Chapter 26: Golden opportunities?
Once again the unlikely compatriots stood within the tram to the Gold Saucer this time hoping to finally be one step ahead of Sephiroth. Their hopes were high and were slowly climbing higher as they neared the entrance tunnel of the Gold Saucer.
"I can't believe we're coming back so soon!" Aerith nearly squealed in delight. "And this time we can all have fun!" She gave a quick glance to Barret who nodded slightly. Barret had walked through North Corel quietly but had not let his emotions drop.
'I'll continue on Dyne, then when this is all over, I'll raise Marlene an th' town.' He promised his friend silently.
Yuffie stood at the front of the tram dancing excitedly. Everyone could feel Yuffie's excitement about returning to the massive theme park and soon began to grow excited themselves. "What about Vincent and Cid?" Tifa suddenly spoke up. Everyone turned to stare at her save for her target. "They don't have Golden Tickets. How will they get in?"
Cid held up a dingy piece of paper, "I already got a #$ Golden Ticket."
"That leaves Vincent." Cloud looked down in thought for a moment, "Yuffie, do you have anymore? You somehow paid for all of ours, can you do the same for Vincent?"
Yuffie shrank down in her seat under the others stares; she stole a quick glance at Vincent. He stood with his back to them all looking out the tram window. "Sorry, I wish I could but that was a one time deal." Yuffie shrugged.
"That's definitely a problem then." Cloud scratched the back of his head as the car went black as it passed through the tunnel. "We'll work something out." The tram slowed to a stop and shifted into its bay. AVALANCHE filed out and collected in front of the entrance. "Any ideas?" Cloud looked to the group.
"We could try selling something?" Nanaki provided.
"How about we try making a deal with the clerk?" Aerith answered next. No one noticed Vincent had walked up to the window.
"We couldn't get enough #$ gil if we sold all our !#!" Cid retorted. Vincent returned to the group.
"Well we can't go in without Vinnie." Yuffie shot back.
"Why not?" Cid glared, "We're only getting the Keystone and coming back out! He can just $&(! wait for us!"
"Shall we go in." The words resembled a question but were a statement. Everyone turned to see Vincent disappear through the bright gate. They all stared momentarily before quickly following him. Soon they caught up to the caped man.
"How did you get in?" Cloud asked.
Vincent remained silent as he glanced at each of the portals, 'Even this has changed over 30 years.'
"Well?" Cloud pressed. His answer was Vincent disappearing down the Battle Square hole. Cloud stared for a moment before scratching his head, "I guess we should follow him, that's where Dio's show room is." Everyone began jumping in the tunnel, Yuffie lagged slightly behind.
'How did he pay for that?' She wracked her brain, 'Where could he have gotten all that gil from?' She couldn't figure how a man locked in a coffin for 30 years could produce so much gil.
"Coming Brat?" Cid called as he jumped down the shoot. Yuffie dismissed her thoughts and followed the pilot down the tube.
"Only if you don't get stuck old man!" Yuffie snickered.
"#$ you!" Cid's voice echoed throughout the entire Gold Saucer tube system.
After a few more choice words and a firm reprimand from the Gold Saucer staff to Cid about proper language in front of children; AVALANCHE entered Dio's showroom. "What exactly are we looking for again?" Yuffie asked.
"The Keystone." Cloud answered simply.
"And that is...?" Yuffie gave him an exasperated look. Cloud became very interested in a display of decorative armor. Yuffie let her hands drop, "Grreeaatt." She said rolling her eyes
"I found it!" Aerith cry echoed throughout the lavish hall. Everyone hurried to find her staring deeply at a blue-gray orb. "This is the Keystone to the Temple of the Ancients."
"That it is." A booming voice came from behind them. When the group turned the owner of the voice had already struck a muscular pose. The owner of the Gold Saucer stood before them. "And it stays here."
Cloud stepped forward, "But we need it to stop Sephiroth!" he exclaimed.
Dio looked at Cloud closely as if trying to remember something. His eyes gleamed suddenly. "Ok boy, you can have it."
"Wha-?" Cloud began to stutter.
"I said you could have it." Dio repeated. Cloud began reaching for Dio's hand. "If..." Cloud froze, "You can win 8 battles in my arena. Alone and with whatever handicaps fall from the slots. You can use anything you would normally use in battle as well."
Cloud stared at the scantily clad man for a moment. He then looked over his shoulder at the group until his eyes locked with Aerith's pleading emerald eyes. He turned and stood in his Soldier pose. "I'll do it."
Dio slapped Cloud on the back nearly knocking him over, "Great! I'll go set the battle for the next round! See you there!" With that Dio sped out of the showroom.
Cloud and company quickly followed. When they arrived the staff quickly ushered Cloud into the arena and the others into the stand. "Good luck Cloud!" Tifa called.
"We believe in you!" Aerith cheered as the group sat down. "I hope he wins."
"Don worry." Barret reassured her, "He's gotta do somethin' right. Cloud may be a spiky-a$$ but he's don good so far."
Aerith's face lifted, "You're right, he won't lose."
"The bidding on the next fighter... Cloud will close in 5 minutes! Place your bets on Dio's personal match!" The intercom rang. Cid and Cat Sith bolted for the window.
Tifa scowled disapprovingly, "How could they bet on this match! It's Cloud!"
Barret scratched his head in thought for a moment then got up as well, "Be right back." Tifa just let out a disappointed sigh.
"Wish I had some popcorn." Yuffie whispered to Aerith, who only giggled in reply.
Soon the battle began, the crowd roared, the arena was filled with the sound of battle; soon Cloud had successfully won 7 of the 8 matches. He stood in the back of the battlefield catching his breath under the cheers and some cursing from the crowd. Dio suddenly appeared. "Well done boy, but don't let it go to your head. You still have one final round, so lets find out your new condition!" Dio pull the lever on the slots, setting the final wheel in motion. All eyes were locked upon it; soon it began slowing down.
"Oh just hurry up!" Yuffie called from her seat. A ripple of laughter spread around the crowd. Finally the wheel spun to a stop.
"OOOHHH!" the crowd cringed. The wheel had fallen upon All Materia Lost. A staff member approached Cloud with a metal box. Cloud begrudgingly relinquished his materia into it.
"Well now boy, we truly see how good of a fighter you are." Dio laughed. "Now for the Final Battle! Bring in the monster!" Upon his command the floor split open and the sound of machines echoed from the pit. Soon a screech was heard from the pit, one that could only be produced from a single creature. Neither plant nor animal but all poison. Its tentacles soon grasped the edges of the floor, soon the body of the Ocho was finally revealed, another screech and a wave of noxious gas was released into the arena. Cloud choked and coughed but remained standing. "Impressive boy. Battle Start!" Dio ordered.
Cloud gave Dio an annoyed look before cautiously approaching the creature. The Ocho suddenly moved and sent one of its long tentacles crashing toward Cloud. Cloud parried the blow with his sword but was caught by the second tentacle and sent flying across the arena. He landed roughly on the ground and slid several feet. He quickly rolled to the side as the Ocho's tentacle smashed down on where he was. Cloud climbed to his feet ready for another strike but it didn't come.
Cloud stared at the Ocho, it seemed extremely agitated, its mutated limbs wriggling about and odd sounds echoing from its gullet. Cloud's face was at first confused then he suddenly smiled.
"What's he so #$&( happy about?" Cid shouted at Barret.
"I don kno!" Barret bellowed back.
"The Ocho has limited mobility." Vincent continued watching the fight as if he had said nothing.
"Huh?" Barret released Cid's collar.
"He said the $ thing can't move." Cid readjusted his shirt. "Cloud just figured that out."
Indeed Cloud had and was carefully probing the Ocho's range, after each missed strike by the Ocho, Cloud acted more confident. Finally after several attacks Cloud countered. The Ocho screamed in pain, the end of a tentacle lay wiggling before Cloud's feet. The Ocho flung it's severed vine to and fro, spreading its goo across the floor. Cloud attempted to avoid the vile stuff but became covered in it. The flow soon stopped and the vine went limp against the Ocho's side.
Cloud was trying to wipe the slime from his face when he fell to one knee breathing hard. His lungs and skin burned, his view began going black, he was slowly losing control of his limbs. "CLOUD!" Aerith and Tifa called. Cloud's breathing was becoming ragged as his lungs ceased functioning. He desperately reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of green liquid. He brought the bottle to his lips and drank, he immediately felt his lungs open and his skin cool. After he had drunk half the bottle he stood and poured the rest over himself. Steam streaked off him and a hissing sound filled the arena as the antidote countered the toxins covering Cloud.
Cloud suddenly lifted his massive blade and rushed the creature. He deftly avoided and severed the second tentacle, but before the Ocho could even realize its new loss Cloud had buried his sword up to the hilt in the monster's body. The creature's screams began anew, but Cloud wasn't finished. He slowly twisted the blade to a horizontal position and pulled it through the body of the dying creature. Its screams soon turned to gurgles and then to silence as it collapsed and began withering from its own poison's. Silence stayed in the arena only momentarily before the crowd burst into cheers. Cloud looked around before scratching the back of his head and waving to the crowd uncomfortably.
LATER:
"Great job boy..Cloud!" Dio continued shaking Cloud's hand hard. "The was a good show, no one has so entertained the crowd!"
"Or made me so much $& money." Cid snickered from where he and Barret were counting their winnings, with Cat Sith looking dejected.
"That's what you get for betting against your friends!" Yuffie laughed.
"And here is your reward!" Dio placed the Keystone into Cloud's waiting hand. "Now go enjoy your stay at the Gold Saucer!" With that the flamboyant man disappeared into the battle arena.
"Well, lets mosey." Cloud led the way back to the tram.
AT THE STATION SQUARE
"What da ya mean its broke!" Barret demanded of the frightened clerk.
"Um.. there has been.. uh.(gulp) a malfunction.. it won't be fixed until tomorrow morning." The clerk was nearly in tears.
"Thank you Miss." Nanaki interjected. "Let's just accept it we are stuck here for the night."
"But!" Barret began but was silenced by the glare from Nanaki's golden eye.
"That's ok!" Cat Sith cheered happily, "I know some people in the Hotel! I'll go get us some rooms!"
Cloud looked around the group and then shrugged, "Fine Cat Sith. Lead the way."
EVENING HAS FALLEN, WITHIN THE COMMON ROOM OF THE GHOST HOTEL.
"So are we all in?" Cloud asked after recounting all of what AVALANCHE had been through to update their newer members. "If you don't want to go to the Temple you don't have to."
"I'm definitely going." Aerith said firmly.
"I still don't know what the $& is going one but I'm in." Cid said with a yawn before resting his head one his hand. Everyone soon agreed in his or her own way.
"Then it's decided. Tomorrow we go to the Temple of the Ancients." Cloud finished. "We leave in the morning." With that all of AVALANCHE headed for their rooms.
Yuffie watched Vincent as she walked up the stairs; he had slung Cid over his shoulder. He began to carry the sleeping pilot up the stairs with ease. 'Stupid old man.' Yuffie grinned to herself.
GUYS ROOM.
Vincent tossed the snoring roughly on one of the beds. Cid's only answer was a garbled "Shera get some $& tea." Before he turned over and fell deeply asleep. Nanaki just chuckled from the floor.
"So what are your plans tonight guys?" Cat Sith asked.
"Gonna go to the chocobo square." Barret replied as he disappeared out the door.
"I doubt that." Nanaki rolled his eye and flicked his flaming tail. Cloud gave him a questioning look. "He is probably going to Wonder Square to win that stuffed mog for Marlene. I heard him ask the Hotel clerk about them on our way in."
"Heh." Cloud shook his head, "He really tries to be a good dad."
"Well what about the rest of you?" Cat Sith asked again.
"I don't think the rest of us are going anywhere." Cloud replied, "The staff still won't let Nanaki do anything, I'm don't like the crowds, but I don't know about Vincent..." Cloud looked to the caped man. Vincent just shook his head and disappeared into the shower room. "Well I guess that's your answer." Cloud moved to the window and soon became lost in thought.
"Well I'm going out." Cat Sith said and disappeared out the door.
GALS ROOM.
"I'm going out for a bit." Aerith called as she rushed out the door.
"Wonder where she's going." Yuffie said idly.
"Where who is going?" Tifa asked as she emerged from the bathroom freshly showered.
"Aerith just ran out of here after she got out of the shower." Yuffie answered.
A shimmer of anger crossed Tifa's face but soon disappeared, "Probably to go watch one of the plays." She answered in a slightly pained voice. "How about you? You going to go out and play?"
"Me? Naw... they won't let me do anything fun anyway." Yuffie answered as she threw her battle gear in the corner and flopped ungraciously on a bed. "I think I'll just shower and crash."
Tifa grinned as she pulled on fresh clothing, "You could always ask 'Someone' to show you around."
Yuffie blushed but hid it by rolling on her side, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Tifa shrugged and laughed, "Suit yourself. I'm going out." With that Tifa left the room.
'Besides he doesn't like me around.' Yuffie sighed to herself. 'Oh well.' She rose and entered the bathroom, removed her clothing and stepped into the shower.
GUYS ROOM.
pitter-patter, dink-dink, pitter-patter Vincent listened to the sound of the water splashing against his back, across his metal arm, and the tiled floor. He stood tall and let the water cascade through his midnight hair and down his body. 'If only my sins were so easily washed away.' He looked to his golden arm, 'If only...' His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking. Even though they were in the next room he could still hear their voices easily.
"Come on Cloud!" Aerith pleaded, "The deal was for one date. I intend to pay my debt."
"Fine." Cloud sighed. Moments later the door opened and closed then Aerith's and Cloud's voices faded down the hall.
'Even in the midst of what we are involved in, she still thinks of happiness.' Vincent sighed to himself, 'A monster doesn't deserve any of this group's happiness.' Vincent clenched his fists in anger and leaned against the back of the shower. 'If only...' He thought as the warm water washed over him. A sound whispered in his ear, something that was now familiar but he couldn't place it, so he remained frozen with his back against the cold tile.
GALS ROOM
"Over the next rise he waits for me." Yuffie finished her song as she rinsed the last of the shampoo from her now shoulder length hair. She sighed happily as the warm water flowed down her skin, relaxing her aching muscles and peeling away the grim of the road. "Nothing like a good hot shower." As she washed her mind replayed Tifa's statement.
'You could always ask 'Someone' to show you around.' At this Yuffie blushed again.
'He wouldn't anyways, but should I just ask him?' Yuffie began arguing with herself. 'I'll never know until I try. But why waste my time if I already know he'll say no?' Yuffie leaned her back against the cold tile wall. 'I am at the Golden Saucer and this could be my only opportunity.' Her mind flitted to memories of Vincent's emotionless face and she dismissed the thought.
"Guess I'll just have to miss this 'Golden opportunity'," Yuffie sighed, 'He would never agree.' Yuffie continued to enjoy the warm water rushing down the front of her body and the slight chill from the tile on her back. 'That's strange.' Yuffie could almost swear she felt a small warmth coming from within the tile.
And so the two stood unknowingly back-to-back. With a wall firmly in-between them in reality and figuratively.