Wow, can't believe it's been so long since I updated this! For awhile I thought I was going to abandon it; lots of problem cropping up in my life, lack of interest and inspiration etc. But then I got a second artistic wind so to speak, and a year later, here we are! If you're still following this, thank you, and hope you enjoy!

Tseng shifted uneasily as he stood guard over the ball's guests. He couldn't help it, the seasoned Turk felt as if something was amiss. He'd given his princess; yes, HIS princess, (despite what his countrymen believed, he was still loyal to the Emperor's throne) all the floor plans of Shinra castle. All the necessary preparations had been made on Yuffie's part. She'd memorized the castle's layout, exits, guard schedule, and everything else that'd aid in her quest to steal the kingdom's fabled WEAPONS. His anxiety was even felt by a fellow on duty Turk, who remarked, " Why do you seem so nervous Tseng? It's unlike you to bat an eye even in the most tense situations, and this is just routine guard duty."

He turned to look at his superior,

"Or is it? There must be something more to tonight than just a marriage ball for the prince if it's got you this wound up."

Tseng eyed the perceptive man coolly,

"Vincent, I-"

"Whoops, sorry about that!"

A cheerful voice exclaimed. The two men turned toward the interloper in an emerald gown. Her shiny cocoa hair glittered in the light, accented with jade hairpins. She faced Vincent as she dabbed lightly at his suit, which she'd just spilled wine on, all the while apologizing.

"Clumsy me, I'm sorry about that,"

she said as her fingers glided over this soaked suit. Tseng smirked internally at her very intentional "accident" and her exploitation of it to flirt and steal from her unfortunate victim. Vincent was a serious, soft-spoken Turk with plenty of promise, but he was a blushing school boy around women. As such, he didn't even notice her swipe his Cerberus tie clip as she withdrew her napkin, apologizing once more before throwing a sultry smile and playful wink at him over her shoulder as she went. Tseng spared the young man a chuckle as he glanced at his still pink cheeks.

Yuffie grinned beneath her Chesire cat mask as she continued on her way; that Turk was pretty cute! She had fun making him blush as she ran her fingers over his chiseled form. Smugly, she fingered the clip before pocketing it in her gown. It was a nice little bonus in addition to helping Tseng keep his cover. Her thoughts turned more somber when thinking of the man who'd endured the hatred of his people when he became a secret agent for Wutai within Shinra. He lost much when he took the job, and put himself at great risk to serve his land. She was glad to have been there to ensure his sacrifices weren't in vain. Still though, she wondered what was bothering the man. Something was amiss, and Yuffie weighed her options, wondering whether or not it was better to reconsider her plans for tonight. She'd felt the creeping feeling of unease in the air as well, and she'd been trained to never doubt her instincts. Deciding to proceed with caution, and bail if things got too hairy, she continued on.

Both she and Tseng were right to be wary, for there was more afoot that night than either could have anticipated. The King had laid a trap for the wily princess and had plans of his own for her. Unfortunately for him, even the best laid plans can go awry, especially when a group called AVALANCE gets involved...

An explosion rocked the castle as Yuffie crept toward the vault that held the WEAPONS in the far wing of the building. Blending into the shadows as a troop of guards ran by her, she was about to proceed before being dragged back into the alcove she'd hidden in.

'Darn,' she thought, 'looks like I have a stalker.' She tisked at her own carelessness for not noticing, as she flipped her attacker over her shoulder. With a knee on his stomach and a kunai at his throat, she smiled sunnily at him,
"Gee Vince, you sure know how to keep a girl interested!"

Before he could react, she finished with,

"Just for that, I'll give you this clip back, before I put you to sleep, sound good?"

Followed by a knockout blow to the head with the hilt of her kunai. Rising, she continued down the wing to the vault's entrance, subduing the remaining guards, and getting what she came for. Everything was going smoothly until she came back toward Vincent's prone body and noticed one of the WEAPONS glowing and growing hot. She pulled it out of the bag she'd stored them in and watched in amazement as the glow intensified and a healing green aura of magic engulfed Vincent. He stood up frowning, seeing the traces of healing magic on him, but before he could ask about her seemingly strange actions, a shout sounded throughout the hall.

"You traitor Turk!"

The King bellowed, having seen Yuffie appear to have healed him,
"I knew I had to have had an inside source out me! No one else would've known about the change in the WEAPONS' location! Open fire!"

Vincent shot the ninja an incredulous look before following on her heels, dodging bullets in the process.

After escaping out of a hidden passageway to the countryside, he rounded on her,

"Why did you heal me, and what do you plan to do with those WEAPONS? Also, do you have any idea how you've ruined my life?! I'm a hunted man now, all because you stole my favorite tie clip!"

She threw her hands up in exasperation,

"I didn't, it was this gun!"

she exclaimed as she thrust the still glowing item into his hands. He yelped in surprise as it made contact with his fingers in a bright flash of light. When the pair recovered from it, they stared at the WEAPON in disbelief. It had turned into a real gun! No longer was it a mere figure carved out of stone. It still held some onyx within the wood inlay on the handle, but it was now a fully functional weapon.

"Well, that sure was something!"

The two turned toward the voice's source, a grinning man with a gun attached to his arm. Behind him, a blonde swordsman and brunette martial artist stood alert. All the while, the remaining WEAPONS in Yuffie's bag began to glow.