Written by Tora
PART ONE: SHINRA WINTER OLYMPICS
There was an unusual excitement in ShinRa.
There was no right out joy and excitement, but you could tell everyone in ShinRa was excited. The way they talked to one another, the way everyone moved, and the way the younger SOLDIERs couldn't focus properly in the VR room.
The Director of SOLDIER, Lazard, had made a proposal to the President of ShinRa. Lazard had proposed a game. A winter game. ShinRa's winter Olympics.
President ShinRa agreed to it, as long as he didn't have to do the work of setting everything up. That would be Lazard's job to set up everything, to plan, and to think up the games.
The games would definitely need to take place in Midgar, but the games would only be for ShinRa SOLDIERs.
After a couple years of nonstop planning and construction work, Lazard finally told the SOLDIERs about the games. It had been hard for Lazard to keep the big surprise a secret. He couldn't tell anyone about it, and the building of the stadiums had to be done in secret. The people in Midgar had been suspicious and began telling wild theories. Those theories reached the ears of the SOLDIERs and finally to Lazard's ears.
Lazard finally released the news months earlier than intended, because ShinRa was growing wild.
The teams in the Olympics were arranged by colours, not by what country you were from. The colours were the most common colours. Blue, red, yellow, and green. For those who wanted to participate, you were supposed to fill out a form, choose which game you wanted to play, and tell what Class you were in. You didn't even have to be a SOLDIER to join; you could be a Turk or a cadet competing in the games. You had a month to decide if you wanted to join, and then at the end of the month, Lazard would send your team some coaches, the stuff you needed, and the team colour you'd be representing.
It was at the end of the month.
Lazard wanted to play fair. He wasn't going to have Blue Team with all SOLDIERs against the Red Team with all Turks. When he got all the emails in, he would sort them out justly. Each team would have SOLDIERs, Turks, and cadets. When playing the games, the SOLDIERs would NOT play against the Turks or the cadets. They'd be playing against other SOLDIERs.
Lazard sat down at his desk to pour over the emails and organize everything. He muttered a swear word as his eyes scanned over the thousands of emails. He would have to get some help with this. This would take days to sort through.
First, Lazard would have to sort everyone by what rank they were in. Then he would do a count up. Then he would need to assign them their team colour and set them up with coaches. But FIRST… he needed to read all the emails…
Shiva, Lazard thought, once more scanning his eyes over the emails. Nahhh, he'd let his secretaries to the dirty work for him.
He put his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair. Glancing upwards at the ceiling, he wondered if this was the right thing to do. Too late now, Lazard, Lazard thought. If he backed away now, he'd have a bunch of angry ShinRa SOLDIERs after him. Not to mention, a lot of work and money was put into this event. No, he would not back away now. Not when he was this close to creating an awesome event that everyone would remember.
He idly watched the rays of light filter into the large room.
Stacks of sorted paper submerged his desk.
Sighing, Lazard decided he'd try reading as much emails as his eyes could take in. Actually, copying each email and make four files out of them might be easier. Or maybe it would be better to print everything out. Lazard groaned as several ideas popped and floated away in his mind. Each idea seemed great at the time, but then it would just get more complicated.
He finally settled on the first idea. Reading as much emails as he could take in. But first he needed to get a pot of coffee and a couple of his secretaries. Maybe a couple psychiatrics too.
It had been about a two weeks.
Lazard was finally done. He went through boxes of Pop-Tarts and pots and pots of coffee, but he and his secretaries finally succeeded in sorting out all the email. All that was left was to write down everyone's colours, what rank they were in, and what sport they were going to play. Then he would print it out and hang it up everywhere. Or maybe he should just send it to everyone over email. That would probably be easier. Not to mention it would save ink and paper. But it was more dramatic with the paper and everyone gawking at what the paper said.
The next day, the papers were out. The list had been printed and been placed all around ShinRa.
Lazard was in his office, drooling a little, his head on the desk. His brain hurt. He wanted to curl up and sleep forever. But he really needed to get working on the overdue papers.
Just then someone banged on the door.
Lazard could tell whoever was banging on the door was mad. Years of experience of angry SOLDIERs had taught the Director what to expect. Smile, agree, then slowly take the idea away from them with a smile. Simple steps.
Lazard quickly sat up and wiped away the drool from his face. He straightened up around the desk and quickly pretended to write on some papers.
"Come in," Lazard said in a businesslike way.
In burst a spikey redhead.
Oh, it was just Reno. Lazard had been expecting an angry First Class. But it was just the highly amusing Turk. Except, Reno wasn't in a very silly mood at the moment.
Reno strode over to Lazard's desk and banged his fist down onto the desk. In his hand was a crumpled up paper of the list of people participating in the games.
Lazard calmly interlaced his fingers and looked soberly at Reno.
"Can I help you?" Lazard asked.
Reno huffed a little (no doubt he ran to Lazard's office). "Firstly!" Reno started. Lazard made a little groaning noise. Great. A list. Lazard hated when the people came to him with a list of problems. It could take hours! "I don't want to play hockey with the other Turks!"
Lazard took his own list and looked over it. Reno was on Yellow Team and playing hockey. "What's wrong with playing against other Turks?" Lazard sighed.
Reno dug his nails into the wood. Lazard groaned, "Don't dig your nails into the wood. It's freshly polished."
Reno stopped digging his nails into the wood. He looked up into Lazard's eyes and said seriously, "I want to play against the SOLDIERs in hockey."
Lazard raised an eyebrow. He sat up a little straighter and repeated, "You want to play against the SOLDIERs…" he glanced at the list again. His eyes bugged out a little as he tried reasoning with the spikey redhead. "Reno, Zack Fair and Angeal Hewley are playing hockey. What idiot would go against them?!"
"Yes, I know Angeal and Zack are in hockey. I want to go against them," Reno said.
"Why…?" Lazard asked. He made a face. He could envision it. Reno playing against Fair and Hewley. Ouch, it was probably best not to think about it.
Reno frowned hard and said, "Because I'm just as tough as a SOLDIER, that's why."
Lazard had to use all his willpower not to snort. Or laugh. Instead, he frowned back and said, "You're very right, Reno…" Always favour the person's idea, Lazard thought to himself. "But it would probably be better if you didn't do it."
"I want to do it!"
Dang, Lazard thought. Too soon! He should have kept on praising and agreeing with Reno.
Lazard was tired. "Fine," He said, throwing his hands up. He didn't want to sweet talk. He just wanted to be left alone! "If you want to get your behind whooped by Fair and Hewley, by all means!"
Reno grinned broadly and pushed up his goggles. "Now, secondly!"
"What?!" Protested Lazard. "Another one?!"
Reno said in a serious voice, "Yes. Secondly, I wish to be put on Red Team."
"What is wrong with Team Yellow?" Lazard demanded.
Reno scratched his nose. "It's a coward's colour. You know, yellowbellied coward?"
Lazard pressed his hands against the brim of his nose. "Good Gaia, Reno… and why do you think Team Red is any better?"
Reno put a hand over his chest and said, "Sir, the colour red is of victory. It's a strong emotional colour! It's a symbol of love and good luck!"
Lazard interrupted in a bored voice, "You're starting to sound like Rhapsodos, Reno…"
"Huh?" Reno paused.
"Fine! If you really want to be on Red Team, find a Turk on Red Team that will switch with you. And don't you dare tell the other people that yellow is a coward colour!" Lazard growled. He irritable made shooing movements, making the Turk realize he wasn't wanted.
Reno cheerfully bounced to the door and left.
"Close the door…!" Lazard's voice trailed off. Reno was obviously too much in a hurry to close the darn door.
Cursing, Lazard stood up and popped his back. He shuffled to the door and closed it.
Lazard slowly shuffled back to the desk and began to look over the papers.
Lazard had a sickening feeling that more ShinRa SOLDIERs would be upset with the positions they were in, and he would be bothered with question and annoying stuff like that.
Thinking it would be wise to send out an email about questioning him over PC instead of bother him in person, Lazard opened the laptop.
He really didn't want to see the laptop again, but he really really didn't want to deal with more face-to-face SOLDIERs. So he quickly ticked and typed out an email about asking him questions through email.
After that, Lazard shoved the laptop aside in disgust. Of course, he would have to check his laptop to look over the emails, but he wouldn't think about that at the moment.
He glanced back at the paper he had been scribbling on. He read it over and wrote a couple things on it and then put it aside. Whew, ten billion more to go, Lazard thought as grabbed another stack of papers.
He was on his tenth paper, someone banged on the door.
Lazard glared daggers at the door. Smile, agree, then slowly take the idea away from them with a smile, Lazard thought. What an idiot this person was. Couldn't he read his emails before pounding on the Director's door?!
Muttering a cuss word, Lazard called out wearily, "Come in!"
The door opened and a highly effeminate redhead sauntered into the room.
"Lazard!" Genesis Rhapsodos shouted angrily.
Lazard smacked his dry lips together and said, "What?"
Genesis pushed back some auburn hair and glared his Mako infused eyes into Lazard's brain. "I don't what that titch on my team!"
"Titch? New word of yours?" Lazard asked lazily.
"It means small person!" Genesis spat back in a very disrespectful manner.
Lazard didn't feeling like teaching this fiery redhead to be respectful at the moment. He also didn't feel like telling Genesis that he himself wasn't near as tall as some of the other SOLDERs in ShinRa. "Your team…?" Lazard said rubbing thumb and index finger together.
"Red Team! Team Genesis! Team Hero! Hero of the Goddess Team!" Shouted Genesis with pride and dignity.
"Uh-huh…" Lazard said. "So that silly 'titch' found someone to switch with, did he?"
"Yes he did! And he told me he was going to play hockey against Angeal and Zack! Darn it!" Genesis pounded his fist on the desk and dug his nails into the well-polished wood.
Lazard made a discouraged face and said, "Please don't dig your nails into my desk, I just had it polished!"
Growling, Genesis took his nails out of the wood. "If that Turk plays, he'll loose and make us look bad!"
"You know, there will be other SOLDIER players on Red Team…" Lazard said, looking down at his nails.
"So?! SO?!" Retorted the angry redhead.
"So that means their good skills will make up for his bad skills, right?" Lazard said hopefully. The truth was he wasn't sure about it himself. He had a sneaky feeling that Reno would stink SO badly, the teammates would beat him up afterwards or something like that.
"Uh-huh," Genesis mimicked, pretending to be Lazard.
"You're doing a terrible imitation of me, Rhapsodos…" Lazard said, glaring at Genesis. "Look, if it makes you feel better…"
Lazard waited for Genesis to stop hopping up and down with excitement.
"I'll make Severin Rolf the hockey captain," Lazard suggested.
"But that First signed up for snowboarding!"
"I'll make him do hockey."
"But he's probably already training for snowboarding!"
"What's your problem? Don't you want him to be the hockey captain? Besides, Rolf probably just now saw the list or something."
"I wanted to watch him squash that little chocobo…" Genesis said in disappointment.
Lazard sniffed in an unconcerned manner and said, "Chocobo? Oh, that rascal who's constantly trailing after Fair. I didn't know Strife signed up for snowboarding. Little dare devil."
Genesis crossed his arms and sulked. "Then who will go against that little titch?!"
Lazard rested his chin on his palm and said, "Rhapsodos, you're using the word 'titch' for too many people. Please use their names properly."
"Fine!" Genesis snarled angrily. "Who will go against that Cloud Strife?!"
"You."
"WHAT?! But I sighed up for figure skating!" Genesis protested. He glared at the Director as if he were a madman. But the Director merely gave Genesis a 'you're still here?' look.
"I don't understand!" Wailed Genesis. "Other red people can go against Cloud!"
"But I want you to go against Strife. Besides, working twice as hard is probably good for you…" Then Lazard muttered under his breath, "And good for your character building…"
"Eh?"
Lazard said quickly, "I can understand why that Strife would choose snowboarding. He's not very tall. Now, please leave, your taking up my time."
Mutter cuss words and angry words, Genesis gave Lazard a savage look. Then he walked to the door. Before he left he snapped, "You'd better tell Severin that his position has changed to hockey!"
Genesis slammed the door; Lazard could hear his angry muttering die away. He slumped in his chair. Lazard felt like goofing off and drooling, but he really needed to get going on work…
General Sephiroth, First Class SOLDIER of ShinRa, glared intently at the paper in his hands.
How could he let himself be talked into this? Heck, how was it that Rhapsodos managed to talk Sephiroth into doing this?
Sephiroth glared at his name.
Sephiroth-First Class SOLDIER-Speed Skating-Team Blue
Oh Gaia… Sephiroth blew out a puff of annoyance and tossed the paper aside.
He wasn't sure how long he was supposed to practice. Or where he'd practice. Well, he assumed he'd be practicing speed racing in the ice rink. He couldn't believe he was doing this. Sephiroth was preparing to look like a fool, in spandex, skating around with his silver hair flying behind him. He cringed. The image was too brutal to think about. All this practice would interfere with his actual work in ShinRa.
At first, Sephiroth put his foot down. There was no way he'd join the Olympics. Then Genesis began talking Sephiroth into. Rhapsodos kept coaxing him and telling him he wouldn't call the Silver General 'Sephy' anymore. There were some other agreements made, but that little booger Rhapsodos still managed to talk Sephiroth into joining the Olympics. How?!
So… Sephiroth thought. Rhapsodos is on Red Team, Angeal's on Green, and I'm on Blue… this will be interesting…
Sephiroth laced his fingers together and stared thoughtfully at the ticking clock in his office. Could he really do it? Could he really try and succeed in speed racing? He was starting to get curious. If he was dedicated and worked hard, how well could he actually do?
He decided he'd go ask Lazard for some information. If he was to work hard at this, he needed some straight answers.
Sephiroth knocked on Lazard's door. Oddly, Sephiroth could hear loud grinding noises. Then he could hear the Director's voice. "C-come on in…" The Director's voice seemed strained, as if he was doing a lot of work not to blow up.
Sephiroth opened the door to see the Director sitting at his desk, his lips pressed together tightly and his eyes narrowed.
"So," Lazard said nastily. "Those darn emails were for nothing, eh? Or do you not check your emails regularly, Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth glared at the Director and said, "I've come to ask you questions…"
Lazard's eyes rolled in the back of his head as he clawed the air in irritation. "Hurry up!" he said impatiently.
Sephiroth curled his lip a little. "Lazard, how long do we have until the games?"
Lazard thought about it. Then his angry face melted and panic struck him. "Oh Shiva," Lazard muttered. "I didn't plan when the games were supposed to start… hmmm… At the end of the year?"
"It's the beginning of the year…"
"Yes… so that means you'll get about a year to practice. Now off you go. Shoo, hasta la vista, au revoir, auf Wiedersehen!" Lazard made rapid movements with his hands.
Right as Sephiroth was about to leave, Lazard called after him, "Do me a favour General, and tell everyone to check their darn emails more often!"
"Can't you email to tell them to check their emails?" Sephiroth mocked coldly.
Lazard glared at the First. "No, because people like you don't check your emails often enough. What's the point of doing that if they aren't going to check their emails?"
Sephiroth didn't reply, but he slammed the door shut.
Genesis was sulking.
He usually was sulking. Nothing could tick him more than that little titch of a Turk. How could Lazard let Reno be on the same team as Genesis?! It had to be the stupidest idea anyone could have dreamed up.
Sulking, Genesis rested his chin on a gloved hand. He blew out a puff of air, blowing the strands of red hair away. When that failed, Genesis irritably pushed his hair back and gave a tremendous sigh. Surely someone would hear him sigh and give him comfort.
The only person, who heard the sigh, was Sephiroth. Sephiroth glared at Genesis and snapped, "What's your problem?!"
"Oh nothing," Genesis said melodramatically.
Sephiroth knew Genesis wanted to be asked what was wrong with him; he just wanted the person to 'care' for him enough to keep asking what was wrong with him.
So Sephiroth merely sneered and went back to thinking and cleaning his freakishly long sword.
"Well?!" Genesis demanded.
"Well what?" Sephiroth replied.
Genesis said indignantly, "Well aren't you going to ask what's wrong with me?!"
Sephiroth stopped cleaning his sword and turned his head slowly at Genesis. "Why would I want to know about your miserable life?!"
Genesis made began to throw a little temper tantrum. "The fact that my life is miserable means you might show a little respect to me and ask me what's wrong!"
"Good Gaia, Rhapsodos…" Was Sephiroth's cold reply.
So since Sephiroth wasn't asking, Genesis began to dramatically tell about how miserable he was. "Well firstly," Genesis started. "Reno was put on Team Genesis—"
"Team… Genesis?"
"Look, if you prefer 'Hero of the Goddess', I can call it that, Sephy," Snapped Genesis.
"Don't call me Sephy…"
"Anyway, as I was saying," Genesis gave Sephiroth a 'know-it-all" look and continued. "Reno was put on Hero of the Goddess's Team and he wants to play against Angeal and Zack!"
Sephiroth glanced at the hysterical redhead and said, "Zack's on Team Green?"
Genesis nodded mournfully. "Fair, Hewley, Strife, Avery, Le Fay, Ras—"
"I didn't ask for everyone's name, Rhapsodos," Sephiroth interrupted.
Genesis continued. "To make it worse, it turns out Severin Rolf won't be playing snowboarding!"
"Rolf chose snowboarding?"
Genesis frowned hard and glared ahead of him. "Yes. Strife also chose snowboarding… and I wanted to see him get squished!"
Sephiroth thought about it for a second then said, "Strife isn't a SOLDIER yet. Rolf is a First Class. I thought Lazard wasn't going to have SOLDIERs against cadets?"
Genesis shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. "I dunno. I think Lazard didn't want group of cadets against a group of SOLDIERs. Like hockey for instance, SOLDIERs are only allowed to play against other SOLDIERs. Which brings me to my third point…" Genesis paused and counted his fingers. "Wait, or would it be my second point?"
Sephiroth sighed in disgust and muttered, "Good Gaia…"
Genesis shook his head and said seriously, "I think it's my third point… yes well anyway, hang on… what was I talking about?"
"Hockey?" Sephiroth offered.
Genesis snapped is fingers and nodded. "Yes, Reno is playing hockey against Angeal and Zack. Can you believe that?"
A rare smile slipped across the Silver General's face. "Reno's playing against Angeal and Fair? And wait… you already said that…"
Genesis nodded his head and made groaning noises. "Can you believe Lazard would let Reno play against them?!"
"Hmmm, Andreas is playing hockey…"
Andreas… Andreas… the name didn't sound all that familiar, but no doubt he was some big hulking SOLDIER. "Oh Shiva, Reno doesn't stand a chance…"
"It's his own sorry fault if he ends up dead," Sephiroth mused quietly.
Genesis began to feel a little sorry for the redhead Turk with the wild personality.
Angeal came into the room, closely trailed by Zack Fair.
"Yo," Zack said grinning impishly.
Genesis glared at Zack. He never liked the fact that Zack was bigger and taller than him. He also never liked the fact that Zack was always hyper and silly. He always took the spot light away from Genesis.
Zack plopped down next to Genesis, but Genesis slowly ooched away from the little freak.
"I'm so excited," Zack exclaimed.
Genesis cocked his head to the side and gave Zack a sideways glare.
"Did you hear that Reno is playing hockey against the SOLDIERs?" Angeal asked Genesis and Sephiroth.
Genesis sourly nodded and began to sulk a little.
"I can't believe Chocobo is going to do snowboarding! Sounds dangerous, right?" Zack said, swinging his leg up and down like a little toddler.
Genesis ooched a little farther away from Zack. He hated it when Zack got ants in his pants.
"What's your team called?" Genesis asked Angeal, ignoring the Puppy.
"Whhhat?" Angeal asked.
Zack said impatiently, "Rhapsodos asked what our team is called. Personally, I think our team should be called Team Aerith." Zack blushed a little and began swinging his leg back and forth a little harder.
"What does your girlfriend have to do with the Olympics?" Genesis asked rudely.
Zack replied, "It's a good name right, Gen?"
Angeal smiled at his apprentice and said, "Team Aerith? I think it's sweet."
Zack scratched his head and grinned shyly. "I know, right?!"
"That's a dumb name!" Genesis spat.
Zack looked a little hurt, but Angeal laughed. "And what, the name you choose for your team isn't dumb?! Hero of the Goddess!" Angeal chuckled.
Zack giggled and began to resume his bouncy personality. "Whao, Hero of the Goddess!" He said, tasting the words.
Sephiroth did a facepalm and said, "Shiva, if Zack isn't allowed to bring his girlfriend into this, we shouldn't allow you to bring Loveless into this."
Angeal nodded and said, "Sephiroth has a good point."
"Nuuuuuuu!" Protested Genesis. "Loveless must stay!"
"If Loveless stays, can Aerith stay for our team's name?" Asked Zack hopefully.
Just then Cloud appeared and said, "Are we talking about team names?"
Zack glanced up and nodded vigorously. "Green Team is called Team Aerith and Red Team is called Hero of the Goddess."
Cloud wrinkled up his nose and snorted, "Hero of the Goddess?!"
Zack laughed at Cloud's scrunched up face.
"I don't want my team to be named after your girlfriend," Cloud protested.
"Then what do you suggest?" Asked Zack curiously.
Cloud thought about it. Then Zack's face lit up and he said dramatically, "The Chocobo Team…"
"No," Cloud said shortly. "Besides, Yellow Team is Team Chocobo. Nobody cares for Team Yellow. They should be Team Nobody."
Genesis glanced at Sephiroth and said, "Hey, Seph, what's your team's name?"
"Blue Team," Sephiroth replied calmly.
Genesis raised an eyebrow and gave Sephiroth a bored look, "Are you serious? You're so boring."
Sephiroth didn't reply.
"How about… The Silver Dudes!"
"What. The. Heck." Sephiroth said, giving Genesis a weird look.
Genesis shrugged and said, "I know, it's such a fab name, right guys?" Genesis wiggled his eyebrows and gestured for applause.
Angeal glanced at Sephiroth. Would Sephiroth strangle the redhead? Or would he stab him?
"So wouldn't it be better if your team was The Heroes instead of Hero of the Goddess?" Asked Zack curiously.
Genesis waved Zack's comment away and said, "It sounds better Hero of the Goddess, brat."
"I wish Aerith could watch me play hockey," Zack said a little dreamily.
Genesis rolled his eyes and said, "Don't be a doofus, ya weirdo."
"Of course Aerith can watch," Angeal said. "I don't see why she couldn't."
Genesis crossed his arms and said, "Then can I do ice dancing?!"
Angeal rolled his eyes and sighed, "Girls can't join this Olympics. It's only for SOLDIERs and cadets and Turks. Sheesh, all guys, Gen."
Cloud squatted to the floor, since there was no more room on the bench. "So, what's Green Team called?"
Zack replied, "Team Aerith!"
Cloud looked at Angeal. Angeal gave a slight nod at Cloud. Sephiroth stood up silently and began to walk away from the merry gathering.
"Where are you going, Seph?" Angeal called after the Silver SOLDIER.
Sephiroth didn't look back. "Getting in some practice before bedtime."
Genesis was a First. So that meant he didn't have to take orders… right? Right?! Not exactly. His 'coach' was doing little more than 'coaching' him or even 'teaching' him how to figure skate.
This whole set up that Lazard planned, was just too stupid. Genesis was spending four hours, seven days a week learning about figure skating. Not to mention two hours a week learning about snowboarder.
It was dumb and tedious and— "Rhapsodos, are you even listening to me?" His coach asked.
Genesis snapped out of his sulk and said, "Hm?"
Coach Rim gave Genesis an evil eye. "I said are you listening?" Coach Rim banged his clip board against the wall. "If you have any hope of winning this, you'd never pay attention, you arrogant redhead."
Genesis may not have really listened too much of what the coach said, but his ears caught the insult. Arrogant redhead, eh?
Genesis stood up and yawned, "I'm tired of listening to you, you old geezer!"
Coach Rim crossed his arms. "Old geezer, eh? The problem with you First Class is that you think you're on top of the world. You don't want to listen to directions anymore. You just think you're so awesome and powerful."
A devilish grin streaked across Genesis's face. "'Cuz we are on top of the world!" Genesis paused and thought about the other First Class SOLDIERs. "Well, maybe not Sephiroth… maybe Angeal if he were to act cooler…"
Genesis stretched and said, "Mind if I take a break, Rim?"
Coach Rim raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Where are you going?"
Genesis threw up his hands and said in annoyance, "Good Gaia, is it really your biz to know where I go?!"
Coach Rim put his hands up on his head and said, "Yuuup!"
Genesis began to slowly walk to the door. "I'm going to visit the hockey team!"
Before coach Rim could reply, Genesis strutted out of the room and down the long halls.
Most of the ShinRa SOLDIERs were quickly buzzing around, carrying big packs and textbooks about hockey or skiing or some other sport.
Genesis plunged his hands into his pockets and thought about the day's work. He had been learning about figure skating for over a month now. But his stupid coach wouldn't put him on ice until he could recite the basic rules of figure skating by heart. What Genesis really wanted to do was design his figure skating outfit. Butttt stupid coach Rim wouldn't let him do that until he could recite the rules of figure skating.
Mumbling angry words, Genesis walked the streets of Midgar. As he pushed the doors to the hockey rink, a draft of cold air escaped.
At least they're on ice, Genesis thought jealously as he watched Hero of the Goddess Team practice.
Genesis watched the team until they had a break. Then Severin Rolf came up and said to Genesis, "Yo."
Severin Rolf may not have been the tallest SOLDIER in ShinRa, in fact, he was shorter than Genesis, but he had the strength of several Mako infused SOLDIERs. His usual spikey dagger like hair was now drenched in sweat and looking more bedraggled than ever.
Severin scratched his spider tattoo. Supposedly the tattoo ink had been mixed with radium and therefore glowed ever so slightly in the dark.
"So are you happy playing hockey, Rolf?" Genesis asked leaning his head on the cool wall.
Severin shrugged and took a deep draft of water. "I don't mind," he said in his almost hoarse voice.
Genesis should have known better not to ask Severin what he liked doing. Severin really had no opinion. If Lazard wanted him to be in the front of a battle, Severin would go without questioning. If Lazard wanted him to play hockey, he'd play hockey without a problem.
"How's that titch doing?" Genesis asked as he looked for Reno.
"Titch?"
"Reno. How's Reno doing?"
Severin glanced at the hockey players and said, "Not bad, not bad. But I'm more worried about when he plays against the other SOLDIERs."
Genesis buried his face in his hands and let out a despairing moan. "Shiva, why can't he play with the other Turks?!"
Severin took another swig of water and said, "Because he thinks he's a SOLDIER…"
"Idiot…" Genesis said. "Please tell me he doesn't want to be the goal keeper…?"
"No, Bronach's got that job," Reassured the First.
The Turk caught Genesis's eye and skated over to Genesis. "Hiya, Gen!" He whammed into the plastic protection wall and fell on his behind.
Genesis rolled his eyes and Severin rubbed his tired eyes.
Reno got back up and waved enthusiastically at Genesis. "How's figure skating going?!"
Genesis turned away from the Turk. He couldn't stand looking at that goofy face. It wasn't a Turk's job to ask how he was fairing! Reno had no biz to ask him how he was doing!
"How is figure skating going, Rhapsodos?" Severin asked curiously.
Gaia, Genesis's mind wailed. "Um, not now, I think I'm going to finish up practice."
Genesis began to quickly walk away and Reno shouted, "Yup! That's right! Make our team proud, Gen!"
Gaia Gaia GAIA! Genesis's mind screamed. What was wrong with that little nuisance?! Was he trying to make Genesis embarrassed?!
Genesis walked down the cold streets in Midgar and thought of Reno. What a fool Reno was. How could Genesis concentrate if Reno was acting foolish all the time?!
As he walked back to the ice skating rink, he ran into Zack. Literally. And of course, it wasn't Zack who fell over, it was Genesis.
Genesis shouted a swear word and said nastily, "Watch where you're going, Fair!"
Zack held out a hand for Genesis, but Genesis swatted the offer away and got up on his own.
"Guess what, Gen! Guess what!"
"What?" Spat Genesis.
Zack grinned and began to bounce up and down. "Aerith is going to watch me play hockey!"
Genesis rolled his eyes so enthusiastically, Zack couldn't have missed it. "That's thrilling," Genesis said sarcastically.
"I told her that our team was named after her, but she said it should have been named after me!" Zack said, still beaming.
Genesis didn't care pence for what the stupid Green Team's name was. All he cared was the fact that Reno was going to look stupid against Zack Fair and Angeal Hewley.
"Hey, Gen, what's with the long face?" Zack ask, poking Genesis in the stomach.
"Hey!" Genesis snarled. "Don't poke me!"
Zack wisely backed away from the angry shrew. Genesis gave Zack a daring look, but Zack wasn't going to step over the line.
Genesis brushed off the dirt from his behind and pretended that he hadn't just been knocked over by a six foot three giant. "Hem," Genesis cleared his throat. Then he patted Zack on the shoulder and said a posh manner, "It is not I who will be laughed at."
"What do you mean?" Zack asked.
Genesis flicked back some auburn hair and said elegantly, "My team's name isn't going to be laughed at. Your team name will be laughed at. C'mon, who names a team after a girl?"
"Uh," Zack said, looking up at the blue sky. "Me?"
Genesis frowned and said, "Besides you…"
"Hey, Rhapsodos!" Call a voice.
Genesis turned around to see Cloud Strife charging at him. Making a little squawk, Genesis moved out of the boy's way.
Genesis snorted hard and said, "Good grief, I'm being accosted by a buncha little brat!"
Zack laughed his mischievous almost childish laugh and swatted Genesis on the back. "Little?!"
Genesis was totally winded from the swat. "Don't do that," Whispered Genesis. "You're a little brat!"
Cloud chuckled and said, "Rhapsodos is just jealous that when he was sixteen, he was only five foot seven!"
Genesis snarled, "Five foot seven and THREE CENTIMETERS, ya little punk!"
Zack and Cloud roared with laughter. Genesis grabbed Cloud's shirt and snapped, "And I'll have you know, you're only five seven yourself, punk!"
"That means when you were fourteen, you musta been… five foot three or something like that!" Laughed Cloud.
Genesis let go of the cadet and sniffed the air attentively. "S-something is on fire…"
Cloud sniffed the air too. "Smells like… burning hair."
Genesis frantically patted his hair. Nope. It wasn't his hair that was on fire. Then Genesis looked at Cloud's head. His eyes widened the size of saucers. "Oh Shiva…" Muttered Genesis.
Then Genesis glanced at Zack, who had a guilty look on his face. He was hiding something behind his back. Cloud sniffed the air. "Hey… is—WHAT IN SHIVA'S NAME?! HELP, HELP, HELP!" Screamed the cadet wildly. He was about run around, but Genesis quickly grabbed Cloud's arm and dragged him into the tall dry winter grass.
"Quick! Dunk your head into the ground!" Genesis said, shoving Cloud's head into the dry grass.
Genesis may have been trying to put out the fire… but he tried putting it out in a panic, by dunking Cloud's head into the dry grass. The field of grass was on fire within seconds. The fire danced and licked at the grass hungrily. The flames wrapped themselves around the twigs and blades of grass and consumed it.
Genesis and Cloud stared at the fire, unable to move. But Cloud quickly grabbed at his head and patted the flames out on his head. Now they just needed to put the fire out in the field…
The first thing Cloud and Genesis did was heroically run screaming away in the opposite direction.
The fire was put out shortly after Genesis and Cloud made their brave exit from the fire.
Cloud and Genesis angrily turned to Zack and yelled in his face. "JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING, YOU IDIOT?!" Genesis shouted his face red with anger.
"THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO CATCH MY HAIR ON FIRE?!" Cloud said, balling up his fists.
Zack slowly produced what he had been hiding behind his back. It was a cigarette lighter. Zack grinned sheepishly and said, "I found it on the ground and wondered if it still worked!"
"Jerk!" Cloud said, crossing his arms and turning sharply away from Zack.
Angeal came up and said, "What's going on?"
Zack didn't say anything, but his face was pale and his lips were pressed tightly together.
Cloud pointed a finger at the Puppy and said, "Zack caught my hair on fire by playing with a cigarette lighter."
Angeal glanced at Zack and raised an eyebrow. "True or false?"
"True…" The Puppy said in a small voice.
Angeal's arm shot out and grabbed Zack's ear. Then Angeal began to tow Zack with him. "You, sir, are coming with me…" Angeal said in a weary voice. Zack squealed in pain and had to bend down low.
Cloud ran his hands through his chocobo like hair and said, "I hope my hair isn't too burnt…"
"Wouldn't it be… hilarious if Sephiroth was the torchbearer for the Olympics and his hair caught on fire?!" Genesis mused to himself, a smile growing on his face.
"No…" Cloud said slowly. "I think it would be funny if your hair caught on fire!"
Genesis looked offended and tried to aim a punch at Cloud. "How dare you!" Genesis shouted angrily.
Cloud ran off, cackling madly.
Genesis was finally on ice.
Tears poured down Genesis's eyes, as he smiled triumphantly at the ice. Unfortunately, the tears weren't tears of joy, but tears of pain. Right as he walked out onto tice, he fell on his behind and made a loud cracking noise. Coach Rim assured the redhead that he didn't break his tailbone, but Genesis wasn't convinced.
Genesis wobbled around on the ice rink a little and his smile broadened.
"Now try and skate a little!" Shouted coach Rim.
Genesis took a deep breath. It would be like rollerblading, right? Maybe not… Genesis flew into the air and fell face down.
Genesis tried to scramble upwards, but all he succeeded to do was the splits.
"Get up slowly, moron!" Coach Rim said, watching Genesis carefully.
Genesis slowly got up and resumed to wobble around again.
There were several other SOLDIERs ice skating around, but they seemed to enjoy watching Genesis skate than skating themselves.
A SOLDIER called out, "Hey, Rhaps! Why don't you pick up your feet a little?!"
Genesis without thinking Genesis lifted his left foot up. Then his right foot began to wobble and he fell on his face again.
The SOLDIERs roared with laughter.
Genesis angrily got up, digging his sharp blades into the ice. His lip was curled and his hair in his eyes. He stomped over to the SOLDIER who had tricked him and was about to give him the ol' one two, but coach Rim called out, "Rhapsodos, leave Marus alone!"
Glaring death threats, Genesis skated away from the Second Class SOLDIER.
Coach Rim pulled out a list of papers and began his long sermon on ice skating history.
Genesis would drool, but he had nothing to put his head on and drool.
All Genesis could hear from the old man was, "Wawawawa wa-waaawaaa-waaaaa."
Genesis rested his head on his hand and said interrupted rudely, "Are we done yet?!"
Coach Rim stopped reading and glared at Genesis. Was this insolent brat interrupting? Coach Rim put down the papers and said quietly, "Rhapsodos, perhaps you do better in… action…" A glint shone in coach Rim's eyes. It is obvious you are active wish not to be bothered with silly reading."
Genesis nodded vigorously and said proudly, "Exactly."
Coach Rim smiled.
Genesis was a little taken aback. Beforehand, he hadn't really enjoyed listening to Rim read, but he had been making noises to get on coach Rim's nerves.
Coach Rim put down his papers and picked up a pair of skates. "Just let me put these on first, and I'll teach you on ice."
Genesis had a sickening feeling. He probably should have put up with the old man's reading. Now he was going to suffer by actually ice skating! He could try and worm out of it, but he didn't want to look like a coward. Especially since there were several other ice skaters.
Genesis grinned a daring grin and wobbled out into the middle.
Coach Rim skated easily to the middle, whereas Genesis was having trouble maintaining his balance.
"Touch your toes," Coach Rim said calmly.
Genesis's mouth dropped open and he made weird noises.
Coach Rim raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't just stand there gawking at me, you fool. Touch your toes. Or are you too scared?"
Genesis shut his mouth tightly and turned red with anger. Was this geezer pickin' a fight with Genesis Rhapsodos?!
Genesis had no trouble touching his toes, but here he was being asked to touch his toes when he was on ice! Reluctantly, Genesis slowly bent down and touched his skates.
"Boom baby!" Genesis said. He straightened up a little too quickly and fell on his behind.
"Boom baby, indeed," Coach Rim said with amusement, as he watched the embarrassed First quickly scramble up. "Now race me."
Genesis's eyes bugged out and he protested loudly, "WHAT?! I'm doing figure skating! Not speed skating, you old geezer!"
"Race me," the coach repeated.
Genesis crossed his arms and said, "And if I refuse?!"
"I won't let you compete in the Olympics," Coach Rim said airily. "Your choice, scardy-cat."
Scardy-cat?! Oh this demon coach is going to pay! Genesis's mind screamed. "I'll show you who's a scardy cat, you big geezer!"
Coach Rim rubbed his hear and said, "Would you mind not screaming in my ear? I'm not deaf."
Genesis dug his heel into the ice and said through clinched teeth, "You are going to lose, you slow hag!"
Rim raised an eyebrow and said, "Let's not call names until after the race, Rhapsodos."
Coach Rim and Genesis skated their way to the side and made everyone get out of the way.
"Ready?" Rim asked Genesis.
Genesis gritted his teeth and nodded in reply.
"Say 'go' when you're ready," Coach Rim said.
Genesis took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Concentration. Calmness. He opened his eyes again and bent down a little. "GO!" Genesis screamed.
Genesis must have been wound up a little too tightly. Because he fell on his behind for the—what? Fifth or fourth time now?
Coach Rim skated around the First. Genesis got up and angrily tried to push the coach away. But the coach merely dodged and skated around the redhead.
"Isn't this supposed to be a race?!" Genesis spat. He quickly got up and began to stake forwards.
The coach just kept circling the redhead. He'd go ahead of Genesis, and then go back to Genesis. Rim would spin here and there, twirl around Genesis and made a full out of the redhead.
Genesis kept trying to skate fast, but he kept falling on his bottom.
Genesis finally made it around once. He panted and shouted angrily, "Are we done?!"
Coach Rim skated easily around and said, "Not until you can beat me. Show me what you're made of, Rhapsodos. Or are you too scared? Aren't you stubborn? Or are you going to give up?"
Genesis said angrily, "Hey! I have snowboard practice in an hour!"
Coach Rim shrugged and said, "Better get started on beating me, you big fool. The speed skating team will be coming in, in an hour."
Genesis bared his teeth. He began to try and skate again. He did lap after lap after lap. Each lap he got a little better. Just a tiny hint better. He wouldn't let the old geezer win.
"I-I'm supposed to be learning figure skating! Not speed skating!" Genesis panted.
"Ah, but in order to be a good figure skating, you must conquer skating!" Coach Rim said wisely.
The rest of the figure skaters slowly began to leave. But Genesis was determined. He. Was. A. HERO. And he would be a hero to the end! Genesis panted hard, as he pushed away sweater auburn hair from his face.
"Planning to race instead?" Asked a familiar voice.
Genesis looked up and rammed into the wall. He didn't realize how fast he was going, until he fell into the wall.
Genesis slowly got up and looked at the man who spoke. It was Sephiroth! In a… spandex?! Genesis could have burst with laughter on the spot, but he was hurting and out of breath. The spandex didn't look that tight on him, nor did it look silly on him. It was completely black with a silver swirl around the chest. As Genesis looked closer, he realized Sephiroth wasn't really wearing a spandex. He was wearing a tight zip-up jacket like thing and black exercising pants. Genesis kinda wished Sephiroth was wearing a spandex, so he could laugh at him, but at the same time, he was relieved Sephiroth wasn't looking like an idiot in tights.
Sephiroth slickly skated towards Genesis and helped him get up.
"I have no intention in racing," Genesis said with dignity.
Sephiroth put his long silver hair up into a ponytail and put on some goggles. "Too bad. I need someone to race against," Sephiroth said, getting warmed up.
Genesis frowned and said, "Where are your buddies? Too scare they'll beat you?"
Sephiroth replied back, "They're too scared of me…"
"Oh…" Genesis said in a small voice.
He thought about it. Yup. That sounded about right. Sephiroth would scare away his other teammates.
Genesis sighed and lined up. "Fine, I'll race you. Only to improve my skills."
Sephiroth finished stretching and lined up beside Genesis.
Coach Rim came back from getting lunches and saw Sephiroth. "Got an actual racer, eh, Rhapsodos?"
Genesis clinched his teeth together and focused ahead of him. "Just say go, coach…" Genesis said.
Coach Rim set down the ramen and shouted, "GO!"
Genesis and Sephiroth took off.
Genesis had finally conquered not falling over at the start, but Sephiroth was way ahead of him. Sephiroth seemed to glide on the ice, whereas Genesis had to put in lots of effort to keep his balance. Genesis was huffing and puffing and sweating like a madman. He trailed after Sephiroth, who was about twenty feet away. It seemed the more Genesis worked harder to catch up, the farther he fell behind.
"RELAX RELAX RELAX!" Screamed Coach Rim.
How could Genesis 'relax' if Coach Rim was shrieking at the top of his lungs?! Genesis hated the old fool. He hated the ice rink and he hated Sephiroth, who was going to lap him soon. Genesis wanted his ramen. He had sent the old fool packing so that way he could get in some practice without him hovering over him.
Sephiroth lapped Genesis.
Genesis grew angry and finally came to a halting stop.
Coach Rim came up and said to Genesis, "Why don't you take a break?"
Genesis gave coach a savage 'no duh' look and said, "Oh gee, why didn't you say that sooner, you old geezer?!"
Genesis ripped off his skates and stomped out of the rink.
Coach Rim handed Genesis the hot ramen bowl. Genesis was about to peel off the top, but Rim slapped Genesis with his chopsticks. "Hey!" Rim snapped. "Not done!"
Genesis snarled, "How long must I wait?!"
"Oh maybe another minute or so…"
"But they'll get soggy!" Wailed Genesis. And with that, he tore off the lid and began to slurp down the noodles.
"You really like ramen…" Rim remarked in awe.
"Hm?" Genesis lifted his head up from the cup, and a truly childish, not at all cool looking, smile flashed on his face. A noodle was dangling out of Genesis's bulging mouth, and broth trickled down his happy face.
Coach Rim smiled and shook his head. Watching Genesis made Rim feel full, so he said, "Want my noodles?"
Genesis's face lit up and he said, "Whoa, really?!"
Coach Rim handed Genesis his bowl and Genesis began the process of eating noodles all over again.
Coach Rim took out a small box of rice and began to eat that.
Genesis watched Sephiroth glide away on the ice. "I hate him."
"He's a better skater, that's for sure!"
Genesis put his hands on the railing and let out a volley of bad words at coach Rim. In defense, Rim picked up a chopstick full of rice and shoved it in Genesis's mouth. Gagging on the unexpected rice, Genesis yanked the chopsticks from coach Rim's hand and threw them down onto his plate. "What was that for?" Genesis snarled.
Shaking an index finger, coach Rim tutted Genesis and said calmly, "I didn't have any soap to wash your dirty little mouth with, so I had to use rice."
"You little—! You—" Screamed Genesis with a mouth full of rice. He didn't have far to go, because Rim quickly shoved more rice into Genesis's mouth.
"Oh, now, now… Said Rim, his voice dripping with false sweetness.
It was a wonder that Genesis's ears weren't pouring out steam right now. As he opened her mouth, coach Rim fed him more rice, as if he were a child being fed by a parent.
"This is stupid, you little—" Finally, with the mouth full of rice, Genesis grabbed the chopsticks from coach Rim for the second time and snapped them in two. Then he spat the rice in his mouth into the rice bowl.
Coach Rim groaned in annoyance. "You just ruined good rice!"
"I don't give a darn!" Snarled Genesis. He crossed his arms and began to sulk.
"See how smoothly Sephiroth is skating?" Rim pointed out. "Watching other skaters is also good."
Genesis didn't want to watch Sephiroth. He didn't want to see the ice rink ever again.
"I'm going snowboarding," Genesis decided. He stood up and stretched.
Coach Rim seemed mesmerized by Sephiroth speed skating. He was going ridiculously fast, his silver hair flying in the air. Genesis glanced at Sephiroth and snorted. "That hair," Genesis mocked. "Shouldn't he get it cut?"
Coach Rim thought about Genesis's remark and said, "I have a feeling the judges will let it pass by. He is Sephiroth, and people know better than to touch his hair."
"Zack!" Aerith waved at Zack from the bleachers.
Zack looked up from playing hockey and beamed at the girl.
Most of the SOLDIERs were milling about on the ice and some were attempting a small game. But it was hard to play or move around fast when your stomach was crying out for food.
Zack took off his helmet and skated over to the side. Aerith walked up to the tall plastic boarder and held up a grocery bag.
"I made bento boxes!" Aerith said, waving the grocery bag around.
Zack grinned and pressed his nose to the wall and panted, "Is it a three layer bento box?"
Aerith nodded and said, "Of course it has three layers, silly!"
Zack sighed in relief and said, "I'm super hungry!"
"When can you have lunch?"
"As soon as the other SOLDIERs get theirs," Zack said, turning to look at the other SOLDIERs.
"Wow, I can't believe I was able to get in the hockey rink!" Marveled Aerith, as she looked around the ice rink.
Zack looked around too and replied, "It is in Midgar, not ShinRa, so I guess people are allowed to come in and watch."
"Then how come no one else is in here watching?" Aerith asked.
Zack thought about it and said, "Hmm… because everyone else is doing something else. Besides, you're my friend, why shouldn't you come and visit?"
Aerith shrugged and laughed.
Just then, twelve big men came into the rink. They seemed to be carrying lunches and jugs of water.
Zack glanced at them and then said, "Lunch time!"
He quickly skated to the door, as other SOLDIERs began to pile out of the rink.
Aerith waited patiently, as Zack wormed out of the rest of the SOLDIERs and took off his skates. Aerith handed Zack his bento box and the two of them sat down on the bleachers.
Zack opened his bento box and grinned down at it. "Hey look! It's me!"
Inside the first layer of the box, was a mini version of Zack, made from rice, seaweed and two bright blue caviars for the eyes.
"You wouldn't believe how expensive the caviar was!" Aerith said, leaning over Zack. She handed Zack a pair of chopsticks and opened her bento box.
Zack looked over curiously to see if she had anything designed on hers. "I spent my time designing your bento box!" Aerith said grinning a big smile.
Zack blinked and stared at her own bento box. Pile of rice, pile of seaweed, pile of fresh veggies, one boiled egg, and some meat. He picked up one of his caviars and said, "Hey, Aerith, open wide!"
Aerith looked puzzled but opened her mouth. Zack plopped the blue fish egg into her mouth. "Did I just eat one of your eyes?" Aerith asked.
Zack nodded and squinted one of his eyes. "Yup! You sure did!" Zack picked up the other caviar and put it in his own mouth. Then he closed his other eye tight and said, "Now both of my eyes are gone!"
"Open wide," Aerith said.
Zack opened his mouth, his eyes still shut tight. Aerith plopped a fish egg into Zack's mouth. "Did I just eat one of your eyes?" Zack asked opening one eye.
Aerith squinted back, one of her eyes shut tight. "Now we both have only one eye!" She said, holding up one finger.
"Let's see who can eat the longest like this!" Zack suggested.
Aerith nodded and said, "I think I did a good job at finding your eyes. Those fish eggs were some kind of rare blue eggs. I thought the eggs looked almost like your eyes."
"Maybe the fish that layed the eggs are called Mako-Mako fish! Hi, Mako-Mako, fish!" He said, rubbing his tummy.
Aerith laughed and said, "Mako-Mako! I like that!" She too rubbed her tummy and said, "You sure were good!"
Then they sat in silence. Zack was practically inhaling his food. He was ravenously hungry and was on his third layer now.
"I'm full, want the rest of mine?" Aerith asked.
Zack lifted his head up, his face covered in rice. "Don't you want to eat more? You're not very big."
Aerith reassured her friend, "I ate a big breakfast a while ago." She dumped the rest of her food into Zack's bento box. Zack beamed and went on eating like a barbarian.
"So how's Team Zack going?" Aerith asked curiously.
Zack lifted his head up again and said with a mouth full of food, "Team Aerith is going great! Angeal is the hockey captain!"
Both Zack and Aerith insisted on calling the team after each other. They were both stubborn and refused to call it any other name.
"For desert, I brought an apple and some candy!" Aerith said, digging through the grocery bag. She handed Zack some candy and half a green apple.
"You make good bento boxes!" Zack said, biting into the sweet yet pungent green apple.
Aerith beamed and said, "Thanks!"
After finishing the apple and the candy, Aerith packed up the bento boxes and the trash.
"Do you know when the Olympics start?" Aerith asked, scratching her nose.
"Director Lazard sent out an email saying it would start on Christmas night," Zack said, remembering the email.
"I'll be sure to cheer you on!" Aerith said grinning up at Zack.
"Guess what, guess what!" Zack said eagerly.
Aerith replied, "What?"
"Genesis Rhapsodos is doing figure skating and snowboarding!"
"Why would Mr. Rhapsodos do two things? Is anyone else doing two things?" Aerith wondered.
Zack shook his head and said, "I think Director Lazard wanted him to do two things. Angeal thinks because Lazard want to teach a lesson to the redhead. I don't know why exactly."
Aerith was quiet and in deep thought.
"I have to get back to practice," Zack said, standing up.
"Can I watch you until you're done?" Aerith asked hopefully.
Zack nodded and said, "Sure, as long as you stay in sight. Then after practice, I'll walk you home."
"Don't dig your nails into the wood!" Barked Lazard.
Angeal lifted his hands off the desk and crossed his arms. He glared down at Lazard and snarled, "Why aren't you letting Zack Fair play?!"
Lazard's eyebrows creased and he said quietly, "I didn't say that boy couldn't play. I said he'll only play when Green Team most needs him."
Angeal grimaced and said, "That boy is six foot three, and is perfectly capable of playing hockey against the other SOLDIERs."
Lazard said calmly, "Hewley, the boy is only sixteen."
"But he's got the size and strength of a man!" Protested Angeal.
Lazard said back, a little more gruffly, "Hewley, there are other SOLDIERs who are more experienced and less compulsive."
"You realize that all of the SOLDIERs are getting the exact same teaching? That Zack is as good as them? It's not like the Firsts have been playing hockey longer!" Angeal growled.
Angeal was getting frustrated. Lazard had sent him an email to talk to him in person. Now that he was here, Lazard was telling Angeal how Zack couldn't play.
"You know why I'm taking Zack out of the main game?" Lazard said fiercely.
"Why?" Snarled Angeal.
Lazard took a deep breath and sighed, "Because of Reno…"
Angeal balled up his fists. "Reno…" He said quietly.
Lazard nodded. "Angeal, in each team, other than red, I've taken out a good player. I'm giving Red Team a handicap, because they have a Turk who wants to play against the SOLDIERs. Hewley, do you realize how dangerous it could be for Reno playing against the SOLDIERs?"
Angeal wished he could bash Reno's head against the cold ice and use him as a hockey puck.
Lazard said again, "If one of your teammates gets hurt, you can bring in Fair. Otherwise, Fair will remain out of the game. Understand?"
Angeal thought about it. He really didn't want to tell Zack he couldn't play unless someone else got hurt. But to look on the bright side (sort of), people got hurt in hockey all the time.
"Fine… I'll tell him. But he gets to continue with practice, right?"
Lazard nodded. "Of course, Hewley."
"Hey," Zack said softy. He poked Aerith on the forehead.
Aerith groaned in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. Zack's face was inches away from her own face. Aerith jerked her head back and nearly jumped out of her skin. "Shiva!" She squawked, pushing Zack away. "Don't do that! You scared me half to death!"
Zack smiled apologetically and said, "Sorry, but you fell asleep."
Aerith rubbed her eyes and said, "What time is it?"
"Eighteen:fifty one. Everyone is gone. They left half an hour ago," Zack said, his smile left.
Aerith sat up. The only light in the room was the lights shining on the rink. Aerith could detect something wrong with Zack. Zack wasn't being himself.
"What's wrong?" Aerith yawned.
Zack helped Aerith up and said quietly, "I'll tell you on the way to your home."
Zack helped Aerith bundle up in her coat and grabbed the grocery bag. "I can carry that," Aerith said, trying to grab the grocery bag. Zack shook his head and pushed the door open.
They walked together in silence for a while.
"Sooo… what's wrong?" Aerith asked carefully.
Zack sighed and said, "It turns out I'm not going to get to play hockey unless someone on my team gets hurt…"
Aerith said quietly, "Oh… I'm so sorry. Why?"
"Because Director Lazard told Angeal that he had to handicap Red Team… because of Reno… all of the other teams lost one of their best players too," Zack said. His voice seemed to waver a little in the cold night air.
Aerith walked closer to Zack and put her arm around his waist. "I don't mean to sound rude or anything," Aerith started. "But this sounds like some melodramatic movie about a boy loving some kind of sport and then not being able to play it."
"Tell me about it," Zack said miserably. He put his arm around Aerith's waist.
They walked in silence all the way back to Aerith's house. Right before Aerith left, Aerith turned to Zack and said, "But you know what, Zack?"
"What?"
"In those melodramatic movies, the boy at the last minute gets to play the game. And he ends up winning the game," Aerith said supportively.
Zack scratched his head and said, "I dunno if it's going to end up like that, Aerith."
Aerith smiled up at Zack and said, "It will happen! I'm sure of it. Can you bend down a little?"
Zack bewildered, bent down a little. Aerith stood on tiptoes and gave Zack a quick kiss on the nose.
December Twenty Fifth was a cold day. The snow had been around since the beginning of December and it was now packed tight. Although, it had snowed an extra inch the night before.
The day in Midgar was busy. Everyone was doing last minute preparations for the big games. All the SOLDIERs were doing last minute practices and extremely busy.
Genesis Rhapsodos had finally learned how to properly figure skate as well as snowboard. Sephiroth was completely calm and serene about the whole event. Zack had a whole fire ant mountain up his pants. He squirmed constantly and refused to sit down for more than ten seconds. Cloud was more giddily and joined Zack with his wild personality. Reno and Angeal seemed perfectly cool about the games. Only Lazard seemed super worried. He constantly pestered and threw out advice to the SOLDIERs. He seemed to be everywhere at once. Testing the ski jump here, skating on the ice rink there, and hoping around on the mogul course.
After a long, yet exciting day, it was finally time for the big show.
Zack was bouncing up and down, trying to get the butterflies out of his stomach. "I gotta go to the bathroom!" Squeaked Zack.
Angeal sighed and snapped, "You just went five minutes ago!"
Zack didn't reply but began to bounce faster and faster.
Cloud was constantly putting his weight onto one foot and then the other. He bit his lip and tried to remain calm.
Genesis clinched his teeth and said, "Shiva, its cold!"
Sephiroth didn't seem bothered by the cold. He was talking to Andreas, who happened to be bigger than Zack Fair. Kyle Andreas had been one of the ones who were knocked out of the games unless needed.
Angeal peeked behind the curtains. He could see President ShinRa and Rufus ShinRa take their seats. Lazard was nervously dashing around, trying to get people settled.
One of Lazard's secretary came up and said, "Okay, SOLDIERs, Turks, and cadets! This is the big thing! Please line up with your coulour!"
Angeal tightened his green bandanna around his arm, and lined up with his colour. There was mad scramble as everyone lined up in four different colours.
The woman secretary listened into her earpiece and nodded. "Let's do this, people! March out all at once!"
Everyone began to march out at once, a perfect march out into the cold weather.
The first fifty people had already marched out when the secretary screamed, "Wait WAIT!"
Everyone froze. The poor woman did a facepalm and said, "I'm so sorry! Everyone march backwards!"
Everyone began to march backwards, but it turned out to be the wrong thing to do. All the SOLDIERs began to step on each other's heels and fall over. Loud swearing came from the SOLIDER's mouths and everyone began to grow hot against each other.
The secretary closed her eyes and breathed a swear word.
Once everyone was in, she said calmly, "March out one colour at a time. Reds, GO!"
Red Team marched out again into the blustery night.
The woman held her breath and then shouted, "Yellows, GO!"
Team Yellow marched out.
"Blue Team, GO!"
Blue went out.
"Green Team, GO!"
Green went out into the winter's night.
All the teams lined up in perfect formation. As they stood there, fireworks burst into the air and wild music blared from somewhere.
The crowd went wild and began to cheer violently. People from the crowd tossed bouquets of flowers. Zack spotted Aerith in the vast crowd and waved frantically at her. Aerith saw Zack and threw in his direction a bouquet of rare pale green flowers. Zack caught the flowers before any other SOLDIERs could catch it.
A blue bouquet flew in Sephiroth's direction and smacked in him in the face. Sephiroth glared down at the bouquet and kicked it roughly aside.
Genesis was in all his glory. His arms were spread out, soaking in all the glory and pleasure.
Finally, everyone stopped screaming and everyone settled back down. Lazard stood up and said through microphone, "Welcome, everyone, welcome to the Winter Olympics in Midgar! Today we have Team Blue, Team Green, Team Red, and Team Yellow! These four brave teams consist of Turks, cadets, and SOLDIERs from ShinRa. They will be competing against each other in popular winter sports! The team with the most metals wins. I should say that a gold metal equals up to three metals, silver to two metals, and a bronze is just one metal."
Lazard sat down and handed the microphone to President ShinRa. President ShinRa stood up slowly and said, "LET THE WINTER OLYMPICS BEGIN!"
END OF PART ONE!
A/N: In this story, I'm mainly ignoring the logical facts. Aerith technically wouldn't have met Zack yet, nobody can be super good at some sport in a year, and the writing of the sports may be off (I'm a writer, not a sports person). But just enjoy the story for what it is! One last thing! Which team are you voting for? Team Genesis, Team Aerith (or Zack, which ever you wish to call it), Blue Team, or Team Chocobo? One last thing, later on, you'll get to know more about Team Chocobo. Team Chocobo is definitely not the kind that gets left behind…
Also mind you, because I'm not a sports writer, I'm probably misusing a bunch of sport words. Hopefully you can forgive me and my substitute words that I think fit in.
In Part Two, you will learn:
1. Don't take Team Chocobo lightly
2. Genesis Rhapsodos: Friend or Foe?!
3. One simple idea remains
4. Genesis ruins the ice skating rink
5. There's a common death disease in ShinRa called 'Dying by Fan Girls'
6. Zack get to be what Genesis would kill to be
7. Nobody wins the Olympics