Well, here's a Cloud and Yuffie centric chapter, no mentioning of Iori and Aerith's saga.
The duo crash land into Agrabah. And that's all I'm letting out :]
Please review! I'm so happy you all would make it this far T^T I love you all3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back on the Gummi ship hiding in the forest in the outskirts of town, Cloud and Yuffie lifted out from the world's atmospheric hold and delve back into starry skies. Cloud sat back into his pilot's seat while Yuffie strapped in tightly into the passengers seat.
"Let's try not to get ourselves into another tight situation like that again, okay Cloudy?" Yuffie whined as she began dreading the next course the ship would take her on.
"You and me both," Cloud responded, sympathizing with his companion. "Where to next?"
"Uhh, beats me… What's the list again?" Yuffie asked.
Cloud brought up the map on the Gummi ship menu and began reading out loud the list of places nearby. "Well, there was that jungle… Some desert-like world…Oh, here's a new one… completely underwater…" he said, the last one made his voice sound remorseful.
"What's with the 'boo-hoo' voice? I want to go in water! Hel-loo?! Mini vacation!" Yuffie began to squeal with excitement.
Cloud sighed, "No thanks. I'm not much of a water guy."
Yuffie huffed, "Guh, you not much of an anything guy! Seriously pecker head, when will you loosen up?!"
"Pecker head?"
"You heard me! Pecker head! Pecker head!" Yuffie began pestering Cloud more, continuing to insult him over and over again.
Finally, he snapped and glared at Yuffie. "Shut up! I'm going to beat the crap out of you unless you stop!"
Yuffie stuck out her tongue. "Try me, pecker head! Gya-haha!"
Cloud snapped and tried to get at her, only for the slick ninja to quickly snap out of her chair and run away still laughing and screaming 'pecker head' loudly. Cloud lunged after her, accidentally hitting his head against the computer dock across from his seat.
"Ouch, hey…What the?!" Cloud began, but suddenly his felt the ship jerk and move out of control.
"Look what you did, you idiot pecker head!" Yuffie yelled pointing to the screen upfront the ship. "We're flying without a destination!"
Cloud jumped back to his feet and tried pressing a few buttons to retrieve control over the ship. "Maybe you should shut up once in a while, you annoying pest!"
"I could say the same about—wahh!" Yuffie shrieked, tripping over her seat and tumbling backwards into the cabin.
"I-I can't get back! No, no! This is bad," Cloud panicked, trying everything he can to regain control of the Gummi ship. Another jerk and Cloud was again sent flying back, landing hard on Yuffie.
"Never mind about you being skinny! Ahh, get off me!" She screamed, kicking and punching Cloud off of her.
Cloud rolled off them looked outside. His eyes widened with fear as her ran towards the window. "Yuffie…" he said quietly.
Yuffie stood back up and rubbed her backside. "What now, chocobo head?"
"Strap in tight… We're going to crash," he said as calmly as he could. Yuffie ran to the same window and began screaming.
"This can't happening! Oh my gawd! Ahh!" she screeched loudly.
"Strap in, Yuffie!" Cloud called out to her, running into the main pilot's chair and fastening his belt. Yuffie ran after him and pulled her seat belt tightly and held onto the armrests. She squinted her eyes tightly and yelled.
"Are we gunna die?!" she screamed while beginning to whimper.
Cloud held his breath and yelled back, "Maybe!"
Yuffie sobbed louder, "But there's so much I wanted to tell you before I—I—AHH!" The duo screamed loudly as the sirens of the Gummi ship rang loudly. The ship went underway and spiraled down into a mysterious planet below.
I've been thinking…
Maybe death won't be so scary…
Then, I'll be with her…
Yeah…
Then I don't have to keep searching…
Aerith…
---
Cloud… I wish… I…I…
"Hello?" A man?
Hey! Great! You're waking up!" an unfamiliar voice began to ring throughout the young ninja's ears. She tried opening her eyes and found herself laying on something scratchy and uncomfortable.
"W-wha—" she tried speaking, but her voice was weak and was soon cut off by enigmatic man over her.
"Hey! Found yourself in quite some trouble!" His voice wasn't old at all, rather, youthful and upbeat. "Lucky for you, me and Abu here found you laying out in the sand. You've dried up and been left to the scorpions.
Sand? Scorpions? Desert?! Yuffie groaned.
The young man before her had thick wavy black hair. He wore a pair of cream-colored pants with patches covering up his holes with a maroon vest that was unbuttoned, showing off his smooth tan skin. Yuffie tried sitting up and felt a sharp pain throbbing in her head.
"Oi…ouch…" she moaned as she rubbed her temples to ease the stinging.
The young man let out a short giggle and said, "Yup, you got pretty banged up in the desert. Maybe, if you're lucky, the Genie of the Lamp will make it stop. But it'll cost us one wish, and I don't know you well enough to give that up!"
Yuffie just shook her head. "Genie? What are you talking about? Are you sure you're the one who didn't get hit in the head?"
The young man just laughed again. Then, from behind his back, he held an object wrapped in ornately decorated fabric. "This is the lamp!" he said excitedly, dropping the cloth off and reveling a golden object. To Yuffie, it looked less of a lamp in her mind and more closely to an odd shaped teapot.
"That's a lamp?" she asked doubtfully.
The man nodded. "Mhm! Once I rub this lamp, the Genie will come out and I'll get three wishes of my choice."
Yuffie's eyes became large, glaring at the golden so-called lamp. "Any three wishes?" she nearly stuttered.
He nodded again. "Any. Three. Wishes."
Yuffie said nothing as she gaped at the all-of-sudden marvelous golden teapot and practically drooling as she tried reaching out to touch it. Then, she was knocked from her trance by a squeal of a monkey.
SCREEEEEECH
"Ugh!"
The young man tugged the lamp away from Yuffie and shook his finger. "Now, now, you didn't think you could get this away from me? What, do you think I was born yesterday? Ha ha!" he said to her in a boastful tone. Yuffie just sat back on her bottom and crossed her arms, pouting. Then, from preaching to politeness, the young man asked, "So, what's your name, anyway?"
Yuffie, too, snapped from her moody self and jumped on to her two feet. "Ah ha! I'm Yuffie Kisaragi! Or, as you can call me, 'The Great Ninja Yuffie!' from the Wutai clan!" she yelled proudly.
The man and his monkey just looked at each other and shrugged. "Sorry, no idea what a 'ninja' or a 'wutai' is.
Yuffie, again, whined and pouted. "It's not 'what's a ninja' or what's a 'wutai' numbskull!" she said mockingly. "I'm a fierce warrior from the most powerful village, Wutai!"
The young man just smirked and replied, "So powerful, you knocked yourself out in a desert?"
Yuffie was about to argue back her space ship crash-landed and threw her out into the sandy landscape when she remembered not to reveal much about her being from other worlds. "Hmph, never mind that. So, smarty, who are you?"
He straightened his torso up proudly than answered, "Aladdin from Agrabah!" Then he shrugged and smiled, "Or, you can call me Al." Next thing, the tiny monkey wearing a vest as well began knocking on Aladdin's head. "Ouch! Watch it. Oh--, hehe, and this is Abu, if you didn't guess from before."
Yuffie let her guard down for a second and giggled, "Well, I like him if he beats up dummies like you." Aladdin just smiled.
"Well, before you came along, Abu and I were looking for something to eat. Wanna come along?" He offered to her.
Yuffie nodded in response. Silently, she looked around the room and saw the only two people in the room where her and Aladdin. She felt her heart sink and she frowned a bit.
Seeing now his new companion was upset, Aladdin asked, "What's wrong?"
Yuffie sighed then answered, "You wouldn't have happened to see a spiky blond guy too while you were in the desert." Aladdin shook his head and shrugged. "Oh…"
"If you want, we help you look for him. Abu and I know all the places around Agrabah!" Aladdin suggested with a grin.
Yuffie's eyes lit back up and she, too, smiled. "That would be great! He's kinda moody, so watch out."
Aladdin laughed, something she figured he would often be doing with such an upbeat demeanor. "Nothing Abu and I can't handle!" he said confidently.
Surprisingly, Yuffie found Aladdin's attitude rubbing off on her and she laughed back along with him.
In dark cell miles away, Cloud woke to find himself sitting on the dirty floor with his arms bound in shackles pinned high on the wall. He couldn't tell if he was still bordering unconsciousness or if it was the lighting in the dungeon. Just as he felt his body waking up, he felt sharp pains in his chest and his legs were throbbing as well.
"Man…" he groaned, trying to shift his weight from his backside. He ached all over. Then, that moment, panic struck him. "Yuffie?" No response. "Yuffie!" Silence. His eyes were wide as he tried to look for her figure amongst the darkness. "Yuffie! Are you there?!"
"Hush, street rat," a deep voice came out from the darkness. The creaking of a prison door swinging open was heard and rays of light came from the same direction. Cloud's eyes adjusted to the minimal light and saw he was all alone in the prison cell.
"What's...what's going on here?" Cloud asked, squinting his eyes to try and make out the shadow of the figure. He could see a muscular man with a short curved blade and shoes that curled up at the end.
"Ha! I don't have to answer to the likes of you, vermin!" the voice laughed in amusement.
Cloud shook his head. "I think this is a big misunderstanding, if I could just speak to someone—"
"You will speak to me and only me, street rat!" the figure yelled.
"Is there a problem here, Razul?" a more dignified and deep voice said. Cloud could make out a taller figure in robes holding a staff, though the new figure's face was still difficult to make out.
The guard just snorted and responded, "Nothing for you to worry about, Jafar, just another drunken street rat we found laying in the desert."
"A drunken street rat?" Jafar responded, titling his head to the guard.
Cloud rattled his chains and shook his head. "I wasn't drinking… I got lost…" he pondered for a moment then answered again. "I got lost in the desert. Dehydration."
Cloud could see the taller figure stroking a curl in his beard and gave a large sigh. "Razul…"
The guard looked at Cloud and growled. "Why you little bug, I should squash you until your—"
"Please, spare me," Jafar sighed in an unenthusiastic tone. "Just, let him go or whatever."
Razul shook his head, "Sir, Jafar, we found this with him…" Cloud then couldn't make out the rest while the guard whispered into the taller man's ear.
A small chuckle came from Jafar. "Oh ho, I see… You should have come to me first, Razul. Let him go, I'd like to have a word with him."
Razul grunted in displeasure, but following orders, Cloud assumed Jafar was the man who gave them out. "As you wish, sire…"
Just after the conversation the guard had with his leader, Cloud could hear footsteps coming out his way. Then, a presence of a heavier man was looming over Cloud, pushing himself closer into the wall. Moments later, he heard something unhitch and his hands fell into his lap and a pair of large hands forced Cloud to his feet and pushed him out of the dungeon cell.
Cloud squinted again, the light was excruciatingly bright. He brought his hands up his face to shield his eyes. Seconds later, Cloud was able to make out who the tall figure was. The man had a long face sporting a thin goatee and mustache. His robe was decorated in red and black while he also held a golden staff with the head of a snake at the end, clutching a ruby colored gem.
"So sorry, my boy," Jafar began, revealing his large teeth. "Shall we take a stroll through the palace?"
Cloud's eyes widened, but then shut quickly from still adjusting to the lightening. "Palace?"
Jafar laughed again. "Oh ho, yes. My apologies. Welcome to the Palace in Agrabah."
Cloud still wasn't sure what any of that meant, but he concentrated mostly at the walls outside of the dungeons that were heavily decorated with unique motifs that seemed to be placed in all the objects and furniture as well. Cloud kept following Jafar until they came to a stone spiraled staircase, which he climbed up until they reached a room emulating some ancient looking laboratory. On a long table piled with flasks and glass tubing lay Cloud's massive sword, the tip nearly hanging off the edge.
"I believe this is yours, my boy?" Jafar asked, leading Cloud over to it. It remained in the leather holster Cloud created for it to strap on his back whenever he fought monsters in and out of towns.
Cloud just nodded and walked over to it. Fixing the straps around his torso, Cloud managed to place the holster of the sword comfortably down his back. Once he finished he looked at Jafar but said nothing.
"No need to be in a hurry, come, let's chat for a while," Jafar offered, but Cloud refused.
"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry now," Cloud responded, making his way towards the door leading back to the stairway.
"If you're looking for your friend, I'm sorry to say, but they're lost, somewhere in the desert. I don't think you'll be able to find them," Jafar replied rather unsympathetically.
A small chuckle came from Cloud. "Heh, it'd take a lot more than some sand to stop Yuffie."
"Hmph," Jafar snorted, crossing his arms. "Well, I think if you're going to find your companion you'll need our help, which I'm more than willing to do for a small favor."
Cloud's ears perked up as he turned away from the door to look at the tall man into his eyes. Jafar let out another wide grin.
"I'll let you take control of the palace guards and let you search all of Agrabah if you find me this one lousy street rat," Jafar said offering his end of the bargin.
Cloud stared at the figure before him and thought for a second. That's it? "So, you're saying all I have to find is some lousy bum off the street and you'll help me?"
Jafar grinned and added, "I warn you, this little thief is not just your ordinary bum off the street. He's Aladdin, the slickest and snake-like street rat you'll ever come across. Are you sure you want to take on such a heavy task?"
Cloud wanted to bust out laughing. Instead, he just smirked and replied, "Yeah, whatever, just give me a description and a location and he's all yours."
Jafar walked closer to Cloud and pat him on the shoulder. "Well done my boy, well done…"
Back on the streets of Agrabah, a ninja, a thief and his monkey were in hot pursuit but palace guars roaming the streets.
"I wish you told me before that you weren't planning on buying anything before I got into this hot mess!" Yuffie yelled, running just behind Aladdin.
Aladdin didn't look behind him to answer but just shouted out, "Not a big deal, just stay close behind! Hold on Abu!" His monkey held on for dear life around his master's neck, screeching loudly.
The three of them managed to dodge the guards by slipping through various nooks and crannies in the market street's structures. But, just as they would pop out one whole, they were greeted by another guard, slashing away at them. Lucky for Yuffie, her ninja skills came quite in handy while she easily slipped by the guards and slid her way back to Aladdin, still taking the lead.
Yuffie followed her companion down a dark alleyway but was slowing down, seeing that there was a huge wall blocking their way. Yuffie sighed as Aladdin turned back to her and shrugged.
"Hehe…Oops?" he said nervously as the guards began narrowing in.
Yuffie was infuriated. "Oops?! OOPS?! What do you mean, OOPS?!"
Before she had enough time to react, a mid size blade found its way around her skinny neck. She caught her breath and saw Aladdin surrounded by other palace guards.
"Take one more step and we'll cut her throat, street rat," a guard said smiling showing off a set of yellow decaying teeth.
"C-come on, now, gentlemen, I think this is just a big misunderstanding, hehe" Aladdin tried saying back to the guards, who wouldn't buy a single word.
Just then, a new voice was heard, a figure looming closer into the alleyway. "Find the kid?"
"Yeah, sir, cowering in a corner like a diseased rodent, mueh-heh-heh," another guard said in a creepy deep voice.
The figure walked closer to Yuffie and Aladdin to inspect the situation. Yuffie's neck stayed in place, but her eyes wondered to the emerging figure that was now just passing her. Boy, was that hair a dead giveaway.
"Cloud! You moron! What are you doing?!" Yuffie yelled, the spiky blond turning his way quickly.
"W-ha—Yuffie?!" he exclaimed loudly, something rather uncharacteristic of Cloud.
Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Geez, pigeon brain, I was getting a bite to eat, then realized you took all the money. Boy, am I never trusting YOU again," she said back to him annoyed.
Cloud just hit his head against him palm. "I was looking for you and here I find you stealing stuff again. Will you ever learn?"
Yuffie stuck out her tongue, but yanked it back in when she noticed again the sheath getting closer to her neck. "Can you do something about this?"
Cloud sighed. "Let her go, she's just being a pest."
The guard however kept his blade up and responded, "Sorry sir, but she was caught stealing with the target. She's got to be taken in to Jafar."
"But she's with me! Just excuse her and take the boy," Cloud begged.
"Cloud! Don't let them take Aladdin!" she yelled back.
Cloud walked over to his companion and whispered, "What's gotten into you? Who cares, we can just walk away from this and be on our way."
Yuffie spat down at Cloud's feet. "What's wrong with you? Would Aerith think that was the right thing?"
Yuffie really knew how to hit Cloud's weak spots. "No, Yuffie, but I'm not letting some punk kid ruin this for all of us." She just crinkled her nose in disgust.
"Fine, whatever Cloud. Go play police man, but I'm not coming with you," she finally said, turning her head away from him.
"Sir! The boy! He escaped!" A guard all of a sudden exclaimed, diverting Cloud and Yuffie from their argument.
A sudden wave of impulse struck Cloud. He felt his heart rate quicken and his palms beginning to sweat. Don't screw this up, Cloud… He gripped the handle of his gargantuan sword and breathed heavily. Ready…GO!
Cloud unsheathed his Buster sword and lunged at the guard holding Yuffie captive. The ninja freed herself and gave the guards in front of her two mighty kicks in the face. Cloud and Yuffie ran together from the alleyway, leaving the palace guardsmen moaning on their backs in the alleyway.
While running away without a destination, Yuffie turns to the side to look at Cloud. She lets out a smile and says, "You, know, for a second there, I thought you really were going to leave me behind."
Cloud continues to look forward. "I thought I was, too." Yuffie's smile waned as she saw Cloud's regretful look painted across his face.
"C'mon, Cloudy, you didn't so it's alright," she trying to reassure him. She then began to recognize the streets where Aladdin brought her after the plane accident. "Over there!" she yelled pointing to a wall covered with a ragged green piece of cloth.
The duo ran to it, making sure no guards could see them go into hiding. They climbed up a wooden pole up to a room that was decorated with a collage of miscellaneous items and cloths.
"What is this place, Yuffie?" Cloud asked, observing the room.
Popping out from the side, Aladdin appeared with Abu on his shoulder, smiling. "Welcome to my home!"
Yuffie smiled proudly but Cloud still kept looking around. "Your home?"
Aladdin shrugged. "Well, mine and Abu's. It's not much, but what can you expect from modest thief such as myself, right Abu?" The monkey screeched in approval.
Cloud looked at Aladdin seriously. "What did Jafar and those guards want with you earlier?"
Aladdin waited to answer and asked back, "What were you doing siding with Jafar and those guards?"
Cloud shook his head. "You answer first."
Aladdin crossed his arms. "As if! Why should I trust you?"
Cloud gritted his teeth. "You nearly got Yuffie killed out there! Now, I want answers!"
Aladdin sighed, "C'mon! Yuffie's a big girl, she can take care of herself! Sheesh!"
Yuffie turned her face away and blushed madly. Not only was she complemented in the most awkward of arguments, but two handsome men were arguing over her well being. Seeing Cloud especially made her heart flutter, but then she banged on her head trying to get him out of her thoughts. Ew! Stupid, stupid, stupid chocobo head!
"… with this lamp," Aladdin ended explaining to Cloud, who clearly won that verbal fuss if Aladdin of all people gave in. "So, what about you."
Cloud turned his face to Yuffie then to Aladdin in silence. Aladdin smirked and just nodded.
"Hm, so… that lamp then. When are you going to call the genie?" Cloud asked, changing the subject. Yuffie turned around to listen.
"Well," Aladdin said, "why not now?"
Yuffie's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
Aladdin smiled confidently. "Yeah, why not? Since you guys helped me out back there, I just may let you have one of my three wishes."
Cloud and Yuffie turned to look at each other. Then Yuffie spoke to Aladdin, "Really? You'd let us get one wish?" Aladdin nodded happily.
Cloud grabbed Yuffie and whispered to her in her ear. "Yuffie! We can ask him to bring back Aerith! Then we can all go home."
Yuffie gave him a devilish look. "I thought you came out to travel worlds," she said doubtingly.
"Yeah but, just think, any wish…" Cloud said back with some begging in his voice. Yuffie just sighed and nodded.
"Whatever, chocobo head. So, Al," Yuffie said to her new friend, who was admiring his mystical lamp. She continued, "What are you going to wish for?"
Aladdin looked up and gave Yuffie a dopey grin. "Well…There's this girl," he answered, stroking his hair back. "…But she's the Sultan's daughter…and, well… You get the rest."
Yuffie squealed. "Ooo! So you're going to wish for the princess to fall in love with you?"
Aladdin nodded while turning his head to blush. "Well, you guys ready then?" Yuffie and Cloud nodded. "Alright then, here goes nothing!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------