Disclaimer: I do not now or before and most likely not in the future, own Final Fantasy, Square Enix or any of the characters.

A/N: Warning! There is a gratuitous amount of sex, gore, and violence in this chapter... Just kidding! However, there is a few very mild m/m instances and a small scene that could be considered incest, but with Jenova involved, it isn't that big a deal. We also get a glimpse of a battle plan for the Final showdown coming up. Enjoy, my small dedicated audience 😊.

Reviews, critiques and flames are welcome. I absolutely love all reviews about the story as it gives me motivation, I use good constructive criticism to help my writing improve and I feed the flames to the fires of my imagination.

Thanks to my before posting beta Queen of Jokers and my after posting beta SubZeroChimera!

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching." –Randall G. Leighton

Chapter 74

On their way back to Rocket Town in the newest airship, Tifa gave everyone the quick rundown of what happened in Junon. She was sure that if they all went on the offensive immediately, it would be a surprise attack. Not to mention, that she was afraid that if they acted later, that Jenova would show up and the guys would be gone forever. Not being sure, but she hoped that once they got all their gear in order, they would leave immediately.

Barret was an unusual melancholy version of himself, "Tifa, I don't know about you, but I don't think we're any match for evil Zack, Cloud and Seph. On top of that, Jenova or Jade or whichever one it is when we get there."

Red sat next to Yuffie and he was looking unusually sad as well, "The only thing that we thought might be able to defeat her, they took. We need to come up with another plan. We mustn't forget the possibility that the boys are gone for good."

Tifa stood from the table in the strategy room, and rounded it while she talked to everyone, "We can't think like that. I know what I saw, it was Cloud and he was fighting. The guys are in there and we need to save them! We don't have Reno's plan anymore, but we need to try something."

Yuffie raised her head from the table, "What about the numbers. One of them is equal to several of us, easy."

"Yuffie's right, Vincent saw what they did to that interrogator, they are going to be damn impossible to defeat." Barret sat back in his chair, "Even if we beat them, Tifa, you might just have to kill Cloud. Are you ready for that?"

Tifa slouched and her mind burned with images of him, laughs, touches, lips, smiles, shy glances - gone forever. Could she do it? Would she be able to kill him if it came down to that? She knew that when the time came, he would look at her with his eyes. Would it be best for him? What kind of hell is he going through? "Listen, we have to try, damn it! They are suffering and we at least owe them that," Tifa fought tears. She had to stay strong.

Cid's voice came across the intercom, "We're comin' up on Rocket Town."

They all went to their places and when Cid gave the word, they went into town and back to their rooms at the Inn. While Tifa was in the shower, she kept waiting for Cloud to show up in the shower with her. She knew that she was being silly, but she remembered back to the morning he surprised her, it seemed like weeks ago, when it was only a few days ago. Did he know something would go wrong? Surely if he knew something would go wrong, he wouldn't have done it. No one thought that Cloud would even be able to hear her under the influence of that demon.

When she got out of the shower, she thought she heard something at her door. Wrapping herself in a towel, she made her way to the door and when she opened it, she couldn't help but tense, "Reno, what do you want? Don't you have Rufus to babysit?"

"No, not since your escape. He put me and Rude on suspension," Reno waited to be let in, "Are you going to make me stand out here in the rain?"

"Yes, at least until I get some clothes on," She started to shut the door.

"Oh, well, you don't have to on my account," Reno's sly smile and wagging eyebrows broke Tifa's hard exterior and she let out a short strained laugh.

When she shut the door she heard him groan and curse the rain. She giggled as she dressed and opened the door again, "You know, I heard from Harding that you didn't even like girls."

Reno scoffed and he plopped down on the bed, "I'm an equal opportunity type of guy." Lying back on the bed with his hands under his head he added, "Besides, I ain't been with a guy since me and Zack were friends," Raising up on one elbow he showed off a kinky smile, "It's just women now. Sooo… any chance you-"

"No," Tifa cut him off as she finished tying her hair back, "I am a one man woman… Wait a minute. Is that why you and Zack aren't friends anymore?!"

Reno closed his eyes, "Listen, there is a lot of things that I'll tell you, but losing Zack as my friend sucked. And before you start jumping to some wild fantasy that I really wouldn't mind being a part of, no we were never together. I wanted to, but he didn't."

"Okay, fair enough," Tifa leaned back on the bed and looked at Reno.

"Hey Teef, can I ask you a question?"

"I guess so. I may not answer it though," Tifa smiled at him.

When Reno sat up, he looked different, serious, "What exactly is it about him that you're so in love with?" Off handedly he asked, "What? Was he your first lay or somethin?"

"Reno! There are some things that are private," Tifa blushed and she tried to turn before Reno saw, but she feared it was too late. After all, he was a Turk.

"I knew it! He was your first, wasn't he?" Reno laughed and fell back on the bed.

As she tried to hide her embarrassment, it felt as though her face was on fire so she whispered, "Yes, he was."

A sly grin rose all the way to his eyes, "Well I can tell you something, but you didn't hear it from me."

"What?"

"The reason that Alana kicked Cloud out," Reno stood and walked toward the door, "Nah, I can't."

Tifa jumped up and held the door to keep him from opening it, "Tell me! I have been wondering about that for a long time now."

Hesitantly, Reno shifted his weight, "Well, apparently while he and that other sexy chick were together that night," Tifa crossed her arms, cleared her throat and glared at him. At the uncomfortable tense feeling oozing from her direction, he finished in a hurried voice, "He said your name instead of hers." Not able to contain his amusement, he snickered, "I laughed my ass off when I saw him getting kicked out the door, damn near naked!" Reno held one of her shoulders as if she were keeping him from falling at his increase in laughter.

Tifa's face went red, so Cloud had been thinking of her. She wondered how long he'd liked her after she found him behind the bar, "Reno, do you think it will work, you know, do you think we can get them back?"

"I don't know anymore, I s'ppose we'll have to wait. Ya never know, help just may show up in a form you never thought of," Reno winked, opened the door and ran to his room.

Tifa sat on the bed and hoped that it would be enough.

The next morning, they loaded up what they would need for the flight and subsequent confrontation. There was no talking, no laughter and not one of them really looked at each other. Each person busied themselves with gathering their belongings and buying more needed supplies. Tifa's talk with Reno last night eased her mind a small amount. However, Reno seemed distracted and even a little saddened. She wondered where Rude was, but she just didn't get around to asking him.

Cid's house was small and clean and his wife was one of the nicest people she'd ever met. When there was a knock at the door, she didn't even think about it until Shera tapped her on the shoulder, "Tifa? There is a man at the door and he wants to speak to you."

With her eyebrows furrowed, she wondered who it could possibly be. Biggs and Wedge were still in Midgar, she talked to them on the phone last night before Reno showed up at her hotel room door. So when she got to the door the man did not look familiar at all. He smiled a small smile and his soft features glowed, along with his mako eyes, "Tifa?" She nodded and he finished, "I'm here to help."

Tifa was dumbstruck, "Who're you?" Glancing behind the man at the door, she saw four other men walking up the street in their direction, Rude strode alongside them. She noticed swords on their backs and all five of them had beautiful glowing eyes.

The man smiled again as the others got closer. Reno spoke from behind her, "Hey you made it! Come on in guys."

Tifa grabbed Reno's arm, "Who're these guys?"

The man who'd been at the door first answered, "I'm Kunsel. I'm friends with Zack and Cloud - back before Hojo." Turning slightly, he introduced the other guys, "This tall blond guy here is Carmine, the other blond is Steve, the red head is Rick," Kunsel leaned forward to Tifa and whispered to her, "Don't mention his three missing fingers." Kunsel straightened back up, smiled and continued, "And last but not least is Hector."

All five guys stood in the small living room and their size made it even smaller. These guys were huge, like Zack and Sephiroth huge. They all had swords of different shapes and sizes and Rick even had materia gathered in a bag that hung from his belt. She gasped, materia was extremely rare and very difficult to use. She'd heard stories about the stuff, but she always thought that the possibility of magic was farfetched. However, there stood a man with about four or five different kinds. He noticed her looking at the materia and she blushed in embarrassment.

Kunsel reached a hand out, "So your Tifa huh? I heard a lot about you from Cloud," Shaking her hand, the grin spread across his face, "I remember when he would get a letter from you; he would lock himself up in his barracks room and read it over and over. I swear, I think he had all your letters memorized," Tifa blushed again and then he put his hands on his hips, "We are all Soldiers. Carmine, Hector and Steve are Second Class, and me and Rick are First Class."

Tifa took a breath before she could ask the one question that she could think of, "Um… Why are you here?"

Crossing his arms across his broad chest, Kunsel grinned, "Well, I was having a few drinks with Lazard and Reno and the little guy just happened to mention that you might need a few extra swords. Not to mention, Rick here is an expert materia user."

Tifa was in awe, "I thought that Lazard was already in trouble. I don't want anything bad to happen to him or Drake."

Kunsel shifted his weight, "We're not here on official business. We are just on vacation." Kunsel winked at her and the other guys laughed quietly, "We just wanted to pay a visit to old friends and maybe help out some new ones."

Tifa's smile broadened and her heart swelled. She didn't know what to say. The only thing that she could get out was, "Well come on, I'll introduce you to everyone." All of the guys, including Reno and Rude followed her out to the airship.

They hovered as close to the northern crater as they dared. Squeezing into the small meeting room in the airship that they'd liberated from Shinra, they began their meeting. The five Soldiers stood against the wall behind Yuffie, Aerith, Rude and Barret. Harding stood and began walking past Cid, Tifa, Reno and Red on the other side of the table as he spoke authoritatively, "Okay, the plan is brute force now. Reno's plan had merit when we still had Zack, but it's a huge gamble now."

Barret's fist hit the table when he asked, "Who put this ass-eatin' moron in charge?"

Harding's face turned red and his fists hung at the end of his arms, "Barret… I tell you what! When you meet Gaia, you can tell her that you're the dickhead that got his ass kicked by Jacob-Fucking-Harding!" Jumping on to the table, he tried taking the shortcut to Barret but Reno and Kunsel caught him. Barret laughed which just incensed him further.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Tifa stood, "Jacob that is enough!" Nodding to Reno, he pushed Harding into an empty chair, "Listen everyone, I'm leading this, so if any of you have a problem say something now." Tifa paused and looked at everyone in turn, "Good. Now listen up. We are going to concentrate our main attack on Jade. Any other resistance can be taken care of as needed. We will have back up in the form of Harding and Aerith as medics. Yuffie, I want you to stick to Aerith and Harding as their cover. Now each group will have at least one of the Soldiers with them."

Tifa paused and pulled out a large paper that had plans written and drawn out, "We will attack after dark and Team 1 will be Barret, Vincent, and Rick since you have long range weapons and materia magic, you will attack first from the front and then act as back up once the short range attack begins." The members of team 1 looked at each other and nodded to Tifa.

Tifa continued, "Team 2 will be Steve, Carmine and Red. You three are to take the right flank. Team 3 is Rude, Cid and Hector, take the left flank. Then team 4 will be me, Reno and Kunsel, frontal assault after the long range volley. After the opening volley and the frontal assault, the right flank will attack followed by the left flank, but both teams have to wait for my signal. Does anyone have anything to add?"

Kunsel spoke up, "I think that it sounds like a sound plan Tifa."

Reno mumbled, "Too bad we don't have Zack, we could've used my plan."

Kunsel snickered, "What is this about Reno's plan?" The First Class turned and smirked at the Turk, "Reno, you couldn't plan your way down a hallway."

"Joke if you want Kunsel, but it was a good plan and now we have this assault thing now. I still think that part of the plan could still work though," Reno crossed his arms and crooked his neck to look at Tifa, "You know silent infiltration, sneaky and deadly."

"Reno, I'm sorry, but I'm dropping it completely. It was a good as long as we had Zack, but now… Let's just get going if there isn't anything else…" Tifa took a deep breath and pulled her new gloves on. She was looking forward to using them on Jade; the bitch that took Cloud from her was going to pay.

Making their way down the rope ladder, her back pack, heavy with supplies, swung lazily back and forth. She watched as each member of the entire party stepped from the ladder and gathered in their various teams. They each were going over their equipment and items.

Although they were traveling together to the final showdown with Jade, they were trying to get to know each other. Teamwork was going to be an important factor. She didn't mind that they were talking amongst themselves and not her; she had her mind on something altogether different.

As they walked, it was Cloud that she pictured in her mind… She would possibly have to kill him, she couldn't hesitate. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt and remorse at the thought of losing him, by her hand.

"You know, you keep thinking like that, you won't be able to concentrate on what needs to be done," Kunsel smiled at her as he caught up to her and put his hand firmly on her shoulder.

Continuing to walk, she lowered her eyes to the ground, "I just can't stop picturing the last time I talked to him. The real Cloud before they became… whatever they are now," She wiped at her face. The pain of losing Cloud suddenly became a heavier weight. She didn't know if she could carry it.

Kunsel stopped her and turned her to face him, "Listen, I just met you, but I feel like I know you pretty well. I remember the way Cloud acted when he got your letters. He never said anything, but Zack and I knew how he felt. There was no one else in his heart. Despite whatever state he's in right now, he remembers that girl and her letters. I can guarantee that he knows what has to happen if he isn't savable." Kunsel shifted his weight, "If we can't save him, you have to remember that man that you saw the last time you talked and what he would want."

"I see what you're saying, but-"

Kunsel cut her off, "We're all going to lose something dear if it turns out to be the worst case scenario. We can't go in there thinking that we are already defeated."

What Kunsel said made perfect logical sense, but she still felt as though she would just burst with grief right now. Everyone was invested in this in way or another. Cloud told her that he loved her, yet she hadn't ever told him. If there was a way to save him, that would be what could possibly bring her Cloud out and shove the monster back.

Green eyes fixed in a recognizable face, searched the hallway in the mind of the dark haired man. It seemed that the hallway was deserted. Green-eyed Sephiroth closed the distance between him and the blond, "Where is he?"

Blond spikes moved with the motion of his head as he whipped his face to a door that wasn't there before, "Maybe in there?" Walking cautiously, not knowing what they would find, and not wanting to get caught by Jade or Jenova, Cloud opened the door and peeked inside. Seeing the three cages and the dark haired man being pulled into the third cage a splinter of alarm and feeling a twinge of guilt twisted in his gut momentarily. The other two were yelling and the blond one was trying to get a hold of the dark haired one.

Green-eyed Cloud looked to his side at the one called Sephiroth and smiled, but he felt a pain. He didn't know what it was, but he suddenly wanted to stop the dark haired one from being pulled into the cage. However, in doing so, it spelled certain doom for him. Jenova would painfully execute him as soon as she came back. Where were these feelings coming from?

They stood there and watched as Jenova pulled the man into his cage. Jenova won in the end despite the fight against her will. Holding onto the door, she punched him in the face and when he let go of the bars, the door swung closed with a loud clank.

Sephiroth leaned closer to his ear and took his hand, "Come, let's go. We can explore later, Jade will be anxious to talk to us." He pulled on his hand and left back through the door that they entered from.

They sat next to the dark haired man's body. Jade had successfully healed him and yet he still was not awake. Sephiroth looked at Jade, "My daughter, it is almost time. You must prepare."

"In a moment, I want to speak to father first," Sephiroth gently stroked her cheek and Cloud took one of her hands. Lifting her hand to his face, he kissed it gently. Her skin was soft and cold, startling, since she was so full of fire. He wondered how long he would have to wait before he could explore again. While Jade meditated, he had the perfect opportunity to find out where these feelings were coming from.

"Very well my dear," Cloud brought her hand to his bare chest and his fingers caressed up her arm. Curious to know what she felt like, he leaned forward and touched her shoulder. She did not protest, in fact she closed her eyes and smiled. Sephiroth's hand cradled her face as she rested her head. From across Zack still on the floor, Cloud raised up to his knees, his fingertips softly moved from her shoulder, to her neck and upper chest. Bringing down her guard, just as he had with Sephiroth, then he could get the information he required to understand her.

What was this? What was he doing? He'd never felt like this before when he'd touched her. Was this fear? Panic?

Slowly moving his fingers down to her chest between her breasts, she opened her eyes and her smile remained pleasant. Sephiroth looked at him and Cloud's hands halted their movement. She rose to her knees and met him face to face. Cloud pulled her to a gentle kiss. She did not fight, in fact she allowed it. Her lips were soft, but there was something there, he couldn't figure out what it was, he wanted to find out. However, when he pulled her toward him she began to struggle. He almost had it, almost had that bit of her that held all her secrets when he held her tighter.

Biting his lips and closing his eyes, he had a sudden pain in his chest, the ache of what he now knew.

Without warning, a hand pushed Cloud back across the floor several feet.

Looking from where the hand had come from, Jade exclaimed, "Father! I am so glad to see you. Please take my hand," She pulled him to standing and she put her hand to his chest and her wings unfolded and spread out. Just as with Cloud and Sephiroth, Zack fell to the floor as a scream erupted from him, Cloud went and pulled the blood stained under shirt over his head and his wings grew just as fast as the others had and Cloud gasp at their beauty. The midnight black of his wings was accentuated by the garnet red feathers that lined the outer length of the wings.

"Fathers, I have a present for you. I have kept him well for you," She led them to an area between some boulders that created a naturally protected area.

Cloud looked upon the man who experimented and tormented the bodies they occupied. He reached down and shook him and he roused with a flutter of his eyelids.

Zack snaked his arm around her waist, "We can do what we want?"

Cloud looked forward to getting his turn at the man known as Hojo.

"Yes, but remember, keep your strength, you will need it later," Grazing Zack's face with her soft hand, she finished, "Also, you have time to reacquaint with one another."

The three men turned their gaze to the man on the ground, Hojo flailed against the ropes that bound his wrists and ankles. Cloud saw him watching all three of them standing over him with great interest. He wondered about the man, it had been him that made it possible for Jade. Yet he felt fear and hatred for him.

Zack, Cloud and Sephiroth looked at each other and then watched as Jade walked away, back to her sitting area. Allowing the restrained man to look upon his life's work, the dark haired one reached out and touched Sephiroth's face with his fingertips, "What should we do first?" Gripping Cloud's hand he added, "I feel so… "

Cloud studied Zack and wondered what his nature was. Blond eyebrows furrowed and he stepped to him and his hands went to the face of the charcoal haired one. Zack stood still and watched as Cloud's eyes studied him and his hands caressed his face and chest.

Asking eagerly, Zack turned to face the blond, "What is my gift?"

Cloud reached out a hand and Zack took it and pulled him closer. His smell, it was familiar, pleasant, musky and comforting. Zack stood confidently, allowing further inspection from him. Cloud's fiery green eyes swept over him, circling him, taking in, in entirety, his newest companion. His arm was heavy as he lifted it, muscles and tendons tensed. Cloud stepped to his chest and smelled him up to his neck and then gazed in to his bright green eyes.

Pulling Zack's head down to a kiss, Cloud thirsted for the knowledge that this vessel held. Stepping back from the fascinating kiss, Cloud felt new feelings that were foreign to him, confidence and trust.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cloud saw Sephiroth approach them and he informed the taller men, "These bodies are interesting, well built and maintained. The ones that were here first took pride in their condition." The feelings he felt from the dark haired man could only leave him with one conclusion. Tilting his head with a curious narrowing of his eyes, he reported to Zack, "I believe that your gift is protection, trust and… love."

Sephiroth stepped to him as well and walked around him and ran his fingers up and down the muscles on his arms and shoulders. The feathers on his wings became intoxicating to him. Pulling out one of Zack's wings to full length, he ran his hands along the spine of the wing all the way back to his shoulder. Zack smiled and then spread them out and tested his new ability by flapping his wings slowly at first, then faster until his feet hovered just above the ground.

Flying above their heads, Sephiroth and Cloud jumped at the chance to get to fly alongside him. They left the sanctuary and flew fast across the diameter of the crater, racing each other. The one known as Zack yelled out in fun, Cloud laughed out and Sephiroth smiled as he paced them. Turning and racing back the other way, they watched as Zack created a course for them to follow. Cloud stayed right behind him, diving, banking and climbing altitude, just as he did. Sephiroth kept up and passed Cloud as they both smiled.

Black hair, once matted with blood and sweat, blew effortlessly in the wind that whipped through it. While he was watching Jenova capture the one in his cage, Jade must have washed him. He looked better, healthier and ready to play his role. Zack yelled out a loud laugh and went back to the sanctuary.

Meeting once again in the quiet of their home, they stood close to Jade's gift to them. The blond traced his fingers on Zack's chest and then roamed him with his eyes, breathlessly he asked, "Do you want to go first since your newest?"

Sephiroth gently rubbed Zack's arm, "I agree, you can go first if you wish," His shoulder nudged Cloud's and they both looked to Zack. Cloud smiled, but it soon faded when Zack and Sephiroth joined hands, then they looked at him and waited. Internally sighing, the blond tried to remember that they were there for a purpose. The frightening purpose that he gleaned from Jade told of sacrifice.

Zack looked at him and asked the blond, "Well, why don't you go first, aren't you the inquisitive one?"

Hojo watched Cloud approach him and the blond couldn't help but smile at the prospect of inspecting this man. He enjoyed seeing the uncertain horror in the beady black eyes, "Do you remember this body?" Hojo nodded. Cloud grinned and continued, "Tell me when this hurts."

A/N 2: Thanks to everyone who reads, favorites, subscribes and/or reviews, I appreciate your time and I dedicate all of this to you. To quote another author, "Getting reviews makes me feel all warm and squishy."

Please send me your reviews if you want. It is really easy. Just click your arrow in the little box, write what you thought or felt about the chapter and then click right down there, just below the box. A little lower… a little to the right… yeah, right there! Click it! *grinning*