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Final Fantasy 7 Phase 1

Chapter 1

By Antonio QuinonesPublished 3 years ago 11 min read
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Hello everyone. This is the first chapter of a Final Fanatsy 7 fanfiction I've been wanting to write for a while, and just decided to go for. I love this story and universe. It was the best thing to happen to me in 2020 and probably for a long time.

As most people who love stories, at a point I started thinking of how I'd tell it, which is what this series will be. I'm breaking up into four (maybe more) "phases" because the original game is super long lol. Each phase will essentially be a book telling a part of the story. This one will probably end when the gang leaves Midgar.

I can't help but feel self-conscious because I'm technically not writing anything original, and that may be a valid strike against this, but I feel passionate about telling my version of this story so whatever.

Some things will be left untouched, some things tweaked, some thing changed signifantly, some things removed entirely, and most importantly some things will be added. These versions of the characters will still be themselves, but simply how I see them.

One last disclaimer. I'm not experienced at writing stories, so my style may feel more like screenwriting than actual prose. Also I don't feel like the reactor sections are that visually interesting, so hopefully they don't read in a boring way haha. I tried though.

Anyway, enough rambling from me. Hopefully you enjoy this crazy, ambitious experiment of mine that will probably fall flat on its face. I'll enjoy every second, and hopefully you will as well.

The city of Midgar. A technological utopia.

A train was running through on this particular night. While unassuming citizens went about their regular lives, Avalanche was partaking in something much greater...at least to them.

The train stopped at one of Midgar’s many power plants. Like clockwork, Biggs and Jesse exited the sides and started taking out the guards, the Shinra Corporation’s personal lapdogs. Barrett looked at the top of the train in annoyance. “Get your ass down here Spike.”

Cloud jumped down, doing a frontflip like a participant in the Olympics. Unlike the others who used guns, he had a sword resting in a holster on his back.

“Excellent form on that one,” Jessie said with light applause, “Two thumbs up.”

Barrett groaned, “Showoff.” He looked at the others, “Okay move in”

They entered the next area and more troops arrived.

Cloud raised his sword and smirked, go ahead I got this.”

Biggs and Jessie looked at each other and nodded in agreement

“Good luck,” Jessie said before they ran up the stairs to the next level.

“Are you deaf? Go,” Cloud said to Barrett in annoyance.

Barrett glared at him, “And miss the chance to see you in action? Fat chance.”

Cloud shrugged, “Suit yourself.”

They took out the troops in a surprising display of teamwork, surprising considering Barrett’s flat out distrust of their new recruit.

“Do you love me yet?” Cloud asked sarcastically.

“Shut the hell up,” Barrett said, running ahead.

When they rejoined the others, Jessie was waiting for her hacking device to do its thing. “Not bad huh?” she asked tilting her head over to Cloud.

“I like him,” Biggs said, “Oh yeah I wanted to ask: how does an ex Soldier get mixed up with a group like us?”

Cloud shrugged, “It’s a job.”

“I ain’t buyin it,” Barrett said, “Shinra ain’t nothin but a bunch a’ greedy bastards,” he got close to Cloud, “I got my eye on you.”

“Take it easy Bar,” Jessie said gently, “Don’t mind him. So anyway, you and Tifa grew up together right?”

Cloud He remembered being a kid in his hometown, lonely and not having any friends. Then Tifa showed up and he finally felt seen, like he could connect with another person. “Yeah.”

“Awesome,” Biggs said ecstatically, “Well, any friend of Tifa’s is a friend of-”

“I’m not interested in friends. All I care about is doing this and getting paid. Once it’s done, so are we.”

Jessie’s device beeped and the gate opened, “Presto.”

They made their way through the rest of the facility, taking out any troops that got in their path. With Barrett’s arm cannon, Jessie and Bigg’s gun skills, and Cloud’s agility and swordplay they made quite a team.

“Ugghh another gate,” Jessie said, taking out another device and going through the same routine.

Cloud looked up at the reactor. During his time in Soldier, he’d been in so many of these. It was weird looking at them through the eyes of an outsider.

Barrett looked at the wall like he was seeing through it and shook his head, “These sons o bitches, hurtin the planet like this,” he raised his cannon, “I’ma...we’re gonna make em’ pay.

“Right on brotha,” Jessie said supportively and in agreement.

They went inside and took the elevator down to the utility access room, the final thing standing between them and the reactor bridge.

“You’re awfully quiet Spike, Don’t tell me you don’t care about the planet,” Barrett said, eyeing Cloud in a scrutinizing manner.

“I care more about the next few minutes.”

“There ain’t gonna be a lot more ‘next few minutes’ if the planet dies asshole,” Barrett clenched his fist, “Money ain’t all that matters. I could give a damn if I die poor, so long as I make a difference.”

Cloud scoffed, “Cut the hero bullshit. Everyone is just trying to find their way, that’s it. There’s no grand narrative. If you wanna believe that then fine, just keep me out of it.”

Barrett moved closer, “Say some shit like that again,” he clenched his teeth, probably to shield his accelerated breathing.

Despite the uncomfortable nature of this confrontation, Cloud didn’t even flinch, “Get help.”

Jessie merely watched in shock. She looked at Biggs, who also looked uncomfortable.

The doors opened and they stepped out.

Barrett turned to face them, “Okay Biggs, I’ll stay here with you and keep watch. I am your babysitter after all,” he said jokingly.

Biggs smiled, “Oh yeah? Well I hope you can keep up with this ‘baby’ old man,” he winked and cocked his pistols.”

“Jessie, since you made the bomb, you can do the honors. Go with Spike and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Cloud rolled his eyes and went with Jessie to the bridge.

“Hey listen, I know Barrett can be-”

“A massive dick?”

Jessie tried to hide her giggle, “Yeah, but just try to work with him please? For me?”

“I don’t even know you,” Cloud said.

“Fine then, do it for the mission. After all, no success, no payday,” Jessie pointed to her brain.

Cloud sighed, “I should’ve asked for more money.”

They arrived at the reactor, “Okay let’s do this,” Jessie said, taking out the bomb and putting it in place. “I’ll set it for twenty minutes.”

“Twenty?” Cloud asked in surprise.

Jessie looked at him curiously, “What?”

“Don’t you think that leaves a lot of dead space?”

Jessie smirked, “Hey don’t get cocky Soldier boy. Even someone like you can get outmatched.” She set the timer and turned back around, “It’s so creepy to think that all that comes from the planet,” she said, looking at the pool of mako circling them, Her face almost broke, “I’ll make them pay for this,” her voice cracked.

Suddenly Cloud felt a sharp pain in his head, like his brain was being squeezed. He saw Tifa kneeling over her Father’s body distraught, his sword by his side. “Shinra. Soldier. I’ll make them pay. I’ll make them all pay.” She then got up and walked through a reactor entrance.

“Hey are you okay?” Jessie asked. Her voice echoed like she was underwater.

Cloud came to and everything slowly returned to normal. “I’m fine. It’s probably a side effect from the mako,” he said. That had never happened to him before. It was weird, like his brain was calling out, trying to show him something via a memory. Though, he didn’t know what it was.

“Do you hear that?” Jessie asked, tuning her ears. It sounded like something moving, only it didn’t seem human. More troops?

Cloud looked around, trying to listen along with her. Without warning, a big mass scurried down a wall and walked close to them.

Jessie looked shocked and exasperated, “Well that’s new.”

They were face to face with a robot that looked like a scorpion.

“Sh-” Cloud was about to say, but got interrupted by a laser blast coming from its tail. “Jessie move,” he shouted as he rolled out of the way. The beam sliced just above the core.

“When did Shinra get toys like this?” Jessie asked, raising her machine gun.

Cloud raised his sword and went in, striking it and parrying the tail’s attempt to stab him with a handy retractable blade. With Jessie staying at a distance and hitting it with magazines and occasional grenades, they eventually managed to weaken it, but not shut it down.

“Damn thing won’t let up,” Jessie said, blowing her hair and reloading.

It seemed like a good time for Cloud to unleash his secret weapon. He had purposely been holding onto it, waiting for the perfect moment, or any one that was at least decent. “Here goes nothing,” he said to himself, reaching into his belt and pulling out a blue orb and placing it into a round opening in the blade of his sword. He pointed it at the robot and grabbed the handle tightly. “Stand back,” he said to Jessie. A concentrated beam of lightning shot from his sword right at the robot’s midsection. The red light on its head flickered and it crawled into the pool of mako.

Jessie was watching Cloud like a child watching a fantasy or superhero movie.

He turned to her and couldn’t help but chuckle, “You’ve never seen someone use materia before?”

“No. We’ve never used it ourselves either, you know cuz of what it’s made of and all.”

Cloud nodded, “Understandable.”

“Wait why didn’t you do that sooner?” Jessie crossed her arms.

“It takes a lot of energy and focus, so I waited.”

“Ahh an opportunist huh? You really do fit in nicely.”

Cloud sighed, “I told you I’m not-”

“Self destruct sequence initiated,” said an automated voice.

“Uhh where’s that coming from?” Jessie asked.

“Ten...Nine...Eight.”

Cloud looked into the pool, “The robot. Time to go.”

They ran up the staircase aside of them, Cloud in front. A sudden explosion split it and Jessie started to fall. “Ahhhh!”

Cloud ran towards her, slid off the edge, grabbed onto it with one hand, and grabbed her hand with the other. “Gotcha.”

Jessie laughed anxiously, Nice catch.”

“Ride’s not over yet. Hang on.”

“Whaaaattt are you gonna doooooo…?” Jessie screamed as Cloud tossed her up and behind him, causing her to flip backwards. Luckily she landed on her feet. Then he swung to gain some momentum and flipped himself back up. As soon as he stood up Jessie aggressively hugged him and made a sound that almost sounded like the beginning of a cry.

Barrett ran to the top of the staircase, “Hey you guys alright?” he immediately noticed this display of affection, “What the hell?”

Cloud tensed up and looked awkwardly at Barrett.

Jessie let go and gave a thumbs up, “We’re ay okay Captain, just a little turbulence.”

Barrett grilled Cloud before looking to Jessie, “Glad to hear it, now move your asses.”

Cloud and Jessie ran up to meet him.

“It was a damn warzone up here,” Biggs said, rejoining them.

“War’s just beginnin. Now let’s bust this joint.”

They ran through the levels and corridors. Luckily all of the gates were unlocked so leaving wasn’t as hard as coming in. The reactor facility blew up just as they found a shortcut underground, but with a view. It was a surreal thing to experience. In a matter of seconds, this huge building that a team of people worked years to construct was consumed by a cloud of smoke and reduced to rubble. Embers scattered in every direction like guided missiles.

“I did this,” Jessie said somberly.

Barrett put his hand on her shoulder, “I know it’s rough, but they brought this on themselves. Anything worth fightin for takes sacrifice, and the planet needs our help.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Let’s give em hell,” Biggs said.

Cloud was silent. What could he say? Yeah this didn’t feel great, but how were they any worse than Shinra? Even if Avalanche was wrong, it wasn’t Cloud’s problem. All he cared about was making it from one day to the next, or that’s what he told himself. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss, even if it’s willful.

Contemplating questions like these and so much more, the group carried on.

fan fiction
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About the Creator

Antonio Quinones

Hello, my name is Antonio and I’ll be posting fanfiction I guess.

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