Summary: In the world of Aretha, It's been 4 years since the terrible Blood Wars and on the horizon the threat of their return. The raining High Lord of Midgar along with his evil guard called the Blood Core, which terrorizes the citizens; seek to renew the Blood wars with the Neighboring Kingdom of Korinth. Can a ramshackle group of heroes up together to save the people from another terrible war.

Characters:

Tifa Lockhart Age 22- She is a strong fighter, who has lived on her own since she was 16. She answers to no one and is very confident in her fighting ability. She is guarded and closed off and won't let anyone in. But has she finally met her match, as a mysterious swordsman walks into her life.

Cloud Strife Age 24- He is a quiet but lethal swordsman. He along with his friend

Zack Fair, are traveling to the city of Midgar. He carries hidden scars , but can a spirited dark haired girl, heal those wounds.

Zack Fair Age 24- He to is very skilled with the sword. He is more relaxed then Cloud. He is more play by ear. Cloud and Zack have been through a lot, surviving the Blood Wars together is just one of many trials in the everlasting friendship.

Aeris Gainsborough Age 22- lives in Midgar as a florist she owns her own flower shop, she is kind and friendly and a certain black spiky haired guy has set his eye on this little hidden rose, she will come in the next chapter

Yuffie Kisaragi Age 23- She's a cheerful and proud little pickpocket that almost gets the better of Cloud and Zack when they reach Midgar. She soon joins them to show them the City.

Vincent Valentine Age 30- Captain of the Blood Core, but is only such because he was the Captain of the Guard with the late King. He hates the high lord but has no chose to do his bidding he has many secrets, and one could very well be centered on Cloud and Zack.

Cid Highwinds Age 38 - the local blacksmith, he's got a bad mouth and a foul temper. He later comes in to the story.

(The other descriptions will come later.)

Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII, zip nada zilch. Wish I did but I don't.

The Blood Wars, no man will ever forget it. To some the mere thought brings tears to their eyes. It was called the blood wars, because the surviving soldiers described it as a sea of blood that covered the battle field. War fought solely for one man's conquest. Let Us hope they never return

-Halber Arethian Scholar

Tifa Lockhart stood her back to a large oak, six very large and smelly men before her. Once again her mouth got her into trouble. How she wished she could keep it shut sometimes. But she digressed. Taking her stance her fist raised ready to strike.

"Come on then, if you're not too scared." The first lunged at her, delivering a swift kick to the side of his head, his neck made an wicked snap and he fell to the ground dead.

"Anyone else wish to die today and join your comrade?" Tifa was ready, her heart was beating fast, her blood was pumping, and she was wanting more.

The next two double teamed her, one with a blade the other with only his fists. She gave a right hook, she could feel the man's nose break against her fist. She did not care she had giving up on petty and mercy when she fought. It was her and her alone, who she cared for. She had no family to protect.

The High Lord had taken care of that five years ago. Tifa's memories drove her she gave the man with now shattered nose an upper cut and he fell to the ground. The man with the knife slashed at Tifa's face, then her torso. Tifa's foot work never missed a beat she danced mockingly with the rogue bandit. Taunting him into a blind rage, to where he finally gave up his swings and drove strait for her. Tifa simply sidestepped at the last minute and brought her knee up with such force into his torso. He collapsed gasping for air. The other three bandits hung back unsure of their next move.

"What a wonderful warm up. Who's next?" a mischief grin clung to Tifa's lips. She was ready for more but not the unexpected visitors she would soon have.

Two men rode silently through the thick forest, they wore cloaks, one wore black the other a deep navy blue their faces hidden beneath hoods, and you could see their massive swords that hung on their backs. The one clad in black stopped his horse short; the other reined his mount to a halt, as he looked back to is partner.

"Listen. Do you hear that?" the one in blue looked down the road and back.

"Sounds like a small skirmish, think we should help?" the man clad in blue asked.

"Lets just check it out. We'll not jump in unless we have too." He kicked his horse into a quick trot, his friend fallowed hastily after him.

Riding up a steep hill, they found a girl fighting fiercely with 3 men, apparently there was 6 but the other three now laid silent in the dirt. The man in the black cloak took a knee and pulled down his hood to get a better view of the fight. He had spiky blonde hair and his piercing blue green eyes which watched eagerly.

This girl could fight and she was good, damn good. Her dark brown hair hung long to her waist. She wore a tight black leather tang top, black shorts that cut off at the knees, and black combat boots, that stopped mid-caf.

One man crouched down nursing his freshly broken hand, as one of the others attacked Tifa from behind. Stepping quickly she used the kneeling man as a step stool and kicked off, flipping back. She now sat on the man who came from behind shoulders. Clenching her thighs tightly, the man started choking.

Unknown to the girl, the third man took out a throwing dagger. The blonde haired man acted on instinct, he was sliding down the bank at incredible speed, disarming the man he knocked him out cold, but when he turned he was met by intense and angry burgundy eyes of the gorgeous brunette.

"This was my fight!" her tone held frustration, as if he had denied her something.

"I saved you life he was seconds from killing you." The blonde haired man was growing angry at the fact that this girl did not seem to care for his help.

"I wasn't in any danger, I had it all in hand." She put her hands on her hips.

He snorted "No danger, you say." He bent low and took up the bandit's dagger and walked towards the girl she edged back slowly, her eyes flashed to the dagger then his face she was plotting and calculating her strategy. But he wouldn't give her the chance to execute it.

Taking hold of her wrist and pinning her to a large oak he stabbed the dagger into the tree behind her. "This was your danger girl! This about found its sheath in your back!"

He turned from her, but she would not let him leave unharmed. As she went to kick him hard in the ribs, the man turned with lighting speed, took hold of her foot and sent her flat on her back to the ground his forearm resting on her throat. Never had she seen someone move as fast as this man. It infuriated her to no end. Taking her leg and leveraging her body to force him to his back she perched on top of him.

"I am not one to cross stranger, next time we meet, if we meet do not interfere in my fight." The girl took her eyes off of the man when a voice caught her ears

"Cloud, quit messing around, will you. We have places to be." Called a man from the top of the embankment, his hood was removed, which revealed his Black spiky hair. In her distraction, Cloud returned her to their original position.

"It seems I cannot stay any longer sweetheart, places to go people to see." He winked at her as he go to his feet. And bound up the hill. Once he reached the top he turned and gave a two fingered salute as her disappeared from sight.

"Bastard." Tifa murmured. She also turned away disgusted more with herself for being so weak. The bitter taste of defeat did not settle well in her mouth. Traipsing through the woods she had not gotten far when she felt something crash down on her. She tried to escape the net that had been thrown over her, but found no escape. A chuckling noise filled her ears then. A large man came into view, he was the leader of the six men she had left in the dirt.

"My precious kitten, did you think you could run away from me so easily?" he spoke with a bad French accent. Tifa jerked pathetically at the net. "You shall fetch a good price my pet." Tifa did not like the way this man spoke, or that the fact that they were so close to Midgar. It was the only city that still allowed slave trading. She was actually wishing that the man from a moment ago was interfering again.

Cloud's mind still held the girl's image, she was absolutely breathtaking. "She was a cutie, one hell of a fighter too, she could kick your ass if she really tried." Snickered Cloud's friend.

"Yours, a lot easier then mine, Zack." Shot back Cloud.

"Sure buddy, what ever you say, but you have to admit, she was a looker now."

Cloud only nodded the last thing he need was Zack's verbal attacks about thinking a girl was beautiful. He wondered if he would see her again, but it soon past as he caught a glimpse of the sign that read: Midgar 1 mile. His thoughts returned to their mission, the reason they were going to Midgar.

MIDGAR: SLAVE CELLS

Back five years before the Blood Wars, Midgar and Korinth were the largest two kingdoms of Aretha. They were allies not enemies; they were the ones making other smaller kingdoms keep the peace with their boarding neighbors. War was declared shortly after the assassination of the two rulers, and both kingdoms blamed the other… I, however, believe that there was snake slithering beneath the surface.

-Halber Arethian Scholar

Tifa was dragged to the slave cells, which were located in the Midgar slums. She was thrown into a straw filled cold iron bar cell, to wait for her stage time. The large leader stood before her, leering evilly down at her.

"I would keep you my pet, but you would fetch such a higher price." He sneered at her, Tifa felt her blood boil. She slammed the door with her hands, and the man flinched, "Before this day is over you will painfully regret ever meeting ME." her voice was like ice, making him shiver. Trying to act unfazed his voices broke as he spoke, "Not much of a threat, when you are caged, my pet." Quickly he then retreated.

Letting out a heavy sigh Tifa walked to the back wall of the cell, leaning against it, sliding to the floor. Hugging her knees she rested her head against them to rest what little she could and come up with a plan to get herself out of the mess she was now in.

Cloud and Zack rode through the gates of Midgar, their hoods had once again concealed their faces, and inside they dismounted. "You think Vincent will listen? He is the Captain of the Blood Core." Zack asked taking in his surroundings.

"Can't be sure, but he was one of the most loyal to the King." Cloud said heading for the stables. Zack once again followed, but he saw something out of the corner of his eye that made him stand still. A young woman she had light brown hair pulled back into a braid, tied off with a pink ribbon, she wore a long dress with a pink corset vest.

Zack watched as the girl set out flowers she would sell during the morning's market. Feeling Zack's gaze the girl looked up. At first her bright green eyes looked puzzled but she soon smiled and waved. Zack snapped back to reality and hurried off to meet Cloud at the stables.

Cloud who had watched his friend grinned "Cute wasn't she?"

Zack who still watched over his shoulder said "Yeah she is."

Cloud shook his head, "Come on.", Taking hold of Zack's shoulder, he pushed him through the stable doors.

At first it seemed that the stable master wasn't there then they heard. "Son of a Bitch! Stupid piece of shit horse." A man emerged from a stall limping. Spotting Zack and Cloud the man asked, "What the hell do you two brats want?"

"Brats? That's a first." Zack said crossing his arms. Cloud gave Zack a look that said cool it. "We need to put up our horses for a day maybe two."

"500 gil a piece." the man walked up to them, no longer limping.

"1000 GIL! He said up them up not buy them you hard hearing coot!" Zack yelled and gave the man a look like he was crazy.

"Listen here, asswip. I'll make it slow and simple for you. 250 Gil per horse for two days, just incase mind you. Then you got 100 for feedin and waterin per horse, lastly 300 just cuz I don't trust strangers with hoods. Got it blue boy?"

When the man finished he crossed his arms as well "Crystal clear gramps." Zack and Cloud took their money pouches off their belts and handed him 500 Gil a piece.

"Its Cid Highwinds. Not Gramps boy! Now leave, I'll get them put up." They didn't wait for Cid to tell them twice they walked out into the Market place. Strolling through Cloud felt someone bump into him. Catching them, he found he had a young woman in his grip. She had short black hair with a band tied around her head.

"Let go you jerk!" Cloud looked down at the girl's hand which held his money pouch. Prying it from her mitts, "Now you can go." He released her then.

"Can't blame a pickpocket for trying. You gents aren't from around here are you? Need someone to show you around?" She acted as if she had just done a friendly gesture.

"Who do you think you are? You try to pickpocket someone then try to help them!" Zack looked at the girl as if she was crazy.

"I'm Yuffie Kisaragi, the greatest ninja anywhere. That was neat how you caught me no one has ever done that, so I'm feeling guilty." She said to Cloud, with a cheerful smile.

"Need a place to stay? Its not much but I can take you to a good place, better then these inns of the upper city."

Cloud turned to Zack, "Might as well. We'd be less noticeable in Lower City." Zack gave a nodded

"Fine," Yuffie tossed something at Zack, which turned out to be his own money pouch. "Besides your to easy."

"You little twerp!" Zack started for her but Cloud stopped him. "Lets just get to this place then we can go from there."

"The lets go." Yuffie started to skip down the market headed towards the slums. The boys followed close behind.

Once they reached the slums, Cloud and Zack came across something that made their stomach turn. A large stage, on it was two men in shackles, another holding their chains, and a forth man auctioning them off.

"I thought that slavery had been prohibited?" Zack watched the stage his voice heavy with hate.

Yuffie stepped beside them. "It had been, but after the Blood Wars, the High Lord reinstated it. Now you have to be careful a slave trader doesn't get you, cause they can pass anyone off as a slave, especially females."

The door to Tifa's cell opened with a bang, and two men came through with shackles. Sizing her roughly, locking them on her hands and feet. Kicking and screaming in anger they pulled her to the stage.

"Here comes our next one folks, She's a hell cat now. She'll be a tough one to break, but who doesn't like a challenge!" called the auctioneer. Tifa was shoved onto the stage she fell to her knees, but stood quickly. Feeling slack in the chain she moved fast and wrapped it around the neck of the man, who was holding the other end. Something hit her in the back of the head, making her lose her grip.

"As I told you she got fire, lets start the bidding at 2000 gil." Looking out over the crowd Tifa could see the twisted grins of men and some appalled faces of women, but one face got her. Though it was shrouded by a hood she knew it. But the expression it held was one she could not read, and he began to move toward the stage.

Cloud had been prepared for anything when they said that the next slave was a hell cat but when he saw it was the girl from earlier he about flipped. He felt a twinge of pain, as she fell to the floor of the stage. Even though she recovered well enough. Cloud watched, amused as she looped the chain around the guard's neck. But the moment they hit her he was pissed and he made his way towards the stage.

"Where are you going?" Yuffie called as she went after him but Zack stopped her.

"Don't. Cloud does things like this a lot. He's got a plan and it only involves him. Let him go this will be entertaining." A smile spread a cross Zack face. Yuffie looked at Zack the back to the Stage.

"2000 gil for the Hell Cat!" called one man from the far back.

"3000 gil!" called another.

The Auctioneer was having a field day as another man called out "5000 gil."

Tifa felt her heart fall into her stomach as the next bidder spoke. "10,000 gil!" Tifa never took her eyes off him she was hot and we're not talking about looks. She was beyond anger, no she had long past that point.

Who did this guy think he was! Tifa thought as she looked down at the face of the blonde haired man who had beaten her this morning.

"Sold!" Yelled the Auctioneer. "Hope you can handle her, son."

Tifa didn't even fight when they took her from the stage; she was saving all the strength that she could muster for that bastard! The fat leader from earlier, had the biggest smile on his face. Tifa was fuming when the bastard stepped into view.

"Ah good sir, you have made splendid choice." The man looked from Tifa to the leader.

"Come with me I'll get you your money." he headed to the back of the cells, where they disappeared from sight. The bastard returned moments later without the other guy. The guards looked confused, till he spoke, "Something came up. He's going to be out for the rest of the auction."

Tifa knew what he meant but luckily the guards were stupid. They removed her shackles and the man took hold of her upper arm and lead her out into the crowd towards his partner and a small girl.

Okay its been forever since I wrote for this it needed to be revamped so I thought if I reworked it id get inspired, plus I just watched FFVII: Advent Children COMPLETE! Totally EPIC! I loved it so much better then the first version.