Cloud ran.

With his clone unconscious for the time being there was no chance of being stopped by the mind link. He was just thankful that he had managed to figure out how to use the link to benefit himself before it was too late. Now he had to make it back before his clone woke up again.

He was exhausted, not only because of the physical strain on his body as he ran with the wounds his clone had given him when they fought, but also because of the mental strain as he focused intensely on the mind of his clone. It nauseated him, being able to feel another mind so closely linked to his own, but he had to focus on it so that he would know the instant his clone began to wake up.

If only he knew where Fenrir was, but his clone had probably taken it with him when he left. It was up to his legs and his own will to make it back in time to save Tifa and the kids.

A twitch. That was all there was before Cloud knew the clone had surfaced from unconsciousness and he instantly attacked the mind with his own. Just as he had done before and had been done to him, he sent waves off pain through his clone to try and throw him into unconsciousness yet again.

"Cloud! What's going on? What's happening?"

Cloud stumbled in shock as he found himself hearing Tifa's voice. He could vaguely see her through his clone's eyes as she bent down cupped his face, eyes wide in horror.

"Tell me what's wrong!"

Cloud stopped running so that he could concentrate harder. He closed his eyes tightly and shot more pain through his clone before abandoning all reason and allowing his mind to be swept into the unknown connection.

He opened his eyes and saw himself looking up at Tifa.

"This- isn't me." he said faintly. He could feel his real body pulling at him, begging for him to return. But he had to talk to her.

"What do you mean?" Tifa asked.

"You're looking... at my clone. He left me in- in- in the forest. Our minds are l-"

Both Cloud and his clone suddenly roared in pain through the same mouth, sharing in the feeling inflicted by the clone who had attempted to only hurt Cloud but hurt himself as well in the process.

"Cloud!"

"Make him stop! It's the clone! I thought I killed him but he's still alive. He's in the forest, trying to turn you against me. Please Tifa, don't let go of me!"

Cloud felt hot tears splash down his face as he heard those words. He wished he had enough control over his clone to make him pass out, but the emotions sweeping through him were rendering him useless. Another wave of pain washed through him and he cried out, stumbling to his knees.

"Stop it!" he yelled, doing his best to send pain to his clone. He felt as though he was engaged in much more than a simple mind battle, especially since the pain that came from it felt incredibly real.

Lowering his head to the ground, Cloud tried to rest in that position as his clone stood up with the help of Tifa. They were currently taking a break.

Cloud took the opportunity in an instant, entering his clone's mind and opening his eyes to see Tifa once again.

"Tifa don't listen to him! He's lying! Please, you have to believe me! You're not with the real Cloud!"

"Cloud!" Tifa half sobbed, worry on her face as she studied his. "I don't know what to do!"

Cloud desperately wanted to tell her more, but his body pulled him back and he found himself once again staring at the dirt of the forest. He felt his clone preparing to send pain to him again but jumped in first, sending as much pain to his clone as he could possibly manage. He wanted to kill that man for pretending to be him and fooling Tifa!

He gasped as he felt the clone's mind blacken again and hurriedly scrambled to his feet. He had to hurry. The sooner he got back to Tifa the better.