Chapter 3
On the tops of the dark mountains of Mt. Nibel there were the ruins of a reactor. They had been abandoned a very long time ago when there were monsters residing inside. People had died up on those mountains because of the monsters. It was always cold and windy on the tops. Rarely there was snow for some reason.
Sephiroth appeared out of thin air in front of the reactor. His eyes opened showing those eerie green orbs. They looked up at the top where there was a light on. It was the room of his father. Sephiroth turned his eyes forward and began walking into the building. He climbed up the stairs, his hair was swirling behind him in the wind. He stepped into the large building. Everywhere there were minions all shapes and sizes. Monsters, people. Anyone who desired the dark arts. When Sephiroth entered, every single one of them froze with fearful eyes. They knew him well and that he didn't tolerate nonsense. The silver haired man could be cruel just like his father and wouldn't heisitate to chop them in half with his long sword. They all remained quiet and still as he passed them.
He didn't look at anyone of them as he walked forward. His eyes just remained forward. Sephiroth climbed a large staircase passing every single monster that froze because of their fear of the silver haired demon. Finally he reached his father's quarters. He stopped to take a deep breath. He knew what Hojo was like when he lost his temper. But he knew he had to inform him that one of the Shinra's still lived. Sephiroth pushed the door open and walked in.
Hojo was staring into a fireplace at the red hot flames. He looked very evil in the light. He didn't look at Sephiroth when the man entered. The room was very dark only the fire was the source of light. Sephiroth quietly walked closer. "Father." He spoke softly. Hojo turned his head by only an inch. "I told you not to call me that." He said coldly. Sephiroth remained emotionless. "Forgive me for interupting." He said while watching Hojo turned and pour him a drink. "What do you want?" He asked. Sephiroth stood still in his place. "I was in town, back at the Shinra Mansion. Watching those people who are spreading rumors about Rufus Shinra being alive." He said. Hojo snorted while taking a drink.
"Fools. Why spread lies? Everyone knows that little snot is dead." He said turning away looking back into the flames. Sephiroth closed his eyes breathing in frustration then opened his eyes. "That's not true. He's alive." He said. Hojo looked over his shoulder. "He is not. He is dead. The mobs have killed him." He said his eyes narrowing. Sephiroth shook his head slowly. Hojo turned fully. "How do you know?" He asked coldly. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "I've seen him. He calls himself Red though. He doesn't remember who he is. It looks exactly like that boy and he smells like him." He said coolly.
Hojo growled with angery and then threw his glass hard against the wall. He let out a howl of rage that echoed throughout the reactor. The mad scientist started thrashing the room. He threw a table across the room smashing it against the wall. Sephiroth just stood firm. Hojo went towards a large cabinent and threw it open. Inside was the black orb he had worn around his neck before. Hojo snatched it and held it up infront of his face. "My source of power. The owner of my soul. I need your help once more." He hissed.
Sephiroth just watched. "Father, he's just a kid. Twenty-one years old and he doesn't remember anything at all. He doesn't remember you. Why must you go after him?" He asked coolly. Hojo shot him a look. "I cursed all the Shinras. They will all be dead!" He exclaimed.Sephiroth lightly moved back still looking emotionless. He wouldn't let anyone know it but he feared his father. No matter how short that man was. He had power and he used it all the time. Hojo just glared at Sephiroth. "The Shinras tried to kill me and I swore to kill them all. All of them! And if Rufus Shinra is indeed alive, he will have a child sometime. And the Shinra Company will continue! I will no let that happen!" He growled.
Sephiroth just stood his ground. Hojo held the orb and looked into it. "Where is he? Where is Rufus Shinra?" He asked it. The black orb glowed a deep purple. Dark smoke burst from the orb forming images in the room. It was showing a train station. It formed more images. There they were. Rufus, Yuffie, Tifa and Cid standing together on a plateform. They were trying to catch the train. "Hmm. He has made some friends. Ah, no matter. They will die with him." Hojo said. Sephiroth watched the orb too. "Finish my revenge." Hojo hissed.
The smoke thickened and formed into little winged demons. The all looked Hojo hissing and smirking at their master. Hojo narrowed his eyes on the orb. He sneered. "He is not to get of that train...alive." He hissed moving towards the door. He kicked it open to let the demons out of the tower. Sephiroth followed him. The demons filled the air. The sky practically was full of the little bat like demons. "Go! I don't care what you do to the others! But kill that boy!" Hojo roared. The demons all flew off while Hojo laughed wickedly.
Far across the ocean and a large field of plains in the city of Midgar, Rupert Feine was staring dully at the young man standing in front of him. A very upset yet angry look on his face. Vincent Valentine standing behind him looking almost just as upset. The young man in front of them was trying to act like he was Rufus. Rupert shook his head with disbelief and anger. "I remember like it was yesterday. We used to flirt with girls. I was always such a ladies man." The young man said with a smile on his face.
Rupert looked up at Vincent who looked back at him. The red haired man nodded for him to do his duty. Vincent sighed and nodded. He stepped forward. "That's enough. Get out of here." He said. The young man looked surprised. "But, I'm not done with my uncle Ron." He said trying to make an excuse to stay. Vincent narrowed his eyes before he grabbed 'Rufus' by the front shirt and dragged him roughly out. "Don't you have anything better to do than lie and try to break a man's heart!" He snapped as he threw man out of the room. He slammed the door.
A young man wearing a blue uniform looked really guilty. He had flaming red hair and stunning green eyes. He looked a little like a rocker. He had a pair of sunglasses on his head and unlike others, his cloths wasn't very orderly. "I'm so sorry, sir. I really thought that was him. He was so convincing." He said with a small grin. Vincent walked back over to Rupert's side grumbling. "Reno, there is a big difference on strawberry blonde and black hair. Plus that kid was 29 years old. Not 21." He said coldly. Reno cringed. "Well, I swear, sir. Me, Rude and Elena will think up very hard questions next time!" He said with a nod.
Rupert looked over at him and shook his head vigorously. "No. That's enough, Reno. I will see no more boys claiming to be Rufus." He said standing. Reno cringed. "But..." He was saying. Vincent gave him a look of silence. Reno shut his mouth quickly. Rupert moved over to the window and stared out with a deep sadness. "No. I can't take it anymore. My heart is broken and it can't take anymore cracks. Rufus is dead. This company is going to fall without the direct heir. I'm no Shinra. I can't keep running it forever. And my heart just can't take it anymore. No more Rufus Shinras." He said shaking his head. He turned and walked out with Vincent behind him.
Red sat on a bench letting Yuffie resting against him. He was resting his eyes himself and his arm around his young friend trying to keep her warm. Tifa and Cid were standing together, forging their travel papers. She was glancing over her shoulder to see if someone important was coming while Cid signed the papers. "Come on, Cid. Hurry up with those papers." She whispered. "I am. I am. Shush." Cid muttered finishing it up.
The train gave a loud whistle and Red jolted awake. He blinked several times before realizing it was just the train. Giving a wide yawn, he carefully put Yuffie down and stood. He stretched before moving over to Tifa and Cid. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked. Tifa jumped and spun around swinging her hand. Only to hit Red right in the nose. "Ow!" Red yelled out covering his nose. Tifa's eyes widen and her jaw fell. Cid burst out with laughter waking Yuffie up. "Oh! I am so sorry!" Tifa cried out. Red's eyes were a little watery. He tried to smile but it came out painfully. "Uh, dat's okay." He said, his nose bleeding just a little.
They were aboard the train and settled in their compartment. Red's head was tilted up trying to stop his nose from bleeding. Tifa was holding a tissue against it. "Here. Hold on to that." She said. Red blinked a few times as he did. They met each other's eyes. Tifa couldn't help but look into those blue eyes. They were quite nice. She cleared her throat and forced herself to break eye contact by sitting down.
"Man, you sure Red and I are going to be okay with you? Your sure kinda dangerous, Tifa." Yuffie teased. Tifa blushed bright red. "I said I was sorry." She said folding her arms. Red shook his head. "Hey, don't worry about it. The bleedings stopping anyways. I startled you. I'm sorry." he said. Tifa sighed lowering her head. "No, I should be the one to say sorry. I hit you." She said blushing. Red shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He said now looking out the window. He spotted some people running for the train now that it was going. He blinked remember something. "Hey, Red?" Yuffie asked. Red jerked back to reality.
"What?" He asked. Yuffie, Tifa and Cid were staring at him. "You &&ing alright?" Cid asked. Red stared at him. "Yeah. I'm fine. You mind not swearing?" He asked. Tifa rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "Yeah, right. That's all he does. Don't waste your breath on him." He said. Red shrugged. He looked back out the window when suddenly the door opens and a guard came in. "Papers." He said. Tifa and Cid looked at each as the guard stared down at them. The pilot pulled out all four papers and handed it to them. The guard looks down at them with a frown then looked back at them. "Wait here." He said seriously. Tifa and Cid slowly looked at each with an 'Uh-oh" look on their faces. Cid quickly stood and went to the next compartment where there was a blonde with unbelievable spikey hair and blue eyes. "Uh, Papers." The pilot said in a tone that matched the guards. The blonde stared up at Cid with suspicion. "Why? Who are you?" He asked. Cid gave him a scowl. "Look buddy! I'm the & guy who checks the papers and if you doing &#& show them to me, your gonna be catching the & next train!" He exclaimed.The blonde stared with wide eyes and hurried and fished out his papers. "Alright, alright, alright! Don't need to get mad." He said nervously. He handed them to Cid who made a quick look over them. His eyes went wider and his jaw dropped. "Uh, thanks." he said throwing back at the passenger and quickly went back to Tifa and the other two. He sat down looking very nervous. "Uh, Cid?" Tifa asked. Red and Yuffie glanced at each other. "Something wrong?" Yuffie asked. Cid sent them a sarcastic grin before leaning towards and whispering something to her. Her own jaw fell and she jabbed Cid hard in the arm. "Why didn't you say so in the first place!" She exclaimed and stood. "Uh, Rufus, Yuffie..." She was saying. Red rolled his eyes. "Its Red." He corrected. Tifa rolled her own eyes and shook her head. "We need to get off this train. This train isn't going to Midgar, it's...going to Rocket Town." She said quickly grabbing her bags. Red and Yuffie stood and grabbed their bags too. "Uh...why don't you tell the guards that it's a misunderstanding?" Yuffie asked as they quickly made their way towards the back of the car.
"Uh...because they won't believe us. They'll just arrest us and we don't want that." Cid said pushing Red and Yuffie quickly down the car. He glanced over his shoulder seeing the guard talking with other guards about the papers. "Uh, let's hurry before they decide we are going to jail." He said quickly as they made it into the next car.
Outside Hojo's minions had arrived and were beginning their search for Rufus Shinra and his companions. They were crawling window to window looking in. Three crawled inside the cars looking at each person who didn't seem to notice anything. One spotted a young man who looked a little like him from the back. It flew down and grabbed the man's shoulder spinning him in his seat only to come to a horrible disfigured face. The minion let out a fearful screech and shot away from the man who just stares with surprise then shrugs.
Tifa, Cid, Red and Yuffie quickly made their way out of the car only to find a dead end. There were no more cars. They look around for a second before Tifa quickly started to climbed up on the roof. "Wait there for a second." She said pulling herself up. Red turned to Cid giving him a look. "What is going on?" He asked. Cid looked uneasy. "Uh..." He was saying. Tifa stuck her head over the edge. "Come on up!" She said quickly moving back. Red stared but sighed and hoisted Yuffie up first then himself. Tifa helped them. Then Cid had to climb up. He had a little trouble because he was much heavier than the others. All three had to pull him up. But they didn't see the minion trying to grab a hold of his leg but missed.
Once up on the roof, Red stood up to take a look around from their view only to see a tree branch coming straight for him. His eyes grew wide but Tifa grabbed a hold his hand and yanked him back down knocking a little air out of his lungs. "What are you doing! You don't stand up when your on the roof of a moving train!" She snapped. Red groaned as he tried to catch his breath. He gave her a dark look. Yuffie let out a gasp and pointed. "Look out!" She screeched. They all looked forward and saw the top of a tunnel heading straight for their heads. They all gasped and ducked low just as the tunnel went right over them.
"Well, I'll tell you what! I'm never riding a train again!" Red yelled over the speeding winds. Yuffie whimpered as she covered her head. "Me too!" She whinned. Cid was swearing the most vulgar words ever known to mankind. Tifa shook her head with an annoyed sigh.
On the sides of the trains, the minions were climbing up to get on the roof. Just as the train emerged from tunnel and back into the light, Tifa caught a quick glance at one and thought it was one of the guards. She gasped and grabbed Red pulling him up. "The guards are coming! Come on!" She said now pulling Yuffie and Cid up. They began running as fast as they could to the front of the train now. The minions had spotted Red finally. Hissing they began to pursue them. The four were half way there when they spotted the real guards climbing up on the roof. "There they are!" One yelled. "Aw, holy mother of +&& Gaia!" Cid exclaimed. Tifa spun around to look behind them only seeing what the things really were. She stared for a minute and decided that she didn't want to find out. She looked back forward to see another tunnel speeding towards them. She gasped. "Hit the deck!" She screamed. The other three quickly look forward and then complied.
The minions however didn't. They were flying, leaping car to car to get to their prey when suddenly they smashed into the wall and burst into black smoke. Each one pounding against the wall. The train came out of the tunnel again. Red sat up and looked around. "Everyone alright?" He asked loudly. Cid was still swearing so that proved he was fine. Tifa sat up rubbing her head. She had smacked her head against the side trying to avoid a blinking light. "I'm fine!" She snapped. But there was no answer from Yuffie. Red gave a sharp intake of breath and looked around. Yuffie wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Yuffie!" He yelled.
"Over here!" He heard her from the side of the train. Red quickly crawled over the side and look down. Yuffie was hanging on a mail hook kicking at the side trying to get up. "Red! Help!" She screamed. Red gasped and reached down to grab her wrist. Tifa and Cid quickly hurried over to see what was going on. "Rufus, becareful!" Tifa cried out. Red rolled his eyes again. "It's Red!" He yelled over the noise. He grabbed a hold of Yuffie's wrist and started to pull her up. Tifa quickly looked over to see the guards quickly approaching. Red was just hauling Yuffie up with Cid's help. Tifa quickly looked over the edge of the train and saw a huge snow pile coming up. She nodded and quickly shoved all three, Cid, Red and Yuffie off the train, jumping after them. "AAAAHHHH!" Yuffie and Red screamed as they went flying. All four landed in snow drift. Tifa had landed on Red's stomach though while Yuffie landed on her butt and Cid landed head first into the deep snow.
Red gasped as his air once again left his lungs. Tifa quickly sat up giving him a look. "Well...that was dumb." She said rolling off of him. Red sat up clutching his middle. "You must really like hitting me or at least causing me real pain." He growled. Tifa gave him a dirty look. "Oh shut up and be man!" She looked at Yuffie. "You okay, Yuffie?" She asked her tone softening. Yuffie turned a little to rub her butt. "Owie." She whinned. Red just grumbled with annoyance. He turned and helped Cid out of the snow.
