Chapter 4

The path they took appeared dull and dreary to Yuffie, but she followed the enigmatic swordsmen without complaint. There had been little talk between herself and Cloud since he had appeared suddenly at the breaking dawn. When told about young ninja's adventure with the wolf and the woman the previous night he had merely given her a mysterious little half-smile and shrugged. Before she knew it they were on the trail again, leaving the farmer's wife greedily counting the gil Cloud had given her. The corpse of her husband lying nearby seemed to stir no interest within her whatsoever.

Cloud stopped the trip early that day, looking darkly up at a sky overcast with his namesakes. The hawk perched on his left gauntlet squawked her disappointment at the gray horizon as well. Declaring it poor weather for traveling, he ordered Yuffie to once again tend to his mount.

"Come on Sleepy!" Yuffie cried, as Cloud frowned at the little pet-name she had given his chocobo. "Just hold still while I tie you! I'm lucky to be alive, you know!" She glared at Cloud who had yet to show the slightest concern in regards to her trauma. "I thought that wolf would've kill me!" Having finished tying up Sleipnir for the night, she sunk down by the chocobo's clawed feet. "But it tore the farmer's throat out and left me alone... And that woman... with that pale skin and deep, green eyes... there was something odd about her, I'm sure of it! But her voice... she sounded like an angel!"

Cloud perked up for the first time. "She spoke?" he whispered with a strange intensity. "What did she say?"

"Nothing much." huffed Yuffie, still miffed with him for not showing any interest in her. "I asked her if I was dreaming... and she said I was!" the young kunoichi scratched her short-coifed head, still confused over the events. Cloud chuckled slightly. "I'm not crazy you know!' She yelled at him, annoyed. "A real friend would believe me..."

"I believe you." Cloud assured her earnestly. "I believe in dreams."

"Ha, ha..." Yuffie replied mirthlessly as she lay back against Sleipnir to sulk. The chocobo kwehed softly in minor annoyance.

"This lady..." Cloud brought up his unusual black hawk to his eyes as he continued. "Did she give her name?"

Yuffie thought a moment. "Not that I remember... why?"

"Well, perhaps she'll journey into my dreams..." Cloud replied with one of his barely perceptible half-smiles as he continued to stare at his hawk. "Wouldn't it be nice if I could call her by name as if we met before?" He looked at Yuffie, a strange longing in his bright, blue eyes. "I've waited a long time for such a lady." His pensive mood passing as quickly as it came, he then leaned back against a nearby tree and yawned. "Now get some sleep." he advised in a tired voice. "The birds will alert us if anything comes."

Yuffie rubbed Sleipnir's leg worriedly, ignoring his little wark of irritation. "I've got to be out of my mind Lord Leviathan. Out of my mind..."

-

The dream came once again to Cloud... the dream of his happiest day...

"What are we doing here, Aerith?" the young squire moaned as they pranced over the foothills of the nearby Mythril Mountains. They had journeyed far from Aquila, and though Cloud had enjoyed the time with Aerith, he grew worried that some of the less friendlier wildlife may be out.

"I told you, there's someone we have to meet!" The flower girl favored him with a mock frown, her sweet nature and fondness for her friend making any real annoyance impossible. "Now stop complaining and help me up over this ridge!"

"As milady commands..." Cloud grinned wryly. The constant trips out together had made them more familiar, though it did not lessen his feeling for her. He joked with her not so much to make himself laugh, but to repay her some of the joy she had brought him.

"That's better!" Aerith replied with a delighted giggle, purposefully ignoring his sarcasm. Suddenly she stopped him. "There he is..!" She whispered in delight, staring down from the rocky ridge at a small valley below.

Cloud looked down and saw a wild chocobo, a black-feathered one, incredibly rare. Black chocobos were the fastest and strongest of the noble breed, with only the legendary lost golds beating them out. And even then it was said blacks bested golds in bravery and loyalty.

Still, the squire knew this was no ipooh. Wild chocobos could be quite aggressive. "We had better steer away from him, Aerith..."

The beautiful flower girl turned to favor him with one of her dazzling smiles. "Why would we do that? He's the one we came to see! Now wait here a minute oh knightly one, I'm going to go and introduce myself!" She turned to walk towards the beast.

Cloud grabbed her arm. "Are you crazy..!" he hissed, his face showing his fear for her. "That's a wild animal! It's not like the ones in the Bishop's pens! Wild chocobos have been known to attack people when provoked!"

Aerith placed her hand on his and smiled reassuringly to him. "Don't worry Cloud. I know what I'm doing."

"Aerith, I can't just let you..."

"You know I trust you, right Cloud?" she asked him sweetly. Grimacing, he was forced to nod his agreement, though for the life of him he did not know why she trusted him so implicitly. Surely there were others much more capable then he. But Aerith merely grinned happily at his nod. "Than I'm asking you to trust me. Just wait here." She turned and walked off slowly towards the ebony bird leaving Cloud with a pained look of worry on his handsome face.

Aerith reached the chocobo who reared up and warked in surprise. Cloud hissed and reached for his sword. But before he could draw it, the animal settled and stared at Aerith with a curious look in his black eyes. She reached out a gentle hand with a smile. The chocobo reached out its neck tentatively, then drew back a little. It reached out again and nuzzled her hand cautiously. "That's it..." whispered the flower girl, as she petted the chocobo. The wild bird kwehed softly. She looked at Cloud who was staring at the scene in wonder. "You can come over now." she called softly.

Cloud approached as hesitantly as the chocobo had. While wary of the bird, he could not help noticing its fine lines and unusual size. It's black feathers glossed like pure night, and it's dark-pupiled golden eyes regarded him with a proud, confident gaze. Truly this was a prince among chocobos! He turned to regard his female friend with awe. "Aerith... how did you do this?"

"Do what?" she laughed softly, but merrily.

"Tame this wondrous beast!"

Aerith laughed again as she shook her head. "I didn't tame anything! He's been waiting for us here! Or rather, he's been waiting for you here. I just wanted to say hello before you boys became friends!"

"Waiting... what do you mean?"

"You said you needed a chocobo to become a knight, correct?" Cloud nodded dumbly. "Well, our new friend here will be your steed! He's all excited about it, aren't you?" She patted the black's great neck, bringing a contented kweh from his throat.

"You brought me to him?" Cloud asked, still awestruck. "You did this... for me?"

"Of course." she smiled shyly. "I would do anything for you, Cloud."

Cloud blushed furiously from her words. He scratched the back of his head, a tell-tale sign of his nervousness. Aerith stifled a tender laugh at his mannerisms. "But, how can you tell what he wants... what he's thinking?"

The young lady looked at the ground, her smile fading a bit. "I've always been... close to nature. It's a gift from my mother. She was the same way." She looked back up at her dear friend. "Do you like him Cloud?"

Cloud nodded, overcome with gratitude at what the flower girl had done for him. "Tis a princely gift, Aerith. I- I don't know what to say."

"Thank you's always good." She lifted her eyebrow archly at him, her emerald eyes twinkling with amusement.

Cloud bowed his head with feeling. "Thank you milady." He received no verbal response, but instead felt her hands on his face brining up his eyes to meet her own. She stared at him for a moment, then smiled gently, as if to encourage him. Cloud brought his own gloved hand up to her cheek and stroked it softly. She closed her eyes and massaged his hand back, sighing in contentment. Cloud could no longer hold back. He bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. Aerith returned the kiss for a moment before pulling back and smiling joyfully at him, her brilliant eyes sparkling like the twilight. For the first time since she had met him, Cloud returned the smile in full. With a delighted laugh, she threw her arms around the young squires neck and kissed him passionately, his lips becoming lost in her own.

Aerith pulled back again, a little regretfully. "Come on." she urged, unshed tears of joy in her eyes. "Let's see how fast he is!" She gestured him to mount his new chocobo.

Cloud nodded, his own sapphire orbs twinkling with feeling at what they had just shared. Though disappointed the kiss was over, he knew in his heart there would be others. And he was excited to see just what this chocobo could do. He jumped up on the bird's back deftly, and pulled Aerith up behind him.

"What will you name him?" she asked, encircling her arms around his waist and placing her chin on his broad shoulder.

Cloud considered a moment. "How about Sleipnir?" he asked. He looked back and saw her confused look and grinned at her. "In Nibelheim, the village I'm from, there is a legend of a storm king who lives deep in the mountains. He wields a sword of thunder and a spear of lightning and rides a four-winged black chocobo, the fastest in the world. That chocobo was called 'Sleipnir'. The greatest chocobo who ever lived. This one reminds me of that legend."

Aerith nodded. "Naturally." she replied proudly. "You didn't think I'd give my boyfriend just any old bird, did you?"

Cloud smiled back at her, more due to the single word 'boyfriend' than anything else. He kissed her sweetly on the cheek causing her to giggle. "All right," he put his heels deftly to Sleipnir's sides to guide him. "Let's see what a legend can do!" Like a bolt, Sleipnir was off, carrying his excited, laughing companions across the hills.

In the distance a lone rider sat on his own chocobo, a great white. Cruel eyes looked down on the two lovebirds, as a pleased yet twisted smile formed on the proud face of Commander Baigan. Cloud's dreams were not the only ones coming true. Now the arrogant soldier had just what he needed to bring the wrath of the ruler of Aquila on the two he hated and despised most.

-

His Grace, the Bishop of Aquila felt pensive as he watched the graceful dancer perform in his beautiful garden. Though no other man could find fault with the lithe, ethereal vision who twirled and glided solely for his benefit, the Bishop could not help but detect minute traces of imperfection upon her. He sighed as she performed a particularly difficult step with amazing skill. He had seen unearthly beauty. He had known her. How could he hope to be satisfied with mere mortal images? And what's more as one of the most powerful men in the world, why should he? His gray eyes flared for a moment as he remembered the heavenly creature who had tried to thwart his advances. Despite the great desire he felt, still his anger could not be assuaged. She would come to her senses! He would force her to, if need be!

The Bishop was interrupted in his thoughts by the sudden cessation of his dancer's performance. How dared she? No one stopped working in Aquila unless ordered by him! Looking at her in fury, he noticed her glancing at the aperture leading back to the castle where a soggy, dirty Captain of the Aquiline Guard stood.

The Bishop turned back to glaring at his dancer, whose face paled as she realized there would be punishment later. "Have you found the thief, Yuffie the Mouse?"

Baigan looked down at the ground in shame. "She is not in my custody at this time, Your Grace."

The Bishop turned his furious glare on his vassal. "Then why do you invade my garden unwashed, unshaved? Do you think you will find her here?"

Baigan sighed briefly before meeting his lord's gaze. "Strife has returned."

If the gaze of the Bishop of Aquila had been fierce before those words were spoken, it now turned absolutely deadly. His gray hawkish eyes took on such a dreadful intensity that it seemed to the Captain they would burn straight through him. Despite the hatred evident on every angle of his face, though, the Bishop's voice was deceptively calm. "Walk with me." he said simply. Baigan made to follow.

"Where?" The holy man inquired after a silence of some moments.

"Near Gabrosh. He seems to be in league with the thief."

"Is she with him?"

"Your Grace?" replied Baigan, pretending as if he did not understand the question.

The Bishop stopped and glared at him, his look so hateful Baigan thought it possible for the first time that looks could indeed kill. "Don't play with me, Baigan. Was the hawk with him?"

Baigan nodded grimly. "Yes, Your Grace."

"Why does she stay with him? Why does she not return to me?" Baigan knew the questions were not asked of him. He could see the Bishop lost in his own thoughts for a moment, ending with a violent shudder that seemed to cause pain to the whole frame of the tall, emaciated holy man. He turned back to Baigan. "The hawk is not to be touched, do you understand? Do what you want with the traitor Strife, but the day she is harmed a new Captain of the Aquiline Guard will preside over your execution." Baigan paled under the withering stare of his lord as he slowly nodded his understanding.

The Bishop continued to walk through the rows of gorgeous foliage that she had left behind. "We live in difficult times, Baigan." He preached, spreading his arms as his pure white robes fluttered in the breeze. 'This long drought has emptied my coffers at just such a time I need gold the most. I attempt to increase the taxes and the people tell me there is nothing left to tax... Imagine!" He cried looking to the heavens. "That those peasant dolts would refuse me a pecuniary request! As if they did not all owe their lives to me!" He stared intently at his Captain. "Let it be known to you and all others that to refuse me is to refuse the Cetran God Himself!"

Baigan bowed deeply, used to the Bishop's arrogant outbursts. "Of course, Your Grace."

The Bishop did not acknowledge his acquiescence as his flinty eyes turned to the sky. "But last night... one of the archangels came to me with this message. A demon walks this land. He must be destroyed so that our suffering may end. He spreads the word of the Calamity herself, and his name... is Cloud Strife." He turned his baleful eyes back on the Captain. "Find them. And do not fail me again!" With a wave of dismissal the Bishop walked along to a flower-covered verandah. As Baigan strolled off the holy man noticed a wolf's head violet.

He turned to one of his priests as he clapped his hands authoritatively. "Summon Gustav!" he cried. The priest bowed with a "Yes, Your Grace" and stumbled off. The Bishop continued to stroke the wolfish flower, his thoughts turning even more hateful as he thought of his worst day.

The wolf's head violet lay within his thin, pallid fingers. He stared at the flower with a hateful intensity. This simply could not be! "You are sure you saw them?" he asked, his calm tone belieing the turbulent storm of anger which boiled within him.

Commander Baigan nodded, his eyes almost joyful at exposing the two. "It's just as the old drunk told you it would be, Your Grace. She gave him the gift and he... expressed his gratitude to her in a most... intimate way." Baigan's suggestive tone left no doubt to what he implied.

The violet was suddenly crushed in a shaking, bony fist. The holy man turned to his vassal. "Bring her to me." he commanded, his voice shaking slightly with rage. "If she is with him... kill him."

Though his lips remained steady, the commander's eyes lit up with a passionate, crazed triumph. "As you wish, Your Grace." he bowed, moving off to fulfill the command he had so desired to hear.

An underpriest came out as the commander left, his eyes troubled at the impassioned anger the Bishop exhibited. "F-Forgive me, milord but M-Minister Hojo has arrived from Midgar, Your Grace..."

"Send him away..!" hissed the ruler of Aquila. "I will see no one!" The underpriest bowed hurriedly nearly tripping over himself in his desire to flee. "Wait!" cried the Bishop, bringing the man to a halt. "Hojo, you say?"

The underpriest bowed deeply, his face pale with fear. "Y-Yes Your Grace..!"

The Bishop considered for a moment. He had heard the rumors about the nefarious Minister, and the strange forces which were said to surround him. Could he... possibly aid him in some way? "Bring him to me." He turned to glare at the still-shaking subordinate. "Move you simpering dolt!" The underpriest hurried off as if the hordes of Jenova were behind him.

Back in the present the Bishop looked at the hated blossom before his eyes once again before crushing it in his viselike grip. "If she will not yield... if I cannot have her... then no man shall..."

-

The next morning Yuffie saw no sign of her companion, but felt somewhat better all the same. For the first time in a while she had passed a restful night's sleep, though it was unfortunately against the leg of a chocobo and not in a nice, soft bed. Still, there had been no attack during the night, and she began to plan her trip back to Wutai. Perhaps Cloud could accompany her? He wasn't much for conversation, but she would no doubt be safe with the powerful warrior along. And besides, he certainly wasn't any more well-liked in Aquila than she was!

Hoping to charm him, she had started in on the camp chores without even being asked, for once. The firesite had been buried, Sleipnir watered and fed, and she had even gathered some fresh firewood to carry along. Not finding an ax to cut the wood she did what she always did; improvise! The heavy sword that hung at Sleepy's side was not easy to lift, but it split the dead branches with almost no effort on her part. She smiled evilly as she raised the blade again, pretending it was that swine Baigan's head she was bringing it down on rather than a harmless stick.

A black gloved hand grabbed the weapon before she could make her next stroke, ripping it from her grasp and causing her to gasp in surprise. Turning she saw Cloud Strife holding his sword protectively, his piercing blue eyes boring into her. "Oh, hey Spike..!" she grinned at the nickname she had given him the night before.

No mirth showed on Cloud's intense face. "This sword belonged to one of the noblest houses in Aquila, worn at the side of seven generations, the last being my best friend and Captain. It has never known defeat... until now." He brought the jeweled hilt before her nervous face. "This jewel..." he began, pointing to one of the cross-hilts, "Represents the noble name of Navarre, first among the knights of Aquila. This one opposite represents their alliance with the Patriarch in Midgar. This..." he pointed to a large jewel on the variance, "was my friend's... from when he fought in a crusade against the southern Gi tribes. And this..." Cloud now pointed to an empty space where a jewel should lie.

"Hey, I didn't steal that one!" squawked Yuffie in protest.

"I know." replied the warrior frowning. "This one is mine to fill, by virtue of my friend's... last request. Each holder of the sword is called upon to follow their own quest."

"So, what do you have to do?" chirped the ninja curiously.

Cloud walked off a ways, still holding his sword in front of him as he peered down at the empty slot. "I must kill a man." he muttered intently.

"Okay..." smirked Yuffie as she approached him. "So does this walking corpse have a name?"

Cloud turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "His Grace, the Bishop of Aquila."

All desire to travel with this man left the young Wutaian at the utterance of those words. The only thing she never wanted to see again more then the city of Aquila was the ruler of Aquila. She'd even rather face her father than that demon! "Oh, the Bishop..." she whispered, her eyes wide. "Well.. well... I guess you've got a lot to do then. And I've caused you enough trouble, heh, heh..." She gave Cloud a small wave. "Hope to see you again some day." Yuffie started to run off, but Cloud's clear voice called her back.

"I need you to guide me into the Mythril Manor."

Yuffie turned and shook her head emphatically. "Not for all the materia in the world! I'm never going back to Aquila!"

Cloud gave her a look of appraisal. "You're the only one who's ever escaped from those dungeons."

"It was just blind luck Spike!" she cried, shaking her dark-haired head. "I fell down a hole and followed my nose!"

Cloud gave a weary sigh at her antics. "I have waited almost two years, Yuffie. Two long years hoping for any sign at all from the Cetran God. And when I heard the warning bells of Aquila I knew the moment had come at last. You will be my guiding angel."

"Me? You want me to lead you to the Bishop?" Cloud nodded affirmatively. "You know in Wutai our God is Lord Leviathan. I talk to him all the time! And, well, no offense, but he never mentioned you!"

Cloud smirked at her. "Perhaps you should ask him again."

Yuffie looked at him uncomfortably. "There are strange forces at work in your life, Spike. Magic forces. I don't understand them and they scare me." She gave him a level gaze. "I know you saved my life. I'm not as stupid as most people think. But the truth is I'm a ninja. We don't go in for all that honor and nobility junk like you knights. There's no way I can ever pay you back. So kill me if you want. Because anything's better than going back to Aquila." Having finished her speech she made to walk off, but was stopped as the great sword landed with a metallic thunk in a small tree just inches away from her. Jumping in fright she saw the dreadful blade vibrating right next to her nose.

Turning she saw Cloud staring at her with an intense, enigmatic look. The challenge was on. Yuffie stopped the vibrating of the sword as she tried to slow the furious beating of her frightened heart. She turned back to Cloud and gave him a meek, little grin. "I'll just get some more wood..." she gulped.

-

"You understand what I require of you?" The Bishop looked down his hawkish nose at the ruddy, unshaven one-eyed man abased before him.

"Aye." the word was not spoken so much as grunted from a wide, thick-lipped mouth. "Should be no prob'em. Since this 'ere drought dere be more wolves than men. Me traps are always full."

"It is not just any wolf." The Bishop paced in front of the hunter, trying not to inhale too much of the filthy man's loathsome scent. "The wolf you must kill is very large and black as night. It's eyes are blue... that is it's most distinguishing feature."

"A blue-eyed wulf?" cried the hunter Gustav in disbelief, his single eye narrowing. "T'aint no sich t'ing!"

"There is one such wolf and only one. Show no mercy."

"Sich a wulf be wirth a fortune!" Gustav rubbed his scraggly chin. "T'would be a shame t' kill it."

"Don't fret about money. Bring me the corpse and you can name your price. On one condition." He turned to the hunter, his eyes seeming to pierce into the man's soul. "There is a woman with the beast. A beautiful woman." The Bishop shuddered for a moment as if in pain. "With ivory skin and eyes like a dove. You must bring her to me untouched and unharmed as well."

Gustav looked out his good eye in disbelief at the Bishop. A woman who traveled with a blue-eyed wolf? For the first time in his life he was at a loss for words.

"Find this girl, and you will find the wolf. The blue-eyed wolf who... loves her." The Bishop turned to leave. "One last thing... her name is... Aerith." The holy man strolled off from the small entrance hall.

"Aerith..." muttered the hunter, smiling lasciviously. "Now dere's a name which brings back mem'ries..." And she traveled with wolves... and loved them... he would enjoy meeting her again! Laughing harshly he strode from the Manor ready to begin his hunt.