The Keystone:
Chapter Two
Cloud and the others were gone too long, and Cid Highwind was speedily getting annoyed. His annoyance came from two areas, one Yuffie and the other Cait Sith not checking in with either of the parties since he broke off on his own. He impatiently snuffed out another cigarette in an ashtray as the foursome waited for a call from the others in Event Square. A girl played some songs on stage and he had to admit her voice was relaxing as she sung an old song.
" 'Fly me to the moon', eh? I have to admit she knows her audience." Highwind said as he leaned against a concrete wall.
"I don't think that she knows that you like space, Cid." Cait said as his large moggle waddled over to them.
"We it sure as hell is nice of you to join us. Yuffie was whining that she missed her stuffed animal."
"Screw you Cid!" Yuffie chimed; she and Aeris were talking quietly to with each other.
Barret glanced up from his gun's maintenance at the prodigal cat. "Where da hell have you been."
Cait looked nervously between the two men, "Uhh I, I was uhhh.." Almost like a pardon from the guillotine the PHS rang. Every one turned to Aeris as she quickly answered it.
"Cloud?" she answered excitedly, there was a long pause as someone spoke on the other end. "Is Cloud alright?" She could not hide the he nervous urgency in her voice. There was another long pause, "Thank the Planet. All right we'll see you guys in a half hour... Okay Vincent, We'll meet you then, at the station. ." She pressed cancel on the PHS with a troubled expression.
"Whasamatter?" Cait asked her not sure what o expect. The toy cat wanted to shift the attention away form himself.
The Cetra stood up dusting off her dress, "Cloud won the Keystone, but he got really beat up in the process." Aeris let out a sigh that came out in a yawn, "Sorry. Vincent said he's just getting patched up and then we'll be on out way." She couldn't believe that he stayed in the Battle Arena for all 7 rounds! Hardly any one has ever done that before to her understanding. He was like Zack, never giving up, never surrendering.
Cid picked up his gear and started for the exit ramp, "We should get going if we're goin' to meet them in time."
Yuffie's comment about Cloud being 'weird' lately hung in Aeris' mind. Yes their leader had been getting in to strange moods. Aeris figured he just needed a break- even if it was just for a few hours. She walked along with the other four, thinking about the young man that had captured her broken heart. There were great similarities between Cloud and Zack, similarities that were so close it was almost frightening. There was something else in Cloud Strife that fought so terribly hard to not be seen. There were certain actions that were all his own, Cloud's facial expressions told all when he let his guard down from that almost uncaring façade that he built around himself. Aeris wanted to meet the part of him that he tried so violently to block away, it was almost like he was fighting between two people in his mind. Constantly!
There were other things that pressed the young Cetra's mind aside from Cloud's mental stability. Things like: Why Sephiroth wanted to go to the Promised Land? Who or what Jenova really was.
Jenova.
That creature truly was not native to the Planet, Aeris was sure of this. When she sensed its foreign energy it was so violent and not right that actually made her chest hurt. Aeris had felt these sensations in the Shinra Building; she felt it on the cargo ship. She didn't know why but Cloud also had given her that same painful feeling but these were only fleeting moments that she did not concern herself with only relating the cause to his Mako infusion. Aeris shook her head she was not sure of what to make of all this. Is Sephiroth truly a Cetra as he claimed to be? If so then why was Shinra after her all her life when they had a descendant with in their ranks?
She turned her emerald gaze to the early evening sky, the Gold Saucer lights corrupted the view of the stars, but the moon hung high in her watch above the Planet. A waxing maiden on her monthly celestial very similar to her own journey Aeris had been learning so much about her heritage and what her destiny had in store for her.
She recalled their stop in Nibelheim, something was not right at all about that whole situation. Both Cloud and Tifa couldn't have been lying about what Sephiroth did, they both saw it! But the entire mountain valley town had been there with no trace of fire or death. None the less Aeris trusted them so their story held water in her eyes. After seeing the night sky in Nibelheim Aeris realized why Tifa always chose to take guard watch when ever they made camp, even if it was not part of her rotation. The Nibelheim nights truly needed a competitor in their grandeur, and Tifa searched every night for it.
They found the others already at the tram station ready to leave. Aeris saw how worn and rather aggravated Cloud looked. The red spotted bandage that covered his right cheek only made her more curious as to what he went through to get the Keystone. Cait Sith spoke first as they approached, "What's up?"
"The tram's broken down!"
"That's not good," the cat stated the obvious.
"I'm very sorry about this." The tram operator said from behind them, "I have a crew working on this problem right now. It should be up and running by early morning."
"We'll that means we're stuck here for a while then." Cait Sith said in his bouncy manner, "I'll talk to the guys up at the Ghost Hotel, they no me there. I'll get up some rooms."
Before any one can say other wise the cat and moggle bounced off throught the entrance gates again. Cloud ran a hand through his blonde spikes. What else could they do indeed?
~*~
Not long after that Avalanche settled in the Ghost Hotel, by some strange occurrence Cait managed to get the crew eight rooms. Since Cait was robotic there was no need for him to have a bed, besides there were a few things personal maters that he needed to address this evening during their stay. He did not let on any of these facts though. After showers, bandaging the healing wounds and sprains, and some decent food the group known as Avalanche gathered in their leader's room.
Cloud sat on a wooden chair staring absently out the window, as Tifa rewrapped his shoulder from the evenings Arena Battle fiasco. Unless the team got a decent night's sleep, cure magic would be practically useless. They did not want to waste any of the newly bought ethers or potions while sleep was the general cure-all. "This isn't good that we are standing still like this. We're risking too much of Shinra finding us here."
Tifa nodded, "I understand how you feel, we all do. But we really had no choice, besides this is a good opportunity to get some real rest so we can heal up with magic I the morning." The events from earlier that evening played back in her mind. "It's similar to what you said earlier, 'you won' be of any use if you get hurt yourself any more', that goes double for fatigue, Sir." Tifa nudged Cloud playfully as looked at Aeris, "Am I right?"
The other woman nodded with a smile, wishing that it was she helping Cloud. Tifa was the first in here after Barret and Vincent; they would have done more damage than good whit their respective claw arm and gun. Cait Sith sat on the table doing some strange things with some stones and cards, Aeris supposed that he was practicing his fortune telling skills.
"Say umm. Cloud," the cat began.
Cloud turned his Mako gaze to the fortune teller, "Yeah?"
Cait shuffled his deck of cards nervously under Cloud's stare, "Can, can you explain to me what's going on since I want here from the beginning."
"I've been here from da beginin' and I stills don't know whas goin on."
Cloud looked from Barret, to Cait then to the rest assembled, he leat out a heavy sigh, not really wanting to go through all the details again. "Alright." In the mean time Tifa had finished her work and handed Cloud back his shirt. "We're after Sephiroth who is trying to find the Promised Land."
"What prey tell is so bad with that any way." Yuffie interjected as she sprawled out on the bed between Aeris and Tifa. "It's not like this mythical place is real, if any thing dear Sephy should be checked in to a nut house."
Aeris shook her head, "The Promised Land is real Yuffie! It is just as real as Leviathan and your other gods and guardians from Wu-Tai." The teen gave Aeris a dubious look so the elder girl continued explaining to the rest, "No one knows where the Promised Land is for certain. That's why the Cetra traveled the world to grow with and understand it."
"Cetra," Barret said thoughtfully. "I heard that name b'fore, is that some kinda disease?"
Yuffie rolled her eyes, she even paid attention to this one! "Keep up Marshmallow Bear! 'Cetra' is the name that the Ancients call themselves."
There was a chuckle from around the room, if they did not see Barret in the Navy uniform they most definitely heard about it from Yuffie! "Not make me bust yo head girl!"
"Yeah right!"
"Children, if you please. This is a very serious situation that we are discussing." Red padded between the youngest and oldest members of the party. "Cloud, continue if you please."
Cloud nodded to Red, "There is a reason why Sephiroth wants the Black Materia which give us another puzzle that we have to figure out."
"As we should consider the cloaked men with the numerals on them." Vincent added from his corner.
Tifa brushed her hair from her vision, "Has anyone been keeping count of these people."
There was a negative response from around the room. It was then Red came forward, "You know. I have the number thirteen on me."
"How did you get that tattoo?" Cloud asked the red beast.
"Hojo." The red beast, known as Nanaki to his home town bowed his head, "When I was captured and taken to Midgar, Hojo had given me the designation 'Red XIII' it was the same time I received this."
From his corner Vincent listened on. It seemed that Hojo responsible for destroying more lives than he thought. "Hojo will go to hell," He thought to himself. "I shall send him there for his injustices."
Tifa nodded, "So there has to be at least what? Twelve, and counting Red there will be thirteen."
Aeris thought of something in that moment, she started to speak but then shut her mouth. She earned a curious look from Cloud, "What is it Aeris?"
The Cetra shook her head, "Its nothing. I think I'm a little tired. I'm going to head to bed now."
Yuffie let out an obnoxious yawn, "Aeris wait up I'm comin' with you. This crap is just getting way too boring for me!" The rambunctious teen slipped through the door just as Aeris opened it.
"Be ready to move out as soon as the tram is operating again!" Cloud called after her.
The prompt response came from down the hall, "Yes dad!"
She shook her head with a small smile, "Goodnight every one, sweet dreams."
The door closed and the only sound that could be head was that of Cid's snoring. Barret shook his head, "It look like he can sleep throu a reactor es'plosion. They ain't no turning back now, we go to da Temple of Ancients tomorrow. So don' stay up late. Night."
"Good night Barret," Tifa said to him as he left the room. She saw the troubled espresion on red face, "Red are you alright?"
The remaining members' attention fell on their beast friend. "I was just thinking since I have a number on my body." He looked up at Tifa, "Will I too go insane, just like the others with numbers on them."
Tifa slipped off from where she sat on the bed and knelt next to Red placing a hand on his fiery mane. "You've been okay so far, right?"
"Yes but I..." Red XIII lowered his head feeling ashamed of his fears. "I."
"Stop it Red! You have to be strong!"
Tifa's forceful tone even caught Cloud and Vincent off guard. "Tifa?"
She glanced at Cloud for a moment. She turned away before her eyes could betray her own fears about the future and her fears for his safety. Tifa took a breath to calm herself, "You're not the only one who is worried."
AN: Otay the end of Chapter two. You are probably wondering why I am writing this. To tell you the truth I really don't know. I think it is a personal thing. My goal is to basically illustrate the relationships between the characters with out being bias. I hope I'm doing well and you are liking it.
Hell it you've read this far then I think you are :-p
Later,
Eawie
Next chapter is the date
Cloud and the others were gone too long, and Cid Highwind was speedily getting annoyed. His annoyance came from two areas, one Yuffie and the other Cait Sith not checking in with either of the parties since he broke off on his own. He impatiently snuffed out another cigarette in an ashtray as the foursome waited for a call from the others in Event Square. A girl played some songs on stage and he had to admit her voice was relaxing as she sung an old song.
" 'Fly me to the moon', eh? I have to admit she knows her audience." Highwind said as he leaned against a concrete wall.
"I don't think that she knows that you like space, Cid." Cait said as his large moggle waddled over to them.
"We it sure as hell is nice of you to join us. Yuffie was whining that she missed her stuffed animal."
"Screw you Cid!" Yuffie chimed; she and Aeris were talking quietly to with each other.
Barret glanced up from his gun's maintenance at the prodigal cat. "Where da hell have you been."
Cait looked nervously between the two men, "Uhh I, I was uhhh.." Almost like a pardon from the guillotine the PHS rang. Every one turned to Aeris as she quickly answered it.
"Cloud?" she answered excitedly, there was a long pause as someone spoke on the other end. "Is Cloud alright?" She could not hide the he nervous urgency in her voice. There was another long pause, "Thank the Planet. All right we'll see you guys in a half hour... Okay Vincent, We'll meet you then, at the station. ." She pressed cancel on the PHS with a troubled expression.
"Whasamatter?" Cait asked her not sure what o expect. The toy cat wanted to shift the attention away form himself.
The Cetra stood up dusting off her dress, "Cloud won the Keystone, but he got really beat up in the process." Aeris let out a sigh that came out in a yawn, "Sorry. Vincent said he's just getting patched up and then we'll be on out way." She couldn't believe that he stayed in the Battle Arena for all 7 rounds! Hardly any one has ever done that before to her understanding. He was like Zack, never giving up, never surrendering.
Cid picked up his gear and started for the exit ramp, "We should get going if we're goin' to meet them in time."
Yuffie's comment about Cloud being 'weird' lately hung in Aeris' mind. Yes their leader had been getting in to strange moods. Aeris figured he just needed a break- even if it was just for a few hours. She walked along with the other four, thinking about the young man that had captured her broken heart. There were great similarities between Cloud and Zack, similarities that were so close it was almost frightening. There was something else in Cloud Strife that fought so terribly hard to not be seen. There were certain actions that were all his own, Cloud's facial expressions told all when he let his guard down from that almost uncaring façade that he built around himself. Aeris wanted to meet the part of him that he tried so violently to block away, it was almost like he was fighting between two people in his mind. Constantly!
There were other things that pressed the young Cetra's mind aside from Cloud's mental stability. Things like: Why Sephiroth wanted to go to the Promised Land? Who or what Jenova really was.
Jenova.
That creature truly was not native to the Planet, Aeris was sure of this. When she sensed its foreign energy it was so violent and not right that actually made her chest hurt. Aeris had felt these sensations in the Shinra Building; she felt it on the cargo ship. She didn't know why but Cloud also had given her that same painful feeling but these were only fleeting moments that she did not concern herself with only relating the cause to his Mako infusion. Aeris shook her head she was not sure of what to make of all this. Is Sephiroth truly a Cetra as he claimed to be? If so then why was Shinra after her all her life when they had a descendant with in their ranks?
She turned her emerald gaze to the early evening sky, the Gold Saucer lights corrupted the view of the stars, but the moon hung high in her watch above the Planet. A waxing maiden on her monthly celestial very similar to her own journey Aeris had been learning so much about her heritage and what her destiny had in store for her.
She recalled their stop in Nibelheim, something was not right at all about that whole situation. Both Cloud and Tifa couldn't have been lying about what Sephiroth did, they both saw it! But the entire mountain valley town had been there with no trace of fire or death. None the less Aeris trusted them so their story held water in her eyes. After seeing the night sky in Nibelheim Aeris realized why Tifa always chose to take guard watch when ever they made camp, even if it was not part of her rotation. The Nibelheim nights truly needed a competitor in their grandeur, and Tifa searched every night for it.
They found the others already at the tram station ready to leave. Aeris saw how worn and rather aggravated Cloud looked. The red spotted bandage that covered his right cheek only made her more curious as to what he went through to get the Keystone. Cait Sith spoke first as they approached, "What's up?"
"The tram's broken down!"
"That's not good," the cat stated the obvious.
"I'm very sorry about this." The tram operator said from behind them, "I have a crew working on this problem right now. It should be up and running by early morning."
"We'll that means we're stuck here for a while then." Cait Sith said in his bouncy manner, "I'll talk to the guys up at the Ghost Hotel, they no me there. I'll get up some rooms."
Before any one can say other wise the cat and moggle bounced off throught the entrance gates again. Cloud ran a hand through his blonde spikes. What else could they do indeed?
~*~
Not long after that Avalanche settled in the Ghost Hotel, by some strange occurrence Cait managed to get the crew eight rooms. Since Cait was robotic there was no need for him to have a bed, besides there were a few things personal maters that he needed to address this evening during their stay. He did not let on any of these facts though. After showers, bandaging the healing wounds and sprains, and some decent food the group known as Avalanche gathered in their leader's room.
Cloud sat on a wooden chair staring absently out the window, as Tifa rewrapped his shoulder from the evenings Arena Battle fiasco. Unless the team got a decent night's sleep, cure magic would be practically useless. They did not want to waste any of the newly bought ethers or potions while sleep was the general cure-all. "This isn't good that we are standing still like this. We're risking too much of Shinra finding us here."
Tifa nodded, "I understand how you feel, we all do. But we really had no choice, besides this is a good opportunity to get some real rest so we can heal up with magic I the morning." The events from earlier that evening played back in her mind. "It's similar to what you said earlier, 'you won' be of any use if you get hurt yourself any more', that goes double for fatigue, Sir." Tifa nudged Cloud playfully as looked at Aeris, "Am I right?"
The other woman nodded with a smile, wishing that it was she helping Cloud. Tifa was the first in here after Barret and Vincent; they would have done more damage than good whit their respective claw arm and gun. Cait Sith sat on the table doing some strange things with some stones and cards, Aeris supposed that he was practicing his fortune telling skills.
"Say umm. Cloud," the cat began.
Cloud turned his Mako gaze to the fortune teller, "Yeah?"
Cait shuffled his deck of cards nervously under Cloud's stare, "Can, can you explain to me what's going on since I want here from the beginning."
"I've been here from da beginin' and I stills don't know whas goin on."
Cloud looked from Barret, to Cait then to the rest assembled, he leat out a heavy sigh, not really wanting to go through all the details again. "Alright." In the mean time Tifa had finished her work and handed Cloud back his shirt. "We're after Sephiroth who is trying to find the Promised Land."
"What prey tell is so bad with that any way." Yuffie interjected as she sprawled out on the bed between Aeris and Tifa. "It's not like this mythical place is real, if any thing dear Sephy should be checked in to a nut house."
Aeris shook her head, "The Promised Land is real Yuffie! It is just as real as Leviathan and your other gods and guardians from Wu-Tai." The teen gave Aeris a dubious look so the elder girl continued explaining to the rest, "No one knows where the Promised Land is for certain. That's why the Cetra traveled the world to grow with and understand it."
"Cetra," Barret said thoughtfully. "I heard that name b'fore, is that some kinda disease?"
Yuffie rolled her eyes, she even paid attention to this one! "Keep up Marshmallow Bear! 'Cetra' is the name that the Ancients call themselves."
There was a chuckle from around the room, if they did not see Barret in the Navy uniform they most definitely heard about it from Yuffie! "Not make me bust yo head girl!"
"Yeah right!"
"Children, if you please. This is a very serious situation that we are discussing." Red padded between the youngest and oldest members of the party. "Cloud, continue if you please."
Cloud nodded to Red, "There is a reason why Sephiroth wants the Black Materia which give us another puzzle that we have to figure out."
"As we should consider the cloaked men with the numerals on them." Vincent added from his corner.
Tifa brushed her hair from her vision, "Has anyone been keeping count of these people."
There was a negative response from around the room. It was then Red came forward, "You know. I have the number thirteen on me."
"How did you get that tattoo?" Cloud asked the red beast.
"Hojo." The red beast, known as Nanaki to his home town bowed his head, "When I was captured and taken to Midgar, Hojo had given me the designation 'Red XIII' it was the same time I received this."
From his corner Vincent listened on. It seemed that Hojo responsible for destroying more lives than he thought. "Hojo will go to hell," He thought to himself. "I shall send him there for his injustices."
Tifa nodded, "So there has to be at least what? Twelve, and counting Red there will be thirteen."
Aeris thought of something in that moment, she started to speak but then shut her mouth. She earned a curious look from Cloud, "What is it Aeris?"
The Cetra shook her head, "Its nothing. I think I'm a little tired. I'm going to head to bed now."
Yuffie let out an obnoxious yawn, "Aeris wait up I'm comin' with you. This crap is just getting way too boring for me!" The rambunctious teen slipped through the door just as Aeris opened it.
"Be ready to move out as soon as the tram is operating again!" Cloud called after her.
The prompt response came from down the hall, "Yes dad!"
She shook her head with a small smile, "Goodnight every one, sweet dreams."
The door closed and the only sound that could be head was that of Cid's snoring. Barret shook his head, "It look like he can sleep throu a reactor es'plosion. They ain't no turning back now, we go to da Temple of Ancients tomorrow. So don' stay up late. Night."
"Good night Barret," Tifa said to him as he left the room. She saw the troubled espresion on red face, "Red are you alright?"
The remaining members' attention fell on their beast friend. "I was just thinking since I have a number on my body." He looked up at Tifa, "Will I too go insane, just like the others with numbers on them."
Tifa slipped off from where she sat on the bed and knelt next to Red placing a hand on his fiery mane. "You've been okay so far, right?"
"Yes but I..." Red XIII lowered his head feeling ashamed of his fears. "I."
"Stop it Red! You have to be strong!"
Tifa's forceful tone even caught Cloud and Vincent off guard. "Tifa?"
She glanced at Cloud for a moment. She turned away before her eyes could betray her own fears about the future and her fears for his safety. Tifa took a breath to calm herself, "You're not the only one who is worried."
AN: Otay the end of Chapter two. You are probably wondering why I am writing this. To tell you the truth I really don't know. I think it is a personal thing. My goal is to basically illustrate the relationships between the characters with out being bias. I hope I'm doing well and you are liking it.
Hell it you've read this far then I think you are :-p
Later,
Eawie
Next chapter is the date