Chapter 5: Junon Village
The morning sun was greeted by sour curses. Barret was in a foul mood. Now the sun had risen he could force the others to get up. No way they sleep in after making him take the extra guard duty. He did doze for a few hours, but no one needed to know!
"Get the #$ up, you lazy #$$! Don't need to sleep all day!" Barret bellowed going tent to tent. Aerith simply began to fix a meager breakfast. The others whispered death threats at Barret. Tifa, after a quick kick to Barret's backside, joined Aerith.
Cloud and Barret began to disassemble the camp, making ready to continue to Junon. Red XIII wandered off to observe his morning ritual. Yuffie stretched and yawned.
'Man. I wanted to see that man again!' Yuffie sighed mentally; giving a shudder as she remembered the shadows before he appeared, 'Well, maybe not'. Yuffie silently watched her new companions, reviewing them as she went.
'Barret, hmph. He's like an angry teddy bear, mean on the outside, but full of fluff. Red XIII, he scared me at first, but he's really wise and caring. Cloud is such a hunk! His spiky hair, his blue mako eyes.' Yuffie gave another sigh, 'Too bad he's so into Aerith. Aerith, she's perfect. She is kind, without her I wouldn't even be in the group.' Yuffie's eyes fell on the last of this odd group, Tifa. 'She is so strong, yet she's afraid to go after Cloud. I wonder if everyone else sees it or is it because I'm new that I see it?' Yuffie though, finishing buckling her armguard.
"Breakfast is served everybody!" Tifa yelled. Everyone dashed for a share of the food. As she ate, Yuffie listened to the group's different ravings. Barret was furiously arguing with Cloud and Tifa about the previous nights guard duty. Both sides claimed outrageous things. Aerith and Red XIII were quietly laughing with each other about the trio's antics.
'These guys really fought Shinra troops, broke in, and then escaped Shinra HQ? They don't seem like it, but I know better.' Yuffie gingerly touched her sore ribs and jaw. "Excuse me, guys? Guys? GUYS!" Yuffie yelled as the rest of AVALANCHE snapped up from their respective chatting. "When will we reach Junon?"
Barret, Cloud, and Tifa went back to arguing. "We should be there by midmorning, if we leave soon." Aerith replied, giving the arguing trio an odd look. "What?" The trio asked with innocent faces, "What did we do?"
Aerith just shrugged, picked up her pack and left. Cloud hastily stuffed his pack and darted after Aerith, with Tifa and Red XIII close behind. "Even Aerith gets to be da &$ leader!" Barret growled as he gathered his things. "Hurry up brat! We'll jus leave ya!" Barret fumed as he stomped away, the wrong way.
"At least I can tell which way the others went!" Yuffie laughed at him. Barret grumbled as he turned, stomping past her again.
"Not one word beanpole!" Barret threatened.
Yuffie had an innocent look as she chanted, "Barret got lost! Barret got lost!" and bolted for the others.
"Ya little-!" Barret bellowed as he trudged after her.
Several hours later.
"Are we there yet?" Yuffie whined again.
"No! For the hundreth time, NO! " Cloud scolded her.
Aerith placed a calming hand on his shoulder, "According to the map it should be just around this mountain base. We'll be there very soon." She answered Yuffie.
The group rounded the bend all were awestruck. Before them lay the towering metal walls of Junon harbor. The massive fortress threatened to block out the sky. Its metal sheen reflecting the mid-morning sun. Almost at the top, the legendary Junon cannon loomed above the sea. A small, rundown village cowered in the corner of the metal mass.
"I'd forgotten how huge it was." Cloud marveled.
"Me, too." Yuffie breathed. After minutes of silence, Yuffie broke their trance, "Wake up guys! Lets go! Its not that amazing!" she lied.
"Okay." Cloud shook off the amazement. "Lets go to the village and see how we get up to the city. If were lucky Sephiroth is still waiting for a ride."
The group collected themselves and moved toward the village, still gawking at the fortress, "OWW!"
"Huh?" Barret looked down at a little girl on the ground. "What's wrong?" He asked with a smile.
"You knocked me down!" The little girl cried as she scrambled to her feet and ran away.
"Wait!" Barret yelled after her. "I'm sorry!"
"Nice move bigfoot! At least we've been noticed by the villagers!" Yuffie teased him.
"WHAT! You little-!" Barret began his tirade.
"Stop right there!" Cloud yelled, "We don't have time for this! We need information. We'll split into groups. Tifa, Barret, you go check the cliff houses. Yuffie and RedXIII you check the ridgeline. Aerith and I will go down those stairs. Find a way into Junon." Cloud ordered. Tifa raised her hand to object, but let is fall. Aerith smiled at Cloud, but quickly stopped when she saw Tifa. "Okay lets mosey! Meet back here in an hour." Cloud stated as he walked away.
"Bigfoot." Yuffie whispered before sprinting away.
"Brat!" Barret yelled about to give chase
"Barret! Forget her, lets go!" Tifa said angrily, pulling him like a child
45 minutes later.
"That was a complete was of time! Not one bit of good mater- Uh, information!" Yuffie tried to cover.
"Not so." Red XIII gave her a knowing look, "I confirmed that you are a materia thief."
"Wha-, No, I am no-, How did you-?" Yuffie stammered.
"Yuffie, do not try to deceive me further. That wasn't the first slip you've made" Red XIII stated calmly, "The others probably have guessed as well."
"And you let me still join?" Yuffie was perplexed.
"Aerith wanted it. She is an Ancient after all. Maybe she sees something for you, that we don't?" Red XII said thoughfully.
"Just because of Aerith?" Yuffie was amazed. "You trust her that much?"
"Yes." Red XIII was absolute.
"And I thought I was hiding it so well." Yuffie joked.
"You weren't." Red XIII responded, "But you are only a child, you will become better with more experience. Let us go back to the meeting place and wait. We will not find anything." He turned and trotted back towards the front of the village.
'Was I really that obvious? And was he being supportive?' Yuffie scowled as she absently wondered down the stairs toward the beach. A huge fish monster fighting with Cloud and Aerith greeted her. "Hold on, I'll help!" She yelled as she joined the fight.
The monster swiped its tail at Cloud. He dived into the sand, narrowly avoiding the attack. The monster's tail hit the beach, sending a pile of sand into Aerith. She was sent reeling back, half buried by the sand. Cloud rushed toward her. He was slammed down by the monsters second tail attack.
Yuffie threw her oversized shuriken, striking the monster across the forehead. The monster flinched at the new pain, but concentrated on its current victims. It spewed a fine, blue mist towards the unconscious Cloud and Aerith. The mist settled onto them, enveloping and lifting them. They both were awakened as the mist bubblized. The bubbles slowly began constricting around the helpless duo.
Yuffie threw a handful of knives at Aerith's bubble all were deflected harmlessly. Aerith and Cloud were desperately trying to stop the bubble from crushing them. The monster, satisfied with its first capture, turned its attention to the new annoyance.
It dived at Yuffie, trying to swallow her, only to get a mouthful of sand. Yuffie threw a rain of small knives at the creature. Few knives pierced the hard scales, but one sank into an eye of the creature. The eye burst, spilling clear liquid and blood down the creature's face. The monster roared in agony and rage. It writhed in pain, covering the beach and Yuffie in a mixture of goo and blood.
"Eww, gross!" Yuff shrieked, trying to wipe the blood from her eyes. The monster dived at her voice. Its head missed Yuffie, but its fin struck her across the abdomen, smashing her into the ground. The creature reared its head, ready for a second strike.
Yuffie struggled to rise. 'That hurt! My ribs! My stomach! My head! I'll kill that thing! If I can get mov-' She whispered, before slipping into darkness.
The creature finally located Yuffie with its good eye. It licked its bloody fangs and dove. Time stood still.
In the depths of darkness, a tortured man saw a monster attacking a small hazy form. He couldn't make out the form, but his very soul cried out to help her, "GET UP!"
Yuffie awoke in the dark realm once again. She looked into the distance, there stood the man with the crimson cape and ebony hair. The man began to turn; she strained to see his face when she heard "GET UP!" Time moved forward as she rose, Yuffie opened her eyes to see dripping fangs closing in. "No!" she cried, "Clear tranquil!"
The man saw the form arise, but the demons pushed the image away. Was this more torture for him? Would he now see new innocents die? He suddenly heard a crystal voice echo "Clear tranquil," before the darkness consumed him.
The monsters fangs shattered against the blue flames swirling on Yuffie's body. The creature bellowed in agony and retreated toward the water. The flames flowed from Yuffie, enveloping the bubbles surrounding Cloud and Aerith. The two crashed to the ground as the flames disintegrated the bubbles. The flames descended on the gasping pair, infusing them with new strength.
Cloud picked up his sword and charged the writhing beast. He launched himself high into the air, swinging the buster sword with all his might at the beast's head. The blow shattered bone, splattered brains, and threw the beast into the water. Yuffie fell to her knees as the flames waned and flickered into nothingness.
Aerith took charge of the situation, "Cloud find the girl, I'll check Yuffie!" She rushed to Yuffie. "Are you ok? What were those flames?"
"He saved me. I've never seen his face and he saved me." Yuffie murmured, lost in her own world.
"What?" Aerith looked at her oddly.
"Huh? Oh, nothing." Yuffie snapped back to reality. "The flames were healing spirits, don't ask how I do it, it's a family secret."
Unbeknownst to the group the chemicals of the monster mixed with the seawater. The carcass exploded violently sending a massive wall of water crashing into the beach. They were all smashed into the stone wall.
Cloud rose slowly. "Is everyone ok?"
"I'm ok." Aerith steadied herself with her battle staff.
"I'm alive if that's what you mean!" Yuffie griped, "What kind of monster explodes AFTER its… dead…" She passed out.
"Yuffie!" Aerith cried, rushing past the old man who had just come down the stairs.
"Priscilla!" he cried…
The next morning.
'Where am I?' Yuffie thought as she flouted aimlessly in darkness. 'Am I dead? No, can't be dead, I hurt way too much.' She continued to float aimlessly in the emptiness. 'I can't believe he saved me! Who is he? Why does he keep appearing in my dreams? Is he as hot as I think he is? Why am I talking to myself?' Yuffie laughed. 'What's that sound?'
Yuffie was startled out of the dream by a jumble of words. She shook her head groggily, and winced as she felt her ribs complain. "Guess even cure can't take all the pain away." She massaged her ribs. "Now, who's mumbling?"
Yuffie looked around the room to see Cloud tossing and turning. "Stupid Cloud. Shut up!" She picked up a pillow, but dropped it as her ribs burned. "Oww! Stupid Cloud." She decided to just leave for now, vowing to get him later. Yuffie looked at her armor, she almost cried at the thought of all the pain her ribs would give her. "Come on Yuffie. You're a master ninja, you can fight the pain!" She lied to herself. After much tribulation, whimpers, and assorted cursing, she limped toward the door.
The door suddenly slammed into Yuffie, she almost collapsed. "Sorry." Tifa said as she rushed to see Cloud.
"I'm fine." Yuffie yelled weakly after her. Yuffie slowly limped out and toward the others. The short distance seemed like miles to Yuffie's sore body.
"What are you doing up?" Aerith asked, her emerald eyes filled with concern. "We had to wait to cure you until you woke up. Why didn't you call one of us?"
"Stupid spiky-#$$ was mumbling. Would've smothered him if I didn't leave." Yuffie said darkly.
"Oh." Aerith laughed, "Well I guess it's better you left. We do need him for a few things." Aerith's concern returned to her eyes. "Now lets finish helping you. Just stand still." Aerith gripped her staff tightly. Her brow furrowed in concentration. Slowly a green orb in her staff began to flicker into life. The light continued to grow, Aerith breathed Yuffie's name. The light moved to Yuffie, consuming her. As the light seeped into her Yuffie felt her ribs heal and her aches fade. Aerith breathed heavily at the strain.
"Aerith, you should let another heal. You are not fully recovered either." Red XIII said with concern.
"Its okay, it helps me to get better when I help my friends." Aerith responded, "How are you feeling, Yuffie?"
"Much better Aerith, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Yuffie exclaimed as she began dancing with a very surprised Aerith. Aerith's surprise quickly turned to joy as she joined the now reenergized Yuffie.
"Well, at least you two are feeling better." Cloud groaned.
"Are you alright Cloud? Do you need me to cure you?" Aerith asked intently, letting go of Yuffie, sending her spinning off.
"No, I'm fine, but how is Priscilla?" It was Cloud's turn to be concerned.
"Who's Priscilla?" Yuffie looked toward Aerith.
"She's a little girl that we accidentally frightened. She almost died, but Cloud saved her with CPR." Aerith explained with hidden admiration for Cloud.
"Oh. So Cloud, did you enjoy your first make-out session?" Yuffie teased, slapping Cloud on his shoulder.
"It was CPR!" Cloud started turning red. The other just stood laughing.
"Right. You just keep saying that, but we know the truth." Yuffie gave him a sly wink.
"No it was just CPR, I did it to save her life!" Cloud exclaimed going beat red. The others now let loose with a torrent of jokes and laughs. All the while Cloud looked like a frost bitten tomato.
Suddenly the door at the top of the stairs burst open. Priscilla came running down and jumped into Cloud. Cloud almost dropped her from surprise, but recovered, and let her hug him.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Priscilla shouted showering him with kissies.
"You're wel-" Cloud pried her away from him, holding her at arms length, "You're welcome." He set her down.
"Come on, a second make-out session?" Yuffie whispered giggling.
"Knock it off!" Cloud threatened through gritted teeth.
"Thanks again for saving me. My grandpa says you helped me to breath again, so I want to give you this." Priscilla offered a small red pendent, "It's my favorite, but you should keep it for luck."
"Well, if you really mean it." Cloud took the pendent. "I'll always remember you with it." He gave her a small hug and pocketed the pendent.
Priscilla turned bright red. She just stood in place playing with her hair.
"Not a word." Cloud warned Yuffie as she opened her mouth. "We still need a way into Junon. Did anyone find anything?"
"The only way up seems to be that Shinra elevator, but it is guarded. The guard won't allow unauthorized people to ride." Red XIII answered.
"Great. So are only option is to fight our way up." Cloud said angrily.
"Yea! Dat's the spirit!" Barret yelled.
"I know a way." Priscilla squeaked, afraid of Barret.
"Really?" Aerith knelt down, "Would you show it to us?"
"NO! We gonna fight our way up!" Barret yelled again.
"Oh Barret. We don't want to announce AVALANCHE's prescence. We want to slip through." Tifa scolded him.
"Fine!" Barret sulked, giving up.
"Now. Where is the way up?" Tifa asked Priscilla.
"Its at the beach! Lets go!" Priscilla grabbed Cloud's hand and pulled him along. The others followed with grins on their faces. Yuffie held back, looking toward the elevator.