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Final Fantasy VII: Awakening	By : Saan Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 844 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The vast territories of Cosmo Canyon were incredible to behold. She had been there only a couple times but they were all for vacation purposes. She had never had the chance to experience it with a group before. As she climbed the stone steps to the village, she became aware that eyes were on her. She studied the faces and took note of the expressions. Could it be that the people here were recognizing her as a Shinra employee? Their faces didn't contain any anger or malice. Such strange looks, she thought to herself.

"Yay, its helicopter lady!� Cried the voice of a little girl.

Leira had remembered the voice from so many years ago. She was the helicopter pilot that given orders to move a young girl and an older woman to Kalm from Midgar.

The little girl raced up to her. Her brown hair was longer now and she was a little taller. Leira was barely able to recognize her.

"Marlene Wallace!" She exclaimed.

The little girl gave a huge smile and playfully punched her in the stomach. "Silly!" she said to Leira.

Leira had enjoyed the brief time that she spent transporting the little girl. She was very friendly and well mannered albeit a little hyperactive. Leira bent down and picked her up. "It's been a long time! Is Elmyra around?" she asked.

The Turk, despite her employers, had spent awhile talking to Elmyra Gainsbourough, Aeris' adoptive mother. Elmyra had been broken up over her daughter's death. Leira, as well as a few others, had tried to comfort her. Leira was surprised to see Marlene here so she figured that Elmyra might also be around.

Marlene fell silent for a while. "No, she's off on a vacation. She went to visit the Icicle place. They've got another marker for the flower lady."

"You know her?" Cloud could barely contain his surprise.

"Yuffie! Cloud!" shouted Marlene as Leira set her down. The seven-year-old girl embraced both of them. "Poppa will be so glad to see you! I'll go get him!� In a flash the little girl was off and running. Leira was amazed at how much energy such a little girl could have.

"She's sooo cute!" said Yuffie putting her hands behind her head.

"Funny, I didn't think she'd be here." Leira said voicing her surprise to Cloud.

"Barret thought it would be a good idea if he took the time to reflect and joined Nanaki over here." Cloud said.

"Nanaki?" Leira felt a little silly. She had had several files placed in front of her while doing paperwork for Tseng but she never paid any attention to it. She could see all the "wanted" files in her mind but there were too many of them back in those days to pay attention to each one.

"Hojo had captured him and had assigned him a number. We all called him Red XIII until we found out he had another name." Said Yuffie.

"Oh." Leira replied.

"Well, I'll be!" came a hearty bellow. "If it isn't SOLDIER boy!�

Cloud looked up towards the large dwelling and saw the big black man known as Barrett moving down the large steps.

Leira glanced in the direction of the loud yell and was able to recognize the man immediately. It had been almost three years to the day since she had last seen this person. She was able to remember all the events that had transpired during that time. She recalled that she had lost a good friend the same day she met the man that was approaching.

"Hey man, who's the chick?" Barrett asked incredulously as he eyed the Turk. "Marlene seemed to be pretty excited over her."

Leira began to feel upset by the memories that this man brought her. He had been a stowaway on the freighter that carried President Rufus Shinra to Costa del Sol. The same freighter that had carried the Jenova creature and Sephiroth. Leira saw one of her best friends, Timal Klefmon reduced to putty by Jenova right before her eyes. "You may not remember me, but I have certainly seen you before. Sailor suits aren't for you."

Barrett held his gun arm up to her. "You're that Shinra on that boat ain't ya?"

Leira did not even flinch. "Oh, I don't know. I'd say I was one of several Shinra on 'that boat.'" she said slyly.

Barrett growled. "Why would she be callin' you helicopter lady?"

"That's easy; I was assigned to transport Marlene and Elmyra out of the slums."

Barrett lowered his gun arm. "Shinra ain't welcome here, you know, Cloud."

The ex-SOLDIER shrugged his shoulders at her. "I know Barrett but she's on our side�"

"SHIII-IIIT, man, Shinra don't take no sides!� the black man blurted out.

"Barrett if you'll just listen�"

"It's apparent that he's not going to listen." Leira said as she crossed her arms. "I don't know why you thought he'd be able to help us in the first place."

Cloud realized quickly that he was dealing with two very hardheaded people. He scratched the back of his head as he tried to figure out a way to talk to the both of them.

"Poppa about Naki!" came Marlene's voice.

All attention focused on the stairs underneath the large observatory. There, walking down the steps with Marlene was the new head elder of Cosmo Canyon, Red XIII.

The orange lion strode down the stone steps with pride. He smiled, as he was able to see the familiar faces of years passed gather. "If it isn't Cloud Strife. How've you been?" he asked.

Cloud smiled back. "Been good, sir."

"Who's the new girl?" the elder asked. Nanaki sniffed the air surrounding the Elite. "She smells familiar."

Cloud gave his "mother" a warning look. He knew what her introduction would be and feared the creature's response.

"'Course she does. She's a Shinra." Barrett shouted. "Remember the boat? The Highwind? She was in a couple other places too!"

Nanaki lowered his head. "Is this true?"

Leira suddenly felt ashamed. "Yes. I'm a Turk. I don't recall meeting any of you so many times but my memory hasn't been what it used to be lately." She waited to be pounced on and mauled by the beast.

Cloud was crossing his fingers in his mind. He knew how much Red XIII had hated the Shinra. He had been taken from his home and experimented on, until Cloud and the others had rescued him.

"Let's talk about this inside shall we?" Cosmo Canyon's chief turned and led the group into the cliff-side observatory that had originally belonged to his grandfather. Once inside everyone was seated.

"It's strange to see a Shinra step into this type of surrounding�let alone someone who still keeps her tradition alive. What brings you here?"

The Turk tried to overcome her uneasiness. "I'm looking for Sephiroth. I was hired a couple years ago to find him."

"You're a little late for that ain't ya!" Barrett was getting tired of her being around and wasn't afraid to let his voice be heard.

"Please, Barrett. Let her talk." Shot Cloud.

"Sephiroth�" Red XIII exhaled. "He is�"

Leira looked up. "Yes."

"He's dead. He's not a concern anymore."

Leira shook her head vigorously. "He's still alive! I know he is! I have to find him. I have to finish this job. Meteor didn't kill him!�

"OF COURSE METEOR DIDN'T KILL HIM, CLOUD DID!� Nanaki's voice boomed.

The Turk turned her head away. Why was this conversation getting so difficult?

"Cloud, you saw him destroyed right?"

The boy nodded. "Yes but�"

Red XIII wanted to hear nothing else.

Leira got to her feet. "Doesn't it seem strange to you that rumors are still circulating about that man still wandering around? I'm sure you've heard them."

"Nanaki, I've often considered the notion that he may still be alive too. He was just too powerful to disappear." Added Cloud.

"It's none of our concern. Even if he is alive�which is doubtful." The chief sat on his haunches next to Barrett. "We are a peaceful people here. That is something that a cold-blooded killer could never understand. If he does still exist, there is no way that he can be as powerful. Meteor and Holy have gone away. There is nothing more he can do. You can go about your own mission. My people will do nothing to help you."

Cloud stood up. "I'm helping her."

"Me too." Said Yuffie.

"I will give you my blessings and ask that you all leave here. If you should find your peace, you may return." Nanaki waved his fiery tale at them to direct them to the door.

Leira was the first to get up and leave. She was determined to succeed, with or without the support of a vigilante turned born again savior.

Cloud and Yuffie were next to follow.

"That was fruitless." Yuffie muttered to herself.

Marlene looked at her father and headed down the stairs behind the rest of the group.

They were at the exit when Marlene decided to speak. "You can come back here." She smiled at Leira. "I'll let you in."

Lieandra patted her on the head. "Thank you."

"No problem. It was good to see you all, again! Good luck!� The little one chided.

"We'll see you again squirt." Yuffie winked and playfully punched her in the arm.

Leira, Cloud, and Yuffie hugged the girl one last time and walked down the stone steps.

"I thought for sure they would help us." Cloud was a little more than disappointed.

"Wonder what was wrong." Yuffie muttered.

"I wasn't expecting any miracles." The Turk replied. "Usually people that have been through hell don't want to relive it. The sad part is that there will be less people involved to prevent that same hell if it ever gets rolling again." She opened the door to her car and got in.

Cloud got into the back seat and Yuffie sat up front. Yuffie chuckled to herself each time her blonde haired friend would lower his head to get in. "Can't muss the hair can we?" she laughed as she turned around in her seat and rested her chin on the seat back.

"What?" asked Cloud.

The little Ninja could hardly contain her laughter. "Nothing!" she giggled. She looked back at the Turk.

The Elite's expression was grim. She was losing valuable time. She remembered the severe injuries sustained in the days that led up to Midgar being trashed. If it wasn't the large beasts known as Weapon, it was Meteor and all the chaos its release caused. It took years for her battered and broken body to mend. She was damned if she was going to let all that happened go to waste. She did not suffer for nothing.

The silence was making Cloud uncomfortable. "Hey, mom." He said at last. "Yuffie and I will help�I think I can convince a couple others to come along too." His words fell on deaf ears as Leira started the car.

"Come on, girl. Hear him out." Yuffie pushed.

The Hightime began to move as Leira backed it up.

"Two of them won't be too far away. They're just on the other side of Mount Nibel." Cloud continued. "We can always enlist their help and check out Nibelheim. It seems like the most likely place to start our search."

"You go, Cloud!� Yuffie shot her arms up in mock celebration. "That's an awesome idea!"

"So how about it?" asked Cloud.

"Alright, but if they don't want to help, don't mention anymore names. I'll do it on my own, with or without the help of you or your friends." Leira turned the vehicle around and headed toward the shallow river located just in front of the former sleepy village.

As the car began to cross the water, Yuffie turned around. "Hey Cloud?"

The ex-SOLDIER looked at her. "Yeah."

"You're not talking about Rocket Town are you�?"

The vehicle came to a sudden stop. Yuffie managed to cling to the seat in order to save herself from crashing against the dashboard.

"What's wrong?" Cloud asked Leira.

"Rocket Town? The formerly owned Shinra town. The one that's very much anti-Shinra oriented�That Rocket Town?!"

"Most people are anti-Shinra. It's nothing new." Said Yuffie pointedly.

"There are a couple people that understand what you're going through. The entire town used to work for Shinra. I believe that you are still trying to find Sephiroth in order to do some good. Tseng did have a good heart despite the work he did�you do, too."

"It's not my heart I'm worried about. It's being chased out of a town by an angry mob and getting the car damaged." Leira retorted.

"Not the car!� Yuffie gasped.

"Everything will be okay. I promise you, mom."

Yuffie felt relaxed until she remembered just whom Cloud was referring. "WAIT A DAMN MINUTE!�

Leira slammed on the brakes as Cloud grabbed a door handle to try to steady himself. "What's wrong Yuffie?"

"I know who you're talkin' about. In case you haven't forgotten, when we parted ways�that guy told everyone that he never wanted to see me again! He was rather pissed off at me the whole time�guy's just a bleeding heart anyway�if you ask me." She grumbled.

Leira hit the accelerator and drove into the town of Nibelheim.
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Final Fantasy VII: Awakening