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 3: Beat down

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Aeris cursed her recklessness as she lay on the ground clutching her stomach. She had assumed that the silent Turk was unaware of her approach and had paid the price.

Knowing that she shouldn't try to fight him in her current state, she called out to the planet.

Aeris felt a gentle gust of wind sweep toward her, filling her lungs with cool refreshing air. As she inhaled the healing wind,she felt revitalized.

The pain in her abdomen slowly melted away as she climbed to her feet. Aeris then held her staff with both hands, preparing to engage the silent man once again.

Before she could throw an attack, she felt a hand softly rest on her shoulder. She turned her head to find Tifa who had apparently also felt the soothing affects of the healing wind.

"May I?" Tifa asked calmly.

"Sure," Aeris responded as she backed off, giving Tifa some room.

Reno had lost a vital amount of blood. He was sure that the fight was over until he saw a sparkling green light. This light flew from Rude's hand and into Reno's open wound.

Reno felt the Cure magic take affect as his bloody gash closed and his strength gradually returned. Standing up strait, he saw Cloud still stood in front of him with his sword poised for attack.

Cloud had gotten a lucky slash in and caused a minor setback, but Reno was just getting started.

Reno's gaze locked with Cloud's. Almost instantly Cloud narrowed his eyes and rushed forward.

Before Reno could react to his sudden dash, Cloud jumped into the air and raised his sword back with both hands. This attack was braver than any Reno had ever witnessed because it forfeited defense entirely. Panicked, Reno pushed a small button on the handle of his weapon.

A large burst of Mako-generated force pulsed from the end of Reno's stun baton, blasting Cloud backward and throwing his weapon from his grip. As Cloud landed on his back a few meters away, Reno heard his sword land somewhere in the Gongaga forest.

Reno's heart beat wildly since he had nearly been diced by Cloud's bold attack. The 'Turk Light', as Scarlet had called it, had saved his life. He would have to personally thank the guys down at ShinRa Weapons Development when he got back.

Cloud was furious. He was growing tired of Reno's tricks and wanted to at least put him on the ground, if not in the ground.

His weapon far out of reach, Cloud quickly jumped to his feet and threw himself toward Reno. Cloud slammed all his weight into Reno, ferociously tackling him to the ground.

Landing on top of Reno's body, Cloud grasped his throat with his left hand and started brutally beating on his face with his right. Reno desperately raised his electric baton to Cloud's neck and sent a colossal charge through Cloud's body.

Cloud grimaced in pain and lunged away from Reno. But, before Reno could get up, Cloud gripped his jacket with both hands and lifted him off the ground.

Reno was only on his feet for an instant before Cloud drew his arm down and threw a massive uppercut into his chin. Falling hard on his back, Reno painstakingly raised his weapon to...

CRUNCH

"Ahh!" Reno cried as Cloud stepped on his wrist with one foot and kicked his bothersome weapon out of his hand with the other. Reno wouldn't be shocking anyone for a while.

Tifa repeatedly slammed her fists into Rude's bald head. Rude hadn't turned his attention to her after he had healed Reno and Tifa was making him pay for it.

Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.

Tifa continued throwing swift combos at the Turk without giving him a chance to react. When he defended high, she pounded on his stomach. When he defended low, she would bounce his head like a basketball.

Tifa then shoved Rude away from her with both hands. In his frustration, Rude rushed in to attack. Big mistake.

Tifa put her left foot onto his thigh, propelling herself upward into a full backward somersault. As her body flipped backward, Tifa threw her right foot into Rude's chin.

Tifa landed perfectly on her feet as Rude toppled backwards onto the dirt. Tifa silently congratulated herself for performing that technique so flawlessly. Zangan had even been surprised by her agility the first time she used that move, but she had feared that she was out of practice since those days. That seemed like so long...

DAMN. While she had been lost in though, Rude had pulled another green orb from his jacket, undoubtedly containing some deadly magic.

Rude closed his hand around the materia and extended his arm toward Tifa, preparing to cast the magic within it. Tifa was in big trouble if...

CRACK

Aeris' metal staff slammed into Rude's hand, throwing the materia free of his grip. She then raised her staff again and swung it powerfully toward the surprised Turk.

Rude rolled out of the way, barely avoiding Aeris' attack, and laboriously climbed to his feet.

Reno scrambled to his feet, quickly attempting to get out of Cloud's reach. Seeing that Cloud had temporarily stopped pursuing him, Reno allowed himself to relax a little.

He looked to Rude who returned his glance and silently nodded. Reno then calmly walked over and picked up his metal stun baton.

"We may be retreating," Reno said confidently as he rested his weapon on his shoulder. "But, we're still victorious."

Following Reno's humorous remark, the two Turks withdrew from the battle, quickly jogging up the path that lead to the dense Gongaga forest.

Reno knew when to hold his ground and when to back off. If he pushed his luck with that group he might end up in early retirement, one way or the other. Also, he reminded himself never to underestimate Cloud again. There was definitely much more to him than met the eye.

The End.

Note: I used a different technique this time to show shifts in character focus. If you thought this method was better or worse please say so in review.