CHAPTER 5 – OLD FRIENDS AND A MESSAGE

Cloud left the City of the Ancients…

He headed for Rocket Town. There, he wished to seek Cid. He thought that if he could tie all loose ends with his fellow AVALANCHE members, then maybe he would find the way to his supreme happiness…Aeris.

It was a long journey, and Cloud encountered enemies after enemies, people and monsters. But he soon made it to Rocket town. He saw in the distance a new rocket that was not leaning slightly, in fact it looked brand new! He smiled…Cid always was ambitious; it appears he'd made a new model!

Cloud entered the quite little town.

It was just as cute, and compact, but the people appeared to have smiles on their faces, instead of living in fear of ShinRA. The people nodded to him, and Cloud lowered his head, not wanting to be recognized as one of the heroes who saved the planet and their village from ShinRA those years back, when he first met Cid. But people stopped, a few young children whose faces he remembered stopped, and looked at him. "…Cloud?" One young girl said…she had grown up since Cloud last saw her playing in the village. Cloud ignored her and pressed onto Cid's house.

He knocked…then waited.

"Coming, Coming!" Said a shrill yet happy voice, which was the voice of the Shera – Cid's assistant, who ruined his plans of being the first man in space on his first launch of his old rocket…

Cloud heard the door unlock, and then open, and a familiar face stood in front of him…

"Cloud…?" Shera stopped as her smile faded. Cloud smiled and nodded to her. "Shera." He said. Shera then smiled brightly. "W, what are you doing here? Oh, come, come in!" Cloud walked into the cosy house. It was warm, with a fire going in the living room. Shera pottered over to her cupboards and pulled out some biscuits, and shoved some on a plate, fumbling slightly, and then placed them down on the table. "Here, have some…you must be hungry, I mean, you must have come all the way from Midgar, I," Cloud stopped her. "Whoa…stop. I came from," He paused. "The City of the Ancients." Shera's smile faded once more, she knew for sure why. "Oh…" She sighed. "…You never did forget about her, did you?" Cloud shook his head, knowing who Shera was referring to when she said "her"

"Is Cid here?" Cloud asked Shera.

"Who wants to know?" Asked a confident voice from behind. Cloud turned to see Cid, standing in the doorway. "Cid." Cloud said…

Cid stopped, and almost choked. "Cloud?" He said in astonishment. The Spiky haired guy smiled. "How've you been, Cid?" Cid grinned. "Well I'll be damned! Sit down, pal!" Cloud laughed, same old Cid. He sat down, and refused Shera fussing over him having a biscuit.

"God dammit! Will you stop woman? The guy said he don't want one…bloody wife, why did I marry ya in the first place, eh?" He sighed. "Sometimes Shera…sometimes." Cloud's eyes widened, and he interrupted Cid. "Wait, hold on…you two got married?" He asked eagerly. Cid nodded. "Yeah…a couple months back…I sent an invitation to ya," He paused and stood. "…You didn't come." Cloud silenced at once, as he saw Cid's face turn sad surprisingly.

"Cid," Cloud began. "Im…im sorry," "Save it, Cloud…now, what do you want huh?" Cloud sighed. "I came to tie up loose ends. About the wedding…I didn't get the invitation, else I would have come, you know that." Cid sighed. "Im not so sure Cloud, you know, the others were there…Barrett, Vincent, Yuffie, Red XIII, even Cait Sith!" He smirked, Cloud laughed slightly. "Tifa, too." Cid said. Cloud looked up once as he heard that name. "…Your still missing her, aren't cha?" Cloud looked at Cid. "Who?" Cid laughed slightly too. "Aeris," He said, Cloud looked at Cid in the eyes. He nodded silently. "I need to make sure everything's…alright." Cid sighed and sat down again.

"Im not mad at ya, Cloud. Now, there's no loose ends of whatever crap your talking about here, everything's cool. Now you get out there, and talk to the others, alright?" Cloud nodded. "You're right…I best be off." Cid stopped him. "Hold on, hold on! You must be tired you spiky ass jerk, now, get some rest in the spare room." Cloud obeyed silently, and shrugged, he left the living room, and made for the spare room…

Cid sighed and sat back in his chair. Shera smiled and sat down opposite him. "…You're worried about him, aren't you?" She asked tenderly. Cid looked at the exquisite brunette. "…Well, no…I," He paused. "Yeah, yeah I guess I am…" He sighed again, but looked at his wife, and smiled…

"But, you know, you make my worries go away." Shera smiled at this comment. "…You're soft really, you know." She teased. Cid laughed and stood. "Well, not for long…im getting some sleep, woman." He said and gave her a playful wink and then left…

Shera laughed happily, and smiled to herself. "…I married a good man." She said softly, and sighed dreamily to herself.

Cloud woke up the next morning.

It was around 9am, and he'd better press on. He wanted to visit Vincent – who he remembered helped him a lot in the time of Geostigma. He knew Vincent did not remain in one place, but he knew where he might well be…

In the one place he did remain in longer than anywhere else…

And that place was Lucrecia's cave.

He left early, and placed a small note on the living room table, for Cid and Shera…

Dear, Cid and Shera.

Thanks for the spare room, I guess I did need some rest…right like always Cid. But, I have to leave now. Im heading for Lucrecia's cave, and hopefully find Vincent, but, im not sure, we know Vincent too well, never happy nor a smile on his face…I suppose it'll be luck if I find him.

Best of luck to the both of you. Im happy for you…you two seem to suit, you know, im actually smiling now just thinking of the wedding, I bet it was great…im sorry I wasn't there. But, I have to find my own happiness now. I think you both know who I mean…

Best of luck, guys

Cloud

Cloud nodded to himself, and left it on the table. He headed out…and into the dangerous territory of the mountains. It seemed like hours, before he saw the waterfall, and the hidden cavern.

He sighed, but his peaceful journey was disturbed. There was a sudden hissing sound. Cloud spun round quickly. "Who's there?" He shouted. The hissing got louder and seemed to be circling him. Cloud frowned darkly. "Show yourself…" He whispered. Within seconds, a tiger like creature was on him…Cloud was spread out on the floor, his buster sword knocked from his hands…now he was defenceless. As Cloud got a closer look at the prowling creature on top of him, he noticed the tiger creature was…a woman! She had a striped body, and canine teeth of a saber tooth cat. Cloud scowled at the mystical woman. "…Trapped?" She hissed softly, yet menacingly, and let out a shriek of laughter…

Cloud thought fast, and rolled over, the tiger woman fell off, as Cloud reached for his sword. He shot up vastly, and rushed towards her. She skilfully dodged his attack, and clawed him with her razor sharp nails. "Give in…human." She growled. Cloud smirked, and came at her with large swipes and slashes; she missed a few but was caught one the last one…

Cloud pulled his sword back, posed, and ready.

Blood trickled from her wound on her arm…

She licked it, mourning over her slit, and then eyed Cloud. "Foolish human…I kill at the sight of blood." She spat. Cloud raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for?" He mocked with a smirk. The Tiger woman backed up, and smiled nastily, as her teeth gleamed – she came at him, and swooped down on him as she leapt into the air, and slashed his arms with her knife like nails. Cloud cried out, and then hit back with a lower limit break, the woman dodged it tactically, and then bit him hard and deep in his shoulder!

"Argh!" Cloud let out a light moan. "You," He spat, and shook her off, once on the floor, he pinned her down, and stabbed her in her shoulder…the Tiger like woman let out a scream…

It was over.

"…Leave me, I," She frowned. "I give up…" She panted. Cloud scowled. "Im not that forgiving." He said raising his sword, ready to plunge into the deceitful and evil tiger-woman before him. "…Cloud Strife," She hissed. Cloud stopped…

"What did you say?"

"Cloud Strife," She said again. "That's your name, isn't it?" Cloud nodded silently. "…I was sent from my master, to give you a message…" She snarled. "Tell me," Cloud urged. She growled. "NOW!" He roared at her. She gave him a look of disgust, and her orange eyes gleamed up at him. "…You will fall to his sword." "Who's?" Cloud demanded. "You will fall to the sword of the great…Sephiroth." Cloud stopped…Sephiroth?" She laughed. "You will fall to the sword of the dark one…just like those before you." Cloud frowned. "What's that's supposed to mean?" She gave an evil smile. "You fall to my master's sword, like the insignificant Ancient before you." Cloud raged at the mention of disgrace to Aeris' name, and held her by her neck. "…Take it back…mutant."

The Tiger woman flamed…

"Never mortal…she died not a hero, she was weak and useless…only the strong humans are worthy to live. But not you…you shall die like the pathetic wreck of a woman before you!" Cloud slashed her face, and began to choke her. She held his hands and struggled. Cloud released her, and scowled at her darkly. "Never…insult Aeris Gainsborough in front of me." He threatened. She hissed and growled.

"Tell me…how does it feel," Cloud stood, and watched her wither on the ground hitting back helplessly. "How does it feel to loose the one person you care for…and know, that it was all, your fault." She laughed. Cloud looked away. "Liar! It was never my fault…she never blamed me…" He trailed off, as she shrieked with laughter.

"Really? Why don't you prove it…?" She scowled. Cloud frowned and lowered his head. "…My master shall claim your life." She growled. With that, Cloud raised his sword and plunged it into her…

She let out an ear piercing scream. Her body turned to dust, and blew away before him…

Cloud lowered his sword, and bowed his head. Was it his fault? Did he let Aeris slip through his fingers? He knew only one thing…he would put it right, and this, this message…was that thing telling the truth? Had Sephiroth returned to kill him? He scowled. "…You will never take what I cherish most." He said in a low whisper.

Cloud hurried on to Lucrecia's cave, now more anxious to speak with Vincent, and hear what knowledge he had of this…