Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Tifa ❯ Friendly Interactions ( Chapter 16 )

* Chapter 16! Ooooh! I'm so angry! Why? Well, I've been playing Final Fantasy 10 and without a memory card! I got to the part when I have to fight the choco monster eater and after I killed that, I battled in another. Well, I forgot to cure Auron and he died while the other two were petrified!!!! So yeah…game over! Now I have to do it all over again! Why didn't I buy a memory card? Well ask all the stores I've been to! They were out of stock! Anyways, enjoy the fic! ^-^ *

Chapter 16

Friendly Interactions

Sephiroth stood up, towering over his spiky blonde enemy. Or was he? He was prepared for the worst and stared back at Cloud who looked up at him. His azure eyes were cold as ice, until suddenly his blue eyes turned gentle. Cloud unstrapped his Ultima weapon and placed it at his feat.

"For now…" Cloud began to say, "I want to help Tifa. To fight you now would mean wasting precious minutes."

"Truce?" Sephiroth asked. Cloud's face became angry, but he nodded. He would do anything to save his friend…or ex-friend. After he had treated her he felt bad, but she shouldn't had to confront him about her. He then watched Sephiroth lay his Masamune down below his feet.

"Truce it is." Sephiroth answered and picked his blade up again. He walked back to the fire and sat down, tending to the supper.

Cid, Shera, and Arlene came and sat down by the fires to warm themselves. Arlene looked closely at Cloud and felt pity for him. She never knew that he would make truce with the most hated villain of the century. She smiled and wondered that maybe yet, somewhere deep inside that blue-eyed man there was forgiveness. After everyone had there supper, Vincent filled them in on what they had discovered.

"So where is this Oracle shit anyways?" Cid asked.

"Cid, you should watch your damn mouth." Shera reprimanded. Shera stopped and went over her words, while Cid grinned back at her.

"Your very contagious you know that, Cid?" Shera said quietly, then everyone laughed.

"Anyway, we have no idea where this oracle may be, but I think I do know one fiery fur ball that may have a clue." Vince answered.

"Then to Cosmo Canyon it is." Cloud announced.

* * *

The planet churned and grumbled, causing tremors and minor earthquakes to erupt on her surface. Though her inhabitants were not a bit worried, the spirits and the Cetra council were.

: We must seek this danger that threatens us!: Aerith cried out to her fellow spirits.

: How is that possible when the enemy is unknown? : Another asked.

Aerith sighed, : we are searching and trying to figure that out now. But! I do know this and that is that our future enemy will not come from the skies, but from within. :

: That is only a legend! The Seer has never come to the Promised Land since the Calamity wiped us out! :

: I understand your concern,: a silent spirit began, : but the girl is right. We should not give up on our hope. Whatever this vile enemy is, we will find it. : Others agreed and Aerith smiled, glad that she had achieved a step toward her goal. She vowed she would find out what this new calamity was, by the help of her friends that were still alive.

* * *

Nanaki sat in his grandfather's laboratory wondering about the planet. His grandfather had passed away several months back, and he had to admit it. Wallowing in his sorrow wasn't healthy for him. He had to do something and that was when his PHS rang. He quickly ran upstairs to his room and turned the cell on.

"Fur ball? Is that you?" Cid began.

"My name is Nanaki, you stick man! And by the way, hi and what's new?" the red lion chuckled and listened while Cid explained the situation.

"Poor Tifa…and did you say….Sephiroth??? He's there with you? But he's dead!" red shouted.

"Nope he's alive and had been living with Teef for the past few months or so." Cid answered, "Anyway, we just landed outside of Cosmo Canyon. We'll be up there shortly."

"I'll be there to greet you." Red answered. Red left his room and clumsily climbed the stairs down. When he dashed past a few people, the citizens were a bit surprised at Nanaki's changed mood.

When he arrived, his fellow friends were already there, climbing the stone steps.

"Welcome!" Red announced and he howled a cheery note. Cloud introduced Arlene and Red welcomed her happily and then he saw Sephiroth behind the group a bit worried. Red made his way and stared down at the man who was a few steps below him. Sephiroth looked worried and shifted his poise again.

"I understand if you and your town don't welcome me…"

"Who said I didn't welcome you? You are welcome to be here any time you wish. I understand what you went through at that lab and I do know it wasn't your fault." Red said. Sephiroth still didn't move, so Red jumped the steps and nudged Sephiroth's behind to move up.

"All right! All right!" Sephiroth exclaimed and blushed. When the gang entered the town, Vincent spoke up.

"Hey, Nanaki," Vince began with a proud smile, "Sephiroth is my son."

"You're kidding?" Red exclaimed a bit shocked, `Well I do see the resemblance there a bit." The rest of the group began to laugh and they all went up another chain of steps to Nanaki's dwelling.

* * *

"Do you know anything about any oracles?" Sephiroth asked, once they were seated comfortably.

"Hmmm…oracles? I remembered grandfather talking once about something like that but I didn't pay attention." The lion answered.

"Could he have it written down in one of his files or documents?" Cloud inquired.

"I don't know, but I do know he stored them in a closet upstairs. He's got a library there too." Red said and they climbed up, while Shera stayed behind and made some tea.

The gang stayed there for three days rummaging through old papers and going through ancient artifacts, until Arlene shouted that she might have found something.

"Hey everyone! I think I found something, but I can't figure out these scribbles and shapes." She protested as she squinted her eyes hoping to understand the dialect.

"That's Ancient's Text. The oldest known language ever founded." Red replied.

"Can you make it out?" Cloud asked as he unrolled the script and placed it underneath Red's nose.

"Let me see…" Nanaki began, deciphering the symbols easily: When Meteor falls…we just been through that. Um, well here's something interesting!" he exclaimed. The group gathered closer to the red lion awaiting the news.

"It says: From the early star, a woman shall walk, write a book and not speak. For to speak would guarantee death and no freedom to the Promised Land. Then they go on talking about some arch and that's about it."

"What about the arch?" Vincent and Cloud asked in Unison.

"Only that it is a sacred temple located in an island shrouded by dry mist. The mists dwell in the air and walk upon rocks."

"That must mean the place where the oracle is held!" Arlene exclaimed.

"That could be it." Sephiroth murmured, "Either way, we have no time to spare, so I say lets find this island and get that book." Several others nodded in agreement and they went back downstairs to sleep as much as possible.

* Yes I know! U readers were about to kill me, but hey! Who would finish the story, huh? You? But it wouldn't be any fun! R/R! *