Reliving the Past
By: Illusion of the Mirror
"C-cloud?" Tifa stammered.
"Yeah," the familiar voice on the other side of the line answered. "Are you alright? You sound…I didn't wake you up did I?"
"Um…no, no you didn't. Did you just call a minute ago?"
"No…why?"
"No reason." Tifa sat on her bed and held the phone with her shoulder so she could play with her fingernails. "Gee, I haven't heard from you in a long time."
The line was silent for a moment. "Yeah, it has been a while, hasn't it? Look Tifa, I've been really busy is all."
Tifa scoffed. "Oh that's fine, Cloud. I mean, I'm sure you've had more important things to do."
"Tifa, please don't be that way. I – no, I'm on the phone with her right now…actually…okay, fine. Sorry about that."
About what? Oh yeah, that thing you always do where you totally disregard me! Tifa grimaced to herself and bit her tongue to avoid speaking her mind. "Who was that?"
"Er…Emily. That's what I was calling about." Emily? Ah yes, Cloud's new girlfriend. The undertone in Cloud's voice changed from reluctant to confident. "You see, I was talking to her about how you bought that place out in the country, and she told me that she would love to come see it."
Tifa's mouth fell open. "You mean, like, visit?"
"Well, yeah. Apparently it's a historical landmark and Em's big into history."
Em, huh? So you've given her a nickname. How cute. Tifa held the phone with a clenched fist and spoke through gritted teeth. "You just want to show up here today without any planning and just visit?"
"Well, that's the idea, say Tifa, are you feeling alright?"
Tifa let out a heated sigh. On a good day she would still have trouble conversing with Cloud, but now she was really struggling. "…no, Cloud. No I'm not."
Cloud's voice filled with genuine worry. "Has something happened? Are you hurt? Is there anyone there with you?"
Tifa held in an exasperated scream and opted to simply crack her knuckles. "Yes, and it's a long story, no, I'm not hurt anymore, and yes, everyone's here." Except for you.
"Everyone?"
That's right, except for you. "Yeah, Yuffie, Red, Cid, Vincent; they've all been here for a while."
"Cloud," she heard a high voice in the background say. "You look upset, is something wrong?"
"Tifa," Cloud began with determination, "maybe we should come over now so you can explain what's going on in person."
Hell no, you jerk! How could you expect to be included in my business again just like that?! "Sure, whatever, Cloud."
"Alright, we'll leave right away, oh, and Tifa? I'm sorry."
Tifa's eyes widened. "Sorry for what?" But the line had already been disconnected. "That's right. You are sorry, you friggin' coward," Tifa murmured to the dial tone.
So what had just happened? She told Cloud he could come over. Why the hell did she do that? She clicked the phone shut and tossed it over her shoulder onto the bed. Great, this just what I need; more stress. She shook her head and flopped onto her back.
"Okay Tifa, get a hold of yourself. Maybe it won't be so bad." She sighed dejectedly and rolled onto her side. "Yeah right, and maybe Cid will quit smoking and Yuffie will become a nun."
Cloud had sounded genuinely worried about her, she gave him that, but did he seriously think that after walking out on them like he did he could just show up and be right back in their lives like nothing ever happened? And what did he say he was sorry for? Did he really think that after all the hell he put her through that would fix it?! She sat up and rolled her eyes. Did it really even matter?
Well, he was coming now with her permission whether she liked it or not. She figured she'd better tell the others. She rose from her bed and went out into the hall. She could hear Shera in the other room helping the kids to pack.
"Okay, sweetie, fold it up nice and small. There, you've got it. Marlene, don't forget your stuffed Tiger."
Tifa felt a slight pang in her chest at the mention of the young girl and quickly passed the room to descend the stairs. She nearly collided with Cid at the bottom.
"Whoa, hey, sorry. I didn't see ya there."Cid scratched the top of his head. "Yeah, so I got a hold of the guys at the shop. I was just goin' up to look for ya, in fact. But anyway, they're gonna come pick up Shera and the kids tomorrow."
Tifa sighed and then remembered her task. "Oh, by the way, Cloud called. He's paying us a visit."
Cid stiffened and did a sort of double take. "What?"
Tifa dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "No big deal. He just wants to find out what's new."
Cid caught her dripping sarcasm and shut his gaping mouth. "Well I'll be damned. He disappears off the face of the planet for six months and then shows back up to talk?!"
Tifa turned back to him. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."
Cid scoffed as Yuffie entered the room. "Well, geez, don't act so happy to see me, Cid."
"Did ya hear? Cloud's comin' for a visit."
"Cloud? When? Why?" She glanced at Tifa as though she expected her to burst into tears or something. Tifa resented that.
"He just called. He wants to know what's going on since I wouldn't tell him over the phone."
"This is an interesting turn of events." Tifa looked down to see Red at her feet. "Methinks Cloud is feeling a bit out of the loop."
"Well, it's his own fault," Yuffie added. She had resented Cloud's disappearance almost as much as Tifa and it wasn't just because she couldn't steal his materia anymore. She looked at Tifa skeptically. "Is he really coming?"
"That's what he said, although I don't know if that answers your question." She crossed her arms and sighed. "Well, now you know, so I'm going back upstairs."
Red nodded. "I'll tell Barret and Vincent." He turned to leave and Cid followed him out of the room.
"I'll come with you," Yuffie said. Tifa gave her a curious look. "Oh, come on, Tifa; give me a little more credit than that. You're going up to see that secret room, and we both know it."
Tifa smiled slyly. "There's no fooling you, is there?"
-- O --
After the two of them had grabbed flashlights, they ascended the ladder and pulled the door shut behind them. It wasn't like they were sneaking; they just didn't want to be interrupted. Tifa reached into the armoire and pushed the button that opened the entrance to the secret room.
Yuffie shook her head. "I still can't believe you found that so easily."
Tifa smiled and clicked on her flashlight. "Join the club."
Once inside, the two split up and began inspecting the room more closely. Yuffie strode over to the candle boxes.
"Bordeaux candles? What are these doing up here?" She removed the lid and began combing through all the carved pieces of beeswax.
Tifa assumed a station at the bookcase. This place was in desperate need of a good dusting. She scanned the bindings of the books. There was that one about Boudica. Tifa could see the mark in the dust where she had slid it out. Then she noticed that there was a similar mark on the top shelf.
She stood on her tip-toes and slid the book out. Once she held it in her hands, she cracked open the cover. Ancient Forest Lore. The title seemed interesting enough. She began flipping through the aged pages until it stopped on what appeared to be a lined piece of notebook paper. She pulled it out and set the book aside. "Hey, Yuffie, I've found something."
Yuffie hurried over and set her chin on Tifa's shoulder so that she could see. The note was written in English, so Tifa read it aloud. "Andrew, there's no clear way of telling what Darknation is up to, but the signs clearly show that the Daughter of the Resistance is alive. We must find her before they do. Fight the good fight, brother. James.
Yuffie reached up and pulled the paper from Tifa's hands. "Who are these people?"
"Well, whoever they are," Tifa reasoned, "they definitely are not working with Darknation."
Yuffie set the note on the desk. "Well that's good to know I guess." Then she narrowed her eyes and a sly grin spread across her face. "Hey Tifa…"
"Hm?"
"Maybe we should set a trap for whoever's been up here. If we catch them, we can finally get some answers."
Tifa caught Yuffie's contagious smile. "Yeah! We'll just have to put everything back so that they don't suspect that we know they've been coming here." Yuffie nodded and began tidying up the bookshelf while Tifa crossed over and began putting all the candles Yuffie had drug out away. "Geez, Yuffie, think you could have made a bigger mess?"
"Probably," Yuffie giggled and then she began helping Tifa with the candles. She paused, however, when she came across one that was particularly interesting.
"Hey Tif, look at this."
Tifa glanced down at the dark blue candle the girl held. It was especially ornate. There was a forest carved into it with what appeared to be a burning village beneath it. She could make out smoke rising into a clouded sky and mountains in the background. She could even see people running about the village; some holding weapons, others simply fleeing. Yuffie turned the candle so Tifa could see the other side. It was mostly forest, but deep inside there was a carved woman that was carrying a bundle and seemed to be fleeing from a pack of dogs. Or were they wolves?
"Weird, huh?" Yuffie whispered.
Tifa reached out and grabbed the candle, but suddenly felt a great shock go up her arm like she had just grabbed an electric fence. Instantly her vision blurred and there was a loud ringing noise as the world spun around her. She shut her eyes tight and screamed, but no sound escaped from her lips. Then, it all stopped.
-- O --
Tifa opened her eyes to find herself standing on a rock high above the woods looking down at a village in flames. Her village. She was overcome with a strange sense of loss as she watched her family and neighbors flee only to be cut down by the horsemen. Then she saw the hounds; their pack was on her scent. There was no time to reminisce. She had to get the children to safety.
She looked down at the sleeping infant in her arms and felt the weight of the child clinging to her back. She knew these children, but at the same time, had no idea who they were. "Come now, Timothy," she found herself saying in a voice too high to be hers. "We must hurry so we're not late. Don't take the blindfold off yet." With that she raced off into the woods, trees passing her as she fled. She had to get the children to the river!
The hounds were closer now and she could hear them up at the caves. They would be upon her soon. Suddenly the trees cleared and she could see the ferry. Hope emerged at the corners of her psyche as she pumped her legs with newfound strength. But just as she reached the top of the hill, her foot caught on a root and she went tumbling the rest of the way down the riverbank.
Tifa felt no pain, but did all the same as she watched hands that weren't hers fly to a leg that wasn't hers either.
"Timothy, are you alright? We're here." The young boy had fallen from her back during the descent and seemed relatively unscathed. She looked down at Seraphine in her arms. She was awake, but unharmed. The hounds bayed not a mile back.
"Tim, take your sister and get to the ferry." The child obeyed and then turned back.
"Will you come, Sister Royal?"
She could never. She was sure that her leg was broken. It was over for her now. "Go, Tim! I shall come on the next ferry."
The boy called Tim nodded and raced off. She watched as the captain ushered him on and then rose to her knees. Tim waved at her from the ferry with an innocently gleeful smile on his face. She reached up and waved back, forcing herself to smile and not weep as she watched them drift off to safety. This would be the last time she would see those beautiful children.
Tifa then winced in pain and her eyes darted down to the broken limb as blonde ringlets escaped from her bun to fall into her face. A tear slid down her foreign cheek as she heard the hounds just up the hill and the hoof beats of Kale's horsemen. A strange feeling of peace washed over her as she laid herself down. Tifa then floated out of the girl's body just in time to watch the huge black hounds bound down the hill and then begin to viciously rip apart the body she had just ceased to inhabit.
Then the whole scene wavered and the ringing began to start up again. Tifa closed her eyes and covered her ears as tingles like needles covered her body and numbed her mind. Then it all slowly ebbed away.
-- O --
Tifa opened her eyes to find herself back in the secret room of her attic. She shook her head to clear her mind of its fogginess and then noticed Yuffie standing there with wonder etched in her features. "Tifa, why did you just freeze up like that? Did it happen again? The noises?"
Tifa glanced down at the candle in her hand and then put it back into its slot and closed the lid. "Hold on, let me sit down." She still felt a bit dizzy. Together they walked out into the main room and seated themselves on two boxes. Tifa put her head in her hands.
"It was different this time. I actually saw things this time too. It was like I was this…wait." She glared at Yuffie apprehensively. "I didn't tell you about the noises."
Yuffie smiled nervously and scratched the back of her head. "Oh…I just meant that…that um…shoot."
"You were eavesdropping weren't you?"
Yuffie looked down at her shoes. "Maybe a little."
Tifa sighed. "Well I suppose I deserve it for not telling you guys sooner."
Yuffie looked up. "Well, I'm glad you feel that way 'cause I already told the others."
Tifa stiffened and gave the ninja a mock-angry punch in the shoulder. "There's no having secrets with you around!"
"Ow, hey!" Yuffie squirmed away and laughed. "Not a chance!" Then her face became serious. "But what were you saying? Something about seeing things?"
Tifa stood and shut the door to the secret room. "I'll tell you the whole story, but I want to tell the others too." She reached out and helped Yuffie stand up. "Besides, I don't really think I like it up here anymore."
-- O --
"And so that's the whole story." Tifa sat cross-legged in one of her chairs and had just finished explaining what had happened to the rest of the group. She still had no idea what it was, but she felt better knowing that the others knew about it.
"So let me get this straight," Cid said rather irritably. "You had a freakin' vision?"
"No," Tifa sighed, "it was more like a memory, but not one of mine. I actually felt the same things that that person, whoever she was, did."
Barret shook his head and leaned against the fireplace mantel. "And this all happened when you touched that candle?"
"Yeah, Tifa just sort of went blank and stood there like she was frozen," Yuffie put in. "It was kinda scary in a cool sort of way."
Cid rolled his eyes. "Ya got some serious problems."
Yuffie huffed and crossed her arms. "Says the chain-smoker." Then she stuck her tongue out at him, which earned another eye roll.
Red cleared his throat. "Well, while that was interesting, it doesn't really help us any."
Vincent stood by the door and rubbed his chin. "I can't help but feel that there's something we've overlooked; something important."
Barret stretched his hulking arms. "Yeah, well I'm gonna go check on the kids. When's Cloud sposeta get here?"
Tifa noticed that Vincent quirked an eyebrow and turned away. She shrugged. "Who knows? No one can ever tell when Cloud will do anything." Barret gave a slight chuckle and then ascended the stairs.
Yuffie rolled onto her back and looked up at Shera. "So what time is it?"
"Why doncha just look at the clock ya lazy little shit?!" Cid sneered.
Shera gave him an aggravated glare and then turned to Yuffie. "It's about 12:30."
Yuffie yawned and sat up with a glare at Cid. "Thanks a lot, SHERA. I guess I'll go and make lunch now." She got to her feet. "You wanna help?"
Shera smiled. "Sure. We both will."
Cid's mouth fell open. "Hey, wait a minute," But it was no use. Both Shera and Yuffie managed to drag the protesting pilot into the kitchen.
Red snickered as the door swung shut. "That's the good thing about not having hands. You're never drafted for kitchen duty." He then stood and looked from Tifa to Vincent. "I…think I'll go upstairs and see the kids."
Once he was gone, the room was thrown into silence. Tifa let out a mammoth sigh. "Erg…why did I ever tell Cloud he could come over?"
Vincent seated himself on the couch and crossed his legs. "I'm not entirely sure. A momentary lapse of reason, perhaps?"
Tifa dropped her chin into her hands. "Most definitely. How am I going to do this, Vincent?" she groaned. "Now that I think about it, there were hundreds of things I could have said, but I just…oh!" She sat up straight and growled to herself. "He drives me crazy!"
A flash of lightning lit up the window and a peal of belated thunder soon followed. "We've been getting an awful lot of rain lately," Vincent mused.
"Yeah," Tifa responded, "my favorite type of weather."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Well then you must be exceedingly pleased." Tifa shot him a look.
"I was just kidding, Vincent."
"So was I."
Tifa smiled. "Well, the wind's started to pick up. Maybe Cloud won't be able to make it after all." But she was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Vincent smirked. "I believe you jinxed it."
Yuffie, who had heard the knocking from the kitchen, rushed in and yelled up the stairs. "Hey you guys, Cloud's here!" It wasn't long before footsteps were heard in the upper hallway and on the stairs. Tifa sighed, rose, and opened the door.
But it wasn't Cloud that stood there, it was a bright-eyed and very petite young woman whose medium auburn hair bounced as she turned to look at Tifa. She grinned brilliantly and stuck out a well manicured hand. "Hello! You must be Tifa!" Tifa shook her hand, slightly frozen in amazement. The girl's bright green eyes looked past Tifa and she stepped through the doorway and over to Marlene.
"You two must be Marlene and Denzel. Cloud's told me so much about you."
I'll bet he has, Tifa thought pointedly.
"He has?" Marlene beamed.
"Mm-hm," the bubbly red-head replied. "But you're much prettier in person."
Marlene blushed and smiled widely. "I think you're pretty too!"
The young woman laughed musically. "Thank you!" She turned to Denzel and held out her hand. She was only a few inches taller than him. He glanced at Red and then shook it.
Just then, Tifa heard the door close and looked over to see a drenched Cloud standing next to her with his hands deep in his pockets. "Hey, Tifa."
Why don't you take your hey and shove it where the sun don't shine, you jerk!
"Hey, Cloud." She turned away from him and moved to stand next to Yuffie.
The cheerful little newcomer stood up straight and smiled at Cloud. "Sorry, I just couldn't wait any longer to meet your friends."
Cloud stepped forward and put his arm around her shoulder. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Emily Bordeaux."
Yuffie and Tifa exchanged glances. "As in Bordeaux candles?" Yuffie queried.
"Why, yes. My grandfather started our family candle business around fifty years ago." She then blushed. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced."
Cloud seemed to snap into action. "Oh, Emily, this is Yuffie, Barret, Cid, Shera, Red XIII, and Vincent."
"It's nice to meet all of you," Emily said with a curtsy.
Tifa looked at her distrustfully. "So, where do you get the inspiration for the carvings you use on your candles?"
"From a lot of things actually. Most of the carvings are of things from nature, from legends, or from fairy tales, but some of them are scenes from history." Cloud grinned and gave her a squeeze.
"Em here is an excellent artist."
Emily blushed and Tifa wanted to puke. She managed to keep it in. "So was the one of the burning village from history or legend?"
Emily blinked, but her smile didn't falter. "Um…I don't believe I'm familiar with that particular piece." There was an awkward silence.
After a moment, she turned to Cloud. "Well, my parents are expecting us, Cloud. I don't want them to be worried that we got lost in the storm."
Cloud nodded. "Em's family lives close by, so we're staying with them so that we don't take up space here."
"How thoughtful of you," Vincent replied with a hint of sarcasm. Tifa had to suppress a giggle, but as usual, Cloud was totally oblivious. "So do you think we could come back tomorrow to talk about stuff?" Tifa was contemplating the many ways she could incisively say no, when Marlene broke in.
"Yeah, they can come see us before we leave."
Tifa sighed as Cloud looked confused. "Leave? Why?"
Cid cracked his neck and grunted. "It's a long story. Ya'll hear it tomorrow."
Cloud nodded hesitantly and then he turned to Emily. The two said their goodbyes and then dashed out through the rain to their car.
After they had driven off, Cid looked at Barret. "Well that whole thing about the candles was bullshit. She obviously knew about it." Barret nodded in agreement.
"Cid," Shera mumbled, "You shouldn't say stuff like that in front of the kids."
"It's not like they're not gonna hear it anyway!"
Tifa turned away from the others. Scenes from history, huh? It's time to get some answers. She slipped out of the room and into the kitchen to call a cab. Professor Malcolm should be done with classes soon.
-- O --
Vincent waited in the front room with Red and Denzel while the others ate in the kitchen. The sound of a car engine reached his ears and he looked outside to see Tifa climbing into a taxi. Red joined him at the window. "Where do you think she's going?" he pronounced as his crimson eyes watched the taxi pull out into the brewing storm.
"Perhaps she took this visit from Cloud a little hard." Red shook his head. "He hasn't changed at all."
Denzel stood up and came over to give Red a scratch behind the ears. "Do we really have to go tomorrow?"
Red nodded and nudged Denzel's arm. "You know that you do. It's not safe for you here."
"I just don't want to leave you guys. I'll miss you." Red gave a half-smile and was about to reply when there was a sudden loud crashing and clanking from upstairs.
Yuffie and Marlene screamed in the kitchen and Cid came racing into the front room. "What the hell was that?!"
-- O --
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