Authors Note: This is the final story in a trilogy. My Little Angel and Unwilling WEAPON are the first two stories in the series. I suggest you read those first. Thanks.
The party has recently acquired the Highwind and Cloud has just been found in Mideel. Tifa sits awake in the hospital looking at him while he nods his head and mumbles unintelligibly.
"He's been like this since I've been here." Tifa thinks to herself. "The doctor says he's been like this for a while, since they found him in fact. He was in the Lifestream four days if he's been here only three. What's happened to him?"
The nurse enters. She looks at them both. "You should get some rest. You haven't slept a wink since you got here. I know you're worried but these things take time. He'll be here in the morning." She leaves.
"She is right; I haven't rested at all since I've been here." Tifa lies down on a stretcher. "I'm a bit tired. It doesn't matter anyway, I won't leave his side." She turns over to look at Cloud. "I may be sleeping but I'll be right here for you so don't worry." She goes to sleep.
On the Highwind the rest of the party is gathered. They are all on the bridge deciding on a course of action. It's an important discussion.
"Well it looks like Tifa is out-of-action for the moment." Cid says. "What's the plan?"
"We want to stop Shinra from taking the Huge Materia and crashing it into Meteor." Cait Sith replies.
"I'm no fan of the Shinra but why should we stop 'em?" Barret asks. "If Meteor gets popped I'm happy even if Shinra did it."
"We are stopping them because that will not work." Red XIII says. "Even in the very unlikely event a simple bomb could destroy Meteor Sephiroth could just summon it again by drawing on even more of the Planet's energy. Is that not how materia works?"
"Shinra has never given a thought to any citizen's well-being." Vincent says matter-of-factly. "Whenever they take what they want people get hurt. We want to stop that as well."
"Plus it'd be a big waste of rare materia!" Yuffie pipes in. "We gotta have something better to do than crash it into something! Come on!"
"Ya know, I think she's right…" Cid agrees.
"Does seem like an awful shame." Barret affirms
"That cannot be what it is meant for." Red XIII concurs. While Vincent shrugs.
"The very least we could do is make some money off of it!" Yuffie exclaims. Everyone looks at her. "What?"
Tifa is sitting in a field of flowers. Flowers as far as the eye can see. A familiar looking pond is nearby. It's a setting that makes her uneasy.
"What is this?" Tifa looks around. "Where is this?" She looks up. "The Lifestream…" She sees the portal with a bit of trepidation in her being.
"Not quite." A voice comes from behind Tifa.
She spins and sees Aeris behind her a good distance away in the meadow. "Am I dying?"
"No." The pink clad one says lightly. "This place is a product of your mind. I'm actually here to visit you. It is just that whenever you think of me you think of flowers. Since I 'left' your subconscious also attaches Lifestream to your thoughts of me."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's okay. I like flowers." Aeris kneels down. "I really do."
"So…" Tifa trails off.
"Why am I here?" Aeris asks easily. "Don't think too hard about it. Come over here, I can barely hear you."
Tifa begins to walk in her direction. "So how are things?" The brown-haired one asks weakly.
"Oh come on!" Aeris says cheerfully. "Don't be so uptight! Just look around, relax!"
"She's right." Tifa thinks to herself. "She is still who I used to know and it is pretty here." She looks around and continues to walk. She trips on something and falls on her face.
"Are you all right?" Aeris's voice comes from above.
"Yeah." Tifa picks herself up. "Cloth?" She remarks standing. "Wait a second…"
"You may not have noticed but yes I look a bit different than when you last saw me. You're standing on the hem of my dress."
"Sorry!" Tifa jumps back as though standing in acid.
"Calm down! It's alright, I'm dead already!" Aeris laughs gaily. "Lighten up!"
"Aeris, I'm so-"
"Hello? Take it easy!" Aeris sets a hand down. "Hop on."
Tifa looks at the hand uneasily. "…aah."
"Why are you so tense? I'm not going to hurt you. It is easier to talk face to face."
Tifa gets on and Aeris raises her hand slowly. She looks the pale girl over. The Ancient appears happy. "Well…" Tifa hedges.
"Take it easy." Aeris repeats. "You're in good hands!" She smiles and Tifa visibly relaxes a bit. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Tifa exhales heavily. "This must be how Cloud felt. Really a bit scarier than I thought."
"It's okay. Now let me tell you the name of the game. You ask me a question, I try to answer. You got it?"
Tifa nods. "Why are you here?"
"To give you some information."
"Have you …returned to the Planet?" Tifa asks uneasily.
"No. I am unable to because of two things." Aeris looks sad at that statement.
"Which are?"
"An unfinished task, namely saving the Planet and the Lifestream is in a state of flux."
"Flux?"
"It's stuck. Because of the energy Sephiroth is drawing on to maintain the Meteor spell no new souls will be created and no old soul is allowed to return to the Planet and continue the cycle. The Planet is gathering energy just to continue to exist."
"How were you going to save the Planet?"
"By using Holy magic to counter the Meteor spell."
"How?"
"I can't tell you that. You have to figure it out for yourself."
"Can the Planet be saved now that you are…gone?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"If someone uses Holy magic to counter the Meteor spell." Aeris repeats. "You have to ask better questions."
"Holy, its power, where is it?"
"You have it." Aeris looks more melancholy. "My time is running out, please hurry." She begins to flicker.
"Will I be the one to save the Planet?"
"It will be your decision. Your choice will change everything." Aeris sets Tifa down. "I have to go."
"Why are you so big?"
"To help guide you." Aeris fades away. "Goodbye."
"Wait!" Tifa reaches forward and is grasping toward the ceiling in the doctor's office. "Damn!"
On the Highwind the whole crew is getting ready to shut down for the night. It has been an eventful day and everyone is tired.
"All right! Jarheads assemble!" Cid calls over the PA. Everyone joins him on the bridge of the Highwind. None of them look too pleased.
"Didn't know this Shinra junk had a loudspeaker." Barret says offhandedly.
"It ain't junk! It's my baby!" Cid looks around. "Looks like everyone is here." He clears his throat. "We on the Highwind are getting ready to quit for the night. We've landed just outside Kalm; anybody got somethin' to say before we go?" Nobody says anything. Cid looks at everyone in turn. They all look at one another. Silence still dominates the entire place.
"We need to decide on an official leader." Vincent says, breaking the silence. "Cloud is out of the picture, at least for now. He was an informal yet official leader. We need someone to act in his capacity."
"Well I say me!" Barret declares. "Who agrees?" No one makes any noise. He hangs his head down. "Me neither. I ain't cut out for this crap."
"I put in my vote for Vincent." Cait Sith says. "It may not mean much with me being a spy and all but still…"
"I give Vincent my support as well. He is both calm under pressure and analytical when thinking is required." Red XIII agrees.
"Vince is cool." Yuffie says. "Not as cool as me but very cool."
"I throw my vote in for da stiff too." Barret says. "Nobody I'd rather have at my back."
"It looks like it's settled." Cid says. "Vinnie you are the acting leader of this band of nut jobs."
"I do not think I am up to the task." The former Turk replies.
"Why not?" Cid asks. "Give a couple orders and pray we were born with common sense."
"It is not the job. I was commander of the Turks long ago-"
"Then you know what you're doing. You'll be fine!" Cid pats him on the back. "What now, boss?"
"The procedures go: status report, plan, execution, clean up." Vincent reminds himself. "Status report." He says, turning to Cait Sith.
"Shinra is still regrouping from the WEAPON attack on Junon." The toyasaurus begins. "Since the public execution turned into a fiasco and they lost the Highwind they've been scrambling for other methods of transport. They have put off the Huge Materia collection until tomorrow. They plan to start the Coal Train for transport from the Corel reactor and a full frontal assault on Fort Condor."
"Plan…" Vincent thinks considering the information. "I've got it. We'll have to wait for Shinra to make their move then stop them. The best way to do that is in teams. We have the six of us, which makes two teams of three. We will split the materia and stake out these locations early for our counter attack."
"Not a bad plan, Vinnie. This leader business fits you." Cid says. "How are the teams?"
"I'm going to Corel!" Barret declares. "They can't ruin us again!"
"Already allotted for that, I think Cid and Cait Sith should accompany you." Vincent says.
"What is the deciding factor in these teams, Vincent?" Red XIII asks.
"Simple. Fort Condor is a defensive tower. Yuffie, you, and I have long-range capabilities. I have my guns, Yuffie has her ninja shuriken and you are a powerful magic caster. Our fighting is going to be fierce and we should preempt the enemy as much as possible. We can ill afford mistakes. Cid and his team shouldn't have much problem range wise. If there is battle it should be easily engaged at close quarters."
"I like the way you think." Cid mentions. "Sound plan."
"Let's get some rest. We've had a long day and it is an early start tomorrow."
Day breaks and sunlight streams into the doctor's office. It shines upon Tifa whose eyes open slowly. None too eager to get up she tries to remain asleep. Birds chirping start to grate on her and her eyes open again, reluctantly.
She wakes up and looks around. "It's morning already?" She thinks to herself. "Wasn't much time." She looks at Cloud. "I bet they wonder why I'm here. The doctor probably doesn't understand since there is nothing I can do for him from a medical standpoint. I'm sure Cid and the others don't get it since Cloud is a wreck and I could be helping them. I understand where they're coming from I suppose. But that doesn't matter now. I'm here for him and that is all that there is to it."
The doctor walks in. One glance at Cloud tells him all he needs to know. "His condition appears unchanged. The odds are he's gone without sleep again."
"He doesn't sleep?" Tifa asks incredulously. "His eyes have been open for the last week?"
"Yes, all signs point to that. It's amazing actually. He could very well perish from sleep deprivation rather than Mako poisoning."
"That's terrible!"
"There is really very little I can do for him here. Now that you're here maybe his condition will change. You may be his guardian angel. That's what he needs right now." The doctor leaves.
"You've been awake for the last week." Tifa says to Cloud. "Well I was asleep for the last week so I'm not much better. I guess you don't care though because I don't think you can hear me. That's okay, as long as we're in this together."
Aboard the Highwind final preparations for the missions to recover the Huge Materia are being made.
"Everyone is here." Vincent states. "Now we all know the teams, correct?" General affirmatives go through the group. "The materia has been divided right?" Assent yet again. "You remember the plan, Cid?"
"Yeah, we done went over it a million times!"
"We are all adequately equipped?"
"Yeah, ma!" Barret chides.
"You can be such a wet blanket Vince!" Yuffie agrees.
"Better a wet blanket than a pallbearer." The room falls silent.
"Vincent, we have reached your destination." Comes over the loudspeaker.
"Yuffie, Red XIII, let us go." Vincent shimmies down the ladder to Fort Condor. They follow. The Highwind pulls up the ladder and flies off. The watchman comes out.
"Who are- oh, you guys." Says the sentry, putting his weapon away. "What brings you here?"
"We have received word of a massive assault planned on this place." Vincent replies. "This time they want the Huge Materia. We intend to stop them. The Huge Materia cannot fall into their hands."
"Aren't they using it to launch at Meteor to try and save us all?" The guard asks. "I'm kind of all for it myself."
"That cannot work. The Meteor spell cannot be stopped by a simple bomb." Red XIII says. "It is a waste of a large piece of planetary energy."
"A waste? Be serious! A celestial body is going to intersect with the path of our Planet! Any chance we have to save it should be taken! No matter who or what does it, even if it is the Shinra!"
"Get real!" Yuffie interjects. "Even if there was a chance of this materia stopping Meteor it wouldn't matter to you! Shinra's gonna level this place and everybody in it when they're through. Birds included! But you knew that, right?"
The watchman looks a bit distressed but maintains composure. "You are right. I had not properly considered the gravity of the situation. Your aid is appreciated. Though our resources are limited we will support you any way we can.
"Thank you. What is your financial situation?"
"We cannot afford to hire any soldiers. We still have a few catapults from previous engagements but we can't make any additions because we're tapped out. Could you help us?"
Yuffie and Red XIII glance uncomfortably at their shiny new crystal weapons. They look as though they want to speak but say nothing.
"I am sorry but we ourselves are low on cash." Vincent says not batting an eyelash. "It is as I suspected. This battle falls entirely on our shoulders. Are you ready?"
"It is as you command."
"Bring 'em on!"
Having just arrived in Corel Cid and his partners are having trouble communicating to the residents of the remains of the village. None of them seem to be very attentive at any rate.
"Well if it isn't techno-freak!" One townsman sneers. "Good to see you!"
"Look, I ain't here for no static." Barret says keeping his voice level. "I got sumthin' to tell you."
"What's that freak?"
"Ya'll got to get out of here! The Shinra is gonna ruin everything again! I don't want anyone getting hurt!"
"Yeah, right! I believe ya!"
"It's your fault our town got destroyed to begin with!" Another citizen interjects. The crowd assents.
"Ya'll don't understand! The Shinra done started-"
"Started what? Trying to help? We heard. They want to blow up Meteor. You still want to stop 'em?"
"Listen, you don't understand. They went to the reactor-"
"To get some materia to blow up the big rock there! Yeah, we know! If you want to stop 'em we ain't helpin'!"
"Give me this." Cid snatches the Crystal M-Phone from Cait Sith. "WINGNUTS! LISTEN UP!"
"Who the hell are you?"
"SHUT UP AND LISTEN! THE SHINRA DONE STARTED THE COAL TRAIN. YA GOT TO GET OUTTA HERE!"
"The coal train ain't run for years! You don't know what you're talking about!"
"THE TRAIN IS RUNNING AND IT'S GONNA RUN SMACK INTO THIS TOWN IN A SECOND! GET THE HELL OUT!"
"That'll destroy everything we have!"
"Again!"
"Betta yo' stuff than you." Barret says. "Or them kids."
"I still don't believe ya, freak!"
"Alright." Barret says sadly. "Yo' life, yo' choice. I tried." He turns to his friends. "Let's move out."
"That's my line!" Cid admonishes.
In the hospital Tifa has just gotten situated and ready for the day. Now she is standing next to Cloud's chair watching him.
"Hello." The doctor says, walking in. "Ah, good to see you awake. Could you do me a favor?"
"Yes, doctor." Tifa replies. "How can I help?"
"Well, your friend is taking up my exam room, could you take him for a walk? Fresh air may do him some good."
"Sure, I'd love to."
"He's been cooped up in here and my other patients who do come by aren't comfortable with him there."
"I guess I understand. You hear that Cloud? We're going for a walk."
On the roof of Fort Condor Vincent and his people wait.
"Why you still foolin' with all those guns?" Yuffie asks "Didn't you bring enough? You just got a new one!"
"One must be prepared at all times." Vincent replies. "Would you rather I prepared in battle while you needed my assistance?"
"I guess not but still…"
"Prudence is the best approach to a life threatening situation." Red XIII agrees.
"You're no fun!"
"Battle is not meant to be fun. The idea behind preparations is to minimize the risk as much as possible. If that takes the 'fun' out of it then so be it."
"I'm ready for everything!" Yuffie leaps sideways and begins to shadow box. "Bring anything and I'll clobber-hey!" She trips over Vincent's outstretched foot.
"Are you ready?" Vincent asks, looking over each firearm in front of him. "You didn't look the part."
"Not for that! Come on Vince-hey!" Yuffie stumbles and nearly falls from the tower from an expert leg sweep.
"Weren't ready that time either. Are you ever ready?" Vincent holsters the Quicksilver.
"Why you!" Yuffie flings the Crystal Cross angrily. Her irritation is compounded at what happens next.
"Hm. You should carry more of these." Vincent mentions holding the oversize shuriken in his one hand. "What if it doesn't come back?" He hands it back to Yuffie. "You should be more careful with that."
"Humph. Jerk." Yuffie snorts snatching the weapon petulantly.
"We have company." Red states. "Orders?"
"You will take that side and Yuffie will take the other. I will be in the middle. Do not be afraid to call out for help. Time to execute the plan. Take care."
Walking the railroad track Cid and friends are wondering what is up. They've been walking quite some time.
"Ya know what? I thought it would be more hectic than this." Cid says, taking a puff from his cigarette.
"Me too." Barret agrees. "It's real quiet though."
"Am I the only one who finds it stupid ore at best very odd that we are walking on railroad tracks that a train is supposed to come barreling down any minute?" Cait Sith asks loudly.
"Yep."
"Yeah…"
"Doesn't it sound slightly outrageous? I'm the one with the stuffed toy for a body reminding you of very real danger?"
"I guess…" Barret says distracted.
"Yeah, you do sound kind of stupid." Cid agrees. "Where you get off telling' me how to live, toy?"
"I come from a place very far away called logic!" Cait Sith snaps. "You ever been there?"
"Naw, I guess not." Barret says reflectively. "Considerin' what we out here doin' an what we done to get here we ain't gettin' closer to logic no kinda way."
"Ya'll ain't done nothing' but crazy crap since I fell in with ya and it ain't got no smarter since." Cid agrees.
"Then just for old times sake let's walk next to the tracks a while. We're almost to the reactor, it shouldn't matter just humor me." Cid and Barret grunt in response and shuffle over to the side of the railroad ties.
No sooner do they do that than a locomotive come speeding by on those same tracks. It's not something they reflect on too long, though if Cait Sith's look of utter terror was any indicator it would've been a near-death experience to add to the still growing list.
"Hmph!" Cid begins to run.
"We'd better catch up!" Barret follows.
"Didn't you see that? We nearly- never mind." They run into the reactor.
In Mideel Tifa is taking Cloud for a walk. Pushing his wheelchair she's walking at a decent clip taking in the local scenery.
"Who would've thought this would happen?" Tifa says to Cloud. "I just survived my own execution while you've been in the Lifestream this whole time and now we are taking a leisurely stroll. Life is strange isn't it?" He does not respond.
"There is nowhere else I'd rather be than here with you. First thing out of my mouth when I woke up was 'where were you?' You mean a lot to me. At this point you're all that matters. I don't have anyone or anything else to hold on to." She gazes upward while still walking, looking back.
"Cid was so surprised when I insisted on coming here. He almost sounded angry but I didn't care. If there was a chance you were anywhere I was going to take it. When Red XIII dropped that hint I had to come here. There was no ifs ands or buts about it." Tifa pauses to look at Cloud.
"I just wish you could understand me. That is what I want more than anything else right now." Tifa closes her eyes and bites back some tears. "It's alright. You can't help it, I-" She stops and composes herself. They arrive at the beach.
For a time there is silence almost. Only Cloud's incessant head bobbing is heard over the waves. The two of them enjoy some much needed quiet time for a few moments.
"I had the oddest dream last night." Tifa says offhandedly sitting on a piece of driftwood next to the wheelchair. "Aeris came to visit me. Only she was huge. It made me think of how I had to have looked to you back in Wutai. It was slightly scary. You didn't convey exactly how unnerving it was when you told me." Cloud does not respond.
"She told me that Holy could save the Planet even though she is gone. She said I have the power to do it. It didn't make that much sense to me but she said I would have to figure it out for myself. My choice will change everything she told me. That's a lot of pressure. Telling you about it does make me feel better though. I guess I'm ready to face it as long as you're here."
On top of Fort Condor a battle is raging. The combatants have been embroiled in it for the last fifteen minutes and it shows no signs of slowing. Though that is not an issue, as they have amply prepared, that doesn't mean they have to like it.
"How is everyone doing?" Vincent asks, firing Sniper CR at the aerial beasts overhead.
"Good so far." Red replies casting Comet magic. A good number of enemies are destroyed when the boulder falls. "I am doing well."
One of the inhabitants of the Fort peeks out. "Don't cast that again unless you want to bring this place down!"
"Yuffie. Status."
"Fifteen down and counting!" The white ninja replies dodging barbarian fire. "Sixteen!"
"How are you catapults holding up?"
"My catapult is fine. It has sustained no damage."
"My rock flinger's kind of beat up but I'll be fine!"
Vincent inspects his own catapult. It appears worn from many engagements. "I don't trust it." He thinks, firing into the flock. Each round finds a target and eight flying enemies are dead. "I'm putting some distance between it and I." He moves away from it. "Take care around those catapults." The party leader pro temp calls out. "They could-AMBUSH!"
From the sky the sound of engines are heard as paratroopers fall in. A whole lot of paratroopers. They blanket the field like a sudden snowfall. Now there's at least twice as many adversaries as it was than moments prior.
"This is not good." Vincent says reaching for the shotgun. He lets the ones nearest to him have it with both barrels and goes for another loaded weapon to save time. But this is when the catapult decides to quit and Vincent can barely save his own hand as a broken projectile device falls on his guns.
"Damn. What a waste." Vincent pulls his brand new Winchester rifle into action from his shoulder strap and starts firing. The rest of the group, none of who have got to their feet quite on the ground catch rifle rounds and never end up standing. He gives his area a cursory check and his area is clear but it looks like Red is in trouble.
On the left side Red XIII is fighting bravely. He uses spell after spell, Fire 3 raging through the crowd. "This is simple." Red thinks to himself. "Now for the endless hordes to cease…"
Out of the blue Red is surrounded by Shinra troops. All around him weapons leveled. He doesn't blink twice and leaps back and lets loose an Earth 3/All combination spell. The soldiers lose their footing as the ground bucks beneath them. They were just about consumed by the land when the catapult above Red defers to his earthquake and tips over depositing a boulder on him.
"Oof." Red grunts as he is forced into the ground. "I cannot move." He tries to cast but he is unable. Fatigue from the previous spells and a piece of granite prevents him from succeeding.
The soldiers that survived the ground trying to swallow them are struggling to their feet. They bring weapons to bear on Red. Shots ring out. But the soldiers are the ones hit.
"Thank you. I would be most grateful if you removed this rock from me." Vincent sprints over and gives the slab of stone a hard punch with his claw. It cracks in two and he pushes the pieces apart. Red is marveling at this feat when Vincent dashes off again to help Yuffie.
Yuffie has been keeping them at bay with her shuriken. It has been on the fly the entire time continually whistling in her defense. She has been dancing around the catapult that has continued to work despite increased damage to it.
"This is easy; I don't see what Vince was so bent out of shape about. I guess he doesn't want anybody to have any fun." Yuffie thinks launching the Crystal Cross again.
As the airborne troops make their landing the ninja is quickly surrounded by them and cornered. She leaps back a few yards over their heads and throws the cross at them. Or she would have if it had not hit a newly arrived airman in the back on the return trip and lodged there.
"Vince jinxed me! Jerk!" Yuffie gripes going back toward the crowd. "I have to get it back before he finds out. I'd never live it down." She jump kicks one of the soldiers. She kicks another in the face and a signature three punches to the midsection brings down another. While a fourth male takes a lower blow and doubles over.
"Almost there!" Yuffie thinks reaching for the large throwing blade. But she falls short of her target because she has been sweep kicked by a fallen soldier. Only by the grace of Lady Luck does she survive as the battered rock propelling apparatus gives way and lands next to her head. "What the-my star!" Yuffie exclaims seeing the corpse housing it buried under the ruins of a catapult. She would bewail it more but the sound of a weapon cocking grabs her attention.
"I got to throw something!" Yuffie thinks rolling sideways onto her back. Spying her assailant she does a backward roll and lands on her feet and bumps into another person. Yuffie elbows her new enemy in the gut and reaches back grabbing his gun, flings it as hard as she can at the first attacker. The enemy goes down, brand new Winchester bent over his face.
"I was trying to hand you this." Vincent says slightly winded, holding the Crystal Cross. "I managed to save it since it appears you had lost it."
Yuffie says nothing back still to Vincent. She does begin to turn red. "…"
"I should not have been worried, as you are quite resourceful." Vincent continues. "Even without your only weapon you found something to throw. I regret that it was my rifle but…"
"Sorry."
"No, it's alright. I was just a bit surprised you ripped it from my shoulder and flung it." He hands her the cross. "Guns aren't for throwing."
"Thanks even though I-"
Vincent stops her with one raised hand. "The Commander will take his time getting here. We had best get ready for him."
In Corel Reactor, Cid is trying to get a train to work. The antics of the pilot turned engineer are more pitiful than they are laughable and given the seriousness of the situation no laughing matter to be certain.
"$!" Cid swears, yanking some levers. "Move damn you!"
"Do you know how to operate this thing?" Cait Sith asks.
"Course I do! If you can fly a plane you can drive a train!"
"You know how to operate this thing, right?" Cait Sith turns to Barret.
"Jus' cause I lived in a coal minin' town don't mean I can drive no train!"
"You've got to be better than him! You have to know something!"
"I know that's the brake and them two make you go." Barret points at some levers.
"Oh, so now you tell me! After I made a fool outta myself!" Cid releases the brake. "Here we go!" The train starts to move. "How we make this bucket go faster?"
"Pull them levers some kind of way." Barret says looking at the escaping train. "Sumthin' and hurry up!"
"This way?" Cid pulls the levers alternately.
"That's the ticket." Cait Sith says dejectedly as the engine comes to life. "How could we let this maniac drive this thing?"
"Because we ain't got no hands." Barret replies somberly. "I got one an you got none so that caffeine crazed flyboy gets to drive. I'm not too wild about it either." The train lurches beneath them.
"Now we're goin'!" Cid laughs heartily. "Yee Haw!"
"So bear with me, maybe we get through this in one piece you know?"
Cait Sith sighs. "Lunatics continually foil the Shinra. Insane people are hampering a global, all-seeing, unlimited manpower corporation. It never ceases to amaze me."
"Yep, that's us!" Cid agrees enthusiastically. "Ya'll ready to jump?"
"Uh Uh!"
"No!"
"Here we go!" Cid jumps, the others follow. It's a very movie move and they land hard but glad to be alive.
"This is crazy!"
"You got that right!"
On Mideel beach Tifa is sitting next to Cloud.
"So you have any interesting dreams lately?" Tifa asks.
Cloud does not reply. His bright mako eyes rise to meet hers then fall again. He mumbles something unrecognizable and is unanimated again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you haven't slept. That's sad. You can't dream." She watches Cloud for a few minutes. His eyes almost seem to be flickering. "You've got to be so tired. There's got to be something I can do for you. I can't imagine what this is like, no rest for so long."
Tifa thinks back. "I remember back when you shrank you would've liked to sleep all day. If that happened you could catch up on needed sleep. Wait that can happen…" She checks her armlet.
"I still have the Transform materia. It's not like I'm changing your treatment or anything since you aren't getting any…" She stands. "Here goes nothing." Her armlet glows with the materia's power.
Cloud is engulfed by its green glow. He begins to shrink from his five-foot height. He doesn't seem to notice as the chair becomes roomier as he slides toward the center. His shrinking stops at two feet tall.
Tifa stands over the chair. "May I sit down?" She asks, moving to seat herself. "You may need to move over." She moves him aside and positions herself next to him. "Kind of tight fit there, you should probably sit here." She picks him up and puts him in her lap. "That's better." She plays with his ruined hairstyle. For a while there is little sound. Tifa stares off into the waves absently toying with Cloud's hair while he relaxes in her hands.
"Remember this, Cloud?" Tifa asks softly. "About how you saved me and shrunk in the process? We had to learn to help each other as best we could. It was awkward and a bit scary at first but it got to be fun. After a while we enjoyed it. It was such a new experience, I learned to like it. I've been meaning to try it again but I didn't know how to approach you about it. You were always so serious and depressed after Aeris…that no time seemed like the right time." She cradles Cloud in her arms and begins to rock him gently.
"I would go to the ends of the Planet for you. You mean everything to me. I just want to hear your voice again. I know you can hear me; I only want you to say something. Anything, just give me some kind of sign!"
Cloud shifts in Tifa's arms. He moves closer to her and slips deeper into her embrace. "Mmm…" Cloud hums. "Tifa…"
"Cloud?" Tifa's eyes dart to him. "You spoke?" She looks him over. "He's sleeping. Finally."
Sure enough Cloud has slipped off to dreamland on Tifa. He looks contented enveloped in her arms. It makes her day.
"Thank you."
On Fort Condor Vincent, Yuffie and Red XIII are having a difficult time with the enemy Commander.
"Be careful. It looks different." Vincent warns drawing the Quicksilver from its hip holster.
"I'll shred it!" Yuffie declares darting forward.
"I am with you!" Red dashes alongside her.
Together they unleash a combination Limit Break as Earth Rave and Blood Fest fall in sync. Pounding blow after blow land, slicing and biting in a frenzy Red and Yuffie attack without let up to destroy the enemy. With the offensive completed they draw back and survey the enemy's condition.
It looks fine. Better than just fine, it is healing as they watch. Neither of its would-be assailants are willing to accept that, however.
"That is not possible. Nothing living could survive that kind of punishment." Red gasps.
"This isn't fair!" Yuffie whines.
"It's some kind of mix between living being and machine!" Vincent yells firing the Quicksilver to divert it. "Get back, we need to come up with another plan!"
"I'll dice it anyway!"
"The son of Seto is not afraid!"
They charge forward again. This time they activate their Deathblow materia hoping for a quick finish. On this go round they fail from start. Somehow it manages to evade their attacks and counter hitting them both with hard fists spliced with metal. Our warriors are taken by surprise and injured pretty badly.
"You've got to regroup! Pull yourselves together!" Vincent continues to yell. He empties the last of his bullets into the monster.
"I'm taking this thing out!" Yuffie yells advancing yet again.
"You have my support!" Red begins to gather energy to cast a spell.
"Red, stop!" Vincent warns. "You can't cast that spell here; you'll bring down the fort!" He starts running. "Comet rocked this place! Comet 2 will destroy it!"
"I cannot cast, you are in the danger zone." He stops the spell.
"I've got you!" Yuffie yells. "Hi Yaah!" She attacks. The monster counters.
Neither attack hits.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" Yuffie demands of the ex-Turk. "I nearly sliced ya!"
"Get back." Vincent says flatly with the monster's fist held by his golden claw. "I'll handle this."
"What're you gonna do? You got no more guns or bullets."
"Cleanup. Stay back."
"Whatever you say." Yuffie steps back. "This'll be good."
"Fury contort my body and destroy my enemy!" Vincent yells. He glows and changes into a chainsaw-wielding demon in a hockey mask.
"Hellmask…" Red whispers. "Yuffie shield your eyes!"
"Aieeee!" Yuffie screams as she beholds the Nightmare attack.
"Get down!" Red commands tackling the petrified ninja. He looks up at Vincent or the being called 'Vincent'. It begins to destroy the enemy Commander very sloppily. He can't bear to watch.
On the train Cid and crew are having a tough go of it. Fighting on the roof was a lot easier in theory than in practice or so it seems.
"Sure is hard to keep your balance while fighting on a train." Cid mentions swinging his Partisan at some soldiers.
"You think?" Barret asks sarcastically trying to brace for a secure shooting stance.
"One of the many reasons this was not a good idea!" Cait Sith yells throwing a soldier into two others and watching them fly off the train.
"I'm not complaining'! I'm just sayin' is all!"
"Don't jus' say nuthin'!" Barret snaps. "It was yo' idea!" He looks around. "Let's move up."
They hop cars up one further. Another wave of enemies awaits them there.
"What, do ya grow on trees or something? Why don't ya just give up?"
"Not company policy. They won't back down."
"Don't stop till you break em." Barret sprays them with A.M. cannon fire. "Like so!" The soldiers fail in their duty. "Let's move."
They hop cars again. Now they are on the second car. Soldiers in flying apparatus occupy it.
"Short range combat my foot! What is that?" Cid hollers.
"Sumthin I'm gonna take care-huh?"
The enemy in question veers right and collides with his two allies causing them to crash on the side of the train procession.
"What the # happened?"
"Don't puzzle over it too hard." Cait Sith says. "I used Manipulate to make one crash into the others."
"I thought it was luck or cheap junk." Barret says.
"Luck maybe. Cheap, never! You have no idea what we spend on those things!"
"Let's go already!" Cid says impatiently on the lead engine.
"What do we got here?" Barret asks. "Looks like the same setup as before."
"The other guy was nice enough to leave and let me drive too. Alright, let's stop this thing!"
"Isn't that great? I'll apply the brake." Cait Sith looks on approvingly at Barret's decision. "Uh oh." The brake lever snapped off in the dark man's hand. "This ain't good."
"You do know how to stop this thing, right?" Cait Sith asks. "Anybody?"
"Got me there."
"I'm all outta ideas." Barret says holding the broken lever.
"You can make stuff do stuff. Make the train stop."
"To control something it needs to have a mind for me to control. So I can't make the train stop any more than I can make you stop it."
"Oh, okay. There's got to be something…"
"Try doing what you did before the other way."
"Yeah, that'll work!" Cid jerks the levers alternately.
"We speedin' up! The other way!"
"The other way? There ain't no other way!"
"There has to be another way! Do something!"
Cid jerks the levers alternately again. "There ain't no other nothin'!" He declares as they accelerate.
"We gonna crash? Are you serious?"
"There is another way. I just don't know it."
"I'm tryin'!" The train is going really fast now.
"Stop trying. Can't you read a speedometer?"
"You know what?" Barret asks. "If we survive this, remind me to smack the $& outta you."
On the shore of a quiet hot springs town Tifa sits holding Cloud. With him asleep on her lap and the water lapping at the shoreline at her feet she's actually content for once
"I could do this all day." Tifa says dreamily gazing at the waves. "We needed a break." Cloud seems to agree, finding some way to nestle even closer to his caretaker. "Who needs to fight WEAPONs and all that stuff? All that is too much trouble. This is all I need." Her stomach rumbles. "That and some food. You're probably hungry too. We should go back and get some lunch." She stands and puts Cloud back in the wheelchair. They head back to town.
They walk into the village. A dog greets them. It sniffs at Cloud several times then seems to look at Tifa for an explanation. "I suppose you're right." Tifa acquiesces. "It may be a tad strange and hard to explain." She stops and restores Cloud to his original size. The dog approves. It licks Cloud's hand and wags its tail. Then it decides to follow them.
"You want to keep me company?" Tifa rubs the stray animal behind the ears. "Wait out here." She walks into the doctor's office.
"How was your walk?" The nurse asks. "Oh, you got him to sleep. How did you manage that?"
"Magic." Tifa replies. "Do you feed him intravenously or something?" She asks. "I bet he's hungry."
"It is about that time. I'll set him up. The doctor is almost done for the day so you don't have to leave again."
"Okay, I'll be right back." Tifa walks out. The dog is close behind. He follows her to the weapon shop. "Doesn't look like that crazy lady is in here right now." The brawler says to her four-legged friend. They enter the establishment.
"Hi, how can I help you?" The shopkeeper asks. "Looking for something to bust up Meteor?"
"If you've got it." Tifa replies smiling.
"Eh, you couldn't afford it." The shopkeeper laughs. "What can I get you?"
"I'm a martial artist. What do you have in gloves or claws?"
"Only high quality I assure you! You won't find better anywhere!" The portly man reassures her. "How about this?" He holds up a Crystal Knuckle.
"I need a weapon not a showpiece." Tifa says looking over the armament.
"Then here it is! It may look pretty but it's just as deadly. Each face is razor sharp. If you touch a corner of the artwork you bleed, plus…" He dons the gauntlet and lamblasts the wall. "It can't be broken from the outside!"
"Hmm…" Tifa considers the hole in the wall.
"I tell ya what. Buy it I give you the bangle half price."
"…sure" Tifa purchases the knuckle and the bangle.
"Good investment. That bangle cannot be penetrated! Even bullets bounce off!"
"What do you have in a sword? I'm almost afraid to ask."
"Buying for our little friend in the hospital? I saw that sword he had, everyone had to. It's enormous." He reaches under the counter. "I've got just the thing." He pulls out a dusty box.
"What is that?" Tifa asks, sneezing.
"Only the best blade money can buy!" He opens the box. "Voila!" The room is filled with fragmented luminescence as the multifaceted weapon sees daylight. Tifa is blinded and the dog is whimpering paws over his eyes. "Look at this." The merchant commands turning the blade so less light is everywhere.
"What is that?" Tifa asks seeing a thousand reflections of her in the sword.
"It is called the Crystal Sword. A flawless prism blade of legendary sharpness. Simple steel cannot achieve the immortal edge that perfect crystal can. It was custom made years ago for the second in command of SOLDIER as the sister to the greatest steel of all time. He has never come back for it so it has been here a long while."
"It's so light and balanced. It is beautiful." Tifa breathes picking it up.
"Awe inspiring isn't it? Unlike my other weapons there is only one of these. I've been holding onto it because I haven't seen anyone else yet who would wield something like this. It's too big for normal fencers to use. You can have it."
"Really? How much?"
"Nothing. I've collected on it already. I just want to see it take some use. You'll need a bangle too." He hands her another Crystal Bangle. "On the house."
"But I can pay."
"Don't worry about it. Meteor'll hit soon so who cares? Matter of fact you want to pay me?"
"Yes."
"Find a way to destroy Meteor. You and the little guy will need all the help you can get." Tifa nods fervently. "We'll call it even then."
In Fort Condor Vincent and friends are reporting to the leader of the tower.
"We have repelled their attack." Vincent says. "We require the Huge Materia."
"Oh, that." The old gentleman reaches under the table. "Here." He hands Vincent the Huge Materia.
"What were the damages incurred as a result of our battle?" Vincent inquires.
"Some damage-"
"You're telling me the materia wasn't in the reactor?" Yuffie bursts out. "Why didn't you just hand it over?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Vincent says.
"We needed your help to save the condors." The old man says.
"I did not mind helping." Red XIII mentions.
"You shouldn't have minded too much." The old man says crankily. "Between the earthquake and a comet you damaged this place more than the Shinra!"
"I am sorry. I meant no harm." Red says humbly.
"Yuffie, what happened to battle being fun? You should be happy the opportunity to fight arose." Vincent says smugly.
"That monstrous thing scared the crap out of me! Battle was not fun with it around!"
"Indeed the enemy Commander appeared to be a concoction of Hojo's. That is never a picnic."
"I'm not talking about it. I meant you! I was scared stiff!"
"It is what battle does to me. Both a powerful ability and a curse."
"Indeed what you became was quite fearsome." Red agrees. "It would be a good assumption to say we underestimated you."
"Our mission is complete. Now to wait for the Highwind to retrieve us."
In North Corel Barret, Cid, and Cait Sith are sitting in the inn doing nothing. It's another one of those times that all three are grateful to be alive but they aren't rejoicing.
"I can't believe we made it." Cait Sith says incredulously.
"Me neither." Barret concurs.
"Why are ya so surprised? I had it under control the whole time!" Cid says confidently. Barret gives him a smack. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Lyin'. Sides, you was s'posed to remind me." Barret smacks him again.
"It was a move of pure genius." Cait Sith continues wonder struck.
"Lucky is more like it." Another smack lands on Cid.
"Ow! Hey, somebody recognizes skill when they see it!"
"You revved it as fast as it could go! Like that was smart! Woulda smashed my hometown if not for sumthin' lucky!" Another crack resounds.
"The coal burned too fast. The old train couldn't take it. The engine blew and the wheels locked up. Barely saved the town. Perfect timing. I'm sorry I thought you an idiot."
"Why you sorry? He is an idiot! A &$# idiot! It coulda blew us up!" The open palm attacks gray hair.
"We can go outside if you gonna keep hittin' me." Cid says slowly.
"Get some rest. Fight on the way to get the others. Shut up for now."
In the clinic Tifa has just walked back in.
"Hey Cloud, I'm back." Tifa says. "I've got something for you." She enters the exam room. "Hello, I thought you had closed up for the day." She says to the nurse.
"Yes, we did." The medical assistant replies. "But I wanted to know how you got him to sleep. I have to know, we tried everything."
"Try a sleep spell?" Tifa asks, setting down her purchases.
"First thing. Over and over again. Sedatives wouldn't work either."
"Well…"
"You said magic right? What magic?"
"…"
"He's awake right now. Show me please?" The nurse pleads with with the brownhaired girl.
"I do need him sleeping for what I have planned." Tifa thinks to herself. "Alright." She relents. "Watch closely." She uses Transform on Cloud and he shrinks to his two-foot height. "All I did was this." She picks him up and rocks him to sleep. "See?"
"Oh!" Comprehension dawning on the nurse. "May I hold him?"
"…I'd rather not." Tifa replies nervously. "Could you hand me that bag?" She sits in the wheelchair and situates Cloud in her lap.
"Okay." The nurse sounds disappointed. "Here."
"Cloud, guess what? I'm going to fix your hair!" Tifa rummages through the bag. "The nice maid who runs the accessory shop gave me everything I need. It'll be fixed in no time flat!" She opens some hair gel and starts to apply it.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" The nurse asks, watching Tifa's attempt at cosmetology.
"Trying to resurrect his hairstyle."
"Which is?"
"Spikes. Large, outlandish spikes that stand in all directions. Silly, huh?"
"Only because you're going about it the wrong way. That stuff will relax his hair. It'll fall down his back like yours if you keep going like that."
"Do I even have the right stuff?" Tifa asks.
"Yes. But you have to mix and use it a certain way. I could do it if you let me."
"No, I can handle it."
"Are you sure? You don't look like you know what you're doing. It wouldn't be any trouble."
"I did destroy the hairdo." Tifa thinks. "She is right, I don't have a clue. I guess if it's going to get done it should be done right." She concludes. "Why do it wrong?"
"Help me, please." The marital artist decides decides. "The last thing I want is for him to come to and say I did it wrong." She stands. "Be careful." She hands Cloud to the nurse.
"Don't worry. I know how you feel about him. I wouldn't dare not take care." The nurse sits. "This and this…" She trails off fiddling with all the bottles.
For a while the room is quiet. Only the sound of goop being applied makes any noise. Tifa looks on anxiously while the nurse appears very busy.
"I shouldn't be scared of her hurting Cloud; she is a nurse after all." Tifa thinks. "I'm more afraid that she doesn't know what she is doing. I'll catch all kinds of crap form him when he's better if his hair is even worse than before. I didn't know that much went into it. He had just cause to be mad at me given how much it takes to make the silly hairstyle."
The nurse is on a different page. "This is really strange. I've never done anything like this before. I mean I figured it was a special way of putting him to sleep but how did she come across it?" The professional aid stops for a moment. "Tifa, how did you come across this method of putting Cloud to sleep? It seems pretty odd." Tifa doesn't answer. She appears lost in thought. "Tifa, hello?"
"What?" The girl shakes her head vigorously. "Yes?"
"I was wondering how exactly you found this particular technique for putting him to sleep?" The nurse asks timidly.
"That…an accident."
"Oh, well it seems effective. Do you suppose it could work on other people?"
"Sure, I guess." Tifa shrugs.
"It might be fun to try." The lady smiles.
"I got a kick out of it." Tifa replies thinking back to how red Cloud was when it first happened. "Very much." She nods.
"Almost done." True enough you could see spikes forming under expert guidance. "It'll be no time at all now."
"Thank goodness." Tifa says relieved. "I almost thought there was no way it could be saved."
"It'll be fine." The nurse gets up. "Done." She hands Cloud to Tifa. "Don't touch the hair."
"Where have I heard that before?" Tifa rubs her chin.
"Not yet. Leave it alone. It has to set."
"Thank you. I can't repay you for what you have just done."
"No, thank you. That was a one of a kind experience, very unique." The nurse turns to leave. "See you tomorrow." She leaves.
"Good bye." Tifa sets Cloud down. "I guess we should turn in too. Give your hair time to rest." She chuckles.
On the Highwind the sun is setting. The missions are all complete and the party as fragmented as it is with two members missing is reunited.
"All right, are all nimrods present?" Cid asks. Everyone makes some kind of noise. "Good. Now it's on you, Vince."
Vincent stands. He regards the room with an even apathetic gaze. Everyone flinches under his scrutiny though his eyes focus on no particular person. "Will someone from the North Corel team please tell me what happened?"
"Yeah!" Yuffie seconds. "Why are you guys so late?"
"I am not concerned about that. Now how did the mission go?"
Cait Sith steps forward. "We arrive at North Corel at 08:47. We were unable to immediately de0part for the reactor until 09:10. Barret and Cid spent this time trying to convince the residents to leave." Vincent nods.
"We walked the tracks for about twenty minutes when the train with the target inside went past. We barely evaded that and Highwind was able to activate a second locomotive to pursue them." Vincent looks at Cid then nods for Cait Sith to continue.
"We managed to catch up to them and fight our way to the front of the speeding train and stop it. With an ingenious move by Highwind the town was saved." Cid looks proud of himself.
"Hmm, I spot two flaws in your plan utilized." Vincent says. "First there was no plan to preempt them. The idea was to catch them before they could escape." Cait Sith shrugs.
"Second your execution of the plan was haphazard. It involved what sounded like complete dependence on a random occurrence. Suppose that engine had not been there or operational?" Barret and Cid look at each other and their eyes widen. The thought seems like something they don't want to dwell on.
"Not to mention proper attention was not paid to safety. Fighting to the front of a speeding train that you all must have jumped to and leaving the train you used to slide sounds very smart." Cid looks uncomfortable at that remark, having suggested it.
"Well, I did something right!" The aviator proclaims loudly. "I saved all these bird brains!"
"All the crazy stuff was yo' idea!" Barret counters. "Riding the train, jumpin' on it and fightin' on it, all you bro! An don' get me started on how you 'saved' everybody!"
"How exactly did that happen?" Vincent inquires.
"Highwind opened the throttle on the engine too wide. The coal burned too fast and blew the motor. It was directly linked to the wheels so when it stopped, they locked up. Barret thinks it was a lucky break."
"I agree. Your cleanup, how you fixed the mission once it went bad, was in bad form. It should've made things worse. However it was done well considering how it went. No innocent lives were lost and mission accomplished."
"How did your mission go, Vince?" Cid asks sullenly. "As planned?"
"No." Vincent replies. "It went very bad. We were overwhelmed then ambushed. Stationary defenses became liabilities putting us in danger. Resources became taxed and the enemy Commander was tougher than expected."
"That's the way the cookie crumbles, bud!" Cid says in higher spirits. "Nobody is perfect. No innocent lives lost, mission accomplished that is all that's important, right?"
Vincent nods. "Okay then. The Highwind is shutting down. Tomorrow we check on Tifa and Cloud. Then we go from there."