Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Tifa ❯ CLOUD... ( Chapter 12 )

* Hmm…. The Ancient's Prophecies??? Wonder what that could be… Anyway, I've been neglecting this! FF7 belongs to Squaresoft, but the story is mine…all mine!!!!!!! Mwahahahahhahahahahahaha!!!*

Chapter 12

Cloud…

A young man sat staring at a clear aqua pool. His eyes were dilated and unfocused, probably lost in his own world. A world where he and his beloved lived happily ever after, and yet he knew that his true body was wasting the ugly minutes of despair that passed by unnoticed. He felt that he couldn't think straight, eat straight, or probably do anything right. He didn't care; he didn't care if his hair contained no gel, didn't care if he smelled, and didn't even care if the world was destroyed. He would be better off dead and with Aerith then living a life alone. Cloud Strife, the famous leader of AVALANCHE, whom had destroyed Jenova and Sephiroth in order to save the planet, was no closer to recovery then suicide. What else was left for him in this bleak and dreary world. With Aerith gone, there was no more sweetness in the air, no more of her angelic voice…

: You fool… :

Cloud didn't even flinch at the chide, he thought he was dreaming though when he realized the sweet voice…

"Aerith?" he whispered barely audible.

: You disappoint me, Cloud. :

"How have I done that?" he asked quietly.

: You just refused the only woman who had or could have loved you. :

"You're the only one for me…" he answered.

: And I am DEAD! I cannot love a human being who is alive and wallows in his sorrow. :

"Then I'll kill myself…" he started calmly.

: Never. Even if you try, my power won't let you and if that fails then you will gain no access to the Promised Land or me. You will grow old happy together with one you love, whoever that is now…though I have recently found out that you will never have Tifa. :

"What do you mean? She'll come back sooner or later, you'll see." He said with confidence.

: Maybe she will come back or you will come to her, yet for you two to be together, that is not possible. :

"Why not?" Cloud said, " If I stay with her live out my life then I'll see you after this body fails, that is all I need." He heard her sigh in pity.

"Cloud, you are a true blonde indeed, she's been taken by a kinder soul and she loves him.:

"By who?" he asked a bit surprised, "How?"

: She has fallen in love and she has already forgotten about you, yet she will forever remember the pain you brought her. :

"WHO?" he asked impatiently.

: By an angel who else… :

Cloud pondered for mere seconds and his widened in shock. He shook his head several times and finally stood up for the first time since several days.

"Aerith! There is no angel but you. The only other angel is…Sephiroth! But he's dead! I killed him with my own sword!" he shouted across the still surface of the pool. Aerith didn't answer and his anger grew, his foe was alive…

Aerith's spirit watched her love leave in fury. It was the only way to get him out into the world again. Maybe if he searched for Tifa, he might find another companion to love him and comfort him when he felt hopeless. Tough she wondered if it was wise to tell him about the pairing of Sephiroth and Tifa. All would turn out soon enough, but till then she would have to wait. Her spirit submerged beneath the surface without causing a single ripple. She would finally be able to sleep in peace, for now.

Cloud ran up the clear steps and into a room that resembled a shell. It took him several minutes to get out of that haven. When he managed to get past Bone Village he set out for Rocket Town. He needed Cid's Highwind to reach Tifa in time. That monster must have lured his friend and promised her false riches. Bastard.He grabbed his chocobo's reins and swung onto his back. It was a perfect gold Chocobo, "S" Class, and Cloud named him Hearthstone. They flew over several landmasses before he finally reached Rocket Town. He tied Hearthstone to a post and knocked on a brown wooden door waiting for Cid or either Shera to open it.

It was several minutes later when Shera opened the door. She looked way different and she looked FAT!

"Shera? Is Cid home?" Cloud asked.

"Cloud! What no Hi? Yeah he's home, come on in, I'll make you some tea." Shera said with a smile. Cloud rushed in past Shera and found Cid smoking a cigarette and watching T.V. When he looked up to see Cloud come in he almost burned himself.

"What the %#$@ ya trying to pull!?" he shouted. Cloud ignored him and sat down, "Listen I need you and Highwind. I need to find Tifa, do you know where she lives or where she might be?"

"S@$% Boy! You walk right out of her life and ya think you can waltz right back in?!" Cid asked eyeing the spiky haired kid.

"I need to speak with her." Said Cloud. Cid thought over it a bit and sighed.

"Very well Spiky, I'll get you anywhere ya wanna go. Oh by the way she lives in Costa del Sol."

* * *

Cid landed Highwind near the resort town and got off with Cloud leaving Shera at the aircraft with instructions.

"If ya start hurting, ya know what to do, O.K.?" Cid said a bit worried.

"Cid, I won't be delivering for about another two months, stop your worrying." Shera complained. Cid shook his head and left with Spikes who was already walking fast ahead of him.

Cloud entered the town and went straight to the information center. A dark skinned girl, probably in her late teens stood waiting there smiling.

"May I help you tall, light, and handsome?" she asked.

"Yes, where may I find Ms. Tifa Lockheart?"

"Oh, Ms. Lockheart owns a bar and Inn down the street there. It's called Seventh Heaven."

Cloud nodded and without waiting for Cid to catch up, he ran off toward Tifa's inn. He ran right in and looked around. A woman with long wavy fiery red hair sat behind the desk. Her sparkling green eyes caught his breath for some reason. As she looked up at the dumb struck blonde she smiled.

"May I help you, sir?" she asked.

"Um, yeah. I'm looking for Tifa. Is she around?"

"No, she went on a vacation about three days ago."

"Well, Miss… What is your name?" he asked suddenly.

"Oh, where are my manners, I'm Arlene. And who might you be?" Arlene asked in a teasing tone.

"I'm Cloud Strife, a friend of Teef's. Do you know where she might have gone and with whom?" Cloud inquired.

"Yes, she left with a very handsome man, by the name of Seth. I think Seth Valentine is his name." Arlene answered.

"Shit!" Cloud swore.

"Cloud, is she in danger?"

"Yeah! She's with a killer!"

"Seth? He wouldn't hurt a fly!" Arlene defended.

"Is that what he calls himself now? His name is SEPHIROTH!" Cloud saw Arlene's face pale at the name, "Yes the one and only. I have to find her now, do you know where she was heading?"

"Somewhere south, but if you are going to go, then I'm going with you." She decided, "I don't want my friend getting hurt. Besides she might need me." She said firmly.

"Hey, when did you get an invitation?" Cloud asked.

"Who said I needed one? Let's go." Arlene said. She waited for the man to walk outside and she closed the inn behind her. Cid had just arrived after running around looking for him. He took one look at Arlene and then one at Cloud, who happened to be staring at the young woman with curiosity.

"Does this mean that we have a newcomer?" Cid asked.

"I dunno. It's not like I want to endanger her, there will be monsters in our path." Cloud said.

"I can take care of myself, so you don't have to worry." Arlene defended.

"And what will you fight with when we encounter a monster?" Cloud inquired.

"Have you ever heard of a Dagger Archer?" Arlene demanded, she rolled back her sleeves to show them leather bound contraption with several small shiny pointed daggers.

"So you say that this tiny piece of s%$# throws your daggers like an arrow?" Cid asked. His eyebrow arched in question and confusion.

"Yup, made them myself and they can take about eight hundred out of an enemy. Even now I'm trying to upgrade it myself." Arlene concluded with pride.

"All right let's get out of here and find Tifa before that demon hurts her." Cloud said.

* * *

* So…how is it so far? I think I'll make Cloud a bit more insane and evil, huh? Maybe…who knows! *