Sorry for the long wait! School has started, so i'm only allowed online on weekends T.T Sigh. This chapter, YUFFIE! wee heee
Lost and Found : Chapter 7
Vincent tossed and turned about in his bed, stil pondering over what he had seen. He couldn't stop thinking about it. Why is it Cloud could not remember his past properly? He replyed the scenes in his mind, stopping where Ellie had finished, being given the PHS.
Vincent sat up quite suddenly. I wonder... He took his phone out and dialed Cloud's number. He should be answering his phone by now... He should have changed after that... While waiting for Cloud to pick up the phone, then only he remembered that Cloud's phone had dropped into the water. Sighing, he hung up. After seeing Marlene's look of disbelief that he did not have a phone, he purchased a mobile phone after the Reunion incident.
He dialled Tifa's number, and while waiting for her to pick up this time, he wondered what he should tell her. I'm stuck in a foreign planet. AVALANCHE does exist, but as disfigured characters in a role-playing game. Would they believe him...?
"Hello...?" said a very groggy voice on the other end of the line.
"Tifa?"
"Vincent? Do you have any idea what time is it now?"
"Sorry."
"Is it something urgent? Well, you'd better speak to Cloud, hang on a second..."
"Vincent?" said yet another groggy voice on the other end of the line.
"Cloud."
"What is it...?"
"Cloud, I'm stuck on another planet," said Vincent.
"What?"
"Another planet. I woke up one morning to find myself on solid ground. I, am in CANADA, which I doubt you've ever heard of it before."
"No, I haven't... Are you telling me you can't come back?"
"I haven't tried. I took refuge in a mansion, and I've been staying there ever since."
Cloud had a sudden vision of Vincent bursting through the doors and firing shots everywhere, and then of Chaos breaking free and terrifying other humans. He shuddered.
"But, your claw, your gun... you mean they just let you in, like that?"
"Yes."
"Right... we'll find a way to come get you. Goodnight."
"Wait, Cloud. There's something you must know. I'm living with a sixteen year old girl whose parents will be away for months."
"Yeah, we'll try not to frighten her, don't worry."
"She's not frightened of me. She has been playing this game called Final Fantasy 7."
"Vincent, it's late, I want to sleep.. If it's unimportant, please stop..." said Cloud irritably.
"The main character in that game is someone that goes by the name of Cloud Strife."
"Someone's named after me? In a game? That's cool."
"No, Cloud. It's not someone named after you. It's you."
"Me?"
"Yes. Tifa, Barret, Nanaki.. They're all there. Even Aeris." There was a moment of silence after that sentence.
"And... What are they doing in a game...?"
"They, are going after Sephiroth."
"What?"
"The story of our lives. Your life. It's all in a game. In this world, technically we don't exist. I have been guiding Ellie in playing the game, and along the way I have seen some interesting scenes in your past."
"What interesting scenes?" said Cloud, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Ahem... Don Corneo."
"What?" Vincent almost exploded with laughter at Cloud's reaction, but merely let out a low chuckle.
"So, I request that you do not come barging in to the house for the next few weeks or so. Not until Ellie finds out who I am. Is that all right?"
"Why? And how come Ellie has no idea that you're part of AVALNCHE?"
"The game starts off when you first joined AVALNCHE, and met Barret and Tifa. You only found me when you went to Nibelheim. Ellie has not reached that part of the game yet, and it will be long before she does."
"Right... so where has she stopped then?" asked Cloud, curious in spite of his sleepiness.
"You have just left Midgar, and stopped at Kalm. You told everyone about your history with Sephiroth."
"Oh... I see."
"I would appreciate it if you stopped by at Nibelheim and check on the coffin to see if there is a portal there. But do not go through it yet."
"Yeah, ok. So when do I actually come to take you back?"
"Hmm..." Vincent thought for awhile. Suddenly he recalled his conversation with Ellie a few hours ago...
"How about the 12th of March? It'll be her birthday then, and it would be a birthday surprise for her."
"Sounds good. I'll tell the rest. Goodnight, and take care."
"Goodnight, Cloud."
The next morning, Vincent awoke to prepare breakfast as usual. At around nine, he knocked on Ellie's room door to wake her. Fluffy came shooting out, mewing happily and Ellie said she was going to take a shower first. He laid the table, did the usual stuff, ate breakfast with Ellie, shoved Fluffy out of the way, washed the plates and finally got round to watching Ellie play the game.
Ellie put Cloud, Tifa and Red XIII together and directed them to head southeast toward the town Vincent recognised as the Chocobo Farm. Cloud went in, and the were about four chocobos penned up and looking absolutely cute and adorable to Ellie. She talked to the one nearest to her and they did a rather cute dance, and Ellie received a Choco/Mog materia. Vincent was slowly falling asleep by the time Ellie finished learning how to catch a chocobo, and actually managed to catch one too.
"Stupid Choco Billy! I have no more money now!"
Ellie directed the chocobo to head to the cave, trying desperately to outrun the Midgar Zolom. When they reached the cave, a scene depicting a dead Midgar Zolom impaled upon a dead tree played on screen. Cloud suspected Sephiroth might have done it. They then entered the cave, and after heading right and up the stairs she received an Ether. After getting into a battle, Vincent finally decided to pay attention to the game. A monster used Flamethrower on Nanaki. That's an enemy skill, thought Vincent.
"Ellie, did you equip anybody with an Enemy Skill materia?"
"No, why?"
"Equip it onto Cloud. Flamethrower is an enemy skill. It's more powerful than Fire, but less powerful than Fire2."
Ellie did so, and Cloud acquired Flamethrower. Ellie navigated herself through the cave and found a Long Range Materia. After exiting that screen to the left...
Rude: Just a second!
Tifa: Who are you?
Rude: Do you know who I am?
Cloud: From the Turks, right?
Rude: Well if you know, then this won't take long. It's difficult to explain what the Turks do…
Cloud: Kidnapping, right?
Rude: To put it negatively…you could say that. …But, that's not all there is to it, anymore. ………… …………
Elena: Sir! It's all right, Rude! I know you don't like speeches, so don't force it!
Rude: …Then Elena, explain.
Elena: I'm the newest member of the Turks, Elena. Thanks to what you did to Reno, we're short of people. …Although, because of that, I got promoted to the Turks… In any case, our job is to find out where Sephiroth is headed. And to try and stop you every step of the way. Wait a minute, it's the other way around… You're the ones that are getting in our way.
Tseng: …Elena. You talk too much.
Elena: Sorry…Tseng.
Tseng: No need to tell them about our orders. Now go. Don't forget to file your report.
Elena: Oh! Right! Very well, Rude and I will go after Sephiroth, who's heading for Junon Harbor!
Tseng: …Elena. You don't seem to understand.
Elena: Oh! I'm, I'm sorry…
Tseng: …Go. Don't let Sephiroth get away.
Rude & Elena: Yes sir!
Rude: (to Cloud's group) …Reno said he wanted to see you after the injuries you gave him healed. He wants to show his affection for you all…with a new weapon.
Tseng: Well, then… …Where's Aeris? She's not with you?
Cloud: Aeris isn't with us. She's with the others.
Tseng: Oh… Then give her my regards.
Vincent smirked at Elena and Tseng on screen. The Turks had really defected ever since he left. After getting the Elixir, Ellie exited the screen and reappeared on the World Map again. Without stopping by at Fort Condor, she headed to Junon after saving her game. Somewhere in the forests near Junon... Cloud's group encounters a mystery ninja who Vincent recognized at once. Ellie engaged battle, and defeated Yuffie.
Mystery Ninja: Man…… I can't believe I lost… You spikey-headed jerk! One more time, let's go one more time!
There were two options, Fight and Not interested. Ellie chose not interested.
Cloud: Not interested.
Mystery Ninja: Thinkin' of running away? Stay and fight! FIGHT, I said! C'mon…… What's the matter? You're pretty scared of me, huh?
Again, two options. Ellie chose to fight, before Vincent could say anything. Yuffie bumps into one of the characters and runs off with 500 gil.
"Nooooo!" wailed Ellie.
"Ellie, Yuffie is a character in this game. I think you have to choose the correct options before she joins you."
"Argh... Stupid Yuffie..."
Ellie reloaded her game again, and fought with Yuffie again. This time Vincent helped her choose which option to answer.
Mystery Ninja: Man…… I can't believe I lost… You spikey-headed jerk! One more time, let's go one more time!
Cloud: Not interested.
Mystery Ninja: Thinkin' of running away? Stay and fight! FIGHT, I said! C'mon…… What's the matter? You're pretty scared of me, huh?
Cloud: ……petrified.
Mystery Ninja: Hmm, just as I thought. What do you expect with my skills? Good luck to you guys too. If you feel up to it, we can go another around. Later! I'm really gonna leave! REALLY!
Cloud: Wait a second!
Mystery Ninja: What is it, you still have somethin' for me? ……Hmmm. So is that it? I know you want my help because I'm so good! You want me to go with you?
Cloud: ……That's right.
Mystery Ninja: Heh heh…thought so. You put me in a spot. Hmm, what should I do? But if you want me that bad, I can't refuse… All right! I'll go with you! Cloud: ……Let's hurry on.
Cloud's group left the scene.
Yuffie: Huh? Hey… HEY! Wait! I haven't even told you my name…… I'm Yuffie! Good to meetcha! (to herself) Heh heh……just as I planned. Now all I have to do is…a little this……and a little that……nyuk, nyuk, nyuk... Hey, wait up! Wait for me!
Vincent smiled at the figure on screen. Ellie finally met her counterpart.
"Ellie, do you know how old Yuffie is?"
"No, do you?"
"Yes, she's sixteen. Just like you."
Ellie laughed. Vincent smiled. Actually, she's 19 now, thought Vincent. He pictured her ruling Wutai with an iron fist and couldn't resist yet another smile.