Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy Seven
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Cloud felt heavy his eyes, were barely open his left arm was limp and everything was growing hazy. Then in this desperate moment a clear ringing voice filled him and he smiled as he picked up his own broken sword and charged the mighty General, who's back was turned, he could see his long flowing hair, he had to end this now. Then in a flash the general had spun towards him face obscured.
"Cloud!" a female voice called that shook his core. Then he looked around coming to a complete stop. He saw the source of the voice and froze, he turned and saw something that shocked him "Y-you're alive?"
--
Cloud awoke with a start, he was relaxing in the Sierra II, he was in a room used for quiet writing and tactical planning, and he accidentally fell asleep on top of Reeve's operation plans. The Sierra II was just as elegant as the first, his eyes narrowed and he rubbed his forehead before looking out the window and seeing the horrors he had hope to never have to think about again, the ship was hovering over the Northern Crater, but only for a moment as it lurched forward; giving Cloud a perfect view of dark evil trying to escape from its deepest depths. An anonymous tip was sent to the WRO a week ago stating that the man they sought was heading for the sleeping city, better known as the City of the Ancients, how this person knew of it he couldn't understand.
Cloud wiped the sweat from his brow as the ship continued its path, moving away from the corrupted crater. He hadn't spoken to Yuffie since the one-sided argument, he had tried once but she disappeared, and he couldn't figure out where to find her on the ship now.
Cloud stepped out and took a walk around, he was anxious, this was major; the man they were chasing possessed a weapon capable of mass destruction and was heading to the City of the Ancients; he's an Ex-SOLDIER, what else could happen? He turned a corner and nearly walked straight into Vincent who seemed unbothered as his calm voice broke through the air "Cloud, this isn't a time where thinking too much will succeed; you must make your decision before you have no choice but to make a decision."
Cloud was shocked but his dark friend's words, as usual Vincent always knew what he was thinking and he needed to hear. "Vincent…have you seen Yuffie?" Vincent turned to return to the bridge and spoke calmly "ask Tifa." And then he had walked away his aura of mystery as always intact.
Cloud nodded as he turned and walked toward, the infirmary, he heard Tifa was there helping out, not surprising, she was always helpful. Cloud calmly entered the medical room and smiled at Tifa helping the nurse organize the numerous vials and books. Tifa turned to see you entered and smiled seeing it was Cloud.
"Cloud? Is something wrong?" Tifa asked calmly both of her arms resting behind her, she was leaning forward slightly, with a light smile on her face, and Cloud was blushing very slightly but paid it no mind.
"I-I just came to see you Tifa." He smiled slightly and she looked over at the nurse who shooed her off with a smile. "Alright, I have some time; so…Cloud?" she was smiling and he shook his head slightly remembering a memory not quite his own.
"Tifa…we don't talk much anymore do we?" he asked uncomfortably and Tifa's eyes narrowed "Cloud Strife, now I know something's up you'd better tell me, right now." Cloud gulped and smiled weakly his resolve tested by the fearsome Tifa.
"Well you see, I need to find Yuffie…I was a bit…mean I guess." Tifa was about to respond when she was interrupted.
"Cloud…" a quiet male voice said and Cloud looked over to see that Aaron had just entered the room and he was calm looking as he walked forward. "I need to tell you something, something important." Cloud nodded slightly confused.
"Sure what is it?"
"Could we talk in the hallway, please?" Cloud looked over to Tifa who blinked at the quiet young man and back to Cloud before smiling slightly and whispered "You'd better get back in here quick Cloud Strife." Cloud winced at the second use of his full name, he was in for it. Cloud followed the young Aaron into the hallway and then leaned against the wall and blinked.
"What did you need Aaron?"
"Well you see I am really…" then he gripped his hat but before he could continue the entire ship rocked harshly and a warning klaxon went off. Then entire ship was shaking violently. Moments later Cid's voice came on over the intercom "Shit! We've been hit! Were on a crash decent! Everyone get ready this is going to be one hell of a fall!"
Tifa ran out of the infirmary with the nurse in tow as she looked at Cloud "Cloud! We need to get to the hangar!" Cloud was confused as he looked back at Tifa as the ship rocked violently causing him to nearly lose his footing as Tifa slipped her grabbed her meanwhile, Aaron leaned against the wall opposite, holding his hat on.
"Why do we need to get to the Hangar?" Cloud asked holding Tifa to himself as she smiled slightly and then said "That's were Yuffie is! She hid out there; no one else is around her! We had Vincent make sure of that."
Cloud frowned and nodded as they ran down the hall before they crashed, Aaron however watched with sad eyes. "Oh Cloud."
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Cliff, near Icicle Inn
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John smiled as he put the Materia Mass Gun into its holster a wide smile on his face as he walked back to his helicopter. He looked back at the crashing plane and smiled "Goodbye…WRO." Then he looked over to his helicopter which was preparing to take off. His eyes narrowed as he saw the plane crash violently into the snow.
"Sir, the teams are in position, they will not find any help soon...if they survive at all" John smiled, his plans were unfolding perfectly.
"Excellent, once you all have collected everything of value…continue with the plan, I want minimal problems." Then he smirked as he stepped into the helicopter and sat down in the passenger seat next to the pilot.
"Ready, when you are, sir!" John smirked and nodded as the Helicopter began its ascent he looked down at Icicle Inn and smiled as he noticed the eighteen elite warriors march through it.
Slowly they flew towards the forgotten capital; he looked out and across the horizon and frowned as he looked towards the south. He hated those who forced his hand to this point, he had waited happily for the end, but now he knew what he had to do.
The helicopter began to descend into the forgotten capital but as it reached half way down a massive dark dragon, took off from the ground smashing against the helicopter knocking it from the sky. The dragon landed near the wreckage, and roared victoriously over the flaming metal, but from the flames, John stepped out a smile on his face. The dragon angrily roared again and attempted to bite him with its massive maw but he spun around sliding out of the way, his blades in hand, before leaping up and brutally slashing its face.
The dragon roared in agony as John continued to cut it up, his blades whirling as he leapt back and frowned as he sheathed his weapons, removing the Materia Mass Gun from its holster and then smiled as the chamber opened and revealed the complicated weapons inner workings, as he loaded in the fire Materia, the weapon was glowing now, it was reminiscent of Death Penalty, except smaller. Then he aimed calmly at the dragon and fired.
The destruction was incredible as it smashed into the dragon, nothing seemed to happen for a moment as the dragon roared, but then a moment later it exploded in a violent mass as the area around him was devastated, John looked around realizing he too would be caught in the blast, but at the last moment he noticed a near-by cliff and ran towards it and leapt, and below he saw it, The Forgotten Capital, then behind him came the blast of flame and gore, as he landed, rolled, and ended up on his back.
Three men walked up to him and saluted before helping him to his feet and escorting him, down into the capital.
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Wreckage, snow plains
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Cloud and Tifa had made it just in time to get to Yuffie before the hit ground, the three were all curled up in a ball together, and they somehow managed to dodge, most of the fallen equipment and damaged metal.
Cloud was the first to recover "Everyone okay?" he asked calmly as Tifa's eyes slowly opened and she nodded slightly. Her body was sore from all the fallen objects but, that was all. Yuffie however looked in horrible pain, half of her was underneath him and once he move slightly he saw why, a spike of metal that would have struck him right in the stomach if she were not there had pierced through part of her leg.
"Yuffie!" Cloud's voice was concerned earning a slight smirk from the pained ninja. Tifa, looked down at the wound and then to Yuffie. Wordlessly Tifa moved Yuffie's leg, the scream was horrible as she tried to not look weak, Yuffie was crying, and Tifa looked away. Cloud reacted quickly once her leg was off of the spike; he placed his hand over the wound and let out a breath, the power of magic washing over him in a brilliant blue glow. "Full-Cure." He said tiredly as it washed over the wound leaving only a scar in its wake, but that Materia was very draining for Cloud to use.
Sudden noise from outside the damaged hull gave them a start, it sounded like snowmobiles, then all was quiet, Cloud was nearly panting with exhaustion, as a searing light began tearing through the metal. The light eventually dimmed and several people in Shinra uniform walked towards them. Cloud's eyes narrowed remembering what happened to Kalm he stumbled to his feet sword at the ready, but stopped as moments later they crowd parted and saluted as Reno and Rude walked in, a smirk on Reno's face and Rude usual neutral expression.
"Reno? Rude? Why are you two out here?" Reno smirked in response to the question and then shook his head and looked over to Rude.
"Man, we come down from the flight test to give them a hand and this is our reception?" Reno spoke in a playfully annoyed tone and looked back to Cloud "Dude, show us some gratitude, we're here to save your butt…again."
