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CHAPTER 7

Cloud, Paine and Zack were now just a day from Nibelheim after trekking miles through mountains and valleys. "I think we're gonna run right into the town at this point. If Sephiroth is there, Cloud you get the hell out of there. Paine you make sure he gets back to Nibelheim… you are too valuable to die right now… thousands are counting on us… we're their hope…" Zack added softly and continued down the slope of the mountain as he saw the clearing for what used to be Nibelheim far off in the distance.

"One more day, till you see your home? Getting cold feet?" Paine asked slyly as she followed Zack while Cloud looked at the town from afar.

"Let's just get this over with." Cloud sighed as the group headed into the thick forest that would lead to the city.

"When we get their I want you to hurry with whatever you have to do then we leave immediately… Sephiroth does come to Nibelheim often." Zack warned and Cloud frowned.

"How do you know?"

"Does that matter?" Zack countered and Cloud shook his head and continued following the two. The group had walked deep into the forest just as nightfall came. Zack had found a small sizable trench they could huddle in until dawn. "We're just going to have to settle for this tonight." Zack sighed. Paine nodded and silently tucked herself into the ditch followed by Zack while Cloud just looked at them.

"You have got to be kidding…" Cloud groaned but Zack shot him a glare.

"We can't sleep out in the open, if Soldiers are around they'll kill us in our sleep, at least in this trench we are closer to the ground and hopefully one of us picks up the sound of someone approaching." Zack reasoned and Cloud joined the two on the other side of Paine. "Now get some rest, tomorrow we reach Nibelheim." Zack sighed as he fell asleep.

Hours passed and Cloud sat awake still thinking about everything in his life and even the flashbacks he had when he met Tifa in Midgar and one in particular stood out above the rest.

"Penelope… love him as if he was your own… please…" Whoever had said that to him was a woman. Cloud wondered if that had been the voice of his mother… but Penelope… the first woman to care for him had said his mother died giving birth. Cloud looked up at the sky as the stars sparkled above.

"So peaceful in contrast to what's going on down here." Cloud sighed as he looked at both the sleeping forms of Zack and Paine before getting up and going for a walk. Cloud had continued on his stroll thinking about everything and Tifa, in general but paused once he heard a sound off to his right. Cloud snapped his head in the direction of the sound and saw a young man around his age, wearing a long red coat with shoulder length brown hair looking at him.

"Sorry to startle you." He spoke as Cloud eased slightly but stayed alert. The man smirked a little and approached Cloud. "What are you doing out in the wilderness at a time like this… alone? You do know the Shinra are crawling all over this place right?" The brown haired man asked as Cloud frowned.

"What about you?" Cloud asked as he just grinned and shrugged causing his black shoulder guards to rise. Cloud looked at the attire and swore he had seen someone else wear the same type of uniform before, but before Cloud could continue thinking on it the man spoke.

"I see you're not to smart, so I'll be on my way."

"What were you doing here anyway?" Cloud pressed and the man looked at him before grinning.

"I just wanted to see an old friend, but he's not home right now. I answered your question how about giving me an answer on that very same question." Cloud looked at him hard before realizing the man wanted to now why he was there.

"I'm heading to Nibelheim." Cloud explained as the man's eyes widened slightly but he just grinned and gave Cloud a look.

"There's nothing there but ashes of a ghost town… Sephiroth made sure of that." He explained and Cloud frowned.

"What do you know of Sephiroth?"

"That he's Shinra." The man said instantly.

"I suppose you aren't?" Cloud asked and the man laughed.

"If I was would you still be alive right now? So tell me, what's in Nibelheim you're searching for… other than some scorched skeletons?"

"I… I was born there."

"Oh that's nice… what I mean to say it's good you got away." The man turned and began walking away but continued talking, "You shouldn't waste your time heading back there… Sephiroth usually heads this way during this time so a word of advice, run." The man spoke.

"I'm not afraid of him." Cloud shot out and the man paused. The man looked over his shoulder but made no motion to turn around.

"Every commoner fears Sephiroth." The man spoke and Cloud thought he had heard sarcasm in the man's voice. The young man then continued, "Nibelheim shouldn't mean anything to you if you were just born there… I'm getting the sense there's more." The man asked as Cloud sighed, he felt unsure about the man but realized that if he had been with Shinra he would know what Cloud looked like and had attacked.

"I escaped the day of the attack, with a friend." Cloud spoke as the man turned and looked at Cloud once again, this time with a strange glint in his eyes. The man grinned.

"You escaped Sephiroth?" He asked and Cloud nodded, "well that's not how the story goes…" The man turned around to leave and chuckled, "I guess you're heading to Nibelheim to finish things then?" He asked

"No… I just need to see my home again." Cloud responded and the man laughed.

"It's an honor to meet you… sorry I didn't exactly catch your name." He asked.

"Cloud… and you?" Cloud asked and the man continued to walk away. "What's your name?" Cloud demanded. The man looked over his shoulder and grinned.

"It's not important… but do me a favor and tell Zack that I know where she is." With that said the man walked off into the thick of the forest disappearing into the darkness. Cloud thought about chasing after him but realized he was far enough away from Paine and Zack. He would ask Zack about this in the mourning.

The Next Day

Auron had brought Jecht, Barret, Cid, Yuna Tifa, Rikku Tidus and Yuffie with him to search for the three Ex-Soldiers. With Cid's mechanical genius, the two week boat trip only lasted eight days and while on the ship Cid had been provided with the equipment to build yet another hover craft, one large enough for twenty people to sit on and travel at the speed of a running Chocobo. With the help of Jecht, Barret and surprisingly Yuffie the hovercraft powered by an exploding powder was finished two days after the group had landed.

While Cloud, Paine and Zack had taken the entire five week trip, two weeks over the ocean and three by land, Cid's inventions and expertise had gotten them over the ocean in eight days and they were now just three days from arriving in Nibelheim thanks to Cid's vehicle.

"They are already in Nibelheim by now if they traveled as hard as Zack said." Yuna explained as she looked at the map while Tidus looked over her shoulder and Rikku looked over the other. Cid grabbed his map and scoped out the remaining distance to find that they were on course to reach Nibelheim in three days exactly.

"If we keep the hovercraft at this speed, we'll get there in about three days, so you better hope we don't run out of fuel." Cid grinned.

"No way, I had Yuffie stock the craft before we left the harbor." Yuna grinned as Yuffie's eyes paled. Yuna looked at her from her map and frowned, "Yuffie you did stock the hovercraft with the exploding powder right?" Yuna asked and Yuffie turned red in a blush and shook her head. Everyone groaned as Yuffie spit out apologies.

"Cid we can't risk not having the hovercraft as a get away, so we'll just have to walk from here." Tifa sighed.

"But that'll add two days to the trip!" Rikku complained but Tifa lifted a hand.

"We're in the mountains now, so we should keep our strongest asset safe, we can't scale these mountains like the Shinra can and having the craft ready to escape is necessary."

"Spoken like a true war tactician." Auron grinned and continued, "Lady Lockhart is right, Cid, Barret, Jecht and Tidus will stay with the craft."

"I'm not abandoning Yuna again," Tidus spoke adamantly then Jecht stepped up.

"The three of us men can handle looking out for this baby." Jecht grinned, "Tidus can go with you… you are going towards the Shinra after all." Auron nodded and Cid then directed the hovercraft towards a hidden cave entrance.

"This is a pretty massive cave… shouldn't it be on the map?" Yuffie asked looking at the map in Yuna's had. The group lit several torches and illuminated the cave as the hovercraft came to a stop. The group got down from the vehicle and walked around the cave until Rikku found a secret passage.

"Look!" She exclaimed and everyone came to her side. Cid, Barret and Jecht stayed behind with the hovercraft and waited while the others headed on to search down the passage way. "What do you think is down here?" Yuffie asked.

"I have no clue…" Tifa whispered as an eerie green light shined up ahead. "It's some kind of clearing up ahead." Tifa whispered as she and the others walked to the green light and gasped in shock at the sight before them. "It's… it's a… woman…" Tifa whispered as she looked at the large crystalline structure that held a beautiful woman within.

Auron stepped forward and gasped. The other's looked at the elder man and then he spoke, "This is Lucrecia… the daughter of the first Shinra ruler who attacked the Ancient City… she was the mate of Hojo, the reason the Ancients fled to Midgar. She is deemed as the mother of the super powered Shinra we fight today." Auron whispered as Tidus growled and drew his blade.

"Then we should make sure to rid ourselves of her!" He growled but Auron held a hand up.

"Something is in here with us." Auron whispered as the group became alert and looked around. Instantly Tidus lifted his sword and deflected a burst of energy that flew towards him. Auron narrowed his eyes and then moved in front of Tidus and deflected several more of the similar bursts of light. "Show yourself!" Auron roared as a figure cloaked in a long red jacket appeared from the dark corners of the opening. He had pure black hair that was down to his back and his body was thin but there was some muscle definition. "Who are you?"

"Leave!!" He roared and lifted a weapon that fired several more energy burst that Auron deflected before Yuna created a barrier that blocked the attacks. The man stopped firing the strange weapon and waited.

"That is one hell of a weapon…" Tidus gulped as Yuna allowed the barrier to fall. Auron rushed forward to attack but the red coated man dodged the sword and fired several more times but Auron deflected the attacks skillfully.

"We have to help him!" Tifa growled as she rushed forward. The man looked at her and aimed his weapon and fired but Tifa dodged several times before closing in and kicking the weapon from his hand and punching him backwards. Auron and the group stood amazed at Tifa's skill and quickness. They had heard she was agile but had not expected her to be so fast. Tifa finished her attack with a roundhouse that sent the man flying into a wall. Tifa finally got a good look at the man who appeared several years older than her and she spoke up, "Who are you?!" Tifa demanded as the man clutched the ground with a golden clawed hand and finally looked down in defeat.

"Leave Lucrecia alone… please." He begged, "take me and do what you wish but leave her alone." He pleaded Tifa looked shocked and turned to the others who approached.

"What… who are you?" Tifa asked softer and finally the man spoke.

"I am Vincent Valentine… " He spoke softly and Auron's surprise was audible.

"Impossible, that would make you close to a century old!" Auron frowned and once he realized the others' confusion he continued, "Vincent Valentine was Hojo's top officer when the Shinra drove the Ancients from their home into Midgar nearly seventy years ago in 1000 B.C." Auron explained as everyone looked at Vincent in shock.

"It is true… I am willing to pay for the sin's of the Shinra… just don't disturb Lucrecia…" Vincent pleaded

"What's wrong with her?" Tifa asked looking at the woman.

"Hojo placed her into this… this hell because she loved me… not him…" Vincent whispered as he stared at the crystal that trapped Lucrecia. Tifa and the group looked confused and Auron spoke.

"The Shinra history claim Lucrecia was the ruler of the Shinra that overran the Ancients years ago." Auron spoke but Vincent shook his head.

"Hojo forced Lucrecia to give life to a child… Lucrecia was torn between destroying the child and allowing the innocent creature to live." Vincent paused and looked down, "she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, then Hojo tossed her aside and when she and I tried to start a force to stop Hojo's insanity he placed her in this…" Vincent spoke as he walked towards the crystal and rubbed it sadly. "Hojo killed her father and any that opposed him. Without Lucrecia, I had no desire to fight or live… " Vincent whispered but they heard him.

"How is it you're still alive?" Yuffie asked and Vincent spoke.

"The catastrophe that fell from the sky and gave the Shinra they're abilities caused the goddess of this planet to awaken. Lucrecia and I struck a deal with her to be responsible for undoing the damage the Shinra have done… but… I've failed… I've failed the planet and I've failed Lucrecia." Vincent whispered, "Leave this place please and never return." Vincent whispered. Yuna looked close to tears.

"We have to be able to help them somehow!" Yuna spoke to Auron who seemed saddened himself.

"There is no way to help me." Vincent spoke as he touched the crystal. Then a voice echoed through the cave causing everyone to look around.

"Is someone else here?" Tifa asked but Vincent shook his head and held his hand out towards his weapon and it flew to his hand.

"Show yourself!!" Vincent hissed and instantly a white light flashed brightly and faded to reveal a woman. Auron's eyes widened at the recognition of the woman.

"Lady Ifalna!!" Auron exclaimed and bowed down to the woman. Ifalna turned and greeted him.

"Sir Auron… you have aged from the young man you had once been. It is good to see you again."

"Leave!" Vincent hissed but Ifalna faced him and spoke.

"Vincent, the planet has realized that it should have never placed the burden of saving it on you. With the events that have occurred, recently the planet wants to give you and Lucrecia the chance you deserve." Ifalna spoke as the group huddled around her and Vincent.

"What…" Vincent asked breathlessly.

"You must swear that you and Lucrecia will fight against the Shinra and they shall help bring Lucrecia from this prison." Ifalna stated and Vincent's eyes widened. He fell to his knees and bowed.

"I'll do whatever you want!" He pleaded as his sincerity touched Tifa.

"How can we help?" She asked Ifalna who looked at her fondly and smiled.

"Bring my daughter to this cave after you have retrieved Cloud… she can help." Ifalna spoke.

"Lady Ifalna… you had a child?" Auron asked amazed and confused. She nodded sadly and continued,

"It was out of wedlock after the passing of my husband and the father was a warrior of Shinra. I sent my child to Midgar where she has grown up without fear of being persecuted for that which Cloud and Zack have been persecuted for. Auron, bring Aeris here and she will free Lucrecia." Ifalna ordered as everyone but Vincent and Ifalna gasped.

"Aeris is a Shinra?" Tidus asked

"Impossible!!" Yuna gasped but Ifalna nodded.

"My daughter possesses the strengths of the Shinra but the mystical abilities of a pure Ancient. Though both forces of her heritage has canceled out her physical strength, Aeris is in touch with the planet more so than any Ancient in existence. She will be given the power to heal Lucrecia, but" Ifalna looked to Vincent and spoke, "if you do not aid in stopping the Shinra… Lucrecia shall perish."

"I will help in any way I can." Vincent spoke as he stood,

"Then you will begin now… you are to head to Nibelheim with them and retrieve a young man named Cloud. He is the reason you no longer have the responsibility of stopping your people, for I and Aeris's father sacrificed our lives so that his birth mother could survive and give him life. His birth mother's, Lyra's escape from the Shinra was one of many key events in history that have been leading up to this moment… the moment when the Ancients will have the greatest chance to defeat the Shinra… if you fail now, the Shinra shall never be stopped." Ifalna stated softly.

"Wait what does that mean? What sequences!?" Tifa asked wanting to now more.

"In time Tifa you shall understand much, for you are also just as important as Cloud is to the Ancients' victory… even more so than my daughter." Ifalna then vanished in a flash of light leaving everyone confused but looking at Tifa in a much different light.

"Tifa… you're a key to the Shinra's defeat." Rikku repeated as Yuna looked at her friend who was still confused about the woman's words.

"We must go now, this Cloud, must be found and the Shinra must be stopped." Vincent stated. Tifa looked at him and nodded before turning to Auron.

"What do we do now Auron?" She asked.

"We find Cloud as Lady Ifalna instructed." Auron spoke before the group headed back towards the entrance.

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