Hello everyone. I apologize that's it's been almost 6 months since my last update. Yikes. But I'm happy to say that this story hasn't lost it's plot nor have it been plagued by writer's block. (knock on wood) x3

I don't know why this chapter took forever to write. I know w.b. had nothing to do with it. But that's water under the bridge. It's finished now, so I hope you enjoy. ^_^

It had been forty minutes into the flight when Zack dozed off and Cloud was left to his own thoughts. He still felt queezy, but it wasn't as bad as his trip on the ferry. At least he managed to keep the contents of his stomach where it belonged. He looked down at the landscape below. It was an interesting mountain range and the greenery that followed. But then he saw something strange. The greenery gave way to a desolate wasteland. Everything was brown and Cloud couldn't spot any kind of plant life. Cid noticed the kid looking around through his rear-view mirror.

"Pretty sad sight, ain't it?"

"Are we flying over a desert?" he asked.

"Might as well be," Cid replied. "That's the wastelands surrounding Midgar. Nothing will grow down there and you can thank the reactors for that."

"But, there was a reactor near my hometown and it didn't do anything like that."

"That's because your town probably only has one reactor. Midgar has eight of 'em."

"Eight?!"

Cid smirked at the kid's reaction. "Yeah, I know. They went a bit overboard. The people livin' in Midgar have life easy and the planet's left to suffer for it. it ain't right stealing all that energy from the planet, but there's not much anyone can do about it. Not when Shinra has SOLDIER to back them up."

"Uh," Cloud cast a glance over at Zack, but it seemed like he was still asleep.

"I know, I should probably keep my mouth shut around your SOLDIER friend, but I can't get arrested for speaking the truth. It's not like I can do anything it about it."

Cloud nodded slowly in agreement.

"I just do what I can to make life a little easier for those who deserve it, or if they pay good enough."

Cloud nodded again and looked back towards the dusty landscape below. Off in the distance he could see a large city, but it was hard to make out through the smog-filled clouds that surrounded it. A short while later the wastelands gave way to open grassy fields. Cloud looked on the other side of his friend and saw light shimmering farther to the south.

"Is that the ocean?"

Cid cast a glance over in the direction the boy was looking. "N'aw, that's the marshes."

"I've never seen a place like that before," Cloud added.

Cid turned his head and looked at the cockpit's controls for a minute before deciding to be nice. The plane tilted slightly as he turned and headed for a quick fly-by of the marshes.

Cloud smiled as he looked down at the landscape below. The ground was covered with water and all manner of plants decorated the area, small trees, bushes and fronds.

"It's so...pretty." Normally not how a boy would describe a marsh, but he couldn't help it. There really was no other way to put it.

Cid only shook his head, "Pretty? Maybe from where we are, but you wouldn't think so if you was on foot. Not with Zoloms infesting it."

Cloud blinked as he looked over his shoulder at the pilot. "What's a Zolom?"

"Let's hope you never find out, kid."

With that said, Cid decided the detour was over and turned to head back on course. Cloud gave the marshes one last glance and focused more closely when he thought he saw a large dark shadow swimming under the water.

About fifteen minutes later the Little Bronco landed safely outside the Chocobo ranch. A few of the birds that were kept in the fenced in area outside squawked in surprise and started running about in an attempt to get away from the large red creature that had startled them. Cloud was just glad the ride was over. His stomach was starting to get the better of him. He was the first to jump out as Zack stretched and let out a big yawn.

"We're there already?" Once he climbed out he couldn't help but do a few squats.

Cloud opened the hatch to retrieve their stuff when he was smacked hard in the back and almost sent crashing into the plane's cargo hold. He turned to glare at whoever shoved him, assuming it was Cid, but instead he came face to face with the Ranch's owner and he looked mad.

"What 'da heck's wrong wit'cha? You never fly a plane close to a bunch'a chocobo's! Ya wanna scare 'em half ta death? What kinda moron are ya?"

Cloud glared at the man, "I'm not the pilot, just a passenger."

"I don't care if you're my great aunt in a purple dress! Ya don't get to scare my flock without payin' the price!"

It was then that Zack appeared behind the man and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, lighten up pal. He's just a kid."

The man turned and Zack couldn't help but gulp at the fury in the man's expression.

The next thing the two knew they were hauling bales of hay around the barn.

"You just had to go and make him mad, didn't you Zack?" huffed the blonde.

"It wasn't may fault, my charm usually never fails," replied the SOLDIER.

The sputtering of a plane engine alerted the two to Cid's departure. Zack dropped his bale and hurried out of the barn, "Hey! Just where do you think you're going?! You can't just leave us here!"

"Sorry, I told you this is where you boys get off!" the pilot called back as he rose higher into the sky. Zack placed his hands on his hips in annoyance as he followed the plane until it was a mere dot in the sky.

Cloud just shook his head and continued working. As he added his hay to the growing pile he thought he heard a faint whisper. He moved closer to the source as curiosity got the better of him. He hid behind a barrel and peered overhead. From there he could see a girl with short, black hair. She was holding some greens up to a Chocobo and when Cloud saw it he he had to blink a few times in surprise. Since when did chocobo have black feathers?

"C'mon, my pretty. Come with Auntie Yuffie." The girl was trying to coax the bird out from its stall. "Let's get you out of this dusty ol' place and back to my home. I've got butt-loads of yummy greens for you there."

Cloud observed that the bird had no intentions of moving and was watching the girl with annoyance, but it was plain to see that its patience was wearing thin and it would only tolerate so much. In a rare moment of kindness, he decided to help the girl out.

"You know you're about to get bit, right?" he asked as he stepped out of his hiding place and approached the girl.

The girl jumped slightly seeing someone coming, but relaxed when she saw he wasn't angry. "Ugh, don't do that."

"Do what?" asked Cloud.

The girl rolled her eyes, "Nevermind. Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where the head chocobo guy running this place is, do ya?"

Cloud shrugged, "After he forced me and my friend to work he headed back into his house."

"Oh good," the girl muttered to herself.

Cloud bent down to get a better look at the bird who seemed to become less annoyed and more curious with its new visitor. "I've never seen a black chocobo before."

The girl smiled. "They're really rare and can be sold for a high price. But, they're also stubborn and moody. I can't get this one out of its stall."

"Need some help?" asked Cloud.

"Pfft, I can handle it on my own thanks." The girl huffed as she snubbed her nose up. Next she all but shoved the green's in the bird's face, causing it to let out a low hiss in response. "What are you, a cat? Birds don't hiss."

"They do if they're angry enough," Cloud replied. "Here, let me try."

The girl glared at him before handing him the greens. "Alright, but it better work. I don't have all day."

Cloud rolled his eyes before turning his attention towards the bird.

First he lowered himself to appear less threatening and then held out an open hand towards the bird to show he was no threat. The bird started to hiss again, but Cloud only gave it a small smile in return.

"It's okay. No one's gonna hurt you. you've been having a pretty bad morning, haven't you?" The hissing slowly stopped as the bird became curious about the boy once more. Cloud's hand inched forward a bit more, "That's right. There's nothing to worry about." Cloud stopped with his hand just a few inches away from the bird's beak and nodded towards it before looking back up at Yuffie.

"See? You gotta go slow and don't force it."

Yuffie blinked in shock as the bird proved Cloud's point as it brought it's head the rest of the way and pressed its beak into the boy's hand. Cloud was still looking at Yuffie, but his smile grew. "And that's how its done."

"So, you have to let them make the first move?" she asked.

"Not exactly, but it helps to gain their trust when they think they're the ones in control and not forced."

The girl nodded slowly as she watched the bird who was now sniffing at the greens in Cloud's other hand. "I think he's hungry."

Cloud held some of the greens to the bird. "Here you go."

The bird hesitated for a moment longer before letting out a small chirp and taking a few in its mouth and began eating.

Yuffie blinked, impressed. "Guess that explains the hair. You're really good with these birds."

The blonde chose to ignore her remark as the bird nudged Cloud's hand for more greens.

"Yo, Spiky! Where'd you go?"

Cloud looked up after hearing Zack's voice. Maybe it meant they were leaving. With that hope in mind he slowly stood, as not to scare the bird and nodded towards Yuffie. "See you."

The SOLDIER was standing outside of the barn, rotating his shoulder after lugging a few more bales of hay. He smirked when Cloud emerged from the barn. "Thanks for leaving me to carry the rest of the work. What happened? Run into a feathered relative in there?"

Cloud stuck out his lower lip in a pout. "Would you quit with the bird jokes already? So what if My hair looks like a chocobo? You wanna make something of it? I'll knock you flat right here, right now!" He stomped his foot down for good measure to show he was serious.

Zack burst out in laughter at the sight. The kid looked so cute and so much like an angry bird it was priceless. "You're a riot, Cloud." It took a little effort to get his laughter under control, but he managed. With a sigh he looked around the field. "I don't see anything else that needs to be done. What do you say we get the heck outta here before that crazy farmer has us milking cows or something?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Cloud agreed.

They headed over towards the base of the water tower where they had stashed their things and were about to head out when a loud commotion came from around the barn. Leaving their things where they were, the two friends rushed to see what was going on. As Zack opened the door wider to get a better look a dark blur shoved past him and took off into the field.

"Whoa! Easy, boy! Take it down a notch, would'ja?"

Cloud hurried over to Zack's aid as the SOLDIER sat on the ground, rubbing his head where the door had hit him. "Are you okay?"

"Eh, nothing an aspirin or a good cure spell won't fix," the SOLDIER replied before looking out into the field. It was a young girl riding on the back of a black chocobo. Cloud recognized the girl he had been speaking to just minutes before. "She doesn't listen to advice very well," he commented, catching Zack's attention before the front door to the farm house flung open and slammed against the outer wall.

The farmer was in a rage as he stormed out towards the field. "What in Shiva's name are ya doin' with my prized bird?! Get away from him!"

"What'd you say? Get away with him?" she asked with a smirk. "If you say so pops!" She kicked the bird in the side which made him take off running towards the fence. With another kick from Yuffie the bird leaped into the air, clearing the four foot high posts and taking off across the open plains.

"You rotten thief! Get back here!" the farmer shouted as he watched her become a black dot in the distance.

Zack appeared at the man's side in an instant. "We'll get it back for you."

The farmer turned and glared at him, "And who the heck are you?"

Zack threw him a salute. "Zack Fair - SOLDIER, First Class. Don't worry sir, we'll have your bird back by the end of the day. C'mon Spiky!"

"Right behind you," the blonde replied as the farmer just gawked as the two headed off in pursuit of the girl before he quickly regained his senses. "Wait! You can't go that way on foot!"

Zack turned and tilted his head, "Why not?"

"'Cuz that dumb brat is heading straight for the marshes! You'll never survive that place on your own!" He headed back towards the barn and motioned for the two to follow him. Cloud looked over at Zack before shrugging and following the farmer. Zack let out an exasperated sigh before bringing up the rear.

. . .

Yuffie was whistling a happy tune as her prized catch carried her through the marshes. She wasn't normally a fan of such 'yucky places' as she dubbed them, but she was riding atop a rare black chocobo! She could deal with a little bog as a consolation. "Never got your name from the old farmer so I'll have to come up with a new one. How about Ninja Talon?"

The bird gave a careless chirp in response.

"I'll take that as a no? Okay, how about Midnight Eagle?"

Again the bird gave an annoyed growl. Yuffie pulled on the reigns and made it stop. "What's wrong with that one? Eagles are amazing birds! You should be flattered!"

"Wark~," the bird replied as it glared at her before it blinked and raised its head to look around.

Yuffie just folded her arms and pouted. "Useless feather-brain. You don't know anything about picking good names, so you should leave it to an expert. I am a princess and I say your name is Black Phoenix. So there."

"WARK!" The bird suddenly began to panic and Yuffie had to hug the bird's neck to keep from falling off. "Whoa! What's gotten into you? If you really hate that name I'll think of something else, sheesh! I bet you wouldn't freak out if that kid had named you. Maybe I should have hired him as my personal Chocobo tamer."

"Hey you!"

Yuffie turned to see two riders on chocobos hot on her tail. "Crap! Let's get outta here!" She kicked the bird who was still nervous and set off running further into the marsh.

Zack snapped the reigns on his bird to make it go faster as he and Cloud hurried to catch up to the girl on the yellow chocobos that the farmer had let them borrow in order to retrieve his prized bird. "Looks like she's not as friendly as you thought Cloud."

The boy had hoped that the girl wouldn't run from him, but it didn't entirely surprise him. "It was worth a try," he replied as his bird hurried to keep up with Zack's. He noticed that both of their birds seemed nervous and he wondered what it was that was making them so on edge.

"That bird she stole sure is fast, I can hardly see her anymore," Zack commented as he kept urging his bird to go faster. Cloud had to admire the advantage that mako was giving his friend. He couldn't see her at all.

Yuffie laughed as she noticed her followers were falling farther and farther behind. "Oh yeah! No one can catch the Great Ninja Yuffie!"

The water in front of her suddenly exploded and the black chocobo warked in a surprised panic before halting in it's tracks, nearly knocking the girl off. She watched in stunned horror as a gigantic serpent-like creature rose up from the marsh and tower over her. It looked down on its prey and roared. Yuffie screamed.

Cloud still couldn't see Yuffie, but he definitely saw that. Zack cursed himself as he urged his bird to go faster and Cloud forced himself to bite back his own fear as he followed. The girl was in serious trouble and as he hurried to help the girl Cid's warning came back to him. That creature couldn't be anything but a Zolom!

Next Time: The Zolom gets a snack, Cloud gets stuffed and Zack faces the wrath of the General.