Prophecies of the Unknown
By BlueFox

Intro: After all of the intense (not to mention somewhat confusing) fighting from the previous chapter, I decided to make this one a bit more spirited and happy. Zack has overcome his doubts about protecting Yuna, but upon entering Nibelheim…some things go awry, and now Zack…has to go undercover… (sigh) I was seriously laughing during the middle of this chapter, a lot, too, so…

And, you know, I’m going to make chapters as long as they need to be, because if I shorten Aeris’ chapters (which we will get to later on probably after this chapter or so) there will be QUITE a lot of chapters to this fic. And the FFX strategy guide puts Mushroom Rock and the Mi’ihen Highroad together, I’M NOT! So yeah.

Try to not splatter your drink all over the computer screen, okay? (nervous chuckle) And, just for the heck of it, Genesis managed to meet with them in Nibelheim, for extra rapport between Zack and Yuna, though there is no hint of Yuna/Genesis. So, sorry, fans!

Oh, OH! Before I forget, I know you all lurve Clouna and such…but I think Zack should get some too. No flames! Unless you want my buddy Axel here to napalm your house with them… And I apologize to all Reno fans now. Hee hee hee hee heeeeee…

Disclaimer: HAHAHA no.

Chapter Ten: The Journey pt. 3: Trouble in Nibelheim

First Class SOLDIER Zack Fair was not thrilled.

In fact he was giving himself a liberal inner beating. Questioning his masculinity thoroughly as Genesis (who had met him at the gates, coolly telling him of Yuna’s position of being kidnapped in the hands of womanizing bandits in the mountains) tied the knot of red ribbon/sash garment around his waist, Zack felt both ashamed and pleased with himself as he looked in the mirror. Though he had sworn against this since he was a MAN after all, he was secretly admiring himself in the mirror. Now, not to mix up fact with assumption, Zack was simply pleased he could pass for a woman with a rather average amount of make up and two small cantaloupes pressed against his chest. It wasn't something, however, he would be willing to do again.

Ever again.

He watched as Genesis (clothed in similar garments due to threatening of being chucked into Meteor when they returned) took a step back to admire the work he had finished. "Well, you're not a babe, but I can’t say I’m one either."

--

Following the lovely Genesis through the mountains, Zack fumed. He found no comfort from the long skirt he wore, as he could not stop tripping, and the veil Genesis told him to wear was suffocating him. Still… "Remind me, Genesis. Is it really important to get Yuna back to Cloud?"

"She needs him to fully summon Holy. So yes."

"Right. So why couldn’t Aeris fully summon Holy?"

"Well, Sephiroth killed her before she completed the full summoning, and Yuna is a summoner, basically an Ancient on Spira…Xena."

"XENA?!"

Possibly saving Genesis’ life, the pair saw the auction stalls come into view as they rounded a corner. "Thank the Lifestream. At least this won’t take long."

Genesis began to make a scene out front as a distraction. Zack slipped into the holding area and cut a hole in the back wall with Buster. Then he picked Yuna up and took her out, heading for a pre-determined point outside town where he’d meet up with Genesis. Fool-proof.

As he emerged onto the forest path, Zack’s world crashed in around his ears.

There was a cry of "Yo!" The ex-SOLDIER watched Reno fell out of a tree next to him, grunting in pain.

The Turk hopped to his feet. "We Turks patrol the woods, stopping all thieves and bandits in their place. So you might wanna—" Reno went silent as he laid eyes on Zack.

Curious in spite of himself, Zack paused. Had Reno somehow managed to penetrate his disguise? "What?"

Reno found his voice after a moment. "You… Light of the Sun, most beautiful of all women I have ever beheld, yo!"

"Oh, no."

Reno stepped closer, trying to take Zack’s hand. Zack picked him up by the shirt and threw him at a tree. "Get away from me."

"Ow!" The Turk bounced back to his feet. "I love warrior-like strength and skill! You are a queen among women, yo."

"I’m not a woman, you blind lemming."

"Right, yo. You are a goddess!"

"Go away or I’ll kill you. And I mean it this time!"

"Fire! Say more!"

"No." Well, at least the little idiot wouldn’t interfere with his mission. Zack turned and started moving again.

Reno followed, exclaiming on the nobility of Zack’s posture, poise, and stride with a lot of 'yo's tossed in. This is what Genesis saw when the other arrived, late, at their meeting place.

Stunned, the originally magenta clad man pulled off his veil. "Zack? Is that who I think, spouting horrible love poetry at you?"

"You!" Reno activated his EMR. "Stand back, yo. I like this one more than you! As much as I would love to have you both, though…"

Zack kicked him, and said disgustedly, "Put that back on, Genesis, before someone sees you. We still have to get out of here."

"Uh, yeah. What about him?"

"He won’t warn anyone." Zack grabbed his suitor by the long ponytail. "Will you?"

"Yes, yo."

Zack dropped him like a stick of chewed gum. That is, Reno clung to his hand.

Genesis watched in shock as his partner jumped, yelped, and swung the Turk into a tree like a baseball bat. Then Zack strode over to where he had placed Yuna, cold as ice. He really wasn’t liking the situation.

"Fair? WHAT was that?"

In a voice like death, the ex-SOLDIER replied, "He pinched me."

"So protective of her virtue, yo…" Reno sighed, embedded in the tree.

"Let’s get out of here before he frees himself and tries to follow." Genesis took Yuna and they both split up, taking different paths back.

An hour later…

"Okay, Zack, I think we’re clear. Can we get rid of these stupid clothes now?"

Still simmering with rage, Genesis’ companion growled, "They were your idea, Genesis. I ought to staple that dress to you."

Genesis divested himself of the dress and veil, revealing his normal magenta clothes underneath. As Zack lifted a hand to tear off his own veil, he heard a protesting cry from behind them.

"No! Wait until to tonight for that, yo!"

The black haired ex-SOLDIER spun, eyes blazing so violet that they glowed beneath the veil. "Reno."

Reno ran up, panting. "Look! She…(huff)…she’s nothing but…a spy!"

Genesis walked over. Together, they both screamed, "WE ARE NOT WOMEN!" Yuna didn’t stir. Then, Genesis asked, "How the hell did you find us here?"

"I kissed the ground where she walked, and followed the scent of her delicate perfumed foot." Reno made a move toward Zack’s feet, intending to demonstrate.

"That’s it." Genesis backed away, eyes wide, as Zack finally snapped. "Reno." He ripped off the veil. "I am not a woman." He tore off the dress. "I am Zack Fair." He reached for Buster. "And I am going to kill you. And I mean it this time."

Reno backed away as well, looking horrified. "Zack? But…no way…" He ran a few steps away. "Nooooooooooooo! Oh God! I am not gay! There is only one way to atone. I must commit suicide!" Everyone’s favorite Turk snatched Zack’s Buster and stabbed himself through the stomach. "Now…it is done…...yo." He fell to the dust and lay still.

"Huh," Genesis grunted. "Wish Jenova were that easy." He shifted Yuna so he could hold her weight better.

Zack took Buster back and put it away with an air of satisfaction. "That’ll do. So long as you’re dead."

"Uhm…" Both ex-SOLDIERs whirled to look at the dead Turk, who continued, "Funny, yo. It, uh, doesn’t seem to be working."

"Oh. No." Refusing to let this stand, Zack stepped over to him. "I’m sure you just didn’t try hard enough." He stabbed Reno again and wrenched it around a bit. "Here, let me help."

Genesis muttered, "He screwed up suicide? Only Reno."

Ignoring Reno’s cries of pain, Zack finally stood, pulled the sword out smoothly, and sheathed it in disgust. The two partners watched the wound begin to close.

Zack spoke a single word with all the loathing in the world. "Goddammit."

"He’s immortal?!" Genesis exclaimed. "Someday Cloud’s gonna have to get Hojo for everything he’s done."

"Yes." Zack glowered at Reno. "In the meantime…" He pulled out a Manipulate Materia and hefted it thoughtfully. "Let’s see how many monsters I can get to attack him."

--

Two days. Two days passed since Yuna’s kidnapping and easy retrieval. Cloud still hadn’t come. Genesis had long since gone. Things were uneasy for Yuna with Zack, who seemed to be back to his cheerful self. The Omnislash, and the fall of Ruby WEAPON so easily…it made her fear Zack more than she liked him.

And so one day, after getting into a short quarrel with someone in town over the prices for a small loaf of bread, Yuna didn’t feel too keen. Not to keen at all. She could feel her anger boiling up. Yuna wanted to scream, or throw something. Instead she just stood there, a defeated look on her face. This wasn’t happening. She was too stubborn to let this happen.

…Right?

"Hey, girl, would you mind moving? I have other customers to tend to," the man gruffly told her.

Yuna slowly got out of the other customers’ way, the shock of everything starting to wear off, to be replaced with anger.

Just don't start screaming now...wait till you are out of earshot, or out of town where no one will hear you. That way, people won't think your insane, Yuna thought as she slowly walked toward the Inn where she and Zack were staying.

But then she felt a strong arm fling around her waist, and felt someone lean on her.

"Hey Yunie!" she heard Zack say into her ear. "How is my favorite person?" he asked, his arm still wrapped around Yuna.

Oh great, the anger stage seems to have been replaced with the completely and utterly destroyed stage.

Yuna now just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Yes, Yuna felt like a real summoner now.

Yuna looked up into Zack's smiling face and saw it quickly fall into a frown, when he saw the look on Yuna's face.

"Hey, what’s the matter?" he asked, pulling Yuna over to an alleyway, out of the rush of people.

Yuna looked away and shoved Zack away from her. She then quickly spun around and took off for the entrance to town.

She made it pretty far before she heard Zack call her name from down the street and heavy footsteps come towards her. Yuna just pushed forward, ignoring all the glares she got from people she pushed out of the way.

She really didn't want to see Zack right now. He seemed back to normal, but she was still so very afraid of him. Plus, he had taught her the past few days how to barter, and what did she do? She failed. She let herself down, and she also let Zack down.

She got outside of town and headed down the main road, when Zack finally caught up to her.

"What’s going on? Why won't you stop walking and talk to me?" Zack frantically asked, changing his pace so he was walking beside Yuna.

Yuna stopped walking and just stood there.

"Ever since I’ve met you, I’ve failed so much. I’ve made you fight at Fort Condor, I was kidnapped, I can’t barter...and you worked so hard to get me here and fought so much, so I would get here before Cloud! I let you down, and I let myself down..." Yuna stated, and continued walking.

"Hey Yun! I'm not angry with you, and you didn't let me down! Sometimes it takes me a little while to get out of warrior-mode, so it was probably my fault everything happened to you after the Fort Condor thing!" Zack continued walking with Yuna. "Here, come with me." He grabbed Yuna's hand and dragged her off to a forest a little ways away from the town.

Yuna followed. She started to get confused when Zack led her deep into the forest, and eventually to a small clearing with a lone tree in it. It was large with thick branches that hung down, making it east to climb.

Zack let go of Yuna's hand and started up the tree, stopping at a branch and climbing up it so he was sitting on it. He looked down at Yuna and grinned.

"Come on up!" he said, waving. Yuna followed the way Zack had gone, and found herself sitting on the branch, looking out at the rest of the park. She began to swing her legs.

They sat there for a moment in silence, just watching the birds flutter from tree to tree, and the bugs buzz around.

"This is where I’ve been coming a lot these past two days to unwind, relax, calm down...it's my special place," Zack explained, looking over at Yuna.

"It's really nice," Yuna whispered, still looking out at the beautiful scenery. "Do you come here with anyone else?" she asked, looking down at her swinging feet.

"Nope, you’re the first." Zack smiled, and looked ahead again.

They just sat there for what seemed like hours, watching the world go by in a comfortable silence. The sun was starting to get lower in the sky when Zack started to talk again.

"We should get going..." He jumped down from the tree and landed with a thud. "Careful when you jump down, the ground’s a little uneven," He called up.

Yuna looked down, trying to judge the best place to jump down too. It all looked pretty even to her up where she was, so she just closed her eyes and dropped down.

She stumbled slightly, and felt Zack's arms reach around her, to stabilize her.

Yuna looked up at Zack and straightened slightly, so they were face to face. They just stood there a moment; the whole world seemed to have stopped.

Yuna felt herself leaning in, and her heart stopped for just a second. It began to pound just like whenever he had been near since he had rescued her. She didn’t know fully what it meant, but took a guess and decided she had a small crush on Zack. To see if it were true, Yuna took a bold step. She quickly closed the distance between them, and gave a short kiss to Zack's lips, quickly pulling away.

She didn't know if Zack felt the same way for her, or if it was all hopeless and he would break her heart or willingly throw her to Cloud. The worst he could due was frown at me, she thought.

Yuna looked into Zack's violet eyes and saw a moment of confusion, and then a small smile grace his lips.

"Hey now. Is this all it took?" he whispered, and leaned forward, capturing Yuna’s lips with his own.

Yuna felt like every nerve in her body was on fire. She had never kissed anyone ever before, and had never felt this much…jumble of emotions before. She thought she would get caught up in the power of it all and never come back. She felt like she could die now, and be happy. It felt so right to her.

When they finally broke apart, Yuna found herself pressed up against the tree, her hands tightly clenching his strong upper arms while Zack's hands rested on her waist.

Zack drew away slightly, breathing a little heavily, his eyes heavy lidded. He looked at Yuna for a moment, and then pressed his forehead up against Yuna’s.

Yuna just stared into Zack's eyes, and smiled. Zack smiled back, and gave Yuna another quick kiss before letting go of her and stepping back slightly.

"So what about that bartering fluke?" he asked.

"What fluke?" Yuna breathed out.

"Exactly." Zack winked, grabbing Yuna's hand. Yuna leaned up against Zack, their fingers interlocking with each other’s as they walked into the open field of the park, both feeling more complete then they had felt in a long time.

--

End: FLUFF ATTACK! W00T! I love that pairing so much, but don’t you get all worried and jumbled up! Clouna is still the main pairing, and will be for this entire fic. But, I felt as though it was taking a bit of a long while for Yuna and Cloud to get as close as Zack and Yuna had. Even though Cloud showed signs of being close with Yuna, it never fully bloomed before Sephiroth "killed" her.

Sorry to everyone, but you won’t be seeing much of this side of the story for a little while. Next time, we go to Aeris’ side of the story, and the next few chapters will cover the Mi’ihen Highroad, Mushroom Rock Road, Djose Temple, and the Moonflow before coming back to Nibelheim and Cloud’s much anticipated return to Yuna, and Zack.

And if Reno sounded/was OOC, oh well.

If anyone is interested, I’m currently writing a darker side to this story, that I might (or might not) post up on mediaminer(dot)org. But if I get enough feedback about it here, I might post it on fanfiction, too. It fills in most of the gaps that may not be understood about this story, and tells you fully why the title is called "Prophecies of the Unknown" in the first place.

So…R&R loves. They’ll be returned!!