QuickNavigation - FF Odyssey Fan Fiction Cloud's Finale, Syrus's Beginning

            It has been eighteen years since Cloud and gang saved the world from destruction. Many of the members have become normal people with normal jobs and lead lives that keep them alive and happy. Cloud and Tifa have married and have a son named Syrus and live in the town of Kalm. Cloud and Tifa run a dojo where they teach weapon using and hand to hand combat. Syrus works with Cloud as the demonstration person and a second hand for watching the kids to make sure they don’t get out of hand.

            Vincent, Barret, Nanaki, Yuffie and Marlene all live in Costa del Sol in Cloud’s Villa. Barret is the bar tender and bouncer of the bar and Marlene is a waitress. Nanaki and Yuffie work at the materia shop and Vincent runs the weapons shop. He also makes his own guns. Cid lives with his wife Shera in Rocket town and run the inn/shop. Cid and Shera are working on the Tiny Bronco and building a personal rocket.

            None of the members have heard from one another in years, they all say that they want to but they never do. It wasn’t until Syrus’s 19^th and Marlene’s 21^st birthday that they finally got together and celebrated. They all met up in the bar at Costa del Sol and Barret cleared the room.

            “I see you haven’t changed much Barret.” Cloud said walking into the bar.

            “HaHa, neither have you, you spiky ass clod. Come here!” Barret grabbed Cloud with his good hand and hugged him.

            “So this is you’re son eh?” Cid asked looking at Syrus. Syrus was the spitting image of Cloud but with Tifa’s hair and eyes. “Nice to meet you, I’m Cid.” Syrus shook his hand. “I’m Syrus.”

            “Heehee, can’t keep you’re names out of the sky can you Cloud?” Yuffie asked.

            “Well, you know got to keep the general ideas going. You let go of me now, Barret.”

            “Hate to be the damper of high moods...” Vincent started to say from his table on the second floor.

            “Too late.” Cid yelled quickly.

            “...But you should come look at this.”

            They all headed up and looked out the window.

            “Who the hell is that?” Barret asked.

            “Looks like a manger of some sort.” Tifa said.

            “Strange, I thought Shin-Ra was destroyed.” Yuffie said.

            “He’s coming in, outta my way!” Barret said clambering down the stairs. “Get behind the bar kids.” He said to Syrus and Marlene. Marlene, knowing her father’s tones of danger grabbed Syrus and led him behind the counter. Everyone else sat on the second floor and looked over waiting to see who it was.

            The man entered and he was well dressed in a black suit and a brief case. Barret towered over the man as he introduced himself.

            “Hi. My name is Guro; I am here on business and want to offer you a deal for this place.”

            “Ain’t for sale.” Barret answered quickly.

            “That man looks like he’s from Wutai. But, we are not business people.” Yuffie whispered to Nanaki.

            “Indeed. Listen to what he is saying and maybe you’ll figure it out.” He whispered back. Yuffie looked up and was about to say something but then decided not to.

            “Please, hear me out.”

            “No.”

            “I can pay you handsomely.”

            “And I can make your face mincemeat. The answers no.”

            “Why don’t you want to sell?”

            “Why do you want to buy?”

            “Alright, I can see that I am going to get nowhere with you, like this. So, here it is. We want this place...”

            “Hold it right there, who is we?”

            The man sighed. “I work for the Neo Shin-Ra stationed in Wutai.”

            Yuffie’s mouth dropped and Tifa covered her mouth before she could say anything.

            “Shin-Ra? Goddammit! I thought you guys were run out of business with the president and his son dead.”

            “Well, yes and no. You see, when meteor was coming down some of us executives ran and went to Wutai and we waited for the madness to calm down and then we started to slowly build ourselves back up, and now we are trying to buy places that will help us with our income.”

            “Just like the damn Shin-Ra. The answers still no. I own this place now and I ain’t going to let it go, just like that, not for you anyway.”

            “Sir...” Barret shoved his gun arm into the man’s face. “Please...do you really want to be a bar tender all you’re life?”

            “I’ve already saved the world once. This is the life that I want.”

            The man smiled. “Indeed.” He whistled.

            All of a sudden the doors bust open and troops stormed in.

            “Ah Goddammit!” Barret yelled as he was pulled away from Guro.

            “All right, I want this man arrested and this place searched for the others.”

            The troops scattered and started to tear the place apart. Marlene and Syrus snuck out through a trap door that Barret had installed incase something like this happened.

            Some troops went up stairs and found Vincent sitting there waiting for them. “Hi.” He said coldly. “Sir...you have to come with us.” One of the troops said nervously. Vincent smiled and his eyes went red. “I don’t imagine hence.” The officers looked at each other and in that second there was a flash and Vincent transformed into his demon form and threw the troops to the first floor and out the window. Afterwards, he flew down and took out some others. When the troops that were holding Barret got distracted, he threw one over the counter and smashed the other on the counter top and then shot one in the leg as he raised his gun. Barret’s gun took off the man’s leg at the knee. Barret ran over to him and stomped on his hand that was reaching for his gun and crushed it. Guro ran for the door and was stopped by Vincent, who landed in front of the door and lifted the man by his head.

            “Don’t kill him Vincent.” Barret yelled dropping a troop that he was holding by the throat. The troop hit the ground and clasped like a bag of potatoes.

Vincent threw the man back and turned back to his normal form. The man pulled out a small pistol and fired at Vincent. Vincent caught the bullet with his metallic arm. The man fired again, out of nerve and Vincent caught that bullet. Now out of anger, Guro fired again and again until his gun was empty; Vincent caught every bullet and then extended his arm and knocked the gun out of the man’s hand.

Vincent then proceeded to grab the man and bring him to his face as his arm retracted. “Now tell me, what are you’re plans after you’ve raised enough money?”

Barret tromped over and joined Vincent at his side. Cloud, Cid and Nanaki came down and searched around the unconscious troops. Tifa and Yuffie met up with Syrus and Marlene. While Barret and the others questioned Guro; Tifa and crew sat in the inn having a drink or two or three. Three in Yuffie’s case.

 Yuffie has become the tramp that still holds a good girl persona, but still wants a good time. Most of the time she gets picked up by suffers that come in at night looking for a good time as well. A lot of the time she gets bailed out by Barret and Vincent and a lot of the time she ends up with Vincent for the night.

Vincent, himself has cleaned up. He got rid of the hoody thing that he wore and the cape. Not he wears a long coat and looks very presentable. His hair is always slicked and taken care of. His eyes have lost a lot of their demonic glow, but some one like Vincent can never truly come to grips with what he is. But he is making an effort. And Nanaki helps him out.

Nanaki is well, Nanaki. His mane has gotten bigger and he himself has gotten bigger. He is about the size of a lion. His fur is still the fiery red and his tail flame has gotten brighter and longer. Barret feeds him constantly.

Barret has become the biggest man to ever live. And his beard has gotten bushier. Not big as in round big, but as in muscle big. He’d have to wrestle a Behemoth to get a good workout. But since he can’t get to a Behemoth, the usual ten suffers a night keeps him in good shape. Not only is he protecting Yuffie, he is protecting Marlene as well.

Marlene has grown to a beautiful young woman and has picked up Dynes attitude, which pleases Marlene, though, for her he frets the day that he has to tell her the truth about what happened to her father. In fact, Vincent, Nanaki and even Yuffie have all helped raised her. She has Nanaki’s share of wisdom and insight. Vincent’s coolness and hidden strength that allows him to scare people off without actually ever saying anything. Yuffie’s contribution to Marlene’s up bringing has well, not been the best. To say that least Yuffie isn’t the best role model, but she does have one good quality that shines through to Marlene and that is her spunk. The spunk that attracts everyone and overall makes her lovable. Tifa marveled in this, since it has been so long since she has seen Marlene.

Tifa is still the same, in her caring and openness and in her impossible breast size. It is a miracle she can fight as well as she can with those things and since she became a mother, they’ve gotten fuller. Cloud loves it.

Cloud, though he is a father and husband; has a good business going for him and the sex has never been better for him. He still feels that there is something missing from his life. He can only find a substance when he and Tifa spar against each other, which ultimately leads to the bed. His spiky hair has become even more of a mess and his Mako eyes get brighter and brighter as the years pass. Though he does feel like he is holding himself back on his training of Syrus, perhaps since he fought with Sephiroth for so long and so hard that he is feeling an emptiness because of it, like there is no greater challenge that will ever match up.

Syrus on the other hand has become quite the strong man and is growing quickly. He has Cloud’s cockiness and strength; as well he has Tifa’s uppity ness and determination. Syrus, is a quick learner as well, it only took him a few years to master his fathers Buster sword, while it takes men years upon years to train for SOLDIER and gain the strength for that kind of weapon; also, Syrus has no Mako infusion, only the genes that he inherited from his father.

And then there is Cid, who has become a very senile man and is quite humorous with it. He has lost his ability to fight hand to hand wise, his smoking finally caught up with him and thus, because of his stubbornness, he keeps going and pushing himself. Shera tries to get him to quite and has made some progress.

Guro let slip that Neo Shin-Ra are planning for an excavation once they get enough money. They plan on digging and testing the Northern Crater for any signs left of Sephiroth and/or Jenova. And with that they plan on bring the two back through cloning and genetic alteration. They say it is all for science, but we all know that it is for knowledge and with knowledge comes power and with power comes drives to dominate the world. That is why Cloud and the others all looked at each other with a panicked look when Guro told them of his plan.

Back in Wutai the Neo Shin-Ra executives waited for Guro’s return, in their office, with nice chairs and fancy windows that looked out at the mountains.

“He’s late.” One said sitting down in a comfy chair. He was dressed in very nice business attire and had a fine trimmed beard.

“We’ve lost contact with the squad of troops that went with him. The last thing we heard was, “I don’t imagine hence”. It sounded a lot like Vincent.” Another said while walking into the office. The man was rounder and very hyper.

“If they ran into Vincent, then that means that they must have ran into the others and that means that they are once again fighting.” The man in the chair said.

“If I may sir? But, the only reason that Guro ran into them is because Barret runs the bar in Costa del Sol and they all happened to be there because it is Cloud’s son’s birthday.”

“A birthday eh? Well, I am going to have to pay my respects. Palmer, get Cait Sith ready.”

“Immediately, boss Reeve.”

“So Cloud and the others think they can stop the Shin-Ra. Pity I have to turn on them again. But things must be done and sacrifices must be made.” Reeve got up and headed for the door.

Back in Costa del Sol, the gang helped clean up the bar. The dead troop bodies were taken outside of the town so that the wild beasts could have a meal. Guro was tied to the wall with poison materia, which was specially made by Yuffie to inflict the poison to those that used it. So, they gagged his mouth with one and tied one in each of his hands. They weren’t going to let him go until he nodded in apology, he had ten more minutes before his lungs and blood stream filled with the poison.

Marlene and Syrus kept an eye on him while the others discussed the course of action.

“I wonder who could be running the Neo Shin-Ra.” Tifa stated.

“Indeed. This comes as a surprise to us all; I have a feeling that there will be only bad coming from this.” Nanaki said.

“No shit. Please tell me that we don’t keep this walking pile of fur around for this kind of insight.” Cid said taking a puff of his cigarette.

“That’s enough Cid. There must have been a reason they came to us....but who would know?” Cloud reflected.

“Cait Sith.” Barret said suddenly.

“No, he was deactivated a long time ago.”

“No you spiky ass moron, Cait Sith is standing at the door.” Barret said pointing at the door.

Everyone turned and sat the enormous stuffed mog and tiny cat peering through the door way.

“Hi all!”

“What the hell do you want, ya damn cat?” Cid asked.

“I’ve come to pay my respects to the birthday boy.”

“How would know about Syrus’s birthday?” Tifa asked looking back at Syrus. Guro was shaking his head violently; his eyes were staring directly at Cait Sith. Tifa looked at Barret so he would notice it too, then she whispered to Cloud was going on. Barret looked back at Guro his eyes staring at Cait Sith.

“The hell is going on here?” Barret asked raising gun arm at Cait Sith. “If you’ve come to betray us again cat, you’ll regret it.”

“Barret, this is no time for rash actions. Syrus untie Guro.” Tifa said. Syrus did. Guro fell to the ground and coughed so hard it sounded like he was going to cough up a lung.

“Would you listen to that? I haven’t heard a man cough like that since Cloud fell into the life steam.” Cid said.

There was a slight chuckle around the room.

“Back to the point. How the hell do you know about it being Syrus’s birthday?” Cloud asked.

“Have you all already forgotten who I am?” Cait Sith asked.

“I haven’t.” Cid yelled from the background.

“You’re Reeve. For the Shin-Ra...” Cloud reveled.

“Bingo.” Cait Sith said.

“Goddamn cat! I knew it!” Barret aimed his gun arm once again at Cait Sith.

“Wait! Let me, do what I came to do.”

With that Cait Sith bounded through the door and landed in front of Guro and then the mog raised one of its enormous paws into the air and then brought it down on Guro’s head, smashing it into the floor.

“If I was against you guys would I have killed one of my own men?” Cait Sith asked.

Everyone pondered the question. Vincent came to Cloud’s side and whispered. “Don’t trust him. His voice has trickery in it. There will be no good to come out of this.”

“Perhaps not, but if we act harshly now, it’ll be worse than if we wait it out.” Cloud whispered back. Vincent backed off and went to the shadows.

“Please friends...trust me as you once did.” Cait Sith pleaded.

“I never trusted you.” Cid shot back still puffing on his cigarette.

“Why the hell should we cat? I’m in the mind now to blast your stuffed body away.” Barret threatened.

“Wait Barret, this won’t solve anything. Reeve, what are you trying to accomplish? You know as well as we do what will happen if anyone sets foot in the Northern Carter again.” Cloud said.

“A sacrifice I am willing to make. This is for science.”

“Science? That has been said before, but not by you.” Vincent cut in.

“If you are comparing me to Professor Gast...”

“Not Gast, you overgrown toy. Hojo.” Vincent snapped back. There was silence.

“Awww...I hated that guy.” Cid’s voice sounded from the back ground.

That night, everyone was in Cloud’s Villa and there was a party. Barret had brought up some kegs from the basement of the bar. Some of Marlene’s surfer stalkers were outside trying to get a peek in. Nanaki was playing peek-a-boo with them. Then Cloud, Tifa and Cid went to the basement of the Villa and came up with some gifts. Nanaki opened the window, ever so slightly and when one of the surfers popped his head in, Nanaki popped up and head butted him sending him back. Afterwards he joined the others.

From Barret, Syrus received a full enemy skill materia.

            From Cid, he acquired a ribbon.

            From Nanaki, he was given an onks pendant.

            From Vincent, he was bestowed a mystile armlet.

            From Yuffie, he received, all, added cut and elemental materia.

            From Marlene, he was given counter materia.

            From Tifa, he received mastered contain materia.

            And from Cloud, he was given a Murasame sword and mastered Bahamut summon materia.

            Syrus marveled in his gifts and a tear came to his eye.

            “Thank you all for your gifts, but the best one of them all is...”

            “Mine.” Cid said relighting his cigarette. There was a room round laugh.

            “Yes Cid, yours.” Syrus said sarcastically. “Save for the gift of all you being here.”

            “Awww...how sentimental.” A voice sounded from the background. Everyone turned and looked at Cid.

            “What? I didn’t say it.”

            Nanaki careened his neck around and saw the surfers peeking in again.

            “Surfers.” He barked.

            Cloud motioned Syrus to come close. “Why don’t you try out your new gifts?” Syrus pulled back, “But...” Cloud winked at him. “No buts, go on you’ve earned a fight. I’ve held a back long enough, time to try out what you’ve learned. Just don’t kill them.”

            Tifa leaned into Cloud. “Do you think it wise?”

            Cloud rested his head on hers. “He’ll be fine.”

            Syrus grabbed his stuff, equipped the armlet and materia, strapped the sword onto his back and put on his necklace and then headed out.

            Everyone headed for the window to watch. Even Vincent.

            “How do you think he’ll fair?” Marlene asked.

            “I think he’ll do just fine against them. He probably doesn’t even need all of that stuff we just gave him for those punks.” Cid said.

            Vincent and Nanaki looked at him. “What?”

            “They’ve surrounded him. Cloud how does he fair with you?” Yuffie was getting excited.

            “In the dojo he is stronger than all of the other students. I agree with Cid, I don’t think that he will need any of that stuff. If anything, the armlet will be the only thing utilized.”

            “It’s started.” Nanaki yapped. Again all the attention was turned to the window.

            Syrus was surrounded by five surfers, all edging for the fight. Syrus smiled and shook his head at them. They all cracked their knuckles and necks. Then the first one attacked, running at him from the side. Syrus stepped back and grabbed his arm and flipped him over his hip. The next came from the back and Syrus ducked, in the process snapping the surfer’s hand that he had flipped. Syrus rolled back as the next one came in with a kick; Syrus rolled up and caught his next attacker’s fist. Syrus used that control to hit the next attacker. Syrus side kicked the man that he caught in the chest and sent him back. His next attacker came with a knife and started swinging it around relentlessly, Syrus dodged the blade and when the guy stabbed, Syrus moved to the side and grabbed his arm in the course of action and with he pulled back and then kicked the man in the back while pulling on his arm, dislocating it.

            The last three, tried to convince each other that it would be a good idea to leave, but all were unwilling to. Syrus stood his ground and waited for their attack. Then one ran off and the other two ran at Syrus. Their punches were horrible, they were reaching for the hit and all Syrus had to do was redirect them and they took themselves out. But they kept coming.

 Not too long after, the third one returned with three surf boards. They were smaller and thinner and the fin was longer.

Cloud and Tifa watched intently.

“Persistent bastards.” Barret said.

“Indeed.” Cloud agreed.

The three ran at Syrus again and this time they were much better off. Yet, Syrus was able to always be a move ahead of them. There was a lot of twirling, and spinning, and fancy moves to dodge the boards. Finally Syrus was able to get a hold of one and he raised it up and kicked the surfer away from the board. Then he spun it to his back and blocked an attack. Syrus moved forward and brought the board with him. He pushed it up so that his attack punched it instead of him and then he kicked it out and up into the man’s jaw. Syrus then spun it around himself so that the other couldn’t touch him, and when he was far enough away from the last one he shot it toward him and followed. The surfer dodged it and spun around. Syrus jumped onto the man’s board and did a back flip kick off of it, kicking the man in the jaw. Syrus landed and the surfer landed on his back, with a dislocated jaw.

            Syrus looked around at his work and smiled a cautious smile. The surfers rolled on the ground in agony. Syrus looked back at the house and saw everybody watching him; he also saw Marlene’s face disappear just as he looked at the window.

            That night, there was a party for Syrus. Everyone was sitting around sharing memories of the old times and what has been going on in the years leading up to the present. During the sharing Syrus couldn’t help but notice that Marlene was giving him some bashful, yet flirty looks. Syrus looked around and when he thought that nobody was paying attention he went for the move, but Barret’s huge hand grabbed his shoulder and sat him back down. Syrus looked at Barret and all Barret did was shake his head.

            The party lasted until about one in the morning and then the group dispersed. Cloud and Tifa headed toward their room; Cid and Shera headed to the basement; Nanaki went outside and headed to the beach; Vincent went to his room in the attic and Yuffie went to her room, soon to go up to the attic. Marlene headed to her room and Syrus went to his. Barret went to the bathroom.

            Syrus waited for about a half an hour until he attempted to go to Marlene’s room. He had made it past every room and was at the front door and was about to make it out, when he felt Barret’s hand on his shoulder again.

            “Where do ya think you’re goin’?”

            “I couldn’t sleep...thought I’d get some air.” Syrus said trying to keep cool.

            “HaHa, don’t play me kid. I know that you were going to pay Marlene a visit. You can put that aside, until I approve she can’t see nobody.”

            “Barret sir...I wasn’t going to see Marlene. I was just going to get some air.”

            “I was young once too, ya know.”

            “So you know the needs of teens.”

            “Yeah, and your gonna have to take a rain check. Because it ain’t happen’”

            “Okay, okay, okay. I’ll go back to bed.”

            Barret let Syrus go and Syrus went back to his bed. Barret flopped down on the couch and snored away.

            Up in the attic, Vincent sat tapping his metallic fingers against the table up there. Thoughts of Lucrecia filled his mind and he became filled with his sorrow again. He slammed his arm against the table and it crumbled to the ground. He stood up and scratched a message in the table top.

            “Forgive me friends...I thank you for all of your hospitality, but I must return to my seclusion, my nightmare.”

            He jumped out of the window and landed safely on the sand. He headed out of the town and to the Mt. Corel hills. Nanaki saw him leave and saw Yuffie run out and look around for him. Nanaki ran ahead and cut off Yuffie before she could catch up to Vincent.

            “Let him go girl. You won’t be able to change his mind, not now. Let him come to his terms on his own. We’ll go after him in the morning.” Nanaki said calmly.

            Yuffie watched as Vincent’s figure faded from her sight and then she sulked back to her room. Nanaki stayed up the rest of the night and watched over the Villa and Coast del Sol.

            Vincent strolled over the mountain, across the tracks and made his way through Mt. Corel. The monsters on the mountain were deflected by the evil that Vincent let off. His anger and jealousy that clouded his mind brought out the evil that was within him and he walked on. When he arrived at the Mt. Corel town, he felt an uncontrollable urge to destroy the town. But he couldn’t bring himself too, thoughts of Yuffie came to his mind and he became even more confused and frustrated with himself and before he could do anything, he ran out of the town and back to the mountains.

            On the mountain he made his way across to the mountain tops of Mt. Nimble and on the way he burned with his rage so much that the monsters of the mountain did everything they could to get away from him. But evil attracts evil and it was only a matter of time before Vincent attracted one of the many monsters of Mt. Nimble. It was the Yin-Yang, a single monster with two bodies and was a monster that thrived for the souls of the living. Usually a simple monster to defeat, especially for someone like Vincent. But this one was different; this one had defeated and devoured the soul one of Hojo’s mutant humans from the Mt. Nimble reactor.

            It jumped out at Vincent and leaped at him. Vincent was able to throw it off of him. The creature sprang up and came at him again; they grabbled and flung each other into the side of the mountain side. Vincent’s metallic hand wasn’t crushing this beast and he was gaining his demonic anger, but it only seemed to beckon the monster’s strength more. Vincent wanted to change into his Chaos form, but every time he tried he saw Yuffie and he held himself back, for he knew that if he changed, he would never be able to come back to human form and thus he would never be able to see Yuffie again. So, he fought on relying on his cunning and the skills of fighting that he had learned from Tifa.

            The two headed monster was now, trying to bite him and if bitten Vincent would be paralyzed, knowing this he did what he could to prevent teeth from penetrating his flesh. The Yin-Yang was able to trip Vincent and pin him down on his back. Just when Vincent thought it was over, a Valron swooped down and lifted the Yin-Yang off of him. The Valron was a winged-demon that flew around looking for other monsters the he could destroy and suck the very being out of, to gain its strength. Vincent watched as the Yin-Yang fought and was able to gain the upper hand. The Yin-Yang was able to get the Valron to fly close to the mountain side and then it pushed off it, making the Valron let go and then have to grab the Yin-Yang again, this time it was a tighter hold and the Valron’s head was closer to the Yin-Yang’s two heads. The Yin-Yang slammed both of its heads’ into the Valron’s and they dropped. The Yin-Yang got itself around and the Valron slammed into the mountain trail and the Yin-Yang was able to survive. The Valron lay unconscious from the sudden stop and the Yin-Yang sank both sets of teeth into the Valron’s throat. There was an ear piercing scream from the demonic Valron and Vincent wasn’t able to control his mind and in a few mere seconds, Vincent’s eyes turned blood red and his whole form contorted into the Chaos that tormented his mind.

            Vincent’s power radiated from him and he now saw neither shape nor being, only blood. In what seemed to a flash of lightning he was upon the Yin-Yang like a spider on the fly. He flung an energy beam which sliced off one its heads and he shoved his hand through its two bodies. The Yin-Yang made a last attempt to fight but Vincent was now way too powerful for it. Vincent made a fist with the hand that was protruding from the Yin-Yang and then released it and tightened it back again and the whole form of the Yin-Yang was destroyed.

            Vincent looked around and couldn’t see anything and he made his tortured way to the mansion in Nimbleheim. He was unable to change back to his normal form, he feared now that he was stuck in this form forever and he wanted nothing to do with the outside world, seclusion was his only resolve.

            When the sun rose the next morning Nanaki was there to welcome it. But it was not a warm welcome; the deeds that happened on Mt. Nimble came to Nanaki as the sun rose. Cloud and Cid found Nanaki sitting at the edge of the town.

            “What’s up Nanaki?” Cloud asked.

            “Not him.” Cid cracked.

            “Not now Cid.”

            “Vincent has transformed.” Nanaki said.

            “So?” Asked Cid.

            “His Chaos form has become too powerful. He won’t be able to get back to his real form....” There was a moment of hesitation. “...at least not easily.” Nanaki finished with a hint of confusion.

            “What’s that?” Cloud asked.

            “He seems to be fighting himself. He’s trying to change...perhaps his will is stronger than we think...but he needs help.”

            “So we help.” Cloud said.

            “Wait, how the hell do you know this?” Cid asked.

            Nanaki and Cloud looked at him and Nanaki flicked an ear. Cloud did the eye shift thing that said, “You idiot.”

            “He needs moral help....Yuffie....he seems to crying for her...and Lucrecia.”

            “Goddamn, that guy needs to get over that woman.”

            “She was the only woman that he loved...and she died with there nothing for him to do to prevent it. I feel that you would be tortured as well if what happened to him, happened to you.” Tifa said coming up to them. “Breakfast is ready. You boys can go after Vincent afterwards.”

            They all followed behind her and Cid followed after thinking about what she said. They ate and Nanaki explained to Syrus, Marlene, Tifa, Barret and Yuffie the situation. There was a moment of silence while they all thought about what was going on.

            “Well I’m defiantly going.” Yuffie said.

            “I’m going too.” Cid said.

            “As am I.” Nanaki said.

            “What the hell. You guys’ll need an extra man.” Barret said.

            “Cloud? Why don’t you go as well?” Tifa asked.

            “Alright.”

            “All right, guys lets go. Cid, get the Highwind warmed up. Everyone else...take care.”

            Everyone got up and went their separate ways. Barret pulled Tifa aside.

            “Listen, I know that your son is after my girl. Do me a favor and keep him away from her. I’m not havin’ any kind flirtin’ while I’m away.”

            “Don’t worry Barret. I won’t let anything happen while you’re away.” Tifa said sheepishly.

            “Uh...okay, thanks...” Barret said not catching onto Tifa’s sarcasm.

            All those that were heading to Nimbleheim, headed to Nimbleheim. When they got there and into the town there was an evil aura that filled the town. The town’s people were all sullen and depressed.

            “It’s coming from the mansion.” Nanaki panted.

            “His evil is so great.” Cloud said.

            “Soo that is what that it is.” Cid said.

            “I don’t like the feeling coming from that place.” Yuffie said.

            “You’re not supposed too.” Nanaki replied.

            “The sooner we stop him, the faster we’ll be able to liven this place up and get the hell out of here.” Barret said.

            They all headed toward to the mansion and then started be drawn down from the aura. And before they could reach the door they were propelled back, away from the mansion. Except for Yuffie.

            “None may enter. For your own benefit...leave...leave me be...what I have done I have done to protect you all...now go before I am forced to kill you!”

            “Vincent, don’t you recognize your friends?” Yuffie asked.

            “Yuffie don’t be foolish! You can’t reach him!” Cloud yelled.

            “No wait, Cloud. She is reaching him. His aura is weakening.” Nanaki said. “Huh?”

            “What is it Nanaki?” Barret asked.

            “Behind us.”

            Cid looked behind them trying to be careful but it came too soon. What he saw were the mutant humans coming down in numbers. “Shit guys. We have a problem.”

            They all turned and saw the mutants.

            “Vincent must be controlling them.” Nanaki said. “Yuffie, go inside! We’ll take care of these things! Do it!”

            Yuffie ran at the door and smashed it down with her shuriken and then ran into the building. Nanaki, Cloud, Cid and Barret got up and got ready.

            “It never ends does it?” Cid asked moving his cigarette to the left side of his mouth.

            “Nope.” Barret said arming his gunarm.

            Cloud stared at the creatures and thoughts of Sephiroth and his first visit to the Mt. Nimble reactor flashed in his mind again. “Now it’s personal.” He mumbled to himself, shouldering his buster sword.

            Nanaki walked up to the front and howled into the sky.

            Yuffie ran through the house knocking aside the monsters that came at her. She made her way up the stairs of the mansion; she jumped around using the railings and the wall to help her get around the monsters. She reached the secret opening and ran down the stairs into the basement. At the archway to the basement there sat waiting a manifestation of Vincent’s evil. Yuffie reached it and was suddenly attacked. She lifted her arm and blocked too venomous barbs that shot out at her; they stuck into her armguard and started to pull her up. She pulled out a small knife and cut the string that was connected to the barbs. She fell to the ground and threw her knife at the spider that came out of the shadows. The knife found its target and the spider recoiled. Yuffie grabbed her Shuriken and ventured further down the hallway.

            Outside, the creatures were making their tortured way toward Cloud and the others. “Barret, when they reach the first post...max your anger.” Cloud said.

            “You got it!” Barret said readjusting the setting on his gun arm.

            “Cid, get ready to pounce.” Cloud said.

            “I was waiting for you to say that.” Cid said, doubling back to the roof of the Mansion.

            “Nanaki how’s the earth feel today?” Cloud asked.

            Nanaki cracked a smile. “It’s feeling broken up.”

            “How are you feeling Cloud?” Cid yelled from his post.

            “Beaming.” Cloud answered.

            He lifted his sword up and then slammed it down onto the ground. A beam of energy shot toward the monsters. Barret let out a laugh as he grasped his gunarm and braced himself and let out a massive amount of bullets. The beam and the bullets struck at the front line and the monsters were ripped apart. The beam dispersed from the original beam and found other targets. Barret’s bullets kept going. Nanaki sleeked to the crack in the earth that Cloud had made and planted himself there. Cloud looked up at Cid and Cid got his spear ready. Barret pulled his arm away and ran to the side. Nanaki let out a howl and Cid leaped off of the roof and came down in the middle of the monsters, he impaled one and then sent out a shock wave that sent the surrounding monsters to the ground. The ground itself and the mountain sides that created the gateway to Mt. Nimble weakened. Cid jumped out of the way and Nanaki lowered his head and then sent a massive amount of energy at the rest of the monsters and the mountain side. It clasped and the way to Mt. Nimble was shut off forever, in the process it crushed the remaining monsters. 

Yuffie threw her Shuriken down the hall and it struck down bats and all manners of beasts that had made their living down there. She ran through the path that it made and she caught her Shuriken as it came back at her, she ran past the door that Vincent had locked himself into and she crashed through the door at the end of the basement. The door that lead into the library/science lab. She rolled to the side as two more barbs shot in after her. Damn that thing. Yuffie thought to herself. She looked around the corner quickly and saw the giant spider there waiting for her. There’s got to be weakness...come on Yuffie think! Assess the situation! What is its weakness? The barbs, the poison...the mouth. Yuffie got her Shuriken ready and pulled out another small knife and dabbed some antidote juice on the knife. She got up onto her feet, in a crouched position and counted to three. At three she jumped out and threw her Shuriken at the spider. It shot out its barbs and knocked the Shuriken away. Yuffie then jumped to the side and threw the knife at the spider’s open mouth. The knife went in and stuck into the spider’s throat. It convulsed and shook and clasped and spat blood out of its mouth as tried to cough up the knife, the antidote fluid that Yuffie had rubbed on it and it was now drying out the spider’s blood and poison. The spider died within a few seconds. She walked over to her shuriken and dabbed some the antidote on it just in case and then she picked it up and smashed down the door that Vincent was lurking in.

“Yuffie...why are you here?” Vincent asked his red eyes meeting hers.

“I came to free you. Vincent, please, you’re better and stronger than this. You can fight this.”

“Yuffie, go away. I can not.”

“You can!”

“No!” Vincent flew at her and wrapped one of his hands around her throat.

“Now what? Are you going to kill me? What will that bring you? Just more suffering, more torture, more nightmares. You are better than they are. Vincent, come back to me.”

He released her throat and stepped back. He started to shake and he hugged himself. He fell to his knees and then he let out a shout and his wings disappeared, and his eyes tamed and then he lay upon the ground as Vincent. His clothes were torn and he was unconscious.

Yuffie ran over to him and picked his head off the cold ground. Cloud and the others arrived and found them.

At Costa del Sol, Tifa, Marlene and Syrus were attending to the tourists and the surfers that came in. Marlene and Syrus were bustling around serving the tables, while Tifa attended the bar. When it finally calmed down, Tifa poured herself a beer and right when she had relaxed, in walked a very nervous, red haired man who came up to her and started to hit on her.

“It’s sad that a gorgeous girl like you has too sit here alone.” He said.

Tifa almost choked, but got control and turned to see that man. “Johnny?”

“Ah! Tifa!” Johnny gasped and he jumped back and bumped into Syrus.

Johnny swung around and punched out; Syrus caught his arm and pushed back to the counter. He rebounded back and went to attack him again, but Tifa caught him arm and swung him around to the ground and pinned him there.

“Hey! Tifa! That punk attacked me!” Johnny whined.

“That punk is my son, Johnny.” Tifa said. 

“You’re son?” Johnny looked up at Syrus. Syrus was standing there with Marlene next to him. “He looks just like you.”

Tifa let him up. And as soon as she did he sprang up and grabbed Tifa from behind. “Now you’re mine. Not another move boy! She gets her neck snapped if you try anything!”

Marlene inched away from Syrus toward a dish tray and Syrus stood his ground. Tifa fought his grasp and then when Marlene reached the tray, she stomped on Johnny’s foot and then threw her head back into his face. Johnny let her go and stumbled back, Syrus grabbed Tifa and got in front of her, and Marlene threw the tray and hit Johnny in the chest. He fell back and started to cough pathetically; when he saw that Tifa wasn’t falling for his fake suffering he crawled out of the bar.

“He always was a pussy.” Tifa said.

“I didn’t even throw the tray that hard.”

“You didn’t have to. If you flicked him, he’d start crying, all to get sympathy from some near by girl. As hard as he tries to get laid, I’d be surprised if wasn’t a virgin.” Tifa said with a glint in her eye.

“Mom.” Syrus said picking up the tray.

“What? Don’t think that I don’t know about these things. I see what has been going on between you too. Barret isn’t just being an overprotective father, Marlene. Well, he is, but he just doesn’t want to lose you. His past is a troublesome one, and keeping you from Syrus is just him doing his last as a father. He’ll give in, eventually.” Tifa said.

Marlene smiled at Tifa and Syrus looked confused. Tifa picked up the last of the fallen dishes and brushed herself off. “Go on you two. Do what you will. I’ll take care of Barret when he gets back.”

With that Syrus and Marlene took off and headed to the beach.

Reeve, Palmer, Professor Tsen and a group of troops arrived at the Bone village, where the most experienced diggers lived digging for lost treasure.

“We are here to hire you all.” Reeve said.

“What for?” Asked a man sitting in a chair over some rusty metals.

“We have a job for you. Of course, it won’t be for free.” Reeve said, snapping for Palmer.

“We are willing to pay you 10,000 Gil to help us dig at the Northern Crater.” Palmer said.

“20,000.” The man said.

“15,000.” Palmer said.

“19,000.”

“30,000.”

“Okay. What are we digging for?”

“Sephiroth.” Tsen said.

“No way. Not for 30,000.”

“50,000.” Palmer said.

Reeve lifted his hand to silence Palmer and the man. “50,000 will be a down payment. You will receive another 50 when the job is done.”

The man looked at Reeve, Palmer and Tsen and then smiled. “You guys got your’ selves a crew. Come on people look alive, we’s gots a job!”

The crew jumped forward and ran toward the helicopter.

Reeve and his group stayed behind for a minute. “ ‘We’s gots?’” Tsen asked.

“Not everybody is an educated man like you Tsen.” Reeve said walking to the copter.

“Hey, hey, hey. You can’t blame them, they’re rednecks. All they do is dig and eat.” Palmer said.

“No, all you do is eat, fat man.” Tsen said heading to the copter.

“Hey! I am not fat...but I sure am hungry!” Palmer said.

“Fatso! Get you’re lard ass over here!” A troop yelled.

Palmer came running and jumped onto the copter and threw the troop off as the copter was lifting off. The copter reached the Northern Crater and landed near the edge. It was completely filled in with dirt and such.

“Damn it.” Palmer said.

“Not exactly. This can be easily dug up; look it’s rather loose soil.” The lead excavator said.

“How long?” Reeve asked.

“I’d say about 3 days before we reach the hard stuff and about week before we get anywhere near the bottom. Granted we have no idea where Sephiroth is buried.”

“He’s somewhere down there.” Tsen answered.

“Somewhere could be anywhere.”

“Listen-”

“Tsen that enough.” Reeve said before Tsen could finish. “Do what you must. We must return to Wutai. I will leave a squad here incase anything happens. You are under Shin-Ra protection.”  Reeve turned to the squad leader. “Leave ten of your best men here, report if anything happens, and I mean anything.”

“Sir? Who do I appoint to lead them?”

“Nobody, because you are going to be leading them. I’m putting a lot of trust into you. Can you handle this?”

“Yes Sir!”

“Good. Palmer, Tsen. Let’s go.” The three boarded the copter and flew off.