THIRTY

The Ghost Hotel definitely lived up to its name. A total creepfest, if you ask me. Red and I had emerged in the middle of this fake but eerie graveyard, bouncing up off a lift at the end of the passageway we'd been following and landing in the cemetery. A circle of headstones had signs for each area of the park, and a set of curving stone stairs wound up to the hotel itself, a big lighted castle off to our left that looked as if it had come straight out of some cheesy horror movie.

"Interesting décor," Red quipped as we made our way up the stairs. "Does it frighten you, Yuffie?"

I snorted. "As if! Makes me wanna laugh, more like."

He chuckled. "I know the feeling."

When we went inside, a guy dressed up like a zombie greeted us in the lobby. "Uuuuuugh… welcome to the Ghost Hotel. For reservations, please step up to the counter. Uuuuuugh…"

"Well, there's an example of acting that won't be winning awards," I quipped as we headed over there. "Jessie could probably give him some lessons. If she doesn't die laughing first, that is."

"It was a bit overdone," Red agreed.

The registration desk was tucked in the back of the lobby next to a curving wooden staircase covered in bright red carpet same as the rest of the room. Behind it stood another guy in a weird monster costume. He was shorter, and like that zombie fellow, the makeup effects on him were pretty good. I sauntered up to the counter.

"Hi! We're looking to—"

I was interrupted by a loud, howling shriek as a third guy suddenly dropped down from a trapdoor in the ceiling right in front of me, and I jumped back and shouted in surprise as my heart leaped right up into my throat. Not that I was scared, mind you. A guy in makeup and rags with an obviously fake noose around his neck just dropping in without warning isn't enough to frighten a ninja.

"Shit!" I swore. "Thanks for the heads up!"

Red laughed. "Scared now, Yuffie?"

I rolled my eyes and grinned. "In your dreams, fuzzball! I saw that one coming a mile away! Pretty obvious, actually."

"Sure…" he snickered. "If you say so."

The clerk smiled pleasantly at us. "This is Mr. Hangman, our most popular employee. He's always hanging around."

I groaned. "Seriously? Oh, gawd…"

"Welcome!" Mr. Hangman said. "How can we help you?"

"Three rooms, please," Red answered.

Once we'd paid, we took a look around the lobby while we thought about what to do next. There were spooky paintings on the walls along with what looked like a giant monster skull. Wasn't sure I really wanted to know if it was real or not. A large archway to our left led into the gift shop and a restaurant, and at a round wooden table on our right, a pair of holographic ghosts flickered in and out, seemingly playing chess. At least, that's how it was supposed to look. There were also several doors on the upstairs landing leading to the bedrooms.

"'Scuse me," I quipped, finding the hologram controls and turning off the ghosts before having a seat at the table. "Time for the real pro to play! Wanna try your luck against me, Red?"

He pushed aside the other chair and sat down. "It would be a good way to pass the time until the others return. Grandpa and I would play chess often back home. He is a master."

I surveyed the board. "And you? How good are ya?"

"Good enough," Red smirked.

Didn't take long for me to see he wasn't kidding. But my dad, when we'd still gotten along, had taught me well. So it was a pretty even game for the most part. I hoped to go out and see more of the Gold Saucer in a bit, but I didn't wanna do that 'till I'd given the room keys to Cloud or Jessie or one of the others. I also wanted to find Barret. Somebody had to keep that big lug outta trouble, after all.

About twenty minutes later, I saw Cloud and Jessie strolling in and laughed. "Awww, don't you look cute with that stuffed chocobo, Cloud! Gonna snuggle up with it in bed tonight?"

"No," he retorted.

"Oh, but I will!" Jessie teased. "Along with the fantastic prize you're gonna win me at the Wonder Square."

Cloud shrugged. "I'll do my best. But no promises."

"Ha! I'm not worried," she winked.

"Yeah," he nodded. Then he looked at the toy in his arms and up at me and Red. "Not a word to the others."

I grinned. "Maybe… for the right price."

"Never thought you'd be on the receiving end, did ya, merc?" Jessie giggled. "Better keep a close eye on your materia!"

Cloud sighed. "Forget it. I'm gonna put this upstairs."

I handed Jessie the room keys. "Here ya go. Red and I are gonna go see the sights now. We'll be back later, though."

"Have fun!" she waved.

I intended to do just that as Red and I left the Ghost Hotel, headed down to the cemetery, and took one of the gravestone exits back to the Gold Saucer's central hub. We'd only been looking at the directory for a minute or two, though, when Aerith and Tifa emerged from the exit to the Chocobo Square with a pair of park security guards and this weird macho guy who looked like a wrestler. Two more guards joined them a moment later along with a girl in a bright pink dress, white apron, and with a chocobo feather in her fiery hair.

"Yuffie, Red!" Tifa called. "Good, there you are!"

I blinked. "Huh? What's going on, guys? I swear I didn't do a thing! Red's been with me the whole time!"

"It's not you, Yuffie," Aerith said. "We have to go."

"Has something happened?" Red asked.

Tifa nodded. "Yes. And that's why we need to get out of sight. Dio's got a plan to help us do that—he owns the Gold Saucer and filled us in not long ago. Basically, Heidegger knows we're here, and his troops are searching the place for us. But if we fight them, we could end up being charged for a crime we didn't commit."

I scratched my head. "What do you mean?"

"We don't know much more than you do," Aerith said. "But I don't think it's safe to talk out in the open like this for very long. Heidegger's probably watching the security cameras—Dio told us after we'd agreed to his plan, as well as a few other things."

Red looked around warily. "That makes sense. I imagine that even though he is the owner, he still can't refuse access to a high-level Shinra executive like Heidegger. Am I correct?"

"Quite so," Dio confirmed. Then he snapped his finger and looked at the guards. "It's time. Take them into custody."

My eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are ya doin'!?"

Tifa allowed the guards to bind her arms behind her with a pair of handcuffs as Aerith did the same. "It's alright, Yuffie. Don't worry. Just play along, okay? We'll explain everything later."

"Uh… okay…" I sighed, letting the guards bind me, too.

"What about Cloud and Jessie?" Red wondered.

Dio rubbed his mustache. "I'll see that they're apprehended as well. With luck, they'll make their way over to the Battle Square soon, which is where they'll be caught in the act, so to say. An associate of mine will meet them and make sure they get there."

"And Barret?" Tifa asked.

"Already seen to," Dio replied. "Not really in the best of moods, but he went along well enough once I'd explained the situation to him. And he's agreed to handle a certain something for me in return where you'll be going. Seems he knows the real perpetrator, actually. But I'll leave it to him to fill you in on all that. Are you ready?"

Aerith nodded. "Yeah. Knowing Barret, he's probably gonna try to handle this all by himself. But we can't let him do that."

"Right," Tifa agreed.

"Then we'd better get going," Aerith replied.

Dio turned to the girl in the pink dress. "Take them below, Esther. And while you're there, tell Mr. Coates what happened. Seems the boss down there's been busy again, so he'll want to know."

"Yes, sir," Esther said.

"As soon as you get back up here, start prepping a chocobo for the races," Dio went on. "Make it a good one, Esther. Shinra'll be watching, so we can't just let our guests go once they've settled things down there. They'll have to win their freedom the usual way."

She smiled. "They'll have the best one I can find."

"That's the spirit!" Dio laughed. "Oh, and better make sure Joe isn't in the same race. It wouldn't be fair to pit our guests, who I doubt have any experience, against one of our finest jockeys."

"I can convince him to sit this one out," Esther promised, blushing a little as she did. "He'd do anything for me."

Dio grinned knowingly at her. "I don't doubt it."

Then Esther and two of the guards led us away while the other two stayed behind with Dio. I really hoped Aerith and Tifa knew what they were doing, but it didn't look like we had a choice but to go along with Dio's plan if we wanted to stay outta Shinra's grasp. So I just sighed and kept walking, hardly able to believe that the single white rose of Wutai had been caught—even if it was only for a little while.

Event Square was a large amphitheater with rows of seats along the curving walls and in front of a wide stage flanked by two giant moogles made of tough plastic, with white bodies, small purple wings, and dark eyes. At the moment, the place was mostly empty except for a few staff members and a couple kissing contentedly in one of the front left rows of seats out of the way. Up on stage, it looked like rehearsals were going on—the performers went over their lines while the crew worked on the sets, adjusted the costumes, and set up the lights.

"Oh, this brings back memories…" I sighed wistfully.

Cloud gazed knowingly at me. "Don't give up, Jessie. I expect to see you on stage again one day. Starring role."

I smiled, almost kissing him right then and there. "Then I guess I'd better not disappoint ya! But when I do make it back to the limelight, I wanna see you too, Cloud. Right there, front row center. Aerith and the others too, of course, but you most of all."

"I'll be there," he promised.

Then one of the actresses, a girl who didn't look any older than me, waved and greeted us from the stage with a wrangler's accent. "Howdy, pardners! Welcome to the Event Square! The name's Ruby, and I'm the star of this here rodeo. The show ain't on jus' yet—we're still rehearsin' an' gettin' ready an' all that—but you folks're more'n welcome to mosey on back here later on and see it if ya want."

I nodded. "We might do that. Mind if we watch for a bit? I've got a bit of experience in the field, you might say."

"Ain't a problem," Ruby replied. "Go right ahead. We—"

"Hmm?" I blinked as her gaze went past me and her eyes suddenly went as wide as dinner plates. "Something wrong?"

Her mouth hung open. "I, uh… are you really… her?"

I turned to see what she was looking at and understood right away. All along the wall behind the outermost row of seats were huge posters for all kinds of plays, some I'd heard of and others I hadn't. And one of them was for LOVELESS. As I looked at myself on it, so different then than I was now, I felt a twinge of longing and homesickness, missing all I'd lost of that life more in that moment than I had in a long time. Here in this gaudy theater, it all seemed to come back in a rush, memories of being on stage, performing under the lights.

"Yeah," I answered, looking Ruby again and laughing a little. "I am, alright. Guess you recognized me, huh?"

"Jessie Jae…" she breathed.

I nodded and did a little bow. "That's me!"

Ruby slid a hand through her long hair as she hopped off the stage and rushed over to me. "Oh, my! Hell of an honor to have ya here, Ms. Jae! It really is! You inspired me to be an actress, ya know. But I-I never thought I'd get to actually meet ya! Oh, sorry, look at me goin' off like a runaway chocobo! It's so embarassin'…"

I chuckled. "You're fine, Ruby. And thanks."

"Ain't a problem!" she grinned. "Lemme go get the director, okay? I know he'd love to talk with ya for a minute if ya don't mind. Feel free to have a look around here as long as ya want."

"Sure, go ahead," I nodded.

"Take your time, Jessie," Cloud said after she'd left. "I'm betting it's been a while since you've been around a stage."

I smiled gratefully at him. "It has. Thanks, Cloud."

I hadn't expected to find myself back in a theater again during our journey, but here I was. It felt good, almost like coming home, even if I knew I wouldn't be here very long. It was a reminder of the life that I'd left behind and hoped to return to one day. I didn't doubt that I would, sooner or later. Being here made it real to me.

The director, a handsome guy who looked to be in his mid-thirties or so with sandy hair and clear blue eyes, hurried over a moment later, his hand outstretched. I shook it firmly as Cloud gave him a short nod, greeting him in his typically cool and quiet way as the actors, crew, and stagehands busied themselves around us.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jae," the director said. "My name's Alexander Trobal, but most people just call me Zander. And this is my stage. It's not as classy as LOVELESS Theater in Midgar, I know, but for me and my cast and crew, it's home."

I laughed, liking him and knowing exactly how he felt. "I think it's great, Zander. Nice to meet you, too!"

He nodded. "Thanks. Though I admit, I didn't know you were still alive. Last I'd heard, you disappeared two years ago."

"Long story," I replied. Then I smirked. "But I'm back!"

Zander gazed hopefully at me. "Really? Does this mean that you're gonna be returning to the stage, Ms. Jae?"

I sighed longingly and nodded. "I hope so. Someday…"

"What do you mean?" he wondered.

"There's a lot I need to do first," I replied, telling him what I could. "I'm gonna be on the road for a while. It's really important, and I don't know how long it'll take. But when all it's over, I'd love to come back, to be under the lights and take center stage again."

Zander put a hand on my shoulder. "I understand, believe me. You don't need a reason to help people. So do what you gotta do. You've got fans all over, even outside Midgar, and we'll be ready when you return. And if there's ever anything I can do, I'm here."

"Thank you, Zander," I smiled, almost overwhelmed. "That means more to me than you can know. I didn't have any idea that anyone had heard of me way out here. And call me Jessie."

He grinned. "Anytime. You know, in some ways, Jessie, you're a lot like my wife. Blade's got a passion for drama, just like you. Can't wait to tell her that you're back. She'll be thrilled."

I raised an eyebrow. "Blade? That's pretty cool!"

"A nickname," Zander smirked. "Gwen's tough as a dagger. And her wit's just as sharp. I'm lucky to have her. Anyway, Dio's wanting to turn this show into a real high-class production and make the Gold Saucer a premier theater experience like the LOVELESS stage in Midgar. I'm on board with that, but it's gonna take a lot of work."

"I'm sure you can pull it off," I replied.

He laughed. "I don't doubt it. Would you like a copy of the script? I can give you one if you wanna look it over."

I nodded. "Love to!"

"Great!" Zander exclaimed. Then he turned to the actors. "Marcus! Our special guest wants to see the script. Bring her a copy, would you? They're all stacked up next to the stage."

"Don't mind if I do," he drawled, picking one up.

Zander went on as Marcus gave me the script. "And where's Blank? He should've been here almost half an hour ago. Ruby's gonna rip him a new one if he misses rehearsals again."

Marcus shrugged. "Dunno. But he'll show, don't worry."

"He'd better," Zander sighed. Then he smiled apologetically. "Sorry about that, Jessie. Just doing my best to keep this production going and make it a success. I'm sure you know how it is."

"Oh, I do at that," I agreed. I remembered it all too well.

In the meantime, Marcus—a big, gangly guy with a bandanna that nearly covered his eyes—looked at another actor nearby. "Hey, Cinna. I need a hammer to fix that backdrop before it falls."

Cinna looked around and shrugged. "Don't see one, buddy."

"What the hell?" Marcus groaned, pointing at him. "You're holding a hammer right there in your hand, you moron!"

Cinna glanced down at it, clutched it protectively, then stared back up at Marcus. "Huh? Oh, this is my hammer! No one uses it but me. So just go and find another one somewhere else."

Just then, I saw another guy entering the amphitheater. Slipping in quietly, more like. But he didn't get far. Ruby spotted him as he tried to sneak past her, and as soon as she spun around, hands on her hips, the guy froze right on the spot, his shock of bright red hair quivering as he gulped and let out a long, resigned sigh.

"Blank!" Ruby growled. "Yer late! Now get to work! We'll talk later. And it better be good, ya hear? Now move!"

"Busted…" Marcus snickered.

Zander flashed me a grin. "What a crew, huh? So how long are you guys gonna be at the Gold Saucer, Jessie?"

I giggled. "They seem nice enough, though. As for us, just today, I think. Maybe tomorrow. We don't really know for sure yet. When's the show? I'd love to come and see it if I can."

"Not for a while yet," Zander said. "We do small shows every night, but the main event's still weeks away. Gotta polish up the script, get the story worked out, that sort of thing. Dio wants this to be a real hit, and so do I. If you have any ideas, just let me know."

I nodded. "Will do! I'd love to stay and talk shop with ya for hours, but we'd better get going, and I know you've got a lot of work to do. But I'll definitely be back if I can before we leave."

Zander smiled. "We'll be here. Take care, Jessie."

After signing an autograph for Ruby, I waved to her and the others and left with Cloud, happier than I'd been in days as we headed back to the Gold Saucer's central hub and took the exit to the Wonder Square. I liked Zander and his crew—a quirky bunch, to be sure, but decent and fun to be around. And I hoped they did well with their show. But at the time, I had no idea just how much it would eventually involve both me and Cloud and how it would help lay the groundwork for my return to the stage after our journey was finally over.

Wonder Square was, like everywhere else in the park, bright, full of color and sound, and cheerful. Cloud and I rose up from the round lift and stepped out into an open area under the sky. Several other lifts, all in a curved row along the bottom of the courtyard, led to other areas of the park. A wide circular tower rose up on our right, and off to the left, a short set of stairs led up to an enclosed bridge that went into another tower lined with lights, and I figured that must've been where the main part of Wonder Square and all the games were.

We were about to head toward the stairs when one of the strangest thing I'd ever seen quickly came over to see us. At first, I thought it was just another of the park's quirky characters, but that short, squat white moogle wasn't a person in a suit. I could tell it was a machine. It looked a lot like the statues that had decorated Zander's stage over in the Event Square. But when I finally saw what—or rather who—was standing on its broad head, bouncing merrily, my jaw dropped.

"Cait!" I gasped in delight.

He grinned. "Hey, there! Whatcha lookin' so doun fer? How aboot it? Up fer a fortune, lass? Been a while, wouldn't ye say?"

I scooped him up and hugged him tight. "It's so good to see you!"

"Friend of yours?" Cloud asked.

"Oh, you bet!" I laughed as Cait's whiskers tickled my face. "We go way back, him and I. This is Cait Sith."

After I had set him back on his moogle mount, he gave a little bow. "Right she is! I'm a fortune teller. Also good at gettin' into spots others cannae reach and pickin' up info. Ahn ye are?"

Cloud gazed curiously at him. "Cloud. How do you know Jessie?"

"Met her at her first job, if ye know what I mean," Cait replied. "On her first day, in fact. Been pals ever since!"

"Got it," Cloud nodded, understanding at once.

I didn't blame Cait for not mentioning Shinra out here in the open where we might be overheard. Visiting the Event Square had lifted my spirits a bit, but seeing Cait again really cheered me up. He was always good at that, even when he didn't know he was doing it. He stood there on his moogle mount, almost at eye level with me now, and looked just the same as ever, his fur mostly black except his chest and belly, which were white, his long tail, pointed ears, the little red cape with its bowtie around his neck, and the golden crown on his head.

There was one new thing, though, besides the moogle. I pointed at him. "What's that you're holding, Cait?"

"Oh, this?" he said, lifting the yellow megaphone in his right hand. "Just something I use tae control this big feller here. He might look like a toy, but he hits really hard. Ahn I've also gotten good at usin' materia. Been practicin' since ye saw me last, Jessica."

"Awesome!" I grinned.

Cloud folded his arms in front of him. "Not bad. You said that you can tell the future, right? You can see what's ahead?"

"Aye!" Cait replied. "Bright ones, happy ones, all kinds! But I hope ye don't blame me if some of my predictions are a bit off. If ye want, I'd be happy tae tell yer fortune, see what comes up."

"Then tell me about Sephiroth," Cloud said. "He's our enemy."

Cait did a quick little dance atop his moogle, making it shake a bit as he moved. "Ye got it, Cloud! Ahn here we go!"

When Cait pulled a card from out of his crown a moment later and gave it to him, Cloud read it and sighed. "Ordinary luck. You will have an active fortune. Accept the generosity of others, and something big'll happen after summer. This… isn't right."

"They can be kinda weird sometimes," I giggled.

"Huh?" Cait scratched his head. "Hmm… lemme try again."

Cloud wasn't impressed with the second fortune, either. "Be careful not to forget anything. Your lucky color is… blue?"

I smirked. "Guess that explains those pretty eyes of yours."

"Maybe, but that's not what I asked for," he grimaced, throwing the two cards away in a nearby trash can. "Forget it."

"Wait, gimme another chance, lad!" Cait pleaded.

He danced more intensely this time, moving his moogle even more than before, and I laughed a little at the sight. The last fortune Cait had told me all those years ago when I'd left Shinra actually had come true, though. All of it. Sometimes he did get it right. Still, I doubted he could tell us much about Sephiroth and where he was going. But when Cloud saw what was on the third card, his eyes widened.

"What the hell…?" he breathed.

"What's it say?" I wondered, looking over his shoulder to see it and not liking the almost frightened look on his face.

Cloud swallowed and read it:

What you seek will be yours, but you will lose something precious in return. When the moment comes, choose wisely.

"That… doesn't sound good," I shivered.

A chill raced down my spine at the sight of those words printed on the card. This wasn't the kind of fortune we'd had in mind. What could it mean? Cloud and I just stared at it for a moment, not really knowing what to make of it. But neither of us liked it. Cait didn't seem to, either. He was as surprised and uneasy about it as we were.

"I donnae if it's good or bad," he blinked. "Never seen a fortune like this before. So I've gotta find out what it means ahn where it leads. As a fortune teller, I cannae help thinking aboot it."

"You're coming with us?" I asked, hoping he was.

Cait nodded. "Aye. That's why I'm here, ye might say. I knew ye was coming thanks to an old friend of yers."

I knew who he meant, of course. Reeve. "I'm glad he did. We could really use your help, Cait. What do you think, Cloud?"

"Who's this friend he was talking about?" he wondered.

"I'll explain later," I assured him. "It might not be safe to say much right now. Too many people around here, and Shinra's got ears all over. But I've told you about him before. It'll be alright."

Cait took the card with that strange fortune and tucked it carefully away. "I'm comin' along no matter what. Been watchin' ye and yer pals for a while, actually. Ahn I wanna help ye if I can."

"You've been watching us?" I blinked.

"Oh, just a wee bit," he laughed. "Did ye really think yer old friend would let ye run off without lookin' out for ye?"

I smiled. "No, I guess not. Thanks."

It made sense that Reeve would've been watching over me—I'd told him before I'd left Midgar that I intended to help Cloud and the others stop Sephiroth, and Reeve had told me how grateful he was to them for saving me, so I supposed it was only natural that he'd have found a way to help us in return. Cait was his means of doing that.

"Why didn't you show yourself before now?" Cloud asked.

Cait shrugged. "It's not really somethin' I can say much aboot here. But basically, ye aren't the only ones I've been keepin' a close eye on. I'll tell ye what I can later. That's a promise!"

Cloud nodded, eying the crowds of people around us as they went back and forth through the park. "Alright. Guess it can't hurt to let you tag along. You can fill us in at the hotel."

"Welcome aboard!" I added. Then I turned to Cloud. "So, now that we've got that settled, let's go play a few games and have some fun! You still have a fluffy prize to win me, SOLDIER boy."

"Right," he agreed.

Cait chuckled. "Sounds good! But I got me an idea. How aboot we head over to the Battle Square first? I think ye'd both like it. Ye can win some neat stuff in the fights there. Shall we?"

"Sure," Cloud said. "Jessie?"

I grinned. "Why not? It's definitely you."

Cait did an excited little hop. "Aye! Now off we go!"

Then he headed toward the round lift for the Battle Square and got on. We joined him a moment later and rode it down into the winding, decorated hallway that led to our destination. As we walked, I thought about that odd fortune again. I wished I could've just dismissed it, but I couldn't. It was too unusual, too unlike the ones Cait typically came up with. And the way the color had drained from Cloud's face worried me as well, as if he knew something I didn't.

I figured fighting in the Battle Square would help. Being there in a familiar environment, doing what he did best, would be a good way to settle his nerves and help him think about what we'd learned. I decided that I'd go a few rounds myself, too. After seeing what was left of Corel and how badly some of the survivors had treated Barret, I knew I could definitely use an opportunity to blow off some steam and vent some of the hurt and frustration I felt about the whole thing. But we didn't have any idea then what we were walking into.