Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hateful Transformation ❯ Chapter Eleven ( Chapter 11 )

Hateful Transformation

Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer: Cloud, Vincent, Tifa, and the others were created by Square Enix. (Formerly Squaresoft.)

As Vincent and Cloud walked out the mansion's doors, they were immediately greeted by Tifa, and young Cloud, both of whom stared blankly at Vincent.

Cloud saw Tifa lean over and whisper to his younger self, "Who's he?" Young Cloud, in reply, simply shrugged and continued to stare awkwardly at the pale man.

Cloud smiled a little, and explained to them who he was. "This is Vincent Valentine. He lives in the downstairs part of the mansion. He used to work for Shinra, but retired." Vincent nodded stiffly, confirming what Cloud was saying.

"Nice to meet you Mister Valentine!" Tifa said cheerfully with a grin. "I never knew someone still lived in the mansion………………………̷ 0;I always thought it had been deserted since the Shinra scientists left."

Vincent lowered his head, and said nothing in reply. His crimson eyes burned with sorrow, upon hearing the word `scientist', the word obviously reminding him of his lost love Lucrecia.

Young Cloud quickly realized that something about this conversation greatly disturbed Vincent, and so, tried to lean toward a different subject. "So, are you going to come with us up to the Nibelheim reactor?" He asked, leaning against the fence surrounding the mansion, his arms casually crossed.

Vincent looked up slowly, and said quietly, "Yes." He then went back to gazing at the floor, as he had been doing the second before.

"So……………………." Tifa mumbled hesitantly to Cloud. "Should we go ahead and leave town? It's almost noon already…………………."

Cloud nodded, and then said, "Yeah, we should go ahead and leave. Just in case something happens…………………" He stopped for a moment, then added, "And delays us." He began to walk out the gate, followed by the others.

He turned left to leave the town, but before he was able to leave the small town, he heard loud footsteps come running after him. "Wait please, sir!" The man called, his breathing labored. "Please!" He pleaded once more.

Cloud turned around, and recognized the person instantly. It was the man whom had taken the infamous (To Cloud and to the rest of AVALANCHE, anyway.) picture as a souvenir of the great General's small venture to the tiny town.

"Ummmm………………. Sir, would you mind if I take a picture? Please?" The man mumbled weakly, holding up his giant camera. He then glanced over at Tifa, and gestured for her to help him. She solemnly agreed, then grabbed young Cloud by the arm and pulled him with her. She stood in front of the man, and turned to look at Cloud with a small smile on her face. Cloud sighed heavily, rolled his eyes, but walked over to the two teenagers, and stood patiently for the cameraman to shoot his picture.

The cameraman hurriedly did so, and unlike the usual that he did when he photographed people, he didn't even critique their position. He stood without moving, his whole body bent over the camera. "Say cheese!" He said nervously, and then snapped their picture.

After the obnoxious `snap', which had been followed by a blinding flash, the three got out of their positions. The man then stood up straight, and picked his camera up with one hand. "I'll give you each a copy once I get it developed!" He announced, and then ran off to his house.

Cloud watched his leave, then turned back to his companions. "Let's go," He ordered coolly, and then began to walk off towards the mountains that loomed ominously over the town.

Tifa blinked at the general, surprised that he wasn't letting her lead, as was the routine with the visitors of the town. She turned toward young Cloud; only to realize that he had began to follow him, as well as Vincent. She groaned loudly, and then ran to catch up with them.

"General!" She yelled, struggling to keep up with Cloud's long strides. "How do you know the way………………………?" She asked curiously, wondering if he had a map. She was interested if they did have one, since she had never thoroughly explored the mountains.

In reply to her question, Cloud automatically stopped in his steps, and gazed awkwardly at the ground. "I………………… Don't………………….." He said, and shook his head at himself. However, he closed his eyes for a moment, and thought of an excuse. "I'm……………….. Used to leading people, into battles, and so on," He explained thoughtfully. It was a lie, but it contained a grain of truth. He -was- used to leading people, though not as an actual military leader.

"Oh," Tifa said, and smiled. "I see. Well, I guess I'll show you all the way then!" She yelled cheerfully, and walked past Cloud. "The path's pretty straightforward. It should take us only a few minutes to get there." She started to walk on the bridge, then turned around and waited for Aurel and Kuno to catch up with them. "Come on," She said calmly as they walked up, then she went up to the middle of the bridge. Young Cloud looked at his commanding officer, then shrugged and followed her. Cloud soon followed, as well as the two guards.

As the group all came up to the middle, the bridge began to shake violently. "Oh no," Tifa cried faintly, as she glanced at the rope that was beginning to unravel. "Run!" She cried, and then attempted to run up the rest of the bridge, followed by Aurel. Unfortunately, they didn't make it in time. The rope completely tore, causing them all to plunge into a rocky abyss. All fell unconscious as soon as they hit a certain boulder, or simply hit the hard ground……………………

~~

"You're so close to me now………………………." The cold female voice said once more, in the blackness of Cloud's mind. "I can hardly wait………………….." It said emotionlessly, though Cloud detected a small hint of pleasure.

"Leave me alone……………………" Cloud told it feebly, as he began to regain consciousness.

"Just leave me alone……………………….."