the never ending battle of light and darkness Vol1

by tedus987

this is where it began, where things where set in motion, and the fate of Earth 3 stands in the balance where only 10 people can tip the scales FF7 remake, rated M just in case

6. Chapter 6 Family ties and a loud mouth

I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or any of the characters in Final Fantasy 7 or content from said game, my own characters are my own design and I own them, so ask if you want to use them at all.

Chapter 6 – Family ties and a loud mouthed pilot.

A buggy continued across the open plains as Yuffie stared at the little toy of Dio with its head bobbing up and down as Luke continued to look at the plains. "Why do you think he put the little toy of himself on the dashboard?" Yuffie asked as Luke glared at it. "I don't know but it's really starting to annoy me." Luke stated as the toy continued to bob up and down, "I wonder how they get the head to bob up and down…" Yuffie wondered as Luke wound the window down and grabbed the toy before tossing it out the window.

Yuffie sighed and Luke wound the window back up, "Cloud, can you take over for a while?" Luke asked as he looked in the back of the buggy, Cloud got up and walked to the front of the buggy as Luke stood up with one foot on the acceleration peddle, the two switched and Luke climbed into the back to look through the buggy for anything to do. After an hour Luke gave up and took a deck of cards out of his storage device before putting them on a table in the middle of the passenger room.

"Looks like we've arrived at Gongaga…" Cloud stated as Luke had his mouth open to speak before he placed the cards back into his device, Luke opened the back door to let everyone out as Cloud opened the driver's seat door and tossed Luke the keys, Luke caught the keys and looked at the village before Yuffie got out of the passenger seat and walked up to the group, Luke locked the buggy and looked at the forest around the town before the group entered.

As they walked through the forest Luke stopped them as he noticed 2 men in suits waiting for something, "…Is someone there?" Cloud asked as Luke pointed to the two men before Cloud realised it was Reno and Rude, "Hey, Rude. Who do you like? What are you getting so embarrassed about? Come on? Who do you like?" Reno asked jokingly as Rude looked at him seriously.

"Tifa." Rude replied quietly before looking away from Reno slightly embarrassed, "That's a tough one. But, poor Elena. She... you..." Reno sighed as Rude looked at him in surprise, "No, she likes Tseng." Rude informed Reno as Reno looked up and glared at the sky, "I never knew that! But Tseng likes that Ancient..." Reno shouted before slowly calming down, "still, Elena is cute, and attractive… and…" he slowly spoke as he noticed Rude looking at him in surprise, "a pain in the ass" Reno continued covering his sentence.

(A/N yes in this version of events Reno secretly likes Elena but knows that she's obsessed with Tseng.)

"What are they talking about?" Cloud asked as Elena walked next to the group, "It's so stupid! They always talk about who they like or don't like. But Tseng is different." Elena complained before looking at the group to see Luke doing a slow mocking wave at her. "Ah! Oh no! They're here! They're really here!" Elena shouted before running towards Reno and Rude and pointing at the group.

"Hmm... Then it's time... Rude... Don't go easy on them even though they're girls." Reno commanded as he extended his night stick, "...Don't worry, I'll do my job." Rude replied while cracking his knuckles, "Then, we're counting on you. I'll report to Tseng!" Elena informed the two Turks before she ran off, "It's been a while. Payback time for what you did in Sector 7." Reno shouted as Luke pulled out both his swords and got into a fighting stance.

"Tifa, you think you can handle chrome dome?" Luke asked as Rude glared at him, Tifa smirked as she got into her fighting stance and smirked at Rude, "oh, I'm going to enjoy this!" Reno yelled with a grin as he readied his nightstick as Luke spun his two swords round both in one hand, "Oh, Rude, sorry, but your definitely not my type" Tifa mocked as she smirked, Rude ran at Tifa and tried to kick her but Tifa blocked the kick and punched Rude several times in the gut.

Reno charged at Luke as Luke stood perfectly still waiting for Reno to strike, as Reno brought his nightstick round to hit his target Luke blocked the nightstick with one sword before turning to strike with the second but Reno quickly jumped out of the way, Tifa continued to punch Rude before getting a good shot on Rude's face and knocking his sunglasses off, Luke tried to slash Reno but Reno blocked his attack and stepped back before the 4 of them heard the sound of glass being crushed.

Rude looked down at Reno's feet to see his broken sunglasses before he pulled a pair out of his jacket and placed them on his face, Reno tried to strike Luke again but Luke ducked backwards into a flip just barely dodging Reno's attack as Reno regained his balance from the failed attack, Luke landed back on his feet and tossed one of his swords into the air before attacking with the sword in his left hand.

Reno continued to block Luke's attacks and glared at Luke before blocking another attack and locking his baton with Luke's blade, "what you gonna do now, you can't attack me…" Reno stated as Luke held out his right hand and caught his right hand sword, "Can't I?" Luke asked mockingly before he continued his twin sword barrage, Rude punched Tifa in the nose causing Tifa to move back as she held her nose.

Rude stopped fighting to see if he actually hurt Tifa and quickly dropped his guard before Tifa kicked Rude in the crown jewels, (A/N yes she was faking the injury) Rude held his nuts as he fell to his knees before Tifa kicked him in the jaw and smirked at her triumphant victory, Luke used one of his swords to spin Reno's nightstick similar to the style of a rapier before knocking it out of his hand, Luke tossed both long swords at his feet and pulling the Trigger Blade off his back before pointing it at Reno's neck and etching towards the trigger.

Reno looked down the blade in surprise before looking back at Luke, "word to the wise Reno, Improve your skill not your weapon." Luke instructed before moving the Trigger Blade away from Reno's face, both Reno and Rude looked at each other before running away from the group, "We may be retreating, but... we're still victorious!" Reno shouted before the two vanished from sight.

"Hey, something seems wrong, like they knew we were coming." Tifa mentioned as she looked back at the group, "They followed us... But there weren't any signs of it. Then, that means..." Cloud began to suggest as Luke walked up to the group, "a spy… but it can't be…" Luke stated as he looked at the group, "I don't even want to think that there's a spy... I trust everyone." Cloud thought about the options before the group continued along the road until Cloud spotted a destroyed structure.

"A ruined reactor?" Cloud asked as the group went closer to the structure as they reached a corner Luke stopped the group, "Do you guy's hear that?" Luke asked as the group all listened before they heard the whirring of spinning propellers, the group snuck closer to the reactor to get a better look as a Shinra helicopter hovered close to the ground before a woman in a red dress got out of the helicopter.

"It's Scarlet, Head of Shinra Weapon Development." Cloud informed the group as Luke nodded, "I think she was at the meeting in the Shinra building." Luke informed Cloud as Scarlet looked around and huffed, "This isn't any good either. You only get junky material from junky reactors. This reactor's a failure. What I'm looking for is big, large, huge Materia. You seen any?" Scarlet asked as Tseng got out of the same helicopter.

"No I haven't seen it. I'll get on it right away." Tseng informed Scarlet as he looked around at the broken reactor, "With Hojo gone, the Weapon Development's been getting a bigger budget." Scarlet informed Tseng as Tseng sighed, "I envy them." Tseng huffed before looking at Scarlet, "But, even if we make the perfect weapon, could that stupid Heidegger even use it?" Scarlet asked with a laugh as Tseng glared at her.

"Oh... sorry! I forgot Heidegger was your boss!" Scarlet laughed again before quickly stopping as Tseng's soul piercing glared continued to focus on Scarlet, "Let's go!" she yelled as the two got back into the helicopter and the helicopter flew out of sight, "Big, large, huge materia? An ultimate weapon? The perfect weapon? Just what are the Shinra up to...?" Cloud asked as Luke walked to the centre of the broken reactor with half opened eyes.

"Luke… you ok?" Tifa asked as Luke stopped and turned to face the group, "something… something happened here… it's past is fuzzy but, from what my angelic senses are saying, out of the people who died here, one keeps hitting me liked the tongue of a bell crashing against its side." Luke stated as he placed his hand near the ground, "who?" Aerith asked as she walked closer to Luke, "Young… a child… female… that one death holds great sorrow… whoever she was, she must have meant a lot to the people who knew her…" Luke stated before standing up and looking at a red glint in the rubble.

"Hello, what do we have here?" Luke asked curiously as he stuck his hand in the rubble and pulled out a summon materia, "is it ok if we continue on… the sense of sorrow for lost ones is sending for me…" Luke asked before Cloud nodded and the group entered Gongaga village, "ok, meet back here in 20 minutes… chances are Sephiroth's already moved on, I don't want to loose distance between him and us." Cloud commanded as he and Luke walked into the weapon store.

Tifa walked up to the weapon shop door and waited outside as Aerith and Yuffie darted to the accessory shop, Barret and Red entered the item shop as the man at the counter stared in fear at Barret's gun arm, Luke haggled for two impressive looking swords on the wall before finally paying a lowered price as Cloud shook his head, Cloud bought new weapons for everyone before leaving the weapon store and meeting up with Tifa, after everyone met back at the decided spot Cloud and Tifa left one of the huts in a huff, "what wrong?" Aerith asked as Cloud completely ignored her and marched out of the village.

"There were two old people complaining about their run away son." Tifa explained as Luke leaned against the house wall close to the village exit, "What did they say about him?" Aerith asked as Tifa grimaced slightly, "Well… they said he ran away to SOLDIER…" Tifa quickly answered hoping Aerith wouldn't catch on, "I see, did they mention a name… or where he might be…" Aerith continued to ask as Tifa walked towards the exit.

"Sorry, they didn't mention any names, they just continued to complain…" Tifa explained before heading to the buggy before the others followed, (A/N yes, Tifa lied, but it's for the better I assure you.) as the group reached the buggy Luke tossed Cloud the keys and got in the back as Tifa sat in the passenger side, everyone got their new weapons and handed the old ones to Luke as Barret held his gun arm on the table.

As Luke added new parts to the gun arm the buggy travelled across the open plains till they reached a desert, as Luke finished he removed the goggles from his eyes and looked at the arm, "ok Barret, the outer ring fires 3 times at once with a continuous rate of fire, the inner ring is the same gatling gun and the cannon is the same as before, it should allow you to increase your rate of fire, Cloud stopped the buggy as he passed a structure of some form and got out to look at it.

"Guys, I think you might want to see this…" Cloud shouted as Red hoped out of the buggy and looked at the structure before running towards it, the group quickly got out to follow the beast as Luke ran but then turned to lock the buggy, as he made it back to the group Red bounded up some stairs and bowed to a guard, "I am home! It is I, Nanaki!" Red XIII announced before passing the guard, "Hey, Nanaki! You're safe! Come on, and say hello to Bugenhagen!" the guard cheered as Red nodded.

"...Nanaki?" Cloud questioned as the guard looked at them, "Welcome to Cosmo Canyon. Are you familiar with this land?" the guard asked as everyone looked at each other, "errrrrrr… no…" Luke mocked as Cloud glared at him, "Let me explain. People from all over the world gather here to seek the Study of Planet Life." The guard explained as Barret ran up to the man, "Wooooooooo! I always wanted to come here!" Barret cheered with excitement.

"It's full capacity at present, so I'm afraid I can't let you enter." The guard informed the group as Red turned to look at the group, "They helped me some when I was on the road. Please let them in." Red pleaded as the guard nodded, "...Oh, is that so? You helped our Nanaki? Please, come in." the guard stepped out of the way and allowed the group to pass, "Who is Nanaki?" Cloud asked as the guard looked at him with surprise.

"Nanaki is Nanaki. That's his name." the guard informed Cloud before Cloud nodded, "Here is where I was... I mean, ...this is my hometown. My tribe were protectors of those who appreciate this beautiful canyon and the Planet. My brave mother fought and died here, but my cowardly father left her... I am the last of my race." Red informed them as Luke looked at him with surprise, "I don't think you are the last…" Luke said as he stroked Red's mane.

"What do you mean?" Red asked surprised at Luke's words, "well, it's faint, and very distant, but I can just pick out another one of your race, but I can't locate it." Luke informed Red who smiled lightly, "at least there is another." Red said before looking at the group, "Cowardly father?" Cloud questioned before Red looked at Cloud seriously, "Yes. My father was a wastrel. And so the mission I inherited from my ancestors, is to protect this place. My journey ends here." Red informed the group before climbing up some stairs as an old man on a floating ball appeared.

"Hey! Nanaki--! You're home!" the old man said as Red looked above several houses to see the old man on the stairs before running at a wall and jumping on to a roof, as he landed Red jumped from the roof to a cliff and then to the base of the stairs, Red said something to the old man but from such a distance the group could only wonder what it was, "Good timin'. Let's take a breather. I got stuff I want to find out too." Barret told Cloud before walking off.

"I'm going to go check the weapon store, maybe there's a better sword." Luke told Cloud before heading to the weapon store, "Ok, everyone, go about your business and meet back later at the giant flame over there" Cloud ordered the group as everyone looked at the flame. Aerith walked into the materia shop as Tifa entered the general store with Cloud, as Luke looked through the weapons Yuffie entered and walked next to Luke.

"I've got a question, I though angels could pin point far off things or objects?" Yuffie asked as Luke looked at her, "we can, but my skills are more on fighting than angelic powers, so I can sense things, but I can't pin point the item or life form, when it comes to my non offences angelic powers, I'm not as powerful, my sister on the other hand can use all manner of angelic powers, but her fighting skills are not as strong." Luke explained as he picked up two Dao Sabres.

(A/N a Dao is a real sword, if you don't believe me, look it up.)

"So you're more skilled in fighting and your sister's more skilled at magic…" Yuffie stated before Luke nodded and walked over to the gun parts area of the shop, "hmmm, maybe an after shock barrel for Barret…" Luke suggested to himself as he noticed a tri-magnet energy magnifier barrel on the shelf, (A/N yes, it's the really big part of Barret's gun in AC the one he uses to fire big shot at several intervals.) "Or, this rail amplifier could be used instead…" Luke mused as he picked the part up and looked at its unique design.

"Ok, not to sound dumb but, how do you know what those parts do?" Yuffie asked as Luke placed the part on a desk, "my dad taught me, he's a scientist and an inventor, so he showed me his version of simple mechanics and science in all mechanical and engineering fields…" Luke stated as he looked through a sword bin to find a thick sword with a smaller edge on its back (A/N Butterfly sword), "ah, I think Cloud would want this sword…" Luke stated before placing the Butterfly sword on the table for purchase.

"Hey, can I get this?" Yuffie asked as she held up a boomerang with a bladed edge before Luke turned and nodded as he continued to look through the bin, after he finished Luke placed several pieces of armour on the table before buying the items on the table and leaving the weapon store with Yuffie. "Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how come you don't use angelic powers so often?" Yuffie questioned curiously as the two of them walked down some steps towards the big fire.

"Well, as I explained, angels have markings under their skin, these markings burn with each angelic spell, the stronger the spell the bigger the cost and the more the marks grow, so to answer your question, I don't use the spells so often because I have to keep the marks on my body under wraps." Luke explained as both of them reached the big fire, "Hey Luke, I was just watching this." Barret told the two as he continued to watch the fire.

"I got a new barrel for your gun…" Luke told Barret before Barret held out his gun arm and Luke took the tri-barrel out of his storage device.

With Cloud and Tifa

"Ok, that's potions, Hi-potion, some phoenix feathers, ethers, tents and antidotes to ailments… that should be everything…" Tifa told herself as she placed everything on the counter as Cloud waited near the door, "hey Cloud, do you think Red will continue to journey with us or stay here?" Tifa asked as Cloud shrugged his shoulders, "It's his choice if he chooses to stay here, come with us or adventure on his own." Cloud answered as Tifa paid for the items.

With Aerith and Cait Sith

"Ah, materia that causes the enemy to become confused, I think that'll be very tactical, I think I'll buy 3 of them and 3 transform materias, being able to turn enemies into items will be helpful." Aerith stated as she pointed to the materia before the man at the counter got her selection and placed it on the counter, "that'll be 2,000 gil mam." The man informed Aerith before Aerith took the amount out and handed it to the man.

"So lassy, do you have any idea where we're going next??" Cait Sith asked before Aerith closed her eyes and shook her head, "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." Aerith answered before Aerith and Cait Sith left the shop and headed to the big fire in the centre of the village.

With Cloud and Tifa

"Hey, I think I'm going to go see what Red's going to do, you want to join me?" Cloud asked before Tifa looked at him and nodded, Both Cloud and Tifa made their way up the mountain's exterior and interior to the house the old man came out of before they finally entered the house, as they entered they saw Red and the old man talking before Red XIII looked at Cloud, "Cloud, Tifa, this is my grandfather, Bugenhagen but most people call him Bugen. He is incredible. He knows everything." Red informed the two as Bugen looked at Cloud and Tifa before laughing.

"I hear that you looked after Nanaki a bit. Nanaki is still a child you see." Bugen informed the two as Cloud looked at Red in shock. "Please stop, grandfather. I'm 48." Red stated in an embarrassed tone before Bugen laughed again, "Nanaki's tribe has incredible longevity. So you see his 48 years would only be equivalent to say that of a 15 or 16 years old in human reckoning." Bugen stated as both Cloud and Tifa looked at Red XIII in shock.

"15 or 16!?" Cloud asked in shock as Bugen nodded, "He's quiet and very deep. You thought he was an adult?" Bugen asked as Red walked in-between Cloud and Bugen, "grandfather. I want to be an adult. I want to grow up to be able to protect you and the village." Red stated and Bugen again laughed.

"No Nanaki. You can't stand on your own yet. To do that now would destroy you in the long run. Reaching up into the heavens, threatening to snatch the very stars from the great city of Midgar. You've seen it, haven't you? Well, that's a bad example. Looking up too much makes you lose perspective. When it's time for this planet to die, you'll understand that you know absolutely nothing." Bugen told Red as Red drooped his ears.

"When the planet dies?" Cloud asked as Bugen smirked, "It may be tomorrow, or 100 years from now... But it's not long off." Bugen stated as Cloud looked at the old man, "How do you know this?" Cloud asked as he continued to stare at the old man, "I hear the cries of the Planet." Bugen stated as he stroked his beard before an eerie noise filled the room, "What's that?" Cloud asked while quickly looking round the room as Bugen laughed.

"The sound of the stars in the heavens. While this goes on, planets are born, and die." Bugen stated as Cloud looked at him in surprise, "What was that?" Cloud asked before Bugen laughed in his old tone once again, "That was a scream from this planet. Didn't you hear it? As if to say... I hurt, I suffer..." Bugen told Cloud as Cloud looked around the room, "They have come here on a journey to save the planet. Why don't you show them your apparatus?" Red asked before Bugen laughed again.

"To save the planet?" Bugen asked as he stroked his beard and laughed again, "But, then again, I guess it wouldn't hurt to show him." Bugen thought on the matter before nodding, "He brought friends too. I'll go get them. Cloud, please call two of them. Only four people can fit in grandfather's machine." Red told Cloud before Cloud looked at Tifa, "I think Aerith would want to know this, and maybe Luke." Tifa told Cloud before Cloud nodded and called both of them on his phone.

10 minutes passed before Luke and Aerith entered the house to see Cloud and Tifa waiting for them on table chairs, "so, what's this about." Luke asked while wearing his eye goggles on his hair, "Here, over here. The door's unlocked, come on in." Bugen shouted from the other side of a door before laughing, Cloud walked towards the door Bugen was shouting from and opened it before the group went through.

"It looks like you have them all together. Then let's begin. I'll be standing there." Bugen informed them as he hovered next to a machine while pointing towards a platform, the group walked over to the platform before Bugen flipped a switch and the platform rose from the ground as the light slowly dimmed, Bugen flew up to the platform, "Hmm, yes pretty good. This is my laboratory. All the workings of space are entered into this 3D Holographic System." Bugen said as the room grew to an endless void as stars filled the sky.

"Look, look! A shooting star!" Tifa pointed out before the star shot passed the group, several asteroids passed the group and flew passed a display of Earth 3's solar system, several of the asteroids flew into a black hole and disappeared before Bugen laughed, "Yes, it is something, isn't it? Well, let's get to the subject. Eventually... all humans die. What happens to them after they die?" Bugen asked as he looked at Cloud before Cloud shrugged his shoulders.

"The body decomposes, and returns to the Planet. That much everyone knows. What about their consciousness, their hearts and their souls? The soul too returns to the Planet. And not only those of humans, but everything on this Planet. In fact, all living things in the universe, are the same." Bugen said as he floated around the group, "Not necessarily, some times that happens, but there's more than one afterlife." Luke stated as Bugen looked at him.

"Quite right off-worlder." Bugen stated as he looked at Luke who slightly jumped back at Bugen's statement, "For this planet, "The spirits that return to the Planet, merge with one another and roam the Planet. They roam, converge, and divide, becoming a swell, called the 'Lifestream'. Lifestream... In other words, a path of energy of the souls roaming the Planet. 'Spirit Energy' is a word that you should never forget." Bugen explained as he looked at the group.

"A new life... children are blessed with Spirit energy and are brought into the world. Then, the time comes when they die and once again return to the Planet... Of course there are exceptions, but this is the way of the world." Bugen stated as Luke looked at the planet, "In some cases Spirit energy can be used to empower a person, make them stronger and faster even give them abilities…" Luke stated as he looked at Bugen.

"Quite right, but I've digressed, but you'll understand better if you watch this." Bugen stated as he pointed to the image of Earth 3, as several images of people and trees grew from the ground before receding and returning to the planet, as the people and trees returned to the Life Stream more people appeared in their place before the Life Stream slowly seeped away from the planet, as the last of the Life Stream disappeared the planet slowly turned to a ball of earth before crumbling to dust.

"So the Life Stream runs the planet, people and plants, you take that away and the planet dies…" Luke stated as he looked at the dirt. "...These are the basics of the Study of Planet Life." Bugen stated as he looked at the group before laughing, "Spirit energy is efficient BECAUSE it exists within' nature. When Spirit energy is forcefully extracted, and manufactured, it can't accomplish its true purpose." Bugen stated as he continued to look at the group.

"You're talking about Mako energy, right?" Cloud asked as he looked at Bugen, "Everyday Mako reactors suck up Spirit energy, diminishing it. Spirit energy gets compressed in the reactors and processed into Mako energy. All living things are being used up and thrown away. In other words, Mako energy will only destroy the Planet..." Bugen stated as he looked down and sighed.

"I can relate, it's like killing a species for the food and skin, sooner or later, it becomes extinct… except this is on a larger scale" Luke stated as he looked at the remains of the planet, "Quite right, now, lets go back down." Bugen stated before the hologram finished and the platform lowered, "perhaps you should go to the Cosmo Candle and relax." Bugen suggested before Luke looked at him in surprise.

"What's the Cosmo Candle?" Luke asked as Bugen returned the look of surprise towards Luke, "oh, no one must have told you, it's the giant flame at the base of the canyon" Bugen informed him before the group left the house, the group walked out of Bugen's house before meeting up with everyone else at the Cosmo Candle, the group sat round the candle and watched the fire. "Cosmo Canyon... This's where Avalanche was born... I promised my guys someday..." Barret reminised as he stared at the candle.

"When we saved the planet from the Shinra, that we'd all go to Cosmo Canyon and celebrate... Biggs... Wedge... Jessie... Now they're all gone... died for the planet. Really? To save the planet? We all... we all hate the Shinra... Do I even got to go on? Will they... ...will they ever forgive me?" Barret asked sadly as he looked at the stars, "...Right now, I really don't know." Barret answered himself as he looked back at the candle.

"But I know one thing. If there's anything I can do, to save the planet... or the people livin' on it... Then I'm gonna do it! I don't care if it's for justice or revenge, or whatever. I don't care...let'em decide for 'emselves. Urrrrrgh! I'm gonna do it!! Again... Again... Avalanche's born again!" Barret shouted as he pointed his gun arm towards the sky, "What a boring place, just like I thought. I wanna go somewhere! Let's go find some materia!" Yuffie moaned irritably as she continued to poke the candle with a wooden stick.

"Yuffie, that is an important monument and you ruined Barret's speech!" Luke yelled as he glared at the annoying ninja. Yuffie opened her mouth to speak as Luke tapped his sword, "Shutting up..." Yuffie said quickly as she closed her mouth and slowly lowered her head, "I wonder how many years it's been... Gosh, it brings back memories..." Cait Sith stated as he lowered his head and sighed.

"What memories?" Luke questioned as Cait Sith looked up in shock and began to shake his head, "oh, nothing really just me remembering that's all…" Cait Sith quickly stated before Luke looked away and Cait Sith sighed. "I learned a lot. The elders taught me many things. About the Cetra... And the Promised Land... I'm... alone... I'm all alone now..." Aerith sighed before the group looked at her.

"All of us are here for you Aerith, even Yuffie." Luke stated pointing his thumb at Yuffie before Yuffie glared at Luke and pouted as Aerith slightly smiled, "I know. I know, but... I am the only... Cetra." Aerith stated as she continued to look at the candle, "Aerith, it's not so bad to be the last of a race, not when you have friends to help you…" Luke reassured her as he looked towards the candle.

"Oh, why's that?" Aerith asked as she looked at Luke, "Well, I can't say much, but roughly 5 thousand years ago, my ancestor was the first half angel in the angelic realm, his mother fell in love with a human, as you can guess the angels didn't take a liking to the relationship, especially since they hate cross breeds and other races, they think that other races are inferior in all factors, when his mother gave birth, the parents were taken away and the child was brought before the angel council." Luke stated as he glared at the candle.

"So what happened?" Aerith asked as she stared at Luke, "The high elder, took the child under his wing, the parents were banished and the mother's powers striped from her, magic craft, regeneration and long life, when her powers were taken her wings slowly degraded and fell off, turning her into a human, the child grew up, scorned for being a half breed, it was that same half breed that worked with 9 others to save 2 realms." Luke continued to tell them as he smirked at the candle.

"So he returned a hero…" Aerith suggested before Luke shook his head, "Nope, instead he chose to live on the planet he fought for." Luke replied as the group gave him a questioning look, "maybe I should show you, but, can I have an ether?" Luke asked before Aerith tossed him and ether, Luke guzzled it down before the magical essence travelled through his veins as he unclipped his gauntlet and allowed it to fall on to the ground.

Luke flexed his hands before creating two fireballs and sending them into the flame before the Candle shot a white beam into the sky, the candle opened as angelic marks crawled up both of Luke's arms to the back of his neck as the candle opened up to see an image of two men one wearing a crown with a small girl and an elder man with a small kid.

Candle image

"Ha, king Farland, my, is that your daughter Holly, she has grown so well, I need to speak with you on an urgent matter, this is Michael my adopted child, perhaps he can be shown around by your daughter?" the old man suggested as Farland smiled, "that's a great idea elder Zachariah…" the king informed him as Holly walked up to Michael and began to show him around the castle, the images quickly moved till it showed the two children walking through the castle gardens.

"So what do you do for fun here, or is this snore fest all there is?" Michael asked as Holly smirked, "well we have an in castle theatre, croquet field and…" Holly stopped as Michael sighed, "boring…" Michel shouted as Holly smirked, "a royal training ground." Holly finished as Michael smirked at her, "now that's interesting, I want to fight the strongest fighter." Michael demanded as Holly nodded and led him to the training ground before leaving him there to come back after 10 minutes in a different uniform.

"You're joking, you're the best." Michael stated and laughed at Holly who prepared herself before Michael picked up two training swords and stared at her, "Sorry, but I'm not going to get beaten by a girl." Michael stated as Holly smirked, "I'm a princess I can't get beaten." Holly stated before the two charged at each other, Michael swung his sword before Holly blocked it and bashed his face with her shield.

Michel held his nose for a second while blurring something before glaring at Holly as she giggled while holding a hand over her mouth, "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were warming up." Holly joked as Michael charged at her, Michael swung his training sword, Holly blocked again and went to strike him with her shield but Michael blocked the shield with his arm. "HA!" Michael shouted before groaning as Holly kneed him in the groin.

The two continued to fight before Michael blocked Holly's sword with both his and stopped her from punching with his elbow, Holly tried to knee Michael again but Michael stopped her with his knee, all 3 of the training swords broke under the stress of the lock and the two looked at each other before holly threw a punch at Michael, Michael blocked the punch and tried to punch Holly but Holly blocked in a similar fashion causing the two bodies to lock.

"Ready to give up yet?" Michael asked as his nose brushed Holly's forehead, (A/N the lock their in has caused both of them to not be able to separate because both of them are holding the other's arm to stop them from attacking.) "Not on your life…" Holly replied as she looked into his crystal blue eyes before Michael stared into her chocolate brown eyes, the two stared at each other as they each relaxed, their cheeks turned from pink to a crimson red as both their eyes slightly dimmed.

Holly slowly relaxed her arm and placed it around Michael's back as Michael did the same before their lips locked as they each exchanged an innocent kiss, the image quickly sped through time the two parted after the elder and Michael went back to their own realm, the image stopped as a man with two golden handle swords at his belt walked down a forest road, (A/N yes the one and the same holy swords, as explained the swords do not rust, erode, take damage, blunt or in any other way lose power and become worthless.)

A man with pointy ears and a bow walked next to him and looked around at the forest, "so let me get this straight, you're on this quest to defeat the same guy I'm after because the angels though he could some day take over their realm, the reason they sent you is because you wield the Holy Swords and to most angels you're expendable." The man with pointy ears explained as the other man looked at him and silently sighed.

"Man Michael, that's harsh" the elf continued as Michael smirked and continued to walk before both of them heard a scream, the two headed towards the location of the scream to see two trolls one of them carrying a brown haired female with a shield over his back, "Felmear." Michael instructed before Felmear shot an arrow at the troll's shoulder causing the 2 trolls to look at Michael and Felmear.

The troll that wasn't holding the woman ran towards the two before receiving an arrow in each eye and one in its skull causing the troll to fall and slide across the floor as blood spilled from its skull, Michael charged at the other troll as the Holy swords glowed, Michael sliced the troll's arm and caught the woman in mid flight before landing on the ground and getting a closer look at her face, Michael looked in shock at her and placed her softly on the ground as he stroked her face.

"Holly…" Michael picked himself up and looked back at the troll as the troll pulled a claymore off its back and swung at Michael slicing his head clean off, Michael's body stood there for a second as the troll laughed before realising that Michael's head was growing back, (A/N Michael is half angel meaning he has nearly all of the angelic regenerating abilities, it does have its limits.) as his head finished growing Michael smirked at the troll before tightening his grip on one of his Holy swords.

"See how you like it!" Michael aggressively stated before jumping towards the troll and slicing its head clean off as blood gushed out of the open wound before the troll's body fell to the ground, Michael cleaned his sword and walked back over to Holly before checking her temperature and pulse, "Something tells me you two have history?" Felmear asked before Michael nodded and his hand glowed with holy energy over Holly's head, Holly slowly stared and looked at Michael as she slowly opened her eyes.

"W-where am I?" Holly asked as Michael smiled lightly, "you're safe Holly." Michael stated as Holly slowly picked herself up in surprise, "how do you know my… Michael?" Holly asked in surprise as she noticed his crystal blue eyes before Michael slowly nodded, "Holly, what are you doing way out here… what about your…" Michael stopped as Holly looked at the ground, "the dark lord invaded the kingdom, burned the building to the ground and stuck my father's head on a pole to leave an example to any other country that doesn't join his cause," Holly stated as a few tears escaped from her eyes.

"Now, I'm going to take this sword, hunt him down and ram it in his skull." Holly hissed as Michael smirked, "Looks like we're after the same man, I think it would be best if we work on the same team." Michael suggested as Felmear quickly walked up to him, "Michael are you insane, she has no place on a batt…" Felmear stopped as Michael stamped on his foot and slowly backed away as Holly smirked, "I would love too…" Holly said before Michael nodded and the 3 walked off.

Interrupt Candle image

"The two fell in love all over again…" Luke stated as the images flashed quickly as the others watched, Aerith noticed the white marks on Luke's spine were growing to his face before she looked back at the image to see 10 people overlooking a castle.

Candle image continued

"It's over, it's finally over…" Holly stated as the group overlooked the burning castle, two by two the people left leaving Michael and Holly on the hill to watch the remains of the castle crumble before 3 angels walked up to Michael, "Elder Moast, what a pleasant surprise." Michael growled while gritting his teeth, "Michael Naferos, as an elder I have to congratulate you on your success, you'll be a hero once you return to our realm." Moast smirked before Michael turned to face Moast.

"Actually, Moast, I won't be returning so you can make one more step to high elder, I'm staying right here, with Holly." Michael stated as Moast growled before pointing a hand at him, "then live as a human…" Moast growled before firing a spell at Michael before Michael blocked it with his sword and knocked the spell back at Moast causing his powers flying out of him and disappear, "tell high elder Zachariah, I won't be coming back… I'm home." Michael informed the two other angels who nodded and disappeared in a flash of light.

Michael looked back at Holly as she looked at the ground and smirked while holding her hands behind her back before looking up at him and jumping at Michel who caught her and kissed her as the moon swung overhead.

End Candle image

Luke sighed as the image faded and the Cosmo Candle returned to its normal size, "So that was over 5000 years ago? But how come you said you were a…" Aerith stopped as she looked at Luke who smirked as the group noticed the receding marks on Luke's face, "angel blood and reaper blood are dominant, no matter how much human relatives angel's have, they still retain half or a third of the blood in them." Luke stated as Aerith nodded.

"Ok, it was frightening when his head was sliced off, can you do that….can I try it?" Yuffie asked as she grinned while picking up her boomerang, "no Yuffie I can't regenerate that well, I can't regenerate limbs or heads, I can regenerate small cuts but for the bigger ones I have to inject a chemical in my body to stimulate the effects." Luke stated as Yuffie reluctantly placed her boomerang on the floor.

"Was that on Earth 4?" Aerith asked before Luke shook his head, "No, my family moved around a lot from planet to planet over the generations, Earth 4 was where I was born, but the planet Michael fought for has long since turned to a ball of dirt, leaving nothing but the Angelic realm behind." Luke answered as he continued to stare at the flame while fastening his gauntlet on to his arm.

"Cloud... Bonfires are funny, aren't they? They make you remember all sorts of things. You know, Cloud. 5 Years ago... ...It's nothing. No, forget it. I'm afraid to ask..." Tifa placed a hand next to her mouth as she continued to stare in fear at the flame, "What is it?" Cloud asked as Tifa looked at him, "It feels like... it feels like you're going far away... You really, really are... you... right?" Tifa told Cloud before he placed an arm around Tifa and stroked her back as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"...Long ago. ...When I was still very small. We were all around this flame... No, never mind..." Red stopped as he lay on his stomach and growled at the flame, "What happened?" Cloud asked as he looked at Red, "It's about my parents. When I talk about my mother, I am full of pride and joy... And that's fine. ...But when I remember my father, my heart is full of anger..." Red XIII continued to snarl and growled at the flame as he remembered his father.

Bugen hovered towards the group and looked at Red before looking at the fire, "...You really can't forgive your father...?" Bugen asked before Red looked up at him, "Of course. He... left mother for dead. When the Gi tribe attacked, he ran off by himself, leaving mother and the people of the canyon!" Red snarled before Bugen shook his head and sighed. "...Come, Nanaki. There's something you should see." Bugen stated before floating towards some steps.

"The place may be dangerous. Cloud. Will you and the others come with us?" Bugen asked before the group followed him, Bugen led him into the canyon, as they entered one of the many caves Bugen floated up to a dead end and turned to the group, "here we are, would you mind pressing that button?" Bugen asked as he pointed at a wall, "what button?" Yuffie questioned as Luke walked up to the wall tapped it a few times before pressing a panel.

"How did you know…" Tifa asked as Luke smirked, "most castles and caves that were man made would have secret passages for escape on my planet," Luke answered as Bugen chuckled before the group proceeded into the cave, "Hey? Aren't you going with us, Grandpa?" Red asked as Bugen looked at him in surprise, "What are you crazy? It's dangerous in there. I told you that! You want an old man like me should go first? I'll be right behind you." Bugen stated as the group continued into the cave.

As the group found a massive hole in the ground Cloud kicked a stone in the hole causing it to hit several ledges before finally stopping, Luke noticed a lever and pulled it causing a very long ladder to fall through the hole and land on one of the ledges, Cloud slowly climbed down the ladder before Luke followed suit, as the group reached the base of the long shaft Aerith looked around to notice trails of smoke climbing up the wall.

Yuffie was about to touch the smoke when Luke pulled her away and scowled at her, "Yuffie, I sense a lot of spirit energy and un-rested souls, it might be in our best interest to stay away from the creepy wall." Luke told Yuffie as an image of a skull appeared in the smoke before disappearing as the two slowly backed away, the group entered a chamber with an illuminated floor, Luke looked up at the ceiling and huffed as the group looked at him.

"Do you see something?" Cloud asked as he looked up at the inky black void above them, "No, I sense something…" Luke replied as the group looked at the ceiling to see nothing but darkness, "Like?" Cloud asked as the group continued to look, "countless spirits" Luke answered as Yuffie began to shiver, "there's probably not that many." Yuffie stated before Luke created a holy fireball in his hand causing the cave ceiling to light up, the group stated in shock as thousands of spirits looked down at them with their ghostly stares.

"Ok… you've proven your point, can you turn the fireball off, please, turn it off…" Yuffie begged as fear consumed her, Luke dispelled the fireball before the group hurried down a long corridor to a chamber filled with a ghostly mist, Cloud walked into the mist till he was at waist height and looked back at the group, one by one the group entered the mist while Red jumped from several stone pillars to the other side.

Ghostly hands came out of the mist and splashed against each member before fading, as Yuffie walked through the mist a ghostly hand crept out as she wearily looked at it before trying to blow it away, after she blew at it once she frantically blew at it again before it disappeared, another hand came out of the mist but Yuffie did the same before trying to bat it away as a 3rd hand came out and hit her face causing her to panic, blow and use both her hands in a futile attempt to get the hand to disappear.

Luke noticed several ghostly moans coming from somewhere in the room before looking down at his feet and then back in front of him, "What ever you do…Don't look down." Luke stated before Yuffie stopped on the spot and rolled her eyes to the side as she futilely fought the urge to look down, Yuffie submitted and looked around her feet to see several spirits floating in ghostly water, Yuffie sighed deeply and looked ahead of her trying to ignore the spirits.

As Yuffie moved one foot in front of her she heard one of the spirits moan before her face twitched in fear, Yuffie moved again and heard a similar moan before quickening her pace and finally running out of the mist and breathing in and out deeply as the group gave her a questioning look.

(A/N the series of events is taken from Lord of the Rings the Return of the King and is shown in the path of the dead, I do not own any of the Lord of the Rings books or movies nor their characters or places.)

The group moved into a cavern with several spirits swirling round the circular wall, the spirits looked at the group with menacing gleams before creating scythes and charging at the group, Cloud withdrew his Buster Sword and sliced one of the spirits cleaving it in half, the spirit merely laughed as its ghostly halves joined back together and glared at the group, Luke smirked and went into his reaper form as the spirits looked at him in fear before Luke activated his gauntlet causing all of the spirits to be sucked into its dark vortex.

(A/N the reaper gauntlet is where souls are stored, as such free souls and ghosts can be sucked in like a vacuum, this gives a Reaper an advantage when dealing with minor spirits.)

As the last spirit flew into the gauntlet it locked shut and Luke looked at the gem in the centre, "2,576 souls… just over a quarter." Luke said to himself before reverting and looking at the spirit free cavern, "ok, I know the gauntlet stored souls, I didn't know it also captured ghosts." Cloud stated before the group moved into an open cavern filled with lava, Bugen laughed as the group looked around the cavern.

"Everyone here's a Ghost of the Gi Tribe. Killed in a certain battle." Bugen stated as Red looked up at him, "A certain battle...?" Red asked as Bugen looked at the cave and sighed, "The vengeful spirits of the Gi didn't disappear, and couldn't return to the Lifestream... We still have far to go." Bugen stated before laughing again, the group continued through the cave as Bugen told its history before the group stopped at a strange looking wall.

"After death... The ghosts of the Gi... Like stagnant air... This can't be!!" Bugen stated in alarm as the wall's eyes opened and looked at the group as several flames rose out of the lava, the wall broke away and changed into a monstrous form as more flames rose out of the lava, Cloud removed his Buster Sword as Luke withdrew his twin sabres and readied them for any form of assault, "Luke, can't you use your reaper gantlet to get rid of this one?" Cloud asked before Luke shook his head.

"It's way too big, and I have no idea how to deal with a spirit this size, it's almost like they've joined into one." Luke stated before the flames launched at the group, Barret shot several of the flames as Luke, Cloud and Yuffie sliced any that came too close, Aerith used blizzard on flames that came out of the lava to ease the group's job as Cait Sith used his shouting abilities to rally the group on.

"Cait Sith will you fuckin' shut up!" Luke shouted quickly at the annoying cat as Aerith had an epiphany, "guys, that giant spirit is technically undead right?" Aerith asked as the group continued to defend against the giant spirit, "Yeah." Cloud answered as he sliced through another fireball, "Then wouldn't reviving magic kill it…" Aerith suggested before Cloud used revive on the spirit causing it to die instantly.

Luke picked up the materia that dropped from the spirit and looked at it before storing it in his device, "...Thank you, Cloud. Because of you, we survived. Nanaki, you have grown strong, too." Bugen stated as Red looked up at Bugen in pride, "...Oh yeah?" Red asked before Bugen nodded, "Now I know that it wasn't a mistake bringing you here... Come, I have something I want to show you. Right over here." Bugen stated before floating through an open hole that the spirit emerged from.

The group continued through the cavern until they came to a cliff with a petrified beast standing in front of the cave entrance, "This is..." Red questioned in surprise before Bugen nodded, "...The warrior who fought against the Gi. He kept them from taking even one step into Cosmo Canyon. But he was never able to return to town... Look, Nanaki. Look at your father, at the warrior, Seto." Bugen stated grimly as Red looked at him in surprise.

"...That's... That's... Seto...?" Red asked in shock as he walked towards the statue, "Seto continued to fight the Gi tribe here. ...To protect this Canyon. Even after the Gi's poisonous arrows turned his body to stone... Even after they all ran away... Seto, continues to protect us. And he continues to protect us, even now." Bugen explained as he floated towards the edge of the cliff to look at the moon that hung overhead.

"Even now..." Red repeated as he looked at his father with a deep sense of respect, "You thought that he was a coward and ran away. But he, alone risked his life to protect Cosmo Canyon. That is your father, Seto." Bugen continued to explain as he looked at the moon and remembered what Seto was once like, "That... that is Seto? ...!? Did mother know?" Red asked quickly as Bugen turned to face Red before laughing.

"She knew. The two of them made me promise to keep this cave shut. They asked me to seal it myself and not to tell a soul. They said we should forget about this case." Bugen told Red before Red looked at the moon and then back at his father while remaining quiet, "Cloud... Would you and the others mind leaving the two of us alone?" Bugen asked before Cloud nodded and the group left Red and Bugen alone, the group walked back through the tunnel as Bugen looked towards Red.

""Nanaki, I want you to continue your journey with Cloud and the others." Bugen instructed Red who looked at Bugen in suprise, "Grandpa!?" Red questioned as Bugen nodded, "Listen, Nanaki. Cloud says they are trying to save the planet. Honestly, I don't think it can be done. For even if they stop every reactor on the planet, it's only going to postpone the inevitable. Even if they stop Sephiroth, everything will perish." Bugen stated as he looked up at the stars.

"But, Nanaki. I've been thinking lately. I've been thinking if there was anything WE could do, as a part of the planet, something to help a planet already in misery... No matter what happens, isn't it important to try? Am I just wishing against fate?" Bugen questioned himself before looking back at Red, "I am too old to do something about it... This year, I'll be 130, you must go with them! For my sake." Bugen pleaded before Red nodded.

"Grandpa..." Red spoke softly and with deep respect for Bugen, "I wanted to show you your real father before you left... I'm so glad that you came back while I was still alive to show you." Bugen smiled at Red and Red's eyes saddened, "Grandpa... don't talk like that. I don't want to think of life... without you..." Red stated before Bugen laughed deeply, "Well, I've had a long life." Bugen stated as he looked up at the sky before sighing.

"Grandpa! You must live! I'll see to it. I'll see to what's happening to the planet. And I'll come back to tell you." Red told Bugen as he pleadingly looked at Bugen, "Nanaki..." Bugen sighed before looking back at Red, "I am Nanaki of Cosmo Canyon! The son of the warrior, Seto! I'll come back a warrior true to that noble name! So please, Grandpa..." Red pleaded as Bugen looked at Seto, "That's... Seto... Seto..." Bugen reminished as he looked at the stone Seto.

"Seto... Fa... Father..." Red stated before a single tear rolled from Seto's eye and Red howled at the moon, the sun rose over the horizen as the group packed their supplies into the buggy, "Shall we get going?" Cloud asked as the group looked at Cloud in a confused way, "So this is it, Red XIII..." Aerith looked back at the canyon as the group followed her gaze, "That's just the way it goes. ...You came in handy at times..." Barret stated before the group sighed and began to walk down the stairs at the entrance to leave.

"Wait for me! I'm coming too!" Red yelled as he caught up to the group with Bugen before Cloud stopped and turned to face the two, "Cloud. Please look after Nanaki." Bugen requested as Red walked up to the group before Luke stroked Red's mane, "What happened?" Cloud asked as he looked from Bugen to Red and then back to Bugen, "I think I grew up a little. That's what happened!" Red stated before Luke scratched behind Red's ear and smiled.

The group got back into the buggy and drove across the scorching desert till they reached some fields, Luke took over and drove across the open fields to a village, as they reached the village the buggy's engine died before Luke tried to start it again, after the 9th attempt the group got out of the buggy and waited as Luke lifted up the bonnet to look inside before getting a face full of black smoke, Luke tried to find the problem before the water tank spat in his face.

"Oh great, this thing is getting on my nerves!" Luke yelled as he kicked the buggy before holding his foot and screaming in pain, the buggy's radiator cover fell off from the impact of the kick before the bumper fell off, the front window fell out as the wipers went with the window before the side windows and the back door fell off, the radiator blew as the front lights fell out and the wheels deflated as Luke continued to step back in surprise.

"I think we're walking from now on…" Luke stated innocently as each member of the group scowled at him, "See, this is why we can't buy you nice things…" Yuffie moaned before the group glared at her. "Look, on the bright side, I can salvage parts for Barret's gun." Luke stated before each member of the group looked at each other before looking back at Luke and nodding, the group decided to camp at their location for the night as Luke rummaged through the buggy for salvageable parts.

Luke returned to the camp with his storage device and looked towards Barret, "well, I might be able to make some parts but it's going to take some time, ok Barret?" Luke asked before Barret nodded and Luke threw a holy fireball at a pile of logs causing it to ignite, Yuffie looked at the camp fire before looking at the desert and then back to the grass land, "you know, being between terrains is boring, if we get a southern wind we get sand thrown at us but the mountains over there block any strong northern winds." Yuffie stated as Luke shook his head.

"I'm more concerned with the creatures from the desert to the grass land…" Luke stated as Yuffie gave him a questioning look, "oh, that's right, some creatures go a little out of there terrain when they can't find food." Tifa remembered before Luke nodded and opened a book, "I got this from Cosmo Canyon, creatures of the desert, over half of them have poison bites or stingers, mostly bugs and snakes." Luke stated before Yuffie yelped before a snake quickly slithered away.

"Like that one…" Luke stated as he stated at the snake before Yuffie lost her sense of balance, the group quickly rushed over to her before Luke summoned some devices out of his storage device and looked at the group, "can I get some room here." Luke asked before the group moved away and Luke pressed a device on to Yuffie's arm as she flinched, Luke pulled out a data pad as several pieces of information popped on to the screen.

"Let's see, common snake venom, causes this load of shit before death, apply 1 dose of EX-98A." Luke read before summoning a case from his device and opening its multi shelved contents, Cloud stated at the large number of vials as Luke traced each number before picking up one of the vials and summoning a strange looking gun to his hand, "Yuffie, can you hear me?" Luke asked before Yuffie weakly nodded.

"Yuffie, the device on you arm has instructed me to give you a dose of an antidote, I'm going to be using this injection gun to send it directly into your blood stream" Luke told her as he loaded a chemical into the gun and placed it on her arm, Yuffie gritted her teeth as Luke pulled the trigger before 25 microscopic needles injected into her arm causing the antidote to travel into her body, the needles retracted with just as much speed as Yuffie's laboured breathing decreased and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Hey, that didn't hurt…" Yuffie stated as she slowly picked herself up, "of course, instead of one big needle it uses 25 smaller needles to deliver the same affect." Luke told her as he removed the needle holder from the gun and threw it into the fire before adding a new one to the gun, Yuffie realised the small circular device was still in her arm and reached to remove it before Luke stopped her.

"Wait one second." Luke instructed her as he looked at the small data pad, Yuffie questioned his instruction before noticing the data pad was scanning her body before a sign flashed on the pad and Luke nodded, Yuffie removed the device and threw it into the fire as Luke placed all of his items back into the storage device before sitting back where he was before.

The group slept safely through the night having checked for any small entrance in their tents that they may have overlooked the first time round, when morning came the group packed up their tents and set off down the road on foot, it wasn't long before the group came to a small town at the base of a mountain range, "What---!! This was all supposed to be burnt down, right?" Tifa questioned as she looked at the town in surprise before Cloud nodded.

"...I thought so." Cloud stated as Luke looked at a welcome sign, "Welcome to Nibelheim… Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Nibelheim supposed to be nothing more than a smouldering pile of ash?" Luke asked as he looked at the town before looking back at Cloud and Tifa, "Yeah, but then why...? My house is still here too..." Tifa stated as she pointed at her house and Luke looked at all of the houses before looking back at Tifa.

"You lived in the second biggest one… that borderlines on a spoilt childhood, if so, you don't look like someone who grew up from a rich background." Luke stated before Tifa slapped him on the face causing Luke to wonder what happened and where he was, "The hell's goin' on!? This is a dream or somethin'?" Barret asked before Cloud shook his head, "I'm not lying! I remember...the intense heat of the flames..." Cloud stated as Tifa looked at Cloud in concern.

"Ok, I think we need to do some recon… how about we meet up next to that giant manor over there in an hour." Luke stated as Cloud looked at the manor before looking back at Luke, "That's the Shinra Mansion." Cloud stated as Luke looked at the building in surprise before looking back at Cloud, "Well that might be a good place to look in after we get some information." Luke suggested before Cloud nodded and the group disbanded to collect information.

An hour passed quickly before the group met back in front of the mansion, "Everyone I visited said that the village never got destroyed." Luke stated before Cloud placed a hand on his chin before looking back up at the group, "the man living in my house said he'd never seen me before…" Cloud added before Tifa nodded, "same here, but when I looked in my room I found some letters and an old book in a strange dialect." Tifa stated as she held out the book before Luke took it and skimmed through a few of the pages, "This looks like something from my planet… is it ok if I send it to my planet and have my sister translate it, she has a fascination with languages, current, past, ancient and dead." Luke asked before Tifa nodded and Luke placed the book in his storage device.

"Oh, I almost forgot, one of those creepy men said they saw Sephiroth enter the mansion," Yuffie informed the group before they quickly entered the mansion, the group looked around the old décor before Cloud looked at the group, "ok, it's not that big but, we'd be better off working in teams, I'll go with Tifa, Aerith, you're with Red, Barret with Cait Sith and Luke with Yuffie, shout if you find something." Cloud instructed before the group nodded and went their separate ways in teams.

Luke and Yuffie took the left hand side of the second floor and searched round the rooms before stopping at a room that looked like an office, Luke went over to a desk and kicked the chain up causing it to stand before sitting in the chair and reading through the notes, ""from the research I have found a way to contain Chaos, although it wasn't a complete success it has given me time to study its reactions a little more." Luke read before he placed one of the notes down and looked at the next sheet.

If I could find some way to stop his tissue from decaying, maybe I could give him the life he once had, although I am finding it hard to concentrate under such stressful conditions, I fear I may be too late.

Luke placed another sheet on the desk and began to read the next one.

After many experiment his body seems to have regenerated, with my genius I have given my creation life eternal, time has all but stopped for him, I shall infuse his body with chemicals 34S, 89D and 12M causing his body to be nearly indestructible, it's ironic that I once shot the same being for my own reasons.

Luke stopped reading and placed the papers down without looking at the owner's name, "Hojo…" Luke stated as Yuffie continued to tap a safe she had found in the room, "you think this'll open?" Yuffie asked Luke before Luke walked up to the safe and tried to turn the handle, Luke stopped for a second before trying a second time and meeting the similar futile result, Luke tried to force the handle down while gritting his teeth before placing a foot on the edge of the safe and pulling at the door while grunting in a futile attempt to force the door open.

"Maybe you should try unlocking it first…" Yuffie suggested to Luke who was in mid pull as he looked with his head tilted upside down at the female ninja, Luke looked at the dial before Yuffie pushed him away and placed an ear to the safe door, as she moved the dial she heard a soft ticking sound and looked back at Luke who placed his finger in the air for a few seconds as he tried to recognise the device.

"It's an automatic lock, it resets the dial after a certain time." Luke stated before Yuffie nodded, Yuffie took roughly 10 seconds to find the first number and wrote it down on the safe wall, as she finished weighing it down they both heard a click and Yuffie felt an open lock shut, "that was roughly 20 seconds…" Luke stated before Yuffie nodded and spun the dial again before the first lock opened, Yuffie began to slowly turn the dial in the opposite direction before she heard a click.

Yuffie wrote the second number down and waited a few seconds before she heard a familiar sound of the safe locks shutting again, Yuffie quickly put the first two locks in before searching for the 3rd, as she found the 3rd she began the process again and searched for the 4th, she continued to spin the dial left until she spun full circle and heard the locks shut once more, she gave the safe a confused look before attempting the lock again to find the same result.

Yuffie continued to try and crack the lock failing each time and Luke stared at the safe and pondered its design, "hey Yuffie, on the 4th lock, why don't you try right instead of left?" Luke suggested as Yuffie looked at him in surprise, "Well, I was thinking that who ever built this safe would have though to make the combination more elaborate than a left, right, left, Right job…" Luke stated before Yuffie realised as she turned back to look at the safe.

Yuffie quickly inputted the first 3 numbers but instead of turning the dial left she turned it right till she heard the 4th lock open, the safe door slowly opened to reveal a key and a red summon materia, Luke picked up the key and materia before Yuffie could reach it, the two looked at the key for a second before they both felt something breathe on the back of their necks, the two quickly spun round to see a monstrous form with two different halves on one body.

The left half glared at the two as the right side waved its fire red arm, Yuffie and Luke withdrew their weapons and readied themselves for anything as the red half began to move vigorously before several fireballs and ice shards flew at the two, Luke and Yuffie avoided the magic attacks with ease but Luke failed to notice the purple side of the beast's fist, the beast struck Luke sending him into the safe Yuffie cracked open before the door slowly closed on him.

Luke quickly kicked out in front of him causing the safe door to swing open before he jumped out using his hands, Yuffie threw her boomerang landing a hit on the purple side causing the beast to roar in pain as Luke jumped into the air and charged a large Holy fireball in his hand, Luke fired the ball at the monster causing it to screech as smoke filled the room, as Luke landed he did a thumbs up to Yuffie before they both heard a monstrous roar coming from the smoke.

The monster walked through the smoke but instead of one red side it was a completely red monster as if the red side took over the purple side, the red side began to conjure more spells as the two flipped and dogged each magic projectile with precise movements, Yuffie found a gap in the assault of magic projectiles she raised her hand in the air and punched the ground causing it to shoot up from under the monster's feet.

Luke quickly slotted the new summon materia into his Trigger Blade and threw it into the air, as the blade flew over the monster Luke charged at the beast and sliced through it with both his sabres leaving a gushing wound in its front and back, Luke caught the Trigger Blade and pulled the trigger as the summon materia glowed intently before it changed to a wide sword with a curved top, (A/N Summon materia + Trigger blade summon weaponry, in the case the Trigger Blade changed into Odin's sword.)

Luke charged at the monster and sliced right through it with deadly accuracy before the monster wailed as blood gushed from its open wound, it slowly fell to the ground and died, (A/N the second level two limit Luke has is an X slice through the target followed by the activation of one random materia with 100 succession rate, sadly because the materia is random you don't know what to expect, the worst combo is Choco/Mog turning the Trigger Blade into a large feather.)

"What was that?" Yuffie asked before Luke shrugged his shoulders and the two heard someone shout, the group reformed in the hall as Aerith showed them to a room on the second floor, "Ok, Aerith, what's so special about this room??" Luke asked before Aerith pushed a brick causing a secret door to open before the group looked at the entrance in amazement, the group walked into the secret room to find a spiral staircase going down into the mansion's basement.

The group entered the basement and travelled down a long tunnel before finding an old door on their left, Cloud tried to open the door but found it locked before Luke took out the key they found from the safe and pushed Cloud out of the way, "how about we try a key…" Luke stated as he smirked at Cloud and placed the key in the lock before turning the key and breaking the key handle.

Both Cloud and Luke looked down at the broken key handle before Tifa hit her head and sighed, Luke grabbed the door knob and tried to pry the door open in the same fashion as he tried to open the safe before Cloud pushed Luke out of the way and rammed the door, after a few failed attempts Luke noticed the door hinges and took out both his sabres before slicing the hinges and kicking the door down.

"And that is the idiot's way to opening a door." Yuffie stated rolling her eyes as Luke scowled at her, the group entered a room filled with coffins, as the group looked around Yuffie shivered before yelping and leaping backwards as one of the coffin lids busted off and a man in black leather clothing and a red cape stood up and looked at the group, Yuffie picked a cross out of her pocked and pointed it at the man who looked at it for a second before grunting.

"Who is it!? ...Never seen you before. You must leave." The man instructed as his crimson eyes darted to each member of the group, "Ok, not to alarm anyone but I think I just saw fangs in his mouth…" Luke stated as the group gave him a questioning look, "This place is filled with dark history, you must leave." The man stated as the group gave him a questioning look, "Yeah about that…why were you sleeping in a coffin?" Luke asked before the man's eyes darted towards him.

"A nightmare...? My long sleep has given me time to atone." The man stated as Luke continued to give the man a creeped out look, "What are you saying?" Cloud asked as the man glared at Cloud, "I have nothing to say to strangers. Get out. This mansion is the beginning of your nightmare." The man shouted at Cloud who turned his head to the side to look at the coffins, "...you can say that again." Cloud stated before the man gave him a questioning look.

"What do you know?" the man asked as Cloud looked back at him in surprise, "Like you said, this mansion is the beginning of a nightmare. No, it's not a dream, it's for real. Sephiroth has lost his mind. He found the secrets hidden in this mansion..." Cloud stated before the man's eyes grew wide, "Sephiroth!?" the man stated before Both Cloud and the man looked at each other in shock, "You know Sephiroth?" the two asked in unison before Cloud told the man of his knowledge of Sephiroth.

20 minutes passed before Cloud finished and the man looked at each member of the group, "...That's how it was." Cloud finished his explanation before the man look back at Cloud, "So Sephiroth knows he was created five years ago? And about the Jenova Project? ...He was missing, but has just recently reappeared. He has taken many lives and is seeking the Promised Land." The man said before Cloud nodded, "Ok, we told you our bit, now it's your turn." Luke stated before the man shook his head.

"Sorry... I cannot speak." The man stated as the group looked at him with a slight amount of disappointment before Luke looked up from the group, "Hearing your stories has added upon me yet another sin. More nightmares shall come to me now, more than I previously had. Now... please leave." The man asked before Luke stepped forwards, "Who are you? At least tell us your name." Luke asked before the man nodded.

"I was with... the Shinra Manufacturing Department in Administrative Research, otherwise known as-- the Turks... Vincent Valentine." Vincent stated as the group looked at him in shock, "The Turks!?" Cloud asked in surprise, "Formerly of the Turks. I have no affiliation with Shinra now. ...And you?" Vincent asked as Cloud looked back at Vincent, "Cloud, formerly of SOLDIER." Cloud informed Vincent who merely nodded.

"You were also with Shinra...? Then do you know Lucrecia?" Vincent asked before Cloud gave him a questioning look, "Who?" Cloud questioned, "Lucrecia." Vincent repeated before Cloud shook his head, "The woman who gave birth to Sephiroth." Vincent stated before the group gasped in shock, "...gave birth...? Wasn't Jenova Sephiroth's mother?" Luke asked before Vincent slightly huffed.

"That isn't completely wrong, but just a theory. He was born from a beautiful lady. That lady was Lucrecia. She was an assistant to Professor Gast of the Jenova Project. Beautiful Lucrecia." Vincent reminisced, "...A human experiment?" Cloud asked as Luke huffed, "There was no way to cancel the experiment. I couldn't stop her. That was my sin. I let the one I loved, the one I respected most, face the worst." Vincent stated in sadness as he continued to look at the group.

"By any chance did Hojo issue the experiment?" Luke asked before Vincent's eyes darted towards Luke, "You know Hojo?" Vincent asked before the group nodded, "so if you're after Sephiroth, you'll run into Hojo?" Vincent questioned before Luke shrugged his shoulders, "don't know…but he is on our hit list, so sooner or later." Luke stated before Vincent huffed, "Lucrecia... All right. I've decide to go with you." Vincent stated before Barret looked at him in shock.

"W, what?" Barret asked as the group looked at him in surprise, "Being a former Turk, I may be of help to you..." Vincent stated before Cloud nodded, "All right, then." Cloud stated before the group began to walk out of the room with Vincent, "oh, one question, what do you use as a weapon?" Luke asked as the group continued down the tunnel, Vincent held up his gun and continued to walk forwards at Luke stared at it in awe.

As the group reached another door Vincent stopped for a moment and looked at the group, "I think it's best if I stay here, I have too many nightmares already." Vincent stated before the group went on leaving Vincent in the tunnel, as the group entered a lab Cloud stopped as he spotted a shadowed figure next to a desk, "Sephiroth!" Cloud stated in shock as they all looked in the direction of Sephiroth.

"Being here brings back memories. Are you going to participate in the Reunion?" Sephiroth asked as he looked at the group, "I don't even know what a Reunion is!" Cloud yelled as Sephiroth scowled at him, "Jenova will be at the Reunion. Jenova will join the Reunion becoming a calamity from the skies." Sephiroth stated as Cloud and the others gave him a questioning look, "Jenova, a calamity from the skies? You mean she wasn't an Ancient!?" Cloud asked in surprise before Sephiroth scowled at him.

"...I see. I don't think you have the right to participate. I will go North past Mt. Nibel. If you wish to find out... then follow..." Sephiroth stated while placing a piece of green materia on the desk, "...Reunion? Calamity from the skies?" Cloud asked before Sephiroth disappeared in a flash of light, Luke picked up the materia and looked at it before storing it in his storage device and heading back towards the group.

The group left the lab and met back up with Vincent before leaving the town and heading towards Mt. Nibel, as the group began to head towards the mountain Luke stopped as he noticed the wooden bridge, "Is that the same bridge you guys said you once cross and the bridge broke?" Luke questioned as both Cloud and Tifa nodded, Luke pressed a few times on the wood before walking across the bridge with the rest of the group.

Tifa led the others through the mountain range till they found a path leading out and saw a small village in the distance, as the group entered the village they saw a strange structure and stood and stared in awe at the contraption, "What's that...!?" Cloud asked as he continued to stare at the structure, "A rusty old rocket... Wonder what they'd make something that huge for?" Cloud questioned as Luke looked up at it.

"Possibly to send someone into space, a long time ago on my planet, people dreamed of going into space, when they did, people started travelling from planet to planet, thus why it's a common thing on other planets." Luke stated as the group nodded, Cloud told the group to disband and to meet back where they were in a couple of hours, Luke walked straight to the weapon shop as Yuffie trailed behind.

Cloud continued to look at the rocket as Barret also entered the weapon shop, Tifa, Aerith, Red and Cait Sith went to the item shop to stock up on supplies as Vincent walked over to a nearby tree and sat down, Luke looked through the weapons as he picked up a sawn off shotgun he looked at it for a second before handing it to Yuffie to buy, Barret noticed a smaller gatling barrel and handed it to Luke, Luke looked at it for a second before asking the man behind the counter for 3 of the same product.

"Hey, are those two Jian swords on the wall?" Luke asked with keen interest as the shop owner looked back at the wall before looking at Luke, "why yes sir, they are, are you interested in purchasing them?" the owner asked before Luke nodded and walked up to the counter, "then I'll take them." Luke told the owner before he pulled the two swords off the wall and handed them to Luke as Luke handed him the money for the weaponry and ammo.

The group walked out of the weapons store and Luke walked over to Vincent before handing him the sawn off shotgun and ammo, Vincent looked at the gun before handing Luke his hand gun and placing the shotgun in his gun holster, the group met back together after an hour and headed into one of the houses, as they entered the back yard Cloud looked at a pink plane, "There's a Shinra logo on it. Tiny Bronco... This is cool!" Cloud stated as Luke stepped on to the wing and looked at the controls.

"If someone was left alone in here, they could probably hotwire it in a few seconds." Luke stated as he got off the wing and looked at the group, "Let's take it!" Yuffie stated before a woman with brown hair, wearing a lab coat and glasses came out and looked at the group, "may I help you?" the woman asked before Cloud shrugged, "...If you would like to use it, please ask the Captain. The Captain should be in the Rocket. I'm Shera. And what are your names?" Shera asked before the group introduced themselves.

"So you're not with the Shinra. I thought the approval for the reopening of the Space Program came." Shera stated to herself as she looked at the plane as the group gave her a questioning and surprised look, "President Rufus is scheduled to come here. The Captain's been so restless all morning." Shera told the group before leaving them with their thoughts, "Rufus!?" Cloud questioned before walking to the back door.

"Let's go talk to the Captain." Cloud told the group before they walked through the household and towards the rocket, as the group reached the rocket Cloud found and began to climb a pair of ladders before the rest of the group followed, as they entered the interior they saw a blond haired man working on a panel, "errr, hello?" Luke spoke hoping to catch the man's attention, "What're you guys doin' here?" the man asked as Cloud stepped forwards, "We heard the Captain was here." Cloud stated before the man laughed.

"Why is he laughing?" Luke asked before the man looked at him, "Captain? I'm the Captain! The name's Cid. Everyone calls me 'Captain', though. What d'ya want?" Cid asked as Cloud looked back at the group, "well for one, I'd like to know about this rocket." Luke stated before Cid smirked, "Wow! Not bad for a kid. Well, back when that meaningless war took place Shinra built a rocket engine, so much technology went into the project that people came up with the idea of going into outer space." Cid stated as he looked at the ceiling.

"Our dreams got bigger and bigger. They put a major budget into it and made prototype after prototype! Finally, they completed Shinra No. 26. They chose the best pilot in Shinra-- no, in the world-- me. I mean, come on. And finally we get to the day of the launch. Everything was goin' well... But, because of that dumb-ass Shera, the launch got messed up." Cid stated before he turned to the wall and kicked it causing a small dent to form.

"See, that's how real men kick machinery, without whining afterwards…" Yuffie stated to Luke before Luke gave her a hateful glare, "That's why they became so anal!" Cid stated before turning back to the group, "And so, Shinra mixed their outer space exploration plans. After they told me how the future was Space Exploration and got my damn hopes up... DAMN THEM!" Cid yelled before turning back to the panel.

"Then, it was all over once they found out Mako energy was profitable. They didn't even so much as look at space exploration. Money, moola, dinero! My dream was just a financial number for them! Look at this rusted rocket. I was supposed to be the first man in space with this." Cid stated as he continued to stare at the panel before shaking his head.

"Everyday, it tilts a little bit more. At this rate, I don't know which will come first, this thing falling down or me gettin' outta here. My last hope is to talk to the President..." Cid stated as he turned his back to the wall and leaned against it, "Is Rufus coming?" Cloud asked before Cid nodded his head, "Yeah! It must be news about restarting the Space Program. A young President, that's what we needed! He still has dreams, too!" Cid stated enthusiasticallybefore Luke rolled his eyes at Cid.

"I don't think a young dictator is what this planet needs" Luke stated under his breath keeping below Cid's hearing capability, "Can we borrow the "Tiny Bronco"?" Cloud asked as Cid looked at Cloud and scowled, "You out of your fuckin' mind!? That's my most cherished possession. I can't let you take it!" Cid shouted at the group before walking off, "Now kindly piss off out of my rocket!" Cid shouted as he stormed down the hallway and entered one of the rooms before the group left the rocket.

"Such a charming fellow, I must make a note to add him to my Christmas card list under hate mail." Luke stated to the group as they continued to walk away from the rocket and back to Cid's house, "Excuse me... Cloud? Did the Captain say anything?" Shera asked before Cloud looked back at the group, "From the top, he told us about the rocket, blamed you for something, said that Rufus was a 'good thing', and when we asked him if we could borrow his plane he 'kindly' told us to leave." Luke listed off with a slight about of sarcasm in his voice.

"Oh?" Shera questioned before Cid walked in and looked at the group, "Fuck! Shera. What are you blind!? We got guest!! GET SOME TEA! BITCH!" Cid yelled before Shera quickly ran to the stove and Luke shot Cid and evil glare, "Tell me Cid, do they pay you to be this charming or is it your natural charm?" Luke asked before Cid shot him an evil glare and pointed to the sofa, "Shut up! Sit your ass down in that chair and drink you goddamn TEA!" Cid yelled before the group quickly complied as Cid yelled.

"DAMN, I'm pissed! Shera! I'll be in the backyard tunin' up Tiny Bronco! AN' make sure to serve them some tea! All right!?" Cid yelled before the group looked at each other, "He's very friendly isn't he?" Luke sarcastically stated before Shera came in with several cups of tea, "Sorry. It's our fault." Cloud apologised before Shera shook her head, "No, no. He's always like this." Shera stated before the group looked at her in surprise.

"Wait, that was him on a good day, I'd hate to see when he's really pissed." Yuffie stated before Cloud glared at her, "No... It's because of my stupid mistake. I was the one who destroyed his dream..." Shera stated as the group gave her a questioning look, "What happened?" Cloud asked as Shera handed the group their cups of tea before Luke added 2 sugars and precisely stirred the tea together, "well, it was a few years back…" Shera started as the group listened intently.

Flashback

"Hey! Get your ass in gear! You work like a snail! Even the moon'd get tired of waitin' around for your ass!" Cid stated to Shera as she continued to look at an oxygen tank with the number 08 on the side, "I'm... I'm sorry." Shera stuttered before looking carefully at both the 07 and 08 tanks.

"Don't take so much time checkin' that fuckin' oxygen tank! Shera, bein' careful's good, but it won't do any good, no matter how many times you check that oxygen tank. That thing wouldn't break even if hell froze over." Cid stated proudly before Shera looked back at Cid, "But..." Shera started to ask but Cid interrupted her, "No buts!! You're not stupid, so be more efficient!" he stated before walking down the hall, "I'm sorry..." Shera apologised again as Cid left the room shaking his head in utter frustration.

A few hours passed and Cid entered the rocket hatch to see several people performing their final checks before Cid placed his goggles on his head and the men all turned to face him, "Captain! Our dreams are finally coming true!" one of the men said before Cid nodded at him, "We are so proud to be a part of the launch of Shinra No. 26." Another man stated as Cid smirked, "Captain, preparations are complete! All that's left is lift off!" another man informed Cid as he began to walk towards the cockpit laughing.

"Yeah! Leave it all to me! I'll be back in a few!" Cid stated as he turned to the crew and smirked, "All right, Captain! Fly our dreams into outer space!" one of the crew members wished as Cid smiled, "Thanks, guys! When I get back beers are on me!" Cid stated before walking towards the cockpit, "We're praying for your safety." The crew man stated before the crew left the rocket and watched from the side lines.

Cid climbed into the pilot's chair and looked down at the control panels, "Instrument panel... all clear. Shinra No. 26, ready for launch." Cid stated before pressing a few buttons, "Engine pressure rising. Shinra No. 26, 3 minutes to launch. Beginning countdown." A man said from a terminal outside as he monitored the launch sequence, "Finally." Cid stated as he smirked and looked at the sky in front of him before several sirens went off.

"What the? What happened!?" Cid asked as he yelled down the radio, "Cid! We have an emergency situation! A mechanic is still in the engine section of the rocket!" the man observing the launch sequence stated as Cid looked at the radio in disbelief, "What!? Who is the little fuck!?" Cid shouted, "I don't know. Activating the intercom in the engine section." The surveyor stated as Cid glared at the radio, Hey goddammit!! Who the Bugger's still in there?" Cid yelled as he continued to glared at the radio.

"It's Shera, Captain. Don't mind me, go ahead with the launch." Shera stated as she continued to check the 07 tank, "Shera!? What are you still doin' in there!?" Cid shouted down the communicator as he slammed his fist on the dashboard, "I was still concerned. The results of the oxygen tank test weren't satisfactory." Shera replied as she checked the pipes.

"You stupid little Bitch! It's gonna get so hot in there that there ain't gonna be SHIT left when we blast off! You're gonna be burnt to a crisp! You're gonna die! You know that, doncha!?" Cid asked as Shera shook her head and looked at the speaker, "I don't mind. If I can just fix this, the launch will be a success. I'm almost done." Shera replied as she continued to look at the pipes on the tank, "Almost done!? You're gonna die!" Cid yelled and he stared at the speaker.

"Cid, we must start the countdown. We won't make it if we don't! Starting engine!" the surveyor said as he started the engine sequence. "Hey, wait a minute! Shera's still in here!" Cid shouted back to the surveyor, "What are you going to do, Cid? If we cancel now, it'll be another six months until the next launch!" the surveyor shouted down the speaker as Cid closed his eyes, "GODDAMMIT, Shera... you wanna make me a murderer?" Cid asked himself as threw his arms slightly up in the air.

"Tank Number 7 check is complete. Once I complete Tank Number 8, it's all clear." Shera shouted down the microphone on her end as she worked on tank 08, "Come on, Shera... hurry up... You're gonna die..." Cid stated in worry as he continued to stare at the speaker, "30 seconds until ignition. Beginning countdown. Cid! Forget about her. We won't make it in time." The surveyor coldheartedly stated.

"What... what am I ...What am I supposed to do?" Cid asked himself as he stared at the sky, "15 seconds until ignition. Internal temperature rising." The surveyor stated as Cid looked at the manual shut down switch, "Oh man, the moon... outer space... my dreams..." Cid continued to state as he tried to quickly decide on his choices, "Ignite engine." The surveyor stated as the rocket shook with the force of the engines infighting engines.

"SH--------------IT!!" Cid yelled at the top of his lungs as he slammed a button, the rocket climbed into the air before the engines slowly turned off causing the rocket's lift to stutter before it fell back to the ground and landed on its launch pad, the rocket stood for a few seconds before tilting to the side slightly and landing on one of the rocket's used holding brackets.

End flashback.

"He pushed the Emergency Shut Down switch, aborting the mission, to save my life. After that, the Space Program was cut back and launch was cancelled. It's my fault his dream was destroyed... That's why... it's all right. I don't care what the Captain says, I'll live my life for him." Shera stated before Cid came back in and sat down grumbling to himself, "They're late... Where is Rufus...?" Cid asked himself before a very obese man walked in to the house.

"Hey-HEY! Long time no see! So Cid, how ya been?" the man asked jokingly as the group looked at him with surprise, "Well, if it ain't fat man, Palmer. How long were you figurin' on keepin' me waitin'!? So? When's the Space Program gonna start up again?" Cid asked as Palmer looked at him, "Hey-hey! I don't know the President's outside, so why don't you ask him?" Palmer replied before Cid jumped out of his chair grumbling.

"Fuck! Good for nothing, fat Twat!" Cid yelled as she stormed out of the door, "Don't say 'fat'!" Palmer shouted back as he brushed some dust off his suit, "Well not to mention anything, but I think most maybe all of the people you meet see you as fat because you look like you normally eat a restraint out of house and home at all you can eat buffet." Luke stated causing Yuffie to slightly giggle and Palmer to glare at him before he walked over to Shera.

"Hey-hey! Tea! Can I have some too? With lotsa sugar and honey and... oh yeah, don't forget the lard!" Palmer stated as Luke arrogantly sighed and walked out of the house before the rest of the group followed, "What the...! You got me all excited for nothing!? Then, what'd you come here for?" Cid asked arrogantly as he glared at Rufus.

"I want to borrow the Tiny Bronco. We're going after Sephiroth. But seems like we've been going in the wrong direction. But now, we think we know where he's headed. But, we have to cross the ocean. That's why we want your plane..." Rufus stated as he glanced at the group, "Shit! First the Airship, then the Rocket, and now, the Tiny Bronco. Shinra took outer space away from me and now you want to take the sky away from me too!?" Cid yelled as several Shinra guards pointed their guns at Cid.

"Oh my... You seem to forget it was because of Shinra, Inc. that you were able to fly in the first place." Rufus stated as he smirked at Cid before Shera came out of the house and ran in front of the group, "Uh, excuse me... This way..." Shera ordered them as she led the group back into the house and closed the door, "You wanted to use the Tiny Bronco, right? I believe Palmer's going to take it. Why don't you talk to him?" Shera suggested before Luke walked thought the back door and noticed Palmer trying to hotwire the plane.

"Why do I have to do this...? I'm the head of the Space Program..." Palmer yelled as Luke walked up to Palmer, "Excuse me…" Luke stated as he tapped Palmer on the shoulder, Palmer turned slowly in fear of seeing Cid, "Yes…" he stated before he saw who it was and Luke punched Palmer in the face with his metal gauntlet causing Palmer to slowly fall to the group, "ok, I knocked him out, give me a few seconds to hotwire the plain." Luke stated as he climbed into the plane and wiped the blood from Palmer's nose off his gauntlet.

As the group climbed on to the plane Luke sliced the panel under the ignition slot and began to look at the wires, "Black, green, purple, earth, brown, yellow, orange, Red. Bingo!" Luke stated as he looked through the wires and pulled at the red wire causing it to detach from the ignition key slot, Luke shuffled round with his hands before connecting the red wire with something causing the plane to come to life.

The plane slowly began to move as Luke looked at the red wire before following it to notice it ran electricity to both the ignition key and the breaks, "Guys, I don't think I can stop the plane." Luke stated as everyone looked at him in shock, the plane took off as Luke quickly pulled on the yoke causing the plane to loop round the houses before spiralling round the rocket, the plane swooped down passed the Shinra guards and Rufus as Cid quickly began to chase the plane.

The guards began to fire at the plane as Cid continued to run as he closed the distance between himself and the plane, Cloud reached his hand out to Cid, Cid grabbed Cloud's hand and Cloud pulled him on to the plane as Luke tried to pull on the yoke, a bullet struck the tail causing it to spark as the plane became irresponsive to Luke's commands, "Shit!! The tail's been hit!" Cid yelled as the plane began to dive towards the water.

"Ladies and gentleman, in the event that the plane suffers damage we'll probably hit the ground like a fuckin dart." Luke stated as the plane darted towards the water, (A/N what Luke stated was a quote from Billy Connolly and I do not own anything that comes out of the famous comedians Scottish mouth, although I'm a huge fan and had to place that in.), "This's gonna be a big splash! Hold on to your drawers, an' don't piss in 'em!!" Cid yelled before the plane splashed against the water's surface before balancing off and floating softly on the watery surface.

"She won't fly anymore!" Cid yelled as he looked at the damaged plane, "Can't we use it as a boat?" Cloud suggested as Cid removed his spear from a secret compartment, "Fuck! Do whatever you want!" Cid shouted as he walked to the edge of the wing, "Cid, what are you going to do now?" Cloud asked as Luke continued to sit in the pilot seat, "Dunno. I'm history with the Shinra and I've given up on the town." Cid stated as he looked back at the group.

"How 'bout your wife? How 'bout Shera?" Cloud asked as Luke gave a sign for him to shut up, "Wife? Don't make me laugh! Just thinkin' 'bout marryin' her gives me the chills. What're you guys gonna do?" Cid asked as Luke breathed a sigh of relief, "We're going after a man named Sephiroth. We'll have to get Rufus of the Shinra someday, too." Cloud proudly stated as Cid scratched his chin, "I don't know any of that, but... What the hell!? Sign me up!" Cid stated as Cloud smiled and looked back at the group.

"Well, looks like we got our self's a famous pilot." Luke stated as he looked back at Cid and got out of the pilot seat, "Glad to be aboard, numbskulls!" Cid stated as everyone gave him a questioning look, "Numbskulls...?" Cloud asked before Cid nodded, "Yeah. Anyone stupid enough to go up against Shinra nowadays, has GOTTA be a numbskull! I like it! So, where we headed? Rufus was goin' after Sephiroth towards the Temple of the Ancients." Cid informed the group as Luke looked at his storage device.

"We'll have to stop off somewhere preferably close first, we need supplies, and new equipment seen as our weaponry might not do the damage we're hoping for…" Luke stated as Yuffie placed her hand in the air, "I know where we can go, it's not to far from here and a great place to buy supplies, I think it's west of here but the only safe route is south west, we'll have to walk through a mountain range though…" Yuffie suggested before Cloud nodded.

Two hours passed as Luke continued to work on repairing the engine as Cid and Yuffie watched while Barret and Vincent were shooting anything that they saw as a target with Vincent leading, Cloud was sitting in the pilot's seat with Tifa sitting on his lap as Aerith and Cait Sith watched wits in a game of chess, "hey Cid, after we get to Wutai, where is the Temple of the Ancients?" Cloud asked as Cid continued to watch Luke work.

Dunno. That numbskull kid was tellin' me he was headin' 'The wrong direction'... are you sure that's a good idea?" Cid asked as Luke sighed, "for the last time, I'm perfectly aware of what I'm doing and don't need any help." Luke stated arrogantly as he slotted a self made device into the engine, "besides, if you think of this logically, well, the Cetra were ancient, so logic dictates that they must have needed a suitable climate to survive…" Luke stated as he began to fix a roped device to the plane's engine.

"Look on the map for any other continents." Luke suggested as Cloud pulled out a map of the world and looked at the continents, "there's one more up north, but it's a known fact that it's completely frozen." Cloud stated as Luke began to make another part, "we're looking for climates that are humid and warm…" Luke stated before Cloud spotted an area of the map that was a few hundred miles below Junon.

"You mean like this area…" Cloud stated as he pointed to the map and Luke turned his head to look where Cloud was pointing and nodded, "that looks about the size needed for an ancient city…" Luke stated before he placed a lightning materia into the device and slotted the device into the engine before grabbing the rope and pulling at it, the engine sparked to life as Cloud and Tifa got out of the pilot seat before Cid got in and the plane/boat sailed off into the sunset.

End of chapter

Man that took me a while, hope you liked the chapter and all of its quotes and mishaps, see you next chapter.