A/N: I'm not going to say anything about this chapter. You'll have to read it first.
Chapter 12.
Tifa hurried across the field looking for any sign of her father. "Father!" She called. She kept calling for him. Boco running at stunning speed trying to pick up his master's scent. Then both of them spotted a black lump in the snow. Tifa hurried over to it and found that it was a frozen Mr. Lockhart. He was still alive. But only just barely. Tifa quickly pulled him onto Boco and hurried towards home. In Kalm. As they entered town in the dead of the night, the scout Zack had placed hurried to find Zack and Cloud.
Mr. Lockhart felt the warmth. He felt someone placing a warm rag on his forhead trying to warm him. He opened his eyes lightly seeing Tifa. Who smiled. "Easy, father. Your safe." She whispered. Mr. Lockhart blinked several times. "Tifa?" He asked. Tifa nodded. "It's me. We're home." She said. Mr. Lockhart quickly sat up. "Tifa! Your safe! But how did you escape?!" He asked.
Tifa shook her head. "I didn't escape, father. Rufus let me go." she said trying to push him back. "That monster?!" Mr. Lockhart asked with shock. Tifa gave him a scolding look. "He's not a monster, father. He never was. He's changed somehow. We became friends while I was there." She said.
She began telling him of her life in the mansion. How the first night she was attacked by thieves and Rufus saved her life. Mr. Lockhart listened quietly and smiled after she was done. He knew right there, that Tifa had changed herself. From the back window, Vincent was watching with a smile.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Tifa looked to the door and stood. Vincent quickly climbed to the roof and peered down with wide eyes. When Tifa opened the door, there stood the errie Sephiroth. She took a sharp breath with shock. Sephiroth smiled cruelly. "Good evening, Miss Lockhart. I have come for your father." He said.
Tifa stared with confusion. "My father? But......" She was saying. Sephiroth stepped back letting her see the entire mob and his truck that said Hojo's Asylum of the Mental Loons. "Don't fear, Tifa. We will take very good care of him." Sephiroth said. Tifa gasped covering her mouth. "No! He's not crazy! You can't do this!" She said.
Cloud snorted stepping forward. "Of course he is. We all heard him that night. Talking mad about Rufus Shinra taking you prisoner and saying that he wouldn't let you go." He said. Tifa looked angry. Mr. Lockhart appeared at the door. "Tifa?" he asked hugging his blanket closer.
Zack snorted leaning against the side of the house. Cloud smirked cruelly. "Mr. Lockhart, tell us again about Rufus Shinra." He said. Tifa gave him a glare which he ignored. Mr. Lockhart hurried down the steps. "He was cruel! He had the cruelest blue eyes I had ever seen! He wouldn't let Tifa go! He said that she had to stay with him forever!" He said.
Everyone was laughing. Sephiroth just waved his hand. Two men grabbed Mr. Lockhart's arms and started to drag him towards the truck. "Let go of me!" Mr. Lockhart demanded. Tifa hurried after them. "No! You can't! He's sick and he needs me to help him back to health!" She started to cry.
Cloud grabbed her shoulders. "Tifa, let your father go. He's lost his mind. There is no way Rufus Shinra would want you. You are beautiful, yes. But he would never want a commoner like you." He said. Tifa looked worriedly at him. "Cloud, you were my best friend when we were children. If our friendship meant anything to you, you wouldn't do this. You knew my father when we were young. You know he's not crazy." She said.
Cloud's taunting smile faded and he had this look on his face. He stepped back. He knew she was right. "Tifa." He whispered. Zack sneered however. "Poor Tifa. It's a shame about your father. But we can clear this misunderstanding if," He paused. Tifa looked at him. "If what?" She asked. Zack lightly pushed her closer to Cloud. "If you marry Cloud." he whispered.
Tifa looked outraged. She knew right there that this whole thing was a scam. "What?! No! I would never marry Cloud! He's my friend and I don't love him!" She snapped. Cloud stared breathless. Zack snorted. "Very well. Have it your way. The old man's all your's, Sephy." he said to the tall, dark and silver haired demon.
Sephiroth nodded. "Thank you for the money, Zack. Have a good night." He said starting away. Tifa shook her head with panic. She quickly dug into her pocket. "Look! Rufus gave this to me! It's the Shinra Family's seal!" She said quickly. Everyone went quiet.
From above, Vincent was looking angry on what the mob was doing. Sephiroth took a step forward and took the seal. His eyes went wide and he stepped back. His mouth fell open. He looked up wide eyed at Cloud and Zack.
"It is. She and her father are telling the truth." He said. People gasped with fear. "No! If we lock Mr. Lockhart up Rufus Shinra will send an army to destroy our village! He's a monster!" Someone cried out. Tifa shook her head. "No! He's not! He's good and kind! He would never hurt anyone. He's my friend." She said.
Zack growled. He snatched the seal. "Ha! Rufus Shinra would never give the family seal to anyone! He doesn't care about anyone but himself and his stupid company! Sephiroth, you know this too! Tifa and Devid Lockhart had stolen the seal! Rufus Shinra will send the army to destroy us anyways! He hates everyone! We must attack first! Who's with me and Cloud!" He exclaimed.
There were several cheers. Cloud looked around with a panic. "No! We can't do this! Rufus Shinra would wipe us out!" He yelled. Zack turned a glare on Cloud. Tifa smiled with relief. Zack narrowed his eyes. "Very well, Cloud. If your not with us, your against us! Lock them up the cellar!" He demanded.
Tifa gasped. Cloud jumped to keep the men from grabbing Tifa but he was siezed too. Tifa started to scream and struggle. Several men dragged Tifa, Cloud and Mr. Lockhart to the cellar and threw them down the stairs.
Cloud stood just in time to catch Tifa from hitting the ground. Then he hurried up and started to pound on the door. "Let us out, Zack! This isn't funny!" He yelled through the door. Zack put a lock on the door. He looked at Sephiroth who was climbing into his truck. "Come on, Sephy! Let's go get Shinra!" He said.
Sephiroth turned his cold eyes on him. "No. I'm not getting mixed up in this mess. And call me Sephy one more time and I'll rip your head off myself!" He snapped slamming the door shut. He pulled away from the road. Zack growled. "Fine. I'll kill Shinra myself." He said. The men of Kalm grabbed weapons and torchs. They climbed onto chocobos and started for the city. Vincent watched them with a growl. He began looking for something to free the three captives.
Tifa started to cry. "No! It's all my fault. Rufus will die because of me. He won't fight." She cried. Cloud continued to bang against the door. "Don't say that, Tifa! It's not your fault! It's mine! This whole thing was Zack and my idea! It's my fault! We just need to get out of here and warn Shinra that the mobs are coming!" He yelled against the door.
Mr. Lockhart held his daughter. "But by the time we do get out, it may be too late." He said. Cloud banged harder. "I'm not giving up on Tifa's new boyfriend!" He snapped. Tifa looked up. "Boyfriend? But I......." she was saying.
Cloud turned his eyes on her. "Face it, Tifa. You don't love me that way. We're just friends. You love that Rufus Shinra, guy. The way you were just talking about him. It's obvious that your in love with him. I'll deal with it. I just don't want to see you so unhappy." He said softly. Tifa smiled but then her eyes widen. "We've got to hurry!" She said with panic.
Suddenly there was a loud bang making Cloud jump back and stumble down the stairs. Tifa stood quickly. There was another loud bang and a hammer head smashed right through. The three stared with fear. Another bang and another. The hammer head just smashed the door to bits and the attacker yanked the door open.
"Tifa!" came the yell. Tifa's heart gave a leap. "Vinnie!" She cried out running up the stairs. Vincent grabbed her hand and helped her out. Mr. Lockhart and Cloud hurried up after them. "Vincent! What are you doing here?!" Tifa asked.
Vincent turned his cloak snapping in the rising wind. "I followed you to make sure you were going to be safe getting home! I saw the whole thing! We must go and help Rufus! He won't fight them! He's gone too soft while you were living with us. I've been watching you guys carefully. I know that you both have effection for each other. He loves you, Tifa. He really does." He said.
Tifa stared with shock. "He loves me?" She asked. Vincent quickly climbed onto his black chocobo. "Yes. Now if we don't hurry, it will be too late." he said holding out his hand to Tifa. Tifa grabbed his hand and she was pulled up behing him. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly.
Cloud had climbed onto Boco. "Right behind you, Tifa!" He said. Tifa nodded. She looked at her father. "Stay here, father. You are ill and need rest." She said. Mr. Lockhart nodded. "Becareful, Tifa. Take care of her, Mr. Valentine." He said. Vincent nodded. "This I will do." He said and he kicked his chocobo's sides. The chocobo was speeding out of town with Cloud behind them.
A/N: Well what do you think? Cloud's gone all noble and turned against Zack to help Tifa. Now the big battle's about to begin. Review and let me know what you think.
Chapter 12.
Tifa hurried across the field looking for any sign of her father. "Father!" She called. She kept calling for him. Boco running at stunning speed trying to pick up his master's scent. Then both of them spotted a black lump in the snow. Tifa hurried over to it and found that it was a frozen Mr. Lockhart. He was still alive. But only just barely. Tifa quickly pulled him onto Boco and hurried towards home. In Kalm. As they entered town in the dead of the night, the scout Zack had placed hurried to find Zack and Cloud.
Mr. Lockhart felt the warmth. He felt someone placing a warm rag on his forhead trying to warm him. He opened his eyes lightly seeing Tifa. Who smiled. "Easy, father. Your safe." She whispered. Mr. Lockhart blinked several times. "Tifa?" He asked. Tifa nodded. "It's me. We're home." She said. Mr. Lockhart quickly sat up. "Tifa! Your safe! But how did you escape?!" He asked.
Tifa shook her head. "I didn't escape, father. Rufus let me go." she said trying to push him back. "That monster?!" Mr. Lockhart asked with shock. Tifa gave him a scolding look. "He's not a monster, father. He never was. He's changed somehow. We became friends while I was there." She said.
She began telling him of her life in the mansion. How the first night she was attacked by thieves and Rufus saved her life. Mr. Lockhart listened quietly and smiled after she was done. He knew right there, that Tifa had changed herself. From the back window, Vincent was watching with a smile.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Tifa looked to the door and stood. Vincent quickly climbed to the roof and peered down with wide eyes. When Tifa opened the door, there stood the errie Sephiroth. She took a sharp breath with shock. Sephiroth smiled cruelly. "Good evening, Miss Lockhart. I have come for your father." He said.
Tifa stared with confusion. "My father? But......" She was saying. Sephiroth stepped back letting her see the entire mob and his truck that said Hojo's Asylum of the Mental Loons. "Don't fear, Tifa. We will take very good care of him." Sephiroth said. Tifa gasped covering her mouth. "No! He's not crazy! You can't do this!" She said.
Cloud snorted stepping forward. "Of course he is. We all heard him that night. Talking mad about Rufus Shinra taking you prisoner and saying that he wouldn't let you go." He said. Tifa looked angry. Mr. Lockhart appeared at the door. "Tifa?" he asked hugging his blanket closer.
Zack snorted leaning against the side of the house. Cloud smirked cruelly. "Mr. Lockhart, tell us again about Rufus Shinra." He said. Tifa gave him a glare which he ignored. Mr. Lockhart hurried down the steps. "He was cruel! He had the cruelest blue eyes I had ever seen! He wouldn't let Tifa go! He said that she had to stay with him forever!" He said.
Everyone was laughing. Sephiroth just waved his hand. Two men grabbed Mr. Lockhart's arms and started to drag him towards the truck. "Let go of me!" Mr. Lockhart demanded. Tifa hurried after them. "No! You can't! He's sick and he needs me to help him back to health!" She started to cry.
Cloud grabbed her shoulders. "Tifa, let your father go. He's lost his mind. There is no way Rufus Shinra would want you. You are beautiful, yes. But he would never want a commoner like you." He said. Tifa looked worriedly at him. "Cloud, you were my best friend when we were children. If our friendship meant anything to you, you wouldn't do this. You knew my father when we were young. You know he's not crazy." She said.
Cloud's taunting smile faded and he had this look on his face. He stepped back. He knew she was right. "Tifa." He whispered. Zack sneered however. "Poor Tifa. It's a shame about your father. But we can clear this misunderstanding if," He paused. Tifa looked at him. "If what?" She asked. Zack lightly pushed her closer to Cloud. "If you marry Cloud." he whispered.
Tifa looked outraged. She knew right there that this whole thing was a scam. "What?! No! I would never marry Cloud! He's my friend and I don't love him!" She snapped. Cloud stared breathless. Zack snorted. "Very well. Have it your way. The old man's all your's, Sephy." he said to the tall, dark and silver haired demon.
Sephiroth nodded. "Thank you for the money, Zack. Have a good night." He said starting away. Tifa shook her head with panic. She quickly dug into her pocket. "Look! Rufus gave this to me! It's the Shinra Family's seal!" She said quickly. Everyone went quiet.
From above, Vincent was looking angry on what the mob was doing. Sephiroth took a step forward and took the seal. His eyes went wide and he stepped back. His mouth fell open. He looked up wide eyed at Cloud and Zack.
"It is. She and her father are telling the truth." He said. People gasped with fear. "No! If we lock Mr. Lockhart up Rufus Shinra will send an army to destroy our village! He's a monster!" Someone cried out. Tifa shook her head. "No! He's not! He's good and kind! He would never hurt anyone. He's my friend." She said.
Zack growled. He snatched the seal. "Ha! Rufus Shinra would never give the family seal to anyone! He doesn't care about anyone but himself and his stupid company! Sephiroth, you know this too! Tifa and Devid Lockhart had stolen the seal! Rufus Shinra will send the army to destroy us anyways! He hates everyone! We must attack first! Who's with me and Cloud!" He exclaimed.
There were several cheers. Cloud looked around with a panic. "No! We can't do this! Rufus Shinra would wipe us out!" He yelled. Zack turned a glare on Cloud. Tifa smiled with relief. Zack narrowed his eyes. "Very well, Cloud. If your not with us, your against us! Lock them up the cellar!" He demanded.
Tifa gasped. Cloud jumped to keep the men from grabbing Tifa but he was siezed too. Tifa started to scream and struggle. Several men dragged Tifa, Cloud and Mr. Lockhart to the cellar and threw them down the stairs.
Cloud stood just in time to catch Tifa from hitting the ground. Then he hurried up and started to pound on the door. "Let us out, Zack! This isn't funny!" He yelled through the door. Zack put a lock on the door. He looked at Sephiroth who was climbing into his truck. "Come on, Sephy! Let's go get Shinra!" He said.
Sephiroth turned his cold eyes on him. "No. I'm not getting mixed up in this mess. And call me Sephy one more time and I'll rip your head off myself!" He snapped slamming the door shut. He pulled away from the road. Zack growled. "Fine. I'll kill Shinra myself." He said. The men of Kalm grabbed weapons and torchs. They climbed onto chocobos and started for the city. Vincent watched them with a growl. He began looking for something to free the three captives.
Tifa started to cry. "No! It's all my fault. Rufus will die because of me. He won't fight." She cried. Cloud continued to bang against the door. "Don't say that, Tifa! It's not your fault! It's mine! This whole thing was Zack and my idea! It's my fault! We just need to get out of here and warn Shinra that the mobs are coming!" He yelled against the door.
Mr. Lockhart held his daughter. "But by the time we do get out, it may be too late." He said. Cloud banged harder. "I'm not giving up on Tifa's new boyfriend!" He snapped. Tifa looked up. "Boyfriend? But I......." she was saying.
Cloud turned his eyes on her. "Face it, Tifa. You don't love me that way. We're just friends. You love that Rufus Shinra, guy. The way you were just talking about him. It's obvious that your in love with him. I'll deal with it. I just don't want to see you so unhappy." He said softly. Tifa smiled but then her eyes widen. "We've got to hurry!" She said with panic.
Suddenly there was a loud bang making Cloud jump back and stumble down the stairs. Tifa stood quickly. There was another loud bang and a hammer head smashed right through. The three stared with fear. Another bang and another. The hammer head just smashed the door to bits and the attacker yanked the door open.
"Tifa!" came the yell. Tifa's heart gave a leap. "Vinnie!" She cried out running up the stairs. Vincent grabbed her hand and helped her out. Mr. Lockhart and Cloud hurried up after them. "Vincent! What are you doing here?!" Tifa asked.
Vincent turned his cloak snapping in the rising wind. "I followed you to make sure you were going to be safe getting home! I saw the whole thing! We must go and help Rufus! He won't fight them! He's gone too soft while you were living with us. I've been watching you guys carefully. I know that you both have effection for each other. He loves you, Tifa. He really does." He said.
Tifa stared with shock. "He loves me?" She asked. Vincent quickly climbed onto his black chocobo. "Yes. Now if we don't hurry, it will be too late." he said holding out his hand to Tifa. Tifa grabbed his hand and she was pulled up behing him. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly.
Cloud had climbed onto Boco. "Right behind you, Tifa!" He said. Tifa nodded. She looked at her father. "Stay here, father. You are ill and need rest." She said. Mr. Lockhart nodded. "Becareful, Tifa. Take care of her, Mr. Valentine." He said. Vincent nodded. "This I will do." He said and he kicked his chocobo's sides. The chocobo was speeding out of town with Cloud behind them.
A/N: Well what do you think? Cloud's gone all noble and turned against Zack to help Tifa. Now the big battle's about to begin. Review and let me know what you think.