A trail of dust spread in back of the six chocobos each with a AVALNCHE member on them, there was one Gargoyle like creature following them by air and the dark Red Lion running along side one of the birds that carried there leader. "Cloud! What are we going to do now?" The Lion asked as he ran at half speed next to the yellow bird.

"First we have to get back to the Highwind and then I guess we take Bugenhagen to the City of Ancients. He is going to meet us at the ship right?"

"Yes, that’s what he told me. He said he'll leave in a little while"

"Good then I guess there isn't much to worry about now we can all just relax and wait for him to come." The Spiky haired blond let out a sigh of relief before stopping short when the lion did. "What’s wrong Nanaki?"

"I think someone’s following us....." He stuck his head up in the air and took in a deep breath threw his noise.

The Gargoyle creature turn to human at the site of the others coming to a halt. He landed a few feet away from the chocobo that sadly had to carry both a small 7lb stuffed cat and the large 200lb over sized moogle, "What’s going on?"

"How would I know?" The black and white cat pulled on the chocobos feathers to climb back up on the birds back from where it was trying to hold on to its neck after almost being thrown off, and it finally made its way to sit next to the moogle. "I think Red XIII thinks some ones after us." He said as he started to 'groom' himself.

"Shin-Ra?"

The cat stopped and looked around to find not only Vincent but Cid, Tifa, and Yuffie all giving him an accusing look, "HEY! If I knew ANYTHING I would tell you guys... I swear, on my mothers grave!"

"I beet his mother isn't even dead..." Yuffie snorted.

"Is it Shin-Ra?" Vincent asked again.

"Well... it could be..."

"You fuckin' cat, damn find out if you don't know." Cid lit up a cigarette and put it in his mouth. "You'd think that he would at lest try to help us."

"Well, I'm sorry I don't know every thing about who's going to fight who. I would like to remind you about how *high* up I am in the military chain of command."

"Shh... can't you see he's trying to concentrate..." Cloud turned back to the lion, "So who do you think it is..."

"I can't pick up a cent... but I know some ones following us."

"Damn so now what the hell do we do?" Barret looked around then to Cait, "Don't you know anything about this ya little shit."

"Hey! I am trying to find something out so you don't have to go and call me names... OK!" The cat said looking away.

"I'll look around." With out any other worning Vincent turned back in to Chaos and took to the air.

Red started to walk away from the party and sniff the ground when three chocobo like animals came running out from the trees strait for the Red colored beast. The birds were some what smaller then normal chocobos but had much thicker feathers, and claws. There beaks came to a sharper point and also there eyes were glowing slitly.

The others jumped from there own birds to help the lion. Cloud slashed at the first one and it instantly fell to the ground. The second one came toward Cid he started to jab it with his spire but the chocobo was faster and dodged out of the way, by the time he had a chance to lift up the weapon again the bird was on top of him it was just about to peck his face off when something flew in-between them so fast he couldn't even see it.

The chocobo rolled off to the side and started to get up until a very thin but strait line of blood formed in its feathers. Yuffie threw her weapon again and cut it from behind. The bird fell to the ground but started to get up on more time. Barret opened fire on the yellow creature and it fell to the ground.

The last one was snapping at Red well he was down close to the ground growling at it. Finally the bird jumped to him, he quickly threw it on its back and started to bight at its neck, but the bird flung him off and got back up it started to run at him but was stopped by fists hitting it in its side. Tifa swung at the animal but halfway threw the attack was hit on her back by one of its wings.

The bird ran toward her fast but was picked up in the middle of its attack, by a dark purple flying creature it was thrown back to the ground hard and landed beak first in to the ground. The dark creature swooped down again and slashed at it. It flew back up and started a second attack when something cast lighting 3 on him. He started to lose altitude by the unexpected hit and he flew up in to the air.

The last chocobo took advantage of the shock of the unexpected magic and ran tord Tifa who was still on the ground. It was running but fell flat on its face when a large moogle foot was put in its way.

"Hahaha! Cait Sith to the rescue!! Mog use the slots now!" The moogle seemed to not react but after a second a second moogle appeared and danced about and everyone was cured. "Errrrrrr... that’s not what I wanted but it'll do... Mog Hit the goon." The moogle jumped forward and punched the chocobo lazily. The chocobo seemed unharmed and got to its feet. "Stubborn aren’t ya. I guess if you want something done you gotta do it your self!" Cait started to smack the chcocobo with his megaphone till it fell to the ground. "Thank you think you no applause needed I know I'm the best!"

"Not when we skin your friends fir off and make a coat of him." Three figures walked out from the same spot the Chocobo’s came. They were all dressed in the dark blue suites. Reno walked further out then the other to. "So the MACO-chcobos didn't do much but we were going to fight you anyway. For what you did to Tseng!"

"Oh, hey guys I found out what’s up! The Turks were sent out to kill us and then-" Cait trailed off.

Nanaki was about to pounce on the Turk, "You better be talking about that Moogle over there, or your the one who’s getting there skin ripped off!"

"Oh come on. Fine, Fine, I'll make a coat out of the moogle and lets see... I guess I could make a lovely throw rug out of you!" Reno pulled out his night stick and pointed it at the lion, "You to take care of the others let me have some fun with the dog. Besides Hojo wants that done as soon as it can be. Elena give me the potion!"

"Sir!" Elena pulled a blue bottle labeled XIII from her jacket and handed it to the newly appointed leader.

"Great. Now lets get this over with." Reno turned on the power to his night stick and went after Red. The lion quickly dodged out of the way from most of the Turks swings and got in a few of his own.

Rude started for Tifa who was getting up. They started in a fist fight until Cid gabbed his spire at the Turk to get them a little room. Tifa jumped back and charged up for her limit, well Vincent swooped down and slashed at Rude.

Elena started to cast Thunder3 on Barret but was stopped when a over sized moogles took a swing at her. She ducked down and then uppercuted the cat in the face. Cait Sith fell off the moogle and on to the ground he started to climb back up but was stopped when he had to duck when Yuffie threw her shuriken at Elena. It almost cut into the female Turk but she dodged it with only a scrap.

Cloud ran at Reno who was now backed up against a tree with Red about to attack. Cloud swung his sword at the Turk but was stopped by the night stick in its path. Reno was fighting hard to not have the cold blade cut in to him. Finally Cloud drew back and took a second swing this time hitting down low in Reno’s lag. The Turk fell to the ground but was up in an instant when Elena cast cure2 on him.

Rude was dodging punches from Tifa, and attacks from Cid’s spear, and most of the attacks from Vincent let alone the presence of sprays of bullets from Barret every few minutes. He finally got under Cid’s spear and gabbed him in the stomach.

The pilot fell to the ground but was quick to retaliate and pulled out a stick of dynamite from his jacket. He lit it and tossed it to the Turk. Rude in turn grabbed it and threw it back at Cid. They both ran a few yards away as it was blowing up. Tifa jumped in and punched at Rude, he grabbed both of her hands and held them tight in one of his hands and punched at her with his free hand.

Barret pulled him away and smacked him in the face with his gun arm. Both Rude and Tifa fell to the ground. Yuffie cast Cure on Tifa just as Elena got off Full Life on Rude.

Cloud took another swing at Reno but once again hit the night stick witch this time was cut in to. Reno jumped back, "Well I guess this show is coming to an end folks!" Reno pulled out a green materia and concentrated on it, "...Ultima!" A dark green light hit in to both Red and Cloud sending them to the ground.

Reno then walked over to Red and pulled out the blue bottle Elena handed him before. He opened it up and pored it on the animal. A orange light appeared around the lion, "Well I guess this mission is over with. But don't expect this to be the last of the Turks... we'll be back. Elena Rude lets go!"

The other to drew back with Reno in to the forest.

Barret looked around, "Yo, Yuffie cast Life on Cloud."

The ninja obeyed and soon Cloud was back on his feet.

He looked to the others, "Is everyone ok?"

Vincent flew down and turned back in to human form, "Red." He pointed to the lion who was surrounded by a light orange aura. The others ran over to him. Vincent knelt down to the animal and searched around his neck, "He's still alive. My guess is Hojo sent them out to do something to Red form how this looks..."

"The hells that fucked up little man want with Red? Don't he care about Sephroth or the shit with Jinova anymore?" Barret commented as he watched on.

"Maybe he's..." Vincent stared down at the lion who seemed to be in no pain at all and even look to be asleep aside from the light orange glow that was starting to change to a eerie dark purple fast.

"So you think Hojo's behind this?" Cloud walked closer to Red, "Cid, Cait, Barret go get some chocobo's we need to get Red back to Cosmo Canyon and find out what they did to him. And Cait... try to find something out."

The three nodded and walked off to get more of the birds that ran away from the fight.

"So what’s up with him?" Yuffie tried to brake the silence that had come over them.

"Shhhh..." Vincent hushed her.

She looked around at them then off in the distance to the three that were sent to get chocobos. "I think I'm going to go and-" She turned back to see the light that surrounded Red was now a pitch black. The only light that came from the darkness was the red glow of the flame at the end of his tail witch soon dimmed to nothing. "Is he..."

Vincent pulled his hand away, then looked back at the others. "I don't know what else we can do bu-" There was a flash of light from within the darkness that had surrounded the lion. Soon the light was to bright to look at anymore. They all looked away from it then finally looked back to find that the lion no longer laid where it did a minute ago.

Instead a young man did. He had the same color hair as the lions main, also a few of the scars that Red had were on the boy. He looked about 16 or 17. Vincent removed the heavy dark red coat he had on and placed it over the unclothed boy.

Yuffie and Tifa were both speechless, Cloud kneeled down and sat next to Vincent on the ground, "Nanaki..."

Silence spread over them once again, until Yuffie walked closer, "He's... he's... he's a... a person??"

Vincent shook his head then looked to the ground then to Cloud who didn't know what to do, "Yuffie!" He called with out looking back at her.

"...yes?"

"Go get the others and tell them to come here!"

"...ok..." She ran the others. Barret and Cid were trying to make out what Yuffie was saying as Cait Sith was getting the last Chocobo now, "'..."

"riiiiiiight..." Cid turned around and was about to light up whan he saw the others standing there, "Reds... a... human... Shit did I miss something?"

Yuffie jumped in fount of them, "I just told you that!"

"ummm... ok anyway how the hell did that happen?"

Vincent picked up the boy that was now Red XIII and stood up himself.

Cait Sith came bouncing over on top of the moogle, "So we ready to go yet?"

"You blind?!" Yuffie said smacking the Cat.

"What?" The stuffed cat looked to the girl then to the others till finally he saw the young man that was in Vincent’s arms. "Wow ether I got kicked in the head a few to many times by them chocobos or Red is human now."

"You know if you weren't just a cat I'd think you were pretty stupid." Yuffie said as she grabbed one of the chocobo's from Cait Sith.

"Shut up Yuffie I'm smarter then you are!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are no-"

"Shut the fuck up the both a ya! Damn Ninja and ya stuffed cat. Can't you see there's more important shit going!"

"Sorry..." Cait Sith put his head in his hands and pretended to pout. Well Yuffie was giving Barret the death glare.

"I am the best Ninja in all of Watai for your information."

"Damn it you guys stop fighting." Cid said then turned to Cait Sith, "Hey Cait you know anything about this?"

"Right, I'm just a dumb cat just until ya'll need me to get you info from Shin-Ra."

"We should get back to the city so he can rest." Vincent said as he placed the sleeping boy on one chocobo and grabbed the rope from around the birds neck.

"Ok fine, Vincent's right. Lets go, and Cait try to find some stuff out ok. We'll head to Cosmo Canyon and see if Bugenhagen can help." Cloud grabbed one of the chocobos and climbed on. The others followed him. Vincent grabbed a second Chocobo and climbed on and led Red's Chocobo behind him.

-Out side of Casmo Canyon-

"Wait!" The guard looked down at them as they walked up the path to the village.

"Its us. Please we have to speak with Bugenhagen right away." Cloud walked forward.

"Not with out Nanki"

"This is Nanaki" Vincent walked forward with the boy in his hands.

"That’s a person."

"Look!" Vincent moshened down at the scar across his face and some of the uncovered tattoos on the boy.

"How could... please go see Bugenhagen right away."

"Vincent take him to the inn I'll go get Bugenhagen everyone else you can do what you want." Cloud told the others

"Right." Vincent walked over to the inn. A little while later they were joined by Bugenhagen.

"Ho ho ho well lets see..."

"What do you think happened?" Cloud leaned over the other side of the bed as Red's grandfather looked at Red.

"...well I don't really know how this could happen..."

"Vincent, you were right it was something to do with Hojo..."Cait Sith bonded in to the room. "I found out just now when I heard... well I over heard it actually..."

"You spy on every one don't you?" Cloud looked up for only a second then back down.

"Well..." The cat looked down for a moment then back up at them. "Anyway how's he doing?"

"Ho ho hooo he's just sleeping right now. He'll be fine when he wakes up. He's just as healthy as any of us."

"So is there anything you can do to change him back?" Cait walked closer to the bed.

"No not yet, we don't know what it is my little friend."

"So Cait Sith why all the question's? You know something we don't?"

"...why would I not tell you guys? I promise that if I know anything I'll tell you. So are we going to be staying here for a few days or what?"

"Well it depends on Red..."

"Oh ok... so if he is ok are we still going back to The city of Ancients?"

Cloud and Vincent both looked up at the cat who had suddenly got the notion to be curious. "Why you need to know now? You know we have meetings about this stuff..." Vincent started.

"I'm just curious that’s all..." He looked slightly nervous around the room.

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"...And a Revive materia brought him back to life!" Cait Sith stuck out his tongue at them and stormed out of the room.

"Ho ho hooo I think your little friend might be planing something... well I'll be off. I'll come back later to cheek on him in the mean time would some one please stay with him?"

"I will." Vincent nodded to both Bugenhagen and Cloud. Bugenhagen left the room.

"You sure you want to stay up?"

"Yes, I don't need the sleep like you all do. Go and get some rest, it will be ok."

"Ok g'night Vincent." Cloud left as well.

--The morning--

Red XIII slowly opened his eyes and looked around.

"Your awake."

"Yes I-" Red stopped when he heard the voice coming from his mouth was not his.

"Don't worry I'll explain." Vincent walked from the corner to the bed next to Red's and sat down. "Do you remember when the Turks came?"

"Yes..."

"When you were KO'd Reno used something on you....some kind of potion and it changed you into a human..."

"...human..."

"Yes."

"How?"

"We don't know Cait Sith is trying to find out but, for right now we don't know how to change you back... I'm sorry."

"Its ok, where are the others?"

"They all went to get something to eat I think. Would you like to go?"

"Yes."

"Ok, here's the clothes Bugenhagen gave for you to ware." The ex-Turk said motioning over to the folded item's that were placed on the sofa on the opposite side of the room. "Do you need any help?"

"No, it's ok... I know. Thank you." Red watched as Vincent nodded then walked from the room, then he started to get up. After a few minutes of pushing himself up he finally was siting up in the bed. He put his hands stretched out in front of him and looked. He now had to arms hands and five fingers. He looked over into the mirror to look at his face. He watched for a moment looking back at the reflection, wanting it to do something else so he could tell it was not his. Finally though he smiled slightly and tilted his head, but quickly looked away. Slowly he pulled the covers off of himself and slid his legs over the side of the bed. He set his feet carefully on the cold floor and looked down.

Then he switched his gaze to the folded cloths on the sofa, and slowly looked across the space between him and them. He let out a weary sigh. "Now or never I guess..." He placed his hands firmly on ether side and pushed himself to his feet. He stood for a minute and waited for the shaking to go away. He smiled again, 'Just like on the boat... one foot in front of the...' He lifted his left foot slightly but immediately after placed it back on the ground. He let out another sigh, this time slightly annoyed. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what it was that Aeris told him to do when they were on the boat in Junon. He opened his eyes again and looked strait forward. He took in a few breaths and then lifted his foot again, this time slowly moving it out from under himself and placing it a few inches from where it previously was. He smiled and looked down.

After walking over to the cloths he looked down at them slightly confused. "How do they even put these on?" He asked to no one in particular. He picked up one of the pieces and held it out in front of him. He stared at it for a moment and tilted his head slightly. "....?"

--In the bar--

"So how's he doing?" Yuffie asked from her position perched on a bar stool.

"Better... I think he's..." Vincent train of thought was broken when a peanut flew in front of him, across the bar and toward the cat that was 'sleeping'.

"Oh!" Cid hit the side of the counter. "Almost!"

"Well, I hate to tell you but almost don't count." Cloud picked up one and started to aim it.

"What the hell do you think your doing!" Vincent said. Forcing both blond men to stop the game and look sheepishly up at him.

"Well, we were bored and he was... and um... it's a great way to pass time..." Cloud said sliding room the bar stool and walking over to Vincent. "So, how's Nanaki?"

"...fine." Vincent said as he glared at the leader.

Cloud smiled again but looked away as the door to the room opened and Red walked out.

"Hi..." He said a little nervous that they were all looking at him. He slowly walked over to the table that Tifa and Barret were siting at and also sat down.

"Hey Red..." Tifa said smiling brightly at him. "How ya fell?"

"...ok I think..." Once again he let out a sigh and looked around the room.

"Here, we got you something to eat." The bar hostess said motioning to the plate of food and glass.

"Thank you."

The cat slowly bounced away from the wall. "So... did I miss anything?"

Half of the occupants of the room glared over in the cat's direction.

"Not really... you find anything out yet?" Cid said looking spectivly at the cat.

"Well, I couldn't get much out of Hojo, sorry."

"...couldn't or wouldn't?" Cid beamed again.

"COULD NOT!" Cait said then paused for a moment. "Well, what do you want me to do? Beet it out of him?" He said with a small laugh, witch quickly died.

"Well, maybe just try a little more?" Tifa turned to look at him now. "Why not go talk to him, get a drink or something. Get him to trust you, then trick him into telling you... you do know that's what real spies do."

"Hey! I am a real spy!"

"Um... Cait... your being a real spy is about as real as Scarlet's chest size." Cid said as he puffed on a cigarette.

"...hmph... I guess you don't need my help."

"Gwad! Cait come on. Please, just try to talk to him. You don't have to be real buddy-buddy just try talking to him. It may work." Yuffie said looking over at him.

"...fine I'll see what I can do..." Cait walked back to the wall. "But this time, I would really appreciate it if you didn't throw peanuts at me..."

"Fine..." Cloud and Cid both said in unison.

--Shin-Ra Tower--

“But this time, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t throw peanuts at me…” The man said as he looked at the computer screen in front of himself. He moved the cat into the corner then clicked on the button to disconnect. He watched the blank screen for a minute until he looked up. “Well I guess I have a little spy work to do?” He stood up from his oak desk and walked around to the other side of the office.

As he walked out he looked over and forced a smile at his secretary. “Hey Tracy, do I have any messages?”

“Rufus wanted to talk to you, about AVALANCHE. That’s about it.” She giggled stupidly and tilted her head to the side.

“Thanks, I’m going to go for a minute ok.” He turned to leave, but then turned back to look at the blond woman that still had the same dumb expression on her face. “Please don’t go into my office well I’m gone ok.”

“Ok.” She smiled again as he turned to leave once more.”

“Hey Hojo…” The younger man said as he walked into the lab.

The scientist waited a minute before he turned around to look at the other executive. “Reeve? What brings you down here? Is that brat calling another meeting?”

“…no, actually I just came down to say hi…” He smiled a little as he tried to think of something to tell the scientist.

“You came down to say hi…” Hojo repeated slowly as he walked toward him.

“Uh…yep…” He forced a smile as he watched the dark figure advance closer toward him.

The slender scientist paused looking down at the carpet in front of him before letting his eyes trail slowly up Reeve’s body until their eyes met, “Let’s not play games, Charles…”

“Heh heh…,” Reeve let a nervous laugh escape his lips and then slipped his tongue out to moisten them before replying, “Now, let’s not jump to any conclusions, Louis. I can explain everything…” The dark-haired engineer racked his brain for an excuse for his odd behavior.

“No explanation necessary, Charles,” a sly grin crossed the lithe man’s features, “It’s perfectly understandable… Two people… in the workplace… feelings develop…”

“Yea- uh, wait, what?” Reeve responded blindly before catching Hojo’s meaning, “Umm… could you possibly… uh… heh heh.. repeat that?”

The scientist rolled his eyes and sighed, “No need to be coy, Charles. Anyone could tell the company you prefer to keep.”

Reeve drew back, more than a little appalled, “Wait a sec! You all think I’m… g- “ He choked on the word, “Gay?”

Hojo’s features dropped, “You’re… uh… you’re not?”

Reeve shook his head vigorously, “Uh-uh!”

A sigh escaped from the scientist’s lips and he visibly slumped, “Great. Just great. Alright, that’s it!” Spinning on his heel, Hojo quickly grabbed and donned his jacket before turning back to the door and stalking out. All the while he muttered under his breath, “Serves me right… hit on another member of Shin-Ra… at least he didn’t laugh like Reno…” He continued in the manner, walking straight past Reeve and out the door.

Charles A. Reeve, Head of Urban Development, stood stock still… completely at a loss… until Hojo’s head popped back into the room, causing the dark-headed Shin-Ra executive to jump.

“When I get back, you’d better be gone!” Hojo stated, then turned around muttering again, “I need a nice stiff scotch…”

And thusly, the good little spy was shaken from his trance-like state and, closing the door to his co-worker’s office, he began to retrieve the files that he needed from the Shin-Ra database.