Note: The start is the POV of the party for the Promised Land.
*****
Destiny's Call - 16
By: Liv (LGStrife)
Yuffie's eyes were half open as she waited for Cloud to return with the other Chocobos. She was too sleepy to realize that her head had landed on Tifa's shoulder.
Tifa turned to Yuffie and gave no violent reaction. "Go on and sleep, Yuffie. I'll wake you up when Cloud comes back."
Yuffie nodded and closed her eyes.
Tifa smile and turned to Aeris who was just staring at the Cosmo Candle. "Um...Aeris?"
"Oh!" Aeris' attention quickly changed from the fire to Tifa. "What is it?" She had to adjust to the lighting, though.
"Do me a favor? Check on the entrance, will you?"
"Yeah," Aeris pushed herself to stand up and left.
Tifa watched the Cetra jog farther from them. She sighed. It's been almost 2 hours. I feel like we're only wasting our time, here... Her heads was slightly bowed. She was beginning to feel drowsy.
"Tifa!"
"Huh?" Tifa woke up again and searched for Aeris. "Where...oh! There you are." She saw the woman waving. "What is it??"
"Cloud's back!"
Tifa sighed in relief. "Hallelujah!" She nudged Yuffie awake who made undistinguishable moans. "Hey, Cloud's back."
"Huh...? Cloud's what?" Yuffie looked around with still drowsy eyes. She felt a sudden sting when Tifa hit her with her palm. "OW!!! Would you watch it?!" She snorted and rubbed the hit spot.
Tifa stood up and jogged over to Cloud upon seeing him arriving with Aeris. "We were waiting for 2 hours!"
"Sorry, I only have our Gold Chocobo to travel." Cloud caught Tifa in a short hug. "You missed me, didn't you?"
Tifa nodded with a smile. "Yuffie's coming."
Cloud looked behind Tifa. "Oh is she?"
Tifa turned around to see Yuffie still pouting over her hit. "Yuffie, c'mon!"
"You hit me too hard, Tifa!" Yuffie spat. "Now lemme ease the pain!"
"Tifa, what did you do?" Tifa turned around to Cloud. "I had to wake her up!" She reasoned.
Cloud shook his head with a smile. "Never mind...the others?"
"Sephiroth is having a talk with Zack. Red is waving good-bye to his friends."
"That's weird...I haven't heard from Red XIII awhile ago..." Cloud scratched his head.
"He wasn't with us, remember?" Tifa answered. "I think he was sleeping still. But he doesn't have anymore choice but to come with us."
"Yeah..." Cloud turned around to Aeris. "Hey, could you fetch Red? I'll call Sephiroth and Zack."
Aeris nodded and left for Red XIII's home.
Tifa was looking at Aeris.
"As for you,"
"Huh?" Tifa turned to Cloud. "Yeah?"
"Get on a Chocobo with Yuffie. You've done your job by waiting."
Tifa smirked. "All right."
*****
"So...you mean to tell me...that you're actually doubting me?" Sephiroth heard Zack ask while they were on the canyon Cloud usually is on. Zack's back was turned. "I'm not saying anything like that. All I'm saying is that it's a bit bizarre to see another dead person come to life." He folded his arms.
"But you were asking me of my motives." Zack turned around with an insulted look at Sephiroth. "I thought you trusted me--"
"I did." Sephiroth answered. "I'm just asking you what prompted you to help us in this very dangerous mission."
Zack sighed and shook his head. "It's Aeris and Cloud."
"What about them?"
"I...I felt like I have a need to protect them."
"Cloud seems to be handling himself pretty well. He should be able to handle Aeris as well."
"Yeah, I know..." Zack laughed while he spoke. He turned to him with a small smile. "I find it weird, too...but...there's always this...feeling in me...you know...kinda like an elder brother to his younger one."
Sephiroth nodded.
"Hey!!!"
Sephiroth turned to wherever the voice came from and looked down. "Strife." He watched the man wave. "I'll meet you down there." His feet left the ground as he flew towards Cloud.
Zack wore a frown on his face.
*****
Cloud watched Sephiroth until he was face to face with him. "What were you and Zack talking about?"
"A little army memories." Sephiroth made his way to the entrance where Aeris and Red XIII are joining Tifa and Yuffie.
Cloud watched the man ignore him so simply. "Hmp, never changed at all..." He heard pebbles moving and looked at the man who was climbing down.
"Um...some help here?" Zack turned around to Cloud with his head. "Thanks." He watched the man approach him and assist him down. "Ah! That's better." He dusted his wear. "What took you so long?"
"You have NO idea how wide Planet is, Zack."
"Oh tell me about it!" Zack laughed and accompanied Cloud to the Chocobos.
*****
"It's late." The man waiting for them by the inn said. Cloud was on his Gold Chocobo with Aeris as they climbed towards the town. "Sorry about that, Vincent."
"Nothing to worry about that, Strife." Vincent approached them and helped them off. "I see Zack has all the privileges." He smiled at the man who got off his Black Chocobo.
"Heh." Zack smiled. "No one to share my Chocobo with, Sir Sephiroth said he'd rather fly."
"I sure am glad he didn't get blown away!" Cloud joked and laughed along with Zack while looking at Sephiroth who had landed.
Sephiroth smirked. "Cherish your good moments while there is still time."
"Sephiroth, Sephiroth..." Vincent shook his head and sighed. "So pessimistic now, are you? Get your rests, we'll start early."
"Kenshin and company?" Cloud asked.
"Sleeping."
*****
Or are they?
"Wow! It really is cold here." Yahiko rubbed his arms for heat.
"Colder than Tokyo!!" Sano agreed.
"Are you sure Elizabeth is gonna meet us here??"
"She never breaks her promises!" Sano felt a sudden shiver in his spine. "Wow!" He heard a giggle and turned around.
Yahiko gave a happy smile and waved. "Elizabeth-neechan!" He rushed over to the smiling girl who had a violet sash on.
"Hi!" Elizabeth waved at Yahiko while holding a bundle and a container. "I'm surprised my two friends are brave enough to come out the cold night without thick clothing!" She sat to face Yahiko right in the eyes.
"Oh I didn't need one." Sano spoke and approached them.
Elizabeth giggled. "Yeah, right! I saw you shudder." She stood up smiling sweetly at Sano.
Sano smiled. "Heh, so you caught me red-handed?"
"I guess so. Here, why don't your try the clothing I embroidered myself?" Elizabeth settled the container on the ground. She opened the bundle and handed two sashes.
"OH WOW!" Yahiko took one immediately and wrapped it around his body. "So warm...!" He smiled at Elizabeth. "It smells good, too!"
"Thank you, I made sure I sprinkled a little of my favorite perfume on it."
Sano sniffed the clothing around him. "Wow, this is gonna promise me good night sleeps with this around."
Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, you're flattering me, Sano! Oh! I almost forgot." She bent to take the container and handed it to Sano. "I cooked this soup especially for you two."
"For us??" Sano twisted the cup open. The aroma immediately wafted over to him. "It smells good, too."
"Thank you." Elizabeth nodded. "Why don't we all sit down and talk?"
"Oh! Did I tell you about how I beat this really mean and strong man??"
"Really? Tell me about it!"
"Sure! I even saved some girl from thugs. I took them down all by myself!"
"That's wonderful! I'd love to hear more."
And tomorrow...you will be mine...
*****
"NORTHERN CRATER?!" The driver or Elmyra's friend exclaimed. "Are you nuts?!"
Kaoru didn't know what to answer. "Please! Please, I NEED you help, Ojiisan!"
"Oh I'd love to help a beautiful woman like you, miss. But you're crazy! Don't you know that there are a lot of monsters there??"
"But--"
"Do you ACTUALLY know Sephiroth??"
Kaoru felt like she wanted to cry. "Ojiisan...please...take me anywhere close to it and I'll take it from there!"
The driver sighed. "There's this place called Icicle Inn. It snows there and it never stops snowing. I can take you there."
"Please!"
"Then get in the truck, we're leaving."
"Oh, thank you!!"
*****
Cloud dusted his ski board leaving the inn with it. It had been months since he touched it again. "Y'guys, ready?" He watched as everyone hopped onto their Chocobos. "Hey, Ken."
"Aa?" Kenshin turned to Cloud as Kaoru rode behind him.
"Take care of my Gold Chocobo, 'kay?"
"Aa de gozaru yo."
"Good." Cloud nodded with a smile. "Good luck." He turned to Red XIII. "I'll be going ahead now. You know where to go?"
Red XIII nodded.
"All right." Cloud waved to everyone before he left to the skiing point.
Vincent watched Cloud disappear until he heard a 'Whoo hoo!!!'. He laughed softly. "That boy..." He looked at Sephiroth. "Take care."
"You, too." Sephiroth said.
Vincent turned around to his party, his Chocobo waddling. "That's our queue, giddy!"
"Northern Crater, here we go again!! HEEHA!!!" Cid shouted as the others followed his and Vincent's Chocobo. He wanted to raise everyone's spirit up.
Sephiroth floated in the air. "Strife will be finished with his fun now." He flew to where Cloud went and was followed by the Chocobos.
*****
Kaoru immediately leapt off the truck and rushed over to the town where people are looking northwards. "Excuse me," She tapped on a man. "Have you seen a man with a scarred cheek??"
"OH! That strange guy?" The man pointed to his west. "They went that way. Heh...them crazy baffoons are gonna try and explore the Northern Crater, I think."
"What??" Kaoru felt her heart sink. She was late again! "When did they leave??"
"Just 5 minutes ago."
"5 minutes ago?!" Kaoru felt hope rise. "There's still time!" She took a step.
"WHOAH! Wait!" The man grabbed her arm.
Kaoru turned around and pleaded. "Please! Let me go!"
"Miss, I know this is urgent but this is very dangerous!"
"I know!! But--" Kaoru was cut short when something hit her neck.
The man caught the fainted woman in his arms. "Damn, didn't really wanna do that but I'm sorry...we gotta stop people from dying..."
- End of Part 16 -
No terms! XD