Notes: MMmm...alot of jokes in this chapter. Comedy is good for the brain

III

The Search for Vincent Valentine

"I told you I still had it." The storage door opened with a bang and Cloud gestured toward the red and yellow buggy.

"Uh…does it work anymore?" Tifa ran one gloved finger over the windshield. It took off about an inch of dust, and she looked skeptical.

"'Course it does Tif," Cloud walked over the door of the vehicle, and put his hand on the handle, "You just have to…" he struggled to open the door, "Show it…" more struggling, "Some LOVE!" The handle broke off as Cloud yanked on it with all his might.

"Yeah…love." Tifa rolled her eyes, "Lets just rent a car."

"No way, this one WORKS." Cloud finally pulled the door open with a giant creaking sound, and got in. Fumbling for the key in his jeans, he motioned for Tifa to get in.

"Nope. Not doin' it."

"C'mon Tif…we don't have enough money rent a car." A hand fell her shoulder and looked over to see Loki smiling, "Maybe we should trust him. After all, it would take too long to walk." Tifa sighed, "You don't know Cloud…"

With a sputter; the engine came life and backfired, causing both of them to jump. "Get in already!" He yelled over the cranking noise coming from the car. Tifa threw up her hands and gave in.

"You know where we're going, right?"

"Course I do. We go north."

"Actually it's west…"

"I thought more of east…"

"North damnit!"

"Cloud, we'll hit the forest if we go north!"

"I'm sure we'll hit one going east too."

"Um…guys…" Loki said over the bickering in the front seat, "We need to go through the gate, people are starting to yell." They had been sitting at the gate for a full 15 minutes, and traffic was building up behind them. A series of horns were starting to go off, and Cloud, thoroughly exasperated, floored it forward.

"Slow DOWN you manic!"

"Not until you say we're going North!"

"You're going to kill us all!"

"Say it Tifa!" He glared over at her, almost hitting a tree, if Loki hadn't pulled the wheel to the right. Cloud hit the brakes, and she nearly flew into the front seat. Tifa's head cracked against the dashboard, and she cursed loudly.

"Never touch the wheel!" Cloud looked over the seat, at Loki lying sprawled on the floor.

"Fine, next time we'll just run into the tree."

"Stop it all of you!" Tifa yelled, rubbing her soon to be bruised forehead, "Okay…where are we going?"

"The island of Nagri is north of Wutai, I suggest we head to that direction.

"We should get more people though, if the island is as dangerous as you say." Tifa closed her eyes in though, then she snapped her fingers.

"I got it! Let's find Vincent."

"Vincent? Mr. Apathetic ex-Turk?" Cloud raised an eyebrow, "We don't even know where to start."

It was true. After the meteor incident, Vincent had left while they were in Costa Del Sol. He had left a simple note at the check in counter for them, saying that he was going somewhere quiet, where he could live in peace.

"But he IS a good fighter." Tifa pointed out.

"Still…"

"What about the ShinRA mansion?" They both looked back at Loki, who was smoothing out her hair, "It's the only quiet place I can think of. Besides, I don't think he would go start a new life anywhere…"

"Okay, then we'll head to Nibelheim." Cloud nodded and drove off.

Hours later, the sun was setting, and Tifa was asleep in the front. Cloud drove without blinking, and Loki was gazing out the window. Suddenly, she pricked up her ears. In the back, Blade did the same, his fur ruffling and he began to growl at the sky. Loki looked back at him, then saw what he was staring at.

"Cloud…" she said very slowly, "Stop the car, and wake up Tifa."

"Why? What is it?"

"Trouble, just do it." For once, the blond haired man didn't argue, and shut off the engine. Loki stepped out of the car, followed closely by Blade who growled louder. Cloud stepped out as well, drawing his trusty sword, followed by a yawning Tifa.

"What's up guys?" Cloud looked up to the sky, and Tifa gasped a little. Something was swirling in the clouds, making them ebony colored. The wind began to pick up, and they all tensed up. Cloud looked over at Loki, who had drawn the Masamune. She was looking up at it with terrified eyes. He felt a little uneasy himself, the wind had changed and a strange smell, the rancid smell of death, had come around them.

Then everything stopped. The sky hung still and all was silent. Tifa tried to speak, but found that no words came. Her hand went to her throat, and a spike of fear was injected into her bloodstream. As soon as it had stopped, it all came crashing down in a flood. A giant black monster hit the ground with tremendous force, throwing them all off their feet. It was at least 30 stories tall, with gleaming black scales. It looked like a dragon on two feet, but instead of arms, it had whipping tentacles. Four eyes opened on it's massive head, all blood red and gleaming; it opened a mouth with rows and rows of ivory teeth, and let out a tremendous roar. The mere sound of it, defened them, and Blade attacked first. He jumped at it, his size dwarfed and it at one of the tentacles. Instantly, it wrapped him up and they could hear the cracking of bones as he was drawn up into a mouth that was in the middle of the tangled mass.

Loki screamed with rage, and charged. "COME BACK!" Tifa yelled and ran after her. Jumping in the air, she punched the creature in the stomach, as Loki sliced off it tentacles, like she was slicing hot butter. Flying back, Tifa shook her head violently, punching that thing was like punching steel, she would need materia for this. Pulling out a shining green orb, she clutched it, and conjured up searing flames, igniting the monsters left arm.

Cloud held up a red orb and yelled, "BAHAMUT!" The giant black dragon came down from the sky, and was instantly eaten by the monster. Cloud gawked, "Damnit!" He rushed forward with his sword held high.

Another fire blast came from Tifa, followed by ice. Loki catapulted off the monster and yelled, "STAND BACK!" Her hands began to glow and she pushed her energy into the sword. It pulsated and glowed white. Racing forward, she jumped high, till she towered over the creature and thrust down with her blade. Screaming, she drove the monsters head in two, and a spark of hope rose in Tifa's stomach. Taking the opportunity, she used the Ultima materia, the green beams throwing the creature back.

Loki tried to jump off the creature again, but a tentacle grabbed her ankle. It whipped her around in the air, and threw her into the ground. The audible sound of something cracking was heard, and she cried out.

Seeing Loki fall, Cloud grabbed a cure materia and cast it. As the sparkles fell down on her, the creature grabbed him and pulled him towards it's gaping mouth.

Tifa, horrified, saw the creature's head pull itself back together, strand by strand, like some sort of black goo. Hearing a wild cry, she saw Cloud being taken up and ran after him. Grabbing onto another tentacle, she cast lighting and the creature shook as the electricity shot up it's body. Cloud fell to the ground, a little burnt, but otherwise fine, and in the corner of her she saw Loki standing up.

Loki, put two fingers to her enhanced eye. Closing them, she could feel the great power surging up from her body and into her eye. Lowering her fingers, she opened her eyes and let loose a blast that would later create a 50 foot crater. It was a giant white beam, that burst into the chest of the monster. Hitting the mark, it staggered back, then, curiously, stood still. Everyone did as well, and then Loki remembered the after effect of the power. It caused her enemies to blow up.

Turning, she started to yell for them to get down, when it swelled up and blew, sending mixed chunks of green blood and black goo across the landscape. The shockwave threw them into the air, and she could see the azure ocean flying below them.

We're done for…it's all my fault…

She closed her eyes in sorrow, and waited for the end to come.