CHAPTER TWO
ANOTHER QUEST BEGINS
Later that day, at AVALANCHE's new headquarters in the center of Midgar, where there were still ruins of the old Shinra headquarters, everyone thought in silence about Cloud. He had helped them achieve their goals, and had single-handedly destroyed Sephiroth, saving the planet. Now he was gone, though dead they couldn't be sure.
Marlene came in, looking strangely at peace despite the news. "He's still here," she said. "I can't explain it, but I can sense his spirit. He is far away, but still alive."
Tifa looked up sharply. Could she find him? She turned to the others. "I'm going to find him, but I need Marlene's help."
Barret nodded and stood up. "Cloud may have been an annoying jackass at times, but he was an okay kid. He's saved my life. It seems only right to return the favor. Not to mention, you need company, and I don't want Marlene to go on some kinda dangerous quest without me."
Cid rushed over. "Count me in! If it weren't for Cloud, I woulda never gone into space, never have the chance to live my dream."
Vincent spoke softly from a corner. "Cloud was in league with SOLDIER. He's got stuff in common with me. He helped me to realize my place. I will accompany you."
Cait Sith looked up. "I shouldn't come with you. I was a spy for Shinra. I helped Sephiroth enter the Temple of the Ancients. I'm partly for responsible for Aeris' death, and the death of so many other innocent lives."
Barret regarded him strangely. "You WERE a spy for Shinra. But Shinra's gone, your part of AVALANCHE now, and besides, you helped to right the whole mess. You should come with us. It wouldn't feel right without everyone."
Red XIII came out of an adjoining room. "And we know relatively where Cloud is. Grandpa said there is a sudden unusual concentration of Mako energy near Nibelhiem."
Tifa looked around. "Shouldn't Yuffie come along?"
Barret tilted his head. "Why? She's not very helpful and is always in the way."
Yuffie jumped to her feet in defiance. "I heard that! You can go without me, but your materia won't come with you. You can keep your materia if I come along. And no complaints!"
Cid sighed. "You know, she really grinds my nerves so much."
"Yeah," agreed Cait Sith, "but we really don't have a choice unless we want her to make off with our materia again."
Barret nodded. "Awright, Yuffie. C'mon, but keep yer mouth shut."
Outside AVALANCHE headquarters, the refitted airship Highwind waited. When they had all gotten on the magnificent work of art, the ship hummed with the familiar sound of the engines. Yuffie groaned, and left the bridge, and headed to another part of the ship where she could be sick in private.
On the bridge, Red XIII pointed at a map of Nibelhiem. "Cloud should be there."
Cid turned to the pilot. "Alright, let's go!"
The Highwind rose above the city of Midgar, turned, and sped off in the direction of Cloud's birthplace.
ANOTHER QUEST BEGINS
Later that day, at AVALANCHE's new headquarters in the center of Midgar, where there were still ruins of the old Shinra headquarters, everyone thought in silence about Cloud. He had helped them achieve their goals, and had single-handedly destroyed Sephiroth, saving the planet. Now he was gone, though dead they couldn't be sure.
Marlene came in, looking strangely at peace despite the news. "He's still here," she said. "I can't explain it, but I can sense his spirit. He is far away, but still alive."
Tifa looked up sharply. Could she find him? She turned to the others. "I'm going to find him, but I need Marlene's help."
Barret nodded and stood up. "Cloud may have been an annoying jackass at times, but he was an okay kid. He's saved my life. It seems only right to return the favor. Not to mention, you need company, and I don't want Marlene to go on some kinda dangerous quest without me."
Cid rushed over. "Count me in! If it weren't for Cloud, I woulda never gone into space, never have the chance to live my dream."
Vincent spoke softly from a corner. "Cloud was in league with SOLDIER. He's got stuff in common with me. He helped me to realize my place. I will accompany you."
Cait Sith looked up. "I shouldn't come with you. I was a spy for Shinra. I helped Sephiroth enter the Temple of the Ancients. I'm partly for responsible for Aeris' death, and the death of so many other innocent lives."
Barret regarded him strangely. "You WERE a spy for Shinra. But Shinra's gone, your part of AVALANCHE now, and besides, you helped to right the whole mess. You should come with us. It wouldn't feel right without everyone."
Red XIII came out of an adjoining room. "And we know relatively where Cloud is. Grandpa said there is a sudden unusual concentration of Mako energy near Nibelhiem."
Tifa looked around. "Shouldn't Yuffie come along?"
Barret tilted his head. "Why? She's not very helpful and is always in the way."
Yuffie jumped to her feet in defiance. "I heard that! You can go without me, but your materia won't come with you. You can keep your materia if I come along. And no complaints!"
Cid sighed. "You know, she really grinds my nerves so much."
"Yeah," agreed Cait Sith, "but we really don't have a choice unless we want her to make off with our materia again."
Barret nodded. "Awright, Yuffie. C'mon, but keep yer mouth shut."
Outside AVALANCHE headquarters, the refitted airship Highwind waited. When they had all gotten on the magnificent work of art, the ship hummed with the familiar sound of the engines. Yuffie groaned, and left the bridge, and headed to another part of the ship where she could be sick in private.
On the bridge, Red XIII pointed at a map of Nibelhiem. "Cloud should be there."
Cid turned to the pilot. "Alright, let's go!"
The Highwind rose above the city of Midgar, turned, and sped off in the direction of Cloud's birthplace.
