Lightning POV
The latest train arrives with a metallic screech to take me to the city above. Midgar. The thought of having to ride the train again put me a foul mood for a while since all I did in Nova Chriatalia was ride the god damn monorail. Elyme was wrong about one thing I didn't get any hassle from anyone and I stayed in the one carriage. The worst that happen was I got a few strange looks from locals. Like I care, I don't have time to discuss my choice of gear.
As I was coming off the train I was stopped by someone in what looked like a military uniform. Was this guy in that soldier?
"Hey lady, pay up. Entry fee for Midgar 100 Gil. And I wouldn't try anything on a SOLDIER 2nd class." The SOLDIER said with a smug smirk. Well I guess this is the hassle
"Get out of my way. SOLDIER 2nd class means crap to me." The man growls at me. He's acting like a mutt.
"You think you have a right to talk to me like that? Boys get over her this ones refusing to pay." His friends - well they seemed more like minions swarm around me. This guy is starting to really piss me off. He draws his weapon rather cockily mirrored by his friends. Really, I have to deal with these idiots.
There are three of them in total and they're all in a triangular formation. That's normal with only three men there isn't much option. The two younger men about eighteen are more hesitant than the 2nd class - they're most likely lower rank, one on the left and one on the right and still in training. Best to take them both out at once, there focused on offensive there's my advantage. A bolt should do it.
Sweeping my sword from my back I twist the blade towards my targets. I fuse a bolt shot conducting through the metal. I have three seconds before the energy dies. One. I send two bolts at rather side of the men drawing them closer. Two. Another double bold and there weapons clatter on the concrete. Three. I send a final bolt slash, the flash dies with the energy and the men are imbedded in the closest brick wall.
"How the hell did she do that so fast?" The one who was giving me grief shouted. He quickly came at me and swung his sword above, I block the attack easily.
He hal contious friend shouts "use Fire metaria." First mistake, you never tell your opponent what type of attack you are going to pull on the enemy. Second mistake he took his concentration away from the fight leaving him wide open. I powered Crimson blitz with my strength and slashed his mid abdomen.
"This fight was over before it even started. Next time you fight don't underestimate your opponent." I say walking away from the train station placing my sword on my back.
I best start searching for that man with the silver hair. Maybe he can give me some answers.
I keep walking until I reach an area that looks like the city slums. The slums are accompanied by strange looks at me. I can't blame them I stand out like a sore thumb in this city.
"Hey, missy wanna get your hands on some pretty powerful metaria." A man I assume was a dodgy merchant called out to me. I've had a brief overview and experience with materia and I don't need more magic. It be pointless. The magic I use is internal and I can use it fast.
"I'll pass" I say bluntly walking past the greasy man cursing under his breath. A few minute later I arrive at a bar. It was pretty small and was lit up on the inside like a Christmas tree.
"7th Heaven. . . Huh, any bar I've been in has been filled with depressed old men, but . . someone may know who I'm looking for."
The bar had a pretty welcoming atmosphere with each table lit and a games machine in the right side of the room. I walk over directly to the bar and notice the barmaid and a little girl working there. The older woman looked the same age as me, she has dark brown, long hair tied loose at the bottom, her eyes matching the colour of her hair. She is wearing a white cropped tank top accompanied by braces holding her skirt up. The little girl was sitting on one of the counters drying dishes. Like the older girl she had chocolate eyes but had light brown hair. They both looked up when I reached the bar. The older girl smiled and walked over to the front of the bar.
"Hi there, I'm Tifa, what can I get you?" Its been a while since I've actually had a drink
"Just a beer." I reply
"Coming right up. . . So you new to Midgar? I've never seen you before and I think I'd remember you." Tifa laughed while she was pouring my beer.
"Yeah, I'm looking for someone but I don't know who he is." Tifa places the beer in front of me.
"Do you know what this person looks like?" She leans against the bar helping the little girl with the dishes.
"All I know Is that he has long silver hair and he carries a long metallic sword." Tifa immediately stops what she's doing and turns to face me. But she doesn't have the warm smile plastered on her face.
"Do you know who I'm talking about?" Tifa crosses her arms an looks down towards the ground.
"Yes, his name is Sephiroth and if I where you I would stop searching." The brunette turns back to a dishes and she goes silent.
"Look I would appreciate if you told me what you know about this Sephiroth but if your not going to tell me. Then I'm wasting my time." I place a few Gil in the bar and turn to walk away. The door crashed open, and gunfire roars inside the bar. Instinctively I draw my sword, the residents of the bar move out quickly except for Tifa and the little girl.
The man responsible for the gunfire was a tall bulky black man. Wearing a netted vest and a sleeveless jacket. Not that he could wear sleeves, his right arm was his weapon.
I get ready for my first strike but Tifa grabs my arm to hold me back. She's got some strength. I better watch out for her.
"Don't attack, he's a friend of mine." Tifa releases my arm from her grasp and I lower my sword.
"Really, I didn't know that your friends just up and open fire in your bar." I huff
"I guess he needed some privacy." Tifa's welcoming smile had return to her face as she walks over to the huge man.
"Hey Barrett, how'd things go?"
"It went fine, spiky is a pain in the ass," he huffs. The man lifts his gaze to me and instantly recognises me.
"Hey ain't you that woman that took out those Shinra soldiers? Whatcha doin here?" The man walked to wards the bar with his back turned to me.
"I'm looking for someone, and I don't take well to people thinking they're big shots abusing their power. Don't care if they are soldiers or not." I cross my arms and lean against one of the wooden tables.
"This is Barrett and Barrett this is. . . Oh huh, I never actually got your name. " Tifa turns to face me waiting for my answer.
"Lightning." I answer.
"Geez man, you got a weird name to match that weird look you got goin on. You a kind of dress up fighter or somethin?" He asks. Curiously looking at my gear.
"No." I bluntly
"I ain't complaining you done us a favour putting those soldiers in there place. But one thing is bothering me. How did you use magic without using materia?" I huff at all these questions. I don't want to be interrogated.
"I don't need metaria. Look I'm looking for someone and I need to find someone called Sephiroth, do you know where I can find him." I ask impatiently unaware that someone was behind me.
"Sephiroth is dead. And he's staying dead." I hear a males voice behind me getting close. I turn to see the person behind me, he looks about the same age as me. And his hair was blonde and in spikes. So this must be the pain in the ass. He wore what looked similar to the soldiers I fought. But his uniform was black, and he had a shoulder guard on his left arm. On his back there was a giant sword that dominated his back. And I thought Crimson was big. But what stood out most what his eyes. A deep blue they almost looked chemical and they where glowing.
"Welcome home Cloud. Looks like everything went well" Tifa breathes as Marlene hides behind her.
"Marlene aren't you going to say anything to Cloud?' Marlene kept her ground behind Tifa.
"No not this time." The blonde turns his attention to me. "What do you mean you don't need metaria?" How did he hear me say that from outside?
"Like I said I'm looking for Sephiroth, I don't have time to explain how I work." He keeps his expression emotionless and walked past me.
"If your not going to answer my questions, then why should I answer yours." I scowl a him and curse under my breath. I agree with Barrett he is a pain in the ass. But I hate to admit it he has a fair point.
"Fine. I'll answer your question but you have to tell me what you know." I say through gritted teeth. "I don't use metaria because the power I use is interval in other words. . . My powers are apart of me." His expression shifts from monotone to slight shock.
"Wait a minute are you some kinda God or somethin' cause that ain't norm-."
"I am not a God and don't compare me to them." I growl, when I remember the battle with the god Bhwinivelze. Barrett backed off when he sees my face.
"Sephiroth was SOLDIER 1st class and was the most powerful soldier there was, I too was apart of SOLDIER and the last mission I went on with him, he died." Both Tifa and Cloud eyes filled with sadness but Cloud's tone was angry and quiet. I stopped asking question not wanting to push him any further. What am I suppose to do now? I'm right where I started. The other men and woman In the bar came in along with Barrett but kept quiet until one tall thin man spoke up.
"Hey miss are you going to join us-." The dark haired man spoke timidly.
"Biggs, shut up." The woman on the other side of the take roared. 'Biggs'I remember that name.
"Join you? Not interested." Barrett gave out a chuckle at my answer.
"Well you just as stubborn as chocobo-head here. He said the exact same thing." The blonde leant against the wall opposite me glaring at his feet.
"Good for him" I say sarcastically not really wanting to hear a back-story.
"Right then, All you get down here to start the meeting, fools!" Barrett shouts at the what i assume are the members of 'join us'. They followed him to the games machine that was actually an elevator the s room underneath the floor boards. Reminds me of NORA
"Great, what the hell am I going to do now?" Is say to my self.
"So Lightning where on Gaia are you from!?" The brunette asks cheerfully.
"Gaia? Is this what this world is called." Cloud stared at me confused.
Cloud's POV
"Who the hell are you?" I asked curiously. At the rose haired warrior in front of me she's talking as if she's never been outside before.
"It's a long story." Lightning crosses her arms and turns away from tifa and I.
I'm sorry that I'm asking so many questions I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
"I don't care-." Tifa jumped in front of Lightning taking her by surprise.
"Well why don't you help us out at AVALANCHE, we could really use the help. Cloud's helping out too, aren't you Cloud?" I didn't have time to answer much.
"I never said I-." I was cut off by Tifa.
"Please, Cloud the planets dying we could really use the people. And besides you remember the promise you made, don't you?"
Lightning POV
"So your just gonna leave and ignore a child hood friend." Tifa breathes disappointed in her friend.
". . . Sorry."
Tifa went on to explain what the blonde had promised in the past. How he would come back a famous hero to protect her. "So they where childhood friends."
"Im not a hero and I'm not famous, so I can't keep our promise." The blonde sighed.
"You still made SOLDIER didn't you? So come on you have to keep your promise." The room fell to dead silence. I wasn't interested in getting mixed up in this so I kept my distance. A few seconds later Barrett came climbing up the elevator shafts on the wall leading down to a room under the floor.
"Yo, spiky here." Barrett shouted throwing a bag of cash to Cloud.
"This is my pay? Don't make me laugh." Cloud scoffs.
"Then you'll do it?" Tifa's eye lit up.
"The next job I'll do it for 3000 Gil." Barrett face dropped to the floor at what comes out of the blondes mouth.
"What!?" Barrett shouts. But Tifa calms him down and they exchange whispers.
"2000!. And what bout you?" Barrett turned to face me terrified for my answer.
"Keep your money I don't need it." Tifa's face was plastered with a cheesy smile. I didn't need Gil I still had thousands from completing quests back in Nova Christallia.
"I like you already." Barrett shouts in pure relief.
"So you'll join us too, then?" Tifa asks hopeful.
"Whatever. I'm not getting anywhere fast. By the way what is AVALANCHE?" I should have asked that before I agreed.
"Well ya see we are trying to save the planet because Shinra is basically sucking the damn thing dry. The news and hole load of people call us terrorist but we ain't that bad." Barret chuckles.
First I get to be a bandit now I have the absolute pleasure of being a terrorist.
Hey everyone, just wanted to say that this is my first FF fic so I'm sorry if it's a but rubbish.
The story line will follow the FF7 game but not everything will be the same I intend to throw in a few themes from XIII since it's a CloudxLightning thing and also I will tweak the some factors of things that are in both games like the SOLDIERS at the train station typically I don't think they would take money from people on the train but I thought it would be interesting to try out. But changes won't be significantly different. But I will try my best to stay true to the characters as I can. I feel kinda bad for taking Lightning away from Serah (I'm a super bitch xD) but I'm not entirely sure where I want to go with this story yet so I will just concentrate on the guys in 7 and Lightning for the time being.
It be cool if guys could give me any ideas on what you want to see in this story. Thanks.
C.L
