Rumble In Gongaga

Disclaimer: Most of the characters and ideas in this story are products of Square-Enix/Squaresoft from the video game Final Fantasy 7 and I am in no way responsible for the creation of this fictional world or the characters within it.

Rating: T or PG-13 (violence)

Chapter 2: Showdown

Reno was the first to move, suddenly lunging toward Cloud. He knew that it would be hard to defend against a sword of that...size. Therefore, the best defense would be a swift offense. He was a professional, after all.

Not wasting any time, Reno drew his stun baton to the right and swung it powerfully at Cloud's head.

CLANG

Reno was shocked as his weapon connected with metal rather than skull. Cloud had managed a defense as quickly as Reno had attacked. Reno apparently looked as surprised as he felt because he saw Cloud's mouth raise into a small grin.

Frustrated by Cloud's luck, Reno released a flurry of perfectly aimed attacks, all at specific targets that he selected only a fraction of a second before the attack would land. As quickly as Reno could attack, Cloud would somehow manage a defense.

Right shoulder.

CLANG

Throat.

CLANG

Left kneecap.

CLANG

Right temple.

CLANG

Left elbow.

CRUNCH

Cloud's grip on his sword faltered, exposing the left side of his body to attack. Reno made it count.

THUD

Reno finally had connected with Cloud's spiky head. Cloud fell to his knees, causing Reno to grin widely in triumph.

"Luck run's out junior," Reno happily gloated. "You got talent, but I'm a pro." The instant he finished speaking, Reno raised his metal nightstick to end the fight. Swinging it swiftly downward, he aimed for Cloud's dazed head.

His blow halted inches from Cloud's cranium. Astounded, Reno looked down to find that Cloud had caught his wrist in mid-swing and he could not pull it free of Cloud's grip. Reno gazed at Cloud with new respect, realizing that this fight wouldn't be as easy as he'd thought. Cloud stared back up at him with fiery Mako eyes.

(Tifa)

Tifa wasted no time, seeing that Reno had engaged Cloud, she rushed toward her adversary. Rude did not so much as flinch as she approached nor did he adjust his stance when she attacked.

She quickly threw some of her fastest moves at him, hoping to catch him off guard and end the fight early. Rude seemed unaffected by her sudden onslaught. He simply blocked each of her attacks with his palms, redirecting the momentum away from his body.

He was fast. Really fast. Tifa quickly realized she was getting nowhere. He was just letting her attack so that he could learn her moves. She was playing right into his hands, literally.

Tifa broke off the attack and took two quick steps backward. She focused on Rude's stance, attempting to find a weak point.

There. Tifa swiftly shifted her center of gravity and landed a powerful snap kick in Rude's lower ribcage. She then moved forward, hoping to catch...

SMACK. SMACK.

Rude had halted her advance with an unbelievably fast One-Two punch. As Tifa got her senses back, she saw Rude attempting to follow up with a strong right hook.

She had been dazed, but she wasn't about to be touched by a move that slow. Tifa quickly ducked and sidestepped, avoiding the punch entirely.

She then capitalized on his forward momentum by slamming her knee into his gut. Then, Tifa slammed her elbow into his lower back.

As Rude turned around to face Tifa, she greeted him with a colossal punch to the jaw which sent him stumbling backwards a few steps. Rude's unplanned steps put him right where she wanted him.

Tifa threw all of her strength into a swift roundhouse kick that landed on the side of Rude's bald head, sending him spinning to the ground.

Tifa eyed him carefully, keeping her distance. He lay still for only a moment before he picked up his sunglasses off the ground and stood up.

Stunned by Rude's endurance, Tifa watched him casually brush off his expensive black suit and slowly place his shades back on his head. Rude then, as if nothing had occurred, calmly raised his hands into the classic boxer position.

(Cloud)

With Reno's wrist held securely in his left hand and his buster sword in his right, Cloud rose to his feet. Gazing into his opponent's now worried eyes, Cloud yanked Reno toward him.

Now inches from his enemy, Cloud dealt Reno a fierce headbutt to the face. A taste of his own medicine, perhaps.

Back in control of the situation, Cloud went on the offensive, slashing at Reno with great power and speed.

Reno ducked, rolled, dodged, jumped...Cloud's vast slashes could not connect with any part of him. Cloud knew that Reno couldn't keep this up forever, eventually...

WHOOSH

Cloud stopped cold as he saw a long horizontal slit appear in the clothing that covered Reno's chest. Reno had slipped up and Cloud knew it.

"Close call," Reno said as he looked down at his sliced shirt.

"Closer than you think," Cloud said with a serious tone as he saw that Reno's white undershirt was now painted red.

(Rude)

Slightly irritated at his performance thus far, Rude prepared to commence his attack. Not that he hadn't gained sufficient knowledge of his female adversary's abilities by their previous confrontation, but he preferred to conclude fights promptly.

Tifa rushed forward soon after Rude had regained his proper footing. She foolishly attempted similar techniques, simply substituting her snap kick for a leg-sweep.

Rather than simply jumping her leg-sweep attempt, Rude placed his hands on her shoulders and vaulted himself over Tifa's body.

Rude landed smoothly behind Tifa so that they stood back to back. Before she could respond, he powerfully elbowed her in the back, returning the favor that she had granted him earlier.

Quickly pivoting to face Tifa, Rude grabbed her right shoulder and spun her body around and planted three lighting fast jabs on her forehead with his left hand. Rude concluded the combination with his strong right hook that, this time, landed perfectly on Tifa's jaw.

Tifa was out cold.

Rude had purposely avoided Tifa's nose and teeth when aiming his punches. Though he respected her talent and considered her a commendable foe, he did not desire to damage her permanently. It seemed wrong to him for some reason.

Tifa fell peacefully to the ground, so Rude turned to check on his partner's progress. Rude cursed his unprofessional ignorance as he spotted Reno who stood clutching his chest, blood flowing down his arm.

(Aeris)

Aeris had been watching from the sidelines since the fight began. She knew that she should not get involved since the Turks where likely sent for her. She also could not return to the buggy to alert the others because the Gongaga forest was perfect for an ambush. Aeris knew that she would only endanger her friends if she were to be captured again. So she stayed put...

...until she saw Tifa fall. Not knowing whether or not the sinister Turk would attempt to finish Tifa as she lay helpless, Aeris sprinted toward him.

Without spotting her approach, the silent Turk reached into his pocket and removed a smooth green sphere. He then closed his hand around it and outstretched his arm toward his bleeding partner.

Aeris did not know whether he succeeded in summoning the wisdom of her ancestors because as soon as she got in range, she swung her staff downward toward Rude's head with all her strength.

CLAP

Again demonstrating his incredible speed, Rude had reached up and caught Aeris' falling staff before it could strike him. Aeris foolishly kept a firm grip on the staff.

She did not realize her mistake until a fierce trust kick landed in her gut. Rude then released the staff, allowing Aeris to crumple to the ground next to Tifa.

(End)

Note: Don't miss the exciting chapter 3 coming up tomorrow. Again sorry to leave you in suspense but I will update very quickly.