A zap of lightning fried another hedgehog pie, the angry red imp-like monster screeching in agony as its fish-like innards were roasted by the thundara. The smell of cooked fish filled the air, which was odd because they weren't even fish. They just smelled like it and had that texture. This particular one was the last one in my way on the way to sector 5. Biggs had asked me to head over there to check on this orphanage he used to run. Honestly, that surprised me a lot. I'd never guessed he would be the kind of guy to take care of kids, but I was wrong. Maybe that's where his sister was before SHINRA got to her. I'm not sure why Biggs asked me to do this, if only because I'm honestly usually too busy for anything. Running the shop, training, recruiting for AVALANCHE…I'm just never available.

Either way, the path between sector 7 and 5 had become cluttered with monsters, and it was becoming too dangerous for regular citizens to travel. Since I've been getting stronger and I can handle it, I've been clearing the pathways during my traveling. No one asked for my help in this, but because it was on my way in the first place, I really didn't mind at all. I used these roads as much as the next guy, who might not be strong enough to handle monsters. SHINRA wasn't going to handle it at any rate.

So on I went. At this time of day, the roads were pretty peaceful, disregarding all the monsters. The fake suns from the plate illuminated the way, and the weather, once you got used to the smog and acidity provided by the mako, was pretty nice. There was even a nice breeze. Except, that breeze was starting to pick up. I raised my right hand to cover my face from the suddenly stronger winds, my left hand grasping the steel staff on my back. I heard a loud screech and the beating of powerful wings. In an instant, I leaped to my left. I could feel a large shape buffeting past me. Rust Drake. They had been popping up with startling frequency lately. Obviously they were something SHINRA had a hand in, having escaped to breed in the wild. At least it wasn't a cerulean drake. These dragon-like monsters could be quite tough if you didn't know how to handle them.

Unfortunately, I didn't know how to handle them. I have only heard of these things, never having the pleasure of encountering one myself. "Fuck," is all I said before casting lightning 2, or thundara as the locals called it. I spun my staff in a circle, the bolt of lightning flashing out of the center and up, over and down onto the beast. I's pain-filled screech was music to my ears. I didn't have time for this bullshit. I really needed to get something sharp to deal with things like this. Stabbing the wings and tearing them could only help. I'd have to make due with blunt damage.

I'd need to think of strategies to fight these things with later. For now, I needed a basic plan and to improvise. Dodge its attacks, smack it with my staff and blast it with lightning. Right now, I had steal and cure on my glove, and lightning on my staff. I couldn't risk a glove with more slots melting on me again. I glared at it and it glared at me. Suddenly, the area around it began to darken. I had no clue what it was doing, but I knew I didn't like it. Raising my staff, I prepped another thundara.

I was too late. If you ever wanted to know what compressed gravity felt like, I could tell you now. The space directly to my right turned into a black hole just as I released my lightning bolt. The creature screeched in agony once more, but I was more focused on escaping the fucking singularity trying to eat me. I could feel regular gravity acutely, as well as the vortex pulling me to the side and my own efforts to escape to the left. My body was flooded with pain as my insides tried to go to the right. I felt compressed and crushed. It was not fun. Just as suddenly as it started, it ended, and I fell to the floor as my efforts were completed all at once. I cast another thundara, and staggered to my feet. I lunged at the falling form of the drake, and slammed by staff onto its head once, twice, and then again and again.

Falling on my ass in exhaustion and pain, I put an ether to my lips and drink deeply. I felt so empty, my mind so muddled after using so many spells. The ether seeped into my brain, numbing the pain. I idly cast a cure on myself, sighing in relief. I knew I could cast a few more spells now while the numbing agent lasted, but I'd be in hell for it come tomorrow.

Still, I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out the fire materia stored there. I've never eaten a dragon. I bet it tasted like ass.

"Bye Mr. Daniel!" the children of the orphanage cheered at me as I left the Leaf House, the orphanage that Briggs requested I attend to. I think he was just worried about it, but honestly it was doing fine under Miss Folia, a beautiful young woman.

"Thanks again for stopping by," she spoke to me after the kids went back inside. "The kids always appreciate seeing people care. I heard a few even say they want to be like you," she laughs. I can't help but smile. We need more shops in Midgar. If these kids grow up and take over, I can be happy.

"I'll let Biggs know you're doing alright. He's been really worried," I reply, shaking her hand. I'll stop by again the next time I'm on this side of town." Then, I ask her a question that's been on my mind since I came over here, "So, where did you get all these flowers? It's so beautiful here!"

"Oh, a young lady named Aerith brings them to us. She lives just past there. I'm sure she'll give you some," she replies happily. Aerith. This was where her house was? I was a little anxious honestly. I hadn't seen her in a while, but Midgar was a big place. Something must have shown on my face because Folia asked, "Do you know here?"

"Oh," I stutter, "Yeah, she's actually a friend of mine. I didn't know she lived here, though. I'll go surprise her," I laugh, and after a few more goodbyes, I make my way up the path to Aerith's house.

I walk up the path, watching as the scenery grows more and more beautiful. Flowers grow everywhere, and then I'm at a hill that leads right up to the house. It's… Beautiful. Just like I imagined in the games. All this sheer life around me, the smell of the flowers and even little bees flying around me. My eyes water as I see it. I missed nature so much. Sure there are plants around the city, but nothing like this. This is life. My head aches fiercely, and I put a hand up to my head. I notice that I am on my knees. I stand back up, composing myself. I have no clue what just happened, but something just tells me to ignore it. I can't even grasp why, and while that bothers me more than anything else, I just walk up to the door anyway.

I knock on the door.

A man in a black suit answers.