Chapter 20: The Keystone

They left Wutai early the next morning, long before the sun rose. Cloud was pleased that they were able to avoid any further confrontation with the Turks, but he was preoccupied with another problem. As he saw it, the only mode of travel available to get them back across the ocean was the Tiny Bronco. Cid seemed to think that they had enough fuel to cross the ocean and then follow the coastline north around to the other side of the western continent, where the Gold Saucer and Corel were located. The problem was in how much time that would take.

The Tiny Bronco wasn't horribly slow, but going around the entire continent would take time. The only other option would be to take the plane directly back towards the opposite shore, travel a couple hundred miles south, and then reclaim the the buggy vehicle that Dio had provided them, assuming it was still stashed outside of the oddly existing Nibelheim. From there they could make a direct run back across the land, past Cosmo Canyon and Gongaga Village, and simply return the way they'd come. It seemed like a waste to just go back the way they'd come, but Cloud was sure it would shave a couple day's travel off of their journey.

He informed them of his preference as they were making for the beach. Cid pushed back on the idea predictably.

"You just want to beach the Tiny Bronco and leave her there?" he asked.

"We did it while visiting Wutai," Cloud shrugged.

"Well, sure, where the beach was uninhabited and no one travels. You can't find any beach like that on the western continent."

"We'll have to risk it," Cloud said firmly. "I don't know what this keystone thing is all about, but if Sephiroth is after it, it must be important."

"Actually, I've heard of they keystone," Aerith said quietly.

Cloud stopped and looked at her. "You have?"

She nodded. "From my mother. She told me that the keystone is a special kind of materia that unlocks the gateway to a very old temple somewhere. According to the legend, it was the Temple of the Ancients."

Cloud shivered. "And Sephiroth is after it."

Cid barked out laughing. "Oh, come on, kid. You aren't taking that seriously, are you? The Temple of the Ancients is just a legend!"

"That's what people thought about the Ancients themselves," Aerith frowned. "The Temple is a real place. My mother told me that it holds untold amounts of wisdom, with direct access to the lifestream. And there's something else. The Temple of the Ancients is supposed to hide a special kind of materia. Something that is considered the ultimate in destruction magic."

Cloud frowned. "I don't like the sound of that."

The air seemed just a little bit chillier as they made for the Tiny Bronco and climbed aboard. They pushed away from the beach and started the propellers, zooming away from the coast back toward the western continent.

The next days saw a furious pace of travel for the group. It took two moons for them to reach the other coast, another half a day to get to the buggy outside of Nibelheim, and a full two days unbroken driving to revisit Corel. Once they had made it to the buggy they traveled without stopping, taking turns sleeping in the back of the vehicle between driving shifts. Fatigue wore them down even so. There was little time for much other than the task at hand. It was a sullen mood that found them picking through North Corel once more, past the poverty-stricken merchants and up the gondola to the Gold Saucer's entrance.

Cloud stopped to ask the woman at the ticket counter where Dio's showroom was located. She informed him that it was in the same area as the Battle Room facility, a virtual contraption designed to simulate battle for sport. Cloud and the others headed there immediately.

The group passed by excited patrons engaged in conversation about their Battle Room exploits, and the gamblers surrounding them, and made for a side room clearly labeled as the showroom. Though relatively small, the showroom was absolutely filled with expensive looking trinkets, incredible art, a few ancient looking weapons, and jewelry. In the center of the room, however, was an ornate pedestal. Resting atop it was a dark blue orb of materia. Cloud walked up to it slowly, bending down to read the description plate at the base of the pedestal.

"It's the keystone," he said softly.

"You like that, huh?" he heard a voice from the showroom entrance.

Cloud turned to see the familiar form of a tall, slick looking man with a shock of blonde hair and an expensive suit, opened at the collar to reveal his bare chest. "Hello, Dio."

"Long time no see, my boy," Dio smiled broadly.

Cloud pointed to the keystone. "We need to buy that."

Dio laughed. "Sorry, kid. It's not for sale."

"You know," Cloud started. "Seeing as you falsely imprisoned us, forcing us to fight our way out of your corporate dungeon despite our innocence, I'd have thought you'd be more open to accommodating us."

Dio's expression darkened. "I gave you a damned buggy, didn't I?"

"Sorry," Tifa stepped in. "But that isn't worth the price of our freedom and dignity. Now, we're not asking you to just hand the keystone over. How much would you be willing to sell it to us for?" She reached into her satchel, digging around for their stash of gil.

"A couple hundred thousand would cover it," Dio sighed.

Tifa stopped digging and looked back up at him slowly. "We don't have that kind of cash."

"Of course you don't," Dio said. He turned to Cloud. "And frankly I don't want all kinds of people coming around asking to buy this thing. It's just going to draw out the thieves and hooligans. Just yesterday a dangerous looking guy in black was here asking about it. Who the hell has the number one tattooed on their arm?"

"Sephiroth," Cloud said quietly.

"Look, you've been good to me in the past, so I'll let you have the keystone on one condition."

"What's that?" Cloud asked.

Dio pointed back towards the Battle Room simulator. "Put on a good show in there, generate some money for me from the betting booths, and you can have it for a couple thousand gil."

(BREAK)

As it turned out, the Battle Room wasn't designed with someone like Cloud in mind. Between his level head, being in shape, and his Soldier training taking over, he fared well. It was something else, fighting virtual enemies for sport, hearing the roar of the crowd of hundreds around him as they watched and cheered, knowing that people were alternatively betting on him or against him. There was a certain rush when he finished off one of the virtual enemies, slicing his very real sword through their wispy holographic images. Before long it was over and the Battle Room darkened, leaving him to exit the simulator and find his friends and Dio pushing their way through to him amidst legions of spectators.

Dio pushed his way to the front, past Tifa and Aerith, who were both beaming at him.

"That was pretty good, boy," Dio smirked. "You should have seen the betting numbers. No one thought you'd last that long. We made a fortune."

"The keystone," Cloud said simply.

"Sure," Dio nodded, pulling the materia orb from his jacket and handing it over. "A promise is a promise, I guess. You earned it."

Cloud turned the keystone over in his hands, noting how heavy it felt. The blue colour was something else, at once shimmering and captivating. He thought he could see his reflection in it for a moment, but then decided that the eyes looking back at him weren't his at all, but someone else's. Before he could look deeper, however, they disappeared.

"Well, boy," Dio sighed. "Thanks for the laughs. I'm sure we'll meet again."

As he walked away, the others gathered around Cloud, peering down at the keystone in his hands. He turned it over for them to see.

"It's materia," Cid said.

"But different," Nanaki mewed. "You can feel it just looking."

"You should probably put it away," Barret said. "Something that valuable is going to attract the wrong kind of attention if we're brandishing it about."

"Yeah," Cloud said. "Who wants to carry it?"

Cait Sith stepped forward. "Let me have it," he said in his mechanical voice. With one hand, he reached down to his white metal belly and pulled open a small hatch that Cloud hadn't noticed before. "I can keep it in here."

Cloud handed it over. "Just don't lose it." He looked around at the others. "Well, should we get moving?"

"Moving where?" Vincent said darkly. "We still don't know where this Temple of the Ancients is."

"Folks?"

It was the voice of one of the Battle Room attendents, in her dark uniform. She was walking up to them.

"I just wanted to inform you," she went on. "That we're experiencing a small technical problem on our gondola. It should be back up and running in a couple of hours, but we're giving all Gold Saucer patrons these coupons in the meantime."

She handed over several small tickets. Looking down at them, Cloud saw that they were redeemable for a free stay at any of the Gold Saucer hotels. "We can't leave?" he asked.

"We're really sorry for the inconvenience," the attendant said blandly. "We hope to have the problem resolved shortly."

"This happens occasionally," Cait Sith said mechanically. "Why don't we hunker down and get some rest until the gondola is repaired? I know some people at one of the theme hotels."

Cloud sighed. "Fine. Lead the way."

(BREAK)

The hotel Cait Sith took them to was about as hokey an establishment as Cloud could imagine. Dark and foreboding in the vein of an old castle, it was made to look like a haunted house. The attendents all wore gruesome costumes made to look as though they'd suffered brutal injuries. Holographic ghosts wisped about the ceiling.

After stowing their things in separate rooms, they made their way back to the lobby and lounged around together, chatting in groups. Cid and Vincent engaged themselves by playing on one of the chess board setups off to one side. Aerith seemed to be in a whispered debate about something with Nanaki. Barret and Tifa were looking at a wall of brochures and maps, discussing what they thought would be coming next. Yuffie had disappeared into the gift shop momentarily, returning with a sly grin on her face and the pockets of her shorts looking a little fuller than when she'd left.

Cait Sith whirred up to him on his mechanical joints. "We don't usually get a chance to just sit around as a group like this, do we?"

"I suppose not," Cloud shrugged. "To be honest, it feels like I haven't sat down and done nothing since I left Midgar. Even before that, maybe."

"That's the thing," Caith Sith continued. "I haven't been here since the beginning, so I don't know exactly what's going on. Neither have some of the others. Maybe you should give us all a quick summary, for those of us that don't know."

"Hell, I'm all for that," Cid piped up, looking away from his game.

Barret snorted. "I've been here since the beginning and I still don't know what the hell is going on."

The others were all looking at him, so Cloud addressed them. "Okay, I'll give it a shot. We're going after Sephiroth, the once great warrior of Shinra's Soldier corps. He is searching for the Promised Land."

"What the hell is that?" Cid asked.

"A land full of mako energy," Cloud answered. "At least that's what Shinra believes. I don't know for sure that it even exists."

Aerith stepped forward. "The Cetra will return to the Promised Land. It is a land of supreme happiness."

"Cetra?" Cid asked, his nose wrinkling. "Sounds like some kind of disesase."

"It's what the Ancients called themselves," Aerith glared at him. "And the Promised Land isn't something you can know about in the traditional sense. You search and travel until you feel it. When you're there, then you will know that you have found it."

Cloud looked at her. "You can feel it, can't you?"

She hesitated and then nodded. "I think so."

Tifa cleared her throat. "So Sephiroth is traveling the world because he's searching for the Promised Land? He wants supreme happiness?"

"I don't think so," Cloud shook his head. "He wants to take the world back for Jenova, who he thinks is his mother."

Vincent's head snapped at the words, but he stayed silent.

"Then why is he looking for the Promised Land?" Barret growled.

"Because he thinks it will make him powerful," Cloud answered. "And I think he believes in this ultimate destruction materia we've heard about. It's associated with the Temple of the Ancients and we know that Sephiroth was here asking Dio about the keystone."

"I've been meaning to ask," Barret said. "What's up with that tattoo of his? The number one? Those people in Nibelheim had number tattoos as well. Are they connected?"

"I would guess so," Tifa said. "But who knows how many of them are out there."

"I have a number tattoo," Nanaki mewed softly.

They all turned to look at him. For the first time, Cloud saw fear in Nanaki's eyes. His head drooped slightly as he looked around at them. "Show us," Cloud said.

Nanaki turned his haunches towards them. Inked onto his skin, barely visible beneath his orange fur, was the number thirteen. "Hojo put it on me when I was captured," Nanaki mewed.

"So there's at least thirteen," Tifa said softly.

"I think Hojo did something to those people in Nibelheim," Aerith put in. "But I can't figure out what it has to do with Sephiroth. I think the best course of action is to just go after him ourselves and not worry about the others."

"Me too," Barret shook his head. "This is all too damn confusing."

"Aerith," Cloud said. "Do you have some kind of plan for when we confront Sephiroth?"

"I…" Aerith began. "I'm tired, I think. I'm going to go to bed now."

She smiled weakly at them and then hurried up the hotel stairs towards her room.

"What was that all about?" Vincent asked, his eyes trailing after her.

"I don't know, but I'm tired too," Barret growled. "We should all get a good night's sleep." He too ascended the stairs.

"Cloud," Nanaki said, padding up to where he and Tifa stood. "I have a number tattoo, just like those men in Nibelheim. Am I going to go mad like them?"

Tifa bent down and patted his head. "I don't know what Hojo did to you, but you've been all right so far, haven't you?"

"But…"

"Be strong," Tifa said firmly. "You're not the only one who's worried, but we'll get through all of this together, okay?"

Nanaki looked up at her as though disbelieving, the forlorn expression on his feline face never wavering.

The others went up to their rooms after that, Nanaki disappearing into Tifa's room to curl up at the foot of her bed. Cloud tried to sleep for a long time, but eventually gave up. The room was comfortable enough, but his thoughts had his mind racing. What was Sephiroth's plan? What was this ultimate destruction materia they'd heard about? Did the Promised Land truly exist?

And what is Aerith planning, he wondered. She knows something, or thinks she does. The look she'd had in her eyes worried him more than anything else. Aerith wasn't the weak little girl he'd thought upon first meeting her in the slums of Midgar. She'd proved herself a valuable member of the group time and time again.

So why am I so afraid?

Because you know you can't protect her.

Yes I can, he thought. I was in Soldier.

He found himself standing in his hotel room, fully clothed and staring absently out the window. The hotel offered a pretty spectacular view of the rest of the Gold Saucer. The chocobo racetracks were off in the distance. Above it all was the Lover's Ride, the slow moving ferris track where couples lost themselves in each other while seeing the sights.

It's just like the train back in Midgar, Cloud thought. Those people get on the ride, but they can only go where the tracks take them. What about my ride? Where are my tracks taking me? And can I get off them?

His thoughts were broken up by a soft knock at the door. He walked over and opened it, seeing Aerith standing there blushing and smiling. She was dressed once more in her tight red shirt and pink skirt that she'd bought back in Costa Del Sol. Cloud did his best not to stare, but it was difficult.

"Hey," she grinned.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I owe you a date from when you rescued me in Midgar and I haven't made good on it."

"What?"

"A date, Cloud. You and me. Or haven't you ever been on a date before?"

Cloud frowned. "I guess I haven't."

Aerith nodded. "Too busy fighting the world all your life?" She reached out and took his arm. "Oh well. Let's get going."

Cloud allowed her to lead him from his room, down and out of the hotel, and through the transport system to the main hub connected to the gondola station. There Aerith pulled him towards the bank of transport elevators with all of their destinations lighting up above them. There was another Gold Saucer attendant standing near the elevators, dressed in her prim uniform, and she walked over to them with a smile.

"You two look like a happy couple!" she grinned.

"Uh," Cloud stammered, looking sideways and seeing Aerith trying to stifle a laugh.

"I just wanted to let you know that we're doing something special for our guests to make up for the gondola being down," the attendant continued. She held out two printed tickets. "Not only are all of our non-wagering attractions free of charge, but we're putting on a delightful show in the Event Square."

"What kind of show?" Aerith asked, looking excited.

"It's a tale of love and adventure," the attendant said. "The tale of the legendary Alfred and Princess Rosa."

"Oh, I love that story," Aerith clapped her hands together. "Come on, Cloud. Let's go!"

Cloud sighed and followed her into the elevator marked for the Event Square and it whisked them away. Aerith chattered happily away, telling him about how her mother used to tell her The Tale of Alfred and Rosa when she was a child before tucking her into bed. Cloud had heard the story as a youth as well. Everyone knew it.

But when the elevator doors opened up to a large auditorium with a stage at the center, he almost had to laugh.

"This looks ridiculous," he said.

"Hmm," Aerith frowned. "They certainly haven't put much thought into their scenery or props, have they?"

It was an understatement to say the least. The stage was constructed of simple wood planks, the backdrop looked like a single white sheet with crudely drawn watercolor paintings of trees and a castle on it, and the props on the stage looked like something out of a children's school. But despite all of that, the seating was nearly filled and people were whispering with one another impatiently.

"Hi," a Gold Saucer employee said, coming over to them. "I have great news. You two are our one-hundreth couple of the night. That means you get to play the leads in tonight's show!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Cloud sighed.

Aerith giggled.

"Oh, don't worry," the employee said quickly. "It isn't hard. You don't even have to follow a script. Just play it however you want and the rest of the cast will cover up for you. If you'll follow me."

"But-" Cloud started.

"Oh, don't spoil the fun," Aerith admonished him, dragging him along behind the employee. "This sounds like it'll be a good time."

They were shown into a small area behind the stage where several actors were putting the finishing touches on their makeup and stagehands were taking their places behind the scenery sheet. A young woman introduced herself as the production manager and had someone else apply makeup to their faces. Lastly they were fitted with comically brief costumes that fit over their clothes. On Cloud they placed fake armor over his clothes, took away his sword, and replaced it with a fake one made with what appeared to be paper mache.

Cloud pulled the production manager aside. "I've never done anything like this," he said. "Maybe you should find someone else."

"Sorry, there's no time," she replied. She reached up and placed a hokey looking fake helmet on his head. "You're on first."

And she shoved him through a small opening out onto the stage.

Cloud tried to look around, but the lights glaring around him made it so the audience was nothing but a blurry shadow. Up close, the props looked even more ridiculous than they had from afar. Unsure of what to do, Cloud stepped to the center of the stage.

A voice boomed over unseen speakers around him. "Long, long ago, an evil shadow appeared over the peaceful kingdom of Galdia," the voice said, narrating the play. "Princess Rosa had been kidnapped by the evil Dragon Lord, Valvados. All the people of the land feared for her safety. Just then, the legendary hero Alfred appeared."

The crowd applauded loudly. Looking around, Cloud saw he was still alone on the stage.

They must mean me, he thought. He raised his fist in the air meekly and the crowd applauded louder. From off stage, a flamboyantly dressed knight twirled his way towards him, stopping next to Cloud and raising his arms in the air theatrically.

"Oh, great legendary hero Alfred," the knight said in a booming voice. "I know in my soul that fate has sent you here to help us. Please, save our beloved princess, Rosa!"

The knight stepped away, knelt down, and pointed with both hands off stage. As he did so, another actor dressed in a purple robe with a sparkling crown atop his head danced out onto the stage.

"Please, Alfred," the knight boomed. "Talk to our king!"

Unsure of what to do, and feeling quite stupid on top of it, Cloud walked over to the man dressed as a king. "Uh, hey there," he said.

"Oh, legendary hero, Alfred," the king sang. "You have come to save my beloved Rosa. The evil Dragon Lord, Valvados has kidnapped her and whisked her off to his lair on top of his mountain peak. You will require help in beating him, I am sure. Allow me to introduce my two most loyal subjects, this knight with whom you have already spoken, and our kingdom's finest wizard!"

The lights dimmed briefly. Sound effects of thunder crashed from the speakers as the lights flickered to simulate lightning. As this happened, a comical figure in a tall pointy hat and a long blue robe waltzed onto the stage, twirling his arms and kicking out his legs before coming to rest beside the knight.

"Whose help will you seek, hero Alfred?" the King sang.

Cloud shrugged and walked over to the knight, deciding that he looked the least strange of the two. "Um," he started. "I need your help, knight."

The knight, still kneeling, looked up at him while spreading his arms wide in a dramatic gesture. "Oh, Alfred, what would you have me do?"

"We're, uh, going to defeat the evil Dragon Lord."

The narrator's voice cut in over the speakers. "And so they formulated their plan, the two gentle warriors. They would defeat the Dragon Lord with the power of braun, beating him down and regaining the prize of the kingdom, the beautiful Princess Rosa."

The crowd cheered. Not knowing what else to do, Cloud faced the audience and gave them a thumbs up, eliciting a round of laughter.

"But someone else was listening to their plans," the narrator continued. "The evil Dragon Lord had come down from his mountain with his stolen prize in hand, intent on punishing the kingdom further with death and destruction."

A big lumbering figure approached them from offstage. Cloud had to hide his head to keep from laughing. It was obviously a man, but he was dressed in an oversized green dragon costume, complete with scaly tail and horns on its head. The most hysterical part was the open mouth and the fact that between the lamely fashioned teeth anyone who was looking could see the man's face poking out.

He had Aerith by the hand, pretending to drag her along. Cloud was more interested in the outfit they had given her to wear. She wore a long flowing dress, one truly fit for a princess. The top had an old-fashioned bust lift trimmed with lace. Aerith, slight of figure as she might be, looked downright curvaceous.

The man in the dragon costume issued a weak roar that caused some in the audience to snicker. "I am the evil Dragon Lord, Valvados!" he shouted in a deep voice. "I have not yet harmed your princess, because I have been expecting you!"

Aerith put one forearm to her head. "Oh, legendary hero," she wailed. "Please help me!"

Cloud could tell she was trying not to laugh.

"Do not worry Alfred!" the knight shouted. He pulled a fake sword from his sheath. "I will save the princess according to our plan!"

The knight ran at the Dragon Lord, waving his sword above his head. In what was obviously a predetermined choreographed move, the Dragon Lord swiped at the knight with two hands, sending him crashing off into the scenery.

"Ha, ha!" the Dragon Lord laughed loudly. "I have defeated your knight, hero. What will you do now?"

The narrator cut in again. "And so our hero realized that simple strength would never defeat the Dragon Lord. Instead he had to brandish the one weapon that evil has always feared: love!"

Cloud looked up at the speakers. "Uh, what?"

The guy dressed as the king leaned over to him. "Go kiss your princess. That's how the story ends."

Cloud stared back at him. "Wait…what?"

The king grabbed him lightly with both hands and pushed him towards Aerith. "Go kiss your damn princess, kid. It's how the story ends."

Cloud, feeling exceedingly foolish, walked over to the Dragon Lord and Aerith. He took Aerith's hands, seeing her face blushing, and pulled her gently away.

"Cloud," Aerith said softly, looking into his eyes. Then she smiled. "I mean Alfred. You don't have to make a big deal out of this."

But Cloud barely heard her. He didn't know why, but looking down into her eyes, all the sounds and sights around him melted away. She was staring back up at him, cheeks red, eyes bright and liquid. He hadn't noticed much before, but her skin was that strange kind of pale that seemed to exude elegance and innocence at once.

He took one hand and held her cheek. He hadn't been sure how she'd react, but she surprised him by closing her eyes momentarily and nuzzling her nose into his palm. And when she looked back up at him, she got up on her toes, leaning against him, falling into him, tumbling further into his grasp.

And she kissed him. It wasn't simple and it wasn't cute, but nor was it lavacious. There was passion in it, their lips bonding together as they explored one another's mouths, but it was something Cloud knew was beautiful. He reached around and gripped the small of her back, holding her close, feeling warmth spreading throughout his body.

Why does this feel so right? Why does this feel so familiar?

Because it was I who kissed her once.

He shuddered at the unbidden thought, confused as to what in the world it could possibly mean. Perhaps it was that shudder that caused Aerith to pull away from him, smiling in an embarrassed way, her face flushed with red.

The sounds around them came back to him then. The crowd was erupting with applause and the Dragon Lord bellowed.

"Curses! The power of love! I have been defeated!"

"Look!" the king sang. "Love has triumphed over evil! Let us go back to the castle and celebrate!"

"Oh, how profound the power of love," the narrator spoke as the curtains fell over the stage. "And so the legendary hero Alfred and our story live on happily ever after."

(BREAK)

After they had gotten help in removing their costumes and washing away the makeup, Cloud and Aerith returned to the bank of elevators near the gondola station. After the play, he'd worried that perhaps there would be awkwardness between them. But, though there seemed to be less conversation now, they walked together easily. While they were in the elevator headed back to the station, Aerith snuggled up next to him and took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together and resting her head on his shoulder.

Now they were standing at the elevators again. Cloud asked her what she wanted to do next.

"How about that ride that goes all the way around the Gold Saucer?" she asked.

"The Lover's Ride?" Cloud said.

She blushed again. "Yeah. The sites are probably pretty amazing."

So they took another elevator to that area, got in line, and boarded the small enclosed coaster car. It jerked them out of the station and set off on its track, out into the open air high above all the Gold Saucer attractions. They sat next to one another, Aerith looking out the window.

"Wow," she breathed softly. "Look at that."

Cloud leaned over to look. They were passing through a series of beautiful searchlights, carnival rides, and neon signs. People below them were waiting in line for all manner of fun things. In mere moments they were sliding along just above the chocobo tracks, watching as the large birds raced aside one another, jockeys perched on their backs and urging them along.

"It's all so pretty," she said. Then she pointed. "Look at that!"

They were coming up high above the Gold Saucer now. Timed with their passing, several multi-colored fireworks exploded above them, showering them with shimmering light.

She snuggled up against him again, taking his hand and lightly kissing his cheek. Then she rested her head on his shoulder again and let out a deep sigh.

"At first," she whispered. "It bothered me how you looked so much like him. Two completely different people, but you looked so similar. The way you walk, the gestures you make. I think I must have seen him again in you."

"Aerith?" Cloud asked.

But she buried her head in his shoulder all the more. "I know. You're different. Things are different now. I'm different." Then she lifted her head up and looked directly into his eyes. But this time there was no romance, only concern. "Cloud, I'm searching for you."

"Excuse me?"

"I want to meet you," she said.

"But I'm right here."

"I know, I know," she shook her head. "But I want to meet…you."

Before he could ask her what she meant, the coaster car jerked to a halt. Looking around, Cloud was surprised to find that they were back in the Lover's Ride station. They climbed out, Aerith taking his hand once again.

"I had fun tonight," she said simply. "I hope we'll get the chance to do something like this again someday."

Cloud stared into her eyes. "Why wouldn't we?"

She bit her lip, but didn't answer his question. "Did you have fun too?"

"Sure," Cloud said. In truth, thinking back on the entire evening, he couldn't seem to think of anything besides the kiss they'd shared.

"I'm glad," she said softly. She stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his torso and holding him close in a hug. When she was done, she leaned up and kissed him again. It wasn't new this time, but it was just as exhilarating. Then she pulled away. "It's late. I should probably get to bed."

"Sure," Cloud said. "I'll take you back."

They'd ridden the elevator back to the station hub, intending on going directly back to the hotel. But just as they were exiting their elevator, Cloud caught a glimpse of Cait Sith disappearing into the elevator for the Battle Room square.

"Hey!" Cloud called out, wondering what that fortune telling machine was doing walking around.

Cait Sith turned and saw them. But instead of responding, he jabbed hurriedly at the elevator buttons and the doors closed and wisked him away.

"What was that all about?" Aerith frowned.

Cloud shook his head. "I'm not sure. But I've got a bad feeling…"

"Let's go after him."

Cloud nodded and pushed the elevator button. A moment later they were exiting into the open air of the platform outside the Battle Room building when they saw something that shocked them.

It was the sound that he noticed first, the steady whump-whump noise of a helicopter. Confusion was short-lasting as he looked upwards and saw the Shinra helicopter he'd seen in Costa Del Sol flying overhead. That Turk, Tseng, was leaning out its side, holding out both hands expectedly.

And directly below, the keystone in his mechanical hands, Cait Sith was looking upwards.

"Wait!" Cloud shouted, rushing towards them. "Hold on!"

It was too late. Cait Sith reared back and threw the keystone upwards awkwardly. Tseng reached out and snatched it out of the air, holding it up briefly. Without another word, the helicopter veered off and away from the Gold Saucer.

Cloud and Aerith reached Cait Sith just as he was turning around, his machine arms raised in defense. "Hold on a second. I won't run or hide."

"You son of a bitch," Cloud growled, tearing his sword from his back.

"Yes, I was spying for Shinra," Cait Sith said quickly in his mechanical voice. "I was hired by them to infiltrate your group."

"We trusted you," Aerith said, sounding more hurt than anything else. "I can't believe you did that."

"Believe me, I have my reasons," Cait Sith said. "But I can't reveal them to you now. I still want to help you. I want to fight with you. Can't we just continue on like this never happened?"

"Never happened?" Cloud roared angrily, not caring that several people had appeared in the Battle Room building's door to see what all the commotion was about. "Are you insane? You've got a lot of guts asking that after being a Shinra spy!"

"What are you going to do, kill me?" Cait Sith said simply. "It'd be a waste of time, I'm afraid. This body is nothing but a machine, but I'm controlling it from Shinra headquarters."

Aerith stepped forward. "You're a Shinra employee? Who? Tell me your name."

"No," Cait Sith replied defiantly. "I can't tell you that."

"You won't get anything out of a Shinra spy," Cloud growled

"See?" Cait Sith said. "It's pointless to argue. Yes, I am a Shinra employee. But I can tell you that we're not entirely enemies. Not everyone at Shinra thinks the same as the upper brass, you know. And there's something that bothers me about you people."

"Bothers you?" Aerith frowned.

"It's your way of life. You risk your lives every day, continuing on this journey, fighting past one danger after another. But you don't get paid. You don't get praised. Seeing that…" Cait Sith paused. "It just makes me think about my life. I don't think I'd feel too good about my life if things ended the way they are now. So, even though I have some obligations to my employer, I want to help you, because I think what you're doing is good and necessary."

"I don't believe a word coming out of your machine mouth," Cloud spat. "Once a spy, always a spy. If you think I'm going to let someone like you continue traveling with our group, you're delusional."

Cait Sith's shoulders drooped in a decidedly human gesture. "I was afraid you wouldn't listen to reason. I prepared something in case this happened. Why don't you listen to this." He reached up and flipped a switch on the side of his body.

Immediately there was a burst of static, followed by the whimpering of a little girl.

"Papa," the girl whimpered. "I want Papa and Tifa…"

"Hey!" Aerith shouted, her face screwed up with anger. "That's Marlene!"

The voice on the speaker stopped crying. "Flower lady?" it hiccupped. "Is that the flower lady?"

Before they could respond, Cait Sith reached up and flipped the switch off again. "So you see, you have to do as I say."

Cloud was literally trembling with rage. "You're the lowest form of scum—"

"Enough," Cait Sith cut him off. "I didn't want to do this. Using tricks and takig hostages isn't my style. But this is how it is. There are no compromises to be made. So we'll continue on as we were before."

Cloud looked down at the ground, unable to see a way out. "I'm sorry, Marlene," he said softly.

"Trust me, she'll be fine," Cait Sith said. "I'm not in this to hurt anyone. I want to help. And I'll prove it."

"How?" Aerith asked, looking frustrated.

"You're looking for the Temple of the Ancients, right?" Cait Sith asked. "Shinra discovered its location recently. As a sign of good faith, I'll tell you where it is."

"Tell us now," Cloud said.

But Cait Sith shook his head. "Sorry. I need to make sure you don't leave me behind. I'll tell you tomorrow when we leave. For now, I'm heading back to the hotel."

And he turned his back on them, walking back towards the elevator. Cloud looked down to see his sword still in his hands. Forget it, he thought. He won't hurt Marlene. I'll smash that stupid machine body of his to pieces. I'll make it so he can never spy on us again.

But Aerith put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head slightly. "Cloud," she said. "Don't be rash."

His shoulders sagged. "We're stuck, I guess. We have to do what he says."

"I just hope Marlene isn't too afraid," Aerith nodded. "And I wonder what happened to Mom."

And I wonder when the people that get involved in my cancerous life will stop being hurt because of me, Cloud thought as they walked back to the elevators to go back to the hotel.

I wonder when I'll stop hurting the people I'm trying to help.