A Little Complication
The Highwind touched down on the outskirts of Junon a few hours later. "Aerith, Aerith!" Yuffie called, running into the conference room. "We reached Junon. Are you going to come with us to get the Huge Materia?"
"Yes," Aerith replied, getting off the floor where she'd been kneeling to pray. "I'll be right there."
Yuffie nodded and put her hand over her mouth as she turned away and shut the door.
Aerith headed toward the door, knowing if she didn't come out the others might think there was something wrong with her and get worried. She didn't need them worrying about her. They had enough things to worry about. She didn't have to be one of them.
"Aerith," Yuffie called, as she headed toward the stairs. "C'mon! We don't have all day!"
The Cetra said nothing. She nodded and followed her friends up to the observation deck. The others were already waiting so when they saw her come they all immediately started down the rope ladder. Vincent was the last one to go besides Aerith and before he went down he turned to her and asked. "Are you ready for this?"
She shook her head, knowing she had to be honest. "Not really," she said, not looking at him. "But I have to do this. I have to save the planet. I have to keep my vow. Even if I'm not ready I can't let that hold me back. I have to do what I need to do. For the people on this planet... and Cloud."
Vincent nodded as if he understood. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I just wanted to say if you ever want to talk about it I'm willing to listen," he said.
'Thanks, Vincent," she said. "But this is something I have to deal with myself."
He nodded again. "Okay," he said. "I understand."
"Hey!" Barret called from the ground. "Are you two coming or not?!'
"Be right down!" Aerith called. She looked at Vincent. "Let's go."
"..." he climbed down the ladder. Aerith waited until he'd reached the bottom then swung her legs over the side of the railing and started down the ladder herself. I must keep my mind on the mission, she thought as she descended. This is very important. I can't have my mind wandering back to Cloud in a crucial moment. Focus, Aerith. Focus on the present. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the ground. There. Now just keep your mind off Cloud. Stay in the moment. Just stay in the moment.
She followed everyone into the city.
Vincent had never been to Junon but somehow he knew the whole layout of the city. He didn't even need to stop and ask for directions as he led himself, Yuffie, Aerith, and Tifa to the elevators. The three women looked at each other behind his back, not exactly sure what to make of it. Aeirth was kind of glad that he'd taken up the role of leader if only to lead them to the underwater reactor. Aerith knew him being up front wouldn't last long. He'd admitted it himself that he wasn't cut out to be a leader, eve though when he had little chances he did a very good job.
He led them right into a shaded building where a drill sergeant was drilling his soldiers. When he spotted the group he turned to them and shouted "Charge!" and all his men ran in the opposite direction.Yuffie snickered as he ran after them shouting. "Hey! That's the wrong way! You're supposed to go this way!"
Everyone exchanged looks and Tifa shrugged.
"Cowards," Yuffie said. "I guess they heard we were coming and decided not to bother with us."
"Let's just forget about them," Tifa said, walking past them. "We have other things to worry about."
Things would have gone smoothly if they hadn't of run into trouble on the elevator. It didn't help that it was crowded and stuffy and the music was bad. Fighting in an elevator is one of the worst things to attempt doing and Yuffie was nearly shot when Vincent's arm got bumped by Tifa as his gun went off. "Vincent!" Yuffie shouted at him, punching the person behind her. "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE SHOOTING!"
"Sorry," he said kicking the one closest to him. "Tifa hit my arm."
Yuffie glared at Tifa who punched a guy in the stomach. The man tumbled over and Aerith cracked him over the head with her staff. Tifa noticed Yuffie's look and asked. "What?"
"You almost made Vincent shoot me," the ninja shouted, kicking elevator lady in the butt by accident.
"Eeep!" the lady shrieked.
"Sorry," Tifa said, stomping on a soldier's head. "It was an accident."
"Just don't do it again!"
"I can't help it! This elevator's crowded!"
"Then let's kick these bums out of here!" Yuffie said.
DING!
"Ah hah!" Yuffie said as the door opened. "Now's our chance!"
The doors opened and... more soldiers stood on the outside!
"This isn't good," Vincent said as the girls sweat dropped.
"Drop your weapons," the soldiers ordered, aiming their weapons at the four. "We have you surrounded"
Vincent sighed. "Guess we have no choice..."
"Hey, no we don't!" Yuffie exclaimed. "We didn't come here to get captured." she raised her shuriken. "DUCK!" then she threw it.
Luckily Vincent, Aerith, and Tida knew what was coming and hit the deck. The soldiers didn't and wound up regretting it.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" one of them screamed, dropping his gun and running away. "Mayday Mayday!"
"HEY!" Yuffie shouted, catching her shuriken and stepping over the womped soldiers and running after the last. "Get back here!"
Vincent, Tifa, and Aerith all looked at each other and sighed. "We'd better go after her," Vincent said. "She's likely to give us away."
The two women nodded and followed him down the corridor.
A/N
A little humor after so much serious stuff. Sorry. I'll try to make the next chapter longer.