final fantasy vii and all its characters © squaresoft, inc.

a/n:
I've been playing KH lately. I know, I know, it's kind of old, but I haven't finish the game in a looong time (damn that Tarzan jungle.) I just got back after a 10-day trip Perth and got loads of stuff to bring back home (w00tw00t.) School's also hitting so updates should slow down for now, sorry guys. And I STILL can't figure out how to put up special characters. Argh.

Just for fun: try copying Aerissa's lines in British accent, a thick one at that.

To the Sky
chapter two: the highwind

"Well, that's the gist of it."

Cloud just finished his story about how and why he saved the princess.

He felt a flash of guilt, that he did not dare to look at the captain inquisitive eyes. However, he had to tell his reasons, if he was so desperate to keep a low profile of the princess' disappearance, which was entirely his fault. Cloud hid his sweaty hands in his pockets, staring down the floor nervously. Every now and then, he would take quick glances at almost everything around him, including the heroine of his story.

Aerissa, unlike Cloud, was not afraid to look up. In fact, her concern was merely distracted by the look of her surrounds. Cloud knew she had been a huge admirer of the Highwind, and expected her to drop her jaw in awe soon after they enter the very ship.

And she did, with grace.

The airship was much more beautiful than anything she imagined and heard. It was positively old, but she knew the pirates took care of it; cleaning and tidying up here and there. Even though she could not say it was clean enough.

The walls were covered wholly with solid wood, including the floor, which she thought would be of porcelain tiles. But it did not stop her from marveling at the caterwauled ceiling. It was carved with scribbles similar to the ones she saw on the outer surface, engraved doodles of the sky and its creatures. These ones were clearer to look at if compared to the ones outside, for she was seeing from a shorter distance. However, she did not discover a pair of midsized spider webs hovering on two of the corners.

Then there were other parts and rooms she had yet to visit. The bridge alone was absolutely wonderful, and would add to the number of excellence the ship abided. Aside from the bridge, she only had visited the engine room, which was connected with the back door she entered after climbing up the ladder. The engine room, on the other hand, was dark and very dirty. But she did not really mind. In fact, she was more interested to find out how the engine and machines kept working smoothly within a cobweb-infested room.

The princess could just jump and kiss Cloud a "Thank you." but she literally thought she might not be able to set her feet on the ship any longer. Maybe, just maybe, the aerial pirates would send them flying out to the dark sky with or without parachutes. And she could not blame the blonde for that, after showing the greatest airship of all.

Despite the trouble her and Cloud had gone into, Aerissa took the opportunity to enjoy her scenery while she can, thinking it might be the last time to see such view. But no matter where she cast her eyes at, she too would not dare to pierce them on the captain.

Captain Cid Highwind spoke at last, "Kid, do you know what you're doing?"

Cloud straighten up, still determined not to look at the captain, then awkwardly nodded.

"No, you don't." Cid retorted.

Cloud shook his head.

"No." the older man, who was also a blonde, removed his cigarette and threw it away. Aerissa saw a flash of glare imprinted on his navy eyes. "Do you realize what the &$% you're doin', Cloud?" he snapped, "you're puttin' me--no, the entire crew--into danger! Doncha know that?"

The younger blonde gazed up timidly, feeling like a poor kid being yelled by his dad. And worse, he could not make a response to that.

"Look," Cid dropped his voice, trying not to look at the prying eyes of the rest of the crew, "I know what you're trying to do is for the good." he leaned closer to Cloud, "So you wanna save the princess, fine, I'm cool with that. But you're forgetting one thing, kid." he stroked an index finger, "She's a princess. Once she's gone, you'll have the whole country chasing after you're tail." and gestured it toward Aerissa, "And you're asking me to help? I'm sorry to say this, but no."

Cloud gave an irritated face. He could easily feel the whole pirates' eyes glued onto him, waiting for a reply, even from Aerissa.

Unfortunately to him, Cid knew this. "What? Now you're mad 'cause I'm not letting you in?" he sniggered, "For you're information, I ain't stupid enough to let a runaway princess in my ship, let alone anybody in the world."

Cloud shot a frown, "Cid," he said in a low voice, "her life is at stake."

Cid lit a new cigarette. "Cloud, I know that. But you gotta think of others too." he muttered, "I've got enough people spreading out bloody flyers yours of me bein' a wanted chap, and I ain't getting into more trouble just 'cause one of me crew has the Terrenian princess." he shook his head, "If things were a lot better, I might take you, but the problem is, they're not."

"Hey," Cloud interrupted, "I've saved your butt every time I'm stuck with you. Why, can't I have at least a bit of gratitude from The Mighty-o-Cid?" he rolled his eyes heavenwards, "Like saving you from a super giant cobra is an easy thing. You know you could've just call and order these guys to set off cannonballs."

The captain threw an irritated face.

Cloud pleaded in a voice tone he wished he would never use, "Cid, c'mon. You said you're a wanted guy, and I reckon almost everywhere there's a poster of you and your crew being rewarded for 10,000 gil each." he noticed the faint breath intakes the crew made, "Princess or no princess, it wouldn't make a difference. You already got the whole world after your head."

Cid stared at the younger man, casting a look of disbelief.

"Oh, and by the way," Cloud added blankly, "I heard they raised the reward to 20,000 gil in Midgar."

Aerissa blinked at his remark, so did Cid, followed by half of the crew. This time around, she was not scared anymore to face Cid, who happened to be just as oblivious as she was. The princess saw the older man raised his eyebrows beneath his ogled eyes skeptically, letting the small fire turned the rather long trail of his cigarette into ashes. Aerissa also sighted Cloud mouthing "Wow, that's a lot of money." and could not help but to agree.

Cid kept silent. He did not do anything but switching his glance from Cloud to Aerissa, then to the crowd. The pirates too, stood motionless, eagerly waiting for another reply from either side. Not nearly as eager as Cloud, of course.

After a short while, the captain tapped his cigarette, getting rid of the fresh-burned ashes from the brink of the cane, and slipped it back to his mouth. "Fine."

One of the pirates could have sworn he heard him said it in a regretful tone.

Cid could see the color on Cloud's face, then nodded, "Yeah."

The others blinked a couple of times, one third of them emphasized by dropping their jaws. Even Aerissa went speechless, confused whether to feel grateful or disappointed. She saw Cloud was grinning triumphantly, and if he was happy, then it should be good, but she still bothered to ask. "Pardon?"

Cid turned his gaze from Cloud to her. "Fine."

Aerissa ran a finger above her ear, pushing locks of brown hair away from it, then stammered, "S-Sorry?"

"Fine." Cloud answered for her, still grinning, "We're staying here."

The princess was about to reply when suddenly she heard few of the pirates objected. "What?"

"Captain! You can't be serious!" a high-pitched voice protested.

"She's the princess!" another chimed in, "We'll get in trouble if we let her in!"

A yell, which sounded more like a growl, bellowed, "We'll have everybody after us!"

Aerissa flushed a weak magenta glow. She felt her eyes were growing wet, but restrained the urge to cry. She tightly held the upper part of her dress, and stared down at it, trying not to pay the slightest attention at the pirates' opposes. Cloud recognized this, and if he were braver, he would happily slash the bunch into two, three if possible. But knowing that he could not, he only stood there, holding back his emotions, and flashed glares sideways.

The objections were getting louder and louder. Cid started to look exaggerated. He noticed on of them was throwing an empty can to Cloud's direction, but missed. The target of the hit, too, was flashing dangerous-looking sapphire orbs. Aerissa, still staring down at her dress, felt a tear was about to drop, biting her lip as if it could froze it and stop her from crying. Cloud then saw another can flying toward his head, but successfully dodged it, and was just about to reach his sword.

"SHUDDUP!"

And they did.

Cid was just in time to explode and mute the hectic mob. "You heard what I said, I'm lettin' them in the crew and that's that!" he scowled irately, his veins plunging out from the surface of his skin. "I don't care what the #& you think or what the & you say! If you don't like what I'm doin', THEN GET THE &$#$ OUTTA HERE!"

Two third of the crew almost jumped. It was not everyday they see Captain Cid explode. Well, Cid was always yelling at them, but never this mad that they could see faint violet trails on his neck. They could even see outlines of his vein appearing weakly around his temples.

Cloud appreciated this, a lot. Not only Cid saved him from being canned up by an angry mob of pirates, he also stopped him from his stupid attempt to cause a--bloody, he would like to say--massacre. He tiptoed slowly toward Aerissa, who finally lifted her head up, then whispered, "It's okay, you can stop crying now."

Aerissa literally found out her eyes were still teary, but there were no trace of teardrops on her dress. She abruptly swept her eyes with her hand coarsely, leaving faint red marks around her eyes from rash brushing. She let out an awkward smile, an after-crying smile, in exchange for her gratitude, which she would delightfully announce if her face was not red.

She saw Cloud smiling back to her, crookedly. And it made her feel better, much better. The next thing she knew, she was flushing, and quickly turned her head back down. She did not even want to know how Cloud reacted to this.

Fortunately, Cloud did not take this as an obvious behavior, he did not even know she was blushing. He only thought she was trying to hide the red glow on her face after crying. He was not surprised when she hid her face, because most women--especially girls--do not like having their crying face seen in public, men in particular. He was actually more interested to wonder why Cid let him in the ship, because he knew it was unlikely.

Aerissa, on the other hand, had predicted--or rather, dreamed--of his generosity. Lani was right, she thought, even though he swears and curses, he is a gentleman. Little did she know, Cloud would go rolling down the floor laughing if he heard this.

"Cid..." she heard Cloud mused, still grinning widely in glee.

"DISMISSED! Go back to your goddamn positions before I chuck your &!# heads off!" Cid shouted at his men, who were now running about like fleeing ants, then grabbed a new cigarette from his pocket. "You heard me," he said to Cloud, "I'm letting you and your lass in," he removed his cigarette, and lit up the new one.

Aerissa was amazed of the amount smoke he managed within an hour. She never knew someone would break Haagen's--one of the older guards--record, who smoked four cigarettes in an hour.

"But just 'cause you're part of the crew now, you could do anything you like." Cid continued, "If you go overboard, y'know I'll be damned to kick you out of the ship whether it's flying or not."

The princess swallowed. She immediately shunned the thought of his being a gentleman away.

Cloud threw a forced cough, then murmured inaudibly to Cid, covering the left side of his mouth with his hand, "I think you scared her."

Cid rose his eyebrows uninterestedly, "The hell I know it." he then asked to Aerissa, "You okay, lass?"

She eyes ogled in surprise, then brusquely nodded.

Cid made a face, "See? The girl's fine." he then turned his gaze to somewhere behind her, and barked, "Hey Yuffie! Come 'ere and give the princess some booze!"

Aerissa spun around to find a girl--to her shock--was a pirate. A female pirate.

From her looks, she did not look like someone older than her, despite her petite legs and vaguely small breasts (to Aerissa's horror, they were just about her size.) She also had an oriental face, even though her eyes were considerably huge for a Wutaean. And like Aerissa, she also had green-tinted eyes, but darker. Her hair was jet black, with dim dark brown strands that looked like highlights. The princess assumed the girl's hair was shoulder-length, because she had knotted her hair to a bun with chopstick.

And to Aerissa's astonishment, she was wearing her least favorite piece of clothing, a dark green corset.

Well, it resembled a corset.

It seemed like this girl named Yuffie had modified a random corset she picked up somewhere during her pirate task--or mission, as Aerissa would like to call. It did not look hurtful, or tight, however. It looked quite comfortable. Underneath it, was a gauzy hole-laden shirt--which Aerissa later discovered was a typical ninja outfit--and a pair of black slacks made of spandex.

Somehow, this girl strike her as familiar.

"Sure," Yuffie countered, readjusting her chopstick bun, "but where is she sleeping?"

Cid pointed out, "She could stay in your room."

To Aerissa's surprise, Yuffie did not argue. She personally thought she would reject the offer for sure, and her accent was not at all Wutaean. The girl only raised her eyebrows, "Okay," she then looked at Aerissa, grabbing her hand, "C'mon, I'll show you my room."

Aerissa absently followed Yuffie's trail, and disappeared to the nearby elevator.

Seeing she was gone now, Cloud gladly approached Cid. Cloud did not tell him the bit about the reasons why Aerissa is a wanted target, and he thought it would be a good idea to explain the pirate about it. "So," he brushed his hands in relief, "I wonder," he cleared his throat, "it's not everyday you to let a random person in the ship out of the ordinary."

Cid sniggered, "I knew someday this is gonna happen."

Cloud winced. He looked taken back, "What do you mean?"

"You wanna know why?" the older man groaned, blew more wisps of smoke, and tapped it twice, "come with me."

"...and I cannot believe you are younger than me! Fifteen and a full-fledged pirate!" Aerissa uttered in awe, "It's hard to believe someone my age, let alone younger, would stand living together with such people!"

"Dirty old men?" Yuffie grinned, "Even though it's a pain, I could get along with the lot. After all, they couldn't last a day without at least one girl aboard." she enlightened, "Well, they can, but they need at least one to brighten up their day--that's what the captain said--and a group of prostitutes."

Aerissa sat on the rumpled bed cover, poking the midst of the pillows. The bed looked like it just hosted a pillow fight, for it had white soft petals of feather sprinkled on every point of the bed. She scanned the small room. A messy room, as if the owner never taken care of it, but despite the chaotic mode, it seemed cozy. It was completely muddled with everything from scattered fabrics to tiny jade stones that looked like marbles. She took one stone and examined it, whilst Yuffie was busy tossing garments out of her wardrobe, looking for an article the princess could wear.

Ignoring the flying rags, Aerissa murmured a question, "Are these... materias?"

Yuffie paused when she was just about to grab an awfully revealing corset. She turned around, and saw the other girl was still clutching the noted object. "What?"

"I said," Aerissa's voice went louder, "are these materias?"

The Wutaean dropped the corset, and stooped to get a better view of the stone. "Yup, that's a materia." Yuffie stood back up, "Never thought that would come from a princess."

Aerissa tittered, "I've been getting magic tutors ever since I was six years old."

"No kiddin'? Magic tutors? A princess?" Yuffie gawked in disbelief, reaching for another dress to be tossed, "Doncha think it's a bit... too much?"

"Oh?" the older girl twitched a brow, "Is it wrong for a princess to learn these kinds of things?"

Yufie swallowed, wide-eyed. She hoped the princess was not offended. "Well, no, but," she muttered, "it's not common..."

Aerissa blinked. Yuffie did not knew she was almost oblivious of what was running about in other reigning royal families, let alone their princess tutors. "No?"

"Nope," Yuffie shook her head, "They learn manners, history, politics, general knowledge--art and literature too, if necessary--and take dancing classes. But sorcery? I don't think so..."

"Why is that?" Aerissa queried.

"Simple," the ninja clarified, "'cause there's no need. Princesses are born to be empresses, not a witch army." Yuffie screwed her face incredulously, "As far as I know, never in the history of men, a princess taking 'materia usage' as a class subject. I mean, what for? To fight? She's got her guards to do that. If magic lessons are so important, they should make you study archery."

Aerissa rose her brows as she saw Yuffie fetched a huge four-point shuriken from the other side of the bed.

"Doesn't matter though. Not many people could do magic these days, let alone use a materia." she dropped her bum next to the brunette. "I know for sure people used them in the old days, they must be great. But lately, they got absorbed to machinery and stuff, y'know, like it's fun and all." her face went dark-colored. "They got pampered, getting lazy... especially that Midgar lot."

Aerissa nodded slowly. She knew Midgar would be coming along in a pirate's line, and she could not blame them for hating them.

"And," Yuffie bent forward to the floor. "people who could reliably use materias--" she took one materia. "are only people who're gifted--" she stashed it in a hole on her armlet. "and the Ancients."

The princess jerked at the sound of the word.

"There used to be a lot of people like that in the world." Yuffie inserted another green marble to the second hole. "Nowadays, with people not gifted with it, they learned how to use it, which might add to why they never form good spells." she rolled her eyes, "Well, I think I have that sorta gift, although it's not good enough, since I spent most of the time stealing instead of using 'em. Like I care anyway, 'cause I'm the only one using these stuff in the ship."

Apparently, Aerissa did not pay attention. "Yuffie, what are the Ancients?"

Her quick remark made Yuffie flabbergasted. "You don't know what an Ancient is?"

Aerissa shook her head vehemently. Although the sound of it sure is familiar...

"Oh, um," Yuffie stammered, "well, I don't know much about them either. All I know is, they're a race of beings that looked like humans who have healing powers and very good in magic." then her face went cheery. "I heard they can even speak to the planet! How cool is that?"

The princess went dumbfounded. This girl was younger than her by three years, and she was a pirate. But how in the world she knew so much? Nobody even told Aerissa what an Ancient was.

"But they only appeared for a short while." Yuffie continued, "Only a little longer than half a century. They lived at the Northern Crater and got completely wiped out after the meteor crash." she lobbed her shuriken to the floor. "And thanks to that, Shinra is happily ever after, while the rest of the world is suffering from malnutrition. Or at least, his people are."

Aerissa understood finally. She did not have any trouble finding who or what Shinra was. It was the successful royal family that reigned the Midgar Empire, and also the family that made Midgar looked like what it was today--a corrupted, polluted, artificial city built on a plate supported by strong bonds of pillars. It was disgusting and sinful, with no hint of day or night on the colorless sky. Men's most prideful creation of humility.

Midgar had been ruled by a variety of kings from many different families. Shinra, however, seemed very different from the families before. From what she knew, Midgar was a powerful empire who ruled the land with fear. Perhaps, they were so powerful, she did not bother to ask why they ignored the homeless. But honestly, she, like everybody else, did not favor the very kingdom.

Midgar had always and always been a threat to the other kingdoms. But no matter how fearful they were, they were never as ominous as today.

The princess personally hoped the course of the Midgar Empire would change. It was only seven months after the king's death, and currently the throne was to be endured by his first son, Prince Rufus.

In Aerissa's opinion, Rufus was too young to rule a kingdom, especially one as large as Midgar. Like her, he was also eighteen, unless he turned a year older five months before her. She never understand why the people did not object of having such a juvenile king. Unless fear was power.

If only she was still in her royal chamber, she would have had the chance to come to his reception rehearsal as the new king two weeks ahead.

"Still," a chipper tone of a certain Wutaean's voice sent her back to reality. "it's surprising to see a well-educated heiress not knowing what an Ancient is. I thought everybody in the world knows, except Cloud though."

Everybody knows what an Ancient is?

In a slight moment, Aerissa almost felt she was being left out. But she ignored the thought when a current blonde's name was mentioned. "Is there anything wrong with Cloud?"

"No... he's just... clueless." Yuffie screwed a shuddered face. "He doesn't know anything about anyone."

How obscure. A man who knew nothing but his own personal, exciting life. Aerissa emphasized the following word blankly. "Why is that?"

"Cloud's rash and careless. What does he care about things? He only eats and sleeps, or eats, gets a job, and sleeps. Oh yeah, he doesn't even read newspapers. That's why he bears a very, very boring life." Yuffie said curtly, then emphasized aloofly. "O, cruel fate!"

Somehow, a segment in Aerissa's mind refused to agree with Yuffie's statement.

"I'm not saying he doesn't love adventures though." she heard Yuffie said. "In fact, he's as competitive as any pirate in this ship. Sometimes he likes to come with us when we stop by. He used to be around Nibel a long time ago, I actually didn't know he moved here. He would make a good pirate, but don't tell him I said that."

The brunette kept the promise by heart, with a smile as proof.

"However," glinting mischievous eyes narrowed playfully. "I'm a lot more interested to know why he saved you, princess."

Aerissa's eyes flashed widely, looking flustered. "I-I'm sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about..."

"Don't say that." Yuffie countered light-heartedly, "You know there's something up with Cloud, doncha? You're blushing, by the way."

The princess saw her index finger was pointing at her. She followed Yuffie's gesture, as the pirate started chuckling. Aerissa promptly took a nearby hand mirror and saw a reflection of a walnut-haired girl, with cheeks flushing faint red tints. She punctually dropped the mirror, holding her palms tightly on them.

"Oh, Your Highness." Yuffie said in a sweet mocking tone, taking the mirror from the floor. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Cloud is attractive, isn't he?"

Aerissa gritted her teeth in embarrassment, still covering her burned cheeks. "What do you mean?"

"He barely even knows you, but he saved you! That's not something any guy would do to any girl... and he did that to you!"

"But the circumstances are different!" Aerissa exclaimed softly, "I'm a princess and he's a mercenary sent to kill me. Any mercenary like him who bear such a task would eventually do what he did to me!

"Oh, really?" Yuffie let out a devilish grin to Aerissa's detest. "He convinced our freak-of-a-pirate captain just to let you on board! Even any one of us doesn't have the nerve to do that."

Brown strands of her hair were covering Aerissa's emerald eyes, helpfully altering her red face. She shook her head, muttering reluctantly, "Whatever you may think, there is nothing between me and Cloud. He is just a lifesaver... he is even barely a friend."

Yuffie did not look at the slightest apologetic. "No worries to that. You'll get to know him eventually.

"Most people's first impression about Cloud is that he's reckless and doesn't care about anything." she started, "But when you get to know him, he's not really like that. Well, he is sometimes impulsive, but not entirely. Generally, he's calm and doesn't talk much. He's kinda quiet. But deep inside, he's a bit sensitive. I mean, he's really eager and passionate of everything he does, he wants to be recognized as someone as strong. He's also competitive, and even though he's more of the quiet type, he's not a bad conversationalist."

Aerissa's eyes amazedly grew wide awake.

"But it's still weird about his saving you... he doesn't usually do that... he's not the type who likes to stick his head into anybody's business."

"Well," the princess spoke finally, "everybody has their complicated reasons, including him."

"I know." Yuffie said simply, "But it's still weird."

A stroke of hand brushed the lengthy brown hair, Aerissa's emerald orbs flashed distinctly a flustered look. Apparently, she did not expect to be talking about the noted subject in such an airship, with a pirate of all people.

"Yuffie," she began, "how do you know all of these things?"

The pirate flinched, "Know what?"

"You know almost everything and anything about a princess and her monarchy more than any regular commoner, and I am sure you know even more if I ask you." then Aerissa repeated, "But how do you know about these things?"

The questioner did not suppose this, but she can evidently see Yuffie's uncomfortable eye flickers, which looked like she was searching for an answer. "Um, uh," she took a few glances sideways, "let's say I know about these things, kay? There's nothing personal."

Aerissa took the moment of silence as an opportunity to scan Yuffie's discomfited face. Even though she did not fully trust, she said she did, "Oh, I see."

The following minutes ended in complete stillness. Neither one of them had the urge to speak. Aerissa assumed a part or two in Yuffie's lines were lies, while the other girl had predicted the princess knew she fibbed. But the two kept their faces stern, as if nothing happened. Aerissa stared down at the bed, poking the cover's wrinkles, whilst Yuffie continued her little expedition to the center of the closet.

Secretly, Aerissa suspected Yuffie must be in some way related to a certain royal monarchy or noble family, a Wutai one in particular. But she was more interested to know how a daughter of such nobility may end up in a band of wanted pirates.

She knew the Wutaean aristocracy class was infested with many disgraceful scandals. Tseng, her astronomy professor, said most children from noble families had formed a group of rebellions against the devious behavior of their own people towards the lower-class. And she could not argue. Even though Wutai was not the worse of all kingdoms, it was not indeed composed.

But Yuffie is a pirate, not an activist, Aerissa thought. Wutaeans were known to be very loyal and faithful to their country. They were really proud of their own language, culture, and belief. Even most of them were extremists that they refused to be involved with other countries, either it be war, politics, or business. The whole continent kept itself hidden away from outside influences for so many years. But the era had changed, so did the people.

Some of the Wutaeans started to move abroad, exploring other parts of the planet to many places, including the other three kingdoms. This caused several anarchic dilemma within the upper-class, especially the royal family. After all, Wutaeans were patriotic, and discovering a disobeyer within one of them was certainly unacceptable.

She figured out Yuffie was one of them--a Wutaean not worth of her country. But as Aerissa started to think harder, the subject had just emptied her cabinet, sending another garb to Aerissa's lap. However, unlike the former, the fifteen-year-old's eyes sparked with joy.

And Aerissa found this amusing, as they were exchanging dull stares the minute before.

"I found you something to wear!"

"Two months ago, there was this Wutaean guy who's been asking everybody to kill the princess." Cid murmured through the thick mist of smoke, sipping another of his cigarette. "This guy also asked me, but I said no, and I bet the lot said the same too." he cleared his throat, "I never thought he'd come to you."

"So it was a Wutaean guy..." Cloud did not look surprised to hear this, "Did he tell you his motives?"

"No," Cid looked rather disappointed, "He only said 'kill the princess or die trying' and 'there are bigger things happening that the princess must die'. 'dunno what he meant, though. If he tells me why, I won't complain."

Then his face suddenly turned serious. "But none of them lot saved the princess. In fact, I don't even know why anybody would bother to save her. For a second there, I thought you were nuts."

Cloud grunted, "Well, you could start from believing there are bigger things happening."

Cid frowned in doubt, "What do you mean by bigger things?"

"Bigger things," the younger blonde bristled, "You think I just saved her 'cause I feel sorry for her and all? There's a bit of the story I haven't tell anyone that I don't want the princess to hear!"

The captain looked taken back, dropping his now fallen cigarette unintentionally from the corner of his lips. He saw a hint of faint fury flowing from Cloud's red face. Cid chose not to talk, and he did not want to, as he noticed a cigarette was missing. Looking down at the undone cigarette, he let his foot crush it. He then reached a hand to his pocket for another.

"Her Highness is an Ancient."

It felt like a stroke of thunder hit his ears.

Cloud sustained determinedly, ignoring Cid's stunned face, "He--the Wutaean guy--told me the princess would be the target of the Midgar Empire if they found out her true identity. And what's worse, the princess doesn't even know she's an Ancient... I don't think she even knows what an Ancient is! The girl's completely clueless!"

He could see Cid's now dumbstruck face. A burned and finely-wrapped cigarettes on the bottom of the floor beside his feet, which must had been dropped unintentionally due to the shock.

However, Cloud regarded less. "But whatever it is. Don't tell anybody, I mean anybody, about this. The Midgar Empire is searching for an Ancient who could cast powerful magic, whom they'd use as their daily experimental specimens... and who knows, maybe they'd even make a strong weapon out of it!" he explained rashly, "This guy thinks the world would be saved if the princess's killed. But c'mon! There's gotta be another way!

"I mean," said Cloud in a leveled voice, "I can't just leave her alone while the world's going crazy and I'm one of the few who knows what's behind it. 'leave her like that and I'm gonna have nightmares."

Cid failed to response. Although he was not exactly sensitive, a stroke of sympathy countered and forced him to agree. Cloud's glowing navy eyes flashed earnestly a sense of honesty. Never in his life the captain witnessed such sight.

"To tell you the truth," he said at last, "I already suspected she was an Ancient." Cid ignored Cloud's sudden reaction. "She's always wearing that green necklace like it's a charm... and it's glowing, glowing like a light bulb. I thought it was rather unusual... but then you explained this and now it all makes sense."

Cloud looked up at him and nodded thoughtfully. Deep down, he was glad the tension between the two had finally fade.

"Whoa! Look at the time!" Cid abruptly alarmed, "Better go head downstairs to the bar and fetch the food!" he walked hastily towards the door, passing a dazed Cloud, "Ya better too. Yer skinny ass looks like it ain't eat anythin' for weeks! Ya said ya only eat meat twice a month, right? Right now they're serving stake!"

The young blonde could hear something that sounded like a growl from his stomach. Cloud patted it hatefully.

"Don't be such a &#$. I know I heard that!"

Cloud's face went crimson in an instant, but quickly morphed back.

"Cid."

The captain spun around calmly, with no hint of surprise.

"Don't tell anybody, especially the princess, about this."

Cid nodded.

For Cloud Strife, this was an abnormally long day.

He was just adding some water to his jug at the nearby kitchen and nearly spilled it when he heard a small red metal bird chirped as it popped outside an old clock. The bold arrow was obviously pointing XII, but it virtually hit him while the smaller one was pointing II.

Two o'clock in the morning. And he wasn't at the least sleepy.

Perhaps, it was the majority of shocking episodes coming one right after another continuously. After all, his usual bedtime was the hour when he climbed up to Aerissa's chamber. This was the hour when he should be in bed and dream something interesting. But although he did not feel like sleeping, he yawned quite a lot.

Still, it was unusual to have another meal at midnight. He was expecting a midnight snack, not a midnight dinner.

"Cloud!" a squeal voice of certain ninja unpredictably stormed throughout the narrow hallway.

"What the hell--" Cloud turned around to his dispute in hopes to send a slap on the girl who was running towards him.

But the urge was cancelled when Yuffie Kisaragi snatched his hand without warning. "Come 'ere! I've got something to show ya!" she told excitedly as she brought Cloud running with her.

"H-Hey!" he quickly worked to his feet and joined the marathon, "What's the big idea?" Cloud bawled.

Yuffie stopped, still holding tight to Cloud's hand. They stopped at the end of the hall, in front of a door, which Cloud assumed it was the door to Yuffie's room. It was faint mahogany, with a sign that said "Yuffie's Property--KEEP OUT." and a small black cat pinned on the peeping hole. Cloud found this as bizarre. He never knew Yuffie ever liked cats, black in particular. From what he heard, she was allergic. And black cats bring bad luck.

But before Cloud could think any harder, Yuffie turned to face him and smiled with glee and satisfaction. "I wanna show you something!"

"What? Your collection of stolen green marbles?" Cloud presumed apathetically.

It's Materia. "No..." Yuffie opened the door with a loud sound of the knob.

Behind the door revealed was a young girl. A young girl with long brown locks falling disorderedly and slender five-foot-two figure and a humble nightdress with the color of a glass of red wine.

Princess Aerissa.

Cloud did not understand why Yuffie seemed really happy. Yuffie may be the brain in disguises and costumes and camouflages, but her makeover towards Aerissa was not all put of the ordinary. She was wearing a dress. A dress. If it was a corset and a suspender, he would clap his hands jubilantly. But it was a dress, something a princess regularly wears.

Cloud Strife was clearly not interested.

"Yuffie," he cleared his throat, "that's the princess..."

"I know, I know," Yuffie quizzed proudly, "But d'you notice the difference?"

Cloud thought for a moment. "No."

Aerissa knew he would say that. Yuffie, on the other hand, looked like she wanted so much to punch the impulsive mercenary.

"I mean," Cloud elucidated, "apart from the red dress and messy hair, it doesn't make any difference."

"Cloud..."

"Yuffie," Cloud said sternly, "I know you're the master of disguise, but disguising a princess with a dress is, uhhh, that's what she wears everyday, right? Try dressing her up with something different for a change." he suggested--which to Yuffie's dismay, it was not helpful. "A corset, perhaps?"

Aerissa coughed inaudibly at this.

"Cloud," Yuffie commented, "you're so tactless."

In all honesty, Aerissa agreed. Cloud did not look pleased, however.

"What?"

"Cloud, being a master of the disguising art doesn't mean you could just dress up to something she isn't." Yuffie pointed out her index finger markedly in front of Cloud's nose, "You have to dress her up with something people would be less aware of and something she would be comfortable with."

Again, Aerissa agreed.

Yuffie strictly removed her finger back and added, "'sides, it's not like she's gonna fight. But she'll still be able to move around comfortably."

"With a dress like that?" Cloud gaped doubtfully.

"Of course! Look at this!" Yuffie immediately pulled Aerissa's skirt up to expose a white pantyhose with thick knee-length boots. "I put this up specially for emergency matters!" she ignored Aerissa's constant pouting and cries, "This way, she'll move freely!"

Cloud could feel his cheeks indistinctly burned. "...impressive."

"Thanks! I'm glad you like it!" Yuffie stood back up cheerfully, leaving a rather red Aerissa on the loo.

She then looked at her old grandfather clock and wheezed a screech.

"Anyway, we better go," Yuffie headed for the door hurriedly, in a ready-to-run stance, "or we'll miss dinner! STAKE!"

The next thing Cloud and Aerissa knew, Yuffie vanished and a gasp of "No time!" echoed through the hall. Cloud figured Yuffie's quick disappearance was because of her incredible velocity, but Aerissa thought it was magic.

"So," Cloud began awkwardly, "wanna go?"

His voice went ringing through the princess' voice and brought her back to her senses, "Yes."

"Sorry, but uh," Cloud's voice trailed off, "it's not a banquet like you usually have in the castle, princess--"

"Cloud."

To his displeasure, Cloud felt the tension of a nervous atmospheres seemed to emerge a lot in this long day. But he determinedly spurned the thought away. "What?"

"Don't call me 'princess'."

Cloud blinked. "Aerissa--"

"And Aerissa."

He blinked again. "Then what should I--"

"Aeris."

"What?"

"Aeris." Aerissa repeated slowly, "Call me Aeris."

-tbc-

a/n
THAT was a long chapter. The longest I ever wrote! 'didn't expect to be so long though...

Anyway, sorry for the long wait, guys! I've become a high school freshman and that's not cool. I even got my first Chemistry homework at the first day! However, the story will still go on, so keep reading! xD And don't forget--the FAQ. Thanks, thank you, and sankyuu!

Reviewers' Booth

Here's a general note for every reviewer: THANK YOU SO MUCH! xDDD Kay. I'm telling you. Those things are what made me motivated to keep this fic up! I know, it's just 2 chapters, but I just felt like doing this. An eccentric author I am, I know.

Hikaru-009: Don't mind about the name change? Good! 'cause I want you to! xD Anyway, the odds of the two falling in love is... well, see it for yourself! I'm not labeling this fic under romance genre for nothing, y'know. Ummm. Like I said in the previous chapter, I'm letting the Tifa pairing go. I already have my eyes on one guy to pair her with, and I promise your satisfaction (uh, partly). In the meantime, just guess and wait when they'll get together.

zhakeena: I know. It's weird if you imagine someone in another name. But you don't have to worry about 'Aerissa' later. Yes, Cloud is OOC. More info on this the--guess what?--FAQ. But FYI, I never see Cloud as a cold-hearted individual. In fact, I don't think he is at all. Still, check the FAQ. I've got an oh-so long explanation I want people like you to check out... I hardly imagine the prologue as a nice start, however (thanks!).

SleepingStarz: Yesh! I forgot to note the PotC credit! (credits immediately before gore v. kicks her ass) First off, I don't tend to make this story a parody. All those similarities and borrowed names are simply thanks to my slow, not-working scattered brain. Somehow, I'm trying to make my creative juice working. Oh, and sweet sugar!

serene: Yeeeep. The Highwind! Gawd. I'm so looking forward to everybody's reactions when we're finally up there... I so love my li'l big big big airship! And uh, you thought the prologue was short? Uhhh... well, it's only 2 scenes ..

dogcollar: Hopefully the next update will be coming soon (I also wanna finish writing it). But at the very least, could you note some scenes you happen to like? (like it's already memorable enough.)

trekken46: Thx for the compliment! Although I still noticed a few mistakes... whatever they are. Yeah. I did post a fic soooo similar to this (with a different title), but it was weird and too fast-paced that I decided to put it down and--tada!--rewritten it. This one is obviously much much better than the last.

The Burning Misery: 'happy to see you accept the way I conjured this fic! I know, Aeris does sound weird with the whole 'Aerissa' thing (and a British accent to boot, not to mention). Actually, I found that scene as cheesy and weird... but if you like it, who cares? xD I didn't thought that sentence as a funny segment either... but yeah, maybe it is. I dunno. Queens are human beings, right? They get sleepy too xP

And I really really couldn't help ending it in a fairy-tale-ish way... this is a fairy tale, after all (although I hate to admit it). I always love fantasy stories, especially ones like FF9 (which might add to why I'm SO looking forward to FF12). And everything involving princess and the such always ended up as a fairy tale. But I guess everybody could relate to that.

Keep being undecided for any Tifa pairing, I don't need it any longer. The idea was quite helpful, however, although it's overused.

Clorith: Yeah. I did have a story like this. In fact, this same, just under a different title. But it's too weird and fast-paced and plotless and whatever, so I put it down, and a new story is born! And yesh, Aeris is on the Highwind! I sorta picked up the whole Highwind-addicted thing from the original wallpaper of her, and the not-granted wish to board the airship. So, why not letting her on board here? Surely it's not a bad thing.

Lynn U: Lynn, Lynn, Lynn... I SO had an equally (or longer) reply a loooooong time ago, before got suspended. Anyway, thx so much for the detailed and informative review! It's so helpful, I had fun reading it! It's not even at all offending!

WildfireDreams: Would you label this as a good FF7 AU? Because if you do, I'd be so happy and grateful and thrilled. BTW, where are you?

The Masked Reviewer: What a name. I hardly find this as a cool concept, but if you think it does have a lot of potential, then I'd be happy to continue it for you! Ummm. The age difference isn't about the whole "35-year-old pervs marry 14-year-old girls" thing, it's about the cast's. I mean, Cloud wouldn't be older than Yuffie by 5 years, but 3, and so on. This rule, however, won't seem to affect Cid or Barret.

scott-land: I can't say this fic is, uh, mysterious? But then again, I love it when my readers couldn't figure out the "big thing" in my story. So yeah, keep on reading 'n find out that mystery! xDDD

Pheeeew. That's all of them reviews. Keep reading 'n reviewing, everyone! It'll mean the best to me!