Sephiroth's sister

by Angelfire

Chapter 6 - Meteor

Sephiroth looked round realising that he had been accepted by the group, even the recent revelation that Cloud was his half brother did not change their attitudes towards him. Angel walked over to him. "What are you thinking of Seph?" she asked using the shortened form of his name.

"I am just thinking about all I did to these people." He answered. "And why they have forgiven me."

"Stop thinking about the past." She said exasperated. "Why don’t we ask Cloud to join us in a sparring match sometime?" she continued changing the subject.

"What was that?" Cloud asked turning round.

"Nothing." Angel said wandering towards the inn. "I am tired, see you in the morning."

"What were you talking about?" Cloud asked Sephiroth, when everyone had gone to settle down for the night and they were the only ones outside.

"Angel wants to ask you to join us when we spar." Sephiroth replied

"Spar with you two! What are the rules?" Cloud inquired.

"Swords and magic, no limit breaks, first one to hit the floor loses." Sephiroth replied calmly. "I think that we can train you up to our level."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cloud asked in annoyance. "I beat you twice remember?"

"Yes, I know. If I was sane though, do you think you could have stopped me?" Sephiroth asked.

Cloud looked down. "Probably not." he conceded.

Sephiroth smiled. "You know something? I think that our sister thinks that we will be fighting for the next couple of weeks."

"Insulting each other, trying to get into fights." Cloud continued. "I think that we should surprise her by our restraint."

Both men burst into laughter as they walked towards the inn.

*******************

The next morning Reno, Rude and Elena left Cosmo Canyon to retrieve the documents Reeve had paid them to get. Cid had also risen early to tune up the Highwind in preparation for the coming battle.

"%$£^%£ ^%$^% $^%$ Damn!!!" he cursed discovering that some parts needed to be replaced. Most of the repairs were needed in none critical areas, but there were a few in more sensitive parts. Past experience had taught him caution so he started to fix the damaged areas.

"What is up with the Highwind?" Vincent asked, approaching Cid from behind.

"£^%, Vincent, don’t sneak up on me again." he replied. "Some parts of the Highwind need replacing."

Cloud walked up to them with Sephiroth by his side. "God damn it Cloud, do you two have to go everywhere together?" Cid said, looking at both men.

"How long will it be before the Highwind is ready to fly?" Cloud asked, unconcerned.

"About a day, I don‚t want to take chances." Cid replied.

Sephiroth looked confused. "Chances? I thought that your airship was in top condition?" he stated.

"Yeah, it is but my time on the rocket, when we were trying to stop you, taught me to be cautious. Anything could go wrong if it is not in top condition." Cid explained.

" Why are you @£$#£ standin’ around." Barret called to them. "Let’s get goin’"

"We can’t Barret. The girls are not ready." Red came up to them.

Cloud, Sephiroth and Cid exchanged looks. "Vanity." Cid said as Cloud’s PHS rang.

"Huh, Who is it?" Cloud inquired.

"Cloud, you have got to get to Corel. A creature has taken Marlene." Elmyra said crying down the line.

Cloud turned to Barret and Cid. "Let’s get this airship off the ground, we have to get to Corel. Marlene has been kidnapped."

"^%$^$(^%)*_)^$^. MARLENE!!!!!!!" Barret yelled.

"I’ll get the girls." Red said, running towards Cosmo Canyon. Reeve dodged to get out of his way. "What’s the emergency all of a sudden?" he asked.

*******************

"Angel, there is no more materia for you to learn. You have learnt all 22 magic materia, 16 Summons and the 24 enemy skills." Yuffie said getting jealous. "I wish I could do that."

"What and not steal any more materia?" Tifa commented. Aeris burst into laughter.

"What’s so funny?" Angel asked, baffled by the joke.

"Yuffie likes to steal other people’s materia." Aeris said, still laughing. "She does it for the good of her town, Wutai or so she says. I think that she just likes collecting materia."

Yuffie walked over to the window and looked out feeling very annoyed. "Very funny, oh I forgot to tell you, Red found these three left over accessories that you can use." She said throwing a tetra elemental bracelet, a circlet and a ribbon towards Angel.

Angel finished brushing her hair and placed the silver circlet on her brow.

"Suits ya." Yuffie sniggered.

Aeris looked at Angel. "True, it makes you look . . ." she started. "anyway it will increase your magic power more, which should help." changing the subject and launching into a fresh bout of laughter.

Angel sighed, putting the bracelet on her right wrist and tying the ribbon round her left ankle. Tifa looked at her. "Why don‚t you put the ribbon in your hair like we do?" she asked "I understand why Cloud does that and Barret."

Angel stood up and checked her weapon. "I don’t like tying my hair back." she replied offhandedly. "It also was what we were taught in SOLDIER."

At that moment Red burst in. "Marlene has been kidnapped, Elmyra has called us to Corel."

"Who’s Marlene?" Angel wanted to know.

"I will tell you on the Highwind." Yuffie promised with a look of pure fury on her face. She liked baiting Barret but drew the line where Marlene was concerned. She would not admit it but the little kid was like a sister to her, she would not stand by when someone hurt her.

"Mom! Oh dear, she must be so upset!" Aeris cried.

"Now I am really confused." Angel stated, running out of the door behind them. On the way towards the Highwind Yuffie explained to her about Barret’s daughter and Aeris’ adopted mother. Outside Cosmo Canyon the men were waiting outside the Highwind for them.

"There is no time to waste, I think I know who has taken Marlene." Sephiroth told Avalanche. "Jenova probably wanted to get revenge and from what I have heard Barret’s daughter would be an easy target."

Cloud looked at him in complete agreement and nodded. "Let’s mosey!" they said together.

"Damn and damn again, stop sayin’ it..." Cid stopped, mortified. "So that’s where you learnt to say that." he finished.

"All right Cid. Let’s move OUT!" Cloud yelled in a voice that Aeris reckoned that could be heard in Corel.

*******************

At Costa Del Sol, Reno was sitting at the bar drinking, Elena next to him looked agitated, Rude had gone to the ship that had just arrived.

"Reno, why are we not going to Midgar?" she asked finally letting out the frustration she felt at their inactivity.

"I have already arranged for the documents to be shipped here." came his reply "It always pays to know what your employer wants in advance. I phoned some of our colleges in Midgar to tell them to ship the files here last night."

"Oh." Elena commented turning away. Rude came in with a set of papers. "Mission accomplished." he said setting down the papers on the table and sitting down.

"Why don’t you have a drink, before we set off back to Cosmo Canyon." Reno said holding out his glass for more. The bartender filled the glass and handed Rude and Elena a glass full of cheap beer.

"I have tasted better." Reno apologised to his friends. "But this is all that they have here."

Elena shrugged. "When are we supposed to be back?"

"Tonight, Cid said he had some repairs to do on the Highwind that would not be finished until later." Rude said taking a drink.

Reno’s phone started to ring. "Damn, just when you thought it was safe to relax." he commented sarcastically ignoring the ringing.

"Reno stop being such a jerk." Elena said in annoyance as she snatched the phone away from him. "Hello, Elena here." she said.

"Elena! What are you doing with the phone… never mind. Meet us in Corel." Reeve snapped down the phone.

"Yessir, we have got the information you wanted." Elena reported. "What is the emergency?"

"Marlene has been kidnapped. Tell Reno to get his face out of whatever he is drinking and hurry!" Reeve replied. Elena put down the phone slowly.

"What is it?" Rude asked.

"Barret’s daughter has been kidnapped, Reeve told us to meet him in Corel." Elena replied

"What!!!!" Reno exclaimed. "Who did it?"

"I don’t know, but if I had to guess it, all signs point to Jenova." Elena said picking up her gun.

Rude walked out of the bar. "I will get transportation." he said before leaving. Reno hefted his night-stick. "I don’t like people who kidnap children." he said coldly, remembrring the time when Reeve kidnapped Marlene. "The Turks will stand by Avalanche."

They both left the bar to find Rude and the transportation he arranged.

*******************

In the Northern crater Jenova materialised holding Marlene in one tentacle, and placed her in a small cave. Bars of a metal unknown appeared to prevent her escape.

"You are the one which will bring me my revenge." Jenova said menacingly to the young girl, who looked at her unafraid.