Battles of the Cetra’s Heart By Fudgie Angel

Chapter 1: The last Cetra
 

Cloud stood there, facing off the enemy that stood before him. He swung, but she nimbly evaded the swing while counter blowing him with her own attack. The blow sent him crashing to the ground.
 “ You okay?” Tifa asked with concern while kneeling before him. “I didn’t hit you too hard, did I?”
 “ Nah, I’m fine,” Cloud said while brushing the dirt of his pants. “ Didn’t know you could hit that hard Teef, you’re a natural.”
 Tifa giggled, and stood.
 “ Almost time for lunch,” she said with forced cheer. Cloud was worried. Ever since Sephiroth had been defeated, she had seemed a little sad. Without a word, Tifa stood and made her way back to the new bar, Hero’s Heaven. Cloud trailed behind her, lost in his thoughts. Aeris… he thought. A sad look crossed his face. If only she was here, everything would be all right.
  “Hi!” came the cheerful voice of Marlene as they entered the bar.
 “ Hey! Where’s Barret and Reno? They didn’t leave you here alone did they?” Tifa asked, looking like she had a lecture up her sleeve for the two men.
 “ Nope! They said they’d be right back!” a 7-year-old Marlene said, cleaning out some glasses. Cloud sighed and shook his head. Ever since the group had broken up 2 years ago and went their separate ways, Barret and Reno decided to stay with Cloud and Tifa. Nanaki, had of course, gone to the Cosmo Canyon to protect his home.  Cid had finally asked Shera to marry him. He smiled when he remembered the day…

 Cid was smoking his 300th cigarette, while pacing back and forth like a caged lion.
 “ Cid! Stop pacing around! You’re making me nervous!” Barret had hollered at the fidgeting pilot.
 “ You think that she’ll say yes?” Cid asked nervously, popping out the case that held his precious ring. He opened it to inspect it for the thousandth time, checking to see if there was any flaw in the surface that had formed in 5 seconds. Cloud sighed and rolled his eyes. This had been funny for the last 2 hours, but this act was getting old. Just then, Cloud heard the door open and close. Cid froze, Barret straightened up, and Cloud rolled his eyes again and thought, “What took them so long?” They soon heard Tifa, Yuffie, and Shera’s voices laughing and giggling. Then Shera burst through the door.
 “ Hey guys!” sensing the tension in the air she asked, “ Hey, what’s wrong?”
  Cid cleared his throat.
 “ Um, Shera,” he said, looking straight at her.
 “ Yes Captain?” she asked looking a bit confused by the way he was looking at her. Cid walked up to Shera and bent down on one knee.
 “ Will you marry me?” he asked, looking straight into her eyes.
 “Yes!” Shera exclaimed while throwing her arms around him.

 Cloud grinned at the memory. He then felt Marlene’s impatient tugs on his pant leg.
 “ Cloud! Hurry up! Dad ‘n Reno’s home!” Marlene exclaimed as she noticed Cloud was watching her. Cloud followed Marlene into the living room where Barret and Reno were sitting. Marlene jumped on top of Barret’s shoulders and they began laughing together. Reno was telling a story that seemed to be very funny to Tifa. She was laughing so much that she was crying. Cloud felt a pang of jealously and rage well up in him, but he suppressed it. Instead, he wished he could make Tifa laugh so much, she only laughed for Reno, never ever him.
 “ Hey Spike! How’s it been?” Reno said, just now noticing Cloud stood in the doorway.
 “Don’t call me Spike!” Cloud snapped. Reno whistled.
 “Seems to me someone’s a little cranky. What’s wrong Spike? Didn’t take your nap today? Or is your diaper on too tight?” Reno said, cracking up. Tifa and Cloud rolled their eyes. Marlene giggled. Ignoring the comment, Cloud asked, “Where’d you go Barret?”
 “Nowhere! You don’ hav’ ta worry yer spiky arse over us!” Barret said while walking off into the kitchen. A cry alerted them to a very pale Tifa who was clutching her head in pain. Reno gently slung his arm around her and asked her something that made her shake her head slowly.
 “I need some air,” she said, slowly getting up and forcing a smile at everyone. “I’m fine, really, just a little head ache.” She said while walking out the door. Marlene turned to Cloud and asked “ Is auntie Tifa gonna be okay?” Cloud shrugged and went to go follow her, but some one stopped him. He looked up to see Barret. His look clearly saying “no”. He sighed and followed Reno into the kitchen.

 Tifa breathed in the air. It was on of those days she decided she liked staying in the new and improved Midgar. Reeve still had a long way to go until it was a respectable town, but he was doing a job anyone could be proud of. She shook her head and headed toward Aeris’s church. Her bar had been moved to the Sector 5 slums so she could visit Aeris’s place whenever she needed to. Now was one of those days she needed to speak with the fallen Cetra. Thinking of her led her to think of the others.
Vincent had settled at the old Shinra mansion, after some rebuilding, the mansion looked beautiful.
Yuffie had settled in Wutai and had taken up her studies again. She had certainly matured when she last talked to the young ninja. Caith Sith/Reeve had stayed in Midgar to rebuild the homes that so many people lost because of Meteor. Elmyra had decided to stay in Midgar also, and she visited Marlene quite often. Marlene seemed to soothe the hurt of loosing Aeris.
When she reached her destination, she automatically pushed open the doors to the church. She glanced around the church, which was still a big mess, but it was peaceful and serene. She knew why Aeris loved it so much here. Silently making her way to the flower patch, she kneeled, fingering the necklace that hung form her neck, the orb in the necklace glowing silver and surrounding her, as she began to try and contact Aeris. Aeris… she called, trying to reach her friend. Everyone thought that they had been enemies. Sure, they had both tried to win Cloud’s affection, but they had become best friends in the blink of an eye. Tifa had gotten over him, hopefully, and Aeris had said she had fallen in love with Zack, her first boyfriend. Besides, they had both shared an unbreakable bond other than friendship. They were both Cetra.

 Reno sat silently worried about Tifa. Where could she be? He thought. Lunch just wasn’t lunch when there was no Tifa to joke around with.
 “ Yo! You okay foo’?” Barret’s voice came into his thoughts, startling him.
 “ Yeah, I’m fine, just worried. Where do you think she is? And what is it with that weird headache she had?” Reno wondered out loud.
 “ She’ll be fine, stop worrying, she’s a big girl. She can defend herself. She’s been taking lessons with swordplay from spiky arse over there. I think she’s even better than him!” Barret said waving an arm around. Cloud scowled about his nickname and the thought of Tifa being better at swords than him. Reno just shrugged. He knew that already, but he still couldn’t help worrying. When Rude and Elena went of and got married, Tifa was the one who gave him a place to stay, much to his surprise. She also was a good friend. She was even pretty too. Reno grinned. Yeah, she was pretty.
 “ Mr. Reno?” Reno jumped at being addressed as “Mr. Reno”.
 “Yeah? What is it kid?” Reno said affectionately, while ruffling Marlene’s hair. She reminded Reno of Elena’s cute little sister, Maggie.
 “Wanna play go fish?” Marlene said, looking at him hopefully.
 “ Sure kid.”  With that said, Marlene led Reno to an already set up game of go fish.
 “ Alright let’s play!” Marlene squealed, delighted at the thought of playing her favorite game.

 Tifa stood up and brushed off the blue jeans that she wore. Even though everyone else still dressed like they were still in Avalanche, she didn’t. She had replaced the tang top and skirt with a black T-shirt and blue jeans. She was delighted with the news that Aeris had just told her! She couldn’t wait to tell the others, especially Cloud! She raced out of the church, her waist length hair that was tied into a braid, flapping behind her as she ran.

 Cloud watched some T.V for a while, since there was nothing better to do, save for watching Marlene kick Reno’s butt at go fish. It was funny for the first 50 rounds, but that gets old. Then he heard the phone ring.
 “ Hello?” he heard Barret’s voice answer the phone.
 “$^(&)(*%$@#^*&(*)*^$#^$$#(*&*!” Came a load of profanities from the kitchen. Cloud raised an eyebrow. Who could it be? When Barret came out of the kitchen Marlene began her usual lecture of how he shouldn’t cuss.
 “ I’m sorry Marlene.” Barret said hastily, while turning to Cloud. “Spike! We have a problem!”
  “What is it Barret-“ Cloud was cut off when Tifa came rushing past.
 “Guys!” she wheezed, leaning against a wall. “I have good news!” This got a couple of lifted eyebrows. “ Where have you been Tifa?” Reno asked, Tifa tried to answer, but instead started trying to gain her breath.
 “ What is it Teef?” Cloud asked looking at a weary Tifa.
 “It’s just (wheeze) I found (wheeze) a way to (wheeze) revive (wheeze) Aeris!” Tifa exclaimed while plopping herself down on the couch.
 “What!” exclaimed everyone in the room save for Tifa, and Marlene who squealed in joy.
 “The Flower Lady’s coming back!” she sang while dancing around the room. Everyone cracked a smile at Marlene.
 “ $#%$^(*^&*! Well! How do ya’ do it?” Barret asked while looking at Tifa. She grinned.
 “You really want to know?” Everyone nodded.
 “Okay, I’ll tell you.” Just as she was about to go on, the sound of a door breaking was heard. Then, 50 burly looking men entered the room bellowing, “Where’s the Ancient!” Everyone but Tifa looked around, searching for the Ancient. Tifa sat there pulling on her fighting gloves and putting the sword on her back. Then she hastily stood up.
 “So, you finally found me. Took you long enough. So I guess this means Rufus is still alive…” Tifa said looking at the men coldly. Everyone stood there with their mouths gaping open. Tifa a Cetra! Rufus was alive!
   The man, obviously the leader, sneered.
 “This will be no problem, get the girl and let’s get out of here. Move out!” he shouted and pointed to Tifa. The soldiers let out battle cries and hurtled towards Tifa. Also with a battle cry, Avalanche charged. Reno smirked. These guys are pushovers! He thought. He pulled out his nightstick and shoved it into a guy, hearing the satisfying “zap” and the smell of burnt flesh, then pivoting; he socked a guy in the jaw, sending him into a wall with a sickening thud. Cloud was also feeling the heat, he sliced and diced, artfully disposing of the bodies that were before him and fell dead behind him, blood pooling beneath their corpses. Barret had managed to yell for Marlene to run to Elmyras’, which she gladly did. Only then did Barret open fire. He unloaded bullets into the bodies of the men still standing; watching with grim eyes as the men jerked about then fell dead to the floor where blood was quickly pooling.
 “Get off of me you @$##&^^(**^%#&*()&^&$#**!” Tifa shrieked as they all turned around to notice a guy holding a very pissed off Tifa in his arms. Everyone’s eyes widened. How could they have let our guard down! They all thought angrily.
 “Well, it seems you defeated my men with no trouble at all, but then again, you are the famed Avalanche.” The man said with a gleam in his eye. Barret lifted up his gun arm with the intent of killing him, but the man used Tifa like a human shield. Then Barret reconsidered, making the man smirk again. How Reno wished he could wipe that smirk up his face for good! He gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself.
“Lemme go!” Tifa cried out again. The man looked up at her with annoyance.
 “You should be honored that President Shinra even needs you! I will not stand your behavior! Now calm yourself!” The man snapped at her, then turning to Avalanche, or more precisely, Reno. He said, “You know, you could become a Turk again if you wanted to Reno. I see your skills have improved. You could join the winning team again Reno, all you have to do is ask.”
 “Yeah right! Like I’d join scum like Shinra again! I’ve had enough of this bull$*^&!” Reno snarled. The man shrugged.
 “Your loss, let’s go now, huh, my sweet?” he asked a struggling Tifa, holding her with inhuman strength. The man suddenly disappeared before anyone could react.
 “That man, he looked just like Vincent, except no claw and that he had brown eyes. They were mako eyes too…” Cloud said, anger swirling in his eyes. Barret let out a string of curses that would have put any sailor to shame. Reno had his eyes closed, and his head bent down, suppressing his anger.
 “I’ll get him,” he swore, looking at Cloud and Barret, “but, we’re gonna need help.” They all silently agreed.

 “Let me go!” Tifa screeched again, struggling against his iron like grip. The Shinra building gave her the creeps. She didn’t like it when they had ended up here of all places, but what could you expect?
 “Shut up! I said be quiet! Don’t force me to kill you.” He said in a dangerous tone. Tifa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like you ever would kill me. I’m too valuable for your precious company!” she snapped.
 “ Just because I can’t kill you, doesn’t mean I can’t hurt you.” He said smugly. Tifa sighed. He had her there. Suddenly, curiosity filled her.
 “What’s your name?” she asked looking down at him with curious, wine-colored eyes. He sighed, what harm could it do if she knew his name? He sighed again.
 “You better not make fun of my name or I’ll seriously have to hurt you!” he snarled.
 “Come on! Tell me! Don’t be such a baby about it! Your name can’t be that bad!” Tifa encouraged.
  “(Sigh) Barry.” He waited for her to burst out laughing, but she didn’t.
 “ You see, that wasn’t so hard. Barry is an okay name.” Tifa said in the most serious voice she could muster. Inside she was laughing wildly. Barry! A tough looking guy like him named Barry! Named after a fruit! But then Cloud had a funny name too… Cloud! She felt like pounding her fists on his shoulders with uncontrollable laughter.
 “Why so quiet all of a sudden? Thinkin’ about naming your kid Barry or something?” Barry asked, looking up at her. She looked at him crossly.
 “And what is that supposed to mean, Barry?” She asked, emphasizing the last word. He winced, but then said, “I saw the way that Strife and Reno were looking at you, admit it.”
 “ Admit what! There’s nothing to admit!” Tifa shrieked. He grinned.
 “Right, and my name’s Susie.” He said sarcastically while carrying her down to the dungeon cells of the Shinra prison. Tifa made a face at him and gave a “humph”. Nearing a cell, Barry opened the door with a key card that only top executives had. Then he tossed her into the cell.
  “Ow! You could be more gentle you know!” Tifa complained while rubbing her bottom. Barry shrugged.
 “Toughen up! Don’t act like such a baby!” he mimicked. She stuck her tongue out at him and turned to observe her cell. She distantly heard Barry saying something about the president visiting or something. After a couple of hours she drifted off into a fitful sleep.
 

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