I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY 7 CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(
Jena is still stuck between Rufus and Reno, but I promise that before the end of Dirge of Cerberus, she will choose. Maybe one, maybe both(wouldn't that be great? Just think of all the things you could do there, XXDD Well, as long as it wasn't at the same time LMFAO)
Chapter Twenty-Four
Entertainment & Apologies
After tying a boat to the back of the Tiny Bronco to carry everyone, they had come across a small house on the edge of the Continent that once held the Keystone they needed to enter the Temple of the Ancients, but it was already sold. Believe it or not, it was at the Gold Saucer and so, they found themselves at the Party Place once again and inside the battle arena. Dio had the Keystone and he agreed to let them have it if someone could win the battle arena.
Cloud wanted to do it but in the end Zeke, drunk or not, was chosen and thrown into the Battle Arena with a bunch of robots and fighting machines. Believe it or not, Zeke won and now he and Tifa were…most likely at a bar again. In fact, they had all split up after the received the Keystone.
Zeke and Tifa were at the bar.
Barret, Red Xlll and Aerith were most likely getting something to eat and then going to go see a movie or something like that.
Cait Sith said that he was going off to see some old friends of his.
Yuffie had decided to catch up with her Aunt so she was with Renee and Cid as they went to the Chocobo Races to cast Bets.
And Vincent…well, Mr. Emo had decided to disappear so Claire had decided to try and find him.
Cloud seemed to have disappeared after they decided to stay the night at the Haunted Hotel so Jeanne was the only one left in the Hotel Room that she, Tifa, and Claire would be sharing.
The Keystone was sitting in the desk drawer beside Jeanne's bed and she was getting ready for a nice sleep when there was a knock on her door.
"You can come in." She called.
Her eyes didn't move from the book until she heard the voice. "Jeanne?" She sat up and looked at the blond man at the foot of her bed.
"What do you want?" She asked him.
"I, uh, I came to apologize for what I said before. At the Reactor. I thought about what you said and, you're right. I've known you for years so there's no reason I shouldn't trust you. I just…I'm sorry."
Jeanne sighed. "You shouldn't be." She whispered.
"Huh." He looked confused.
"It's all right, Cloud." She told him. "It's not your fault." She didn't really know what else to say and so she fell silent. It seemed that Cloud had an idea though.
"Come on," Cloud grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bed. "Let me take you to the Play tonight as a real apology."
"The Play?" Jeanne asked.
"Yes; everything's apparently free tonight(only God knows why) so let's get to the really expensive stuff out of the way!"
Jeanne couldn't help but smile and took the jacket he was handing to her. He sounded so excited; almost like he used to those seven, nearly eight, years ago. "All right, fine. I'll go check it out. What's the play about?"
Cloud grinned as they walked down the stairs. "I have no idea."
Jeanne was glad that he wasn't mad at her anymore, but she knew that he would be when she told him the truth. Perhaps she should stop trying to push it off. Perhaps she should just go ahead and tell him. Now. Yeah. Tonight. Tonight, she would tell him about everything.
"Congratulations!" The man by the door to the Theatre shouted the moment Jeanne and Cloud walked in. "You are our 100th couple today! You two will be the leads in tonight's show!"
"What?" Both of them asked; Jeanne sounded horrified.
"Oh, now, it's not hard. Just play it however you want and the rest of the cast will cover up for you." The man began to walk off. "Come this way."
"I am not twirling across the stage like son ballerina." Jeanne told the man.
"Oh, it sounds like fun," Cloud told her. "Just once. It can't be that bad."
She flushed. He sounded so different than he normally did while they were journeying. Again, almost like a little kid. She didn't have the strength to argue with him with that grin on his face. "Fine. But if you ever tell anyone about this, I will make you dress up as a girl again and send pictures out across the world. Zeke would just love that." She caught her tongue. She had almost said Zack.
Cloud pulled a horrified look as they followed the man. "What! How did you-Claire!" He cursed his sister as Jeanne giggled.
"Long, long ago…" The Narrator began. "An evil shadow appeared over the peaceful Kingdom of Galdia…Princess Rosa was just kidnapped by the Evil Dragon King, Valvados. What will become of her?" Jeanne pinched the ridge of her nose as she stood to the side of the stage with the man dressed in the Dragon Suit. "Just then, the legendary hero, Alfred, appears!"
Cloud, from the other side of the stage, came running out to the center. A Knight then twirled out next to him.
"Oh…You must be the legendary Hero…Alfred!" The Knight exclaimed. Jeanne almost burst out laughing when Cloud looked at him like he was an idiot. The knight then whispered that it was his line and Cloud pointed at himself. "Yeah, you." The Knight cleared his throat. "Oh…you must be the legendary hero…Alfred! I know in my soul. Please…please save Princess Rosa!"
~Now,~ Jeanne thought to herself. ~Why does the name Rosa make me think of Richard Faulengaurd?~
(Now, I know that you guys have no idea who Richard Faulengaurd is. He's a character that I made that gets Rosa in Final Fantasy 4. I know that I haven't written that game yet, but its right around the corner. I couldn't help it. I saw the name and I instantly thought of FF4 XD. He'll be here soon though so don't worry.)
"Now," The Knight was saying. "Please talk…to the King!"
Another man in a blue robe came twirling out as well and Cloud walked over to him. "Oh…legendary hero, Alfred. You have come to save my beloved Rosa…On the peak of a dangerous mountain…dwells the Evil Dragon King, Valvados, who has kidnapped Princess Rosa. But…you can't beat the Evil Dragon King now! Talk to the one who can help you…"
A man dressed up as a wizard also twirled out onto the stage and Cloud walked over to him this time. "I am the great wizard, Vorman. What do you wish to know?"
Cloud gave Jeanne a look and had half a mind to ask about the 'Princess'' measurements but he knew that Jeanne would kill him so instead, he just stuck to the story. "The Evil Dragon King's weakness."
"Ahh, the weakness of the Evil Dragon King. It must be, it must be…" Jeanne raised an eyebrow as the music suddenly stopped.
(And a man in a black cape and a white mask jumped down, demanding to know why box five was not empty)
(XD I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. Can anyone name where that was from?)
"Yes, it must be…True love!" The Wizard shouted out. Jeanne's mouth dropped open as the music began to play again. "The power of love…Is the only weapon that can withstand the fangs of the Evil Dragon King…!"
"Oh, what is going to happen next?" The Narrator asked. "Oh, Legendary hero…look!"
"I knew that this was a bad idea," Jeanne mumbled to herself as the 'Dragon' picked her up and carried her out onto the stage.
"Gaaaaaaaah!" The 'Dragon' roared, dropping the woman to her feet. "I am the Evil Dragon King…Valvados! I have not harmed the Princess…I have been expecting…you!"
Jeanne didn't say anything at first but then the Dragon kicked her in the leg and so, in a very fake voice - "Please help me, Legendary Hero!"
Pleased, the 'Dragon' gave another roar. "Here I come, Legendary hero…Alfred!"
Jeanne could have sworn that the Batman theme song started playing as the 'Dragon' ran at Cloud. Cloud just side-stepped the man and moved to Jeanne as the wizard shouted 'True Love' again. Jeanne found herself lost in Cloud's eyes as he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"Cloud…" She whispered as the 'Dragon' began to moan.
"Curses….the power of…love!" He was then yanked off the stage.
"Oh…look! Love has…triumphed!" The King cried happily. "Now let's all return…And celebrate."
The Wizard and Knight agreed and the three of them twirled off the stage again as Cloud and Jeanne just walked off after them as the Narrator finished the story.
"Oh, how profound the power of love…And so the legendary hero Alfred and our Princess live on happily ever after."
"All right," Jeanne sighed as they left the Event Square. "That was entertaining. Embarrassing, but entertaining." She smiled, glancing around. "You want to go ride the Gondola next?"
Cloud's face seemed to be drawn with a smile that night. "Sure."
~Out on the streets, that's where we'll meet
You make the night, I always cross the line
Tightened our belts, abuse ourselves
Get in our way, we'll put you on your shelf
Another day, some other way
We're gonna go, but then we'll see you again
I've had enough, we've had enough
Cold in vain, she said~
Zeke leaned back in his chair, peace rolling through him as Tifa giggled from across the table.
"What are you over there giggling at?" Zeke asked her.
"You." She answered truthfully.
"Me? Why me?"
"You are the only man I know that eats like a rabid animal and attacks people when they come near it."
"I don't attack them because they come near my food!" Zeke told her, reaching for his mug.
"Oh? Then why do you attack them?"
"When they come near my beer."
Tifa shook her head in disbelief with another laugh as the two of them continued to ignore the loud rumble behind them. "You are something else, Zeke. I'm surprised that you and Zack are related." At the name, Zeke set his mug down and leaned forward, starring down at the table. Tifa pulled a face. She forgot that Zeke always got moody when his cousin was brought up; but then again, who wouldn't be? "Zeke, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"It's all right," He told her, spinning his fork around on the table. "I just have to get used to the fact that he's gone. I can't let this haunt me forever."
"But still, I-" Tifa was cut off when a man was thrown into the back of Zeke's chair, sending the man forward into the table. The table was screwed to the floor so Zeke didn't knock it over, but something else was knocked over instead.
His mug of beer.
With a fierce look, the man shoved himself to his feet and turned to the man that had bumped into him at his feet. Tifa watched then as Zeke began to beat the hell out of the man and the men that he had been fighting with before. Tifa just watched until Zeke was grabbed by the owner and thrown out. She had half a mind to just laugh at him and stay inside but she found herself loving being around the young man. He could turn all these bad times into something enjoyable for her, sort of like Cloud could do when they were younger before all of this happened.
So liked being around him, so out of the bar she went, carrying the bags that Zeke had been carrying for her from the shops. So, they just walked around the place, laughing and talking. It seemed that no matter how much Zeke drank, he never got drunk. He was all happy and laugh-y, but not drunk. She prayed that after all of this was over, and everything was back to normal, Zeke would stay with her. Or maybe, she'd go with him. Just as long as they could stay together.
~I knew right from the beginning
That you would end up winnin'
I knew right from the start
You'd put an arrow through my heart
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why~
"YEAH! RUN FREEBIRD! RUN! WIN ME THAT %*&# MONEY!"
"How in the world can you put up with this old geezer?" Yuffie asked her Aunt, slapping her hands over her ears as Cid continued to yell at the race.
Renee giggled as Cid continued to shout at the race. "He sort of grows on you after a little while, Yuffie. You have to get used to him, though this wasn't exactly how he was when we first met. He got worse with time."
"Speaking of which," Her niece gave her a look. "Tell me everything that happened after you left us."
Renee ate another nacho and took a drink before answering the question. "I met Cid almost a month after I left Wutai at a City called Costa Del Sol. He was having some problems with a group called AVALANCHE because he was building that rocket you saw for ShinRa. And, well, with me being me, I watched as Cid beat the hell out of them…until more and more kept coming. Leviathan didn't like that too much either so we stepped in." She was referring to her summon. "He thanked me and that's when I saw the Tiny Bronco outside. I was instantly hitched and we started talking. He invited me to see the Rocket and I just…never left."
Yuffie let out a wince as Cid let out a slew of enraged curses and stomped a foot. "I still don't see how you put up with him."
"Well then keep your nose out of it!" Cid growled into his seat. "And shut up."
"I don't have to listen to you!" The teen replied, her anger flaring.
"The hell you don't, you little brat!"
And so, Cid and Yuffie got into a pissing-match which turned out to be more entertaining than the races as everyone around them turned to listen to the two of them. Renee just sat back and watched laughing to herself.
For the last eight years she and Cid had been together, working on the Rocket and other things. At first they were just friends, but as the time progressed it was a little something more. At least that's what Renee hoped. She had been in love with Cid for years now. The day Cid was supposed to launch into Space was the day that Renee was going to tell him when he returned that she loved him but then the launch failed because of Shera. Cid was so distressed and annoyed that Renee couldn't let her feelings for the man be revealed until she was able to get to him up into space. She swore that she would get him up there, so letters were sent and everything that she could do was done. When she heard that Rufus was coming, she thought she had succeeded. Learning the truth just annoyed her.
Renee had thought about going ahead and just telling Cid her feelings, but she had always planned on it being special and that moment would be after his journey into space, even if it took till the end of time.
~Lookin' at you, lookin' at me
The way you move, you know it's easy to see
The neon light's on me tonight
I've got a way, we're gonna prove it tonight
Like Romeo to Juliet
Time and time, I'm gonna make you mine
I've had enough, we've had enough
It's all the same, she said~
"Why are you looking for me?"
The voice made Claire squeal as she jumped. Whirling around, she punched the man behind her just to hit something hard, making her hand ache.
~Damn Vincent and his Death Claw.~ "Don't sneak up on me like that!" Claire hissed through clenched teeth as she rubber her hand. "Jerk." Any other man would have smiled at her; Vincent just stared in silence. She frowned. "You don't smile much, do you?"
"Should I?"
She looked at him like he was stupid. "Well, yeah. You're not in that little box of yours anymore, are you? Be glad! You're free." When he didn't say anything and his face didn't change, she pulled an annoyed face and poked him in the chest. "All right, look here you Emo-Vampire-Wannabe. I fought for almost 15 years to open that damn door and get you out of there so at least be thankful. Instead of being all mopey about it you could try and act happy." She crossed her arms and turned. "So just come on. Let's go get something to eat or rides some rides or something."
As she walked, Claire was very happy that Vincent had decided to follow her, even if it was in silence. She grinned and began to pound him with questions of being a Turk and other things like that. It took the man a few silent moments, but she received answers for every one of them. She didn't like the thought of Lucrecia. It seemed that the woman had fallen in love with Hojo and agreed to follow through with the experiment of Sephiroth just because of that. And no one apparently knew what happened to her afterwards. Vincent had already been put through the tests Hojo had for him and put to sleep in the coffin. Vincent seemed to lighten up a bit as Claire led his around the place. He even ate a little, though not enough to settle her worries, but she held herself. She had to give him more time to get used to being outside again, so it just might take a little while, but she'd be there if he needed anything. After all, like she said, after trying to find someone for 15 years, you just don't see yourself leaving them after doing so any time soon.
~I knew right from the beginning
That you would end up winnin'
I knew right from the start
You'd put an arrow through my heart
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why~
"Two, please." Jeanne smiled at the woman behind the ticket booth.
"Here you are, two tickets." She smiled as they boarded the Gondola. "Enjoy the sights of Gold Saucer."
There was a sweet little tune playing in the ride as the two of them stared out the window in silence. The lights of Gold Saucer lit up the sky beautifully. Jeanne had a sudden urge to ride the Rollercoaster next.
(Rollercoasters are really fun! I love the adrenaline! lol)
They were taken by the Chocobo races and Cloud reached his hand out, reaching to touch one of the birds but they were too fast on the lit-up track as whistles sounded from the stands.
"Oh wow," Jeanne smiled as fireworks were shot off around the Gondola. "It's so beautiful," She looked at Cloud. "Don't you think?"
"It's very nice," Cloud agreed, watching with her. As they settled back into their seats, he sighed. "Again, I just want to say that I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing, Cloud." Jeanne told him. "You did nothing wrong. I just wish that Aerith would state her problems to my face instead of trying to turn you all against me."
"But why is she doing that? What happened when you met before?" Cloud asked.
Jeanne gave a sigh as they got off the Gondola, raking her brains on how to answer that question. "Here, let's grab something to eat and I'll answer everything." The time was now or never. While they were eating she would tell him everything. "Is that all right?"
"Yeah, I think I'd like that."
They hurried back to the circle to head for the restaurants when they found Cait Sith standing there. Jeanne figured that he was going back to the Inn when he pulled out the Keystone! Cloud seemed to recognize it to.
"Hey! Cait Sith!" The blond growled.
The Robot didn't even turn and ran for the Battle Arena. ~Oh God,~ Jeanne felt extremely pissed off now. She had trust Reeve. She let his stay with them, thinking that he wasn't working for ShinRa. She should have known! ~This is my fault!~
The two of them chased the Robot all through the Battle Arena, The Speed Way, through the Wonder room, and the Chocobo races. It was there on the stairs that the helicopter appeared. Tseng was there, waiting and caught the Keystone when Cait Sith tossed it.
"Well done." Tseng called down before the helicopter flew off. Jeanne stared after it before she grabbed the robotic cat by the neck and held it in the air.
"What the hell, Reeve!" She demanded.
"You were a spy?" Cloud asked.
"Yes, I was a spy." The Cat answered.
"I can't believe that I trusted you!" Jeanne growled, her grip growing stronger. "The moment Liana told me I should have taken care of you."
"You knew?" Cloud asked her, shocked.
Jeanne nodded. "His real name is Reeve Tuesti. Jena sent Liana just outside of Gongaga to warn me about him. I thought I could trust him, but it appears that I was wrong."
"I couldn't help it." Cait Sith tried to tell her. "How 'bout if we continue like nothing ever happened?"
"No way, cat!" Cloud growled. "You gotta lot of guts acting like a friend but being a spy!"
"Then what are you going to do? Kill me? The cat is robotic. You'd be wasting your time." Cloud sighed, though anger was still radiating off of him. "Talking won't do any good, so can't we just continue our journey?"
"You think I'm jokin'!" The man was really pissed now.
"Yes, I am a ShinRa Employee." Cait Sith told him. "But we're not entirely enemies. Something bothers me. I think it's your way of life. You don't get paid. You don't get praised. Yet, you still risk your lives and continue on your journey. Seeing that makes me…It just makes me think about my life. I don't think I'd feel too good if things ended the way they are now."
Jeanne's grip softened and she placed the Cat back on the white doll he rode on. "Why did you take the Keystone?" She didn't know what it was but something told her that Cait Sith wasn't telling them the whole truth. Something else was going on here.
"He'll never tell the truth. Once a spy, always a spy." Cloud told her. "We can't go on with someone like that. C'mon! Get real!"
Cait Sith shook his head. "Just as I though. Talking won't make a bit of difference. But I prepared something in case this happened." He pulled out a phone and dialed a number. "Why don't you listen to this?"
It took a few moments, but then they could hear a little voice, begging for Barret, Tifa, and Jeanne.
It was Marlene!
The Cat closed the phone. "So, you have to do as I say."
"You're the lowest…" Cloud growled.
"I didn't want to do this…using dirty tricks and taking hostages…but this is how it is…no compromises. So why don't we continue on as we did?" He moved past them, heading for the Inn before he turned around to face them again. "Tomorrow is the Temple of the Ancients, right? I know where it is so I'll tell you later. Of course we'll get there after ShinRa, but you'll have to deal with that."
Cloud glared at him as he disappeared. "Well, we're stuck…We'll have to do as he says."
"Dammit!" Jeanne slapped her hand to her forehead.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Cloud asked her.
Jeanne felt Déjà vu running through her as she began to make her way up the stairs after the robot.
"I just keep making the bad decisions, don't I?"
Cloud watched her leave before kicking at the ground. He shouldn't get mad at her. Apparently, Reeve had been a friend years ago so of course she would trust him. Him taking his anger out on her wasn't something that he should be doing. ~Great~ He shook his head as he hurried after her. ~I gotta apologize again!~
Everything is one step closer to being revealed. I can't wait! :)
PLEASE REVIEW :)