Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, themes on toxic relationships that includes sex, references to past torture, and character death
Chapter 7: Dalmatian Plantation
"What are you doing here?" Leon said.
"Leon?" The kid looked up, dazed. "Oh. I…I found Riku. He's… my friend."
"Is he alright? They sell potions if he's hurt."
"He looks alright. I mean, he was back to his old self and everything, but…Donald chased him away. I wanted Riku to come with us, but for some stupid reason, that duck said Riku couldn't come. I think Riku got mad and walked off, I mean, I hope he did because I… well… he disappeared. Now I can't find him anywhere. Have you seen him?"
"You found your friend from your world here?"
"Yeah, at first I thought that he wouldn't have a way out of here so I'd catch up to him, but that… I don't know why I thought that. He can't be using a Gummi Ship. Somebody's going to notice a new Gummi Ship here. Did you see an extra one just floating around?"
"No."
"Then how did he land here? How did he leave? Why did that duck chase him away? It… doesn't make a lot of sense."
"Not much here makes sense."
"You were right about the Heartless. They're getting bigger and stronger and they're starting to chase me harder each time I land someplace new. The last one I fought was huge, I don't know how they can get any bigger."
"They're not here anymore."
"Locking those keyholes really does make a difference, right?"
"Looks like it."
"I'm still worried… that those Heartless'll get so strong that one day, I won't be able to break free from them. It feels like the sand's running out. Like I'm supposed to…
"Supposed to what?"
"Fail."
"You're taking potions with you, right?"
"But it feels like I'm… I'm supposed to be looking for something, and I don't know what that is. I thought Riku would know. Or I thought we had to find it together… or maybe I'm supposed to help him. Something doesn't feel right. The duck… Donald… why didn't he want Riku to come with us? When I need to help him… I need to help him find the light."
"Sora," Leon said. "I don't think you should fight them. I don't think it's right. Hurting them… it's…"
"But I don't really have a choice anymore, do I?" Sora looked tired. "I wish Riku wasn't so mad at me."
"Leon," Cloud's voice called out from beyond the alley. His footsteps were heavy but quick. "Shoot. Leon."
Sora inhaled sharply and held his hands together as if pleading. Kids often avoided uncomfortable situations, but Leon didn't know whether to stand still, let Cloud know where they were, or if any of it mattered. The footsteps faded, and Sora sighed, letting his cheeks fill with air before running his hands through his hair. He stretched his arms above his head, yawned, and offered a closed-mouth smile. He withdrew for a moment, his eyes downcast.
Before either said anything, Leon nodded up at the kid, stuck his hands in his pockets and turned towards the dim light coming from one of the streetlights. The street opened up to an empty square. The lights felt colder, and the shadows grew larger. Under one of three neon hotel signs, Leon listened for Cloud to call out again. He turned around, but the kid and the alley were gone.
"Leon," Cloud called out, running from across the square. "You alright?"
Leon couldn't stop looking at the spot where the alley should have been. "Did the kid just come by here? I thought…"
"No, we lost him. You didn't have to run off. I had those things. Where'd you end up?"
"They cornered me, then disappeared. Did you hurt them?"
"No, left Yuffie and Cid to come find you. I looked everywhere. Where were you?"
"I'm here now."
"Right," Cloud said. Purple plumes of smoke rolled in the middle of the square. "Now what?"
A tall, thin woman with green-tinted skin walked from the smoke. She wore a glossy black hat with two curves that narrowed to points, resembling horns meant for a demon. If she had hair, her hat concealed every strand. Her black dress hung on her body like a cloak. Using it as a cane, her golden staff clicked against cobblestones. She needed it, yet her gait remained graceful. A thrillful chill tickled Leon's ear, enticing and aquamarine. She looked up from the sunken part of the square and stared at them.
"Who are you?" Leon walked down the stairs to meet her.
"I am many things," she said. "What answer do you seek? What definition do you desire? Where along the curve do you wish to plunk me into?
"Can we start with your name?" Leon said.
"I am Maleficent. Dull expectations from one with such high potential. Tell me, do either of you search for powers that lurk in the dark?"
"Nope," Cloud said.
"Then do not waste my time. Move out of my way or you'll rue the day that you and I crossed paths."
"Are you a sorceress?" Leon said.
"Of course I am," she said. "What else would I be?"
"Are you here to help us or destroy us?" Leon said.
"Neither, you fool. What a simpleminded question with no true answer. What purpose would it serve to assist or destroy either of you?"
"We have sorceresses in my world. I hear they either help in situations or try to destroy the world."
"You are not as naive as you look." The sorceress angled her face to stare down at Leon, even if she was slightly shorter than him. "But do not dare utter such filthy lies. I could only ever dream that there are others like myself. Enough of this idle chatter. Move out of my way. I hear a new Keyblade Wielder is here, and I intend to make my presence known."
"What do you want with the kid?" Leon said.
"Are you concerned for him? He is a bit young to dapple in the darkness, but children are the easiest to mold. It's unfortunate that the king's henchmen reached him before I had. That child so flippantly cast his dear friend aside with those imbeciles guiding him. Those fools, he'll fall into darkness without knowing and then it'll be far too late."
"What do you know about the kid and his friend?"
"The king has grand plans for them or so I've gleaned. Riku fell from the sky and it frightened him so. He wept for nights. They all do when they first arrive."
"So he's been traveling around with you?"
"Yes, he was concerned about that child so I allowed this detour. Had I known that wretched thing would treat Riku so poorly, well, I would have been a bit more prepared. Children can be so unnecessarily cruel. But they mustn't get taken in by the darkness. One mustn't let hate or any other irrelevant emotion drive them to action. I'm molding Riku to use the darkness for power. It's a bit of balance. Now I seek the child with the Keyblade."
"You're picking up kids," Leon said, "for darkness."
"There's nothing wrong with picking up lost kids," Cloud said. "Darkness doesn't sound right though."
"We're not going to try to reunite them with their parents?" Leon said.
Cloud looked away. "Sometimes, you can't."
"So what do you do, give them candy? Or use an unmarked van?"
"They like motorcycles enough. There any motorcycles in this world?"
"What you're talking about is definitely a crime."
"Not where I'm from, it's not. How else are kids going to get by?"
"What are you imbeciles carrying on about?" Maleficent said. "The boy was simply lost, and I am helping him find his way. The darkness within him will guide him on his journey. He will become strong enough to defeat his enemies."
"Enemies? What enemies?" Leon said. "And what exactly is this darkness?"
Both carefully drawn, Maleficent's narrow eyes and pursed lips widened, cracking like clay under pressure, revealing a gleam of madness. "It's power deep within your heart. Learn how to harness that power, to conquer it and this world and everything in it will belong to you. It's the only way to defeat the king."
Leon sighed. "We're not here to overthrow a king. We just want to go home."
"The darkness allows for that. The yearning you have tugging at your heart to a familiar place will send you there, simply at the slightest relinquish of control to your darkness. But that is a pittance, a sliver, a tiny fraction of what it can do. I know a way that will provide unlimited knowledge that's beyond these worlds. The method requires… unwilling souls pure of heart. However, none shall perish. Not directly. I only intend to destroy the occasional imbecile with a handsome face who attempts to foil my plans. Always playing the self-inflicted title of hero, idle with better else to do. What exactly do you two do? You aren't princes, are you?"
"I'm not," Leon said. "I'm pretty sure he's not either."
"I'm not, but what's so wrong about thinking you're a hero? Prince or not, they have to go out and follow their dreams," Cloud said.
"Yes, that's," Maleficent said, pausing as she looked down at Cloud. Her purple eyelids covered all but a sliver of her eyes, and her lip turned into a haughty sneer. "Moving. Truly. I do suppose your hearts are far too scarred to be from princes. Though perhaps with a little more push, they could be that of a princess's?"
"We're not princesses," Cloud said. "That's weird."
"Suit yourself. Hearts must endure much to become pure. Understand that only in darkness can you overcome seemingly impossible tasks. It will show you the way. Drat, you bumbling fools, I've wasted my time here. Can't you see? I must save us all."
"How did you get here?" Leon said. "We're looking for a way home. Can you help?"
"Listen to me carefully," Maleficent said. "You mustn't believe everything you see or hear. Darkness is unsightly but it shall set us free."
"Forget darkness. Can you tell us how to leave?" Leon said. "Or take us with you?"
"You want to go with her?" Cloud said.
"There's more to this than…" Leon pointed at the buildings. "This."
Cloud crossed his arms. "I'm not following her."
"Unless you agree to give in to your darkness. Neither of you are," Maleficent said.
"Is everyone's heart filled with darkness?" Leon said.
"Everyone has the propensity to allow the darkness in their hearts to surface," she said.
"That makes no sense," Leon said. "What about kids?"
"Especially children. The question for them or anyone really is, do you let it eat every fiber of your being or do you use it as a tool to grasp what you desire?"
"But," Leon said, "what exactly is darkness?"
"I've no time to explain rudimentary concepts to the likes of you." Purple smoke rolled into the middle of the square, covering them. "Your names. Relinquish them. Perhaps, Hades will convince you. I will send word to him."
"Leon." He squinted to see where she would go.
"Cloud, Cloud Strife." Cloud batted away at the smoke.
The smoke cleared, and she was gone.
"Neat trick," Cloud said.
Leon scanned the square. "She was trying to sell us darkness to overthrow a king, but there's nothing to win. There's no government. No people. We walked into a house, and it's ours. Where did she go?"
"Sometimes shoot don't make sense. You got to do what feels right." Cloud started to climb the stairs out of the sunken level. "Let's go find Yuffie and Cid."
Leon followed. "You should've stayed with them."
"You always run off to do something stupid?"
"No."
They passed light pouring from display windows of stores with locked front doors. A red sign spelling 'Suits and Dresses' in yellow letters hung high above one of the storefronts under a large cutout of a man's head, his face featuring a permanent toothy grin and unblinking eyes. A green tophat moved over it, up and down, up and down, as Leon passed. How many times did that hat move over nine years? Cloud held open an arched wooden door for Leon, leading them into the warmer colors of the first square.
Holding the Gunblade over his shoulder, Cid stood next to Yuffie in the middle of the square. "You two, you crazy sons of guns. Just what were you thinking? You, manhandling that thing and having them all chase you down. And you, taking off after him."
"I created a diversion," Leon said.
Yuffie put her hands on her hips. "Diversion? Diversion? Is your brain as small as your heart? You left your weapon with Cid. Forgot that minor detail there, bucko."
"Are you hurt?" Leon said as he looked them over. "You and Cid look alright."
"Why did I even bother? Are you hurt, Le-on? Huh?" Yuffie said.
"No."
"So much for following the stupid key kid. We totally lost him," she said.
"Me and Leon met the witch," Cloud said. "She wanted us to find darkness. Didn't make any sense."
"What about that monkey?" Yuffie said.
"It disappeared with the rest of them," Leon said. "That kid must have closed the keyhole. I guess that's real."
"The monkey disappeared, too? Didn't you know it?" she said.
"No," Leon said. "I don't know any monkeys."
"But you called it Selphie," she said. "It tried to hold your hand. It played word games with us. Cloud even played along and-"
"Selphie?" Leon said.
"The heck you yammering on about, Yuffie?" Cid said. "No Heartless monkey played games with us."
"Yes, it did, you old geezer." Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Your memory's been shot lately, too."
"Don't remember playing games with a monkey." Cloud said, watching Yuffie.
"What? You, too? What is going on? How come none of you remember this? It happened like a minute ago," Yuffie said.
"Maybe we aren't getting enough sleep," Cloud said.
Yuffie stomped her foot and pointed to herself. "You think I'm going nuts? Oh no. I am not the crazy one here with you three around. My memories are ninja awesome sharp. You guys have to believe me. Something weird is happening. It has to be that monkey. Leon, you believe me, right?"
"I know a Selphie," Leon said. "She… works for me. Do you think she was the monkey?"
"Well, she tried to hug you when you called her that," Yuffie said.
"You remind me of her," Leon said. "Or she reminds me of you. She's bubbly, too. If a shell goes off, she'd take cover with a smile. She likes trains. Did I think she was the monkey?"
"I think so," Yuffie said.
"They didn't have mouths but they thought…" Squall said. "They… cried in colors. Do you think she was the monkey?"
"Maybe it wasn't her," Yuffie said. "Hey, whatever happened to stealing the key kid's ship?"
Cid cradled the Gunblade in his hand. "Here, thanks for lending me this, Leon. Work of art, that thing. Not sure what good the barrel does, but it's mighty pretty. Sturdy, too."
Leon took his sword back by the handle and looked for marks on the blade.
"Step right up. Gather round, oh ye gentlemen." Yuffie fanned out warped hairpins in her hands and used them to point at the large set of locked doors. She sashayed to it, waving the others to follow. "Psych, you guys are so not gentlemen. Bet you can't help but watch the best ninja warrior perform her greatest feat yet."
"What're you doing, Yuffie?" Cid said. All three men took measured steps closer to the door.
"I've seen the key kid and animals using this door." Yuffie waved the hairpins at Leon. "Pick a pin, pick a pin, pick a pick a pin pin."
"Does it matter which one I pick?" Leon said.
"You big party pooper. Fine." Sticking her tongue out, she leaned in close to the small keyhole in the door, wiggling her picks inside. "If I open this, am I a Key Master, too? Wouldn't I be more like a lock master? I want to be the Lock Monster Master. Try saying that one three times fast."
Cloud jiggled the handle on the adjacent door and pushed it open. "It's unlocked."
"Dang gone thing wasn't even locked to begin with," Cid said.
"It had been," Leon said.
"I unlocked it with my charms. Works every time." Yuffie tucked her hairpins into her shorts and scrambled up. "Wait up, Cloud."
Revealing a hangar beyond the threshold, Cloud stood hidden while holding the open door, which was twice the height of Leon. The scale of the space caused them to hesitate at the entrance, with the room stretching endlessly before them, feeling even more open than the night. Lights in the angled, fifty-foot ceiling illuminated the vast interior, creating a contrast against the dark sky above. The nose of a shiny, red spaceship pointed toward a clear, circular window, framing scattered stars beyond. The spaceship, small enough to fit four to six people, resembled a toy more than a typical spacecraft. Its compact design and vibrant colors suggested it was more suited for a joyride than for interstellar travel. Small rodents scurried around it, chirping and squeaking—an unexpected mouse problem in such a spacious, clean space.
"Holy crap." Cid whistled, his toothpick falling from his mouth. "What's a place like that doing here? Don't that look a lot like a car with no tires? Them wings look mighty funny."
"Oh shoot. Does that mean we need his key? I could try hot-wiring it," Yuffie said, looking at the ceiling.
"Can you hot-wire a spaceship?" Leon said.
"Hey guys, what are you standing out here for? Come on in. Isn't the Gummi Ship awesome?" The kid stood behind them, smiling again, looking at Leon. "Why are you looking for hot wires?"
Yuffie reached in and yanked the door shut with a thud, sealing Cloud inside. Pressing her back against the door, she grinned triumphantly, even though she fidgeted with her hands behind her.
"Hey, I was going in there," the kid said.
"Hello there, Keyblade Master," Yuffie said. "You better check your ship for any hot wires. Those things are bad news. Right, Cid?"
"Oh yeah?" The kid looked between Leon and Cid.
Cid scratched his stubble. "Yeah, about that part you gave me. Looks to me like we can make darn, uh, good use of it on your ship. Upgrading the navigation system, you know?"
"Navigation system? Goofy and Donald never mentioned anything about updating anything on the Gummi Ship before."
"You pinheads, space ain't no playground. You're flying around without knowing about a navigation system? You know what, kid, this one's on the house. I reckon it's a whole lot safer now. Keep giving me all those parts you find just lying around, and I can upgrade that thing some more, got it?"
"Yeah sure, Cid. Thanks!" Sora said. "I was kind of thinking of heading off soon. You know, save worlds from all that darkness."
Yuffie frowned. "What are you in a hurry for, oh great chosen one? Don't you want to take in the sights around here first?"
"What about the duck and dog?" Leon said. "Are you getting along?"
Sora looked down. "I was going to wait for them."
"The witch…" Leon had forgotten what he was going to tell the kid. "She…"
"Hey, I've got an idea," Yuffie said. "Me and Leon's got to fix away, fixing that old house and stuff. Leon's great at fixing all the stuff. He's a fix it man alright, but why don't you and Cid go pick out some jewelry or something? Something on the house."
"Really?" Sora said.
"I ain't giving this kid my jewelry, fake or not," Cid said.
"Welp, me and Leon going off and doing our very own thing. See you around, you awesome Keyblade Master you. Go kick those heartless butts. Old man, why don't you chat it up with Sora about his key and that ship and how the heck he turns that darn thing on, huh?"
"You're something else, ninja girl," Cid said. "Come on, kid. Let's go pick out a freaking bracelet or something."
"Woohoo," Sora said, sticking a fist up.
"Let's go a-fixing, Le-on." Yuffie smiled.
As soon as the kid and Cid entered the jewelry store, Yuffie turned to Leon. "We're stealing that ship."
"How are we going to do that?" Leon said.
"Cloud's in there. Let's go with him. We can get off this world."
"Isn't Cid the one who knows how to drive?"
"Shoot. We got to figure out how to distract that kid and get him out of our way. You want to steal from one of the animals and hide something they have? One of their weapons? It'll be a double shot of distract. Distract squared. The distracted distracted."
"That's a horrible plan."
"Oh come on. I can steal one without getting caught."
"What happens if you do get caught?"
"Nothing much. The animal will pout. Then we'll give them and the key kid the finger on the spaceship, which we will steal. Besides, I won't get caught. This is an awesome plan. Let's take the shortcut through the mansion. Through all those fancy big rooms. Those animals are probably still hanging around those bells."
"Fancy rooms?"
Yuffie ran up a flight of stairs, skipping every other step. "You haven't seen the big fancy rooms? No way, but there's like the most amazing thing in that mansion. It'll totally put you in a better mood. Like a gazillion percent guarantee."
"I don't remember seeing any fancy rooms." Leon climbed the same stairs, placing a hand on the flat stone edging. "A lot of the doors were locked. Now they're not. What's in there?"
She dashed ahead a little, looking back with a teasing grin as she waited for Leon to catch up. "No, it's a surprise now."
"I don't like surprises," Leon said, as they walked through an arched tunnel together, the cobblestone echoing their footsteps.
"You'll like this one. Come on. Get ready to be dazzled, Squall. They're so freaking cute."
"Is it… heartless?"
"What? No. I wouldn't get your hopes up on stupid hearteaters. I said they were cute. My standards for what's cute isn't busted like Cloud's."
Like all destinations in the town-world, the walk there wasn't long, yet it dragged on as Leon scanned the town. All the buildings blended into the townscape—brown brick, gray stucco, and blue-gray cobblestone. Double white doors came into view, standing out tall against the plain exterior. Intricately carved trim and arched, etched glass inserts decorating the doors reminded Leon of an older era in his world. Yuffie, already ahead, rubbed her hands together before reaching for one of the doorknobs and pushed the door open.
The style inside mirrored that of the doors, featuring ornately carved wooden furniture with slender legs. Each piece was staged exactly where and how it belonged. Framed canvases adorned the walls, while rich velvet upholstery covered the furniture for show rather than practical use. Everything seemed tall, narrow, and vertical, even the room itself.
A white Persian cat darted under a nearby chair, its fluffy tail peeking out. Its eyes glowed, like two silver marbles, reflecting light. A hoard of chubby Dalmatian puppies came tumbling toward them, paws scrambling, tails wagging. Some got so excited that they stopped, seemingly forgetting to run, their fronts lowered and rears up. Two adult Dalmatians approached first, sniffing Yuffie and Leon.
"Look, Squall, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. They are so cute. How do so many of them end up here? Look at that one. Come here, little guy. Snuggle next to Auntie Yuffie."
"Auntie?"
"It kinda fits, right?" Yuffie scooped up a puppy and tucked it into the crook of her arm like it was a baby.
"No. Are these their parents?" Leon said, kneeling next to adult Dalmatians. He put his weapon down, patted one of their heads and then scratched the other. They both bopped their wet noses against his hand and wagged their tails. "How did you end up here?"
A swarm of Dalmatian puppies surrounded them, tails wagging uncontrollably as they yipped and pressed against one another. Some nudged at Leon and Yuffie, their small bodies pushing against the humans in a quest for attention. One adventurous puppy climbed onto Leon's lap, its tiny tongue darting out to lick his hand, while others nosed at Yuffie's legs. Amid the commotion, Leon noticed a puppy getting buried beneath the puppy pile, its body wriggling as it tried to break free. He gently scooped it up, saving it from the soft tangle. Against the backdrop of elegant furnishings, the room overflowed with the clamor of puppies vying for affection.
"Just when I thought there was nothing good here, we end up finding these guys. Look, Leon, look how many come up to you when you get close to the ground. Their little tails are going crazy. They're so soft. You wouldn't think so with their short hair, but they are. This has got to be a sign. There's always bound to be something good anywhere you end up, right?"
"Maybe."
"It was getting so crazy back home. So many monsters and so many fights. Maybe we were supposed to end up someplace where all we can do is pet puppies and run around in circles all day long."
"Supposed to? We've had peace for years. There's always work for mercenaries, but it's not what it was like before. Do you like being here better than your world?"
"No, this place sucks. But things got all crazy in our world again. And now we got sucked into this crazy place. Seems we're always squashing the crazy down. I don't know when it'll stop," Yuffie said. "Wait, you're a mercenary?"
"I guess so."
"Did you know Cloud used to be a mercenary?"
"Why are you telling me?"
"I just thought it was funny." Yuffie said. "All the things you two have in common, Le-on."
"Whatever."
"I'm just teasing you. What's so bad about you and Cloud being kind of alike anyway? You're bound to meet people who are more like you than not once in a blue moon. You don't have to be such a grouch because I pointed it out."
"I'm not like him."
"Oh yeah? Name one way you're not."
"No."
"You know, he wouldn't want to name anything either."
Leon paused, petting the two soft puppies warm in his lap. One puppy nipped at the other's ear, prompting a soft growl. The first perked, his ears up, and seemed to enjoy the attention but whimpered in response. Most of the other puppies had lost some of their zeal. Some drifted off to sleep, while others settled nearby, watching him with sleepy eyes, still waiting for affection. One puppy yawned, its tiny mouth stretching wide. Occasional whines escaped as they snuggled against one another. He noticed the two adult Dalmatians sitting on opposite sides of the room, each tending to a couple of puppies. The other puppies remained gathered around Leon and Yuffie, finding comfort.
"I used to be afraid when I was younger. Probably more than he was."
"Oh yeah? Of what?"
"I don't know. A lot. Of people, even. It's good that you didn't know me then."
"I'm pretty sure that Cloud's scared of people, Squall."
"He's not," Squall said. "I used to be afraid of dying. Really afraid."
"You're not afraid to die?"
"Not really. Not like I was."
"Cloud doesn't talk to me about dying, but sometimes he goes barreling sword first into a fight and doesn't seem to worry like he should be about getting hurt."
"I'm more strategic than that."
"What was so strategic about what you did today? Huh? Running off with some squirming creature that might eat your heart like a baby Chocobo tucked under your arm. That monkey was flailing around. It wasn't happy, Squall. They all took off after you and Cloud fake swore just as much as Cid does and didn't know what to do for a second. Do you know how hard it is to surprise him in a fight? First the kid, now you."
"We won, didn't we?"
"No thanks to you," Yuffie said.
As Leon continued to pet the puppies, the warmth felt distant, as if he were watching from the wrong side of a glass wall. He breathed deeply, trying to ground himself, but the feeling wouldn't leave.
"Hey Squall?"
"What is it?"
"Do you have any tips on how I can not be afraid to die?
"No."
"You think I'm too young to think about that."
"No, that's not it. I was younger than you when I went to war."
"You were? Then what is it?"
He paused. It wasn't just about her question. How could he explain something he didn't fully understand? He didn't know where to start. Yuffie shifted her weight, tapping her toe. Before he could respond, she reached down, scooped two puppies up and plopped them onto his lap.
"What's this for?" Leon asked, nuzzling under one of the puppies' ears, feeling their warmth.
"I'm going to turn you into a feely puddle of happy if it's the last thing I do."
"This was a nice surprise."
"Ha. See, see, look at you. You finally gave me a real smile."
"I smile all the time."
"They're all fake, Squall. Truth be told, you look kind of creepy when you do that. Guess you're different from Cloud about that."
Leon frowned. "Creepy?"
"Well what do you want me to say? This is all your fault. Stop fake smiling. I'm not saying sorry for telling the truth."
"That'll cost you. Five puppies."
"Haha, Squall. Take your own puppy pile. I'm done giving you mine."
"Does Cloud know about this place?"
Yuffie blinked, then smirked. "I'm not bringing him here. He's weird about animals."
"He doesn't like puppies? Why are you comparing me to him?"
"He would like them, but he doesn't get along with anybody's pets at all. They all want to scratch the heck out of him and get away. I think they smell how nervous he gets."
"Nervous? Him? What about Cid? Does he like puppies?"
"Well, Cid... He gets kind of mean when he gets drunk. Maybe we hold off telling him about the puppies. We can tell him when they get a little older."
"It'll be our secret then?"
"It's not really a secret. The key kid's got to be the one collecting them and bringing them back. I guess he's not so bad after all." Yuffie stood up. "Shoot, that key kid. We got to steal his spaceship."
"We can't steal from the kid. We need another way off this world."
"No way. He really got to you, didn't he? He hurt Cloud. He's slicing through all those heart eaters, and he doesn't listen to you. He doesn't listen to Cloud or even Cid. Cid's scary looking to a kid. He listens to Aerith because she's always telling him that he's important. Look, we don't need to feel bad about taking our ticket off this place from him."
"He doesn't know better. He's… lost."
"That's no excuse. Besides, you don't need an excuse to steal shoot, you need to survive."
"We don't need it to survive."
"You don't think we need his spaceship to survive? Look around. How the heck are we going to get home? Do you want to be here for nine more years? I… I remember when we first met. Do you?"
"Yeah, I showed you the hotel rooms. I told you about my sleep."
"Before that."
"There was no before."
Yuffie looked down, playing with the ends of her hair hanging near her chin. She tucked a strand behind her ear, but it fell back to the same spot. She picked up two puppies, one in each hand, and placed them on his lap. Their warmth offered a distraction, but they tumbled off. They all tumbled off.
"We have to go back." Yuffie's voice was firm. "Me, Cid, Cloud—we can't stay here as long as you have. I… I'm going to find a way out for you, too, Squall. I promise."
"You shouldn't make promises you'll regret later."
"I'm not lying. I'm going to find a way for you no matter what."
"Thanks, but I won't hold you to it. Let's go find Cloud. You probably locked him in with the spaceship."
Yuffie straightened up. "I bet he's somewhere near those goofy animals. I can still nab a weapon from them."
"And you're not going to get caught stealing?" Leon picked up his Gunblade and stood next to her.
"Who cares if I do? They're harmless. Look at them." Yuffie waved her hand. "And no, I won't get caught."
"Let's hope Cloud's not locked in the hangar."
Yuffie shrugged. "Well, if he is, we'll just have to get him out."
As they reached the doors, Yuffie glanced back at the two Dalmatian dogs, still on opposite sides of the room, and all the sleeping puppies. "Do dog couples fight? What do you think they're fighting about? Quit fighting, you two. I'll come back, little guys."
They stepped outside. Yuffie's sporadic footsteps mingled with his pace and the hum of the streetlights. He had walked this way countless times, but he couldn't get used to the streets and homes devoid of people. Not the uncanny sensation opening in his mind, but the tail end of déjà vu stuck with him again. Yuffie fiddled with her boomerang, glancing at their surroundings.
As they approached the third square, Leon caught sight of Aerith standing beside Cloud, who leaned against a wall, his expression unreadable as he stared into the distance. Seeing Aerith didn't bring anger, fear, or even the annoyance he expected, but something closer to a pang—soft and uncomfortable. He hadn't felt that for her before.
"Did you hear the bells?" Aerith said. "Every day, it won't ring at three o'clock. Now it rang. It must be three o'clock."
"They rang when the kid locked the keyhole." Leon pulled the Gunblade up and set it aside, then leaned against the wall next to Cloud and crossed his arms. Just like him. "There's no way it's three o'clock."
"The cuckoo clock only rings at seven o'clock. Did you set the cuckoo clock to seven, Leon?"
"No, it was seven o'clock. That one rang on time."
"Did it?" Aerith asked, tilting her head. "I have to see for myself. Cloud, do you want to watch the cuckoo clock with me?"
"No, he doesn't," Yuffie said, stepping forward. "Cloud, let's steal that ship."
"We're not stealing a spaceship," Leon said.
"Sora left already," Aerith said.
"Who asked you? We don't want you here. You're not part of this conversation, dolly."
"Yuffie," Cloud said, looking between them. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to get her to leave us all alone. No one wants you here."
"Don't talk to her like that," Cloud said.
"It's alright, Cloud," Aerith said, smiling. "I'll go."
"You don't have to," he said.
"I know," Aerith said.
As she stepped away, Leon noticed her footsteps were lighter than Yuffie's, and she looked as if she were gliding rather than walking. A floral scent in the air faded with her presence. Yuffie watched Aerith leave, her irritation simmering, but she wrapped her arms around herself.
"It's not her, Cloud," Yuffie said. "She's not Aerith."
Cloud stared off to the side, lost in thought.
"She tried telling me that she's from the Lifestream, that she's here to help, but," Yuffie said. "She said you knew things…that you didn't tell me…I…"
"She told you that?" he said.
"Is there, is there any way she's from the Lifestream?"
"I… met Aerith. In the Lifestream. Was more like a dream, but she was there."
"You did? Was she alright?"
"Might've all been in my head. I know she's…not Aerith. So don't mind what she says. Alright?"
"She didn't tell you why she keeps saying you're a hero, did she?"
Cloud finally looked at Yuffie. "Hero?"
"She kept bothering me about being a hero," said Leon. "When you showed up, she said that I didn't have to worry anymore."
"Then she said there'd be a…fierce battle against darkness. I heard her, Cloud. I heard her say that's what the hero was supposed to do," she said.
"Oh." Cloud looked away again.
"What did she talk to you about if she didn't ask you to be a hero?" Yuffie said.
"Nothing much. I just like hearing her voice again."