Final Fantasy VII
Shinra Reborn
Please all reviews are welcome, please tell me what you think as this is my first try.
Just outside the city of Cosmo Canyon. Red XIII ran through the outskirts with his two cubs, they were all in a hurry to get somewhere, they jumped over the rocks and to the top of the highest cliff. Deep below them was Midgar Ruins, where Red had been locked away so many years ago. Red gave out a massive roar to remember all the friends he had made all those years ago.
497 Years Ago...
One year after the incident with Kadaj and his brothers, President Rufus had returned back to the healing lodge with his Turks. Now fully healed from Geostigma, Rufus was perfectly healthy.
One morning, Rufus stood on his balcony, looking out to the land in front of him. He smiled, suddenly Elena joined him out on the balcony, she bowed to him.
'Mr. President?' she asked. 'You wanted to see me?' Rufus nodded.
'Yes, Elena.' Rufus sighed and looked at Elena. She had reffered to him as 'Mr. President' but what did that name mean now. It meant nothing. Rufus wasn't anything anymore. 'You called me Mr. President...' Rufus said.
'Because you are the president sir...' Elena replied. Rufus turned away from Elena and looked back at his surroundings. Truthfully, he didn't want Elena to see the sadness in his face.
'The president of what? Shinra? What is Shinra now? It is nothing, I am merely a citizen of a much bigger land now'. Elena stood still, she had no idea what to say to the shaken President. Rufus then faced her, he was now smiling. 'But that is going to change, and change soon. Elena, I want you to contact every loyal Ex-Shinra soldier out there, and bring them here to me'. Elena nodded.
'It will be done Mr. President' Elena sighed and left Rufus alone to think through his new plan.
'Shinra is being born again'. Rufus grinned. He was going to take it all back.
The city of Edge had been affected badly by the attacks of Kadaj. Cloud and his friends spent all of their spare time trying to rebuild it back to the monument it once was. In the Seventh Heaven bar, Cloud sat alone, he quietly drank his drink. Everything was finally going right for Cloud,his business was picking up and he was living with his best friend, Tifa. Cloud still felt sad, he couldn't figure out why he wasn't happy. Tifa came back behind the bar and looked at Cloud.
'Cloud?' Tifa looked him in the eye. 'Are you okay?' Cloud feigned a smile back to her.
'Yeah, Tifa,' Cloud nodded. 'I'm fine'. Tifa could see through Cloud's fake smile.
'You're looking really down today'. Cloud gave a short smile, Tifa could read him like a book, she could tell exactly how he was feeling.
'I just have this feeling that today is going to be one of those days' Cloud truthfully told her. He did have a feeling it was going to be a rough day.
'I felt that too' Tifa replied. '...I had the same sort of feeling when the children were kidnapped...'
'Don't worry Tifa' Cloud interupted. 'That wont happen again, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere'. Tifa looked relieved and smiled at him.
'I know, thanks Cloud' she lifted out her hand to him, he held onto her. Tifa was such a great friend to him, he felt like he didn't deserve her.
Suddenly Barret stormed in. Cloud quickly let go of Tifa's hand and turned to Barret. Barret did not look like his usual angry self. He looked more worried, scared. That was not a look that Cloud liked, especially from Barret. Tifa noticed this too.
'Barret?' she walked to him, he was panting. He must have ran to them. 'What's wrong?'
'Shit!' Barret yelled. 'You two need to come outside and see this!'
Cloud and Tifa quickly followed Barret outside of the bar.
The city of Edge looked different than it did a few hours ago. There were no longer happy children skipping along the streets. The children were all running indoors. Shinra trucks drove past them and entered the city. Cloud saw this, it brought back a lot of memories. Then the troops hopped out of their trucks. Cloud had not seen that blue uniform in three years and he had hoped he would never see it again. Cloud, Barret and Tifa all stood still, outside the bar. They were all speechless before Tifa spoke.
'Barret...' Tifa quitely said. 'Where's Marlene?'
'She's safe'. Barret said. Cloud and Tifa both sighed a breath of relief. 'I told her to go around the bar the back way. Denzel's there too right?' Barret looked at Tifa.
'Yes, I'm sure he was in his room' Tifa thankfully said.
The Shinra troops ran past the three of them, Cloud then saw someone he had not seen in a year. Reno, the Turk walked towards them. He looked more the same than ever. He still had his electro-cane clutched by his side, his red hair, and his cocky grin. Reno smiled and walked towards them.
'Hi Tifa, is the bar open?' Reno smiled. Cloud ran up to him and grabbed him by the throat.
'What the hell is going on Reno?' Cloud demanded to know. Reno removed Cloud's hand from his throat and stepped back.
'It appears the President wants to rebuild his empire...' Reno then looked around the city. 'Starting here...' Cloud clenched his fists, he didn't really want to hit Reno, he would rather save all his power for Rufus. Barret was a lot more vocal in showing how he felt, he punched the wall, causing a minor dent.
'That bastard!' Barret again punched the wall. 'I knew he couldn't be trusted...' Reno smiled at Barret's anger.
'What are you planning on doing here?' Tifa demanded to know. Reno shrugged.
'Taking over whoever is in charge of this town' he replied. Suddenly gunshots were heared all across the town. Cloud, Tifa and Barret all looked angrilly at Reno, who did not look happy himself. Tifa looked at Reno, the man who had been their enemy, then their ally, was now their enemy again.
'How could you do this?' Tifa asked. She couldn't understand how Reno could keep changing sides back and forth, did he have any loyalty to anyone...
'I'm not doing anything, I am a Turk, I work for the president, that is my job', Reno tried to explain, but Cloud didn't want to hear it.
'You're a rat Reno!' Cloud yelled.
'You're worse than that!' Barret muttered. Reno sighed.
'It's nothing personal. Anyway, must dash, I'll be over for a drink later,' Reno smiled, it was nothing personal. Reno was well known for just doing what he was told, with no questions asked.
'Our business isn't open to the likes of you!' Tifa said angrilly. Reno shrugged, they wouldn't ever understand him, so he wouldn't waste his time with them.
'Rather touchy aren't we?' Reno said, and walked slowly away from them.
Back in the bar, Denzel sat quietly in his room with Marlene. They were both very frightened. Eventually Denzel decided to see for himself what was going on. He ran to his window and looked outside into the streets. Marlene stayed sat, she looked at Denzel.
'What's going on?' Marlene asked. Denzel shook his head.
'I can't really see. I think The Turks are here...' Denzel couldn't really know if that was good or bad, considering the stories Cloud and Tifa had told him about them.
'That's not so bad is it?' Marlene wondered. Denzel then looked again, he sighed and faced Marlene.
'They are not alone...'
Rude stood alone in the middle of the city, he observed what was going on. Troops were running past, all running towards the Mayor's mansion, probably to take out all of the Mayor's cabinet. Reno joined Rude.
'Hey partner'.
'The president will be here shortly,' Rude replied, Reno nodded and looked around at all the panicking people.
'I can't imagine Rufus will get a warm reception,' Reno smiled.
'Indeed.'
Reno looked at all the troops running around. 'How many dead?' he asked.
'Just the Mayor and his underlings...' Rude said. Reno smiled at Rude's attitude.
'Just?' he said. Rude sighed, he was a Turk, serving the president was his job, but just lately the president seemed to be going out of control, and Reno knew it too. Elena appeared from the mansion, she had her phone in her pocket.
'The President has arrived...' Elena informed them.
The gates to Edge opened, and Rufus' limo slowly drove into the city. The street people watched on, they were not happy at what Rufus had done to their city. Rufus opened his car window, he waved to the crowd. He grinned, he was back on top. Cloud then appears, he ran to the car, grabbed Rufus from the window and flipped Rufus out of the car and to the rocky floor. The limo drives off, not realizing the missing president.
'Traitor...' Cloud muttered. Rufus smiled.
'Traitor?' he asked. 'What do you mean? I am the president Cloud...'
'President of what?' Cloud said. Rufus then got to his feet and looked around the city.
'Well...' he smiled. 'This city for example.' Cloud looked on stunned, he then gripped his sword.
'You're not taking this city away from us!' Cloud yelled.
'Too late, old friend. But if you were to join me, I could guarantee you and your friends would be treated exceptionally well.'
'I'd never join you!' Cloud was about to blow, he out a firmer grip on his sword.
'Pity...' Rufus sighed and turned away, ready to leave. Suddenly Cloud grabbed his sword and stuck it close to Rufus' back. Suddenly Shinra troops appeared and all aimed their guns at Cloud.
'Shall we shoot sir?' a troop asked. Rufus smiled.
'No,' Rufus said. 'There is no need.' Then Rufus continued walking, Cloud sighed and lowered his sword.
'Rufus...' Cloud muttered. Rufus turned around and faced Cloud, he grinned.
'I'll expect you at 9.00pm, feel free to bring your family with you.' Rufus left and walked out of site, Cloud lowered his head, ashamed.
The Turks, Reno and Rude entered Rufus' new mansion. It was a giant gold room, with shiny floors and shiny wall. Reno whistled.
'Pretty neat,' Reno smiled. Rude sighed.
'The President can re-decorate all he wants, it wont change how he got this place,' Rude looked around as Shinra troops carried out body bags. Reno noticed this too.
'Hey, cheer up, you know this means we can hang around this city a little more. It's much better than the Healing Lodge,' Reno grinned trying to cheer up his partner, but it would not work.
The door swung open in the mansion, Rufus entered with Elena and Tseng on each side of him. Rufus took a good long look at his new home.
'Nice,' Rufus said. 'But it will need re-decorating.' Rude sighed, the president felt no remorse, being a Turk was Rude's job, but in these past three years he had gotten used to being the good guy. Rufus turned to Tseng.
'I need to give a speech on how I have taken over here,' Rufus said. 'Convince the town people that I am here to make their life better. Write me a speech, a good one!' Rufus ordered. Tseng nodded.
'It will be done sir,' Tseng said and left the mansion. Rufus then turned to the three remaining Turks.
'Reno, Rude, Elena, I am having a little celebration dinner tonight, you three are invited. Make sure Cloud makes it here. I invited him, but just incase.' The three Turks nodded.
'Yes sir' Elena said.
Back in the Seventh Heaven bar, Cloud, Tifa and Barret were all getting ready for the meal. They were not getting ready by dressing up nicely, they were getting ready by loading themselves up with weapons and materia. Barret muttered to himself, Cloud turned to him.
'Barret,' Cloud sighed as Barret looked at him. 'You need to be calm tonight. I'll handle Rufus.' Barret then punched the bar in anger.
'GOD DAMN! I know!' Barret screamed. Denzel and Marlene both came down from upstairs, Denzel looked at Tifa.
'When is Cid arriving?' Denzel wondered. Tifa looked at him.
'Shortly,' she said. 'He'll pick you two up and take you somewhere safe. We'll be joining you shortly.' Tifa held Denzel's hand reassuring him. Denxel was panicking.
'Why? What are you going to do?' he panicked. Cloud smiled.
'Nothing. We just need to talk, that's all, but for your safety it's best you and Marlene are safe.' Denzel nodded. Marlene grabbed Barret's arm, worried.
'Daddy...' she cried. Barret smiled at her.
'You'll be fine Marlene. I'll be with you before the end of the night Marlene, I promise.' Barret then turned away with Cloud and Tifa and walked out of the bar, not knowing whether he could fufill his promise to Marlene...
END OF CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO UP SOON