Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice ❯ A Decision to Make ( Chapter 9 )

 

Chapter 9: A Decision to Make

 

“Try using Bolt on it!” Cloud ordered as he panted heavily. He lifted his sword again and tried to attack the metal creature. But its armor was too strong for him to pierce. He heard the crackle of electricity and ducked away just in time as Nanaki cast Bolt2 on the monster.

 

“It's not working!” Yuffie exclaimed. The monster had already gotten a hold of her once, and her arm was bleeding from a gash twelve inches across.

 

“Here,” Reeve said softly, tossing her a potion from his pack. “Drink this!” He carefully kept his eyes on the monster, making sure that they were still a safe distance away.

 

“Thanks!” The ninja grinned before downing the potion in one gulp and jumping back into battle. Almost immediately her wound began to close up, slowly knitting together until nothing but a wide pink scar remained. The potion was only enough strength to close it up, not enough to prevent scarring.

 

The metal monster that they were struggling to destroy was unlike anything they had ever faced before. Not only was it sporting several rather large guns with laser locking technique, but it seemed to have eight razor sharp claw-like arms with haste-induced speed. Further, its armor was all but unbreakable, taking every strike of Cloud's sword as if it were nothing more harmful than a thrown pebble.

 

To make a bad situation even worse, ShinRa soldiers were streaming around them, attacking as well. It could only be assumed that the monster was also sent by the mega corporation. It had attacked them unexpectedly, destroying the house they were staying in and forcing them to abandon it.

 

The friends stood outside, backs to the burning debris of their shelter, grimacing at their fate.

 

“What the #$@%&!!” The easily recognized cursing of the pilot was evident when said pilot and Vincent dashed upon the scene. They had heard the explosion and had come running from wherever it was they had been. The pilot was more than shocked by what he saw. No one had any inclination that ShinRa knew where they were or what was going on, and since Reeve wasn't in contact with the mega corporation anymore… it left much for debate.

Nanaki, Yuffie, and Cloud were attempting to destroy the massive metal weapon whilst Reeve and Barret were taking on the mass of ShinRa soldiers, knives and bullets flying.

 

Cloud shook his head in response, dodging a flying razored arm. “I don't know. It came out of nowhere.”

 

Vincent immediately drew his gun and started aiming at the random soldiers, taking them out as quickly as he could. He fired methodically, rarely if ever missing a target.

 

“It's not going down! I can't even get through its armor!” Yuffie exclaimed, hurling her shuriken at the monster again. It deflected off the metal, causing a slight scratch but nothing more.

”Sense says, it is susceptible to nothing. Besides, with this much power, the thing is nearly unstoppable,” Nanaki explained, dodging a swinging arm. In retaliation he sent another Bolt2.

 

Reeve sprung into view, tossing throwing knives at a few soldiers, who had tried to sneak up on the friends. Blood erupted from the necks of the enemies as his knives found their target. He grinned devilishly before dashing away to take out a few more.

 

“Greased Lightning!” Yuffie released her limit break, reigning power on the creature. It still seemed unaffected.

 

“Everyone get back!” Cid ordered suddenly. The pilot had a plan, or an inkling of one. Either way, it was sure to be dangerous and crazy.

 

He pulled out a stick of dynamite and lit it on his cigarette. Everyone recognized the attack and dove for cover. He threw one at the horde of soldiers even as he pulled out another to throw at the monster. Duel explosions rocked the area. Cid smiled.

 

When they were once again able to look up, they saw that the ShinRa soldiers were lying on the ground, either unconscious or dead. However, the metal beast was still going strong.

 

Vincent shook his head. “We do not have the capacity to defeat that.”

 

“I think that maybe vampy is right,” Barret growled, firing more bullets. Vincent shot him a poisonous look but didn't bother to respond. Someday… someday Barret was going to get what was coming to him.

 

“So what? We should just run?” Yuffie asked incredulously, wincing as she pulled on her scar. She absolutely hated the idea of having to run away for any reason.

 

The monster roared and a giant revolving gun appeared out of an opening in its shoulder, aiming it at the friends. There was a sudden click.

 

Cloud's eyes widened. “Running is good,” he stated before he took off in a random direction.

 

The monster started firing before anyone else could respond. Ducking to avoid the bullets, the friends followed after their leader.

 

* * *

 

They ran straight towards the Coral Valley, having no other direction to run to. The ShinRa officers didn't give chase, not that there were many left to do so, and the metal enemy couldn't fit between the walls of the canyon.

 

“Wait… hold on…” Cloud huffed. Everyone drew up short. “I think we lost them.”

 

Yuffie collapsed on the ground tiredly, proclaiming how glad she was and fussing about how she was made to run. Reeve leaned tiredly against a boulder nearby, shoulders heaving with the exertion. Despite his skill in knife throwing, he really wasn't that athletic.

 

“What the hell was that thing?” Cid asked angrily, sitting on the ground. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, puffing happily away. Surprisingly, considering the way he smoked, he wasn't out of breath.

 

“ShinRa… had ta be!” Barret growled. He stomped around where they rested, too keyed up to relax.

 

“Like there is anyone else it could be,” Yuffie snorted in derision, her breathing returning to a normal level.

 

“Perhaps,” Nanaki commented before glancing around. Suddenly, he rose from the ground, where he had all but collapsed, a trickle of blood leaking from a cut on his shoulder. “Wait a minute,” he stated, looking around to everyone once more. “Where is Tifa?” He was clearly worried about the dark-haired female as he was really close to her.

 

“She's not here?” Cloud questioned. His gaze traveled over the faces of his friends and not seeing Tifa among them, he blanched.

 

“Damn, damn, damn!!!” Barret cursed. “I will bet my gil that ShinRa has her now.”

 

“But what would ShinRa want with Tifa?” Reeve asked breathlessly from his spot next to Yuffie. “They never told me about her being a target.”

 

“ShinRa tell you all their secrets then, spy?” Barret demanded, raising his gun arm menacingly.

 

Reeve shrugged slightly, trying to diffuse the situation. “I guess not.” His gazed drifted to the ground then, still quite ashamed of how he had betrayed them before.

 

“How did ShinRa know where we were?” Vincent asked quietly, his inquiry gaining all attention.

 

“That's a good question,” muttered Barret, eyes swiveling towards Reeve. “Any idea how to answer that, ShinRa boy?”

 

“You leave Reeve alone, Barret!!” Yuffie huffed angrily, rising to her feet and stepping in front of her friend, one of the few in the group that actually seemed to like her.

 

“Yeah! I doubt the fool would make the same damn mistake twice!” Cid added in for good measure. He was damn tired of everyone accusing everyone else of being a spy. Sure, Reeve had fucked up once, but no one understood the circumstances. They hadn't bothered to ask, and Cid surely was not going to condemn a man for something he did not understand. For all he knew, ShinRa could have held something over the man's head… like his family. The corporation was known for doing much worse, so Cid wouldn't put it past them.

 

“I am not a spy,” Reeve murmured quietly. “Not anymore. They tried to kill me. They threatened to kill him…” he whispered more to himself than to the group, but Yuffie's sensitive ninja hearing - or so she would later claim - and Vincent's enhanced senses picked it up. Both gazed at him mutely.

 

“So you say,” Barret sneered in reply, flexing his metal arm once more. “But, I think you are just duping us again.” The loss of Tifa seemed to break any restraint the dark-skinned man may have had. He advanced on the ex-executive, intent on beating the information out of him.

 

But there was a hand on his arm, restraining him. It was quite strong, too, not letting him move any further. Barret turned confused eyes towards the idiot who would dare stop him. It was the ebony haired gunman.

 

“Reeve is not the enemy here,” Vincent said warningly. He had been the closest to Barret at the time and had grabbed him, even before Cloud had the chance to move.

 

“Is dat so?” Barret asked, jerking his arm away. He narrowed his eyes at the ex-Turk. “Then maybe I should be looking at you?”

 

Vincent narrowed his crimson eyes as they flashed angrily and opened his mouth to speak, but Cid beat him to it. “I already told ya once, jackass, Vince ain't no spy!!”

 

“Enough!!” Cloud yelled, interrupting the dispute. “Or there isn't going to be anything left of us for ShinRa to fight!!”

 

Six pairs of eyes turned to look at their leader. Barret had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. Vincent glared at Cloud as if angry that he had interrupted their fight.

 

“I don't want to think that anybody is a spy,” Cloud said, looking to each of his party members. “If we are going to do this, there has to be a certain level of trust. I will not put up with all this bickering!”

 

Barret stepped away from the two ex-ShinRa employees and crossed his arms, gaining his composure. The ex-Turk, in turn, moved to the outer edges of the tiny circle, eyes remaining on Cloud. Reeve merely scooted closer to Yuffie and began looking over her other wounds.

 

“I don't know how ShinRa found us, and I am not about to start questioning everybody as if you all were traitors. As far as we know, ShinRa has Tifa and Sephiroth is heading for the Promised Land. We cannot forget who has already passed in this long fight. So we have one of two options. It's either one or the other, we can't go after both.”

 

“They won't… hurt her… will they?” Nanaki asked, speaking cautiously.

 

Reeve shook his head before exhaling slowly. “If anything, they are using her as bait… they will use her against us,” he added softly, a dazed look in his eyes. “They have no reason to kill her that I can see,” he continued in a stronger tone. “Not yet, anyways.”

 

“Rufus wants us to stop going after Sephiroth and go rescue her. It is an obvious trap,” Vincent mused aloud, his fingers lightly running over the edge of his cloak in what for anyone else would be a nervous gesture.

 

“So what then? We should leave her in their hands?” Barret asked incredulously.

 

“They won't hurt her, I am sure,” insisted Reeve, rising to his feet. “And if we do go after her, we may very well be placing the fate of the world in ShinRa's hands because we know Rufus will head for Sephiroth no matter what.”

 

“We can't let him get there first. Let ShinRa have the Promised Land? I don't think so!” Yuffie argued, also rising. “All that materia…”

 

“We've gotta take that fuck out now! For Aeris if nothing else,” Cid argued, getting in his three gil worth.

 

“Then it is decided; we are all in agreement?” asked Cloud. His blue eyes looked to each one of his teammates expectantly. He was not about to make the decision completely on his own, leader or no.

 

“I'm not!!” Barret spluttered, looking at everyone else in horror. “What about Tifa?”

 

“I'm sorry, but the fate of the Planet is more important,” said Cloud softly. He walked up to his friend and placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “You know she would have wanted it that way.”

 

“Tch, you are right of course. I just wish there were some other way…” Barret responded, shaking slightly.

 

“We could always split up…” Nanaki suggested wisely but quite eagerly. Obviously, he did not want to leave Tifa with the ShinRa either.

 

Cloud shook his head. “And divide our strength? Whose to say we can defeat either foe on our own? What if one of us fails and then that half is gone? No, it is best if we remain together. At least then, your fate will be obvious.”

 

“So that is that then? We are going to the `Promised Land'?” Reeve questioned quietly.

 

“Yes… and, according to Sephiroth, we are at least already heading in the right direction,” answered Cloud.

 

“Then what are we waiting for? The faster we defeat the bastard, the faster we can save Tifa,” suggested Barret.

 

“Right.” Cloud nodded. “We will move out for now, put some more distance between us and the ShinRa, then rest and regroup later on. Cid, Reeve, you two and I are to take the lead. The rest of you know the drill.”

 

Everyone nodded and did as they were told.

 

Cid, Reeve, and Cloud took off first, clearing the way and marking a path. The rest were to follow after a few minutes, securing the trail behind to make sure they weren't back attacked.

 

The four friends left behind did not really speak to each other, almost ignoring the others' presence. Thirty minutes after the first party had departed; they began to follow the marked trail.

 

Barret led the way, Yuffie watching his back. Then came Vincent and Nanaki, keeping an eye on the rear.

 

At first, they all traveled in silence, until Nanaki began to slow down a little, sniffing the wind cautiously. Then he completely stopped in the path, Barret and Yuffie none the wiser.

 

“What is it?” Vincent asked, tensing slightly.

 

Nanaki did not answer, instead watching as Barret and Yuffie got far enough away. When he was satisfied with their distance, he began walking again, albeit at a much slower pace.

 

“Well?” pressed Vincent.

 

“It was nothing. I merely wanted to keep this conversation relatively quiet,” the lion wolf answered.

 

“Conversation?” Vincent queried, raising one eyebrow.

 

“Yes. I wanted to speak to you without the others.”

 

“About what?”

 

“I have noticed some things. I am not entirely naïve you know. You and the pilot seem to have become fast friends, or so it was anyways.”

 

Vincent allowed himself the smallest of smiles, more one of sarcasm than happiness. “Being forced to room together does seem to have that effect on a person.”

 

Nanaki shook his head. “I do not think that it is entirely the case. What happened the night of the earthquake?”

 

The gunman was surprised by this question, mostly because it seemed to have no relevance to anything else. “Why that night in particular? What do you know?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at the beast.

 

“Nothing, save that as far as I have knowledge of, no one was doing anything but sleeping until the earthquake struck,” said the lion wolf, his shoulders doing something that might have been considered a shrug. “I asked everyone else and as of yet, didn't really think to ask you two, until now anyways.”

 

“Why now?” Vincent mused aloud. “Have I missed something?”

 

The red lion wolf shook his head. “No, answer my question first please?”

 

“Tch,” Vincent commented, closing his mouth. He concentrated on the path in front of him. He was not about to discuss that night with Nanaki.

 

“I will take that as a no.”

 

“It is none of your business,” the ex-Turk all but growled.

 

They walked in silence for another few minutes. It had become a battle of the wits somewhat, to see who could get the most out of the other without revealing too much. Finally, Vincent spoke first.

 

“What is it about the earthquake that has you interested?”

 

The lion wolf fought the urge to smile. “Are you going to tell me what happened that night?”

 

“Depends on what you have to offer me. Talk, Nanaki, or are just drawing airs? I don't make it a habit to go around telling people my affairs.”

 

“Something has shifted in the lines of fate, and I will tell you that earthquakes do not naturally occur in that region. They have NEVER occurred in any of grandfather's records or those of even older origins,” he finished, gazing at the gunman intently.

 

“And you think this has something to do with me?” Vincent questioned with complete surprised. It made no sense to him. Hadn't he already had enough troubles in his life?

 

“I didn't say that. Now, please, answer my question.”

 

Vincent sighed. “Very well then, I suppose. Cid was having a nightmare, which to me was unusual because normally it is I. When I woke him, in his half delirious state, he kissed me. In shock I pulled away and retreated to my side of the tent.”

 

“And that is all that happened, nothing more?” Nanaki inquired gently.

 

“Nothing less,” finished Vincent. “Why are you suddenly interested in me, Nanaki? We have tolerated each other but I would not say that we are friends.”

 

The lion wolf contemplated the question. “Hmm. It is a dangerous fight that we have all undertaken. It would not do for all of us to be fighting as we are.”

 

“That is far from what I asked.”

 

“But it is what I am telling you,” he stated enigmatically. “How can we fight together if we all stand apart?”

 

“Don't ask me,” Vincent snorted as he crossed his arms. “I never started any of it.”

 

“I don't agree with that statement,” the other countered. “You and a certain pilot have been on edge with each other for quite some time now.”

 

Vincent raised a surprised eyebrow. “You are rather observant, aren't you?”

 

Nanaki bowed his head, something similar to a smile appearing on his features, “I'd like to think so.”

 

“You still know nothing,” the gunman commented derisively.

 

“I know enough, and I suspect much. Your opinion holds no consequence for me.” He flicked his tail.

 

Vincent scowled. “Hmph, believe what you will. I care not,” snorted Vincent.

 

“Just remember what I say, Vincent Valentine,” Nanaki stated fiercely, stopping in the middle of the trail. “You are not as indestructible as you think, nor are events as black and white. Pride defeated you the first time, don't let it be your downfall again,” the lion wolf intoned, his fiery eyes looking to Vincent meaningfully.

 

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Vincent questioned icily.

 

“You will figure it out,” Nanaki evaded with a shrug. “Look, Barret and Yuffie are waiting for us,” he responded, changing the subject and motioning to a spot farther up the path.

 

The lion wolf bounded forward, eager to catch up with their companions. Vincent stared after him, mouth nearly agape with astonishment.

 

How had he known?

* * *