Yuffie woke up with headache that reminded her of her eighteenth birthday party at the Turtle's Paradise. She wanted to take her hands and massage her temples to help ease the pain, but she quickly discovered that her hands and feet were bound in chains and irons. On top of that, she felt cuts and bruises all over her arms and torso. Yuffie then remembered that she and her friends had been ambushed and drugged.

"Damn," Yuffie swore under her breath as she looked to her right to see Cid chained to the same wall she was. She quickly surveyed her surroundings and recognized the area she was being held prisoner in…the Ancient auditorium. It was here that, with the help of Red's grandfather Bugenhagen, AVALANCHE learned what Aeris had accomplished before her death: calling forth the power of the White Materia and unleashing Holy. In the end, it was the combined power of Holy and the Lifestream that halted the fall of Meteor four years ago and saved the Planet from complete destruction.

As she continued to look around the auditorium for something, ANYTHING that could help her and Cid escape, Yuffie noticed out of the corner of her eyes a small, black cat wearing a crown and cape sitting near the large crystal in the center. The crystal was used in conjunction with the music box to project images on falling water and was last used four years ago to show Yuffie and her friends Aeris's final moments.

However, Yuffie couldn't care less about that at the moment. "Cait!" Yuffie hissed so as not to attract the attention of any nearby Repentant. "Cait Sith! Over here! It's Yuffie and Cid!"

The toysaurus lazily cocked its head in the direction of Yuffie's voice. Yuffie noticed that the typically energetic Cait Sith almost acted like he wasn't really there. The usual whimsical gleam in Cait's eyes was replaced by a cold, vacant stare.

"Cait!" Yuffie said a little louder this time. "What's wrong? It's us, your friends. Look, we need you to call the WRO for help, find a key, something! W-why are you just sitting there? We need your help!"

"I'm afraid that machine's not in a position to help you anymore," a chilling voice called out from the direction of the center platform. A tall figure in a black shirt with intersecting yellow lines walked out from behind the crystal and stepped over Cait Sith. He carried a wooden cane and wore a grey overcoat. He calmly sat down at the platform's edge and started fidgeting with his glasses.

"So very nice to meet you, Ms. Kisaragi," Cyrus, leader of the Repentant, said with a cocky smile and a wild look in his eyes.

"You bastard. What did you do to Cait Sith?!" Yuffie demanded.

"Oh, that toy of Reeve's?" Cyrus responded facetiously. "I merely asked it to share some information with me and record my triumph for Reeve and the rest of your friends. However, it and I had a bit of a disagreement…but after my comrades did a bit of readjustment, he became very compliant towards my latter request."

Cyrus then produced a small computer chip from his coat pocket. Yuffie gasped; although she didn't know much about computers and machines, she was able to piece together what happened. "You son of a bitch! You killed Cait Sith!"

"Temper, temper, little girl," Cyrus chided. "For the princess of Wutai, that's hardly a proper thing to say. And then accusing me of murder? How dare you!"

"How dare I?! If I wasn't chained up, I'd show you how this 'little girl' could kick your sorry butt from here back to Nibelheim, you sadistic freak!"

Whether it was Yuffie's latest and loudest rant or just mere coincidence, Cid finally woke up from the sedative. He took a couple seconds to get his bearings before speaking up:

"Eh? What the hell…I'm chained up? Goddamn it! Yuffie, just what in Holy's name is going on here?"

"You want to know?" Yuffie said with an unusual amount of bitterness in her voice. "That bastard sitting by the crystal is Cyrus, and he and his Repentant goons removed Cait Sith's AI chip. They fucking KILLED him, Cid!"

"What?" Cid said in disbelief. Not only was he shocked at being a prisoner of Cyrus and the Repentant, but he had never heard Yuffie curse like that before. His confusion was replaced by rage as he addressed the Repentant leader. "You piece of shit! What'd you do that for? That damn cat never hurt nobody, so why kill him off?"

"Again with the accusations of homicide!" Cyrus exclaimed. "It is a machine! Nothing but wires and circuits. I can't kill a machine…all I did was flip a switch."

Cyrus then took the chip he removed from Cait Sith and crushed it in his hands. Yuffie's heart sunk as Cyrus pointed to what had been Cait Sith and continued, "This piece of technology exists now to record my triumph to Reeve and the rest of humanity. You should feel fortunate to bear witness to the salvation of the Planet…yes, very fortunate indeed."

Yuffie said nothing as she tried to fight back tears. Cid didn't have the same problem. "Salvation of the Planet, my ass! Whatever you're planning, it's only going to end up hurting people, so don't pretend like you and your Repentant jerk-offs are some fucking messiahs!"

Cyrus started to laugh as he rested his cane on his left shoulder, shaft sitting on top of his knee. "You truly are ignorant. It's almost heartbreaking, really. You really think the Repentant care one iota about humanity?"

That statement elicited a look of shock and confusion from both Cid and Yuffie. Cyrus laughed even harder after seeing their faces. "What? It's true: I couldn't care less about humanity. The aim of the Repentant is to save the Planet from humanity, not for humanity.

"You see, my comrades and I have come to a conclusion: humanity is not fit to be the Planet's caretakers. Human beings are selfish and arrogant by nature, and as a result will do anything to improve their stock in life. Even if it means they must maim and kill their fellow humans…even if it means raping the Planet. Humanity will always act in its own best interests. Even you so-called "defenders of the Planet" only do so because you had a personal interest, not because you really care about the Planet!"

"Fuck you say?" Cid blurted out. "That makes no goddamn sense at all! And just how in hell's name do you intend on saving the Planet from humanity?"

Cyrus smiled wickedly. "I'm so glad you asked. I assume you heard my speech at the Meteorfall Monument?"

"Yeah, so what?" Cid said with a snort.

"Perfect…that means that I don't have to go over the history lesson with you. Very well, I'll cut ahead to the good part."

Cyrus stood up and methodically tapped his cane on his left shoulder. "The Cetra's dedication to the Planet and the cultivation of the Lifestream pleased the Planet greatly. As a sign of trust and gratefulness, the Planet spoke to the Cetra one day and bestowed upon them three Legendary Materia which, when used, could change the fate of the Planet.

"One materia was as black as the starless night. This 'Black Materia' possessed the power to call forth the ultimate destructive magic: the World-Ender, Meteor. The Cetra, a peaceful people, rejected the power of the Black Materia and decided to use their power to turn the Black Materia into a temple, and make it so that no human could ever gain its devastating power. But, of course, we all know how that ended up…hehe."

Cid shot Cyrus a dirty look as the Repentant leader continued, "The second materia was called the White Materia although its color was closer to a pale green. This materia contained the power to call forth Holy, the Planet's ultimate defense against any dire threat. This materia fitted in much more with the Cetra's beliefs and they came to treat it as a treasure of their race…an heirloom passed down from the most powerful Cetra to the next."

Cyrus lowered his gaze as he stood up and faced the giant crystal. "The third materia was a source of contention among the Cetra. Unlike the other two, this materia had no color of its own. It was as clear as glass and possessed an extraordinary power: the ability to release spirit energy."

"So what?" Yuffie interjected quietly. "All materia releases spirit energy to call forth magic or summons or whatnot. What's so special about that?"

"Hmph," Cyrus replied, almost sounding disappointed. "A common misconception. Normal materia use spirit energy to call forth specific powers from the Planet. This materia actually grants its user the ability to return spirit energy to the Lifestream.

"Think of it as one big reset button. The Clear Materia's role is to return all life on the Planet into the spirit energy it once was in an instant. That energy returns to the Lifestream and, in turn, gives the Planet greater strength to heal its wounds and bring about new life. However, because it converts all life into spirit energy, it essentially wipes the slate clean, so to speak. No more monsters, no more flora or fauna…and no more humans."

"No way…" Cid muttered. "You're talking about wiping out every living thing on the Planet? How the fuck does that save it? You're bat-shit crazy! Fucking insane!"

"Crazy? Insane? Hardly. I told you, I don't care about humanity. Our species has had multiple opportunities to learn from our mistakes and work with the Planet, but we have time and time again forsaken that for our own selfish desires! I aim to give the Planet the energy it needs to heal itself and bring about a new utopia…a true Promised Land! The Repentant will offer all life as a penance offering and achieve forgiveness for humanity's transgressions! What exactly is so insane about that?"

"EVERTHING, DAMN IT!" Cid yelled. "You'd kill everything…every man, woman and child just because you feel guilty for some dumbass's bad decision? You'd kill us all for that?"

"To save the Planet? Yes…a million times over, if it was necessary."

That statement hit Cid like an Iron Man's fist as Cyrus pulled a tattered notebook from the recesses of his coat with his right hand. He held it up and said, "And thanks to my time with the Shinra Corporation, I was able to develop this codex. With it and the efforts of my fellow Repentant, I finally discovered the location of the Clear Materia. As it turns out, the Cetra were unsure whether or not they wanted the power this Legendary Materia offered, so they sealed it away in their capital city…in the very place we stand right now."

Cyrus dropped his notebook and grabbed his cane with both hands. In an instant, he drove the tip of his cane into the crystal with astonishing force. The crystal shattered, revealing a small platform with two winged-shaped appendages pointing upwards. Nestled between the appendages was a grapefruit-shaped sphere which looked as if it was made of flawless glass. Cyrus tenderly reached for the sphere and claimed it for himself. He then turned to Cid and Yuffie and triumphantly exclaimed:

"The Clear Materia…I've finally found it! After all these years, I've finally found the key to my reconciliation and the Planet's salvation!"

Cyrus started to laugh uncontrollably until a voice broke his reverie, "You idiot."

Cyrus stopped to see who interrupted him. Surprisingly, that voice came from the young ninja he had captured. "You claim to be an expert on the Ancients, but it seems you don't know anything. If that materia's anything like the Black or White Materia, then you won't be able to use it. Only an Ancient can use a materia of that level, and you sure as hell aren't an Ancient."

Cyrus was taken aback by the venom in the young woman's voice. He took a moment to collect himself as he smiled. "Really? Was Sephiroth a Cetra? Last I checked, he was able to call forth Meteor despite sharing no lineage with the Cetra. All one needs is the power of pure Lifestream to use a Legendary Materia, and I found a sufficient outlet of spirit energy that I can use. In fact, it's been used once before…nine years ago."

"The reactor at Nibelheim?!" Cid angrily demanded

"Perhaps. But that really doesn't concern you. At least, it won't in a few minutes," Cyrus said dryly as he stomped on Cait Sith, smashing the toysaurus into several pieces. Yuffie looked like she was going to cry all over again as a Repentant stepped out of the shadows and reported, "Sir, all is ready. We can depart as soon as you are ready."

"Very well. We leave immediately. Open the cages," Cyrus ordered.

The Repentant nodded as he left to complete his master's orders. Cyrus then pointed his cane at his captors with his cane and spoke. "I'm afraid that I must leave. The Planet won't be saved if I spend all my time dawdling here. But fear not, you will soon be rejoining the Lifestream…in fact, you'll be returning much sooner than the rest of humanity. My bandersnatches will see to that. Farewell…Cid Highwind, Yuffie Kisaragi. I will see you both again soon as part of the Lifestream. Ha, ha, ha…"

Cyrus calmly walked towards the nearest exit as Cid and Yuffie heard growling in the shadows. A minute later, the source of the growling made its presence known. First, it was one, then two, and then a whole pack of bandersnatches appeared, looking like they hadn't eaten anything in days. Cid cursed to himself as he tried to free himself from his shackles, all the while keeping an eye on the circling prisoners. He looked to Yuffie who was having no better luck than he was.

"Damn it, Highwind! Think, you bastard…think!" Cid screamed at himself. No solutions came to him as the predators prowled around them, preparing to pounce...

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cloud, Reeve, and the other members of AVALANCHE watched the entire feed from Cait Sith in the debriefing room. They heard everything Cyrus said about the Clear Materia…although they all had a hard time digesting what was said by the Repentant leader. No one said a word as Cloud stood up and headed for the door.

"Cloud, wait," Reeve finally said, albeit weakly. Reeve was especially taking it hard because of the cruel treatment of his creation. "We have to figure out where Cyrus is heading next…we have to stop Cyrus and the Repentant before they use that materia."

"I know," Cloud muttered. "But Yuffie and Cid need our help. I'm going to the Forgotten City and bring them back."

"Not alone you're not, Cloud!" Tifa said as she stood up to join Cloud.

Barret was next to speak up, "Count me in, Spiky!"

"And I as well," Red added.

Vincent merely shrugged and grunted as he stood up to stand with the others.

"But…" Reeve started to protest before relenting. "Fine. You better hurry. I don't think Cyrus is the kind of person to leave things to chance, and that probably includes Cid and Yuffie. Just make sure you get them back before…"

Reeve's request was cut short by the sound of an explosion rocking the WRO Headquarters. The shockwave knocked everyone onto the floor as one of the WRO troopers reported in via radio:

"Director! Headquarters have been breached. It's the Repentant! They've come in force and have mech backup! Requesting reinforcements at the…son of a…NOOO!"

The radio conversation was cut off by the sound of gunfire and people screaming in pain. Reeve opened up another communications channel to Shelke. "Shelke! Where did the explosion originate?"

"Based on available intel, it seems the explosion originated in the document depository. I'm sending troops there to repel the invaders," Shelke stated in her usual calm matter.

"The depository…damn that Cyrus! I don't know how, but he snuck a bomb in!" Reeve swore as he grabbed his firearm and headed for the door. He was cut off by Cloud. "Let me go, Cloud! I have to help fight the Repentant!"

"Not alone," Cloud stated plainly. "We're helping. After we deal with the Repentant, we'll go rescue Cid and Yuffie. People, let's make this quick."

Reeve nodded approvingly. "Thank you. Follow me."

Reeve took the lead as Cloud and his friends followed close behind. Cloud wanted to save his friends from Cyrus, but he wouldn't sacrifice the lives of the WRO troopers to accomplish that. He knew Cid and Yuffie would understand.

"Hang in there," Cloud thought as he unsheathed First Tsurugi and continued chasing after Reeve through the winding corridors of WRO Headquarters.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:

So I've finally revealed Cyrus's plan. Hope it was as awesome as I thought it would be.

Again, thanks to all the people who've been reading my story and giving me feedback. You guys rock SO HARD!!!

You guys are awesome. I think reviews are awesome. Therefore, if you leave me a review, you become doubly awesome!!! Take advantage of the opportunity...live the dream, kiddies!

Until next time,

"The Exile" Cyrus Truth