Final Fantasy VII: The Story 2nd Instalment
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Twenty-Three
When the play was over and the curtain lowered, Cloud and Aeris bid a fond farewell to the stage cast and returned to the Gold Saucer Station. As a thank you for their efforts in the play the stage manager gave them 5,000 Gil—a price that Cloud was forced to agree was fair for their work. Staying at an inn could be very costly in the long-run, and they needed every penny they could get. The pittance they received from the battles they won would take a while to mount up.
They returned to the Station, Cloud first, making sure that Aeris was following him. They emerged from the tubes to find that the young man who had told them of the play in the Event Square was no longer there—presumably he had already retired for the night. Aeris, still on an immense high after the thrill of performing in front of a large audience, ran to the centre of the Station. She turned to face Cloud, the soft curls of her fringe falling around her face.
"Oh, that was fun," she said. She brushed herself off and then ran her fingers through the long lengths of her ponytail. She glanced at Cloud. He had his arms folded, his eyes focused on the floor in thought. Aeris sighed. She would have to work harder. She turned to look at the map, scanned it, and settled on the Round Square. "Hey, let's go on the Gondola."
To her surprise Cloud did not protest or complain at her decision. Nor did he resist when she grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him towards the tubes. She expected him to protest, complain that he was tired, and wrench his arm free. But he didn't.
At first Aeris thought that she had read him wrong—maybe he was enjoying himself after all. But looking at his face told her otherwise. His eyes were distracted, distant, and unfocused. It was as though he wasn't really with her, but somewhere else. Aeris frowned, but that softened into a smile. Cloud had a lot on his mind, and she wanted to distract him from that.
She led him to the Round Square. Aeris was glad to see that there was no one else around. The Gondola was waiting at the dock. Aeris felt her heart skip with delight, her stomach dancing. She looked back at Cloud. He was looking back at her, with that same clueless expression.
Looking at him, Aeris desperately wanted to reach out and pull whatever troublesome thoughts he had from his head. Instead she just smiled, winked at him playfully, and then ran to the woman inside the ticket booth.
"Two, please," said Aeris.
The woman nodded and deftly pulled two tickets from a reel. "Here you are, two tickets," she said, pushing the tickets through the slot towards Aeris. "Enjoy the sights of Gold Saucer."
Aeris picked up the tickets and called out to Cloud. He came over to join her beside the door of the Gondola. She gave him a playful nudge in the ribs to break him from his thoughts. After handing their tickets to the man guarding the doors the two stepped into the Gondola.
The doors shut swiftly behind them. Aeris sat down on the bench beside the open window, wishing inside that the hard, polished wood had a cushion to make it more comfortable. Cloud sat down opposite her, his arms folded across his chest in thought. Aeris sighed.
Just then the Gondola shuddered into life and began to move away from the station. Aeris huddled up close to the window and looked out. Beneath her she saw the rail tracks dip away as the strong cables above carried the Gondola away from the station and up into the air. Within moments they left the Round Square completely and began their winding trek around the Gold Saucer.
"Wow, how nice," Aeris said, voicing her thoughts as she gazed through the open window. They were just coming round the first pass, and one of the other Squares was just ahead. Aeris leaned over to look, and her green eyes lit up in delight.
Cloud barely looked up. Aeris didn't mind too much—she was too enthralled with the amazing sights that appeared before her eyes. The gondola was rising past the Chocobo Square, and she could see right into the racing ring. She saw the Chocobos with their different, fascinating colours race through the multicoloured arena, their riders pushing them on towards the finish line. At one point they passed so close to the edge of the ring Aeris thought she might reach out and pet one of the Chocobos as it ran past. She didn't, of course, but it was a nice thought.
While she was thinking this, she saw movement in the corner of her eye. She did not move her head, but she was quite sure that Cloud was also gazing out of the window. A small smile touched her lips, and she turned back to the window.
They passed the Chocobo Square and the gondola began to lift up again—a motion that was perhaps a little too swift, for Aeris felt her stomach lurch slightly. The gondola then steadied itself and moved forward gently. The next square came into view and Aeris leaned forward eagerly to see which square it was.
As she was leaning over a bright red light suddenly flared inside the gondola, making Aeris leap back and shield her eyes. Cloud stared at her and glanced at the window. The light had come from outside the gondola, from the square they were just beginning to pass. After a second or two the red light passed the gondola and Aeris sat up. She moved back to the window and looked out, this time looking out for any more sudden, flaring lights.
"Oh! Look, Cloud," she called. She waved her hand eagerly, motioning for Cloud to join her at the window. Cloud did not move, but Aeris did see his blue eyes trail towards the window again.
Outside the gondola was passing the Speed Square. The rollercoaster ride was in motion, its blurry form zipping along the tracks that wound their way inside and out of the square. The red light Aeris had seen was one of a series of brightly coloured lights that lit up in sequence around the square. They lit up and moved around playfully like coloured beacons lighting up the night sky.
The rollercoaster came zipping past. It zoomed around the outside of the square, the metal framework only a fast-moving blur as it came dashing past the gondola. Aeris could hear nothing of the people inside—the sound of the track and fairground music drowning out all other sounds. However when the rollercoaster came speeding past the gondola she heard the brief sound of joyful screams—a split second sound before it was lost to the sound of speed.
Aeris was almost disappointed when the gondola began to rise again, making a gentle turn away from the golden square and began to move up into the air again. Now in the middle of its journey the gondola was moving away from the side of the Gold Saucer, moving into a position above all the lower squares.
Peering out, Aeris could see all of the lower squares they had passed. She could also see the Ghost Square and its eerie graveyard, standing out like a sore thumb amidst all the light and colour illuminating the other squares. The golden-plated metal that encased the squares glittered in the coloured light, making it seem as though it really was all made of gold.
"It's so pretty," breathed Aeris silently, her voice nothing higher than a whisper. Cloud did not hear her. His eyes were firmly fixed on the open window.
At that moment a bright flash of light lit up around the outside of the gondola, followed by a loud, piercing bang that pierced the jubilant sounds of the Gold Saucer. Cloud, startled by the sudden noise, nearly jumped out of his seat. Aeris however, was leaning out of the window, looking up at the sky. A gasp of shock and delight escaped her lips, before they widened into a thrilled smile of joy.
A second firework fired up from below. Aeris watched its smoky trail as it zipped past the gondola and high up into the air. It exploded with an ear-shattering bang, and an upsurge in brightly coloured sparkles spread across the sky. With the smoke still trailing beneath it and the sparkles burning in the sky, it looked like a giant, multicoloured palm tree growing in the air.
More fireworks joined it after that; steady at first but gaining in speed and occurrence. Pretty soon dozens of fireworks lit up the night sky. The entire sky surrounding the Gold Saucer was alive in colour and flame. In the clearness of the night, those colours would be seen as far away as Costa del Sol and Gongaga. If Bugenhagen were in his observatory right now, even he would see the colours lighting up the sky.
Thinking of Bugenhagen brought Aeris back from the realm of fantasy her mind was living in right then. Tales of the Lifestream and the Planet flooded her mind, those memories much louder than the fireworks and the music put together. Closing the window to drown out the noise of the exploding fireworks, Aeris sank back into her seat. The soft cushions sank beneath her weight, but Aeris didn't notice. She sat back and looked at Cloud, who was watching her.
"……It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked.
She got a brief nod in reply. Aeris swallowed hard and looked down at the wooden floor of the gondola. One of the laces on her boots was coming undone, but Aeris ignored that. She clasped her hands together tightly, gripping at her flesh, as though the pain might push away the fear of what she was going to say. But it didn't. So instead Aeris just took a deep breath and began, not looking at Cloud.
"……First off, it bothered me how you looked exactly alike," she said, her voice so low that Cloud had to lean forward and strain his ears to hear her. A firework exploded outside, lighting the sky in green. Aeris continued to speak. "Two completely different people, but look exactly the same. The way you walk, gesture… I think I must have seen him again, in you… But you're different. Things are different. Cloud… I'm searching for you."
"…………?" This comment caught Cloud completely off-guard. He looked at her questioningly. Aeris was refusing to look at him. Her hands were clasped tightly together. So tight in fact that the normally pale and soft skin was beginning to turn red. They were also trembling slightly, and her boots shifted nervously on the floor.
Still Aeris did not look at him. "I want to meet you," she said.
"But I'm right here."
"I know, I know… what I mean is…" Slowly she lifted her head, the folds of her fringe falling around her face. She looked up at Cloud. "I want to meet… you."
Their eyes met. Upon meeting her gaze Cloud felt himself go cold, and he became filled with such a sudden surge of alarm that he almost jumped out of his seat. The look in her eyes… The piercing sharpness of that green gaze seemed to burn through his flesh and delve into the depths of his soul. He could almost feel her looking inside him, searching… for him. He looked away.
Aeris spent the rest of the gondola ride in silence. She kept her gaze on Cloud for a few more minutes, until, realising that she would get no response, she let her gaze turn towards the window again. The fireworks were still flaring, brightening the dark blue sky. She could see the stars still twinkling between the coloured flares of light. She sighed calmly, and the smile slowly returned to her face.
Cloud did not look at her. He was looking the other way, out of the opposite window leading into the night. Through that window there were no bright lights lighting up the sky; no joyous sounds of people laughing and screaming in the innocence of their lives. Through the other window there was just darkness and the shadows of the mountains.
It was like staring into two different worlds. On one side of the window was the world of light and joy that Aeris lived in, while on the other side there was the darkness and shadow that threatened to creep up on it, even in the day. Without realising it, Cloud found himself looking at Aeris in admiration. She somehow managed to hold off the shadow threatening to creep up on her, and stay in the light. Also, without knowing it, he smiled.
The gondola made its final turn around the park and steadily began to descend, heading back to the Round Square station from where it had started. The man was waiting at the edge of the platform as the gondola descended, rubbing his hands and blowing on them to remove the chill of the night. When the gondola finally came to a stop he opened the door and thanked the two for riding on the gondola. Aeris stepped out and thanked the man for his service. Cloud came out after, still silent.
The two headed back along the platform towards the lifts. Above them they could still hear the roar of the rollercoaster and the jovial cheers from the Chocobo races—the race had just finished. Aeris looked up at the night sky above her. The fireworks had ended now and the coloured sparkles had faded away. She could see the stars clearly beyond the rounded shapes of the Squares.
Aeris stopped walking, so suddenly that Cloud nearly walked into her. She turned around to face him. Her eyes were calm now, no longer searching, and filled with a serene sort of peace, as though she had come to a decision about something.
"I had fun tonight," she said, her voice soft and calm. "Let's go together again." Cloud did not answer her. In his mind's eye he could see her surrounded by light, in a world where the shadows tried to close in on her. When he didn't respond Aeris's face saddened. "You don't like being with me?"
In those moments when she spoke those words, the shadows around her seemed to expand their ugly reach upon her. Cloud suddenly felt her drift very far away from him, as though she was caught on a tide where he couldn't reach her. The shadows around her grew thicker, enveloping her…
Hurriedly Cloud shook his head, banishing the sudden horrifying image from his mind. "That's not it!" he said, aware that his voice had risen in his sudden panic. When he looked at her again the shadows had gone. Aeris was where she should be, standing in front of him, that sweet smile on her face.
"I'm glad," the young woman said softly. She moved a flick of brown hair from her eyes, which never moved from Cloud. "Next time we come, let's take our time and go on more rides. Oh, look at the time! We'd better get going."
The Station was empty when Cait arrived. The cat's mog body emerged from the Ghost Square tube with a loud 'pop', followed by a sudden gush of air—it had been a tight squeeze. The mog body landed with quite a heavy thud on the floor. Aware of the noise Cait looked around anxiously, scanning the station for any signs of life. In his hands was a small leather pouch, which he was clinging to tightly. Good, he thought as he scanned the area, I'm alone.
Cautiously he took a few steps forward towards the centre of the Station. Even though he knew he was alone, his eyes continued to scan the station. Anyone could pop out of those tubes, and he wanted to make sure that he was completely, totally, and absolutely alone. He couldn't be disturbed.
He came to a stop just next to the tube leading to the Battle Square. Looking around one last time—just for luck—he turned his gaze downwards towards the pouch in his hands. Made of firm leather and bound in string, it was much lighter than he expected it to be. Curious, Cait began to undo the string.
The cat was so involved in his work that he did not notice Cloud and Aeris emerge from the Round Square tube behind him. The two landed with ease on the ground and looked across the Station, spotting Cait instantly. The cat had his back to them, and was muttering quietly to himself. They could not see what he was doing.
"Hey? What's Cait doing?" asked Aeris curiously. Cloud shrugged. He couldn't see what the cat was up to.
The string finally came undone. Cait tilted the pouch upside down and dropped the small object into his open hand. Small and smooth and almost perfectly round, it could have been nothing more than a fancy-looking stone. It was still cold, like ice. The markings on it, although natural, looked like they could have been painted by an expert hand. He held the object up to the light, gazing at its brilliance.
Cloud's eyes widened in shock as he saw the object Cait held in his hand. "! Is that the… Keystone?" he asked in disbelief. No, he had to be wrong. He had placed the Keystone in a pouch and left it in a drawer in his room, hoping it would be safe. He had even locked the drawer to make sure of it. But there was no mistaking the object that Cait was holding now. It was the Keystone. "Hey! Cait!"
At the sound of Cloud's angry voice Cait started, almost dropping the Keystone onto the floor. The pouch fell at his feet. Cait caught the Keystone before it could fall, clutching it close to his chest in his clumsy clawed hands. With a gentle smack he ordered his mog forward and began to move quickly. He jumped into the Battle Square tube and with a whoosh, he was gone.
Cloud darted forward towards the tube, with Aeris running closely behind him. Without hesitation Cloud leapt into the tube. The wind flow caught him instantly began to drag him down into the tube, making him move with all haste towards the Battle Square. He was aware of Aeris's presence right behind him. Up ahead he could see the shadow of Cait's body zipping through the tube, heading upwards.
Cait reached the exit before Cloud could reach him. His large mog body burst out of the tube with a very loud 'pop', startling the guard who was standing outside the arena. The cat clutched the Keystone tightly in his hands as he looked around at the other open tubes, wondering which one he should hop in to evade Cloud and Aeris.
His mind was made up when he heard two consecutive whooshes from behind him, followed by an angered cry. Cait quickly darted around and hopped into the tube leading to the Wonder Square, carefully evading Cloud's outstretched arm as he attempt to snatch the cat from the mog. Cait didn't waste time with a mocking sneer and hopped into the tube.
Exasperated Cloud ran forward and dived into the tube, along with Aeris. The two zipped nearly side by side as they were carried along by the wind currents, but they were not gaining on Cait.
The cat was already at the exit, bursting up out of the tube and up into the air, before landing safely on the ground. Quickly his eyes darted around. There were a few people in the Wonder Square—maybe Cloud would think he ran off into the crowds. With that plan in mind he dived into another tube, zipped away by its current.
Cloud was just emerging from the tube when Cait made his dive. Through his windswept blond hair he saw the cat dive headfirst into the tube marked 'Chocobo Square' and vanish into its depths. Cloud cursed beneath his breath. He was fast for a cat riding on a mog. He landed only for a brief second as he also dived into the tube, calling out for Aeris to follow him.
Less than a minute later they emerged at the Chocobo Square. Carried forward by the immense momentum of the wind and his own drive Cloud staggered forward onto the stairs. Aeris emerged just seconds after and ploughed straight into him. The crash threatened to knock Cloud off the stairs. Cloud waved his arms and just managed to keep his balance, thanks to Aeris's help.
Cait was just ahead of them, bouncing rapidly up the stairs towards the Chocobo arena. He stopped at the last step and glanced across the stairs, scanning the sky above. When he looked back down and saw Cloud and Aeris running towards him he jumped in fright and darted into the arena, the doors crashing shut behind him.
Now filled with a furious rage Cloud threw the doors open and charged into the arena. The bright lights and the heat of the room hit his face, making him, for a moment, feel dizzy and faint. There were many people in the Chocobo Square, all of them cheering and yelling as the races went on.
He spotted Cait somewhere near the back of the square. The cat was trying to blend in with the crowd, or at least appear as part of the scenery, standing close to the betting booth. Cait looked around and saw Cloud standing in the doorway. Realising that he had been seen he broke from his position and ran back into the crowd. Cloud ran after him, rudely pushing aside the crowd as he ran.
Aeris, exhausted after so much running, had only just reached the top of the stairs when the doors burst open again and Cait came bounding out. He brushed straight past her, knocking her to the floor in his desperation to get away. He stopped at the edge of the stairs and looked to the skies. He saw what he was looking for and ran down the stairs, calling up to the sky, just as Cloud came running out of the square.
"Hey!" Cait called up loudly. "Over here! The Keystone!"
Hovering in the air above him was a large black helicopter bearing the logo of Shinra and the Turks. The helicopter descended on the Chocobo Square, and the door in the side of the chopper slid open. At first Cait could see nothing in the open doorway, until Tseng stepped out and stood on the edge. He held out his hand, waiting.
Standing up as high as he could on top of the mog, Cait threw the Keystone up into the air. Tseng caught it in his outstretched hand and clasped his fingers firmly around it. He looked down at the Keystone for a brief moment before sliding it into a hidden pocket inside his blazer.
"Well done," he called down to Cait, his voice barely audible over the whir of the chopper blades. His black hair rushing around his face, he turned and shouted something to the driver of the helicopter. Then he disappeared inside the shadows.
The helicopter began to rise again. Cait watched from below as the Shinra helicopter flew off into the night, carrying the Keystone with it. He sighed in relief. He had forgotten about Cloud and Aeris, until he heard the sound of running footsteps and Cloud's outraged voice behind him.
"Hey!"
Defensively Cait spun around and grabbed his megaphone from the side of the mog. Although Cloud and Aeris had both left their weapons inside the hotel, they still had their fists. But Cait wasn't worried about them attacking him. He had completed his mission now, and that was what was important.
Still, seeing the outraged glare in Cloud's eyes as he ran down the stairs, the cat couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous. "W, wait a second," he stammered nervously. "I won't run or hide." He flinched as Cloud came charging towards him. For a moment it looked like he might strike the cat down right there, until Aeris's hand touched his arms and made him fall back. Cait opened one eye and sighed. "Yes, I was a spy. I was hired by the Shinra.
Aeris shook her head. "…I trusted you," she said, her voice broken in her disbelief. "I can't believe you!"
She really couldn't believe it. All the days they had journeyed and travelled together—fought side by side. Although she knew there had been a spy amongst them, she never thought that it would be Cait. But then, she didn't really think it would be anyone. She had hoped it had been a mistake, that it was just coincidence that the Shinra were able to find them so quickly. Knowing that Cait had betrayed them made her heart ache inside.
"I couldn't help it," Cait said reasonably. He scratched his furry head for a moment, gazing at Cloud and Aeris with an innocent, wide-eyed expression. "How 'bout if we continue like nothing ever happened?" he suggested innocently.
Cloud's eyes narrowed in fury. He literally shook with rage. He longed to grab the cat and tear him from his mog body, and then tear his body apart piece by piece. But Aeris's hand on his arm calmed that thought, her unspoken words in his mind. "No way, cat!" he responded, failing to keep the tremor of anger from his voice. "You gotta lot of guts acting like a friend but being a spy!"
Cait tilted his head questioningly. "Then, what are you going to do? Kill me?" He laughed at the thought. "You'd just be wastin' your time if you tried." He patted his hand firmly across his chest so they could hear the hollow thud. "This body's just a toy anyway. My real body's at Shinra Headquarters in Midgar. I'm controllin' this cat from there."
Aeris pushed past Cloud and stood in front of the cat. The expression in her eyes was stern and angry. "So you're from Shinra?" she demanded. She grabbed hold of the cat's arms. "Who? Who are you? Tell me!"
"Whoa, I can't tell you my name."
Now it was Cloud's turn to put his hand on Aeris's arm. Aeris nodded her head slowly and backed off, her hands slipping weakly from Cait's body, which was unharmed. Although Cait seemed amused at the thought of Cloud trying to kill him, he had seemed somewhat alarmed by Aeris's fierce interrogation.
"We're not getting' anywhere," he said to Aeris softly.
"See? I told you!" said Cait triumphantly. The look of alarm was gone from his face now, replaced once again by the look of sheer triumph. Aeris did not notice it, and Cloud wondered why the cat had been so alarmed. The cat continued. "Talking won't do any good, so can't we just continue our journey?"
"You think I'm jokin'?" Cloud snapped fiercely. The cat's arrogance was unreal.
Cait sighed and sat down on the mog's head. "…All right, yes, I am a Shinra employee. But we're not entirely enemies," he said. He looked up at Cloud. "…Something bothers me. I think it's your way of life. You don't get paid. You don't get praised. Yet, you still risk your lives and continue on your journey. Seeing that makes me… It just makes me think of my life. I don't think I'd feel too good if things ended the way they are now."
"……And so on, and so on…" Aeris grumbled under her breath. She shook her head sadly, a tear rolling down her face.
"He'll never tell the truth," Cloud told her. "Once a spy, always a spy. We can't go on with someone like that. C'mon, get real!"
Cait sighed again. "…Just as I thought," he said, shaking his head. "Talking won't make a bit of difference. But I prepared something in case this happened. Why don't you listen to this?"
A loud crackling noise filled the air, making Aeris and Cloud jump. It sounded like a radio receiver. Bewildered the two looked around them, searching for the source of the noise. Then, suddenly, they turned their gaze towards the cat standing in front of them. The sounds came from him! After a few moments the crackling settled and a small, meek voice called out to them.
"Papa! Tifa!"
Cloud jumped back in horror, recognising that voice instantly. Aeris recognised it too, for she gasped and her green eyes widened. That small, meek voice, belonging to a small, meek girl. Someone they thought was safe inside Midgar, with Aeris's mother.
"Hey! That's Marlene!" Aeris gasped.
The voice in the receiver made a quick, sharp gasp, recognising Aeris's voice. There was the sound of movement and the voice called again, this time much louder. "Hey! It's the flower lady! Flower lady…"
Marlene's voice was cut off and the reception went dead. Cait sat back on his mog smugly, knowing that he had them. "…So," he said, "you have to do as I say." It wasn't a threat, just a statement.
Cloud's fists were shaking. It was all he could do to keep them under control. He turned his head away, unable to look at Cait anymore. "…You're the lowest…" he growled under his breath.
Cait seemed to be hurt by that. His cat eyes saddened and he looked at the floor. "I didn't want to do this…" he said. "…using dirty tricks and taking hostages… But this is how it is… no compromises. So why don't we continue as we did?"
Ignoring the gazes of Cloud and Aeris, Cait turned away from them and began to walk slowly up the stairs. He stopped about halfway up and turned back to them.
"Tomorrow is the Temple of the Ancients, right? I know where it is, so I'll tell you later. Of course, we'll get there after the Shinra, but you'll have to deal with that."
With that, Cait turned and stepped into the tube, carried off towards the Ghost Square. Cloud and Aeris stood silently on the stairs, unable to say anything. Aeris hid her face in her hands. To think of that poor little girl in the hands of the Shinra… Aeris couldn't bear it.
"…Well, we're stuck," Cloud said finally, breaking the silence. "…We'll just have to do what he says."
He headed up the stairs. Aeris lifted her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. She didn't want Cloud to see her like this. "I wonder if Marlene is all right…" she whispered to herself. "I wonder what happened to Mom?"
End of Part Seven
Part Eight: A Bitter Farewell (title under construction)
Emerald: Sorry I've been so slow on updates, but I've had a lack of motivation at the moment. Anyway, here's the latest chap. I will work on getting it updated faster.