Tentatively, Cid sets the massive airship down in the small clearing around the tiny house.
"You guys coming?" Tifa looks back at everyone still lingering on the ship as she and Cloud begin leaving.
"Nah!" Yuffie calls after her.
"The Chocobo Sage only has a small home, and all of us might make it harder for him to remember him. We'll stay here and await your return." Nanaki explains quickly. "You two go on ahead. We'll be right here." He says. Tifa slowly leaves, keeping her eye on him. "Good luck!" He calls after her.
Tifa opens the door to the Chocobo Sage's small home and enters, Cloud walking along behind him hopefully. The Sage's chocobo warks a greeting to them, and Cloud wanders over to it, also warking. Tifa wonders briefly what they are talking about, but heads over the the Chocobo Sage, who, as always, is in the back corner.
"Hello there!" She says, attempting to get his attention.
"Who's this?" The Sage says, turning towards her. "Oh, hello! I remember you, you're the- wait, nope. Forgot. Oh well." He says, offhandedly.
"I'm Tifa... I've got a little problem, you see, Cloud, here" she points to Cloud "was turned into a chocobo."
"Who was turned into a chocobo?"
"Cloud, here." She points again.
"Now, what was he turned into?"
"A chocobo."
"Ah! Yes, I know quite a bit about chocobos, you see. What do you need to know?" Tifa looks hopeful.
"How to change Cloud back to a human!" She says brightly.
"Change who?" Tifa falls over.
"Cloud."
"What about this cloud? There's lots of clouds."
"He's a chocobo!"
"You say there's a cloud that looks like a chocobo? What good does that do me?"
"No no no... Cloud, that's my fiance's name, he was TURNED INTO a chocobo."
"Ahhh! I see! And you want to know how to get him back!"
"YES! Do you know how?"
"I sure do!"
A brief pause.
"Well?" Tifa asks impatiently.
"Well what?"
Tifa's eye begins twitching violently.
"Well how do I GET HIM BACK!?!?" She nearly screams. Cloud warks, startled, and falls over.
"Get who back? From where? Oh, that Cloud fella?"
"Yes." She begins to calm again as they make some progress.
"So, this fiance of yours is a chocobo?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'd have to say that marrying a chocobo isn't that entirely a good idea. I'm not sure that I can really help you." He says in a funny voice.
"NO! He's not a REAL chocobo! He was turned into one after he ate some Zeio nuts I gave him."
"Not a very bright fella, is he?"
"Rrrrrr! Just tell me how to get him back to normal!" She yells at him.
"Calm down, calm down. First, by any chance, was it a full moon when this all happened?" The sage asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Well, I think it was, but what does that have to do with anything?"
The sage looks at her for a few moments in silence.
"I have no idea." Tifa collapses to the floor in frustration.
"Do you know how to get him back or not?" Tifa asks, dangerously on the verge of nuking the surrounding five-mile radius.
"Hmmm...." He thinks intensly for a moment. "I seem to have forgotten." The sage laughs and rubs his head as Tifa begins flaming with deadly anger.
"Wark!" Cloud quickly trots over to her and nuzzles her.
"You're right, Cloud. Let's go, we'll try back later, Mr. Sage." Tifa says politely, slowly calming down.
Returning to the Highwind, Tifa and Cloud head drearily in to the bridge. Everyone looks at them, waiting for some report.
"Well?" Yuffie breaks the silence.
"He forgot." Tifa says. Nanaki nods silently. "Well, I didn't want to have to do this, but... lets go to the Midgar Flats..." She says drearily.
"But, you don't mea-" Yuffie begins, but Nanaki pounces her, giving her a look that would make most sane men cower.
"Heh-heh... nice doggy?" Yuffie Red XIII gives her an offended look before padding off of her and back to his spot. By this time, the Highwind is already slowly raising, and in no time, they reach Midgar. Cid sets the ship down next to a small farm. Tifa cheers up just before she makes her way off of the highwind riding Cloud.
Entering the small home, Tifa tells Cloud to wait just outside. He looks around, and recognizes the small farm as the first place he had ever seen a real chocobo. Several roam about a small enclosure, and graze contentedly.
Back aboard the ship, Yuffie crouches next to Nanaki, whispering to him. "But why was Tifa acting so strange?" She asks.
"Because..." Nanaki begins "this is the Chocobo Ranch, Tifa's number one competition." He explains. "She had come to him originally to find out about starting a buisiness raising chocobos. He had laughed at her and told her that she would never be able to with her temper. Needless to say, he didn't get out of bed for a few days, but Tifa and he have been in bitter competition for quite some time."
"Ohhhh.... I get it! I'll be back in a little while!" She says, mischief playing across her large eyes. Red XIII sweatdrops.
"That can't be good..." He says, but stays where he is.
Inside, Tifa sits with the owner drinking a cop of tea brewed from sweet greens. Just outside, Cloud drinks the same from a special bowl.
"So, what really brought you here. You must either be having some sort of trouble. or have become successful enough to brag about it. So what's the trouble?" He asks confidently. Tifa nearly jumped across the table at him, for he was grinning slightly even now, seeing her anger at his words, but Tifa restrained herself for Cloud's sake.
"Well, you see, my fiance ate some Zeio nuts on a full moon..." She begins.
"Ah, bad luck then. I suppose you'll want to know how to get him back to normal." He says.
"So you know?" She asks, amazed at his knowledge and quick thinking.
"Not entirely. But there is no way that you could either afford a gold chocobo, or raise one, so I could only assume." Tifa was at her limit, and nearly broke... him. "Yes, I know how to get him back. First thing, you'll need a Cat's Bell. Come back if you manage to get ahold of one." He says.
Tifa calmly stands and leaves, politiely thanking him for his help. Outside, she finds Cloud still drinking the, admittably, good tea. Grabbing him by the reins, she nearly strangles him as she drags him across the ground back to the ship. Tossing him into the chocobo pen, she fumes all the way to the bridge as Cloud lays upside down, eyes spinning and still partially gagging.
Once she does reach the bridge, everyone wisely stays silent.
"North Corral, NOW!" She says, daring anyone to even question her order with a piercing gaze that made Nanaki cower behind a peice of machinery. Eventually, as they travelled, Tifa calmed down and once again maintained a cool facade.
"So, are we going to the Gold Saucer?" Yuffie asked quietly, meekly (for once in her life).
"Yup!" She smiles, and everyone breaths a mutual breath of relief that Yuffie wasn't already plummeting over the rail and back down to the Earth. "We just need to stop by and pick up a Cat's Bell... I figure that Cait Sith still has his. Won't take long." She says. Yuffie sighs in disappointment, for she was hoping that she might be able to make a _few_ gil off of Cloud's speed. Maybe there was a chance yet...
They arrived somewhat later, almost nearing the end of the oh-so-incredably-all-that-couldn't-have-possibly-happened-could-it-have-well-it-can-because-I'm-the-freakin'-author-and-I-say-it-can-long day. Everyone exited the Highwind, except for Cid, who insisted on staying with his ship, and entered North Corral. The place hadn't changed MUCH since Tifa and Cloud had last seen it. It was much improved over the depresses slums it had once been, for now there was a healthy economy and functioning public buildings, like the school, and the stores, and the new emergency station. The population was now overwhelming compared to its old lot. The trainyard had been fixed and was now in working order, the ghosts long driven out my Barret and a few others. Above all else, the place was CLEAN. Before, junk had littered the eyesore, but now, all that was gone, and there were even a few peiced of art made from them lying about. Times were certaintly good for the small-but-growing town. The Gold Saucer brought in most of their profits, as the tourism provided a steady stream of new customers, and Barret had began enterprising, opening a small hotel for guests at the Gold Saucer, and even a private training school that promised that if you could survive its courses that you might end up nearly as strong as the legendary Barret someday, somewhat, maybe. He left the running of the hotel up to his employees, only checking in once in a while, and now devoted most of his time to training the few brave people who payed good gil to enter his reputable school, and Marlene. Marlene was developing nicely, given what she had went through already in her life. She was doing well in school, and had many friends. She was growing to be a happy young girl, and Tifa was glad to see her again.
Entering Barret's cozy little abode, Barret was overwhelmed as the whole gang suddenly flooded in out of nowhere, except Cloud, who he thought, of course, was just a chocobo.
"Hey! What brings all 'ya punks down here!?" He said, hugging Tifa and waving to all the rest. "Long time no see!"
"We have a slight problem."
"Yah? Ya gotta' fill me in, but lets grab a bite ta' eat ova' it! And hey, where's that spiky-assed punk, Cloud, hunh? I taut' he wad wit' you, Tifa!"
"He.. is. This is him." She gestured to Cloud.
"Hahahaaa!" Barret laughed heartily. "Dat' puny little bird, Cloud!? Ya gotta be kidden' me!"
"Wark!" Cloud wasn't sure wether that was a compliment or not, but he descided to graciously take it as one.
"We're quite serious, Barret." Nanaki added. Barret looked at everyone, and saw their straight faces, even Yuffie and Vincent's.
"You are, aren't ya'!? Well, I guess afta' all that wit' da weapons, and a metea almost smashin us all, I shouldn' be suh suhprised!" He says, sitting down rather quickly.
"Are you alright?" Tifa asked, as Barret wasn't effected by to much except what made him angry or hungry.
"Yeah, what about Cloud, here? How ya know its him for real?"
"Look at his eyes!" Yuffie says, piping up.
"Your @^(& right! Itz dat MAKO look in 'em." He says.
"Wark! Wark wark?" Cloud looks back at him.
"He wants to know if you know any way to help get him back to normal." Nanaki interperated.
"Huh? Nah! Don't know a thing." He says, quickly back to his old self. "Guess I shoulda know it waz you, Cloud, even ya' feathers'ah spiky!" He says laughing, until Cloud pecks him a couple times. "Hey! Calm down man, I waz jus' messin' wit ya!"
"Well, I guess we find Cait Sith, you know where he's at anymore?" Yuffie asks, looking a bit winded, and popping in from nowhere.
"Yah! Same old @^)* place, where else? Hey!" He grabs Yuffie off of the ground by her armor. Yuffie looks innocently up at him. "Giv'em back Yuf!" He says menacingly. Yuffie drops a few materia into his outstretched and waiting palm. "Cough 'em up!" He says. Yuffie laughs, having been caught, and drops another two. He sets her down and she quickly retreats from his reach, hiding behind Cloud lest he shoot at her. Cloud warks indignantly and pecks at her, but she quickly dodges.
"You're all against me! Retreat!" She says and jumps out the door, running back to the Highwind.
"Thank you, Barret. Are you interested in coming with us? We seem to be collecting the whole pack together."
"Pack? Eh? Oh, the gang! Ya', I gotta be here fer Marlene! She'll be back from schoo' in a few. You guys have fun, and if ya need a place ta sleep, I got a hotel all ready fer a big group like you!" He laughs as everyone files out the door. They all quickly board the little tram that leads to the Gold Saucer, and are soon on their way.
"Isn't this exciting! The Gold Saucer is so much fun!" Yuffie says to Vincent, who rests against a window, calmly looking out over the long drop to a quick death. "Right?"
"..." Vincent ignores her.
"Oh no! Vincent had gone back into silent mode!"
"..."
"Come on! Talk to me!"
"..."
"Oh, you're just afraid to let everyone know you're glad to be back with the group! Must have gotten pretty lonely up in that old store, huh?"
"..."
"Oh, you're no fun!" She fwaps him in the back of the head, and he windmills for a moment and almost falls out, but Yuffie grabs his arm and pulls him back in.
"Oh, sorry Vincent!" She says, quickly apologizing.
"..." He returns to his original position.
Before long, they reach the Gold Saucer, and everyone departs the little jet-tram. Cloud pulls his old Gold Pass out of............. ........ somewhere... and flashes to the attendant, who wishes them a happy time. They file into the little room which connects all of the differet sections of the park.
"Let's go! WHEEEEEE!!!" Yuffie cries as she jumps through the slide that leads to the game center. Everyone follows behind her, though Nanaki hesitates for a moment... slides don't agree with quadrupeds...
"*vrip vrop vrip vrop vrip vrop*... You will win lots of prizes playing a game soon!" Cait Sith says to a customer.
"Yay!" They say, and run off into the game room.
"Cait Sith!" Tifa says, drawing the big stuffed creature's attention.
"Oh, hello there! Ummm... predictions are not gaurunteed! Sorry, no refunds!" He says quickly, retreating a few paces.
"No, it's me! Cait Sith!" Tifa says again.
"Hmmm... Tifa! Hey, long time no see! Yuffie! Vincent! Hey everybody! What're you all doing together again?" He asks, sounding a bit worried.
"Well, you see.... this chocobo here..."
"Wow! That's a NICE chocobo! I bet you're winning ALL the races!" He says, hopping over to Cloud and around him, inspecting him.
"Umm... you might not want to-"
"Wark!" Cloud pecks him a few times, and Cait Sith runs away, crying out in surprise.
"Not very well trained, but stil a nice breed." He says, rubbing his head pointlessly.
"Kweh!" Cloud snorts indignantly.
"Ummm.... it isn't really a chocobo, it's Cloud." Tifa explains.
"Wha? You've got the exo-puppet technology!?" He asks incredulously.
"Well... no."
"But then how is that Cloud?"
"He's... well, he was turned into a chocobo." Cait Sith listens intently, but doesn't seem to surprised. He probably already knew about this, on second thought. "We know how to turn him back, but we need to borrow your Cat's Bell materia." At this word, Yuffie's mind jerks back to reality from where she had been staring at the games inside the Game Center, but she restrains herself for once.
"Well... uh... I'd like to help you, but you see... I kinda sold it!" He says, laughing.
"What!?"
"Wark!?"
"I didn't need it anymore, and it was pretty valuable, so I figured that I would make some cash off of it!" He says, still laughing. "But... heh heh... I think they're still giving them out as S rank prises in the chocobo races! I'm sure Cloud could win it!" He says, backing away from the group as Tifa and Cloud begin advancing on him.
While Cait Sith was busy having a new exo-suit transported to the Gold Saucer, Cloud and Tifa and everyone made their way to the chocobo races.
"Entrance for chocobos is over there!" The attendant says as Cloud walks in. "Reins must be kept on chocobos at all time, and they must be thoroughly inspected before racing. Would you like me to explain how-" She begins, but Tifa brushes her out of the way. Storming over to the two attendants next to the temporary stables, Tifa quickly enlists in the B rank class, leaving two very confused and intimidated employees hoping they wouldn't be fired for allowing a first-time chocobo into a high rank.
Cloud is quickly taken from Tifa and rushed back to the examination room to be inspected for various illnesses and parasites, as well as physical condition. A short man in a vetrinarian outfit approaches Cloud.
"Well, what do we have here? A GOLD chocobo. My, my! This IS a surprise. Alright, what's his name, eh?" He asks his assistant, who stands ready beside an arrangement of papers and common utensils of his trade.
"Cloud, Dr. Odine."
"Ah, Cloud! Such a famous name for a chocobo... We will see if your racing talents match up to it. Let's see here, if you'll open your beak?" He said, reaching behind him, where the assistant handed him a gigantic toungue depresser.
"Kweh..." Cloud sighed, and opened his mouth. The doctor insterted the piece of wood, and shone a light around his mouth for a few moments. He then placed the depresser in a small vial of liquid. The liquid turned blue almost immediately.
"Eh? What's this? Blue..." Odine looked at Cloud for a few moments, and noted his blue eyes. "That's interesting. Look that up on the chart." Odine said off-handedlly to his assistant as he moved to Cloud's side. Cloud glared ahead of him in silent fury. I am NOT a chocobo... this is entirely DEMEANING!!! He silently raged as the doctor lifted his with and poked around the muscles there for a moment with a rubber tool, causing his feathers there to itch horribly.
"Ummm... sir?" The assistant returned from the pile of forms and documents.
"Yes, yes, what is it?" He asked, waving towards the assistant for him to speak quickly.
"There's nothing for blue. I checked all of the chemical reactions, and none of them should result in blue. There isn't even any blue pigment in the solution." He said nervously.
"So I assumed. This is an odd one..." He said, examining Cloud's legs and claws. "But, it seems to be a healthy specimen!" He said after another moment of examination, checking Cloud's eyes and leg reflexes. "He's clear, but I want you to have it's owner see me after the race." He said, and the assistant jotted down a small note on a nearby pad of paper.
Cloud trotted quickly out of the examination room, and was led to the stables, where Tifa waited for him, dressed in a chocobo riding outfit. After the attendants had left, she leaned down to his drooping head and pet his neck.
"I'm sorry about this whole mess!" She whispered. "Now let's go win a race, hmm?" She nudged him encouragingly.
"Wark." He chirped, unenthusiastically in reply. Tifa sighed and the left for the starting line.
Cloud stood before the starting line, surrounded by other chocobos, with other riders. He was racing the short track, and none of the other chocobos looked like they matched up to him by far. His feathers had a sparkling sheen that none of theirs could match, and all of the rest lacked the intelligence that he had.
"Ready!" A voice called out of a speaker system, only a few short moments after the holographic system kicked in, and fantastic, though oddly tanslucent, images sprung to life around them.
"Set!" The voice called out, and all of the other chocobos, as well as Cloud (after a brief second), dug their claws firmly into the ground.
"GO!" It cried, and before the "O" could even be heard, he was away! He blazed ahead of the rest at full speed. Tifa leaned low against him to reduce wind resistance, and her hair had been tied firmly back and out of the way. The other chocobos were out of sight in a few moments, and they had nothing but an empty stretch ahead of them. Tifa sat quietly and allowed Cloud to pace himself, and before long, they had powered past the finish line, nearly twenty seconds ahead of the other chocobos. Cloud rested there while they caught up, but didn't need to, for he still felt like he could run the race another fifteen times without tiring.
"Way to go, Cloud!" Tifa shouted above the abnoxious music that began playing as soon as they had crossed the beam of light representing the finish line. The other chocobos wearily made their way in, a couple barely dragging themselves there.
"Kweh." Cloud spat, for he was beginning to get tired of all the people watching him and cheering him on (or booing him, depending on how their bet was placed).
After the race, Tifa and Cloud return to the main center where they find Vincent, Cid, Nanaki, Barret, and ESPECIALLY Yuffie stuffing their pockets with gil. Tifa storms in as they attempt to hide the money.
"WHAT... is all of that?" She asks, glaring at Yuffie, who is usually the first one to start any type of scheme.
"Well, you see, we figured that Cloud was our friend, and all, so it would only be fair to bet all of our gil on him!" She says quickly and smiles innocently.
"You KNEW that he would win." She fumes at them. "I can understand Cid, with his planes, and Barret with Marlene, Yuffie, you're just greedy for no good reason! And VINCENT? Why, of all people, do YOU need money?" She asked, thoroughly confused at this, for Vincent is usually the most aloof and least dependant of them all.
"...new books..." He says, leaning calmly against a wall and not even flinching at her rant.
"We were planning to cut you in, right guys?" Yuffie turns to everyone, and they all nod frantically. Tifa raises an eyebrow.
"How much?" She asks quietly, calmly.
"Eh.... 10%!" She says, grinning broadly. Tifa continues glaring at her. "Apiece..." She concedes. Tifa smiles, and heads off with Cloud to the next race.
Before she can reach the attendants to sign up for the S class, a short, nervous looking man stops her.
"Um, excuse me, but I need to talk to you... ma'am." He said, wringing his hands and averting his gaze. "That is, I need you to come talk to someone... err, I have someone who wishes to speak with you." He says quickly.
"What? Get lost, we have a race to win." She said, and Cloud began to walk away, but the small man quickly stepped in front of him, blocking their path.
"It really is quite important, about your chocobo, that is." He said, again in the same nervous voice. "Dr. Odine needs to talk to you before you compete in the next race."
"Is something wrong?" She asked, suddenly listening to him closely, worried that something might be wrong with Cloud.
"I don't know... that is, I'm only a messenger. Will you come with me, please?" He asked, more than told Tifa, and Cloud followed after him.
"You guys coming?" Tifa looks back at everyone still lingering on the ship as she and Cloud begin leaving.
"Nah!" Yuffie calls after her.
"The Chocobo Sage only has a small home, and all of us might make it harder for him to remember him. We'll stay here and await your return." Nanaki explains quickly. "You two go on ahead. We'll be right here." He says. Tifa slowly leaves, keeping her eye on him. "Good luck!" He calls after her.
Tifa opens the door to the Chocobo Sage's small home and enters, Cloud walking along behind him hopefully. The Sage's chocobo warks a greeting to them, and Cloud wanders over to it, also warking. Tifa wonders briefly what they are talking about, but heads over the the Chocobo Sage, who, as always, is in the back corner.
"Hello there!" She says, attempting to get his attention.
"Who's this?" The Sage says, turning towards her. "Oh, hello! I remember you, you're the- wait, nope. Forgot. Oh well." He says, offhandedly.
"I'm Tifa... I've got a little problem, you see, Cloud, here" she points to Cloud "was turned into a chocobo."
"Who was turned into a chocobo?"
"Cloud, here." She points again.
"Now, what was he turned into?"
"A chocobo."
"Ah! Yes, I know quite a bit about chocobos, you see. What do you need to know?" Tifa looks hopeful.
"How to change Cloud back to a human!" She says brightly.
"Change who?" Tifa falls over.
"Cloud."
"What about this cloud? There's lots of clouds."
"He's a chocobo!"
"You say there's a cloud that looks like a chocobo? What good does that do me?"
"No no no... Cloud, that's my fiance's name, he was TURNED INTO a chocobo."
"Ahhh! I see! And you want to know how to get him back!"
"YES! Do you know how?"
"I sure do!"
A brief pause.
"Well?" Tifa asks impatiently.
"Well what?"
Tifa's eye begins twitching violently.
"Well how do I GET HIM BACK!?!?" She nearly screams. Cloud warks, startled, and falls over.
"Get who back? From where? Oh, that Cloud fella?"
"Yes." She begins to calm again as they make some progress.
"So, this fiance of yours is a chocobo?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'd have to say that marrying a chocobo isn't that entirely a good idea. I'm not sure that I can really help you." He says in a funny voice.
"NO! He's not a REAL chocobo! He was turned into one after he ate some Zeio nuts I gave him."
"Not a very bright fella, is he?"
"Rrrrrr! Just tell me how to get him back to normal!" She yells at him.
"Calm down, calm down. First, by any chance, was it a full moon when this all happened?" The sage asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Well, I think it was, but what does that have to do with anything?"
The sage looks at her for a few moments in silence.
"I have no idea." Tifa collapses to the floor in frustration.
"Do you know how to get him back or not?" Tifa asks, dangerously on the verge of nuking the surrounding five-mile radius.
"Hmmm...." He thinks intensly for a moment. "I seem to have forgotten." The sage laughs and rubs his head as Tifa begins flaming with deadly anger.
"Wark!" Cloud quickly trots over to her and nuzzles her.
"You're right, Cloud. Let's go, we'll try back later, Mr. Sage." Tifa says politely, slowly calming down.
Returning to the Highwind, Tifa and Cloud head drearily in to the bridge. Everyone looks at them, waiting for some report.
"Well?" Yuffie breaks the silence.
"He forgot." Tifa says. Nanaki nods silently. "Well, I didn't want to have to do this, but... lets go to the Midgar Flats..." She says drearily.
"But, you don't mea-" Yuffie begins, but Nanaki pounces her, giving her a look that would make most sane men cower.
"Heh-heh... nice doggy?" Yuffie Red XIII gives her an offended look before padding off of her and back to his spot. By this time, the Highwind is already slowly raising, and in no time, they reach Midgar. Cid sets the ship down next to a small farm. Tifa cheers up just before she makes her way off of the highwind riding Cloud.
Entering the small home, Tifa tells Cloud to wait just outside. He looks around, and recognizes the small farm as the first place he had ever seen a real chocobo. Several roam about a small enclosure, and graze contentedly.
Back aboard the ship, Yuffie crouches next to Nanaki, whispering to him. "But why was Tifa acting so strange?" She asks.
"Because..." Nanaki begins "this is the Chocobo Ranch, Tifa's number one competition." He explains. "She had come to him originally to find out about starting a buisiness raising chocobos. He had laughed at her and told her that she would never be able to with her temper. Needless to say, he didn't get out of bed for a few days, but Tifa and he have been in bitter competition for quite some time."
"Ohhhh.... I get it! I'll be back in a little while!" She says, mischief playing across her large eyes. Red XIII sweatdrops.
"That can't be good..." He says, but stays where he is.
Inside, Tifa sits with the owner drinking a cop of tea brewed from sweet greens. Just outside, Cloud drinks the same from a special bowl.
"So, what really brought you here. You must either be having some sort of trouble. or have become successful enough to brag about it. So what's the trouble?" He asks confidently. Tifa nearly jumped across the table at him, for he was grinning slightly even now, seeing her anger at his words, but Tifa restrained herself for Cloud's sake.
"Well, you see, my fiance ate some Zeio nuts on a full moon..." She begins.
"Ah, bad luck then. I suppose you'll want to know how to get him back to normal." He says.
"So you know?" She asks, amazed at his knowledge and quick thinking.
"Not entirely. But there is no way that you could either afford a gold chocobo, or raise one, so I could only assume." Tifa was at her limit, and nearly broke... him. "Yes, I know how to get him back. First thing, you'll need a Cat's Bell. Come back if you manage to get ahold of one." He says.
Tifa calmly stands and leaves, politiely thanking him for his help. Outside, she finds Cloud still drinking the, admittably, good tea. Grabbing him by the reins, she nearly strangles him as she drags him across the ground back to the ship. Tossing him into the chocobo pen, she fumes all the way to the bridge as Cloud lays upside down, eyes spinning and still partially gagging.
Once she does reach the bridge, everyone wisely stays silent.
"North Corral, NOW!" She says, daring anyone to even question her order with a piercing gaze that made Nanaki cower behind a peice of machinery. Eventually, as they travelled, Tifa calmed down and once again maintained a cool facade.
"So, are we going to the Gold Saucer?" Yuffie asked quietly, meekly (for once in her life).
"Yup!" She smiles, and everyone breaths a mutual breath of relief that Yuffie wasn't already plummeting over the rail and back down to the Earth. "We just need to stop by and pick up a Cat's Bell... I figure that Cait Sith still has his. Won't take long." She says. Yuffie sighs in disappointment, for she was hoping that she might be able to make a _few_ gil off of Cloud's speed. Maybe there was a chance yet...
They arrived somewhat later, almost nearing the end of the oh-so-incredably-all-that-couldn't-have-possibly-happened-could-it-have-well-it-can-because-I'm-the-freakin'-author-and-I-say-it-can-long day. Everyone exited the Highwind, except for Cid, who insisted on staying with his ship, and entered North Corral. The place hadn't changed MUCH since Tifa and Cloud had last seen it. It was much improved over the depresses slums it had once been, for now there was a healthy economy and functioning public buildings, like the school, and the stores, and the new emergency station. The population was now overwhelming compared to its old lot. The trainyard had been fixed and was now in working order, the ghosts long driven out my Barret and a few others. Above all else, the place was CLEAN. Before, junk had littered the eyesore, but now, all that was gone, and there were even a few peiced of art made from them lying about. Times were certaintly good for the small-but-growing town. The Gold Saucer brought in most of their profits, as the tourism provided a steady stream of new customers, and Barret had began enterprising, opening a small hotel for guests at the Gold Saucer, and even a private training school that promised that if you could survive its courses that you might end up nearly as strong as the legendary Barret someday, somewhat, maybe. He left the running of the hotel up to his employees, only checking in once in a while, and now devoted most of his time to training the few brave people who payed good gil to enter his reputable school, and Marlene. Marlene was developing nicely, given what she had went through already in her life. She was doing well in school, and had many friends. She was growing to be a happy young girl, and Tifa was glad to see her again.
Entering Barret's cozy little abode, Barret was overwhelmed as the whole gang suddenly flooded in out of nowhere, except Cloud, who he thought, of course, was just a chocobo.
"Hey! What brings all 'ya punks down here!?" He said, hugging Tifa and waving to all the rest. "Long time no see!"
"We have a slight problem."
"Yah? Ya gotta' fill me in, but lets grab a bite ta' eat ova' it! And hey, where's that spiky-assed punk, Cloud, hunh? I taut' he wad wit' you, Tifa!"
"He.. is. This is him." She gestured to Cloud.
"Hahahaaa!" Barret laughed heartily. "Dat' puny little bird, Cloud!? Ya gotta be kidden' me!"
"Wark!" Cloud wasn't sure wether that was a compliment or not, but he descided to graciously take it as one.
"We're quite serious, Barret." Nanaki added. Barret looked at everyone, and saw their straight faces, even Yuffie and Vincent's.
"You are, aren't ya'!? Well, I guess afta' all that wit' da weapons, and a metea almost smashin us all, I shouldn' be suh suhprised!" He says, sitting down rather quickly.
"Are you alright?" Tifa asked, as Barret wasn't effected by to much except what made him angry or hungry.
"Yeah, what about Cloud, here? How ya know its him for real?"
"Look at his eyes!" Yuffie says, piping up.
"Your @^(& right! Itz dat MAKO look in 'em." He says.
"Wark! Wark wark?" Cloud looks back at him.
"He wants to know if you know any way to help get him back to normal." Nanaki interperated.
"Huh? Nah! Don't know a thing." He says, quickly back to his old self. "Guess I shoulda know it waz you, Cloud, even ya' feathers'ah spiky!" He says laughing, until Cloud pecks him a couple times. "Hey! Calm down man, I waz jus' messin' wit ya!"
"Well, I guess we find Cait Sith, you know where he's at anymore?" Yuffie asks, looking a bit winded, and popping in from nowhere.
"Yah! Same old @^)* place, where else? Hey!" He grabs Yuffie off of the ground by her armor. Yuffie looks innocently up at him. "Giv'em back Yuf!" He says menacingly. Yuffie drops a few materia into his outstretched and waiting palm. "Cough 'em up!" He says. Yuffie laughs, having been caught, and drops another two. He sets her down and she quickly retreats from his reach, hiding behind Cloud lest he shoot at her. Cloud warks indignantly and pecks at her, but she quickly dodges.
"You're all against me! Retreat!" She says and jumps out the door, running back to the Highwind.
"Thank you, Barret. Are you interested in coming with us? We seem to be collecting the whole pack together."
"Pack? Eh? Oh, the gang! Ya', I gotta be here fer Marlene! She'll be back from schoo' in a few. You guys have fun, and if ya need a place ta sleep, I got a hotel all ready fer a big group like you!" He laughs as everyone files out the door. They all quickly board the little tram that leads to the Gold Saucer, and are soon on their way.
"Isn't this exciting! The Gold Saucer is so much fun!" Yuffie says to Vincent, who rests against a window, calmly looking out over the long drop to a quick death. "Right?"
"..." Vincent ignores her.
"Oh no! Vincent had gone back into silent mode!"
"..."
"Come on! Talk to me!"
"..."
"Oh, you're just afraid to let everyone know you're glad to be back with the group! Must have gotten pretty lonely up in that old store, huh?"
"..."
"Oh, you're no fun!" She fwaps him in the back of the head, and he windmills for a moment and almost falls out, but Yuffie grabs his arm and pulls him back in.
"Oh, sorry Vincent!" She says, quickly apologizing.
"..." He returns to his original position.
Before long, they reach the Gold Saucer, and everyone departs the little jet-tram. Cloud pulls his old Gold Pass out of............. ........ somewhere... and flashes to the attendant, who wishes them a happy time. They file into the little room which connects all of the differet sections of the park.
"Let's go! WHEEEEEE!!!" Yuffie cries as she jumps through the slide that leads to the game center. Everyone follows behind her, though Nanaki hesitates for a moment... slides don't agree with quadrupeds...
"*vrip vrop vrip vrop vrip vrop*... You will win lots of prizes playing a game soon!" Cait Sith says to a customer.
"Yay!" They say, and run off into the game room.
"Cait Sith!" Tifa says, drawing the big stuffed creature's attention.
"Oh, hello there! Ummm... predictions are not gaurunteed! Sorry, no refunds!" He says quickly, retreating a few paces.
"No, it's me! Cait Sith!" Tifa says again.
"Hmmm... Tifa! Hey, long time no see! Yuffie! Vincent! Hey everybody! What're you all doing together again?" He asks, sounding a bit worried.
"Well, you see.... this chocobo here..."
"Wow! That's a NICE chocobo! I bet you're winning ALL the races!" He says, hopping over to Cloud and around him, inspecting him.
"Umm... you might not want to-"
"Wark!" Cloud pecks him a few times, and Cait Sith runs away, crying out in surprise.
"Not very well trained, but stil a nice breed." He says, rubbing his head pointlessly.
"Kweh!" Cloud snorts indignantly.
"Ummm.... it isn't really a chocobo, it's Cloud." Tifa explains.
"Wha? You've got the exo-puppet technology!?" He asks incredulously.
"Well... no."
"But then how is that Cloud?"
"He's... well, he was turned into a chocobo." Cait Sith listens intently, but doesn't seem to surprised. He probably already knew about this, on second thought. "We know how to turn him back, but we need to borrow your Cat's Bell materia." At this word, Yuffie's mind jerks back to reality from where she had been staring at the games inside the Game Center, but she restrains herself for once.
"Well... uh... I'd like to help you, but you see... I kinda sold it!" He says, laughing.
"What!?"
"Wark!?"
"I didn't need it anymore, and it was pretty valuable, so I figured that I would make some cash off of it!" He says, still laughing. "But... heh heh... I think they're still giving them out as S rank prises in the chocobo races! I'm sure Cloud could win it!" He says, backing away from the group as Tifa and Cloud begin advancing on him.
While Cait Sith was busy having a new exo-suit transported to the Gold Saucer, Cloud and Tifa and everyone made their way to the chocobo races.
"Entrance for chocobos is over there!" The attendant says as Cloud walks in. "Reins must be kept on chocobos at all time, and they must be thoroughly inspected before racing. Would you like me to explain how-" She begins, but Tifa brushes her out of the way. Storming over to the two attendants next to the temporary stables, Tifa quickly enlists in the B rank class, leaving two very confused and intimidated employees hoping they wouldn't be fired for allowing a first-time chocobo into a high rank.
Cloud is quickly taken from Tifa and rushed back to the examination room to be inspected for various illnesses and parasites, as well as physical condition. A short man in a vetrinarian outfit approaches Cloud.
"Well, what do we have here? A GOLD chocobo. My, my! This IS a surprise. Alright, what's his name, eh?" He asks his assistant, who stands ready beside an arrangement of papers and common utensils of his trade.
"Cloud, Dr. Odine."
"Ah, Cloud! Such a famous name for a chocobo... We will see if your racing talents match up to it. Let's see here, if you'll open your beak?" He said, reaching behind him, where the assistant handed him a gigantic toungue depresser.
"Kweh..." Cloud sighed, and opened his mouth. The doctor insterted the piece of wood, and shone a light around his mouth for a few moments. He then placed the depresser in a small vial of liquid. The liquid turned blue almost immediately.
"Eh? What's this? Blue..." Odine looked at Cloud for a few moments, and noted his blue eyes. "That's interesting. Look that up on the chart." Odine said off-handedlly to his assistant as he moved to Cloud's side. Cloud glared ahead of him in silent fury. I am NOT a chocobo... this is entirely DEMEANING!!! He silently raged as the doctor lifted his with and poked around the muscles there for a moment with a rubber tool, causing his feathers there to itch horribly.
"Ummm... sir?" The assistant returned from the pile of forms and documents.
"Yes, yes, what is it?" He asked, waving towards the assistant for him to speak quickly.
"There's nothing for blue. I checked all of the chemical reactions, and none of them should result in blue. There isn't even any blue pigment in the solution." He said nervously.
"So I assumed. This is an odd one..." He said, examining Cloud's legs and claws. "But, it seems to be a healthy specimen!" He said after another moment of examination, checking Cloud's eyes and leg reflexes. "He's clear, but I want you to have it's owner see me after the race." He said, and the assistant jotted down a small note on a nearby pad of paper.
Cloud trotted quickly out of the examination room, and was led to the stables, where Tifa waited for him, dressed in a chocobo riding outfit. After the attendants had left, she leaned down to his drooping head and pet his neck.
"I'm sorry about this whole mess!" She whispered. "Now let's go win a race, hmm?" She nudged him encouragingly.
"Wark." He chirped, unenthusiastically in reply. Tifa sighed and the left for the starting line.
Cloud stood before the starting line, surrounded by other chocobos, with other riders. He was racing the short track, and none of the other chocobos looked like they matched up to him by far. His feathers had a sparkling sheen that none of theirs could match, and all of the rest lacked the intelligence that he had.
"Ready!" A voice called out of a speaker system, only a few short moments after the holographic system kicked in, and fantastic, though oddly tanslucent, images sprung to life around them.
"Set!" The voice called out, and all of the other chocobos, as well as Cloud (after a brief second), dug their claws firmly into the ground.
"GO!" It cried, and before the "O" could even be heard, he was away! He blazed ahead of the rest at full speed. Tifa leaned low against him to reduce wind resistance, and her hair had been tied firmly back and out of the way. The other chocobos were out of sight in a few moments, and they had nothing but an empty stretch ahead of them. Tifa sat quietly and allowed Cloud to pace himself, and before long, they had powered past the finish line, nearly twenty seconds ahead of the other chocobos. Cloud rested there while they caught up, but didn't need to, for he still felt like he could run the race another fifteen times without tiring.
"Way to go, Cloud!" Tifa shouted above the abnoxious music that began playing as soon as they had crossed the beam of light representing the finish line. The other chocobos wearily made their way in, a couple barely dragging themselves there.
"Kweh." Cloud spat, for he was beginning to get tired of all the people watching him and cheering him on (or booing him, depending on how their bet was placed).
After the race, Tifa and Cloud return to the main center where they find Vincent, Cid, Nanaki, Barret, and ESPECIALLY Yuffie stuffing their pockets with gil. Tifa storms in as they attempt to hide the money.
"WHAT... is all of that?" She asks, glaring at Yuffie, who is usually the first one to start any type of scheme.
"Well, you see, we figured that Cloud was our friend, and all, so it would only be fair to bet all of our gil on him!" She says quickly and smiles innocently.
"You KNEW that he would win." She fumes at them. "I can understand Cid, with his planes, and Barret with Marlene, Yuffie, you're just greedy for no good reason! And VINCENT? Why, of all people, do YOU need money?" She asked, thoroughly confused at this, for Vincent is usually the most aloof and least dependant of them all.
"...new books..." He says, leaning calmly against a wall and not even flinching at her rant.
"We were planning to cut you in, right guys?" Yuffie turns to everyone, and they all nod frantically. Tifa raises an eyebrow.
"How much?" She asks quietly, calmly.
"Eh.... 10%!" She says, grinning broadly. Tifa continues glaring at her. "Apiece..." She concedes. Tifa smiles, and heads off with Cloud to the next race.
Before she can reach the attendants to sign up for the S class, a short, nervous looking man stops her.
"Um, excuse me, but I need to talk to you... ma'am." He said, wringing his hands and averting his gaze. "That is, I need you to come talk to someone... err, I have someone who wishes to speak with you." He says quickly.
"What? Get lost, we have a race to win." She said, and Cloud began to walk away, but the small man quickly stepped in front of him, blocking their path.
"It really is quite important, about your chocobo, that is." He said, again in the same nervous voice. "Dr. Odine needs to talk to you before you compete in the next race."
"Is something wrong?" She asked, suddenly listening to him closely, worried that something might be wrong with Cloud.
"I don't know... that is, I'm only a messenger. Will you come with me, please?" He asked, more than told Tifa, and Cloud followed after him.