Early morning in the doctor's office finds the nurse getting it ready for the day. Serving as both custodial and occasional maintenance person she's responsible for the hospital being in tip top shape.
"Got to sweep, I left yesterday before I could do it." The aide grabs a broom. "I didn't quite remember. I had something else on my mind." She walks into the exam room. "Accident." The nurse scoffs to herself. "An accidental discovery; I bet this is how it happened."
Tifa is lying on an exam table. Cloud rests on top of her with her hands tightly clasped around him like a teddy bear. They are both sound asleep.
"I'm actually jealous." The medical technician thinks, sweeping the room. "I want to try it. But I don't have the materia or a guy in mind. One would be east to get but the other…wonder if she would share-of course not!" She looks at the couple again.
"It isn't fair! I enjoyed yesterday but there's nothing I can do about it? No way to duplicate the experience, it just is not fair!" She moves to the other room.
"Aside from having a guy, what guy would dig that? The odds don't seem to be in my favor." She checks some equipment. "Some people have all of the luck." She looks around. "Almost time to open." She walks back into the exam room. "Wake up. Tifa, wake up." The nurse says poking her.
"What now?" Tifa grumbles, rolling her freshly opened eyes.
"You wouldn't want to have to explain this to the doctor would you?" The nurse gestures at the two of them lying on the examination surface.
"It is a slightly awkward position." Tifa agrees. "Thanks for waking me." She sits up and sets Cloud in the wheelchair. In no time he's his 'normal' size again.
"I'm so envious."
On the Highwind everyone is up and about. The crew is roused and the ship is back in the air and ready to go.
"We're going down to see Tifa and mini-numbskull, who's coming?"
"Anything to get off this ship!" Yuffie cries. "Count me in!"
"I am worried about them." Red XIII states. "I too would like to go."
"Then it's settled. Let's go." They land near Mideel and reach the doctor's office shortly after a brisk walk.
"Ah, you are her friends am I not correct?" The doctor says. "You are just in time. I have just checked his condition."
"How is he?" Cid asks gravely.
"Better actually. His overall condition in unchanged. He is still very far away from us with little motor control but he's managed to get some rest. I can't imagine how."
"Hmm, well I'm no doc. Resting is good, right?" Cid asks.
"Yes, but it doesn't make any sense." The doctor remains baffled.
"Tifa, how are you?" Red asks. "This has to have been difficult for you."
"Surprisingly, I'm fine." The girl replies replies. "I'll wait as long as it takes for him to get better. That isn't so hard. It's something I'm going to do because I won't leave his side."
"That's love!" The nurse gushes. "I wish I had someone to care for like that!"
"The midget means that much to you? I just don't get it." Yuffie says lightly.
"Shut ya trap! It ain't your-whoa!" The ground trembles. "What was that?"
"The Lifestream is gushing up beneath us. It happens pretty often, no need for alarm." A terrible screech is heard outside.
"I know that sound!" Cid declares. "That's WEAPON!" He rushes outside.
"What are we gonna do to WEAPON?" Yuffie whines. "It's really big!"
"We will confront it and find out!" Red dashes outside.
"Oh man!" Yuffie gripes following the other two.
"What should we do?" The nurse screams frantically. "WEAPON is out there!"
"We should evacuate but WEAPON is in the way." The doctor replies. "We will need to think of something else."
Tifa isn't saying anything. She is trying her best to change Cloud's equipment. She has already changed the bangles but is having trouble removing the sword. "A little help?" She says at length.
"Why are you doing that now?!" The nurse asks.
"We're cornered with WEAPON outside! We may as well arm ourselves! Now help!"
"Okay!" The nurse pulls Cloud out of the chair. Tifa swaps the swords quickly. "Whew!" Cloud plops back in the chair. "Couldn't hold him."
"I'm checking outside!" Tifa declares going to the door.
Outside there are cracks in the ground where WEAPON fired at the party. They aren't doing too well. The odds aren't stacked in their favor, that's for certain.
"Why won't this thing die?" Cid demands using Ice 3 on WEAPON.
"Because it is a legendary machination of the Planet's will that cannot be destroyed." Red replies, using Fire 3 on it.
"Because it's really big!" Yuffie yells throwing the Crystal Cross high. "I got it!" WEAPON reels back as though it has been hit in the eye. It fires blindly into the air then flies off. "I did it!" The ninja screams jumping up and down.
"The ground is still trembling. I have a bad feeling about this."
"Me too. Somethin's going down." Cid looks back at the hospital. He sees Tifa peeking out. "Get out of there! This place is gonna go!" He turns to his party. "We're out of here!"
"What?" Yuffie stops rejoicing.
"We cannot leave Tifa and Cloud behind!" Red says emphatically.
"She'll understand! We gotta worry about ourselves for now! Now move!"
"But-" They both say in unison.
"No buts now go!" They flee the town.
Inside the quaking place of wellness Tifa is trying to get Cloud and escape. Finding the handles of the wheelchair she's raring to go.
"What are you doing?" The doctor asks.
"Escaping!" Tifa replies curtly. "What does it look like?"
"Isn't WEAPON still outside?" The nurse asks. "You'll be killed!"
"I think WEAPON is gone. It can't be any safer in here if the place crashes down around us anyway!"
"Valid point." The doctor makes his exit and the nurse follows.
"Come on Cloud. We're going to make it!" Tifa bursts through the door of the office as it sinks into the landscape. "Hang on, we're almost there!"
The terrain behind her is giving way quickly but she is managing to stay ahead. Suddenly an area in front of her falls and she stops short only to plummet an instant later because the platform she was on disappeared.
"Aaaah!" Tifa exclaims falling into the Lifestream. Cloud splashes in beside her without a word. Then there is silence. Damp, moist stillness that emanates from everywhere is closing in. It is dark and she looks around and can see nothing but blackness. She hears many voices around her.
"Cloud?" Tifa calls. Her voice echoes back at her. She begins to walk forward. "I thought the Lifestream was green…" She thinks to herself.
Abruptly the surroundings change. From blackness all around with infinite depth to pieces of places she has been. It's like a collage of memories.
"Cloud?" Tifa says spotting him sitting in a backdrop. "Huh?" She sees a 'Cloud' in each scene.
"Tifa, I need your help." The 'Cloud' closest to her says. "Help me remember…"
"You've been trying to remember all this time?" Tifa asks. "Let's remember together!"
From Cloud's perspective, things are different. He floats in blackness and all he can hear is himself crying out in anguish. Not only one voice but many. The whole idea is giving him a headache. He grabs his head and looks down.
Now he can see them beneath him. It is maybe five or six of them. They all have the same expression of agony on their faces as his. They sit on fragmented pieces of settings once familiar to him. The places flash and change without warning or reason. Finally he too vents his pain adding his voice to the chorus of suffering eyes tightly shut. For a while there is nothing but tormented wailing then he hears a voice.
"Cloud?" It sounds familiar but he cannot place it.
It matters not to him until he notices something. One by one the voices stop moaning. He opens his eyes and sees something unexpected. Below him a colossal woman has picked up each version of him and placed them on her shoulders. Each one she touches falls silent and appears relieved.
"Who are you?" Cloud asks of the benevolent titaness. "I feel as though we have met before…"
It appears as though she cannot hear him. She surveys the area around her. "Let's remember together!" She says decisively.
As Cloud watches the angelic amazon rearranges the scenes, continually conferring with the people on her shoulders. Working together the setting finally makes sense again.
"What is she doing?"
"Does this ring a bell?" She asks of the many reflections of Cloud. They appear to have come to consensus. She takes them off her shoulders. With them all in her hand she looks the place over. "Are you certain?" She asks again. They all nod. "Then it is time."
The facets of 'Cloud' begin to merge. He finds himself floating toward the event. She simply watches compassionately as they all come together. When the process is done only he is standing in her hand.
"Do you remember now?" She asks staring down at him.
"I remember." Cloud replies meeting her eyes. "Tifa."
"Then we should go back." She looks up and the whole dream fades away.
Cloud wakes with a start. "Tifa?" He says coughing up strange greenish liquid..
"Yeah?" Comes from beside him.
"Thank you."
On the Highwind Cloud has just explained who or what exactly he is. (As he understands it anyway.)
"So that is who I really am." Cloud concludes. "Any questions?" No one says anything. "Would anybody like to tell what has been happening while I've been gone?"
Everyone looks at Vincent. He steps forward. "As acting leader while you were incapacitated I will inform you of what has occurred." He then proceeds to relate the entirety of all events from beginning to end. Others add comments and correct him. "…and that is everything." Vincent finishes.
"Thank you." Cloud says. Everyone leaves the operations room. Except Tifa. "Is there something wrong?"
Tifa doesn't say anything. She walks over to Cloud and begins to squeeze the heck out of him. "Don't you ever do that again!" She says forcefully adding even more compression. "You had me worried sick!"
"Could you ease up a little?" Cloud wheezes. "I'm afraid you'll crush me."
"Sorry, I was-"
"Calm down. You have the right to constrict me to pieces. Let me take the sword off though. Being sandwiched between you and it hurts." He takes it off. "What is this?"
"The Crystal Sword." Tifa replies. "I got it for you while you weren't well. I changed your equipment so that when you came back you would be ready."
"It's amazing…" Cloud says appraising the weapon. "I've never seen anything like it…"
"You never will. It's one of a kind."
"Reminds me of someone." Cloud stares at Tifa. "Thank you for picking me up and putting me back together. Only you could've done it."
"You helped. It was a team effort."
"Don't give me that. You fixed me. Without you it wouldn't have happened. But enough arguing, as I remember someone was wringing the life out of me." Cloud rembraces Tifa. She surprises him with a kiss. They lock eyes for a moment unsure what to do.
"Who will you are sending for the next mission?" Comes from the doorway. "Am I intruding?" Vincent asks. "I can come back."
"No, it's all right." Cloud says hastily disengaging Tifa.
"We should be getting ready anyway." Tifa agrees stepping away from Cloud.
"I'll be up on the bridge with my decision in a minute. Thanks for the reminder." Vincent nods and leaves. Cloud turns back to Tifa. She smiles and leaves as well. He shrugs and heads up to the bridge.
After a brief meeting on the bridge Cloud, Tifa and Red XIII are in Junon heading for the underwater reactor.
"What was Vincent coming in here for?" Cloud asks. "He didn't request to go and I didn't ask for him."
"That is because Vincent's firearm collection is much depleted." Red replies. "He was barely able to save the rifle he just bought and the handgun he keeps close. All of the other weapons in his arsenal were damaged beyond repair in the last mission he did."
"So he's going on a gun run?"
"Yes."
"Junon would be the place. I noticed several weapon shops the last time I was here."
They walk on in silence. Junon bustles with activity. Civilians and soldiers alike are busy. It's an atmosphere you see often enough in the naval city but it's different somehow. Though they feel a bit out of place they don't notice, encapsulated in their own thoughts.
"I feel so out of it." Cloud realizes. "So many soldiers around and they don't even look surprised. I missed a lot and caused a good amount of trouble just by being out. Not to mention it's my fault Meteor is coming. I gave the Black Materia to Sephiroth a second time. I feel like a failure. But I have to press on. No matter what he must be stopped."
"I'm so glad Cloud is back." Tifa thinks. "I've felt lost with no direction without him. Now that he is back I feel like I can do anything! I don't know exactly what Aeris meant but I'll figure it out! Most importantly I won't be alone. He'll be right beside me when I discover what she meant. I know so."
"I've never seen so many soldiers anywhere at once." Cloud mentions breaking the silence. "Why is it like this?"
"Ever since the WEAPON attacks started, this place has been the main target." Tifa replies. "They have tripled the guard and have at least that many on standby."
"We may find out exactly how many there are if we are not careful." Red adds. "Many of these are additional soldiers on duty because they are probably expecting us. The Huge Materia is a high priority concern according to Cait Sith." Cloud nods and they enter the building that will take them to the underwater reactor.
In the shopping district Barret, Vincent, and Cid are checking shops for firearms. It's a long process as the shopping district is extensive but they are taking their time anyway.
"And you tellin' me all yo guns got smashed?" Barret asks incredulously. "What you need is one o' these." He points to his gun-arm. "You'll never lose it."
"I'm a bit surprised you saved the Winchester myself." Cid says. "I seen it. It was pretty bent."
"I re-machined the barrel and it was as good as new." Vincent replies. "You have the equipment on board; it wasn't that difficult."
They walk into another shop. A guy with orange hair is at the counter. A bell sounds on their entry and he barely glances their direction. Then he continues leaning back in his chair.
"I'm looking for guns." Vincent says. "What do you have?"
"I got what you see on display. Dat's it, nuthin else man." The shopkeeper replies.
"You don't have any 'specials' do you?"
"Naw." The man looks up. "Is dat you under all dat stuff, Vince?"
Vincent nods. "Long time no see."
"Sorry, didn't recognize you." He reaches under the showcase. "I got this." He pulls out a large handgun. "Fixed magazine automatic."
"What is that?"
"Shinra prototype. The clip slides up as you fire rounds. You shake the cases out load it and push it back down. Inside the handle the bullets get charged with Mako every time you reload."
"Like a vertical revolver." Vincent realizes looking the weapon over. The shopkeeper nods. "Where did you get it?"
"Got it off the plane that went down, won't say how. It's called the Outsider you want it?"
"How much?" Vincent is examining the gun very closely now.
"What did you pay for the slingback?" Orange hair asks gesturing at the rifle on Vincent's back. "It's worth double that."
"That's a rip off!" Cid yells.
"#$ him and his stupid &!" Barret agrees.
"I'll take it." Vincent replies pocketing it. "See me later about it."
"Yeah sure. Take care." They walk out of the shop.
"Why'd you say you was gonna pay that?" Barret asks.
"You just got screwed!" Cid adds. "Royally!"
"Don't ask." Vincent replies looking around. "The airport seems very busy." He says changing the subject.
"Why? There ain't no planes in it I know."
"Checkin' it out anyway?" Barret asks. Vincent nods and they head for the airport.
Deep underneath Junon Cloud and his party are fighting valiantly. Having been detected almost immediately when they were in the vicinity of the reactor that comes as no surprise to them
"This sword is incredible!" Cloud says between attacks. "It doesn't have a scratch on it after what I just put it through!" He finishes the guard robot.
"It should be." Tifa replies, knocking out a soldier with one punch. "It is supposed to be the companion to the greatest steel ever made, whatever that means."
"Really?" Cloud asks giving the sword a second look before putting it away. "That means it is the Masamune's equal?"
"I would not worry about that at current, Cloud." Red says practically. "The target has just been placed in that red submarine. We should hurry." They head for the underwater craft.
"Well, well, well." A familiar voice says derisively. "Who do we have here? If it isn't Sephiroth's favorite mini-me!"
"Reno!" Cloud hisses, drawing the Crystal Sword. "Get out of the way!"
"You can't take the three of us!" Tifa warns going into fighting stance.
"As much as I would like to give that another try, I don't have time for you." Reno looks at his watch. "My priority is the Huge Materia!" He runs off to the red submarine.
"Scared?" Cloud calls after him.
"Cloud? I do believe we have a more pressing problem." Red mentions.
"Red XIII is right." Tifa agrees. "I've got something you can put your sword through right here."
"What-oh. That." A large mechanical loading device about thirty feet tall confronts the party. "Or I can help with that."
At the airport Cid, Vincent, and Barret are watching from afar. Hidden behind boxes and vehicles several dozen yards away they are all wishing somebody had a pair of binoculars right around now.
"Can't tell from here. We should get closer." Barret says, squinting.
"That has to be the last aircraft they got." Cid says. "That old clunker."
"What are they loading into it is the question." Vincent states. "Follow me for a closer look." They creep onto the airstrip. "Still can't quite see…"
"Hurry up and get that Huge Materia loaded!" Yells an officer. "Meteor ain't gonna blow itself up!"
"Still got questions?" Cid asks. "It's pretty obvious now."
"We've been duped." Vincent says flatly. "They didn't release information on this. They know there is a leak. They probably didn't think we'd notice the extra activity if they did it on the same day."
"Well now we know!" Barret declares. "Let's stop 'em!" He stands.
"Sit down!" Cid commands pulling the large, darkskinned man back down. "There is an army out there!"
"And I got the artillery!" Barret cocks the A.M. Cannon.
"I'm calling the head dipstick, so hold your horses! If that doofus says attack we attack." Cid calls Cloud's PHS. "No answer…"
"My guess is they are in or close to the reactor. It will jam any radio communications in the vicinity."
"We jus' gonna let 'em fly?" Barret asks dubiously.
"Nothing else we can do…" Cid concurs. "It's just too many of them to fight."
"Let's leave. They aren't ready to depart just yet. There may be something we can do." They head back to the Highwind.
In the underside of a naval fortress Cloud and comrades are fighting for their lives. The machine designed for heavy lifting is proving to be a tough opponent.
"We can do this!" Cloud yells casting a Bolt 3 spell on the dockside contraption.
"I have no doubt but how?" Red replies casting Fire 3 on it. "We are having little effect."
"By giving it our all!" Tifa shouts throwing a powerful set of piston punches at the machine. They bounce off.
"You can't put your fist through solid steel!" Cloud yells noting her dilemma. "Cast on it!"
Tifa checks her Crystal Knuckle. "Transform, Poison, Restore, those won't work. All I got is independent materia in the bangle, what to do?"
"Can't you cast?"
"Nothing I have will work! All I can use is Restore!"
"Indeed quite a predicament." Red says being grazed by a laser. He growls in pain and leaps back to avoid further cauterization.
"I got it!" Tifa casts Cure 3 on Red XIII. "It's all I can do."
"Thank you. I am most-" Red is grabbed by one of the hydraulic claws. "Certainly in great pain!" The claw tightens around him. Red howls and goes limp.
"Red!" Cloud yells getting ready to cast Bolt 3 again. "Aaaah!" The machination's other arm grabs him. "Help!" Cloud screams as he too is having his midsection crushed.
"Cloud!" Tifa rushes forward but she cannot reach him. "This isn't happening!" She pummels the machine ineffectively. "No!" She begins to glow green all over.
"Tifa…"Cloud sighs falling unconscious.
This pushes Tifa over the edge. She reaches forward and rips the arms from the robot. Then she pulverizes the rest with a few well-placed blows from her fists. The machine falls to the ground completely scrapped. It isn't until she pries the claws from her allies that she notices the change.
"What the-" Tifa thinks pulling the pieces apart. "When did this happen?" She looks around. "This is weird." Suddenly she shrinks back to normal.
"Geez, that knocked the wind right out of me." Cloud says returning to consciousness. "What happened?"
"What exactly did you do to it?" Red asks staggering to his feet.
"I ripped it apart." Tifa replies unsure of herself.
"Good job." Cloud pats her on the back.
"No time to waste. We must hurry."
Aboard the Highwind Vincent is dialing the PHS over and over. The redial button is starting to stick and the former Shinra agent does not appear to care.
"Look, you ain't got to keep calling them." Cid says. "The nimrods will contact us."
"I'm not worried about them. I'm trying to contact them as soon as possible so we can catch the plane together. The sooner they answer the sooner we get them on board to plan something."
"Yeah, since we couldn't jus' blast 'em."
"You would've went out blasting that's for sure! You can still can if you have ta kill yourself. Go on back there, they'll oblige ya!"
"Cloud we have an emergency situation, where are you?" Vincent asks. "We need you here now. Where can we pick you up? Outside Junon on top of a submarine. Got it." He hangs up. "Look for a submarine."
"That's them waving right there." Cid says. "Give 'em the ladder." They pull the other three on board.
"That plane looks like it's takin' off!" Barret says.
"What plane? What emergency?" Cloud asks.
"I should've remembered the Huge Materia in the Mako cannon!" Cait Sith says. "How could I forget?"
"Somebody say something!" Cloud demands.
"Follow that plane!" Cid commands.
"Why? Somebody explain!"
"The Huge Materia missions they attempted yesterday they tried to attack two places at once. Today they had two pieces in Junon. One in the reactor and one in the Mako Cannon. They only released info on one but went for both simultaneously again. We got wind of the other not too long ago and are pursuing it now."
"We left the first piece underwater in our hurry to get here." Cloud replies. "While we chase this some of you should go get it. It's in a red submarine the coordinates already programmed in. You can't miss it."
"They're landing in Rocket Town!" Cid cries. "That's my home! I'm going now!"
"Tifa, you still up to it?" Cloud asks. She nods. They touch down outside Rocket Town.
In the cargo hold of the airship Yuffie is quite ill. Motion sickness is a serious issue despite the fact that she leaps about all the time. With an airsick bag as her companion she's not enjoying herself, that's for certain.
"What's with all the racket?" She hollers bent over. "Why is this thing flying so crazy?"
"Everybody is trying to do two things at once!" Cait Sith says gleefully. "Finally some action!"
"This is not fun!" Yuffie holds her stomach as the airship lurches and takes off again.
"But it is! The clamor, the commotion, doesn't it make you feel alive?" Yuffie gives him a sour look.
"We have to go underwater and retrieve the Huge Materia." Vincent says walking into the cargo hold. "Which one of you wants to go?"
"Underwater in a submarine? Count me out!"
"I'll go!" Cait Sith says eagerly.
"Good, it is almost time to depart."
Cloud, Tifa and Cid have their own problems. After a relatively brief encounter with the Shinra and Rude of the Turks they entered the rocket. Intending to get the Huge Materia and go they were surprised when Palmer locked them in and launched the shuttle by remote. The materia is locked in a combination compartment that Cloud and Cid are trying to crack now leaving Tifa alone to think.
"That sure was a surprise." Tifa says aloud. "So this is outer space. Nothing special really."
"That ain't the combination I said!" Comes from above. "What are ya, dense?"
"That IS what you said!" Comes a retort. "It was wrong!"
"They'll be at that a while." Tifa chuckles. "They should be able to figure it out." She starts to ignore them as the argument increases in volume.
"What I can't figure out is what happened at the reactor just now. If I really did grow to the size of that thing we fought why didn't anyone say anything? How did it happen? How do I know it actually happened? I have been under a lot of stress lately I could've dreamed it up. I mean it doesn't make any sense having occurred at all. It has the unreal feel of a dream but that robot was destroyed. There was no other way I could have done it…" Tifa puts her face in her hands.
"I feel so confused, like I'm coming apart at the seams. There's no one I can ask because they would've mentioned it by now and I don't want to sound crazy. What do I do?"
"We've got it!" Cloud yells, coming down the ladder. "Hey is there something wrong?" He asks noting Tifa's expression.
"I got it!" Cid counters. "No thanks to you!" He climbs down. "What's with you? Broke your new glove already?"
"No…"
"Looks like it from here."
"Huh?" Tifa looks at her gauntlet. There are hairline cracks spreading throughout the Crystal Knuckle.
In another stolen Shinra vehicle Vincent, Barret, and Cait Sith comb the ocean floor. In the pressurized tube they search the bottom of the sea slowly and a bit erratically.
"Coordinates in the computer can't miss it…" Barret mumbles.
"This is boring!" Cait Sith bursts out. "I wouldn't have come if this was going to happen!"
"Do you have something to tell us?" Vincent asks of Barret.
"No! Why?"
"Because we've been here before. Twice as a matter of fact." The gunslinger replies. "Are we lost?"
"No, we ain't!" The pilot declares loudly. "I just don't know where we are right now…"
"Maybe I should pilot." Vincent takes the helm. "First, let's right the vessel…" The submarine spins unbalancing the occupants. "Then set a course."
"Just because it was that easy don't mean you can eyeball me like that!"
In the escape pod Cid, Shera, Cloud, and Tifa sit watching as the spaceship disappears in the distance. It's a solemn moment to be sure.
"Goodbye Shinra No. 26…" Cid says sadly. "I'll miss you."
"Why, you made it to space!" Cloud says pointedly.
"You realized your dream, aren't you happy?" Shera adds.
"Well…"
The rocket hits Meteor. A blinding flash fills the chamber and no one says anything.
Still not impressed by space, Tifa falls asleep as conversation picks up again. She finds herself in a familiar meadow. Looking around Aeris is where she was before.
"Hi." Aeris says, waving.
"Hey." Tifa replies, walking over. "Wait a minute…"
"Yes we are the same height or thereabouts. It's hard to explain. We don't have much time."
Tifa stares at the ground. She can barely make out individual blooms. It looks like a carpet from her angle. She is busy scrutinizing the terrain when she's disturbed from her pursuit by her friend.
"Sit down. Let's talk." Aeris says. "I'm sure you have questions."
"Yeah, what happened to the Crystal Knuckle?" Tifa asks taking a seat.
"It broke." Aeris says lightly. "Next question."
"I mean how did it break?"
"From the inside the only way it could."
"Why?"
"The crucial query. I'm glad you're getting the hang of this." Aeris smiles. "They broke because your hands exerted too much force on them."
"Why is that?"
"Because you swung far harder than any normal human could on something very resilient."
"How did I manage to do that?"
"By becoming much bigger of course. You remember don't you?"
Tifa's face shows a mixture of dismay and fear. "Yes but…" She trails off.
"I don't have much time." Aeris says flickering. "You don't seem to be in the condition to ask questions so I'll give you a hint. It'll become clear in a time of great need. When faced with the most difficult choice follow-"
Tifa is violently jerked from her seat as the pod hits the waves. "#!" She swears. Everyone turns to stare at her from his or her various positions on the floor.
"Are you all right?" Shera asks.
"Sounds mad." Cid says.
"She's not one to suddenly wake up, that's for sure." Cloud agrees.
On the Highwind everyone is back together.
"What do we do now?" Cloud asks the party. "We got all the Huge Materia, right?"
"Yes." Cait Sith replies. "We at headquarters aren't too happy about it either."
"We gotta figure out a way to stop Meteor!" Barret exclaims.
"Way to master the obvious!" Cait Sith says.
"Duh!" Yuffie agrees.
"Aeris had a way." Cloud says quietly. "She was sure it would work. If we knew what it was then maybe…"
"Maybe grandfather knows." Red XIII suggests. "We should go visit him."
"I agree his opinion on this matter would be useful." Vincent affirms.
"Beats sitting here." Cid says nonchalantly.
"What do you think, Tifa?" Cloud asks of the martial artist. She does not respond. "Tifa? Hello?"
"Oh, what?" Tifa says absently.
"I was asking what you thought of us visiting Bugenhagen to ask him about Meteor."
"Good idea I guess."
"To Cosmo Canyon then."
After going to see Bugenhagen he decided he could not draw a conclusion without going to where Aeris was headed. A quick ride in the Highwind and a hike through the Sleeping Forest leaves the whole motley assembly in the Forgotten Capital.
"Hmm, I see." Bugen mumbles. "The projector in the legend…"
"What are you thinking?" Cloud asks. "None of us understand this at all."
"Simple really." Bugen replies. "In the legends Holy stops Meteor. White Materia negates the Black Materia. In the event you need to find Holy this projector exists. I have read about it."
"Find Holy?" Cloud asks, puzzled. "I don't understand."
"As there is a Black Materia there is a White Materia. If we need to find it this projector should show where it is. But it needs a key to work…"
"This should fit…" Barret says pulling out an ancient thingy majig. "Here."
"Where did you find this?"
"Underwater. Everybody thought I was lost but I was lookin' for this!" Barret replies triumphantly. He gets a strange look from Vincent and a snort from Cait Sith but continues to look proud of himself.
"Ho, ho, ho!" Bugenhagen laughs as it begins to work. "Look at that!"
A cascade of water falls around the area surrounding the party. Light appears on the face of the water creating a makeshift projector surface. Aeris is on the screen. It zooms in on her hair. A glowing stone attached by a ribbon comes loose. It falls free and bounces from the pedestal. Just as it is about to enter the water a hand catches it. The view pans out and everyone can see who holds the White Materia, then the scene fades.
"You have the White Materia?" Cloud asks flabbergasted.
"I didn't know. I just caught it. I thought it was that Fire materia she made off with." Tifa produces it. "I didn't even look at it."
"It is good that it glows!" Bugenhagen say happily. "Aeris's voice made it to the Planet so the materia could be activated."
"I guess we found it. Use it, see how it works." Cloud says.
"…I can't. It isn't time yet." Tifa says.
"Let me try it then." Tifa hands Cloud the materia. "No use, it doesn't even glow when I hold it."
Everyone tries but there is no chance. It only glows when Tifa has it.
"It appears as though Holy has chosen you. It is not mere chance that you have the White Materia. Ho, ho, ho! Use it well."
"I guess we can leave here. Let's move out."
On the airship everyone is lounging about taking a break. The sun is setting and everyone just wants to relax.
"It's hard to believe you've had Holy all this time." Cloud says wistfully. "You're the key to stopping Meteor. You and you alone."
"I should have known." Tifa thinks. "She said Holy's power was with me, I shouldn't be surprised. How could I have been so stupid? If I had just paid attention to what she had said-"
"Tifa?"
"Huh, yes?"
"You seem distracted. Does it weigh heavily on your mind?"
"Yes, of course it does! I'm the last hope!" Tifa bursts out. "It falls on me and only me! I feel like the whole world is on my shoulders! I just want to give up."
"Don't think like that! We're in this together! I don't care what happens, I'm with you! We'll keep each other strong!"
"You mean that?"
"I'd die before letting something happen to you. I promised you." Cloud says staring up into her eyes.
"Cloud…"
"Everybody to the bridge! We've got a situation!" Cid yells over the PA.
"You ready?" Cloud asks.
"If you are." Tifa replies. They walk holding hands to the bridge.
On the deck everyone is having a fit. Of course it is all well merited given what's happening but chaos is no way to run a team of people. But restoring order is easier said then done right now.
"Damn it all, WEAPON!" Cid yells.
"It's heading for Midgar, Mako Cannon non-operational, moved from Junon, battlestations, reactor 1 and 7 not operational…" Cait Sith babbles.
"You see that? #$( WEAPON trying to destroy Midgar!" Barret says. "Annoying #$&(+-!"
"Didn't it learn something from its brother?" Yuffie says smugly. "I already kicked its butt."
"It is apparent that we cannot stand idly by." Red states. "Something must be done!"
"Orders, Cloud?" Vincent asks, cool as usual.
"Cait Sith get a hold of yourself!" Cloud commands. "I need information!"
"Sister Ray…" Cait Sith trails off. "Sorry about that." The cat-puppet composes itself. "Situation. WEAPON is heading for Midgar. No mobile forces. The Mako Cannon that just got moved there from Junon and upgraded is not operational. Prognosis grim."
Cloud considers the information and comes up with one decision. "We are going to try and fight WEAPON!" He announces. "Everybody let's arrange materia and get ready. Drop time in ten minutes!"
On the ground everyone is preparing to confront WEAPON. They are scattered around in the general area to support each other. The loose semi-circle is arranged so that WEAPON will have to walk through them to reach the technosupercapital.
"Are we ready?" Cloud asks. Tifa and Yuffie who are nearest to him nod. "Let's give it all we got!"
WEAPON hits land. Everyone begins to attack at once.
"Don't give it a chance!" Cid exclaims casting Quake 3.
"Bring it down hard!" Barret affirms unleashing Limit Technique Ungarmax with the A.M. Cannon.
"Let's show WEAPON some fireworks!" Cait Sith uses Fire 3.
"It shall fear our might!" Red XIII calls down Comet.
"We must prevail!" Vincent uses Ice 3.
"Eat this!" Yuffie casts Demi 3.
"WEAPON must be stopped!" Tifa casts Bolt 3.
"To save the Planet!" Cloud uses Ultima. WEAPON stumbles back with the power behind the attacks but continues forward. "It can't be…" The leader of the party says as all members gasp and swear.
WEAPON has shrugged off the entire assault and is undamaged. It braces its feet and flaps on its shoulders open up revealing a very impressive armory. A second round of profanity is heard as they prepare to move quickly.
"Everybody watch out!" Cloud yells. "Take cover!"
All combatants dive for cover as a cannonade of all kinds razes the landscape. Everyone cries out as it impacts near him or her. The WEAPON satisfied that they had been destroyed, moves closer to Midgar.
"We can't surrender!" Cloud implores. "We've got to keep fighting! Give it your best!"
"I ain't done yet!" Cid proclaims summoning Kjata of the four elements.
"Get a load of this!" Barret calls down a Satellite Cannon burst on the target.
"I am not afraid!" Red casts Comet 2.
"This is it!" Yuffie summons Leviathan, the guardian of Wutai.
"I hold nothing back." Vincent summons Bahamut ZERO, the lord of all dragons.
"Let's turn up the heat!" Cait Sith summons Phoenix, the immortal winged beast.
"We have to win!" Cloud casts Ultima comboed with Mp Turbo this time to double its power.
Tifa is just about to cast Shiva when she notes the smoke clearing. "It's standing in a crater…" She whispers disbelievingly. "Nothing we've got will be enough…"
"Hit the dirt, it's attacking again!"
An unimpressed mechanical embodiment of destruction unleashes another wave of devastation. The party screams in pain as the attacks wreak havoc on them. They can barely move now; WEAPON has thoroughly trounced them.
"I can't keep going." Cid says wheezing.
"Bullets just bounce off, nuthin's workin'…"
"I am sorry I have failed." Red sighs.
"Our magic isn't enough." Cait Sith states.
"We lack the strength." Vincent agrees.
"I can't do it." Yuffie admits.
"This can't be it…" Tifa groans.
"There must be something…" Cloud murmurs, grasping at straws. "Holy, you have to use it. It's Midgar's last chance!"
"I tried. It didn't work."
"Please just one more time? It's all anyone has left."
"All right." Tifa struggles to her feet. "Planet hear my cry! Lend me your power please!" She casts Holy. The materia floats before her and gleams bright. Fully expecting WEAPON to be struck down by Holy power she is surprised that it still stands. The glowing sphere enters her body then she begins to grow.
"What is this?" Cloud wonders prone on the ground. "What is happening?"
Tifa grows all the way to one hundred feet tall. She can see eye to eye with the WEAPON now. "I won't let you pass." She says voice echoing across the continent.
WEAPON looks at her and does not pause in its advance. They meet and it becomes a grappling match between a buxom barmaid and a doomsday device. Tifa shoves it back and punches it low in the gut area. Metal crinkling is heard and cheers come from the ground. She presses on and follows with kicks to its legs that leave it nearly immobile and a punch that shatters the over-taxed gauntlet to pieces in its face.
Cloud, still an invalid for all intents and purposes watches in awe. "She sure is taking it to WEAPON." He glances at Midgar. "Oh no, the Mako Cannon!" He makes it to his feet. "Got to warn her…" He casts Ultima in Tifa's direction.
"What was that for?" She asks, having fallen to avoid the powered up spell.
"Stay down!" Cloud yells as loud as possible. WEAPON takes this opportunity to light up Midgar with a 347-gun salute.
"I could've stopped it" Tifa yells, trying to stand. "Why did-" A thick beam of condensed Mako energy flies right above her. "…"
WEAPON is hit directly. It coasts from its feet and lands on the shore with a massive hole right where Tifa punched it. It does not move again.
"It looks like we won." Cloud says uncertainly. "What to do about this though?" Tifa towers over the party.