Royal Fanatic: lol yes Cloud won't let Sephy get away

Crazy Chick 963: lol yeah it was a bit wasn't it

RoxasxNamine4ever: I was actually planning doing the sequel. I got the characters for it if I wanted to do it anyways.

Angelicxox: Glad you liked it. Final showdown isn't in this chapter but at least Cloud's back.

RaeDragongirl: I wouldn't worry. Cloud will get them.

Thanks for all the reviews guys. I love getting them!

Chapter 17: Ruins and Despair

Yuffie wondered the castle corridors, looking for her mother. She had looked out a light blue dress that fell to her knees to give her more of a Princess look when she confronted Sephiroth. Reno walked by her side, arm draped protectively around her waist.

"And what should you be doing?" A cold voice sneered causing the young couple to stop in their tracks. They looked at each other and then doubled back to glance into the room. Sephiroth was hovering over Tifa who was looking away from him.

"Cooking and cleaning like a proper woman." She sighed, realising he would not leave her alone.

"Good girl. I don't want to see you walking around aimlessly again. You are dismissed." Tifa glared at him and walked out. She didn't see Yuffie or Reno as she left, muttering to herself.

"I swear one of these days, I will lose my temper and just hit him." Yuffie bit her lip and looked at Reno, who shrugged.

"Vincent!" They heard Sephiroth command.

"Yes Sir?" Vincent's reply came from within the room. Reno frowned and peered around Yuffie to see into the room. Vincent was kept in a prison, an empty plate by his side. Sephiroth smirked.

"I'm bored. Entertain me." He commanded. Vincent rolled his eyes but made sure Sephiroth didn't see.

"My ability of entertainment is limited with bars in my way." He retorted. Sephiroth glared and Vincent sighed.

"Your Majesty." He added softly. Sephiroth looked satisfied and seemed to think for a moment before the smirk returned.

"Sing." He ordered. Vincent's eyes snapped open.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Sephiroth snapped, sitting down and proceeding to look at papers. Vincent grumbled under his breath before he gave in.

"Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrow."

"Now now Vincent. Why so depressing? Sing something with some bounce." Vincent glared.

"It's a small world after all."

"NO!" Sephiroth yelled. "Anything but that." Yuffie would have found Vincent singing funny in any other situation.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts de de de de de. There they are standing in a row. Big ones, small ones, some as big as you're head." He sang, slowly stopping as Sephiroth hummed to himself.

"I never had to do this with Zack." He muttered.Sephiroth stopped suddenly.

"What did you say?" He barked.

"Nothing." Vincent replied innocently.

"Never mention that name in my presence. Or his brat of a son! I am the King."

"Yes you are. I only mentioned it to show the difference in your, um…approach to things." Reno grabbed Yuffie's hand suddenly as they heard three voices. They hid around the corner and watched the three clones, Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz walk into the room.

"Hey Sephiroth. Have you seen our mother?" Kadaj asked.

"No, why would I?"

"I want Mommy." Loz whined. Kadaj sighed.

"Don't cry Loz."

"Look," Sephiroth sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Why not just sacrifice something to her. That will make her come. How about Vincent?"

"Please." Vincent muttered. "Better than this life." He added in a quieter tone.

"See, he doesn't have a problem with it." Sephiroth countered.

"And another thing." Kadaj said before he looked at the door. He strode across and locked it, preventing Yuffie and Reno from hearing anymore.

"We have to get this rebellion over quickly." Reno said. Yuffie nodded.

Cloud ran across the marshlands and past the chocobo farm. He slowed down as he saw the top of Midgar. He walked up the mountain to get a bigger look and his jaw dropped. There was a large volume of thick smoke surrounding the city and all around the outskirts the ground was burnt. His eyes fell on the castle and they narrowed a little.

"How can you do this Sephiroth?" He whispered to himself.

"Cloud! Wait up!" The blonde turned and saw Aeris running up the mountain to him. They looked over at the city.

"I didn't want it to be true." Cloud sighed. Aeris placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Why did you change your mind?" She asked. Cloud smiled slightly.

"I had a little experience. Not to mention some sense knocked into me." He replied. "Literally." He added, rubbing his head a little. Aeris smiled as he took a small step forwards.

"This is my Kingdom. My sister, mother, and everybody dear to me are suffering. If I don't fight for them, who will?" Aeris stood next to him.

"I would." She admitted.

"It's too dangerous for you." He said.

"Dangerous? I laugh in the face of danger. Ha ha ha." She repeated the words he had said so long ago.

"And what, may I ask, is funny about this?" Cid asked as he and Barret walked next to them. Cid took a drag of his cigarette, frowning at the sight of Midgar.

"We're gonna fight this Sephiroth guy…for this?"

"This is my home." Cloud answered. Cid looked less than impressed but nodded.

"Well kid. If it is important to you, we are with you to the end." Cloud smiled as he looked over at the ruins of Midgar.

Tifa sighed to herself as she looked at a family picture. She and Zack had one arm around each other while Tifa held Yuffie's shoulder and Zack held Cloud's. The children were smiling and Yuffie had her head on Cloud's other shoulder, Cloud half-hugging her. Tifa felt the tears threaten to fall as she thought about her husband and son.

"Mum?" She turned at the sound of Yuffie.

"What is it dear?" Tifa asked.

"We need to talk."

"Can we speak while we are picking the fruit?" Tifa replied. Yuffie thought for a moment and nodded, following her mother out.

Cloud and Aeris peered at the city. Cid and Barret stayed behind to keep a lookout for clones.

"Aeris, find everyone who is on my side and gather them together. I'll look for Sephiroth." Aeris nodded. Cloud could see the women down in the slums getting ready for some chore. Sephiroth suddenly appeared at the castle gates.

"Yuffie!" Cloud peered around the pillar and gasped at the sight of his sister.

"She's all grown up." He murmured, watching Yuffie walk through the group of clones who were wolf-whistling and making remarks. Yuffie ignored them as she stopped in front of Sephiroth.

"Yes Sephiroth?" She asked. Sephiroth smiled at her but Yuffie didn't fall for it.

"I have heard some rather interesting news about you." He said. Yuffie watched him carefully.

"It has come to my attention that you are leading a rebellion in an attempt to dethrone me." Yuffie raised her head in the air.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She replied in an annoyed tone, aware of all the people in the City and the clones watching her intently.

"No," Sephiroth sneered. "Of course you don't." He clicked his fingers and Kadaj and Loz appeared from the castle, Reno in their grip. Yazoo pointed a gun at the redhead. Yuffie's eyes widened. Sephiroth turned to her.

"Last chance, are you or are you not leading the rebellion?" He asked dangerously. Yuffie glanced at Reno and sighed.

"All right. I am leading them."

"Good girl. Execute Reno as punishment." He commanded. Yuffie's head snapped up.

"You can't do that!"

"I'm King. I can do whatever I want." He replied. Yuffie glared.

"If you were half the King my father was you would never…" But she never got to finish her sentence as Sephiroth slapped her with such force she went flying into the wall.

"I'M TEN TIMES THE KING ZACK WAS!" He shrieked. It was then that lightning struck by the wall Cloud was hiding, illuminating his figure as one word escaped his lips.

"Sephiroth!"