Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy- Final Destination Part 1 ❯ Near Death ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

After Salira had left, Cloud senses darkness approaching. It can't be, he thought. Cloud got up, took his sword that was leaning against the wall, and left without Yuffie knowing. He followed Salira all the way to the church, to make sure she was safe, so quietly, Salira didn't notice. Cloud knew it wasn't just any darkness, it was Sephiroth!

Salira entered the church and Cloud hid among the shadows to watch her. Salira comes to the church every Sunday morning after the church sessions are over, to water and take care of the flowers sitting in a garden in the front center of the church. Standing next to the organ, the man Salira met before spoke, scaring Salira, "Hello once again." Salira turned around, recognizing the voice of the man. The man started to walk toward Salira with a long blade in his right hand. Salira started to step backwards toward a wall behind her. Cloud got ready to rush over there, his sword held tightly in his hands. Get away from her, Sephiroth! Salira bumped into the wall. She was trapped. "I will tell you again, my dear," said the man, "I want you to join SOLDIER! And you will join!" He stops about 3 ½ feet in front of her. The man places the side of his blade against Salira's right arm and cuts her. A jolt of pain ran through Salira's arm. She screamed in pain and fell on her knees, her other hand covering the wound. "Take my hand and spare your life. Refuse and you die!" The man held out his hand. Salira looked at his hand, breathing heavily, her hand covered in blood. She was about to take his hand, when her father dashed in the scene, standing between her and the encounter, gripping his sword tightly. "Leave her alone…Sephiroth!" "Nice to see you once more, Cloud," Sephiroth calmly said. Sephiroth…the top-ranked SOLDIER? How…I heard rumors saying that he was dead, thought Salira. She moaned in pain.

The door burst opened and a tall man came in. He had long black hair, wore black pants, a dark red shirt, and a maroon cape. The man held up a small gun and pulled the trigger, leaving a hole in the roof. "Vincent?!" called Cloud. All of them stared at the new comer. "Yup. Sephiroth, leave the girl out of this," Vincent said to Sephiroth. Sephiroth turned to Salira; "I'll have to deal with you later, my pretty. But first…" He walked over to Salira and placed his hand on her shoulder. A bluish light glowed around them. Salira started to feel lightheaded. What's happening to me, thought Salira. She looked at Sephiroth, face to face. "It's time to show the real you," said Sephiroth, but only Salira heard.

"What the hell is he doing to her?!" Vincent yelled at Cloud. It can't be happening, Cloud thought, not now! "Don't just stand there! Do something!" Vincent pointed his gun at the blue light and pulled the trigger. Once the bullet hit the light, it bounced back twice as fast and headed straight for Cloud. Cloud barely dodges the bullet. "Would you watch where you aiming?!" Cloud yelled at Vincent. He glanced at Sephiroth and Salira, and Vincent did the same. "I don't think we can do anything," Cloud sighed.

Sephiroth closed his eyes and mumbled something. Salira's wound stopped bleeding. A replica of Sephiroth's sword appeared in her right hand. She didn't know what to do, let alone Salira was getting dizzy. "Stand up, child," Sephiroth commanded softly. Salira did as she was told. She was too dizzy when she stood up and fell forward, but Sephiroth caught her and mumbled some more words she didn't even understand. Leaning against Sephiroth, Salira looked up at him. "What's going on?" she asked him. Sephiroth didn't answer. Instead, more words were mumbled. Before Salira knew it, a black wing appeared on her left side.

"Damn! She's one of those one-winged angels like you?" Vincent asked as he looked back at Cloud. Cloud sighed, "He'll stop at nothing to get her to join…" "To join what?" asked Vincent. "SOLDIER," replied Cloud. "This ain't good," remarked Vincent, "Is this some sort of revenge?" Cloud shrugged his shoulders. They both stood there, helplessly watching.

Sephiroth took his left hand and held Salira's head up, looking eye to eye. Salira looked into Sephiroth's emerald green eyes, weakly. She felt her body go numb, and found she couldn't move. Sephiroth bent his head down to meet Salira's. She could feel his breath against her face. "Now see who you really are," said Sephiroth, his lips brushing against her own. A small gasp escaped her throat as she felt his lips on her's.

Both Cloud and Vincent dropped their weapons, shocked. Cloud was furious. "Looks as though a love bug came," said Vincent, who was starting to laugh at Cloud, "Who would have thought it would have been your daughter though. I can tell this is revenge on you." "Don't push it!" hissed Cloud, picking his sword back up and gripping it tightly. Vincent immediately stopped laughing.

"Anáta súgu íshi désŭ watashí no monó, Salira," Sephiroth whispered to Salira. He kissed her once again and let her go. There was a deep sinister laugh, then Sephiroth and the light disappeared. Salira, however, was too weak and couldn't stand straight. She dropped the sword, then fainted. Cloud rushed over and caught Salira before she hit the ground. "She's unconscious," said Vincent as he ran over to Cloud and Salira, "but she's still alive." Cloud gently laid Salira on the ground. Salira's wing was spread on the ground; the sword laid ten feet away from them. Cloud bowed his head and mumbled, "Hané no ténshi déru anó katá no ima, no tamé ni anáta íshi náru uchí hané no karetá." The black wing on Salira's left disappeared. "As long as Aeris knows both spells, she can control her wing," Cloud finally said. "Two spells? For what?" wondered Vincent. "One to hide the wing and one to show," answered Cloud. Cloud placed his sword on his back and picked up Salira, holding her like a small child. Vincent picked up the sword Salira had dropped and took it with him as they all left.

- 1 -