"There is no way in hell..." Cid paused to take a breath. "....that I am letting you take that... that thing on my plane!!!"

"Oh come on Cid....." Red XIII sighed. "You don't like him either?"

"Whaaaaaa?!" Cid choked. "Did you take stupid pills this morning?! Have you forgotten what this guy has done to us?!"

"We try tellin' the cat that...." Barret grunted. "But his opinion don't change."

"Well surely he must have some reason by that..... don't you Red??"

"But of course." Red XIII nodded.

"Hey, I never thought to ask you that...." Cloud spoke up. "Red? Why do you believe Sephiroth?? I mean, why are you siding with him?"

"Siding with him???"

"Well maybe not, but you want to keep him alive, don't you?" Cloud asked. "Why do you care about him?"

"I guess I do in a way, don't I?" Red XIII smiled. "I'll explain my actions once we're on board. I can sense a long discussion coming up....."

"Okay then, if you say so...." Cid grumbled as he roughly picked up Sephiroth and hauled him over his shoulders. The group began to make their way to the Highwind.

Suddenly, Cid stopped. Barret turned around.

"What's th' matter now?!"

"It's nothing...." Cid said, shaking off his thought. "But the second this Sephiroth guy causes us any trouble........ I'm tossing him into the exhaust fan system."

--------------------------------

As the group boarded the plane, they were met by a shortish female with brown hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing a white lab-coat.

"Oh my dear stars!!" she said, as she watched Barret and Cid carry Cloud and Sephiroth on board. "You haven't even gone on this adventure yet, and already a couple of you are beat up!"

"It's alright...." Cid grunted. "They've been through worse. Only, I wish my cargo could have gone through something that would have finished him off."

"How can you say that, Cid?!" the woman said, horrified. "I thought you were a caring and wonderful person!"

"Usually, but not towards him...." Cid grunted, dumping Sephiroth on the floor. "But enough of that, I want to introduce you to my friends."

"Cid's told me a lot about all of you. And all the adventures you all went on." the woman smiled, looking at everyone on the deck. "I vaguely recognise you all....."

"Cut the crap, woman...." Cid said with a laugh. "Now everybody, this is Shera. She and I were old buddies back when Shinra's hopes were on the Space Program."

"Yes, I'm sure they've met me, Cid honey." Shera smiled.

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, I remember her."

"Yes, now that I think about it, I remember you...." Tifa said. "You're the one that helped us get out of that spaceship after we retrieved one of the Huge Materia."

"That's right." Shera smiled. "I tried to fix that oxygen tank."

"Now remember guys, I said we were buddies." Cid chuckled.

Shera giggled as she wrapped her arms around him. "Of course, that's all changed now."

Tifa smiled broadly. "So you did go after Shera after all....."

"I sure did....." Cid chuckled. "....and I married the bitch too."

"Huh?!" Cloud choked.

Everyone in the room was silent.

"You got married?!" Tifa howled. "Why didn't you guys say anything?!"

"Yeah!!" Yuffie yelped. "All of us would have been there with wings on!!"

"I.... I didn't think you'd approve....." Cid said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Of course we would have approved, Cid!!" Cloud howled. "What in the world makes you think we wouldn't have?!"

"Oh.... I don't know....." Cid sighed. "I guess you guys thought I hated her. I mean, after all the things I said about her and all......"

"And Cid and I wanted a quiet wedding." Shera said, blushing. "We didn't want anyone to make a fuss over it....."

"Oh we wouldn't have made a fuss over it, Cid...." Cloud smiled kindly. "We would have given you guys our blessing and wished you all the best......"

"I would have loved to see you and Shera get married...." Tifa said happily. "Oh how I just love weddings!!!"

"Hey Red..." Cid chuckled. "Thanks for keeping your trap shut, buddy. I owe you one."

"It's alright." Red XIII chuckled. "I'm just happy the words came from your mouth and not mine. How much more exciting the news is when it comes from the source."

"You knew?!" Tifa squealed, looking at Red XIII. "Why didn't you tell us anything?!"

"I swore on my birthright that I wouldn't tell a soul." Red XIII said quietly. "That's why Cid hasn't been keeping in contact with you all. He was afraid of what you would all think of him."

"Yeah, it's true." Cid said, nodding his head. "But now that I know what you guys really think, I feel kinda bad that I didn't tell you."

"Ahhh it can't be helped, can it?? We're jus' happy for ya' Cid, buddy." Barret said, patting him on the back.

"What are going to do about your friend?" Shera asked, suddenly. "Looks like he got knocked up pretty bad...."

"He's no friend of ours, Shera...." Cid said coldly. "That cold hearted man on the floor down there is Sephiroth."

"This is Sephiroth??" Shera said crouching down, looking him over. "The Sephiroth? This is the man you said that tried to take over the entire planet??"

"That's the one...."

"But.... look at him Cid!" Shera said, studying his face. "He's just a baby!"

"Just a baby?!" Cloud choked. "Sephiroth is older than me!!"

"He may look like a baby to you, Shera....." Cid growled. "But that ain't no baby. This man was the one who destroyed Midgar with that *^&*ing big Meteor!"

"Well whether he's bad or good, Cid," Shera sighed. "He needs medical attention. Isn't that right, Cid honey?"

"Rggghhhh....."

"Someone help me carry him to the Infirmary. I'll see what I can do for him." Shera said, looking around. She turned her attention to Cloud. "You look like you could use some medical attention yourself. Why don't you spend the night down in the Infirmary?"

"Heheh... no, I'm alright." Cloud said nervously.

"You don't look it." Shera said thoughtfully. "They did have to carry you onto this thing, didn't they??"

"Yeah but...." Cloud paused to think. "I'm alright. Look at me, I'm bright and alert, aren't I?"

"If you think you're so bright and alert, then try to stand up."

"Okay." Cloud said, then tried standing on his feet. "Haa haa... I did iiiii....." A wave of dizziness rushed over Cloud and he toppled to the ground once more.

"Okay. It's off to the infirmary for you." Shera said, arms folded.

"That was just the first time!!" Cloud defended. "I'm not going to the infirmary!!!"

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not!!"

"No, I mean it." Shera said, quite determinedly. "Someone pick him up and carry him to the Infirmary. Now."

"Aye aye captain!" Tifa giggled, and gave Shera a cackhanded salute. "I'll do it!"

"That's the girl." Shera smiled. "Now come on."

"No Tifa.... I'm fine, really!!" Cloud began to whine as Tifa picked him up. "Hey.... hey Tifa!!! Put me down!!"

"Sorry Cloud...." Tifa smiled. "But it's gotta be done. Now be a good boy, and I might give you a lollipop."

"Why do I have the sudden feeling that this is not good?" Cloud grumbled to himself.

--------------------------------

"Well he seems alright....." Shera said to Tifa, after quickly looking Cloud over. "Sit him up on the table and remove that damn shirt he's wearing....."

"Why? So you can listen to his breathing and his heart rate better?"

"No....." Shera chuckled. "I want you to remove that shirt because it looks so damn hideous!!"

Shera and Tifa giggled loudly. Cloud was not amused.

"Okay...." Tifa smiled. "Get your shirt off, Cloudy."

"Don't patronise me....." Cloud grumbled, as he unclipped his armour and pulled his purple shirt off. "It's bad enough you drag me down here, let alone treat me like a child."

"Shera?" Tifa smiled.

"Yes?" Shera asked. "What's wrong?"

"Can you make sure Cloudy goes to bed early tonight?" Tifa mused. "He's feeling a little grumpy. The poor boy must be tired."

Shera and Tifa giggled. Cloud folded his arms and pouted.

"Okay Tifa, you've had your fun." Shera nodded. "Either get out of here, or see how the other one's doing. Just stop teasing my patient."

"I didn't know you were a doctor." Tifa said.

"I used to be a GP before I got into mechanical engineering. Then when I finished my degree, a man from Shinra Inc. walked up to me and asked If I'd like to work on the Space Project...." Shera trailed off and began to daydream. "....and then I met a dashing young pilot by the name of Cid Highwind...."

"Yeah, that's nice." Cloud grunted. "Now please get your examination over with so I can get out of here. This room is freezing!"

"Oh yes, right." Shera said, realising. "Sorry about that. Now, where was I?"

"You were just about to start." Cloud sighed.

"Haa haa haa, silly me!" Shera smiled. "Now, just let me find my equipment...."

Cloud looked on the table right next to him. A box filled with medical supplies and other odd bits and pieces sat next to him.

"Uh, Shera?" Cloud asked, picking up the box. "Are you looking for this?"

"Why yes!" Shera smiled. "Thankyou Cloud."

"No, no. You don't have to thank me." Cloud smiled. "Just don't give me any needles."

About 1/2 an hour later........

"....Well that's about it." Shera said, and let out a long sigh. "You've got quite a large bump on your head, and you have slight concussion, but you're OK."

"Well that's good to hear...." Cloud smiled.

"Unless you want me to give you a physical....."

"NO!!!"

"Okay! Okay!! I was only kidding!" Shera smiled. "But seriously Cloud, I want you to stay in here until tomorrow...."

"What....?!"

"Just as a precaution." Shera shrugged. "That way, if anything major happens to you, we can get to you as quickly as possible."

"Oh man......." Cloud grumbled.

"I know you don't like it, Cloud." Shera said apologetically. "You may even resent it. But that's not the point. I want to make sure you're 100% before you all set out on your adventure....."

"We were supposed to be going to The Temple of The Ancients as soon as Cid showed up with the Highwind!!" Cloud complained. "Our orders were to go there as soon as possible!"

"But I thought you didn't believe what Sephiroth said, Cloud." Tifa smiled. "Are you just thinking of an excuse to try and get out of staying here?"

"Well excuses or not, Cloud won't be able to do any of that if he's out of commission with that bad head of his, will you Cloud?" Shera said sternly.

"No......" Cloud sighed angrily. "I suppose not."

"That's a good lad." Shera smiled. "Now I'll leave you to get changed into this." she said, tossing him a pair of flannel pyjamas. "I'll be back in a little while to see how you're doing."

"Can I ask you a question first?" Cloud asked quietly.

"Yes Cloud? What is it?"

"I feel uncomfortable changing when someone's in the room." Cloud said, scratching the back of his head. "Can you ask Tifa to leave?"

"Sure, Cloud...." Shera nodded, understandingly. "Hey Tifa, I...."

"You don't need to tell me, I was leaving anyway!" Tifa snapped. "Honestly Cloud, you are so childish!!!"

Tifa stormed out of the room, slamming the door as she left. Shera looked at Cloud with a worried expression on her face.

"How do you put up with her??"

"Honestly, Shera?" Cloud sighed. "I don't know."

--------------------------------

Somewhere within Sephiroth's subconscious, a voice starts to speak......

*"Where are you?"*

-

*"Answer me, boy!"*

-

-

*"What?"*

*"Where are you!?"*

*"I'm out of it."*

*"What do you mean 'out of it'?!"*

*"The last thing I remember was the gun-armed man pounding the hell out of me....."*

*"You're dead??"*

*"No. I would be back in that place again if I was. And so would you."*

*"What place? You found our Promised Land??"*

*"No. You did."*

*"No I didn't!!!"*

-

-

*"Who is that?! Tell me who you are right this instant!!"*

*"......I'm Cloud."*

*"No you aren't!! Cloud is a human! He can't utilise this ability!!"*

*"You've changed..... too much for my liking."*

*"Huh?"*

*"The time is now! Reclaim your birthright!!"*

*"You're not the girl, are you?"*

*"What girl....??"*

*"Aha!! I knew it!! You're not the Chosen One at all!!"*

*"What chosen one?! What are you talking about, boy??"*

*"Who are you?"*

-

*"Answer me!! Who the hell are you?!"*

*"How dare you speak to me like that, boy! I have a good mind to take this planet over all by myself!"*

-

-

*"......mother..?!"*

*"Yes boy! It is I, Jenova!"*

-

*"What's the matter, boy?! You say nothing? Don't you even want to know how I survived my ordeal at the top end of this planet?! Speak to me now, boy!"*

-

*"Heh heh heh...... idiot....."*

*"What are you laughing at, boy?!"*

*"You don't even know my name, do you?!"*

-

*"That's right. You don't even know the name they gave me, do you?!"*

*"What name?!"*

*"The name Professor Gast gave me...."*

*"Oh. That impudent human. The only good thing he did was awaken me....."*

*"No. He did much more..."*

*"Stop talking like you admire that pitiful creature... now... what are you talking about with this 'name', boy!?"*

*"'Boy'.... feh. That's all you ever call me...."*

-

*"My name is Sephiroth, hear me?! I am the Great Sephiroth!! Not some 'boy'!!"*

*"Useless human names...."*

-

-

*"Boy, there is something you must do for me......"*

*"Be gone! I don't take orders from you any more!!!"*

*"What do you mean?! Are you serious??"*

*"Yes! I take orders from the Chosen One now!! She had the heart to resurrect me and let me earn myself a place in the Promised Land..... unlike you...."*

*"You hurt me when you say that, boy....."*

*"So what!? You hurt me more than you know! I followed your every command like a blind sheep! You turned me into a power hungry megolomaniac!!"*

-

*"I was blinded by your lies!!"*

-

*"I hate you, mother!!"*

*"Hah haah! My ignorant boy, rejecting me will do you no good."*

*"Why not?! I can live a decent life, you'll see!!"*

*"And you actually think they'll forgive you for what you've done!? You honestly think they'll open their hearts to you and welcome you with open arms after what you've done to them?!"*

*"No....... That's not true...."*

-

*"They'll never accept you, boy. You don't even know what you are, do you??"*

*"Huh??"*

-

*"What am I?!"*

-

*"You don't know, do you??"*

-

*"Fool. And what about your precious possession, boy??"*

*"Possession??"*

*"It bears something I want...... I'll manipulate you with it before this before this life is over......"*

-

-

*"Am I not one of the Cetra!? Or am I a human?? What am I, mother?!"*

-

*"Not a human, and far more than a Cetra......"*

*"WHAT?!"*

*"That's right boy, keep wondering. You may reject me if you choose, but I'll take you back. Come die with me, boy! Together, we'll reach the Promised Land and rule this planet!! The masterplan will be fulfilled!!"*

*"I want no part in your masterplan, mother!!"*

*"Silence, boy! You will do as you are told!"*

*"No! I will never follow you again!"*

*"You must!!"*

*"NO!!!"*

*"You cannot ever escape your dark side, boy.... if you do not follow it, it will take control of you......"*

*"No.... that's not true.....!!"*

*"Yes it is!! Don't you remember 'Safer'??"*

*"Safer??? But how?? I was in control of my ultimate form the whole time!"*

-

*"So boy, will you die with me?"*

*"Never!!!"*

-

*"Very well..... I gave you a chance, boy!"*

*"No...."*

*"Now you are doomed to die with the rest of them!!"*

*"No!!!"*

"You, the planet's inhabitants, and this planet's cursed defence system!!"

-

-

*"You will never escape your dark side!!!"*

-

-

*"NO!!!"*

--------------------------------

"Aaaaaaagh!!!" Sephiroth yelped, sitting up suddenly. As he tried to catch his breath once more, he studied his surroundings.

"Where the hell am I?!" he panted.

"You're in the Infirmary." Cloud grumbled, sounding half asleep. "And so am I."

"I can see that....." Sephiroth grunted. "But why? Why am I here? Why are you here?"

"You're here because Barret slugged you." Cloud sighed. "I'm here because that Shera woman said I have to stay in here overnight."

"Overnight? What do you mean, overnight?!"

"Over the night?.... as in 'until the sun comes up'??" Cloud said sarcastically.

"No!" Sephiroth said, flustered, as he jumped out of bed. "We have to The Temple of The Ancients as soon as possible!! We can't just sit here and....." he stopped dead in his tracks. ".... and what the hell am I wearing?! Who put these clothes on me?! And what are they?!"

"They're just flannel pyjamas. Shera put them on you while you were out of it." Cloud answered. "Now get back in bed before she storms in here and yells at you."

"Fine." Sephiroth grumbled, as he crawled back into bed.

"Are you alright now?" Cloud asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I was watching you while you were sleeping." Cloud said. "You started talking in your sleep. You sounded really upset.... You must have been having a bad dream or something..."

"No....." Sephiroth said morbidly. "That was no dream...."

"Huh?"

"She spoke to me, Cloud." Sephiroth sighed.

"Aeris?"

"No..... Jenova." Sephiroth hung his head.

"What?!" Cloud choked.

"She wants me to go with her." Sephiroth growled. "And I refused."

"So what!?" Cloud growled, turning his back on him. "You can act like the good guy all you want. I see through your disguise, Sephiroth."

"Because I refuse to follow her any more, she said I am doomed to die with everyone else....."

"Doomed to die??" Cloud said, turning around. "What did she mean by that?!"

"My mother is still alive, Cloud....." Sephiroth growled. "And...."

Just then, the Infirmary door swung open and Shera stormed in the room.

"Just as I suspected!!" Shera growled. "You boys are still awake!!!"

"But Shera...!" Cloud began.

"But nothing!" Shera yelled. "If you two are not well rested tomorrow morning, I'm not letting either of you go off on this adventure! You understand??"

"Yes." Cloud sighed angrily, and lay back on his bed once more.

"Good. Now sleep!"

Shera left the room in much the same fashion she had entered it.

"What's her problem?" Sephiroth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Everything." Cloud said. "Now just do what she says."

"Don't you want to hear what I have to tell you?"

"No...." Cloud grunted. "It's probably all crap anyway."

"Fine." Sephiroth made a frustrated groan before turning his back on Cloud. "But don't blame me when it happens."

"Good." Cloud smiled. "That's the way I like it."

--------------------------------

The next morning, Cloud was sleeping peacefully.... until Tifa bounded into the room.

"Cloud..??" Tifa said, tapping him on the shoulder. "Cloud??"

"Mmmmghggrr......" Cloud said incoherently in his sleep, and turned over on his side.

"Cloud?" Tifa said with more volume, and shook him gently. "Are you awake?"

"...5 more minutes......" Cloud mumbled.

"Come on Cloud....." Tifa sighed. "Wake up and say something."

"Go away....." Cloud moaned.

"Get up, you lazy bastard!!" Tifa yelled, losing her patience. She shook him violently. When that didn't wake him up, she kicked the foot of his bed as hard as she could. Cloud awoke with a start.

"What?! I'm awake!!" Cloud jumped. "The answer is 7!!"

"Cloud...." Tifa said, in a much friendlier tone. "I came in to see how you were feeling."

She gave Cloud a minute to cool down.

"I'm fine....." Cloud yawned, sitting up. "Although I'm a little annoyed you woke me up...."

"So how's Sephiroth doing?" Tifa wondered, looking across the room.

"He's alright." Cloud answered. "He came around to it last night. Then he started going on about Jenova."

"What did he say?" Tifa wondered.

"I don't care." Cloud grunted. "He lies anyway, so why would I want to listen to a whole bunch more of them??"

"Cloud, you should have listened to him!" Tifa told him off. "He could have told you something really important!"

"Like.....?"

"I don't know!!" Tifa growled.

Just then, Shera came into the room holding two trays with a bowl and a spoon on each. "Good morning Cloud. How are you?"

"I'm fine." Cloud answered. "What is that?"

"Perceptive, aren't you?" Shera smiled. "Don't worry, it's just your breakfast. Yep, something healthy and full of carbohydrates to help you get through the day."

"I'm not really that hungry...." Cloud said. "Just put it on the table and I'll get around to eating it later...."

"Nonsense!" Shera said, pulling up a tray and laying it out in front of him. "Now eat up. You're going to need it."

Cloud took one look at the contents of his bowl before screwing up his face.

"Ugh, not oatmeal....." Cloud groaned, suddenly feeling queasy. "Oatmeal makes me throw up!"

Tifa giggled at Cloud's reaction. "Oh come on Cloud, it does not! You've eaten my oatmeal before...."

"Yeah, but I put half the bottle of maple syrup in it to conceal the flavour!" Cloud defended. "Do you have any idea how disgusting that stuff tastes?!"

"Don't you worry Shera." Tifa smiled, giving Cloud a wink. "I'll make sure he eats it."

Cloud gave Tifa a thankful look.

"Okay then." Shera nodded. "Now, if you can just get the other one to wake up and get him to eat, then I'll decide what to do with you both....."

"So let me get this straight...." Cloud sighed angrily. "You want me to eat this crap, wake up Sephiroth... who probably hates this crap even more than I do.... you want him to eat this crap, and if we don't, you won't let us go to The Temple of The Ancients??"

"Yes." Shera nodded. "That's about the size of it."

"We're doomed."

"Oh knock it off." Shera said sternly. "It's not that bad...."

Shera walked over to the bed Sephiroth was sleeping in, and gently nudged him on the shoulder. "Come on.... wake up...." she said quietly.

"You're supposed to do it like this...." Tifa said suddenly. She stood up and walked over to Sephiroth's bed. She leaned right down next to his ear and smiled.

"WAKE UP!!!"

"Whaaa!!" Sephiroth yelped, and sat up abruptly.

"That worked." Cloud said with a smirk.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Sephiroth yelled. "A simple shake would have been quite adequate!"

"But there's no fun in that, is there?" Tifa mused.

"Hmph." Sephiroth grunted, folding his arms.

"Now that you're awake..." Shera smiled. "Eat this." she placed the tray with the bowl of oatmeal down on Sephiroth's lap.

"What... is this?!" Sephiroth said, looking at the contents of the bowl in disgust.

"It's oatmeal." Shera smiled. "Now eat up. I'll be back in a while to see how you boys are doing. If you eat all your oatmeal, I'd be more inclined to let you go....."

"Well what are you waiting for!?" Cloud yelped. "Get out of here so I can eat, dammit!"

"That's more like it." Shera smiled, and left the room.

"Well, I don't know about you..." Cloud said, getting up. "But I detest oatmeal."

Cloud walked over to the bathroom door, opened it, emptied the contents of the bowl down the toilet, and flushed.

"Aaah. Much better." Cloud smiled, turning around. "Now how about making me some pancakes, Tifa?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask that." Tifa giggled. "How about you Sephiroth?"

"Hmmmm....." Sephiroth looked deep in thought.

"Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth picked up his bowl of oatmeal and sniffed it cautiously. He picked up the spoon, dipped it in and tasted it. After finding nothing unpleasant, he began to eat as if nothing was wrong.

"You're not seriously going to eat that are you??" Cloud groaned, looking at Sephiroth with disgust.

"Professor Gast had a rule..." Sephiroth said quietly. "Shut up and eat what's put in front of you."

"Huh?"

"Of course, he's dead now, isn't he?" Sephiroth smirked. "What are pancakes?"

"You don't know what pancakes are?!" Cloud choked. "My god, you are evil!"

"All I've ever eaten in my entire life are rations from when I was in SOLDIER." Sephiroth shrugged. "And when I was small, I was fed entirely on a diet of this weird fluid...."

"Weird fluid??"

"It'll take too long to explain..." Sephiroth shrugged.

"But we've got all the time we need, don't we?" Tifa asked.

"No." Sephiroth answered. "I've gotta eat this before that woman returns, and then we're going to The Temple of The Ancients, aren't we?"

"Yeah." Cloud grunted. "But there's one thing I still don't understand that I need you to explain right now, Sephiroth....."

"What is that?"

"How the hell can you eat that crap!?"

--------------------------------

"Dip the trims, dammit!!"

"But Cid, this plane doesn't......"

"Get off the damn controls, bitch!!" Cid interrupted. "Let a real pilot fly this thing!!"

"What's going on?" Yuffie asked, watching Cid run around the deck like a mad hornet.

"He's just excited, that's all." Red XIII smiled. "He's been insulting his mate all morning."

"His mate??" Yuffie asked, not understanding.

"The female he has chosen to spend the rest of his days with...?"

"Oh! You mean his 'wife'!"

"Wife?" Red XIII thought about the word for a few seconds. "Yes. I think that's right. That must be the name you use to describe your life partner."

"Well duh, Red..." Yuffie smiled. "Why else would I call her that?"

"Forgive my ignorance." Red XIII said in mock hurt.

"Awww Red, I'm not trying to tease you!!" Yuffie mused and gave him a scratch on the head. "But if you heard the way Cid's carrying on..... Anyway Red, why is he carrying on?"

"He's having trouble starting up the Highwind." Red XIII answered. "I just hope he gets it going....."

"I hope he gets it going too.... for Shera's sake." Yuffie sighed, looking at the scene on the other side of the deck.

"Well I don't know what the hell's wrong with it!!!" Cid hollered. "Are you sure you didn't screw it up with all the maintenance work you've been doing on it?!"

"I checked the oil before we left Rocket Town, Cid." Shera said calmly. "That was it. And the plane was fine then. I can't understand what's wrong...." she walked over and studied the control panel.

"Get out of the way, woman!!" Cid barked, shoving her aside. "You don't know what you're doing anyway!!"

"Maybe.... if you just...." Shera lightly pushed her way past him and fiddled with the controls like she'd seen Cid do many times before. Just then, a loud roar was heard as the engines suddenly came to life.

"Yeeeeehaaa!! She rides!!" Cid yelled happily, and roughly hugged Shera. "We did it!!!"

"Yeah, I guess we did, didn't we?" Shera chuckled nervously, a little startled with her husband's sudden mood swing.

"Go alert the others, girl!" Cid yelled excitedly. "We have a plane to fly!"

"OK Cid." Shera smiled.

Shera made her way up to where Yuffie and Red XIII were standing.

"Cid just told me to let you know that we're going to fly off now." she said quietly.

"Can I ask you a question, ma'am?" Yuffie asked.

"Call me 'Shera'." Shera said kindly. "And go on, ask me anything you want to."

"How do you tolerate him?!"

"I do, but I don't know why. It's like being married to a thunderstorm." Shera said with a faint smile. "I just love him, I guess."

Red XIII smiled. "That's really the only thing that matters in the end."

"Yeah....." Shera nodded. "I'll go tell the others that Cid's got the plane goi...."

Shera never finished her sentence. Barret and Tifa came running onto the deck, closely followed by Cloud and Sephiroth.

"As soon as we heard the motor start up, we came runnin'!" Barret yelled happily. "I don't believe it! You actually got this hunk a' junk to start again!!"

"This ain't no hunk of junk, you $#^&^*!!!" Cid roared defensively. "This thing is state of the art Shinra technology! And it was free too!"

"Only because we stole it...." Tifa sighed.

"Barret...?" Shera said uncertainly. "Is that your name?"

"Yeah...."

"Don't insult Cid's plane." Shera smiled. "It's his pride and joy."

"And don't you forget it!" Cid yelled. "Now where the hell are we supposed to be goin?!"

"You still don't know?!" Sephiroth growled. "We were supposed to go to The Temple of The Ancients hours ago!!!"

"You're not going anywhere, buddy!" Shera snapped.

"Why not?!"

"Well, not dressed like that...." Shera chuckled.

Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Yuffie and Red XIII all began to laugh.

"Huh??" Sephiroth wondered, looking at his clothes. He was still in his pyjamas. "Well what else am I gonna wear?! Where'd my other clothes go!?"

"Oh come on...." Shera smiled. "I'll take you inside and we'll see what's in Cid's wardrobe that fits you..... come on." she beckoned for him to follow.

"#*%^@, woman!!" Cid yelled. "If you give him any of my aviation jackets, I'll murder the both of you!!"

Sephiroth shot the group a death stare before finally following Shera.

--------------------------------

As the Highwind flew over a familiar waterfall, a raven haired man looks skyward.

"It's them...."

The raven haired man ran out into the open and waved his arms about furiously, hoping it would catch the attention of someone on board.

"Come on....." the man said in annoyance. "Are you all blind up there?!"

Just then, his golden claw glinted in the sunlight, giving him an idea. He raised his claw to the sky and reflected a ray of sunlight onto the plane - more specifically, the pilot.

"Heh heh heh....."

The Highwind landed in the next field. A few minutes later, the raven heard man could hear the indiscriminate swearing Cid Highwind. Chuckling to himself, the man began to make his way up the large hill that surrounded the area in which he had been residing for the last few years. By the time he had reached the top, Cid was out on the ground, looking around furiously.

"Damn, what the hell was that?!" Cid growled. "I nearly crashed the plane cuz' of that $#^&ing light!!"

"Calm down, Cid..." Yuffie said, jumping off the plane to join him. "Maybe it was a Materia glinting in the sun! Let's go find it!"

"Don't be so hasty, girl." Cid barked. "You never know what's out there...."

"Oh shut up." Yuffie huffed. "I can look after myself quite well!"

The raven haired man watched them silently, chuckling slightly at Yuffie and Cid arguing.

"Some things never change....."

"I still think it was a Materia!!" Yuffie yelled. "And if it's out here, that means there's a Mako fountain nearby! Why, the Materia could be really rare!!"

"There's no Materia around here, you idiot!!" Cid barked. "Look, what do you see out here!? Grassland, that's what!! Materia grows around caves and stuff. The most likely place you'll find a Materia these days is in the shop!"

"Well, it was worth a try...." Yuffie shrugged. "Of course, Cloud has a stack of Materia tha...."

"Don't even think about it!!" Cid yelled. "You tried that once before! You endangered our mission by doing that!!"

"Yeah, but I gave it all back, didn't I??"

"Only because we saved your life when that Corneo guy came!" Cid grunted.

"I said I was sorry..." Yuffie sighed. "And afterward, I really joined your cause, not just followed you because you had rare Materia."

"Yeah, well....." Cid shrugged. "Let's just drop this and find out what that light was."

"Yeah." Yuffie nodded. "But I still think it was a Materia."

"I'm no Materia. But I'm sure you'd be happier finding me than one."

"Huh??" Cid looked around.

"I'm up here."

"Vincent!?" Cid yelped. A broad smile appeared on his face. "Hey buddy!! What are you doing up there!?"

"Listening to you two argue." Vincent said nonchalantly. He leapt off the top of the hill and landed near to where Cid and Yuffie were standing. "Long time, no see, huh?"

"Heya Vincie!!!" Yuffie squealed and gave him a crushing hug. "How are you!?"

"Ugh...." Vincent hadn't been expecting it. "I'm.... alright I suppose. I'd be even better if you'd stop crushing my ribcage with your arms....."

"Oh sorry!!" Yuffie giggled and promptly released him from her grasp. "My bad!"

"Next time we meet, I suggest you don't do that." Vincent began to dust himself off.

"Oh come on Vincent." Cid chuckled. "She's just happy to see you."

"Yes, well I just wish she'd greet me in a much more orderly fashion."

"Oh you're such a spoil sport." Yuffie said, folding her arms. "Well I sure hope Aeris will be happier than you were."

"Aeris...?" Vincent said, turning to face her. "The Ancient is alive??"

"We don't know..." Yuffie shrugged. "All we know is tha...."

"We'll explain when we get inside." Cid said hurriedly. "Now are you going to join our merry group, or are you just gonna sit there and watch tons of gallons of water fall into the river....?"

"Your 'merry group'?" Vincent said, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you all together again now that peace has been brought to the world?"

"Once you're inside, I'll explain, OK?"

"Fine by me." Vincent shrugged, and started to make his way to the Highwind.

"Geez, what's up with him?!" Yuffie whispered.

"Oh, don't mind Vincent..." Cid sighed. "He's always like this."

--------------------------------

"Now The Temple of The Ancients is over.... that-a-way." Tifa said, pointing off to the east.

"Are you sure you're reading the map right?" Cloud asked.

"Oh, just because you're a guy, you think you know everything about maps!!" Tifa snorted. "Now don't help me, I want to find it all by myself...."

"Okay." Cloud shrugged. "But you're looking at the map upside-down."

"What?"

Cloud smothered a giggle.

"I knew that!!!" Tifa defended, and quickly turned the map up the right way. "Okay... it's in a north-east direction.... so that means... it'll be...."

"No." Cloud shook his head. "The Temple of the Ancients is actually south-west of here. It's near the Southern most continent, and directly south from Junon."

"Cloud doesn't even have th' map, and yet he knows where he's goin'...." Barret sighed. "Are you sure ya' still wanna be the navigator, Tifa?"

"Of course I do!!" Tifa defended. "The only reason Cloud knows his way around is because he was the navigator when we were after Sephiroth!!"

"Who was after Sephiroth??" Cid asked, as he walked onto the deck.

"Oh, they're just arguing about who should be navigator." Red XIII answered. "Barret just used our hunt for Sephiroth as a reason why Cloud should be the navigator."

"Hey, I never said I wanted Cloud to be navigator!!" Barret said defensively. "I was just sayin' that he's the better man for the job!"

"Maybe..." Cloud shrugged. "But I...."

"Oh gee, thanks a lot, Cloud!" Tifa said sarcastically.

"I wasn't finished!" Cloud yelped. "I was going to say that you should have a shot at it for once!"

"Well, whoever is going to do it, I suggest you decide now so we can carry on with this mission." Vincent said as he stepped on board.

"Hey Vincent!!" Tifa said happily. "Where have you been these last couple of years?! We haven't heard a word from you!!"

"Hey buddy!" Barret said, slapping him on the back. "It's great to see ya' again!"

"Hello Vincent." Red XIII said, nodding in his direction.

"Hey." Cloud said, and waved at him.

"Well now that everyone's said their hellos to me, I'll explain where I've been seeing as though nearly all of you have asked me." Vincent said. "During the last three years or so, I've been just sitting there, thinking......"

"For three years!?" Tifa choked. "Didn't you ever get bored?!"

"No." Vincent shook his head. "I had Lucrecia to talk to."

"Oh...." Barret grunted. "You'd been hangin' out in that waterfall again, hadn't you?"

"It wasn't 'hangin' out'..." Vincent said, a little annoyed. "I just resided there, reflecting on the past...."

"Yeah... whatever you wanna call it...." Barret grunted.

"Well, we're all together again now!" Yuffie said happily. "We're all together and ready to go off on an adventure!"

"Where are we heading?" Vincent wondered.

"The Temple of the Ancients!!!" everyone yelled at him.

Vincent folded his arms and fumed. This was going to be a bad day.......