Disfigured Lattice - Chapter 3

"Disfigured Lattice - 2nd Edition"

A twisted version of FFVII By HenryCH (dissfigured_lattice@yahoo.com)

Book 1 - Chapter 3 - 'Sector 5 Slums And Wall Market'

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Well here's Part three. To begin with this was supposed to have a black background but as Fanfiction.net doesn't allow you to choose your background colour aw well. As an answer to one of the review questions. The Buster Sword isn't Cloud's weapon in this fic for one reason, it's Zack's weapon and when we get to the flashback you'll find out what's happened to it and anyway the Executioner (Correct spelling anyway) is better than the Buster Sword so why would Cloud downgrade?

New note: This chapter has the first mention and use of the Rage Induced Trance. Please take note that this replaces Limit Breaks with rage induced battle techniques.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII is copyright 1997 to Square Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. The characters and names featured in this story are (partially) property of Square Co. Ltd. No infringement was intended. (Please, do not sue me!!!)

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Glossary

Shinra information archives terminal on line please input requested items...

...

...

Ancients: The Ancients, who call themselves the Cetra, are of a different bloodline than normal humans and have the ability to communicate with the planet. It is said that the Cetra can lead the way to the Promised Land where the Neo-Midgar project shall begin.

Weapon modifications:

...

Name: Guard Stick

Coat: N/A

Type: Staff

Attack: 14

Attack Percentage: 100

Materia Growth: Single

Materia Slots: 0=0

---

Name: Mythril Rod

New name: Mythril Staff

Cost: 370

Type: Staff

Attack: 22

Attack Percentage: 100

Materia Growth: Single

Materia Slots: 0=0_0

... Logging off.

1. In The Domain Of An Angel.

'Cloud?!'

'Hi mom!'

'Cloud! Welcome home!'

'Thanks I've missed you.'

'I missed you too. What weapon do you use?'

''Braver' Class Broad Sword. Well it was.'

'So your Father was right! By the way, what happened to your sword?'

'Broke it when I was fighting one of those monsters.'

'Well your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough. Ha was inspired to make it when you were born'

"Hello?" The voice said.

"Ugh?" Cloud moaned.

"Can you here me?" The voice asked.

"Yes. Am I dead?" He asked.

"No you're not. You fell from above the roof and the flower bed broke your fall. You're very lucky." He opened his eyes to see what to him was an angel. He deep green eyes seemed to penetrate his soul.

"Flower bed?" He pulled himself up to his feet. "Sorry about that." He said wiping himself off then started looking around. "Where am I?"

"The Church in Sector 5 Slums." She replied. "Do you remember me."

"Yea. You were in Sector 8 selling flowers."

She jumped up and down. "Thank you for buying my flowers!" She turned back to the bed and in a second of thought turned to Cloud. "Say do you have any Materia?"

"Yes some." Cloud replied.

"Mine's special. It's good for nothing." She giggled.

"Hmm interesting. I have one like that too." Cloud replied feeling the multi-coloured orb in his pocket through the material of his coat..

"Really?" She replied.

"Yes, my father was a Runesmith." He replied.

"Do you feel like talking? After all we are meeting again." She asked.

"I don't mind." Cloud replied, looking around. "You know it's getting dark. How about I walk you home and we talk on the way." He replied.

"Okay." She replied. "Just hold on a second while I check on the flowers." She moved up to see the Executioner in the middle of the flower bed. "Is that yours." The sword was literally massive even larger than her Ex's weapon.

"Yes it is." He moved over and picked up his ornated weapon.

"I've never seen anything like it." She replied.

"As I said my father was a Runesmith, my mother told me he made it for me when I was born." Cloud replied sheathing his large blade.

"Oh we don't know each others names do we? I'm Aeris Gainsbrough, the flower girl and you are?"

"Cloud Strife, me I do a little bit of everything." Cloud replied.

"So a jack of the trades then." Aeris started to giggle.

"Yea. You could say… What's so funny." Cloud asked noticing her laughing.

"Oh nothing. Come on let's go." She said as she started towards the door.

Cloud caught up and got in step with her as they left the building. "So what do want to talk about?" Cloud asked.

"Have you ever felt that someone is out to get you?" She asked.

"Oh yes."

'Right Mr Strife. I just want to take some blood samples from you. Nothing to worry about.'

'Don't trust him.'

'Can't another person do it.'

"Cloud?" Aeris asked.

"Huh?" Cloud replied.

"Have you ever been a Bodyguard?."

"Why?" He asked.

"It's them."

2. Face From The Past

She looked terrified as she stared at the two suited figures, one male and one female. Cloud eyes narrowed as he pulled out the Executioner His Mako eyes flaring from recognition. From way she was looking at them she knew who they were, obviously she's known them for a long time.

"Turks." He hissed pulling himself into a ready stance. Aeris scared as hell quickly unhooked her Guard Stick , not really in the mood for a fight.

"Strife. Long time no see." The man said as he removed a night stick from its holder.

"I'll handle this" Cloud murmured to Aeris before looking at the man before him. A cold blue fire showing in his eyes. "Not long enough Reno." The Executioner still in position guarding his midsection from the hidden danger he knew his enemy possessed.

"Reno, who is this guy?" The woman asked.

"Ever heard of Cloud Strife, Elena?" Reno asked her.

"Yea. Sephiroth's second in command." She replied. "He went M.I.A. at Nibelheim."

"Well it doesn't look like it." He replied as he looked into his opponents eyes. "Stay out of this Strife."

"I don't think so. You're scaring my friend here." He replied as four SOLDIER Third-Class appeared behind them. However they seemed a bit reluctant to fight after seeing Cloud with the Executioner ready to strike. Two of the SOLDIERs moved but Cloud was waiting for them.

The rage of seeing Reno again was enough and he knew it.

His eyes flared the deep blue energy pulsing through his veins as he allowed the dormant powers that dwelled inside him ever since that one event flow through his body. He screamed out as he felt his body begin to glow giving into the savage energies for the first time in five years.

Reno guessed what was about to happen pulling Elena down beside the church steps.

'Blade Beam'

The three members of SOLDIER could only look of in shock as the blue energy gathered around the blade into a thick swirl, before he swung it. The energy ribbon headed for the middle one... he had no time to block...

The energy ribbon ripped him apart from the fabric of reality, only his scream remained before the ribbon exploded towards the other two warriors easily taking them from their feet and into the unwelcoming grasp of darkness.

Cloud felt the energy leave him as he returned to his normal state slightly drained. He knew that it wouldn't take long for Reno to recover from what he had seen and saw this as a good time to leave.

He grabbed Aeris gently by the arm and led her back into the Church. "Is there any way to get onto the roof?"

Aeris snapped out of her daze and sopped staring at the warrior. "Yes you can get through the back." They started running Cloud allowing Aeris to lead the way, as they reached the stairs he saw the remains of the Turks party come after them. They climbed the stairs and reached a large gap. "What do we do now?"

"Well we can't let them catch us can we?" Cloud put his hand around her waist before he launched them across the gap making it perfectly. "Come on up the stairs." As she finished climbing Cloud slashed the top of the steps and quickly brought his blade along the steps spitting the staircase in half. He led her out onto the Church roof, where they hid out of sight until they were gone.

"Ha, ha." Aeris started laughing half-heartedly. "They're after me again."

"Again. That means this isn't the first time they've been after you?" Cloud was shocked.

"No, it isn't." She replied.

"Those two in the suits were members of the Turks. They usually search out candidates for SOLDIER." Cloud replied looking off the roof to make sure it was safe.

"That violently?" She replied.

"Well they're also involved with a lot of other things too. They do all of Shinra's dirty work." Cloud said looking around.

"They look like it." She replied checking her new Materia.

"But why are they after you?" Cloud asked.

"I don't know." There was something in her voice he could tell she was lying, but he didn't respond to it. "Maybe they think I have what it takes to join SOLDIER."

Somehow he didn't think so. "Maybe, do you want to join?"

"I don't know… But I do know that I don't want to be caught by those people."

"Alright we better get you home." Cloud said as he started to jump the roofs. She followed him as he seemed to easily leap over the gaps. She however was not doing so well.

"Hold on!" She shouted to him as he arrived on a roof. She carried on after him to see him stop. "Wait! Don't leave me."

"Funny I thought you had what it takes to join SOLDIER?" He said with a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Oh you're terrible!" They both suddenly broke into laughter. "Cloud were you in SOLDIER?"

"Yea… Or I used to be. But how did you know?" He was interested there was more to this young woman than he first realised.

"Your eyes have a strange glow." She replied. He could tell she was trying to put what had happened to the back of her mind but was failing.

"Mako induced eyes, a sign of SOLDIER but how do you know that?" Well it wasn't 100% true but…

"Oh nothing." She replied.

"Nothing?" Cloud this time didn't hold back his curiosity.

"Right nothing." She said again. "Now lets move bodyguard!" They made it off the roofs to an area near the entrance to Sector 6.

"Which way?" Cloud asked her.

She looked in both directions getting her bearings. "This way." She started towards the town. "Hold on."

They stopped as she turned to him finally allowing her shock to fade from the previous events. "Would you explain what just happened back then?"

He sighed as he leaned against the wall. "I'm even not sure about that. It only ever happened once before."

"When was that?" She pressed on.

'What are you?!!!'

"I don't like talking about it Aeris. It still brings back bad memories." Why wouldn't the past let him be? He wasn't sure but maybe it was just the way things where.

"Alright. I won't ask if you don't want me to." He could tell she was unhappy, but he was glad she hadn't pushed the issue.

She led him past the Church again where he picked up the Materia that was left from their battle. 2 Lightning, 2 Ice and 3 Restore Materias, all level two, like his. He smiled before placing them into his Materia pouch.

"What Materia do you own?" He replied.

"Oh. Ice and Lightning." She replied.

He took out the Steel Plate he found in the church by his sword and a Restore Materia and passed it to her. "Here just in case." He explained.

"Thanks." She put them on before they started towards the main village of Sector 5 slums. The place like the rest of the slums was run down, with a taste of what this town would have been without the plate. They headed past all of the houses and shops to a house that stood out, it looked pleasant and well kept with a garden that anywhere else. The sight was unbelievable as Cloud moved through the garden looking around and picking up the odd item and the piece of All Materia he found. "Do you like it."

"It's beautiful." Cloud replied. As he felt the petal of a white rose.

"Come on lets go in." She replied.

"Pardon?" Cloud replied as he moved to her.

"At least allow me to let you have something to eat for what you did back there. I never have known anyone to stand up to the Turks before." She replied.

"Well no one has ever had the same history as me." Cloud said as he looked up to where the sky should be.

"That I don't doubt." She stated.

"It's a long story." He replied.

"Maybe one day you'll tell me it." She smiled back.

'What does she mean by that?' he thought.

You will see.

That voice again. It seemed to come to him at important points in his life but he had never heard it as much as he was hearing it now. He wondered why. They entered the house Aeris leading the way.

"Mom I'm home!" She called out as she led Cloud into the room.

"Hello dear." Aeris' mother called as she came down the stairs.

"Mom I'd like you to meet Cloud Strife. My bodyguard." She introduced him

"Oh my! Were you followed again" Her mother asked to which Aeris nodded then she asked. "Are you hurt?"

"No mom I had Cloud with me." She replied.

"Thank you Cloud. Let me introduce myself, I'm Elmyra Gainsbrough, Aeris' mother." She introduced herself.

"A pleasure to meet you Mrs Gainsbrough." Cloud said as he bowed his head.

"My, my a man with manners? That is a rare sight these days." She stated as she began to walk away.

"So Cloud what are you going to do now?" Aeris asked.

"Well I have to return to the Seventh Heaven bar in Sector seven." Cloud stated.

"Right… Sector seven… To get to Sector Seven you have to go through Sector six. Sector six is a dangerous place especially if you don't know where you're going." She replied.

"I'll be alright. Tomorrow can you show me how to get to Sector six." He asked.

"Of course." She smiled. "Oh the Materia you gave me…"

"You keep it." He told her with a smile.

"Thank you." She said as her mother came down the stairs.

"Aeris can you go and make your bed." Elmyra asked her daughter.

"Sure mom." With that Elmyra watched her go upstairs, when she was gone she turned to Cloud.

"Cloud I have a favour to ask." She started Cloud didn't like the way this was sounding. "When you leave tomorrow I want you to take Aeris with you." … That wasn't what he expected Aeris' mom to say.

"Pardon." He asked.

"Cloud for the past thirteen years of Aeris life she's been hunted down by the Turks. Please don't ask me why, I don't have the right to tell you. All I know is that you faced off the Turks by yourself. I trust that you can look after her better than I can." She said.

"Mrs Gainsbrough you don't even know who I am or what I do. How can you trust me just like that?" He asked.

"I can't explain it now, just promise me that you'll do it." She said.

"I'll think about it." He replied as he headed upstairs.

"Cloud." He turned to her to see the sad look in her eyes. "Please."

He couldn't take it anymore. "Alright if she will come, I'll take her with me." He smiled.

"Thank you." She replied.

"Your welcome." 'S#&t why don't I think about these things before answering?' He thought as he began to climb the stairwell. 'Aw well.'

"Cloud your room is ready." He heard Aeris state as he appeared at the top of the stairs. He nodded his reply as he headed to the room she showed. "Cloud?" She said as he reached the door, he turned towards her. "Good night." She smiled as she headed down the stairs.

3. Night Raid

'So why are we here?'

'We are here to make sure none of our SOLDIERs are doing things they shouldn't be.'

'I don't understand.'

'This is a red light district.'

'… … Ah.'

'I'll go into Wall Market, you check over in that area.'

-FLASH-

'Where are you going?'

'To see my girl Cloud.'

'Zack I wouldn't if I were you, Sephiroth is on the warpath.'

-FLASH-

He woke up suddenly disturbed by the dream, he didn't put much thought into it.

'Prepare yourself.'

The voice. He quickly changed into his clothing, his hand brushing the sword wound on his stomach. But he had no time to ponder, no time to realise what was going on. As he quickly grabbed the Executioner and headed out the doors to her room. He moved to her door silently. He paused at the door, contemplating what fate had planed for him. After a second he didn't give it another thought as he knocked.

She answered the door to see him fully kited out as if he was ready to leave. He seemed surprised to see her fully dressed. "I couldn't sleep." She tried to explain.

"Oh you don't have to explain to me." He smiled as she let him in.

"Couldn't sleep either?" She asked.

"Yea." He replied

"You carry that sword everywhere with you don't you?" She jibbed him as he looked at the weapon attached to his back.

"Well I feel naked without it." He replied as he looked out the window. "Aeris?"

"Yea?" She asked.

"Is there any other way out of this house?"

"What?"

"Look out the window." She quickly grabbed her Guard Stick and looked out.

"They're here?" She asked.

"It looks like it. As I said is there any other way out?" He repeated the question.

"Yea through that door is the balcony we can use it to get back into the town." She replied as she opened the door. "We can just climb down the piping."

"No time." He replied as he gripped her waist and jumped off the balcony, grabbing a tree branch in the garden and then dropping to the ground. After a second Cloud led the flower girl into the cover of darkness.

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Elmyra watched the young man led her daughter into the darkness of Sector 6 from the kitchen window smiling, at last Aeris would be free from the confines of her home. She turned as the door was forced open and Tseng of the Turks entered the house however before he could speak she took the initiative. "If you're looking for Aeris, you're too late. She's not coming back." She cried at Tseng facing the fact she may never see Aeris again.

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Cloud and Aeris entered the playground near the entrance to Sector 7 deciding to relax a bit. Aeris looked around the playground she used to frequently visit as a child. She sighed as she climbed up the slide. "What am I going to do now Cloud?"

"Well I hate to tell you this but I don't think home is an option anymore." He replied.

"No I doubt it." She said sadly.

"Well…" She turned to him. "If you want you can stay with me. I mean it may not any safer but at least you won't be alone."

"Well okay." She gave him one of her smiles. "What now?"

"Now we head for the hideout."

End of Chapter 3