Chapter 7: "You Can't Get There Without A Chocobo"

"Oh, found ya." Sabin met them in the Center Square, carrying three leather bags over his shoulder. "I've been all over town. Got some good stuff." He handed one of the parcels to Nadia. "Thought you could use a new outfit. Should be about the right size."

"Oh god, a male's done my shopping." She peeked suspiciously into the bag. "I'm alarmed already."

He rolled his eyes. "And I thought you'd be grateful."

Aeris took her arm, leading her back toward the inn. "Come on—I'm sure it's not bad. Sabin doesn't have a dirty mind."

"I just hope he doesn't have his brother's taste."

Sabin chuckled, but as soon as they'd gone he turned serious. "I talked to some people in town," he reported, "and it seems we're on the right trail. A man dressed in black came through here recently. Didn't talk to anyone and headed east."

"Then that's where we go," Cloud rejoined. "What else did you do?"

"Just buying supplies. Oh, and these." He reached into the second bag and pulled out a pair of gloves like the ones Tifa had found in Shin-ra. "They're Mithril Claws," he explained, handing them to Tifa. "The metal's tougher than those other ones."

"Thanks." They fit perfectly over her hands. "Good job, Sabin."

He grinned, truly pleased by her satisfaction. "Anyway, we'll keep going east. There's not much out there, 'cept maybe a Chocobo Station. We can pick up some decent transportation." His sight flittered to Cloud briefly, but their gazes never met; he was watching Tifa as she inspected the present. His blue eyes were sparking.

By the time they reached Truce Village on the western coast, Celes's leg had all but completely healed from her bullet wound the night before due to her magic. It no longer hurt her; more than anything, her pride was wounded. She'd never passed out before, or lost consciousness outside of the realm of sleep; as a general, such weakness of mind was unacceptable. Even worse was that she was having trouble identifying the source of her lapse—another unforgivable mistake. Something had woven into her mind, disrupted her thoughts, and then left, leaving a scattered wake of broken concentration. In order to prevent its reoccurrence, she would have to know the origin.

"Don't blame yourself," Locke told her in his own carefree way. "What happened wasn't your fault."

"As a general I don't have the liberty to accept that," she replied coldly. "I have responsibilities, because I involved myself with them."

He frowned. "Those people didn't stand a chance. They would have been killed the same way even if you didn't show up."

"The responsibility, however, is still mine."

Locke sighed, admitting defeat. "Look at this woman," he said to Lucca, who was fiddling with her headset. "Blaming herself for everything. She's so uptight."

The younger smiled wryly. "She's always been like that. She's a general."

"Yeah, I noticed." He glanced about the small town, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I forgot how small this place was," he reflected. "Been a while. Where're we headed?"

"West," Celes answered. "We can charter a ship to take us to Costa del Sol—Cloud and the others will doubtlessly arrive there sooner or later."

"How can you be sure?"

"Got it," Lucca announced triumphantly, a faint tone filtering through the headphones. "Come on, guys, somebody answer."

"Hello?" The others crowded around, trying to hear. "This is Tifa. That you, Lucca?"

"Sure is. Where are you guys?"

"We just left Kalm," Tifa reported. "Word around town is that some creepy looking guy headed out toward the old Mithril mines, so that's where we're going."

Nanaki laid his head on his front paws. "They're going east and we're going west," he murmured. "Further away from each other."

Lucca glanced at him briefly, then turned her attention back to the transmission. She could feel Celes' eyes on her. "Keep going," she told them, hoping it was the right instruction. Her mind was already spinning through the possibilities of their enemy's destination. "Try to get to Costa del Sol, if you can. We'll wait there for you."

"Of course. We'll keep in touch."

Tifa shut the PHS off, relaying to her team what had been said. She hooked the device to her belt. "Let's hurry so we can get through the mines before dark."

It was just about noon when the five came upon a small farm in the middle of a spacious field—the chocobo farm, from the looks of it. Outside of the barn was a large pen occupied by several of the yellow birds. They all turned their heads to face the five intruders, clucking softly to each other. Their obsidian eyes gleamed with suspicion.

"We should get some chocobos," Sabin suggested. "It'll help us go faster."

Nadia ran up to the pen; already she was enjoying the freedom of her new outfit: a simple white sleeveless jumpsuit with bare shoulders and a pair of leather sandals. The material was somewhat baggy on her due to Sabin's miscalculation in size, but the belt made up for it. Presently she watched the chocobos with a childish smile on her face. She held her hand out to them, which was regarded carefully. "I've never seen a real chocobo," she said wistfully as one of the animals came toward her. "Not in person, anyway."

"Be careful," Cloud warned, passing behind her. "They bite."

Nadia yelped and jerked backwards as the bird snapped at her, its huge beak making a loud clunking sound. Then it turned and trotted back to the others. Cloud laughed as she moved away from the fence. "Told you. They're moody."

She made a face at him. "Just because you're here, Strife," she retorted.

"Come on you two," Tifa said, leading them to the barn. "Sabin's right—let's see if we can rent some that are a little more tame."

The owner of the farm was the self-named Chocobo Bob, but they soon discovered that his two children, Billy and Chole, took care of the chocobos. Billy was a solid youth with a bright face and slender muscles, and Chole a brunette of unusually small stature for her age. They often exchanged suggestive glances, as if speaking some silent language all their own. They shared such a mute conversation concerning their newest visitors. "You folks here for a chocobo?" Billy asked, hands stuffed in the pockets of his overalls.

"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Cloud replied tersely. "How much?"

"Actually, that's too bad," he said, shaking his head. We don't have any chocobos right now."

Nadia set her hands on her hips. "But we just saw four outside."

"Those are on their way to Gold Saucer. A big gambler bought'em—gonna bred them for racing. Just waitin' for the plane."

Cloud frowned. "Well, that is too bad. I guess we'll just go to the mines without them."

Billy raised an eyebrow. "You're headed for the Mithril Mines?"

"No concern of yours."

"I know, just…" He shook his head. "You can't get there without a chocobo."

"And why is that?"

"The Midgar Zolom," the farm hand replied matter-of-factly. "The entrance to the mines is surrounded by swamp—Midgar Zolom territory. They'll follow a man's tracks in the mud, which's why the mines closed. Big snake. Forty feet long. Only a chocobo can outrun it."

Nadia glanced at him accusingly. "How convenient for you."

"Hey," he protested, "I'm not making it up. A pair just came through here, and they believed me. I'll bet it saved—"

"What pair?" Cloud demanded suddenly, grabbing the youth's collar. "Who were they?"

Tifa quickly interposed herself between the two. "Cloud, calm down," she said, gently easing them apart. Then she turned to Billy. "Do you remember who they were?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Two guys, I think. Asked if I'd seen anyone, but I told him no. Hey." He scrutinized the group quickly, then glanced at his sister. "Maybe it's you they're looking for."

"Then we'd better try to catch up to them," Sabin interjected before any more questions could be asked. "If the birds in the pen are taken, is there anyone else we can talk to?"

"No…not really. But you can catch your own, if you're lucky." A wide grin spread across the youth's face. "And if you've got the right stuff."

He rolled his eyes. "I figured that. How much?"

Chole wandered off then, as if the matter was no longer her concern. "Well, we've got a lot of different greens," Billy started. "They're all priced by quality, of course. We also have a chocobo lure." He patted a small pouch on his hip, rattling the objects inside. "They work pretty well, considering there's a bunch of animals around here. Getting one'll be easy if you have one."

"How much?"

"2,000 gil."

Cloud muttered irritably under his breath, but Sabin only nodded. "Sure. Deal." He pulled the amount out of his pocket, much to his friends' amazement. "I've been saving," he explained, almost embarrassed. "I just hope it's worth it."

Billy carefully explained the process of locating and capturing the wild chocobos that resided in the plains, including his suggestions of greens that could be used to lure the animal's close once they'd found one. Cloud listened with vague interest, annoyed by the time and money they were wasting. Finally they were ready to begin, and the group assembled itself just outside the farm. Sabin dumped out the bag with the chocobo lure onto his hand, and was surprised to find a small violet sphere. He scrutinized it carefully. "Materia," he murmured, shaking his head. "I don't know how to use materia."

"Oh—let me." Aeris snatched the tiny ball, rolling it over in her fingers. "I want to feel useful."

Cloud eyed her dubiously. "You know how to use materia?"

"Sure do." She tapped the back of her hair bow, indicating a small lump where some object had been secured. "I have some of my own, but it's special: it does absolutely nothing." She giggled. "Most materia does something, but not mine."

"Maybe you don't know how to use it."

"No, I do." To prove her point she held the chocobo lure in front of her, and it glowed a faint light. "I just keep mine because it makes me feel safe; it was my mother's."

Over a nearby hill they heard a very distinct "wark" sound, like the cry of an enormous crow. A head poked over the grassy knoll, and slowly a creature began to trot over to them. The chocobo was exactly like those in the pen: eight feet tall from its three-toed feet to the tip of its head. It was adorned with long yellow feathers and a thick beak, thin but powerful legs, and stubby wings that had lost their ability to fly centuries ago. It strode somewhat awkwardly toward the lure, black eyes curious but wary.

"Hey there," Aeris cooed softly, and Sabin slipped a bundle of greens into her free hand. "You hungry, big guy? I bet you are." She held out the offering, capturing his attention as she pocketed the lure. "No one's gonna hurt you. It's okay."

The bird looked her over, and after a tense moment bent its long neck forward and caught the greens in its beak. "That's it," she said excitedly, waving Nadia over. "Eat all you like." And then to the girl, "Take the greens. I'm going to try and get on its back."

"I don't wanna get bitten," she muttered, edging away.

"He won't bite you if you feed it," the elder assured, handing over the rest of the greens, and Nadia cringed as the animal turned toward her. "Just keep it busy."

Cloud watched with Sabin and Tifa as Aeris moved around to the side of the bird, holding back a warning. She was perfectly calm, stroking its feathered coat so that it knew she was there. But when it came to mounting she had some trouble as the bird was obviously too tall for her, and Cloud was forced to give her a boost. The Chocobo didn't mind.

"Well, that was easy," Sabin remarked, impressed. "Good job Aeris."

"Thanks." She scratched the top of the chocobo's head, which caused it to warble in content. "They're pretty tame if you give'm food, right?"

"Right." He turned to Tifa. "We should probably get at least three," he suggested. "You ever ride a chocobo before?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

"Then you can ride with me, Nadia with Cloud, and Aeris can handle her own. Right?"

"Right on!" Aeris grinned, hugging the giant bird's neck affectionately. "This one's a boy. I'm naming him Coz."*

"Coz?" Cloud repeated curiously.

"Yup. Coz."

Tifa smiled, and cheerfully said, "Well, we need two more. I'd like to try."

Aeris tossed her the lure. "Here—it's fun, right Coz?" He warked happily in reply, and she giggled.

Sabin divided the rest of the greens between himself and Cloud, and he and Tifa headed out to search. "We don't need a lure," Aeris said once they'd gone. "The three of us together can find another chocobo. It's not that hard." Her green eyes sparkled mischievously, a child's grin spreading across her face. "Right Cloud? Nadia?"

Finding the animals was easy—they seemed to be everywhere—but catching one was far more difficult. Cloud was determined to do the job himself, leaving Aeris and Nadia to laugh at his useless efforts. Again and again he approached one of the birds only to have it flee. When he decided on a more aggressive tactic, they beat him with their feathers before running.

"Try warking for them," Aeris suggested, stifling her laughter. "Give them a mating call."

Cloud glared at her. "And how am I supposed to know what a mating call sounds like?"

"I don't know; ask Coz."

He rolled his eyes in annoyance as he turned back to the hills, but surprised them by shouting, "Waarrrk!"

Coz flapped his stubby wings and cried back. Aeris, however, wasn't convinced. "You've got to put feeling into it. This is a mating call."

"Whatever." He frowned, and shrugged. With a deep breath he tried again. "Waaarrrrrrk!"

From over a rise came a chocobo, anxiously curious as to where the sound had come from. Before Cloud had time to realize what was happening it ran toward him, knocking him onto his back with it's sheer weight. He soon found himself covered by the huge feathers and that same weight on his chest. A thick red tongue licked his face, dripping sticky saliva all over his head. He cursed and tried to push it away, but the bird weighed too much, and it seemed intent on staying.

"Look who's got a girlfriend," Nadia taunted between fits of laughter. "Invite me to the wedding."

"Stupid bird—cut it out!" He attempted to push the head away, but again to no use. The chocobo warked and continued to lick his face like an overgrown puppy, until his hair was limp and his face coated with slime. But just when the onlookers thought he might lose his temper, something strange happened: he began to laugh. His curses turned to humor. He continued to fight but only half-heartedly, as if playing some kind of game.

At first Aeris was startled, and then perplexed, for she had not yet had the chance to see him laugh outside of something sarcastic. Now she dared to go so far as to imagine that he was actually enjoying himself. Smiling faintly she dismounted her chocobo, patting the top of its head in reassurance. The new bird looked up as she approached. A look of curiosity seemed to cross its beaked face, and it cocked its head from side to side as if asking some question of her. But she was interested in the man it held trapped. "Good job," she congratulated, squatting down beside him with her face hovering over his. "You just got yourself a chocobo. We'll call her Bobbie."

Cloud blinked slowly, and a dribble of thick saliva crawled sluggishly over his eyebrow. "Bobbie?"

"Uh-huh." She reached out, tentatively wiping away the spit. He stared back at her dumbly. "Coz and Bobbie are good names, aren't they?"

"Sure." He laughed again suddenly, startling her. After a moment she joined in. The chocobo—now "Bobbie"—recoiled a bit, puzzled, then let out a short "wark" and began sliming Aeris' face the same way it had soiled Cloud. Nadia laughed at them from a safe distance.

"Are you guys okay?" Sabin and Tifa approached, the latter seated on another of the yellow animals. She laughed at the scene. "Looks like you had some trouble."

"No, I'm fine," Cloud declared loudly. He slipped his hands under the feather bulk, and Bobbie squawked with annoyance as she was lifted off and dumped heavily to the side. Dusting himself off and wiping his face, he stood. "But I don't think we can use this chocobo."

Bobbie grunted indignantly, thumping him in the back with her beak. Tifa laughed. "I don't know, Cloud. With an attitude like that she'd better run fast."

"She'll probably throw me."

"Yeah, well, she won't throw me." Nadia came up to the great bird bravely, and with help from Cloud was able to climb on its back. Bobbie didn't resist. "See, it's just you, Cloud."

He retook that cocky stance of his and, eyeing Bobbie, pulled up onto her back behind Nadia. The animal shuffled her feet but remained still. He sighed. "Well, I guess we got ourselves some chocobos."

The marsh was quiet, filled with only the sounds of the birds' footsteps through the reeds and mud. Sabin and Tifa were in the lead, and the former kept a sharp eye open for any misplaced movement. He saw nothing, but the stillness disturbed him, as most swamp areas were constantly plagued by the drone of dozens of insects. Aeris was just behind, apparently speaking to her chocobo. Bringing up the rear Cloud had given up trying to control Bobbie, and had left the job to Nadia. He felt strangely nervous, as if hundreds of eyes were watching him from the green film. The wind-whispered secrets through the grass were all about him. Each ray of sunlight that strayed through the layer of clouds startled him, and he imagined that something unreal lay dormant in the skies themselves, waiting to exploding. Waiting for them.

No. Waiting for him.

"Someone's here," Cloud said, his voice barely audible even to Nadia. "Getting closer. Following us."

Nadia glanced backwards, but couldn't see him well. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go faster."

She nodded, sensing the tension in his voice. "Hey Sabin!" she called, urging Bobbie to quicken. "Speed it up! Cloud says we've got company!"

Sabin had already caught onto the strange air, though the source remained untouched by his search. "Are you sure?"

"He's right." Aeris affirmed. "I've got a bad feeling."

Cloud twisted around, trying to see behind him. After a moment his eyes landed on a hump of gray scaled flesh, half hidden in the blowing reeds. Embedded in the mass were two glowing orbs. They were watching him intently, flashing slightly as it drew nearer.

The attack came so quickly that he didn't have time to warn the others. As the snake’s head shot forward he leapt off his mount, sword drawn, to face the beast. He could see the gaping mouth of the creature, the thin tongue and daggered fangs, but he didn't flinch. Someone was screaming at him that might have been his enemy, but he couldn't be sure. He braced his feet in the mud.

The Zolom impacted against the flat of Cloud's sword, protecting him though he was thrown backwards several feet. Cold filth washed over him. He raised his eyes to find himself in the shadow of the snake's wide hood. It was larger than he'd imagined from Billy's tale; it was enormous, the length of its jaw longer than that of his entire body. The yellow eyes froze him to the earth in a penetrating stare.

"Cloud, come on!" He started as Tifa took his arm, jerking him to his feet. Sabin was still on his chocobo, attempting to draw the Zolom's attention. "Come on—get on the chocobo."

Nadia reached a hand down, trying to keep Bobbie steady at the same time. "I'll pull you up."

But Cloud had something else in mind. He lifted Tifa up by the waist and sat her on the animal's back, then turned and started to run at the serpent once more. He didn't care that they were yelling at him, or that Sabin was glaring at him, or that the terrifying creature now had its sights set on him. The tubular body twisted, bringing the head about. A low hissing sound reverberated within the long neck. But Cloud didn't care; he felt a deep hatred for this thing that dared to attack him now, a madness so foolish and without purpose that he could have laughed. His skin was hot, and his fingers curled tensely around his sword's handle. The world narrowed to him and the Zolom as it screamed toward him with an unearthly cry. His eyes flashed, and he brandished his sword.

The battle ended so abruptly that Cloud had no time to think nor react. The snake simply exploded as if a bomb had been set off from within its body. The jaw opened wide and disconnected from its skull, which split in several places. Blood spewed in gallons it seemed all over the damp marsh; that and the shockwave of resounding energy dropped him on his back, and he was quickly soiled with mud and crimson fluid.

"My god…" Tifa covered her mouth, feeling nauseous as she watched the gruesome scene. She didn't notice as Nadia jumped down from the chocobo and retched. Her eyes were locked on Cloud in disbelief—he was covered in blood, as the Zolom's gore had encompassed several dozen meters of the marsh with it's revolting, odorous presence.

Cloud pulled himself up, a sudden anxiety boiling in his mind. He turned, and was met by a man clad in black robes that completely covered his face. It was a form that froze his every being into ice. The hatred and betrayal hidden beneath his skin began to scream, dripping out through his pores, but it wasn't enough to force movement into his limbs. Pulled unexpectedly into this confrontation he felt lost and confused, and despite his vengeance's desperate cry for action none came.

The dark figure lifted its head, allowing a stray beam of golden sun to strike its shadowed countenance. Cloud stepped back, trembling at the sight of two shimmering emerald eyes. "Se…Sephiroth…"

"Strife! Get away from him!" Sabin grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back, facing the stranger for himself. He felt a chill but kept steady, fists tense. "Who the hell is this guy? Did he do that?"

Cloud swallowed hard, his own azure eyes swirling with turbulent emotions. "That's—"

The dark man stepped back, disappearing into thin air as if the apparition was never present there at all. He left only a mist bout the air as proof of his existence.

Cloud inhaled sharply, eyelids fluttering in surprise as he discovered that his enemy had vanished. "What the hell—no! No, he can't—where are you?" He started to run forward, splashing mud and blood on his boots. "Damn it, Sephiroth—"

"Strife, stop it; he's gone." Sabin put a hand on his arm, but was quickly shaken off. "Calm down."

"Damn it, don't tell me to calm down," he shot back angrily, starting away from him again. "Don't you get it? That was the Sephiroth, and if we—"

"Cloud." He paused, finding Aeris in his path. She—as well as Sabin and himself—was covered in the crimson stain from the Midgar Zolom, but she let no tremor of fear or otherwise grace her flesh. She gazed at him sternly. "He's gone, Cloud. Let it go for now."

"I can't," he replied firmly, but there was something about the look on her face that played upon the dull fear in his stomach; drew it out to melt away his stubbornness. "I can't just let him go, not after what he's done."

She came up to him slowly, all insecurities carefully hidden. "Cloud, please, let's just keep going. Let's get out of this marsh. For Nadia." She nodded to the side, indicating where the two other women of the party were huddled. Tifa was doing her best to comfort her younger companion. Both were amazingly pale.

Cloud sighed, letting go of his frustration and anger. "Sorry," he muttered, retrieving his sword and hooking it on is back. "All right. Let's keep going."

Aeris nodded. "Coz and Lebo ran off," she said, carefully slipping her hand into his. He didn't seem to notice. "Bobbie stayed, though. You picked a good one."

"Yeah."

Sabin wiped his forehead, and grimaced as he succeeded only in spreading blood across his face. He paused then, taking a moment to view the scene: the corpse, the marsh, the distant mountains. It was all wrong. He felt as if they'd been pulled into some previously planned reality. It wasn't right.

Tifa sat with Nadia on Bobbie the rest of the way through the marsh, Sabin by their side and Cloud and Aeris leading several feet ahead. "I'm sure it was him," Cloud was telling her, his voice thick and strained. "He must have killed that thing; no one else has that kind of power. Those eyes…" He shuddered. "I could feel the fire when I looked at him. The fire that destroyed my home."

"Cloud," Aeris started slowly, "I know you've been through a lot, and I won't pretend to understand, but are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

"Of course."

"Yeah. Thought so." A moment of consideration passed, and her manner was suddenly cheerful again. "Well, we're on the right track. And at least we're not dead, right? It's probably better that he didn't stay and fight."

"I suppose."

She reached into a pocket and pulled out a small handkerchief. "Here; wipe your face."

"Thanks."

Tifa watched the pair, her mind in a whirl. The events would not leave her mind, and played themselves over and over again until he stomach flopped and he head ached. The Zolom had died in such a cruel way, by some force of magic that sent chills of dread all through her. And the man…even far away she could still sense the air about him, the death and decay. Like a walking corpse.

"It was him," Nadia murmured, hugging herself tightly. "It was the same power at my father's office. I could tell. It was the same, but worse. Closer."

"Shh. Try not to think about it right now." Sabin placed a hand on her knee, as it was the only part of her he could reach from his position. "Let's just get out of here before another Zolom shows up, and worry bout Sephiroth later."

They let Bobbie go at the entrance to the mine, but she seemed reluctant to leave, and followed them inside. Cloud argued that they should try and get rid of her, but Aeris insisted that they keep her with them as long as she let them. "She's really loyal," she said, "and seems to be really fond of you, Cloud. It'll only help us to keep her along."

Cloud stopped suddenly, signaling for all to be silent. "Someone's here," he whispered. "I can hear voices."

Tifa stiffened, feeling weak and drained. She didn't want to go through another encounter. Sensing this, Sabin came up beside her and touched her shoulder, smiling faintly when she looked up at him. "Wait here with Nadia and Aeris," he instructed gently. "Cloud and I will check it out."

"Okay."

The two men went ahead into the mine, which was a deep labyrinth of twisting tunnels of carved rock. Cloud was right: there were voices echoing off the rock walls, arguing. With glances exchanged the pair investigated, and came upon two men in navy suits conversing in low tones. It was Reno and the bald one.

"This is crap, Rude," Reno muttered, scruffing his feet in the ground. "How could he just disappear like that? How're we supposed to follow someone who can vanish into thin air?"

"Did you expect any less?" his partner asked, his lips tight. "We're dealing with Sephiroth, after all."

"Yeah, well, at least there's not many places he could go to. If he went this way he must be on his way to Junon Harbor."

Hidden behind a large boulder, Cloud turned to Sabin. "Those are Turks, aren't they?"

"Yeah. Shin-ra's assassins and odd-job men."

Scowling, he retorted "I know what they are. Looks like they're following Sephiroth, too."

"Not our problem. If anything, they'll be well-informed from Midgar—it'll be easier following them than following Mr. Spooky."

Reno and Rude left then, and they returned to their friends. "We're heading for Junon Harbor," Cloud said, taking command. "I know it's getting late, but we'll have to go as far as we can and sleep in the forest, all right?"

"Just as long as you let me ride the bird," Nadia said. She looked sick.

"Tifa," Sabin added, "why don't you get up there again? You don't look so good either."

She smiled faintly, glad that he'd noticed, and didn't say anything as he helped her get situated on Bobbie's back. Cloud again took the lead with Aeris, and the others followed them out of the mines.

*Coz, Bobbie, and Lebo were the names my siblings and I chose for the main characters when we played Secret of Mana. It’s a long story…

To Next Chapter

Return