Na no da... I've been watching too much anime lately... too damn hot to do anything else...
Don't own them, and if I did, you probably wouldn't want to know what would happen to them... ;) Already apologizing for the insanity at the end.
Chapter five: Cosmo Canyon.
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"Hello Zax! We were expecting you a lot sooner! Who've you brought... what... NANAKI! You're back!"
The thrilled guard stepped away from the gate to let the great beast walk straight in to Cosmo Canyon. Red stopped and gave them his widest smile while Zax walked in as well. The guard was clearly happy to see Nanaki again, but not distracted enough not to block the way from the rest.
"They helped me some on my way here, please let them in." Red said while he looked up expectantly. The guard nodded and smiled.
"Go on, Bugenhagen's probably waiting for you already!"
Red was off like a bullet while the rest were allowed to pass through.
"It's pretty full here right now, but since you're Nanaki's friends..."
"Who's... Nanaki?" Tifa asked while Barret stared up in awe, Cait Sith watched the people, Yuffie eyed the small stalls and Cid and Zax threw each other curious looks. Aeris wandered through the gate, marveling at the tower-like hill that held the houses of the people who lived here.
The guard just shrugged. "Nanaki is Nanaki. It's his name."
Seeing that that was the only answer they'd get, the small group moved away from the gate. Zax guided them to the middle of the large plateau, where a fire was burning. They sat down around it and turned to stare at the Soldier. He unstrapped a huge sword from his back and sat down as well, rubbing his shoulder. He was dressed in army boots, green trousers that ended halfway down his calf and a navy blue, sleeveless turtleneck. He let his eyes wander all over the small group before resting them on the fire.
"Bugenhagen is the... well, kind of the head of Cosmo Canyon. He who knows the most here of the Planet and life on it. I'd heard of his... grandson, Nanaki, that he had disappeared a few years ago. I think everyone's missed him." He fell quiet for a second and pointed at the fire. "This is the Cosmo Candle. It burns all the time."
Cid waved a hand. "Forget local history, how the hell did you end up here?"
"Forget THAT, how do you guys know each other?" Yuffie interrupted them, glaring at the Soldier. "Aren't you the same guy who fought in Wutai with that Sephiroth-dude?"
Zax laughed, coughed and almost choked at hearing the words Sephiroth and dude in the same sentence, but nodded anyway. He recognized the girl as Wutaian, and was glad when she said no more of it, seeming content for now just knowing who he was. "Yeah, that's me. And as for your first question, Highwind saved my ass soon after Nibelheim burned down."
"Yeah, you and that crazy blond's. What happened to him?" Cid asked, lighting a cigarette. He had almost leaned over to light it from the Candle but figured that it might be a bad idea. Remembering what Tifa had told him of the boy, he was curious to see him again.
"...later, okay?" Zax said after a quiet moment. He squared his shoulders and continued. "Seph was still with us then. We left you and Shera back in that little town, then headed back to Nibelheim to take care of Hojo.
"It went bad. Really, really bad. It's not something I like to think about, so... it went bad. Seph disappeared, I was shot and Cloudy... well anyway, Hojo kept us as his guinea pigs for a few years, until we escaped, and we've been living here for a few months now." Before Cid could ask any more questions, the Soldier asked his own. "So what happened to you and Shera?"
The pilot shrugged and took a long drag from his cigarette. "We eventually ended up in Midgar, and got tangled up with these guys. Fightin' Shin-Ra and all that."
"Fighting Shin-Ra?!" Zax seemed more lively now when he wasn't talking about his own past anymore.
Cid nodded. "Yup."
"We're the Avalanche." Barret said and pointed at his chest with his human hand. "Fighting Shin-Ra and corruption."
"That's cool. Wish I would have been there..." Zax said and winked at the gun armed man. "I know Cid, and you're Tifa, but who are the rest of you?"
"I'm Cait Sith, a fortune-telling machine from the Gold Saucer!" The robot cat exclaimed and waved his paw. Zax blinked a few times before waving back.
"Yuffie Kisaragi from Wutai." Yuffie said, still eyeing the Soldier menacingly.
"Aeris Gainsborough." Aeris said with a smile, but didn't say more.
"Barret Wallace, leader of Avalanche. Or what's left of us... Biggs... Wedge... Jessie... I promised them I'd take them here, where the Avalanche was formed, when we're done with Shin-Ra. Looks like that'll never happen." Barret's mood fell and he turned to stare at the fire.
Everyone fell silent, not knowing what to say.
It was Red who broke the silence. The great beast stepped into the ring of light and greeted his friends.
"Would you come with me? Grandfather would like to talk with you all."
They all stood up and started to follow him, except for Zax. "I better head home now, catch you guys later!" The Soldier said, getting up, but Red turned to him.
"Would you mind waiting a moment longer? I'll be right back, and I'd like to talk with you."
Zax shrugged. "Sure. I'll just check that home's still standing, I'll meet you here in a minute."
The red beast nodded and started to guide Avalanche up the stairs, all the way to the top of the hill where an observatory stood. A few minutes later, coming back down, he could see the Soldier returning to the Candle.
"Bugenhagen's giving them the lecture?" Zax asked when Red joined him, and they sat down.
The beast nodded, looking curiously at the Soldier. "Yes. You've been to his observatory?"
"Sure. Well, living here, you can't miss what's going on. Before I started hunting the monsters around here I spent a few days catching up with things... he told me a lot of interesting stuff."
"Where do you come from? I don't mean to be rude, but I am suspicious with your apparent connection with Shin-Ra." Red said, watching the Soldier.
Zax just chuckled and shook his head. "I understand. But there's nothing to worry about, I've nothing to do with Shin-Ra anymore. I spent the last five years in hell thanks to them, and lost people who meant the world to me. Damn, if the old man Shin-Ra were in front of me now I'd probably run him through. Is it true what I heard? Someone beat me to it?"
"Yes. Apparently that someone was Sephiroth." Red muttered, watching the man's reaction closely. If this Zax was really a close friend of the great General, maybe he could understand the man's mind.
The Soldier's violet eyes grew wide and he blinked a few times before his face settled to a nervous but wide grin. "You know, I always figured he'd end up doing that..." he leaned back and shook his head. "He's still alive then. I didn't know, for sure... it's been five years since we last saw each other. Have you seen him?"
"Yes, on the ship from Junon to Costa del Sol. He had murdered several of the seamen and Shin-Ra guards aboard, but said he'd help us with our quest. I was hoping you could tell me whether we can trust him or not."
Zax fell silent and stared at the fire. "Before, I would have told you straight away that you can trust him with anything. Now... I don't know if you know of anything that happened five years ago, but he... changed. I haven't seen him since then, I've no idea what he's like now. I would trust him, I've trusted him for so long that I can't, no, I won't believe that he could hurt me, but I don't know about you. I mean, I don't know what he wants of you?"
"Neither do we. Thank you anyway."
"Hey, no problem. Don't know if I was much help, but... anything I can do, just ask. But now I really should head home. If you need me, ask anyone, they'll tell you where I live." Zax got up and waved a hand before leaving the ring of light.
Red laid his head on his front paws and sighed, staring at the fire. The Soldier hadn't really helped much, and probably couldn't, not unless he knew more of Avalanche's quest to find Hojo. But telling him more about that was not for him to decide. This was the end of his journey, he was home. Still, he felt like he should do something more, that he couldn't just sit here while the group did their best to save the world.
Red greeted his friends about half an hour later when they returned to the Candle. "How was it?"
"That was something..." Yuffie muttered, her grey eyes wide. Cid nodded and lighted a cigarette. They had all heard Bugenhagen's words of how the spirit energy gave life to everything, and how Shin-Ra was draining it, and were wondering how serious this little adventure was turning. Barret had talked about saving the planet, but Cid had never believed that it would go any further than blowing up the reactors and other ways of harassing Shin-Ra. But if they were really sucking away the life energy of the planet, this was far more serious than just mere pollution. The pilot started to think that he was in way over his head, but found that he didn't want to turn back now. If there was something he could do to help the planet, he would. And he suspected that the others felt the same way.
Everyone was quiet, thinking about what they'd seen and heard. Aeris seemed sadder than before. They hadn't all seen Bugenhagen at once, and while half of the group had been with him she had been talking with the other elders. They had told her a lot about what they knew of her race and the Promised Land. Mostly things that her mother had already told her, but their words had confirmed what Ifalna had feared. They were really the last ones. There were no more Cetra on the Planet. And if Hojo managed to kill Ifalna, she'd be all alone.
"So... what do we do now?" Tifa asked. A shrug was the best answer anyone could give her at the moment. They were still digesting everything, disturbed by the fact that according to Bugenhagen the Planet was dying. Shin-Ra was slowly murdering it. They'd have to be stopped, but how?
"First we find Hojo. Then we deal with Shin-Ra. I don't think Rufus'll be talked into forgetting Mako, knowin' how much money he makes with it, so we'll have to make him see the light..." Barret muttered and looked at his group, one by one. He raised his voice when he spoke again. "If there's anything I can do to save the Planet and the people on it, then I'm gonna do it! I don't care if it's for justice or revenge or whatever! Tonight, here, Avalanche is born again! Everyone with me?"
His honest words had affected them all, and Tifa and Aeris nodded right away, as did Cait Sith, even though Barret wasn't really asking him. Cid shrugged and nodded.
"Might as well..." Yuffie said.
They all turned to Red who hadn't given an answer yet.
"What about you? Guess we should call ya Nanaki from now..."
"...my tribe has always been protectors of this place and those who came here to study. Those who appreciate this beautiful canyon and the Planet. My brave mother died protecting it, but my cowardly father left her... that makes me the last of my race, and as that, I inherited the mission to protect this place. My journey ends here." Red said slowly.
"Well, if you're sure. It was good ta have you aboard." Barret said after a moment of silence.
"Thank you, Barret. I'm sure." Red lowered his head. "I remember, long ago, when I was still very small... we were all gathered around this fire. When I remember my mother, I am full of pride and joy. And that's fine. But when I remember my father, my heart is full of anger... I wish to stay here and follow in my mother's footsteps, like you humans like to say." The beast was smiling slightly now but turned serious when a voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
"You really can't forgive your father?"
They all turned to see Bugenhagen. The old man was hovering in the air as usual, his bright eyes staring at Red.
"...of course." The beast answered after a moment. "He left mother for dead when the Gi tribe attacked, ran off by himself, leaving us and the people of the Canyon!"
Bugenhagen shook his head sadly and motioned for him to follow. "I wanted to have a talk with you, young lady," he nodded towards Aeris, "but I'm afraid it'll have to wait awhile. Come, Nanaki, there's something you should see. Would a few of your friends come along, the place may be dangerous?"
Barret and Tifa volunteered, but they all followed the elder to a sealed metal door that was on the way to his observatory. Bugenhagen opened it and followed the three in, saying that they might be gone for a few hours and that the others should get some rest. The door slid closed, leaving the rest of Avalanche outside.
"So. What do we do?" Cid asked.
"I think I'll go to the inn. Good night, all." Aeris said and left them. She seemed sad and somehow more alone than usual but the pilot didn't know what he could say to make the girl feel better.
"It's been years since I was here the last time. I'll have a better look around." Cait said and hopped off. That left only Cid and Yuffie.
"I think I'll have a looksie as well..." the ninja said, rubbing her hands together with a sly look on her face.
"Oh no you don't..." Cid muttered and grabbed the girl by the neck of her shirt.
"Hey?! Whaddaya doin'?!" Yuffie screamed when Cid started to drag her towards the inn.
"I'll be damned if I let you steal anything from these folks... you're going to bed like a good girl and you're gonna like it, all right?"
"Forget it old man you're so not my type!"
"Get yer mind outta the gutter, girl!"
"My name's Yuffie!" The ninja struggled to get free from the iron grip but didn't succeed, and eventually let the pilot drag her to the inn. There was no way the man could watch her door all night...
After paying the man at the inn extra for bolting Yuffie's door shut, Cid sighed with relief and wondered if they could just 'forget' the girl when they left. They could, but she'd eventually get out and return to them. He checked the room he had reserved for himself and left his spear there, feeling safe without it. He thought about turning in as well but had too much on his mind to be able to sleep in the next few hours.
"Ah, damn it... where did that Soldier go..."
He asked the bartender downstairs if he knew where Zax lived, and was told to climb up to one of the higher floors of the town. When he eventually found the right ladder that lead there, he could already see the Soldier standing on a small plateau in front of a door that seemed to lead into the stone pillar the city grew on.
"Hiya Cid, likin' the view so far?" Zax asked and flashed him a smile when the panting pilot reached the plateau.
"Shut up wiseass." Cid managed in between gasps of air.
"You know, you really should kick that smoking habit of yours..." the Soldier said and opened the door. "Coming? I have tea."
"Just a minute..." Cid said to have a moment to catch his breath and to take a good look around.
The sky was like a ceiling of dark blue velvet above them, full of bright stars and a few clouds. Far in the west, the horizon was still full of colours, but it was fast growing dark. Everything seemed so peaceful it was hard to believe that he was watching a dying world. Shaking his head, Cid followed the Soldier in and closed the door behind him.
The small room he found himself in was much like the other dwellings here. Walls, ceiling and the floor were of stone, two small windows on both sides of the door gave a marvelous view over the horizon. The floor was covered with warm carpets, and there wasn't much furniture, only a small cabinet, a table and four chairs. Zax was standing in front of a hole in the wall, a door partly covered with a heavy cloth, that lead to another room. The Soldier was watching the pilot with half a smile on his tanned face.
"What're you smilin' at?" Cid asked. Zax just shook his head and motioned for him to sit down. The pilot was happy to obey.
The Soldier also sat down, opposite him. "The tea will be ready in a minute."
Cid nodded, fingering his scarf and looking around in the small room. The door interested him the most, as there clearly wasn't anything unusual about this room. No places to hide...
"Lost something?" Zax asked, and the pilot turned to see him staring, dark-haired head cocked to the side.
"No. Just wonderin' if that crazy blond's around... Tifa, that girl with us, she said the kid died seven years ago." Cid watched the Soldier's face carefully, trying to read his emotions. To his disappointment, Zax just shrugged and turned to watch the kettle to his right, the water ready to boil.
"Isn't that what the Turks said as well?" He muttered and turned back to the pilot. "Look. That was all a lie. Hojo caught him and kept him as a prisoner for two years. Then Seph and I rescued him, and... well. It's a lie. You want cookies with your tea?" The Soldier got up and started to search the cupboard for teacups.
Cid shook his head. "No, gotta watch my figure..."
Zax laughed and set the table. Only when they both had a steaming cup of tea in their hands he answered the question. "He's back there, sleeping. Where's Shera?"
"Last time I saw her was in Midgar. That Barret has a cute lil' daughter, she's taking care of her. When things started to go bad in Midgar, they took off. She said she'd find a safe place and keep the kid safe."
"That's cool. So what's the whole story with this 'blowing up reactors' -deal?" Zax asked and leaned back. Cid ended up telling him the whole story, how they'd ended up in Midgar and met Barret and his small team, then very different than now. That had been a few years ago, and after that they'd planned ways to harass Shin-Ra. Blowing up the reactors had been their latest and most violent act.
"We didn't really have much choice. Shit, we did our worst, but Shin-Ra was unaffected. Pretended that nothing was wrong. Only after the first one went kaboom did they admit that yes, there are terrorists here. We didn't wanna do it, in a way. I mean, we knew people were gonna die. There's always someone in the reactor, 24 hours a day. But after that they couldn't ignore us anymore."
Zax was terrified to hear of the collapse of the Sector 7 plate, enraged for all the innocents who had died. But he remained quiet while Cid spoke, until the pilot mentioned the Masamune in the president's back. That was when his head came up suddenly, and he let out a small noise of surprise. Cid stopped talking but the Soldier begged of him to continue.
When he was done, Cid pulled out a cigarette and lighted it from a candle on the table.
"You shouldn't do that, it's bad luck..." Zax muttered, staring at the small light. Cid snorted. "You know, Nanaki already told me some of that... that you had met Seph... but I didn't know what to think. I still don't."
"Whaddaya mean?" Cid asked and drank the rest of his tea.
"He's alive. He's been alive the past five years, while Cloud and me rotted in hell. Why didn't he come to get us out? He must have known... he left us with that son of a bitch Hojo, knowing what he'd do to us. Why the hell..."
"Don't ask me, kid... I've never understood the minds of the mad. Or women. Unreadable, both. But kid..." unusually serious and kind, Cid leaned closer and caught Zax's eyes, "don't think on it too much. You'll only hurt yourself. You ever get to meet him again, you can ask then. Before that, forget it."
Zax smiled and closed his eyes. "Thanks Cid... I know, but it still eats at me."
Cid looked out of the window to see the pitch black sky and suddenly realized how late it was. His mind was still full of thoughts, even more than before, but he was starting to feel tired.
"Think I'll head to the inn now... take care, kid, see ya in the morning..."
"Yeah, thanks..." Zax got up as well but went to the bedchamber's door. Curious, Cid followed him and peeked into the dark room. When his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he could see a large bed with a person upon it, curled up to a ball underneath a heavy blanket. One blond spike stuck out from the mound.
"He okay?" The pilot whispered, extinguishing his cigarette with the tips of his gloved fingers.
"As well as can be expected. A bit out of it. He'll survive. We both will." Zax muttered and smiled when Cid nodded and just about tiptoed his way to the door.
"Well, g'night."
"See ya, Cid."
The pilot left the small house and climbed back down, just in time to see Barret and Tifa return to the candle. He joined them and they made their way to the inn, where the two quickly told him what had happened before retiring to their rooms. They didn't say much, only that they'd had to battle their way through some caves. Cid hadn't seen Red or Bugenhagen, Barret said that they had stayed behind for a while. The pilot wished he would have gone with them; the fighting would have done him good, from the sound of it he wouldn't have had any time to think.
Cid breathed out a long sigh and lighted a cigarette. He had stepped out for just one more before going to bed himself, and wandered towards the gate. It was darker there, he could see the stars better. He admired them for a while, feeling the pain of never making it up among them. Before he had told himself that 'one day...', but now he was starting to think that there might never be 'one day', not if they couldn't help the planet.
Well, if everything went the worst possible way, at least they would go out with a big bang.
A movement in the corner of his eye startled him, but the pilot kept quiet and just turned to watch as a dark shape slipped from shadow to shadow, making a quick way towards the stairs to the observatory. Cid swore quietly and snubbed out the cig. Of course he didn't have his spear with him.
He blinked and frowned when the shadow stepped into the Candle's light for a second and he recognized Cloud. Great. No sight of Zax anywhere, so the loon had probably escaped... he almost called out at the blond, but stopped himself when he started to wonder what the boy was going to do at the observatory.
Well, he had missed the fight, might as well have SOME excitement... Cid grinned and ran silently after Cloud.
Hiding in shadows as much as the boy was, Cid followed him up the stairs, past the weapons store and up the second stairs. He had expected Cloud to climb the ladder but in stead the blond went straight to the door that Bugenhagen had previously kept sealed.
Now it opened noiselessly when Cloud only touched it.
Cid almost let out a surprised shout and wondered if he should get someone. But once Cloud was through the door it started to close slowly, so the pilot made a quick decision and jumped in.
He made a thud when he landed on the cave's floor, but the boy didn't seem to notice, he was already climbing down the ropes towards the bottom of the cave. The door closed behind him and Cid swore quietly before running to the edge of the cliff.
Cloud climbed down a bit unsurely but quickly, his grip on the rope slipping every now and then. It didn't stop him, though. Cid watched him start on the second one, and lowered himself from the cliff. He wondered if Zax had already noticed that the blond was gone, and if anyone would think of looking for him in here. Because if he'd lose sight of the nutcase and get lost in the caves he'd heard about, he'd have a hard time getting out of here. Ever.
In stead of climbing down all the way to the second ledge, Cid jumped to it and poked his head out just in time to see blond spikes disappear below a lower ledge.
"Shit..." he swore and jumped to the next one, soon catching up enough to have to hide again. Cloud seemed pretty distracted, though, maybe he wouldn't notice the pilot even if Cid walked beside him.
Down they went, one ledge at a time, until Cloud reached the bottom and took off quickly. Cid jumped down from halfway through the rope, stopped to catch his breath -damn –pant- cigarettes, -wheeze- should quit- and ran after him.
It was easier to follow the blond now that he could keep an eye on him all of the time, except when Cloud was momentarily behind a boulder or one of the small hills. But the boy kept walking and didn't disappear into any of the dark caves that opened their maws left and right. Cid was thankful for that but hurried on anyway. Fast enough to almost bump into Cloud when he had suddenly stopped behind a rise of the land. The air here had a strange, greenish glow to it.
The pilot backed away quickly, wondering what was going to happen now. Hopefully the boy hadn't come here for a tryst. If so, he'd go THROUGH the freakin' door--
"'You came, my puppet. Very good.'"
Cid's eyes went wide and he swallowed slowly, trying not to make a noise. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. It WAS a lover's meeting. He closed his eyes tight and hoped he could get the hell out of here before he was noticed.
But five years ago, he had gotten the impression that Zax was smitten with the blond kid. Times and people change, but even then, the Soldier's words and watching Cloud had told him that the boy wasn't completely well yet.
"'Let me look at you. Mm. Yes, you've gained strength since I last saw you. And you look exactly like the original. Hojo may be a fool but he is good.'"
Okay. THAT certainly was unexpected. Cid opened his eyes again, held his breath and peeked around the boulder.
And nearly stumbled, screamed and yearned for a pack of cigarettes and a hard drink. Not necessarily in that order.
Cloud stood not far from him, his back to the pilot, swaying a little on his feet. He was staring up, head cocked to the left a little. The air around him glowed more brightly now, around the blond and the one standing in front of him. No, floating, with his long, silver hair creating a shining halo around the black clothes and pale, smiling face. Mako eyes shone the brightest, green and amused as the General Sephiroth looked down at Cloud. His whole body was slightly translucent, Cid could see the forms of the stones through the man.
"'Is your mind working already? Do you know who you are?'" Sephiroth inquired, descending so that their faces were closer to each other. Cloud just stared. "'Answer me.'"
Cid swallowed and pulled back, leaning his back against the cool stone. He let out a long breath and closed his eyes again, just listening. The General's voice sounded odd, and soon he realized why. The bastard actually sounded nice, and spoke to Cloud kindly.
"...yes. I am Cloud." The blond's voice was quiet but not hesitant like before.
"'Good. And who am I?'" Sephiroth sounded like he had asked the same questions before, like this was some sort of routine.
"Sephiroth."
"'Very good. Now... what is your mission?'"
"...mission?"
"'Yes. Don't you have the feeling that you should go somewhere? Do something?'" Sephiroth sounded slightly irritated now and sighed loudly when Cloud gave no answer. "'Never mind, it will come to you.'"
"Hojo wants me to go to him." Cloud offered, like a child who wanted to please his parent.
"'Ignore him. He is of no importance. You obey me, understand?'"
"...yes."
"'You are a bit of a slow one, aren't you?'"
"...yes?"
"'Your mind probably isn't working well yet, if it ever will. I suppose I spoke good of Hojo too soon. At least he managed to save Zackery.'"
"...I love Zax."
There was a moment of silence in which the air temperature seemed to drop. Cid's eyes popped open when he heard a loud slap, a squeak of pain and a thud when someone, probably Cloud, fell to the ground. The pilot couldn't help it when a surprised sound escaped from his lips. He closed his eyes tight when Sephiroth's heavy, angry breathing stopped. He could imagine the General's icy gaze searching for him.
But no one came to search for him, and when Sephiroth spoke next, his voice was back to the cold and distant one Cid could remember from five years ago. "'Go back now, before they start searching for you. Do not speak of this to anyone. I will talk with you later. Understand?'"
"...yes..."
"'Go now. ...say you fell down some stairs.'"
The glow disappeared almost instantly and Cid dared to breathe again. He could hear Cloud moving on the ground, sobbing quietly, probably trying to get up. The pilot moved to the other side of the rise, to keep away from the blond's way, and closed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he'd just heard and seen.
Exactly like the original? Mission? Sephiroth controlled Cloud? Well, this confirmed that the General being alive and around wasn't necessarily a good thing.
He stayed out of sight when Cloud walked past him a few minutes later, back to the ropes. He only saw the boy's back, not the damage Sephiroth had inflicted on him. He followed when Cloud was just out of sight, up the same way they had come. The door opened with a touch again, and Cid managed to slip out just before it closed. Only then he dared to breathe deep again.
Cloud headed down the stairs and Cid followed, although now he wasn't too careful about not being seen anymore. He'd make sure the kid got back home safely, and then he'd have ten cigarettes.
Cid stopped to the top of the stairs after the weapons shop and sat down, digging through his pockets for the matches. He watched as Cloud got as far as the Candle when Zax, standing on the gate with the guard, noticed him and ran to the blond.
"Cloud! Where the hell..." the Soldier lowered his voice and Cid couldn't hear the rest but could imagine it.
Puppet. No wonder Zax seemed to avoid talking about the blond. He watched the two head home and shook his head, pulling a cigarette from his goggles.
Sephiroth returned to his body and cursed. He had no wish to go to the Canyon, so he had always contacted this puppet with his spirit form. The problem with that was that he couldn't catch possible eavesdroppers even if he saw them. He had hoped to establish a better link with the puppet, now that its mind was working better, but then he had heard that small noise. Had there been someone else in the cave? Had someone heard them? Who? Someone from the Avalanche or a villager? He hadn't expected that the group would meet Zackery and the puppet, even though he had known that the red beast was from Cosmo Canyon and was returning home. Of course the rest of the group would go to town as well. When had he become so careless in his plans? What would it mean to him that they had met?
/You give too much credit to those worms, my son. They can not harm us, or change the destiny of this planet. If you must hang on to them, take them only as entertainment. That is all they can be to us./
Her words soothed his mind and pushed the doubts into hiding. She was right, he was going to be a god after all. What could little humans do to him?
A.N: Hmm, that should be all the pieces of the puzzle... please leave a review if you liked it! And especially if you didn't! :) And now for something completely different!
Sing along with Cid!
Mako in the mine
Cid steps to the stage, straightening his scarf, an unlit ciggie hanging from his mouth. Shera and Tifa are behind him, in matching skirts, the kind miners wives and daughters wear in those old movies, you know, dots and frills and stuff, their hair braided, ready to sing backup. Cid lights the cigarette when the music starts.
The rest are sitting around a table, in front of the stage. Cid walks down as he starts singing, and puts his hands on Aeris' shoulder.
"The woman who's blue, she's looking to win,
"the girl in pink -- that's you -- says she has no kin.
"The river is swollen up with souls of men
"and the trees are burning in your Promised Land."
Tifa and Shera join in in the chorus while Cid moves to his next victim
"And there are no letters in the mailbox,
"and there are no grapes upon the vine,
"and there are no chocobos in the fields anymore,
"and there is no Mako in the mine."
He grabs Zax in a tight headlock and points at him with the hand that holds the microphone, while the cigarette hangs from his lip
"Well, you tell me that your lover has a broken mind,
"you say you're kind of restless now and it's on account of him.
"Well, I saw the man in question, it was just the other night,
"he was talking with a General where the lions and Gi tribe fight."
Zax, surprised, turns to Cloud when Cid finally releases him and returns to the stage. Cloud blushes a bit and shrugs.
"And there are no letters in the mailbox
"and there are no grapes upon the vine,
"and there are no chocobos in the fields anymore,
"and there is no Mako in the mine.
"You tell them now.
"Ah, there is no comfort in the reactor of the witch,
"some very clever professor went and sliced up the bitch,
"and the only man of energy, yes the good professor's pride,
"he trained a hundred Soldiers just to kill a Wutaian child.
"And there are no letters in the mailbox,
"oh no, there are no, no grapes upon your vine,
"and there are, there are no chocobos in your fields anymore,
"and there is no Mako in your mine."
Cid's voice rises into a really raspy scream. The girls sing in tune but he lets it rip.
"And there are no letters in the mailbox,
"and there are no grapes upon the vine,
"and there are no chocobos in your fields anymore,
"and there is no Mako in your mine."
Cid bows and swears as he heads to the bar.
Leonard Cohen: Diamonds in the Mine, from Songs of Love and Hate.
Very, VERY big apologies to mr. Leonard Cohen, as if he should ever read this. Seriously, this is how I imagine Cid to sound. So perfect, especially at the end.