Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Stargazers ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

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Stargazers

Chapter Seven

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Cloud sighed, falling back on the bed with a 'flop'. He really didn't feel up to heading out- all he really felt like doing was trying to get a hand on fire magic- which was proving somewhat more difficult to get a handle on than the others, for some reason. He glanced down at the new attire he wore, and tugged a bit at the shirt's edge. He was somewhat surprised with it- it didn't seem like something Zacks would pick out at all, instead seeming more to his own preference. It was a deep green top, with strings threaded in a stitching pattern from the middle of the chest to the neckline, and left hanging loose at the top. The pants were a simple, light tan color. It was rather nice in its simplicity- in fact, he found he rather liked it. It made him wonder if someone else had put it together… not that it really mattered, he supposed.

He was supposed to head over to Zacks' room when he was ready, so he stopped putting off the inevitable and brought himself to get up and head for the door, closing it lightly behind him. He walked down the hallway a little ways to Zacks' room and lightly knocked on the door, which fell open itself, having not been closed all the way.

"…Zacks?"

"Oh- Hey Spike, c'mon in!" Zacks was wearing a slate blue shirt with a black vest over it, accompanied by matching black pants. Cloud pushed the door shut behind him, glancing around the room.

"Just getting some odds and ends tasks out of the way before we split- it'll be fun-! Ah, now then-"

Zacks walked to the other side of his room and pushed open the window, reaching into his pocket to take out a small, navy orb, a faint light emanating from its surface. He held it up a bit, and a shimmering blue conglomeration of sparkles drifted out of it, taking shape in the form of a radiant bird matching the color of the stone.

"…What….what is it…?" Cloud was staring it with awe- it was gorgeous…was it some sort of spell?

"This is a soaress. No surprise you haven't seen one, but I'm sure you've heard of 'em- pretty rare, aren't they?" Zacks fell silent a moment, grip shifting on the small orb as he stared into the bird's ghost-like eyes. In response gave a response that sounded like a soft, content hiss, and flew away from the window pane, out into the city.

Cloud paused a moment, registering what he'd just seen- soaress…wasn't that- it was, wasn't it! "A soaress- that was an actual soaress?"

"You bet it was- awesome little guys, aren't they?"

"I wasn't even sure they were real…"

"Don't know much about 'em, do you?"

"…Not really. …Wait, where were you sending it?"

"I was sending 'im out to Sephiroth, telling him what's up and where we're headed- there's been trouble lately to the northeast y'see and… Aw, hell, looks like its time to sit down and fill you in again. Then we'll get going." Zacks walked over to the bed and took a seat on its edge, patting the area next to him, indicating for Cloud to sit down. Cloud uncrossed his arms and walked over, reluctantly sitting.

"Alright, about eight years ago there was a big mess that involved the handy-work of highly sophisticated element mages. To say the least, it was finally taking care of- there was a crazed alchemist heading them, but he was killed by misusing his own potions out of desperation."

"Alchemist?"

"Yeah- like Hojo, that scheming creep you met earlier. Harmless, but still a creep. He's an expert on every mystical power out there- he lives for learning more about it. Soaress stones, spells, webs, you name it. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't have a magical bone in his body- he's tried for years to conjure up the tiniest bit of any element, but failed at every turn- not for lack of concentration or skill, but just because he wasn't born with the ability for it. So he took up the closest thing- playing with potions. He's damned good at what he does- don't you ever tell anyone I said that- and constantly locks himself up in his lab. He's probably the most well educated man in the science of alchemy out there. Discovers a new this or that all the time- always bitching about not being able to really explore his creation's potential when combined with magic, though. Always scrawling down notes on this or that…Oh hey now, wipe that look right of your face."

"What?"

"I can see what you're thinking- you are not going anywhere near that guy- I know you're fascinated by magic and all, but he's a creep, and it not worth getting to know him."

"Why not- you said yourself that he's harmless- It's a once in a lifetime opportunity- there are some things no amount of books can teach you right-"

"No, no, NO! Absolutely not!"

"Just because you have a grudge against him for who knows what is no reason-"

"He's a creep! End of story!"

"You're not my mother, Zacks!"

"Might as well be considering how I seem to be the one taking care of you, as of late!"

Now this made Cloud shut his trap- what the hell was he doing? He was arguing with the man who had saved his ass and was currently escorting him home- he was arguing with the legend known as Zacks. What was he thinking? He owed this guy everything, and he had the nerve to complain about one little request? "…" He hesitated a moment before responding, "…I'm sorry."

Zacks ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "…Now, look here…I didn't mean for it to come out that way, I just…trust me on this one, alright Spike? I mean… He's just the sort to watch your back around, y'got me? So be careful."

"…Yeah. Sure." Cloud looked around the room, finding the floor interesting subject matter all the sudden.

"Erm…anyway…where was I? Oh- alchemists, mage issues and the lot…right. Well, he died, Seph kicked the can of the last mage that was being a problem, and everything was good. Unfortunately, we're starting to see signs that the whole mess is starting up again. Rufus is especially unhappy because…well, let's just say it affected him personally the last time. Not to mention Vincent's still missing; we gotta find him soon so we can deal with this new dilemma coming up. If it's really there, that is- still a chance it's just rumors."

"So…you were telling Sephiroth about all that through the soaress?"

"Yeah, and where we're headed. It's simple to use them- you just say in your mind what you want them to tell. You can send images, too, if you really want- anything that can be a thought. Hardly anyone has them though, and its generally not a good idea to use them unless it's an emergency."

"It's that urgent?"

"Well…not really, I suppose…but at a time like this when everything's going rather haywire, it helps to get news to who needs it as soon as possible. Besides, I want to know where he is- he's highly particular about when he uses his own."

"Ah. …So why isn't it a good idea to use them that often? Do they wear out or something?"

"Wear out? Heh, no, no- these guys last forever. It's just that you might never get 'em back- it doesn't happen too often, but every now and then they get stuck in a piece of glass or something- y'see these stones they stay in?" Zacks removed the small blue orb again, "These are Soar Stones- they can pass right into 'em. They can also pass right through anything transparent or reflective looking, like windows, bottles- even mirrors. Sometimes though, they kinna' get stuck in what they're going through- for example, they might weave their way into a window, but not be able to get back out. The inside of glass is kind of like an invisible maze that took its shape when the glass originally hardened and solidified. So…they can get themselves stuck."

"…That's not true, it's just a rumor. I remember that being mentioned in my book at home- there's nothing that supports that it's actually true-"

"Hey, people have found them stuck before-"

"It started with someone saying they found one stuck in an empty beer bottle- a beer bottle. An empty one. They didn't actually see it; they were drunk."

"Sephiroth found his that way."

"…He found it in a beer bottle?"

"No, no- not a beer bottle, but he found it stuck. In his window, when he came back to the room one time, there it was."

"…"

"Hey, I'm serious. So I know first hand they can definitely get stuck. It's a nice green color, too."

"…You're serious, aren't you?"

"Damn straight- y'see what that teaches you, Spike? Don't believe everything you read."

"…What does he keep it in, then? If he found it in a window, he can't have a stone for it… speaking of stones, how'd you get yours?"

"Well mine, I won- a tournament in Lavitia, fought in pairs, active soar stone as the prize for first. He had one already, so I got this baby. As of what he keeps his in- an artificial soar stone, like this one, but green. Y'see, since their so handy, people have tried to create soar stones with magic and alchemy and anything they can think of- they succeeded in making stones that physically seemed exactly the same as a natural one, but there was one problem- they could never create a soaress inside it. They can create dead stones, but not active ones. Anyway, the artificial stones are pretty popular to make jewelry out of, so it's not too hard to find them."

"…" Cloud couldn't help but smile a little- the idea of getting something so rare from a tournament- and the fact that these mysterious soaresses actually existed and he had just seen one… He drew up his legs a bit, wrapping his arms around his knees, "That's so cool..."

"Hey, lookit' this," Zacks grinned, "You're smilin'. I don't think I've ever seen you looking so content before- you should make this whole 'smiling' thing a habit y'know, good for your health- besides, that's the cutest smile I've ever seen- I bet if you did that more often, you'd find yourself getting a lot of free stuff-"

"Zacks!"

"Hee. Alright, alright, I'm done. Now c'mon- let's get going!"

::*::

Cloud found his spirits were a bit higher now then they had been, and the air outside was helping- it was crowded and noisy, but it was a warm night, with light breezes brushing up against his cheeks. It didn't seem quite as overbearing in the streets as it had when he'd first arrived, and despite the bustle, the surrounding faces were filled with mirth, any rushing due only to excitement. It really did resemble a festival.

"Ah, there it is- y'see it up there? That's where we're headed."

Cloud looked in the direction Zacks had gestured, squinting a bit to examine the hanging sign better, quirking a brow,"…The Laughing Cat?"

As the two neared the fairly small-looking establishment, laughter and talking could be heard from within, dim light emitting from the windows and door's edges. Zacks stepped up onto the old stone laid before the door, with an exaggerated sweeping motion, swung open the door, stepping inside while yanking Cloud in as well.

The first thing Cloud noticed was that it somehow didn't seem quite as small as it had from the outside- it wasn't, however, spacious. All available room seemed to be taken up by tables, chairs, and mingling guests, with just enough room to leave small pathways to find your way around the patrons. The clinking of plates and glasses filled whatever silence was left between voices, and the faint scent of smoke wafted through the air. Cloud inwardly asked himself just what the hell he was doing here again. Zacks, meanwhile, grinned widely, "Ah, how I've missed it- best whiskey in the world and beyond, right here. C'mon, Spike!" Zacks took hold of his forearm and began making way towards the bar.

Cloud looked over where at a small stage-like area was, where the floor was raised slightly higher then the rest. A strange melody filled the air, soft and natural in a manner that almost made it seem like another voice amongst the many, but far more comforting and warm, though perhaps, at parts, a bit sad. There were several instruments being played, all of which he failed to identify, although one did resemble a tambourine, and another seemed something akin to a piccolo.

As Zacks took up a stool at the bar, with Cloud after a moments hesitation taking a seat next to him, an opened bottle and accompanying glass were slid down to him without the need for an order. Apparently he was a familiar patron. "Lovely, lovely, lovely," Zacks poured the golden liquid into the glass took a long sip, and clanked it down on the bar's surface, "You have got to try this stuff."

"…No, I think I'll pass, really…"

"Refusin' whiskey? Oh, trying to be ladylike are we-"

Cloud glared, and Zacks just raised his brows and pushed it towards him. "…Fine."

He tentatively took a sip, and quickly cringed, shaking his head, "Augh-! How do drink this stuff? It's disgusting!"

"Disgusting? Disgusting?! Oh c'mon, you just can't judge good alcohol. You need to develop a taste for it."

"I don't want to develop a taste for it- it's disgusting, and it's not good for you anyway- augh…" Cloud coughed twice- it was horribly strong.

"Alright, alright- you're a lightweight anyway, prolly a good thing you don't like it- let's get you some tea or somethin' to clear your throat."

"Zacks, what kind of instruments are they playing over there?"

"Huh? Oh- not sure. Weird things, aren't they? Kinna neat sound to 'em though."

"…" Cloud looked around once more, and though it wasn't his ideal setting, he could see why Zacks liked it- the soft half light, the air filled with voices and that strange, but likable tune, and general warmth emitted by the patrons- everyone there seemed all smiles and jokes, laid back and enjoying the evening.

"Here you go, Spike-" Zacks pushed the tea, served in a mug, in his direction. Cloud quickly sipped it, found it rather nice, and briefly thanked every god he could think of for being rid of that taste.

Zacks smiled, taking another sip. He had his own ulterior motives for being so persistant in having Cloud come out and witness more of Gavriel- for one, he wanted his whiskey, and the company was a plus. For two, however, there was a more important incentive. After Cloud reached home, he seemed to plan on just going back to the same fashion of living he had before. Zacks wasn't about to leave that as is- couldn't leave that as is. Not someone with Cloud's abilities. He figured that after experiencing more of what was out there, the city life, the new places to discover, the interesting people, the adventure… Once he got a taste of the bigger picture, he couldn't just leave it and go back to the dull life he had. He hoped.

There was overwhelming potential in Cloud and there was no way he could let it lie dormant and be put to waste- it would be a crime against humanity. He wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Not only were his magical abilities astounding, but he had realized something that had been bothering him in the manner Cloud maneuvered while learning the sword. Those scrawny muscles of his were stronger than he had initially expected- just very untrained. He surmised it came from a lot of farm-labor-like work, judging from what he knew of his home life. He natural reflexes were amazing, as well as his ability to interpret what his opponent was planning next- something that as far as he knew, really only came from experience, which led him to believe he been in his share of fights. Of course, he lacked the knowledge of how to use these traits, much less the training to put them into action without thought- he needed more coordination, speed, strength…

But the fact was that these were all things that grew with training. And his potential to be one hell of a fighter wasn't even his strong point.

To say the least, he had to make him wake up and want something more for himself.

Zacks quirked a brow, brought out of his musings by a small flicker, "What are y- Cloud!"

"What-What?" Cloud had been keeping his hands low under the bar top and was trying to get a candle-sized flam to stay lit in the palm of his hand- he quickly dispelled it as soon as Zacks noticed, though.

Zacks shook his head, and chuckled, "Get your mind away from magic for a minute, would you? Not here. As much as you're trying to hide it, you wouldn't want anyone around to notice."

"…Right."

Right about then, Zacks found himself slapped harshly on the shoulder, and two figures appeared at his side.

"Imagine running into you here! How's it goin', Zacks?"

One was the familiar form of Ras, grinning like an idiot, the other was a brunette, who was also grinning like an idiot.

"Hey, hey- who's the kid?" said the unfamiliar one.

Zacks rolled his eyes, and flashed a grin, "Miran, Miran, Miran. Knew I couldn't hide from the likes of you two forever," he jerked his thumb, "This is Cloud."

"Ah. Well, a pleasure to meet you then, Cloud."

Ras grinned, "So what're you two doin' anyway? Didn't take shorty here for a drinker…"

Cloud glared. He wasn't that short. Well. Perhaps in comparison to Zacks and Ras, he was. But Miran wasn't that much taller then him, really. He didn't think so, anyway.

"Nah, I was trying to introduce him to the finest whiskey in the world here, but he didn't take to it."

Ras grinned, "Oh, gimme a break, you're the only one who drinks that shit- it's disgusting!"

Miran laughed, and Zacks folded his arms, insulted, "Hey, best stuff on the planet-! You two just can't handle it- it is not disgusting!"

Cloud couldn't help but smile.

::*::

A little while longer, after small conversation and getting picked on about his height more by Miran (who was not all that much taller than him, but it was highly amusing to Miran who normally had to deal with the same mockery from Ras), Ras excused himself to go in search of the little boys' room, leaving a bit more quiet in his place. After which, Zacks took on a bit more serious tone, turning to Miran, "So… how've you and Ras really been doing?"

Miran frowned, "Well, I've been just fine, but I see you noticed Ras seems a little out of sorts about something. Surprised you noticed, he's been doing good job of pretending everything's alright."

"Yeah. So what's this 'something' he's out of sorts about?"

"Don't know."

Zacks quirked a brow, "That's more than a bit unusual…"

"I know, but he hasn't mentioned anything to me- so I tried asking him about it once, and he shrugged it off, completely denying anything was up."

"Hm." Zacks thought about that a minute, eyeing Miran, who just shrugged. "…He'll probably tell you with time. Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll get over soon, he always does."

"Yeah. Anyway, s'been fun kids, keep an eye on 'im Cloud. Ras and I've got a few things to take care of yet and if I leave him here any longer he'll drink himself silly, so I'm gonna go grab him and drag him out the door."

"Righto, see ya Miran!"

Cloud waved, and Miran took his leave, leaving the two alone again, "…Speaking of drinking yourself silly…how are you still conscious?"

"Pah, don't kid, this's nothing. My tolerance is through the roof- set me up with a drinking contest against anyone, I'd take 'em."

Cloud shook his head amusedly, not doubting it.

"At any rate, c'mere, I want you see something." Zacks pushed his seat away from the bar, standing up and grabbing his arm, heading towards the back of the building where there seemed to be a back door.

They stepped outside into the night air, and the noise of the city seemed to be turned down a bit now that they weren't out on the streets. Thick grass was growing back behind the spire buildings, and there were many flowering bushes and various trees. Cloud, who had managed to wrangle his arm away, arched a brow, wondering exactly where they were headed.

"One of my favorite spots in this whole city, wait 'till you see it…"

…And soon enough, a wide creek came into view, that seemed to be headed right into part of the city, flowing right through it. There also seemed to be lights along it at one point, but Cloud couldn't quite make out the structure the lights were from.

As they grew closer, it became clearer; before it reached the city, there was a bridge going over it. Not a normal bridge, by any means. Instead, it had no visible means of what someone would normally consider functioning support. What it did have were pieces of paper. Floating in midair. In the shape of two arches side by side. On each individual piece of paper was a single written character that glowed a vibrant, pale yellow shade. On either side of the bridge were two lamp-post shaped posts, appearing to be made out of some sort of clear crystal, with the same pale yellow glow at their top; this clear crystal spread to connect one lamp-post with its corresponding one on the other side of the creek, creating the bridge's siding. The same clear crystal, though it had been hard to see at first, formed platforms between the sheets of paper creating the arches, a small space of air left between each one.

Cloud was stunned. It was though someone had created a bridge out of pieces of glass, which were only visible in the night due to the glinting of light from the pieces of paper that held it together. And Zacks had just stepped onto it without a second thought. He was also grinning like an idiot, seeming rather happy with Cloud's reaction, and reached out his hand.

"There's a lot more to see out there then this, Spike. C'mon now, quit yer gawkin' and come up here. I guarantee it's perfectly stable."

So, after a moment, Cloud went ahead and took hold of Zacks' arm, stepping onto the clear surface, which was a rather wild sensation, because he could see the water moving beneath him, see the reflection of the lights, and if he didn't look too carefully, or glanced down out of the corner his eye, it really looked as though he was walking on air. It didn't feel like it however; it was definitely solid. And it was, apparently, a much stronger material then it appeared, because the thin platforms seemed to have no trouble with both his and Zacks' weight at the same time. When they got to the center of the bridge, Zacks leaned onto the bridge's side leisurely, looking out at the city, and Cloud found himself following suit.

"…So watcha think?"

"…" Cloud looked out to where the creek lead into the city- all of its lights and spires were reflected in the water, and there was so much movement and life to the city itself that it almost seem as though it was an extension of the water's shimmering itself. It was nice, to be set apart from the hustle and bustle of the city on this bridge, but still be able to gaze into it and enjoy its life from here. "…it's so different…"

Zacks quirked a brow, "Different?"

"This city, the people here…" Cloud paused as though he was about to say something, but checked it, "…everything. I had thought Landor was as extravagant as it got, really. And I never knew there were any places left that had so much magic…all in one spot…"

"…You're home's the complete opposite of Gavriel, eh? …Yeah, I've been to those small, out of the way villages before. They can be kind of nice, every now and then, but usually, they're just drab. It's because of the people, they don't have the same heart and passion as the people of Gavriel. Here, even the old know how to live young. Buildings and decorations that are more beautiful than physically efficient are seen as a necessity, because it raises morale, makes it easier to be happier. Most of the people in small villages don't appreciate beauty for how it enhances life."

"…My mother told me something similar once. How people underestimate the power things that are made beautifully instead of most efficiently."

"A wise woman, then. I can see where you get your smarts from, eh?"

"…" Cloud smiled lightly, looking down at the water underneath the bridge. Upon occasion, a firefly would wander away from the banks and pass across the water to the other side. It really was different. The city. The people. You. That's what he had been about to say. You're completely unlike anything I've ever known. In a good way.

It was a silly thought, though- of course he was completely different. He was Zacks. He was legendary, after all. But now he could really see why. Legends don't become legends just because they've done great things, or just because they're memorably good people. They had to have a certain outstanding personality to them, a certain sense for the world that sets them apart. A certain something that could make people feel good just thinking about them.

::*::

It was pretty late when they finally returned, having called a quits on Gavriel's sites for the night. Zacks was bombarded with words by a short, high-strung woman who had something about her that yelled 'secretary' a few moments after they had gotten in the door- apparently he was needed for something or another, and with a roll of his eyes, he told Cloud he would see him in the morning before he was whisked away.

Cloud, on the other hand, had decided it was time to go to bed. In fact, he had decided about ten minutes ago. Problem was, he was probably farther away from the direction he should have been going now then he was ten minutes ago. He was a bit lost.

He hadn't seen anyone to ask where he should go for a little while now; before he had considered it when he saw several people, but each one had seemed in a hurry or busy, so he had decided it wouldn't be too hard to navigate on his own. This is also known as a mistake.

He took the next stairwell he came across downwards, feeling pretty sure that he heard something down there, and hoping it would be a bit more occupied than the hall he had been wandering down. He peeked in the large room at the bottom, and to his luck, it seemed to be a small bar-like area, where a few were sitting around taking a break. He noticed the woman in a pink dress that he was pretty sure was the same one that had been with the giggling fan-girl group earlier, and was making a point to avoid getting within her sight when a familiar hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Well, 'allo there! What're you wanderin' around down here for, Cloud m'boy?" Ras grinned at him devilishly.

"…Er…Hi. I'm lost, actually…"

Ras laughed, and steered him over to a seat at a small table, "Ah, figures, this place is like a friggin' maze. Why don't you join me while I finish my drink here, then I'll getcha where ya need to go. I assume you were headin' back up to the rooms, aye? Y'like tea, don'tcha? Why don't you have another cup of that, s'pposed to calm nerves or something, looks like you could use a few gallons if you ask me."

"Yeah…thank you. I was lucky you were down here, I guess," Cloud said as he nodded, eyes traveling around the room. They came to rest on the small pouch-bag Ras had sitting on the table, or more particularly, a small, partially vial-shaped green-blue bottle that sticking partway out, filled with a liquid that must have been slightly darker than the bottle itself. "…what's that?"

Ras paused, surprised, and moved the bag off the table, "Oh, er- that's nothin', really." He attached the bag to where it's original place appeared to be, at his hip. "…Yeah, you sure seem shy enough; I'd imagine you'd barely keep yourself from having a stroke havin' ta stop someone you didn't know, 'specially when it's a mad house and everyone looks like they're in the middle of somethin'." He took a quick shot of…something, "Most of 'em aren't that busy actually; just busy trying to look busy. Don't want t'piss off Hojo or any of 'is little lap dogs."

Cloud stared a moment at what he had just drank… it was a deep, reddish-amber color, smelled strongly of alcohol, and practically glowed. In fact, he was pretty sure he saw little wisps of red coming off its surface, like some sort of vapor. "…What…what is that…?"

"This? Oh, this is a real man's drink. Dragon's breath. Most people can't handle it- lightweight like yerself prolly wouldn't do well with even a whiff of th'stuff. Miran's pretty good with holdin' his alcohol, but even he doesn't go near this. S'got a couple other kickers mixed into it, too. Me an' Zacks try to out-drink each other with it all the time."

"…That's…interesting. Crazy, but interesting."

"Heh, yeah. It's the only thing that'll get 'im buzzed I think. The only problem is that when you try t'have a drinking contest with it, no ever remembers who wins."

Cloud rolled his eyes, not surprised. He non-chalantly picked up his tea, which he realized was becoming his only sane companion, and took a small sip of the pleasant, sweetened drink.

And right about then the room did this funny thing where it started spinning.

::*::