Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Seven: Shadows of the Light ❯ Arc One: Rebirth of ShinRa ( Chapter 3 )

Arc I: Rebirth of ShinRa

Part III:

Izlude started to open the door for the weapons shop. "Pablo! Wait!" Matt hollered after him. Izlude turned to look in his direction. He raised his hand halfway to acknowledge him.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

" I have to go with Ry... Goth here." Matt started as he motioned towards Rycliff and reminded himself to stick to the new names. " We have to locate the alchemist who is supposed to have a cure for materia poisoning." he continued as he adjusted my helmet. "These disguises are rather distractive."

"Alright." Izlude responded. "But don't wander too far off. And if you have to leave Junon, report to me first. I want to know where everyone is."

" Sure. No..." Matt began when a large explosion came from the tavern, something that sounded like a lighting bolt.

" What was that?" Izlude asked, running toward the direction of the tavern.

"Maybe we were discovered" Matt said as he turned to follow Izlude towards the tavern. Rycliff followed along silently. He knew he had, but as soon as they reached the tavern, he disappeared.

When he opened the door, he noticed that the room was a disaster. The new recruit was having a fight with some guy he had never seen before, so much for discreet. Raven was really smart not joining in the fight. She had brains enough not to blow our cover. The guy next to her is... could it be?..."Rufus..." the name escaped my lips and sounded like a bitter medicine.

" Hey Cetra!" a whisper seemed to come from beneath the table. Raven glanced down to see Rycliff on his knees under the table. "Now let's see what you are made off." he said as he crawled from under the table, catching Rufus's attention. Nation growled at him from his side. Rycliff waved his hand and whispered something, and Nation suddenly fell to the floor asleep. Rycliff grabbed Raven's hand and quickly spoke. "Break spell, now." Their hands, still holding, started to glow green and all three; Fen, Riya and Silvara were frozen. "There. No more distractions. The spell won't last very long. Only a couple of minutes." Then he turned to Rufus and said. "Better discard all you materias' if you don't want to die soon."

Rycliff started to walk past Matt, and as he passed he said. "Let's go." Matt hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering if he should go with Rycliff or walk towards Rufus. Finally deciding he whispered to Izlude. "Don't let your eyes off Rufus, the guy with the animal. I will be back as soon as I can." And he left the tavern with Rycliff to look for an alchemist for the materia poisoning.

Rufus narrowed his eyes. This wasn't going well. He had come in here to maybe find some information about the man Sierra, and he had gotten into a fight, cursed at, and to top it off he had just seen Matt Strife. Dark Nation was laying at his feet out cold it seemed. He heard the man who had done it threaten him about his materia. He glared at both his and Matt's backs as they left. He knelt down beside Nation and gently picked her up, glaring at the man Matt had spoken he turned to leave.

`No... I'm not leaving this way. ' he thought to himself as he turned back to face the stranger Matt had spoken to. " Do you know you Sierra is? And Where I can find him? I would also like to know what his looks like as well." He shouldered Dark Nation and waited for the man's answer.

Matt had told Izlude to keep an eye on Rufus, so he took a seat at the table across from where he stood. He could feel bad vibes radiating around the room. It was the feel of after a fight. There was also a chance that another could break out, if that happened, from what he could tell, he'd be fighting Rufus and the other guy. He was soon brought out of his thoughts by Kidd's never-ending whining.

" ....and furthermore, I want my gun upgraded. You guys only find trouble...."

*

Raven sighed as she glanced around at the upturned tavern. She knew that any minute now the owner would begin his ranting for everyone to leave. Then she turned her gaze on Rufus. Ignoring his questions about Sierra she grabbed his arm and tugged him outside before the explosive fighting would begin again. She glared at Rycliff on her way out for making her waste her magic on them and then she turned to Rufus. Dark Nation wasn't too happy with her touching her master. " What are you doing here? I thought you were dead..." a glimmer of pain flashed in her eyes and then vanished just as quickly.

Rufus looked at her as calmly as he could right now. " Apparently, so did everyone else. I was on the 65th floor when the fire from WEAPON hit my office. I had left as soon as I figured out what the light was and that it was coming towards Midgar. So I didn't die. I was knocked out though when that white light came to join Meteor. I woke up and I found Nation alive. We left Midgar, and headed here because I knew I could recover and find out what was happening from my Junon mansion. I found out about this man called Sierra had taken over my cities. "

He was getting angry again and started to raise his voice some. " I get here.. and I'm ignored, like I'm no one. I mean I Was the *President* here!" he looked at Nation, who was now awake. He sat her down to stand on her own feet. She looked around and sat down facing the bar they had come out of. He sighed, then looked up at Raven. " I need to find this Sierra. I going to kill him and then.." he trailed off and looked around him. "I'm going to take back what's mine."

*

Siydi came to and glared balefully at the humans around him. His thoughts were filled with the desire to attack, to drive them away, but that would have to wait. His woman needed him, the mind touch of her call still throbbed around him.

Protect.

He hissed a warning at the humans and turned away, following the delicate scent/touch of his woman to the smaller group of humans. Moving to her prone figure, he warked with distress as he detected the magic surrounding her. After nuzzling her gently, he lifted his head and regarded the other human standing nearby.

The woman with the odor of steel flowing around her own faint scent, the bright silver twining with the delicate green in his mind's eye. The magic glimmered around her as well. Interesting. Opportunity. He turned back as the soft rainbow scent of his woman brightened, the delicate swirl of colors and music resonating in his mind. She was waking up. Good. He made a pleased gurgling noise and glanced back at the woman who had abused him back in the tall grasses.

Revenge.

Riya had managed to knock Ferris away from Silvara just as the spell hit her. Paralyzed by the spell, she watched with a growing sense of dread as Siydi stared at her, making small gurgling noises. Could chocobos smile? It had to be her imagination. Silvara's chest rose and fell and Riya found that she could move-- the spell had faded. Siydi lunged forward, mayhem shinning in his eyes and Riya drew back her fist.

" SIYDI STOP!! Riya...hit him again and I'll..." The rest of Silvara's threat was ruined by a coughing fit as her throat began to swell. Siydi knelt beside his mistress, letting her cling to him as he stood, lifting her to her feet. Silvara massaged her throat as she glared at Riya and then over at Ferris. The world spun around her and she clung to Siydi, letting him support her weight.

Ferris pressed his hand to the small gash at his throat. 'So close, I almost had her.' He glared up at Silvara, his gaze drawn to the livid purple bruises forming around her throat and then to the chocobo supporting her weight. 'Now, while she is weak." He clambered to his feet, swaying slightly and frowned as something warm flowed down his chest. 'What..' He looked down at his chest. 'Red?' He glanced back at the women, why were they staring at him like that? He swayed again and slumped against the wall behind him, sliding down to the ground. The woman with the sword, beautiful swirling red hair, wide emerald pools pulling him into darkness. 'Riya?...Riyathena '

*

Raven listened to Rufus's story thoughtfully. How clever of him to escape such a large explosion. When he was finished Raven looked up at the man who stood over her. Then she grabbed his arm and pulled him into the alley where they could talk with no danger of being overheard. She turned back to him, her green eyes flashing. "I will tell you about Sierra now." she sighed.

"He is pretty much in control of everything now. Materia has gone haywire and it is now mostly poison. It would kill you in an instant if it has already transformed. But listen to me Rufus; you can't go after Sierra alone. He has an army and most of the planet is listening to him. That is why I am using an alias because I am one of the wanted mercenaries who attacked Sierra." She sighed and turned to look down the alley at the people walking through the town. "Why don't you come with me? It will be like when we were younger."

Rufus looked at her silently. Then after a few minutes of this he looked down at Nation who had followed them into the alley. He cursed softly then looked back up at her. " I believe if what you say is true.. and I see no reason for you to really lie to me about this...I will have to go with you." He smiled; his eyes seemed to light up for a minute with mischief as he said. "Do you remember Tseng and Reno...? I believe the four of us could give Sierra a hard time.. and maybe if we find them we will have a shot at killing him, if as you say he has an army and the world at his beck and call." He knelt down to stroke Nation's head. Looking back up at her still smiling. "What do you say?"

Raven's eyes lit up and her frown lifted into a big smile. Ignoring Dark Nation she couldn't resist giving her friend a big hug. "I say lets do it!" she giggled

"Uhh.... sorry to interrupt." Izlude muttered. "but it wont be that easy. We have lost a lot of men... deserters, casualties, P.O.W.'s.... all in total, we've lost about 900 in the last month alone, and us attacking Sierra's base didn't exactly help very much. that leaves us with around 450 mercenaries. Don't forget, these people can leave whenever they want. Also don't forget, we really need a new hideout. I think the airship was bugged, so Sid's looking into it now. We came here to recruit more members, not get into a bar fight.... although bar fights are kinda cool. We have three issues at hand, one recruit, two get a new place to stay and three buy supplies."

Rufus stood up and turned faced Izlude "I can help with maybe all three of those problems now, if you'll let me. For a Hideout...." He thought about it for a minute then sighed and finished. "You could use my Junon Mansion, only a few of the people working for us even knew its location. And right now...most of them are dead. The only ones besides me that know where it is are the Turks. I can also help you with buying supplies. I was going to do that myself after I found out what I needed to know. One question though..."He walked forward to look him in the eyes. "Is there going to be a problem between me and Matt Strife? Also do you have any more AVALANCHE people with your group?" With one hand in the pocket of his white suit jacket, and the other hand on Dark Nation's head, he waited an answer.

*

Riya cried out in alarm and rushed to Ferris's side, pressing her hands to his throat in an attempt to staunch the steady flow of blood. "Oh gods. SILVARA HELP ME!!" 'I don't understand, the wound wasn't that deep...Ferris don't..' "SILVARA!!" She tore her gaze away from Ferris's pale face and felt a shiver dance down her spine. 'Silvy?.. oh gods.' Silvara was moving slowly towards them, cold lavender eyes fixed on the fallen man, her face an expressionless mask.

No remorse, no triumph. Just watching....'is this how she hunts, how she kills? Standing by watching someone die...knowing that she has the power to save them?' As a mercenary, Riya understood and approved, only a fool would show mercy to an enemy...but as a friend, her heart bled to see that expression on her friend's face. Tears clouded her vision as she felt the pulse under her hands fading. "Silvy...please."

Silvara stood motionless before them, watching the growing spread of blood creep towards her boots. Sighing in defeat, Silvara sank to her knees, reaching out to gently move Riya's hands away from the wound. "It's a new poison." Silvara ignored Riya's confused expression and delved into the pouch riding her hip. "I mixed several natural toxins with malboro blood, it dissolves away the flesh and veins...the smallest scratch and the victim can bleed to death."

Silvara brought out a small vile of liquid and poured a tiny envelope of crushed herbs into it, swirling the mixture gently before forcing the potion down Ferris's throat. 'Hope I don't regret this' "He'll feel its effects for the next few days...but he'll live." She mixed a similar potion and swallowed it, moaning softly as the swelling in her throat eased and then faded away. Crouching on her heels she watched...and waited.

*

Two soft voices drifted over him, overlapping and swirling in his muddled mind. "Silvara, what are you...in Junon and why were you fight.."

" Look Riya, he attacked me...here with friends...attacked Sierra...use some help Riya"

Ferris lay there, straining to here. 'What are they talking about? Rufus asked about Sierra too...then Silvara' His thoughts darkened as he remembered the sting of her blade, the burning pain of venom and then the warmth of a healing potion. 'Why did she heal me?'

".. thank you for saving him."

"...why did you care Riya"

He must have blacked out again because when he came to, the whispering had been replaced by angry shouts and head was resting on a soft pillow. "Look at him Riya!! What did you do, use poor Siydi as a punching bag!?" He slowly opened his eyes, there was the little hell bitch, examining a huge black chocobo. but where was...?

"Poor Siydi almost killed me, he got what he deserved." His pillow shifted and his head throbbed as Riya's voice rang out over him. Ferris cautiously rolled his eyes to the side and discovered the nature of his pillow and found himself grinning. Reaching up, he tweaked a flaming lock to get her full attention.

"So, Riyathena...just how many times have you hit that poor bird?"

Kuku ignored all the voices, and began prancing around through the legs of Siydi. He had terrified her when she jumped on him in search for food, and Kuku proudly annoyed Siydi, as if to show no fear.

*

Raven sighed heavily as she looked to Izlude. Rufus was now standing behind her as he spoke to him. When she heard his words she couldn't help but smile. "There won't be any trouble from Matt." she assured him. "He is more concerned with Sierra then he would be with ShinRa. Hmmmm....I have no clue where the other members of AVALANCHE may be." She turned to Izlude and grinned sheepishly. "Its your call." Raven winked at Rufus, happy that at their plans, and strode off back inside the bar.

" My god! What have you guys done?!" she cried out when she seen the fallen man. There was a dark puddle of blood around him and he was lying in the lap of a red haired woman she'd never seen before. Silvara was standing examining the black chocobo as if nothing were wrong. Raven gave a sigh with relief when she saw the man start talking. It was against her Cetran nature to allow a man to die if it could be helped. At that moment she knew that Silvara had healed him. She looked at the girl closely and walked towards her. "What are you? How do you have magical abilities? Usually only Cetrans and people exposed to the life stream can use it." she asked

Raven suddenly fell back against a table a vision flashing before her eyes. "Oh no!" She cried out when she saw the ship moving towards Junon. "Silvara! You get Clyde and whoever else is in Junon together and warn them to keep it low. Sierra's men are on their way here!"

Raven bolted out the door before anyone could reply and rounded the corner to where Rufus and Izlude were talking. She grabbed both men by the elbows and jerked them into the shadows where they could not be seen.

" Raven what are you doing?!" Izlude protested.

" Sierra is on his way to Junon!" she exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. "I had another vision. He will be here in a matter of moments. Izlude I suspect that we have a spy among us...."