Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 and all its associated characters, locations, etc… are property of Square Enix.
Author's Note: I would, first of all, like to apologize for my very long absence. Time has been in short supply lately, and I don't expect it to get much better. Whatever the case, here's the next chapter. I hope the revelation of Cloud's plan will make up for the lack of updates. It's a strange plan, I know, but this is fantasy so I'm allowed to be strange.
Peace's End
By tfa1
Chapter 25: The Beginning of the End
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day;
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun
And by and by a cloud takes all away.
- William Shakespeare (The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
- - -
"No."
"It is Lady Yuffie VII's wish that you serve in the army," General Goh said as he tried to recruit Vincent Valentine.
"I refuse to. I will not be some teenager's babysitter."
A mischievous smirk crossed the older man's wrinkled face. "Oh really?" he teased. "I can tell by your appearance that you're not from Wutai. You're refugees; here illegally to save your own skins. Whatever your reason is for coming here, I can assure you that resistance will only result in your deportation. So… do we have a deal?"
Smith scoffed. "I thought this was a free country!"
"Freedom is relative," Goh said with a smile, much to Vincent's annoyance. "Whatever hell you find here is nothing compared to that of our mutual enemy's. Trust me when I say that every country with a leader has restrictions on freedom… and it just so happens that Wutai has fewer. If you wish to stay here, where the grass is green and the tyrants benign, then I suggest you pack your bags and prepare for war. There's no sense in expecting us to harbour you refugees if you won't even lend a helping hand."
The members of ROCKSLIDE stood where they were, deciding whether or not they should enlist with the Wutaian army. Each of them looked to each other for support only to find that all were indecisive. Finally Bishop Valentine spoke for the group, intent on doing what was necessary.
"Your fight is with the Empire," he said, "and so is ours. If we can be of service in the upcoming war, then I pledge our allegiance to Wutai… and its army."
"Excellent!" the Wutaian general exclaimed. "My Lady will be pleased to hear the news. Follow me. The entire army is about to set out for the Western Continent, so we'd best prepare you for battle as soon as possible. The world shall soon know the meaning of freedom again!"
- - -
The large man opened the door to the Emperor's throne room slowly, cautious before his master. Carefully and as silently as possible, he, a worker for the revitalized Space Program, stepped into the room. It was time for him to deliver his report. He had known for a long time that it would be his job to do this, but he still found it hard. The only saving grace offered the large man was the unexplained disappearance of the Jenova mural behind Cloud's desk. Only a plain stone wall remained where the frightful picture had once resided. The throne room was still rather grim, however, as the chamber had to be lighted with candelabras and torches, due to the recent power failure.
"Sir," he squeaked. "Construction on the rockets is nearing completion. We have high hopes that they will be finished on time for the alignment, as requested."
The Emperor looked up at the other, his eyes glowing behind the black mask. "That's good news."
"Thank you, sire. But I'm afraid there have been a few difficulties with the air conditioning system you wanted to be implemented in your space suit. Given our current technological abilities, a system of the calibre you desired is simply impossible to create."
"Fine… but I want some ice packs put inside along with whatever air conditioning you can dig up. Coldness: that's what I need. One would think that my cold heart would keep me cool enough… but no. Passion's flame burns too brightly… it always has…"
The worker cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "Other than the continent-wide power outage, those are the only real problems we've encountered. Our emergency power is expected to hold out until well after the planetary alignment, so you need not worry about your return."
"Return?" the Emperor scoffed. "Who ever said I was returning? I'm going to spend the rest of my miserable life in space, mongrel!"
"I see…," the man said. "Anyways, my emperor, sections of the Sky have been cut away as per your orders, providing an unobstructed path towards space. With the light provided by the outside, our mechanics have been able to continue work on the rockets, although I regret to say that we've been unable to work 24/7, as you wished."
"That's fine…"
"I also came to deliver this," the large man told his master as he pulled a metal armlet and a pair of sunglasses out of the bag he was carrying. "Your ship has been designed with all the features you requested, cup holders included. Addition of scuba flippers to your spacesuit is underway. If you don't mind my saying, sire, this is an odd vacation you're going on."
The Emperor began to laugh uncontrollably. "Cup holders?" he giggled. "Those aren't cup holders, they're materia slots! I wouldn't expect you to know what materia are, but please tell me you didn't outfit my rockets with cup holders."
"We copied the slots on your armour as best we could. I don't know what function materia slots serve, but I'm positive we've duplicated them correctly."
"I hope you're right, or else all this time will have been wasted." Emperor Strife pulled four materia from underneath his desk, two green and two blue; materia that he'd kept for a very long time. "These are materia. I want you to socket one of each into the rockets. I am hopeful that you connected the slots correctly."
"What are they for, sire?"
The armoured man chuckled. "This is a Fire materia, and this is an Elemental materia. When slotted together, they will provide the rockets with the Fire attribute, protecting me from harmful flames. That's all you need to know."
"Sunglasses, flames, and air conditioning," the other man joked. "I wondered if maybe you were going to sunbathe on the sun!"
"Ridiculous!" the Emperor answered. "The surface of the sun is too hot for any living being, even me. The only thing that can protect a man from the sun's heat is its Gaia."
"Sir…?"
"I'm not going to stand on the surface of the sun, fool, because I'm going into it!"
- - -
Suited up and ready to do combat, the entire Wutaian army (including the newly-recruited members of ROCKSLIDE) sailed off toward the Western Continent and their incompetent enemy. Aided by a gentle breeze and clear weather, the forces of Yuffie VII arrived at the doorstep of the world's greatest power. Armed to the teeth with materia, the soldiers of Wutai blasted through the Sky, filing through the newly-made breaches to make war on Cloud Strife and his followers.
They waited, calmly resting near the Sky as more and more Wutaian soldiers arrived to do battle. As far as anyone knew, the Empire remained oblivious to the impending invasion, and Lady Yuffie VII used that to her advantage to mass her forces.
She grinned most devilishly. "Once we reach full strength, the surprise attack will commence and the Empire will fall. I wonder where we should attack first. General, bring me a map!"
General Goh arrived by his lady's side, brandishing a (rather aged) map of the Western Continent. "Here you go, My Lady."
"Thank you, General Goh. Now, let's see…," mused the ruler of Wutai, peering over the ancient map. She pointed to a fairly isolated location. "We will strike here. Assuming it's guarded – which is doubtful – the town is still far enough from all other Imperial centres that retaliation would not come immediately, and even then I wonder if those Imperial fools could manage to alert the rest of the Empire as to our presence. This 'Rocket Town' as they call it will serve as our base of operations until a more suitable location is found."
"A wise choice, My Lady; you are a brilliant strategist."
Lady Yuffie VII of Wutai grinned again. "I know."
A deep voice from behind startled the nation's leader. "You have got to be kidding me…," it said. The girl wheeled around, meeting Bishop Valentine face-to-face. "Of all the reckless reincarnations they had to put at the head of this army…"
The young ruler smirked with resentment. "I'm not just the head of the army, numb-butt, but the head of this nation as well. I'll bet that changes your opinion, doesn't it? Are you scared of me? Huh? Huh? Are ya? Are ya? No; there's no need to respond… I need not eyes to sense the trembling of your knees."
"My knees are still as stone."
"Oh, is that right, blubber boy? Look harder. Even from this distance I can spot you melting beneath my countenance."
"This senseless bickering tires me."
"You will treat Lady Yuffie VII with the respect she deserves (or, more specifically, demands)!" General Goh screamed. "You may look at her and see a naïve, young girl, but trust me when I say that if it wasn't for Our Lady there would be no more Wutai! It was her idea to use barrier materia for the protection of our nation, and it was her patient defence of the nation that protected our soldiers and allowed for this invasion to commence! Reckless; hah! The Great and Grand Lady Yuffie VII has sat in waiting for years to ensure our victory!"
"Thank you, General," the Lady said soothingly. "I trust you are the bodyguard for my decoy. Vincent Valentine, was it? I've heard much about you, but even so you will know your place. I'll introduce you to your charge." She beckoned towards a corner of her tent, where a young girl, younger even than Yuffie, was patiently sitting. She was a lawyer, fast-talking, ruthless, and brilliant, but quiet when necessary. "I'll let you get acquainted," Yuffie said as she and Goh took their leave.
The girl smiled. Vincent went stiff. She got up and walked to him. He turned paler than the moon.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"This… I… I don't understand… How…?"
"Why'd they have to stick me with such a weirdo?" she wondered to herself, shaking her head as she returned to her seat. "But, strangely enough… you seem vaguely familiar… like a ghost out of the past…"
"Vincent!" the bishop exclaimed awkwardly. "My… my name is Vi… Valentine… Yes, it's Bishop Valentine."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Where are my manners?" The lawyer got up again, holding out her hand to the pale bishop. "My name is Lucy; Lucy Moon."