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.

Yay! The fun begins. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and thanks to all who reviewed. That's Videlatplay and Videligohan when u get round to it. Enjoy!

The Forgotten

Chapter 36: Assault on the Tower.

The rest of the evening passed quietly, most preparing for the upcoming battle with Ranish. Stratus and Gale where in his room, packing what they would need and talking about nothing in particular. Lance had retired early and slept soundly in one of the spare room, Luna joining him not long after he fell asleep. Cid and Shera left to get a room at the local hotel whilst Rain decided to remain at the Strife house and sleep on the couch. The rest had acquired their own hotel rooms, excluding Red who had gone out of town for a few hours. Currently Cloud and Tifa lay awake in bed, not saying a word but not trying to sleep either. After a while Cloud broke the silence.

"You really think this is a good idea?"

"Huh?" Tifa turned to face him. "Oh. Well, yeah. I guess."

"You guess?" Cloud sat up. "I don't think guessing is what we need. We have to be sure Tif. If we go ahead with this many of us could die, you know."

"Yeah." Tifa said. "But Cloud, this is what we decided. We can't just sit around and do nothing anymore. The world is in danger and we are the only people that can save it."

"I know that but a head on attack isn't going to help any." Cloud argued.

"It doesn't have to be head on Cloud." Tifa argued back. "We can sneak in like before and slowly take them down."

"I guess."

"Now who's guessing!" Tifa winked at him and he shook his head in return. The door shutting caught their attention and Cloud climbed out of bed.

"I'll go see." He said as he walked out the door and down the hall into the sitting area where Rain lay, half sitting and rubbing his eyes. Red had just entered and was closing the door.

"Hey Red. What you see?" Cloud asked as he took a seat in the armchair. Red padded round in front of the fire and lay down with a groan.

"Something very interesting." He replied. "I saw smoke rising from the south-west."

"South-west?" Cloud asked puzzled before he caught on to Red meaning. "Ranish City."

"Exactly."

"So what does that mean?" Rain asked groggily as he attempted to open his eyes in the now too bright room.

"It either means their having a huge party with a big bonfire or they're under attack." Cloud answered then turned to Red. "Right?"

"Right."

----

Upon the roof of a small inn a dark mysterious man stood, cloaked in the darkness and gazing out at the horizon before him. His cape fluttered in the midnight winds as a noise behind him caught his attention and he turned to face a sleepy looking ninja.

"Vincent?" she slurred, still half asleep. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"

"It calms me." He answered simply, taking her by the arm. "You shouldn't be out here, you're practically naked."

"So come and warm me up." She smiled coyly.

"Very well." He said. "Come on." He picked her up and with one mighty leap jumped from the inn roof to the floor below. As he was about to enter the inn the door to a nearby house opened and Cloud popped his head out.

"Hey, what're you two doing?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Going to sleep now." Vincent said as he turned to enter the inn.

"Wait!" Cloud called as he took his first step. "Wake everyone up and come here. We have to talk."

----

And so, an hour later they all sat in the sitting area of the Strife house once again. Some looking more annoyed than others.

"I bet you're wondering why you're here." Cloud started. "Well, as your aware Red left earlier to see what he could see. He arrived back about an hour ago with some interesting news."

"Well?" Blain grunted. "What is it?"

"There appears to be smoke rising from the direction of Ranish City."

"Smoke?" Akira mumbled. "Are you suggesting that they are under attack?"

"That's exactly what he's suggesting." Red answered.

"So?" Blain grunted again.

"So this would be our perfect chance to attack." Cloud answered.

"Indeed it would seem." Akira said. "But think about this. If they are under attack we can assume it is these Forgotten that are behind it. If we attack now we will not only be facing Ranish but them as well."

"I'm up for it!" Vincent spoke as he stood from his seated position.

"Me too." Stratus added. "I don't care about these Forgotten. I just want my hands on that Piper! And if that means I have to plough thought them then so be it."

"Stratus!" Akira roared in a voice no one had ever heard from him. "Don't be a fool. These creatures have proven to be strong and if we go now many could perish."

"Some have proven to be strong but so have I." Stratus argued.

"I have faced the strongest in their ranks and I believe I can beat him." Vincent added.

"For once I agree with these two Akira." Red said as he stood and joined Vincent and Stratus. "You are a very intelligent man Akira but I think you are giving these creatures too much credit and us too little."

"Everyone who agrees with Vincent stand then." Cloud instructed. Everyone save Blain and Akira stood and joined Vincent.

"Blain?" Red asked. Blain looked to Akira, then back to Red and the rest before stepping forward and joining the group.

"Fine." Akira said in a whisper. "You all win. What do you suggest Cloud?"

"I suggest we set of as soon as possible."

And so it was. The group got their things and set of right away. On the plains they met back up with their Golden Chocobo's and strode on with full force towards Ranish.

----

Fire crackled as flames bombarded the large tower at the back of Ranish City, home to the world's president. Bricks burnt and broke apart under the intense flames, buildings around the large tower already nothing but ashes, screams echoing into the night as frightened citizen fled from the horrible monster attacking the great city. Piper looked on from his room, dressed in nothing but training pants and a black vest, a towel wrapped around his neck and water dripping from his soaked brown hair as it clung to his face and hid his eyes.

"What Monsters!" he spoke softly to himself, balling his fists. He grabbed his double-sided blade from its resting place against his bed and with one quick kick shattered his window.

A girl no older than thirteen stumbled down the street, crawling and scrambling through the torched and scorned land. Behind her a green beast with a large upper body followed after her, his hands replaced by six tentacles, three for each arm. With one sway he gripped her foot and tugged her towards him with a snarl. She bellowed and cried, tears streaming down her face. As she reached him he stood over her with a smirk on tugging at his lips. She cried again and kicked him roughly in the chest but he just laughed and lifted her of the ground so she hung by her right leg.

"Scream for me!" he hissed.

"Put her down fiend!" an angered voice called from behind him. The green skinned beast turned to see an angered Piper, Oblivion held tightly at his side. The beast smiled and flung the girl to the floor. She landed with a thud and hurried to Piper's side.

"Please help me!" she begged. Piper put out his hand and helped her up.

"Go to the tower." He ordered and she nodded before running off.

"So you want to fight me boy?" hissed the beast.

"What are you?" Piper roared, dropping into a defensive stance and raising his Oblivion above his head with a twirl.

"You may call me Tanner." He answered with a snarl. "Not that you will live long enough to matter." Tanner sprung forward and sent three tentacles forward, taking Piper by surprise. One wrapped around his neck, the other two around his legs. Piper smirked and swirled his blade around, cutting the tentacles from his body. Tanner screamed and ran forward, swinging a large foot at Piper, who easily dodged to the left and bounced back with a kick to Tanner's mid section. Tanner slumped back, holding his gut and snarled again.

"Your just a beast who doesn't deserve a name." Piper growled. "Your nothing but a heartless monster!" Piper yelled and severed the beast's head with one quick swing.

Piper tore his vest and wiped his blade clean before attaching his sword back to his belt. A ringing noise broke the flames crackling and Piper reached into his pocket and pulled out his communication device.

"Piper here." He answered.

"Piper!" a voice called from the other end. "Get up here now!"

"But sir the people need my help." Piper argued.

"Screw the people!"

"Sir?"

"Get up here now Piper!"

"Yes sir." Piper hung up reluctantly and started back towards the tower when a slivering noise caught his attention. He turned to see the head of Tanner forming tentacles and crawling back towards the body. The tentacles extended and pulled the head towards the body and then began to reattach its self. Tanner struggled back to his feet with a grunt.

"You thought you had won?" Tanner slurred. "Foolish human!"

With that he thrust forth his cut tentacles and to Piper's surprise they reformed and surrounded him. Before they could close in he jumped into the air and with a twirl of his blade he brought the Oblivion down, sending a shockwave towards Tanner and cutting the beast in half. The two half however just reformed and strode forward with a kick to Piper's chest as he landed and he was sent tumbling into a pile of rubble. Piper stood, brushed of a few stray rocks and wiped his face with the back of his hand with a smirk on his chiselled face.

"If that's the best you got you better start running." With a speed faster than the eye itself he ran forward and delivered a well-placed kick to Tanner's face, sending the beast tumbling backwards. Piper didn't give him time to recover as he charged again and swept the legs out from under him. Tanner fell right onto Piper's raised feet and with a push was sent flying into the air at great speed.

"Flare!" Piper yelled and sent his attack hurdling towards the mid air monster. It collided with a huge explosion and what was left of the creature fell to the ground scattered.

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