Disclaimer: Like I said before, FF7 is not mine. Please don't sue me, thanks.

Chapter 3: Under the Guillotine

Sephiroth hopped down the Event Square and landed softly on the ground. He made his way towards the arena and found it empty. Then he read the schedules at the far end of the pathway. It said that the show was starring Barret Wallace, Red XIII, and Cid Highwind. The curtain wouldn't rise until another 25 minutes. Sephiroth laughed out loud.

"I'm surprised that those three managed to get a part in the play. Not to mention that Barret is the main character. Hmm.. I wonder where the entrance to backstage is..." Sephiroth said as he wandered off to look for the back door.

After much searching, Sephiroth found the entrance to the backstage area. He flipped on the light switch and found the room empty. He figured that the cast had not arrived yet, or were busy having dinner. In the far corner of the room, Sephiroth spotted a guillotine, which was obviously a stage prop. He started to formulate a plan in his mind. "Hehehe," he chuckled.

~~~~~~~

cheering and clapping

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to tonight's performance! This play is about the story of two men living in the past, along with their pet. But fate got its way with these men, and they soon found themselves under something horrible. Let me introduce the play of "The Two Thieves." So sit back and enjoy the show!"

clapping as the lights dim

Old music plays in the background as Barret walks onstage wearing a big white outfit. He looks somewhat like a marshmallow.

"I thought I told Marcus and his pet to meet me in this clearing. I gue- I mean, I suppose they got lost," Barret said as he struggled to act out his part about a man named Hans. "I suppose I will just sit here until they return.

A rustle is heard from the fake bushes as Cid and Red show up. Cid is wearing a brown outfit, and Red had on a brown piece of clothing as well. Red didn't look too happy about wearing the clothing.

"Hans! There you are! We bett- ahem, must run away before they catch us!" Cid says as he badly acts out his part.

Suddenly, more voices are heard as Barret is grabbed by the arms.

"Get 'yer lousy hands off me, you weasels!" Barret yelled, now out of character.

"Psst! Barret! You're not supposed to say that! You're Hans, remember? The thief who stole the sword from the king! Your character doesn't talk that way!" the director said to Barret.

"Oh, what I meant to say was... 'What's the meaning of this?'" Barret said.

The curtain falls as the lights dim. Minutes later, the scene has changed showing a crowd of townspeople gathering around three guillotines. Barret, Cid, and Red are underneath them.

"Your punishment is death!" the executor announced as he put a hand on the handle.

"This is getting really good," Sephiroth said as he munched on a bag of popcorn. "It's only a matter of moments before my plan takes effect. "Uh-oh....come to think of it, I don't remember which blade of the three guillotines I replaced.....I completely forgot which guillotine has the real blade! Oh well, it's better to anticipate the outcome this way, I guess!" Sephiroth exclaimed as he turned his gaze back to the show.

The executor whispered to Red, "Don't worry, these blades are made of rubber, so they won't hurt at all. The only thing you have to do is pull your head out of the hole just before the blade comes down. We'll handle the rest. The audience will think that your head really did get cut off!" the actor said.

"O-Okay," Red replied.

The moment of anticipation came as the audience waited for the blade to drop. Then, the executor said, "It is time."

He pulled the handle and the blade fell down just as Red pulled his head out of the hole with ease.

"Whew, what a relief. My part is over," Red said as he crawled through the secret opening in the stage.

The audience was captivated in the scene as they saw a "head" roll on the ground. It was really a melon, with a face painted on it. There was a curtain that hid Red's body that was supposed to be there. Red was taking a break backstage.

The executor moved to the guillotine that Cid was in. "You shall die next," the executor said.

"I wonder if this is the real blade..." Sephiroth wondered as he opened a hero drink.

The executor pulled the handle, but instead of the soft whoosh sound the blade made before as it fell down, it made a sharp noise. Cid noticed the blade was not fake and he tried to pull his head out of the hole just like Red did, but something was wrong. His head would not come out of the hole! Just when Cid thought his life was over, he heard a blade hitting blade. He opened his eyes slowly, and saw Cloud looking at the blade, then Cloud looked down at him.

"You alright, man?" Cloud asked with a look of worry on his face. He sliced the wood so Cid had an opening to come out of. Cid jumped up and gave Cloud a bear-hug.

"Oh, man! I thought I was dead! Thanks a lot, you spikey-headed kid!" Cid exclaimed with relief.

Cloud was still examining the blade. "Who did this?"

He looked towards the audience and spotted a man in a black cloak heading for the exit.

"Sephiroth!" Cloud said as the others chased after him.

~*End of Ch. 3*~

Author's Note: Will Cloud catch Sephiroth? Wait for the next chapter to find out!