Cloud Strife sat anxiously by the window, peering out at the horizon–searching for a sign of Tifa Lockheart or Kinto, their golden chocobo. Someone grasped his shoulder and he turned to look up at Vincent Valentine. The tall, dark man was staring at Cloud with a look of complete and painful understanding.
"Come away from the window–you haven't left it since she went off."
"I know this can't be healthy for you!" Yuffie Kisaragi poked her head around Vincent to blink at Cloud. The young mercenary sadly lowered his eyes and turned back to the window.
"I want her back safe."
Vincent and Yuffie looked at one another, then he put his arm around the younger girl and led her away, leaving Cloud to his watch. He sat there through supper and on through the night. Just as the faint glow of dawn lit the horizon, he spotted a shape racing toward the town. He leapt from his chair and dashed out into the open, panic, worry, and exhaustion all but forgotten. The shape was Kinto, and someone was slumped over him. Cloud ran to meet the bird and it let out an important-sounding wark, lowering its body so he could take its burden. Everyone else raced outside to see Cloud lift Zeo's body from the ground.

"Where's Tifa?" he asked it. The golden bird made a distressed sound in its throat. Then a shriek issued from above them and everyone looked up. A huge red and gold Phoenix with three different pairs of large wings touched down in front of the group and lay Tifa Lockheart's figure on the ground before them. Cloud handed Zeo over to Cid and ran to the huge firebird. As he knelt to hold her, the Phoenix spread its glowing wings and sang a slow, enchanting melody. The seven listened in awe, watching golden spirals of light encircle Zeo, then Tifa. Zeo sat up slowly and Tifa stirred.
"Where is she...?" Zeo stared around. Cloud lifted her into his arms and stood.
"Barret, Cid, take him inside," he ordered. "Vincent, you carry Tifa to her room. Yuffie, tend to Kinto."
"Right," Barret pulled Zeo up and leaned him between Cid and his left side. They dragged him into the Inn, Vincent following them and carrying Tifa. Red XIII scurried after the cloaked man, Cait Sith following at the rear. Yuffie took the chocobo's reins and led it toward the stables, shaking her head.
"Man, this is some weird stuff..."
Cloud turned to the Phoenix.
"You saved her," he said. "I thank you. Where did you come from?"
The bird let out a few more notes of its willowy song.
"Phoenix...ZERO?" Cloud stared in confusion.
It shrieked, the shrill noise wavering into the notes of the song again. It rose up above his head and exploded in a brilliant flash of red-gold light. Cloud shielded his eyes from the glare, but when he looked back up, an orb was there in the Phoenix's place. The red-gold sphere lowered to chest level and Cloud reached out and grabbed it. With an amber light, the orb faded to a normal reddish materia glow, and he slipped it into his belt. A strange warmth enveloped him, and the last notes of the Phoenix Song rung in his ears.

Cloud Strife sat in the armchair beside Tifa Lockheart's bed. She lay sleeping deeply under his protective gaze. He thought about the red-gold orb and the huge firebird. The threat of the clones also pushed into his mind every so often. His head was bowed as he continued to think, even as Tifa finally awoke, sitting up and looking around. She spotted him and blinked.
"Cloud?"
He lifted his eyes to her. "Feeling better?"
"A little," she shifted, dangling her legs over the side of the bed.
"Lay down; you're not strong enough yet."
"I'm fine," she smiled weakly. She stood, stumbled, and sat back down. Cloud got up and crossed over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and pushing her down onto the pillows.
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, so I'm not," she sighed. He lifted the comforter and covered her up to her shoulders, tucking her in gently.
"Sleep, okay?"
"But where's Zeo? Is he alright?"
Cloud stood and went to the door, before answering: "He's fine."
"Cloud...?"
"I'll look in on you later," he said. "Get some more sleep."
He left. Tifa stared at the door for a few moments, then turned away and instead looked out the large window across from her bed.

Cloud went down the hall and pulled open the third door on his left. There, Cait Sith was attending to the now ex-SOLDIER. Zeo looked away as Cloud stepped into the room and motioned for Cait Sith to leave. The stuffed mog-cat creature did, looking confused. Cloud crossed over to the bed, pulling his Ultima Sword from his back. Zeo watched him incredulously, his light green eyes gleaming. Cloud held the sword up over him, his own blue eyes hard. They glared at one another for a few moments, then he leaned the sword against the wall beside the bed. Zeo was taken aback. Cloud sat next to him, crossing his arms and staring down at his feet.
"She's fine. She'll be up and about around the same time as you."
"Why are you here?" Zeo asked weakly.
Cloud shook his head: "She asked me to look in on you."
"She did?" his eyes widened. Cloud nodded.
"I, uh, wanted to thank you," he said.
"What for?" Zeo blinked.
"For saving us. Saving her," he emphasized.

"No problem," the other boy replied uncertainly. Cloud's gaze moved up from the floor and he glanced sideways at the white-haired boy.
"I'm sorry," he added.
"Sorry...?" Zeo was confused.
"I didn't trust you in the beginning; I've always been biased against those from the Shin-Ra; Cait Sith can tell you. But, after you saved my friends, I started to trust you," Cloud looked at him. "Does that answer your questions?"
"Yes," he nodded. Cloud lowered his eyes and Zeo sat up. "Did she really ask about me?" he pressed.
"Yeah," Cloud replied. "She did go to save you, you know."
Zeo thought of this silently. Cloud stood, picked up his sword, and clipped it to his back once more. With a curt nod, he started to leave.
"Cloud, isn't it?" Zeo called.
He stopped: "Yeah, that's me."
"Um, thanks."
Cloud grinned slightly and reached for the door handle. He jerked his hand back as a scream abruptly rang through the door, then yanked it open and lurched into the hallway.
"What's going on!"
"It's coming from Tifa's room!" Cid ran past him, Red XIII at his heels.
"Cloud, do you–" Zeo started.
"You stay here! If it's those clones, you're in no condition to fight!" Cloud cut him off and ran after the others. Barret and Vincent were already inside, blocking Tifa from a figure at the other end of the room.
"What is it!" Yuffie raced in with Cait Sith.
"It's one of them clone-guys!" Barret snarled, raising his gun arm. They looked over at the shadow who laughed and took shape. Vincent Valentine's clone stood there, grinning evilly.
"I was given the name Ryan from my master, who has also commanded me to capture the woman," he said.
"Oh, no you won't!" Cid shouted back, pulling out his Venus Gospel lance.
"Yuffie, help Tifa out of here!" Cloud ordered.
"What! Why me!" she cried defensively.
"Because I said so!" Cloud shot back. Yuffie jumped then ran over to help Tifa out of bed. The Vincent-clone–Ryan–lunged at her, and Cloud blocked him with his sword.
"Move it, Yuffie!" Red XIII growled, lunging to attack. Yuffie hoisted Tifa out of the bed, put her arms around her waist, and helped her limp out of the room. Barret and Vincent both fired at the clone as he jumped at the girls again. One of the bullets caught him
in the leg. He stumbled, pulling out his silver Death Penalty and firing back. They dodged out of the way, Cait Sith coming from the right and slamming his fists into Ryan's chest. The Vincent-clone fell to the floor, dropping his gun.