Lioneh (A/N): Do I smell an update? I THINK I DOOO 8D Sorry it's been so long folks, life has been catching me up and I've sure been busy. This chappie is a little longer than the others, thankfully. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it :D If you see any typos or mistakes, just lemme know x3;
DISCLAIMER O' DOOM
Genesis Rhapsodos, Angeal Hewley and all other things associated with Final Fantasy VII belong to the almighty SQUARE ENIX.
"Two tickets to Midgar, please. One way." Genesis Rhapsodos reached his hand under the gap in the window to pass the train station cashier the required amount of gil. Angeal peered over his shoulder, wondering why exactly Genesis had paid for both of them and simply not himself.
"Midgar. Two tickets, one way. Enjoy your trip, sir." The cashier handed Genesis two train tickets, both stamped in bold letters 'Midgar', the price and how far the tickets would carry them. Stepping back, the chestnut-haired teen handed his best friend one of the tickets, forcing Angeal's palm to close and accept It. Angeal opened his mouth to protest, but was cut off abruptly by Genesis.
"I'd rather you spend your money on something worthwhile, rather than train tickets, buddy. There'll be much more to buy in Midgar." Genesis gave a warm smile, signalling that this wasn't a sarcastic joke. Angeal looked down into his hand, seeing the ticket and his own small amount of gil resting in his palm. He chuckled, looking back up at his friend.
"Heh, thanks Genesis."
"Hey, no problems! Come on, the train is about to leave!" Yet again, Genesis was impatiently dragging Angeal away, towards the main baggage car of the large train. With a heave, the two lifted their suitcases through the open doorway, sighing with relief after the lifting was done. "Far out, it really does feel like I brought the kitchen sink with me…" Genesis trailed off, laughing a little. He looked over, seeing Angeal taking off the straps that bound the sword to his suitcase. Lifting it up with ease, the son of Gillian Hewley took the sword and swung it over his back, giving Genesis a grin.
"I don't want to leave it on the train unattended…it could get damaged if the train suddenly has to stop." Angeal examined the sword, noticing an engraving on the handle. Unfortunately, the writing was too hard to read, even for Angeal's eyes.
"Hey, lemme see that…" Genesis offered. Angeal willingly gave the sword to Genesis, who, to his surprise, also found it easy to lift. The redheaded teenager looked closely at the handle, making out the words with ease. "Oh. It says 'the Buster Sword'." Genesis handed the oversized sword back to Angeal, who still tried to squint his eyes and look at the handle. He shrugged, still unable to make it out. Not that any normal person could make it out, even to Angeal's extent, anyway.
"The train will be departing shortly. All passengers, please make your way into the carriages and find a seat." The announcement echoed around the empty train station. Both Genesis and Angeal looked around the station, seeing no one but themselves standing on the small platform. Not many trains visited Banora, since there weren't many passengers to accommodate.
"Well, this is it, my friend." Genesis looked fondly over his shoulder, seeing the village centre of Banora in the distance. He eyed the mansion he could see a little off to the side, smiling a little. "I'm gonna miss this place."
"Same here. But hey, we'll visit again for sure, huh?"
"Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return." Genesis said quietly, laughing to himself.
"Huh?" Angeal raised an eyebrow.
"In other words, definitely." Genesis nodded, determined to make sure he visited once in a while. Hopefully, Banora wasn't too far from Midgar. With that thought lingering, Genesis began making his way towards the open doors of the nearest carriage, his backpack still on his shoulders. Angeal followed closely behind, the excitement of leaving Banora for the first time in his life beginning to set in.
"Passengers, please mind the gap as you board the train." Just as Genesis raised his foot to step into the train, the announcement rang through his ears. He turned his head as he walked into the carriage, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey Angeal?" Genesis asked, a sceptical look on his face. Angeal proceeded to step onto the train, nearly expecting the same announcement to sound as he passed the gap.
"Yeah?"
"You don't reckon that was on purpose, do you?"
Angeal shrugged, moving past Genesis and to find a seat. "How would I know?"
"Just wondering…" Genesis turned to face Angeal, seeing his friend collapsed comfortably on the squishy sofa beneath the window.
"Hold on…!" Angeal quickly sat up, looking at where he was sitting. "Genesis…you didn't!"
Genesis hopped into the sofa space beside Angeal, trying to suppress his laughter. Angeal eyed Genesis with surprise clearly on his face, not believing what kind of carriage they had just been granted access to. Not being able to hold it in, Genesis began giggling at first, his face turned red quickly.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry…I booked us first class…"
Angeal opened his mouth, quickly beginning to feel awful that he hadn't paid a single cent towards the kind of luxuries that they would be experiencing.
"The train is now departing. All passengers, please keep your arms and legs away from the doors. Angeal and Genesis, please enjoy your trip to Midgar."
Angeal looked at Genesis, a small smile appearing on his face. Genesis turned, seeing the suspicious looks that Angeal was giving him.
"Look, I swear I didn't ask for the personalised announcements!" The son of the mayor waved his arms in defence, still laughing silently at the kind of surprise that he'd given Angeal. With the shock now passing, Angeal began laughing himself, overjoyed at how the day was turning out so far. "Well, so far, so good, hey Angeal?" Genesis elbowed his friend gently, grinning from ear to ear.
"You betcha, Genesis." Angeal grinned as well. The engines of the train roared into life, sending vibrations all throughout the train. Genesis got up, moving over to the other sofa across from where Angeal was seated. With a slight jump, Genesis landed forcefully on the lounge, bouncing a little. Pulling his knees up underneath him, Genesis turned around and looked out the window, seeing the his small home town pass by in the distance. Angeal watched from his own seat, seeing the Banora White trees fly past as the train sped up.
After a few minutes, Genesis flopped onto the sofa, sighing with pleasure. "Well, this certainly is the way to travel long distance." The teen reached down to his backpack, unzipping it and taking out the book he had shoved in the top before he left. Content, he opened up his parent's copy of LOVELESS to where he was up to, and began reading. Angeal sat in silence, looking out his own window, seeing the scenery fly past.
"There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the Goddess. Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds."
"Hmm?" Angeal looked over at Genesis, clueless to what he was reading.
"That was from LOVELESS…it's a book I'm reading. I stole it from my parent's study. I'll still confused about this act…Act II. Any idea what it means, Angeal?" Genesis questioned, his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. He had the book raised above his head, reading it in a rather peculiar manner.
"Hmm…I'm not much for literature…maybe it's the way your reading it." Angeal stifled another laugh. Genesis gave his friend a withering look, much like the one he gave his parents.
"I've had enough of you mocking me already today!" Genesis laughed, sitting up from his lying down position. "If it pleases you, I'll read it like this then." The chestnut-haired teen sat up, holding the book in the most formal and normal position he possibly could. Angeal just smiled at the antics of his best friend, turning away and looking back out the window. I wonder…how far is it really, to get to Midgar?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Genesis…Genesis!"
The member of the Rhapsodos family grumbled, his back turned to Angeal on the sofa.
"Wake up, man!" Angeal persisted, his ears nearly bleeding from the sounds of snoring. He shook his best friend's shoulders a little, in a effort to get him back to his senses of consciousness. Agonizingly slowly, Genesis turned over, his brightly coloured eyes barely open.
"Uhh…Angeal?" Genesis mumbled, clearly still half asleep.
"Oh, finally. Your snoring has keep me awake for the last two hours. I just needed a break…" Angeal trailed off, not wanting to offend Genesis even by telling him the truth. Unfortunately, it clearly didn't register in the mind of Genesis, with his eyes beginning to close again. Angeal sighed. "…what time is it?" Genesis whispered, his eyes opening a little again. The son of Gillian Hewley glanced at his watch, glad to see that the journey was coming to an end.
"It's about 3:30..." Angeal answered, feeling sleepy himself.
"You mean…in the morning?" Genesis responded, unaware that the sunlight was still shining right through the window.
"In the afternoon, you idiot…" Angeal mumbled, going over to his sofa and lying down, turning over to try and sleep himself. The hum of the train's engines stopped, with a loud hissing sound escaping from the breaks as they squealed on the tracks. The train pulled to a halt, causing both Genesis and Angeal to slowly rise to a sitting position, expecting to be at their destination.
"Attention all passengers. We are sorry for the short delay. The train should be moving again in about five minutes. Until then, please enjoy the moment and take a look out your windows." Groaning, Genesis lifted himself up to see what was going on. Past the fence that lined the side of the track, the teenager could see a whole herd of large yellow birds, along with a young boy and his father. They seemed to be ushering the chocobos through the gap in the fence and over the train tracks towards the other side.
"Oh…chocobos. Must be time to move pasture or something…" Genesis mumbled, returning to the comfortable position of lying down. Just when he was about to close his eyes, the sixteen year old remembered something crucial. Sitting up quickly, the familiar feeling of excitement replaced the feelings of fatigue that Genesis was experiencing. "Hey Angeal! Guess what?"
"Mmm….what?" Came Angeal's muffled response from the sofa across from Genesis.
"I know where we are, man! This is the Chocobo farm…it's not too far from Midgar at all! We're really close!" Genesis ended the last part in a bit of a singsong voice, his excitement waking himself up completely.
"Wait…what?" Angeal, questioned, turning over to face Genesis.
"I said…we're nearly at Midgar!" Genesis repeated, using hand motions to emphasize his point. "Where's your sense of hearing gone?"
"Oh! Midgar…right. Sorry, I'm just really tired. Someone's snoring kept me from sleeping." Angeal gave Genesis a glare, which softened to a smile after Genesis looked at him with sad, puppy eyes. "Just because you got heaps of rest…"
"Heh, sorry about my snoring. I'm surprised neither of my parents mentioned it to me…" Genesis felt the familiar vibrations of the train's engine starting up again. "Hey, at least we're on the road again! We're so close to Midgar now, I think we'll be off this train in about half an hour." "Wonderful…" Angeal mumbled, closing his eyes as the train began gaining speed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Angeeeaaallll! Rise and shine, buddy!" Genesis called, laughing. Angeal slowly opened his eyes, seeing Genesis with his backpack on standing right over his sofa. Grumbling, Angeal slowly rose into a sitting position, his head peering out the window. Dark, ominous clouds covered the sky over the huge city of Midgar, which stretched out for at least a mile beyond Angeal's view. "Welcome to Midgar, Angeal."
"Whoa. It isn't…quite as I imagined. It's so…dark." Angeal mumbled, taking in the vast expanse of his new place of residence. Midgar was home to the ShinRa mega corporation, a company that was quickly gaining dominance among the energy industry. Genesis raised an eyebrow, dashing over to his own window to see the sights of the large city.
"Hey, check it out! It's an actual mako reactor!" Genesis exclaimed, his excited tone of voice making him sound like a small child. Out the window, the train passed one of the main mako reactors within the city. In large, block letters was printed 'MAKO REACTOR NUMBER 7." Below the complex structure, Genesis could see a faint glow of aqua green radiating from the bottom of the reactor. "Whoa."
"And that would probably be the mako, Genesis." Angeal strolled over to the window that his best friend was sitting at. Peering out the window, the train had quickly passed the seventh mako reactor in the largest city on the continent. By then, the two best friends could see the buildings towering over the streets above the plate of Midgar. Lights flickered around the entire expanse of buildings, completing the picture of the classic metropolis city. "Well, I guess you can't get much closer to a stereotyped city."
"No kidding." Genesis' eyes widened as the train zoomed past a sign that had the generic 'ShinRa Electric Power Company' logo on it.
"All passengers, our final destination is approaching. I advise that all passengers gather up their belongings and make their way to the doors for arrival. Thankyou."
"Angeaaall! This is it! We've made it! I can't wait!" Genesis punched his fist into the air, signalling his extreme levels of excitement. "I wonder what it's like…being in SOLDIER. I wonder how Sephiroth feels…" The bright, aqua eyes of Genesis Rhapsodos lit up, with the mention of his hero putting a wistful look on his face.
"Well…I reckon being in SOLDIER has a great deal of honour associated with it. They probably all have dreams of accomplishing something great. So many people look up to them, it's no surprise, really." Angeal mused.
"Oh, not you and your honour again." Genesis laughed, giving Angeal a playful smirk. "I think I'll be getting a lot of that when you're in SOLDIER, buddy. Imagine how much honour you'll have if those other guys have 'a great deal'."
"Hmm, interesting thought…" Angeal added. "How much honour will I have?"
'Not enough to satisfy you!" Genesis continued his laughing. "Finally…now it's your turn to be mocked. I've been plotting my revenge ever since the start of the trip, you know."
"Just like you to do that." Angeal gave a small smile, despite his annoyance. It was usually his job to correct Genesis, even if it meant humiliation for either his friend or himself. After all, they both knew that Angeal was the slightly more mature one.
"Attention all passengers. The train is now pulling into ShinRa headquarters. Please be aware that ID machines are currently being installed, so please take care when exiting the station."
Genesis grinned, lifting up his backpack and grabbing his precious copy of LOVELESS, which still rested on the arm of the lounge. Angeal took hold of the Buster Sword, swinging it over his shoulder with care. The doors opened with a loud hiss, sending a rush of cold air into the heated first class cabin. Genesis shivered slightly as he jumped the gap between the train and the platform. Not that he minded.
Today, he was stepping into a new world, full of surprises. The great expanses of both Midgar and SOLDIER awaited him.
And Genesis could hardly wait.
