Final Fantasy Paradigm Rift

Chapter 1.2

Lightning sheathed her gunblade behind her as she cut down another Shinra soldier. Terra had walked up to her from the rear, assessing the current situation.

"It seems we've managed to infiltrate the surrounding area quite easily. It looks like your plan of coming in from the opposite front of the attack was the right one."

"Of course it was, while Shinra is busy fending off the AVALANCHE raid... we slip in the back door."

"Light... just what's your goal in all this? Are we really helping AVALANCHE? I mean... they're terrorists, right?" Terra questioned, while knelt down near a fallen Shinra soldier.

"Terra, you told me that you used to be part of a resistance group in your world, right?"

"Yes, but that was--"

"No, it's all the same. Any group fighting against the established order will always be brandished 'Terrorists'... but that doesn't mean they are actually ruthless fanatics hell bent on destroying us all... No, in fact, I'm almost positive that they're fighting for a strong cause – something worth fighting for."

"What makes you so sure? We've not even met these people from AVALANCHE... yet just from a few news bulletin's you've already come to a conclusion that this group isn't evil. I've seen evil, Light – pure, unadulterated, evil..."

Terra trailed off as she spoke. Lightning turned and placed her hand on Terra's shoulder, "Hey, I never said you had to come along. If you don't feel comfortable fighting against this Shinra corporation... then by all means, I'm not forcing you. I'm merely fighting them on a whim – a whim that's telling me that this Shinra is unjust."

Terra smiled softly, "Thanks, Light. I appreciate it, really. But I've no intention to just let you go it alone. I said that I'd be there to help and I meant it."

"Glad to hear it." Lightning replied as she checked their surroundings. There were no more checkpoints that they needed to worry about breaking through. Their biggest concern was a huge drop-off point near the edge of the road. Apparently some sort of explosive device had gone off recently, due to the relative size of the crater that was ahead of them. The crater was so deep that the under-city, or slums, could be seen from above.

"That looks like a pretty steep drop off point... perhaps we should try to find another way?" Terra suggested.

"...No, that's fine. We can go this way."

"Huh? Are you crazy, there's no—OH MY GOD?!"

Lightning vaulted off the edge, downward into the massive crater to the slums below. She performed such a feat flawlessly and seemingly without effort. A large sweat drop dripped down the side of Terra's brow. Well... I didn't expect her to be able to do something like that..."

"Stop right there, woman!" a voice shouted. Terra turned her head and noticed a rather large Shinra soldier standing in the distance. He had long jet black hair and sullen black eyes. He wore a sadistic grin on his face as he pointed at her, "It looks like you've been abandoned by your 'friend'... how unlucky for you..."

"...And why would you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because the woman wielding that gun-like sword is clearly the stronger of you two... It is my lucky day for when I capture you, I will finally be promoted to SOLDIER 1st Class!!!"

"...You think just because I was aiding Lightning in support that I am weak?" Terra narrowed her eyes. Then, suddenly, a small half smirk showed on her face, "You couldn't be any further from the truth... You see... I'm not entirely human – I'm also part Esper..."

"Esper... not entirely human...what kind of garbage are you spouting, Woman?!"

"My name is Terra Branford."

"Isn't that nice... I don't recall asking you – but since you insist on pleasantries, allow me to introduce myself as well... My name is Victor Mordecai...Shinra SOLDIER 2nd Class!"

"Well, Victor, I don't think I could convince you to leave me be and turn the other way?"

"Not a chance in hell! You're my ticket to advancement in Shinra, bitch!"

"I see... then I suppose I have no choice. Forgive me, Victor, but I have no intention of being captured..."

Standing at the edge of the crater, Terra untied her hair tie and let her hair fall down past her shoulders. She closed her eyes momentarily... and slowly opened them. Formerly emerald green eyes now were a bright shade of amber. A blue aura surrounded her as electrical sparks flickered, sparked and waned about.

"Heh... it's been a while since I've done this...arghh...come on... just a little further..."

Terra pushed her magical energy through her body like electricity being rerouted through an electrical device. As she did, her mint-green hair began to flash a silvery white with a deep shade of pink...

"There... just let it all out...Arghhhhhaaahhhhh!!!!"

After unleashing all the pent up magical energy within, Terra had transformed into her Esper state.

"...I'm sorry... it seems I'm out of practice... that took me a bit longer than usual..."

"W-what in the hell?!" Victor stammered as he staggered a few steps backwards, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!?!?!" He screamed as he emptied an entire clip out of his rifle.

However, beforehand, Terra had instantaneously cast protect on herself and all rounds from Victor's clip were dulled and nullified. The empty shells all fell to the ground in the distance between Victor and Terra...

"N-no way! You monster!!! HAAAAAHHH!!!!" Victor charged with his sword, he slashed again and again and again – however, with each slash Terra easily evaded him.

"Victor... this is your last chance – leave – now."

"You dare mock me... you... MONSTER!!!"

Victor attempted a desperate attack, lunging with all his might at Terra... only for her to evade yet again, however he had exerted so much force that momentum carried him over the crater's edge. Before he knew it, Victor had fallen off the edge of the crater face first.

"Noooooo...h-huh?" Victor was unsure of what was happening... all he knew was that he was no longer falling. Upon looking up, he saw he was being sustained in mid-air by Terra, with no ground beneath either of them.

"H,how..."

"I told you, I am not like you – I am half-human, half-esper... My abilities transcend that of a normal human... Now, my friend is a bit ahead of me and I would like to rejoin her. So... please do not follow me again..." Terra said as she landed back on the crater's edge and dropped Victor on solid ground.

Then, without hesitation, stepped off the edge. While levitating momentarily, Terra then flew downwards towards Midgar's under-city.

Lightning had landed on top of a monorail train which was headed near the No. 1 reactor. Then as she looked up she noticed a 'creature' swoop down and land directly in front of her with insane speed.

"...What the... Terra?"

"Like I said... I'm an Esper." Terra replied, just as she reverted back to her normal state.

Lightning put one hand on her hip and shrugged with her free arm, "Honestly, that's some ability you've got there."

"I wouldn't call what I did so impressive... what you did on the other hand – just how in the world did you pull something like that off?"

Lightning held out her hand which had small imprints on her index finger and thumb, "It's a gravity control unit, or Grav-Con for short. I can manipulate gravity to better suit my style, allowing me to perform feats that without it would be impossible. It's just tech, nothing magical at all about it."

"I see... still, you shouldn't of just jumped like that! You had me worried half to death, you know!"

"I never asked you to care..."

"You're not in this alone, Light. We're both in this together. Up until now I've let you do all the fighting... but I can fight too." Terra retorted.

Lightning couldn't help but smile, "Alright... in any case, the train is pulling into the station."

"Right."

When the train stopped, Terra and Lightning jumped from the top of the train to the platform. In the distance, they saw a man who's uniform resembled something of the Shinra soldier's uniform. Unlike the other soldiers, this man was not wearing a helmet. He had spikey blond hair and deep blue eyes. But beyond that, what caught Lightning and Terra's attention was the sheer size of his sword.

"...You two don't look like Shinra... get out of here before you get hurt."

"Funny, you don't look so tough." Lightning replied.

"...I don't have time for this... Do whatever you want – just stay out of my way."

"You're with AVALANCHE, aren't you?" Terra interjected, "Why don't we work together? We're here to help AVALANCHE."

"Hey! Cloud – git yer spiky haired ass movin'!"

The voice had belonged to a massive man with a gun grafted to his arm – Barrett Wallace – leader of AVALANCHE. The recipient of his foul mouthed yelling – Cloud Strife – EX-soldier.

Chapter 1.3 Preview

Lightning: ...This Cloud Strife... he's 'interesting'. Just what is his true motivation to fight? It seems talking won't get anywhere with him... very well, I'll simply force my way through to him to better understand his motivations...

Terra: Light! You can't just go attacking people on a whim like that!

Lightning: ...Hmph... just stay out of this.

Terra: Hey! Light—hmm, if I didn't know better, I think Light might fancy Cloud. Aww...

Barret: Hey there little lady...

Terra: Umm... I gotta go! See you all in the next chapter!

Next time in Chapter 1.3, Lightning and Terra join up with AVALANCHE and accompany Barret and Cloud in their efforts to decommission SHINRA Reactor No.1!