A Fan Fiction by Kingdoms Memories
Hey all and welcome to another one of my insane and crazy fan fictions. This one will tend to be a little more angst then my other ones mainly because of the setting. A futuristic city doomed with chaos and destruction does seem a little depressing no?
Disclaimer: Me No Own.
Prologue
Beyond this mortal realm lies true horror. Heartless, those without hearts. They live and feed of the darkness of hells depths rarely seen by the eternal glow of hells fire.
In this realm, however, dwells a bigger threat to society. People themselves. With their technology they pose the greatest hazard even to themselves.
A few years after the destruction of Meteor, Sin, and Ultimecia…after the outbreak and cure of Geostigma, Cloud Strife, having had enough 'hero', settled for a less demanding job then that of a Mercenary at the age of 25. His job? Well the story behind his occupation should by all reasoning be explained first no?
Before Jenova was found and released upon the world in the form of Sephiroth, Shin-Ra began researching the inner-workings of perfect beings, or Androids. Mechanical (or part mechanical) people made to look, think, move, and work as a humanoid would, only without the aging factor. Before this, Androids looked robotic with either exposed parts (mostly those added to the body after a limb is lost) or jerky movements and un-realistic voices.
The project, known to those working on it as Kingdom, was a success, the result being thousands of intelligent, beautiful, and in every aspect perfect Androids being created. However soon after, the Sephiroth incident occurred, causing Kingdom to be put on hold due to the defunct of Shin-Ra.
After Geostigma came to an end things began to brighten for the Androids.
Even with the death of many personnel (mostly because of Sephiroth) the project continued full steam with a new leader, Ansem, funded by bank loans. Many more Droids were developed and released into the public, thus paying back Ansem's loans and securing him as a billionaire.
People were ecstatic when they could obtain their very own mechanical slave for what ever their purpose may be…Working, watching their kids, Sex. You name it…there was a Droid to go along with it.
Life was great…for a while
Who ever said 'Woe to he who conquers the machines…lest the machines conquer he.' Was a very wise man…for you see sometime later the perfect beings began to see that they were the superiors. So they revolted.
One by one many died as perfect beings turned on their masters. One could come home from work and find their children slaughtered, only to die a few moments later when discovered by the Droid. Others were attacked in the streets, or in their cars, even in their homes as they slept. No one felt safe anymore. It had to stop. Something had to stop it.
That something was Kingdom Hearts. An organization formed to combat the Droids behavioral glitches…that is were Cloud Strife was needed.
Having seen his share of battles, Cloud was not happy about involving himself in any new life or death situations…but after multiple phone calls and house calls too numerous to count, he reluctantly joined. With one condition…to be stationed in Destiny Islands.
Why you ask? 'Why not?' I say…the town was particularly small opposed to Nibelheim or Midgar, with a small population of around 200. A place one would not find mass murdering robots lurking…that was Cloud's reasoning at least.
He moved in and began what some would call an extremely 'early retirement'. A three-bedroom apartment served for his lodgings (provided by Kingdom Hearts), complete with a kitchen, 2 bathrooms and 2 common rooms.
Cloud lived in fallacious bliss for a while, using this time to expel the demons in his memory, and take a long deserved rest. Being a SOLIDER had its downfalls and over working one's self was one of them.
Meanwhile Ansem was beginning to fall into some trouble. Rebels had tried to assassinate him on more than one occasion. Ansem knew his death was drawing near…it was only a matter of time.
In the days before his death Ansem created one final Android. One he claimed to be the key to righting all his wrongs. This Droid was part human part robot, making him susceptible to human emotions and death giving him the ultimate trait…bridging the gap between robots and humans.
Ansem cherished his work for a few days but then rebels set his lab afire…using what very little magic he had left, Ansem teleported him far from any harm with the hope of someday bringing his created terror to an end…it was the least he could do.
The android's name?
Leon.
Cloud Strife strolled down the concrete sidewalk bobbing his head to the music coming from the miniscule headphones in his ears. His pale fingers slightly grazed the white surface of the picket fence to his left while the other hand carried a bag of groceries.
He was almost home. Just a block or two and then he could snuggle into this big comfy couch and eat the Ben and Jerry's ice cream he'd recently purchased. Maybe even watch some TV while he was at it.
His soft golden spiky hair bounced with each step and bob of the head, always returning to the same spot, still however, defying gravity. His Mako blue eyes were half lidded as he silently sang to the song, choosing to not pay attention to his surroundings. He was not worried though. If someone did want to hurt him, or steal from him, he could more than break his or her arm.
Yes. Cloud Strife was prepared for anything. Just about.
The swirly blue vortex gave way to an alleyway as Leon stepped out.
Ansem…the man who'd saved his life, was undoubtedly dead. Why? Why couldn't he have died instead? He wasn't supposed to be alive anyway…not after the fight with Ultimecia. He'd died along side his friends, an honorable death he was sure…but somehow Ansem had found his body and reconstructed most of him using robotic parts.
He was supposed to be dead! He wanted to be dead! There was nothing left for him here. She was dead…she…her…Rinoa.
"Damnit!" He swore under his breath, stumbling over to a near by brick wall he rested the back of his head against it. His stormy gray eyes moved upward searching out the heavens. Hoping, praying, to every god there was for a miracle.
His body silently slid down the walls cold surface, his body slumping to the floor. His mind was finally overcome with emotion as he released salty tears, which in turn slid down his cheek.
"Look at me." He said to himself looking down at his gloved hands. "I'm a wreck."
His skin was slightly burned from the fire, his muscles were tense, and his nerves were on the edge of a breakdown. He needed help desperately.
Any sort of help would do…as long as he could tear his mind from the present situation, he assumed, everything would be fine…This was what he told himself over and over.
Alas, even through all this…Leon still prayed. Hoping for a miracle.
Cloud crossed the street heading to his now visible house. Taking out his earphones he shook his head to clear his ears and reached for his keys. Passing another colorful house he froze. He swore he heard someone crying. Furrowing his brows he concentrated on listening, looking around as well.
There! There it was again! Turning his head to the left he looked down the alleyway. Slumped against the wall was a man. Most likely a homeless fellow…this was a great assumption, and would have made sense too, if destiny islands not have been the friendly upper class town it was…the homeless simply did not here.
He looked closer and noticed the man seemed to be in his early twenties. Black leather clung to his hunched figure, brown tresses cascaded down his back, and crystal tears streamed down his face.
Deciding it better to investigate, than toss and turn all night knowing he could have helped, Cloud walked towards the man.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently coming to a stop in front of the man.
Realizing he was being addressed, Leon's eyes wandered down from the sky and locked with Clouds.
"Are you my miracle?"
"Holy!" Cloud dropped his groceries and caught Leon as his eyes rolled back and he fell to the pavement. "Hey! Hey are you okay?" With no response Cloud huffed furrowing his brows. Scanning the alley his eyes landed on nothing that could help him. Looking back down to the male he grew even more concerned as he noticed the scorch marks on his clothes and face.
Where the hell had this man come from? And why was he sitting in the alley with burns on his clothes and skin? Destiny Islands was too quiet a place to have any troublemakers…sure there were the neighborhood kids, but they didn't do anything that bad.
"Don't worry." He said more to himself then anything. Hefting Leon into his arms he made his way home, forgetting his beloved ice cream in the process.
As the blonde disappeared around the corner. A homeless man scurried out of the dark to snatch up the ice cream, before once again disappearing into the shadows.
After words: If any of you are confused…which most likely you will be, especially about the background stories…try using Wikipedia and search Cloud Strife or Squall Leonheart…it has everything you need to know. And as always if all the damn info is confusing you either sit back and wait for the next chapter to explain unanswered questions…drop a review…or re-read the chapter. Heh, hope you enjoyed the hobo part…heh…a little humor never hurt anyone.
-Kingdom Memories