Dragon Scales
Alexis Mizuiro is heading to SOLDIER, hopeful to make it in. On the other hand, a mysterious creature is roaming the halls of ShinRa...
Prologue: A mysterious creature
The sun set over the horizon as a big silver bus carrying at least forty new recruits sped towards its destination, one of them being the blonde haired nineteen year old, Alexis Mizuiro. Previously graduated from the ShinRa Military Academy as one of the strongest, she had left her home of Kalm to pursue and hope that she can land in SOLDIER.
But, there was another thought that sprang into her mind; while she was at the academy, she happened to meet the mysterious, yet famous General Sephiroth. With him were Commanders Angeal Hewley and Genesis Rhapsodos and she looked forward to seeing them again.
Unlike most girls who would hide their identity in fear of being discovered and dismissed from the ranks, she planned to go as she is, unafraid and unashamed. At her side was her sword she had gained from the academy, the Kiba no Ryuu (Fang of Dragon).
From its emerald wrapped handle down to the silver scabbard that held it, Alexis trusted it with her life. There was a saying that fate decides the swords' masters. She thought that saying was correct for she believed that fate brought together her and the sword she possessed. She smiled as she brushed her fingers over the scabbard in an almost respecting yet admiring way.
"We're here, newbies! File out quickly!" called the driver as the bus came to a stop at the huge base.
Grabbing her sword and tying to her waist, she grabbed her bag from the metal shelf above her and rested the strap on her shoulder before following the rest outside. As she gazed to the skies, she saw a black winged silhouette zip through the sky, heading towards, what looked like, a forest surrounded by a tall wire fence. She gasped at the sight as the figure vanished into the canopy of the trees.
"Did you see that?" she whispered to one of the recruits.
"See what?" the recruit, who was a brunette male, replied back.
Alexis gazed over to the forest for a moment, unbelieving of what she saw. "Never mind," she said.
Then, the doors opened and out came... Genesis and Angeal. Alexis had to restrain herself from squealing with happiness. First day here and here they are already! Genesis's crimson eyes traveled over to the blonde haired girl and a smile appeared on his lips. He mouthed to her "Good to see you again." Alexis nodded minutely, barely containing her excitement as she smiled at the red head commander.
Angeal saw this and his eyes locked onto her as well. He also mouthed to her "Stay behind." She nodded again before finally forcing herself to calm down.
"Welcome, newbies. My name is Commander Genesis Rhapsodos and this man here" he pointed to the black haired man "is Commander Angeal Hewley. Welcome to SOLDIER. Many of you have come in hopes of making it here. Most of you will succeed, others..." he paused for a few seconds, a trace of a smirk on his face. "... will fail," he said, putting emphasis on the last word.
Many of the guys gulped, but Alexis only smirked. If he thinks he's got her scared, then he was sadly mistaken. She trained herself good and hard for this. Suddenly, a motorbike roared towards the base.
Riding it was a black spiky haired male, a grin on his face. Behind him with his arms around the older male's waist was another spiky haired male, but this one had blonde hair. The bike screeched and slid to a stop, five feet from the commanders. The two males got off and headed to the group.
"Yo, Genesis, Angeal!" then, his eyes caught sight of the new recruits. "Aww! You could've told me that new ones were coming! Why didn't you call me!" whined the black haired male.
Alexis raised an eyebrow at his antics.
'What a whiner. He's, what, in his twenties and he's acting like a kid? Geez...' she thought with disdain.
"We tried to, Zack, but you didn't answer. We called you, at least, five times. Your phone was off again, wasn't it?" Angeal replied matter-of-factly, crossing his arms and giving him a look.
Zack stopped and let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head.
"Anyway, we're done with our errands. Can we go inside now? These bugs are eating me alive," he said, smacking off a bug that decided to land.
"You may go. Next time, keep your phone on," Genesis said.
"Gotcha. Later!" Zack said before he and his blonde friend headed inside.
The two commanders turned back to the group, who were waiting for them.
"Alright, you guys. Grab your stuff and get inside. Zack should have your room assignments," said Genesis.
The recruits grabbed their belongings and headed inside. Purposely being the last one, she grabbed her stuff. Waiting until the other guys were gone, Alexis grinned as she ran up to them and both men embraced her.
"Good of you to make it, Lex," Genesis said, patting her on the back.
"Thanks. By the way, you didn't scare me with that speech," Alexis said with a look.
"Oh, shucks. I didn't?" Genesis mocked with a laugh.
The other two laughed as well as they got inside. The main hall was the size of a ballroom, maybe bigger. Alexis looked around in sheer awe. Suddenly, a silver and black came at her from above. Quickly dropping her bag, she unsheathed her sword, blocking the attempted assault. The figure backflipped away, revealing it to be the General himself, his Masamune unsheathed. Alexis stood ready, her stance mirroring Sephiroth's. A smirk played on both each other's lips.
Suddenly, they both charged and a dance of blades ensued.
"Sephiroth, knock it off!" the commanders heard Zack scream from the third floor railing.
"Can it, Zack! This is good!" Genesis yelled back.
"He's going to kill—"
"SHUT UP, ZACKARY!" the two combatants suddenly screamed at the black haired male without stopping their fight, surprising the three males.
Sephiroth went for a leg sweep, but Alexis did a back flip, landing on a table close by. She waggled her finger at him, making a 'tsk, tsk, tsk' noise. Sephiroth scoffed and leapt for her. She sidestepped and slammed a kick into his back, sending him up and over the table.
"Wow... she's gotten better," Angeal said in awe.
"No kidding. She's handling Sephiroth really well. Wish she were my sister," Genesis agreed.
"Thanks, but no thanks, Commander," Alexis said to him before refocusing on the fight.
Sephiroth somersaulted over the table and zipped for the female. She blocked all of his blows except for a couple that cut her cheek and forearm. Zack winced at the hits that connected. She jumped away to recover for a moment, wiping the blood from her cheek.
"You've gotten better since the academy, Miss Miziro," he complimented.
"You're still the same as I remember, General, but I think you changed as well... a little," she replied.
"SEPH, STOP RIGHT NOW!" Zack screamed.
"... Killjoy," she added under her breath.
"We might as well end it. By your matured fighting skills, I say... you would do fine in SOLDIER," Sephiroth said, sheathing his huge sword.
Alexis sighed and sheathed hers as well. However, she smiled at the General's compliment. Yes, she would do fine, but something else was on her mind: what was that creature she saw earlier?
