Title: Sephiroth's
Challenge
Chapter 2: Training, day 27
Author: Akurei_GX
Source: Final Fantasy 7
Disclaimer: I don't own FF7 or it's characters, yada yada yada...
Author's notes: This is an alternate reality fic, it takes place after
Aeris's death. Sephiroth proposes a challenge to all the greatest fighters in
the world, the challenge is if anyone can defeat him in a tournament that the
Meteor will be stopped.
Deep in the caves of Cosmo Canyon two powerful beasts could be heard fighting, their grunts and roars echoed throughout the caverns. From the darkness Red XIII leaped out at his target and wrestled it to the ground. The two struggled and the other threw him into a cave wall. The second beast stood up in plain sight now, revealing it to be Vincent in his Galian Beast form. The two had been at this for a month now. Both had gained great strength and new abilities through their battles but were unsure if it would be enough to win.
Barret suddenly stopped walking as he heard something large coming his way. He could feel the ground shake beneath him as whatever it was got closer and closer. The sound of heavy breathing and footsteps soon followed. This was it, he thought. He turned to face the direction it was coming from and saw a shadow coming from the corner of a large junk pile. Without warning a huge flame shot at him from the other side of the pile and he barely dodged it. The large beast smashed through everything in it's way and heading right for him. The look in it's eyes gave it away, it was some kind of mutation caused by Mako radiation, probably another one of Shinra's. . . no, one of Hojo's twisted experiments. The monster stood on four legs and had large horns and fangs. It's breath was fiery and sparks could be seen around it's horns. It suddenly shot out a fireball and lightning at Barret, who countered with his Grenade Bomb attack. The two were equal in power and canceled each other out. "No way this thing is as strong as me." Barret ran at it head on before it could attack, the two met and got into a grapple with the creatures front paws wrapped in a tight hold of Barret's shoulders. Barret's own arms held the creature back as he broke it's hold on one of his arms. He brought the arm back and used the ball and chain attachment to slug the beast in the face. The strike didn't even slow it down, it continued pushing on Barret while it got ready to breathe another fireball right on him. Barret quickly dropped the ball and chain with a button and a blade popped out. He stabbed the monster in the throat and it cried out so loud it could be heard above the plate in the city above. It used one of it's paws to swat Barret into a nearby junk pile.
"Didn't know who you were messin' with did ya, punk. Even if you are some mako freak, I don't need any Materia to beat you or anyone else." Barret was determined to fight people his way, the real way, with weapons and strength and not magic. He ran right back up to the monster and started punching it with his good arm over and over again while slashing at it with his blade. The fight could be heard all over the sector, but a few moments later there was only silence. The monster lay lifeless with Barret standing over it, cut up and bleeding. He was completely focused now, he would prove he was the world's strongest fighter, even stronger then that big shot SOLDIER Cloud.
While trying to clear her head Tifa went for a walk in the Nibelheim mountains. She walked along the paths and bridges that reminded her of her childhood. She was always told to never go to the mountains but she did anyway. She had just stepped off a bridge when she felt a massive power coming from the mountains, it was followed by a loud explosions and the sight of a mountain being split in half. She rushed over to see what had happened, probably not a smart thing to do since the WEAPONs were on a rampage and that was probably one of them. However she wasn't too worried because the power she felt seemed familiar. She couldn't have been more shocked at what she saw, Cloud standing in front on the split mountain, Could Cloud have done this? she thought. No, there is no way. . . how could he be this strong? Cloud wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked over at Tifa. "I thought I told you I was training alone." Tifa shot him a funny look, "Hey I was training alone too, but then I noticed this, what happened?" Cloud put down his sword to sit and rest for a moment. All he could think of was Sephiroth trying to use him as a puppet again. Who would he hurt if that happened again? "Hey snap out of it!" Tifa yelled. "Your not zoning out on me again are you?" Cloud looked up at her and almost smiled. "No, I'm fine, I was just thinking." Tifa walked up and sat beside him. "About what" she asked. "Sephiroth. . . why is he doing this. He has already won. He summoned meteor and killed Aeris who was the only one who could stop him. So why this tournament?" Tifa replied. "I don't know, but we still have to do all we can to stop him right?" Cloud just kept looking worried and angry. "He must have some reason for all this, the Meteor is just 5 days away, and the tournament is 4. It just doesn't make sense."
After ditching the angry mob Yuffie met with a shady looking merchant who had told her about a new weapon for sale. As soon as she saw it she could tell it was stolen, it was far too advanced. It was large ring-like weapon with jagged edges, made of a metal she couldn't identify. What really got her attention were the 7 Materia slots, combined with the 5 in her armor she would be able to use the great stash of Materia she had. She quickly paid for it with every cent she had and quite a few cents that some generous people gave her. . . without their knowledge of course.
. . . . . . . to be continued
~Akurei_GX
What is Sephiroth up to? Will everyone become strong enough to fight him? Who else shall enter this tournament? Check out the next chapter to find out lol ^_~