Our heroes headed for Cid's house with Irvine along with them unaware that an all too familiar foe was meeting with the local crime boss Eddie Valentine (No relation to Vincent Valentine).

"So you want us to track down this bunch of characters and take whatever they find here huh?" a slightly pudgy faced man in nineteen twenties gangster garb, complete with bowler hat, asked as he counted a thick envelope full of munny.

"That's right Mr. Valentine…but among them is a blue haired woman…I want you to spare her and bring her to me…same goes for a woman in a pink outfit…the rest you can put out of their misery." Sanzun said as the gangster thought carefully.

"Ok…you got a deal Mr. Sanzun." Eddie replied as the two shook hands.

"Excellent." Sanzun replied with a sinister grin.

Meanwhile…

"SHERA!! I'M HOME!!" Cid yelled as the woman in question appeared from around the corner to one of the rooms.

"Captain!" she said as she ran around the corner and threw her arms around him in a deep kiss.

"Captain?!" they all asked confused.

"She's more comfortable with calling him Captain." Irvine replied with a smirk as he secretly swiped a cigar from a cigar box on a table by the door…or so he thought.

"Irv if ya don't put that cigar back right now, ya won't have a pot to spit in when I get through with ya." Cid threatened without looking away from Shera as Irvine smirked and replaced the cigar.

"Come on in everyone…the more the merrier." Shera motioned as they all trouped into the living room and had a seat…sans Kimahri who just stood…or hunched due to his height.

"So what brings ya'll here?" Shera asked as she sat down.

"We're looking for some sort of Cetra thing that will help us…uh." Ven started to explain but paused as he remembered Irvine was in the room and had arched an interested eyebrow when Ven mentioned the Cetra.

"Did I hear correctly…did you mention Cetra?" Irvine asked.

"Well…yes actually." Ven replied as Cid quickly realized the reason for Ven's reluctance to continue.

"Oh don't worry about Irvine here…he's probably one of the most trustworthy men in all of Rocket Town." Cid complemented.

"Not like that crook Eddie Valentine." Irvine said as everyone looked at Vincent with an arched eyebrow.

"Come again?" Aqua asked.

"Irv…the guy in red there is Vincent Valentine…I sincerely doubt there's a relation." Cid explained.

"Oh…well Eddie Valentine controls the criminal aspects of Rocket Town…he runs the local mafia." Irvine explained as everyone understood and nodded.

"So what is it ya'll are looking for…maybe I can help ya'll out." Irvine asked as they turned to Aerith.

"We're not exactly sure…the clues we're going on are rather vague." Aerith explained as Irvine leaned forward with interest.

"Clues? You mean…you have the Journal?" Irvine asked as everyone arched a surprised eyebrow.

"How do you know about the journal?" Terra asked.

"How do I know about the journal?! Buddy everyone in the known universe knows about the Great War between the Cetra and the Calamities…and no one dares claim to be a Clammy around here without a death wish...even that crook Valentine hates the Clammys." Irvine replied.

"Wow…I never realized that so many people knew about the war." Yuna said in surprise.

"Yeah well…so what are these clues you have?" Irvine asked.

"The clue we're following at the moment, is regarding the keepers of Kingdom Hearts and where they hid one of the clues to Kingdom Heart's location." Aerith replied, "All it says is that it's hidden in something they had on them."

"Hmm…" Irvine thought as he scratched his chin, he even went as far as to remove his hat revealing his auburn hair in a pony tail.

"Dang Irv…have you ever gotten a hair cut?" Cid asked as he noticed the man's hair but Irvine ignored him.

"The best place to find ancient anything around these parts is in the Rocket Town museum of history." Irvine said as Aqua faked a yawn.

"Oh…how interesting…a museum." Aqua replied sarcastically.

"Ignore her…history was never her favorite subject." Ven said as Aqua stuck her tongue out at him.

"So I noticed." Irvine replied.

"Is this place open right now?" Mickey asked as Irvine donned his hat and nodded as he stood up.

"Let's go then." Terra said as Cid spoke up.

"You guys go ahead…I've got a few things in town I wanna deal with." Cid said.

"Mind if Cloud and I join you?" Vincent asked as Cid nodded.

"The more the Merrier." Cid replied.

"Can I come too?" Yuna asked.

"Sure." Cid replied as they headed for the door.

"I'll be heading to Edge tomorrow morning Captain so I'll be here packing." Shera said as Cid nodded and kissed her on the cheek as he walked out the door.

They split off into two groups; Ven, Terra, Aqua, Irvine, Mickey, Rikku, and Aerith headed for the Museum while Cid, Vincent, Cloud, Yuna, Kimahri, and Wall-e headed towards a general supply store.

The sun was just starting to set as Irvine and his group entered the museum, Aqua's Keyblade suddenly appeared in her hand.

"Whoa Aqua put that thing away." Ven said as Aqua tried to keep it under control.

"I'm trying to but it's gone crazy…it must sense that Cetra artifact around here somewhere." Aqua replied as a man dressed as a security guard approached.

"I'm sorry folks the museum is closing for today." The man said.

"Mack…these people need to get inside real quick…we're just looking for one thing in particular…we'll be in and out in a jiffy." Irvine said as the man sighed and nodded.

The group quickly moved inside as Aqua took lead as the Keyblade guided them through the museum towards a large coffin like chest on display.

"What's in the chest?" Rikku asked as Ven glanced at the plaque.

"It says that no one can even make the lid so much as budge...so its contents remain unknown." Ven replied as Aqua's Keyblade began to glow a light blue.

The light from the Keyblade illuminated a keyhole shaped engraving on the chest.

"Could it really be that simple?" Aqua asked with slight disbelief as she moved the Keyblade closer towards the keyhole and inserted it into the slot that formed. She turned it clockwise as the Keyblade and lid vanished in one spectacular swirl of light revealing a shining blue, purple, gold, and silver plated suit of armor.

"Wow…armor." Rikku said surprised.

"Not once in over five thousand years as anyone ever opened that chest." Irvine whispered as he removed his hat in awe.

Aqua reached forward to the armor as it suddenly started to glow with light. Suddenly in a flash of light the armor started magically disappearing from the chest and reappearing onto Aqua and taking a more feminine appearance than its previous masculine appearance. Finally it was complete as Aqua looked herself over a strange thought came into her head.

"Whoa did we just have a conversation?" she asked in disbelief as she lifted the face slot on the helmet.

"I dunno…you tell us." Ven asked as Aerith realized the meaning of the clue.

"Oh wait…I get it now…the clue was something they had on them…it meant wearing on them…the armor is the clue!" Aerith exclaimed as Ven suddenly started searching all around on the armor much to Aqua's annoyance.

"No you imbecile she means the clue is in the armor not on the armor." She said as she smacked Ven on the top of the head. Ven then said…

"Apparently it also inspires a woman's monthly-""Don't you even go there!" Aqua growled as Ven smiled innocently and backed away.

"We probably better be going before that guard comes back." Terra said as the armor vanished and the chest resealed itself.

"Good idea…let's go." Irvine said as they headed for the door.

Meanwhile…

Cid and his group entered a store named "Rin's Travel Agency and General Supply Store."

Yuna instantly recognized the name…and the man behind the counter.

"Rin?! Is that you?!" she asked a blond haired man in Spiran clothing.

"Yuna?! What in the name of Machina are you doing here?" he asked perplexed.

"I'm traveling with some friends of mine…you remember Kimahri right?" she asked as the Ronso nodded to the blond haired man.

"Even so why are you here?" Rin asked.

"It's complicated…but you have heard the latest news from home haven't you?" she asked.

"Depends on the news…the news about the beginning of the Eternal Calm or the devastation of Midgar?" Rin asked.

"Actually I meant regular news." Yuna replied.

"Oh…well nothing much is happening except the Al Bhed are finally becoming accepted by the people of Spira…good thing too...oh and if you see Wakka…be sure to tell him that the Besaid Aurochs for the first time ever won the national championships." Rin replied as Yuna smiled with a soft chuckle.

"I'll be sure to have Lulu let him know." She said as Rin went wide eyed.

"Lu's alive?!" he asked.

"Yeah…she's been stranded for years on an unauthorized world...but she's made it her home, the people know her there and she even has a family now…a husband and a cute little spiky haired boy." Yuna explained.

"She still owes me for that gummy ship ya know." Rin said as he then paused in thought, "But I'll let it slide…since she is a friend of yours after all…on that note allow me to express my gratitude for your destroying Sin by giving you and all your friends a seventy five percent discount."

"Rin I can't accept that, it's too much." Yuna said humbly as Rin shook his head.

"Nonsense. You have done me a great service…ever since Sin's death my business has exploded…I'm having to build new shops all around Spira…and even in worlds abroad." Rin explained, "The new Edge government has even asked me to build one in Edge to assist in gaining supplies and physical aid for the work there."

"Well…I guess I could live with a seventy five percent discount." Yuna said as Cid walked up next to her.

"I know I can." Cid said as he put a few random items on the counter.

Kimahri then knelt down to Wall-e who handed the large Ronso something.

"Wall-e wants' this." Kimahri said as Yuna arched an eyebrow.

"A copy of Hello Dolly?" Yuna asked as Wall-e started "dancing" and humming some song. (Put on your Sunday Clothes)

"Aww let the guy have it…after all he is entitled for something…after all the help he's been lately." Cid said as he put the holo-disk on the counter.

"Whoa, an honest to Pete Machina!" Rin said as he spotted Wall-e on the ground, "You know Eddie Valentine is willing to pay a pretty penny for a functioning Machina."

"Well he ain't getting this one…" Cid said as something occurred to him, "…speaking of Valentine-"

"What?" Vincent asked from nearby as if Cid had called him.

"Huh? Oh, no not you Vince…" Cid replied as he turned back to Rin, "…his last name is Valentine…no relation…but seriously what news do you have regarding Eddie's recent activity?"

"Well…" Rin said as Yuna started admiring a pair of twin hand guns within a glass case, "…word on the street is that he's searching for these strangers looking for an ancestral artifact."

"Ancestral?! That's what the Al Bhed call the Cetra." Yuna said as she heard Rin's explanation, "…they're looking for US!"

"You?! You're looking for Ancestral artifacts?!" Rin asked in surprise.

"Well our friends are…they helped us out in defeating Sin so Rikku, Kimahri, and I have been helping them out…Lulu's husband is one of them." Yuna replied.

"Any more recent news?" Cid asked eagerly.

"I'm afraid so…One of Valentine's men spotted them going into the museum a while ago and Eddie gave them the order to move out…I hear he's being paid by some guy named…doh what's his name…it starts with an S." Rin said as he scratched his head and the others went wide eyed.

"Sephiroth?!" Cloud asked eagerly as Rin shook his head.

"Naw it has to be Sanzun." Cid replied as Rin snapped his fingers.

"That's it Sanzun!" Rin replied as Yuna paled.

"We have to help them!" she said as Cid shook his head.

"Naw by the time we get there it may be too late…unless…" Cid said as he thought.

"Unless what?!" Cloud asked.

"Rin I need your help…go around town to all the saloons and places where the good old boys hang out and yell out the phrase, 'Posse in the square!' as loud as you can…then grab a gun and get there yourself." Cid ordered as Rin nodded eagerly.

"Uh Rin you mind if I make a quick purchase first?!" Yuna asked as Rin gave a semi-disbelieving cringe.

"What now?!" Cid asked.

"Well you said grab a gun...why not make it two?" Yuna said as she pointed at the twin hand guns.

"Oh the Twin Bees, nice choice…with your magical abilities you should never run out of ammo." Rin said as he removed the guns from the case and tossed in two free holsters.

"I never thought of you as the gunner type." Cloud said surprised.

"I've been thinking of abandoning the summoner ways…especially after that whole Bahamut incident." Yuna replied.

"I can show you how to use them." Vincent said as Yuna nodded with a smile.

"Right let's go!" Cid said as Wall-e started chirping and pointed at his laser.

"Don't worry little fella, I'll be sure to tweak that laser of yours." Cid said as they ran out the door.

Ten minutes later in the square, Cid stood on the second floor balcony of one of the buildings addressing a crowd of Rocket Town natives each brandishing a gun of some sort. Some of them were even brandishing lit torches.

"Friends, neighbors, fellow Rocketeers! There walks on this very world of ours…a CLAMMY!!" Cid shouted as the crowd started chattering amongst themselves.

"He's fooled Eddie Valentine to help him out and is holding a living Cetra along with four wielders of the Keyblade hostage at the Museum!" Cid yelled as the crowd fell silent.

"What proof do you have?!" a man yelled as suddenly a blue glow appeared Cid and in a flash of light stood the mighty wizard Yen Sid himself.

"Look it's Yen Sid!" another man yelled as the entire crowd bowed before the wizard.

"Captain Highwind speaks the truth! The Keyblade wielders and the Cetra are in danger…move quickly there is little time to lose!!" Yen Sid said as the crowd started chattering again.

"Who knows what that beast will do!!" Cid yelled as the crowd yelled in agreement as Cloud yelled out…

"The beast will make off with your children!" Cloud yelled as the crowd gasped, "He'll come after them in the night!"

"We're not safe while the Calamity breaths, I say we kill the beast!" Cloud continued as Yuna, Wall-e and Kimahri looked at him surprised as a man in the crowd started yelling.

"We're not safe until he's dead"

Then another man yelled…

"He'll come stalking us at night"

Then a woman yelled…

"Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous leader's appetite"

Then another man yelled out as Cid shrugged…

"He'll wreak havoc on our Town if we let him wander free"

Cid then joined in…

"So it's time to take some action, boys
It's time to follow me"

Cid yelled as the crowd shouted in agreement and he lifted his spear in the air.

"Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride"

Cid sang as the crowd prepped their weapons and lit their torches.

"Say a prayer, then we're there
At the entrance to a dark world
And there's something truly terrible inside"

Cid continued as he poll vaulted off the balcony to the street below with Cloud right behind him.

"It's a beast! He's got fangs
Razor sharp ones!
Massive swords, killer spells for the beast
Hear him roar! See him foam!
But we're not coming home 'til he's dead—"

Cid shouted as the crowd cheered.

"Good and dead!"

He shouted with another cheer from the crowd

"Kill the Beast!".

"Cid, are you mad this is Aqua's husband we're talking about!" Yuna pleaded as Cid turned to her.

"And this is my homeworld and I'm not letting anything happen to it!" Cid replied.

"I know it's tough to conceive but he's not in his right mind…the guy has two personalities for crying out loud!!" Yuna argued but her arguments fell on deaf ears.

"Well then we'll take them both out!" Cid replied, "We'll rid the universe of this beast! WHO'S WITH ME!!"

Then the crowd cheered in agreement and sang…

"Light your torch! Mount your horse!"

Then Cid joined in…

"Screw your courage to the sticking place!"

The crowd replied as Cid started leading them towards the museum…

"We're counting on Cid to lead the way!
Through a mist, through a wood
Where within an evil world
Something's lurking that you don't see ev'ry day!"
It's a beast! One as dark as a mountain
We won't rest 'til he's good and deceased
Sally forth! Tally ho!
Grab your sword! Grab your bow!
Praise the Lord and here we go!"

"We don't like
What we don't understand
In fact it scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least
Bring your guns!
Bring your knives!
Save your children and your wives
We'll save our Town and our lives
We'll kill the Beast!"

They sang as the museum came within sight in the distance and Cid turned to them.

"Hold fire till I give the word, but remember the Clammy's for the Knights!!"

"Hearts ablaze
Banners high
We go marching into battle
Unafraid although the danger just increased
Raise the flag!
Sing the song!
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty Rocket men can't be wrong
Let's kill the Beast!"

They sang as they drew closer…ready for the battle to come.

End Chapter 35.

I love the mob song from Beauty and the Beast…which the song above is a slight modification of…I thought it fit the mood.

I don't own Rin either.

To explain one thing…my buddy was confused with the crowd's behavior and eagerness to fight, so here's the reason why.

Like Irvine said everyone hates the Calamities. They're like the Nazis of the universe, even though their next to extinct and the people of Rocket Town will willingly give their lives to insure they remain extinct, as would anyone who knows of them and their past.

Cid referred to Sanzun as a Calamity because Sanzun and his allies used Jenova's head to create Sephiroth and because it would light the people's patriotism against the Calamities…oh and if you haven't figured it out by now the term "Clammys" is a derogative term for the Calamities.

Disclamer: I mean't no offence to anyone of German or Jewish decent with the Nazi referrence.