Disclaimer: We do not own any of the character. All characters belong to SquareEnix.

Chapter 4

The First Power Core

"Aerith…?" a frail and weak voice asked. We turned. Tifa was standing there leaning on a rock. She was badly mangled. Bruises covered her arms and she had scratches and bite marks covering her from head to toe. Blood stained her clothes and skin, a lot of blood. She looked as though she was about to keel over and die. And still, Aerith aimed the gun at her. "What do you want?" Aerith asked coldly.

"Aiming a gun… at old friends?" Tifa chuckled then she frowned. "Why, Aerith…? I thought…" she winced as she took a deep breath. "I thought we were friends…"

Aerith's face softened as she realized that this was, in fact, the real Tifa. She dropped the gun and ran over to her, pulling her into a tight hug. Tifa winced but hugged back. She smiled at her. "H-Hey…" she said. "How have you been…?"

"Don't worry about me. We need to take care of you!" Aerith then cast cure on the dying woman. I watched as she laid Tifa on the ground gently and continued healing her. They had a certain closeness to them, kind of like sisters. This reminded me of my sister, Serah. I hoped she was ok.

"Lightning," Aerith called to me. "You stand guard while I finish healing Tifa."

"What am I on the lookout for…?" I asked. Right after I asked this I felt extremely stupid. Aerith slowly turned to me and looked at me like I was from some other planet.

"What do you think you're looking out for? Moogles?" I looked down then turned away.

"Aerith," I heard Tifa mutter. "Don't be mean." She chuckled. Aerith sighed.

"Sorry…" She said quietly.

I smirked. Tifa and Aerith were so different in personality, as I expected. It was strange how when Aerith was around this Tifa woman, she acted kinder.

Eventually, Aerith and Tifa fell asleep, leaving me to stand guard alone. Tifa wanted to take shifts but I said no because both her and Aerith needed rest, Aerith, because she used most of her energy healing Tifa.

I began to nod off but I remembered I needed to stay awake to protect the others. Suddenly, I heard a sound coming from the distance. I stood up slowly and positioned my gun ready to shoot. A girl about 17 peaked out from behind a big rock. She had light brown hair to her shoulders and a long skirt that went down to her ankles. It was blue and her shirt was white. I lowered the gun.

"Who are you?" I asked her, the gun still ready to use if needed.

"W-Where am I…?" She asked, completely avoiding my question. She looked terrified.

"I'm not too sure myself." I said. "What's your name?"

"I'm Yuna," she said shyly as she walked closer. I could now see that she has one green eye and one blue eye.

"I'm Lightning," I said, "Nice to meet you." I walked forward as well. "Where'd you come from?"

"I was… um… just… wandering… around…" she said hesitantly. I looked back at Aerith and Tifa wondering if I should go back. This girl was acting suspicious and I didn't like it. I turned back to Yuna.

"Hold on a second," I told her. I turned and was about to start walking towards the other two. Next thing I knew I was on the ground, a searing pain in my back. I turned my head and Yuna was on the ground too. She looked at me with frightened eyes.

"Are you ok?" she asked me with concern in her voice. I winced as I sat up.

"What was that?" I heard Tifa say. I turned my head and Tifa was sitting up trying to wake Aerith. Aerith opened her eyes and looked up.

"What is it, Tifa?" she asked as she sat up. I looked forward to tell Yuna something but she was gone. I was confused. Did the doppelgangers take her? I was distracted by the pain in my back. I started getting lightheaded.

I heard footsteps coming towards me and Tifa kneeled down next to me.

"Are you alright?" She asked, very concerned. It surprised me how caring this woman was and she didn't even know my name.

"Y-yeah," I stuttered. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine," Aerith said, worried, as she kneeled next to me as well. "You're wounded. Let me help."

"NO!" Tifa exclaimed. "You just used almost all of your magic on me! Please let me do it!" She pleaded. Aerith hesitated for a second and then nodded at Tifa. Tifa then smiled and began to cure me.

"In the meantime," Aerith said, "you need to get some rest." I hadn't noticed but I was incredibly tired. I haven't slept since I arrived in the Unknown World which was probably about two days ago.

"Yeah." Tifa agreed, still healing. "Just go to sleep. We'll be here to watch over you. Don't worry." She smiled reassuringly. I sighed. I knew they were right. I needed sleep badly. But how could I sleep with so many unanswered questions: Who was that Yuna girl? Why'd she run off? Why wasn't she injured when I was? My suspicion grew the more I thought about it. This girl wasn't a doppelganger but she was something else… inhuman. I began to doze off while I was in deep thought and, eventually, I fell asleep.

Soon after I awoke, we started off for the First Power Core. I debated whether or not I should tell Tifa and Aerith about Yuna. I decided against it because I didn't want them to worry.

"So Lightning," Tifa asked, interrupting my thoughts, "Where are you from?"

"Uh…?" the abruptness of the question took me by surprise.

"What's your favorite color?" she asked.

"Um-"

"What's your favorite movie?"

"…"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" This woman just wouldn't stop with the questions. And I thought I asked a lot of questions.

"Um… Cocoon, blue, I don't have one, and no." I answered. But then a question crossed my mind. "What about you, Tifa?"

"What about me?" she asked confused.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" I don't know why I thought of that but I remembered cloud's reaction when Aerith killed the doppelganger Tifa. It was sad. Tifa blushed.

"Not really." Tifa said shyly.

"What do you mean not really?"

"Well… There's this guy I like-"

"It's Cloud," Aerith butt in. "She's hopelessly and unconditionally in love with him!" Aerith smiled for the first time since she talked to Zack. Tifa blushed furiously.

"AERITH!" She whined. "I'm not that-… Ok well… maybe a little bit!"

"You mean a lot?" Aerith smiled wider.

"Ok yes…" Tifa's face was now completely red. "He's just so…" She trailed off. I chuckled softly at her shyness. Aerith laughed. I haven't heard her laugh yet. She seemed more relaxed around Tifa, like she wasn't worried about what would happen next. This is actually the most relaxed I've been since I got here. Too bad it won't last very long.

But then Aerith's laughing stopped. She looked forward.

"What is it Aerith?" Tifa asked.

"We're here." She said as she pointed to a large technical-looking pillar. This was the First Power Core.

Fox: Sad news, guys!

Wolfy: We're both grounded sadly.

Fox: We won't be able to work on this for a while.

Wolfy. BUT IT'S NOT CANCELED! I SWEAR!

Fox: It'll just take a while to get the next chapter out.

Wolfy: So review and tell us what you think!