Soldier reinforcements fighting away the shadows. SeeD members were also fighting them off but even with their combined force the fight was becoming in favor of the shadows.
The three stopped just a little away from the fighting, Cloud didn't want to get involved anymore than he had too. "So where will Cid be?"
Yuffie just looked at him and shrugged. "How should I know?"
"Wonderful."
Aerith shook her head sighing. "Don't you two listen to him?"
The two stared blankly back at her. "...?"
She sighed again before explaining. "He keeps going on about that project for Ansem, you know, the one he complains about every morning?"
"Oh yeah." They both replied.
"He's most likely in the work station."
"Make sense I guess." Yuffie turned round and pointed at the castle. "Well, the station is over there. So how are we going to get through?"
Cloud examined the situation, the castle was been attacked from all sides but so far the Soldier's and SeeD members seemed to be holding the shadows off at the gates. "Ok, simple." Cloud handed his bag over to the girls. "Take this and find Cid, I'll help distract the shadows while you slip by."
Before giving the two a chance to argue Cloud drew his sword and ran straight a head at the on going fight. Aerith stood with both her arms dragged down by the heavy bags. 'He does this on purpose I know it.'
"So are we going?"
"Huh?" The flower girl looked down as Yuffie took the other side of the bag to help lift it. "Yeah, I guess it's now or never."
The two ran ahead straight through the fighting, the shadows didn't seem to take any notice of them and continued to attack the Soldier's defending the castle. Aerith gave a quick look back and saw Cloud fighting off one of the shadows up until something strong hit into her back. After hitting the ground she soon felt a pair of hands pull her back up.
"Aerith are you ok?"
"S-Squall? Uhh yeah I, just a bit dizzy." She brushed the dirt of off her hands. "What are you doing here?"
Squall took a quick glance round to make sure nothing was coming their way before answering. "SeeD has orders to keep these creatures away from the castle, every member has been called into action. What about you? This place is too dangerous for you two."
"We're here for Cid." Yuffie answered.
"Cloud says we need to leave here soon but first we came here to find Cid." Aerith picked up her and Cloud's bag again. "Have you seen him?"
"No but, I haven't been looking, have you tried the work station?"
"That's our next stop." She made another quick look to make sure Cloud was ok. "You should come too."
"Come where? Wait it doesn't matter, I can't leave now the city is in chaos."
"Well Cloud said it doesn't matter, this place is history soon." Yuffie just finished speaking as Squall leapt at her, the SeeD member grabbed hold of the ninja before throwing her to the side. As he did one of the small armored shadows attacked the spot Yuffie had been standing in, it swung its claws through the air and managed to make contact with Squall's arm, tearing the flesh apart.
Squall let out a small cry as the creature ripped though his arm, along with the pain off the attack he suddenly found that he could even move it at all. The shadow spun round to make another attack only to be hit in it's face by Aerith's staff, the force of the impact bent the shadows form and sent it though the air a few meters.
"Quick, come on." She quickly retracted the weapon and went to aid Squall.
"I'm, I'm ok." Squall rubbed his arm hoping to get some feeling back in it. "You should hurry and find Cid before things get worse."
"What about you?" Yuffie added.
"I'm ok, this should hopefully ware off after a while."
"And if it doesn't?" Aerith tapped her foot on the floor becoming impatient. "You'll be helpless."
"I'll be fine." He dropped to his knees as the numbness spread to his leg.
The flower girl didn't look to convinced, she took hold of Squall's arm and dragged him aside, forfeiting her bag as a result. "You're coming with us." She nodded at Yuffie who took hold off his other arm.
"Right, so stop complaining and help us get to the work station."
Squall glanced between the two girls and gave in, the numbness in his body was not getting any better. In fact it was becoming worse climbing up his arm and on to his chest. 'Hell, if I can't break away form two girls what chance do I have against these things?' Reluctantly he nodded and pointed towards the direction of the workstation, all the time feeling worse and worse about abandoning his post.
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Cloud lunged forward and cut the shadow in front of him clean in half. These smaller ones were actually easy to take out as long as they weren't in groups.
He shot a quick glance at where Aerith and Yuffie had been last and sighed in relief that they were finally heading towards the castle. 'Finally, now I can get out of here.'
He turned to run towards the castle but then was suddenly hit by something out of place. 'Wait, Zack, he was should be here.' The blond Soldier looked at the fighters and the few that had fallen. 'He's not here. Great, another delay.'
A few more of the fighters had fallen, if it was this bad here he didn't even want to think how bad it was everywhere else in the city. 'Nothing I can do about it now.'
Cloud sheathed his sword and ran towards the Soldier compound and barracks figuring it was the place he would most likely be. Zack had decided to stay in the barracks instead of living somewhere else, he said he liked not having to make his own lunch or laundry. 'Lazy pain in the ass.'
He reach the barracks and ran inside, unfortunately the place was empty apart from one of the smaller shadows. It didn't take any notice of Cloud and instead seemed to be attacking the lights that hung down from the ceiling, of course the two meter gap between it and the light made it quite difficult. 'Idiot.' Deciding to leave the creature to its task Cloud move on to the next building, the training area.
Inside the building was basically one big empty room so Soldier's and SeeD members could practice easily. 'Empty again.' Cloud clenched his fists getting impatient, the only thing in the room was another shadow, though, this one seemed bigger. As it took form it began to be surrounded by some sort of armor, attached to its arm appeared and huge shield that oddly seemed alive its self. The creature overall looked like a huge gorilla in and suit of armor.
Cloud initially decided to ignore the creature but by the time he had turned to the door the huge armored creature had charged at him and already covered half of the gap between them. 'Fast for walking pile of metal.' Not too put off by the creatures hulking size Cloud drew his sword and stood his ground, as the monster approached he swung his sword fiercely but as the blade made contact with the shield the small animal like face grabbed hold of it pulling it away from him.
Cloud stared helplessly as the shield 'thing' spat out his sword on to the ground. 'Helpful.' The other part of the creature then charged at him again and slammed the shield in to Cloud knocking him off of his feet.
A wave of pain washed over his chest from where he'd been hit, the creature was much stronger than it looked.
"Need some help?"
Cloud looked up seeing an open hand and a face with a cocky grin on it. "Where the hell have you been?"
Zack laughed but didn't bother to answer. "You just stay there then and I'll handle this". The black haired Soldier raised his weapon and stared at the armored shadow. Once again the creature lunged forward and tried to bulldoze its opponent down. Zack took a quick simple step to the right while aiming his sword sideways.
The creature charged into the empty space Zack had occupied only moments ago and instead of hitting its target it felt the Soldier as he rammed his sword deep into the monsters side. The black substance inside the armor melted away after the single fatal wound had been made, after a few seconds all that was left was an empty shell.
"Easy." Zack grinned and propped his weapon up against his shoulder. "Well.. once you've trashed a few of them."
"Great now move it." Cloud stood up and retrieved his sword. "We don't have much time."
"Still in a good mood I see." He sighed while shaking his head. "So what you got planed now."
"We're meeting up with Aerith and the others in the work station." Cloud turned and walked towards the door.
"So you patched things up then?" Zack couldn't help let the smile escape on his face. "I knew you liked her."
Cloud turned round and grabbed hold of his arm and pulled the younger Soldier ahead of him. "Stop talking and start walking. If you haven't noticed already this place is under attack."
"Ok, ok. So why are we going to the station?"
"To pick up Cid before we leave."
"Leave?" Zack scratched the back of his head as he followed Cloud out of the building. "Why do I always feel like I'm missing something."
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"What are you talking about?"
"Look old man get your gear packed and move it." Yuffie dragged Cid away from the desk for the third time.
"Cid please, Cloud says we don't have much time left." Aerith pleaded with the pilot.
"Cloud? Sounds to me like he's gone of his block again." Cid pulled away from Yuffie and went back to the two components on his desk.
"But he's serious, we have to leave for Zanarkand now."
"Zanar-what? You sure he's not going nuts?"
"Yes, now will you please hurry up."
Cid turned to face her and saw the serious look she had on, he sighed before answering. "Fine fine, I'm coming. Where is this place then? On this continent or over the ocean."
"Cloud says its another world."
The pilot nearly dropped the cigarette in his mouth as Yuffie answered him. "Another world? Ok, now you sure he's not going nuts?"
"Cid." Aerith stared at him.
"Ok, ok. Actually it not such a crazy thing when I think about it."
Yuffie looked a little stunned. "It's not?"
Cid scratched his head while looking at some of the papers on his desk. "If this Zanarkand is another world, do you have any idea how to get to there?"
"Erm no, Cloud said we would need to figure that out after we got out of the city." Aerith looked curiously at the grin that was building on Cid's face. "Why, what do you have in mind?"
"Heh, just a little something I've been working on." He picked up some of the papers and walked over to one of the large steel doors. "You coming?"
"Umm... sure." Aerith and Yuffie exchanged looks before following. "Squall you coming?"
Squall walked down the stairs returning from his look out position, his leg had mostly recovered but his arm was still useless. "Now what?"
"Just follow me." Cid pulled back the two steel doors and walked through.
Aerith followed next as dropped her mouth as she saw the huge ship docked inside the hanger. "Wow."
"Whoa cool, what is that thing?" Yuffie ran in and immediately after. "Did you build it?"
"Of course, once you figure out how to use those pieces the rest is simple."
"Does it work?" Aerith walk up to it and ran her hand over the strange looking substance. The soft looking jelly like material was actually rock solid.
"Of course it works." Cid snapped. "I built it didn't I."
The flower girl smiled at his cockiness, ever since she was a child Cid had always taken great pride in his work.
"So lets go."
"...?" The three stared confused. "Go?"
Cid push a button on the side of the ship and the ramp lowered down to the floor. "Yes, as in leave this place?"
"Were taking the ship?" Yuffie asked.
"It can travel to other worlds?" Aerith added.
"Of course, I think." Cid scratched his head again but then shook off his doubt. "You got any other way off getting off of this rock?"
Aerith looked at the other two, Yuffie seemed excited to bored the ship, even Squall looked curious to the new addition of Cid's work.
"What about Cloud?" Yuffie asked as she headed towards the ramp.
Aerith answered instantly. "We're going to wait for him."
"Maybe I should go look for him." Squall offered and turned to exit the room.
"No, then we'll have two people missing instead of one. I'm sure Cloud will be here."
At that point they heard steps coming from the stairs in the next room, Aerith ran over and was the first to greet the person.
"Hey I finally found ya." Zack jumped off the last three steps as he was met by the group.
"You took your time." Yuffie complained.
"Hey, well, we kinda ran into some trouble."
"Trouble?" Aerith repeated. "What kind of trouble? And where's Cloud?"
Zack sighed and tried to delay his answer, he purposely blocked the stairway knowing what would happen. "Well..."
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Outside in the middle of the courtyard the two Soldiers stared each other down. All around them the other fighters continued to fight the heartless, they dared not interfere knowing they were out classed.
"I was surprised by your defiance." Sephiroth scowled at the blond Soldier, he was no longer amused by Cloud's resistance as before.
"I don't care, what ever plans you had you can just forget them." Cloud held his weapon in his hands ready for any attack. "I won't listen to your crap anymore."
Sephiroth's look grew darker. "I have put too much into this to have it ruined by you." His hand brushed by the handle of his sword.
Cloud grinned happy he was causing such a problem. "Like I said, I don't care. I will never help you."
"Very well." He griped the handle lightly. "Then I guess there is no other way this can go."
Cloud braced himself griping the sword tighter while aiming the blade towards his target. "Fine."
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And that's all for now, I should hopefully have part 3 up shortly. As usual thank you to all my usual reviewers along with some new ones, I'm glad you all like the Zanarkand idea too.