Author's Note: This is the sequel to another Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction named From The Ashes. If you haven't read that yet, this will be very confusing. You've been warned.


Chapter 1


"Why me? Why is it always me? I swear, they pick me for these roles just because I hate them..." Reeve murmured. He pushed open the heavy oak door with one hand and began the journey down the darkened hallway. His briefcase swayed at his side. The dim light thrown off by the light bulbs was hardly enough to light a firefly's behind, let alone a long hallway. Reeve just shook his head.

"We don't need energy that badly" He remarked as he reached his office. Sighing, he pushed open his heavy old door and walked into his office. He dropped his briefcase on the desk in his office and walked over to his large window and looked down at the city below.

"You know, I never realized how much it rained in Junon until I moved here" He put his hand on the glass and looked upwards. Just as he went to push off the glass, he say a figure in the reflection of the glass. Reeve spun around quickly, leaning against the window.

"You! Damn, security...!" Reeve screamed as he lunged for the phone. He tried to grab the phone but his nervous hands kept letting it slip away.

"If I was here to harm you, you would have never reached the window" Phoenix remarked; his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Reeve stopped playing hot potato with the phone and glanced over at him.

"What do you want then...?" Reeve asked. He flopped into his office chair and put his hands together, his figures nervously dancing there. Phoenix glanced over at Reeve's computers then took a step forward.

"You have something I want" Phoenix stated as lightning crashed out in the sky, lighting up the room quickly before fading back to darkness.


"Well, it's beginning to look like a building" Cloud mentioned, looking up from the building plans. Craning her neck to look over his shoulder, Tifa took a look at the plans herself.

"Yes.. the very beginning" Tifa remarked. Cloud pushed the paper down as he turned to her.

"What do you mean? I think it's looking good!" Cloud let go of the paper with his left hand and pointed to the building.

"Cloud, all we got is the framework up!" Tifa exclaimed, throwing both of her arms towards the structure. Cloud rolled his eyes and held up the blueprints.

"Tifa, that's a good deal of the work! We can do the rest now; we know how to use hammers and nails!" Cloud pointed to the designs with his left hand now. Tifa put her hands on her hips and glanced at the structure.

"I guess so. I just want it to be done, ya know?" Tifa pulled her hands of her hips and crossed them over her chest. Cloud looked back at her with a small grin on his face.

"Tifa, their are only a few contractors here. Other people need to get their framework up. I think we can do the minor stuff ourselves" Cloud winked at her. Tifa's jaw dropped.

"Minor stuff? Cloud, we need to put the walls up! We need to put the siding on! We need to put the drywall up! We'll then need to paint the drywall! And then-" She began, but Cloud put his finger up to her lips.

"Between the three of us, it will fly by. Plus Tifa...come on, we don't need the help as badly as the other people here do" Cloud remarked. Tifa sighed and nodded her head.

"I know Cloud; I really do. I just wish you wouldn't act like it was nothing" Tifa added as a small smile covered her face. Cloud chuckled and turned back to the blueprints. Tifa tapped her toes and looked around. Kalm was normally a very quiet town; the kind of town that was on a postcard. But ever since the Meteor Crisis, the city had been in chaos. First the city became a huge refugee center for all the people who had left or survived Midgar. Then, just as the majority of those people were leaving, Phoenix had shown up and burnt most of the city down. While a few houses escaped with minor damage, most of the city was in ruins. While Cloud and Tifa had went after Phoenix, the townspeople had begun to clean up the city. Only now was most of the rubble gone and they were able to rebuild their lives. Tifa sighed when she remembered what the city had looked like. As she looked at the city, she saw Aeris walking towards the two of them. Cloud still had his nose buried in the blueprints and did not see her approaching. Aeris waved to Tifa and opened her mouth to send salutations. Tifa shook her head quickly and put her finger up to her lips. Aeris blinked but quickly regained herself and winked to Tifa.

"Hey Aeris! Figures you would show up when we got done working for the day!" Tifa yelled at her. Tifa put her hands on her hips again. Aeris bite her lip so she would not laugh.

"What do you mean Tifa? I've been off helping people. You know, helping!" Aeris screamed back. Tifa smiled slightly until Cloud turned around. Aeris walked up right in front of Tifa; crossing her arms as she did. Tifa bent her neck down just a touch; looking into Aeris' eyes.

"Helping? I bet you were off gathering flowers or some other waste of time!" Tifa had to bite her own lip now to suppress the laughter. Cloud dropped the blueprints and looked at Tifa.

"Tifa!" He forced out. Aeris stuck her tongue out at them while Cloud was looking at Tifa. She pulled it back in and tried to look mad again.

"Waste of time? Waste of time? Oh you're just jealous that I can find beautiful flowers! All you ever find are ugly rotten plants. And they're just as ugly and rotten as you!" Aeris threw her arms down at her sides as she screamed the last part. Cloud's head spun to Aeris now.

"Aeris!" He spit out; his mouth hanging open. Tifa lifted a hand up and muffled the giggles that were coming out of her mouth. Gaining her composure, Tifa put her hand back on her hip.

"Oh, we're talking ugly and rotten now? I must be holding a mirror up because you are the ugly one!" Tifa screamed, pulling her hand off her hip yet again and waving it around in the air, taunting Aeris. Aeris balled her hands up in fists until Cloud turned away; she then held her hands up to her face and waved them around.

"You know what Tifa, I outta sock you in the face!" Aeris screamed. She dropped down into a fighting stance, mocking Tifa. Tifa looked down at the ground and nearly pierced her her tongue with her teeth. Cloud's head spun around one more time just as Aeris re-crossed her arms. Tifa just pushed her hair back out of her face then grinned at Aeris.

"Oh, I'd like to see you try it missy!" Tifa taunted her, wavering her fingers towards herself. Cloud's head spun from Tifa to Aeris to Tifa as he saw them advancing towards each other. He flung his arms out in front of both of them, stopping their advances towards one another. Tifa pushed on his arm gently but acted like she was pushing a huge boulder.

"Let me at her Cloud! I'm sick of her Goodie-Two-Shoe act!" Tifa roared, throwing herself at Cloud's arm. Aeris' eyes went wide when she heard that and threw herself even harder at Cloud's other arm, her arms reaching for Tifa.

"Get out of the way! I'm gonna rip her little neck off her body!" Aeris thrashed against Cloud's arm. Then, both of them slammed into his arms at once. The force knocked Cloud onto his behind. He quickly looked up as the two girls grabbed each other's shoulder. Then, out of no where, the anger washed out of their faces.

"Oh Tifa...you little..." Aeris softly spoke. Tifa gave Aeris a wink.

"Oh you know it...!" Tifa squealed. Then, both moved close together, their hair swinging wildly in the air. They held their faces close to each other, looking like lovers. Cloud's eyes rolled back as he fell backwards, nearly fainting. He laid their, staring up at the sky.

"I am not believing this!" Cloud screamed at the sky. Then, he heard two sets of giggles. He leaned up and looked at them both. Their giggles ceased as they turned to him. Both held out a hand; their figures forming a "v"

"Gotcha!" They screamed at the same time. Cloud's eyes rolled back again as this time he actually fainted.


"So I came to see you" Phoenix's eyes sat fixed on Reeve's face. The rain struck the window of the office. It sounded as if someone was shooting baseballs out of a pitching machine at the window. Reeve looked away from the boy a moment and thought over what he had just heard.

"Why should I trust you?" Reeve questioned. Phoenix huffed twice and glared just a little more.

"I've told you if I wanted to harm you I already would have. That means I do not plan on doing it. Look...all I wanna know is who I am. What I am. Where I came from" Phoenix stated. Reeve watched as the dark bitterness in the boy's face seemed to turn into a confusion of sorts. Reeve nodded his head and folded his hands on the desk.

"I understand Phoenix. I suppose it would be ok for you to have a look at those files" Reeve answered. The rain drops began to decrease in velocity now. Phoenix felt a tiny smile fight onto his face.

"You have my gratitude" Phoenix felt his eyes light up with the quick burst of bright lightning outside. Reeve sighed contently and pointed to a chair.

"You can have a seat Phoenix. I don't have those files here, though" Reeve remarked. Phoenix walked over to the chair and glanced down at it. After a few moments, he flopped down into it.

"Why not?" Phoenix asked as he looked up at Reeve. Reeve took a deep breathe and glanced at the doorway before speaking.

"That computer has a lot of files on it about stuff people do not need to know. Shinra is dead Phoenix...I feel its ideal should die with it. If I kept it here, someone may break into it and steal all the information" Reeve explained to him. Phoenix crossed his arms and looked at the window.

"What was this world like? It seems that its all in a state of confusion...or is that just me?" Phoenix turned his attention back to the older gentleman. Reeve nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"It's not just you. The world been in chaos ever since...gosh, I guess since AVALANCHE started it's terrorist attacks on Shinra" Reeve leaned his neck back just enough to give it a good crack. The rain was smacking softer on the glass now; it sounded like small tennis balls instead of baseballs now. Phoenix made a face as he unfolded his arms and pressed up on the arm rests.

"What exactly happened? I mean, the truth" Phoenix questioned. Reeve tilted his head at the boy.

"What do you know? I mean, you clearly show an understanding of fighting, but...I'm just curious. Do you have a general knowledge of life? Do you know exactly what happened? I mean, I know you have no clue about yourself" Reeve replied honestly. Phoenix sat back into the chair; shrugging his shoulders once then leaning back in the chair.

"I'm not sure what I know. Rather; how I know it. I know how to fight and defend myself. I know that I am very fast and very agile. I know how to do a cartwheel yet I do not know why I know that. That's how it all is for me; I know how but not why I know how. I do not recall learning how to spell yet I know how to spell. It's frustrating" Phoenix claimed. He leaned down into the chair, looking at the desk top. Reeve took a deep breathe yet again.

"That's a shame. Maybe those files will help. Regardless, you were asking about AVALANCHE. I know they started as a small rebel group in the slums under Midgar. They attacked a Mako Reactor and destroyed it. Killed numerous people and lost Shinra a ton of money. They attempted to blow up another Reactor but got caught doing it. After that, Shinra decided to drop a plate onto the Sector 7 slums as an example...we killed scores of people just to show them we meant business..." Reeve trailed off, turning away from Phoenix and looking out the window. Phoenix looked up at him. He watched the rain splash into the window and streak down. The silhouette of Reeve's upper body stood in stark contrast to the water-fall like window.

"We...you worked for Shinra, did you not?" Phoenix asked him softly. Reeve sighed and looked down at the bottom part of the window.

"I was suppose to help the people in the slums. Instead, I helped kill scores of them to flush out four people. Hundred of innocents for four people who ended up saving the world..!" Reeve forced out the last part; his voice catching at the end. The boy looked at the rain streaking down the glass in a group of tiny streams.

"This all sounds familiar, but in a distant way. I have a general understanding of what's happened. Or at least, what I think happened" Phoenix lifted an arm up and rested his head on his open palm. Reeve let out a shakey breathe then spun back to face the boy.

"Do you understand what it is like to know you had a hand in killing so many people for such an insignificant reason? Do you?" Reeve's teeth snapped together as he leaned forward. The moment the words left his mouth, he sulked back into his chair. Phoenix looked at him other his fingertips.

"You are talking to the person who helped burn Kalm to the ground. I am aware what it is like to destroy so much for so little" Lightning crashed outside as the words fell out of his mouth. Reeve tapped his fingers together in front of himself.

"Why? That doesn't seem your style. You always seemed to like to move quickly. I could be wrong, but burning a town down..." Reeve twisted his chair to the side but keep his attention on the boy. Phoenix leaned back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling.

"It was not my idea. Someone attacked me with Fire Materia. The building caught on fire. However, once I saw that fire...I let it grow. I did not put it out. I could have, but I choose not to. I'm not sure why...the fire just grew and grew and it intrigued me. Before I knew it, the whole town was catching on fire; something exploded outside the shop. I'll be honest Reeve...I do not exactly remember what happened there. So while it was not my idea...it's still my fault the town burned down. Without me there, it would still be standing" Phoenix let out a sigh when he finished telling the story. Reeve spun the chair all the way around until he was facing the boy again.

"Well Phoenix, no one has officially fingered you for the arson at Kalm. I doubt anyone can ever officially blame you of arson" Reeve kept tapping his fingers together. Phoenix's neck bent downward as he looked forward.

"It was not something I wanted to do. It is a regret. Maybe one day, I can do something to fix what I did there" Phoenix remarked. Reeve felt his face get heavy with sadness.

"Phoenix, its a good intention, it is. But you can't...well, I guess you can bring back all the people-" Reeve began. Phoenix leaned forward as he slammed his hands onto the arm-rests.

"No one will be coming back again. The Nifix Device is gone" Phoenix coldly stated as thunder boomed loudly outside. Reeve pushed his chair a few inches back while he nodded his head.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! Look, Kalm is re-building...I'm sure they could use someone like you around to help" Reeve held his hand out. Phoenix leaned back; the chair sent creaks into the air.

"Perhaps. I want to know about myself first. Once I know what I am, I will be ready to move on" Phoenix stated. Reeve grinned and opened his mouth to speak. But before the words could come out, the telephone began to ring. Reeve's eyebrows rose as he turned to the phone.

"Excuse me a moment" Reeve picked up the phone and held it to his ear. Phoenix's mismatched eyes moved off Reeve and onto the window behind him.

"Hello...yes, that's right. You mean they already decided? Yeah, right, I'll be there ASAP" Reeve mentioned while hanging up the phone. Phoenix's eyes moved off the window and back onto Reeve. The blue eyes seemed to be probing for information while the green eye seemed to be calm and willing to wait for the answer. Reeve let out a deep breathe.

"The board has decided what they want to do with Midgar" Reeve announced. Phoenix's eyes narrowed; now both eyes were probing for information. Reeve stood up and looked down at the boy.

"Well, we're in bad shape here. Junon lost quite a bit of everything in the Weapon attacks. We were hoping to scout out Midgar to see if we could find anything to salvage" Reeve claimed. Phoenix let out a soft chuckle.

"Not much left but rubble" Phoenix chuckled a few more times, then looked up at Reeve.

"I know; I've been there too. The mayor here does not believe me, though. He thinks we need to explore the entire city" Reeve threw his arms into the air and grinned. Phoenix made a face and stood up.

"That seems pointless" Phoenix crossed his arms and looked at the window. Their reflection in the glass was distorted by all the rainfall running down it.

"You want to wait here for me? It'll be pointless to wait around the mayor's office" Reeve pointed out. A few moments passed; the only sound heard was the thumping of the rain off the glass window.

"Well, you can read some files on my computer. They're not about you, but you can freshen up on your world history" Reeve walked back behind his desk and turned the computer on. Phoenix strolled over behind him and looked down at the screen.

"Very well" Phoenix flopped down in the chair and moved in closer. Reeve chuckled as he picked up his briefcase. He walked over to the door of his office and yanked it open.

"Just click on the forward button at the bottom of the page to read more. I'll be back when this meeting finishes. Then I can let you read your own files" Reeve said. Phoenix looked up, nodded his head once, then went back to the computer. His mismatched eyes began to scroll over the information in front of him; the only sound he could hear was still the constant pounding of rain outside.


Down the road from Reeve's office there sat a small dank bar. The cement front of the building was still cracked from the Weapon assaults that had crippled the city. The former glass windows where now covered with pile-wood. The aluminium door was peeling and filled with dents. Inside, two broken tables sat at the front of the bar; the wooden bar was so old even termites refused to live in it. Only two bar stools were not broken; and one of them was occupied by a small fat man. His jacket was tattered and worn; the zipper looked like it would fall off at any minute. The bartender, whose shirt looked to have been cleaned with grease, was washing a glass with a wash-rag.

"So Ray, this job is gonna do us good, right?" The man sitting at the stool inquired. He took a tiny sip from his beer mug. The bartender looked around the bar a moment; he saw the broken tables, the broken windows, the busted television, then looked back at the man.

"Yeah Billy, I think it will. I mean, this guy is paying me 100 gil just to meet him! I mean...gosh!" Ray screamed, slamming the bar with his wash-rag. Billy took another tiny sip from his beer and leaned back in the stool.

"So any idea-er what this job gonna be?" Billy put his glass down and looked up at Ray. The big man shrugged his massive shoulders.

"Something...well, something we shouldn't be doing. But we need the gil, badly" Ray remarked. Billy looked down at his glass; only an inch of alcoholic liquid remained.

"Yeah, we do..." Billy trailed off. Ray sighed and shook his head.

"No way man; no more free ones. I'm not making money as it is!" Ray said firmly. Billy just sighed and laid his head on the bar. Then, the flimsy door shot open like it was hit by a cannon ball. In walked a man wearing a black business jacket. His fine leather shoes smacked off the dirty bar-floor. He walked over to the bar and stared down at the barstool. His nose crinkled up. He leaned his neck upwards and stared at Ray. His arm pulled out of the pocket and flung a crisp one-hundred gil bill onto the bar.

"So, Mr. Joseph, I see your associate is here" The man spoke; the words came off his lips with a certain tone of disgust. Ray, who had been washing the same glass for twenty minutes, slammed the glass down and snatched up the gil quickly. After he jammed it into his pocket, he nodded towards Billy.

"Yeah, that's Billy. Like I told you Mr. Overton, we're the men you're looking for! We can do it all" Ray nodded his head. The man turned his attention to Billy, who was sipping the last of his beer away. Finally, Mr. Overton sighed and looked back to Ray.

"Here is the deal Mr. Joseph. Agree to do whatever is written on the paper in my right pocket, and you and your associate here will never have to sit in this pig-hole ever again" Mr. Overton stated. Billy slammed his empty glass down.

"We're not some bums, a'right? At least tell us what you want us to do!" Billy roared; small droplets of saliva landing on the expensive jacket of Mr. Overton.

"Perhaps I can find someone-" Mr. Overton began. Ray slapped Billy right in the face; the blow knocked Billy off his stool. As he rolled over onto his stomach, Ray looked back at the business man.

"You got a deal" Raymond replied. Mr. Overton grinned and pulled out the paper. As Ray unfolded it, a few gils fell out of it. Mr. Overton turned and walked towards the door.

"That money should cover your expenses. Once the job is done, I will return to pay you the rest...and if the job does not get done...pray" The door slammed shut; the glasses on the bar shook and fell onto their sides.