Ch 12
"So you guys are trying to find a bad guy and beat Shinra?"
"Yep."
"Just the six of you?"
"Yeah."
"That's so cool! Will we find a ton of materia?"
"You bet."
"Are you all that good?"
"Totally" I really wasn't paying attention, the minute Yuffie caught up with us I had to deal with all of her questions and even her stupid sneak attempts. It was easier just to say yes to what ever she would say. Honestly we have only been walking for three hours and I have had to knock her hand of my bracer fifty times. And she keeps targeting me too, its total crap...You know Yuffie IS an optional character...maybe I could just murder her one time and be done with it.
"So whats your story?" I looked at her.
"I got dragged into this mess." Yes just one good sleeper hold...she'll never know she was eaten by monsters.
"Really? You seem like a good fighter, obviously not better than me, but you did catch me off guard..." She's only 5'2. I'm a full foot taller, it would be so easy just to lift her up by the neck and cut off the air.
"I was one of the best fighters in Wutai..." Yuffie isn't needed. Its not like Advent children was canon anyway. Maybe I could prevent that too, then she defiantly wouldn't be missed
"The Single White Rose of Wutai is what I was called ." Yuffie gone, out of my hair...Sunshine, lollipops and, rainbows, everything that's wonderful is what I feel when, we're together...Strangle you into, submission so that, you'll never know whats coming and, We''ll be gone...
"Hey new girl, stop bugging Nate." Barret yelled.
"Aww but he was enjoying what I was saying. Weren't you Nate?"
"Yeah totally Yuffie."
"See? Your just jealous he was talking to a babe like me." I hear Barret just grumble and keep walking. Maybe I can keep this simple answer thing going.
"Well we're coming up on Junon so everyone be on guard. It is almost as bad as Midgar." Thank you Planet. I can see the complex coming out of the side of the mountain as we approach. Since our forest escapade were arriving almost at sunset so we can get into an inn or something. However coming up on the little town at the bottom of the place I lost any good feeling.
"What happened to this town? Its so run down..." Cloud said. The whole place was colored dull browns, blacks, and greys. All the towns people that were walking around; which really wasn't all that much to begin with, looked depressed. However remembering about the upcoming boss battle I sobered up.
"Hey Barret, you should switch back to your assault riffle."
"Huh, but this is a good weapon."
"Maybe to that band of lizards we fought in the forest but against a group of MP's I doubt they will give you the chance to attack." He rubbed his chin for a second before switching out his weapons. Tifa had the long range materia and I guess Yuffie will stop bugging me to kill a boss. I was the magic specialist so I guess Aeris and Cloud will be the support.
"Come on, lets see whats going on." Cloud made us explore the town a little but there really wasn't all that much to go through, even when we went into the weapon shop it only sold mythril armlets.
"You seem tense." I looked over at Red.
"I have a really bad feeling."
"Relax. There isn't that much around here that can hurt us all." We eventually ended up on the beach. I was ready to cast a fire spell already. But the sea seemed rather calm.
"Who are you guys? Are you members of Shinra?" I saw the girl, she was about fourteen, if I remember correctly her name was Priscilla.
"No you got it all wrong, were fighting against Shinra." Barret tried to explain.
"I don't believe you! Get out of here!" Immediately I noticed in the distance that there were abnormally larger and larger waves coming towards the shore.
"Oh shit." I mumbled. Nanaki looked at me.
"Whats wrong?" He looked in the direction I was facing and his eyes widened as well. Bottomswell was starting to rise out of the sea.
"Heads up guys, we got trouble." Everyone was on guard and looked at the massive sea creature come out. The dolphin that Priscilla taught earlier was swimming past the monster.
"Be careful Mr. Dolphin!" She tried to run after him but the large serpent made a large wave that knocked her underwater. She didn't try to swim up afterwords.
"Hey! Hold on we're coming!" Cloud pulled out his buster sword and ran up to hit the creature, but it rose too high into the air and then hit him with its tail attack.
"I can't reach it."
"I can." Barret started firing at the monster and it screeched when the bullets impacted its side. Then the creature cast something. Next to me Barret was suddenly encased in a large bubble, but he started struggling. Looking harder it was filled to the brim with water.
"Guys he's suffocating!"
"Kinda busy Nathan!" Tifa yelled as she threw a punch into the air which cause a shock wave to hit the serpent. It would have been cool if Barret wasn't drowning right infront of me. Cloud came up and slashed at the bubble, but it only seemed bounce the slash off.
"How are we supposed to burst this?"
"Let me try." I cast fire on it and it popped easy. Barret was on his knees, breathing heavily.
"Okay magic and long range is how we'll kill this thing." I told Cloud.
"Okay, everyone with long range weapons attack, others will support with magic!"
"Got it!" I saw Yuffie run up and throw her shuriken, it cutting the creature a decent length before it twirled back and she caught it, ready to toss it again.
"Aeris help Barret out." She ran over and cast cure on him. I charged a bolt and launched it at Bottomswell. The jolt only seeming to anger the creature some more. It launched a tail strike at me and slammed me across the sand. Aeris coming up and helping me now. Cloud took his enemy skill materia and cast flamethrower. I guess he got it while we were separated in the mines. The creature had a side of its body grilled and it started slapping the water.
"What the hell is it doing?" I heard Barret yell. I noticed the water start to rise every now and again. I slammed Fusion into the sand, barring it most the way and I took a deep breath.
"Nathan what are you doing?" Aeris asked.
"Everyone hold your breath!" I yelled before holding it again. Then he serpent slammed into the water. Creating a huge wave that slammed over everyone. Almost all of my teammates were thrown back against the beach wall save Barret who was the heaviest out of all of us and Nanaki taking a decent stance on the ground just to be pressed by the wave. Aeris was almost thrown back if I didn't use my spare hand to hold her shoulder to keep her close. After a few seconds the huge wave subsided Pulled out Fusion and felt its energy pulsating again. I got into my usual stance and drew the sword. My air slash traveling at the monster and being able to get a deep gash on its face. I saw a familiar weapon fly past me and slice the creature as well and fly back. I looked and saw a very drenched Yuffie stumbling as she caught the weapon.
"Here use my fire, get your barrings before you use your weapon." I tossed it to her and she seemed to lighten right back up. And continued to throw her weapon anyway. Barret got up and charged a Big Shot. Aeris was chanting, probably getting a healing up, and everyone else ready to cast.
"Everyone go!" Cloud yelled. Barret let out his Big shot and took a good chunk of the creatures tail. Tifa let loose a fury of punches that flew through the air and hit the wound. Yuffie threw her weapon again and I zapped at the monster. The creature let out one more screech and fell into the water. However due to it still being at the same height as its big wave attack it actually sent another one into the group. Everyone being unprepared was thrown back into the beach walls. It took about a minute for me to finally get my bearings and spit out all the water in my lungs. I look over and see everyone else in a similar state. But I also see the unmoving body in the middle of the place.
"Oh shit, Cloud get over here!" I ran up and looked her over. Cloud coming up as well.
"This is bad...you don't think she's dead do you?" I pressed my fingers to her neck, it was faint but I could feel a beat.
"She's alive but we need to get her fixed up."
"Priscilla!" We all looked over and saw a middle aged man run up. He checked her and shook his head.
"No..she's not breathing..." I stood up.
"Its okay she still has a heart beat, we just need someone to do CPR."
"Oh course! Alright young man you do it!"
…
….
"I think my friend Cloud here is more suited for that job."
"Nathan you really shouldn't waste time." He snapped quickly.
"Come on Nate!" Barret yelled.
"She'll die if you don't." Tifa said
"Fine!" I leaned down and took a deep breath. I held her nose and blew the air into her lungs. However unlike the game I actually knew the procedure. I counted to ten while I compressed her lungs and then repeated. I don't know if it was because I did it properly or the game made it seem hard but after the third round of compressing she started coughing up water and gasping for air.
"Hey,hey. Priscilla are you alright." The man picked her up from her back and knees and ran up the stairs back to the village. I was sitting in the sand until I felt a heavy hand slap my back.
"Good job Nate, I didn't know you knew CPR." Barret said with me brushing the dirt off my shirt.
"Thanks man." I mumbled. I really didn't like the extra attention on this particular scenario.
"Any longer and who knows what would have happened." Tifa said.
"You did a good job Nathan." Cloud came up. I gave him a glare which he ignored. Everyone walked back up to the village.
"Excuse me." We all saw and old woman walk up to us.
"Are you the people who helped Priscilla." We all nodded.
"Oh follow me." We all complied and followed her to the first house we saw on our arrival.
"Please come inside." Going in I noticed the place was very warm and cozy.
"I heard what happened. You have done much for Priscilla." She lead us to the group of beds.
"You all must be very tired, if you want to get some rest, stay here." She was walking out the door before she turned. "Make yourselves at home." She then left. Barret looked around the place before taking a chair.
"I'm gunna relax a while."
"Okay everyone I guess were staying here." Cloud said.
"Then I am going to find a shower to wash my clothes and myself."
"Nathan is that the first thing that comes to your mind when we get somewhere with water?"
"When I smell like Zolom guts and sea water yeah." I found some stairs that lead to the second level. I found another room with some more beds. I quickly found the bathroom. I started by rinsing all the grim and crud off my clothes, then I pick out a towel and started washing myself off. I was so happy to have warm water. I never liked the feeling of stale dirt clinging to my skin. After all this and letting my clothes dry for a bit started putting them back on. However half way through I looked in the mirror and was surprised at what I saw. I had muscle...well more than I did before I came here anyway. That healthy touch of fat on me was almost gone and I had almost a swimmers build. My biceps and forearms were noticeably harder too. I was so extricated.
"Dude no way!"
"Nathan? What is it?" I heard Cloud call I ran down to him with a smile on my face.
"Dude I have muscles! Its awesome I never thought I'd have this kind of build without working out for a month or two!" I saw him groan and cover his face.
"What?" He pointed at me and I realized I ran down without my shirt and only my pants on. To my right I saw Barret holding in his laughter, Nanaki having his good eye on me, and the girls just giggling at me.
"He! 'snot funny." I didn't bother trying to cover up my chest. I knew my arms wouldn't do much.
"Does he do this a lot?" Yuffie asked.
"Nathans a little odd, but reliable" Aeris explained. I grumbled as I went back upstairs, threw on my shirt and went back down.
"Okay everyone, that's enough excitement for one day, I'm going to sleep." Barret joked. Everyone compiled and we all went to bed. I was a little hesitant since my last...nightmare. But soon enough I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
ATE
"Sightings of AVALANCHE as well? Man security around here is so bad. Yo we need to start getting people with brains into the army." Reno was babbling to the rest of the Turks who were at joying the local Junon bar. Enjoying drinks.
"But with Heidegger as their leader I guess anyone has more brains than him. And with Hojo's resignation letter we lost a ton of our brains." He took a sip of alcohol and continued his one sided conversation with Rude.
"Should we really be relaxing while AVALANCHE is reported around here?" Elena said. Tseng made a dismissive wave with his hand.
" Reno makes a few good points, their faces are too well known. The minute the set foot into Junon, Mp's will take care of them. We are already heavily guarded enough since the coronation is tomorrow."
"I still think its total shit the president doesn't want us on the boat." Reno threw back another glass. Rude just nodded.
"He has a few extra MP's on board. He believes that will be good enough."
"You don't believe that one bit."
"True, but I also know you only want to be on that boat so you can see the women at Costa de Sol." He took a drink.
"That's not totally true!" He yelled and pointed at Tseng. "Maybe AVALANCHE will find a way in the boat. Then I'd have been their to nail all of them."
"The only one you care about is River." Rude pointed out.
"So? If you were tricked by a kid you'd want to punish him to."
"18 is considered a legal adult." Tseng pointed out.
"And he covers it up real well!"
"He didn't trick you either, you said you had breakfast with him and he never denied information."
"Dude your supposed to back me up here! Barkeep, another over here." He yelled.
"I don't see why your obsessed with him sir, he seemed normal." Elena said.
"Wait, you guys saw him?" They other three nodded.
"When?"
"When we were investigating the mines." Rude said.
"Awww man, what did he say? Anything about what he did?" He was pointing to his now less bulging shoulder.
"Falcon punch, works every time." Rude recited. Tseng looked over at them.
"Thats it? Nothing else?"
"Yeah he said something else." Rude made a glare at Elena.
" He said to tell you he doesn't swing that way." The table got noticeably quieter.
"...Rude, did you say what I wanted you to tell him if you saw him?" Reno deadpanned. Tseng noticed the bald man shift a little.
"..." He seemed to grunt in response.
"Did you tell him I have an awesome weapon that could beat him no matter what...did you say that SPECIFICLY?" Tseng was starting to get entertained while Elena was looking at he two with a questionable face.
"..." Again he seemed to just stay like stone. Reno turned to Elena.
"Okay newbie if you tell me what he said your cool in my book. What did Rude say." Elena was looking worriedly between a serious Reno and to Tseng's surprise a pleading Rude.
"Umm maybe I shouldn't sir, I recommend reading my report."
"I want to hear it from your mouth. What did Rude say." She sighed.
"He simply said you wanted to show him your affection with your new weapon." The table was extremely quiet for about a minute and a half. Then Reno burst into laughter and sat back into his seat. Elena confused, Rude relieved, and Tseng sipping at his liquor.
"I have to hand it to him, he thinks up stuff quick. That's exactly what I would have said." the barkeep gave Reno his glass and he tossed it back right there.
"Yo we should have hired him before AVALANCHE got'em, having one less stiff would have been fun." Tseng nodded. Truthfully he would have been a usful asset to the company. Considering his accomplishments he would have almost been as valuable as Reeve, quite possibly Hojo if he started making weapons, having his intellect Tseng could only imagine what he would have made.
"Keep it coming, I feel good now, and I'll feel even better when I knock that kid down a peg." He said. The rest of the night continued around the same. With Rude barely saying a word. Elena only talking when spoken to, and Reno carrying an entire conversation by himself. Tseng wouldn't want it any other way.
I woke up to some loud music. I really wasn't bothered by it. I mean the Shinra parade theme was one of my favorite songs besides the highway chase. Looking over I saw Cloud and Tifa talking.
"Whats going on?"
"Something strange, come quick." We all ran outside. The music noticeably louder. We saw everyone crowding around the front of a house and we came up. Right then we heard a door slam and out came Priscilla.
"You alright now?" Cloud asked.
"Umm...yeah." She came down and turned to me.
"Thanks for helping, I'm sorry I mistook you for Shinra."
"No biggy, your fine now so its cool ." I waved it off. She came up with something in her hand.
"Here is something special, its an amulet, so take care of it okay?" She handed me an orb connected to a small string. Closer examination I remembered that it was Shiva's summoning materia.
"Whats that music, its very lively." Barret said, liking the beat.
"Argh its giving me a headache." Yuffie said.
"I heard their rehearsing the reception for the new Shinra president."
"Rufus? Hm I gotta pay my respects." Barret said with a scowl.
"Grandpa and grandma used to tell me how the beach was beautiful when they were small. But after Shinra built the city above the sun stopped shining here and the water was polluted." Everyone seemed down at the story. Because of a business a whole town lost so much. It was kinda heartbreaking.
"You think Rufus is thinking about crossing the ocean from here too? Does that mean Sephiroth already crossed the ocean?" Aeris asked.
"Either way it gives us an easy way to go, we don't have to worry about stealing a ship if we can just stow away." I said.
"Maybe we can climb the tower to get up their."
"No! No! There is a high voltage current underneath the tower. Its dangerous." Priscilla said.
"But...you might be able to if Mr. Dolphin helps you. Follow me!" She ran off while the rest of us remained where we stood.
"A high voltage current? I guess Cloud'll be alright." Tifa said.
"Yeah better leave it to Cloud." Aeris added. Cloud was about to protest but Red cut him off.
"We're counting on you Cloud."
"Hey." Everyone started to disperse.
"Wait a second!"
"Cloud you really shouldn't waste time." I said making my best impression of him. I laughed as I left to talk to Red.
"So now what do we do." I saw Tifa and Aeris walk up.
"We have to find a way in too you know." Tifa mentioned.
"The question is, how?" Aeris said. I looked around the village and stopped on the guard at the elevator.
"Nathan I doubt he'll just let us on." Nanaki said.
"Well not without some incentive maybe." In the game sure the guy didn't let you go up at first, but if you traveled back and forth between continents he charged the team ten gil to pass through.
"He'll probably want all our money, scratch that idea." I heard Yuffie chip in.
"Hey its not like we have any other options at this point." Everyone seemed to agree.
"He let me handle it, I'm a great negotiator." Everyone seemed to send me a worried glance.
"Nate your not the most subtle of people, I'll say that right now." Barret came up.
"Aww bull, twenty five gil says I can get that guy to let us up that elevator."
"Your on." I shook his non metal hand and walked to the guard, lucky for me he was a MP, so I didn't have to feel intimidated.
"Hey man." I waved to him.
"Might as well quit while your ahead. I'm not aloud to let civilians in."
"Me and my friends just need to get in so we can by stuff."
"Well then your gunna have to wait till after the parade." I scratched my head, thinking of another angle.
"Their still practicing, so technically we aren't going in during the parade."
"Orders are orders."
"If everyones practicing then there isn't anyone to get you in trouble."
"To bad, now leave." Man this guy was a tough nut to crack.
"how bout som gil? Everyone loves gil." He seemed to think about how much he wanted.
"Fifty gil per person."
"Fuck that noise! This is a one time pay here, its not like that fucking elevator is in demand."
"What do you suggest then?"
"...ten gil."
"Now your being stupid." He pointed out. " I'll go to forty for your lot."
"Twenty." I threw back.
"Thirty."
"Twenty five and a potion for your troubles, you look tired." He started scratching his chin.
"Alright deal. I have been standing here all day." I gave him a thumbs up and walked back to the group.
"So? What he say?" Yuffie asked.
"Barret owes me twenty five gil." The large man groaned and handed it to me.
"Alright everyone come on, we need to get in and get on that boat." We all walked up to the guard and he held his hand out. I sighed and handed him the money and a potion from my back pack. He opened the door and we all stepped in.
"Your a good negotiator?" Barret said.
"If I got us in for free then we would be getting the best rooms at inns with gourmet food, now shut up while I bask in the glory of being an okay negotiator." I looked out the corner of my eye and saw Barret smile triumphantly. You know looking back I really don't know how much gil is to me, I'm gunna have to figure out the math on this at some point...
"Hey Tifa how much is a tent set?"
"500 gil, why?"
"Doing some budgeting." Okay I remember Game Informer does this, take an item comparable to what we have, so 500 for one tent, it houses two people to sleep in. Back in Colorado a basic tent that did exactly the same would be about...200 dollars? Yeah that sounds about right. Okay so two hundred over five hundred is equal to 1 dollar over... 2.5 gil
...wait so I paid that guy...
...like 63 bucks! Awww that's total shit for an elevator ride, next time I see that guy I am going to kick his ass! It was a few minutes later that we had arrived at the top of the place and got out onto the streets. We all ran and saw that the place had a ton of people waiting around.
"Guess we got here early enough." I mentioned.
"Come on, we need to get to the docks." We all nodded our heads and started moving about the town. The parade started shortly after. Since no one seemed to know the layout we followed where the parade seem to run through. Eventually we found the docks.
"And how are we going to get in?" I asked.
"We disguise ourselves!" I heard Yuffie blurt out Tifa was about to knock down that idea until she thought about it more.
"That's not a bad idea. We could take some uniforms and help load the cargo."
"There might be a problem with a few of us." Nanaki mentioned along with me looking at him.
"Just stand on your hind legs, humans don't notices obvious stuff, trust me."
"Can we just hurry up, the music is even more annoying up close." Said Yuffie while she covered her ears.
"You know I like it, lyrics are total shit though." Hearing the crap in real life about Rufus being great being sung with one of my favorite themes jarred me, but I haven't had my music for almost a week so I could tolerate it. Getting closer to the ship we found a few men still loading cargo.
"Okay, jump'um on three." Barrett said while we hid. He counted down with his fingers. One three we came at the unsuspecting sailors and knocked them out. Barret just bonking one on the head, Tifa clocking a dude across his face, and Yuffie taking a guy Barret's size somehow. Taking their uniforms and dumping the guys in a nearby alley. Barret got his uniform as well as Tifa and Aeris. Everyone ran inside the ship when the coast was clear.
"We still need to hide." Yuffie said.
"Lets just go to the lockers, maybe someone left their uniform unaccompanied, or some are unlocked" She nodded and we went up the stairs. Despite the game the boat actually had three levels. The middle that the game skipped included the boats cafeteria as well as crews quarters. Sneaking around we found the lockers and by shear luck we actually found uniforms for everyone. All of us dressed we headed off in different directions to hide before the boat. The only people that seemed to worry about being caught were me and Red. Him trying to balance and walk on two legs was almost to hard not to laugh at. And my uniform was slightly small. The pant legs hovered just above my ankles and the hat was too small put it over my original clothing too so it was baggier that everyone else. However both of us stayed up top and tried to look normal. I acted like I was checking how tight the ropes were and Red...just kinda danced around in his MP uniform. I heard the foghorn blow and all the real sailors started running around while the ship started moving. After some time passed I decided to explore the ship a little more. Going down below it was almost as eventful up top, with people running around and orders being shouted every now and again. I realized that MP's seemed to only guard important rooms like where Rufus was and the communications and engine rooms. I went to the lower levels with the cargo and looked around. Out the corner of my eye I saw a sailor hunched over a large box and wobbling. I sighed.
"Yuffie whats wrong with you?" I came up and whispered.
"I hate ships...please tell me you have a tranquilizer." I sighed. I knew this was going to happen and pulled out the vial. She opened it quickly and downed the contents.
"Aww gross that's bitter...thanks Nate. Where the others."
"I think I know where everyone is."
"Could you help me out then?" I looked behind me and found an MP looking at us. But seeing the buster sword leaning against a box close by behind him tipped me off.
"Cloud, good to know you made it." I smiled.
"So everyone's hidden huh?" I nodded.
"Aeris is somewhere around here, Tifa and Red are up top, and I don't know where the hell Barret is." Well I did but I don't know how the game works in real life when you have to talk to everyone to find the big guy.
"I'm going to look around, stay hidden." I nodded and Yuffie gave a half halfhearted wave before Cloud walked by. I heard her retch a little behind me.
"Seriously your gunna blow our cover!" I whispered loudly. "No I'm not, this was my idea, we're totally invisible."
"Yes a sailor with motion sickness is the best cover...come on." I tugged her arm and forced her to follow me up the stairs to the top level of the boat.
"I can't be up here! I'll puke for sure and blow it!" She said angrily, I held on until we were close to the middle of the boat close to the item seller sailor...at least I think he was I don't know.
"Come on let me go!"
"Just be still." near the edge of Reds platform I made her stand and look south.
"What are you doing."
"Helping. Now stare at the horizon and take slow breaths." She did exactly as I told her. Within a few minutes I noticed her knees stop shaking.
"Wow, its almost gone. How did you know how to help that?"
"Had a friend with motion sickness. As long as you stand in the middle of the ship you feel the waves less. And staring at something solid and unmoving like the horizon helps too."
"You are really smart Nate." I shrugged it off. Wikipedia and Google, I swear this world is missing out.
"Just basic knowledge of inner ear functions." I deserve to look good in front of my team every now and again.
"How do you know so much?" I told her the same story I told everyone else about how I was closed off a lot and read. She listened intently to every detail too.
"You never liked to go out? I always tried to get away from home."
"And why is that?"
"To stuffy, everyone where I live is all stuck up and "tradition is the only way."
"So you were born in Wutai then?" I asked. Sure I knew her whole back story but if I didn't ask questions I'd seem disinterested.
"Yep, they could never hold me for long though, cuz I am the greatest ninja in history." She proclaimed a little to loudly, luckily the hustle and bustle of the ship covered it up. I was about to ask another question when the intercom came on.
Emergency alert! Reports of a suspicious character found! Those not on detail, searchthe ship, report when found! I repeat...
Yuffie and me looked at each other and then to the middle of the boat, everyone was scrambling to get below deck. We stayed put, Yuffie on guard while I just stood there. We weren't in total danger yet. Everyone came up and started looking at the little circle of MP's and sailors. Everyone shouting where someone else was until we all realized everyone of us were present.
"So everyone's here?" I heard Aeris say, confused.
"So wait...you don't think that suspicious character..." Barret started.
"Sephiroth?" Cloud said.
"You sure?" said Tifa.
"How the hell am I supposed to know?"
"Then lets find out."
"Its the most logical thing to do."
"err not me...i don't even like Sephiroth..and I feel sick..."
"Bullshit you've been good for the last ten minutes your coming with us." I snapped.
"Then its decided." Everyone got out of their uniforms and into their regular clothes. We all went down to the lower levels and retrieved the weapons to big to lug around without anybody noticing...or everyone that would notice us was already taken care of. In the cargo area we had run into multiple dead body's, all with slash marks had the same defining features too. We explored the rest of the cargo bay until we came upon the door that was normally guarded open. Going inside we saw two guards dead and one just standing in the middle of the room.
"Is it...Sephiroth?" He walked up to the man. He took his shoulder and turned him around fast. The man had a look of horror etched onto his face, with no slashes what so ever. The man died simply from terror. The whole group was unsettled and took a step back. The body making a large thud when it landed.
"No...not Sephiroth." Cloud whispered. Suddenly the whole area seemed to shutter. Everyone was on guard when a voice boomed out of nowhere.
"After a long sleep...the time...has come." Looking at the spot where the man was standing we saw a figure start to come out of the steel floor, passing through it leaving no trace. Sephiroth opened his eyes and stared at us.
"Sephiroth! your alive!" Cloud said with venom in his voice. Sephiroth looked at Cloud and raised an eyebrow.
"...Who are you?"
"You don't remember me? I'm Cloud!" Be pulled out his buster sword and readied himself.
"Cloud?" He seemed to be searching his memories but couldn't remember him.
"Sephiroth what are you thinking? What are you doing?" Sephiroth ignored him and looked up.
"The time...is now..."
"What are you saying? Be more..." Sephiroth had suddenly jumped into the air and hovered for a second before flying right through the group and knocking everyone down.
"How does he do that? I asked as I got up. "The is total bull..."
"Nathan what is it?" Aeris asked. I pointed up. At the very top of the room was a large molded mass of pale and purple skin. And it was starting to fall towards the group.
"RUN!" I yelled. Everyone leaped out the way and looked at Jenova, which was now starting to form into the large hunk of skin boss from the video game. However the key differences I noticed where that Jenova wasn't gigantic like the game. It had grown to be around twelve feet and wider than two Barrets though and that was enough to bring back memories from the tower.
"Is that Jenova?" Cloud said. In awe at the size the thing was now. I looked over and saw Aeris in the same state I was in.
"Don't matter, kill it!" Barret yelled and started firing his gun. The bullets made little impact on the body when Jenova yelled and took a shot at Barret. It concentrated and had actually shot a laser at Barrets straight in the chest. The large burn mark being extremely noticeable.
"Shit, guys keep moving around!" I yelled as I scrambled and went for a strike at the bottom of the mass. The slices actually hit clean through and Jenova used her tentacle to hit me back. It wasn't as bad as being hit away by a Zolom but it had enough force to shoot me to the other side of the room. My back hit the wall hard but I mustered enough strength to get back up.
"Aeris I could use some help." I yelled. But looking over she hadn't moved an inch since the battle started. Her still looking at Jenova with wide, fear laden eyes. I went over to shake her back when I saw Jenova concentrate another laser in her direction.
"Someone get Aeris out the way!" Tifa came up and pushed Aeris out the way before the laser struck her. Cloud ran up and slashed a few times before jumping back after getting hit by a shot from Jenova while Yuffie threw her shuriken getting a few cuts on the upper part of the body.
"Its too tough." Said Red who had casted a fire spell on the monster, making it screech while it burned.
"I don't care, just keep attacking." Cloud yelled while he cast flamethrower. The creature then lifted up one of its large appendages and shot a larger laser through the entire hull. The metal held up but Red, Yuffie and myself were hit. He intense heat from the concentrated beam made me scream out when it cut across my leg. Tifa ran up and healed what she could but Jenova made another shot towards us so we had to roll out the way. I tried to run to Aeris, although it was more of a limp than anything.
"Aeris, I know its a monster, but sitting here waiting to be eviscerated isn't going to do anything!" I shook her, he eyes kept on the large creature.
"That...isn't an Ancient." She sputtered out.
"I can tell that much but everyone needs your help now suck it up!"
"Nathan watch out!" I looked back to see another shot come at me and Aeris, we tried to move but the beam cut across my back before we fully got out the way. "Nathan? Nathan are you okay!" Aeris shouted.
"Its like getting cut by a burning scalpel how the FUCK do you think I feel?" I got up feeling the heat surge through the wounded area.
"Nathan its too tough."
"Aeris, just sit tight." I reached into my pocket and pulled out the amulet. Looking at the red orb I ripped off the summoning materia and held it out.
"Come on, lets see what this can do." I concentrated on the orb. In an instant I felt my energy get sapped quite a bit when all of a sudden it started to snow inside the ship. I looked up and saw Shiva. Her hair was an amazing neon blue and her skin as pale as snow. She held up her hand and all of the snow in the room started swirling around Jenova. Before the monster could react the snow all turned into large shards of ice, piercing through her. She howled in pain. I looked back up and saw Shiva fade out of sight.
"Its still alive!" Cloud shouted. I looked back and saw that even though it was surrounded by ice it struggled in the cold poles impaled inside of it. But the scene gave me an idea.
"Cloud! Use Beta!"
"Use what?"
"That spell the Zolom used, the enemy skill materia can use it. Cast it now before any of the ice shatters!" He pulled out the materia and concentrated. I looked back at Jenova and saw energy start to spiral around it. The swirl of bright reds and oranges started to compress until finally an explosion of heat hit Jenova. The ice instantly melting and boiling the dead mutated flesh. Jenova finally started to die with the sudden shift from intense cold to scolding hot. The large mass of flesh fell onto the floor. I fell on the ground trying to catch my breath.
"What the fuck was that thing?" Barret said walking over.
"Its dead right now so lets just..." I stopped when I heard some odd noises. Looking over the dead flesh was now shrinking continuously. Eventually it stopped when it was the size and shape of a regular arm. Everyone walked over to investigate it.
"I've seen this somewhere before...its Jenovas arm." Cloud said.
"Sephiroths been walking around with that?" Barret pointed.
"I can't believe a monster like that got on here." Yuffie said with Red nodding in agreement.
"So it was Sephiroth."
"He said something about it being time fore something." Tifa said.
"Time...is now?" Cloud looked confused.
"I don't know what the hells goin on! Cloud explain to me whats happening, this is too confusing."
"Alright fine but don't interrupt me." He started pacing.
"Sephiroth went searching for the Promised Land so he could become ruler of the planet...that was five years ago. Then he came back and killed the president." He looked back at all of us.
"And we all just saw him now, so he has Jenova with him because he wants to go to the Promised land with her...I guess that's about it then." When he finished the intercom came on.
Dock workers, we will be docking Costa de Sol in five minutes. Prepare for docking.
"Wow, we best hurry and hide somewhere." Everyone seemed to comply. I tried limping but looked at the dead arm.
"Yuffie, I want my fire materia back, I want that thing reduced to nothing."
"You gave it to me."
"Yes and I need it back."
"Sorry I need it." She ran off to hide. I sighed. I knew I should have never given it to her. She would just hog it away from me. Going back I held out my hand and casted bolt onto the arm. Making sure to concentrate enough to make a steady stream. Eventually it burst into flames with the amount of electricity it gave off. Looking a little more I found another red orb. I picked up the summoning materia and limped behind everyone else to hide while the crew unloaded.
A/N no major events so no note at the front. Hoping everyone enjoyed this chapter. Remember i like reviews erry now and again. Till next weeks chappa. Laterz
