(Disclaimer: Plata-Azul Firebird does not own Final Fantasy 7, only her OCs… Otherwise, we might end up having a not-so-epic battle with the lawsuits.)
Altering Rhythm
Blooming Crisis
Silver: Once they boot themselves out of the reactor, they meet the flower girl. And they officially runs into a problem.
Blooming Crisis
Normally, this is the very thing would anyone see in a movie or an action series.
Normally, this is a scene from an action game.
Normally, they would watch all of these in the comfort of their own couch with comfort food and sodas on the side.
… But Mira and Riley did not expect to experience all of this in real-life, and right now they are seriously getting the hell out before the bomb blows.
Getting up, Riley and Mira helps Jessie on her stuck foot, then quickly chase after Cloud and Barret who went ahead of them. Climbing the ladder and jumping the ledge, they darts out of the door and going up the stairs. As they do, Riley casts some Bolts and Mira plays her keytar on some security bots and they did not bother looting them as they reach the elevator. They skids right in and collapse on Cloud when they try to stop, as Jessie gets in, Riley is able to get out of the pile and press the up button.
After the brunette mime helps the two up, the elevator stops and Jessie is the first one to get out to decipher the door. Once she got it open, they all file in the next room and Biggs is next to open the door. Once that is open too, the entire groups bolted towards the exit where Wedge is waving at them. The rebel lady tries to speed up but lost her balance and trips over, both Riley and Mira helps her up as Cloud starts toward the door with the three females behind. Electric crackles and dances angrily around the reactor as they darts for the door, and once they are all in…
Everything goes boom.
Both Mira and Riley felt the building shakes and a few rubbles fell around, then… everything stops and calms down moments later. The two takes a breather as Cloud leans on the wall and Jessie is setting up the other bomb for the door.
"That should keep the planet going… at least a little longer" Biggs stated.
"Yeah…" Wedge replied.
Both girls look at one another and thought of the same thing… the group did not know that they cause more damage than just blowing up a reactor. But they didn't bother saying it because this is necessary so Cloud could meet Aerith.
"OK! Now everyone get back!" Jessie warn them and everyone heads to one corner of the hall. Then there is a explosion which is smaller but strong enough to push the lock door away, and they all jump out of it. Everyone did well on getting out except for Wedge who got a bit of fire on his pants, and Mira who got a little issue on the fire.
"Just jump and don't mind the heat!" her best friend hissed as she encourages the songstress.
"But!" she protested.
"Come on! We won't be able to "get our answers" if you don't get over with that silly fear of yours!" the brunette hissed.
Looking at the only exit and the flame, the songstress held her breath and jumps out. She rolls on the ground similar to what Cloud did, except she lays flat on the ground as Riley follows behind. As Jessie helps Mira up…
"All right, now let's get out of here." as the groups looks at him. "Rendezvous at Sector 8 Station! Split up and get on the train!"
They then run off, leaving Mira, Riley and Cloud behind. "H-hey!" the blonde protested.
"If it's about your money, save it 'til we're back at the hideout." the black man state gruffly and left for train, as the Ex-SOLDIER looks a little.
"Patience is a virtue, Cloud." Mira stated as she pats him on the shoulder and he looks at her, seeing a small smile on her face. Both girls knew that Cloud rushes the whole thing on chasing Sephiroth when they first played the game, this is around the time they did not have any optional characters and ignored the side quests. After that, they played a new game and got the optional character, Yuffie and some side quests, which made the game a little easy… if it weren't for the fact that the Safer Sephiroth tends to be one step ahead in power levels…
It seems Square Enix created that bug just in case the player uses Game Shark codes or cheated.
Back to the situation, the blonde sighs at this and he motions them to follow him.
:::^*^:::
It is very chaotic.
Any normal gamer would shrugs this off since it is part of the storyline of the game, but to be in it and experiencing the result… the two starts to feel the guilt but it is needed to trigger the meeting.
As they head down the streets, the girls couldn't help to be girl scouts and helps those who are in need such as a lost child or a trapped senior. Of course, they drag Cloud in this, much to his annoyance. Once they made sure the citizens are safe and kids are with their parents, they got into…
"It's the LOVELESS Avenue." Mira whispered to the brunette and they notices a young woman dusting off her dress. They immediately recognizes who it is, and it is hard not to since she is wearing her signature pink dress which Zack recommended to her.
It is Aerith…
"Excuse me." She nears them, more specifically to Cloud. "What happened?"
"… Nothing… hey listen… Don't see many flowers around here." he stated.
"Oh, these? Do you like them? They're only a gil." she replied.
"… I guess I'll take one." Then looks back as his companions. "… Make it three."
"Oh! Thank you!" as he takes out three gils from his pockets. "Is it for them?"
"… Yeah, and for a… friend." he stated as the two stares at him.
Both Mira and Riley knew that in the storyline that Cloud only bought one flower and either gives it to Tifa or Marlene… but they never expect him buying a flower for each of them!
'Dang, I think our presence here just made a slight change here.' they thought at the same time. Once Cloud got his flower, Aerith give the other two to them… only to stares at the two, nearly dropping the flower she is about to hand out. The flower girl slowly gives them the flowers and is quiet on all this.
"… Consider those as a thank you on helping me…" he stated and stores his flower in his small pack.
"Um... You're welcome?" the songstress awkwardly replied.
"Yeah… well, I'm not much of a flower fan like Mira." Riley stated as she tuck her flower on her ears. "But I appreciate it, and your welcome." and then she turns to the flower girl who is just standing there. "Hey, mind if I buy a few flowers?"
Aerith snaps out of her reverie and both girls seems to notice this, it was odd to see her lost in thought. Once the mime bought about ten flowers, she then walks away briskly as they head off to he station.
"Hey… is your flower have more color than mine?"
:::^*^:::
Running down the fountain area and into an intersection when…
"Hey! You there!" a voice shouts and the two girls does not bother turning, grabs Cloud by the arms and drags him away before he could turn to see who it is.
"H-hey!" the blonde shouts at them.
"Keep moving!" Mira yelps, as gunshots are sprayed on their feet as they turns right, only to turn back and head left on seeing the trooper are also there. But there are troopers too and the three finds themselves surrounded.
"That is far as all of you go." one of the troopers stated, as the three hears the train coming behind them.
"I don't have time to be messing around with you guys." Cloud stated as he backs up to the wall and the two girls does the same.
"Enough babbling! Get them!" the trooper shouts and they are about to dive in on them… when the three climbs on the wall, causing the troopers' heads to collide with the cement. Then the trains comes under them and they all jump on it. Cloud is able to balance himself and keeps it steady, Riley landed roughly and fell flat on her behind… Mira, on the other hand, is not that lucky…
She manages to land on the train but she rolls back, then fell to the side, and clings on the pipes of the moving train.
"Mira!" Riley shouts in alert and rushes to her best friend's aid. The blonde swordsman turns to see them in trouble and he too went to their side, with his SOLDIER's strength he is able to lift her back to the top.
"T-thanks…" Mira stutters as she pants a bit as she lay down for a moment on the roof. However, he pulls her up and motions them to follow him since it is not a good idea to ride the train on the roof.
:::^*^:::
In the cargo section of the train, are all of the AVALANCHE members… and there is a down atmosphere surrounding them.
"Cloud and the girls… never came." Wedge said in a sad tone.
"Do you think… they're killed." Biggs asked.
"Hell no!" Barret shouts causing him to shut up.
"Everyone…" Jessie whispered.
Then they look up then they hear some bumps above.
:::^*^:::
"Crikey! That hurts!" Riley swears on that one as her friend and Cloud manages to avoid the sign. She rubs her sore forehead and hisses in pain on touching them.
"Hey, be thankful that it didn't knock you out or worse… beheaded!" her friend just carefully crawls to the cargo section of the train.
"C'mon, we're just a few steps from the cargo." Cloud stated as he walks towards it.
"Easy for you to say! Not all of us have enhancement!" the songstress retorted and is crawling to the next section with Riley following behind…
Then…
"Cloud! Look out!" Riley yells but came too late when the sign came and hits right on him as the two lays down.
"Ahhh…!" as he was rolled back and nearly landed on the girls, if they didn't scoot aside.
"Geez, are you okay?" the brunette asked and he glares on her. "Sorry standard question, but seriously, crawling is the new way on getting across without getting smack on the face."
"Ha, ha, laugh it up."
"Hey, do you think it's easy to keep my scarf down?"
"Hey!" Mira called and waves at them, then points at the door. They then made their way to the door, with Mira acting as a signal of when to duck an incoming sign. Once they reach the door, he opens it and flips in like he goes in the game, while Riley just jumps in and lands on her feet. But Mira lands on her rear since she let go of the pipe too early.
"CLOUD! MIRA! RILEY!" everyone shouts in happiness and relief, except for Barret.
"Looks like I'm a little late." Cloud quips, as the brunette helps her best friend.
"Hey, you didn't check the schedule of the train y'know!" both Mira and Riley jokes in unison, causing Cloud and the group to look at them. "Oi! Don't look at us!" they snap in unison then looks at one another. "Stop copying me!" they twin at each other.
"Hey! Waltzing in here and making a big scene!" the AVALANCHE leaders yelled at the three.
"It's no big deal, just what I always do." the blonde stated smugly and made the two girls stare at him before they answer back.
"Hey, we're just the-" the songstress stated.
"- humor to lighten up the mood." the mime followed.
"Duh?" they then said in unison again, as the group looks at them again.
"Shit, you three made everyone worried like that and all of you don't give a damn 'bout no one but yourselves." Barret shouts at them.
"Hmmm… you were worried about us!" the blonde teased and the huge black man is taken aback as the two girls giggled away.
'Honestly… out of all the action, it's good to have something to make everyone smile.' Riley thought, as Barret got annoyed and went into the next cart. Wedge and Biggs tells them that they are glad that they are okay before heading into the next cab. Then Jessie closes the door and notice that both Cloud and Riley have soot on their faces, while Mira only have a spot of it on her right cheek. The brunette rebel cleans their faces with a spare cloth she have and once their faces are soot free, she thank them and heads to the next cab.
:::^*^:::
Getting into the next cab, the three are able to witness Barret scaring off the passengers and they fled to the next cab.
As the announcement came, both girls take their seat opposite from Barret's as Cloud is called by Jessie by the front. Then the alarm went off making Mira slide off her seat and swears a little bit, as Riley got startle at it.
"Don't worry girls, the IDs ya all got is going to make it alright." Barret said lightly as he laughs at their surprise. Once Mira gets back on her seat, the alarm stops and everything calms down. After Cloud's short chat with Jessie…
"Look…you can see the surface now. This city don't have no day or night. If that plate weren't there…we could see the sky." the black man said as the blonde passes by and he takes a look on the window near his client.
"A floating city... Pretty unsettling scenery." he replied.
"Huh? Never expect ta hear that outta someone like you. …you jes' full of surprise." Barret said and looks at him, then he stands, moves around and continues. "The upper world…a city on a plate… It's 'cuz of that #$*&#' pizza', that people underneath are sufferin'! And the city below is full of polluted air. On topa that, the Reactor keeps drainin' up all the energy."
"Then why doesn't everyone move onto the Plate?"
"Dunno. Probably 'cuz they ain't got no money. Or, maybe… 'Cuz they love their land, no matter how polluted it gets."
"I know…no one lives in the slums because they want to. It's like this train. It can't run anywhere except where its rails take it." as he looks outside.
Both girls look at each other and denies that silently, the track can be change when one got a strong will and a lot of guts to screw fate on the face. Like what Auron said in FFX and Kingdom Hearts 2, it's his story and he decides what the ending will be.
And like Zack, he decided to protect Cloud till the end… his decision alone.
"By the way, that magic…" he turns to Riley. "Is that an Enemy Skill?"
"Yeah, me and Mira crossed a Custom Sweeper once… never again…" she mutters the last part as he sits down. In her mind, she is thankful that he didn't bother to ask if she got an Enemy Skill Materia… since she doesn't and her Job Class is the Mime. Her job is to watch and copy the skill from… others… 'Friggin skrits! JENOVA can also copy anyone's skills…!'
"I see…" he stated and leans back on his chair. "And how did you know that the Guard Scorpion got a laser on it's tail?
"We were in Junon once." she quickly snaps back and explains. "We both saw it outside, shooting some target with some engineers and researchers scribbling on their notes." Thankfully, he accepted that and they are able to relax. They are very thankful on Zack's encounter with the prototype Scorpion in Junon… back to the point, the brunette begins panicking on her ability to mime others.
"By the way, what is your hometown like?" Wedge asked, looking at the girls.
"Compare here, the air is more cleaner in Banora." Mira explains. "Plus that's the only place where you can find Dumbapples."
"A what?" the trio asked and looks at her weirdly, even Cloud as she laughs lightly.
"Alright, let me explain." the songstress stated, as she makes up a tale of the said village and compares it to the regular apples… if there are any in this world.
:::^*^:::
Arriving back, they all got out and huddled near the lamp post. "This mission was a success. But don't get lazy now. The hard part's still to come! Don't y'all be scared of that explosion! 'Cause the next one's gonna be bigger than that! Meet back at the hideout! Move out!" Barret orders, and everyone runs all the way back to Seventh Heaven. There Cloud, Mira and Riley lag behind to see Barret kicking everyone out and threatening them with their gun arm, as Tifa runs out and apologizing to her customers with a few bows before heading back in.
Once the people around are far enough, they walk back to the bar and the AVALANCHE leader allows them in…
But on entering…
"PAPA!" a little girl in a pink dress shouts excitedly and jumps from the counter, only to be embarrass on seeing a different man and runs to one corner of the bar to hide. As the blonde looks quite baffled on her exclamation.
Seeing this, Tifa quickly went to her. "Marlene! Aren't you going to say anything to Cloud?" she asked her in a motherly tone, which made the two look at each other.
'No wonder, every fan fic portrays her as a mother.' they both thought.
"Welcome, Cloud. Looks like everything went well. Did you fight with Barret?" she asked.
"Yeah." he replied.
"I should have known. He's always pushing people around, and you've always been in fights ever since you were little. I was worried…" then she notices something. "Flowers? How nice…You almost never see them here in the slums. But… A flower for me? Oh Cloud, you shouldn't have…"
"No big." as he gives it to her.
"Thank you, Cloud. It smells wonderful." she said as she sniffs the wonderful fragrance and turns to her counter. "Maybe I should fill the store with flowers."
"Well, you better start now, cause I also got a bunch of them." Riley quips and pulls out a bouquet of flowers which surprises the bar maid.
"My goodness! That's a lot!" she gasps as the brunette hands them over her. "But is it-?"
"I'm cool, I'm not much of a flower fan like Mira does." the mime quips and points at her friend as he sighs at the side. And she takes one flower from the bouquet and gives it to Marlene since she caught the young girl looking at it. The little girl shyly takes it and thank her as she hides behind Tifa.
"You really enjoy calling me a flower fan." the songstress deadpan and stares at her best friend.
"That's what best friends are for." replying with a wink then turns around and is about to head out. "Mind if I go to the Wall Market? I just manage to loot that huge thing some gears, might at well sell them to the Junk Shop."
"Oh! The gate is close today!" Tifa noted.
"Well skrits… might as well take a walk instead to get rid of the adrenaline. Be back in a few!" And she left. Barret saw her and she excuse herself by selling the junk she looted in their mission, so he lets her go but reminds her of the next mission for tomorrow.
As she walks… she caught something white in the ground and picks it up. Looking at it, it's a card and then pockets it before continuing her way.
:::^*^:::
Barret enters the bar, and the three stands straight while Cloud sits on the table and Mira still remains on the stool. He then notices Tifa is decorating the counter with flowers and his daughter have one on her ears. He asked where they got them and Marlene told him that they got it from Cloud and Riley. He asked if he thank the one who gave that flower to her, and she nodded.
"Right." he said and looks at his group. "Get in here, fools! We're startin' the meetin'!" and walks to the pinball machine, pressing the button to go down. Biggs, Wedge and Jessie immediately follows, and the machine goes up after that.
Cloud went to the pinball and presses the button, down to an elevator goes and Mira follows after as she gives Tifa a friendly wave. This time she is able to land in the hidden basement in a crouching position, but she winces at the pressure that strain her calves and knees.
"Yo, Cloud!" Barret called, as Mira supports herself with a wall and is wincing a bit on her landing. "There's somethin' I wanna ask ya. Was there anyone from SOLDIER fighting us today?"
The blonde thought for a moment before answering. "None. I'm positive." he stated flatly.
"You sound pretty sure." and the songstress knows where this will go as she stands near the TV.
"If there was anyone from SOLDIER you wouldn't be standing here now."
"Don't go thinkin' you so bad jes 'cuz you was in SOLDIER." But Cloud remains silent as Biggs holds Barret back, only to be thrown to the corner upper wall, sides down it and in pain. Yeah, you're strong. Probably all them guys in SOLDIER are. But don't forget that your skinny ass's workin' for AVALANCHE now! Don't get no ideas 'bout hangin' with Shinra!" the AVALANCHE leader shouts.
"Stayin' with Shinra?" now it is the blonde's turn to be annoyed. "You asked me a question and I answered it…that's all. I'm going upstairs. I want to talk about my money."
As he is about to leave, Tifa came down from the elevator and jumps to his side. "Wait, Cloud!" she yelps.
"Tifa! Let him go! Looks like he still misses the Shinra!" Barret stated loudly.
Now Cloud looks quite fed up and turns to look at the black man. "Shut up! I don't care about either Shinra or SOLDIER! But don't get me wrong! I don't care about AVALANCHE or the Planet for that matter!" he exclaims and goes up. And it wasn't long before Tifa goes after him.
"Barret…" Mira called and the black man turns at her. "That was very mean."
"Not my problem." he said with a shrug and looks at her. "What? You're likin' him."
"No." she stated quickly. "But I heard that there were once four First Class SOLDIERs and they all… were declared MIA or missing-in-action."
"Yeah so?"
"I also heard a rumor that Shinra sent a platoon of troopers to gun down a rogue 1st Class." she added in. "The driver of the truck, who pitch a ride for him, said that the rogue decided to fight for his freedom rather than being a prisoner as he sped off for safety."
Everyone is silent and Mira does not lie… Shinra did sent a platoon of troopers just to get rid of Zack, because he knows too much and they fear that he might go after them.
"Is that rogue Cloud?" Jessie asked.
"No, the driver said the rogue got black hair." the songstress replied.
"Then what happen to him?" Wedge asked.
"… From what is left of the platoon, only three are able to kill the rogue since they are able to tire him out."
"So then…?" Biggs started.
"Yeah, it might be possible that they will go after him, once they realizes he managed to get away."
Silence reign in the base before Barret decided to go after the blonde to give his money. The songstress smiled a little on this and lean on the wall with an ease feeling.
"Hey…" Wedge called and she looks at him. "Is it true? That Shinra do that on their own people?"
"If you can't keep a secret, they'll bribe you to be silent or literally they'll make you one." she stated as he gulps. Which is true… till Rufus takes over and tries to rule all of the people with an iron first and fear.
Once the elevator went down with Cloud on it, Mira takes it to go up and waits for her best friend.
:::^*^:::
Hiding in the shadows of their temporary hiding spot, Riley checks her files and some few notes on her phone, that would be helpful on their aim to change the course of the people's fate. After she have a slight panic on her Job Class, she remembers that JENOVA can inject viruses and have a power on illusions. And her mime ability have limits which calms her a bit, when…
"Oh snap!" she shrieks and runs all the way to the bar to find her best friend. She bust in the place, nearly causing Tifa to drop the glass she is wiping and Mira to fall off her seat.
"Riley! Is there something?" the bar maid asked, still a little shock from the sudden entrance.
"Sorry! Butit'sabestfriendthing! SosorryandI'llbetakingMiranow! Bye!" the mime said it so fast as she grabs the songstress and the ravenette yelps as she gets drag away by her best friend… leaving Tifa quite stupefied.
"What is it?" the songstress demanded as they reached their spot and she faces the troubled brunette.
"I just freakin' learned that Banora was once a site for Shinra's Mako Mining! They have records!" Riley blurts it out.
"Wait, what!" and the ravenette looks surprise at this.
"Hold on let me explain… first Shinra have interest on Banora because of Mako, but the company loses interest on it and the village was liberated. Then it was used for the JENOVA Project for Project G and, again, a failure but they sent Angeal, his mom and Genesis there with surveillance! SURVEILLANCE!"
"Ack, that's bad!"
"Yeah… and we told them that we came from that place. Dang that is stupid of me!" the mime moves to the wall and bash her head on it, till her friend grabs her away from it.
"No point on crying over a spilled milk!"
"Ugh! Right, right! It is just so crap that the company is such a stalker."
"Hey, when they got the money and the gun, they don't care about morality."
"Argh… I don't know whose worse, Umbrella or Shinra."
"Oi, since Shinra combined politics and business, I think they are much more worse."
"Brrr…! Yeah, that scares me… got any idea?"
The songstress begins to think, trying to find a way to get rid of those records or something and only one came into her mind. "… Just one." she stated.
"What is it?" the mime asked, the ravenette then explains the plan to her and once she finishes. "Oookay… sound like a James Bond or a Bourne mission, but since we're desperate, let's do it."
Silver: Yipes, looks like I made a boo-boo here… Seriously! Are their any towns/villages without having Shinra breathing on them? I just read a Crisis Core Ultimania… and I just learn that place also serves for research for Shinra, then I played Crisis Core again to find the said abandon labs…Whoopsie! Seems like they got another problem aside from the pillar. Read and review!.