Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sqauresoft Characters such as Cloud,
Tifa, and Barret etc. I do however own all of my own Characters Such as
Gale Amber, Stratus Strife and so on.
Here's the next chapter. Thanks in advance to all who review the last chapter and to those who review this one. Enjoy.
The Forgotten
Chapter 35: Surprise Returns.
Cid stared up in awe at the dark figure before him, the rain beating of his shoulders and head. The lance wielder charged forward and swung his lance round and through the air, coming in at the mysterious fighters right side. The figure easily blocked the lance by raising his arm and grasping the long metal tipped stick before pulling and bringing the beast into a raised boot. The beast cried out in agony and fell to its knee's, gasping for the air that had just been drove out of its lungs. It was all over after one quick slice of the figures black blade and the creature's head tumbled to the floor. Cid didn't have anytime to question the fighter as the other fiends closed in on them but felt a sigh of relief as the fighter swung his sword around him, his heel digging into the ground as he turned and released a shockwave that tore through the creatures and ripped them apart.
"You okay Cid?" a familiar voice asked as he kneeled beside him and the spiky tipped hair of Stratus Strife came into view.
"I'm fine. But these guess sure as shit aren't! You were fucking awesome!" Cid laughed as he struggled to his feet. Looking around he saw that the majority of the fighting had moved away from him and he was currently out in the middle of nowhere, the odd dead creature here and their.
"Yeah thanks. Here, drink this." Stratus handed him a potion and he took it hurriedly, feeling his strength return in seconds. He bent down and picked up the fallen lance and with a swing of the stick he announced:
"Let's go kick some ass!"
----
Yuffie bounced back and raised her Conformer, effectively blocking a downward sweeping sword. She swung her leg round and took out the foe's legs before flipping forward, stabbing her pointed end into his chest on the way before following through and landing neatly on her feet. The sound of light footsteps caught her attention to her left and she turned quickly, raising her boomerang to the attackers neck only to draw back in surprise at a familiar face.
"Gale!" She beamed.
"Yuffie!" the equally ecstatic girl cried in joy.
A sharp cry cut of any further communication and Cloud was sent tumbling into Yuffie, knocking then both to the muddy ground. Gale leapt to their side, brandishing her Freedom boomerang and holding it tightly at her side.
"Look like where all here." Red murmured from behind her and she turned to see Vincent, Barret, Lance and Blain to her right. Red was a little to her left with Tifa whilst Akira and Rain were directly in front of her with their backs to her. The sloshing sound of boots hitting the soggy mud snapped her back to reality and she turned to see Cloud attacker, the huge brute with the jagged blade as he yelled in what she assumed was triumph.
Cloud pulled himself back up and stepped forward, raising his ultimate weapon and preparing for another assault. Jag growled and raised his own blade in what Cloud assumed was a challenge. The two charged and clashed swords, a power struggle ensuing. Cloud gritted his teeth as his muscles burned with the strength it took to fight off this gorilla of strength. The creature's eyes glowed brightly beneath his helmet and Cloud suddenly felt his body go numb and his sword fling into the air. Jag followed through and cut a great diagonal slice across his chest, sending the man to the muddy depths below him.
"Cloud!" gasped the entire crowd, save Blain.
Jag raised his blade into the air and swung it down towards Cloud, only for it to ricochet of another blade as it suddenly appeared in his path in a blare. Cloud opened his eyes to see Stratus stood before him in all his glory, Ultimate Buster held at his side with one hand.
"Hey dad. Ya miss me?" Stratus mocked as he turned his attention to his father's attacker.
"You! You will pay!" Jag boomed in a deafening roar.
"Gale! Cast a magic protection spell on me." Stratus shouted back to his girlfriend, who nodded and cast eh appropriate spell as everyone watched on.
Jag's eyes glowed once again and he charged, swinging his sword on the way as Stratus's body went limp and he crumbled to the floor. The blade soared through the air and was about to meet with Stratus head when he rolled to the side and tripped the brute face first in the mud. Stratus flipped to his feet as Jag roared to life once again, his fallen helmet revealing his mud covered face and grey skin. Jag swung all he could but Stratus easily blocked all the shots effortlessly, only using one hand on his blade, the other placed mockingly behind his back. Stratus jumped back as Jag heaved out huge puffs of breath, having exerted himself. With one swift swipe of the Ultimate Buster a whirling noise soared through the air and a blurred white shockwave tore through Jags raised sword before sending him flying back into his men, making them all collapse to the floor in huge heap.
"Anyone have my original Buster on them?" Stratus asked as he turned his attention back to the others. Most shook their heads but Akira stepped forward and pulled out a glowing orb.
"I don't have your Buster but I do have this." Akira tosses the Materia to Stratus, who snagged it from the air and giving Akira a genuine smile, slipped it into a spare slot.
"Thanks Akira. Dad? You got your contain Materia on you?"
"Yeah, as always." Cloud responded.
"Good." Said Stratus. "On the count of three, fire a Flare attack to the left side of the group. Got it?"
Cloud nodded and raised his Ultimate Weapon as Stratus raised the Ultimate Buster.
"One."
They turned their attention to their enemies, who where stumbling to their feet.
"Two."
The respective orbs glowed in their slots.
"Three."
Jag's eyes widened as a huge wall of flame surrounded him and the only sound that could be heard was the screaming of his men as they where burnt alive. The attack subsided and the only remains of the army was their smoking ashes.
"Well that was easy." Stratus mumbled as he placed his Ultimate Buster back into its sheath at his back. The group all relaxed and closed in on Stratus and Cloud.
"Well done Stratus." Akira congratulated him with a pat on the back.
"Best not hang around here too long." Said Cloud. "We should get back to Costa Del Sol."
"Then what are we waitin' for." Cried Barret, springing to his feet. With that the rest of the group followed him as he strode towards the sunny town in the distance. They arrived shortly to find Luna and Shera waiting for them with a very happy looking Cirrus at their feet bouncing up and down.
"Mummy! Daddy!" she beamed as she ran forward towards them, stopping as she saw Stratus behind them. "Big Brother!" With that she ran straight past her parents and leapt into her brothers opening arms.
"Hey to you too." Stratus chuckled as he dropped her to her feet.
"Let's get inside." Red said as he bounded up the steps to the Strife house.
----
After having showered and eaten Stratus and Gale joined the rest of the group in their seating area. As usual Red had positioned himself before the open flames of the fireplace. Luna and Lance shared an armchair, Luna sitting across his legs. Tifa and Cloud mimicked them on the opposite end. Barret, Yuffie and Shera all sat on the couch whilst Blain and Akira stood against the wall in the back with Vincent, Cid and Rain.
"Right." Cloud started. "Stratus has something to tell us all."
"Yeah." Stratus stopped and thought before continuing. "When me and Gale where getting my new sword we came across more of those creatures."
"You mean like the one's we fought at Corel Desert and just know?" Blain interrupted.
"Yeah. They named themselves The Forgotten. The first one we fought could summon up demons to fight for him. After that we encountered three others. A big guy, a skinny one and one that looked almost exactly like you Red. Save the black fur."
"Did you take care of him?" Lance asked.
"No, he fled before we could do a thing." Gale put in.
"Is there a point to this?" Blain grunted from the back of the room.
"Yeah. I managed to find out what they where after." Stratus paused and getting a nod to continue from Blain he did. "They are after a company called Shinra. Wanted revenge or something like that."
"Shinra don't exist anymore." Barret voiced from his seat.
"They know that. So they are after the next best thing, Ranish."
"I don't understand?" Akira asked. "If we have the same enemy then why attack us?"
"Because after they destroy Ranish, they destroy the world."
"Oh great. More psychotic evil bastards trying to destroy the world." Cid moaned.
"So it seams Ranish is the least of our problems." Cloud mumbled as he put on his thinking face.
"That's it!" blain boomed as he stepped away from the wall. "We can no longer pussy foot around! Most of my people have been slaughtered; and we have an even bigger problem on our hands than we first thought! I say we attack Ranish with all we've got and get them out of the way!"
"No wait just a m-" Cloud started.
"Sorry Cloud but I agree with Blain this time. We can no longer mess around. We should attack Ranish city with our full force." Akira agreed.
"I'm with Blain too Cloud." Red added, followed by Lance, Barret, Cid, Rain, Vincent and Yuffie.
"Anyone else?" Cloud asked looking around. "Stratus?"
"If it means I get my hands on that Piper then so be it."
"Tifa?"
"I agree with them too."
"Then it's settled. Everyone prepare tonight. We set out in the morning." Cloud ordered.
----
Here's the next chapter. Thanks in advance to all who review the last chapter and to those who review this one. Enjoy.
The Forgotten
Chapter 35: Surprise Returns.
Cid stared up in awe at the dark figure before him, the rain beating of his shoulders and head. The lance wielder charged forward and swung his lance round and through the air, coming in at the mysterious fighters right side. The figure easily blocked the lance by raising his arm and grasping the long metal tipped stick before pulling and bringing the beast into a raised boot. The beast cried out in agony and fell to its knee's, gasping for the air that had just been drove out of its lungs. It was all over after one quick slice of the figures black blade and the creature's head tumbled to the floor. Cid didn't have anytime to question the fighter as the other fiends closed in on them but felt a sigh of relief as the fighter swung his sword around him, his heel digging into the ground as he turned and released a shockwave that tore through the creatures and ripped them apart.
"You okay Cid?" a familiar voice asked as he kneeled beside him and the spiky tipped hair of Stratus Strife came into view.
"I'm fine. But these guess sure as shit aren't! You were fucking awesome!" Cid laughed as he struggled to his feet. Looking around he saw that the majority of the fighting had moved away from him and he was currently out in the middle of nowhere, the odd dead creature here and their.
"Yeah thanks. Here, drink this." Stratus handed him a potion and he took it hurriedly, feeling his strength return in seconds. He bent down and picked up the fallen lance and with a swing of the stick he announced:
"Let's go kick some ass!"
----
Yuffie bounced back and raised her Conformer, effectively blocking a downward sweeping sword. She swung her leg round and took out the foe's legs before flipping forward, stabbing her pointed end into his chest on the way before following through and landing neatly on her feet. The sound of light footsteps caught her attention to her left and she turned quickly, raising her boomerang to the attackers neck only to draw back in surprise at a familiar face.
"Gale!" She beamed.
"Yuffie!" the equally ecstatic girl cried in joy.
A sharp cry cut of any further communication and Cloud was sent tumbling into Yuffie, knocking then both to the muddy ground. Gale leapt to their side, brandishing her Freedom boomerang and holding it tightly at her side.
"Look like where all here." Red murmured from behind her and she turned to see Vincent, Barret, Lance and Blain to her right. Red was a little to her left with Tifa whilst Akira and Rain were directly in front of her with their backs to her. The sloshing sound of boots hitting the soggy mud snapped her back to reality and she turned to see Cloud attacker, the huge brute with the jagged blade as he yelled in what she assumed was triumph.
Cloud pulled himself back up and stepped forward, raising his ultimate weapon and preparing for another assault. Jag growled and raised his own blade in what Cloud assumed was a challenge. The two charged and clashed swords, a power struggle ensuing. Cloud gritted his teeth as his muscles burned with the strength it took to fight off this gorilla of strength. The creature's eyes glowed brightly beneath his helmet and Cloud suddenly felt his body go numb and his sword fling into the air. Jag followed through and cut a great diagonal slice across his chest, sending the man to the muddy depths below him.
"Cloud!" gasped the entire crowd, save Blain.
Jag raised his blade into the air and swung it down towards Cloud, only for it to ricochet of another blade as it suddenly appeared in his path in a blare. Cloud opened his eyes to see Stratus stood before him in all his glory, Ultimate Buster held at his side with one hand.
"Hey dad. Ya miss me?" Stratus mocked as he turned his attention to his father's attacker.
"You! You will pay!" Jag boomed in a deafening roar.
"Gale! Cast a magic protection spell on me." Stratus shouted back to his girlfriend, who nodded and cast eh appropriate spell as everyone watched on.
Jag's eyes glowed once again and he charged, swinging his sword on the way as Stratus's body went limp and he crumbled to the floor. The blade soared through the air and was about to meet with Stratus head when he rolled to the side and tripped the brute face first in the mud. Stratus flipped to his feet as Jag roared to life once again, his fallen helmet revealing his mud covered face and grey skin. Jag swung all he could but Stratus easily blocked all the shots effortlessly, only using one hand on his blade, the other placed mockingly behind his back. Stratus jumped back as Jag heaved out huge puffs of breath, having exerted himself. With one swift swipe of the Ultimate Buster a whirling noise soared through the air and a blurred white shockwave tore through Jags raised sword before sending him flying back into his men, making them all collapse to the floor in huge heap.
"Anyone have my original Buster on them?" Stratus asked as he turned his attention back to the others. Most shook their heads but Akira stepped forward and pulled out a glowing orb.
"I don't have your Buster but I do have this." Akira tosses the Materia to Stratus, who snagged it from the air and giving Akira a genuine smile, slipped it into a spare slot.
"Thanks Akira. Dad? You got your contain Materia on you?"
"Yeah, as always." Cloud responded.
"Good." Said Stratus. "On the count of three, fire a Flare attack to the left side of the group. Got it?"
Cloud nodded and raised his Ultimate Weapon as Stratus raised the Ultimate Buster.
"One."
They turned their attention to their enemies, who where stumbling to their feet.
"Two."
The respective orbs glowed in their slots.
"Three."
Jag's eyes widened as a huge wall of flame surrounded him and the only sound that could be heard was the screaming of his men as they where burnt alive. The attack subsided and the only remains of the army was their smoking ashes.
"Well that was easy." Stratus mumbled as he placed his Ultimate Buster back into its sheath at his back. The group all relaxed and closed in on Stratus and Cloud.
"Well done Stratus." Akira congratulated him with a pat on the back.
"Best not hang around here too long." Said Cloud. "We should get back to Costa Del Sol."
"Then what are we waitin' for." Cried Barret, springing to his feet. With that the rest of the group followed him as he strode towards the sunny town in the distance. They arrived shortly to find Luna and Shera waiting for them with a very happy looking Cirrus at their feet bouncing up and down.
"Mummy! Daddy!" she beamed as she ran forward towards them, stopping as she saw Stratus behind them. "Big Brother!" With that she ran straight past her parents and leapt into her brothers opening arms.
"Hey to you too." Stratus chuckled as he dropped her to her feet.
"Let's get inside." Red said as he bounded up the steps to the Strife house.
----
After having showered and eaten Stratus and Gale joined the rest of the group in their seating area. As usual Red had positioned himself before the open flames of the fireplace. Luna and Lance shared an armchair, Luna sitting across his legs. Tifa and Cloud mimicked them on the opposite end. Barret, Yuffie and Shera all sat on the couch whilst Blain and Akira stood against the wall in the back with Vincent, Cid and Rain.
"Right." Cloud started. "Stratus has something to tell us all."
"Yeah." Stratus stopped and thought before continuing. "When me and Gale where getting my new sword we came across more of those creatures."
"You mean like the one's we fought at Corel Desert and just know?" Blain interrupted.
"Yeah. They named themselves The Forgotten. The first one we fought could summon up demons to fight for him. After that we encountered three others. A big guy, a skinny one and one that looked almost exactly like you Red. Save the black fur."
"Did you take care of him?" Lance asked.
"No, he fled before we could do a thing." Gale put in.
"Is there a point to this?" Blain grunted from the back of the room.
"Yeah. I managed to find out what they where after." Stratus paused and getting a nod to continue from Blain he did. "They are after a company called Shinra. Wanted revenge or something like that."
"Shinra don't exist anymore." Barret voiced from his seat.
"They know that. So they are after the next best thing, Ranish."
"I don't understand?" Akira asked. "If we have the same enemy then why attack us?"
"Because after they destroy Ranish, they destroy the world."
"Oh great. More psychotic evil bastards trying to destroy the world." Cid moaned.
"So it seams Ranish is the least of our problems." Cloud mumbled as he put on his thinking face.
"That's it!" blain boomed as he stepped away from the wall. "We can no longer pussy foot around! Most of my people have been slaughtered; and we have an even bigger problem on our hands than we first thought! I say we attack Ranish with all we've got and get them out of the way!"
"No wait just a m-" Cloud started.
"Sorry Cloud but I agree with Blain this time. We can no longer mess around. We should attack Ranish city with our full force." Akira agreed.
"I'm with Blain too Cloud." Red added, followed by Lance, Barret, Cid, Rain, Vincent and Yuffie.
"Anyone else?" Cloud asked looking around. "Stratus?"
"If it means I get my hands on that Piper then so be it."
"Tifa?"
"I agree with them too."
"Then it's settled. Everyone prepare tonight. We set out in the morning." Cloud ordered.
----
