Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hateful Transformation ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

Hateful Transformation

Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: If I owned FFVII, I wouldn't be writing this. So, would you still want me to own it? ^_^

Outside, the rain was coming down hard, with thunder, lightning, and hail. Fortunately, the cargo train offered enough protection to keep the small group completely safe, and dry, though it was quite noisy with the constant beating of the water pouring on the transportation vehicle.

"So we'll go to Nibelheim as soon as it starts raining, right?" Young Cloud asked, lying across three crates, obviously relaxed.

"Yes," Cloud answered, examining the damage the dragon had done to the front of the train, from behind the unaffected windshield.

"What's the town like anyway Cloud?" The crimson-eyed Guard inquired, sparring with his friend, both equipped only with their short swords.

"What's it like………………….? Well……………….. It's small. It'll take you about ten minutes, max, to get from one end to the next. Everyone knows each other………………….. Which can be good, or bad. Surrounding the town, are these gigantic mountains-if you look outside, you might be able to their jagged outlines." Young Cloud told them, slowly beginning to sit up, while scratching his neck, pondering what else he might be able to say. When he couldn't think of anything, he laid back down.

"So," The Guard continued, while slashing at his friend wildly, and barely dodging the other's attacks. "You got anyone you like there?"

"Anyone………………… I like? Sorta……………….. Yeah." Young Cloud muttered, blushing a little. "She's fifteen……………….."

Cloud turned away from the windshield, and watched his younger self intently, smiling sadly, from the memory of the dream he had had just a few hours ago, knowing the person young Cloud was going to mention was the same person whom had been the most heartbroken over his `death' of sorts.

"……………………..Her name's Tifa." The teenager continued, then looked at the floor. "I haven't seen her in two years………………….." He stopped speaking for a moment, and a tiny grin appeared on his face, a grin of triumph and pride. "I told her I'd see her again when I was in SOLDIER……………………" This time, he stopped, and didn't continue.

"That's all you're gonna tell us?! Come on! Tell us more!" Both Guards shouted in unison, looking at the small SOLDIER, their swords by their sides.

"Why do you want to know………………………… Aurel…………………." Young Cloud chuckled, smiling at the crimson-eyed Guard. His eyes then flew over to the other Guard. "And you……………….. Kuno,"

Aurel and Kuno turned to each other for an answer, but neither of them had any sort of answer. So, in reply, they both shrugged, embarrassed shine in their eyes.

"……………………… ;…..You'll probably see her soon anyway………………………… ;….." Cloud said, interrupting the conversation. "I'm sure she'll like…………………………. To see him. Perhaps he'll introduce you two to her, eh Cloud?"

Young Cloud nodded, and then mouthed, "Thanks again." It was quite evident that he didn't like to speak of his crush at home……………………….. He liked to keep those sorts of opinions to himself…………………….. It was quite evident he liked her, so why did they need to press on further?

"How about we get some sleep? This rain shows no sign of stopping……………………" Cloud said firmly, twisting his body around to look back out the windshield. "For all we know, we may need it for the journey up Nibel Mountains……………………… 230;…." Cloud stopped, and waited for a reaction from the Guards.

"Yeah! I'm kinda sleepy………………………… ;." Aurel answered, and then yawned and fell on a few crates, immediately closing his eyes tightly. Kuno watched his friend quizzically for a moment, and then did the same thing. Young Cloud bit down on his lip to keep from laughing, and then closed his eyes too.

Cloud shook his head and smiled, then walked over to a pile of crates and sat down. He stared out of the windshield one last time, then laid down and went to sleep himself.

~~

"You're getting closer, my darling son………………………." It was the same cold, feminine voice as before.

"Who the hell are you?!" Cloud cried in his mind. He knew, this time, that it wasn't from the outside world……………………… It was just him.

"You'll meet me soon…………………………& #8230;.. I promise. And, unlike the members of the race that own this planet now, I always keep my promises."

"But -who- are you?!" Cloud screeched, wanting dearly to lash out and strike whomever it was………………….. But, of course, he wasn't able to.

There was no reply, and the rest of the night passed by uneventfully.

~~

Cloud was the first to wake up. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and yawned once. He glanced out of the windshield, and observed that it had stopped raining, and was now a pleasant sunny day.

First, he aroused the others, all of who wanted to sleep for at least five minutes more. However, he managed to get them all ready pretty quickly-by telling them if they didn't hurry, he would pull rank. And the two Guards, barely up to their second level, couldn't risk losing a single gil out of their meager monthly paychecks.

"Are you all ready?" Cloud asked his small group, all assembled neatly in front of him,

In reply, they all nodded, and shouted weakly, "Yes sir, we are."

"Good. Let's go then, shall we?" Cloud answered, small half smile on his face. He turned around, and shoved the train door open. Young Cloud, Aurel, and Kuno reluctantly followed him outside.

"Nice day…………………." Aurel mumbled lamely, right arm shielding his eyes from the blinding light.

"Yeah……………………." Kuno continued, eyes partially closed from drowsiness. "Really………………." He slowed, and then yawned. "Nice day." He started again, and then smirked at Aurel.

Cloud threw a look of disbelief to young Cloud, whom shrugged, maniacal grin on his face from his two friend's attitudes.

"Cloud, why don't you lead? I'd think you would know this place best……………………" Cloud asked his younger self, who nodded rapidly in reply.

"Yeah, sure. I know this area pretty well…………………… It's only a few miles from Nibelheim. It shouldn't take us more than an hour to get there." Young Cloud explained, and then ran in front of his superior. "Follow me!" He ordered his two subordinates, whom willingly followed him. Cloud fell to the back, to make sure nothing attacked them from behind.

~~

"There it is!" Young Cloud shouted triumphantly forty-five minutes later. They all could see the upcoming main gate of Nibelheim, but only Cloud could see a teenage girl, no older than fifteen, waiting for them to arrive.

However, young Cloud was able to make out her shape a few seconds later. He immediately began to slow down, and he looked down at himself to make sure he looked all right. When he passed his own inspection, he took great leaps up to her, leaving Cloud and the two Guards behind without a thought.

Whenever Tifa saw her slightly older `friend', come up to her, she jumped up and ran to greet him. She had a humongous smile on her face as she stared at young Cloud, whom was trying to restrain himself from smiling so he would appear like the SOLDIER he was.

"So, how's it been Teef?" Young Cloud asked her teasingly, using her well-known nickname.

"It's been okay………………….. Papa and I have been doing decent. It's been pretty boring………………." She stopped, and then crossed her arms. "I looked through the papers everyday to see if I could find any news about you Cloud! I wasn't able to find anything though……………………. All I could find were things about Lord Sephiroth……………………..I'm so glad you're here Cloud!" She replied, staring at him thoughtfully.

"Speaking of Sephiroth, did you realize who's with me? He was the one to promote me to SOLDIER." Cloud whispered into her ear.

Tifa turned to look at his companions, and her mouth fell open. "General Sephiroth?! Here…………………?" She mumbled, and then turned, where she began to stare blankly at a figure that was a lot taller than herself.

Cloud couldn't help but blush a little, and he gazed at the ground. Seeing her made it become an extreme reality of who he was now. And would be forever……………………..