Final Fantasy VII

Before Darkness

Chapter 4

Reeve sat up quietly in his bed, he was still not truelly awake, but he had stopped muttering. As the doctor, Kenji was cleaning up in front of him, he suddenly saw Reeve blink. Kenji quickly rushed to Reeve. Reeve began blinking again and again. Kenji held Reeve's arm to check his pulse, which was speeding up.

'Reeve!' Kenji yelled. 'Reeve, can you hear me?' Kenji screamed. Reeve began to stir. He then screamed.

'The darkness!' Reeve yelled. '...It's vanishing...' Kenji quickly pressed the emergency button. Within seconds, Barret and Yuffie quickly sprinted in and sat by Reeve.

'What's going on?' Yuffie asked. Reeve's eye continued flickering.

'He is awakening...' Kenji said. 'For real this time.' Barret then began shaking Reeve.

'Well stop taking so long about it!' Barret yelled. Kenji quickly stopped him.

'We must be patient...' Kenji said. 'I suggest you wait in the cockpit...I'll let you know when he wakes...' Barret moaned as he and Yuffie left Reeve alone with Kenji. Kenji looked on as Reeve's eyes continued to flicker.

Cloud sat on a rock in the middle of the canyons. Tifa lay in his arms as she was still wounded. Red continued to limp, but with help from a few potions, his leg was a little better. Cloud dialled the number on his phone. He put it to his ear as it rang, eventually Reno answered.

'Yes?' Reno answered.

'We know where Rufus is,' Cloud sighed.

'That's great!' Reno yelled. 'Where?'

'Nibelhelm...' Cloud said. 'The two men we were after...one is dead, the other ran away...I guess Rufus knew we were close...'

'So who did you get the information off?' Reno asked.

'The people who tried to kill the two men and us...' Cloud replied. 'Pick us up, we're going to Nibelhelm together...' Cloud faintly smiled.

'Okay, we'll be right there...' Reno paused for a moment. 'oh, and Cloud?'

'Yeah?' Cloud replied.

'Reeve has woken up...' Reno said. Cloud jumped. This was big news for him, with Reeve awake, they could expose Rufus for who he really was.

'Has anyone spoken to him yet?' Cloud asked.

'Just the doctor, he just told him what happened...' Reno sighed. 'Everyone thinks you should be the first one to speak to him...'

'Okay...' Cloud nodded. 'We're in the canyon...'

'On our way...' Reno said. Cloud hung up the phone and looked at Tifa and Red.

'Reeve's awake...' Cloud smiled. Tifa gave a faint smile, Red walked over to Cloud.

'That's great!' Red yelled. 'Things are finally going our way...'

'...Yeah...' Cloud sighed. 'They are...'

Led slowly walked into the dark laboratory, he saw as scientists continued their work. He also froze as he looked inside a big green tube. A Sephiroth clone was inside, but he was not awake, but more in another world. Led then saw Rufus walk towards him.

'Led...' Rufus said coldly. 'Are you sure you weren't followed?' Rufus asked. Led nodded. 'Good...'

'Listen Rufus...' Led began. 'What the hell is going on here?' Led yelled. 'I knew you were cloning an army, but you never mentioned Sephiroth!'

'It was a late decision...' Rufus smiled. 'We had his genetics, why not clone him...the greatest soldier ever...' Rudus looked slowly at the tube.

'Because we may have no means of controlling him!' Led yelled. 'He could kill us!'

'That is my risk...' Rufus said. 'It will not affect you, you should be long gone by the time he wakes...'

'So...' Led began. 'What are we going to do?'

'I will not run from a bunch of morons who do not agree with me!' Rufus yelled. 'We will wait...and kill them...'

'These guys are tough Rufus...' Led sighed.

'I know all about them...' Rufus slowly said. 'Just get ready...' Rufus said and walked back into his office.

Cloud looked through the glass into the Medi Bay. Reeve sat still, he looked tired, even though he had done nothing but sleep. Vincent appeared, he and Cid had just boarded too. Vincent stood next to Cloud.

'Can you handle this?' Vincent asked quietly.

'Yeah...' Cloud replied. 'He should be fine...'. Vincent nodded, and Cloud slowly stepped into the Medi Bay. Reeve slowly looked at Cloud, Cloud gave a faint smile. 'Hi Reeve...' Cloud kindly said. Reeve's face was expressionless, he stayed silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

'Have you found him yet?' Reeve quietly said. Cloud looked stunned, did Kenji tell Reeve about Rufus as well.

'Uh...found who?' Cloud asked. Reeve sighed.

'Have you found Sephiroth yet!' Reeve yelled. Cloud looked at him confused.

'Sephiroth?' Cloud asked. 'He is not to be found...he's dead Reeve!' Cloud walked closer to Reeve, Reeve shook his head.

'No!' Reeve yelled. 'He was alive! He tried to kill me!' Reeve screamed. Cloud shook his head.

'No, Reeve. Rufus Shinra tried to kill you...' Cloud sighed. Reeve looked at him shocked.

'No...' Reeve coldly said. 'I saw Sephiroth...I heared him!' Reeve turned away from Cloud.

'That was a summon assigned to confuse and disorient you...' Cloud sighed. 'I guess it worked...'

'No!' Reeve mumbled. Cloud sighed.

'Why didn't you tell me Rufus was working for you...' Cloud asked. Reeve sighed, he avoided Cloud's eyes.

'What does it matter...' Reeve muttered. Cloud looked shocked at Reeve's current state of mind.

'It matters a lot!' Cloud yelled. 'Rufus is not trusworthy...he tried to kill you!' Reeve shook his head.

'I don't give a damn about what you have to say!' Reeve yelled. Cloud lowered his head, Reeve turned away. 'Listen Cloud...if you were there, you'd know. Summons can't do those things...it was him...' Reeve then looked back at Cloud. 'Have you actually spoken to Rufus?'

'Well no...' Cloud sighed. 'But we got the evidence Reeve...'

'What evidence?' Reeve asked angrilly. Cloud thought for a moment.

'We know where he is, when we capture him...you can ask him yourself,' Cloud then stood up and walked out.

The Sierra landed just behind the mountains, just miles from Nibelhelm.

'Okay...we all know the plan right?' Cloud asked the AVALANCHE crew as they sat in the Meeting room. Everyone nodded.

'I'm happy with it...' Tifa smiled. Barret groaned.

'I'm not!' he yelled. 'Sneaking around the back my ass!' he screamed. 'We wanna run in with guns blazing, blow everyone away!'

'What and get killed by all the troops waiting or us you idiot!' Cid yelled.

'Shut up foo,' Barret mumbled.

'Look...' Cloud sat back down. 'We have to go through the mountains so we can get a good view of what's waiting for us...'

'And something will be waiting...' Vincent coldly stated.

'Fine...' Barret muttered. 'But I can't wait to get in there and shoot some shits!' Barret's statement reminded Cloud of something.

'Oh yeah Barret...' he said. 'You're not coming...' Barret then flipped up.

'What!' he screamed.

'We can't have all of us in the mountains...' Cloud said. 'Only me, Vincent and Cid are climbing the mountains, everyone's waiting here until I call for them...' Barret sat back in his chair and mumbled. 'Besides, we need to five Reeve some company...'

'I tried...' Barret said. 'Miserable git wont listen...'

'He wont always be like this?' Tifa wondred. 'Will he?'

'I don't know...' Cloud sighed. 'But we gotta go...' Cloud nodded to the crew and he, Vincent and Cid strolled out of the cockpit.

Cloud, Vincent and Cid climbed through the mountains. They were almost at the top.

'Remember...' Cloud groaned as he climbed. 'Once we reach the top and see what we're up against...we call everyone in...'

'But will it be that easy?' Vincent pondered. Cloud shook his head.

'It's never that easy...' Cloud sighed. Cid stopped for a moment. Vincent and Cloud looked at him.

'If we're going to go there guns blazing...' Cid sighed. 'There's a chance we may not make it...so guys...I just want to say...it's been great.' Cloud and Vincent both smiled.

'You may be loud...' Vincent said. 'But you're still a good friend...' Cloud nodded.

'This is it guys!' Cloud smiled. 'We can do this!' Cloud, Vincent and Cid all shook hands and enjoyed their second of peace before all hell broke loose. They carried on climbing the cliff. They finally reached the top of the mountain. They looked down at Nibelhelm below them. It looked as normal as it usually did. Cloud did see two Shinra troops guarding the Mansion. 'It's not so bad...' Cloud began when he felt a gun pointing into his back. He turned around to see Led and many Shinra troops. Cid and Vincent both stood still as the troops pointed their guns at their heads.

'It's not so bad because we all came to greet you...' Led smiled. Cloud shook his head.

'So, Rufus tries to kill you...and you come crawling back?' Cloud muttered. Led looked at Cloud angrilly.

'There's more to it than that!' Led yelled. Cloud looked at Led evily.

'Yeah...the fact that you're a chicken shit...' Cloud yelled. Led hit Cloud in the face with his gun, Cloud fell to the ground. Vincent stepped forward and looked Led in the eye.

'You wanna be next?' Led asked him. Vincent stared Led directly in the eyes.

'I haven't forgotten...' Vincent proclaimed. Led then went to hit Vincent in the face with his gun when a troop grabbed his arm.

'Sir...' the troop said. 'Our orders are to bring them in unharmed..' Led nodded. He looked at them as Cloud regained his feet.

'Well...let's bring them in,' Led said coldly.

Rufus sat in his chair in the dark laboratory below the Mansion of Nibelhelm. Led then came in with Cloud, Vincent and Cid all handcuffed.

'Ah..' Rufus smiled. 'My friends. How are you? I trust you were treated well?'

'Shut your shitting mouth!' Cid screamed as the guards held him back. Rufus smiled. He got to his feet and got out his cell phone and looked at Cloud.

'They are expecting you to call them?' Rufus asked. Cloud looked him in the eye.

'What makes you think that?' Cloud wondered. Rufus chuckled.

'I don't think that Cloud...' Rufus laughed. 'I know you, I know what tactics you'd take...' Rufus dialed a number on his phone. 'Is Reeve with you?' Cloud jumped. 'Come on Cloud...we knew he was with you, my loyal sniper gave me all that information...'

'Yeah...before I killed him...' Cloud yelled. Rufus nodded.

'You did,' Rufus agreed. 'But it doesn't stop me from knowing almost everything...' Rufus then held his phone to Cloud's ear. 'Tell them that you have captured us and all to come into the mansion to interrogate us...' Rufus demanded.

'Go to hell!' Cloud yelled. Rufus smiled. Then out of nowhere he shot Cid in the leg. Cid fell to the floor.

'SHIIIIIIITTTT!' Cid screamed on the floor.

'You son of a...' Cloud began. Rufus silenced him.

'That shot was above the knee...he can still walk,' Rufus coldly said. 'Next shot, he'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his short life...' Rufus grinned. Vincent shook his head.

'You are heartless...' Vincent coldly said. Cloud sighed.

'I wont betray my friends...' Cloud said bitterly. 'I wont allow you to kill them...'

'Who said anything about killing them?' Rufus said confused. 'I just need to talk...' Cloud shook his head. Rufus then pointed his gun at Cid's leg again. 'Maybe I can make it worse...' Rufus said and pointed his gun at Cid's head. 'I only need you alive Cloud...' Cloud again shook his head. Cloud watched in horror as he saw Rufus about to pull the trigger...

'WAIT!' Cloud cried. Rufus then held the phone to Cloud again and dialled the number. It rang, then someone answered.

'Cloud?' the voice asked. Cloud sighed, it was Tifa.

'Tifa...' Cloud began. 'We're in Nibelhelm...'

'Any trouble?' Tifa innocently asked. Cloud closed his eyes in hate of what he had to say.

'No...' Cloud said. 'We captured Rufus without any trouble...we're in the Mansion. The underground lab...I want everyone here to interrogate Rufus...'

'No trouble?' Tifa wondered. That's wierd...are you sure everything's fine?' Cloud looked Rufus in the eye as Rufus kept his gun on Cid.

'No...' Cloud quietly said. 'I'm not.' Rufus smiled unaware of what Tifa had asked. 'But I need all of you here now!'

'Okay...' Tifa sighed. 'Be careful Cloud...'

'Tifa...' Cloud said quietly. 'You too...' Cloud nodded to Rufus and Rufus then hung up the phone. Rufus put his gun away and looked at Led.

'Take them to the cells...' Rufus ordered. Led nodded and looked at Cid moaning on the floor.

'What about him?' Led asked. Rufus looked at Cid.

'Are you in pain?' Rufus asked. 'If you are I can take it away...'

'Screw you Shinra!' Cid cried out. Cid spat in Rufus' face, bravely showing he was not intimdated. Rufus smiled and looked at Led. Then out of nowhere Led got out his gun and shot Cid square in the back of the head killing him.

'No!' Cloud yelled. Vincent stood still in shock as Cid's body fell to the rocky ground. 'You bastard!' Cloud screamed. Cloud dived at Led, when Rufus grabbed him and held him back. Vincent looked down at his fallen friend then looked evilly at Led.

'Take them to the cells!' Rufus repeated as Cloud and Vincent were dragged out of the room as Rufus looked down at Cid's dead body and gave a sigh.

Red strolled into the Medi Bay to let Reeve know that they were leaving Reeve with Kenji.

'Why can't I come?' Reeve asked.

'Because you just came out of a coma...' Red began. 'And chances are, we will have to fight...' Reeve tried to get out of his bed when Kenji restrained him.

'But I can help!' Reeve screamed. 'You don't know Rufus like I do...if he is doing anything wrong...I can talk him out of it...'

'REEVE!' Red yelled. 'Rufus is evil...he tried to kill you.' Red then turned to leave. 'If you came...I guarantee this time he'll get the job done...'

'But...' Reeve cried. Red looked at Kenji.

'Doctor, see he doesn't leave the ship..' Red sighed and left the Medi Bay.

'BASTARDS!' Cloud screamed and he punched the wall in cell. He was on the verge of crying his eyes out. Vincent sat against the wall...still in shock. Cloud looked at him. 'He just killed him...' Vincent gave a deep sigh and stared at the floor. 'HOW COULD HE JUST KILL HIM!' Cloud screamed.

'Because the man has no soul...' Vincent said tearfully. Cloud punched the wall repeatively.

'And now...Tifa...Barret...Red..' Cloud cried. Vincent stood and looked at Cloud's tearful face.

'We will not allow that to happen...' Vincent said, still recovering from the shock. 'We will not wait here for them to suffer death...'

'No..' Cloud nodded. He then looked to the roof of the cell. There was a vent, Cloud looked at Vincent. Vincent slowly nodded.

Reeve sat quietly in his room. Kenji was busy looking through files. Reeve sat thinking to himself, Rufus couldn't be a traitor...could he? The only way to find out was to read the ship's log and see what they said exactly. But Reeve couldn't get past Kenji...he sat thinking...suddenly Reeve slowly hopped up. Kenji looked at Reeve.

'Reeve...you must get back in...' Kenji began when Reeve punched Kenji in the face. Kenji fell to the floor, as Reeve quickly hopped out of the room and quickly locked the door. Kenji struggled to his feet and bashed at the door. 'REEVE! Please stop!' Kenji yelled as he bashed on the door.

Reeve ran into the meeting room. It was empty, he quickly sat at one of the computers. Reeve searched for any information regarding Rufus or his assasination attempt. Eventually he found a file called 'Rufus Shinra'. He opened it up and read it. Reeve sat in shock as the files confirmed his worst fears. Rufus had betrayed him. He had to stop Rufus, Reeve had the power to put an end to Rufus, once all his troops saw Reeve was alive they would follow his orders. But how would he get out to Nibelhelm by himself.

'You okay Reeve?' a voice asked. Reeve turned around to see Reno and Rude. Rude had regained much of his strength but wasn't 100.

'Rufus...betrayed me..' Reeve sighed. Reno nodded. 'Guys, I need you to help me out...'

'We'll do anything you need Reeve...' Reno smiled. 'At a price...'

'Okay...you'll get your money...now I need you to help me out of this ship...'

Rufus stood by the proffessor in the laboratory. They observed the Sephiroth clone. He was the very first clone to be produced, all the others were deep inside the mountains miles away from any civilasation. This Sephiroth was designed to see if he could be controlled.

'I want him unleashed today,' Rufus coldly said.

'But sir...' the proffessor began. 'He is not ready..we can't risk..'

'RELEASE HIM!' Rufus yelled. 'Now!'

Tifa, Red, Barret and Yuffie all carefully entered Nibelheilm. They all had their weapons out as they looked across the village. It was empty...

'Where is everyone?' Yuffie asked. Barret shrugged.

'Dunno...the damn place is empty..' Barret looked at Tifa. 'You sure about this?'

'Either Cloud has captured Rufus...' Tifa began. 'Or he's been captured himself, and either way we must help them...' They all approached the Mansion when suddenly they saw Shinra troops running towards them from the mountains, then troops running at them from the entrance of the village.

'TRAP!' Red yelled as the troops approached them. Rufus then walked out from the mansion followed by Led. Barret aimed his gun at Rufus.

'What have you done to them scum!' Barret screamed. Rufus smiled.

'One of them is dead...' Rufus began. 'The other two awaiting death...'

'You son of a...' Barret began.

'Oh but wait..' Rufus yelled. 'Troops, back away...I have a little surprise for my guests...' The sky suddenly became dark, someone else opened the doors of the mansion. He walked slowly past Rufus and Led. Tifa's eyes widened: IT WAS SEPHIROTH!

Sephiroth ran at the four, Tifa quickly released any spell she could, but the Sephiroth clone countered everything and eventually, all four of them were barely concious on the floor. Sephiroth stood over them and was about to kill them all in one strike.

Suddenly Cloud and Vincent jumped down from the Mansion's roof. Vincent hit Led to the floor, while Rufus dived forward as Cloud just missed him. Rufus quickly ran away to the mountains as the troops follow him through. Cloud then saw Sephiroth.

'No...' Cloud cried.

'It is a clone...' Vincent said as he stood over an injured Led. 'Don't worry...' Cloud nodded and ran at Sephiroth. The two fought in a hard fough battle, Sephiroth had a sword very like his very own masume. This Sephiroth eventually kicked Cloud down. Cloud's sword flew from him. Sephiroth stood over Cloud.

'Sephiroth...' Cloud sighed. Sephiroth lifted his giant sword...suddenly, Sephiroth's feet weakened, and he fell to his knees. Sephiroth began coughing and lost control of his sword. 'Vincent?' Cloud asked.

'I guess they released him too early...' Vincent said. 'He's dying...already.' Cloud looked over the weakened Sephiroth, he struggled to breathe. Cloud would release him from his pain. Cloud picked up his sword and swung it. Sephiroth's head flew off and his body fell to the floor.

'What a waste..' Cloud cried. 'One more day was all that was needed..'. Cloud then went over to Tifa and helped her up, while Barret, Yuffie and Red regained their feet.

'Where's Cid?' Tifa asked. Cloud lowered his head, he could not speak, after the long silence he could see Tifa and Yuffie in tears, while Red and Barret were on the verge of crying as well.

'Was it Rufus?' Barret asked angrilly. Cloud shook his head and looked over to Led, who was still on the floor as Vincent kept his gun aimed at him. Barret walked forward angrilly towards Led. Led hopped to his feet.

'Don't move...' Vincent coldly said. Barret walked closer to Led. He then swung for him with his giant metal hand. Led seized his chance as Barret was in front of Vincent's gun. Led ducked Barret's punch and dropkicked Barret into Vincent. As they both fell, Led quickly sprinted back into the mansion, where he could get a weapon and some help. Vincent regained his feet, as did Barret.

'I'll kill that son of a bitch!' Barret screamed.

'No...' Vincent said. 'Allow me that honour...' Cloud looked to the mountains.

'We need to stop Rufus getting to the top of the mountain...' he began. 'He's got a lot of troops with him...I need almost all of you...Barret come with me.' Barret slowly nodded. Cloud nodded to Vincent as Vincent then ran in the mansion after Led. Cloud looked at the mountains, then at the crew.

'Let's go!'

Cloud sprinted up the mountain followed by his crew. Suddenly troops appeared at every corner, Cloud had no problems as Barret shot them down straight away. They were not far from Rufus, when many troops appeared. Barret couldn't shoot them all down. Cloud looked at the crew.

'Go Cloud!' Tifa yelled. Cloud slowly nodded, he had to get Rufus. As he was far away from the crew, he could see the Sierra in the distance.

'What the hell?' Cloud thought. As he got closer to it, he saw Reno and Rude standing on the ramp. 'What's going on?' Cloud asked.

'Reeve was going to meet up with you to interrogate Rufus...' Reno began. 'But he saw him run past, so he chased after him. Rufus has got no troops left...'

'No!' Cloud cried. He looked ahead to see Reeve in the distance just seconds from Rufus.

Led ran into the dark laboratory, no one was there. The only thing he could see was Cid's body, which no one had taken away.

'Is anyone here?' Led asked.

'I'm here!' Vincent suddenly said. He punched Led down, then kicked him in the stomach. Led hopped up and fought back, Vincent countered almost everything. Led smiled, then remembered Vincent's wound from Kalm. He punched Vincent in his wound. Vincent fell in pain clutching his stomach. Led picked up Vincent's gun.

'How ironic...' Led smiled. 'You shall die...right next to the body of your dead friend...' Vincent quietly put his hand in his pocket to get out his small dagger blade. Led grinned.

'Goodbye...enjoy death...' Led laughed.

'I do!' Vincent then hopped up and stabbed Led straight in the heart. Led dropped the gun, Vincent held him up as he began coughing...then eventually fell dead. Vincent sighed in pain, he looked to Cid's body. He quietly picked him up and carried him out of the room.

Cloud continued running after Reeve. Reeve had finally caught up with Rufus. He dived at him, Rufus fell to the floor. They were just away from the end of a massive cliff. Cloud then sprinted trying to catch up. 'You betrayed me...' Reeve said. 'But more importantly you betrayed yourself.'

'What do you mean?' Rufus muttered. Reeve sighed. He then got out a sharp dagger.

'I trusted you Rufus...' Reeve cried. 'This is the end for you...'

'No...' Rufus begged. 'Reeve...don't do this. It wont make you feel any better...'

'You're probably right...' Reeve said. He stood still for a moment and then went to stab Rufus square in the chest. Before the blade met Rufus' skin, Reeve stopped himself. Reeve had a look of regret on his face...he couldn't do it. Suddenly Rufus grabbed Reeve's hand and shoved the dagger into Reeve's own chest.

'NO!' Cloud yelled in the distance as he watched it all unfold. Reeve had a look of realisation on his face as he fell to the ground. Rufus hopped up and quickly ran as far away as he possibly could.

'Ugh...' Reeve muttered as he lay there dying. Cloud then finally made it to Reeve, he looked down at Reeve.

'Reeve...' Cloud cried.

'I couldn't do it...' Reeve sighed. Cloud nodded and lifted Reeve's upper body up in his arms.

'It's okay...' Cloud reassured him. 'Help!' Cloud yelled. 'Somebody help!' Cloud looked at Reeve who was on the verge of dying. 'No...hang on! Hang on!' Cloud cried. Reeve looked at him.

'It's too late Cloud...' Reeve managed to say with his last breath. Cloud looked into Reeve's eyes as he slipped away, Cloud then hugged Reeve's dead body as he shed tears for his dead friend.

Rufus quickly made it to the top of the cliff. Below, he could see Rocket Town. There would be people who would help him there. Rufus turned around, he saw a tearful Cloud sprinting at him. Rufus couldn't run, the cliff he was on wad too slippery. Cloud dived at Rufus and began punching him again and again in the face.

'You bastard!' Cloud yelled.

'It was just business...' Rufus said trying to calm Cloud down.

'Business?' Cloud yelled. 'How many people had to die today for your business? Cid? Reeve!' Cloud punched Rufus again. Cloud got out his dagger. Eventually Cloud heared a voice behind him.

'Cloud...' Vincent said. 'Don't do it..'

'What!' Cloud screamed.

'The troops are dead, everyone's mourning in the Sierra...there's been enough death today...' Vincent lowered his head. 'Don't become a cold blooded murderer...' Cloud shook his head and stared at the dagger.

'No...he must die!' Cloud screamed.

'We need him aive...' Vincent cried. 'We need to expose him for the traitor he really is...if we don't. We could go down for murder of the Mayor of Junon...'

'REEVE WAS THE MAYOR OF JUNON!' Cloud screamed. 'Who will go down for his murder?'

'I am acting mayor of Junon..' Rufus said. 'Think about it Cloud..' Cloud struggled...he continued thinking.

'Please Cloud...' Vincent cried. 'Don't do this...' Cloud was shaking. Eventually he put the dagger back in his pocket and got to his feet.

'You're right Vincent...' Cloud cried. Rufus hopped up. Then out of nowhere, he got out Reeve's dagger from his pocket and swung at Cloud. Cloud quickly jumped back. He kicked Rufus backwards. Rufus then slipped on the edge of the cliff, he was falling. 'No...' Cloud muttered. But it was too late, Rufus fell back from the cliff. He fell down a long way. Cloud didn't want to look, but he could hear bones shattering once Rufus hit the ground. Cloud looked at Vincent.

'You did all you could...' Vincent said. Cloud then fell to the floor and broke into tears while Vincent comforted him.

Cloud, Vincent, Tifa, Barret, Red, Yuffie, Kenji, Reno and Rude all stood silently as they watched Cid and Reeve being laid to rest. Cloud hung on to Tifa as they were both in tears. Reeve's and Rufus' death sent shockways across Junon, but Cloud was not found guilty of any crimes once the Turks showed the files convicting Rufus of Reeve's attempted murder. A new Mayor of Junon was announced, and Cloud knew Kenji could do the job well. Cloud looked at Vincent, Barret and Red. They were all in tears for their departed friends. Cloud and Tifa cried in each others arms. Cloud just wished that Reeve had never organised the reunion. But it was only because they were so close. Cloud looked at Reeve and Cid's graves.

'Thankyou guys...' Cloud said. 'It's been great...'

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'Darkness...' he said. 'Darkness...'

'Darkness?' a familiar female voice said. 'What comes before darkness?'

'Light...' he said back. All he could see was light...until he saw everyone in the light with him.

'How's it going buddy?' a familiar male voice said to him. Reeve smiled...he looked in front of him...Cid was there, he looked around the light, Aeris was there...as was everyone that had meant something to him. He was before darkness...he was in the light...and he'd never have to see darkness again...

THE END.

Please let me know what you thought of this story and the death of the characters (just thought it was something new) It's been great. I've had a lot of fun writing this. Thankyou for all your kind comments.