. R O A D . T O . D A M A S C U S .
. S A G A . O N E : T H E . A C A D E M Y .
Chapter Ten: The Gold Saucer
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:27, The Holy Bible KJV
Friday came and found the trio on the road oversea. Cloud looked very green, muttering about motion-sickness. The other Class Two Soldiers moved to the other side of the truck trying to avoid her. Zack watched in amazement on how her face shifted different shades of green, never minding her sickness.
General Sephiroth turned from where he sat in the front of the truck, reaching over to hand Cloud something, "Take this." The others stared in bafflement as they witnessed the General's rare kindness.
She gave him a grateful look, knowing it was motion-sickness pill. She plopped it in her mouth and sucked on it and she started to feel a bit better yet she still felt dizzy. The rest of the Soldiers sighed in relief as they noticed she no longer looked green, much to Zack's disappointment.
They had arrived at North Corel, a town south and below Gold Saucer, it was a quiet small coal-mining town. The Soldiers stood in straight line after getting out of the truck, waiting for General Sephiroth's command.
Zack stood before them, his hands behind his back and was joined by Sephiroth. There were four Class Two Soldiers that was eligible for Class One.
"One of you will be promoted, given a year to train for Class One, the only one." Sephiroth held out a finger, "We've been reported that there are some illegal beasts on loose in Gold Saucer. We are to take out the beasts; I've been told they are dragonlings, two of them. Two of you will go with Zack and two will go with me. No favoritism is expected here. Let's go, we are to start when we reach the top."
The six of them went to the station where they would be transported to the Gold Saucer. They all boarded the car that was attached to two strong cables that went up into the sky, clouds covering what was at the other end. They rode silently, their weapons ready and they were given short draw to who will join General Sephiroth and Zack, dividing up the team into two. Cloud and another was to join with Sephiroth while the two others will go with Zack.
Before they reached the top, Sephiroth made one last announcement, "If we finish early, we can use the rest of the day to have fun. We are to meet at zero six hundred hours at the front entrance to return."
Zack smirked, "Well, that sound good. We're going to take out the beasts quickly, right men?" The rest cheered while Sephiroth remained stoic silent and Cloud nodded, still feeling groggy.
They reached to the top, though the cloud revealed a large yellowish saucer that hovered over a tall pole that came from the ground, it dazzled and blinked with lights. It was a giant amusement park combined with casino. General Sephiroth stepped out of the cab and handed the man a pass for the Soldiers.
Another man came up to them and took their bags; they had rooms reserved at the Haunted House Inn in advance, one room for the Soldiers and one for Sephiroth. Zack had declined to have his own room because he felt he should stay with Cloud in the same room with the others.
"Zack, take Irvin and Marvy, cover the north part, Strife, Erikson, we're going to cover the south part. Remember, we're here to find the beasts, no playing until mission is done."
Zack went to the stairs that led to the northern part of the Golden Saucer, grinning like a crazed man with two Class Two Soldiers in tow, wondering if their commanding officer was sane or not. It was known among the Soldiers that with higher does of Mako make one insane. But it wasn't Zack's case; he was just merely over-excited as always.
Sephiroth turned and took the stairs that led to the southern part. Cloud and Erikson whose first name was Zeke followed after him. She learned he came from far north, from around Icicle town, he appeared easygoing guy who did whatever he was told to do. She thought he would make a good Soldiers but he did not have what it would take for one to be an Elite.
They stopped at the entrance to the first two selections of the southern part; it was either Chocobo Racing or Events area. Sephiroth stood by the entranceway, waiting for the two to make their choice.
Zeke turned to Cloud, "Suppose we try Events first?"
Cloud gave a nod, shrugging, and a quick glance to the General. She remembered he had told her that he was simply there to observe their judgment, fighting skill and among few other things.
They went the Events area first, didn't find anything out of the norm, asked around quickly as they could, getting what they need to know, inspecting the damage done by the monster loose in Gold Saucer. They even uncovered how the monsters had gotten there in the first place; somehow they had hitched a ride on the Runway and gotten loose in the saucer.
"So, it was two Spencer monsters that you saw?" Cloud asked a thin guy near at the Battle Arena.
"I don't know!" The thin man whimpered, shaking.
Zeke rolled his eyes and turned around, taking in the area, "All right, who have seen the monsters?"
A guy in the crowd squeaked, "Dio."
Cloud turned around, asking, "Where can we find this Dio?"
Then a burly large man stepped in, all muscled up and looking tough as he tries. Cloud nearly snickered and coughed to cover it up, "You're Dio?" She asked with hint of mirth in her voice. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Sephiroth looking bored as he leaned on the counter, watching the scene, but she caught a hint of smirk on his lip.
The man nodded, "Yeah, that's right. Dio, they call me, the champ and owner of the Battle Arena." The man puffed, attempting to make his self look even larger. He stood before them and peered over to Sephiroth.
Sephiroth stepped up beside Cloud and Zeke, "Have you or have you not seen the monster around?" He asked, brushing the imitating stare from the large man, getting annoyed with the overstuffed ego of the man.
Dio frowned and huffed, "Sure did, two of them running though my Arena. I don't own them that are for sure because it's nothing like the one I have."
Sephiroth nodded, "Good, what kind are they?"
The massive man rubbed his chin as he pondered, "Hm, I am pretty sure they're Spencer dragons, kind of small but vicious."
Cloud added, "Two of them?"
"Yeah."
Zeke sighed, "All right, where were they last seen and headed to?"
Dio peered over to Sephiroth, finding the General wearing stoic face. "Saw them recently last night and then again today earlier. They went on over to the Chocobo Racing arena. I think they smelt them birdies."
"Thank you." Sephiroth pivoted sharply, nearly whacking the man with his sheathed Masamune. Cloud couldn't stifle a grin as she followed him.
Zeke burst out laughing as they left the area. "That man isn't as tough as he look. I am sure General could take him in his arena."
"Not worth my time." Sephiroth commented as they headed to the Chocobo Arena, "but thank you for the compliment."
As they entered the arena, smell of stable hit their noses, Cloud found the events fascinating as she passed by. "I gotta come back here and watch this." She said under her breath and refocused on her duty, "Not here…" She glanced around.
"We should ask around," Zeke suggested.
Cloud went to the first person and started to ask question but before she could, a loud shriek rang in the air, she whipped her head to find the arena in chaos, birds scattering off the track and people scrambling to get out of the place. Two medium sized Spencer dragons lurked, one had feathers clinging to its lips. She whipped her sword out, quickly removed several orbs of Materia from her pockets and plopping them into slots on her sword and armband.
Zeke held his gun ready, "I guess that's them."
"Take the other, I'll take this one." Cloud directed as she trained her eye on a bigger one.
Zeke moved, trying to distract the other one away. "Let's go!" he yelled as he saw the arena cleared out with just them and the dragons. Sephiroth was no where to be seen. He shot at the dragon and kept shooting while Cloud was occupied with the first one.
The large one lunged toward Cloud and she leapt back, slashing it. It made retreat after being scratched. From the corner of her eye, she saw the second dragon swiped at Zeke, knocking him to the wall, making him slump down unconscious.
"Oh damn…" Cloud muttered as she faced the two dragons. One was badly wounded from the bullets but still making advances on her nonetheless. She stepped back, twirling her sword, trying to find her movement. Suddenly, surge of energy grew though her body, from her feet to her head, and she felt it pulse though her sword. She jumped into the air and raised the sword above her head, bringing it down as she descended; the sword glowed as she sliced though the larger dragon. It screamed as it cleaved in half and dissipated.
Zack had arrived to the area with the two other Soldiers but Sephiroth held them back at the door, "Let Strife finish." He watched Cloud, recognizing the surge of energy, she was about to get to her first limit break. "He's getting his first limit break."
Zack relaxed and leaned against the door frame, "Well, he's doing well."
She moved around, trying to avoid the second dragon as it advanced on her slowly. It was massive, it looked like it was about to lunge any moment. Having studied on beasts, she knew this one would kill her if it ever got hold of her. New surge of energy rose inside her, she twirled the blade around a bit, letting the energy thrum though the metal, causing white and blue glow of colors twirls after wake of the blade's movement.
Suddenly, she lunged and attacked, breaking though her second limit break, destroying the monster before anybody could blink.
"Whoa…" She stood back, holding her sword loosely, she was shaking, closing her eyes to calm the beating of her heart, and she heard someone clapping. Opening her eyes, she looked up and saw Sephiroth smiling at her secretly and clapping his hands. Zack was leaning against the doorframe, also grinning. She stared at them with her mouth agape, "You had been there the whole time and didn't help?" She saw two other Soldiers behind them, they were smiling as well.
"General wouldn't let us." One said as he stepped down and went over to Zeke to retrieve him and helps him. The other nodded as he followed the first.
Zack laughed and stepped down, pulling out couple of issued energy bars, "Here, have some. You must be shaking, that's normal after you experience your first limit break." She took the bars and started to eat them. "You managed the Braver and Cross-Slash, the first level."
Zeke started to wake up and with help of the two other Soldiers. Sephiroth stepped down and crossed his arms on his chest, "We tracked down the monsters in no time. Look like we have more free time. See you all in the morning, I do not want troubles." He announced and Zack cheered, turning to the other Soldiers and started to tell them where the best place to go.
Sephiroth shook his head at Zack's antics and went to Cloud's side, "Do you want to rest up before tonight?"
Cloud shook her head, "No way, I'm still raring to go. Let me go clean up and I'll meet you."
"I think I should too, let me show you the way to our rooms, and we'll meet then." He gestured the exit and led her the way to the Haunted House Inn.
Cloud had hopped into the shower and washed, taking extra few minutes to clean up and wrapped herself in towel. She smacked her head, forgetting her clothes in the bag, which was left in the bedroom.
She poked her head out of the bathroom, looking around and found Zack standing at their bed, poking though his duffel bag, pulling several things out. "Zack?"
"Hey. Come on, don't worry, I got the door locked, everyone else won't be coming back until late tonight." He said as Cloud stepped out, confused. "Come on, here, put these on." He tossed her panty, knowing she was glaring at him.
She slipped them on under her towel and stood there. "What are you doing?"
"Helping you to get ready for your date."
"What?"
"Here," He turned around, holding a bag. "I got you something." He saw her wary look, "It's not ticking."
Cloud took the bag and opened it, she gasped as she pulled the dress out, "Oh my…"
Zack grinned, "Go on, and put it on. I won't peek." He said as he turned around.
She hastily dropped her towel and pulled the dress on, smiling and feeling the fabric, playing with the skirt. Then she called out, "Zack, I need your help here." She turned around her back to him.
"Are you sure you're decent?" Zack asked.
"Yes! It's the zipper in the back, I can't get to it." She huffed.
Zack laughed as he went over to pull the zipper up, securing the dress on her. "You like?"
"Very much, how did you know my size?"
"I guessed, you should know, Sephiroth picked this dress out."
"He did?" She turned around, swishing her skirt, feeling like a true woman once again, a pink blush appeared on her cheeks.
"You look beautiful, though we need to do something with your hair." Zack said as he went back to his bag and pulled out a brush and blue sash. He helped to pull her hair back and braided it in short braid. Several spikes still stuck out, her hair was unique and she had it kept cut short to assume male gender. It was her feature that set her apart from everyone. Tying the sash over the spike to make her hair look decent, the bow flopped at the nape of her neck. "I learned how to fix hair a bit from my girlfriend. She keeps pestering me about my own hair, saying if I wanted to keep it long, I'd have to take care of it."
"Now, you're ready… or maybe not." Zack looked down to her feet, "I forgot you shoes… Kidding," He returned to the bag and pulled out pair of pale blue snuggle shoes. "I hope it fit, I had to steal your boot one night to go to the store and get this."
"No wonder, I was looking all over for my boot and found it the next day in the living room." She muttered as she slipped on the shoes and smiled, "How do I look?"
"Absolutely beautiful and cute rolled in one. Sephiroth is going to love this; he's been dying to see you in a dress once again. He tells me that he couldn't get the picture of you that night at the ball out of his mind."
She laughed and smacked him as she passed him.
Pacing back and forth at the bottom of the staircase of the Inn, Sephiroth looked nice in his black slack and silver white buttoned shirt that was open except for two buttons at his navel; he looked nice and casual, his hair was left loose, down his back.
His friend had told him to wait there while he went up to help Cloud. He felt pang of jealousy knowing his friend was in the room with Cloud at the moment, helping her to get dressed. He squashed the emotion, knowing that Cloud was more interested in him than Zack and the other way around as well.
He looked to the clock and saw it had been an hour since they had arrived to the Inn. He pondered idly how Cloud would look in the dress he had picked out for her. He liked the dress; it was the only decent one in the entire store, it looked innocent enough to him.
"General Sephiroth," He looked up to find Zack announcing, descending to his way, "your date has arrived." He swept his arm upward to the top where Cloud stood shyly.
Sephiroth swallowed as he watched her step down the stairs, looking gorgeous in the dress, looking unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. The dress was in different shades of blue, with full double-layered skirt being of the lightest of blues and falling down just past her knees, yet still somehow showing off her long legs. The top was short puffy-like sleeve with a dark blue bodice that enchanted her form, her cleavage were slightly exposed, showing her true gender.
His eyes traveled up to her face, seeing the familiar face he had grown to known. None of the shades in her dress matched her blue eyes, which looked like they glowed. He smiled as he saw her hair, pulled back in small braid and styled with sash.
"Wow…" He whispered as he stared at the woman before him. He fumbled with the object in his hands before giving it to her.
Cloud blushed horribly as she took the chocolate rose. "Thank you."
Zack grinned at the two from the side and clapped his hands, shaking them both out of their reveries, "You two look cute together, go and have fun!"
Sephiroth offered his arm and she slipped her hand though his, letting him take the lead. They made their way to the ride that was going around the Gold Saucer, showing the dazzling glory of the place. Sephiroth sat across from Cloud, watching her look around in amazement at the view below the ride. He felt like a different person with her, not the General Sephiroth as everyone viewed him to be, but a normal man that had carefree emotions, more to be precise, happy ones.
He tried to remember if he ever felt that way and realized he had never in his life time and frowned slightly. Shaking the though, he watched her face noticing the joy and happiness that shone in her blue eyes, making it sparkles. He realized he was seeing the true core of Cloud Strife, a pretty girl that was full of innocent. He suspected the last time she was truly happy was before her father ever announced he wanted a son.
"Oh look! Chocobo racing is on! I can see all those chocobos!" She squealed in delight and tried to lean out of the window a bit more, giving Sephiroth a fright. He grabbed her by the waist quickly before she decided to lean any farther. She sat back and looked at him innocently.
"Please do not do that again…" Sephiroth admonished lightly.
She laughed, her voice sounding like a bell to his ears, "You forget, I have a strong grip, all that training from Soldiers."
He smiled in return, "It is easy to forget you were ever Soldiers in a dress…" He reached over and caressed her cheek, making it pinker. He gazed at her, wondering if this new feeling was falling in love. He blinked as they returned to the loading dock; he stood and helped her off asking, "Would you like to have dinner now?"
She nodded, "Sure." Linking her arm with his, she smiled at him.
Cloud felt perfect being next to Sephiroth, she was slightly tall for average woman, being five seven with narrow waist and muscled up due to being a Solider but being in Sephiroth's presence, he made her feel like a woman through and through.
He relished in the new feeling he was feeling, she had leaned closer, hugging his arm as he listened to her chatting about just everything she could think of. He had learned she loved chocobo and wanted to ride them. He decided, he liked having her around and wished he had a normal life and be able to openly have relationship with her rather than in secret.
They got to the restaurant located in the center of Gold Saucer, high above and rotating to see the entire amusement park, light dazzling from below. They dined at a table for two with candlelight. Sephiroth stared at the candles, wondering if he had ever ordered the romantic setting and asked the waiter, he learned he did, calling back the next day and requesting after he had reserved. He recalled never calling back; he suspected Zack was behind the plot.
They've enjoyed their dinner, shared a massive dessert and soon they were found at the Chocobo arena, the game closed but they were the only one on the track, riding the chocobos.
Cloud shouted with thrill as she zipped past Sephiroth on a golden chocobo. He had convinced the manager to let them have fun on the track. It only took the manager one look at Cloud, who had stood beside Sephiroth, looking cute with pouting lips, star shining in her eyes, and he agreed immediately.
Sephiroth though the manger was a pushover for cute and pouting women. He figured he would take the advantage for once and made a mental note to not allow Cloud to do it ever again for any other men. He felt jealous for a moment there and didn't like it, he liked the thought that Cloud was for him and only him.
They both raced on the racetrack, enjoying their time. He had found a new talent in Cloud, she was a great chocobo racer, and often, she won against him. She laughed at the end of the line, slipping off the great bird and pointed to Sephiroth, giving a little dance, "That's seven in a row! I beat the great General Sephiroth! You owe me them chocolate bars!"
He got off his bird and held his hands up in defeat, "All right, that's fourteen bars in total, right?" He laughed as she danced around him and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close to him.
She nodded, looking up to him, blushing, "Fourteen, yes…" She laughed and poked him on the chest, "The great General Sephiroth owes me fourteen chocolate bars…" She said in sing-song voice.
He chuckled as he grabbed the offending finger and gave it a playful tug, "What is it with you and chocolate?" He asked as he led her off the track, still holding her waist.
"I like it; I never had it when I was growing up." She said.
"Really? When did you first taste them?"
Cloud gave a shrug and leaned her head on his shoulder as they strolled though the Gold Saucer, "I think I first tasted it when my father came home from work. He had a bar, just one. He gave me a bite, it was heaven and I've never tasted another like that. After I enlisted, I saw this candy store in the mall and went to it. I found the same kind of bars and bought one. I decided to not ever lose any chance I have with such delicious stuff and bough them every month to treat myself ever since. I get crazy craving for them."
"Yeah, I heard a whole box every day for a week a month." He said, smirking.
She gasped, "Where did you hear that?"
"Zack."
Gaping, she shook her head, "Zack! Oh, he's going to get it, sneaking around in my stuff!"
"It wasn't him; he found this out from an old roommate of yours… I believe Reno, wasn't it?"
"Reno?" She frowned, "Reno, never thought he'd go nosey in my stuff. Well, he's going to get an earful."
They laughed and chatted as they returned to the Inn. As they reached to the top of the stairs before their doors, Cloud paused as she looked at her bedroom door, "I can't go in there like this." The light shone from under her door and voices came from it, the rest of the Soldiers had returned for the night. There was no way she would waltz in the bedroom as she was.
"Care to join me for a drink?" Sephiroth bowed slightly, gesturing to his door. She smiled and nodded, allowing herself to be led to the other bedroom.
Zeke reached to the top of the stairs, his hands full with drinks he had gotten from the nearby café. He caught glimpse of a pretty blond woman going into the General's room.
"Hey, who's the pretty blonde that General got in his room?" He asked as he entered the Soldiers' bedroom. Soon, everyone spilled out of the room and went over to General's door, scrabbling to peek though the keyhole. They clamored over who she was, and was she pretty or hot.
Zack groaned as he stepped out of the room, "Guys, come on. He'll have your heads if he finds you here." Soon the Soldiers groaned and sulked back into the bedroom. Then he smacked his head lightly, remembering that Cloud had no way of getting back into the bedroom without exposing herself. He made a mental note to sneak her bag out of the room after the others went to bed and leave the door unlocked for her reentry.
Turning back in the room, "Hey, I think we should turn in soon, we gotta get up in few hours."
"Wow, your room is big! And you get this huge bed all to yourself!" Cloud commented as she sat on the bed and bounced a bit to see how bouncy it was.
Sephiroth poured two cups of wine and handed one to her, "I hope you had fun tonight."
She smiled as he sat down next to her and sipped the wine, "Yes, I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun."
"Me either, I truly enjoyed your company tonight…" He watched her from the side; she was already glowing from the soft light in his room, making her look all too attractive. The wine was causing her to have light pink tinge on her cheeks.
"I'd love to have my own chocobo someday." She commented idly as she leaned back on the bed, placing the cup on the nightstand and snuggled into the pillows on the bed. "Ooh, you're so funny when you swore your head off when I cut you off at one point. I've never though you could swear that colorful…" She leaned back up on her elbows, gazing at him, finding him staring back with much intensity. "What?"
He gave a soft chuckle, "You're amazing," He reached out and pulled her up close to him, "I was thinking earlier of how I could have fallen in love with you all over again tonight."
She blushed, looking at their linked hands, "When was the first time?" She asked as her fingers twined with his.
"That night, at the ball," she looked up in surprise, her mouth in form of an O. "I almost forgot; I am sorry for what I did that night." He traced her cheek with his free hand.
She nodded, "well, it was nice…" She recalled their dances together and the kiss.
He frowned, "But you ran off."
She gave a deep exhale, "I know, I didn't want to get too close to impose risk on my secret. I honestly do not want to go back to Nibelheim."
"I understand. I doubt I would let you go if you ever were caught by the ShinRa… I'd find a way to keep you around."
She blinked at him, "Really?"
"Yeah. I've never felt this way before, ever. It was new and it made me feel…" He looked away to the window and smiled softly, "human."
"You are human." Cloud said looking up to his face, frowning.
He shook his head, "I don't feel human most of the time, I'm a trained solider, a ruthless fighting machine… All of this, I've never experienced it before in my whole life, the fun, friends, this feeling of love… My life, every moment was planned and controlled by the ShinRa, to no end. I just got lucky landing myself a ten year easy job at the Academy and the Training Fortress."
"Do they know you're doing this, you're seeing a woman?" She asked as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"No. They do not realize I'm taking advantage of them, working on loopholes to get you in Elites so you'd be closer to me. I'm tired of being a solider; I have finally just begun to dream…" He felt her head move to look up at him and he turned his head to meet her eyes and he touched her face, "Dreams of normal life, life that is not of military."
"That's a good dream." She said softly. "I'm afraid of my own dream."
"Why?"
"Nibelheim… if I am to ever return to Nibelheim… it's going to be destroyed and it will be my fault."
Sephiroth nodded, "For now, let's just enjoy what we have. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it, we share the same future." He cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned down, capturing her lips in gentle but passionate kiss.
He felt her return the kiss and they deepened the intimacy, tasting wine upon each other lips. He wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer to him as her arms snaked around his neck, her hand clutching his silver mane, afraid to let go if it were just a dream.
w w w . y a s h o d o a . c o m / r o a d t o d a m a s c u s