21. Interrupted by Fireworks

"Bright lights, big city, she dreams of love

Bright lights, big city, he lives to run."

From Bright Lights by 30 Seconds to Mars

"So the temple of the ancient's around here – way down south," Barret said, with an air of exaggerated generosity. Cloud guessed that he was still sore from losing the bet and having to go ask around for directions.

They were sitting on a large wooden bench near one of the excavation sites. The town had discovered a large dig beneath layers of dust and rocks a few years back, and ever since then archeologists had been filing in and out every day. It had even earned the name of "Bone Village." Sure enough, almost everyone they came across so far was either an archaeologist or an original inhabitant of the town who was sick of archaeologists.

"– It's right on the other side between this town and the inland sea. It's the pyramid that rises within the forest," Barret's voice continued, apparently quoting someone word-by-word.

"So how do you get in?" Cloud asked.

It was Vincent who answered, who had also lost the bet, and appearing out of nowhere (as usual)."We'll need a keystone."

He said this in his deep grinding voice, which always made everything sound so authentic even if it was something vaguely ridiculous like we'll need a keystone.

"So, what's a keystone?" Cloud asked again.

"A keystone!"

Yuffie jumped in just as Vincent opened his mouth. She was eager to be helpful, especially after her little "blunder" (her words).

"Well, just like it sounds! It's a rock that's a key. I heard that some rich guy has it. Uh..."

"The owner of a museum near here. In an amusement park of some kind," Vincent said. Yuffie nodded enthusiastically.

"Yup! That's the one!"

"Thanks, Yuffie." Aerith smiled, and Yuffie continued to look proud.

"So, I guess that's our next destination?"

Tifa said, jumping up and stretching her arms in all her usual sprightliness. Cloud nodded.

"It would be nice to take a rest on a day like this, but..." He glanced at the brilliant blue of the sky. White puffs floated across lazily, casting a light silver shadow on the ground. The green of the trees sparkled. It was a perfect spring day.

"I know, I know. We're short on time, right?" Tifa shrugged. "That's alright, we can take a rest after all this is over… When the world is saved and everything, yeah?"

Tifa laughed. As her lighthearted joy was contagious, Cid was also rather cheerful as he stood up from the bench. As for Cloud, as was the usual for him, he tried not to read any meaning behind her words, any ominous signs that seemed to him forever present in every shadow, even that of the sky.

"Welcome to Goldeland!"

A giant chocobo bellowed in his face. Cloud blinked at it, not sure of what to do. The chocobo – or the Goldeland's employee inside, as Cloud now realized – wasn't dejected. He bent down to Yuffie instead.

"Young lady, would you like a chocobo feather? It brings good luck!"

He produced a yellow feather from his pocket and grinned. It was strange, especially since it was the beak of a chocobo that was grinning. Cloud thought it was rather grotesque; Cid, on the other hand, almost bawled over from laughing.

Yuffie grinned back.

"No, thank you. I have my personal chocobo right here!"

She wheeled around, and before Cloud could move away, jumped and attached herself to Cloud's back. Cloud took an involuntary step back to regain his balance. Hanging from his back, Yuffie patted his blonde spikes affectionately like he really was her personal chocobo. That had everybody laughing so hard that people turned to stare. Barret started thumping Vincent's back, roaring. Vincent's face remained as impassive as ever, much to Cloud's relief. But even the chocobo guy was laughing.

"That's great! That's... hey, sir, would you like to work for us? I mean, you wouldn't even need the costume..."

"I'm fine." Cloud gritted his teeth.

"Please enjoy yourselves, here are your tickets... Ooh, aren't we happy today. Makes me happy too!" The admission lady beamed at Cloud. The good mood hadn't lifted yet, and leftover laughter still hung in the air. Barret was still giggling like a madman. Cloud tried to tell Yuffie that she was heavy, but it only met with protests from Aerith and Tifa (who were still both laughing) that it wasn't a question for a lady.

"An uncle?"

The admission lady now smiled at Yuffie.

"No," Cloud hissed, but Yuffie's laughter was louder.

"Ooh, yeah. Uncle Cloud!"

Yuffie finally got off Cloud's after another ten minutes, and by the time they arrived at the museum everyone had sobered up somewhat. It was a big amusement park and a hot day.

The museum, on the other hand, was dark and cool, and it was a relief to be inside. There were not many people around. The air was quiet – hushed.

"Would you like admission tickets?" A lady at the front desk smiled as they filed in. Cloud shook his head.

"No – could we talk to the owner here?"

"Do you have an appointment, sir?" The lady looked down at her charts.

"No, we don't. Do we need an appointment?"

"I'm sorry." She smiled apologetically.

"Awright, we'll make an appointment, right now!" Barret put in. "How 'bout an hour later?"

"Well, I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Golde made it clear that he didn't want any visitors for a while... Ever since the visit from the Turks," she said, then looked as if she hadn't meant to add that last part.

"The Turks?" Cloud asked.

The lady hesitated a little, but continued. "Yes. A bunch of Turks came in some days ago and demanded that Mr. Golde sell a stone from his collection... for 100 gil." She made a distasteful face. "Well, Mr. Golde is a man of integrity and he made it clear that not even God could make him sell his prized collection. He's very proud of it, you see..."

"Oh." Cloud said, for a lack of a better response.

"How about borrowing? You know, for a little while." Tifa asked. The woman shook her head.

"I'm sorry. Now I'm afraid you must leave, or I'll be forced to call the guards."

Cloud opened his mouth, but closed it again. He couldn't think of anything to say. The thought of just bursting inside and taking the damn stone crossed his mind for the briefest of moments. How crazy would they think Cloud was, if he told them that he was going to save the world with it? Finally, Cloud just led the group out. There must be another way.

"I say we steal it, Cloud! I mean, it is for the greater good and all that, right?"

Yuffie said, as soon as they got to the hotel. They were all cramped in Vincent's tiny room (by a series of coincidences, which had Vincent looking sullenly out the window).

"That's true, but still – " Tifa said, with a dubious frown.

"Oh, come on! You guys are too moral!" Yuffie rolled her eyes. "They're all dead if Sephiroth gets his way anyway!"

"Remember, we do not know his intentions yet," Nanaki said. Yuffie shook her head disbelievingly, and Cloud had to agree on this one. Judging from his last encounter with Sephiroth, he highly doubted that the man's motives would be anything less than world destruction, or domination at the very least. The question was not what but how and, sometimes, why.

"Let's think about this tomorrow, okay? We've had a long day –" Cloud said, rubbing his eyes.

"Wait!" Cait Sith squeaked."We don't usually get a chance to be together like this, huh?"

"Whaddya mean? We're always together," Cid frowned.

"Ain't that fatigue I hear in your voice, Cid?" Barret guffawed. Before Cid could counter, Cait Sith was jumping up and down impatiently.

"No, like... Not moving or fighting and like that. A chance to catch our breaths! So, Cloud, how 'bout it? Can you tell us what's happened so far?" Cait Sith cocked his little head. "I don't really know what's goin' on because I wasn't here in the beginning," he explained.

"Oh," Cloud blinked. The situation struck him as somewhat ironic; all along, all he ever thought about was the situation... and there they were, his companions, who didn't really know what the situation was. This had a rather sobering effect, for reasons he was too tired to think of right now.

"Yeah, I'm all for it!" Cid leaned forward in his chair. "You said you were going after a man named Sephiroth?"

Even Vincent nodded at the back corner where he stood, in his usual position with arms crossed. "I'd like to hear the full story," he said.

"I been here since the beginnin' an' I still don't know what the hell's goin' on either." Barret added.

"Cloud, are you tired?" Aerith asked gently when Cloud rubbed his eyes again for the fifth for the sixth time. Cid snorted.

"All we have now is sleep! You're still young! What're you complaining about?"

"Alright, alright – no, I'm okay."

Cloud paused, to get the events sorted out in his head. He decided to start with the most obvious.

"We are going after Sephiroth. Sephiroth is – must be – in search of the Promised Land."

"The Promised Land?" Vincent asked. His eyes gleamed a dangerous red in the dim light of the room. Cloud nodded.

"It's a land full of Mako energy. Or at least that's what the Shinra believes."

His thoughts drifted back to a memory of Rufus Shinra, how his eyes shone with greed as he was telling Cloud of his vision, his dream. A land full of Mako energy. A whole new source of power for Shinra.

"I don't know if it actually exists." He heard himself say.

"The Cetras return to the Promised Land. A land that promises boundless happiness," Aerith said quietly.

"Cetra? That some kind of a disease?" Barret asked. Tifa shook her head, disbelieving.

"That's what the Ancients call themselves. What've you been listening to all this time?" She said. Barret scratched his head.

Aerith continued after a short pause.

" …You don't know where the Promised Land of the Ancients is. You search and travel, until you feel it. Like you just know, '... this is the Promised Land.'"

Something occurred to Cloud then. "Aerith, can you feel it too?" he asked. Aerith smiled in a faint shadow, like she was remembering something else.

"I think so."

"So Sephiroth is traveling the world because he's searching for the Promised Land? Is that it?" Tifa asked. Aerith nodded slowly. Her deep green eyes were still lost somewhere else, though. Cloud wondered what was at the furthest end of her thoughts. Sephiroth – The Promised Land – or something else, entirely?

"Yes. That, and the other thing he's searching for."

"The Black Materia," Cloud murmured. Yuffie jerked her head up at this.

"The most powerful Materia in existence," she said, in a hushed, almost reverent voice.

"It's all just too damn confusin'," Barret finally decided, when the silence had gone on for a while. "I'm going to bed." He stomped out of the room without hearing anyone's reply.

"I guess the situation was rather simple, after all," Cid mused, rolling an unlit cigarette between his teeth. "There's a bad guy, and we're tryin' to stop him, yeah?"

Cloud had barely slumped onto his bed when there was a light knock at the door. He grimaced, but pulled himself up and walked to the door.

"Yeah –" He opened the door, and blinked in surprise. "Uh, Aerith?"

"Hi, Cloud." Her whole face lit up when she smiled – he had been noticing that.

"What's wrong?" Cloud asked, searching her face. She shook her head, like she was amused about something, and her soft brown braid shook with it.

"Nothing's wrong. I wanted to ask something."

She paused; looked up at Cloud; met his eyes. He still didn't know what the hell was going on.

"Yeah?"

"Remember that deal we had?"

"Huh?"

Cloud wasn't sure what he was supposed to say.

"When you said you'd be my bodyguard – remember?" Aerith laughed a little. "Maybe you don't."
"Oh – well, yeah – I remember – now that you mention it –" Cloud said, confused about why he was lying; he had never forgotten. It only felt like a lifetime ago, that was all, but Aerith was smiling at him like it was this morning. "Um," Cloud stammered. "You mean, right now?"

"Yeah, why not?" Aerith said, lightly. "Who knows what'll happen tomorrow?"

She took his hand, which had been hanging limply by his side like it didn't belong there. It now flinched, shocked at the sudden warmth. Cloud felt somewhat detached from his hand as Aerith pulled him along.

"But where are we going?"

"We don't have to go anywhere," Aerith laughed. "We're already in an amusement park. Isn't that so great?"

"Congratulations! You are our 100th couple today!"

"Huh?" Cloud looked around, disorientated. The amusement park at night was something else entirely. It had soft and bright lights that cast an almost magical look on everyone's face. Would have almost been beautiful, if not for a hideous clown beaming at them now. All the other ninety-nine couples seemed to be cheering.

"What a nice looking couple you are!" The clown complimented. Well, Aerith was beautiful, Cloud thought, then was surprised at his own thought.

"I know, he's a keeper, isn't he?" Aerith was all smiles, and Cloud thought she was joking but wasn't sure – the colorful lights were all over his eyes. The clown let out a hearty laugh.

"Indeed, indeed! In fact, you two will be the perfect leads in tonight's show!"

"Wha..." Cloud started to say, but the clown didn't let him finish.

"Oh, now. It's not hard. Just play it however you want to and the rest of the cast will cover for you. Come this way!"

The man took Aerith's hand and Aerith took Cloud's.

"But..."

But, but. He glanced back doubtfully at all the people watching. Him, on a stage? On a damn stage? He hadn't been on a stage since preschool, and even then it was against his will. One of the cast had fallen sick and the teacher made Cloud take her place.

The memory was etched so painfully in his head that Cloud had developed a kind of stage fright, and he tried to convey that to Aerith now but couldn't get the words out. She looked so – excited, damn it, and Cloud just stared, hopeless.

"This sounds like fun! Come on, Cloud. Let's do it!" She looked up at Cloud, and the lights played tricks on her face, the clown was grinning stupidly, the air was light and a little dizzy, like alcohol. What could he possibly do?

"Oh, well... I guess..."

"Thanks, Cloud!" Aerith grinned. Then they were sent up to the stage.

"What, just like this?" Cloud whispered furiously to the clown. He smiled broadly.

"I told you, just do whatever! We'll make the story with you. It's a fun challenge we have every month!"

"But I..."

"Oops! The show is starting!"

He pushed Cloud on the back, and Cloud came stumbling out into the blinding yellow light of a frighteningly empty stage. Some prop trees and a chair that looked out of place were all he could take in. He tried not to turn his head and see all the people staring at him. In fact, he tried hard not to think about that at all. His heart was beating faster than usual. He felt sick, like some dark memory was crawling inside his stomach... He suddenly remembered he had been called Cloudia for the next two years before he moved on to primary school. He really hated it, but of course no one had cared about that.

The narration began.

"Long, long ago... An evil shadow appeared over the peaceful kingdom of Galdia... Princess Rosa was just kidnapped by the Evil Dragon King, Valvados. What will become of her?"

A tragic, sad melody enveloped the stage. Why is there no one on the stage but me? Was all Cloud could think. He tried not to panic.

"Just then, the legendary hero, Alfred comes along!"

The music changed to a majestic theme. Trumpets boomed, hurting Cloud's ears. A man dressed in a knight's armor came stumbling out. He struck his arms out dramatically, all the flashy metal clattering. The sound was even noisier than the trumpets.

"Oh... you must be the legendary hero, Alfred!"

Then Cloud realized, with a sickening heart, that the knight was waiting for him to say something.

"I just..."

Cloud choked. The knight carried on like he had heard a beautiful speech.

"I know in my soul. Please... please save princess Rosa."

Then he fell on his knees, sobbing. The music changed to a tragic theme again. The king walked onto the stage. He looked pained, possibly because he was wearing a huge golden crown that was almost as big as his head.

"Oh... legendary hero, Alfred. You have come to save my beloved Rosa..." Fortunately, he didn't wait for Cloud's response. "On the peak of a dangerous mountain... dwells the Evil Dragon King, Valvados..."

And so the legendary hero, Alfred, embarked on a journey to rescue princess Rosa. All Cloud had to do, for the most part, was just stand there and the extras did everything else. They talked, cried, laughed, cursed, fought each other, and bumped into Cloud and fell.

"Oh, what is going to happen now... You beat me, the all-powerful wizard!"

One man who tripped on his own robe said to Cloud, writhing in pain on the ground. He suddenly drew in a sharp breath and turned his head. The music got so loud by that point that Cloud actually felt physical pain.

"Oh... legendary hero... look! The Evil Dragon King, carrying the princess!" He shrieked and pointed. Cloud followed his finger and almost choked.

Aerith was riding a wagon of some kind, because the Evil Dragon King was too weak to actually carry her. She was wearing a white dress that looked to Cloud suspiciously like a wedding dress. It fell in soft folds out of the wagon, swirling like gentle sea waves. Aerith looked a little awkward but for the most part amused, and she was looking at Cloud. Cloud just stared at her. Her eyes were a thousand different sparkles of emerald.

The all-powerful wizard on the ground hissed, because the princess was supposed to look afraid, not smiling. The Evil Dragon King improvised.

"Gaah! I am EDK! You see I have not hurt the princess..."

"EDK?" Cloud had to ask. The king stomped his foot impatiently.

"The Evil Dragon King! And I have been... expecting you!" He pointed a finger at Cloud. Aerith covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laughter.

"Oh... please help me... legendary hero!"

At least she tried. Cloud felt so silly now that he couldn't take it anymore. As the knight, the EDK and the all-powerful wizard were readying themselves for the epic battle, Cloud walked right through the noise and up to Aerith. She looked up at Cloud curiously. Not sure of what to do, Cloud just stood there for a moment. It was a long moment – amongst all the silliness and stupidity, Aerith shined alone like a pearl in the sea. Still locking her eyes with Cloud's, she held out her hand to him. It was suddenly so quiet. Everyone had stopped, and Cloud knew without a doubt that they would be watching him right now, but he couldn't seem to care anymore.

Cloud knelt on one knee, took her hand and kissed it softly. He looked up and Aerith was smiling. He didn't let go of her hand.

It was a long moment again, when Cloud looked into her eyes and she into his. Above everything, he could hear his heartbeat ringing so clearly in his ears.

The EDK improvised again; he suddenly fell on the floor, thrashing about in agony. He shielded his eyes with one hand, as if blinded by the light emanating from the princess.

"Arrggh! Curses... the power of... love! I'm dying..."

He screamed and squirmed his way out of the stage. Princess Rosa's father dragged himself onto stage instead.

"Oh, look! Love has... triumphed! Now let's all return and celebrate!"

"Yes, let's... yes let's!" The wizard threw his hat up into the air and failed to catch it again. Aerith giggled.

"Why, thank you, Cl... I mean, Alfred. I suppose I will be his bride, then, father?" She looked up at the king. The king spun around in a joyful dance. The crown almost flew out from his head but he caught it with one hand.

"Indeed, indeed, my beloved daughter! You will be his bride, and you two will live happily ever after!" He winked at Cloud. The curtain started to fall, and the play was over.

There was a surprisingly loud cheer from the crowd as the red curtain came down haltingly. The narrator had to speak louder to be heard.

"Oh, how profound the power of love... And so the legendary hero Alfred and our princess live on happily ever after! Thank you for coming, everybody, and see you next month!"

"So that was fun, yeah?"

Aerith had changed into her own clothes now, but she was still a bit flushed. Cloud felt a little warm himself. Aerith was leading him again, walking just a step ahead of him. He wondered where they were going now, but didn't ask. Anywhere would be okay.

"Yeah. It was fun." Cloud said, and Aerith beamed at him.

Cloud looked around when Aerith stopped walking. The lights were dimmer here, the darkness enveloping them comfortably. They were in front of a large Ferris wheel that looked out at an empty night sky. Aerith walked up to the ticket lady.

"Two, please."

"Here you are, two tickets. Enjoy the sights of the Goldeland!"

"Thanks! Come on, Cloud."

There were not many people on the Ferris wheel. They got one compartment for themselves, and soon it began to move. Cloud sat opposite of Aerith, and was suddenly struck by the proximity. He sat rigid, not sure what to feel. Aerith was busy looking out the window. They had started a firework show. The empty sky was now a perfect canvas for the colorful play of lights, exploding into radiant bursts.

"Oh! Look, Cloud. It's so pretty... It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Cloud answered, not really looking. He was looking at Aerith.

At length, she turned away from the window. Cloud knew instinctively that she had something on her mind, something she wanted to say. He waited in patience. After some minutes she started to speak, but Cloud didn't really get it at first.

"First off, it bothered me how you were exactly the same."

"Huh?"

Cloud stopped staring at his knees and looked up at Aerith. She was lost in thought again, almost talking to herself, fingering her long braid.

"Two completely different people, the opposite, almost... but still, you're so similar... I've seen you fight. I don't know much about fights but I've seen him fight, too. I know it's the same. Maybe it's the SOLDIER thing...?"

She looked at him questioningly. Cloud didn't know what to say. Aerith continued on.

"Anyway, it's other things too. Like how you walk, your gestures, your eyes... the color of the sky. So pretty." She said, as if quoting from someone else. Cloud still didn't know what to think, so he just sat still and stared at Aerith. "I think... I must have seem him again, in you."

She smiled, but it was transient. She shook her head quickly, then looked straight at Cloud like she was seeing him for the first time. She spoke slowly.

"But you're different. Things... are different."

Cloud nodded stiffly. It was somehow getting harder to breathe, maybe because the compartment was getting smaller and smaller... was that possible?

"I want to see you," she said, cryptically, classic Aerith-style.

"But I'm right here," he said without thinking.

"I know, I know." She laughed softly."What I mean is..."

But he never got to hear what she meant, because just then, the lights exploded outside the window and it was the brightest firework so far.

Red, yellow, orange, green, white, purple. Glitters and twinkles of gold and silver came pouring in through the window. The lights cast vivid shadows dancing across Aerith's face. For the third time in that short night, Cloud felt the moment stretched to eternity. A moment so full and complete that it was an universe of its own.

The array of lights playing tricks on his eyes? Perhaps.

But he knew that he would never forget this moment in a closed compartment of a Ferris wheel, not in a lifetime. The delicate vibration of the air, the darkness. The colors, the smell of newly painted seats, his hands on his knees clenched so tight they were hurting. And Aerith. Her face, her eyes, her curious smile. Everything. Nothing. He would forget nothing.

"I had fun tonight. Let's do it again sometime."

She was humming playfully as they walked side-by-side, back to the hotel. The night was already thick and heavy; he would have a hard time waking up in the morning, but he didn't mind.

"Next time," Aerith said. "Let's take our time and go on more rides."

"Next time?" Cloud wondered out loud. Aerith nodded.

"Yeah, when the fights are all over and I can go back to being... just Aerith. Not the last-surviving-Ancient-girl. Makes me feel like a fossil."

"Yeah," Cloud grunted. When the fights are all over was looking pretty far off now. "What – I mean, what do people do when they..." Cloud searched for the right word. Aerith wheeled around, a playful smiled on her face.

"When they go on a date? Hmm, let's see. We could eat at a nice restaurant. We could go to a play together. We could go to a park..." The list went on and on. Cloud felt dizzy listening to all that, but he felt a strange flutter, too.

"Okay, so what do people not do?" Cloud asked again. Aerith laughed. Her laughter rang clearly in the night air.

"Oh, you're funny. I guess people do almost everything... They can do most anything as long as they do it together."

"Okay," he said. Something was on the tip of his tongue, something scary that he wasn't sure he got it right in his head – but then, before it could come out, Aerith said, "Hey – isn't that... what's Cait Sith doing?"

Aerith stopped walking. Cloud followed her gaze, and found the toy cat lurking in front of the museum, looking furtive. He had something in his arms. Cloud narrowed his eyes; a stone; if he had to guess, it was almost certainly the keystone, although he didn't know how Cait Sith could have gotten hold of it.

"Hey! Cait Sith!" Cloud called.

Cait Sith turned, started, and began running the opposite way.

Without another word, Cloud grabbed hold of Aerith's hand and started running after him.

They eventually arrived at a large square, which was empty except for one helicopter. And to Cloud's horror, Tseng climbed out of it. He heard Aerith gasp beside him.

"Here!" Cait Sith called to Tseng and threw the keystone. Cloud ran, but it was too late. Tseng caught it deftly with one hand and immediately climbed back into the helicopter. When Cloud and Aerith arrived near Cait Sith, the Shinra helicopter was already flying too high to reach.

Cloud turned to Cait Sith after watching it fly away.

"Hey!"

"W, wait a second. I won't run or hide." Cait Sith held up both his hands. Cloud's head boiled with frustration that was dangerously getting close to rage, but he stepped back.

Cait Sith dropped his head.

"Yes, I was a spy. I was hired by the Shinra." He admitted in a timid voice.

"How…" Aerith narrowed her eyes. Cait Sith shrugged his little shoulder.

"I couldn't help it. How 'bout if we continue like nothing ever happened?" He said hopefully, and that did it for Cloud. He couldn't believe that they had lost the keystone, right in front of their eyes. He had let a Shinra spy travel with the group. He had screwed up.

"Forget it," he growled, stepping closer. "Like nothing ever happened? You really think we could do that?"

"Then, what are you goin' to do? Kill me? You'd just be wastin' your time if you tried. This body's just a toy anyway." Cait Sith looked sheepish, but said it defiantly. Like he was trying to protect something; or to prove something, it didn't matter. He glared at the floating toy cat, trying to control his emotion. Cait Sith continued on.

"My real body's at Shinra Headquarters in Midgar. I'm controlling this toy cat from there."

"So you're from Shinra. Who? Who are you?" Aerith was angry too, he could tell, by the strained quietness of her voice.

"I can't tell you my name..." Cait Sith said evasively. Cloud let out a frustrated sigh.

"We're not gettin' anywhere."

"See? I told you! Talking won't do any good, so can't we just continue...?"

"You think I'm joking?" Cloud almost laughed. Cait Sith flinched.

" … Alright, yes, I am a Shinra employee. But we're not entirely enemies. I think... it's your way of life."

"What?" Cloud hesitated at this abrupt and incomprehensible observation. Cait Sith hurried to explain.

"You don't get paid. You don't get praised. Yet you still risk your lives and continue on your journey. Seeing that makes me... It just makes me think about my life." He finished.

"So? What's the point?" Cloud gritted out. "We can't go on with someone like that. Once a spy, always a spy."

"... Just as I thought. Talking won't make a bit of difference," Cait Sith said, regretfully. "But I prepared something in case this happened. Why don't you listen to this?"

Then his voice changed. No – it wasn't him speaking anymore. His lips were closed, and a different voice was coming out from his body. Almost like a radio, or a phone... and it was a voice he knew well.

"Daddy! Tifa!"

"Marlene?" Aerith gasped, covering her mouth. Marlene's voice changed, recognizing Aerith.

"Hey! It's the flower lady! Listen..."

Her voice was cut out then. Cait Sith looked at them with regretful solemnity."So, you have to do as I say."

" …You're..." Cloud couldn't find the right word to say what he meant. He was glad that Barret wasn't here with them – he would have broken the toy cat machine right here, without thinking about the consequences. Cloud was tempted to do that right now but he was the leader. He had to hold back. He had to think about the consequences.

"I didn't want to do this... using dirty tricks and taking hostages... But this is how it is. No compromises. So why don't we continue on as we did?"

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Cloud gritted his teeth. The burning red was fading, but he still felt the remnants of that rage and indignation, betrayal and disappointment in himself.

"No, you don't." Cait Sith said calmly.