Wow, I was finally able to update this story. I'm so proud of myself. To be honest, I was working on All Time Lows, but I felt I should update this story first. I felt sad when I saw the last time it was updated. Actually, I worked on this chapter over and over, but I couldn't pick the best scenario. I deleted so many options. I kinda rushed this chapter, but still, and as always, enjoy! ((BTW, I know its from FF9, but I added an ability for chocobos, sorry))
Clouds passed through the blue sky, the sun was shining, and the chocobos were making noise. Vincent opened his eyes, he gazed up to the ceiling. He sat up slowly, and rubbed the back of his head with his right hand, he then felt his neck, it was bandaged. He thought for a moment, "How did I...Yuffie!!!" He quickly rose to his feet. As he rose to his feet he realized that he was not in a house, instead he was in a...Stable? He looked around and saw the chocobos that had disturbed him from sleep. He walked out of the stable from where he had slept, to the left of him was a wall, he looked to the stall across from him, he saw Yuffie lying in a stack of hay and rushed to the stable immediately. He stared down at her, there appeared to be no broken bones, she seemed to be fine. Vincent nudged her body with his left foot. Yuffie twitched. Vincent nudged, Yuffie again twitched, but this time she woke up.
Yuffie turned her head to the side, she saw wooden walls caving around her. Yuffie was a bit claustrophobic. She looked up to Vincent and stared at him for a moment, confused as to why he was towering over her, she suddenly remembered what happened and gave him a cheesy smile. Vincent disregard the expression, he was more interested in a particular item she had possessed at the time, "Yuffie, where did you get that materia?" Yuffie's smile faded, she contemplated one telling him the truth, it wasn't his business...Wait, yeah it was, that's the whole reason why he's here. She pulled a piece of hay out of her hair and said shamefully, "I stole it from Costa del Sol." Vincent turned his back to her, "That wasn't ordinary materia..." Yuffie looked up to the tall figure, "What do you mean...?" Vincent turned around and faced her, he looked her directly in the eyes and asked, "What do you know about materia?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow, "You think I don't know what it is? I know that I can use it to cast magic spells and special abilities. It makes you stronger, some materia can be powerful, like Bahamut Sin."
Vincent who continued to stare down upon Yuffie, said in response to her question, "Within materia reside the knowledge and memories of those who have lived and died in the past." Yuffie then said, "I know that." Vincent still continued,ignoring the thief, "Materia functions by acting as a passage between its wielder and the planet's Lifestream, allowing the memories associated with that materia to be manifested in a physical sense, as what is referred to as 'magic'." Yuffie was a bit upset for being ignored, she turned her head away from him and crossed her arms shouting , "I know!" Vincent shook his head, "You missed my point." Yuffie unfolded her arms and looked back to Vincent, "Huh?" Vincent then said, "The materia you possessed was not crystallized, instead of manifesting into a physical sense, it manifested into a mental sense. The materia was playing with your thoughts and emotions." Yuffie blinked a few times as this information processed into her brain, "Sooo, it was basically taking control of my mind?" Vincent nodded his head, he was relieved that the thief understood him, "Basically."
Yuffie then stood up, she looked around, "Heeeeey, I know where we are!!! We're at the Chocobo Farm! It's not far from Kalm!" Vincent reached into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone, which was damaged because of the water from that swamp. Yuffie searched her pockets, but found no trace of her cellphone, she hung her head low, "Man...Guess we can't call them..." Vincent responded in monotone, "We could ask the people here if they have a phone." Yuffie lifted her head up and raised her right arm in the air, "That's right!!! I'll go ask!!" Vincent shrugged his shoulders, "Fine." Yuffie ran out of the stall she was in, and out of the stable. Vincent thought to himself, "...I wonder what the others must think...Probably dead...What will they think?" He thought of all the possibilities of what could be said about their arrival, the worst case scenario was Cid insinuating that he and Yuffie wanted to be alone...What would Tifa think of him...? That thought alone haunted him.
Yuffie came back into the stable, she ran up to Vincent, "Hey, the farmer wasn't there...So I broke into the house." There was along pause, and Vincent stared at her waiting for more information, "Was there a phone?" Yuffie turned her head away...
((Yuffie's P.O.V.))
Yuffie picked the lock open on the door, once she entered the tiny house, she immediately thought of what the others would say, especially Cid. She could hear Cid saying, "Vincent had her way with Yuffie." "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about, and don't leave out the dirty sex details!" The thought alone was making Yuffie feel nauseated, she had turned around and walked out of the house, locking it behind her. She ran back to the stables making it look like she checked things out.
((Now)
"Yuffie?"
Yuffie snapped out of her thoughts and looked back to Vincent, and shook her head, "No phone, sorry."
Vincent leaned up against the wall of the barn, he put a hand to his chin, wondering what they could do. One possibility was to wait for the farmer, but who knew how long it would take. Suddenly, a noise was heard, the noise grabbed Vincent's attention as heard it again, the noise sounded like a 'kweh'. Vincent moved from his leaning position and walked over to a stable occupying a gold chocobo.
Yuffie who was watching his movements finally caught on, "Heeey, we borrow Cloud's Golden chocobo! I'm sure he won't mind!"
Vincent nodded his head, "Let's hope not." Vincent reached up and grabbed a Pelham Style Polo Bridle. He was able to attatch it to the chocobo, along with the reins.
Yuffie watched in amazement, "Wow, I thought you didn't know anything about chocobos."
Vincent smirked, "I don't. But I'm driving."
Yuffies smile turned into a frown, she started to mope and said, "Oh c'mon, I never get to drive anything!"
Vincent still wore his smirk, "There's a reason for that."
Yuffie stomped her foot, she turned her back towards Vincent and crossed her arms. She was always being treated like a child. For once she wanted to have responsibility, or at least have someone who can rely on her. I guess she couldn't ask for trust, she was a theif after all. Vincent opened the stall door, he led the Golden chocobo out of the stall and carefully mounted the bird. He looked down to Yuffie who still had her back facing him, "Get on." Yuffie turned around, she smiled, and hopped on. She was actually excited. This was her first time on the Gold chocobo, and she was going to share it with Vincent.
Vincent led the chocobo out of the barn, and soon off of the property of the Farm. He could have had the chocobo fly, but to be honest he didn't feel safe with Yuffie clinging onto him. She might end up causing another mess for them. Vincent didn't think Yuffie was a trouble maker, but it seemed trouble always found her at the wrong time. He just wanted to be safe, he wanted to protect his friends; He wasn't one to think low of his friends. Vincent steered in the direction of Kalm, it didn't take long to get there, the chocobo had incredible speed. Vincent turned his head and glanced to Yuffie who was staring off into the sky. He turned his head to keep his eyes on the dirt road. Couldn't afford an accident now. Yuffie wondered what was going to happen, she wondered if Cloud would be angry at her. She watched as they passed the small village of Kalm. Yuffie had never been there personally, but she knew that the place hadn't changed. Most small towns didn't flourish after the end of Shinra, the economy declined for months on end. A lot of people were dependent on Shinra, and the services they had offered.
After 5 more minutes, they had reached Edge City. It was a sight for sore eyes, both felt they had been gone for ages. Vincent guided the chocobo through the town, he obeyed the traffic laws as if he were driving a regular vehicle. Yuffie began to bite her lip, she was scared that everyone was going to be upset. This whole mess was her fault. She lowered her head and cast her eyes to the ground, all in all, she was humiliated. But relieved to be alive if anything else. She still had to go home, she wanted to make sure that kids returned to Wutai safely. Vincent pulled up to the bar, he hopped off and looked to Yuffie while holding the reins, "Come, we've kept them waiting long enough." Yuffie, slowly got off of the chocobo, she watched Vincent tie the reins to the side door knob making sure that it was tied tightly. Vincent then walked to the front door, he paused and looked to Yuffie, he waited. Yuffie slowly walked over to him as he opened the door for her.
As they stepped inside the entire became silent. All eyes were on them. Some customers began whispering. Tifa walked in from the back noticing the sudden silence. Her eyes met their faces, and she dropped a customers dinner onto the floor. The customer shouted, "Hey! That was mine!" Tifa stared at her friends for a moment, and said, "H-have a seat, I'll be right there." Vincent took a seat at the bar, and Yuffie decided to take her own seat at a near by table. The bar was packed with customers. 'It must be a busy day for Tifa...' thought Yuffie. Suddenly, Yuffie felt like she couldn't handle the pressure. The pressure of having to make excuses up for herself. She knew Tifa was going to be upset with her. Yuffie got Vincent dragged into her own problem. She didn't know what Tifa was going to say, or Cloud for that matter. Yuffie wasn't sure if she wanted to find out. Yuffie watched as Tifa walked back into the kitchen, and she looked to Vincent who had his head facing down at the bar, and then she looked at all of the customers. Tifa knew she was alive, Vincent was here and safe, so there was no reason for her to be here, right?
Yuffie slowly rose from the table, and edged her way to the back of the bar. She quickly, but silently opened the door. No one noticed. She stepped out, and quietly shut the door. Yuffie looked around, she needed a getaway car, she looked to her right and then to her left. She saw the Gold chocobo, she knew what she was about to do was a huge 'no-no', but she just couldn't face her friends harsh words. It would be better this way, plus, it's not like Cloud uses it anymore. Yuffie untied the reins, she mounted the chocobo and steered the chocobo out of the city. She kicked the side pretty hard causing the chocobo to jump, when Yuffie pulled the reins to gain control, the chocobo took flight. Yuffie started to scream, she was now scared.
