Legacy of a Star Child

Chapter 37: There are no Strings no more

-After weeks of wandering the desolate paths dictated by the gods amulet, and dealing with the constant mental torment from a certain Jenovian shadow, Cloud strife had made it back to Traverse Town, the place in which he had left his friends all that time ago in search of a way back home to Gaia. The blond man was exhausted from his travels, and a rest was exactly what the poor thing needed. The first thing he did once he got to the town square, was look for Cid. He had been granted the right to work at the near by accessory shop making equipment and other devices for defending against the heartless attacks that regularly plagued the poor place. He went up to the door and lightly pushed to go inside. The first thing he saw was the dark haired owner of the building at his register humming as he wrote something down in slips of paper, he paused as he saw cloud enter.-

Yes, can I help you?

Hi uh, someone I knew was working here not long ago crafting bangles and assisting the Moogles upstairs. I came to ask if you knew where he was.

Cid Highwind you mean? Yes I think I remember you, Cloud right? I was told to inform you that if you returned here, your associates left town. Apparently they found a way back home. I'm kind of curious, what's it like traveling different worlds? I see so many people end up here from so many places, and none really ever seem keen to just tell the truth about it.

-Cloud blinked at that question. The shop owner had a point, this town was seemingly the universes dumping ground for stragglers, and it almost seemed like Traverse Town was getting comfortable with it, well aside from the heartless of course. Those obviously no one wanted.-

I don't exactly make it a habit of traveling worlds, though, I guess if you were into that sort of thing, it is something else to behold.

I see, perhaps the next person to come by I might hitch a ride for some sights of my own, or maybe if I play my cards right I can get some of the visitors to at least tell me a little bit, I take it you yourself are in a hurry.

Yeah, sorry. I don't have time to be sitting and telling stories.

Hm, well, if you need anymore information about Cid Highwind, I know he got terribly friendly with another visitor from the outside whom decided to settle down here. Both of them were apparently avid fans of space craft and had opened up business selling parts and blueprints.

-Now that caught Cloud's interest for sure, if there was a way to make this trip of his even shorter, as well as get some info about where his friends had gone, he was going to take it.-

What's his name?

Geppetto, he lives down the road from the shop, hard to miss that little decorated store front of his. Lives there with his son I believe. Strange little boy, he used to be a puppet, but now he's human!

-The ex-soldiers brow furrowed at that, before a realization hit him, Pinocchio, he had met the child at least once before leaving the town in search of home. He bowed his head lightly to the shop keep before mumbling.-

Right, thank you.

-And off he went out the door. It was barely a 5 minute walk down the road to the cute little bungalow the man had described. It looked to have been an old toy store converted into a home, and to its credit, it looked like the blue print maker also was making toys for children while advertising machine parts and other things to adult customers. Clever. Cloud awkwardly went to the door and lightly knocked, he blinked when he saw the blinds part slightly, and little baby blue eyes stare at him, a child. From behind the wood he could hear a small voice say: Father, a strange man is at the door. I feel like I have seen him before! Within seconds, the door opened, and out peeked the older salt and pepper shaker haired puppet maker.-

Oh my, do you need something young man?

I was told I could find information about Cid Highwind here.

Oh! Oh yes! You must be Cloud!

Yeah that's his name father! I knew I met him before!

-Chimed the little boy seated up on the window sill lightly swinging his cute little shiny black shoed feet. He giggled and hopped down to come over and look up at Cloud, indeed he was no longer a puppet, but a smiling human boy. Cloud gave a thin lined almost awkward smile, he was starting to remember how strange people made him felt.-

Yes, I am Cloud, I take it Cid left me a message with you?

Indeed he did, I actually have a gift for you my boy, please come in!

-The chocobo haired one blinked walking in, following behind. Pinocchio seemed to gasp and get excited.-

You talked to Mr. Cid?! How is he!? I miss him... He used to tell all the best stories about adventuring, I want to be just like him and travel all around the worlds when I grow up! Him and Father!

-Adorable. Strange, but adorable all the same. Cloud finally cracked at least a small genuine smile at that. It brought on thoughts about Marlene and Denzel probably waiting for him at home. That thought quickly bloomed into a pang of worry and mild anxiety hitting inside his chest... were they safe? And had everyone else actually made it home. He nodded lightly to the small child and tried to brush those thoughts away, at least for now.-

I am sure that if Cid has made it home by now, he'd be more than happy to come visit again some day. Cid always dreamed of going to space... let alone traveling a galaxy of worlds.

-Geppetto chuckled softly at that as he looked around for something.-

Yes we talked about that all while he was here, such a nice man he was. Oh! Here we are.

-The old man opened up a porcelain candy dish, and revealed inside what looked like a set of car keys, odd, since there were no cars in Traverse Town... at least not to Clouds knowledge.-

Before he left, Cid had built a small vehicle designed for travel much like his own vessel, intended for you. Though from what I hear its more designed for your liking. I have it stored in the garage behind the shop.

I... thank you. You didn't have to do this.

-Geppetto just smiled the sweetest smile.-

No perhaps not, but, Cid and that young boy Sora had been very kind to I and my son. Without them, I don't think I and Pinocchio would still be here with a place to call home. The relocation was rough in of itself, and Cid was kind enough to make sure nothing happened to my sweet boy while I was away.

Sora... so he was here as well. Hm...

-Maybe it was Sora that helped Cid get out of Traverse Town, it never occurred to him to ask the boy back in Olympus if he had known a way out. Ah well, from the sound of it, he might just be able to see him again some day, he needed to think of a way to repay the kid for the trouble.-

Thank you, would it be alright to come get it some time this week? I normally would be in a rush to leave but, I have been walking for a while, and honestly need a rest for a bit.

Of course! Was there anything you were in need of? I was just about to make dinner, you must be starving if you've come all this way.

Oh oh! You should join us for dinner mister! I want to hear your stories too! Pretty please?

-Begged the tender boy whom looked up at Cloud so brightly, damn it, why was he a sucker for children... the man sighed and mildly scratched at the side of his own cheek with his pointer finger.-

I... sure, alright.