Okay, This chapter took me longer than usual because of all the stupid homework I had. Not that anyone cares…I haven't had a review from anyone in a while (Except CryptGirl! Thanks!) That can only it not very good. Well, imma try to get things spiced up a little, maybe that'll attract more readers…

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 belongs to Squaresoft!

Chapter 5

"We've decided to go." Cloud announced. "We can leave this afternoon, but only if everyone is ready."

He had talked to all of the Avalanche members separately asking their opinion; it was unanimous that they should go.

It was early Saturday morning and the sun was out. Most people were still sleeping. Including today, it had been three days since they found Shade. Everyone was warmed up to him by now, but some still didn't trust him quite yet. Cloud supposed it was because they'd only known him a short amount of time.

One of the only reasons Cloud had agreed to this at all was because it involved the Ancients. Cloud had reason to believe that if the Promised Land was found, he might see her again, because she has been an Ancient. For a while now Cloud had been thinking of a way to see her again. The only way he could think of was to find the Promised Land, and hope he might find her there.

"Sounds good to me" Shade replied, making some coffee.

"I have a question for you…. How in the name of Cid can you drink that stuff?" Cloud asked, keeping as far from the stuff as possible.

"Cid's name again huh?" he chuckled "A friend of mine got me into the habit. I'm hoping she'll meet me sometime tomorrow when we leave."

"She from the academy?" Cloud asked.

Shade nodded "One of my closest friends. She's the only one, other than me, who left the academy instead of staying to teach."

"She must be pretty restless."

"She is, sometimes Yuffie reminds me of her." Said Shade, smirking.

"Oh great, the last thing we need…another Yuffie" Said Cid, walking into the room in his pajamas.

"Good morning." said Shade. It was 7am, and the place stunk with the smell of coffee.

"Good morning to you too." Cid replied. He scrunched up his nose as if he smelled rotten eggs and making faces would make it go away…."What's that awful smell?" he wondered aloud.

"The deathly aroma of coffee…" Cloud told him, smiling.

"Yuck" Cid mumbled, "I hate coffee. It's gross"

"But you're a pilot aren't you? I thought all pilots drank coffee…" said Shade.

"Not this one. It's just plain disgusting." Cid told him, flopping down on the couch.

Shade faced Cloud with a questioning look on his face, Cloud just shrugged.

"O…k, well I'm going to go and take a shower if that's okay. And I'll need to pack a few things." Shade said, getting up to head for the bathroom. He paused "Oh yeah. Cid? I need my sword at some point…"

"Oh yeah…right. I forgot, sorry. I'll have it for you by the time you get out, just let me dress first." Cid said.

"Yeah I should go and get dressed too..." Cloud said.

"So…where do we go first?" Yuffie asked, apparently cheerful about taking a trip.

They had left the bar about two ours ago and was in a forest in the middle of nowhere…Red said he would stay and watch the place and Marlene until their neighbor was available. He needed the extra sleep anyway. Their neighbor was usually kind enough to watch the bar for them sometimes…

"I don't know, ask the guy in charge." Cid griped. He turned to face Cloud, "Where are we headed anyway?"

"Well…" said Cloud, exchanging looks with Shade, "Shade said he wanted to meet someone on the way to help us."

"Another one, eh?" asked Barret.

"She's not that bad." Shade said, "I was able to tolerate her for a near 10 years."

"That must have been fun." Said Tifa, her mind drifting to what went on between Shade and this mystery girl he kept telling them about.

"It was alright. She was a pain most of the time though, but don't tell her I told you that." He told them.

"So…" said Cid, changing the subject, "Where are we supposed to meet her?"

"She said she was going to meet us…" Shade told them.

"Meet us? She doesn't even know where 'we' are. How can she even find us?" asked Yuffie.

"I don't have the slightest clue, it was just something she could always do." He told them "You should've seen her when we were kids and played hide and seek or capture the flag, she always came out on top when it came to stealth and tracking, she never told us how she could do it though…Although she did mention something about it being in her blood, but I don't know what she meant by that."

"Well we don't have the time to wait up for her, she's just going to have to find us on her own…" said Barret

"I'm sure she knows. I'm guessing we'll meet her before sunset tomorrow…" said Shade.

"Good. That way we don't have to wai-"

But Barret had been cut off by something jumping from the trees on top of him. He was brought down to the ground by something that had vanished before anyone could get a glimpse of what, or whom, it was…

"What the bloody hell…"

Well? What you think so far? I know they're all short, but I promise to work on it. I'm on a tight schedule this week so give me some slack. Hopefully I'll have the next one up b the end of the week, but no promises there…REVIEW PLEASE!