final fantasy vii and all its characters © squaresoft, inc.
a/n:
I just like to let everyone know that I got inspired from very very notable blockbuster movies and manga series. However, the current storyline is purely original--except the aerial pirates, the countries' background, character professions, and a few lines and places. So far, my planned plot is far from copying anything from what inspired me, so I hope nobody's doing the same story (lol).
To the Sky
chapter three: nibelheim
The next morning, Princess Aerissa woke up to find herself standing on the airship deck and witness the beautiful scenery of the city Nibelheim from the sky.
She went to Nibelheim several times, but never by an airship. It was such a glorious incident to fly to Nibel for the first time, and that first flight was experienced with the airship of dreams, the Highwind. It was no surprise, Cloud avowed her as the most luckiest girl in the world. A princess, beautiful and gifted--not to mention an Ancient--and was the first royalist to ever board the famous ship.
However, it was not the incredible stroke of luck she was amazed of.
Aerissa was once again marveling at the sights of the world below. Beneath the ship was the famous, colossal industrial city known as Nibelheim.
It was big. Very big. Perhaps big enough to fit twice the size of her own origin.
Although the city was covered with masses of thick clouds and faint vapors, Aerissa could easily identify the city was filled with nothing but tall buildings. She saw the tallest of them all, the eminent Nibel Citadel of the royal family, which was without doubt the most largest castle in the world. Surrounding the city were high massive gates, which made the capital looked like it was floating and built on a plate.
The sky-scraping landmarks had lucratively covered the smallest parts of the city, altering it completely with its towering structure. Hidden under the shadows were slums, drowning between the gloom of towers as if it was desiring the light. And every bit of it seemed so small. However, even with busy mechanical districts, the city stayed spotlessly clean.
It almost looked like a giant fortress hidden in the haze of unnatural pointed mountains and fog.
"You see that thing sticking up over there?"
Aerissa turned to see Cloud pointing at a huge object that resembled a chunky, giant arrow. To her own bewilderment, she did not know what it was, even after visiting Nibelheim a number of times.
"That's the new rocket launch." Cloud answered, not waiting for a reply, "Y'know, those newly-invented projectiles used to get to outer space? Yeah. It's been here since last month, and it's a monster! Everybody 'round here's been talking 'bout it! Unfortunately, it's premature, so the folks are still doing some experiments on it."
"A rocket?" Aerissa questioned curiously, "The ones people want to go to the moon with?"
Cloud nodded.
"How wonderful!" the princess gestured her hands together in pleasure. "Do you know who designed it, Cloud?"
"No," was his answer. "I heard it was Midgar's property, so I think they're the ones who made it."
Aerissa turned to look at the rocket again. Imprinted sideward on the rocket's solid tin was SHINRA 26. She instantly flashed a heated look.
"I know, sucks eh?" Cloud muttered as if he knew what she was thinking straight away, "After all, Midgar is always on top of things."
"Either way," Aerissa pulled aside a handful of covering locks to her temples. "I am still looking forward to look at it. Even as a princess, I may not be allowed to visit the rocket launch... especially when it is Shinra's."
Cloud shrugged, "Well, princess, if you want to--"
"Cloud." Aerissa hushed, pushing her sharp emerald eyes toward his sapphire orbs, "I told you to call me Aeris."
Looking taken back, Cloud rolled his eyes incredulously, "Okay, Aeris."
"Alright,"
Yuffie heaved, runnung a finger through her loose bangs and readjusted her bun, panting in front of Cloud's ignorant and Aerissa's inquisitive eyes.
"We have a working base somewhere in the slums. So, if you're worried of somewhere to stay in, just meet up at our base and we'll fix you something." she started stretching her arms. "Feel free to go sightseeing. It doesn't matter as long as you know your way around. Nibelheim is a really big city, so it's better not to wander off alone."
Aerissa nodded feebly, half listening. Apparently, she was engaged to glance around and about her surrounds. A humble market, a country inn, a shabby tavern, and a variety of trees. All of them seemed drowned in an overlay monochrome of chestnut brown. The scene of the Nibel lower class.
On her left were three little boys playing cards animatedly. She noticed an unusual big gap between two of the three, and concluded there was a boy missing. She later noticed the forth boy was busy sneaking out of a shop with a small chunk of red meat. Her eyes ran over to the wood-carved label hanging on top of the entrance. An inscribed knife and slice of beef. A butcher shop.
She wanted so much to approach the young boy and tell him it was not right. However, the chef came out and caught his arm. The princess could scarcely hear the boy's faded cries, which literally scared the other three and made them ran away. Unfortunately, the butcher yanked the boy's body and strolled pompously back to his shop, ended with a loud slam on the door.
The last thing she heard were pitchy terrified shrieks from the inside.
"But you've got Cloud here to follow you around." Yuffie's voice rang Aerissa back to reality, "So by all means, things should be fine, right?" she grinned with glee. Cloud, on the other hand, thought the grin looked rather repulsive.
Still switching glances from Yuffie to the butcher shop, Aerissa nodded.
"Well... if that's what you want..." he gritted his teeth in hopes to grin back.
"Oh, stop being such a madcap!" Yuffie grunted, "You were the one who tended to be a lifesaver at the first place!"
Faint murmurs of "stupid ninja brat" stroke Aerissa's ears.
"Anyway," Yuffie continued firmly, as if she did not hear anything, "Our base is at the abandoned bell tower, the one near the Seventh Heaven bar. The place is quite popular, so if you get lost, just ask some locals. They should be able help you."
Cloud pouted at the name. Seventh Heaven. Someone's really going to throw a fit on me when I get there.
That was until he sighted Yuffie was starting to stalk away.
"And where are you going?"
Cloud's voice exclaimed rowdily through Yuffie's conscience. She promptly stopped close at her small tiptoe steps. "Well, you don't expect me to give you a tour, right? Her Highness here would so much love a little sightseeing, and for your information, Nibelheim is one hell of a monster." she said to Aerissa, "Besides, Cloud's been here a lot of times, so just ask him 'bout the whole place."
"Hey!" Cloud retorted, "The only part of Nibelheim I know and ever visited is the way to get to your base from the West Gate! I mean, I don't even know where we are right now!"
Perhaps Cloud's way of expressing himself was rather bizarre, that suddenly an uncomfortable feeling of blanketing inquiring eyes emerged.
The ninja rolled her eyes skywards, completely ignoring the tension surrounding. "This is the North Gate, and yes, we rarely land here. But you'll find out where to go once you finish your little tour." she beamed heartily.
Cloud did not look pleased of this lighthearted behavior.
"Actually," Aerissa cleared her throat audibly, punctually skimming glances from the other two, "I see no need of any sightseeing."
Cloud looked at her as if he had seen a ghost. Yuffie, however, did not look so amazed. "Oh? Then you guys could come with me. I don't think Cloud wants to do anything... don't you?"
Aerissa took a distant glance from Yuffie to Cloud quizzically. Cloud blew a fake cough, "'looks like it."
An eyebrow rose. "'thought so." Yuffie waved a hand, "Well then, let's go!"
Sighing in relief, Cloud absently followed her lead. Aerissa, however, was still disturbed by the latter fate of the little thief. Staring worriedly at the butcher shop, she started gazing upwards, where she found several people were enthusiastically decorating the roof with many sorts of fabrics. On the top were a string of aligned colored lamps and strands of vibrant ribbons. All as if Christmas had arrived earlier.
That very moment, Aerissa suddenly recalled today was the king's birthday. King Heidegger's birthday.
Her amiable attention went unexpectedly distracted by the sound of parade. She, along with many of the townspeople, turned to see a row of blue-suited soldiers marching dynamically in rhythm. It was obvious the people did not know what event it was, but Aerissa immediately identified the marching song.
She saw a coach wheeling its way among the midst of striding men. It was noticeably black, with red gears and black horses to match. When she saw the coach went passing right before her nose, she instantly recognized the neat, laid-back flaxen hair and long white suit.
Rufus. Rufus Shinra was in Nibelheim.
"Aeris! What're you doing?"
Before she could even turn, her hand was already grasped by Cloud's strong fist.
"What if someone realize you look familiar?" he said impatiently.
"Cloud," Aerissa ignored his last remark, "why is Rufus here?"
"I dunno." he said quickly, "Ask him yourself."
Before Aerissa could counter back his harsh answer, she sighted a crouching Yuffie by a wooden barrel, screening away from the crowd. To her surprise and respite, Yuffie did not look at all irritated. Instead, she grimaced at the sight of the moving gondola, "Rufus... he's here."
Cloud released the princess' hand. "Good for you. When he passed right in front of you, he didn't recognize your face."
"I suppose so." Aerissa glanced back at the coach, which was now so far away, "He did not pay the slightest attention at me."
"That's good." Yuffie stood up, rubbing her hips and bottom. "Imagine the trouble that would happen if he saw you. Cid'll seriously go mental."
The brunette smiled wryly. She then said decisively, "Well, we do not have time for idle banter. Let us move on!"
Yuffie nodded in agreement. Cloud, to the girls' dismay, snorted a chuckle.
Aerissa flashed a look of annoyance. "Is something funny?"
Cloud shook his head awkwardly, still smiling, "You gotta do something with your accent."
"Oh?" Aerissa raised an eyebrow incredulously, "Is something wrong with it?"
"Yes, it is!" Cloud exclaimed matter-of-factly, pushing aside Yuffie's constant queries to the back door, "You're no longer in a palace, Your Highness. You've asked to changed your name, and you should change your accent to follow it. Not to mention your personality, attitude, manners--"
"What do you mean?"
Cloud continued firmly, "What I mean is, you have to start acting casual. You're not Aerissa anymore, the princess and sole heiress of the Terrenus Kingdom. You're Aeris, a runaway royaland crew of the infamous Highwind."
Aerissa looked at him as though he was insane.
"Y'know," the blonde marked a finger, "those two have a big difference."
"I know." Aerissa said loudly, "But is it necessary?"
"Of course it is." Cloud queried, "You're supposed to be a commoner, not a princess. You can't just walk into any bar with that accent! People will get suspicious." he disregarded Aerissa's pouts, "And even though you say your an ordinary noble, people will start asking who your family are. You can't just lie like that. You know better than I do that they have lots of connections."
Before the princess could reply, the almost forgotten pirate piped in, "Cloud's right. You should start acting like a regular person. Not saying you're not regular, but, uh, you know what I mean."
The mercenary gave Yuffie a look that said "You're not helping."
"Well... if you say so." Aerissa nodded unwaveringly, "I will try."
"Good!" Yuffie looked chippered, "And as your first lesson, you should've said I'll try, not I will try. Word availability doesn't work in everyday conversations. Oh! And don't be afraid to speak slang."
Aerissa went dumbfounded.
Cloud opened the fair wooden door only to find a distinctive roar.
"I THOUGHT YA PROMISED ME TO PAY BACK MY 3000G?"
The bawl felt like an enormous cyclone. In an instant, he crashed together with the nearby packs of barrels and broke half of them, sending leaks of russet beer pouring on top of his honey blond hair.
Yuffie was just in time to stop Aerissa from darting frantically to Cloud's aid. The princess almost tried to break through from Yuffie's clutches, but her worries augmented as a huge figure surfaced from the door. A figure of a brawny and muscular aged man with ebony skin. His eyes and brows sharply narrowed and she could sense a bold grim line imprinted on the man's mouth hidden behind his thick whiskers. And none of them showed the slightest hint of kindness.
Aerissa gasped in horrid when she noticed his right hand was of nothing but solid metal, and slowly sank her heart-shaped face behind Yuffie's shoulder.
Then, a round of rapid slingshots and gunfire made an episode whilst everybody quickly got into their feet and buried their faces with their palms. Still covering her ears, Aerissa took a small peep and a sequence of a running frightened mob escaped hastily from the man's behind. He cared less, however.
The mob was soon replaced by a petite build of a young girl.
"Barret!" her cry immediately stopped the chaotic rampage. "How many times do I have to tell you not to scare away the customers!"
The baffled crew ogled in thrill. Aerissa skimmed keenly at the sight of the young bar waitress. Or bar host, she added to herself.
A hair so much different than those of herself. A cascade of dark brown strands flowed dimly to the back of the hostess' hips, ended with a simple tail as the finishing. Her eyes were huge and glimmered radiant red tints, contrast to her pale skin and thin moisten lips. She had a dull expression and sore eyebrows, as if she had lost all the color of her face and left it neutral.
Still, it was quite stunning for a young lady of the Nibel slums.
Wriggling her bells attached on a hip, she flashed a look of displease. "You seriously should try controlling your anger." she said modestly without raising her voice.
"But Tifa," the man Aerissa learned his name was Barret countered, "Cloud's got a big debt he hasn't paid in--lesse--six months!"
Tifa Lockhart groaned, still placing her hands on her waist, "I know that. But calm down, okay? Cloud's economical crisis is just as worse as ours. Besides, I don't think he would be paying you back any time soon." ignoring Barret's newfound reactions, she faced the blonde with a smile. "Hey there, Cloud. What brings you here?"
Cloud tried to press a smile back. "Uh, well, problems."
"Problems?" Tifa repeated reluctantly. She watched a nodding Cloud grinning a shamed face. She punctually noticed a new face behind Yuffie. Casually, she pushed Yuffie away and approached Aerissa with interest, studying her elegant Terrenian features. "You look familiar."
The princess lowered her back as the other brunette leaned closer. So close, she could easily count the girl's freckles. "Err, I am--"
Too late.
Tifa had vaguely dropped her jaw, covering it with her small hands. Her eyes grew immense, altering against her face's pale theme. "Your Highness Pri--"
"Princess Aerissa of Terrenus?"
The pirates turned to see Barret echoing together with Tifa. Cloud felt like shutting their mouths with bandages and lock them in barrels. But he delayed the wish when a group of passersby stopped to look at the lot with full interest. It seemed like the news of the disappearing princess had broken all over the place, and to witness the sight of the missing object was certainly worth an honor, gratitude and luck. Especially Your Highness was not really outgoing.
To everybody's relief, none of their eyes were peered against hers.
"What I'm sayin' is," Cid coughed with poise, "the Terrenian guild is givin' away a fat deal of 1,000,000G to anybody who found the princess. So I thought it'd be a great idea if we could work together and find her! Of course the money will be given to each in the same amount of price."
The captain continued to declare his fibs until the interested crowd was getting slim.
"Let's talk in the bar." Tifa said to Cloud's ear, ignoring Cid's endless pep talk.
Cloud nodded. He pushed gently Aerissa's shoulders toward the door, followed by the rest of the crew.
To her utter dispute, she was welcomed with an atmosphere of smoke fumes and smells of alcohol. She promptly covered her nose, hiding it behind the back of whoever was in front of her. An average male figure passed right before her, and she let a hand ran over to grasp a huddle of Cloud's cloth, letting his gestures guide to wherever it will take her. After roughly adapting with the soggy air, she took a small peep.
In the midst of the foul vapor and wisps, settled a chaotic crowd of disordered tables and chairs and stools. On the tables and floor were scattered cups and meals, either emptied or unfinished. On top of almost everything were showering shattered glasses, food and wood. To the left was a small stage with red tomato-laden curtains. At the far end was the bar and kitchen. Aerissa could scarcely see an elevated platform with livers beside the old music tuner.
She later realized the unpleasing smoke came not from the huge amount of cigarettes, but Barret's unforgettable incident.
"Look at all the mess..." she heard Tifa's sigh. "Not another week of revamp..." Tifa glared fiercely at Barret. "I hope you noticed Marlene was in here when you shot fires."
Barret guffawed heartily, "She's in the base! Why the heck do I have to worry 'bout that?" he grinned at Tifa's thick expression. "'Sides, there's Jess. Maybe there're Biggs and Wedge too. Stop worrying, Tifa! We could fix this in a jiff!"
"But how about the money to hire repairmen? It's not cheap, y'know." Tifa snapped.
"Okay, okay, stop it you two." Cid appeared right in the middle between the quarrel. "You both got a lifetime to argue 'bout that. I thought you called us 'ere 'cause you wanna ask 'bout Aerissa."
"Aeris." Cloud motioned a finger.
"Right. Aeris."
Tifa looked slightly taken back and took several steps away from the huge man. She announced, "Fine. You guys could take some seats by the bar while I'll go fix something."
She went for the bar, poking tactfully at the wineglasses and goblets. A hand waved as a sign of "Please help yourself." from afar. Eventually, Cid gave the go-head to his men and steered them to some of the better stools.
Cloud then told his story like the way he told Cid and his crew. All of it from the point where he remembered he met his strange Wutaean client to how we winded up boarding the Highwind. As he narrated, the hazy aroma and wonderful plates accompanied the party, Tifa's typical representative to lunch time. Slowly as time passed, the scent and food began to vanish.
Paying attention to his own words, Cloud was a bit astounded that his memory was not all blurry, and it remembered every detail of the long night. All of them were delivered properly too. However, it felt like a grease of lightning hit him when he was about to slip Aerissa's deepest secret. Crossing his fingers, he denied the temptation to blurt it out.
As the story came close to an end, both Barret and Tifa glinted looks of shock and bewilderment.
"So you mean," Tifa stammered, "the whole Highwind crew is involved?"
Cloud huffed with a slight feeling of regret. "...looks like it."
Barret threw a grunt of frustration, landing an arm to a table. Tifa, however, stood quiet and placed a hand on her forehead.
"Cid agreed with us! It's not like you're part of the Highwind too, right?" Cloud said riotously.
"But Cloud..." Tifa hesitated, "we already are parts of the Highwind! The whole Seventh Heaven is their base! There's no way we couldn't get involved! If the Midgar troops are to hunt them down, we'll be the first to go on their way!"
Cloud was about to query but Cid answered first.
"I know that." he lit up a cigarette calmly. "But I'm already a world-class wanted man, napping a princess wouldn't be any difference." he shrugged,"I've been thinking 'bout you guys too, but come to think of it, Barret, you've always been against the Empire. Don't you think it'd be a great chance to confront them when they're in the run for us?"
"But that still ain't &#$ right, Cid!" Barret crushed another table with his metal arm, ignoring entirely Tifa's wails. "Ya got a sought royal on board! Yer head's already up for gils 'n this'll only worsen yer problems, Cid!"
Cloud saw Cid stood still, although he could barely see small bits of potato leftovers sprinkled out of Barret's mouth. Aerissa looked severely startled as she fretfully pulled herself into the crowd of the pirates. Tifa then stepped to Barret's front, restraining his muscular fists with all her might.
"I'm sorry, Cid, but you have to understand." Tifa pleaded in an unexpectedly soft voice, "There's no point risking your own life right now. Causing more problems won't get you anywhere."
"But Tifa--"
"Look," a pair of huge burgundy eyes flared sharply. "I know you want to help Cloud save the princess, and yeah, that's absolutely a generous thing to do but..." Tifa's voice broke. "What about us? What about your crew? What about Cloud? What about... you?"
Cid paused. His navy orbs flickered nervously. He felt his lips were mouthing what exactly he was going to say, but Tifa had stormed into an obscured door on the wall, which subsequently revealed a narrow path after pulling a certain border lamp. Cloud was about to catch her up, but Barret detained.
"Sorry to disappoint ya but... I don't think Tifa wants to be around ya guys for a while." Barret said hardheartedly, "Ya know how Tifa is and ya also know there's been a lot of things happenin' around her. I mean, just cut her some slack."
"Shut it, big guy." Cloud retorted, "You're not coming with us, are you?"
Barret rumbled bleakly under his breath. "Man, just keep it cool. Maybe ya guys should leave."
Aerissa swallowed with a sense of guilt.
"Barret!" Cloud roared, holding Barret's massive shoulders in arm-length, "You can't be serious!"
"No, I am." he said curtly, removing Cloud's hands as he started turning to the secret passage.
"But Barret!" Cloud continued mulishly.
Barret kept walking.
"BARRET!"
"Stop it." Cid landed a hand on Cloud's scrawny shoulder. "You're embarrassing yourself."
But he slapped the captain's hand off. "But Barret's--"
"I know that!" Cid finally shouted, which shook Cloud to silence. "Barret's old enough to know what he wants. 'Sides, it's too late to cancel out your request anyway. The princess is here and we gotta move on."
"I agree." Yuffie spoken at last, appearing from the amid of crowd. "No matter how hard we try to convince the two, it won't do any luck. Barret's always disagreeing, and Tifa always brag about her personal matters. Actually from the start, I knew they'll refuse."
Cloud muttered, uncertainly looking back and forth to the hidden door. "So what should we do know?"
"Just leave it." Cid declared, "We're getting an inn and that's where we're going. The next plan is due tomorrow."
Facing worriedly at the pitch black wooden door beside the old music player, Aerissa sighed deeply before following her comrades to the steps outside the small alleyway.
-tbc-
a/n
Shorter than I ever thought. Sorry if the end sucked--no--sorry if the whole chapter sucked. IMO, it's a little fast-paced. Well, I did shorten the part where Cloud tells his story and blablabla. I mean, I don't think anybody wants to read a repetition as much as the author to writing it. I just hate reruns, don't you?
Moving on, if you're ever-so curious about Vincent's whereabouts, stay tuned. He's gonna be something almost anybody could ever imagine! xDDD BTW, don't mind the AVALANCHE duo (hinthinthint).