"Why here?"
"I already told you, Barret."
"Yea, but it don't make no sense, Cloud! How do you reckon Jenova cells made their way all throughout all these separate dimensions n' all, to wind up at a kooky place like this here Ivalice?"
"Good question…"
"Barret, just quit your bitching already!" said Tifa. "You agreed to come, you're here, so shut your trap for a good five minutes, all right?"
Barret opened his mouth to retort, but Tifa's stare meant one more word could result in a nice smash to the jaw. His mouth closed and instead he polished his mechanical hand.
The three were walking in the streets of a grand city, "the center of this world's civilization," Cloud had called it. The streets were flooded with all sorts of creatures, unfamiliar to the trio: rodent-like moogles, lizard-like bangaa, the beautiful viera, and the humble nu mou.
Cloud had done his research. Never able to rest until he had completely vanquished all the scars that Sephiroth left in his existence, he had stumbled across a book. A mysterious book it was. It had taken him years to decipher, five to be exact.
He knew they would encounter many different races. All were equal in this world. He also knew, that if it were true that Jenova cells existed in this world, that Cyril was the place to start. He had sworn he would rid all worlds of this evil, even if it meant crossing dimensions.
He took the two he trusted most in his world: Tifa, his love, and Barret his most loyal friend (when he wasn't being such a wimp).
They stopped at a busy intersection. In a quirky way, the city reminded them of Midgar, a much brighter Midgar, where in place of technology, there was magic. Cloud described it in his mind as a "prehistoric Midgar."
A small moogle was tugging at Barret's camouflaged pant leg. "Kupopo! What's wrong with your hand, mister?"
Startled, Barret recoiled into the back of Cloud and Tifa, nearly knocking the woman in front of a speeding carriage. Cloud caught her by the blouse and pulled her back just as the vehicle sped past. Turning to Barret he said, "What the hell are you doing?"
Barret was wide eyed and hadn't paid attention to a word Cloud had said. "What the hell does 'kupokipo' mean? I think it's tryin' to talk to me…"
Cloud ran a hand through his spikey blonde hair, letting out a deep sigh. Maybe I shouldn't have brought him…
Tifa, recovering from her near death experience, gave Barret another glare, which the tall black man failed to notice, still bewildered by the tiny creature that was now perking its rabbit-like ears up in curiosity.
She too let out a deep sigh and was thought the same as Cloud. He really is a wimp… She let her hand fall to Cloud's shoulder. "So what now?"
Cloud never really made eye contact. The cells Soldier had injected into him had caused his eyes to change color. Making eye contact was showing those that gazed he was a member of Corruption Inc.
"We need to form a clan," he said. "According to the book that's how things are done here. You form a clan and go on missions and stuff. We do that, then go from there."
He took Tifa by the hand and led her across, leaving the tall black man with a mechanical arm to fend for himself in an unfamiliar world, still gaping wide-eyed at the curious little moogle. It was a few moments before he realized his companions had left him.
"Cloud….CLOUD?! Shit… where the hell are ya?"
Cloud and Tifa heard their friends cries from behind, and couldn't help laughing. That was one of the things they shared, they would secretly laugh at Barret's antics. When the game was over, and Cloud felt he'd tortured his friend long enough, he called back. "We're going to the pub. You're welcome to join us, Barret."
Barret whirled around and sprinted down the street after them, out of breath from shock rather than fatigue.
"Try to keep up, Barret," said Tifa with a wink.
The trio turned and headed down the street, heading for a pub called "The Prancing Chocobo."
Chocobos, thought Cloud. Maybe this place isn't so different…
