So here comes chapter 2. I hope anyone who's been reading has enjoyed the story so far! A big thanks to the one person who had reviewed so far by the time I posted the second chapter.

I've got pretty much the whole rest of the story planned out now; can't say how many chapters it'll be, but I've already got 6 written and I think I'll need at least 4 or 5 more to get it done. Yay for being able to tie up stubbornly loose plot-ends!

Love is Like a War
Chapter 2: Surrounded by Idiots

Scarlet smiled deviously as she walked down the line of uniformed men. Their training was not yet complete, but they were still an impressive sight. This was the third class of men that had volunteered. Well, volunteered with some…persuasion. That made a total of six thousand men so far…she would need more…perhaps she could get Dio to impose some sort of mandatory draft.

Yes, this was all thanks to her dear husband. It had been even easier than she'd expected to manipulate him. She started the very night of their wedding, trying to make him understand (if she could get it through his thick skull) that money could be converted into power. And isn't power what every man really wants? He'd taken the bait – hook, line, and sinker.

Now it was a year later. She was very pleased with the progress of her plans. They'd gotten rid of that tacky funhouse of a casino, building in its place an impressive modern city. Most of the infrastructure had been there. It just required some…redecorating, and now New Corel City was just as cosmopolitan as Midgar.

She'd convinced Dio that others would do well to enjoy the benefits of his leadership. North Corel had been first to come within their sphere of influence. Her husband's offered aid was well received, even if his leadership was only grudgingly acknowledged. Gongaga was next. They'd been even less resistant. She expected their full cooperation would continue, as long as they didn't find out they were rebuilding the reactor…

With the new weapons she'd designed and her husband's fortune, they'd been able to assimilate pretty much everything between Cosmo Canyon and Costa del Sol without so much as a skirmish. Everyone came quietly, because who doesn't want the biggest kid on the playground to be on their side? They had tried to use their power quietly, biding their time and building their strength so that they could soon come out into the open to challenge better equipped and fortified enemies like Nibelheim, Cosmo Canyon, and Rocket Town…and eventually everywhere else. They were now almost ready to proceed with the second stage of their plan…

Her plan, really. But Dio made for a remarkably effective puppet dictator.

An officer came striding towards her from across the hangar where she had come to inspect the newest troops. He gave a crisp salute and handed her a slip of paper. She unfolded it to read:

Preparations are complete.

"Kyah ha!..."

The officer looked at her curiously.

She cleared her throat.

"Tell your men to get ready for departure. The Mt. Corel reactor is ready for re-activation."

The officer opened his mouth as though he had something to say.

"Are you hard of hearing Major? Just do it. Now!"

The major scurried away.

Scarlet grumbled.

"Simpleton."

Remembering the note, she went to inform her husband. After all, he was Lord of Greater Corel, and soon everyone would know it.

He loved the title – said it sounded much more manly and powerful than "President". Men were so juvenile sometimes…

She smirked as she reached the door to Dio's study. Once the reactors were operating again she'd be able to manufacture super weapons and extract power that even Shinra couldn't stand against for long.

And then the world would be hers, and she could dump Dio with the rest of the trash. It'd be almost as sweet as her revenge on Rufus…

Rufus Shinra would wish he had never been born…the man who no one had ever seen bleed or cry…he'd bleed and cry before she was done with him. Maybe if he was very lucky she'd keep him around for a diverting toy to play with, though she was sure he wouldn't care for the game…

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Rufus Shinra buried his face in his hands. This was one of the many times while trying to have an important conversation with Heidegger that the young President almost wished he had never been born.

"Gyah…sir? Did you hear me?"

Rufus got out of his chair and looked at Heidegger menacingly.

"What I heard, Heidegger, was your attempt to tell me that the bodybuilding buffoon who owns the Gold Saucer is now a dictator with a powerful army, stockpiles of weapons, and control of an incredibly large mass of land. Is this impossibly ridiculous scenario something you expect me to believe, or is this an exceptionally bad joke?"

Rufus leaned across his desk. Heidegger's moustache appeared to twitch.

"eep," squeaked Heidegger.

The sudden entrance of Reeve saved the portly man from very probable grievous injury. He walked briskly across the office.

"It may sound ridiculous, but it's true. Didn't you see the paper today sir? He's declared himself 'Lord of Greater Corel' or some such nonsense."

He handed Rufus a memo.

"This latest wire from Reno confirms it."

Rufus turned toward the window and read.

President Rufus,

This guy Dio is taking over everything.
These troops of his are everywhere.
They won't say why the access road through the mountains is closed off.
They're asking a lot of questions.
It's getting too hot here, and not jus the weather.
I'll be on my way to Junon by the time you get this message.

Reno

Rufus' brow creased in thought.

"Reeve, do you know what's in those mountains?"

Reeve frowned.

"Only one thing I can think of."

Rufus looked back at the reflection of his own steel blue eyes in the window amidst the dusky background of the sun setting over Neo Midgar. Is this cretin really stupid enough to start playing with Mako reactors? he wondered to himself.

"Sir? Is there anything we should do?"

Rufus lifted a hand and brushed some errant strands of hair away from his face as he turned around.

"Not yet. But tell Rude and Elena I want them here first thing in the morning."

Reeve nodded and left. Heidegger eyed Rufus hopefully.

"I could, gyah, prepare some missiles, sir…put the old warships on alert –"

One look from Rufus was enough to silence him.

"Any particular reason why you aren't gone yet?"

Heidegger hurried out the door.

Idiot free at last, thought Rufus as he removed his coat and slung it over the back of his chair. He poured himself a drink and sat down on the black leather couch opposite his desk. Resting his boots on the coffee table, he extended a hand towards the shadowy corner where he knew Dark Nation was lurking. His pet slinked over to sit beside him.

This is just what I need, thought Rufus as he stroked the big cat's neck, some megalomaniac moron who doesn't understand what he's playing with…probably thinks he's going to find the 'promised land'…oh he'll find it alright…

"He'll blow himself to Hell and probably take us all with him."

"Mrrowrr," replied Dark Nation.

"I suppose I'll have to do something. After all, this is sure to be bad for business."

He rolled his head back and forth between his shoulders, stretching his neck to relax it. He closed his eyes and emitted a low noise; like a growl or a purr. Dark nation rested her head on Rufus' leg. Rufus sipped the expensive, ice cold vodka.

"Mrarr…" the panther mewed sympathetically.

"I thought all this goody two shoes planet saving nonsense was AVALANCHE's job…"

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Reactivating the reactors? You'd think Scarlet would know better! Wonder what happened to make her so angry at Rufus? Well, you'll have to wait until chapter 4 to find out. We'll visit Tifa and Cloud again in chapter 3 and see if they work out any of their little issues…I hope I've caught your interest! Review and let me know.