Cloud's POV
The hike to the chocobo farm we ended up at was much further than the one going to Kalm, but this time we were prepared. It stood in the middle of the most fertile land I had ever seen. As far as the eye could see was grassy planes and tree's that sounded with life as we walked through it all. White picket fences surrounded a large ranch that was filled with Chocobos. Aeris and Tifa dart off in front to inspect the magnificent birds as me, Barret and Red maintain our casual pace.
"Sooo cute!" Aeris squeaks like an excited child.
"We're here for directions, remember." Barret shouts to the pair.
"Spoil sport!" The flower girl pouted as she leans over the paddock fence
We finally catch up to the two girls and we all head to the house to the left of the paddock. The ranch owner must have seen us coming because he's out of the front door before we get to it with a pitchfork in in his hand.
"Like I told you Shinra schmucks last time! I ain't selling you a single acre!" The bearded man shouts angrily.
"We're not with Shinra." I say, holding my hands up to show I mean him no harm. "In fact we're against them. We just came to ask for directions."
"You look like on of them Soldier freaks to me.." He says, glaring at me.
"I used to be... We have escaped from the headquarters and we're chasing Sep... I mean Shinra across the globe to stop them." I reply.
"Hmm.. Okay.. Well they're almost definitely heading to Junon which is over that mountain range over there." He points, easing his grip on his improvised weapon as he relaxes.
"Great, thanks." Tifa nods as we all turn to the mountain.
"Wait! You have to cross the marsh to get to the mountain and the Zolom will get you!" The ranch owner protests.
"Zolom?" Barret asks.
"The Midgar Zolom.. A huge serpent that swallows men whole.. The only way across is a Chocobo."
"Lemmi guess.. You're gonna sell us one..." Barret asks, sharing my skepticism.
"Nope, all those are a client's.. You'll have to catch one. My son, Billy is in the stables over there. Go speak to him and he'll help you out."
He points over to a large wooden building stands next to a huge grain silo and a well. We nod politely and make our way over to the large, open doors that reveal two rows of stables; all of which are empty. We catch a young man's attention as we enter the barn and he quickly returns a saddle to the nearest shelf and walks over to us, clinking his spurs with each step.
"Do you want a Chocobo?" The young man asks.
"Give me one." I say, getting straight to the point.
"You old folks are outta luck!"
"Old folks?" I mumble to myself. I'm 21...
"We're all out of chocobos. I'm taking care of the ones out there for someone else." Billy replies. "You know.. If you really want a chocobo you should go out and catch one yourselves. Want to know how?"
The young rancher explains in great detail the process involved in catching the great, people carrying birds but my heart sinks when he tells me the price of what we need. I gave the money to that girl... Everyone is looking at me for a solution and I have none, so I decline the man's offer and leave the barn.
"Yo, spiky! You should have more than enough, seeing as I pay you too much!" Barret shouts.
"He just wants our money.. Who's ever heard of a giant man eating snake before?" I ask, to embarrassed to say why I really didn't buy the materia and greens.
"Whatever man.. We goin' or what?"
We set off over the planes until we reach the edge of the marshland that looks intent on swallowing us up. I'm genuinely worried about the Zolom creature that the rancher told us about but I wasn't going to give the rest of the group; Barret in particularly, the satisfaction of seeing my hesitation. I lead the way through the boggy swamp that is covered with an eery fog that makes navigating it even more dangerous. It took us an age just to get half way through and the mountain in front of us never seemed to get nearer.
"My dress is soaking.." Aeris moans, unintentionally filling me with grief but quickly realizing it. "Oh well.. It'll dry once we're on the other side." She added, cheerily, more for my sake.
"At least there's no killer snake in here.." Tifa says, doing well to keep up with me. "I knew it was just a folks tale."
"It's no folks tail, miss.. It's here.." Red say's causing us all to freeze on the spot and Aeris to yelp.
"Red, If this is some sort of joke, I'mma shoot your furry ass." Barret threatened out the corner of his mouth, still frozen still.
"It's no danger.. not anymore at least.. Look.." Red nods towards the base of the mountains that are shrouded in a thick mist.
We all scan the area, finding nothing at first, but soon the fog thins slightly and I see something my brain takes too long to process. A snake, longer than a train is skewered through it's skull on what's left of a tree trunk.
"Holy shit..." Barret mumbles, taking in the gruesome view.
I start to run, quickly realizing I didn't sink the faster I went. Why didn't I think of this before?... The first feeling of solid ground beneath my feet was a welcome one as I continued to make my way to the Zolom. It's so much bigger now that I was stood next to it than I first thought and it lead my to question what I'm doing. If Sephiroth did that single handed then how could I ever beat him. The sound of heavy breathing behind me snapped me out of my insecurities and we all took a moment to rest and look upon the work of Sephiroth.
"Almost feel sorry for the poor thing.. It went in search of prey and ended up becoming it.." Aeris said, scrunching up her nose at the foul stench.
I could see the entrance to the passageway through the mountains in the distance and the smell of stagnant blood that ran down the trunk of the tree was beginning to make us all feel sick, so we set off again, into the cave.
Lightning's POV
I started off my journey with a walk, but with every step I feel my body finally recovering from its time of stillness and I break into a run. I'm almost enjoying my run through the grassy fields, rolling the strange crystals in my hands as I do. Then it hit's me. A smell I recognize that is carried to me by a northern breeze. The ocean? Instantly forgetting everything, I changed my direction to head north and follow the wonderful smell of the shore that only takes me half an hour to get to.
At first, I wasn't sure why my subconscious was begging me to go to the coast; a survival instinct perhaps? But as soon as my boots grace the warm, dry sand I close my eyes and it hit's me. Visions of fireworks and music fill my mind as a warm feeling flows over me.
You look dreamy, Farron.. Call yourself a Soldier... You're taking tomorrow off?... Twenty one huh?... Officer training... Think of your sister...
"Serah... Serah!" I shout as more memories come flooding back.I have a sister..
I walk back inland, away from the barren shores as my mind races with more information. I lived by the sea.. I'm a soldier... I have a sister. The thought of being a soldier seems foreign to me but is I continue my walk, I remember the story Cloud told his friends and wonder if I was once a soldier like him. Maybe me and him were in the same regiment. Yet again, I'm snapped out of my thought; this time with the warble of familiar creatures.
"Chocobos?" I wonder as my eyes gaze upon a small group of white buildings with faded red roofs in the distance.
With caution, my feet take me in between the house and the barn and I peer around it's wall. Happy that the coast is clear, I step out from cover to be met with the sight of chocobos basking in the sun, inside a small pen. Letting my guard down I walk over to the whitewashed fence as the nearest chocobo walks over to greet me. I hold my hand out to meet the magnificent creature's face and stroke it's soft neck as it clucks happily, enjoying the attention. The giant bird rubs it's beak into my palm before opening it and dropping something warm onto it.
"Friendly little guy, ain't he?" A man's voice speaks behind me, causing me to spin around on the spot and keep the item I haven't actually seen yet tight in my grip.
"Sorry, I was just looking-" I begin to explain my presence.
"Not to worry miss, your not the first stranger to get drawn in by the sight of Chocobos.. Heck a group of people where here a couple of hours ago."
"Was one of them a guy with blonde, spiky hair?" I ask, hoping it was them.
"Yeah, the guy with the great big sword and the Soldier eyes. Came here looking for a way to cross the marsh without the Zolom getting them."
"Zolom?"
"You as well? The Zolom is a huge snake that lives in the marsh. Only way of crossing is with a Chocobo." The man explains.
"Can I rent one of yours?" I ask, eager to catch up to the mysterious blonde.
"Like I told your friends, these are a client's so I can't rent them. My son is in the barn over there.. I'm sure he can help you capture one, miss."
I give the man a faint smile and head to the barn to find his son cleaning out one of the stables. Leaning against the large door frame, I stand and wait for him to notice me and eventually he does. We talk for a while as I explain my predicament to which he tells me about everything I need to catch a chocobo. After half an hour I'm 1000 gil lighter but I have a new purple coloured materia crystal, as well as the strange red one the chocobo spat out and a hand full of vegetables called greens.
Leaving the ranch behind me, I set off across the grassy planes in search of a chocobo, hoping I hadn't just been conned into buying a piece of glass that supposedly attracted chocobos. The minutes pass and so do the miles and I'm beginning to feel really stupid and am debating if I should go back and cut the farm boys head off, but the sight of a feathery head sticking up over the long grass brings me hope. Carefully, I stalk it like it's my prey, getting as close as I can without spooking it. It notices me when I'm about twenty feet away and watches me with a cautious eye. Maintaining eye contact, I take one of the greens and toss it on the ground, half way between us both and the blonde bird trots towards it and begins to eat. Seizing my chance, I walk slowly towards my feathered ride but I don't manage three steps before the bird bolts, disappearing in seconds.
"Damn..." I curse myself.
I encounter another three in the next hour but each time, the timid creature makes a break for it with the food. After another fifteen minutes and another failure, my patience had snapped and I find myself stomping back towards the chocobo farm with a wicked plan. I'm soon back at the ranch and I march right over to the paddock full of chocobos. I slide open the bolt on the gate and I hold out my last green, attracting the attention of the nearest bird.
"Don't suppose yo u wanna give me a lift?" I ask jokingly as I feed the animal, but to my surprise it lowers it's body to allow me to climb on. Not needing to be told twice I climbed on the mighty bird and it stood up again and set off out of the paddock, just as the ranch owner ran from his house.
"Hey! Come back with that chocobo!" I hear him shout, but I keep going, never looking back once as the Chocobo picks up speed.
I feel bad for taking the poor guy's chocobo, but nothing and no one will stop me from finding out answers to the many questions I had about myself. Somehow, my feathered transport seemed to know exactly where I wanted to go, and in now time at all we were crossing the marsh at blistering speed. Yet again, I'm to busy daydreaming about my slowly returning memories to notice what spooked my ride. The blonde bird bucks and before I can react I'm laying face down in the mud.
"Oww.." I cough, spitting out a mouthful of swamp water as I climb to my feet.
I jump back in shock when I see it and draw my sword before I fully realize the situation. Blood runs down the body of a snake that I so big I'm having trouble accepting it's real. It's impaled on the trunk of a huge tree, as if left as an example of it's killers power. Did Cloud do this?I think, suddenly becoming apprehensive about meeting the man who carried me to safely. It makes no difference, I've come this far now.. There's no turning back.
A/N: Wooo A review. Was starting to feel lonely here haha. Not much to say about the story really, it's much easier to write than the others and i'm enjoying it. Moving on to the news ive waited 18 years for.. It's happening. They're actually remaking final fantasy 7. I'm so excited. If you haven't watched the trailer look it up, it's amazing. I could write a whole chapter long breakdown of what I saw in that chapter but the main thing most people notice is the two soldiers who I think is Biggs and Jessie. There's so many hidden little gems in the trailer and one even I didn't believe I saw at the beginning. See if you know.
Question: What final fantasy X (Yes that right ff10) Character is seen in the ff7 remake trailer?
