ix. whizz pop


Felt like a dream, how the days slipped away so quickly.

North Corel. The Golden Saucer. The weapon seller who had a nice house. Gongaga. The Ancient Forest. Cosmo Canyon. Nibelheim.

Sunshine and rain; moonbeams and thunderstorms, and still the two women travelled on.

Helena could hardly believe two months had passed while on their vacation, and still, nothing was coming back to her. Oh, there were glimpses, sensory moments in which she believed that she could almost touch the corresponding memory with her fingers. Those moments were only moments, ending, and then urge to touch slipped away. Like a light switch, on and off again.

Two months.

"Maybe Rocket Town will be the one?" Jackie gave a bright smile, luggage in her hand.

"Maybe, yeah." Slow to answer, Helena eventually returned the grin but was unable to convey a firm belief, lacking the genuineness that was a central part of her. "Hope so."

Two months, and she's still as lost as when she opened her eyes on that briny beach.


It was totally the leaflet's fault, Helena would later say, when she looked back at this moment.

Completely and utterly the leaflet's fault.

Because she just couldn't resist taking rides on chocobos because they were her favourite animal of time. Plus, they made that adorable 'kweh' sound that made her squeal and pet the chocobo and stroke those fluffy feathers once more.

"Please?" Helena grinned, megawatt smile lighting up her hazel eyes. "I mean, you don't have to go or anything, but—a chocobo ranch! A chocobo ranch with chocobo babies and different colours like chocobo pink and chocobo yellow and chocobo green and chocobo blue!"

"Okay, kiddo." Jackie laughed, amused by the childish enthusiasm as she twisted a lock of her chestnut hair around her fingertips. "Do what you want – go and see them. Who knows, maybe you're a chocobo racer? Or, were one, at any rate. Maybe?"

The elder female did not look convinced at the idea, much to the blonde's annoyance, who rather liked the idea that she could in fact be a chocobo racer.

"Twenty Gil says I'm a natural." Helena said immediately, recognizing that look on Jackie's face anywhere. So, clearly, she had to make the bet first. Obviously.

"Thirty Gil says you're not." Jackie leered, snapping her fingers immediately, and it looked a little predatory. But then Jackie kind of scared the younger girl with her competitive streak which she tried so hard to hide. It reared its ugly head when quiz shows were on, and the brunette both knew and didn't know the answer. Helena wisely kept her mouth shut during those moments, unless directly addressed.

"You're on." They shook on it, and the blonde paused as she reached the door. "Make sure you don't forget it."

"Why ever would I do that?" Never mind that she usually changed the conditions and amount of Gil and odds on the bets that were made. Jackie never bought it. "I play fair."

"Sure you do." Emerald eyes rolled, and Helena quickly shut the door behind her to block out the laughter.


Perhaps the only thing to console Helena was the thought of chocobo babies in multicolour splendour.

And the colour of the sun, illuminating the clear blue sky.

If only there wasn't the promise of rain, so the forecast said.


"Rude, Reno here." The redhead sighed, stretching his arms and legs and relishing the sound of his bones clicking. Others may find it disgusting, but those other people's disgusted expressions were sometimes worth it. But right now, with the evening drawing close, he didn't really care. "Job done."

"… okay then." Reno strained his ears, sure he could hear Rude typing. His best friend did always have an addiction to computers, or keyboards, and typewriters, always pressing buttons. "When are you coming back?"

"A day or two." Lips quirked upwards, and he flashed a crooked smile. "I think I deserve a pat on the back. Once in a while."

"… sure." Apathetic, as usual, Rude was not impressed. "Once in a while."

"Darling, you shouldn't sound so droll. It really isn't your style." He stopped where he was, admiring the Rocket. He really did like this town, partly because the bar tender had a pretty face and partly because the atmosphere was so friendly. Unfortunately, their job had been a deadend. Celebration was nonetheless needed. After all, he remained on the job till the very end. He yawned, unable to suppress it any longer.

"Reno…" A warning.

"I'm fine." Blinking, Reno gathered his bearing and decided to walk to the pub. Stopped, giving in to the dizziness for just a moment. Just a second. Just a breath. "Ugh, who am I kidding – I need a fucking drink."

"A drink isn't the solution to everything." Rude's disproving concern was beginning to grate.

Yeah. I know. He wanted to say that, sullenly adding, Mom. Instead, he exhaled, and murmured quietly. "It can be."

He hung up.

Then turned his PHS off in case Rude tried to call him.

He didn't need that shit.

He just… needed to lose his head and not think.

With that in mind, he entered the pub.


"Oh crap!" Helena raked her hands through her hair, finally, finally, finally noticing the setting sun.

She'd been having such fun.

And now she had to go back.

Problem was, since it was getting dark, she was most likely going to get disorientated as she headed back to Rocket Town. And trip over tiny pebbles.

Guess I have to make a phone call then.


"Are you sure, Hel?" Jackie sighed, shoulders slumped. "It's getting pretty late. Think you can make it back?"

"I, er… don't know." Her blonde friend was pacing, as she was prone to do when conflicted. Jackie could just about hear her footsteps on the ground. "I mean, he's perfectly willing to lend me a room, but—"

"My advice, Helena, is to stay. Seriously. With monsters in the dark… you without a weapon… you're going to terrify that poor chocobo." Reasoning this out, the brunette tried to use persuasion. "It's too risky, and I don't want that on my conscious. Poor little chocobo, without his mama, or papa. Think about it."

"Well, I wouldn't want that to happen." Helena murmured to herself on the other side. "Alright, fine. You win."

"… I win?" Grinning, she wondered if that was what she thought it meant, green eyes gleaming. "I win our little bet?"

"No!" Helena shrieked, a little too high pitched for Jackie's liking. "I didn't mean—I didn't mean that! I win that! That thirty Gil is mine, Jacks."

"You're a liar." Jackie chuckled, and only shrugged when her roommate hung up too angry to deign a response. "I know you too well, squirt."

Slumping on the barstool, the chestnut brunette turned her attention to the television.

"Rumour has it that his silver hair has saved us all." The news reporter said, gazing at admiration at the man.

Sephiroth. The latest cream of the crop, a long line of good looking men and failure for politics. And surprisingly green.

"Maybe," Jackie muttered to herself, sceptical. "I don't believe it, though."

Whatever, she shrugged, she could use another drink.

Approaching the barmaid, she stopped to give a smile to a redhead, who was slouching and giving her a very tempting look. One which she returned wholeheartedly flirtatiously. Since Helena wasn't here, she couldn't resist having a little fun. He looked to the type to know how to have a good time.

"Lady," he grinned, eyes green and glittering, up for some fun, red hair messed and tousled, "whatever you want, it's on me."

She bit back a smile and thought carefully before she opened her mouth, intrigued by what fun she could have with him.