Wow...did the last chapter suck that badly? Hmm. Cut me some slack here, because I was going through a small phase of writers block.
Meh. On with the story.
My Disclaimer: I do not own FF7.
Chapter 13
Nibelheim
The sudden turbulence jolted the girl right out of bed and onto the white carpeted floor. Groaning she pushed herself off the floor, her hand grabbing onto the side of the bed for support. Yawning she glared slightly at the mid morning sun showering into the small room provided for passengers. Her hair lay sprawled all about her as she sat there for a few seconds registering the world around her. She sighed and began to stand up when some more air turbulence caused the airship to sway roughly to the right. By then her face was planted into the mattress.
"Son of a whore..." she growled.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are undergoing some rough weather patterns. Seems that we will be landing in Nibelheim Airstrip under stormy conditions. Please be prepared for landing within twenty five minutes."
"What? We have sun outside..." she mumbled as she strode over to the small window. She looked out to find the ship above dark clouds errupting with electrical veins in and about the dark purplish clouds. They were above the storm.
"Lovely." she grumbled and scratched her thigh. Striding over to the small shower provided, she jumped under the cold water and shivered. She carefully turned the plastic knob to the left and the water turned warmer. The airship went into another slight tumble causing her to slip and fall onto the tile floor. The shower head still continued to fall hotly upon her body as she sat there for a few more seconds.
"Oww..." she began to pull herself up when she noticed the water turning dark black. Scared she jumped up and stared at the hot water spewing out of the shower head: it was clear. Ashes grabbed a fistful of her hair and noticed that her tressess were losing their color.
"He said it was permanant... the damn bastard." she growled. She grabbed the shampoo bottle and began the arduous task of washing the dye completely out of her hair.
Deep beneath the raging storm, in the small tavern called the Bronze Sphinxs, were a group of elderly men and a few young ones gathered around the warm fireplace.
"This weather is strange." one muttered as he rubbed his calloused hands.
"What do you expect Edward? This is Nibelheim and this town has it's history with the fire decades back." someone piped up.
"Let's not talk about it. Just being reminded of the insane general who left this town in ashes gives me the creeps." another mumbled.
"What happened back then should stay buried. We built ourselves a new life here, so let's appreciate that." one of teh young men stated, "Speaking of which, do you think the mill is going out of business?"
"No Bill, I doubt it. The mill needs new machinary, that's all. I overheard that the president of the mill is negotiating a contract with Junon. I heard it's a good done deal."
"I hope so Ralph."
The door to the tavern opened and another guest arrived making his way over to the bar. Everyone turned back to thier conversation leaving the drenched man to his own devices.
"What can I get for you dear?" an elderly woman in her fifties inquired, "We have a hot plate of food if you're hungry Sir."
"That sounds good and some hot tea if you will." the calm voice spoke up. Nodding, the woman shouted back over the bar to a door that swung open revealing a young girl in her teens,
"Miranda, get this gentlman some hot food and tea."
"Yes Mum." the girl replied with a smile and vanished, her blonde curly hair vanishing along with her.
"That will be forty five gil." the woman stated. The man reached his black glove into his side coat pocket and retrieved a wad of money,
"Here, keep it all."
"You sure?" she asked eyeing him with alarm. He chuckled,
"Yeah." The woman smiled amd walked off to serve the men near the fireplace some hot cider. The t.v. located in the corner of the room cast it's blue colors onto the wooden floor, the woman depicting the weather and other news. He glanced out the window to see pitch blackness illuminated every few seconds with plasma.
She should be here soon.
"I know."
Ashes emerged from her room, her body shrouded in her long jacket and her hair braided, hidden behind the leather exterior, a hat on top of her head. Sighing she made her way to the bridge where she stood along with several other passengers waiting for departure.
"Everyone, My name is Orion Highwind and I am your captain. I apologize for any delays but we are trying to land safely without any damage to you and the ship. I would appreciate it if you turned all cell phones off and stay in your spots." he ordered. The captain turned back to the main station, he had his blonde hair in a rough ponytail, his spectacles hiding his obvious ocean blue eyes and his face was framed with a five o'clock shadow.
Dad said he knew the Highwinds from long ago and if she didn't know any better, she swore she knew this Orion captain fellow. Didn't he have like four other brothers and a sister? Memories flickered, recognition vaguely touching her when the ship wavered in the air. She kept herself steady as she braced herself against the wall. She readjusted her back pack and groaned as the ship began it's decent.
The sudden fall in elevation made Ashes's stomach turn and she swore she felt like she would throw up there and then but she kept her food down. Minutes passed until finally she felt the ship touch ground. She waited patiently as the line began to lead out into the rain. They had to run across the airstrip to the buildings a few yards away, but to her it was a breeze even though she lost her hat in the process.
From the main bridge of the ship, Orion stood watching his passengers leave and a splash of silver caught his eye as the lightening illuminated the skies. He watched the person loose thier hat to the vicious wind and when the lightening that struck next, the person was gone. Frowning, he lit a ciggarette and reached for his cell phone, flipped it open and dialed the number.
"Cid speaking."
"Dad, it's me Orion."
"What's goin' on? The ship fine?" Cid asked with slight worry.
"Yeah it's fine Dad. I have news about the whereabouts of Cloud's daughter." Orion began.
"What? Well giv'em son!" Cid demanded.
"She's in Nibelheim."
"Gotcha. I'll contact Cloud, if ya can keep an eye out on her, then do so. Delay the next leave as long as possible."
"No worries dad, we aren't going anywhere in this storm." he replied calmly. He shut his phone and sighed once more throwing his ciggarette into the ash tray on his desk.
"They found her!" Aerith exclaimed as she clung to the phone nodding her head vigorously. Cloud and Daemon ran into the kitchen and waited while Aeris was finished conversing. She hung up and beamed,
"Cid says that she was spotted in Nibelheim and that Orion will keep an eye out on her."
Cloud scowled and sat onto a barstool,
"When do you have to go back to the excavation site in the ruins?"
"Why tomorrow morning. Vincent is taking me back there so I can finish some of the research. I know Nanaki is all alone there trying to figure out the glyphs and it's probably driving him nuts by now."
"Good. I will be going alone to Nibelheim then."
"What? No! Why alone?"
"She's my daughter and I'll deal with her...I feared she would go to Nibelheim. I knew all along she would go there." he said more to himself then anyone else.
"Do you think she's searching for her?" Aeris whispered.
"It's the only valid reason." Cloud answered.
"Who's 'her'?" Daemon asked all confused as he leaned against the wall.
"Her real mother." Cloud replied as he raked his hand through his hair, "She's looking for her real deceased mother, the reason for the past Meteor: Tifa Lockhart."
Oh wow...short eh? Cliff hangers are lovely. NOW COMMENT. I doubt you will, but I will continue this fic whether I have no comments or not. :shrugs: