The Terran Rangers/Final Fantasy VII by Heather Ray (summer beach reads txt) 📕

be fine," Zack answered, "I'm just a bit winded is all."

"Perhaps it's because of the Space Virus," Billy suggested. "Without the Zeo shard, your immune system will have to repel the virus by itself."

Zack brushed the comment aside. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Let's just worry about Aisha, okay?"

"Hey, guys!!" Yuffie called, glancing back at them from her perch atop a fallen tree. "What's taking you so long? We're here!"

The pair followed Yuffie into the clearing. Both stopped short when they saw a bridge crossing over a lake of glowing green liquid, to a desolated town on the island in the center.

"That's Mako energy?" Billy asked Yuffie, who was already halfway across the bridge.

"Yeah," she called, "that's the Lifestream-Mako energy in its raw, most potent form. Just don't get too close, okay? If you do, you could get Mako poisoning. Not pretty."

Billy and Zack followed Yuffie across the bridge, and gazed in awe around the ravaged town of Mideel. All that was left were planks of wood from buildings, and some damaged remains of stores. Also, many people were on the streets of the town, busily rebuilding their homes. Close to the bridge, a section of the destroyed town was cleared of debris, and the venders of Mideel took up shop at small counters, hoping to share their wares with travelers, to earn a living.

"Okay," Yuffie said, stopping at a counter with a brand of a sword on its face, "here's where you can get some weapons. How're ya doing, Leon?"

The portly vender smiled at her, and nodded. "Things could be worse, Yuffie. Of course, since your entire crew bought weapons and armor from me a couple weeks ago, things've been looking up. So, how's that mission to save the planet?"

Yuffie grinned. "We got our hands on these big chunks of Huge Materia, that are supposedly of a totally different class than the regular stuff. I don't know what we're supposed to do with it, but we're counting on Bugenhagen figuring it out."

"Bugenhagen can figure anything out," Leon chuckled. "He's famous, even all the way down here in Mideel. So, what can I get ya?"

"My friends here need weapons," she said, looking back at them. She eyed Billy scrutinously. "Hmm, I'd say something small. Y'got a dagger or something?"

Billy frowned. "Personally, I prefer lances."

"Oh," Yuffie said, shrugging. "You don't look the type to like big weapons. What kind of lances do you have here, Leon?"

"Lemme check my wares," Leon answered, peeking in the storage bin behind the counter. He then pulled out a long staff, with a sharp blade on the end. "It's the Partisan."

"What do you think, Billy?" Yuffie asked, tossing the weapon to him. Billy caught it, and was surprised by how light it was to carry.

"This is an expertly designed weapon," Billy commented, taking a few practice thrusts to get the feel of it. "It's so light..."

"All weapons are lightweight," Yuffie said. "How else would people carry such big weapons around? They sure do pack a punch, though. So, is it a keeper?"

"I'm afraid I don't have any of your currency..."

"You can pay me back later," Yuffie said with a grin. She then turned her attention to Zack. "What's your pleasure?"

"Well, since Billy here got a short range weapon, what do you have in the long range department?"

"You can get a Crystal Cross, which is something like what Yuffie's got, or a Winchester, which is gun."

Zack nodded. "Can I see the Winchester?"

Leon nodded, and pulled a rifle-like weapon from beneath the counter. Zack nodded, and held the gun in his hands, aiming towards the sky. "Yeah, this'll do. It's something like the rifle I use for clay-shooting with my dad."

"Perfect," Yuffie said, turning back to Leon. "How much?"

"Well, its usually 37,000 gil, but since you and your friends have been such good customers, I'll give it to ya for 19,000."

"That still sounds kinda steep," Zack said.

"I'll tell you what," Yuffie said, a sly grin on her face, "I'll buy you these weapons, and you promise to give me any materia you find that you won't need once your mission's over. Deal?"

Billy and Zack glanced at each other questioningly. Finally, Billy nodded.

"Deal."

"Great!" Yuffie said, tossing a few bags to Leon. "Keep the change, my man."

"Thanks, Yuffie," Leon said, putting the gold money in a chest beside him. "Do you think you need anything else?"

"Nah," Yuffie answered, "I think these guys have what they need. Oh, did you see Cloud and Tifa around?"

"Well, Cloud's been sittin' over by the Mako lake for over an hour," Leon said, gesturing behind him. "Is everything okay with him?"

Yuffie rolled her eyes. "He's in one of his hurt puppy-dog moods. He'll be fine. Thanks a lot, Leon!"

Yuffie then turned to Billy, who was still trying out his new weapon.

"Mind if I take a look at that?" she inquired.

"Be my guest," Billy answered, handing her the Partisan. Yuffie gazed at the long blade, and nodded.

"You have six materia slots, so keep your eyes peeled. Materia can really help you out when you're in a pickle." She grinned. "And the more you find, the more I get to keep!"

Yuffie handed Billy the Partisan, and then took a look at Zack's Winchester.

"You know, I think Vincent had one just like this, before he found himself the Death Penalty," Yuffie commented. "You've got six slots too."

Yuffie handed Zack his weapon, and then began to look around the town. "There's Cloud and Tifa!"

Billy and Zack followed Yuffie's gaze. Standing at a plateau overlooking the town was a tall young man with thick, unruly blonde hair and unnaturally bright blue eyes. He wore loose navy blue pants, matching sleeveless shirt, and brown boots. Strapped to his back was a translucent blue and white sword, with a blade that nearly reached his feet. Beside him was a young woman, only a few inches shorter than he. She had flowing dark brown hair that nearly reached her knees, gleaming tawny eyes, a tight white sleeveless shirt, and black leather shorts. She also wore hiking boots, and a shimmering glove on her right hand.

"Cloud! Tifa! What's up?"

"Yuffie," Cloud said with a weak smile. His smile fell into a curious gaze when he noticed her two companions. "Where've you been?"

"And who are your friends?" Tifa added.

"I was in the forest, keeping my eyes peeled for a good fight so I could keep myself occupied, and I...bumped into Billy and Zack," she answered, pointing them out. "They're on a quest to save a friend of theirs."

"That's very noble," Tifa said, "What's wrong with your friend?"

"She has...come down with a malady of sorts, and she must be cured," Billy answered.

"So, is she poisoned?" Cloud asked. "Turned into a stone? What exactly are her symptoms?"

"Most predominately, she has a fever," Billy said. "It's really hard to explain, but the point is, she's dying. Our only hope is some kind of curative magic. Yuffie explained to us that magic is usually in the form of materia. We hope to find a materia that can cure her."

"Yuffie had to tell you what materia is?" Cloud asked, his eyebrow raising. "Where are you from, anyway?"

"You've never been there," Zack answered.

Cloud gazed at Zack deeply, causing the latter man to look away uncomfortably. Zack could have sworn he saw a glint of blue energy in his eyes, but he disregarded that. Finally, Cloud's eyes widened a little, and a small grin crept onto his lips. He then turned to Tifa. "Do you have any Cure or Heal materia on you? Maybe that'll help."

"Sure I do," Tifa said, glancing down at her glove, the Premium Heart. She pulled a small green marble from one of the materia slots. "Here's a Heal materia. I don't know if it'll work or not."

"How will we know?" Zack asked.

"Hold it," Cloud answered, "Materia tells you what it can be used for."

Billy nodded, and grasped the small sphere in his hand. He peered into the cloud of green energy, searching for a hint as to the true power of the gem. The materia did indeed show him images of what it could be used for, but nothing even came close to the purpose he needed it for.

"No good," Billy sighed, handing the materia back to Tifa. "This won't save Aisha."

"Perhaps Cure?" Tifa said, taking a different gem off her glove. But that one was also unable to cure disease.

"Please tell me there's other kinds of materia that'll help," Zack said quietly.

"All the other types of restorative materia work along the same lines as Heal and Cure," Tifa said quietly, "I'm really sorry, but I don't think any of them will help your friend."

Zack took a deep breath, and took a seat on a fallen tree trunk. "We came all this way...for nothing

?" he whispered.

"What made you think materia would be able to help?" Cloud asked. "After all, you apparently don't know anything about it."

"We...heard the legends of a powerful restorative energy that permeates the entire planet," Billy said. "It was Yuffie who said this energy is solidified as materia."

"You mean the Lifestream," Tifa said quietly.

Billy nodded. "Well, even though the Lifestream is the source of materia, there are lots of differences between them," Cloud said. "Maybe ordinary materia isn't the answer."

"What are you suggesting?" Tifa asked.

"Maybe Bugenhagen can help them."

"Of course!" Yuffie cried. "No one knows the Lifestream better than Bugenhagen."

"Who's Bugenhagen?" Billy asked, looking up from the ground.

"He's the wisest person alive," Cloud answered, "and he's spent his entire life studying nature, and this planet. He's the one who first helped us understand the Lifestream. We were on our way to go see him now. You're welcome to join us."

Tifa glanced at Cloud questioningly, and he answered her with a slight nod. Without saying another word, Cloud began walking towards the bridge separating Mideel from the monster-infested forest that surrounded it. Once he reached the end of the bridge, he pulled the Ultima Weapon from its sheath, and readied himself for any coming battle. Tifa was right behind him, and then Yuffie, Zack, and Billy, all walking with their weapons in hand.

"So," Zack whispered to Yuffie, "that's Cloud and Tifa, huh?"

"That's them," Yuffie answered.

"What's with Cloud's eyes?" Zack asked, looking past Yuffie to the back of Cloud's head. "They were...weird."

"They're Mako eyes," she responded, "Cloud's been pumped with Mako energy during a biological experiment, and after that he fell into the Lifestream. Twice. It's a miracle he's still alive. I guess the Lifestream likes him."

"That's interesting," Billy said. "And what about this Huge Materia you spoke of earlier? Does that have curative powers, like the Lifestream itself?"

Yuffie shrugged. "I have no idea. Actually, none of us really know why we needed to collect the Huge Materia. Bugenhagen told us it's the only way to save the planet, but he didn't say why. Now that we have it, we'll go back to Bugenhagen and ask him what to do next."

Zack frowned. "Um, its not that I don't appreciate all your help, Yuffie, but we're on a really tight schedule."

"Don't worry. It'll only take