An: This story almost has nothing to do with the story in the game. The only things used are characters and locations. You'll find out as you go. The POV may change every couple of chapters. One more thing, I don't own anything having to do with FF7.

UPDATE An: This chapter of the story has been rewritten, so chances are if you read this anytime before 1/10/09, this will be new to you. I've not only fixed a lot of grammatical errors and plot holes, but I've also added some details. I'll continue to do the same for Chapters 1-6. Also, I really dislike Vincent's limit breaks in the game. Bad. So I'mma make stuff up lol. Kindaa. Maybe add in some Chaos later on.

Chapter 1

Narrator POV

Years go by and Cloud is about 16 and his count on murder reached into the hundreds, excluding monsters. In the cold mansion, he had befriended one true friend. This same friend was the same person who killed his parents; Cloud, of course, was not aware of this. The reasons that Vincent had befriended the boy were of many. Perhaps he befriended him out of pity, maybe even due to a feeling of obligation.

Over the last 13 years, Vincent had been Cloud's partner in missions just in case Cloud had any trouble, but Cloud never did, at least not now. Cloud's weapon, which been upgraded and took a lot of time to repair, was the Buster Blade. It had been Cloud's father's weapon and a family heirloom of many generations. The enormous sword was upgraded to the extent where despite its large size, it was incredibly light. What did not need upgrading, however, was the sharpness of the sword; it could literally pierce or cut almost anything. Cloud had grown accustomed to this Buster Blade, and always had it during missions.

However, during missions he never sought to use it, mainly because it was Vincent's preference. Due to the enormity of the Buster Blade, it created the kind of mess Vincent couldn't stand seeing, even with his experience in the field.

In the 13 years of imprisonment, Cloud had been literally treated like a dog or worse. He had always been thrown into a small filthy room or was kept in Bio State (where he was kept in a tube filled with chemicals and was unconscious). Cloud was beaten ever since he was 9, leaving scars on his body. His heart was cold and his mind was…...blank.

Cloud always had trouble telling the difference between good and bad. If all that wasn't so bad he always had this metal headband wrapped around his forehead. The headband was a simple metal headband, with a release button on the side and a Manipulate material embedded into it. It controlled him, and at all times, the metal headband had stopped him from feeling most feelings. It was impossible to see though due to his long, spiky, and yellow hair. For as long as Cloud's known, the headband had always been placed around his forehead.

At this particular moment Cloud was in Bio State and had more control of his mind than usual. Inside, he was having a dream that just seemed to be more than a dream.

FLASHBACK

"STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, IFRIT-DAMMIT!!! WHY DO YOU WANT MY SON!??" said the mysterious man as he pulled out his Buster Blade. At his front door stood three men; two of which wearing military attire and one man he recognized to be Professor Ghast.

"Mr. Strife…Your son bears the ability to have eyes shine the color of Mako and according to a certain race called the Cetras, boys or girls like that are born particularly talented in arts of…I guess, every art. Look, just give me the kid, and both of you won't get hurt." said one of the goons wearing military attire. With no response from the man with the Buster blade, the Military goon and another man, pulled out swords that would make Peter Pan look like a godly warrior.

"EMILY, GET CLOUD OUT OF HERE!" Screamed Mr. Strife as he turned his head towards his wife. He couldn't believe what he was shouting; he thought he'd never have to tell his wife to leave. He was telling his wife, a woman with the same sunny-yellow hair as their son, to leave their home. As soon as he saw his wife dash out the back door with a squirming child in her arms, he turned towards the three goons.

"You asked for it!"

Mr. Strife held his gigantic sword in an upright position as he charged at lightning speed towards one of the goons. Here's what happened to that guy: the sword pierced into his face with such intensity that it caused the head to basically explode. The blood had splattered on the now-dead man's allies as he fell to the ground never feeling a thing, never knowing what happened. Mr. Strife, moving in full momentum, then turned around as he forced his sword down on another man's shoulder, causing the arm to slice open and then fall off. Blood shot out of the man's arm like a hose shooting out water with a thumb pressed over its hole.

It took a while for this military man to feel the pain, but when it came, he more than felt the pain; he screamed at the top of his lungs and fell down to the ground, clutching the spot where his arm once was.

As the man fell back, his friend stood there standing, holding a gunblade, too scared to move.

"You will die… I already gave you a warning." Mr. Strife said this with contempt as he stood staring at the man clutching his nub of an arm. He then pressed his attention to the man with the gunblade.

"Professor… I'm asking you one more time to simply leave. There's a way out of Shinra; I can help you..." whispered Mr. Strife.

"I'm sorry, James. They've threatened to take my daughter. They've already killed my wife…I made a deal, James. Eternal slavery in exchange for her lifetime of safety… She's one of the few Cetras alive…I can't…" Looking to the side at his comrade he began to tremble. "Lieutenant Anderson…You…I…I can't…Perha-"

All of a sudden, a young man came in through the door, moving the professor aside, while holding an unconscious child in one arm. The man had a red cloak on, covering the lower part of his face. In one hand, he had Cloud; in the other, he had a blood-stained gun. His eyes were crimson red and he had a look on his face that made it appear he was in a state where he didn't even seem to be in control of his own body.

"You...You bastard! YOU KILLED MY WIFE!" It was hard to hide tears at this point. The warrior's knees grew week and he rested them on the floor.

"How…HOW DID ALL OF THIS HAPPEN!??" Screamed the saddened warrior, tears flowing down his face. Just an hour earlier, his family was enjoying a nice dinner. Now his wife was presumed dead, his son was in the arms of someone who was more than likely a hit-man, and here he was with his knees on the floor in sheer frustration. He was searching through his mind for an answer to a question he always had.

"Was I a fool for thinking I could leave Shinra? Shine like a star in battle and just walk away? I should've known they'd be keeping tabs on us…I've got to get out of here with Cloud…THINK!"

As James stood there clutching his sword, the goon with one good arm pulled out a piece of materia and screamed "EXIT!" A swirl of colors surrounded the room and then suddenly the surroundings had changed, and everyone in the house seemed to be miles away from the modern nice house in Nibelheim.

James was on one side of a field and the others on the opposite side, about 10 yards away. The same man who pulled out materia, pulled out another one from his pocket that was red. Mr. Strife saw this and knew something was coming, he knew red materia was summoning materia, and he knew that the red materia in the man's hand was no ordinary red materia.

He was right. This was no ordinary red material; in fact, it was a true rarity, and had he known that by the end of the day there would be none left of its kind for years to come, he may not have used it. He screamed at the top of his lungs "KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND!" All of a sudden, many creatures, resembling knights came out of the ground wearing heavy armor, each with different weapons varying from spears, katanas, tantos, to weapons like the bow and broad swords. Lieutenant Anderson, seeking revenge for his arm, screamed out the command to attack.

Long before Mr. Strife had a child or got married, he was a lonely experienced warrior unparallel to many. He was a merchant to be exact, however, it was not the type of career that he had anticipated when he was younger. As he grew up he found out that killing and fighting was simply something he found easier to do than most people.

The reason for his ease into this violent lifestyle was that in his bloodline each member had a power within them that was passed down genetically. The strength of this power would grow as long as the person wielding this power got stronger mentally and physically. James Strife is currently the first in his bloodline in the last 300 years to have learned them all. This power took different forms and shapes and would occur under extreme conditions. In scientific terms these were called Limit breaks and were granted to few people.

Mr. Strife just laughed as the knights charged him, to which his reply was to shout out "OMNISLASH!" His blade grew a bright amber shade as he closed his eyes. He waved his sword in the air and as each knight came, he countered and attacked. Spears, swords, and magical spells would come straight for his head and he merely blocked them and slashed back. By the time it was over, there were 13 bodies on the ground, soon to disappear. In a flash of a moment, the shiny red orb shattered in the man's hand, and in front of their eyes was the only man so far in history to have ever stopped any of the Knights of the Round.

Mr. Strife was barely holding onto his blade as he lifted it, breathing heavily. Apparently the death of the knights was not in vain. Mr. Strife was weakened due the point of exhaustion. It's not easy to block an attack that would normally stop a Vlakorados or a Behemoth.

"HOLY CHOCOBO! This guy's stronger than Sephiroth!" Shouted a surprised Lieutenant Anderson. He couldn't believe it. Standing before him was someone who was stronger than Sephiroth, a man so powerful that he was considered to be the only man on the planet Shinra dared not to cross.

He also couldn't believe the value that was lost. In what was merely seconds, a man had destroyed a 10 million gill materia.

Meanwhile Professor Ghast was standing and shaking. Professor Ghast knew that this night was a bad omen. He knew everything he's done today was just wrong. In front of him was an innocent man about to die leaving nothing in the world but a son. All the man was doing was protecting his child…just as he had tried for his wife and his daughter.

"No…Now…Look here, we really should get out of here. We have the kid! He's had enough, I'm sure Heidegger doesn't mind if we just leave him lik-" He was interrupted as an unconscious little child was put into his arms and a red flash ran past him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The man in red ran up to James shooting as much as he could before reloading. He knew such direct shots could easily be blocked by a man with so much experience. He had to depend on his ability to reload quickly and his agility. He ran faster.

With his swift agility he was able to avoid the enormous blade's first attempt to strike by James' right hand. The blade stuck into the ground and Vincent took this opportunity. Vincent, dashing once more to James' left side, pointed his gun at James' face only for him to react by switching the blade in hand and block the gun with his left hand.

BANG!

The gun shot into the night sky. With the blade struck into the ground, James put much effort into bringing it back from the direction it swung, and it hit Vincent on the front of his shoulder with the back of the blade. His gun flew to the ground and Vincent was knocked back.

James then charged at Vincent with a ferocity that paralyzed Vincent. For the first time in a long while, Vincent hesitated. Laid back on the ground, he looked up to see a Buster Blade gaining ground as it was aimed at his face. Vincent was lost in his own mind trying to come up with a quick plan. Completely out of focus, he didn't even hear what was being yelled out loud by the man charging at him. He quickly looked at what he had on him and he realized he only packed one gun.

"If I live through this, I will carry as many guns as I possibly can everyday."

And then he felt something strike his chest. Something big. Nearby, Vincent heard two men shout and gasp in horror. Looking down, Vincent saw a sword impaled in his chest. He saw blood slide down his side and splatter onto his face and his glowing metal hand.

Strange it was. Because despite his metal hand being a work of science. It never glowed. Not before that day.

"What the!? MY HAND!" Vincent was shocked to see his hand glowing red. Soon, it stayed a solid bright red.

It was at this point, Vincent realized something had awakened within him. With some strange inward intuition, Vincent used his metal hand to reach for his gun that was lying meters away. The gun went from lying on the ground, to spinning through the air straight to Vincent's hand. A gun was now in his hands, with enough bullets to take out the man hunched over him, sword-in-hand.

James stared in surprise as to what just happened to make him stop his Climmhazzard…He couldn't stop fighting…ever…

BANG!

James stepped back a few steps as the crimson hot bullets exiting from a three-barreled gun flashed through his chest. He couldn't believe simple bullets could be doing this to him, despite being exhausted. He looked up to see Vincent moving incredibly fast. With glowing red eyes he saw the beast of a man quickly take the Buster Blade from his chest, throw it forward into the air, and smash it into pieces with his metal hand. Vincent then proceeded to jump from side to side in James' direction.

"Dear Leviathan…It's as though he's on Haste…" This was James's last thought as Vincent halted to a stop in front of James, pointed a gun at his head, and ended his life.

The two men standing on the side looked at Vincent's hand slowly fade back to his original color. Vincent's eyes appeared to be slowly flashing back to their non-glowing red color.

With smoke coming out of Vincent's rifle, Vincent then dropped his gun and looked to the side, staring at the two men beside him.

"I killed a legend…with a gun so tainted that I will never hold it again. It wasn't even with the honor that the man truly deserved…What am I now…?" Professor Ghast knew the experiments done on Vincent would have consequences, good or bad, he wasn't sure at the time. Now, however, he feared they would be bad consequences.

"I guess this makes me a monster…" Whispered Vincent.

Professor Ghast was shamed. He was staring at a young man less than half his age who would be burdened with endless murder for the rest of his life, and he, Professor Ghast, was to blame for his condemnation.

"For a kid his age he sure is truly quiet. I'm not surprised how mature he's gotten since the surgeries Hojo had ordered for him. What am I saying…that I DID to him. I suppose that's my entire fault…"

Vincent walked over to Professor Ghast and just stared at the ground. He didn't appear to even notice Lieutenant Anderson.

"It's funny, what you'll do for a group of scientists that work for Shinra. It's funny what you do for a group of scientists who save your life after your parents die. It's funny when you're diagnosed with too much exposure to Mako… They give you a pill, promise you'll be alright again, promise you'll be stronger than ever…faster than ever. But I didn't get a fucking pill, did I? I blacked out, and the next thing I know I'm being operated on…then I've been told that I owe my life to you men and that my debt would be cleared after a few 'missions'. I suppose it's my fault for agreeing. Who wouldn't?" He then looked up into Professor Ghast's eyes.

"It was your promise that sealed the deal for me. YOU were the one that guaranteed that I wouldn't start aging until I turn…hmmm." Vincent paused, and then looked at the child in the Professor's arms. "When this kid is 16, he'll be a year younger than me and I'll be aging again. Life's a cruel mistress, isn't she?"

The three men stood there for a while, staring at the body. It wasn't long before Lieutenant Anderson picked up all the pieces of the dead warrior's shattered sword. Of course, he picked it up with the arm he had that wasn't hacked off.

It was a while before Vincent spoke again.

"That sword will be fixed and will be given to a proper owner…not just the highest bidder." said Vincent as the Lieutenant opened his mouth, as if he was about to talk.

"If you're going to say that I'm not the guy who decides if the next owner is worthy enough for that blade……than there will only be one person with a kid in his hands walking back to the mansion. NOW C'MON! That fucker Heidegger is an impatient little prick. I'll stay; make a proper burial for this man and his wife." Vincent said as he walked over to the dead and horrifically red-stained body.

As the two men started to walk away, Vincent spoke again in a gentle voice which made the two men turn their heads.

"If you ever make me kill someone so worthy of freedom or so innocent such as this kid's mother……I'll do my best to kill you all."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Look at him! Soon he'll be ready to invade that bastard, Hojo. I'm sick of him…always one-upping me in everything…I'll show him. Hojo won't know what's coming to him once this dog of a child is a fully trained COMPLETE soldier. GYA HA HA HA!" Heidegger couldn't have been more happy at how well his career was doing at its' current standpoint.

"HEY! Be sure that the headband on his head IS SECURELY ON! If you don't……well, let's say that we're all fucked if he decides to break free."

Heidegger then looked over and pointed at Vincent.

"Vincent! Be sure to aim your gun at the boy when he gets out, just in case." barked the head scientist. Vincent had pulled up his rifle and aimed at the center of Cloud's chest. Of course, he wasn't actually going to shoot a 20-million gill project, but more importantly, he wasn't going to shoot his only friend. As he stared into the tube, he could see Cloud struggling in his consciousness.

Since Vincent's surgery years before, Vincent had gained two abilities to be used at his will and at his advantage. One of them was ability to move things with his mind; a sort of telekinesis. Another was the ability to read minds. It hardly proved useful, as he never had to hear anyone's thoughts; he just had to make sure they never had another one. Unfortunately, he could only use both abilities for short bursts of time. However, in this case, he thought it would be helpful, and began to focus on Cloud.

"I WANT OUT! Vincent…I know you can hear me. Help me… Maybe we can escape together. I've always wondered what it's like outside this place. Those damn people staring at me…THOSE DAMN SCIENTISTS! It's strange…I've never wanted to leave more than I do right now…Vincent!"

As Vincent heard Cloud's thoughts, Vincent clenched his gun hand, and prepared himself.

"What are all of these thoughts!? I'm so confused…I've never realized how painful it is to be in this thing…" Thought Cloud in his dreamless slumber. He was beginning to fight.

Just then a computerized voice was heard throughout the mansion.

*SIREN RINGS* DANGER! BODY TEMPERATURE RISING! BLOOD PRESSURE RISING! MIND DOMINANCE AT 45 PERCENT! DANGER! *SIREN RINGS*

"WHAT THE FUCK! GET HIM OUT BEFORE HE STABAL-" Heidegger was trying to solve this problem but everyone in the room, including Vincent, was staring silently at the tube, where strong powerful vibrations were coming from.

Suddenly, Cloud opened his eyes, and everyone saw the colors of his eyes; they were a bright Mako green. At this time, no one noticed how the glass on the tube shattered or how Cloud's mind control was at 10 percent; no one even noticed that nobody in the room was attempting to escape. Soon, a red aura appeared around Cloud's feet, and then many people pulled out guns out of fear and started shooting.

Vincent began to move into action. Pulling out his classic Winchester and dashing forward, Vincent shot at anyone holding a gun.

Whatever aura Cloud was displaying and wherever it came from, it deflected every bullet that came at him, and was now tearing the whole mansion apart. The shaking of the building was making everyone stumble on their feet. Vincent used this opportunity of confusion to not waste bullets. As he holstered his weapon, he brought out his metal hand and began to strike anyone within reach. Blood showered from bodies in a strange manner. With Vincent's metal hand, it seemed as though these scientists; these people… were like containers of a liquid. Right now, it seemed as though someone was shaking the container violently and that red dark liquid was spilling everywhere.

"And they wonder why I wear a red cloak…" Vincent couldn't help but give off a little smile.

While Vincent was probably having the time of his life, Cloud wondered when all these people with guns came from, and a new thought appeared in his mind; a thought he's never thought of: he wondered if they had families.

"It doesn't matter anymore, I have to escape."

Vincent stood there, put his gun back in its holster for he didn't believe he needed it, and then he started to look for an exit and hinted to Cloud to help him find one.

Cloud found a blade in a case entitled "Buster blade." He liked it. He was used to this sword over the years and had grown fairly attached to it.

After grabbing his sword, Cloud looked over to see an injured man. Professor Ghast was crouched over, using a gunblade as a cane, walking over to Cloud.

"Cloud! Vincent! Behind me! There's a safe exit out of this building. Use it!" Shouted a weak, and obviously injured Professor Ghast.

Vincent looked at what was more than likely, the kindest man in the mansion.

"Professor…you can come with us…"

"No. I deserve to die. You…" Professor Ghast pointed a finger at Cloud. "You deserve this…you deserve revenge. But more importantly, you deserve life. Both of you do, and you won't find that here. NOW LEAVE!"

Cloud and Vincent then proceeded to run past Professor Ghast when they heard a voice.

"YOU! YOU'RE MY CREATION! YOU FUCKING DOG! I COMMAND YOU! STOP THIS NOW! NOW!" shouted Heidegger as he lay on the floor, glass in his body. Heidegger has never been more pissed off at his career than at this standpoint.

Over the years, the sound of Heidegger's voice had one effect on Cloud and with the power of Cloud's metal headband, the effect was amplified. Cloud suddenly had thoughts of obedience. Cloud then stopped to a halt with Vincent turning and cursing under his breath, but in vain.

Behind him, Professor Ghast stood with a gunblade clutched in his hand. He used his last remaining strength to take the gunblade and force it into Heidegger's enormous back.

"GYAH!" A strange scream was uttered from Heidegger's mouth. Strangely enough, it started off as if he were to laugh.

With that, the Professor looked up at the two. "Vincent, keep watch over Cloud, for without Bio State Cloud will begin to feel what it's like to be human, but not fully until Cloud takes off that headband...with caution. Aiiy, what a Pandora's Box that headband is. And Cloud…If you ever find a Cetran girl in Nibelheim; a girl about your age. Her name's been changed, but you'll recognize her easily; she's naturally talented with magic materia and is currently the only possessor of the Holy materia. Tell her I love her…and that her father is sorry...for everything."

As Cloud and Vincent left, the man behind them pulled out a shiny green materia, and whispered "Comet 3"

Those were the last words Cloud and Vincent heard as they escaped the mansion.