WHERE ANCIENTS FEAR TO TREAD
CHAPTER 10
"Wow!" Aeris said in awe as she walked down the small dirt trail leading out towards the boundless regions of the Junon area. "This place is magnificent!"
Red13 merely smirked as he rose his head skyward. "Does the scenery of this region impress you that much? I see nothing special about it."
Tifa, also mystified by her surroundings, turned the face the one-eyed tiger. "Well of course it does!" The Avalanche fighter threw her arms out for emphasis. "This is the first time you've ever been outside of the Midgar region right Aeris?"
The flower girl nodded her head excitedly, still not taking her eyes away from the sights before her.
"Don't you get it Red? This is the first time she's gotten the chance to see the world without having to put up with the smog and absence of life the plagues the Midgar continent. This is her chance to see the world as it should be!"
Red13 simply shrugged but a small smiled tugged at the side of his lips despite his best efforts. "Well… Its good to notice the beauty and glow of the planet every once and a while."
"Of course it is!" Tifa nearly shouted in glee. "It's been so long since I've been outside of Midgar myself! It's so exciting! I almost forgot how beautiful the world can be without the influence of mako!"
"Yeah!" Aeris agreed, finally being able to tear her attention away from her surroundings enough to listen to what her companions had to say. "I almost can't believe my eyes. The grass is so green and pure! The air is most! Everything is just so… so… natural!"
Tifa smiled and nodded the whole time. "Yeah it's amazing how much we take our world for granted at the cost of high tech equipment."
Red13 rolled his one good eye then turned to face his companions. "Aren't you two forgetting something? Sure it's great to admire the planet every once in a while but remember what we're here for! This isn't sight seeing you know?"
Aeris face fell slightly, while Tifa's became upset.
The young dark haired woman walked up to the tiger, Aeris following closely behind.
"Red we know what we're here for, believe me and not a second goes by that we forget it."
Red simply gave the girl an exasperated look. "Well then, why don't you two quit moping and lets get moving!"
Tifa's eyes narrowed even more. She glanced back towards Aeris to see the woman deep in thought.
Tifa motioned for Red to follow her a little bit further away from the flower girl.
"Look Red, I know you mean well but you've got to be a bit more patient."
Red13's one good eye fastened into a glare. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me." Tifa continued, becoming more livid with each word. "Look over there. Just look at that poor girl. You think this is easy on her? You think this is easy on any of us? Now I'm not going to lie and say I know what's going on with her and that I know all that she's been through because I don't. However I do know what I see before my eyes and what I've been seeing lately is this girl becoming more and more distressed every day."
Red13 rolled his eyes, seeing where this was going. "Oh give me a break Tifa. I take it you would expect me to hold her hand through life as if she were some adolescent child? If she can't cope with the harsh reality of the world now then she never will. She must learn to accept reality as it is. It would be wrong for us to try and hide her from it."
"I'm not saying that!" Tifa nearly shouted in anxiety. "Look all I'm saying is that you need to cut that girl some slack every now and then. She's been going through hell for the last few months and now with Cloud gone I'm afraid she may have a nervous breakdown or something. She tries to put up a brave front and she tries to stay cheerful but you never hear her at night do you? When all she does is cries her heart out."
Red let out a heavy sigh, leaning on his haunches. "Look we all must cope with our comrade's death…"
"It's not that!" Tifa blurted out. "Or maybe I should say it's not just that…"
The young Avalanche woman scratched the back of her head in frustration. She was clearly peeved that Red wasn't getting the bigger picture like she was and it was annoying to have to explain this to him all the while he continued to keep a emotionless expression pasted on his face.
"Look, ever since Zack died didn't you notice how everything changed so drastically?"
Red13 sighed in annoyance. "Well I couldn't know seeing as how I was never there. Or have you forgotten I joined up with your little Avalanche group after you were all captured."
Tifa balled her fists in anger then lowered her head and let out a defeated sigh. "Red… all I'm asking is that you not be so rash and straightforward about everything. Aeris is going through enough with everything that's happened already. I don't know much myself but I do know that Cloud was a lot happier before Zack's death. Afterwards he's become more sullen and close minded. Not just that, everyone's been pent up and quiet about the incident. But as of late Aeris has been reacting the worst so far. From what I've heard, Cloud and Zack found her as a rouge and took her in. They promised her security. Now that one is dead and the other has completely shut everyone else off from him, do you know how that must make her feel?"
For the first time, Red13 lowered his head and actually took in what the woman was saying. "…Alone, abandoned…"
"Exactly!" Tifa breathed in exasperation.
"I know those emotions well…" The tiger mused silently, more to himself then to anyone else. "Very well. I shall be more patient with the girl and not act so straightforward about things."
A smile inched its way across Tifa's face. "That's all I'm asking."
From the corner of her eye, Tifa noticed Aeris was now walking towards them.
"Tifa, Red we should get going now. Cloud may be in danger and need our help. You were right Red, I shouldn't be acting this way in such dire circumstances."
Red13 raised his eye towards her and opened his mouth to reply. "Aeris, look w-"
"For travelers, you three sure do know how to make a lot of noise." A new voice suddenly rang out from the distance, cutting the one-eyed tiger off.
Red's eye narrowed as he swung his head around towards source of the voice. Tifa and Aeris soon followed suit however all that met them was the dense green overgrowth of plant life and shrubbery.
"Who's there?!" Red13 bellowed into the light spring air.
Much to the amazement of the trio, his question was soon met with a flurry of giggles.
"Well one thing's for sure." Tifa began, relaxing her clenched fists. "Whoever it is out there, it can't be anything too serious."
Suddenly a figure leapt from out of the growth of branches and shrubs. Tifa's eyes narrowed in annoyance. She had been expecting someone dangerous to be lurking in the shadows yet now she found that claim to be wrong.
Standing at her full height in front of them was nothing more then a dark haired, spunky, shurieken wielding, kid. With a small armored plate on one shoulder that led all the way down her arm.
The girl's eyes flashed dangerously towards the three of them. "What do you mean I can't be anything too serious?" She bellowed in ferocity. "How dare you underestimate the great Yuffie Kisiragi!"
Red sighed in annoyance then turned his gaze off and began to walk away.
"Hey!" Yuffie screamed in angry rage. "Don't you dare turn your back on me! I'm your worthy opponent! I can beat all of you in two minutes flat!"
Aeris cast concerned eyes towards the young girl. "Why are you doing this? What do you want?"
An evil grin formed slowly on the young ninja girl's face. "Ha! I'm glad you asked. As I said before I am the great Yuffie Kisiragi! I am a world Renowned Materia hunter! I search the world for great materia. My goal is to own at least one of each! And now, gimme all your materia so I can add them to my collection!"
Aeris eyes widened in disbelief while Tifa simply burst out laughing.
"Huh? Hey stop laughing at me! I mean it."
"Oh this is too rich!" Tifa gasped in between giggles. "We're being 'robbed' by an angry kid!"
Yuffie became red in the face with anger. "Hey shut your mouth!"
"And what's worse," Tifa continued, unperturbed by the warning. "She's only after our materia!" Tifa couldn't contain herself as she fell to the floor in a fit of laughter.
Aeris too, couldn't help the small sporadic giggles that escaped her own lips from the revelation of their current situation.
"Hey I told you all to stop laughing at me! I mean it!"
Red simply sighed and shook his head. "This is nonsense."
Suddenly a hard sharp object came hurling his way.
CRACK
Red13 fell back as a shurieken smacked him square on the nose.
"Ouch!" The tiger protested in alarm. "What the hel-"
However before he could finish, Yuffie launched herself into attack, throwing her left leg out into a flying kick.
The one-eyed tiger narrowly dodged out of the way of the attack, now glaring in anger. "Just what are you intending to accomplish by this child!"
Yuffie landed expertly on her feet then turned towards Red with a smug grin on her face. "You all surprised yet? You thought I was just some 'spunky teenager' huh? Well now I'm gonna teach you never to underestimate you enemy!"
Within a split second, the young girl launched herself into the air once more. Before anyone could react, the young ninja leapt in front of Tifa then shot a fist directly into her midsection effectively shoving the air from her lungs.
Tifa fell over in shock and anger, desperately trying to reclaim her lost air supply.
This time Aeris narrowed her eyes in disapproval. "Why are you so intent on proving yourself to us? We don't want to hurt you."
"That's what you say." Tifa shot in, in between gasps of air.
"I don't care what you want or don't want!" Yuffie yelled in anger. "You dishonor be by laughing at my challenge. Now I will show you what a true ninja's wrath can produce!"
Yuffie shot forward, throwing her arm out into a punch once more. This time, however, Aeris blocked the attack with her staff.
Yuffie glared in anger at the brown haired woman then threw her leg out in a low sweep. Aeris, remembering the lesson's Zack had taught her, expertly lifted her right leg, avoiding the sweep then stretched her staff in a sweeping motion, effectively tripping the young ninja girl off the ground.
Yuffie fell flat on her back. Narrowing her eyes in anger at being toppled she leaned forwards to get back up. Hey eyes widened, however, when she found herself now staring into the tip of the flower girl's staff.
"Stop this nonsense right now." Aeris said in a harsh voice, keeping the end of her staff level with Yuffie's throat.
The young ninja girl balled her fists up in an angry fit. "Ok, ok I give up. You win by default."
Tifa was now lifting herself up from the ground, fully recovered from the sucker punch. "Exactly what the hell is your problem kid?"
"Hmph! I told you already." Yuffie replied smugly as she dusted herself off after getting up from the ground. "I'm a materia hunter. It's my job to steal materia from others. And If they resist, I kick their a$$."
"Doesn't seem like you've been doing too good of a job thus far." Red shot in, rubbing his bruised nose with the end of his paw.
"Shut up furry! You guy's just got lucky! Hey I got an idea! Let's fight again! This time I'll be for real right? And then I'll show you all just how strong I am!"
"Hmph, think I'll pass." Tifa replied casually. "You're a good fighter kid, don't get me wrong. That sucker punch of yours was well placed and you've got some good skill with the shurieken. But that's as far as it gets. Maybe when you get a little more practice, we can all fight again."
"Oh come on!" Yuffie yelled in alarm! "Just one more time! Let me show you what I've really got!"
"Maybe next time." Aeris replied lightly.
"We don't have time to play games with you kid." Red said in a slightly annoyed voice. "We've wasted enough time here already."
"Really? Where you all going in such a hurry anyway?" Yuffie asked, suddenly becoming interested.
"It's none of your business." Tifa replied bluntly.
"Hey come on! I might be able to help you guys out!"
"And why would you want to do that? Just a minute ago you were trying to smash our brains in."
"Ah come on! I'm curious damnit!"
"We've really got to get going." Aeris replied softly. "Hopefully we'll meet again. Then we can have that rematch ok?"
Yuffie growled in anger, turning her back to face the trio. "Fine!" She answered hotly.
Red rolled his eyes. "Ok we better get going. We may still be able to make it to Junon by nightfall."
"Ah ha!" Yuffie replied, suddenly turning around to face them once more. "So you guys are going to Junon then huh?"
Red growled slightly in frustration.
"Hey I can help you guys out after all. I know a quick route into Junon. I can get you there in 2 hours tops!"
This time all three of the companion's eyes widened in alarm.
"What did you say?" Aeris asked, turning to face the young girl.
"You heard me!" Yuffie replied, grinning smugly. "2 Hours and not a minute more."
"How?" Red asked.
"It's easy. There's an underground tunnel in this area. The origins are kinda private but suffice to say, it's an ancient secret I learned from way back at home. This tunnel will lead us straight into Junon."
Tifa narrowed her eyes slightly then turned to face the group. "Well what do you say guys?" She asked in a low voice. "It's a long shot but it could seriously pay off for us."
"I don't trust her." Red replied. "She's a materia thief. She could just be trying to lead us into an ambush."
"I disagree." Aeris interjected. If that were the case, we'd be caught already. I say we give her a chance. Besides, we could use her skill."
"Hmm Aeris has a point there." Tifa responded. "I agree. I think we should give this kid a shot. What do you say Red?"
The tiger grumbled then nodded his head. "Fine. Whatever choice I make will have little difference anyway. You'd make me say yes either way."
Tifa smiled proudly. "You bet your flaming tail we would."
Turning around, Tifa smiled boldly towards the young ninja girl. "Ok kid, we're in. we'll trust you for now but the second you double cross us…"
"Yeah, yeah I get the point." Yuffie responded, now walking down a dirt path. "Just follow me and I'll lead you right through the tunnel and to Junon. Just remember one thing though." She turned around and pointed a finger directly towards Tifa and Aeris. "You two owe me a fight later. The cat's too small for a good challenge but I think you two will suit me just fine."
Red13 growled angrily under his breath while Tifa and Aeris laughed lightly. They were beginning to like this girl more and more.
****
Cloud's eyes fluttered open against the bright shining light of the flashing sun. Groaning loudly, the blond mercenary Struggled to a sitting position, rubbing his eyes vigorously.
"It's about time you woke up! God Cloud, you sleep like a horse!"
"Shut up!" Cloud retorted towards his companion, now rising to his full height from the cot he had been sleeping on.
The dark haired companion merely smirked at the rebuke then turned back and continued finishing the eggs he had been cooking.
Cloud grinned, stretching his arms out as wide as they could go. "In any case, I didn't complain when you slept like a log three weeks ago. You were out for almost 12 hours! And we were on enemy territory at that!"
"Ah, that's different!" The black haired man replied, throwing his hand out in a dismissive gesture. "I was tired from all the previous fighting and the poison didn't help either."
This time Cloud had to laugh out in disbelief. "What poison? Liar! The only poison you were exposed to is your own lazy habits! Face it, you're no better then me when it comes to sleeping in late!"
The dark haired man flashed his partner a sour look but said nothing more as he continued to stir the eggs vigorously.
"Ha can't say anything now can you Zack?" the blond haired man asked, laughing in triumph. "Next time don't be such a hypocrite and you won't look as bad."
Suddenly the scene changed and now Cloud found himself standing in the middle of a bloody field. Tears of pain and regret streaked down his eyes whilst holding the huge bloody buster sword in his callused fingers.
Lying around him were the slain bodies of a band of thieves. They had been killed recently and efficiently. Unfortunately, it did Cloud no good knowing that he took them out quickly. It still pained him to be the cause of such destruction.
The heavy clatter of footfalls broke the blond out of his slight reverie. He turned his head to regard his companion, still with the same distraught eyes as before.
"This is madness…" He whispered in a soft voice, as if too afraid to raise his voice any higher in this realm of solitude and desolation.
His dark haired companion seemed to immediately get the gist of what he was saying. The dark haired man rammed the edge of his sword into the ground then leaned his arms on the hilt. "No." He replied in an equally solemn voice. "What it is, my friend, is reality."
"Why must this world be filled with such anguish and destruction? Can't people see their own follies and learn from them? Can't people just live in peace for once?"
Zack gave his friend a sympathetic look. "It is not our place to decide what people think and do. We live in hard times. We do what we have to in order to survive."
Once again the scene shifts. This time Cloud finds himself sitting at a camp site roasting fresh meat on the fire with Zack.
"Ya know Cloud… death isn't all that bad really."
"How can you say that? You got a death wish or something?"
"Who me? No way! I couldn't die even if I wanted to! I'm too damn good for that!"
Cloud rolled his eyes and chuckled at his friends exaggerated bravado. "Yeah, whatever Mr. 'I can do anything.'"
Both mercenaries laughed at this for a while. Soon Zack picked up again.
"But I'm serious. I've been thinking a lot since that last time when we killed all those thieves who tried to mug and kill us."
"I try not to remember those things." Cloud replied softly. "It's troubling to sleep with such memories."
"Yeah I know but we can't just run away from the fact forever right? Sooner or later we gotta face up to the reality of it all."
"You said that before. But it's easier said then done Zack. People die. That's the most realistic fact about this crazy world we live in. And then you have the audacity to say death isn't bad? It makes me wonder if perhaps you've lost your mind."
"Just shut up and listen to me for a minute will ya? Sheesh, all I'm trying to say is that death is a part of life."
"Oh wow Zack!" The blond retorted in over-exaggerated sarcasm. "Ya know, I never noticed that before. What's next? Are you gonna tell me about the birds and the bee's now?"
Zack chuckled despite himself. "Hell Cloud, if you don't know about 'that' then your more of a novice then I thought."
Cloud's face turned sour as Zack continued to laugh heartily.
"I'm not really getting the point of what you're trying to say here, you know?"
"Oh… right." Zack flustered, trying to regain his composure. "Look Cloud, what I'm trying to say is that people can die anytime. I'm not suggesting it's wrong to feel bad about being the one doing the killing or even being on the receiving end of the kill. All I'm saying is that you should know that it's very real and it can take us at any time. Death is a cruel mistress that can creep up on either one of us at anytime."
"So then why fight? If death is so predominant then why do we even waste our time trying to protect ourselves? Zack I've seen enough of death in my life to not only know that it's very real but to also know that I hate it to the very core! I'm sick of it all. If we have to live in a world like this then why do we even keep going?"
"To ensure happiness! Look, all we can do is live our lives to their fullest. We're all going to die anyway, that much is certain. We don't die because we want to. It was just our time to go that's all. And don't go around feeling obligated to kill if a loved one passes on before you. Trust me, revenge is nothing more then a weighted crutch placed on those sorrowful souls still living. Weather we die at the end of someone's blade or by the forces of nature, all we can do, all we ever could do, is live our lives the best way we see fit. At least then, when we leave this world, we can have pleasure in knowing we've done all we could and have no regrets… that's all we can hope to accomplish…For the living, all they can do is move on…"
****
Cloud suddenly ripped out of bed in a cold sweat. His breathing came is rasps as he recollected his thoughts. Turning his eyes towards the window he noticed it was still night out. His shaking hands clasped the edges of his sheet in an almost deathlike grip.
Silently, Cloud heaved a shaky sigh of nervous anxiety. He slowly brought one of his shaking hands to his forehead while getting out of his bed and heading towards the sink. He vaguely heard Cid's snoring in the next room and absently cringed at the man's boisterous behavior. By the way he snored, soon all of Junon would be awakened by his sounds.
Tearing his mind from that, Cloud turned the sink faucet on full blast and splashed his face with water. Once again, he let out a stifled sigh.
'What's wrong with me?' He thought to himself. 'I've never had dreams of Zack before… but they seemed so real…'
He peered at his shaking hands then clasped them together tightly. "Pull yourself together Cloud!" He berated himself silently. "It was just a dream! Just a stupid dream." Yet even despite his words, he knew they were more then dreams. They were memories. He remembered each and every one of those scenes vividly. They had all taken place within the time span of 3 months after Zack had first found him. They had become fast friends and he was still recovering from his own turmoils. He remembered how patient and helpful Zack had been for him in those days.
Angrily Cloud shook his head once more. No more thinking in the past. Despite those words of advice Zack had given him in the past, the truth of the matter was that Zack was dead. And he didn't care how anyone put it, Zack's death brought no happiness at all. It only brought pain and misery. Zack hadn't lived his life to the fullest. He had died horrible by the hands of Sephiroth. It wasn't fair.
Cloud slowly turned the sink off, his wet, matted hair now falling over his eyes. "Don't worry old friend." He said to himself silently. "Soon I'll catch that ba$tard and make him pay for what he's done."
****
Sitting silently, overlooking the hotel Cloud and his companions were staying at, sat a lone figure atop an adjoining rooftop staring silently at the building in contemplation.
"What are you doing here?"
Raven turned swiftly at the startling sound of the new voice. "Astaroth! Sir, I didn't know you were there."
"Of course you didn't. You were so engrossed in surveying our enemy. Why have you taken this post? Have they started their move yet?"
"No… not yet. I just… it's nothing."
Astaroth cast a critical eye towards his subordinate then turned abruptly. "I suggest you stay focused on our task! Sephiroth has contacted me."
"The master?" Raven was now fully alert, eyes wide.
Astaroth gave no reaction towards Raven's new demeanor. "He has commanded us to take up positions about the town. You are assigned to the sea line district. Our orders are to be prepared to make our attack at his command."
"But what about our previous mission? Aren't we to eliminate Avalanche once they are all together? There are only but a few of them now."
Astaroth turned his face towards Raven, glaring daggers at the lesser clone. "This is a direct order under our master! Our place is not to question his decisions! Now do as I say and take up your position!" With that, Astaroth swiftly disappeared into the shadows leaving Raven behind to contemplate his own words.
Raven cast one last glance back towards the silent hotel in the distance, still not completely sure of what he was looking for. He then rose to full height and silently followed his leader into the shadows.
::::::::::To Be Continued::::::::::
Author's note: Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for chapter 11
Cordis