Chapter quote:
Vincent steps into the light and glares at the reader. He points at the screen. "Put all your equipment down. These next few paragraphs will go to show that I am not a heartless creature as most perceive me to be. I am Cloud and Sky's godfather. And i will protect them!" -Goes on knees and shouts to teh slies, "WHY LUCRECIA???"
The temperature was brutal on Cloud's body, after traveling from desert to icy wasteland on one journey. Ever since Cid upgraded his motorcycle with some help, rocket boosters were attached onto the sides.
It had been two years since the end of the Geo-Stigma wars, and after Vincent had gone on his own journey Cloud decided to visit the other lands of Gaia. He came upon a small castle where a girl, around age seventeen was found sleeping soundlessly in the mist of vines attaching her to one of the outer walls. He had heard from the local townspeople that some time ago the lands were ravaged in fear but then the girl came in the form of a dragon to save them. At first, he didn't want to believe this but he saw the tattoo on her arm and shoulder.
His sister, born after him, had the same markings as a baby when Shinra took her away. The company had taken the power away form the deity-like dragon of air and placed it into her body.
This was his sister Sky Strife.
He immediately took her back to Midgar where two new arrivals had come in as well. The first was a boy around seventeen who had an eerie alikeness to Zack Fair but no blood-connection. His name was Jet Thomas, and he was a specialized cameraman for the news that was skilled in technology and in fighting with fencing. Before, he worked as a specialist for Shinra as a young boy and decided he wanted to fight for the better good upon seeing their horror.
The other was a girl boasting red hair and small glasses, large bust and a somewhat fiery personality. She loved skirts and had a nametag attached to her leg stating her position as a reporter. Her name was Arae, seaming to enjoy reporting for the news and also was psychic. She had once a deep connection with Aerith and loved flowers but she was rather an enigma to the others.
The two worked together as partners, but never once dated though Area had feelings for Jet. Those feelings were of passion and excitement and they reflected whenever she was around the strong teen.
Jet however, took amorous feelings towards Sky, who awoke after just that evening. She was introduced to the AVALANCE group and became part of the family. Now named the Midgar Crime Response Team, Sky has done many things with the next generation team such as cleaning the city, giving green to lawns and streets, replacing the meteor impact statue in Central Midgar with a spectacular fountain and have set cameras around the world itself to see in for deliveries or jobs.
Cloud set up his bike post, shivering while trudging towards the ski resort. He stared up towards the icy cold skies, colored pure white in the raging blizzards that twirled in silence. Adjusting the package, he stepped a frozen foot into the warmth of the resort. Instantly the flares of a contained fire warmed his body, thawing out his veins.
The man at the counter had dark hair with orange stripes, smiling as Cloud took off his glasses.
"Strife Delivery services?"
Cloud nodded, setting the package down, tapping his fingers rapidly on it with an annoyed face. "Made me go quite a way just to get up here. What's in here anyway?"
The man seamed ecstatic, happily setting down it next to his feet. "I heard that you have that young mechanic Jet on your team now. Made some camera materials for us. He's just a prodigy…"
While counting his money Cloud turned around and told, "Yeah, but have you seen the improvement of Midgar? That's all thanks to my sister. She did those things all by herself. Her spirit is very enthusiastic and strong-willed. Just like mom…"
The money was slapped into Cloud's palm and the counter man waved, "Have a nice evening Mr. Strife."
"Yeah…" underneath his breath he whispered, "Ya jerk."
Meanwhile back at the desert city, the skies darkened with splotched stars. Sky was sitting upright next to the buster blade set up like a grave sight over the valley. She gently had laid flowers previously down at the base of the sword, smiling up towards the stars that were blockaded by only sparse clouds. She closed her eyes, beginning to speak silently,
"I've seen you in my dreams. All of you. We've talked many times… I know of your death and that you protected our city with all your soul. That's why I wanted to improve it for you."
She wore a t-shirt designed to be blue with white letters in an ancient language. On her hands were fingerless gloves to help her grip her motorcycle handlebars that had a metal circle for protection. Along with jeans, her accessories included a necklace and earrings all shaped like the wolf insignia Cloud wore on his ear.
Something was held in the necklace's mouth, but no one knew what it really was.
She heard a car's engines dying down and the squeal of breaks behind the grave and looked over the shoulder. The blinding vision of headlights shadowed a tall muscular figure. It was an open-back truck and the door slammed closed and the figure walked towards her with spiky black hair waving in the gentle kissing breezes.
A gloved hand was held out and Sky gripped it, holding her arms in Jet's chest. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you out here? Its cold and dinner's already over!" His expression showed great concern and confusion.
Her blue eyes stared to the stars with him holding his hand gently, "I was talking with them. You know the one you resemble so and also her, the beautiful woman once loved by him. The Life Stream…it continuously surrounds our planet giving and taking life. Maybe we are the remnants of just a long legacy…"
Jet shook his head, patting her scalp. He used a single finger to point at his own head, smirking at her, "You need to have some time with Vincent. He might understand what's happening to you lately."
He led her to the truck and kissed her forehead. She blinked slightly smiling, "So do you not believe me?"
He stared at the grave sight with the highlights blinding it and took a double take thinking he saw the figure of a glowing wolf with orbs following it. After rubbing his eyes violently he smirked and held her shoulder tight, "Anything is possible. If you say it's true than I believe you."
Cloud finally came home that evening just as Sky was sitting down and praying in front of the dinner table. Marlene and Denzel did the same as Tifa welcomed him to sit at on of the three open seats.
The children and Sky dug in like they'd never seen food before. After it was over, she rose from the table grabbing her buster blade almost identical to that of her brothers' only with a bluish tinge on the handle. He looked to the hallway, seeing that it was dark outside.
"Where are you going to young lady?"
With the look of an innocent bystander, she grinned widely and waved, "Going to see V.V. Jet says I need to speak with him. Besides Vincent's my guardian, I can trust him."
"Hey…" he whispered, getting up to give her a slight hug, "Be sure to watch the skies. Area's been telling me about strange harpies that like to steal girls like you. Be careful."
"Thanks brother." With a kiss on the cheek and a whoosh of her feet, she leapt out the door, landing on her bike like a bird of prey. She attached her goggles, put the blade in the motorcycle and revved off into the distance towards the forest.
Tifa held his shoulder, looking out with him in a deep sigh. "She's growing up."
Cloud shook his head an gave Tifa a tiny kiss on the head, "Too fast. Soon enough that's going to be Denzel."
She punched him slightly, "C'mon, don't be so blue. Have a drink, it's on the house tonight."
He watched as she entered, unsure of what to do first. With a sense of pure loneliness, he stared into the skies to see the bright stars and sighed. "Hey, Zack…buddy please keep a watch on her. And the other teens as well. I know you probably love them with all your heart and don't want them to get hurt… Help to guide them just a little bit."