The Gold Saucer
Riding up to the Gold Saucer was really quiet and really awkward. The closer we got the louder the cheery music and the brighter the lights seemed to be. I looked out the windows, watching spotlights and and noise all blurring into one another. It was all so pretty and exciting, like when the Blitzball tournaments were going on in Luca. Though here there was less balloons and water spheres. Maybe they had a similar sport to Blitzball here?
I didn't totally understand our reasoning for having to travel up this place. It looked great and all, that along with Costa del Sol clearly made this continent the prime tourist and holiday location so far, but it made very little sense about why we were here. I mean, maybe when we stop Sephiroth we could come back and enjoy the place more but…
"We're just passing through here, right?" I asked not long after the halfway mark. Because the Gold Saucer was so high the trip took some time. "Unless Sephiroth is taking a break from trying to reclaim the planet, right?"
"That's the plan," Cloud nodded, "but he could be anywhere."
"I don't think he was the type to go to the Chocobo races," Tifa half-joked, smile slightly strained.
"They do Chocobo racing here?" I asked.
"Yeah, for a while now," was the reply. I had watched a few of the races in the Calm Lands a year or so back but I wondered how grander the ones here were in comparison. It would have been fun to watch one again but most likely that would be once we had dealt with Sephiroth.
"So as soon as we arrive we get the next train that leaves?" Angel asked. "If there's a train that arrives from one side then there should be another that goes the other direction."
"Well, that was the idea," Oswin said, "it's still under construction, however. There's a small dock nearby that was transporting materials to build the train line but it's been delayed several times. The idea was the have it cross the other side of the desert for better access to people on the other side of the continent, rather than taking the long drive on the roads through the desert to North Corel."
"Stupid move making one entrance and exit," Angel said.
"Well it'd make people stay for longer. Though making people arrive and leave through a town in deep poverty is, well, really tasteless, even for Shinra," Oswin shrugged.
"Been good if you'd told us that before we got on this fucking thing," Barrett growled.
"Cloud's the one who suggested we get on. I thought he had a reason for it," Oswin said as he gestured to Cloud. He kept the same tone as he spoke. "Which you've not really said if this is a team building exercise or not. Care to enlighten us?" I looked to Cloud, as did everyone, waiting for his answer. He sighed and stood up, walking down the carriage a bit then turning to address us.
"When we were walking through North Corel I overheard people talking," he started. "They had said a lot of people had been passing through recently… one of them was a man in black heading to the train and to the Gold Saucer."
"Uh, I think Tifa was kidding when she said Sephiroth was heading to the races," Yuffie said and slumped further into her seat. "Like, if you really just want to go on the roller coasters, cool, but maybe you didn't hear them right?"
"No, I'm certain of it," Cloud countered.
"Well, we're here now. We might as well make the most of it," Aerith spoke up. "We barely had time to enjoy the beach, I think we should take a minute to wind down. It's been so serious ever since we left Midgar." I suppose she was right. I took a quick glance around the group to judge their reactions. Mostly neutral and uncertain but… well, might as well.
"I suppose Aerith's right," I said. "It's been constant since we left Midgar, we need a break. A few hours to blow off steam should do it." I mean even in Spira, back when Sin ran rampant, there was still Blitzball. I know it was a necessity to take everyone's minds off the doom and gloom but it helped. Even though my first tournament involved having to fight fiends out of the Stadium, after the games had finished everyone in Luca looked more refreshed and happier.
When we arrived at the Gold Saucer entrance we sorted out our entrance fees and went into the main area. There were branching paths towards the different squares that held different activities in each one. The noise of everything was still so loud and there were so many people just walking around and heading all ways except the exit.
"Come on Barrett, cheer up," Aerith said with such a perky tone it amazed me. "We're here to have some fun."
"I'm in no cheery mood, just leave me alone."
"Well, fine, but we're gonna go play…" Aerith's voice trailed off as she looked around to the paths to the squares. The pause was enough to tip Barrett over.
"Then go fucking play!" He bellowed. "Just go fucking mess about! Don't forget we're after Sephiroth!" He stormed off to a place called the Wonder Square. I bit my lip and hummed a little, looking over to Aerith.
"Um… that was a little harsh, Aerith," Tifa said.
"I just though, if we act normal then he'd be fine," Aerith shrugged. "I just want us to forget everything and have a bit of fun," she then went to Cloud and grabbed his hand. "Come on, let's go see what this place has got!"
I heard small half-protests from Cloud and Tifa that were quickly silenced as Aerith took Cloud down to the Speed Square. The rest of us were left standing awkwardly as they went out of sight. I looked to Yuffie and Tifa.
"So… Chocobo Square? Or are we really thinking Sephiroth will be placing a bet?" I smiled. Yuffie was slightly more eager to take a look around the place than Tifa was but it would take our minds off things. I looked over to Nanaki, "coming with?"
"I suppose it would be good for a time," I noticed his tone held a bit of excitement in it.
"Well I know when I'm not invited," Oswin said. "But I'm going to the Wonder Square if you need me. If there's time later on, I'll be at the Ghost Square bar. Enjoy." He walked off on his own, waving us goodbye before he went out of sight.
"Roller coasters were never really my thing," Angel said. "I'll be about." She left to the Event Square.
Spending a few hours just wasting time and enjoying ourselves proved to be a lot easier than we thought. The worries of both Shinra and Sephiroth had just completely vanished for a while as the four of us went to enjoy the various things in the Gold Saucer. The Chocobo races were amazing, the atmosphere was electric with everyone cheering on the vibrantly coloured chocobos. I wondered what kind of things they were fed to change their feathers to be such bright shades. The speed of them was something else too, though I know these ones were specifically bred and trained for the races. I hoped they were treated okay outside of the tracks.
We had planned to take a look at the Battle Square but it was currently closed for renovations. The staff directed us just outside the Speed Square, where the own had temporarily moved his collection as the Battle Square was being worked on. The collection itself was various old artifacts, sculptures made of stone, wood, and glass, figurines of old hot air balloons, and different precious stones.
"Ooh, these are all so pretty," Yuffie cooed as she gazed at a beautiful garnet on display. I looked at the stone beside it: a smooth round stone with an iridescent blue and green tint to it. "If only we had a little longer here…"
"Yuffie, don't think about it," Tifa scolded quietly enough so no one would hear them. I continued to look at the stone. The hue reminded me of Aerith's own materia, only not as bright. The panel on the display simply called it a Keystone, an old key to an unknown ruin.
I felt a buzzing and checked my pocket. The name of the person calling caught me off guard slightly; it was Angel.
"Hello?" I started with slight caution.
"Get to the station. We need to leave. Now."
"Wait, hang on, why?"
"Don't ask stupid questions. Get to the station before security find you. They're going to put this place on lockdown." She hung up before I could ask anything else. I turned to the group and frowned, feeling a deep pit in my gut.
"We need to go," I ordered, directing them to the exit and leading to the path towards the train station. I went to my phone and started to call Cloud. It just rang out. I tried Aerith. Nothing. Barrett. Nothing again. I tried Oswin and even he didn't answer. "Shit." I tried Angel again. No answer.
We arrived at the entrance and Angel was the only one to be there. She noticed us and quickly approached.
"Train's leaving in five," she said.
"Where are the others?" Tifa asked.
"What's going on?" Nanaki added.
"They got arrested. I don't know why," Angel answered.
"What if it's Shinra? We can't just leave them," I said.
"If it is, then it's more reason to leave," Angel countered.
"If it is Shinra, then we can't let them get Aerith."
"I'm not arguing with you. Either play hero or get on the train," by then the alarms had started blaring. Angel scoffed and threw her hands up angrily, "if we don't leave now, we're all screwed."
It was too late for that as the gates slammed shut and all of the paths to the Squares were sealed off. Numerous security guards gathered at the bars, guns aimed at us. We all slowly put our hands in the air as they screamed the order for us to.
"I tried to warn you…" Angel muttered loud enough for me to hear.
