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

a/n:
...something's wrong with the internet connection. And my computer's suffering memory shortage. And I can't login to my account. And Star Ocean has been a bloody addiction lately. Anyway, I'm back. Sorry! I couldn't keep that promise I made in the bio! You've ABSOLUTELY no idea how hectic things have been. Not to mention, school's already out. feelin' utterly BRICKed

As you've all noticed, upload access and reviewing and whatever were disabled due to a major recovery process... which might add as a factor if any writer's block occur. Ugh.

...and we've finally reached our 50th review!! Thx so much, everyone! gives a big group hug

.

To the Sky
chapter nine: a plan

"CID!"

"Cid!"

"Cid! Wake up!"

"...huh?"

"WAKE UP, YA $#&#!ING RETARD!"

BOOM!

"Scary."

"Nice."

.

"WHAT!?" Cid burst out in the midst of the crowded pub, startling two-third of the customers and bar hosts population. "The girls are gone!?"

Barret scowled, crossing his big, metal-infested arms. "That's what we were trying to say, tardy!"

"And the pub's not even five meters away from the room!" Cloud scoffed accusingly, "How could you get so drunk!?"

Silence eluded uncomfortably.

Soon after Cloud retreated from the Honeybee Inn, he and Barret immediately went for a lookout to find Cid and Vincent. Vincent had been away from the group ever since the start, and Cloud knew he would be at the least discreet of the situation and condition. He found the bounty hunter in an authentic Wutaean restaurant, after visiting a nearby guild and sweepers cafe (which Cloud had been ever so anxious to steal a low-leveled sweeper's license and take a peep at the realm). Cid, on the other hand, was sulking in a pub at the Sunshine Inn, who was a little too high off his vodka.

"So," Barret took a stool by the counter. "ya haven't tell us the rest ya heard in Honeybee."

Cloud flickered. He took a swift glance from Vincent and Cid, who looked at the very least curious of what the blonde was yet to report. Vincent did not look as convinced as Cid was, but everyone knew better that was not his fashion. Watching as his three companions seated, he began.

"Palmer was with these guys named Don Corneo and Reeve. They were discussing about something that sounded like," Cloud looked sideways, then leaned forward as he whispered, "destroying the slums."

Cid and Barret looked taken back. (Again, Vincent maintained his calm composure.)

"D'ya mean," Barret bristled. "by gettin' rid of it!?"

"Yeah," Cloud took a sip off his sparkling water. "like setting bombs all over the place."

"Hey!" Cid retorted, "What does this have to with the girls!?"

Cloud and Barret both stared at the drunken captain incredulously. Apparently, the ingredients of Cid's vodka was yet to wear off out of Cid's body, leaving it slightly intoxicated. Not forgetting, the unfinished cheese cake Cid left, laid half-bitten and muddled.

Vincent silently rested his chin on his palm, rolling his eyes. "Continue."

Somewhat astounded by the bounty hunter's attention, Cloud sustained. Maybe Vincent was not so cold after all. "They said they're going to do it so they could do away with a local rebel group called the Turks. I don't know a lot about them, but I heard they like to crash important meetings and sometimes kill ambassadors. Well, whoever they are, they must be life-threatening."

"Their posters have been around the guilds lately." Vincent said aloud, turning a few heads to the back of their seats, "I talked to the man in charge and he told me several."

Barret spun around. "What up?"

"The Turks always take actions on the plate." Vincent clarified, "From the files I found, there're no proof of them living in the slums."

Cloud frowned, unintentionally took the three-pointed fork off Cid's partial cheese cake. Why would the government want to blow up the slums then? He shoved the very thought aside, as he started poking his right cheek with the silver metal."Any info regarding the members?"

A shook replied. "Very little is known." Vincent said firmly, sipping his black, mild-sweetened coffee off a bronze-colored mug, "But they're indeed the most wanted radicals of the moment."

"Yo spiky!" Barret called out, "Ain't there rumors 'bout that Elena chick joining a rebel group?"

Cloud's fists hardened. Reminiscence of a certain lost princess' notes stroke suddenly. "Well, yeah, but," he pondered. "there're hundreds of rebel groups in Midgar other than the Turks. She could join any of them."

"Barret's not entirely wrong, Cloud." Vincent opinionated, "The Turks aren't just any terrorist group. These people are cultured and take missions like that of a mafia." He noticed the wary look on Cloud's eyes. "If someone like the first daughter was to join an activist group, it had to be the Turks."

The mercenary froze. They were both right. After all, like Aeris said, Lady Elena was known for being a stubborn, perfectionist princess of the Nibel monarchy. Probably, the Turks had something that could calm her down. But that was not what he wanted to think about.

"Anyway," Cloud abruptly changed the subject, or perhaps, turned back the subject. "I thought we're here to talk about the girls."

Staring uncertainly at Cid's confounded state, Barret snorted, "If yer talking 'bout that Corneo punk, why don't ya just go straight to his mansion?" Cloud flinched back. "I heard there's a Midgar noble whose mansion's in the slums, 'n everyday he gets three girls, picks one 'em, 'n makes her his bride... then give the rest to his bodyguards... probably talkin' 'bout him."

Cloud frowned, even harder. At first, he though Corneo was just another ordinary perverted upperclassman with shiny metal chains and bizarre leopard suit. (Not to mention thick chest hairs, Cloud added as an afterthought.) But now, he suddenly hoped it was Palmer who napped the girls, even better if it was the soft-hearted Reeve. Honestly. The Don was worse than a pedophile.

Which reminded him. He once took a job when he was still in Terrenus. An old man wanted him to save his sixteen-year-old daughter from the clutches of a perverted mastermind. Actually, he would rather skip the request if it was not because of his absolute gluttony. Somehow, the young mercenary almost swallowed a whole table of a stranger's meal out of conscious. It could not be helped. After all, Cloud was just as broke as a street rat.

He was. Now he had over 3000G, thanks to his daily chores in Tifa's bar and the old check from the Wutaean stranger who requested him to kill Aeris. Although yes, he was still forced to sleep without a matt as Cid ordered.

"I see," Vincent said coolly, "just like the rumors."

"Hey!" Cloud jerked up. "How come you guys know what I don't?"

"Don't blame me," Barret gave an intent look. "Yer the one who never reads newspapers."

A snort ensued.

"By the way, in case yer wondering where Corneo's mansion is," Barret pointed out, watching Cloud fixedly as the boy playfully whirled the sparkling fork around with his fingers, "it's on the back of the market. It's filled with a lotta guys in suits."

Cloud stopped spinning the fork. "That means we have to watch out." he turned to the raven-haired. "Vincent, do you know any more hidden routes?"

The hunter shook slowly. Cloud groaned, poking the cake fervidly, as he restrained the urge to lick the plate all over. Cid hated it if someone finishes his meal without warning.

"Well anyway," he tried to keep his optimism. "let's check out the place first."

"Good point!" Barret stood up, a triumphant grin came across his lips.

"But what about Cid?"

Cloud stared a moment at the tip of Vincent's index finger, that was visibly pointing at the dozed Captain Highwind's nose. The mercenary puckered an eyebrow.

Maybe it would not hurt to eat the cake once.

.

"WHAT!? Ya ate my CHEESE CAKE!?"

"Well," Cloud tried getting out of Cid's strangles. "somebody's got to eat it before the rats do!" he fended.

"Cut it out, dumbass." Barret scowled from the background. "It's not like ya ain't hungry."

Apparently, Cloud had swallowed the whole of Cid's cheese cake while the captain was situated at his mystified state. Needless to say, Cloud failed to deny the fact he was deadly hungry. Ever since the party left Nibelheim, he had to stop eating Tifa's homemade feasts and start taking meals from the frenzied airship cafeteria.

Not to mention, it was a cheese cake, something he had not tasted in the longest time. He would have ordered one specially for him, but seeing another left abandoned, was a different story.

The mercenary regretted deeply he ever insisted Cid to join their so-called rescue mission, even after his major 'rampage'.

"Cloud." Vincent called out as Cloud readied himself for a comeback punch. "There."

In the middle of his preparation pose for a nice knuckle sandwich, the blonde paused.

Out of the the small and chaotic neighborhood of unnatural markets, this bold structure of what looked like a giant manor stood saintly amongst the huddled stalls. It was very big, complete with white solid pillars and three-story quarters, covered by vague bushes of cedars and tall, pointy, black gates. The very shape immediately noted that climbing their way would be useless, especially with the WATCH OUT! ROYAL DOGS ABOUT. carved hung neatly on a shiny golden flask, just beside the canine figurine.

It indeed raised several eyebrows when it was acknowledged that Corneo's guards were not mostly human.

Cloud grumbled, grasping tight on the gate masts. He pushed his head toward them with slight grief. "How're supposed to get in with this?"

"Just so you know," Cid peeped inside, spotting a pair of ravens wandering under a guard's leash. "if you stick your head in like that, the dog's gonna bark for you."

Cloud slowly pulled his head back out, still keeping his grip on the thick stakes. "You have a plan?" he asked lazily.

"No, but look," Cid lifted a finger toward the other end of the entrance. "those guys don't look like they're gonna chuck our head off. Maybe they could cooperate with us."

"Hmm?" Cloud's eyes followed the direction of Cid's index finger.

Two guards. However, instead of coated in shining armors, they were wearing what Cloud considered the same class as Corneo's leopard suit. They did not bear weapons either. Something inside Cloud told him they were not exactly the masters of martial arts, and if it were true, invasion should be much more easier.

"Why don't we jes wipe their asses off??" he heard Barret objected.

"Idiot." Cid sneered, "If we attack 'em, some of 'em are gonna report to the upper plate and things're gonna get ugly! Ya wanna end up like those Turkeys??"

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Turks."

"Yeah," Cid gestured his hand incredulously. "whatever."

"Excuse me," a different voice triggered, "but could we make an appointment with the Don this very instant?"

The three spun around. Granted, Vincent was already one step ahead.

"VINCENT!" Cid dashed off to the other end of the entrance, where two bizarrely-dressed men and Vincent were about. "Who told you to speak first!?"

The two Corneo's underlings looked at each other in confusion. Vincent, though, disregarded Cid's imply and continued, "So, is it possible?"

Trying not to pay attention at Cid's further reactions, one of the two--a man dressed in pink polka-dot suit--replied, "I'm sorry, but no. The Don's having an important meeting with his guests."

"Right." the other one chimed in. He was wearing a bright blue suit with pointy shoulder blades. "Very important."

Cloud made a face, somewhat intimated by the size of the first man's hair. "What kind of important meeting is that?"

The man in pink rose his eyebrows. "As important as a wedding day." He looked apathetically interested to know what Cloud did to his hair. "You see, the Don's the ladies man, so if you want in, you gotta be a girl, get it?"

The other one nodded. "The Don isn't interested in men."

"Whuzzat?"

Cloud pushed Barret aside. "So how're we supposed to meet him, then?"

The two guards paused. They looked at each other absently, and shrugged in chorus. "Dunno."

Cloud, Cid, and Barret heaved altogether.

.

"Uhhhh..."

Aeris opened her eyes. She slowly raised her body as she rubbed a point on her forehead, scanning her surrounds that resembled a red room, a chamber filled with anything she had not seen in the longest time. A golden-framed six-foot mirror, a long line of wardrobes, a soft crimson carpet, and a king-sized bed with pillows that weigh more than three heads.

"Ah!" a female voice cheered, "You're awake!"

The brunette flinched and turned to the side where the voice sounded. It was Tifa. Yawning beside her was a sleepy Yuffie, who was wiping her eyes away.

"Tifa! Yuffie!" Aeris slid herself closer to them. "Where are we?"

"Well," Yuffie stretched her arms upwards. "see for yourself."

"Yes, I have." Aeris gently implied, as her eyes did not stop to show signs of confusion and fret. "And, wait, hold on, weren't we in the inn? How come are we in this place?" she paused. "All I remembered is that we just finished packing our things and were ready to go to sleep," her voice tone darkened. "but then a strange fragrance appeared and suddenly--"

"Aeris," Tifa said softly, somehow trying not to make everything seemed worth a worry as she read the other girl's facial expression, "as you can see," she stopped for a moment. "we're kidnapped."

The princess furrowed her eyebrows, looking slightly taken back. "Kidnapped!? By who?"

"Don Corneo." Tifa sighed.

"The perverted lord of Sector Six." Yuffie added.

"Corneo!" Aeris repeated the name with a rather disappointed tone. "Oh, no. We are never getting out of here." she shook her head hesitantly.

Tifa cocked an eyebrow. "Why is that?" she tested.

"Corneo is not just any lecherous upperclassman." Aeris clarified slowly, "Everyday, there would be several girls he gets to choose from, and she--the chosen one--will be his bride and, well, the other two are out for the Honeybee Inn." Alerted faces of her friends lit. "Not only that... If he found out who I am, we will be doomed!"

"Oh, man..." Yuffie clenched her teeth. "Either one of them choices aren't good for any of us!"

"Right!" Tifa bristled. "And the only way to get out of it is by escaping!"

"But the question is..." Aeris cupped her chin with her slender fingers. "how?"

Silence eluded.

Staring back and forth from Aeris to Tifa, Yuffie snooped, "Aeris..."

The older of the three flickered. She looked at the rogue. "Yes? What is it?"

"Y'know," Yuffie kept staring at her. "you sound kinda weird lately..."

"Wei--" Aeris frowned, feeling somewhat at the least offended. "W-What do you mean?"

Yuffie cast a pensive look, "Well, um," and applauded vaguely. "Ah! I get it!"

Tifa--who had been clearly overhearing--piped in. "Get what?"

"You're trying to change your way to talk!"

Aeris flushed.

.

"Damn!" Cloud placed his knuckle on the tip of his forehead, gesturing it back and forth as if he was punching himself. "What're we gonna do now??" He looked over at Barret--who was supposedly swallowing a full mug of liquor until recently--now a numb, dozed chunk of flesh. "Ah man... not Barret..."

"What's wrong?" Cid shook gently the small transparent glass filled with burgundy-colored water. "The big guy's yet to taste his glass of alcohol, y'know."

Cloud snatched away Cid's wine container. "Cid! You've drank enough tonight!" He shook one of the captain's shoulders. "C'mon! Snap out of it!"

After brooding around here and there, the crew decided to settle back at the pub and think of more, better ways to rescue their female teammates. But what was left was far worse than expected. Even Vincent Valentine was not so helpful as it did not revolve around Midgar's political pedestal. Obviously, he was not a hunter who regularly takes assignments involving kidnapping pedophiles.

The pirate remained silent. Gawking at a worried Cloud, he asked, "You got a plan yet?"

"What do you think?" Cloud retorted, burying his head with his shoulders.

"Well," Cid already knew the answer, but he kept his composure. "we can't get in unless we got girls." he said thoughtfully, "Why don't we just get one or two? You can easily drag some with you with a face like that--"

"Cid, that's impossible." Cloud said aloud, trying to mute the last part of the sentence, "Even if we've got the girls, they're the only ones who get to get inside the mansion. That would be pointless!"

The older blonde grunted. He turned to Vincent. "Yo Valentine! Got any plans?"

The black-haired kept silent. Sipping a newly-ordered black coffee, Cid realized straight away the bounty hunter's answer was negative.

"Ach!" Cid grumbled, "What a bother!"

No one gave a reply.

As all four brooded quietly in oblivion, an interesting event started to follow.

Cid looked over his soldier to see a pair of young boys around Yuffie's age being approached by a tall, skeletal blonde woman. It was obvious this newcomer was much older than the two remainders, and it was noticeable that these two--who Cid considered punks--were awfully troubled by the elder's presence.

However, unlike the others who were too watching the very incident, Cid was more interested to know more about the fair-haired prostitute. By just looking at her for a few seconds, he knew immediately something was not right. Deep-voiced and flat-chested women was not something he considered worth a boast, but this was something else. There was something... eerie about the woman's elevated hair... and this vixen clearly posed the similar built Vincent was at state. Not to mention those... face lines that shown too much of a male facet...

"I got it!"

The very words forced every eye of the pub to face all to him. Yet, Cid cared less.

"What is it?" Cloud asked curiously.

"I got it, Cloud!" Cid grinned triumphantly, "A way to break in Corneo's mansion!"

Vincent peered his eyes over to the conversing two, trying at his best attempts not to look like he was eavesdropping.

Cloud would normally give a doubtful look. But seeing how Cid's expression went from dim to bright, he sensed a hint of something was coming up. "You do?"

"Yeah!"

However, on the other hand, Cloud also sensed a hint of something that would be one of his least favorites. "How?"

"Cloud," Cid noted, "only women can enter Corneo's place."

The younger man lifted an eyebrow. "I know that."

"Yeah." Cid nodded approvingly. "So, if you're not a woman..."

Cloud leaned forward.

"...just be one."

Vincent flinched.

Cloud shook his head. "What was that?"

"He meant, if only women are allowed in Corneo's mansion," a new voice said audibly, "then you should disguise as one to get inside."

The mercenary turned to see Vincent, who finally took a seat somewhere closer to them. At first, he did not really get what Cid and Vincent both meant. That was, until he saw a blond, annoyingly-cocked eyebrow lifted, mentally giving an alarm of something Cloud thought was highly unthinkable.

He burst out, "No way! I'm not changing into some bloody girl!"

Cid lifted his chin testily. "You have a better a plan?"

Cloud cringed. "I-I--"

"Cloud," Vincent composed, "this is the best plan we have."

The blonde closed his eyes, sighing, "Well... If you say so..." Although Cloud pretended he was not irritated, he hated to admit it was a good plan... and that the most dependable companion of the moment stated the same. "Okay, it's a great plan," he confessed halfheartedly, "but does it have to be me??"

"If it's not you," Cid crossed his arms, "who then?"

"Vincent could do it."

The subject flashed a vague look of dispute.

"He's not exactly homely, y'know." Cloud openly stated, "And he's got long hair."

"Excuse my ignorance," Vincent faked a cough, trying to hide his flushed face. "but is that necessary?"

"Obviously," Cloud opinionated, "you'd make a better girl than I would."

"Sorry to interrupt, but, eh," Cid said distinctly, drawing the younger two's attention, "Vincent's a fully grown man with disposed masculine features." He cleared his throat tentatively. "You are still young and some of those things the other guy has are still developing."

Somehow, the comprehension failed to deliver the second issue a few hints.

"What does it have to do with dress-up?" Cloud asked with an annoyed tone.

"It means," Cid took a deep breath, slowly gesturing his point finger. "in spite of your lack of manly attributes, it's safe to say you'll make a better a girl." He watched Cloud dropped his jaw open. "I mean, you're a lot more girly."

It was inevitable the last word strike Cloud's nerve at its hardest.

"Thank you, Cid." Vincent bowed appreciatively.

"No problem."

"J-Just wait a second there!" Cloud scoffed, "You can't be serious!"

"Cloud," Cid placed his arm on the young boy's frail shoulder. "for the sake of Your Highness Aerissa."

The blonde groaned.

.

"Really!" Yuffie dropped her bottom on the ocher tile, placing her hands beside her knees. "Is there no way getting outta here?"

Tifa buried her head into her palms. "Looks like we have to wait for the guys then." she sighed.

Aeris was about to give a response of optimism as suddenly, a sound of an opened door echoed.

The three femme fatales promptly turned heads to where the sound articulated. The door. It was opened. It was the first time ever since they settled there, someone unlocked the door at last. However, to their disappointment, someone was by the door, evidently giving the three mental remarks of a narrow escape. Normally, Yuffie would knock out whoever it was and grant a heavenly opportunity to freedom. But even though it was highly unlike her, being someone who never beaten any purple-suited man to a pulp, she chose the shun the thought away.

After all, it would be too much of a problem if their escape would be reported all over Midgar.

"Now girls," the Corneo minion announced, "it's time to meet the Don."

-tbc-

.

a/n
Not that exciting, I suppose. I wanted to avoid Cloud from being a girl, but looks like there's no way out of it. Well, anyway, in this chapter, I tried to draw Vincent's humor. I mean, after all, you wouldn't expect him to be all cold and silent, yes? Just about time his character develops, even after a short while.

For today, I'd like to give a brief explanation of how I characterize Cid Highwind.

Cid is just about as foulmouthed as Barret, even worse. However, Cid's vocabulary is a lot better (the whole thing about Barret being a literature genius is just for plain fun xD). In the game, I noticed there were several differences between Barret and Cid's speech pattern. Barret talks slang all the time, and has equally worse vocab and grammar (as shown on the game script). Cid just cusses a lot. His speech pattern is highly determined by his mood. When he's feeling average, he talks normal. When his temper goes high-low, he starts #$&!. But either way, he does have a li'l slang of his own.

In this story, I want to make him a typical "notorious pirate of the great infamous ship" material. So to add the effect, I'd like to have his vocabulary mastered, as royal wanted thieves conversed. Since our Cid isn't as moody as the original one (or just so he hasn't found circumstances he should worry about), his cussing rate hasn't come to the level it was in FF7.

That's all for now! Woot for the reviewers!

Okami no hanyou: Yes, Cloud is going to save the day, thanks to Cid's suggestive plan! But yeah, that part of the story is supposed to be the next, right? Anyway, is my chapter really that funny? Because if it is, it would mean the world to me xDDD Just so you know, I'm supposedly a corny humor-fic author.

XXAeris4rmff7XX: Need to know more? Hopefully, this chapter would serve enough for your curiosity needs! Next time, it'd be helpful to be more specific in expressing what you need.

Ex-Solider: Yes... very comical. Finally, my first attempt on making a comical piece succeeded! Really, that's my first published comic read in God-knows-when. Anyway, keep reading!

TBM: Sadly enough, the school holiday is coming to an end... but being cooped up in the house isn't healthy either, and I've almost run out of ideas of how to spend my holidays on... hopefully, school wouldn't be much of threat this coming term!

Cloud and Barret are debaters-in-crime by nature, I suppose. Their arguments are unavoidable as Cloud's very straightforward and bold while Barret's hard-headed and stubborn. Oh, and BTW, we just reached the first segment of Midgar action this time around... if that would be okay. Although it's still very minim, and the predestined fight is still underway, hints should be popping all over the place. And believe it or not, I'd really love to rush up things and jump to the part where AVALANCHE breaks in the palace and meets the Turks. Those 2 should be the main selling points of the moment.

To tell you the truth, I think the scene where Cloud entered Honeybee was pretty cheesy. But then again, the chapter was fun to write. So fun, in fact, I couldn't stop writing more of it. Yeah. Maybe I should make a chapter like that sometime in the 2nd season? If there is any? xD

Right. The Turks are currently being focused by Midgar that any attention toward AVALANCHE sorta faded. The Turks, along a large group of more rebels, of course. Since these people are everywhere, destroying the whole slums should be the most obvious choice, right? And no. In FF7, slums are destroyed by breaking down the upper plate pillars. We're using bombs, as Cloud officially stated.

And... I think I had to keep the Cloud-dressup thing. Oh damn. Looks like things are gonna get more FF7ish from now on.

Sleeping Starz: It'd be a pleasure if you would please point my mistakes out! Anyway, I am aware I still have a few mistakes lurking here and there as I completely overlooked it. Bah. Rereading my own written chapters aren't my thing. Heh. Lame excuse? I wasn't really up for the editing during the process, actually xP

And PACE!! I'm such a sucker in PACE! While I, myself, never really paid any attention with it... But yeah, keeping a pace in your story might has its downsides too. People usually want excitements come faster... and keeping mid-paced chapters is just so haaaaard.

Clorith: Where art thou?