Greener on the other side

by NihilisticAmbition313

Disclaimer:

A/N: I know it's been an awfully long time since I updated this story, and it was due to a lot of personal issues that demanded my attention. But, I am back and I will try my best to get this train back rolling.

----

Chapter #41-"Holy, Evil"

The Highwind had touched down outside of Rocket Town at around three A.M..

Cid, Barret, Red, and Vincent all embarked upon the quiet town which formerly housed an inactive rocket in search of Tifa. It was one of the last places that they could think of to search, and with time being of the essence, a slight hint of panic was begining to set in among the quartet.

Meanwhile, the young woman who resembled Tifa yet called herself Ziarre snapped from her slumber and shot upright.

"...So, your friends have come for you Tifa...Okay then, we'll play this their way. Let me see how well I can portray you..."

Ziarre swung her legs around from the matress and planted her bare feet on the floor, stood up, and began a fake disoriented walk toward the stairs of the inn.

"There she is!" Barret grunted, pointing at Ziarre with his human hand.

"G-Guys?' Ziarre breathed in an acted weary voice.

Barret met Ziarre halfway up the staris and led her back down toward the rest of the group where Cid was all to eager to lay into her about her little stunt.

"What the hell's the matter with ya!? Stealin' the Bronco and--"

"Yo, back up off her fool!" Barret boomed. "Give her a break! We got her an' that's all that matters!"

"Barret is right, Cid." said Red.

"My God...I've caused so much trouble." Ziarre wept.

"'Ey, it's all good Teef. Let's jus' get you home now ai'ght?"

"Yes please...I'm so sorry."

"Ah, we ain't the ones who need any apologies. Save it for your husband." Cid grumbled.

Ziarre had faltered in remembering what she had done to Cloud, but managed to make an excellent save as she gasped...

"Cloud! Oh my God, my poor Cloud! Oh how is he!?"

"In the hospital, but he ain't dead." Barret confirmed.

"Oh, thank the heavens...I am ready to go home now, guys."

"Let's go then."

"Oh my God, you suck at being me! I don't talk like that at all!"

"Oh, be quiet. I think it is an improvement. You should be more ladylike after all."

"You're gonna get caught you know! Cloud is gonna know I'm not myself and he's gonna--"

"He'll what? Hmm? Kill me? Or will he mope and brood like he is so good at?"

"You don't know anything!"

"We've already been over this Tifa dear. Your thoughts and memories are mine now. I can clearly see through your mind that you think Cloud is quite a weakling of emotions. Try as you may to build him up to be this great heroic man and try as you may to believe in him, part of you knows he is still a fragile little wastrel. Admit it. You can not hide from what's in your mind after all."

"Just shut up! Shut...up! Let me out of here!"

"Never. Fret not though. Soon your consciousness will fade away and you shall sleep eternally."

"No...I will fight you!"

"Yawn. Fight all you like, Tifa. You will only die tired."

"...I never though the Holy materia was nothing but pure evil..."

"I resent that remark. But, your words do not matter. You will soon be nothing more than a memory anyway."

"Arrrrgh! Damn you!"

"Hehehehe..."

----

"...Good morning, sleeping beauty." Andie greeted.

"Andie?"

Cloud had awakened in his hospital bed to find none other than Andie sitting beside him.

"You're still here?"

"Yes I am. I told you I'd stay with you as long as you gave up that foolishness about busting out of here."

"Oh right..."

"Don't worry about Tifa though. My dad...Vincent and the others are out searching for her. Maybe they've even found her by now."

"God I hope...I can't keep laying here doing nothing. I'm gonna go insane."

"From what I hear you're already there." Andie teased with a lighthearted giggle.

"...Oh, aren't you a real comedian? Who told you that?"

"I hear things. No, I'm only kidding with you."

"Don't trifle with a man in my position, Andie. It may prove fatal."

"Okay okay. I'm sorry Mister Grumpy."

"...You can go home now if you want. I'm pretty sure you wanna wash up and all that."

Andie brazenly sniffed her own armpits and was visibly disturbed by what she smelled. Cloud couldn't help but think how Aeris would have never sniffed her own pits in front of other people, let alone him.

"I am a little ranky-danky aren't I?"

"Not that I said so."

"Hey, it is what it is...You'll be alright by yourself?"

"I'll get by. Go home, wash up, and get some rest."

"Um...Okay. But, I'll be back I promise." Andie said as she gave a Girl Scout salute.

"I believe you..." Cloud said as he closed his eyes.

Unable to fall back asleep, all he could do was think of Tifa. Andie had been a comforting distraction, but Tifa once again moved to the forefront of his mind. Cloud hated the fact that he was not out there searching for his beloved, but was hopeful that his friends had found her unharmed.

Several hours passed by when Andie returned to the hospital. She has changed into a purple sundress and a pair of white flip-flops.

"You're back."

"Of course I'm back. I said I'd be back, and I'm a woman of my word."

"Oh, I forgot you were a Girl Scout." Cloud chuckled.

"My mother insisted I joined. But, I have great news for you Cloud. Tifa has been found and brought back home."

For what he'd heard, Cloud sat straight up with his eyes wide open.

"They found her!?"

"Tes, in Rocket Town of all places."
"Rocket Town? How the hell did she get to Rocket Town?"

"Apparently she stole that old guy Cid's plane and flew there."

"Damn..."

"Pretty wild eh?"

"I don't care about all that. All I want is to see my wife."

Why did Andie feel her heart sink just a little at that statement?

"I'm not so sure about that. Tifa's in a little bit of trouble for everything she's done."

"What? Where is she?"

----

"I'm tryin' to tell you ya fool, she ain't in her right mind!" Barret fussed at the seargeant in charge of the inmates at the Sector precinct.

"I'll say. Biting her own husband so bad he almost bled out, beatin' up two innocent people, and stealing an airplane, that don't say sane to me." The surly seargeant sneered.

"Sarge, we've got a problem!" a panicked looking officer said as she came bolting in.

"What is it?"

"Tifa Strife's gotten out of control!"