Final Fantasy VII: The Story 2nd Instalment
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Twenty
It was very strange, sitting in the air cab, watching the ground pass by far beneath them. When they last used the air cab they had been a party of six. Now they were a party of nine, and it was a bit of a squash fitting everyone into the cab. Somehow they had managed it, and now they were travelling briskly through the air towards the Gold Saucer once again.
It felt like such a long time since they had first come across the amusement park. In truth it hadn't been more than a few days since they had encountered the park, but with everything that had happened to them it felt much longer than that. A few days felt more like weeks, and months since they left Midgar.
Like before, Aeris and Tifa pressed themselves firmly against the windows of the cab and peered out at the ground rushing by slowly beneath them. The land looked very different at night. It appeared strange and mysterious, with an air of omniscience that left them feeling a little chilled. They blamed it on the fact that they couldn't see much of the ground in the shadows, and the desert was almost invisible.
Around them the others all sat silently, waiting patiently for the air cab to arrive at the Gold Saucer. No one was particularly chatty. They were all feeling worn out, exhausted, and not in the mood for any talking. Even Yuffie had stopped her energetic talking, curled up on the seat with her knees at her chest, her head resting against Cait Sith's Mog body.
Vincent was sat in the far corner of the cab, peering out of the window as they approached the Gold Saucer. The enigmatic man had not said a word from the moment they had stepped into the cab, taking his seat by the window before anyone could stop him. He had his arms folded, head low in thought, and his red eyes glancing at the lights sweeping across the Gold Saucer.
He was thinking about their journey so far, or, rather, his journey since he joined Cloud and his companions. He had left the cold comfort of his Nibelheim prison in the hope that he would come across Sephiroth and, more importantly, Hojo of the Shinra. So far he had encountered neither of the two, and was beginning to wonder whether he would ever find them. Cloud and the others seemed more intent on finding Sephiroth, but it was Hojo that Vincent wanted to find. Lucrecia…
Vincent was broken from his thoughts when the air cab gave a sudden, soft jolt. He looked up as the bright lights surrounding the cab became dark, suggesting that they had entered the tunnel leading to the Gold Saucer's entrance. The cab shuddered again as it touched the ground, and the cables outside squeaked loudly as the cab slowed. Seconds later they were back in the light again, and the cab was now perfectly still.
"Here at last," Aeris muttered, pulling herself away from the window. She brushed herself off, sighing as she realised that her clothes had a few faint stains of dirt that she couldn't brush off. She then picked up her staff from the floor. It seemed much heavier in her tired hands, and she longed to put it down for good.
They disembarked from the cab, Cait Sith first, and stepped into the Gold Saucer station. It was just as they remembered it, with the man dressed as a baby chick plodding around in his big, heavy suit, and the woman waiting at the entrance to greet visitors. She seemed surprised to see visitors arriving at such a late time, but she still managed to greet them with a genuine smile.
"Welcome to the Gold Saucer," she said cheerfully. Cid bowed his head to the young woman, amazed that someone could still be so cheerful so late at night.
Leaving the others at the entrance to sort out the verification of the lifetime pass, Cloud walked through the main entrance and stood in the main Station. Even from down here he could still hear the music and cries of delight from the floors above. It reminded him of their first visit, when they entered the Gold Saucer for the first time. The last time they had ended up being arrested for the murder and assault on several Gold Saucer staff and customers. They hadn't been at fault, but still, memories like that were not the kind you expected to get from an amusement park.
Cloud stopped in the middle of the Station and looked up at the large virtual map on the wall. According to the map all the attractions were open, but there was no mention of a museum anywhere. Cloud gazed slowly over the map, trying to decide which place would be a most likely spot for Dio to hold his museum.
"The Battle Square is the most likely place to look." Cloud jumped and turned as Cait walked up and stood beside him. The cat put down his megaphone and sat on the Mog's head, letting his tiny red boots tap against the Mog's forehead. He lifted up his crown and scratched his head. "Feels weird bein' back here."
Cloud nodded in agreement, but said nothing. He looked back at the map, gazing at the icon that represented the Battle Square. Cait was probably right – if Dio was going to hold a museum of special artefacts, the Battle Square was the most likely location.
It suddenly occurred to Cloud that Cait never did find the answer to his fortune telling. Cait initially joined their party for the sole purpose of finding the answer to a rather bizarre fortune reading he had given when reading Cloud's fortune. Cloud had asked Cait to locate Sephiroth but, instead of getting a direct answer, Cait's Mog had given the answer: 'What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear.'
Cloud turned to Cait, about to ask about the fortune reading. The cat was already moving, heading towards the transport pipe that led to the Gold Saucer's Battle Square. Before Cloud could say anything the Mog jumped in, and he zipped towards the Battle Square. The others walked in just as the cat disappeared down the shoot, and looked at Cloud expectantly. Cloud shrugged his shoulders, and headed for the pipe.
As Cait had told them, Dio held his museum in the Battle Square. It was no surprise really, considering what he kept in his collection. The group had missed the museum on their first visit – they had been too preoccupied trying not to get blamed for the horrific murders. The doors to the museum were always left open, allowing visitors to enter and admire Dio's collection.
Dio's collection was truly a sight to see. He had a vast collection of trinkets from various places, most of which they had never seen before. There were goblets and giant clocks, spears and a mask known as 'Chisa's Mask', and even a portrait of Dio himself at the back of the room. It reminded them a little of Yuffie's basement and her family's collection of shuriken's and other such items. This collection however was more varied and much tidier, and it was clear from the shine in the metal that Dio took great care in keeping his collection spick and span.
The Keystone was at the far end of the museum. It had been placed on an altar at the end of the room, and kept on a velvet cushion inside a protective glass case; it was visible for all to see. It didn't look particularly fancy, but the peculiar markings that covered its surface told them that it was no ordinary item, and left no doubt in their minds that it was the Keystone.
Cloud stepped up to the case, forced to stop by a red cord that stopped everyone from getting too close to any of the items. He peered inside. "It's the Keystone…" he confirmed, reading a small piece of card in front of the Keystone. Everyone crowded around him to look.
They were all so absorbed in staring at the peculiar Keystone that they never heard Dio enter the museum and stand behind them. He had come to close the museum for the night, as well as to admire his collection one more time before he turned in. When he saw Cloud and the others there he smiled, recognising Cloud, and walked up behind them.
"Heh, heh, heh," he laughed. Everyone jumped up and spun around, their hearts skipping a beat in surprise, even though they hadn't done anything wrong. Dio grinned at the surprise he had caused, and looked at Cloud. "Long time no see, my boy." He glanced past Cloud to see what they were all admiring, and saw that they were looking at the Keystone. "Hmm? You like that, huh?"
Cloud glanced back at the Keystone and nodded. On its own it was a rather strange but beautiful object. Although its markings were indecipherable, it left quite an impression on the human mind. Out of all of them, Aeris had been the only one who did not jump when Dio came in. She was too transfixed looking at the Keystone, her green eyes wide as she gazed upon it. Cloud glanced at her for a second, before pointing to the Keystone.
"Can you let me borrow this?" he asked.
Dio laughed again. "Heh, heh, heh. Sorry, but it's not for rent," he said, his laughter fading and his voice sounding rather firm. He saw the disappointed look in Cloud's eyes and folded his eyes, thinking. An idea suddenly came to him and he smiled. "Hmm," he said, looking at Cloud. "Since you've been good to me in the past, I'll let you have it on one condition."
Cloud raised an eyebrow. "One condition?"
"Heh, heh, heh," Dio laughed, nodding his head. He slapped his large hand against his bare chest, creating a loud echo around the museum hall. Then he pointed at Cloud firmly with his forefinger. "Entertain me!"
Cloud glanced at the others. They nodded. "What'd you want me to do?" he asked.
Dio's eyes lit up in delight, and he rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Hoo-boy! Heh, heh, heh." The look in his eyes made Cloud a little worried, wondering what he had just signed up for. Seeing the anxious gaze, Dio shook his head. "It's not something that's really difficult," he assured the young man. "This is the Battle Arena. Show me your fighting skills. Just you, my boy." He put his large hand on Cloud's shoulder and looked firmly into his eyes. "I'm expecting a good fight!"
While Cloud was in the waiting room, preparing himself for the battles ahead, Dio led Tifa and the other companions through the side doors and up to the balcony that overlooked the Battle Arena. Dio had prepared excellent seats for them, and they could see the entire arena. Dio sat in his own personal box at the other side of the balcony, and did not join them.
Tifa was anxious as she sat in her seat, her hands fidgeting nervously. She had heard many stories about the Gold Saucer's Battle Square, a lot of them not exactly favourable. Dio used real monsters in his fights. There were often reports of people being seriously injured in these fights. There had been no deaths, but that didn't make her feel any better. There was no way she could help Cloud if he got into trouble either, since thick glass barriers separated the balcony from the arena. All she could do was sit and watch and hope.
Dio explained that the rules of the Battle Square were very simple. You have to win, he had said to Cloud, before leading the others off. That was stating the obvious. The Battle Square fights were made up of eight rounds – a single fighter against a selection of different, powerful monsters. With each round the fighter wins, a limitation is placed on them in the next round. These limitations ranged from status effects like blindness, to the removal of their materia, or, even, their weapons. They were allowed to fight in any way that they could, and could quit at any time. Dio assured Cloud that he didn't have to win all eight fights, but he had to go as far as he could. Cloud agreed.
He didn't have to wait long for his turn in the arena. The Battle Square was quiet at this time at night, and the entrant before him hadn't lasted even two rounds in the arena. The man came out, panting and sweating, his feeble-looking sword broken in two. Cloud watched as he staggered out. A loud screech came from inside the arena, and Cloud turned as two of Dio's strong guards tried to push a bird-like creature back through the caged doors at the other end of the arena. Cloud swallowed.
The call then came for him to enter the Battle Arena. Cloud swallowed again, surprised to find a lump in his throat from his anxiety. He raised his hand behind him and clasped it firmly around the hilt of his sword. He remembered Tifa's warning before he left them, echoing in the back of his mind. 'Don't put yourself at risk – come out if it gets too hard.' Cloud pushed the lump in his throat away, and then ran through the doors into the arena.
There was a chorus of loud cheers as he ran out. Cloud gazed upwards as he ran across a short wooden bridge. He saw the others behind the barrier, looking down at him. Yuffie was on her feet, jumping and cheering, with Cid beside her. The others were all sat solemnly. Tifa was the only one not looking at the arena. She was staring at the ground, overcome with worry. Cloud thought of saying something to her, but now was not the time.
He turned back to the arena. The large wooden gates of the monster arena were already open, revealing the dark shadows that clouded his sight from seeing which monsters would appear first. He soon saw darkened figures begin to emerge from the shadows inside the gate, and he drew his sword and held it ready. He tried to drown out the noise of the small crowd watching him up in the gallery. He needed to focus all his attention on the monsters that came out of the doors.
The first monsters stepped out of the doorway and into the light of the arena. Cloud recognised them instantly as Dual Horns – muscular beasts like oversized bulls with the faces of hounds. They ran on all fours, with swollen muscles underneath their furry skin. Their mouths were large and always open, revealing the strong set of teeth they used to bite their enemies. Their most lethal weapons, their horns, rose out of the sides of their heads. Two long, thick, pointed horns, used to impale their prey. There were two Dual Horns here, and Cloud had to kill them both. Up in the gallery Cloud heard Tifa gasp.
The two beasts stomped out of the doors and onto the wooden arena floor. The floor shook with each step they took. Cloud readied his sword, his blue eyes fixed on the two monsters. One of the Dual horns looked at him, glancing at him through tiny eyes barely visible through the muscles of its face. It growled deep within its throat, before suddenly charging at Cloud.
Cloud barely had time to react. He had not expected the monster's sudden attack, and before he could realise what was happening the monster was right in front of him, its two horns lowered for a deadly strike. Seeing the flash of yellow from the horns Cloud hurriedly leapt to his right out of the way. He made it out of the way, but felt the creature's body scrape past his back. That had been close.
Cloud stopped at the edge of the arena and turned to look at the Dual Horn, still charging past as it tried to slow and stop. It let out a grunt of anger as it realised it had not struck its prey, but it could not turn and attack again until it had stopped, the size of the arena preventing it from running around. Cloud sighed briefly. He heard a second, louder grunt come from right behind him, and Cloud spun around. The second Dual Horn was standing right behind him!
Swiftly Cloud jumped up into the air, narrowly missing the monster's sharp horns as they were thrust forward where he stood. Cloud landed on the monster's head, but did not remain there for long. He leapt up into the air again, throwing his Buster Blade ahead of him, before twisting his body around so that he was flying backwards through the air, facing the Dual Horn's back. There was a gasp from the crowd.
Sighting the monster ahead of him, Cloud quickly thrust his right arm out in front of him, using his left hand to keep it steady. As he began to fall towards the ground his right hand began to glow a deep, fiery red, as the Fire Materia he had borrowed from Tifa glowed brightly in his armlet. Sparks of red and orange flame began to swirl like mist around his hand. Then, with a gust of hot wind, the fire power shot out from the mist in the form of five red fireballs towards the Dual Horn's back.
The fireballs struck before the Dual Horn could realise that Cloud was gone. They struck its back, one by one. The monster lifted its head and gave out an almighty cry of pain and anguish as the intense heat of the flames burnt through the flesh of its back. Three of the fireballs hit its back, and the last two struck its hind legs as it tried to run forward. It crumpled onto the floor, roaring in anguish.
Cloud landed on the ground, raising his hand to catch his blade as it came flying down from above him. He stopped to look at the monster, lying on its stomach, claws digging into the wood, pathetically trying to crawl on its two front legs. Flames licked steadily across the back of the monster's body. Cloud felt sorry for it.
Making up his mind, Cloud ran forward with his blade raised towards the monster. As he neared he swung it in front of him, thrusting the wide blade forward with all his might, and the monster was silenced forever. Cloud withdrew his sword, the blade stained black with the monster's blood. There was no need for it to suffer. As he withdrew the blade there was a loud cheer of excitement from the crowd above. Before Cloud could look up, the first Dual Horn was charging towards him, and he turned to strike.
The crowd gave another gasp as Cloud's blade connected with the sharp horns of the Dual Horn. They had watched a number of people fight in the Battle Arena, most of them amateurs wanting to show off. This was the first fight they had seen where the fighter was a skilled professional, and made them sit on the edge of their seats.
Aeris was silent as she watched the battle, her stomach turning in disgust. She thought it absolutely terrible that Dio would bring live monsters into the arena and have them fight for other people's pleasure. When the other people had cheered at the Dual Horn's death, she had felt sorrow, feeling its life being snuffed out. She was happy that Cloud had been merciful, giving it a swift end instead of letting the flames consume it. She had no doubt that Cloud also hated this pointless slaughter, but he had to go through with it if they were going to get the Keystone. So she swallowed hard and closed her eyes, wishing the battles would end quickly.
The crowd cheered again as Cloud dealt the killing blow to the remaining Dual Horn, his blade piercing the thick flesh of its chest and going straight through to its heart. The monster slumped forward, and Cloud had to quickly withdraw his blade. He stepped back away from the dead monster, glad that it was over and he could progress to the next round.
While the bodies of the two dead Dual Horns were removed (much to Aeris's relief), Cloud walked over to one side of the arena. There was a small slot machine embedded in the wall that Dio informed him would assign his handicap for the second round. Dio had also warned that the handicaps would be either damaging or favourable depending on the result. Cloud held his breath and pulled the lever.
The first slot began to spin round rapidly, so fast that Cloud was unable to see the options spin by. As he watched the slot began to slow down, and Cloud held his breath as he waited to see the result. Eventually the slot stopped, and Cloud opened his eyes.
The slot had stopped, and written on the panel in front of him was the word 'Cure'. A small hatch opened up in the side of the wall and a faint green mist swept out. Cloud closed his eyes and sighed with relief as a cooling wave washed over him. He felt the fatigue of lack of sleep, hunger and exhaustion get pushed back, and his body felt temporarily refreshed as it would after a good night's rest. The mist swept around him and then faded, and Cloud turned back to the arena to see his next opponent.
Cloud watched as they were hauled out, kept still by thick metal chains to keep them from flying off until it was time. Cloud's next opponents were a pair of dragons known as Ancient Dragons. They were medium-sized dragons that walked on their hind legs, their front arms shorter than their legs. Their wings were made of thin leather that made them very agile flyers, using their agility for their attacks rather than their claws. The claws were merely to grip onto prey, holding them still while the dragons attacked them with their sharp teeth. Beady dragon eyes glared out from the dragons' long snouts, letting out a painful screech as they struggled to break free of the chains.
With his sword lowered by his side, Cloud stepped back onto the arena floor. He stopped just inside the red circle that designated the starting point for the fights, and looked over at the two dragons. They were both about twice the size of Cloud, fully grown for their species. The two dragons screeched loudly as they glared round at the arena, their wings flapping wildly, desperate to break free of the strong chains that kept them from flying away.
One of the dragons tried its hardest to fly forward, thrusting its head forward and flapping its leathery wings mightily. The two guards holding onto the chains struggled to hold onto it, barely able to keep the dragon down. Realising it couldn't get free the dragon turns its head completely around and snapped its jaws at the guards, trying to bite his hands off. The guard jumped back, startled, but did not let go of the chain.
Dio, who was still watching the fight from the safety of his own private box, stood up and waved his hand down to the guards, signalling the dragons release. The guards hurriedly began to unlock the chains, moving quickly since the dragons were becoming angrier at their captivity.
Eventually the last chain was unlocked, and the two dragons shook themselves free of their shackles. The guards fled as the dragons flapped their wings and rose up into the air, flying up as high as the balcony where the crowd gasped and awed at their majesty. They may not have been like the dragons of legend, but they were still amazing creatures to look at.
On the ground, Cloud too, was awed by the majestic flight of the two dragons. In awe of their slender, sleek bodies and perfectly detailed scales, and the way their tongues licked out of their mouths to taste the air. Cloud shook his head and steadied his sword. This was no time to be in awe over dragons.
He pulled himself together just in time too, for as the two doors of the monster arena slammed shut, the two dragons both turned in the air and began to dive down. Heading straight for Cloud.