Final Fantasy 7: end.
Book One: A Dream's Dead End.
They were the heroes. They saved their world. But sometimes our actions have Ramifications we can't even imagine.
Disclaimer (or the shameless plug to try and same my butt): I hereby state that I do not own the Final Fantasy franchise, anything remotely related to it, or even enough money to be worth suing. This story is for the purely hedonistic gratification of it's audience and is in no way meant to hinder sales of the game "Final Fantasy VII." On the contrary this author endorses the game. If you read this story and enjoy it, please buy the game. If your read this story and don't enjoy it, please by the game. For that matter, buy the strategy guide. In fact, all the Final fantasy 7 products are very much worth any ridiculously high price you may see them at. All the other Final Fantasy products are just as worthy, so don't limit yourself to 7. Just to be sure you don't miss anything, I suggest you go out and hunt for any product at all in any store that has two "f"s somewhere on it and purchase all said store has. Yeah…right…..
Scene 1: The Trouble With Paradise.
It was a beautiful day, the kind people used to wish for. The smooth shade draped over the ground like a thin layer of silk, following its way up to the treetops, split only by the sun. A single drop of early morning dew rolled lazily down the center of a healthy green leaf, collecting on the tip before breaking free, peacefully, silently.
It dropped swiftly towards the rich brown soil, but somehow did not seem hasty as it fell through cracks in seas of green leaves and past puddles of red, blue, and yellow flowers (flowers were always a sign of Her presence). It landed on a thin vine, snaking it's way smoothly along the long green path, leaving tiny traces of itself behind. The drop weaved in and out of the vine's rusty red thorns in a manner that would put a professional skier (back when they had such things) to shame. Ever moving towards it's goal. Ever taking it's time. Ever serene.
As the vine wound the droplet found it's way off the narrow edge and struggled to keep on it's way, slowly loosing it's grip and falling, differently than before, plummeting down to a leaf that would bend to it for only a moment, springing back up and launching it up into the air to the middle of a beautiful flower's bent petal. There it stood, slothfully stuck in indecision. Not moving towards the sweet smelling center of the flower, but not returning to it's journey either.
Finally, when a small eternity (then again, all of them are) had passed, a surprise came. Another droplet fell into it, merging the two. Greater than it was before and reminded of it's goal, it re-embarked on it's quest, rolling off the petal, falling to the earth and it's destiny.
As the new drop was gleefully mere feet from the ground, a stunning ray of light dove through the trees. The ray piercing the drop, creating a spectacular display of tiny sparkling orbs in its wake as it buried itself into the ground with…a light thud?
A shadowy figure barely had time to look to their feet to see the bullet hole in the dirt before two more bore their way through them. Two comrades emerged from the earth beside his fallen form, one quickly constructing a large shield for them both from seemingly nowhere, the other's arm extending grossly and at frightening speed at their red-robed assailant's head.
The man darted at the two, narrowly dodging the arm and following it down at speeds that rivaled his bullets, looking like a blood red streak of lightning. His face never changed, his eyes fixed on those of his opponent. He brought his legs in front of him at the last second, actually kicking his attacker's head from their body, giving him the force to push off just in time to dodge the now thorn covered shield being swung at him. He back flipped to his feet with inhuman grace. He arched his back enough to dodge the shield as it flew though where his head had been a moment before, but granted his adversary enough time to advance on him. He quickly tried to asses the situation but knew he was trapped as the fist witch was rapidly becoming a blade flew at him. He just hoped that Barrett's car had finally started.
A barrage of shots echoed in the air and the man mused how little his attacker's strike hurt with its hand blown to pieces. It's chest soon followed as it weekly fell to the ground.
"You left me!" Said the short stocky man in a half comedic, half furious tone only he could pull off.
"You were slowing me down." Replied the crimson clad man matter-of-factly, rising to his feet.
"I what!?!" Shouted the short man, raising and charging the gattaling gun implanted in his arm to replace a hand lost in battle. "I just saved your life Valentine! Show some resp-"
He was cut of by a giant green beast diving from the ground as one might dive into a pool. The vine-covered beast looked him in the eye and suddenly let out a blood-curdling roar. Though that was not what had stunned him, he could take monsters any day. It was the gleaming metal hand that had ripped through the creature's chest and nearly speared his head with its sharp fingers.
A deep voice rang in his ears, "That's all of them, head back to base."
Vincent Valentine pulled his hand from the beast, allowing it to fall to the ground before walking off emotionlessly, his words cold and dry.
"We're even, Barrett."