Black Carnival
xxxmidnightstarxxx: This is my first EVER Final Fantasy 7 fanfic! Hooray!
Cloud: …Aren't you that shoujo manga writer? Why are you even HERE?
xxxmidnightstarxxx: Gee, I dunno, maybe because I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME, CLOUD? (sarcasm)
Zack: We're doomed! She's going to make this story like her other ones!
xxxmidnightstarxxx: SHUT UP ZACK BEFORE I KILL YOU! …But yeah, this is ANOTHER vampire story…
Vincent (how ironic): Disclaimer: xxxmidnightstarxxx does not own Final Fantasy 7 or its characters. If she did we would be doomed to starring in comedy/romance games…
xxxmidnightstarxxx: …Vince, I officially remove you from my 'Top Hot Game Characters' list…
Game One: Silver Roses
"Mama, where are you?" I desperately cried out, running through the woods. The air was frigid, and it was starting to rain. Raindrops fell steadily onto my pale skin, my thin veins showing, my pulse racing as I kept searching for my mother. Branches occasionally whacked me on my arms and face, and some of the scratched were slightly bleeding. I didn't care, though. All I was concerned about was finding my mom.
It had been a harmless stroll at first, during the midday. Mama wanted to pick some flowers to make the home brighter, and I decided to tag along. I wanted to find a pretty rock or two to show to Tifa, my childhood friend. As the sun grew dimmer, Mama told me we should be going around now. However, I wanted to stay longer and find more pretty stones. Mama gave in, and we stayed until the sun had completely set. As we started heading back…Mama…vanished. I don't know how-it was…so sudden! She had been holding my hand, smiling at me when suddenly she was whisked away from me. Some of the flower petals had fallen off…And those events led up to my current situation.
"Mama, are you still here? Answer me, Mama!" I shouted in vain. Panic was spreading through my body like poison, adrenaline pumping through my blood…And then, I spotted her. At first, I didn't think anything of how she was positioned; I was just elated to see her. It was when I started running up to her that I noticed what happened to her…
Mama was…lying in a pool of her own crimson blood, her face pointed towards me. There was a deep gash from her left shoulder to her bottom right, and her pretty light blue dress that I loved to bury my head in was torn. Her sunshine-kissed hair was undone and sprawled all over her face, and her eyes were glassy, with no pupils in them. A small river of blood trailed from her mouth to the ground, and in Mama's now loose hand were the flowers she had picked…Seeing Mama like that made my blood ran cold, and as I screamed while running towards her, I noticed him.
He was beautiful, with long silky silver hair, his long bangs that framed his angular face parted to either side of it. His eyes were dazzling and bright, the color of jade, and they resembled a wild feline's. He wore a long black coat that blended well into the night, along with silver pauldrons, black boots, and black clothing. His upper chest was partly visible, with crossing leather straps. His physique was muscular and firm and his skin seemed to shine under the moonlight…In his left hand was a long sword with a dark blue hilt…and on the blade was my mother's blood…
"Ma…ma…" was all I could stammer after seeing this grotesque sight. The man noticed me and started walking closer. I backed away, frightened of what seemed to be impending death. Tripping over a branch, I landed on the ground hard, taking away what valuable time I had to escape from his otherworldly man. He towered over me, his eyes gazing down at me, yet there was no bloodlust in it. All I could see was my own miserable self, cowering in fear. Bending over me, he took the side of my face in his right hand and leaned towards me.
"No…don't come near me!" I begged, sweat running down my face. His cold lips reached my ear, and he whispered words I couldn't hear…
"NO!"
Rushed footsteps were heard just before my bedroom door was flung open.
"Cloud, what's wrong?" Tifa asked frantically. I panted, swallowed, and caught my breath before I turned to her with a weak smile.
"It's only that nightmare again, Tifa. Nothing to worry about, really," I reassured. She narrowed her eyes at me in suspicion and worry.
"Cloud, you know I can tell that you're lying. You've been having that nightmare since ten years ago! It's not just something you can brush off!" She sighed and shook her head. "Sometimes I really worry about you Cloud…" I leapt out of bed and shooed her out of my room so I could dress.
"Be sure to give me breakfast!" I yelled on the other side of the door.
"Fine!" she replied with a huff. I chuckled and opened my closet, rummaging through my drawers until I found a "decent" outfit, as Tifa would say. I took off my pajamas, which consisted of a loose white T-shirt and black shorts, and put on a dark blue shirt with a white undershirt, black jeans, and a dark leather jacket. I looked at myself in the mirror and decided to wash my face with cool water to get rid of the beads of sweat on my forehead. As I dried my face, I glanced at my wrists, where my veins were still as visible as they had been ten years ago. My complexion was the same as well: creamy white. In truth, I almost looked like a girl, with my perfect skin and blue eyes. If my spiky blond hair was any longer than I would most definitely be considered a woman.
"Cloud, do you want breakfast or not?" Tifa called out from the kitchen. I blinked twice in order to snap out of my dazed state and hurried out of the bathroom before Tifa broke the door.
"I'm off to work!" I said while heading out of the door with a list of people in hand. I did a small delivery service in our small town of Nibelheim for a bit of pocket Gil. Tifa was like the manager of our "company" while I was delivery boy. She wagged her finger at me and put a hand on her hip.
"Don't come back home late now," she warned mockingly. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Yes, Grandma," I responded sarcastically before hurrying off on Fenir, my motorcycle. She stomped her foot angrily and shouted after me. I shook my head, laughing.
After I had delivered almost all of the packages, I drove up to the Shinra Mansion, which was a home for Shinra Company executives, but from what I had heard, it was no longer in use. I found it strange that a package would be addressed to here. I knocked on the front door and waited until it was opened by the most beautiful human being I had ever seen. He looked so nostalgic…his features were so similar to the fuzzy image of my mom's killer…was it a coincidence?
"Uh…oh, um, package for you, sir," I mumbled in confusion. I was seriously making a fool of myself here. He chuckled and took the parcel from me.
"Are you the delivery boy?" he asked, his baritone voice smooth and musical almost.
"Y-Yes," I answered, my face heating up for some reason. His cat-like eyes examined me curiously.
"Why don't you come inside and relax for a bit? I'm sure you're tired and all…" he offered with a smile.
"Oh, no, I couldn't…I'd be a bother," I refused as politely as I could. I didn't want to seem rude to this mysterious man.
"Ah, that's a shame…well, I can't force you. My name is Sephiroth…a pleasure to meet you. Your name is?" he introduced.
"Cloud Strife. I live over there," I pointed to Tifa's house," With my childhood friend. We run a somewhat company together." He raised his eyebrows at me in surprise.
"Is that so? Do you not have any parents or relatives to take care of you?" he asked. I froze at his question.
"…My…dad died while working at the Mako reactor here…and my mom…she was killed," I managed to choke out. My body started shaking as I remembered that memory. Sephiroth gently placed a gloved hand on my shoulder and tilted my head up so we were eye to eye.
"Cloud?" he murmured softly, his eyes now gentle. I quickly turned away from him and brushed off his hand, laughing shakily.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you with such depressing stuff about me…Anytime you need a package delivered, please contact Strife Delivery!" I said with fake cheer before running back to Fenir and racing off. A tear rolled down my cheek, and I angrily wiped it off. Why was I crying? I was now sixteen after all, and I had to hurry home and continue my secret investigation on my mom's murder. I had no time for tears.
"Tanaka, you are there, no?" Sephiroth called as he walked into the living room. An elderly man appeared behind him, bowing respectfully.
"At your command, Sephiroth-sama," he replied somberly. Sephiroth smirked and held up an orb of Materia to the dim sunlight.
"Send that little present on the dining table to a boy named Cloud Strife. He lives in a bar called 7th Heaven," he ordered. Tanaka looked up sharply.
"Strife…? Then that human is-"
"Oh, yes…he's the son of that woman the company ordered to kill ten years ago. He's quite an interesting human being…I'll have to keep my eye on him. I haven't seen his dear self for ten years now, and I feel compelled to give him a little gift. Be sure to do your job properly now, Tanaka. You can have your 'dinner' later…" Sephiroth chuckled. Tanaka bowed with the present in his hand and vanished. Sephiroth lay on the red velvet couch and ran a hand through his long silky hair.
"I'm coming for you Cloud…" he hissed as he ran his tongue over his fangs…
"I'm home, Tifa!" I yelled as I walked through the front door.
"Welcome back," she greeted. She seemed to have forgotten me calling her a grandma-
Tifa kicked me hard in the shin.
…OR maybe not…
"Ow, dammit, that hurts Tifa!" I shouted in pain. I rubbed my sore shin as I glared at her. "How do you expect me to drive with an injured leg?"
"Then don't call me a grandma and I won't whack you on the leg!" she snapped. "Go change already. Dinner is almost ready." She walked back to the kitchen. I limped back to my room and locked the door.
"Curse you Tifa for having super-human strength in your legs and hands…" I muttered. I sat in my chair and started to turn on my computer when I noticed a silver rose in an elaborate vase on my desk. There was a card attached as well. I sniffed at the flower and was greeted by a sweet scent, more fragrant than any rose I had ever smelled. It was almost…comforting…it reminded me of my mother's perfume…I opened the card and my eyes widened in shock at the message inside.
Remember me, Cloud? I'm the one who took your mother's life…and I'm back. Wait for me, will you? I'm coming to get you next…
Silver Crescent
xxxmidnightstarxxx: I apologize for the immensely DUMB alias for Sephiroth…I had nothing else better…my imagination refuses to work after doing this chapter in an HOUR. *flops down half dead*
Cloud: Why am I so naïve that I can't even figure out that Sephiroth is my mom's killer?
Zack: Ah, poor Cloudy, he can't get a break, can he? Speaking of which, where am I this story?
Angeal: Calm down Puppy
xxxmidnightstarxxx: Sorry Zack…here, have a cookie. *tosses cookie to Zack in order to get Zack sugar-high* Anyway, sorry for any LAME descriptions or anything…I don't know how to write dark stories. :/ And as for Tanaka, he's just a random-ass character I made up in a minute. Don't bother paying attention to him.
Sephiroth: Be sure to make my character good in this fanfic, understood? *puts Masamune at my throat*
xxxmidnightstarxxx: Y-Yes, sir! Please don't kill me! I have yet to completely watch a walkthrough of FF7 on Youtube, finish my other Shugo Chara story, write a sequel to my first one, and other miscellaneous things!
Vincent: What about going to college?
xxxmidnightstarxxx: Oh! And that too
Cloud: *pulls out Buster Sword* Please rate and review…*lunges at Sephiroth to do Omnislash Level 5*