1st Strike

[Tifa Lockhart]

AN- For starters, I HATED for this to be the opening but then I got to thinking it needed a bit of a filler before the great parts of the storyline gets started so please do excuse the boring crap that is about to be posted below.

[glow=red,2,300]This is AVALANCHE / Neutral RP ONLY[/glow]. If you’re not intending to attack us, then you’re free to join in. But this is just a starter thread so the good guys can come into play. Speaking of which, to all my AVALANCHE members: Feel free to start posting. What I’m putting up now is JUST to get Marlene out of the way because she is not going to be fighting. My next post (which by the looks of it, will be tomorrow) will be when Tifa splits off from her to go confront the monstrosity that’s causing such havoc in Edge. Barret, you’re free to add a post if you like to set up your character in edge before I have my main post up where we’ll both be able to rp together. But that’s up to you. If you want to wait on me and push my lazy ass later on today to get my post up sooner, then I need it. I swear, everyone else is gunho and I can’t seem to get in the rp spirit haha >.< and this was my idea… gah!!! Anyways, on with the useless crap before we get into anything substantial

===============================


…tick-tick-tick-tick…

The sound of the mechanics working deep within the clock hanging on the far wall of the otherwise vacant barroom echoed inside her head sorely reminding her they wouldn’t make it on time. Not now… not even if the two walked out the door right in that very second. Tifa stirred in the seat she’d randomly selected from the eatery section of 7th Heaven casting another glance in the direction of the aggravating noise to take in a mental note of the time.

“Hurry up! We’re running late!”, she called out over her shoulder towards the mouth of steps leading up into the living quarters of her home. A muffled sound of the youngest member of her family retorted back from the second floor, “I’m trying!”

With a sigh, Tifa shook her head a moment wondering if all parents went through this with their children. There was a time she remembered just how excited Marlene would have been to show up at a birthday celebration. In fact, she would have made it a point to show up early. The reluctance of the young girls desire to become a social figure seemed to grow increasingly which unnerved Tifa. Being left with only her thoughts to entertain her, Tifa analyzed the subject even further.

Sure, she supposed she could place some blame on the man that’d promised the girl so much. Hell, he had a lot of unkempt promises lately. But most importantly, his broken promise to be a permanent figure in both their adopted children’s lives stung deeper than his abashed desire to share his inner most thoughts with his closest friend….

Friend…

…was that even an accurate assumption of their relationship anymore? Friends would at least confide in each other. Or better yet, they would call just because…no, a friend isn’t what she would consider their current status to be at all. But then what would she classify him as? Flustered, her thoughts delved deeper in thought soon finding herself verbally insulting a man that was nowhere to be seen.

Just how long has it been since he last stepped foot inside the door anyway? Sure Cloud, go ahead and waltz in here at all hours of the night, take what you need! And don’t come upstairs to acknowledge the people who miss you like mad. Oh, it’s fine. No need to worry. I have it all handled…yep. I’m super Tifa! I- I ..don’t need you moping around us, causing even more reprehensible damage to Marlene! To hell with all of us right? Right!? There is no us in your eyes…is there?

A warmth enveloped her face as she carried out the argument in her mind. She knew deep down she’d never utter any of these thoughts aloud. No, she would greet him as she has always done in the past. With a gentle smile, and a open heart. In truth there was no one else she‘d rather wait for than him. Even if it took her entire lifespan, Tifa would wait. Maybe to some it seemed a bit much, seriously… most women in her circumstance would have given up long by now and moved on to someone that’d at least show some regards of affection back. But Tifa wasn’t like ‘most’ women. No, she was as loyal as they come. A devoted bar hostess, a devoted mother… and a devoted lover, even if it was one sided. Tifa would save herself for the man that’s held her affections for as long as she could possibly remember…but it didn’t mean he didn’t get on her ever last living nerve

And if that didn’t get her blood boiling enough, it seems that Marlene has now taken on some of his more undesirable traits. But then again it could be that time in her life, like everyone, she’s trying to find her place in society. Tifa needn’t remind herself that Marlene was teetering on the fine line between childhood and the ever so awkward pre-teenage stage of life. If they all lived to see another winter, Marlene would soon come face to face with the twelfth anniversary of her own birth. Tifa’s brows furrowed deeper in thought. Has it really been eight years since she was introduced to the child that’d been adopted by one of her dearest friends, Barret Wallace…her mind wandered further thinking about how he would handle this sudden change in his daughter’s attitude towards life. Then again, knowing Barret, he wouldn’t hold back. No, he most defiantly wouldn’t hold his tongue around Cloud. She could only imagine how infuriated he would be if he knew how ‘Spike’ has left them to fend for themselves. To Barret, that’s no way to live. In fact, she bet he’d have some rather nasty words for their appointed leader.

But like most issues, Tifa kept her private life well hidden from her friends. To everyone else, she put on a bright face and acted as if all was well within her home and family. A lie she’d been living for so long, she nearly believed it herself…


The sudden presence of another figure in the room quickly brought Tifa out of her thoughts and back into reality. Looking off to the left of her shoulder, she spotted the auburn haired girl glowering back at her with obvious distain etched in her features. Her entire body shifted uncomfortably under the watchful gaze of her guardian. Tifa stood and slowly approached her taking in various details of the costume she’d personally sewn together by hand.

“Is it too tight?”

“No! It itches though!”, Marlene barked back as she swung her head around to meet Tifa’s face. “I changed my mind, I don’t wanna go”

Tifa stopped fidgeting with one end of the princess costume and allowed the glittering hem slip out of her fingers to address her properly, she straightened her posture “Marlene…it’s not going to be but two hours, if you cou-…”

“I don’t care! I don’t wanna go! I look retarded!” her voice rang back in a distressful plea.

Tifa stood for a moment more locked in a stalemate with the girl. It crossed her mind to remind Marlene just how tight funds were but that’d bring him back into the conversation and talking about Cloud seemed to make matters even worse for Marlene. However, Tifa felt obligated to her friends living right at the edge of Edge. Like 7th Heaven, the owner had sought a similar approach to bring in money by opening up a small establishment serving the occupants of Midgar with whatever products they could acquire. Sure, it wasn’t what you called great food, but Johnny didn’t let that deteriorate his motive to make it work. Still, little more than a glorified shack, he kept his business up and running without so much as a hiccup.

But how does one explain such to a young mind? The economy had been so-so following the end of yet another war, and with it the increase in imported goods, a strain for materials was soon placed on everyone.

Dropping her head, Tifa studied the floorboards taking in the worn textures of wood while attempting to collect the words to retort to Marlene. Seconds past by as the silence in the began to grow thick

…tick-tick…

...aside from that infernal clock!

Her head snapped upright to give the clocks face a hard look as if to somehow tell that bucket of bolts just how annoyed she was with its constant reminder of their tardiness when her eyes picked up on movement outside the glassed store front of the bar. Marlene’s defensive stance loosened up once she’d realized that Tifa’s attention was averted to something outside. Curious as to what, she cautiously fell into step behind Tifa as the two took a closer look outside.

“wha..what was it? What did you see?”, Marlene asked as a sudden feel of dread pooled within her small stomach. She knew Tifa wouldn’t have let this argument be won so easily. She knew full well Tifa wouldn’t drop it so suddenly for just anything. No, whatever she saw, or thought she saw,… it couldn’t be good. Not good at all.

[barret]

Screams and crying could be heard from down the street. Bad timing, got him every time. "Damn, even when it's ta be a good day."
Barret left a wrapped present, an aqua-blue wrapping paper, with a purple and silver poka-dotted bow. Down on the table, before a shape flew by. "You people stay inside, I'll take care of it." Barret Wallace said, as his metal hand grabbed the doorknob.

"Great... Just fucking great..." He muttered, as he saw the scene... His gunhand shifting into the Microlaser Attachment.

"Come and get me, fuckers!" He shouted at no one in particular, but knowing his usual luck, it was a bet that he was a target.

[Marlene Wallace]

Tifa kept a trained eye to the sidewalk & street outside the tavern’s windows while Marlene’s inquisitions on what she’d seen were left unanswered. Flustered, Marlene turned her attention to another window pulling herself across the length of one of the booths seating coming to an abrupt stop next to the paneled wall. Leaning in as much as she dared, Marlene peered out into the vast area to where Tifa was obviously so taken back from.

..nothing

Nothing at all…

Then what was such a big deal anyways!? …humph , grownups. They could be quite confusing sometimes. She frowned inwardly while turning a questionable glance back to the woman poised and alert, “Tifa?…” she inquired once more attempting to get some response from the dark haired woman.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Indeed, there was nothing…

And nothing was exactly what was wrong. Although Edge was a third of Midgar, it’s population over the past few years more than made up for the handicaps it suffered from four years earlier. With the boom of activity increasing, one would only assume the streets would be filled with various patrons going about their daily tasks. But to look out and see nothing…

Without breaking her stance, she addressed the young girl that had called her out by name a few moments ago, “Marlene, listen to me.”, shifting slightly, Tifa shot a quick glance in the child’s direction making eye contact for a few seconds before returning her sight to scan the area once again for any immediate danger, “Go to your room…”

“But!”, Marlene began to stop her and Tifa squared her shoulders as she turned to face the girl fully. With a stern tone, she addressed her once more, “Go to your room. Lock the door. Don’t let anyone in unless it’s me or Cloud or someone you know you can trust. Understand?”

[Marlene Wallace]

There was something in the older woman’s tone that sent a chill up her spine. Sure, she wasn’t a stranger to being in the midst of a dangerous situation but Marlene wasn’t the one to go out looking for it either. Pushing herself back from the plate-glass window, she sat with her legs folded under her. She stared in question to her adopted mother wanting so badly to have the answers she was eager to ask but they remained unspoken for the time being. Giving Tifa a curt nod, she turned and slipped out of the booth to pause a second time.

“…will you…”, Marlene could feel the anxiety building with each breath as she desperately tried to suppress the unwanted emotion, “be okay?..”

[Tifa Lockhart]

Backing out from the booth, Tifa turned her attention down to the girl awaiting an answer. Tifa paused in her actions to take in the small framed girl.

…even with a new threat, she’s holding her own

Humph, maybe taking after Cloud wasn’t so bad after all…

Although the two seemed to have their faults, there has been an unspoken bond between Marlene and Cloud that Tifa never really could comprehend. The few times he was home, Cloud would allow Marlene to welcome him in a loving embrace, such an act Tifa dared not attempt herself. But for whatever reason there was, Marlene had connected with Cloud. A connection that very few have ever tried & succeeded.

Acknowledging her, Tifa replied in all sincerity, “ I’ll be fine, don’t worry. Cloud won’t let anything happen to us”

Upon hearing his name, the girls demeanor changed almost immediately. And before Tifa could truly react, she was assaulted in a deep bear hug.

…if only all attacks were this harmless

Tifa staggered slightly as her arms came up to surround the girls shoulders to return the kind gesture. The moment between mother and daughter was short lived as Tifa whispered down to her, “I have to go now.”

[Marlene Wallace]

Feeling a bit reluctant Marlene slowly allowed her grip to loosen itself slightly, as Tifa placed a quick kiss to the crown of her head before she released her fully. She stepped back looking up at the woman she’d come to love and respect as a mentor and a mother standing tall and proud. The emotions building deep within her was more than she could bare. Against her will, she felt the warm stinging of tears as she sucked in a short breath and keeping them at bay, she turned away. Without a word of farewell, Marlene sprinted away from her and ran up the stairs to get as far away from the unknown threat as possible








( End scene for this character only - Good luck guys! I'm counting on you to win this round)

[Cloud Strife]

(My apologies for the tardiness of my reply, all. Cloud had a bit of traveling to do to get near his friends. After all, he's coming all the way from Nibelheim. Gotta give the guy some time. XP
Though not in the city yet, my next post will be Cloud's triumphant(ish?) arrival to save the day. Maybe. At any rate, enjoy my windbaggery!)

~~~


Slowly, the sounds of the droning roar of the engine and the blur of the countryside passing by faded away from the forefront of Cloud's mind, where they most likely should have remained. Instead, he found himself frowning and focusing more and more on the disappointing experience he had had at Nibelheim. In fact, things had gone so badly there that it was almost more of a mental set-back than a step forward on his path to psychological redemption. Still, he wouldn't let it get him down just yet. There were too many other people and places to see. Such as the rather large, unpleasant looking stump hulking in the middle of the field for no apparent reason.

Stump?

Cloud immediately threw on the brakes, jarred roughly from his thoughts by the clear and present danger of becoming involved in a serious(ly stupid) motorcycle accident. The wheels spun and squealed loudly in protest, sparks flying from the overworked brake pads as Fenrir began to slide out of Cloud's control. Reigning it in firmly, he tried to work the drift to his advantage.

That's when the stump took issue with the spikey-haired pest careening toward it. Rising up and spreading its bulky post-like arms, the stump rather abruptly showed its true identity - a very large, very angry monster. Barrel-chested to the second degree, the huge rock-and-earthen toned beast drew back a car sized fist and slammed it into the ground just in front of the sliding motorcycle. The force of the shockwave generated, as well as the speed of the suped-up bike caused Cloud and most of his belongings to go flying over the beast's head, landing in a jumbled, broken heap before rolling to a stop. Regaining his feet almost immediately out of the landing with an adept, if painful roll, the former Shinra looked up at his opponent with a glare. "I liked that bike..."

As his foe turned to face him, Cloud darted quickly under its bulky arm and toward what remained of the motorcycle. Snatching the First Ken from its holster on the bike, Cloud was pleased to notice that none of his Fusion Blades seemed to have been damaged. Rapidly, he grabbed up the hollow edge and connected it into place, locking the two back blades into place as well. Before he could snatch up the short blades, however, the unseen second hand of the monster swept in, catching Cloud by the left leg and trailing end of his coat.

Caught off guard by the sudden, crushing grip lifting him into the air, Cloud cursed and struggled to hold onto the heavy blade. Facing the monster upside down, Cloud was hard pressed to recall just why he had thought something that big and ugly had been a tree stump in the first place. Reversing his grip on the large, unwieldy sword with a flourish, the blonde mercenary swung hard at the monster's wrist. With a thundering crack, the blade crushed and bit its way into the monster's rock-like skin. Howling, the beast flung him away, kicking the bike after him in a rage before stopping to examine its injured wrist.

Flipping to right himself as he was thrown, Cloud grunted in pain as he realized the monster had probably sprained his ankle with that grab. Still, no time to focus on that now. Angling the direction of his fall to coincide with the trajectory of the trashed bike, he reached out and snatched one of the daggers from the wreckage before it landed. Slipping it into the holster over his shoulder, he turned and grabbed the second as the bike rolled, then braced for impact. Rolling on his side and trying not to focus on the death crunches of his beloved motorcycle doing the same, he came to his feet ready for more.

More was most definitely coming. Infuriated by the painful injury to its wrist, the hulking behemoth of a monster was bearing down on him with murder in its eyes. Seeing this, Cloud realized that having the dagger in his left hand was not a wise usage of resources. Snapping it into place immediately, he reached for the other one over his shoulder and drove it home. Instead of clicking into place neatly, the black "chunked" and didn't quite lock. Swearing, Cloud pulled it back out and knocked it back in, glancing up to see the monster was nearly upon him. Having no time to plan out his next move, he ducked down between the beast's stumpy legs and took a blind swing.

The jarring impact from the Fusion Blade slamming into the beast's ankle at an off angle nearly knocked it from Cloud's hand, and did little to harm the creature. Fingers and wrist buzzing painfully, Cloud was forced to switch the blade into his non-dominant hand, shaking out his aching fingers in an attempt to restore their blood flow. Realizing that it hadn't felt the satisfying squish of annoying hornet-colored human beneath its feet yet, the beast looked around to see where its opponent had gone to. Turning to face Cloud, it gave the mercenary just enough time to regain the feeling in his hand and grip his blade properly once more.

Charging toward the beast before it could do the same to him, Cloud hoped to catch his opponent off-guard just long enough to get in a truly solid hit. Propelling himself into the air just as the behemoth pulled back its hamfist for a punch, Cloud swung the blade downward with all his weight and momentum into the beast's chest. With an explosive sound of metal meeting stone, the Fusion Blade sent a spray of gravel and grit in all directions. Giving a terrible cry, the monster followed through with its punch nonetheless. Surprised by the creature's tenacity, Cloud caught that blow full-force in the torso.

Immediately, he could feel the grinding crunch of his ribs snapping under the strain of impact. Barely managing to follow through on his cut and ensure the creature's own punch helped him bring it down, several more large chunks of rock and dark, filthy ichor sprayed from the beast's gashed chest as it went down. Sailing through the air and blinded by pain, Cloud couldn't help but smile to himself in some grim sense of satisfaction. Closing his eyes, he heard more than felt his impact with the ground, then everything went mercifully dark for a time.

~~~

When Cloud awoke again, it wasn't to the peaceful sounds of the meadow, the warmth of sunlight pouring out from behind the cloud cover, or even the annoying peck of a Chocobo checking to see if he was alive or dead before moving on. No, Cloud awoke to white hot pain. Groaning and rolling onto his side, he coughed up a significant amount of hot, rust-flavored fluids that most likely should not have been coming out of his mouth. Grimacing and wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, he rose slowly and shakily to his feet. The intense pain of his broken ribs and swollen ankle overwhelmed him at once, but he remained standing and sweated it out. After all, he was built of tougher stuff. Even when no one was around to see him heroically not shedding a tear.

Glancing to the fallen corpse of his brief, but frighteningly tough enemy, Cloud spat at it distastefully. The next several, agonizingly slow minutes were spent disassembling the Fusion Blade and storing the heavier blades on his back. The daggers went into two small belt-loop like holsters he had recently added to the uncovered side of his waist, making them easy to draw if he should need them. After all, if a monster like that was back out in the world, there was no telling what other unexpected dangers could abound. Glancing to the wreckage of his motorcycle for a moment of two, Cloud resolved that he had no choice but to walk to the nearest settlement. Glancing up and seeing that his unfortunate only option was the remains of Midgar, he sighed. Or, tried to, before pain nearly choked the effort. Setting aside his distaste for the long walk ahead, Cloud concentrated on breathing and not letting his bad ankle slow him down.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa watched Marlene flee from the room till she was no longer within her sight before she took further action. Once she knew she’d followed through with her orders, Tifa made her way around the bar in search of anything that could be of use to her if it was a battle she’d soon be facing. Cursing inwardly, the first series of drawers produced nothing more than an expired bottle of x-potion & a handful of restorative materia’s that’d barely been used. Now was about the time she wanted to kick herself to telling Yuffie she could help herself to whatever was behind the bar merely weeks beforehand. Gotta hand it to the ninja, she was quite thorough leaving next to nothing of any value behind.

Flipping out another box from deep within the bars containment unit, Tifa paused as her eyes fell across the faded lettering etched in black with perfect penmanship.

To my best friend that’d I could never live without, Aerith

She stared at the message for a moment longer as her fingertips slipped gingerly up over the boxes surface daring to touch the imprinted ink as if it could possibly do her any harm. As the tip of her finger approached the dark ink, her breath stilled inside her lungs as she ceased all movement. A vivid picture of the angelic like features of her former ally filled her thoughts. Her hauntingly emerald eyes smiling playfully back as if she was with holding a secret that she would only reveal by her own choosing. Tifa’s fingers smoothed out fanning across the small message as she chastised herself for taking up so much time already as she quickly pulled back each flap of cardboard to reveal what was hidden inside. As the last bit of carbonated paper was lifted from her obstructive view, Tifa found herself looking down at a pair of neatly folded gloves.

Quirking a brow, Tifa reached in and scooped a single glove up into her hands for further inspection. The material was unlike anything she’d felt or seen. The low glow of the bar’s lights reflected small diamond shaped sparkles that shimmered deeply within the woven dark fabric. Overall, the material the gloves were constructed of was exceptionally light, unlike most leather based weaponry she owned. Tifa allowed the box to slip off her lap and topple to the floor as she flexed her left hand while lifting it to the mouth of the gloves opening. The material flowed over her hand caressing her skin in a warmth that filled her with exuberant pride. Tifa knew that these were left for a reason. Even from beyond the grave, Aerith has yet to let her down. A smile spread across her face as she fashioned the second glove over her opposite hand.

With a gentle sigh of contempt, Tifa rose to her feet and in a hushed tone she spoke the words softly, “Thank you… my dear friend”



(((I know I'm dragging my feet but I'm trying to get everyone in here before we are set for battle. So this is just a bump/post to get me one step closer out the door)))

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair's approach into the town in which Tifa dallied was slow, steady, and quiet. The black cloak drawn tightly about his head, he slowly strode down the street in front of the building Tifa stood in. Paying no heed to anyone, or any commotion about. His mind was set completely on setting one foot in front of the other, and on his own inner thoughts. The Buster Sword on his back rustled quietly in its wrapping. A single lock of Black Hair stood out from the hood, his face turned down at the ground, his eyes zoned out as he considered his current mind track. He was in some sort of mental debate with himself. The topic was likely unknown even to him, but it most likely had something to do with Cloud and the others. The cloak gathered around his form, rarely moving far aside from billowing out at his feet to expose his black boots and baggy pants as he walked, his gait quiet against the ground despite the heavy boots.

"Cloud..." Was the single word he uttered, coincidentally in front of Tifa's door, before he looked up at the sky, the cloak allowing only for a view of his face below the nose as he did. Whether he was speaking of the sky or the man was unknown to the passerby, but Zack's thoughts were of nothing but the friend he had left behind when he had died, and why he was back again. He stood there, in front of the doorway, across the street, for a few seconds before turning his gaze back to the ground yet again, continuing his slow walk. His eyes continued to focus in and out on the ground before him as he wandered in his inner turmoil. Still, it wouldn't do any good if people thought him a depressed wreck, so he forced a smile on his face and forced his thoughts away and continued his walk. He'd need to force that smile unto his mind, and hopefully eventually he wouldn't need to force it. Still, inside his mind, a storm churned like mad, and his thoughts rocketed around his brain.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Just outside the exit of 7th heaven, Tifa cautiously watched either way for any sign of life. Once the quick survey was conducted, she concluded that it was safe enough to continue down the alleyway and she hastened her approach towards Johnny’s café. She prayed that everyone was safe but deep down she knew that it wasn’t. But then again, from the short conversations over the phone, she also knew that Barret, Nanaki & Cid would also be there…or so she hoped.

…please be okay everyone, I’m on my way

Once the pathway was clear, she sprinted across the vacant streets keeping a trained eye out for any movement as she did so. Tightening her grip, Tifa’s chin lifted slightly as the main square soon came into view. The same spot a few years prior was home to the intense battle AVALANCHE with the aid of Rude and Reno, fought Bahamut Sin. She arrived just west of where the monument use to stand but now it was nothing more than a large plot of grass surrounded by a simple foot high wall. Slowing herself slightly, she planted her right foot onto the width of the concrete structure landing safely on the opposite side. Pulling herself upright, Tifa stood statuesque in the center of the cities square turning her head in all directions and listening for anything that would seem out of order.

The land produced next to little sound save for the occasional clinking of a discarded trash being pushed by the small current of wind. Her eyes swept the area toughly; east to west. North to south. Nothing…anxiety reared its ugly head and attempted to settle in her thoughts and doubts soon plagued her thoughts.

..what if I was to late?

No…impossible

..not even Shinra could pull off such a feat in the amount of time. But the explanation of this strange occurrence was still left to be questioned. She’d almost decided that it was time to move on and towards the south end towards Johnny’s when she heard it. Footsteps… and from the sound of it, they were approaching fast.

Spinning herself around, Tifa hunched slightly bringing both her hands into view as her fingers coiled tightly within her palms forming fists. Taking in a short breath, she pent the air inside he lungs as her gaze bored into the direction from which the unknown source of sound was coming from.

..this is it




((A/N - Apologies first off, I am well aware that this seems rushed and rightfully so, it is. I have a short amount of time free this morning but I still wanted to put something up here just incase any AVALANCHE or neutral characters would like to make their debut / or if Zack wants to finally come out from wherever it is he’s walking from. Also, it lacks a lot. I hate that… nearly as bad as my first post but like I said, I didn’t have time to really pick over this and actually give it more thought. Please excuse the hastened response, but it’s merely another bump post to get things rolling. And a side note/ I should be home later today… much later but I know I should be on at some point tonight so I’ll check back in then. Much love guys!! XXX OOO))

[Cloud Strife]

(Hey, if I don't get to beat the ever-loving crap out of my own writing on this board, neither do you, Tif. I'm going to throw life-sized Nanaki plushies at you every time you insult your own work from now on, and they are going to burn. -intense stare- Now, on with my own charade of an intro!)

Small, crimson droplets pattered to the pavement almost too loudly in the unusual silence of the streets of Edge, unnoticed by the man who was causing the action with every pulsing beat through his veins. Coughing and thus continuing the vicious cycle causing him to die one beat at a time, the blonde mercenary looked up tiredly, trying to concentrate only on keeping one foot moving in front of the other, every other beat a trial of weary pain and testing his will to move on. The fire running through his chest had been fueled steadily by the three mile ordeal into the city, and threatened to consume him with every motion. Still, he pressed on. He had no choice.

His mind wandered against his will. Why was Edge so quiet? True, though the city had been through much in the past several years, it had never seemed so... tense, like something was just about to happen. Cloud tried to shake it off, knowing full well how the intense pain he was feeling could cloud his judgement and make him paranoid. Yet still, the irrational fear of walking into the monster's cavern (Fun Fact - This expression is very similar to our "lion's den" analogy. And knowing is half the battle!) remained in the forefront of his mind, no matter how hard he tried to shake it off.

It was almost impossible to believe that he had yet to run into a living soul thus far in his trek into the city. Cloud was beginning to wonder if the place had emptied out in the past five months since he took his leave. In all honesty, though, the young man was almost grateful for that fact. It meant that none could see him in his pitiable state, and no one would recollect that the mighty "hero" had fallen to such a stupid situation. The reminder of his idiotic mistakes in his most recent battle helped to override the pain to a degree, and so he was able to press on. With any luck (which he seemed to be lacking lately), he would be able to get into Tifa's bar and pick up some of the Cure materia he had left behind. Assuming it wasn't used up, he would hopefully be able to heal and be on his way before he ran into anyone.

(His location within Edge has been left extremely vague on purpose. Anyone who wishes to run into him may do so if it seems like a good idea to you.)

[Zack Fair]

(aww, but I wanted to rage against my own pitifully short post right here D: I was out of ideas to continue the post before you could react to anything.)

Zack's eyes widened in both shock and fear when his eyes landed upon the injured Cloud, limping his way to Tifa's bar. "Cloud!" Zack shouted, the hood falling off of his face as he sprinted to the Blonde warrior's side. "Cloud! What happened to you?" She asked, the Cure materia on his arm glowing warmly as he used its power, unleashing the spell Cura upon Cloud's wounds. It wasn't the strongest materia, but it was stronger than the basic cure materia, so he may be able to do some much needed healing. As the spell was cast upon Cloud, Zack looked at him with worry. "If you keep throwing yourself into these situations, you're going to die before I can actually save you, kid." He said, his happy demeanor from the past finally returning at the sight of his old friend, despite the dire condition he was in. "Still, you're lucky I'm here today, aren't you?" He did his best not to cry, seeing his friend for the first time, yet so badly wounded. Still, he kept his face in a smile, and held back the moisture gathering behind his eyelids. This was not a time for tears, it was a time to save Cloud, and then a time to laugh.

[Cloud Strife]

Cloud barely took notice when his name was shouted, though it was certainly ear-splittingly loud compared to the relative silence of the emptied city streets. However, the healing effect of the Cura spell certainly got his attention. The pale pallor of his face began to return to its slightly tanned state as his lost blood was replaced. His ankle's swelling went down from severe to almost nonexistent as the sprain repaired himself. Unfortunately, his broken ribs were slightly beyond the abilities of the spell, though they did much to improve his situation. Setting back into the proper positions, they mended enough to keep from being sent into his organs when he moved, and his broken blood vessels sealed back up and began pumping blood through him properly rather than exiting his circulatory system through his lungs. Removing his hand from his formerly agonizing, now only slightly sore ribcage, Cloud looked up to thank his savior.

And very nearly fainted dead away. The paleness in his face returned, though it had absolutely nothing to do with blood loss this time. His bright, mako-infused eyes almost seemed to dull, glazed slightly in shock. His mind reeled at the impossibility of who stood before him, seemingly back from beyond the grave to help Cloud, just as he always had in the past. Rather abruptly, the stoic warrior's feelings of control were ripped from him. Not caring whether or not he was on death's door and hallucinating from blood loss or actually seeing his deceased friend and superior in Shinra, Cloud stared dumbly for several seconds at the other man's face. He didn't seem to have aged a day, whereas Cloud himself was clearly older, more experienced, and thoroughly hardened. There were almost no traces of his former innocence and naivete for Zack to recognize, replaced instead by a look of world-weariness and deep-seated grief.

Collecting his completely shattered thoughts in some small measure, he took a half-step toward the other male before hesitating for a moment. "Is it... how can it really be you?", he questioned softly, scarcely believing he was speaking to what was in all likelihood an image brought on by his dire need to staunch the bloodflow no longer occurring within his chest.

[Zack Fair]

"Really, I don't know myself. I guess the Lifestream decided I was better off alive than dead. Either way, when I woke up, I knew I was back here, and I started wandering around, doing Vigilante work and the like. And I found this..." he said, pulling on a strap on his back, the Buster Sword unraveling from its wrappings to fall into his hands. "Jammed into a cliff-face. Broken. I thought I told you to take care of this thing." he said, smirking. "You're just lucky that I had it reforged. Angeal would be so upset if he knew that it broke. He might jump out of the Lifestream to gut me himself." at this he laughed, a jovial mood coming over him at the image of Angeal breaking out of the lifestream purely because he was upset his sword had been damaged.

"But either way, it's good to see you, Cloud." Zack stated, his laughter subsiding. "Though seeing you in that dire of a condition nearly gave me a heart attack. What exactly happened? I know you've probably still got some bruises after my spell, considering how bad you looked. Something seriously had to beat you down, and I thought you could handle anything."