Here's My Fanfic thread:
This is a fan fiction dedicated to Nanaki, who (in my opinion) is the greatest FF character of all time. Some of the facts may be a little off, but it was the best I could do, considering that its been a few months sinec I played the game. Hope ya like it!
Nanaki’s Aid
Prologue
Nanaki, also known as Red XIII is a creature unlike any other. He has more strength, cunning, and intelligence than most humans (yes that includes Professor Hojo). He has a traumatic, yet enlightening past of which is very deep and complex, while simple and delicate at the same time. He is an enigma wrapped in an enigma. This is his story from when he left Shin-Ra Corp.
The Characters
Red XIII/Nanaki
Cloud Strife
Tifa Lockheart
Barret Wallace
Yuffie Kisaragi
Cait Sith
Aerith Gainsborough
Vincent Valentine
Cid Highwind
Sephiroth- the One-Winged Angel of Death
JENOVA
President Rufus Shin-Ra
Professor Gast
Professor Hojo
Heidegger
Scarlet
Turk Tseng
Turk Reno
Turk Rude
Turk Elena
Dio, Manager of the Gold Saucer Theme Park
Bugenhagen
Shin-Ra Soldiers
Shin-Ra Elite Soldiers
SOLDIER 1st Class
SOLDIER 2nd Class
SOLDIER 3rd Class
Choco the Chocobo
Shopkeeper- Weapons and Armor
Shopkeeper- Items
Shopkeeper- Accessories
Innkeeper
Seto
Mother of Nanaki
Villagers
The Story
Chapter 1: The Escape
I was shocked when they came. It was a group of 4 humans. Because of them, I managed to escape. However, it was also because of them that we were recaptured. They called themselves (except one human female) the AVALANCHE terrorist group. I had heard mutterings outside my cell about such a group.
I have no name. The horrific Professor Hojo, whose goals are unknown, though I am sure that they are more horrific than even he, has dubbed me Red XIII. I have also heard mutterings, though rare, of a human warrior known as the Great Sephiroth of SOLDIER. I laughed each time I heard his name. If I were out of this cell, they would know who a real warrior was. These humans were nothing but cowards who had to hide behind their technology and sciences to win their battles.
I thought back to when the Shin-Ra of the past, when they were a weapons manufacturing company, and how they attacked our homeland when I was only a cub. Even though they had “superior” weapons, they did not win. They fled from the claws and reflexes that nature herself had sharpened. My mother took wounds, as did my coward of a father Seto. Our people survived for a while, though, not for long.
Our wounds had not even healed when the Gi Tribe attacked us. They came with poison spears and arrows and knives. We managed to defeat them before long, though I was the only one left standing. For it was not my people, but our allies in the humans, that helped us. The one that I call grandfather, the great Bugenhagen of Cosmo Canyon, was the one that helped us. We too, could manipulate the energies of materia, but we never had the powerful material Grandfather had. He used many powers. Fire, Ice, and Lightning magic, three of the five elements, were used in his onslaught. He defeated the Gi Tribe before they killed me too, but not before my father fled in cowardice. I am now the only surviving member of my species. I believe Hojo is planning to find another of my people for me to mate with. I laughed. It would be rather interesting to see how he would react once he realizes what I’ve been telling him all along, and that there are no more of my people left.
I call our race the Mahj, as I have seen many animals, and not a one resembles us enough to call us one of them. We have a canine, yet feline look about us. We have the body shape that could be said to match both a cheetah and a lion and a wolf all at the same time. We have the fangs of felines and the claws of felines (not to mention the roar), but we can also howl like wolfs, leap like foxes and can do many other canine things as well. Therefore, I have called my race the Mahj, as we are not the same, nor different than any other race.
I snapped back to reality. The one called Barret was trying to talk to me.
“Yo, furface!” he called. I gritted my teeth.
“It’s not furface. You decided on Red, so call me Red,” I said. It always bugs me when people give me insulting nicknames, even if it is for fun.
“Whatever,” he sighed. “What can you tell me about what Hojo is doing? I mean, he’s not exactly too keen on using us. But he is looking to use Aerith.”
Aerith was the female who did not call herself a member of AVALANCHE. She and the other female, who called herself Tifa, were the only members of their party that really appealed to me as friendly. Though, Cloud, the one who all (except this sac of fat Barret) considered being the leader was not exactly mean. He was neither nice, nor was he an asshole, like Barret.
I sighed. “From what I experienced in that chamber with Aerith, Hojo was trying to breed us. Apparently, Aerith is one of the Cetra. You would know them as the Ancients. Hojo, I believe, has finally got it through that thick skull of his that I am the only living member of the Mahj left, just as Aerith is the only Cetra left alive. I believe that he is trying to breed us.”
“B-but that goes against all the laws of the Planet. I mean, you have to be of the same species to breed right?”
“Not necessarily,” I told him. “Hojo may have discovered that I have the same number of chromosomes in my cells as a human. Wouldn’t that be interesting? He has been jabbing me with needles a lot recently. He has also been keeping samples of my fur.”
“Um…what the bloody hell are chromosomes?” he asked.”
I rolled on my back laughing. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I was smarter than most humans, but that was pathetic. They were trying to thwart biological experiments and they didn’t even know how to dig for research? It was unbearably amusing. I stopped laughing, though with a little difficulty.
“Chromosomes are the parts in animal and plant cells that hold our genetic information, or our DNA. They are what makes you you, and me me. That is why people look different from others, and the numbers of chromosomes are usually what make the species. Each species has a different number of chromosomes in them than the other. I don’t know exactly how many you have, or how many I have, but I do know that they are what split our species apart.”
“Uhhh…” he muttered. “Lets just say they make us who we are.”
I suppressed a chuckle. “Sure.” I said.
Two hours went by, in which Barret and I mostly stayed silent. We conversed very little, though we did do some conversing. We were talking when all of a sudden I heard a slashing noise, like a sword going though flesh.
“Quiet!” I murmured to Barret. “There is something outside!”
He didn’t look too happy about being told to keep it shut, but he still shut it. I pressed my ear to the door and I heard a door open. It was Cloud’s cell, judging by the direction the sound was coming through (that and the fact that it was the cell right beside me in which made the noise). I heard him unlock another cell, then another. He finally unlocked ours and I rushed out, almost blindsiding Barret.
“Finally,” I said. “I can stretch my legs out. Ow!” I cried. My tail was stiff, and didn’t want to just stretch out.
“How is everyone?” Cloud asked. “We’re all still here right? Everyone’s alive?” At this he looked straight at Aerith and Tifa.
“Ya we’re fine,” Aerith said. “But what was that noise? All I remember is waking up and hearing a sound like scissors through paper.”
“Blade through flesh actually,” I interjected. I nodded at the gruesome corpse of a human just at the end of the hall. Apparently, it was the key keeper, and Cloud had taken the key from him. I grimaced at the thought of touching a bloody corpse. I may be a carnivore, but I’m not too happy with unnecessary murder. Apparently, Aerith felt the same way. She looked like she was going to be sick.
“I think I saw Sephiroth…” Cloud muttered. Then louder, “I’m sure it was Sephiroth. Dammit, where is he!!” Cloud bolted down the hall.
“Hey!! Wait for me!” I called. Cloud may not be a best friend. But he helped me out of Hojo’s little mating ceremony in the lab. I should at least repay him. Not only that, but if Sephiroth was as powerful as they say, than Cloud would probably lose any fight he got into, and would need backup.
“Hey, wait!!” Tifa and Aerith called. Barret ran after them as well, silent as a silver pond. We ran after Cloud, following a trail of blood. My paws were stained red by the time we caught up to him. We arrived in President Shin-Ra’s office, where he was waiting for us. He was, however, not quite as lively as before.
As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even alive. He had an extremely long murasame blade stuck in his back, going straight into his desk.
“M-masamune?!” Cloud stuttered. “Then, it really was Sephiroth that I saw… I can’t believe that he is alive…” Cloud looked like he was sick. I too, saw a sword like that before, though nowhere near as long. While Grandpa could still walk, he wielded a murasame blade, one almost exactly like this ‘masamune.’ It also had materia slots in it, which is what allowed Grandpa to use his magic.
Cloud fell to his knees and slammed his hands on the ground. “I was so close, I could’ve killed him for good. Dammit!!” He slammed his hands on the ground again.
“I think it would be wise for us to leave,” I called. “If Sephiroth really is here, then we wouldn’t be able to beat him, especially if he is as powerful as I’ve heard.”
“I hate to say it, but the furface is right Cloud,” Barret told him. “Let’s go.”
We turned to leave, when a gunshot fired not two inches from my snout. I turned, snarling, to find who shot that round.
What awaited my eyes was a man in a white coat, with fire-orange hair. He was holding a self-loading gun that looked like it was made for accuracy, not power.
“Leaving so soon?” he called. “Why don’t you stay, it would be much more entertaining.”
“Vice-president Rufus Shin-Ra,” Barret muttered. Then, louder, “What the hell do you want you jackass $@*)*&!”
“Information,” he stated simply. “I want to know how Sephiroth could still be alive. After all, aren’t you the renegade SOLDIER that killed him?” At this he pointed straight at Cloud. “It was you. I know because it was you and another Shin-Ra soldier that were at the reactor when he was killed. You were the only ones in that town alive at that point.” Alive? I wondered. How could he be the only one in that town alive? The only way he could be alive was if Sephiroth had massacred the whole town. No one, not even Grandpa, could do that.
“If you want information,” I growled. “Then you’re looking at the wrong people. We don’t even know who Sephiroth really is, with the exception of Cloud. So go somewhere else.”
“No,” Cloud said. “That’s not true.” Suddenly he looked hard at Rufus. “All right, I’ll give you all the information I can, but let them go!”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. After all…” His sentence was cut short when Cloud rushed at him, drawing his sword. Rufus was caught unawares, and managed to jump out of the way just in time. “Fool…” Rufus muttered. “Your arrogance will be your undoing!”
“Run now, while I have him under control. Get your asses out of here!!” he cried. He looked straight at Barret. “Get them outta here now!” He blocked a shot from Rufus’ gun and rushed at him.
“I’m not leaving,” I said. “There is no way I’m letting you fight this alone! I will help you.”
“No,” Barret interjected. “He’s right. If you really want to pay him back, help me keep the girls safe. Let’s go!” We ran quickly. I hesitated at the stairs. I wasn’t sure if abandonment was the right thing to do. Would this make me just like my father?
“I’ll meet you down there. Just help them go, please!” I nodded at Cloud’s words. He was right. I ran after them. “Take this!” he called. He threw me a bag. I caught it in my mouth and heard the jingle of materia spheres.
We arrived at an elevator (after several encounters with Shin-Ra soldiers and staff members) and Barret punched the floor number. Tifa decided to stay behind and wait for Cloud. Barret started to object, but the elevator came, and Tifa was set on staying. We’d only just started descending when a couple of flying machines came. It would be impossible for me to reach them when they were in the air. I guess I would just have to use my magic then. I grinned.
“S-shit! What the hell is that!” Barret cried.
“One of your cowardly human flying machines,” I replied. “This should be fun.”
“Oh really?” Aerith called. “And just how are we going to beat that?”
“I have a plan,” I called back, though I betrayed some of the excitement I was feeling through my voice. “Aerith, as an Ancient you have powerful abilities when it comes to magic. Use this materia.” I took materia from Cloud’s bag and tossed it to Aerith. “This is Restore Materia. If you use it on us with this Spread All Materia…” I tossed her a blue materia sphere. “Then you will be able to heal us while we fight. It’s a basic plan, but the most effective against dumb machines like these. We in the meantime will be fighting them with magic.” I finished just as the flying machines turned to fire at us.
“Barret,” I called. “Use your gun, it will probably be a little more effective than your magic.” He grumbled, but complied by unleashing a massive barrage of bullets towards the eagle-like machine.
The other machine started to fire at us with large, needle-like bullets. I dodged and cast my Lightning Spell with my materia. It instantly fried the machine’s circuits, and the machine plummeted back down to the ground. Aerith was busy healing the foolish Barret, who would just stand there and fire. Aerith could use magic well, but she had her limits. The selfish fool, I thought. Try helping out Aerith, you could make it easier on her. I saw Aerith buckle from the stress on her mind and it tore me.
“AAAHHH!!!” I cried. “Sled Fang!!!” I unleashed every bit of anger and frustration I had and tore after the eagle. I jumped against the outside walls and sprung at the eagle. I sank my teeth into his circuits and tore apart his wiring. I was jolted off by an electric shock and slammed on me side into the elevator. At least I took out the eagle, I thought. I watched it plummet to the ground after it’s mechanical companion.
“Red!!” Aerith cried. “Stay still!” She used her curative magic and healed me of my burns and wounds, though not without any scars left behind. Just another to add to the hundreds more on my body, I thought.
“Thanks,” I said. “Is everyone all right?” Barret and Aerith nodded. I sat down just as we reached the ground floor. I groaned. Would a little rest be too much to ask for?
We got out of the elevator and saw Tifa coming down the stairs. “Run you guys! Get into the car!” She pointed at the little truck at the front of the lobby.
Aerith nodded. “Ok guys,” she called. “Let’s go.”
We all climbed into the car. It was a little awkward for me, as I was carried into a car when Shin-Ra captured me. There was little to no room in there with two girls and a fat man in there. Barret took the wheel and we got our asses out of there. I looked back right before we left and saw Cloud flying down the steps on a motorcycle. We bolted.
I looked back and saw Cloud keeping the Shin-Ra soldiers at bay with his sword. I have to admit, he was very skilled. Powerful indeed. He had perfect timing with his slashes and kept them off our tail very well.
“Shit!!” Barret cried. I looked back and my eyes widened in terror.
“Barret you idiot, stop the car!” I cried. We were heading right towards the edge of an unfinished road. “Stop the car!!”
“I’m trying, so shut up!”
Aerith clung to me as we skidded to a stop. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my ribs. I heard Cloud skid to a stop right beside us.
“Never,” I stuttered. “Never let Barret drive again. I think I’d like to keep my life for the next few years thank you.”
“Ya,” Aerith agreed. “Barret’s not exactly the best driver.”
“Yo shut up. You just sayin’ that cuz I’m black,” he said. “Racist little…” He veered off, keeping the rest do a dull whisper.
“Let’s get going,” Cloud said. "Shin-Ra will be back soon and I don’t think we want them to catch us." We all nodded, showing our unanimous agreement.
We shimmied down the bar hanging from the unfinished road (a grumbling Barret carrying me down on his shoulders). “It’s not my fault that I have no opposable thumbs. You can curse mother nature for that,” I said, grinning.
This is a fan fiction dedicated to Nanaki, who (in my opinion) is the greatest FF character of all time. Some of the facts may be a little off, but it was the best I could do, considering that its been a few months sinec I played the game. Hope ya like it!
Nanaki’s Aid
Prologue
Nanaki, also known as Red XIII is a creature unlike any other. He has more strength, cunning, and intelligence than most humans (yes that includes Professor Hojo). He has a traumatic, yet enlightening past of which is very deep and complex, while simple and delicate at the same time. He is an enigma wrapped in an enigma. This is his story from when he left Shin-Ra Corp.
The Characters
Red XIII/Nanaki
Cloud Strife
Tifa Lockheart
Barret Wallace
Yuffie Kisaragi
Cait Sith
Aerith Gainsborough
Vincent Valentine
Cid Highwind
Sephiroth- the One-Winged Angel of Death
JENOVA
President Rufus Shin-Ra
Professor Gast
Professor Hojo
Heidegger
Scarlet
Turk Tseng
Turk Reno
Turk Rude
Turk Elena
Dio, Manager of the Gold Saucer Theme Park
Bugenhagen
Shin-Ra Soldiers
Shin-Ra Elite Soldiers
SOLDIER 1st Class
SOLDIER 2nd Class
SOLDIER 3rd Class
Choco the Chocobo
Shopkeeper- Weapons and Armor
Shopkeeper- Items
Shopkeeper- Accessories
Innkeeper
Seto
Mother of Nanaki
Villagers
The Story
Chapter 1: The Escape
I was shocked when they came. It was a group of 4 humans. Because of them, I managed to escape. However, it was also because of them that we were recaptured. They called themselves (except one human female) the AVALANCHE terrorist group. I had heard mutterings outside my cell about such a group.
I have no name. The horrific Professor Hojo, whose goals are unknown, though I am sure that they are more horrific than even he, has dubbed me Red XIII. I have also heard mutterings, though rare, of a human warrior known as the Great Sephiroth of SOLDIER. I laughed each time I heard his name. If I were out of this cell, they would know who a real warrior was. These humans were nothing but cowards who had to hide behind their technology and sciences to win their battles.
I thought back to when the Shin-Ra of the past, when they were a weapons manufacturing company, and how they attacked our homeland when I was only a cub. Even though they had “superior” weapons, they did not win. They fled from the claws and reflexes that nature herself had sharpened. My mother took wounds, as did my coward of a father Seto. Our people survived for a while, though, not for long.
Our wounds had not even healed when the Gi Tribe attacked us. They came with poison spears and arrows and knives. We managed to defeat them before long, though I was the only one left standing. For it was not my people, but our allies in the humans, that helped us. The one that I call grandfather, the great Bugenhagen of Cosmo Canyon, was the one that helped us. We too, could manipulate the energies of materia, but we never had the powerful material Grandfather had. He used many powers. Fire, Ice, and Lightning magic, three of the five elements, were used in his onslaught. He defeated the Gi Tribe before they killed me too, but not before my father fled in cowardice. I am now the only surviving member of my species. I believe Hojo is planning to find another of my people for me to mate with. I laughed. It would be rather interesting to see how he would react once he realizes what I’ve been telling him all along, and that there are no more of my people left.
I call our race the Mahj, as I have seen many animals, and not a one resembles us enough to call us one of them. We have a canine, yet feline look about us. We have the body shape that could be said to match both a cheetah and a lion and a wolf all at the same time. We have the fangs of felines and the claws of felines (not to mention the roar), but we can also howl like wolfs, leap like foxes and can do many other canine things as well. Therefore, I have called my race the Mahj, as we are not the same, nor different than any other race.
I snapped back to reality. The one called Barret was trying to talk to me.
“Yo, furface!” he called. I gritted my teeth.
“It’s not furface. You decided on Red, so call me Red,” I said. It always bugs me when people give me insulting nicknames, even if it is for fun.
“Whatever,” he sighed. “What can you tell me about what Hojo is doing? I mean, he’s not exactly too keen on using us. But he is looking to use Aerith.”
Aerith was the female who did not call herself a member of AVALANCHE. She and the other female, who called herself Tifa, were the only members of their party that really appealed to me as friendly. Though, Cloud, the one who all (except this sac of fat Barret) considered being the leader was not exactly mean. He was neither nice, nor was he an asshole, like Barret.
I sighed. “From what I experienced in that chamber with Aerith, Hojo was trying to breed us. Apparently, Aerith is one of the Cetra. You would know them as the Ancients. Hojo, I believe, has finally got it through that thick skull of his that I am the only living member of the Mahj left, just as Aerith is the only Cetra left alive. I believe that he is trying to breed us.”
“B-but that goes against all the laws of the Planet. I mean, you have to be of the same species to breed right?”
“Not necessarily,” I told him. “Hojo may have discovered that I have the same number of chromosomes in my cells as a human. Wouldn’t that be interesting? He has been jabbing me with needles a lot recently. He has also been keeping samples of my fur.”
“Um…what the bloody hell are chromosomes?” he asked.”
I rolled on my back laughing. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I was smarter than most humans, but that was pathetic. They were trying to thwart biological experiments and they didn’t even know how to dig for research? It was unbearably amusing. I stopped laughing, though with a little difficulty.
“Chromosomes are the parts in animal and plant cells that hold our genetic information, or our DNA. They are what makes you you, and me me. That is why people look different from others, and the numbers of chromosomes are usually what make the species. Each species has a different number of chromosomes in them than the other. I don’t know exactly how many you have, or how many I have, but I do know that they are what split our species apart.”
“Uhhh…” he muttered. “Lets just say they make us who we are.”
I suppressed a chuckle. “Sure.” I said.
Two hours went by, in which Barret and I mostly stayed silent. We conversed very little, though we did do some conversing. We were talking when all of a sudden I heard a slashing noise, like a sword going though flesh.
“Quiet!” I murmured to Barret. “There is something outside!”
He didn’t look too happy about being told to keep it shut, but he still shut it. I pressed my ear to the door and I heard a door open. It was Cloud’s cell, judging by the direction the sound was coming through (that and the fact that it was the cell right beside me in which made the noise). I heard him unlock another cell, then another. He finally unlocked ours and I rushed out, almost blindsiding Barret.
“Finally,” I said. “I can stretch my legs out. Ow!” I cried. My tail was stiff, and didn’t want to just stretch out.
“How is everyone?” Cloud asked. “We’re all still here right? Everyone’s alive?” At this he looked straight at Aerith and Tifa.
“Ya we’re fine,” Aerith said. “But what was that noise? All I remember is waking up and hearing a sound like scissors through paper.”
“Blade through flesh actually,” I interjected. I nodded at the gruesome corpse of a human just at the end of the hall. Apparently, it was the key keeper, and Cloud had taken the key from him. I grimaced at the thought of touching a bloody corpse. I may be a carnivore, but I’m not too happy with unnecessary murder. Apparently, Aerith felt the same way. She looked like she was going to be sick.
“I think I saw Sephiroth…” Cloud muttered. Then louder, “I’m sure it was Sephiroth. Dammit, where is he!!” Cloud bolted down the hall.
“Hey!! Wait for me!” I called. Cloud may not be a best friend. But he helped me out of Hojo’s little mating ceremony in the lab. I should at least repay him. Not only that, but if Sephiroth was as powerful as they say, than Cloud would probably lose any fight he got into, and would need backup.
“Hey, wait!!” Tifa and Aerith called. Barret ran after them as well, silent as a silver pond. We ran after Cloud, following a trail of blood. My paws were stained red by the time we caught up to him. We arrived in President Shin-Ra’s office, where he was waiting for us. He was, however, not quite as lively as before.
As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even alive. He had an extremely long murasame blade stuck in his back, going straight into his desk.
“M-masamune?!” Cloud stuttered. “Then, it really was Sephiroth that I saw… I can’t believe that he is alive…” Cloud looked like he was sick. I too, saw a sword like that before, though nowhere near as long. While Grandpa could still walk, he wielded a murasame blade, one almost exactly like this ‘masamune.’ It also had materia slots in it, which is what allowed Grandpa to use his magic.
Cloud fell to his knees and slammed his hands on the ground. “I was so close, I could’ve killed him for good. Dammit!!” He slammed his hands on the ground again.
“I think it would be wise for us to leave,” I called. “If Sephiroth really is here, then we wouldn’t be able to beat him, especially if he is as powerful as I’ve heard.”
“I hate to say it, but the furface is right Cloud,” Barret told him. “Let’s go.”
We turned to leave, when a gunshot fired not two inches from my snout. I turned, snarling, to find who shot that round.
What awaited my eyes was a man in a white coat, with fire-orange hair. He was holding a self-loading gun that looked like it was made for accuracy, not power.
“Leaving so soon?” he called. “Why don’t you stay, it would be much more entertaining.”
“Vice-president Rufus Shin-Ra,” Barret muttered. Then, louder, “What the hell do you want you jackass $@*)*&!”
“Information,” he stated simply. “I want to know how Sephiroth could still be alive. After all, aren’t you the renegade SOLDIER that killed him?” At this he pointed straight at Cloud. “It was you. I know because it was you and another Shin-Ra soldier that were at the reactor when he was killed. You were the only ones in that town alive at that point.” Alive? I wondered. How could he be the only one in that town alive? The only way he could be alive was if Sephiroth had massacred the whole town. No one, not even Grandpa, could do that.
“If you want information,” I growled. “Then you’re looking at the wrong people. We don’t even know who Sephiroth really is, with the exception of Cloud. So go somewhere else.”
“No,” Cloud said. “That’s not true.” Suddenly he looked hard at Rufus. “All right, I’ll give you all the information I can, but let them go!”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. After all…” His sentence was cut short when Cloud rushed at him, drawing his sword. Rufus was caught unawares, and managed to jump out of the way just in time. “Fool…” Rufus muttered. “Your arrogance will be your undoing!”
“Run now, while I have him under control. Get your asses out of here!!” he cried. He looked straight at Barret. “Get them outta here now!” He blocked a shot from Rufus’ gun and rushed at him.
“I’m not leaving,” I said. “There is no way I’m letting you fight this alone! I will help you.”
“No,” Barret interjected. “He’s right. If you really want to pay him back, help me keep the girls safe. Let’s go!” We ran quickly. I hesitated at the stairs. I wasn’t sure if abandonment was the right thing to do. Would this make me just like my father?
“I’ll meet you down there. Just help them go, please!” I nodded at Cloud’s words. He was right. I ran after them. “Take this!” he called. He threw me a bag. I caught it in my mouth and heard the jingle of materia spheres.
We arrived at an elevator (after several encounters with Shin-Ra soldiers and staff members) and Barret punched the floor number. Tifa decided to stay behind and wait for Cloud. Barret started to object, but the elevator came, and Tifa was set on staying. We’d only just started descending when a couple of flying machines came. It would be impossible for me to reach them when they were in the air. I guess I would just have to use my magic then. I grinned.
“S-shit! What the hell is that!” Barret cried.
“One of your cowardly human flying machines,” I replied. “This should be fun.”
“Oh really?” Aerith called. “And just how are we going to beat that?”
“I have a plan,” I called back, though I betrayed some of the excitement I was feeling through my voice. “Aerith, as an Ancient you have powerful abilities when it comes to magic. Use this materia.” I took materia from Cloud’s bag and tossed it to Aerith. “This is Restore Materia. If you use it on us with this Spread All Materia…” I tossed her a blue materia sphere. “Then you will be able to heal us while we fight. It’s a basic plan, but the most effective against dumb machines like these. We in the meantime will be fighting them with magic.” I finished just as the flying machines turned to fire at us.
“Barret,” I called. “Use your gun, it will probably be a little more effective than your magic.” He grumbled, but complied by unleashing a massive barrage of bullets towards the eagle-like machine.
The other machine started to fire at us with large, needle-like bullets. I dodged and cast my Lightning Spell with my materia. It instantly fried the machine’s circuits, and the machine plummeted back down to the ground. Aerith was busy healing the foolish Barret, who would just stand there and fire. Aerith could use magic well, but she had her limits. The selfish fool, I thought. Try helping out Aerith, you could make it easier on her. I saw Aerith buckle from the stress on her mind and it tore me.
“AAAHHH!!!” I cried. “Sled Fang!!!” I unleashed every bit of anger and frustration I had and tore after the eagle. I jumped against the outside walls and sprung at the eagle. I sank my teeth into his circuits and tore apart his wiring. I was jolted off by an electric shock and slammed on me side into the elevator. At least I took out the eagle, I thought. I watched it plummet to the ground after it’s mechanical companion.
“Red!!” Aerith cried. “Stay still!” She used her curative magic and healed me of my burns and wounds, though not without any scars left behind. Just another to add to the hundreds more on my body, I thought.
“Thanks,” I said. “Is everyone all right?” Barret and Aerith nodded. I sat down just as we reached the ground floor. I groaned. Would a little rest be too much to ask for?
We got out of the elevator and saw Tifa coming down the stairs. “Run you guys! Get into the car!” She pointed at the little truck at the front of the lobby.
Aerith nodded. “Ok guys,” she called. “Let’s go.”
We all climbed into the car. It was a little awkward for me, as I was carried into a car when Shin-Ra captured me. There was little to no room in there with two girls and a fat man in there. Barret took the wheel and we got our asses out of there. I looked back right before we left and saw Cloud flying down the steps on a motorcycle. We bolted.
I looked back and saw Cloud keeping the Shin-Ra soldiers at bay with his sword. I have to admit, he was very skilled. Powerful indeed. He had perfect timing with his slashes and kept them off our tail very well.
“Shit!!” Barret cried. I looked back and my eyes widened in terror.
“Barret you idiot, stop the car!” I cried. We were heading right towards the edge of an unfinished road. “Stop the car!!”
“I’m trying, so shut up!”
Aerith clung to me as we skidded to a stop. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my ribs. I heard Cloud skid to a stop right beside us.
“Never,” I stuttered. “Never let Barret drive again. I think I’d like to keep my life for the next few years thank you.”
“Ya,” Aerith agreed. “Barret’s not exactly the best driver.”
“Yo shut up. You just sayin’ that cuz I’m black,” he said. “Racist little…” He veered off, keeping the rest do a dull whisper.
“Let’s get going,” Cloud said. "Shin-Ra will be back soon and I don’t think we want them to catch us." We all nodded, showing our unanimous agreement.
We shimmied down the bar hanging from the unfinished road (a grumbling Barret carrying me down on his shoulders). “It’s not my fault that I have no opposable thumbs. You can curse mother nature for that,” I said, grinning.
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