The small house on the plate, a stark contrast to the grimy slums below, felt like a luxury.
Real beds, a functioning kitchen, and most importantly, a temporary reprieve from Shinra's relentless pursuit.
For Yuffie, who usually thrived on chaos, the quiet stillness was almost unsettling.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, meticulously polishing her shuriken, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings.
Aerith, ever the calm presence, was humming softly as she watered a small potted plant on the windowsill, a splash of green in the otherwise sterile environment.
Her touch seemed to bring life to everything around her, a stark contrast to the destructive power of Mako she'd witnessed in the reactor.
She glanced at Arthur, who was still looking pale and drawn from his intense spiritual battle.
She continued to send small trickles of her own Lifestream energy to him, a subtle act of healing he might not even consciously feel, but which she knew was vital.
Tifa, meanwhile, was doing her best to make sense of the map spread across the coffee table.
Her brow was furrowed in concentration, her strong fingers tracing potential escape routes out of Midgar.
She occasionally murmured something to Cloudia, who was working on her device, seemingly lost in the complexities of reactor schematics even after their success.
The air was thick with unspoken questions, with the weight of their precarious situation.
Yuffie, unable to sit still for long, finally broke the silence.
"So, uh, what now? We just… wait around? That's boring."
She spun a shuriken expertly on her fingertip, catching the light.
Aerith turned from the window, a gentle smile on her face.
"We plan, Yuffie. And we rest. Arthur especially needs it."
She looked at him again, a hint of concern in her eyes.
Arthur, who had been quietly observing the group, nodded weakly.
"Aerith's right. That… that wasn't just a fight. It was like fighting a storm inside my head."
Tifa looked up from the map, her expression softening.
"You did amazing, Arthur. You bought us the time we needed. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
Her words were sincere, a rare moment of open appreciation from the usually stoic martial artist.
Yuffie, intrigued, put down her shuriken.
"So, this Sephira person… she's like, a ghost? A super strong ghost that only you can see?"
Arthur sighed.
"Not exactly a ghost. More like… a consciousness forming within the Lifestream. She's not physical yet, but her influence is immense. The Whisperers… they're trying to push her into existence."
The very thought sent a shiver down his spine.
The idea of an even more powerful, more malevolent entity than the one he knew from the game was terrifying.
Aerith sat down beside him, her presence calming.
"The Lifestream is the planet's lifeblood, Yuffie. It's where all life returns after death, and where new life begins. For something like Sephira to be forming there… it's deeply troubling. It means the Whisperers are trying to control destiny itself."
"Control destiny?"
Yuffie scoffed.
"Sounds like something Shinra would try to do. But with, like, magic, or something."
Tifa folded the map, her gaze distant.
"Shinra tries to control the Lifestream too, by extracting Mako. They're draining the planet's very essence. It's all connected."
She looked at Arthur.
"You said Wutai has a foothold now. Is that… a good thing?"
Arthur nodded.
"It means there's a place outside of Shinra's direct control. Wutai and Shinra have always been enemies. If we can get there, we'll be safer, and we can figure out our next move from a position of strength."
He paused, looking at Aerith.
"Aerith, your abilities… they're getting better connected to the Lifestream, aren't they?"
Aerith nodded slowly.
"Yes. I can hear the planet's cries, feel its pain. And I can… communicate with the Lifestream to some extent. It's how I can help you, Arthur, when you're connected to it."
She placed a hand on his arm, and he felt a comforting warmth, a subtle surge of energy that eased the lingering exhaustion.
Yuffie, seeing the deep connection between Aerith and the planet, grew quiet for a moment.
She might be a brash materia hunter, but even she understood the gravity of what Aerith was saying.
"So, you're like, a planet whisperer?"
She asked, a touch of awe in her voice.
Aerith chuckled softly.
"Something like that, I suppose."
Tifa, always practical, brought the conversation back to their immediate problem.
"Okay, so Wutai. But how do we get there? Midgar's gates will be on lockdown. We can't just stroll out."
"We need a diversion,"
Arthur stated, his mind beginning to clear.
"Something big enough to draw Shinra's attention away from the exits. And we need to move fast. They'll be stepping up their patrols everywhere."
Yuffie's eyes lit up.
"A diversion? Oh, I'm good at diversions! We could set off, like, a dozen explosions! Or steal something super important from Shinra! Everyone would look for that!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and for a moment, the tension in the room eased.
Tifa considered it.
"Explosions are certainly effective, but they draw a lot of attention. We need something controlled. Something that makes them think they've found us, but allows us to slip away."
Aerith, ever thoughtful, suggested,
"Perhaps something that plays on their greed. Shinra values money and Mako above all else. If they thought there was a massive Mako deposit, or a huge amount of gil ripe for the taking, they might redirect resources."
Arthur's mind raced. Aerith's idea had merit. Shinra was notoriously obsessed with Mako and profit.
"What if we make them think there's a new, undiscovered Mako vein somewhere remote, just outside the city? Or that we're targeting a highly valuable Shinra cargo transport?"
"Oooh, cargo transport!"
Yuffie clapped her hands.
"Like a train full of awesome stuff! We could pretend to raid it, then just… leave a note saying 'See ya, suckers!'"
Tifa mulled it over.
"A train raid could work. It would definitely draw a military response. But it would have to be believable. And we'd need a way to create a convincing diversion without actually endangering innocent people on the train."
"We could use decoys,"
Arthur suggested.
"Something that looks like us, or our equipment, that Shinra would chase after while we make our actual escape."
The ideas began to flow, a sense of renewed purpose filling the small apartment.
Jessie and Biggs, who had been listening intently from the kitchen where they were scrounging for snacks, joined the discussion, offering their own insights from their experience with Shinra technology.
Wedge, always eager to help, was already trying to find a map with more detailed external routes.
As the hours passed, a rough plan began to take shape. They would create a large, convincing decoy operation involving a fake attack on a supply train heading towards the outskirts of Midgar.
While Shinra forces were drawn to the supposed threat, the real Avalanche would use a lesser-known, more discreet route to escape the city on foot. It would be arduous, but it offered their best chance.
Arthur, watching the group work together, felt a flicker of hope. They were battered, bruised, and facing an existential threat, but they were not broken.
They were united, and together, they just might have a chance.
And Arthur had a magic that could do just that.
It might be the time to show everyone a little bit more of his power.
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Craze: The Fairytail arc is on!
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