A/N: Well school started this week so this may be my last chance to update
for a while. I want to thank everyone who put up with my last chapter and
sent me the great reviews. I hope this chapter is better than my last one.
Disclaimer: Look I don't own FF7 nor will I ever.
Apocalypse Rising
Chapter 10: The Birth of a Leader
The sky was pitch black over the nation of Wutai, the moon covered by huge dark clouds. To most this was a bad omen, but Hojo loved these nights. He rode on a great griffin. The beast was covered in black feathers and fur. Hojo would have preferred to have a mechanical beast, but this would do. Behind him was his army. It was several thousand strong. Most were in cargo planes waiting to be dropped into the warrior nation. However, these were not his most ferocious creations. Flying right behind him were his harpies. Each made of reinforced steel, and enchanted with a great deal of materia they flew with great speed and had numerous weapons. These would be the weapons that would win this battle.
His army was getting very close now. From his position, he could make out the roof of the pagoda. This would be his first target. Once he destroyed the nation's signal of strength the people would soon surrender. Hojo had to laugh. He was having a truly great day. First he had gotten to kill Vincent, and now he got to lead an army to topple a nation. It truly didn't get any better than this. Chuckling to himself he signaled his army to attack. The cargo planes circled over the towns dropping their troops, while he and his harpies flew straight at the pagoda.
Hojo pulled out his new weapon of choice. The masamune looked to be made of black steel in the dark night, how fitting that he would take his own son's weapon for his own. Truly with this blade no one in the entire city would be able to stand against him. His griffin prepared to dive and with a final hearty laugh Hojo prepared for the wonderful slaughter that awaited him.
....................................
Yuffie was walking the streets of Wutai. She had been walking for about five hours trying to formulate a plan. She had to warn the people about the potential threat of an invasion. The problem was she didn't know how. With her father's denial of this threat she was no completely on her own. In frustration she looked up to the sky. Clouds covered most of the sky, making the night unnervingly dark. As she looked at the sky she thought she saw something moving in the sky. She kept her eyes focused on the same area and saw it again. It looked like something was in slow decent into the city. Ever so slowly the lights of the city illuminated the shape. What she saw made Yuffie gasp. It had the form of a man, but instead of a right arm it had a long scimitar. Yuffie had seen thousands of these things in her battle at Cosmo Canyon. There was no doubt what this meant. She was too late the invasion had begun.
Before Yuffie could even yell for the people to run, a huge explosion came from the pagoda. Yuffie turned around to see the mighty structure burning and in a matter of seconds the building had begun to crumble. All thoughts were driven from her mind at this sight. She quickly ran through the panicking crowed to get to the pagoda, she just hoped her father was all right.
....................................
Tifa had been running through the streets of Midgar for hours. Her entire body was sore, but that was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her head. Her mind was still very foggy. She could hardly remember anything from before this evening.
Tifa still couldn't explain what had happened. She had been in a state of ignorant bliss, and then Cloud had hit her. The man who had promised to be her hero had deliberately hurt her. The shock had been enough to break her from her entranced state. She had known only one thing at that moment. She knew that something was horribly wrong with Cloud, and that she had to get away from him. It had been on impulse alone that she had taken Aeris's weapon. Barret had broken out of Cloud's control as well, but when she had run Barret had been badly wounded by Cloud. She could only pray that he was still alive.
Tifa couldn't run anymore and collapsed in an ally. Gasping for breath, Tifa tried to formulate a plan. She knew she couldn't stay in Midgar; Cloud had too much control here. She would have to leave the city very soon. But where would she go? That was the big question. She didn't know of any really safe place. She was trapped between Cloud, and Zack's army. Her only hope was to find Vincent.
Vincent. How could she face him after what she had done to him? She had stupidly helped Cloud cast him from the group. He had been the only one to see Cloud for what he was and now he could be anywhere. There was just no time to find him. Tifa let out a defeated sigh. Things were not looking too good.
Still trying to think of a place to go the image of a young girl came to mind. Yuffie! The young ninja had also left the group to go out on her own. She had probably gone back to her home country. Despite her claims of hating Wutai Yuffie had always loved her home. It was more than likely that in these times of crises she had retreated home.
With great effort Tifa rose to her feet and prepared to leave Midgar. It would take a while to make the journey to Wutai, but there was nowhere else for her to go. With a final sigh Tifa started running again. She would soon be out of Midgar and back with true friends.
What Tifa didn't realize was that she had not been alone. Something had been tracking her all this time. It stayed far enough behind to avoid notice. It would follow this woman, and in time she would lead it to the other traitors of Midgar. All it would take is time, and this creature could be very patient.
....................................
Yuffie scrambled through the final crowed of screaming villagers. She was now at the base of the now totally destroyed pagoda. With frantic eyes she scoured the rubble, looking for any sign of her father. She passed several wounded workers and warriors who had been in the building. After what felt like an hour Yuffie found him. His legs where trapped under a huge support beam, and his face was covered with blood.
" Father!" Yuffie screamed as she ran to his fallen form.
Godo's eyes cracked open upon hearing his daughter's voice. He could make out her form slightly as she neared him. Part of him wanted her to leave. He couldn't bear that she had been right, that in his pride he might have doomed his people. However, the other half of him desperately wanted to make peace with his daughter in his last moments.
Swallowing what was left of his pride Godo lifted his hand a gently brushed his daughter's cheek.
" Dad? Dad can you hear me?" Yuffie asked in a frantic voice.
" Yu.. Yuffie. Please forgive an old fool. I have failed you, and our people." He said, tears beginning to form in his eyes.
" Shut up old man, you're not going anywhere. You'll see in a few days you'll be fighting these things yourself." Yuffie said in a voice barely hiding her despair.
Godo smiled at her false optimism. " Please forgive me, I was never a good father to you. You are so much like you're mother. I could never figure you out. I tried to force you into something you were not. I am so sorry." Godo whispered. His voice was beginning to fade now, and he felt himself getting considerably weaker.
" Don't worry about it. I know that you just did what you thought was right. But save you're strength. You will get better; there is too much work to be done. You're people need you. I need you." Yuffie whispered, barely able to hold back her tears. All the anger she had ever felt for him fading away.
" I am so sorry. I am sorry for failing you as a father, and I am sorry for leaving this burden on you. You have grown strong Yuffie; please use your strength to protect our people. I love you my daughter. Goodbye." Godo rasped and with all his remaining strength lifted his head and gently kissed his daughter on her cheek. Then the world slowly began to fade away, and he found himself on the path to the halls of the great god Leviathan.
...................................
Yuffie sat there for several minutes, her father's head resting limply in her arms. All around her people were screaming and blade men where attacking. None of this mattered now though. All Yuffie wanted now was to stay with the body of her father.
" Lady Yuffie! My lady, are you alright?" Came a voice from behind her. Slowly she rose to her feet and faced the man calling to her.
He was one of Wutai's many generals. She recognized his face, but couldn't remember my name.
" My lady. Where is Lord Godo? We are facing many of these abominations and also there are even stranger creatures attacking from the sky. We need to know what the lord commands." The general said, not noticing Godo's body on the ground.
" Your lord is dead general." Yuffie said in a hollow voice.
The general's face contorted in sadness, but he quickly composed himself and bowed before Yuffie.
" Then what are your orders my empress?" The general asked.
Yuffie stood there in shock. Hearing a man twice her age asking for orders was unsettling. Part of her wanted to run away right then and there. She wanted to run and keep on running till she was far away, and then she could crunch up into a ball and wait for it all to end. This is what she would have done not too long ago, but her father's last request was still playing itself in her mind. She could see the bodies of all the people who had been killed in the pagoda and it filled her with anger. These were her people, and like it or not she was now their leader. It was up to her to ensure their responsibility.
Yuffie took a deep breath and all emotion left her face. " Arise general. I want you to get as many soldiers to meet here as you can. Also send all civilians to the city barracks. Tell your men to be ready for the fight of their lives." Yuffie said her voice hard and steady.
" Yes my empress. It will be done." The general said and then ran to the city to amass his troops.
When the general left Yuffie pulled out her Conformer and searched for any enemies. The first one she found she wasted no time in killing. She struck hard and fast killing it from behind. She wasted no time in finding another target. Again and again she fought, never tiring till the entire area around the pagoda was clear of these foul beasts.
After her twentieth kill the general returned with a troop of about a hundred warriors.
" As you commanded, I have gathered my squadron and sent as many civilians as I could to the barracks."
" Good, if they plan to destroy the city they will have to gather in the center of town. I plan to meet them head on." Yuffie said with a voice that seemed much older than her nineteen years.
The soldiers nodded and all drew the blades and followed Yuffie as she ran to save her nation. As she had predicted the hoard of enemies were amassing in the town's center. Yuffie didn't stop to warn the enemies, and for a split second the people of Wutai caught the enemy off guard. The free people mowed down the front line and engaged the remaining hoard. The battle was slow and many men fell, but Yuffie was relentless fighting off her own attackers while trying to help anyone who needed her. Slowly but surely they were pushing them back. Yuffie smiled grimly as victory seemed to be almost in sight.
...................................
Hojo had been having too much fun destroying building and killing helpless townspeople. He had not been paying enough attention to his ground troops. Now as he was passing the center of town he saw a sight that sent his blood to a boil. That bratty ninja was leading a strike against his creations! Such an outrage would not be tolerated. With a simple hand gesture he called his harpies to him. They formed a simple formation behind him. With a kick of his heels his griffin began to dive. As he dove down to the fray he felt the tingle of anticipation. Soon another member of Avalanche would be dead, and Wutai would be his.
....................................
Meanwhile in the realm of the dead Vincent finally awoke.
...................................
A/N: Ok this one was a tad shorter than my others, but I think it works. I hope you enjoyed it. I know Vincent wasn't in this one, but do know I have a few plans in store for our dear departed friend. I will try to keep updating this story, but with going back to school and all I can't guarantee that it will be anytime soon. But hey who knows? As always your opinions mean the world to me, so please tell me what you think. So please Review, come on you know you want to. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: Look I don't own FF7 nor will I ever.
Apocalypse Rising
Chapter 10: The Birth of a Leader
The sky was pitch black over the nation of Wutai, the moon covered by huge dark clouds. To most this was a bad omen, but Hojo loved these nights. He rode on a great griffin. The beast was covered in black feathers and fur. Hojo would have preferred to have a mechanical beast, but this would do. Behind him was his army. It was several thousand strong. Most were in cargo planes waiting to be dropped into the warrior nation. However, these were not his most ferocious creations. Flying right behind him were his harpies. Each made of reinforced steel, and enchanted with a great deal of materia they flew with great speed and had numerous weapons. These would be the weapons that would win this battle.
His army was getting very close now. From his position, he could make out the roof of the pagoda. This would be his first target. Once he destroyed the nation's signal of strength the people would soon surrender. Hojo had to laugh. He was having a truly great day. First he had gotten to kill Vincent, and now he got to lead an army to topple a nation. It truly didn't get any better than this. Chuckling to himself he signaled his army to attack. The cargo planes circled over the towns dropping their troops, while he and his harpies flew straight at the pagoda.
Hojo pulled out his new weapon of choice. The masamune looked to be made of black steel in the dark night, how fitting that he would take his own son's weapon for his own. Truly with this blade no one in the entire city would be able to stand against him. His griffin prepared to dive and with a final hearty laugh Hojo prepared for the wonderful slaughter that awaited him.
....................................
Yuffie was walking the streets of Wutai. She had been walking for about five hours trying to formulate a plan. She had to warn the people about the potential threat of an invasion. The problem was she didn't know how. With her father's denial of this threat she was no completely on her own. In frustration she looked up to the sky. Clouds covered most of the sky, making the night unnervingly dark. As she looked at the sky she thought she saw something moving in the sky. She kept her eyes focused on the same area and saw it again. It looked like something was in slow decent into the city. Ever so slowly the lights of the city illuminated the shape. What she saw made Yuffie gasp. It had the form of a man, but instead of a right arm it had a long scimitar. Yuffie had seen thousands of these things in her battle at Cosmo Canyon. There was no doubt what this meant. She was too late the invasion had begun.
Before Yuffie could even yell for the people to run, a huge explosion came from the pagoda. Yuffie turned around to see the mighty structure burning and in a matter of seconds the building had begun to crumble. All thoughts were driven from her mind at this sight. She quickly ran through the panicking crowed to get to the pagoda, she just hoped her father was all right.
....................................
Tifa had been running through the streets of Midgar for hours. Her entire body was sore, but that was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her head. Her mind was still very foggy. She could hardly remember anything from before this evening.
Tifa still couldn't explain what had happened. She had been in a state of ignorant bliss, and then Cloud had hit her. The man who had promised to be her hero had deliberately hurt her. The shock had been enough to break her from her entranced state. She had known only one thing at that moment. She knew that something was horribly wrong with Cloud, and that she had to get away from him. It had been on impulse alone that she had taken Aeris's weapon. Barret had broken out of Cloud's control as well, but when she had run Barret had been badly wounded by Cloud. She could only pray that he was still alive.
Tifa couldn't run anymore and collapsed in an ally. Gasping for breath, Tifa tried to formulate a plan. She knew she couldn't stay in Midgar; Cloud had too much control here. She would have to leave the city very soon. But where would she go? That was the big question. She didn't know of any really safe place. She was trapped between Cloud, and Zack's army. Her only hope was to find Vincent.
Vincent. How could she face him after what she had done to him? She had stupidly helped Cloud cast him from the group. He had been the only one to see Cloud for what he was and now he could be anywhere. There was just no time to find him. Tifa let out a defeated sigh. Things were not looking too good.
Still trying to think of a place to go the image of a young girl came to mind. Yuffie! The young ninja had also left the group to go out on her own. She had probably gone back to her home country. Despite her claims of hating Wutai Yuffie had always loved her home. It was more than likely that in these times of crises she had retreated home.
With great effort Tifa rose to her feet and prepared to leave Midgar. It would take a while to make the journey to Wutai, but there was nowhere else for her to go. With a final sigh Tifa started running again. She would soon be out of Midgar and back with true friends.
What Tifa didn't realize was that she had not been alone. Something had been tracking her all this time. It stayed far enough behind to avoid notice. It would follow this woman, and in time she would lead it to the other traitors of Midgar. All it would take is time, and this creature could be very patient.
....................................
Yuffie scrambled through the final crowed of screaming villagers. She was now at the base of the now totally destroyed pagoda. With frantic eyes she scoured the rubble, looking for any sign of her father. She passed several wounded workers and warriors who had been in the building. After what felt like an hour Yuffie found him. His legs where trapped under a huge support beam, and his face was covered with blood.
" Father!" Yuffie screamed as she ran to his fallen form.
Godo's eyes cracked open upon hearing his daughter's voice. He could make out her form slightly as she neared him. Part of him wanted her to leave. He couldn't bear that she had been right, that in his pride he might have doomed his people. However, the other half of him desperately wanted to make peace with his daughter in his last moments.
Swallowing what was left of his pride Godo lifted his hand a gently brushed his daughter's cheek.
" Dad? Dad can you hear me?" Yuffie asked in a frantic voice.
" Yu.. Yuffie. Please forgive an old fool. I have failed you, and our people." He said, tears beginning to form in his eyes.
" Shut up old man, you're not going anywhere. You'll see in a few days you'll be fighting these things yourself." Yuffie said in a voice barely hiding her despair.
Godo smiled at her false optimism. " Please forgive me, I was never a good father to you. You are so much like you're mother. I could never figure you out. I tried to force you into something you were not. I am so sorry." Godo whispered. His voice was beginning to fade now, and he felt himself getting considerably weaker.
" Don't worry about it. I know that you just did what you thought was right. But save you're strength. You will get better; there is too much work to be done. You're people need you. I need you." Yuffie whispered, barely able to hold back her tears. All the anger she had ever felt for him fading away.
" I am so sorry. I am sorry for failing you as a father, and I am sorry for leaving this burden on you. You have grown strong Yuffie; please use your strength to protect our people. I love you my daughter. Goodbye." Godo rasped and with all his remaining strength lifted his head and gently kissed his daughter on her cheek. Then the world slowly began to fade away, and he found himself on the path to the halls of the great god Leviathan.
...................................
Yuffie sat there for several minutes, her father's head resting limply in her arms. All around her people were screaming and blade men where attacking. None of this mattered now though. All Yuffie wanted now was to stay with the body of her father.
" Lady Yuffie! My lady, are you alright?" Came a voice from behind her. Slowly she rose to her feet and faced the man calling to her.
He was one of Wutai's many generals. She recognized his face, but couldn't remember my name.
" My lady. Where is Lord Godo? We are facing many of these abominations and also there are even stranger creatures attacking from the sky. We need to know what the lord commands." The general said, not noticing Godo's body on the ground.
" Your lord is dead general." Yuffie said in a hollow voice.
The general's face contorted in sadness, but he quickly composed himself and bowed before Yuffie.
" Then what are your orders my empress?" The general asked.
Yuffie stood there in shock. Hearing a man twice her age asking for orders was unsettling. Part of her wanted to run away right then and there. She wanted to run and keep on running till she was far away, and then she could crunch up into a ball and wait for it all to end. This is what she would have done not too long ago, but her father's last request was still playing itself in her mind. She could see the bodies of all the people who had been killed in the pagoda and it filled her with anger. These were her people, and like it or not she was now their leader. It was up to her to ensure their responsibility.
Yuffie took a deep breath and all emotion left her face. " Arise general. I want you to get as many soldiers to meet here as you can. Also send all civilians to the city barracks. Tell your men to be ready for the fight of their lives." Yuffie said her voice hard and steady.
" Yes my empress. It will be done." The general said and then ran to the city to amass his troops.
When the general left Yuffie pulled out her Conformer and searched for any enemies. The first one she found she wasted no time in killing. She struck hard and fast killing it from behind. She wasted no time in finding another target. Again and again she fought, never tiring till the entire area around the pagoda was clear of these foul beasts.
After her twentieth kill the general returned with a troop of about a hundred warriors.
" As you commanded, I have gathered my squadron and sent as many civilians as I could to the barracks."
" Good, if they plan to destroy the city they will have to gather in the center of town. I plan to meet them head on." Yuffie said with a voice that seemed much older than her nineteen years.
The soldiers nodded and all drew the blades and followed Yuffie as she ran to save her nation. As she had predicted the hoard of enemies were amassing in the town's center. Yuffie didn't stop to warn the enemies, and for a split second the people of Wutai caught the enemy off guard. The free people mowed down the front line and engaged the remaining hoard. The battle was slow and many men fell, but Yuffie was relentless fighting off her own attackers while trying to help anyone who needed her. Slowly but surely they were pushing them back. Yuffie smiled grimly as victory seemed to be almost in sight.
...................................
Hojo had been having too much fun destroying building and killing helpless townspeople. He had not been paying enough attention to his ground troops. Now as he was passing the center of town he saw a sight that sent his blood to a boil. That bratty ninja was leading a strike against his creations! Such an outrage would not be tolerated. With a simple hand gesture he called his harpies to him. They formed a simple formation behind him. With a kick of his heels his griffin began to dive. As he dove down to the fray he felt the tingle of anticipation. Soon another member of Avalanche would be dead, and Wutai would be his.
....................................
Meanwhile in the realm of the dead Vincent finally awoke.
...................................
A/N: Ok this one was a tad shorter than my others, but I think it works. I hope you enjoyed it. I know Vincent wasn't in this one, but do know I have a few plans in store for our dear departed friend. I will try to keep updating this story, but with going back to school and all I can't guarantee that it will be anytime soon. But hey who knows? As always your opinions mean the world to me, so please tell me what you think. So please Review, come on you know you want to. Thanks for reading.
