Of Angles

By PoaTB

Rated: T

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama

Warning: Swearing and some blood shedding.

Parings: None. (Though any requests are appreciated. Weather it be straight, shojo-ai, or shonen-ai or the original parings. Please do not ask for henti, yaoi, or yuri. I want to keep this as clean as possible without changing the ratings. That will be saved for another story... that is if I decide to do it.)

Set Time: The destruction of Terra for IX and the the beginning of VII

Spoils: Spoils for the ending of Final Fantasy IX and spoils for the whole game of VII

Summary: While escaping Terra, Zidane and Blank finds themselves in a whole new place. Making friends and new ally, they travel with the Avalanche group in search of their friends. But as they travel, they see there is more to this planet then which meets the eye. Later on, Cloud discovers something about our tailed friend. Something very shocking. How will he handle it?

Side Note: I know, I'm suppose to be working on Ribbon, but this idea came to mind so I decided to write on it. Don't worry, I'll still continue. If there are any grammar error, please be sure to let me know. Through trial and error is the only way I will learn.

Disclaimer: I don't own the games, Squaresoft (before it became Enix) does so the credit goes to them. The plot and idea are originally mine. That is all. Thank you.

Edit Note: Okay, I realized I had done many grammatical error through out both the stories. So it is with great hesitation I ask for a Beta. I hesitate because I have not done that before. Soooo... Yea. Please help this idiotic fool with the grammar!

x.x.x.x.x

It was bright today. Very sunny indeed with rays of sunshine that makes any blue bird sing a gay song. But this city wouldn't know that with all the pollution lingering about in their sky. Perhaps the dark toxic sky does match the mood of the citizens when the walk in circles, wondering what to do to live in these forsaken streets.

Even so, in between two buildings kneels a girl, who would save the world from the great peril they are about to face, with a basket of flowers in one arm while praying to a green glow before her. Whispers of the slowly decaying earth, which had barley begun life, telling her secrets of the world and begging her to save it. How scared it was. She would always assured it it would get better with time and allies. She smiled at the comforting feeling the coursed through her body, which told her the planet believed her. However, this time when she was about to cut the connection, it didn't thank her like it did every time. It told her something else, which had at first alarmed her.

Unfortunately the connection disintegrated to nothing before she could ask what it meant, leaving the green glow behind. She got up, and bowed to it before walking out of the alley. She could not help, but ponder, 'What do they mean by more enemies of the ancients are coming? And why did they mean more ancients are on their way?'

And then...

KABOOM!

x.x.x.x.x

Prologue:

Blue Skies

x.x.x.x.x

KABOOM!

The depressing azure skies turned crimson red as chaos spread through the planet absorbing planet. Ultimas flying high across the sky, wrecking havoc and destruction for those who sleep. Dooms day is today for this planet. Soon Terra will be no more. All thanks to a certain genome.

'Why did it have to end up this way?' Zidane though bitterly as he raced back to the Invincible with his newly found sister, Mikoto.

Over all, the trip to Terra became a major disappointment. Who would have known that the home he has long searched for, a place where he though he would belong, would turn out to be nothing more then a nightmare? What becomes more disappointing is the origins behind his birth. His meaning, his fate, his role, his purpose. What a mess it all turned out to be.

Before the ship of destruction came into his view, he stopped to take one last look at Bran Bal, the now soulless and lifeless village. Mikoto stopped as well and wondered what her brother is doing. "Zidane?" She asked very meekly.

Zidane continued to stare at the village for a while before turning to Mikoto and flashing a fake smile. "I'm okay. Let's go home," he said as he took a step forward. His last thoughts towards this forsaken planet help no remorse as the words went through his head. 'Please burn, and never come back.'

That nightmare is over. But the fight is not over yet. Kuja has to be dealt with before peace can sooth the tension that has been rising.

They both ran to the Invincible, which had started and looked like it was about to take off. As soon as they both boarded, the ship rose. "Sorry to keep you guys waiting," he said apologetically.

"Zidane!" The princess called before she hugged him.

"What the hell man?" The young stitched up red haired one said. "We were about to leave you behind. What took ya?"

'Saying good bye to the place I was born, and damning it to hell,' he thought before saying, "Nothing. Sorry I'm late. But now we got everyone."

The Invincible took to the sky as fiery debris and tree like coffins began to pour down on them. Once away from the fiery pits, the fly became smooth and they were on their way home.

Or so they though.

x.x.x.x.x

"Barret, shoot it! NOW!" Cloud commanded as he sliced the Air Buster from behind.

For the past five minutes they have been fighting the Air Buster, nothing seems to be affecting it. All of Barrets bullets ricochet off its metal plates, Tifas kicks and punches seems to hurt her more then the robot, and Clouds attack seems to do minimal damage. The robots counter attacks didn't help their situation any.

It was difficult, until it started to falter a bit and hover more lowly then it previously was. Clouds and Tifas attack seems to do a lot more damage then it was before, but Barret didn't want to risk a bullet to any of his team mates, so he waited until one of its plates are off. Only when Cloud manage to slice one of the plates off (with the help of Tifas kick), did he aim.

"Barret, what are you doing? Shoot it!" Tifa yelled as she evades one of the miniature rocket that flew her way. Only this time it became easier to evade them then it was five minutes ago.

"'The hell ya'll think I'm doin'?" He shouted back, while aiming his gun at the exposed wires. "I be caping dis foo's ass if this fucken' gun worked! My gun is jammed!"

"Great," Cloud mumbled to himself. "Head butt it or something! Don't just stand there!"

"Shut up, bitch!"

Quickly Barret unzipped the pack hanging on his left leg and took out the the assault gun and replaced the galactic gun he was working with. It worked for a couple of seconds, but soon that too stopped. It remains a mystery as why both guns has failed him under the same minute, but now he render complete uselessness.

"Gah! This little bitch is down too!"

"... Wh-"

"It's alright Cloud," Tifa interrupted before he says anything offensive. "It think it's out or something."

What she says is partly true. It has stopped moving, but it still twitched here and there. Cloud poked it with the tip of his sword. It jumped, and so did they, but it stopped again on the floor. There was some strange beeping noise forming from somewhere, but it is very faint.

All the sudden cracks of electricity waved around them, barely missing the spot they stand. The robot isn't so lucky as it has been strike twice under fifteen seconds. The beeping nose grew louder and the pace became faster after the second strike.

"Is that robot controlling this?" Tifa asked out loud.

"Maybe," Cloud answered after dodging the second blot that tried to strike him."But if it is, where is it coming from? WHOA!"

"'The fuck? Come on! Let's get out of here! Da bombs gonna explode any second!" Barret yelled, dodging the third blot going his way.

"Alright, lets-" Cloud began, but was soon cut off as the robot took it fourth and final strike and went 'KABOOM!'

Neither of them expected the sudden boom. Tifa and Barret were thrown back, but Cloud didn't have their fortune since he is clinging on for dear life on the lone pipe that is sticking out from the bridge. The lighting hadn't stopped yet, and Cloud became more vulnerable then he was on his two feet.

"Cloud!" The both yelled.

"Go on ahead!" He yelled back while trying to pull himself up. "I'll catch up!"

"Tifa, we have to go! It's gonna explode!"

"Can't you do anything Barret?"

"Woman, what can I do? Both of my guns are jammed, and unless you have a rope or a ladder in your pouch, we can't do shit."

She scowled and turns her attention to Cloud. "Don't you dare die on me Cloud Strife! There's still so much I want to share with you!"

He grunts painfully as he swings a bit to doge that last bolt that tries to get him. "I know..." he replies as he tries to pull himself up again.

"You think you gonna be okay?" Barret asked.

"...Just be strong."

Slowly his grip loosen and his hands slipped off the poll and he fell. Tifa screamed out his name, but Barret pulled her back. She reached out and Barret had to drag her out while the Mako Reactor started to explode.

It was all going in slow motion for him. Tifa, the boom, the debris that follows him, the lighting that was so close to strike him, and then black. Is he dead? Did that fall kill him? What will Tifa say?

x.x.x.x.x

Meanwhile, Aerith had been tending to the flowers she had managed to grow and keep alive in the church of Sector Five. Hardly anyone comes by this church and tends to the flowers needs. Aside from the two children who would come by every now and then, she is the only one who would come to the church on a daily basis. Not that she minded. Though every time she came here, it would always remind her of her love one. The one who promised to come back for her and take her away from the slums.

Unfortunately the spirits told her that he now resides with them, in the life stream. It broke her heart to hear such a news, but she continued to smile. Just for him. She also kept her second promise she made to him, and keeping his flower alive. That one specific flower he liked among the rest, which is the one she kneels at, at that very moment.

'They come,' something she recognized as the spirits whispered in her ears.

She heard what sounded like thunder above her. She looked up and see brilliant white flashes from the churches high windows and holes in to ceiling. Though she believed that it was something else. Something such as materia training and they are using the thunder materia. But that too is as far-fetched as thunder within the city. For no one would ever practice any types of magic around an area so dangerous, nor could any thunder clouds seek in the city without going through the high mountains first.

Another flash and the floors vibrated. She stood up and continued to stare at the ceiling. Something is coming, and it is coming fast. She picked up her staff and prepared herself in case it was someone, or something, from Shinra. She took a step back when the thunderbolt strikes the roof of the church, and took another step back when something fell through the large hole. She jumped back when the mass landed before here and shields herself from the debris that followed with it. She dusted herself from the unwanted dust after everything settles in. 'What was that?'

She approached what ever it was that landed in the middle of the flower bed with caution. As soon as she sees who it is, her staff left her hand and landed with a loud clank. 'Zack?' She thought with disbelief. The clothing, armor, and the weapon. They all looked similar to his. But the man looked nothing like her beloved Zack. She kneels beside him, getting a close examination. Blond hair, pale skin, possibly green or blue eyes, sharp nose, and peach lips. The exact opposite of Zack. Then it hit her. It the young man she had meet the other day after the Mako Reactors exploded. She remembered mistaking him for Zack then too. Though she still does not understand why.

"Uh...!" The strange man moaned.

'Oh!' She thought. 'He's hurt.'

Immediately she took out her cure materia and channeled her energy into it. A small ray of green light coursed it's way to the mans body, healing and mending whatever broken bones he may have. The man looks at ease after five minutes of healing when she stopped, and seemed semi awake. "Hello?"

The man did not answer. He continued to stay still and Aerith nudged his arm. "Hey, are you okay now," she asked.

The man flinched and stirred a bit, his head tilting side to side as though he was trying to wake up from some dream. "Oh! He moved!" She nudged him a bit more, hopping to get him out of the slumber he was in. "Hello?" She tried again. "Hello?"

This time he opened his eyes and moaned from the bright light the shined above her head. "Ugh... Where...?" The man looked at the other side, then back to her. He was about to ask, but Aerith spoke before he could. "Oh, thank goodness you're safe. You gave me quite a fright," she smiled at him and sat herself next to him. "See that hole up there," she asked pointing directly at the hole he fell from. "You went through that and landed on the flower bed." Her view went from the roof back to the stranger next to her. Her smile never left as she said, "You must be lucky. I think the flower bed cushioned your landing."

"Flower... bed," the man asked after he sat up. His vision went back to normal and took a better look at his surroundings. Flowers surrounded him from ever direction, looking more alive then he had ever seen them before. All of them larger then he has ever seen them, and robust. He looked down and noticed he was squishing some to their deaths. Immediately he got up and jumped off the flower bed, apologizing continuously for the damage the flowers sustained.

Aerith got up and faced him, her smile never leaving her. "You don't have to apologize. I think they are still doing well." She hopped over the beds and landed next to him. "I am Aerith by the way," she told him. "Aerith Gainsborough. Who are you?"

The man stayed silent for a while before saying, "Cloud Strife."

Her smile brightened, kneels before the flower bed, picked a flower, and held it to him. "Nice to meet you, Cloud."

He accepted the flower before remembering why it is she looked familiar. "You're that flower girl from yesterday, aren't you?"

"You remembered," she said with glee. "I'm glad."

Cloud nodded before sitting himself down at the edge of the flower beds. Aerith continued where she had left off when she mended to the flowers needs. Though she was rather curious about this young man. Where he was from, how old he is, what is his occupation, where he is resident, all that jazz. So Aerith asked while Cloud answered.

As she got to know him better she had notice that he sounded more and more like Zack. It perturbed her a bit, but ignored it and listened to his tales with interest. "If you don't mind my asking, what were you doing before you fell down here?"

Cloud hesitated. He knew little about her, but he was sure she did not work for Shinra or is a spy for Shinra. But... He had a feeling she had nothing to do with the said company. "Before I fell down here, I was in a team of three. Two of my team mates are a part of an organization named Avalanche. I was hired mostly to help set up their bombs in Mako reactors around Midgar. This one did not go so well since we were caught by the president and his goons.

"But he only left us to fight his Air Buster and be on his way. We manage to beat him, but we were caught in some sort of electrical currants. I don't know where it came from... I assumed the Air Buster controlled it, but that went out the window when it was hit too. The Air Buster exploded and I was caught in it. Now here I am," Cloud finished as he looked to the ceiling.

She stopped and looked as well. The area was still flashing with no signs of stopping. It was like an omen of some sort. Good or bad, she didn't know. Though she hoped that this is good. She looked back down to her flowers, but did a double take when she though she saw someone else near the entrance. And her eyes did not deceive her as she saw a familiar face leaning against the frame of the church doors. A face she wish she didn't have to see.

Her lips became an instant frown as she got up and walked over to Cloud. "Hey, Cloud... You did say you do a little of everything right?" Cloud nodded, knowing that he told her that he is a merchant. "Yea, I do whatever is necessary. What of it?"

Aerith glanced at the man, who started to walk towards the two. "Well... Can you please take me home?"

At first, Cloud was confused at the sudden request. But when he glanced at the direction Aerith had looked before the request, he knew why. He got up and dusted the dirt and debris his pants collected. "Alright, but it'll cost you."

Aerith pose faltered a bit, but quickly composed herself. She looked directly into Clouds eyes and knew he is not kidding. She placed her hands on her hips, smiled and said, "Alright. How about I go out with you?"

Cloud blushed. Not the type of reward he expected to be proposed, but there was no time to decline her offer. "Fine, whatever. Is there another way out of here?"

Aerith nodded as she took Clouds hand and lead him through the back. After locking the door, as quick as they can, they both climbed the many flights of stairs. Both able to jump over the smallest holes they encountered until the very last one, which made Aerith very nervous. Where Cloud could jump it easily, Aerith knew her legs could not make the jump.

"Come on," Cloud encouraged from the other side. "You can make it! I'll catch you."

But Aerith could not help but feel scared. The distance was way too wide for her, and the fall... looked catastrophic. "I can't," she said with fright in her voice. "It's to big!"

"Don't worry about it Aerith. If you can make it half way, I'll catch you. "

"But what if you miss me?"

"I won't."

The door broke open and the soldiers piled in. They all looked around until one of them pointed at Aerith. Aerith let out a startled gasp when she heard them. "Alright, but if you drop me, so help me Cloud Strife, I will haunt you to the last day you live!"

"Stop delaying already and jump!"

Aerith readied herself for the grand jump, but before she could even attempt it, they soldiers started to shoot at her. She screamed and fell over. All thanks to lady luck, the plan plank of wood caught her instead and she slid her way to the very first level. It was fortunate that the plank could support her weight and that she slid down safely enough.

"Aerith," Cloud had managed to shout before being shot at as well. He heard orders to retrieve the girl and Aerith's pleas for help. He looked back down to see where Aerith is at. He frowns. There was no way he could go down there in time to rescue her. And it didn't look like she has enough stamina to fight them all as well as the strength to keep them all at a distance. He looked around to see if there was anything he could use. He did a double take when his eyes laid on the barrels that were placed around the structures that held the remaining part of the ceiling together. What they were doing there, he had no idea, nor does he want to think about it. Immediately he ran to the one to the far left and pushed it off. Fortunately it landed on the Shinra that was the closest to Aerith and knocked him out.

He did that with each barrels that were on there, all of them landing on the soldiers and knocking them out. Aerith, with no hesitation, ran as quick as she could up the stairs. Cloud ran back to the hole where she had the problem at and extended her hand when she readied herself. She jumped and he caught her with no problems.

"Told you. Now let's get out of here before anyone else comes."

Aerith agreed and left the church with him. Once out, He asks if she is okay.

"Yea, I'm alright. They didn't do anything to me."

Cloud nodded. "Alright... Well, let's-"

"LOOK OUT BELOW!" Someone yelled before crashing on top of Cloud

x.x.x.x.x

Okay, I know this is very much similar to the game script, but I am hopping this is the only chapter that will be that way. Since other characters will be involved, a lot of these events will change. Soooo, yea. PoaTB needs an editor!!!