Author's Note: Ah, yes, another chapter from me? Why? Well, my bestest friend, username Riyoji Jeremishou updated her ficcy! So, why not return the favor... even though I think she's stopped reading mine. But anyways! Thanks again to all of my special, continuous reviewers! You guys are the best inspiration out there! And more chapters makes you happy, which means more happy reviews! Eheh, sorry about the crappyness of the last chapter. I hope this one is better. Now, off we go to skip around...From the Nibelheim Fire to the wonderful Travels of Vincent Valentine! Yay for Vincent!


"Why had I been so thoughtless when I came this way on my own?" He sighed, sliding his red headband off and running his fingers through his silky black hair. "At least with Aeris and her friend, I would have had a decent supply of food." Vincent squinted into the white sunlight that had been inconveniencing him for the past three days. Always his in his face, always making him hot and thirsty. Being thirsty without a single canteen of fresh, icy cool water in this desert of a place was a nightmare.

Besides, he enjoyed the cool dark, and somewhat missed his secret chambers, where he had been tucked away safely in his coffin. Until Professor Hojo had finally discovered his hiding spot. In fact, that was the only reason he had been aiding Professor Hojo. To repay him for finding him, and reassuring him that he could go on without his sweet, beloved Lucrecia.

His claws curled up, as did his other human hand. He mulled over his lifetime, and how much of it had been spent with Lucrecia.

"Lucrecia, my one and only love…Why did you betray me? Such evil, so cleverly hidden within the brightest of all good. The evil consumed you, as the cankerworm consumes the precious plants of the animals. And with your evil, you acted out the greatest evil right before my eyes. You didn't know I watched your meeting with Professor Hojo. You didn't know how terribly you had broken, crushed my heart. You didn't know what Hojo had planned for you…for me. But, alas, it's far too late to dwell on the past, and I suppose I should look forward, towards the future."

Vincent continued his protracted trek for several more hours, until at last, the large buildings of Junon were visible, silhouetted against the devious sun. As he drew nearer, the buildings began to shade him and the hid the sun entirely. Vincent sighed in relief. "Cool at last."

Vincent slid his headband back around his head and adjusted it so it was proper. He then carefully straightened his posture and made his way into the steely industrious city of Junon. Perhaps a few days here would reassure himself that he needn't join Aeris and Cloud at all. But, why shouldn't he help the two? They weren't doing any harm.

"They're just…delusional fools. Feeding off a dream that never happened. President Shinra will never meet his end. We'll be trapped in his web of lies and deceit for the rest of our living days. And we will all die in vain, our attempts to take away his power useless. If only the President had been a bit kinder to the people. But, world domination was all he thought of." Red eyes slowly moved across the city, lingering for a few moments on each innocent, tormented face. He shook his head and whispered softly, "These people do not deserve this. Especially not the children. Children are the innocence of the world."

With meticulous steps, he made his way into the tangled web of a city.

Junon had grown a great deal during the past five years. Once a small fishermen's town, it was now flooded with huge office buildings of all sorts. Drills and hammers could be heard throughout the huge metropolis, further expanding its boundaries. Young children darted around, chasing each other or hiding behind their mother. But they were all starving…not only for food, but for freedom from their oppression, freedom from their miserable lives in Hell.

Vincent slowly made his way through the newly industrialized city of Junon. He saw how poor everyone was, and it pained it to see the dead citizens in the street. Some were from starvation, others were from murdered by bands of thieves. Vincent sighed, slowly moving towards the back ally. He listened to the two distinct voices from a distance, coming from the ally. Which is why he decided he would start there.

"Get off me!" It was a young woman's voice. "I don't have any money!"

"I'm not after your money, lady!" Another female voice, but this one was a teenager. "I want that Materia!"

Vincent listened to the sound of a nasty struggle, quickening his pace.

"GET OFF!" This time it was the younger girl.

Vincent skid over to the scene. "What's going on?"

Two raven haired women were rolling around on the floor of the ally. The younger one kicked over a nearby trashcan in the struggle. But by now, that had resorted to pulling each other's hair.

Vincent pulled the two apart, and the younger girl managed to get a good kick in the older woman's face.

"Hey, hey, hey now. What is the matter, you two?"

"That stupid kid tried to jump me!" The woman shouted.

Both women struggled in his grip. Vincent sighed and held them apart at arm's length.

"Both of you, tell me who you are, calm down, and I might consider not taking you to jail."

"I didn't even do anything wrong, you creep!" the older woman yelled.

"You heard me. Calm down, give me your names."

The teenager sighed, but put on a determined expression. "I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie Kisaragi, best thief there is in Wutai."

"You're one of those soldiers from Wutai then?" Vincent asked rather calmly.

"No, of course not. I think the war is stupid! But I want the Materia to try and stop the war."

"A tiny bit of Materia isn't going to be any use in this war, Ms. Kisargari. You need something more powerful." Vincent looked at the other woman. "Your name?"

"My name is Tifa Lockhart..." she glared darkly at Vincent, "and I own 7th Heaven in Midgar."

"Bars are illegal in Midgar now, you know."

"I know. It's an undercover bar."

"An undercover bar..."

"I just said that. Now put us down!"

Something was tugging on Vincent's brain, something he considered stupid...but he asked Tifa none the less.

"Do you happen to know…A Cloud? Cloud Strife?"

Tifa thought for a long moment. "...how do you know about him? Have you seen him?" She looked eagerly happy.

"Well, yes, I have. But, I need to ask you something else. Does he have any mental problems? Something like that?"

Tifa narrowed her eyes. "Why would you say something like that?"

"He has this strange, very improbable story, Ms. Lockhart. He says…That him…and his friends…saved the world. But none of his friends have any memory of this. I was thinking that he had made it up in his mind and now believes it himself…"

"If Cloud said that, there has to be a logical explanation behind it!"

Vincent sighed. "Then…perhaps we should visit him. He's gone to Nibelheim, but I don't know if he'll still be there."

Yuffie struggled in Vincent's grasp. "Hey! Let me down! I don't know this Cloud, and I most certainly don't want to go with you!"

Vincent smirked. "Well, you see, little Ninja. It's bad for people to be going around jumping innocent people, especially innocent women. So, to pay for your crimes—"

"—Crimes? What 'crimes'—"

"—I will take you on Ms. Lockhart's and my own journey to see Cloud again."

"But I don't want to go! Let me go you kidnapper! I'm not an adult yet, you can't do this to me!"

Vincent sighed, shook his head, and set Tifa down. "I feel you may be important in the future. Both of you. Now let's go. To Nibelheim."

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update! Easter weekend and all was crazy. Thanks again for reading another chapter!