Eyes on Final Fantasy Forums > General > Writer's Corner > [S] Final Fantasy VII: The Thrill of the Ride

[James Leopold]

Hi, I decided to write a short story on Final Fantasy VII, to see what I could come up with. This is my first attempt of a story longer than one chapter, so just to say I'm not proffessional. Please give me feedback of what you think of it, even if you think its bad, just tell me I won't take it personally. Hopefully with a few comments I can improve upon it.

The story is based a year after Dirge of Cerberus, and the main characters are Cid and Vincent. The first chapter serves as a sort of introduction to the story. Remember, please tell me what you think!

Here's the first chapter...


Chapter One
The Two Contestants

The sun rose over the lazy town of Rocket town. Its orange glow brilliantly shined through the quiet streets. A slight breeze blew a piece of paper into the cloudless sky. A wind chime rang quietly, and a cockerel crowed.


Cid Highwind stood looking up at his beautiful airship, the Shera. Named after his beautiful wife, the suns rays reflected off its metallic hull. It looked like a sleeping beast, large, quiet and still. Cid loved it, almost as much as he loved his wife. He climbed up the ladder hanging down the side of the ship. Reaching the deck, he slowly walked around the ship, inspecting it.


Everything was in working order, as it should be. The right side of the ship had been badly damaged in the battle with Deepground a year ago. But now, it looked as good as new. Cid had been annoyed with how long the repair work had taken, and as soon as it was fixed he had flown until its fuel had nearly run out.


There was something inside Cid Highwind, like a hawk trying to get free. He couldn’t stand being on the ground, it was as if he was born abnormally. A bird without wings, left behind by his flock to fend for himself. A cigar hung limp out of his mouth as he surveyed the cockpit. He was going to have to get his crew ready again.


Reluctantly, he climbed back down from the ship and entered his house. He turned the kettle on and buttered some toast for himself. Walking into the bedroom, he smiled at his sleeping wife. He moved towards her, bent down and kissed her on the cheek. She moved slightly, but soon was still again.


He left the room and sighed. Pouring himself a coffee and picking the plate of toast up, he sat down at the table. It was 6am and he was the only person awake in the whole town. It annoyed him, but he always woke up at this time. Maybe it was his natural instinct, or it could be because of his constant nightmares of Sephiroth. He remembers the day that he fought Sephiroth as though it was yesterday. The fear that filled his every nerve, the anger that filled his blood like a poison. The blood pounded in his head, as he remembered the many forms that Sephiroth had taken.


He breathed heavily as the memories came flooding back to him. Why had he ever decided to join the others? Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Nanaki, Cait Sith, Yuffie, Vincent and Aeris. Oh Aeris! A tear glinted in his eye as he remembered that horrible day. Another reason to hate Sephiroth!


Enough of the past! He resolved. It was time to look forward to the future. He was expecting Vincent later on today. He hadn’t seen Vincent for many months and wanted to be re-acquainted with the lone warrior. So he invited Vincent to visit for a while, yesterday. Cid wasn’t sure when Vincent would arrive, he seemed to come and go as he pleased and never seemed to get tired. He was a strange man, that’s for sure.


* >>



Vincent awoke. He opened his eyes quickly and rose from the bed. Resting his feet on the ground, he buried his head in his hands. More headaches! He thought. Ever since Rosso had ripped the Protomateria out of his body and Chaos was allowed to roam free, his head had never been the same. He would get blinding pains at least once a week.


Gone! As quick as that. He shook his head, got up and looked out over the town of Kalm. The streets were slowly coming to life as Vincent saw the occasional car or person move past. Cid had called him yesterday, said he wanted to see him. Vincent wondered what it was about.

He went downstairs to see Shelke up and having breakfast. He didn’t want to live with her, he preferred to be alone, but she insisted and wouldn’t give up when he said no.
“Good morning Vincent Valentine” she greeted him. “Morning” he grunted back, he never had time for unnecessary pleasantries.
“So want a coffee?” she offered. “No” he replied. “I’m going to Rocket town, Cid wants to see me, I don’t know how long”
“You’re not going to have anything to eat? It’s a long trip!” she said startled.
“I’ll survive.” He said moving towards the door.
She knew there was no way she was going to stop him. “Well aren’t you going to say goodbye?!” she inquired.
He looked at her “Goodbye Shelke Rui” he said gruffly, and left the building.
She shook her head and smiled “Goodbye Vincent Valentine”.


Vincent walked down the main street of Kalm, Cerberus in hand. People veered away from him, they loved and respected him but they were outweighed by their fear of him. Vincent didn’t even notice. When his mind was focused on something, he didn’t think about anything else, unless it was a threat to him. Only one thing would float through his mind occasionally, and that was a name. Lucrecia. But he tried his hardest not to dwell on it, it was too painful.


Leaving the town, he started to pick up the pace. Until he was running, running with unnatural speed! At this pace he would get to Rocket town in under an hour. That was until he did notice something. Something wrong! But what! There it was! A traveller! In danger!


He was under attack by an Ochu. Disgusting creatures. Vincent ran to the victim’s aid. Shooting at the creature, he managed to distract it. It screamed and came at him. Vincent quickly did a front flip over the creature and slashed at it with his claw. It screamed again, swinging at him. He ducked, and shot it in the face at point blank range. It was dead before it hit the ground.


Vincent turned to the man who was on the floor. He knelt down to check the man’s wound as the man stared at him in amazement.
“It’s just a scratch” Vincent said to the man. “You’re fine”
But the man wouldn’t get up, he kept staring at Vincent “You’re him aren’t you?”
Vincent stared at him quizzically.
“The man who saved the world from Omega Weapon! Vincent Valentine!” he shouted, laughing at the fact that a hero known world wide had just saved his life.
Vincent sighed “Look you’re fine, now I’ve got to go”
“But can’t I get a photo of you, or a sig….”
Vincent cut him off “Goodbye”. Vincent started to run again.
The man stood up and stared after the mysterious man in shock and disappointment. “Thank you!” He shouted, but he may as well have been shouting at a brick wall.

[Fatal Impurity]

Nice so far...its needs continuing!!

[James Leopold]

Thanks, I'll get chapter two up ASAP.

[James Leopold]

Here's chapter two:

Chapter Two
A Challenge

Shera awoke to the sound of an engine roaring. She could hear the cogs banging together and the steam screaming. She turned over in her bed and grabbed the clock on her bedside. 8:26am, what the hell was Cid doing? She got out of bed and looked out the window. The Shera was rising into the air, only being held down by four strong ropes on each corner. Pulling her dressing gown on, she quickly ran outside. Climbing up the long rope ladder, she prepared to face her stubborn husband.

Cid was laughing as he held the Sheras steering wheel, another cigar hanging out of his mouth. His crew were not happy; most had only just got out of bed. They dragged their feet across the deck, barely keeping their eyes open. Cid had gone around each of their houses rousing them from their beds.
“Come on you $@%$% puffs! A crew of chocobos could work faster than you!” He shouted at them. The crew groaned and continued to prepare the ship for whatever Captain Cid wanted it for. It was then that the door burst open and an angry Shera came in.
“Cid Highwind, what the hell are you doing?!” she ferociously yelled at him.
Cid jumped into the air in surprise. “$@$@$ woman! What the $$!$% are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?!”
“You mind your language and stop whatever you’re doing right now! Do you know how early it is?! You’ll have the whole of Rocket town complaining any minute now!” she said desperately.
He laughed “Don’t worry, most of the town are here already” Cid gestured to the crew, who shied away, wanting to keep out of the argument. “So keep your hair on!”
“Cid your coming with me now!” she demanded.
“What?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t you see I’m busy Shera!”
“Busy doing what?!” she questioned “All you’re doing is standing there shouting at your crew and smoking!” With this the crew smiled and looked at Cid, as he quickly put his cigar out. Cid stared back at them angrily, the smiles left their faces and they got back to work.
“Bu…” Cid started. But he was cut off by Shera.
“No!”
“Sh….”
“NO!”
Cid followed his wife reluctantly.

When they stood on the deck, Shera turned to him. She said in a much calmer tone of voice “What’s the matter with you? You’re always up early these days” She held his hands. “What’s wrong?”
He looked away from her “I’ve been having the nightmares again.”
“Oh dear!” She sighed, and held him in a tight embrace. “You’ve got to let me know about these things, Cid. If you don’t then their just going to get worse, I can help you”
“I know, I know.” He smiled “Thanks Shera” They kissed.
“Now what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Well I wanted to take my mind off my memories and try something out, because I’m bored. You know I called Vincent yesterday to visit us.” She nodded. “Well I’m going to challenge him to something”
“To what?” she asked, confused.
“A race!” he yelled in exaltation.
Shera laughed and shook her head “You’ve really gone way over your head this time; Vincent’s not going to be pleased!”



*>>




Vincent stood staring at Rocket town. The name seemed a bit pointless now; the rocket was destroyed years ago. He just stood there staring, his long red cloak floated in the wind. Whatever Cid wants it better be important. He thought. I am in no mood for any of his “activities”. He knew that the only way he was going to find out, was to talk to Cid. It might be good to speak to an old friend; he hadn’t seen Cid in many months. Shelke was always on to him, saying that he was a social outcast. Vincent didn’t like how she thought of him, and he was determined to change that. He remembered that once he used to be a normal man, a member of the Turks with very close friends. But since his run in with Hojo, all that changed.

With his claw, Protomateria and ability to transform, he doubted he would ever be truly human again. That man that he had saved from the Ochu had admired him and stared at him in awe. The emotions that that man showed interested Vincent. All emotions were rare to Vincent now. He didn’t know why it was so hard, they were just suppressed, held back, imprisoned. Maybe if he tried to fight those barriers, he could become a little bit more human. If he tried to…no it was nonsense…

It may be nonsense, but I can still try he thought. He decided to not be so reluctant to talk to people and to try to be a little happier. Happiness, when was the last time he ever felt that feeling? Probably the last time he had seen Lucrecia…


*>>


Cid checked his watch. It was midday; he wondered how much longer it would take. He expected Vincent to be here already. He was getting impatient. He walked to the entrance of the town and looked out over the beautiful landscape. The clouds were starting to roll across the sky, a dark cumulonimbus dominated the western skyline, and it was coming towards the town. He may have to put the race off till tomorrow. A flock of seagulls were flying to the east. He put his finger in his mouth and stuck it in the end. Yep, the weather was defiantly going to take a turn for the worse.

He turned around, thinking about his preparations, to see Vincent right in his face. “Whoa!” he cried, jumping back a foot. “When will you people stop surprising me?!”
Vincent ignored him and asked “Highwind, you wanted to see me?”
Always gets straight to the point. Cid thought. Come to think of it, I probably should have thought of what I’m gonna say to Vincent. He’s not the friendliest guy.
“Hi Vinnie, how are you old pal?” he said, putting a hand on his friends shoulder.
Vincent stared at him “Don’t call me Vinnie” he said with no emotion.
Cid let go of Vincent’s shoulder “Oh, sorry! Ummm…why don’t you come inside? We can grab a beer and talk for a while” he said gesturing to his house.
Vincent just stood there looking at him “Cid what do you want?!” he demanded.
$#%$% maybe I rushed into things a bit here, he doesn’t look happy. I should have chosen a better time. What should I do? Cid thought, quickly thinking of how to stop Vincent from killing him.
“Look, I’ll tell you over a drink, just be patient” Cid said, hoping.
Patience thought Vincent I can try. “Fine” he said and walked into the house. Cid hurried in after him.

Vincent took a seat at the table, while Cid poured them two beers.
“So what’s all this about Cid?” Vincent asked.
“Well I wanted to propose something to you and to catch up on things that I’ve missed” Cid said.
“What things?” asked Vincent.
“Like…how everybody is. I haven’t seen them in quite some time” Cid said hopefully.
“What makes you think I’ve seen them?” Vincent snapped at Cid.
Cid jumped “Well… you’re always travelling I just thought you would have spoken to some of them”
“Well, I did speak to Barret about a month ago” Vincent said, thinking back to his meeting “He said that the search for more oil is going well and that we should be able to finish with mako finally”
“Well that’s good news!” Cid exclaimed “I’ve been meaning to talk to Barret about something” but then asked with concern “How about Red, any news?”
“Not that I know of, he’s still missing” Vincent replied “He went looking for a mate a few months back and no one has seen him since”
“#@$$@, I wish he wouldn’t do that. He’s an odd creature” Cid said “I hope he comes back soon, I miss the little fur ball”
Vincent, unable to contain himself said “Ok, enough of the chit chat Cid, what do you want?”
“Well, I suppose I asked for this” Cid prepared himself, wondering how he was going to ask Vincent. This was something he really wanted to do, but he wasn’t sure if Vincent would consent. “Ummm…you know your ability to fly?” he asked.
“Yes Cid, I do.”
“Well I was wondering if your flying was faster than my Shera”
“How do you want to find out?” Vincent asked
“I was thinking that you’re always so busy doing this and that, that you’d want some time off, let off some steam, and perhaps let me challenge you to a race?”
Vincent stared at him.
“Ahh…Vincent?” Cid asked worryingly.
Vincent continued to stare.

[Fatal Impurity]

hmmm this is good simple stuff...please carry on!