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.
