Hey, what's up, guys, Flipkicks here. Today, I bring you a new story for Final Fantasy 7 called "Rewrite." Since I have been playing the OG game and the current trilogy (waiting for part 3), I have wanted to make my own story based on the beloved game.

'Rewrite' is primarily based on the new trilogy, but I will add some things, such as the Ever Crisis characters and more Turks for the group to encounter. This is a Cloud X Harem story since the guy has been throughout the compendium of the FF7 Series, and I see little of the harem side besides the Yaoi harem side.

I do not own the series.


Redo

Unknown

"You think you can get rid of me that easily?"

"I will do whatever it takes to take you out of this place, Sephiroth!"

"AHAHAHAHAHA! I will always fall into the shadows, Gaia. Those who have the SOLDIER blood flowing through them and those connections to him, I will always return."

"You haven't touched this timeline, Sephiroth. You may have influenced the others, but I will do whatever it takes to erase you!"

"No matter what you try, Gaia, the one main influence in these timelines is the puppet, Cloud Strife."

"You may have some influence on him, but he will always break free of your control."

"He will forever be a puppet to the end."

"With the support of his friends, each Cloud Strife can overcome everything you have tried to do. No matter what timeline you try to get your hands on, I will do what it takes to see you defeated."

"Come and try."

"Then how about a rewrite."


The Mako fumes were thick tonight, wreathing the faint stars in a smoky haze. Those bright motes of far light floated above Midgar, distant and calm, a stark contrast to the noisy, bumpy freight train below the ex-SOLDIER's booted feet. Glowing eyes looked up at the colorful lights, which shone blue, red, yellow, purple… like materia stones placed in the void by some impulsive deity.

Dropping their gaze, the ex-SOLDIER saw the massive, smoking structure growing larger ahead of the train as they approached. The Shinra logo was painted in substantial blocky forms, marking Mako Reactor 1 as the company's property.

'My name is Cloud Strife...' the young man says as he picks up his giant sword and does a small prayer, 'Ex-Soldier First Class.' He places the sword and puts it on his back as he rides on top of one of the train carts.

As the train pulled closer to its destination, it began to slow. The Ex-SOLDIER shifted the Buster Sword, redistributing its still-unfamiliar weight across their shoulders. Most people could never wield such an oversized weapon, and it was not with any actual effectiveness. Still, the Mako infusions given to SOLDIER increased their strength enough to make using the sword a devastating possibility.

With a long, drawn-out screech and a shower of sparks from the metal wheels, the freight train ground to a halt. From their current vantage point, the ex-SOLDIER could see two members of AVALANCHE leap off the vehicle before it had entirely stopped. A pair of Shinra soldiers guarding the platform started at the unexpected intrusion. One guard attacked the nearby male terrorist, who neatly threw the uniformed soldier over his shoulder. The other struck the red-headed girl and was rewarded with a kick to the stomach, fierce enough to send the soldier flying back to the ground. He did not move again.

A third AVALANCHE terrorist stumbled from the train—a chubby male who did not look cut out for this line of work after—Barret—was the complete opposite, a strong-. Their lead-built, dark-skinned man with a gun grafted onto his arm. He jumped out from between the engine and the first car, large and in charge. Barret glanced up at where the ex-SOLDIER stood and gestured impatiently with his gun arm.

"Yeah, yeah, impressive," Barret grumbled. "But this ain't no fashion show. Follow me, merc."

The young man rolled his eyes and jumped off the train. He didn't need to befriend the big man to earn his fee. And he'd show him not to underestimate her just because he was skinny. The four AVALANCHE operatives had already disappeared around the corner, and the SOLDIER followed at a fast jog. Two figures appeared from the corner: Shinra soldiers. He didn't hesitate this time. He drew the Buster Sword and swung it laterally without slowing his forward motion, bisecting the two grunts before they lifted their weapons.

'There goes any possibility of me rejoining the company.' The flicker of regret lasted only a moment. With a slight headache, he put the Buster Sword back on his back and clutched his head. He started seeing things he hadn't even experienced yet, seeing a woman in pink in some place saying a prayer. He started seeing and taking in these new memories. 'What the hell?' He looks at his hands and looks around to see that he's back in Mako Reactor 1. 'I'm back here, but how!?' He last recalled facing off against Sephiroth within his mind until everything went white. 'Guess I got a chance to redo things, huh...'

Going up the small stairs, Cloud sees familiar faces, Wedge, Biggs, and Barret, but the person he doesn't get a chance to see again is Jessie. He had to admit that Jessie's spunky and openly flirting nature with him was refreshing. Sure, he was only using his hardened warrior, cocky and headstrong, coldhearted and disinterested in anything beyond completing the hired job at hand, but overall, he's socially awkward.

'I'm not gonna let these guys die on my watch.'

"What the hell!?"
"Hands up!" Both infantrymen point their assault rifles at Cloud, who has his right hand on the handle of his broadsword. All three members of Avalance jump over the security gate.

"Have fun!" Jessie playfully teased him, and he couldn't help but smirk at her comment.

"Freeze bastard!"

"Move, and we shoot!"

"Yeah, right." Cloud quickly dispaces both guards with ease and proceeds to jump over the railings but again sees more guards coming his way.

"Drop the weapon!" one of the guards yells as the other two guards surround him. Cloud can't help but smirk as he tightens his grip and dispatches all three guards.

Climbing the stairs at the end of the platform, he found the three AVALANCHE members – sans Barret – crouching at the North entrance of the facility. The two men stood guard while the girl worked to open the thick door.

"So what's the SOLDIER boys' deal? He's one of us now?" Jessie asks Biggs. "He's got balls this...uh, what was his name?"

"Cloud, Cloud Strife."

"Right."

"Ex-SOLDIER. Still, he's professional, unlike the rest of us." Biggs continues splicing the code on the monitor before him, "Still, glad that he's on board with the rest of us."

'I can't say much since it'll mess things up if I say something,' he said to himself as Wedge gave him a thumbs-up. 'Why am I reliving the Reactor Mission? What's going on?' Cloud began to wonder what brought him to his first mission as a mercenary. "It's a one-time gig. When's it done, we're done." He had to maintain his cold-hearted self from before.

"A real joy to work with," Biggs mutters out loud.

"And a real joy to look at, too."

"Oh boy." Biggs shakes his head at her comment.

"Looks are what people notice first."

"Guess I'm not on the same page as 'people'."

"I'd say you're not reading the same book."

"Alright, we're done here."

Cloud could only roll his eyes from the conversation between Jessie and Biggs as Barret walked towards them to monitor both Jessie and Biggs.

Wedge walks up to Cloud and says, "C'mon, nobody'd do something this crazy for money. They might not think you're a believer, but you know what I think?"

"Not interested." Cloud quickly answered his question.

Soon enough, Jessie and Biggs unlocked the steel door, which slowly opened. The Avalance members entered the reactor while Barret remained behind for a bit.

"You better be worth the gil Merc. Every last Gil." He then proceeded to walk forward, but a slight headache stopped him. "What the?" Barret shakes his head and sees that he's in the Mako Reactor. "Why am I back here?!"

"Barret!" Cloud checks on the Avalance leader, "You okay?"

"Cloud!? Wait...tell me what happened after what happened in the Forgotten City?"

"The Whispers of Fate stopped us from entering the building, and...Sephiroth killed Aerith."

"I see...just...what the hell is going on? All I remember was facing off against Jenova at the core, and the next thing I knew, I ended up here."

"Same here. I faced Sephiroth the last time and found myself here again. Guess we got a chance at a redo."

"I'll say. We can't let Sephiroth get that black materia again, nor should we let our group die on our watch."

"I won't let that happen. Come on; we don't want to let the others get ahead of us and try to act like before. We don't know what else has changed in this one." Barret nods and runs ahead of Cloud, 'These guys deserve to live. I need to change their fate.'

"And you'll get that chance, Cloud Strife."

"Who's there!?" Cloud grabs his Buster Sword, preparing himself for a fight.

"I am the one who brought you back in time, Mr Strife. As you know, Sephiroth is still doing what it takes to destroy the planet. I sent you back to the beginning of your search for Sephiroth. While I wanted things to be settled, his influence caused a significant change in all timelines. I am allowing you to change the fate of your group. Certain people in most timelines, the people you befriended, have joined the lifestream even with what they have done. Do what it takes to get rid of Sephiroth, once and for all."

The voice that Cloud heard goes silent, leaving the blonde-haired swordsman alone as he stares up at the large Mako reactor. 'Let's get to work.' He then runs up ahead to join the others.


And that ends the chapter, guys; I do a small chapter before I make longer chapters, as this is the start of Cloud's journey and changing part of the story.

Gaia has sent Cloud and the others back in time to change their journey, and the other members will awaken their other selves. However, different characters will have traveled back in time to make sure things stick to Sephiroth's will.

I hope to hear what you guys think of the chapter and as always, I'll talk to you all later.