Note: this story is a crossover of Final Fantasies 7 and 8. It takes place two months after the defeat of Sephiroth (in the FF7 world) and two months after the defeat of Ultimecia (in the FF8 world).
Update: 2/20/05. Grrr. I think that out of all my stories, I like this one the least. The phrasing, the characterization, they're all terribly off. But still, it was a proming start. Here's the re-spaced, better punctualized version of Final Fantasy Dimensions. The text is untampered.
Final Fantasy Dimensions
Chapter 1: Start of the Dream
by ArchFaith (formerly known as the ArchPrincess of Saturn)
It was a normal day in Esthar. People walked around the beautiful city, thankful for the blue sky and the monsters' elimination. Dr. Odine, busy in his work, experimented with a few Bite Bugs. Advisors Kiros Seagill and Ward Zaback busied themselves with some diplomatic affairs. President Laguna Loire took a nap in his office.
That's when it happened.
Right in the center of the town, the air suddenly became very heavy. It got warm and humid. All the people felt nauseated. The air began to shift. It was a strange sight. Soon, a round portal opened. Portal to where, no one knew.
Kiros and Ward burst into the president's office. "President Laguna!" Kiros cried. Laguna awoke with a start.
"W-what is it?" he asked sleepily.
"Haven't you noticed that portal that's opened up in the center of town!" Kiros asked.
"When did this happen?"
"Just now! C'mon, we must hurry!" Soon Laguna, Kiros, and Ward were in the city center. The police had roped off the area. Dr. Odine stood at the mouth of the portal.
"There's no doubt about it!" he exclaimed. "Dis portal leads to another dimension."
"What are we going to do about it?" Laguna asked.
"Nothing. In fact, I zuspect we may have vizitors very soon," Dr. Odine replied crazily.
"Mr. President," Kiros interrupted. "I think the best thing we can do is call representatives from all the other countries. They should come out here and see this."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
-
The smell of blood littered the air. The decaying city reeked of death. A young man walked slowly toward a bar. He had spiky blond hair and carried a huge sword. He entered the bar.
"Cloud," a voice said. Cloud Strife looked up. Tifa Lockhart looked back at him. "How's it going outside?"
"Terrible," Cloud answered. "The whole town of Kalm was destroyed. Thousands of people dead."
Tifa shook her head. "Why are they fighting this war?" she sighed. "When we saved the planet from Meteor, I thought everything was gonna be fine. But now everyone wants control of the planet."
After the team had defeated Sephiroth, Junon had rebuilt its cannon and assumed control of most of the countries. Barret, Cid, Yuffie, and the others reuturned to their hometowns to defend them. Tifa and Cloud would've gone back to Nibelheim, but it had been one of the towns that resisted Junon. It had been destroyed a second time. So they stayed in Midgar.
Cloud. Cloud heard a familiar voice in his head.
"Aeris?" he asked out loud. Tifa looked at him strangely.
"What did you say Cloud?" she asked.
Cloud blinked. "For a moment I thought I heard Aeris's voice. I must be hearing things."
You aren't hearing theings, Cloud. Neither are you, Tifa.
"Oh my God!" Tifa gasped. "I heard Aeris! Did you hear her, Cloud?"
"Yeah."
"Is it...for real?"
"I don't know," Cloud replied simply.
Another familiar voice sounded in their heads. I never thought I'd be helping out my former enemies.
Cloud, on instinct, drew his sword. "That was Sephiroth!"
"Cloud...are we talking to Aeris or Sephiroth?" Tifa asked, trying to stay calm.
Both of us, Aeris replied. Are you wondering how? Then I'll show you. A bright green light suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It engulfed Cloud and Tifa in a blinding radiance.
Cloud opened his eyes. He was floating in a green mist. The Lifestream. Tifa floated next to him. "Teef, are you okay?" he asked.
Tifa opened her eyes. "Yeah," she said. She looked around. "The Lifestream? How'd we get here?"
"I brought you here," a voice replied. They turned around to see Aeris floating behind them.
"Aeris...is that you?" Tifa asked. Aeris smiled. Tifa rushed toward her friend and they embraced. Cloud, teary-eyed, ran toward both women and placed his arms around them. "But how? Are you alive?" Tifa questioned.
"Yes. I am alive. But only temporarily. The Planet knows it is in danger once again. It has asked me to be alive so that I can help protect it."
"Protect? We have to save the Planet again?" Cloud asked.
Aeris nodded. "There is one more thing...I know you're a little shocked right now, seeing me alive and all, but...I have requested that one more person join us on our mission."
"One more person?" Who?" Cloud wondered.
"Me," a voice replied behind him. Cloud spun around. Sephiroth.
Cloud drew his sword. Sephiroth did nothing. "You! Why are you here?" Cloud said.
"I was the one Aeris requested to help."
"You liar!" Tifa shouted. She shoved Aeris behind her. "Don't worry, Aer, we'll protect you from this lunatic!"
"It's true," Aeris admitted, going up to Sephiroth. "I forgave him. Sephiroth is going to help us save our world."
"Of all the people in the Lifestream, Sephiroth? The guy who destroyed my hometown and killed dozens of innocent people? Never!" Cloud screamed. He swung at Sephiroth and missed."
"Cloud...of course you would be angry. I did all those horrible things. I won't say I'm sorry for them, because saying sorry dosen't cut it. But...when I entered the Lifestream, I repented. I felt ashamed every day for my sins. Then Aeris came and asked me if I wanted to help save the Planet. I accepted. I wanna make up for all that I've done. Please give me a chance," Sephiroth pleaded.
Cloud lowered his sword. "Fine. To save our Planet. But if you do anything funny-"
"Right. You can send me back to the Lifestream."
"Now that everything's settled," Aeris began cheerfully. "Let's discuss what we're gonna do. First of all, Midgar isn't the place for you guys, Cloud and Tifa. In fact, the Planet hinted to me that we may have to go to another dimension."
"Another dimension? What would we find there?" Tifa said.
"I don't know. But I trust the Planet. Do you?"
Tifa thought. "Yes, I do," she replied.
Cloud glanced at Tifa, then at Aeris, then at Sephiroth. "I do too."
"The Planet has given me power to transport to other dimensions," Aeris said. "I can create a portal and we can go right now." Aeris held up her hands. A round portal materialized before them. "Sephiroth and I will go first. Tifa and Cloud will go second."
Everyone stepped into the portal. Everything seemed like a giant kaleidoscope.
"I think time goes a lot faster in the dimension we're going to," Sephiroth commented. He was right. They walked in the dimensional rift for only two minutes, but Aeris's portal had been in Esthar for three days.
-
"Isn't this exciting?" Selphie asked for about the twentieth time that day. Squall Leonhart sighed.
"Yes Selphie," he agreed. Squall and the rest of the SeeDs-Quistis Trepe, Zell Dincht and Selphie Tilmitt-had been invited to be representatives of Balamb. Rinoa Heartilly and Irvine Kinneas, though not from Balamb, were also invited.
They had arrived in Esthar earlier that day, the last team of representatives to arrive. A stage, a podium, and some desks and tables had been placed in the City Center especially for the reps, where the SeeDs now sat.
"I hope whatever comes out of that portal is friendly," Quistis said.
"I hope they have a pretty girl," Irvine replied.
"Maybe they'll have a new kind of hot dog," Zell hoped.
Rinoa turned to Squall. "Nervous?" she asked.
"Not really." Just annoyed. He and Rinoa had planned on spending a romatic weekend at Dollet before he got called in for the mission.
By then a huge crowd had gathered. In marched Preisdent Laguna, followed by Kiros, Ward, Ellone, and Dr. Odine. He stood at the podium.
"My fellow citizens and honored guests," he began, in a speech Ward wrote for him, "as you know, we are here today to welcome visitors from another world into our dimension. We hope that they will be friendly and greet us with mutual-"
No one was listening to Laguna anymore. Something was coming out of the portal. The SeeDs instictively drew their weapons, in case the creatures that came out of the portal weren't friendly.
Out stepped a young woman, wearing a long pink dress. After her was a man with long silver hair. After him was a woman wearing a skimpy black skirt and a man with spiky blond hair. They all looked disoriented.
"So much for keeping a low profile," Sephiroth whispered to Aeris.
All eyes were on them. Everyone stared at them until Tifa broke the silence and asked, "What's everyone looking at?"
A flustered Laguna came up to them. "G-greetings," he said, shaking their hands. "I'm President Laguna Loire of Esthar. W-welcome to our world. Are you hostile or friendly?"
"You speak for us, Cloud," Aeris said, shoving him in front of her.
"We're friendly," Cloud said nervously.
At this the whole crowd erupted into cheers. The visitors looked embarassed. "We'll talk later," Laguna said cheerfully, happy that the visitors were okay. "You must be tired after your trip. You should rest, then we'll talk."
Laguna led the way out of the center, the visitors following after him.
"There he goes again," Kiros murmered. "It's dangerous to just invite strange people up to the palace."
"You know Laguna," Ellone replied. "Let's go." Kiros, Ellone, and Dr. Odine hurried after them.
And the meeting was over, just like that. "Whadda ya think?" asked Zell.
"Those two girls were mighty pretty," Irvine answered dreamily. "Especially the one with big-"
Just then Ward came up to them. He made several gestures with his hands. "What's he trying to say?" Rinoa asked.
"Ohhh, I get it!" Selphie cried. "He wants us SeeDs to go back to the palace to help with the visitors, in case they get out of hand."
Squall sighed. Another delay.
-
"Oh," Aeris gasped when she looked at the Presidential Palace. "It's very beautiful."
"Ain't it?" Laguna answered, full of pride. "This way, ladies and gents."
They all sat down on the transporter and zipped into the palace. Laguna led them into his office. "Sit down," he urged. "I'm very glad you're not thinking of harming us. In fact I-"
Kiros walked up suddenly. "Mr. President," he began. "Would you mind if Dr. Odine and I asked our visitors a few questions about the circumstances of their stay?"
"Uh, sure," Laguna said. "If they wanna..."
"Of course," Cloud answered.
"Good," Dr. Odine said, coming in. "Ze zooner ve get dis information, ze better."
"First of all, the standard questions," Kiros began. "What are your names?"
"Cloud Strife."
"Tifa Lockhart."
"Aeris Gainsborough."
"Sephiroth-I don't have a last name."
"Your occupations?"
"Mercenary."
"Bar hostess."
"Flower girl."
"General."
"Your ages?"
"22."
"21."
"23."
"24."
"Let's get to ze big questions," Dr. Odine said. "Vhy have oo come to our world?"
"Our world is in danger," Cloud began. "All the countries are at each other's throats. They all want to have control of our planet. We came here simply because we want to find to find a way to save our dimension."
"Ahhh, very novle. Iz zat ze only reason?"
"Pretty much," Tifa replied.
"I zee. Now I have 60 more questions for oo, and then ve'll-"
"Dr. Odine, I think our visitors must be tired," Laguna interrupted. "They can answer them some other time. Advisor Seagill, please escort Dr. Odine out?"
"Gladly," Kiros replied.
"Vait!" Dr. Odine cried, but Kiros dragged him out.
He reminds me of Hojo, Sephiroth communicated to Aeris.
Let's just hope he's not as creepy, Aeris answered.
Just then Ward entered the room. He waved frantically to Laguna. "You asked the SeeDs to come? Ward, I don't think...ah, never mind. Mr. Cloud, Miss Tifa, Miss Aeris, Mr. Sephiroth, would you mind meeting some other people?"
"Um...why not?" Cloud answered.
Ward went to get the SeeDs. The SeeDs stood outside the palace. "Isn't this exciting?" Selphie asked again. "We're gonna meet the visitors!"
"Shut up, Selphie," Squall finally said.
"You're so grouchy!" Selphie snapped. She went over to talk with Irvine.
"What's wrong, Squall?" Rinoa asked.
"I was looking forward to that romantic weekend," Squall complained. "We're never gonna be done with this mission."
"Let's make the best of it," Rinoa suggested. "We're meeting people from another world. That's kinda cool."
"I guess."
"Irvy, you're not thinking of that girl with the black skirt, are you?" Selphie asked.
"Huh? Wha...? Oh, a'course not, Selphie honey," Irvine replied. The truth was, he thought the girl was very pretty.
Selphie sighed. She knew Irvine was daydreaming about the girl. Would they ever be a real couple?
"They were carrying weapons," Quistis told Zell, "so they must know how to fight."
"Do ya think they use GF?" Zell asked.
"Maybe," Quistis replied. "Even if they did, I doubt they would be as advanced in fighting techniques as we are."
Ward appeared and motioned for them to come into the palace. They entered the president's chambers. Laguna sat behind his desk. The visitors sat in front of it. Squall got a closer look at them.
Laguna stood up. "Welcome SeeDs," he greeted.
"Greetings President Loire," Squall said. When Squall found out the President was his father, Laguna told him he call him anything he wanted. It didn't feel right to call him Father or Dad-it was too late for that-so he just addressed Laguna by his title.
"And Greetings visitors," he continued. "I am Squall Leonhart, leader of SeeD, the elite mercenary force of Balamb Garden."
"Hi, I'm Rinoa Heartilly, Sorceress and leader of the Forest Owls."
"Yo, I'm Zell Dincht, also a member of SeeD and student of Balamb Garden."
"My name is Quistis Trepe, member of SeeD and instructor at the Garden."
"Hey, I'm Selphie Tilmitt, SeeD member and chairperson of the Garden Festival Committee."
"Howdy, name's Irvine Kinneas, sharpshooter and former student at Galbadia Garden."
Cloud stood up, thinking of what to say. "Greetings SeeDs," he began. "I am Cloud Strife, mercenary and member of AVALANCHE."
Whoa, Squall thought. He's got a sword, noting the Ultima Weapon. Armor, too. He must be a fierce fighter. There's something weird about his eyes. That glow in them. Hey, what are those little marbles stuck into the sword?
"Hello, I'm Tifa Lockhart, owner of the 7th Heaven bar in Midgar, and member of AVALANCHE." She wears fighting gloves, Squall observed. But they look heavier than Zell's. She also looks strong. Looks like she's been through a lot. And she's got...never mind.
"Hi, I'm Aeris Gainsborough, former flower merchant and the last of the Ancients, or the Cetra."
She smells like flowers, Squall noted. She seems very peaceful. Her eyes glow too, but not in the same way as Cloud's. Huh? It looks like there are traces of Holy magic shining in her eyes.
"Salutations, I am Sephiroth, former SOLDIER general and...well..."
"And a guardian of the Lifestream," Aeris finished for him.
Sephiroth flashed Aeris a grateful smile. "Yes."
Hm, he needed help figuring out what he was, Squall noticed. His eyes are the same shade as Aeris's, and he has strange-colored hair. And that sword, looking at the Masamune. Is it just me, or does he seem...isolated from the rest?
Just then Cloud yawned. "Aw, you must be tired," Laguna noted. "I'll have you shown to the guest quarters." To the SeeDs he added, "You guys can stay too, if you like. It's a little late to be heading back to the Garden, ain't it?"
-
"Hey Squall!"
Squall opened his eyes. Irvine was shaking him. "Get up man," he said, "we gotta go meet the girls in the hall."
Squall got out of bed and dressed. He and the boys went out and met Rinoa, Quistis, and Selphie in the corridor. "We'd better be heading back to Garden," he said. "It dosen't look like Laguna needs any help with the Visitors."
"Aw...you're right," Selphie sighed. "It woulda been kinda fun to stay, but we'd just be in the way. We should go tell the President about our departure." The SeeDs headed down the hall.
-
Aeris...Aeris, listen...
Sephiroth? What's...oh my God! What's happening?
Midgar...it's being destroyed...!
No, it can't be! No! What can we do to save you?
Summon...SeeD.
Aeris awoke from a troubled sleep. She was having a nightmare about the future of the Planet. Sephiroth had been there. Midgar had been destroyed, and the Planet had spoken to her, through the dimensions. It had told her to summon SeeD. SeeD, those teenagers they had met in the President's chambers? But how could they help save the Planet?
"I...I don't understand," Aeris panted. Tears began flowing down her cheeks. "SeeD? Is that what you want me to do?"
"Aeris?" a voice asked. There was a knock on her door and Sephiroth stepped in. He sat down next to her on the foot of the bed. "Did you have a dream about our Planet wanting the SeeDs' help?"
"Yes!" Aeris answered. "You had it too?"
Sephiroth nodded. "But why them? What can they do?"
"I thought that myself," Aeris answered. "But if that's what the Planet wants, that's what it'll get."
-
Cloud and Tifa sat in the dining room with Laguna and Ellone. They had gotten up early, not wanting to miss their first sunrise in Esthar. They were eating breakfast with the President and his stepdaughter. As soon as Aeris and Sephiroth awoke, they would be taken on a tour of Esthar.
Laguna poured extra syrup on his pancakes. "So, how is your-"
Just then the SeeDs entered. Squall stepped forward. "President Laguna, Ellone, Mr. Cloud, Miss Tifa, we shall be taking our leave now. Our services are not needed here."
"Thanks for coming, SeeDs. We greatly appreciated your help. So long," Laguna replied.
"Wait!" a voice rang out across the room. Everyone turned to see Aeris and Sephiroth standing there. "Please, SeeDs, do not leave yet. I've had a vision that our world needs your help!" Aeris cried.
The SeeDs looked around at each other. "What do you mean, Miss Aeris?" Squall called.
"It's very hard to explain," Sephiroth answered. "Maybe you'd better sit down."
Everyone crowded around the breakfast table while Aeris and Sephiroth related their dream. "So your Planet wants us to help it?" Zell asked.
"Exactly...I know this whole thing sounds crazy, but the Planet asked for you. I don't know why, but it did," Aeris explained. "So will you please help us?"
"Of course we will," Rinoa answered before the SeeDs had time to think. "We'd be glad to help."
"Thank you Miss Rinoa," Aeris answered. "We're very grateful."
Squall nudged Rinoa under the table. "You didn't ask our opinions," he whispered
"I'm sorry, Squall. But I really want to help them. They're trying to save their world, like we tried to save ours," Rinoa answered in a low voice.
"Well," Quistis said thoughtfully, "if we're going to fight we need to know the enemy."
"The enemy is...well, there really isn't a specific enemy. It's more like a lot of people doing misguided things," Cloud said.
"And if we're gonna fight, how will we get back to your world?" Selphie asked.
"We'll find some way," Sephiroth answered very vaguely.
"Are we sure us SeeDs can exist in your world?" Irvine questioned.
"I'm pretty sure you can," Tifa said.
Squall looked around. The whole thing was crazy. Helping a strange group of people from another dimension? For all they knew, they might just be collecting specimens. Or maybe...
"Mr. Squall?" Aeris asked. "If you aren't willing to help us, then...that's fine, but we'd appreciatiate your help."
Squall looked at all the expectant faces around him. Time to do the right thing. "Yes, I'll help."
"Thanks everyone," Sephiroth said, adressing the group. "We should start preparing as soon as possible. No telling what we'll find back home."
To be continued...
