Mistakes FFVII Style
Disclaimer: Still don't own and probably never will
Authors note: How I managed this one is a bit of a mystery but yeah, what was worse is that I did it a second time but didn't write about that one cause it would have been boring. Always follow NPC advice unless told otherwise kids
How to get Lost
In Corel Desert
Barrett appeared to be pretty determined to find Dyne to seek forgiveness, and Cloud wasn't about to stop the gun arm-toting idiot. But there again he couldn't really lose a comrade in arms. With a slight frown, Cloud began to wonder just when he had started to consider the strange man with the most colourfulness vocabulary in the known world as a comrade but brushed it aside when a gentle touch on his arm told him that Aerith was getting slightly concerned. He shook his head at her lightly, allowing a small smile to cross his features before sighing and glancing at Barrett, "I'm coming with you"
"Me to!" piped up Aerith, before the older man could speak.
Barrett looked a little on the surprised side but hid it well, by turning his head to the side, "There ain't no need for you to go Spiky" Barrett's voice was gruff but filled with a bit of relief, "And I don't want the girl getting hurt. My Marlene would never let me live it down"
Aerith managed to look a little comical as she stamped her foot in annoyance, placed her hands on her hips and scowled at Barrett. Cloud would have laughed but feared that the little healer knew a thing or two about damaging people. "I have you know that I've gone through a lot worse to get here than playing second best to you Mr. Barrett"
Instantly Barrett's arms were up in defence, "I didn't say anything about your ability Aerith! Oh what the hell, if you two get hurt then you can damn well explain everything to Marlene yourselves when we get back!"
So the little group trudged off, ran into some local thieves who were quickly dealt with and then reached a run down looking shack. They paused to catch their breath, whilst Cloud dealt a firm kick to a bandit who had just attempted to rob them of some well earned gil. "Tell the others to keep away as well!" he shouted before turning back with a shake of his head.
"Which way do we go now?" wondered Aerith, gently retying her hair from an earlier battle.
Barrett pointed to the south east, "Those guys said we would find the boss if we went that way so we should follow their advice"
Aerith and Cloud exchanged a glance before turning and looking at the vast desert. It looked quite calm and inviting, no real threats and even the suggestion of a homestead just on the horizon. But Aerith couldn't help but think that something wasn't quite right, "But didn't that guard say the desert was dangerous?"
"Don't be silly Aerith" muttered Barrett, taking a long swig of their water, "He was just trying to keep us down here for as long as possible. It'll only take a matter of minuets to get to that house and then we can find Dyne from there"
Cloud shrugged, accepted a drink from the canteen and passed it to Aerith, "It's the best option we've got"
The girl sighed, shaking her head but finishing off the water hurriedly, "Fine but if we get lost out there I get to say I told you so, okay?"
"Fine" the other two agreed.
Nearly a day later, after facing several hundred of the gigantic worms that seemed to occupy the area, all three were beyond the point of exhaustion and finally had to flop down to the ground in defeat. Their water was long gone and the sun was still exceptionally high.
Aerith turned to her two companions, her eyes practically dead due to a lack of water but just about managed a grin, "Do…I…get" she swallowed pathetically, "say…now?"
Barrett grumbled, his head lolling forward slightly whilst Cloud simply closed his eyes and nodded once.
"Told….ya…so"
Lesson learned: Don't go wandering into the desert area after being told that it won't let you get back in.