Chapter One: The start of an adventure! Again!
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Cloud rolled over and looked at the clock on his nightstand with a groan. It was ten in the morning. He sat up and ran a hand through his spikey blond hair, wondering what had woken him up. He had a schedule set up now:
Sleep in until 12:00, or maybe even 1:00.
Mope around for the rest of the day.
Go to sleep at some un-godly hour.
You see, a month after defeating Sephiroth and Jenova, our hero wasn't doing so well. Now that he didn't have anything to occupy himself, he was left with entirely too much time to brood over recent events. He had returned to Costa Del Sol, and to 'Villa Cloud' (he swore revenge on his friends for naming it that), where he had been ever since. The whole gang had gone their separate ways...Tifa to Midgar so that she could rebuild the Seventh Heaven, Barret settled down in Kalm with his daughter Marlene, Cid returned to Rocket Town where he and Shera had started a serious relationship (Cloud had the feeling that any children Cid produced would be the most foul-mouthed in the continent), Red XIII (or Nanaki) had returned to Cosmo Canyon as it's guardian, Vincent had departed for parts unknown, Yuffie returned to Wutai, and Reeve had volunteered to help the few survivors in Midgar rebuild their lives.
KNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCK--!
"ALRIGHT! Jesus Christ, keep your pants on..." Cloud growled, getting to his feet and stumbling to the door. He opened it, and shielded his eyes from the sunlight which obscured his view.
"HiCloudheycanIcrashhereforafewdaysIgotinafightwithdadandy'know,sowhaddyasay!" An all too familiar annoyingly sweet voice chirped in one very quick sentence. Cloud sighed and closed his eyes, as if not seeing her would make her disappear. "...Could you please repeat that...slowly?" He asked, opening his eyes again to see the slim form of sixteen-year-old Yuffie Kisaragi in the doorway, decked out in full ninja attire. At least, ninja attire as Yuffie saw it. She frowned. "Can I crash here for a few days? I got in a fight with dad, you know how he is." Actually, he didn't. Cloud hardly knew the man. "...You traveled...all the way from Wutai...just because of a fight with your father?" Cloud asked incredulously. "Yup! Because you've got a sweet pad, man." Yuffie replied, shoving past him and scuttling towards the guest room.
"W-wait--!" Cloud began, but then he shook his head and gave up. Once she had gotten in, there wasn't going to be any way to dislodge her until she decided to leave on her own. Damn crafty ninjas. "I hope you get sunburn in the worst place possible!" He yelled after her. She entered the guest bedroom and closed the door as if she hadn't heard him. He shook his head again and tromped off to his bedroom, hoping that he could get back to sleep. He reached for the doorknob--
--I'm watching you.
Cloud jumped and looked around in surprise. There was no one there, and Yuffie was still in her room. I've gotta start getting more sleep... He thought, taking one more quick look around just to make sure there was nobody there, then entering the room and closing the door behind him. He collapsed on the bed and tried to get comfortable. He could hear Yuffie unpacking in the guest room (which was right next to his), which she somehow managed to do while making the most noise possible. Despite that, he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
"What the...?" Cloud said out loud, looking around. He was in some sort of lab or something, judging from the equipment lying around. The place seemed oddly familiar. He looked off to his left and froze. The whole north end of the room was a huge library...he looked to his right, and his dread was confirmed. There where test tubes lining the south wall. This was the secret lab under Shinra Mansion, where he had spent the most loathsome five years of his life, luckily most of which he couldn't remember. Shivers ran up and down his spine as he looked from one tube to the next. They appeared empty...except for one. He took a few steps closer. There was something in the tube to the far right, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. He continued approaching it until he realized that the glass was fogged up. He walked up to it and rubbed his gloved hand against the glass and peered into it.
So the puppet returns before it's master could even pull it's strings?
Cloud reeled back in silent horror, and the creature inside the tank stared back at him, emitting an aura of pure glee at his alarm.
You didn't really think you'd be rid of me, did you? I cannot die. Now, be a good little boy and come get me out of this tiresome prison.
"N-no..." Cloud stuttered weakly, backing up until his back hit a bookcase.
Heh...amusing. You seem to forget who is in charge here, my dear. Wake up!
Cloud feel to his knees, holding his ears to try to block out the incessant buzzing sound that had suddenly filled his head. A red haze started to obscure his vision. "I...killed...you..." He forced out. The creature just laughed--
"Hey Cloud! Where do ya keep the food?" Yuffie asked loudly, bursting into his room and waking him up. He bolted upright and looked around wildly, as if expecting someone to be there. "...What's the matter?" Yuffie asked, her good mood dropping a few notches. "...Nothing." Cloud said finally, shaking his head as if to clear it of something. "What did you say?" "I'm starving! Where's the food!" Yuffie asked again, her enthusiasm bouncing back in an instant. Cloud climbed out of bed and yawned. "Uh...down the hall, to your right. The kitchen isn't that big though, so don't eat everything in one sitting." Yuffie frowned. "What would make you think I'd do that?" "I've seen the way you eat." Cloud replied dryly. "Haha." Yuffie shot back, heading out the door and leaping up into the air to disappear dramatically, one of her ninja tricks.
...Wait a second... Cloud thought slowly. I don't have any roof beams that she can cling onto, so how did she-- His thoughts where interrupted by a loud THUD followed closely by a muffled "Ouch." He smirked in spite of himself.
"Oh yeah, it was really funny." Yuffie spat out venomously, which only made Cloud laugh harder. They where sitting in the living room, and Yuffie was sporting a black eye. Yuffie picked up a nearby throw pillow and chucked it at Cloud's head, but he ducked and it hit the wall harmlessly. "You have to admit Yuffie..." Cloud began as soon as he could breathe. "From my vantage point, it was funny as hell. You know, this is the most fun I've had since butchering Sephiroth and Jenova." Immediately after saying this, a violent pain ripped through his head and he grabbed it on reflex. "...Cloud? Are you alright?" Yuffie asked with genuine concern. "...I'm fine." Cloud replied stiffly. "I think I'm just going to go outside and get some fresh air..." He hurriedly jumped out of his seat and rushed out the front door.
What is going on! He thought, leaning against the wall of the arch near the villa. It's nothing. It can't possibly be that...thing. I killed it, along with Sephiroth. I watched it die. No, I'm just paranoid is all. Nothing to worry about...I'm fine. Jenova is dead. Everything is hunky-dory. The end.
Even to him the explanation sounded feeble.
But honestly, that thing can't be alive, after getting slaughtered by The Knights of the Round summon. I mean, getting the crap beat out of you by thirteen separate monsters in a row... He felt slightly better with this logical explanation, but it still didn't ease his anxiety. He looked out at the beach, where the sun was beginning to set, making it seem as if there was a golden path over the water to the fabled court of the sun god. Aeris would have loved to see this... He could see her running down the beach, looking at the sunset with an almost childish joy. "Cloud! You have to see this sunset! It's beautiful!" She'd say, grabbing his hand and dragging him off to watch it, smiling that smile that always lit up her brilliantly green eyes--
Stop it Cloud. He thought sternly. He couldn't think about her. Whenever he did, he'd get depressed and withdrawn. Of course, it didn't really help that almost everything made him think of her. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Hey Cloud! Get in here, you have to see this!" Yuffie yelled out the door, making him jump. He obediently came back inside, where Yuffie had the TV on. She looked over her shoulder at him. "Somethin' is going down at the Shinra Mansion." Cloud froze at the mention of the place's name, and his eyes fixed on the TV screen where a bored looking newscaster was standing in Cloud's hometown, Nibelhiem.
"...I'm here on the scene where studies have resumed at the Shinra Mansion, which had been scheduled for demolition early next month to rid this town of the bad memories associated with it's dark past as people have started to move back in, and the Shinra workers employed in a massive cover-up scheme have been driven out of town. We aren't exactly sure what is going on, but it seems like some men in lab coats have been seen moving equipment into the Mansion. When questioned about their actions, they declined to comment about their work, stating that it was "Of a very sensitive and secret nature, and that the public would be better off keeping their noses out of it."
"We aren't sure who has funded this, but it seems like the building has been saved from destruction, and is now heavily guarded by hired soldiers who have managed to keep the curious towns people away by threatening to "Blow their goddamn brains out if they didn't stop pestering them." Has someone paid to have the studies of the Shinra continued? Is there some sinister motive behind this? We may never know. This had been Jennie Hawkins, KBSC, Chocobo news. Back to you John."
The news switched to some man behind a desk who started to talk about how The Golden Saucer's sales where plummeting due to the Ruby Weapon's continued appearance in the desert, and Yuffie turned to look at Cloud. "Wow. Think we need to investigate? The Mansion I mean, not the Gold Saucer." Cloud didn't reply.
This...can't be right. He thought. Jenova is DEAD. DEAD! He heard hushed laughter, and looked around, but didn't see anyone--
"Earth to Cloud!" Yuffie yelled, snapping Cloud out of his thoughts. He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. "...What?" He asked confusedly. She rolled her eyes. "Do you think we should go check it out? Better yet, why don't we call up the gang and see what they think of it?" Yuffie suggested. "...Yeah, sure. Whatever." Cloud replied vaguely. Yuffie rolled her eyes again and yanked out her PHS, her fingers quickly punching in Tifa's number first.
"So then I says, I says to him "You'd better back off, I've had a crappy day!"" Said one of the drunks at the bar dramatically, nearly knocking over his beer with a wild hand gesture. His buddy, equally drunk, seemed enthralled in his story. "No shit? Then what?" He asked. Tifa sighed and sat down on her stool behind the bar boredly. Listening to drunks tell their exaggerated tales to each other day ofter day got mind-numbingly boring, even though 'The Seventh Heaven' had only been opened for business a week ago. She had paid good money to get the building finished within two weeks, and it was now the only building currently standing. The barflies flocked to it like an oasis in a desert, but today had been a slow day.
A ringing sound at her belt made her jump, and she realized it was her PHS. She quickly un-clipped in and flipped it open, happy for any distraction from her boredom. "Hello?" She chirped, making the drunks at the counter shoot her a glare for interrupting their conversation.
"Tifa? It's Yuffie." Rang out Yuffie's annoying voice on the other end of the phone. "Listen, I've got some important news..." She quickly recounted what she and Cloud had seen on the news, then waited for Tifa's reaction. "...You've got to be kidding me." She said finally, making the drunks glare at her again and leave the bar in a huff. "Nope!" Yuffie replied cheerfully, then added in an undertone "And Cloud's been acting funny. I mean, more funny then usual. I don't think it's that important, but I just thought I'd give you a heads up before you got out here or whatever." "...Gotcha." Tifa replied, hiding her concern. "I'll get ahold of Barret, and possibly Vincent, if he still has his PHS with him. You get Cid and Nanaki." "What about Reeve?" Yuffie asked. "He's officially retired from adventures." Tifa answered. "Well, I've gotta call Barret and Vincent. Talk to you later." She clicked the phone shut before Yuffie could start another conversation.
"So much for boring." She commented dryly before flipping the phone open once more.
"Hurry the $& up!" Cid barked to Barret and Tifa, whom where the last people he had to pick up. "Christ, I'm getting too #&$ old for this shit." He pulled a cigarette out of the pack clamped firmly in his goggles and lit it. Tifa and Barret exchanged knowing glances and got on The Highwind. "We missed you too Cid." Tifa said sweetly. "Yo Cid." Barret greeted him gruffly as Cid started up the airship. "How's it goin' with Shera?" "Oh, she's pissing and moaning about my smoking and drinking, what else is new?" Cid grumbled. "Now shut the #$ up, I'm trying not to crash this damn thing. It's never been the same since Holy $&& it up." Tifa and Barret took the hint and moved off to the back where everyone else was.
"Greeting Tifa, Barret." Vincent said as soon as he saw them, inclining his head slightly. "It's pleasant to see you both again." "'Pleasant'?" Barret snorted. "What about 'nice' or 'great'?" Vincent merely blinked, and shrugged dismissively. "Cloud!" Tifa exclaimed, pouncing on him and pulling him into a bone-crunching hug. "H-hello Tifa." Cloud gasped out. "Can you please let me breathe?" Tifa let him go, but a smile remained fixed on her face. "How are you! Oh, it's been ages since I've seen you last--" "A month." Cloud corrected her. "But yeah, I missed you too." Tifa momentarily turned her attention to the animal lying on the floor not too far away that looked like a cross between a lion and a wolf. "Red! It's so great to see you! Or do you prefer to be called Nanaki now?" Red stood up and walked over to Tifa, his tail waving slightly. "It doesn't matter what you call me, my friend. I'm glad to see everyone too. Although I was reluctant to leave Cosmo Canyon unguarded in light of such events..."
"Am I being ignored!" Yuffie exclaimed from where she was leaning over the railing, trying to control her airsickness. "Nah, we jus' didn't wantcha to open yer mouth, since Cid might kill ya if ya puke on his ship." Barret replied. Everyone cracked up, and for once Yuffie wasn't able to retort due to a wave of airsickness. "So, how long until we reach Nibelheim?" Cloud asked. "Approximately thirty minutes, less if Cid enables the rockets." Vincent calculated. "Hey Vincent, where were you?" Tifa asked. "Nobody told me. I don't think anyone knew." Vincent was silent a moment then said quietly "I was visiting Lucrecia's cave." There was an awkward silence, then they heard Cid holler: "I'm turning the !&$# rockets on for the rest of the way, this is taking too damn long. I haven't got all $#& day to run around checking out old abandoned buildings. Here we go--!"
The airship lurched violently, then hurtled forward with enough force to send everyone tumbling off to one side of the room. "Wow. Do you think he could have given us a bit of a warning?" Tifa asked, pulling herself to her feet. Yuffie looked very green in the face and quickly ran over to the railing, leaning over it and losing her lunch. "Great. Now Cid is going to axe murder us for letting Yuffie barf on his ship." Cloud said. "I mean spear murder us. Have you ever heard of spear murdering?"
"We're here!" Cid called. "And about #$!& time!"