This is the first chapter of my first fanfic in about 7 years. But hopefully my writing has improved a little since then... Anyway, it's basically telling the story of Yuffie before she met Cloud and the guys. Enjoy, and please leave your opinions!
Disclaimer: Do I really have to write this, I mean it's quite obvious I own absolutely nothing here. That's why it's a fanfic right? Anyway, I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of it's characters, I'm not using it for profit, etc. etc.
Flying the Nest
Chapter 1: It Begins...
Wutai. The great city of ninjas, water gods, and undying hope. The backdrop for the Great War, in which the mighty Sephiroth spilt the blood of many on its soil. Home of the great Da-Chao, a legend amongst historians all over the planet. Popular tourist resort, boasting the Turtle's Paradise bar, serving the best cocktails this side of the Gold Saucer. Wutai's days of glory were over, its greatest achievement of the past five years being the refurbishment of the weapon shop. Not that it was used by anyone other than Lord Godo and his students these days.
Godo was sat atop his five storey pagoda, having just finished a training session with his students. Looking down onto the forecourt below, he sensed that the battle he was about to witness could have a far greater impact than anything he'd seen during the war.
"Don't mess with me brat! I mean it; I am not in the mood!" Yuffie Kisaragi thrust her four-pointed Shuriken at the small boy standing before her.
"I was just wondering why you happen to be making the least progress. Especially with you being Master Godo's daughter and all."
"Least progress!" Yuffie cried, a hint of disbelief in her voice, "Puh-lease shortstuff, I could take you with one arm tied behind my back!"
"Yuffie, you're such a child-" The boy began.
"Look who's talking!"
"I may be young, but my skill, prowess and maturity are of a much higher level than yours."
"Ya think?" Yuffie entered her combat stance; she'd been working on it all week, under the watchful eye of her father, "Well bring it Shake; we'll see who's immature!"
Shake sighed, bringing his arms up from his side, into a combat-ready position. As Yuffie lunged at him with her Shuriken, he dodged effortlessly to the side, causing her to stumble and lose her footing. Picking herself up off of the floor she entered her stance again and waited for her opponents attack. The boy ran at her, dodging every attack she threw at him, and punched her in the stomach.
"Gah…" Yuffie gasped for air; the little brat had winded her. Staggering to her feet she pointed her weapon at him, "You little cheat!"
"I think we've established where we both stand Yuffie," Shake said coolly, "Maybe you should ask Master Godo for a few extra lessons, I'm sure he'd be more than willing to make you work."
"Hey… Who said… We're… Finished yet?" Yuffie asked slowly, still trying to catch her breath.
Ignoring her, Shake walked off, leaving the crestfallen rookie hunched over the steps to the Pagoda of the Five Gods. She longed to be accepted as a ninja, and one day take over the large tower that loomed before her. As the daughter of the current Master, she would be next in line to assume the position, but if her skills did not improve, it was more likely to go to Shake, or one of Godo's other talented students. Oh how she resented Shake. The little pipsqueak just waltzed into the Pagoda one day asking for 'Lord' Godo to train him, and within a few weeks, he's one of the favourites! Downright despicable, favouring that little brat over his own flesh and blood.
"Yuffie!"
"Dad!" Yuffie jumped up.
"I hope I wasn't thinking out loud again!" she thought, smiling innocently.
"I saw your fight with Shake…" Godo began.
"I let him win!" Yuffie blurted out quickly, "You don't really think I'd lose to a little kid do you?"
"Yuffie, Shake is one of my more powerful students. Frankly, I'd have been surprised if you hadn't lost."
"Oh great Dad, I'm so glad you've got so much faith in me." Yuffie huffed, turning her back on the large man standing at the top of the stairs.
"Yuffie, the fact is, you're a terrible ninja," He began, ignoring the shocked look on his daughters face as she quickly turned around to face him, "Now, I think it's quite obvious you need extra training. Meet me at the statue of Da-Chao in an hour."
Yuffie stood open mouthed, staring at her father as he made his way back into the pagoda. How dare he? A terrible ninja? She'd show him, she'd show everyone in Wutai what a ninja she could be. She stomped off to her house in the West side of the city, ignoring the greeting from a group of tourists outside the weapon shop as she passed. There were far too many of those guys around lately. Didn't they have anything better to do than tramp around her town taking pictures of the most mundane household objects?
"Terrible…" she muttered to herself, slamming open her door, "Fat, lazy, so called 'Master' has the audacity to call me terrible!" Realising she was now shouting at Howie, her chocobo stuffed toy, she began to calm down.
"I'm sorry Howie, but I am just so cheesed off," she said apologetically, as she stuffed a small backpack with clean clothes and a few dry biscuits, "But I'll show him, I'll bring glory to the city! I'll be a hero!"
Howie just gave her a look that said "Here we go again. Something terrible is going to happen, I just know it."
"Don't give me that look Howie, I mean it this time," Yuffie said sternly, pointing at her bag, "Now get in; I'm not leaving you behind."
The statue of Da-Chao overlooked Wutai, it's many faces bearing down on the city, giving you the feeling that you were constantly being watched. Yuffie had always found it strangely comforting though; knowing that the city's guardians were always there. Legend had it that the statue was created by the water god Leviathan, to protect the city in his absence.
As Yuffie climbed the mountain, she began to feel a little nervous. Looking out at the surrounding wilderness, she realised she'd never actually set foot more than a few hundred yards out of the city.
"I'm starting to have second thoughts about this Howie," She began, "You know, I'm sure Dad didn't mean that whole thing about me being a terrible ninja. I think I can find it in my heart to forgive him."
"Yuffie? Are you talking to yourself?"
"Oh! Hi Dad!"
"Get a move on Yuffie, we've got a lot of work to do," Godo said, grabbing his young student, "A lot of work."
"Of course Dad, I just wanna make you proud y'know"
"It'll be a long time before that happens Yuffie."
"Oh that is it!" Yuffie thought, "There is no way I'm forgiving that obstinate pig!"
"Now, we'll start with a bit of meditation, go and-"
"I've had enough Dad, I'm leaving the city."
"What?"
"I'm leaving."
"How do you expect to become a ninja if you leave the city? You will bring shame upon Wutai!"
"I'll bring shame to Wutai? You've already done that! What happened to the great and powerful Wutai from the stories and legends? You've turned it into a cheesy resort town!"
Godo opened his mouth to respond, but apparently thought better of it, a hurt look growing on his face.
"Yuffie," He began, a hint of embarrassment in his voice, "I lost the war… It's true; I have brought shame upon Wutai. But since then… We have no power anymore. The Shinra took all of our materia, and we haven't been able to get anymore into the city. Materia is made by condensing Mako energy. And to do that, you need Mako reactors, which just so happen to be all owned by Shinra. I'm sorry Yuffie. I've only been harsh on you because I don't want you to become a failure like me…"
Yuffie stood staring at her father for a few minutes, while he stared off over the city. She hadn't really thought about what she was going to do once she'd left the city, but now she knew what she had to do.
"Materia? That's what all this about? So if I were to find a lot of powerful materia we'd be able to bring glory back to Wutai right?"
Godo didn't answer, he just continued to look into the distance.
"I mean it, I can do this."
Godo turned to his daughter, an anxious look on his face, "You're not ready Yuffie, you can't…"
"Don't start Dad!" Yuffie pointed her finger at him, "I am going to leave the city, I'm going to find us some materia, and I'm going to become the best darn ninja Wutai has ever seen!"
"I'm just worried about you Yuffie…"
"Don't worry Dad, I've got Howie with me," Yuffie exclaimed cheerfully, "Now I've got a lot of work to do, no time to waste!"
Before Godo could open his mouth to say anything, Yuffie was skipping down the mountain, whistling cheerfully.
"Who's Howie?"