Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Shield of the Goddess

Escaping a state-of-the-art hospital was no easy feat, but Cloud was cut from a different cloth. The moment his decision was made to leave for Edge, he watched and learned the routes for the security and the major shift changes for the nursing staff. Once he was on his feet, it took three, agonizing days to learn the ins and outs of the hospital from the entrances that were located on the east and west sides and to the exits located on the north and south. Of course, that didn't take into account the entrances and exits for the nursing, security, and numerous physicians and specialists that entered and left the facility on an hourly basis. It was frustrating to discover that those spots required codes and cards and even more disheartening that a number of them were biometric. It was no wonder that the Ifalna Faremis Medical Center was considered one of the most advanced hospitals in the world and Cloud never felt safer and cared for and he felt a rush of guilt flow down his spine as he slipped out of the unguarded exit, three weeks and five days after his admission with a black hood covering his head and six stolen potions tucked into his pockets.

Cloud knew what he was doing was dangerous. And he knew that Zack would be sad and angry that he left the safe walls of the hospital and Midgar, but what choice did he have? He couldn't let Edge go unchecked and he couldn't ignore a request from Minerva - no Guide in their right mind would do such a thing. Not if they wanted to return to the planet with mind and spirit intact so they could embrace with their past selves and one day return to Gaia as a new being. As a child, Cloud was never one to believe such a tale, but with his near-death experience? He couldn't help but yearn for it and felt a swell of pride at the thought of being given a task by the Goddess Minerva. It was an honor, but at what cost would such honor be for him? If he accomplished nothing then he could stand to lose everything and if he accomplished what he set out to do-

Well, he still could lose everything, but at least the world would be safe, right?

Right?

Cloud slowed to a stop in front of a high-end clothing store before turning to stare over his shoulder. He hadn't made it that far from the hospital and if he wanted he could turn back and forget this whole saving the world-

But-

That would be the coward's way out.

He would never forgive himself if he knew he had the power to put a stop to something and he did nothing but hide in Zack's arms and waited it out.

Swallowing, Cloud pressed on, keeping his head lowered until he made it well out of Sector Seven and into Sector Six. He wasn't surprised to see several cars backed up along the expressway heading out of the city, but what he was surprised to see was a small Chocobo convoy near the front who were arguing with the toll-man who looked just as exasperated with them and vice versa.

"I can't let you out. I'm sorry."

"Why the hell not?!" the woman who was a brunette with dark brown eyes forced out. "We haven't done anything wrong. We've been in and out of Midgar thousands of times and now it's a problem?" the woman held out her arms out and pointed at the white chocobos. "You got something against convoys?"

"Not at all, ma'am." the toll man shook his head, withholding a grin when the cars behind the convoy starting honking. "It's under the Alpha's orders that we stop all convoys coming and going. We have to search them for suspicious activity and merchandise."

"And why is that?"

"Edge has released an official declaration of war against Midgar." the toll man announced drawing the group and Cloud into a stunned silence. "All citizens leaving and entering Midgar - no matter the reason - will be checked under the fullest extent of the law."

"Kyrie." a slim man with a cap murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let him check the carriage, yeah? The sooner he does, the sooner we leave."

Kyrie huffed, slapping her friend's away. "You don't always have to be reasonable, Leslie."

Cloud shuffled and tugged his hood lower as the toll man inspected the convoy in hurried and sufficient movements before he turned back to Kyrie with a short nod.

"You can move on now - thank you for your cooperation."

Kyrie huffed and waved him off and it was that moment that Cloud saw his opportunity to slide into the convoy, despite the look of the man who was in the car behind it. He kept still as the Chocobo gave a soft 'khew' and they started moving again. All Cloud had to do was-

"You gonna come out now or do I have to drag you out, newcomer?"

Cloud stilled and when he didn't move quickly enough, a hand grabbed the back of his hoodie and he was dragged out of the small bundle of hay and staring into a pair of amused light brown eyes.

"I thought I felt the carriage rock a little bit," Kyrie called out. "What's your name? It's rude to sneak into a lady's room."

Cloud blinked at the tease until he saw a black baby Chocobo sleep on a small pile of hay. The sight of it the small child forced a small grin to pull at Cloud's lips, the motion stilling when he noticed that the man and woman were still waiting for a response.

"Cloud." Cloud's jaw clenched when the man's eyes narrowed. "Cloud Strife."

"Soon-to-be Alpha Guide Cloud Strife?" the man repeated incredulously. "The same Cloud Strife that's missing from Ifalna Faremis Medical Center? And is currently trending on every news site?"

"Yeah." Cloud agreed through gritted teeth. "I'm the same one. Now-"

"Whoa." the man stopped him with a single finger. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you back at the hospital? Didn't you get stabbed?"

"I did, but-"

"Why are you trying to sneak out of Midgar?" the woman, Kyrie, he remembered, questioned. "Is there trouble in paradise?"

"I hope not." the man, Leslie, muttered. "We're already in trouble with the war and-"

"Can. You. Please. Let. Me. Talk?!" Cloud wrenched away from the man holding his hoodie. "I need help getting out of Midgar. It's very important. Can you please help me? Please?"

"Biggs-" Kyrie began softly. "Let's just take him where's he's going, okay? I mean, what harm could it do?"

"We could get arrested for one." Biggs drawled sarcastically. "I know that you heard about the edict right? If we don't turn him then we lose all rights to enter Midgar and you both know that this is a goldmine for us, right? We can't make a living if we don't enter one of the Trinity Territories."

"We just won't get caught," Kyrie stated as if it obvious. "We drop him off outside of Edge and keep on. It's simple and it's not as if we haven't dropped off anyone at Edge before, right?"

"This is different." Biggs jaw clenched as he stared Cloud down with a mild frown. "We're not dropping off a hitchhiker. We're dropping off the future Alpha Guide of Midgar."

"If you can't do it then it's fine, but can you at least get me out of the city?" Cloud didn't want the arguing to continue among the friends and the last thing he wanted was to ruin their livelihood. Nor did he want to get them in trouble with the authorities.

Biggs said nothing at first, still staring at him with that mild, thoughtful frown and Cloud thought him to be a lost cause until Biggs spoke up, his tone curious and cautious.

"Tell us."

"I'm sorry?"

"Tell us." Biggs urged again. "Why you want out of the city." Biggs looked up and nodded at Kyrie and with a jerk of the reins, they were heading to the city limits. "You have until we reach the limits to convince me why you need to go to Edge. If you don't, then we drop you with the guards and you go back to Alpha Fair." Biggs held out his hand for Cloud to take. "Deal?"

Cloud's lips thinned at the conditions. He knew that, logically, that Biggs, Leslie, and Kyrie wouldn't believe him, but what choice did he have? And if push came to shove he could always use his magic to escape.

"Deal." Cloud reached for Biggs's hand, giving it a sharp shake, sealing the deal and possibly Cloud's fate. "You have a deal."

Emotions were fickle, Cloud realized, as he recanted his story for his small audience. He didn't realize the anger or the sadness that sat lingering at the back of his mind as he retold encounters with Rosso the Crimson. He didn't realize how truly close he was to losing his life until he had to relive it in vivid detail.

Cloud didn't realize how crazy he sounded until he spoke of meeting Ifalna and the task she set him on. He did realize that he was set for the mental asylum judging by the silence that met him when he finished his tale.

"Wow," Kyrie muttered after a long, stilted silence. "I think, for the first time in my life, I'm speechless."

"Yeah." Leslie murmured, giving Cloud a pitying look. "You've...been on a long ride, Cloud."

"Definitely." Kyrie agreed softly. "I...I'm sorry you had to go through all that. We knew that Rosso was nutso, but dropping you from the balconies of Upper Junon? And then following you back to Midgar? Crazy."

"What's crazy is that you survived," Biggs stated. "The only part of this story that sounds crazy is meeting Guide Faremis in the Lifestream."

"I actually believe that part, to be honest." Leslie shot Cloud a mild grin. "We Guides are duty-bound to follow the Goddess and her words."

Cloud's eyes shot up towards Wedge with a startled look. "You're a Guide?"

"Omega Guide." Leslie's grin faded into a sad smile as he tapped his temple. "I was in an accident a year back and lost my connection with Gaia so I'm just trudging along and do the best I can."

"I-" Cloud lowered his gaze and forced down the pity he felt towards Leslie's situation. For a Guide to lose their connection to Gaia was to lose part of their selves and for Leslie to be able to smile and bear it spoke of the man's strength. "Thank you, Leslie. For believing me."

"Sure." Leslie returned easily before turning to Biggs. "Well? Are we off to Edge or are we dropping our future savior off where he belongs?"

Biggs shot Leslie and Kyrie an exasperated look. He couldn't win with these two. "I..guess we're dropping him off outside of Edge, but are you sure you want to do this alone? It sounds like she entrusted you with a huge task."

"It won't be anything I can't handle," Cloud reassured, his mind at ease now that he had a sure way out of the city. This would be the easiest part. "I don't know what I'll do when I get to Edge, but I'll figure it out."

"Come up with a plan," Biggs commanded with a grunt as he settled down next to Cloud and shook his shoulder. "You're supposed to be saving the world." Biggs nudged his head towards Midgar as it slowly faded into the distance. "You have a lot of lives on the line."

Cloud leaned back and watched as Midgar faded into the distance and fought back the sudden tightness in his chest as Zack, Tifa, Aerith, Cid, Shera's faces flashed before his mind. He was leaving his newfound family and he didn't know when or if he would be coming back, but it was for the best. He was doing this for them and that would be enough to put his best foot forward.

Right?