Author's Note: Here's the next chap! Plot's way different than the game, but it's alright. Oh, and my muse has gone, so it's just me and my one day depression. On with the story!

As the plate crashed down, the helicopter flew away, dodging the falling debris easily. Cloud panicked, and started running in circles. Tifa couldn't move from her spot. Barret looked for some way to escape.

"C'mon ya fools! This wire'll get us out of here." Tifa snapped to, and wrapped around Barret's left arm. Cloud stopped, took a big breath, and wrapped around Barret's right gun-arm.

They glided down, explosions right behind them. Tifa cried out when bits of stone pelted her in the back. However, for some unknown reason, the cable snapped as the three were twenty feet high. They tumbled down, crashing to the ground and rolled until they came to stop. They stopped only ten feet from the gate to the playground, but they couldn't move. Cloud reached, but before he passed out, the plate fell. In a news report, Shinra reported no civilian casualties.

* * * * * *

Aeris couldn't believe it. She couldn't do anything. She knew they were going to make it, but it felt some malicious force defied fate. Gaia was in pain.

She started sobbing, reliving the brief moments Aeris had with Cloud and Tifa. She could almost tell what sort of adventures were to come with them all, as if they were already planned out. But they were thrown away now. 'At least Marlene is safe.' But she was in no safe position at all.

'But poor Cloud and Tifa.' Aeris wanted so much more to happen. 'The struggle over Cloud would have been so much fun, if depressing at times.'

'And Cloud, his roguish attitude was so appealing. But there was always a sorrow, straight from his eyes. The deep blue not calming but depressing. And never to see his spikes, his utterly impossible spikes, ever again.'

'Then Tifa. She would have been a great friend, even with that bust. But now was not the time for jealousy.'

'There's no one to help me. I guess I'll just have to help myself.' As the helicopter touched down, she was knocked out.

* * * * * *

Hojo was delighted. A whole sector, top and bottom, was gone. Who knew what evolve from it? He would know, that's who, as soon as he started to lend a helping hand to the environment.

The Ancient was on her way, and soon he would be able to experiment. Rufus had no clue about Hojo's plans, the ignorant fool. 'Yes, I will have my way!'

"Your way?" The voice boomed, quite amused. "I don't know what is more entertaining, you believing yourself, or how I will have to punish you." Rufus glided into the laboratory, his aura almost matching the surrounding's, only his had more sanity, and a stronger evil.

"Hmm. Nice to see you Rufus. Never would I have expected this. I didn't even play a part in the fusion." His own demons felt upon Rufus'. Hojo soon knew that it was a very different Rufus he was talking to. Hojo had to check his tongue, but at the same time to not sound suspicious.

"Now Hojo," Rufus was still nonchalant, "first things first. The Ancient."

"What would you need with the Ancient?" Hojo tried not to panic, his biggest prize for many years, taken from him?

"You may have her body." Hojo was quite relieved. "However, I want her soul."

"Soul?" 'Hmmm,what would he need the soul for?' "I usually release them."

"You do? Well, my Maronsi here enjoys souls. Loves them. And instead of absorbing mine, he decided to…" Rufus paused, thinking. "Ah yes, he decided to bond with me."

Hojo wondered if this was the truth. "As I am also."

Rufus turned to face Hojo, "Are you really? I, unlike you, am supervised and mentored by Maronsi. I am not merely allowed to be free like you are."

Hojo was hurt, but of course didn't show a trace of the emotion. "I am quite happy with Prebenic. We have a bond that works well for both of us."

Hojo started to go back to his work, quickly forgetting the conversation and Rufus. The only reason he could forget would be Prebenic's powers to keep Hojo as apathetic as possible to concentrate on his work.

"You may feel," Rufus knew exactly what Prebenic had done, and let Maronsi take the lead, "what you wish, but you do not," Hojo was startled, because apart from Rufus physically getting bigger…, "have anything," … and Maronsi started to show himself, a large menacing smoke gathering behind Rufus, "YOUR WAY!"

The room shook at the last two words, loose papers flew around, beakers exploding, and a very flabbergasted Hojo was staring blankly at the huge figure.

Rufus went back to his former shape and size, straightened out his suit, dusted it, and left with a devilish sneer, eyes still flaming.

"I had better clean up for the Ancient. Don't want to make a bad impression." Hojo pressed a button and some robots came to help clean up the decimated lab. Prebenic was as mad as a raging bull, and would soon find a way to either get back at Maronsi, or try to get a high position under him. So much for a good day.