Final Fantasy VII - The Other Promise

Pairing: Cloud x Tifa

Summary: What if Cloud had kept all of his memories instead of being under the assumption of a 1st Class Soldier after Zack's death? How would the story unfold with this small change? Retelling of Final Fantasy VII but with a few twists...

"Talking..."

'Thoughts...'

"Flashback..."

Limit Break

Magic/Materia/Summon

[Play/End Music]

Chapter #2: Lingering Will

A huge explosion came from Mako Reactor 1 and Midgar could not only see the explosion, but as well feel the shockwave from it, stretching across the entire city. President Shinra looked down from his office window from the Shinra Inc. Headquarters. He grunted as he pulled a cigar from a gold case, lighting it, and continued to stare down at the explosion remembering Heidegger's report of the mako reactor's explosion.

"These sewer rats appear to call themselves AVALANCHE, sir."

"Damn, AVALANCHE." President Shinra grunted. Soon after, he moved away from his window and went back to his desk, sending out a call to his fellow employees to arrange a meeting with the other staff members.

Jessie was working on something inside the ruins of the Mako Reactor while the rest of the members waited. The mission was a success and hoped they made some progress on their world-saving campaign. Cloud laid his back against the rubble, crossing his arms as he watched the members of AVALANCHE setting up a small explosion to get rid of any remaining structure of the building. Still, he couldn't believe four people and himself, would be able to cause all this damage and get through security.

"That should keep the planet going…at least for a little while longer," said Biggs as he watched his comrades, waiting for Jessie to be done.

"Yeah," said Wedge as he scouted the area, making sure no other Shinra SOLDIERS would be arriving.

Barret only nodded and soon after, Jessie was done setting up the explosion. She ordered everyone to back off the explosion and everyone started to head out of the tunnel. The bomb Jessie had set up exploded and soon a wave of fire erupted and was chasing after them, trying to find an opening to release the flames. The gang was able to escape just seconds before the flames could reach them, though Wedge seemed to be in a panic as he was running around in circles, but managed to calm himself down and walk up towards the others.

"We did this? It couldn't have been us." Biggs stated as he and the rest of the gang looked at the aftermath of burning buildings due to the mako reactor's destruction affecting Sector 1.

"But what if it was?" Wedge questioned.

"What's done is done." Cloud stated as everyone turned their attention to him.

"It ain't pretty, but we can't stop now this just the first reactor," said Barret as he clenched his fingers into a fist. "Y'all gotta look at the bigger picture here. Nothing worth fighting for is ever won without sacrifice."

"All right, now let's get out of here," ordered Barret, "Rendezvous at Sector 8 station! Split up and get on the train!"

Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge nodded in agreement and went off in separate ways. Barret was about to leave until Cloud stopped him before he could run off towards the train station.

"H-hey! Wait! Not to sound rude or anything," said Cloud crossing his arms, "But what about my pay?" Barret glared but didn't argue.

"Save it 'till we're back at the hideout at Sector 7!" Barret yelled as he ran off as Cloud gave a small sigh as went on his own separate way to meet them at the rendezvous point.

As Cloud was going through an alleyway that was on fire, he couldn't really help but wonder as to what he had gotten himself into. Joining an eco-terrorist group to save the planet from Shinra all for the sake of Tifa. Well, more like she forced him into joining although Cloud didn't seem to like the idea since he hasn't been made it official to be an AVALANCHE member.

Would he continue with AVALANCHE? Would taking down Shinra bring closure to Zack's sacrifice for paying the price of freedom? Unfortunately his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice that sent chills down his spine.

"Can you bear to see the Planet suffer, Cloud?" a voice said as Cloud saw it belonged to a man wearing a long black coat with silver pauldrons, black boots and black trousers. The top of his coat is open to reveal his chest, with black leather suspenders crossed over it. But the most distinct feature of his appearance was his long silver hair with bangs parted to either side of his face.

"You're not real! You're…" Cloud couldn't finish as he was staring his mako blue eyes into green cat-like eyes that bore into his soul. The very same eyes that he encountered when his hometown was burning. The eyes that belonged to the fabled Shinra SOLDIER of legends, Sephiroth.

"Cloud," Sephiroth greeted as he held out his left hand. "I have a favor to ask of you. Run away, you have to leave. You have to live." Sephiroth said as his lips formed into a small sinister smile.

"YOU BASTARD! YAHHH!" Cloud yelled as his anger took control of him and rushed at him with the Buster Sword drawn swinging down at Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't move as his head lifted up as if time was starting to move slowly with slit green eyes meeting Cloud's before he vanished.

Cloud only swung nothing but empty air, putting out the fires leaving him in the dark alleyway. "Hold on to that hatred." Sephiroth's voice echoed in the dark alley as Cloud only lowered his head clenching his teeth in anger.

Cloud had so many thoughts running through his head after his encounter with Sephiroth that he didn't notice a woman, an attractive woman was standing in front of him. She wore a long pink dress that went down to her shin, the top buttoned and few of the buttons on the lower part left unbuttoned, a small red jacket over her dress, brown boots, metal bracers on her wrist, and held a small basket of flowers. She had long brown hair that was twisted together nicely into a ponytail with a red ribbon holding it in place behind her head.

[Play FFVII ACC OST - Aerith's Theme]

"Are you okay?" she asked as she smiled at Cloud, which Cloud could only stare into her emerald green eyes.

"I'm fine." Cloud responded as he continued on his way to meet up with the rest of AVALANCHE. The flower girl ran up in front of him to stop him, holding up a yellow flower. "Here, this is for you!" the flower girl smiled as she offered him a flower.

"A flower?" Cloud asked since he knew there aren't a whole lot flowers in Midgar. "Do you like them? They are only a gil." she said as she also brought up a red and white flower.

"A gil huh?" asked Cloud as he inched closer to the flowers. It would be a nice gift to take back with him to the hideout and the girl seemed really nice and sweet to trust. Cloud nodded and handed out a gil to her as she gave Cloud the flowers.

[End OST]

'I bet Tifa will like these.' Cloud thought as he looked at the flowers, but his thoughts were interrupted as he looked up to see the flower girl dropped the basket of flowers as she was waving her arms as if she was being attacked by an invisible enemy. Cloud was about to speak until she reached for his left forearm. "Help me!"

As she grabbed him, Cloud's eyes widened as suddenly both he and the flower girl looked to see strange misty black wraiths were surrounding them. Cloud's right hand twitched ready to grab the Buster Sword until he heard distorted voices coming from the wraiths.

"Reunion..."

'Reunion? What reunion? What's going on?'

The wraiths then vanished leaving both Cloud and the flower girl in the streets. "Are you okay sir?" she asked as Cloud picked up the fallen flowers and placed them back in the basket and handed it to her. "Yeah, you should go. The army is likely looking for me." She looked confused but decided not to ask. "Thank you for your patronage." she said with a smile.

As the flower girl headed off, Cloud couldn't help but thought 'Who was that girl?' as he was adjusting to the events that just transpired. He looked back to his flowers. He wondered what he would do them with all these flowers, but still, it was nice he only got them for a gil.

[Play FFVII OST - Those Who Fight]

Before Cloud could think any further, a group of Shinra infantrymen in jeeps were approaching towards him, which caught Cloud's attention.

"Freeze," yelled an infantryman as others started pointing their guns at him, slowing approaching him. Cloud takes out his Buster Sword ready to fight until he grasped his head hearing a voice.

"Run!"

Cloud turned and ran hearing an infantryman "Get back here!" which was then followed by gunfire. Cloud ran until he saw the train approach next to him on the other side of a rail. He tucked the flowers into his pocket and raised the Buster Sword to his side shielding him from the barrage of bullets that were aimed at him. He jumped on top of the rail and landed hard on top of the train and disappeared inside the tunnel.

[End OST]

As the train continued to move, Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, and Barret were sitting the cargo room. Everyone had met up in the train station, however, Cloud was missing. They all had wondered where Cloud had gone.

"Cloud never came." sighed Wedge sadly as he stared at the ground.

"…You think he was killed?" asked Biggs as he stared at the others looking for an answer.

"No way!" yelled Barret towards Biggs. He may not have trusted him, but he knew he wouldn't go down so easily, especially if it was just his first mission with AVALANCHE.

"Cloud," sighed Jessie as she stared out of the window.

When the bomb had been placed, Jessie got her foot stuck and was unable to remove it. Cloud had came to her rescue and helped her foot get unstuck. At first she didn't trust Cloud when they had first met on the mission, thinking he was the enemy until Biggs had told her he was Ex-SOLDIER. And after saving her, she began to have a crush on him.

"Say, do you think Cloud's…going to fight to the end for AVALANCHE," asked Biggs as he stared towards Barret breaking the silence.

"The hell would I know!?" yelled Barret as he was in no mood for questions and answers. "Do I look like a mind reader?"

Barret banged his fist down at the crate next to him and continued to yell out towards his gang. "Hmph! If y'all weren't such screw-ups…"

"Hey Barret. What about our money?" asked Wedge which was a bad question to ask, and Barret responded by banging his fist again on the crate, making Wedge look down. "Uh…nothin'…sorry."

Biggs and Jessie groaned softly knowing they were probably not going to get paid after that stunt Wedge had made. Just then, everyone heard a small noise above them, like a thud, and then a small banging from the door. At first everyone stared at each other, wondering which person caused it, and then they heard it again, only a little louder. Both Barret and Biggs were standing on each side of the door with Barret and his gun-arm and Biggs with his pistol ready.

"On my go.." said Barret as Biggs nodded waiting for the signal. Just then, the side door opened and Cloud jumped inside making an entrance. Everyone jumped in surprise as they called out Cloud's name thinking he was dead or captured by Shinra.

"Looks like I'm a little late." said Cloud as he looked around.

"Damn right you were late," yelled Barrett. "Come waltzin' in here makin' a big scene!"

"It's no big deal, just what I always do." said Cloud looking away from Barret pretending to be cool since they still thought of him as a 1st Class SOLDIER, which he was not.

"Shi't," grunted Barret as he gave out an angry look towards Cloud, "Havin' everyone worried like that! You don't give a damn 'bout no one but yourself!"

Cloud looked back towards Barret and gave out a small grunt that was barely heard, "Hm…you were worried about me? Thought you didn't trust me?"

"I don't, but I keep my promises so you'll get your pay." said Barret as he walked off towards the end of the cart that was heading toward the front of the train. He turned around yelling out towards the gang who were now back together. "Wake up! We're moving out! Follow me!"

As Barret jumped off into the next cart in front, Wedge walked up to him. "Hey Cloud! You were great back there!"

Once Wedge had jumped, Biggs went up to him as well. "Heh heh…Cloud. We'll do even better next time."

Once Biggs had left, Jessie walked up towards the side door Cloud had gone through and closed it. She smiled at Cloud, noticing his face was dark, "Oh! Cloud! Your face is pitch-black…"

Jessie took out some kind of handkerchief from her pocket and rubbed the soot off his face, although, Jessie's handkerchief was a little dirty and although she removed the dirt off his face, Cloud now had some kind of grease-looking dirt on his face now. Jessie smiled as she thought it seemed better knowing Cloud's face was clean, she held up a green materia to him which made Cloud stare back in confusion.

"You can have it. For saving my life." Jesse said as she handed it to him and jumped to the next cart.

Cloud looked down noting that Jessie given him an Ice Materia now putting him with four Materia: Fire, Lightning, Restore, and Ice. Cloud reached down his pockets and grabbed the flowers he had placed. They were left undamaged, which made him sigh in relief. He was thinking about how he decided maybe he would give them to Tifa once they arrived. It was going to be a long ride to reach their destination, so as he placed the flowers back, he jumped off into the next cart to meet with the others.

Final Fantasy VII - The Other Promise

AN: Whew! Another chapter done! So glad that I was able to get this out soon, I tried to make it as remake as possible with Sephiroth's appearance and the ghost wraiths that appeared in the trailers. Seriously I think those might be the Sephiroth clones that you encounter at Nibelheim, but since the remake decides to add a few elements we don't know for sure. Really pleased as to how this chapter turned out and that I'm making progress with this story. Until next time, bye-bye!

Final Fantasy VII - The Other Promise [Story Arcs]

Midgar Arc - Chapters #1-10

Kalm Yuffie Arc - Chapters #11-16

Junon to Rocket Town Arc - Chapters #17-27

Wutai Arc - Chapters #28-31

To the Forgotten City - Chapters #32-38

North Crater Arc - Chapters #39-42

Mideel Huge Materia Arc - Chapters #41-?

Next Time: Seventh Heaven

TO BE CONTINUED