To think that one of the Organization members would help and tell him what was going on and what they wanted Rinoa for, that was just absurd. Now they told them the location of their friends, which seemed too strange. What were these people, foes turned friends? Or were they just trying to deceive them? Zell started to doubt whether what Demyx had told him was true or not, but it was hard to tell that he didn't mean it. For some reason he appeared different from the rest of them, or the ones he had met so far at least. What was their motive, that was the real question. Tifa, who was being supported up by Zell, pointed to the castle gates in front of them. Behind it was a large castle made by white marble and had several blue strips going across the top. When they entered through the gates, a garden surrounded the stone walkway with two large fountains on each side. The garden was decorated with an assortment of flowers that colored the garden as if it were a painting of many mixed colors. The castle doors were large and led to an entrance of the most decorated and lively room the two of them had ever seen.
"You must be Zell and Tifa, Princess Jasmine and Aladdin have been expecting you." the butler said, as he greeted them, "If you will follow me please, we will have our nurses attend to your wounds."
"Thank you." Tifa mumbled as both her and Zell followed after the butler.
Leading them to a large room, they were greeted by Genie who was alive and conscious in the corner, Aladdin who had been patched up and a woman in blue sitting next to him. Zell sat Tifa down in a chair beside him, as the nurses began to tend to her wounds almost immediately. She had alot of cuts and bruises, but nothing appeared life-threatening or too major. As the nurses finished bandaging her up, Zell began the conversation that hopefully would answer a lot of questions on everyone's mind.
"I know what they are up too, I know why they want Rinoa." Zell said.
"Such a mess." Tifa mumbled to herself.
"Well first let me say that we had quite a fumble with that other guy, me and Genie are fine but Rinoa seemed to be badly injured. She's in the one of our rooms with one of our doctors attending to her." Aladdin spoke, "Oh and let me introduce you to Princess Jasmine, she is the providing all the help."
"Thank you." both Zell and Tifa said, thankful for the stranger's service.
"No thank you, who knows what those two men would have done if you hadn't fended them off. Aladdin had told me about what was going on and about you three, if there is anything I can do to help feel free to ask." Jasmine spoke, a smile upon her face.
"Your doing enough already." Zell responded, " The stress is probably getting to Rinoa, and its too much for her to handle. I'm just glad she is getting the chance to rest, things have been hectic for her lately."
"You said you knew what was going on Zell, what they wanted Rinoa for?" Tifa asked.
"Yeah, as strange as it may seem one of the Organization members came to me. It was water clone guy, the one that attacked us before. He said he wanted to help and told me they wanted Rinoa's heart." Zell explained, "He said her heart was important for some reason, but he didn't know any details. At first I didn't want believe him, but from the way he said it he seemed to be telling the truth."
The room went silent after Zell's brief answer, unknowing as too what to say. Zell thought about Rinoa, how he was unable to help her when she really needed it. He cursed himself out in his mind for not being there, only to go back to wishing he knew where Squall was. He then remembered Tifa telling him about knowing the location of their friends and instantly brought up the question.
"So they told you were they were?" Zell asked, turning to Tifa.
"Yeah, said it was a prize from winning the game." Tifa responded, "From what I heard your friend Squall doesn't go by that name anymore, he goes by Leon. Apparently he is currently in a town called Hollow Bastion, which is pretty far off from where we are now. Your friend Selphie is currently residing in a world called Destiny Islands. He also said there have also been reports of a man with a gun and a female with a whip traveling around, there last appearance was in a world called Monstropolis."
"That souns like it would be Quistis and Irvine, this is great news. We now know where they are. Oh I can't wait to tell Rinoa, she'll be soo excited to here this." Zell said, feeling relieved, "Hey wait, what about your friend?"
"From what he said, Cloud has been chasing after a tall man with a long sword and long silver hair. From what he had heard, he was recently spotted at a castle also in Hollow Bastion but there was no guarantee he is still there."
Again, the room went silent as Tifa's mind drifted off to Cloud. That stubborn fool, he wouldn't rest until he knew for sure. Until he knew that Sephiroth was long gone, cease to exist not just in her world but all worlds. He couldn't give up that fact, he would never give up chasing after Sephiroth. She hated that man for what he had done, in the past and now. That man had caused so much pain and so much hurt to so many people. If there was a way to stop him herself, she would have done it long time ago. After the many trials they had faced, Sephiroth, Hojo, Kadaj, Shinra, it never amounted to anything good. Hearing Aladdin's voice, she focused back on the subject at hand. If Cloud was still in Hollow Bastion, then maybe she could stop him from chasing after Sephirtoh. It was a long shot, but it was a shot nonetheless.
"Can we trust that them, after what they did." Aladdin asked.
"Its a lead, whether he was lying or not." Tifa answered, "After this we will head out to those locations, and hopefully our friends will be there."
Zell nodded in agreement; as Tifa said it was a lead even if it couldn't be proved true. At this point anything, any clues or hints, would help. Things were tight right now and who knew when the Organization would strike again. They had to focus on finding there friends, finding Squall so all of this would come to and end. Though what bothered him was Squall's sudden name change. It didn't seem like a big deal, but what came out of it. Surely he knew that his friends would be looking for him, and changing his name would make it more difficult to find him. Unless he believed them to be dead, given up on what mattered most to him. If that were true, then Zell knew he owed Squall, or Leon, one major ass kicking. He should know better then to give up on his friends, thinking that they would go down that easy. However, Zell didn't know if that was the case or not. He just hoped Squall hadn't given up hope so fast. Zell then looked up at the man who had just entered the room. He was wearing a long white jacket and from his appearence Zell guessed he was a doctor.
"Rinoa is resting now, she'll be ok though she'll need to rest for a while." the doctor said, "I'm afraid you guys will be here for a weeks time, she won't be able to fully recover if she goes anywhere soon. It seems she is under high amounts of stress, and that isn't making things any easier for her health. As I said though, with rest she should be fine."
"That's good to hear." Tifa said.
"Can I see her?" Zell asked.
The doctor nodded and Zell quickly got up and followed the doctor to Rinoa's room. Tifa sat there now facing a new dilemma. She was hoping to act right on this new information of their friend's location, but if Rinoa needed to rest it couldn't be helped. She just hoped no one else was going anywhere anytime soon, but she knew that didn't apply to Cloud. Now the only question was where to stay, figuring there had to be a hotel around this kingdom somewhere.
"Do you know of any inns in your kingdom, Princess?" Tifa asked.
"Oh no, I prefer it if you stay here in our rooms. It wouldn't be a hassle to us and we would gladly appreciate the company." Jasmine responded.
"Thank you, its greatly noted." Tifa said back with a smile.
While the three of them began to discuss room arrangements, Zell was lead to the room where Rinoa lied. He entered and saw her laying down in a soft bed and starring out the small window at the blue, cloudless sky. She had bandages all over her body, but it was not her wounds that upset him but her expression. She looked depressed and sad, as if she had lost everything. It looked as if she had lost her smile, as if it was carried away by the wind. He took a seat next to her, knowing the new information might brighten her up.
"Hey, doctor said you'll be ok." Zell said with a big grin.
Rinoa didn't say anything or turn her head, but kept starring at the sky as if she was watching for something. The grin quickly disappeared off of Zell's face and sighed as he looked at his own feet. Despite Rinoa's current mood he knew he had to be cheerful. If he looked upset too, then it wouldn't make it any easier for her.
"I have some good news, we know where Squall is. We know where everyone is?" Zell said, the big grin back on his face, "We'll find them Rinoa, I promise."
With those last words, a slight smile could be seen on Rinoa's face. Even though sadness had shown and even though she had went through so much pain, she hadn't given up hope just yet. Her friends were out there, and they were waiting for them to join the family once again.