I'll start things off with a pieced together set of what I've already done in other areas.
***
'How many times has it been now?' He wondered from his perch atop the highest point in Midgar, Shinra Tower, watching the little bugs scurry about here and there.
He turned upon hearing one of the Mako reactors for the city detonate and that section of the city power down till the other 6 took over the grid.
"There they are, dancing to Fate's tune once again." He watched the little bugs scurry about more until he had tired of the display. Jumping from the building he used his enhanced dexterity to swing himself into an open window several floors down.
The room was plush, inviting...and occupied by two young men both wielding massive greatswords strapped to their backs. As he approached, the two of them snapped to attention like good little SOLDIERs.
"Reporting for duty as ordered, General." barked the smaller blond one, his eyes bright with a mako glow. Amazing that just a little extra training on the side was all that it took to help him graduate the officer's test. Now that he wasn't a little ball of emo the General could actually enjoy his company. Pity he was still much too serious about things.
The other sighed and shook his head, lamenting the faults of his partner. "Think we'll be able to finish this up before closing time, sir? My girl wanted me to show up to something 'special' she's cooked up." The waggling of his eyebrows told the General all he wanted to know about his subordinate's social life.
"Sadly Zack your girlfriend's gonna have to put that surprise on hold for a time. I need you and Cloud to assist me with a top-secret mission given to me by The President himself."
He walked up to a display in corner of the office, where his treasured sword Masamune lay, took the blade from its resting place and strapped it on.
"The three of us are to infiltrate the group AVALANCHE over the next few weeks and discover how deep the organization runs. It is the President's belief that these terrorists will endanger civilian lives in their next assault." Propaganda, the lot of it. Oh he was going to ENJOY working with the heroes of this world. He always did, but he tried to have a few evil loops every now and again to keep his skills sharp. When they worked together Zack and Cloud were all but unstoppable...an excellent training partner.
'Amazing how it only took repeated loops through time to make me sane again.' Turning back to the two of them he smirked and motioned to the window. "But first, a little race perhaps? Last one down makes the initial contact!"
With that, the silver-haired General of the most powerful army on the Planet took a running dive out the window with his lieutenants right behind. Much of the way down he wondered if he should make a move on Tifa or leave her to Cloud again. Though he was much too serious on things, he had excellent taste in women. But he had to wonder...who might his opponents be today?
***
Elsewhere, Ranma and Fate tried to fight off Nanoha and Usagi across various sections of a desert. Bad enough that idiot Hojo tried infesting them all with Jenova cells but he actually tried his damnest to corrupt the two magical dynamos, FOR KICKS.
Now they were mad dominatrix powerhouses out to destroy the world in a madcap attempt to stop the Loops.
Though he had to admit, the black leather really did look good on them both. Now if only they weren't trying to make Fate and himself...'show ponies'.
***
What started out as a simple dash down the side of Shinra Tower quickly turned into a three-way sparring exercise across much of Sector 3, which bled into one of the main subway train access tunnels spiraling the center of Midgar until it opened up at last into the Lower Tier of Sector 7. All the while the three of them, Sephiroth, Zack, and Cloud were engaged in a severe, yet non-fatal combat. Even with all the obstacles between them they continued dodging trains, skipping over cars and pedestrians alike with mythril blades clashing between one another.
This impromptu demonstration of skill from the lauded 'Hand of Shinra' came to a close in the Sector 7 station amidst a massive crowd...with all three men holding a blade to one another's throat. Zack's blade to Cloud, Cloud's blade to Sephiroth, and Sephiroth's blade to Zack. Such a pose was met with thunderous applause while the three of them smiled and sheathed their swords.
"Impressive...and a bit ironic." was the remark from the General as he watched the local police break up the crowd that had gathered before the three of them began walking on towards their goal.
The blond SOLDIER could not help but be puzzled. "How was that ending ironic, sir?"
"If you can remember this day in another lifetime Lieutenant, I'll tell you."
Cloud's partner tried in vain to hid his laughter. "So who won General?"
The product of Hojo's mad research turned to the both of his men and smirked. "Cloud...I believe. So he has the honor of introducing us to AVALANCHE."
Said young man's surprise turned into disdain on his face so quickly it was hilarious to the other two warriors. "Don't worry...my sources tell me the one you want to contact works at the 7th Heaven Bar, and is someone we both know rather well."
"General...Lieutenant Zack is much better with people then I am, perhaps he should-"
"Spiky."
Cloud's suggestion died on his lips at hearing his call sign. Wherever, WHENever his CO used that nickname Nibelheim's proudest son knew without fail what followed was information and orders that could, and had, save his life in whatever mission they were on. "Anything you think you know about Shinra, forget right now. The company has become far too corrupt to leave alive, as their continued existence threatens the safety of the populace. Zack, what are our standing orders regarding threats to the safety of Midgar?"
The dark-haired man's response was quick and well-rehearsed. "To stop any and all threats to this city and it's people." It was the best part of the job in his opinion, and the reason the Shinra General's platoon was the most loved in all the city. Whereas most of Shinra's army fought to protect the company and it's solidarity, The Honored Seventh fought for all the people of Midgar, above and below, at least they did now.
"Exactly, and I have seen far too many examples of filth here and above to stay my hand any longer. This may have been a mission from President Shinra, but it's also my invitation to defect. I don't ask the two of you to come with me on this-"
"But we are anyway." Cloud finished for him. "I wouldn't even be in SOLDIER if it weren't for you General Sephiroth, so I'm with you...Pretty Boy."
"Took the words right outta my mouth.." Zack grinned. "Since I can't exactly stay and rat on both of you I'll come too." The man from a small town in the south snapped a quick salute. "Wiseguy reporting in sir."
The silver-haired hero's heart filled with pride once again. Though he had seen them display their loyalty to him and his whenever he 'played the hero', it always made him smile inside knowing that he had a hand in making men of such caliber.
"Very well. We'll follow the orders till they become inconvenient, then leave our employer in the cold. I'll run some errands for supplies, Zack, you better get home to your lady friend...you might not get anymore chances to be with her after tonight..." Said man's face became grim before he ran off in the direction of his girlfriend's home."...Cloud...you know what to do. Make contact, offer our services, but do not mention our plans to truly defect until the time is right, understood?"
"Yes General." He too then ran off toward the bar, while the Anchor of this world was left alone with his thoughts...
...and the recording devices which had picked up much of the previous conversation.
***
With the battle in the sand over and Ranma getting some distance from his opponents, he came to a very astute conclusion.
Hojo needs to be pranked... Repeatedly.
Granted the normal response was seeking the fiend's death for bringing such horny evil into the world, but the Son of Genma had spent far too much time in the Loops in general to think such an option was viable. That and he wasn't sure the two magical girls were ACTUALLY crazy.
Crazy for him, to be sure. Just not crazy in general.
Sadly the last battle had left him in a rather bad situation, what with his backup being captured and at last knowing, being fitted for a harness that would do more to show off her curves and form than actually cover it.
Turing his head at a sudden noise allowed him to catch sight of the oddest thing he'd ever seen in this world to date. Usagi and Nanoha riding in a horse-drawn floating carriage that was being pulled by...two...four...ei ug-gah!
Ranma's passing out at the sight saved him that very instant, as his flopping into the sand helped bury him just enough that his pursuers passed him on by.
A few minutes later, a massive scream resounded throughout the dunes.
"HOJO! I WILL HAVE YOUR ASS IN A SLING FOR THIS TRAVESTY!!!"
"Did you hear something Usagi-chan?" The Ace of Aces looked all about the hills of sand for the source of the noise before needing to adjust her top so that everything bounced like it was supposed to. She only wished she could figure out how Lina's friend had made those sounds as she walked so the cosplay would be accurate.
Still the other getups came out really well--especially considering none of the girls wanted to wear them at first. But the promise of a ride on the Stallion was enough to make most swallow their pride for a little while. It helped that the hovercart was pushing itself and the girls were merely flying slightly in front of it.
But from a distance one could almost swear that there were ten copies of Naga the Serpent pulling the cart with the current Moon Princess driving them on.
***
Had it been in a less depressing locale the 7th Heaven would have been a rather lively place to it's patrons. A lovely hostess, good food and party atmosphere still did much to lift the spirits of many who lived in the Lower Tier of Sector Seven.
That is, when its resident bouncer wasn't in a bad mood.
"OUT! OUT! OUT YOU DAMN PUNKS!"
The hail of gun-arm fire proved rather effective in getting people to move, and within seconds the bar was empty save for those who worked at the bar, and they who secretly worked for AVALANCHE.
Though at the moment none of them wanted to be there.
"Bad enough you lot almost got killed in that damn reactor an' we haveta rely on this orange punk from Wutai to blow up the !@#$%ing security drone, but then he OF COURSE has to overdo it with that damn fancy magic o' his!" The large colored man stormed up to the 'orange punk' in question before hoisting him up by the collar so brown eyes met blue. "You got anything to say to me, Sunshine?"
A smirk. "Two things. One: 'Hope you don't have a glass jaw.'"
Suddenly the brightly dressed young man disappeared in a pop of light smoke leaving the hostess of the bar, Tifa Lockheart, in his place. But the fact she was a good head taller than the young blond meant Barret's hand found purchase in a rather...generous portion of her anatomy.
Blushing furiously at this sudden development the young martial artist from Nibelheim reacted to the threat to her honor, and cleaned his clock with a solid uppercut while the rest laughed aloud at the sight.
She then turned to the little instigator of the prank and looked ready to hurt him also. "And what was the second thing you were about to say, Naruto?"
The ninja from Konoha grinned his foxy grin and henge'd into the brunette bombshell with arms around her busom in a sexy pose. With the hottest sound her voice could come up with replied "And two: 'These aren't stress balls so be gentle.'"
The sight of his best friend from back home chasing herself with the intent to harm was the sight Cloud saw upon entering the bar. ~Maybe this is the reason the General wanted me to make the initial contact.~
~And since when did Tifa have a sister?~
***
For the longest time the silver haired General of Shinra thought nothing could surprise him. After all, when all of time seems to follow a repetitive pattern, you can easily say you've seen it all.
Defect, Join AVALANCHE, save the world. Were it not for the several permutations that could still occur when others "Awakened" for a loop or two, Sephiroth might have stopped playing altogether.
An amusing game...that some entity seemed to have added pieces to.
Before his eyes the whole of AVALANCHE was assembled, but the number of buxom martial artist girls had increased somehow.
"Interesting. I did not know Miss Lockheart had a sister."
Cloud smirked and mentioned saying a similar thing when he arrived at the bar to make the sales pitch, just before the second Tifa disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving a young man wearing of all things a bright orange jumpsuit with black highlights.
"Sorry Girly man, no hot twin action today. Name's Naruto Uzumaki, Shinobi. Course if I'm here, others might be too."
Grinning widely as Sephiroth's eyebrow rose up in curiosity, the Son of Minato plowed on with the explanation. "From what I hear much of the Starters are joining in this time, so you might wanna watch out for Usagi. She's a bit of a Nympho."
The proud son of Nibelheim was now very confused. "What's a 'Usagi'?"
"In Wutai the word means 'Rabbit', though why I'd have to be wary of an overly amorous animal is beyond me, Cloud."
The Konoha Shinobi grinned again. "Don't worry Hot Pants. You WILL."
***
A new chapter of Looping madness has begun...enjoy and watch for low flying goddesses.
***
'How many times has it been now?' He wondered from his perch atop the highest point in Midgar, Shinra Tower, watching the little bugs scurry about here and there.
He turned upon hearing one of the Mako reactors for the city detonate and that section of the city power down till the other 6 took over the grid.
"There they are, dancing to Fate's tune once again." He watched the little bugs scurry about more until he had tired of the display. Jumping from the building he used his enhanced dexterity to swing himself into an open window several floors down.
The room was plush, inviting...and occupied by two young men both wielding massive greatswords strapped to their backs. As he approached, the two of them snapped to attention like good little SOLDIERs.
"Reporting for duty as ordered, General." barked the smaller blond one, his eyes bright with a mako glow. Amazing that just a little extra training on the side was all that it took to help him graduate the officer's test. Now that he wasn't a little ball of emo the General could actually enjoy his company. Pity he was still much too serious about things.
The other sighed and shook his head, lamenting the faults of his partner. "Think we'll be able to finish this up before closing time, sir? My girl wanted me to show up to something 'special' she's cooked up." The waggling of his eyebrows told the General all he wanted to know about his subordinate's social life.
"Sadly Zack your girlfriend's gonna have to put that surprise on hold for a time. I need you and Cloud to assist me with a top-secret mission given to me by The President himself."
He walked up to a display in corner of the office, where his treasured sword Masamune lay, took the blade from its resting place and strapped it on.
"The three of us are to infiltrate the group AVALANCHE over the next few weeks and discover how deep the organization runs. It is the President's belief that these terrorists will endanger civilian lives in their next assault." Propaganda, the lot of it. Oh he was going to ENJOY working with the heroes of this world. He always did, but he tried to have a few evil loops every now and again to keep his skills sharp. When they worked together Zack and Cloud were all but unstoppable...an excellent training partner.
'Amazing how it only took repeated loops through time to make me sane again.' Turning back to the two of them he smirked and motioned to the window. "But first, a little race perhaps? Last one down makes the initial contact!"
With that, the silver-haired General of the most powerful army on the Planet took a running dive out the window with his lieutenants right behind. Much of the way down he wondered if he should make a move on Tifa or leave her to Cloud again. Though he was much too serious on things, he had excellent taste in women. But he had to wonder...who might his opponents be today?
***
Elsewhere, Ranma and Fate tried to fight off Nanoha and Usagi across various sections of a desert. Bad enough that idiot Hojo tried infesting them all with Jenova cells but he actually tried his damnest to corrupt the two magical dynamos, FOR KICKS.
Now they were mad dominatrix powerhouses out to destroy the world in a madcap attempt to stop the Loops.
Though he had to admit, the black leather really did look good on them both. Now if only they weren't trying to make Fate and himself...'show ponies'.
***
What started out as a simple dash down the side of Shinra Tower quickly turned into a three-way sparring exercise across much of Sector 3, which bled into one of the main subway train access tunnels spiraling the center of Midgar until it opened up at last into the Lower Tier of Sector 7. All the while the three of them, Sephiroth, Zack, and Cloud were engaged in a severe, yet non-fatal combat. Even with all the obstacles between them they continued dodging trains, skipping over cars and pedestrians alike with mythril blades clashing between one another.
This impromptu demonstration of skill from the lauded 'Hand of Shinra' came to a close in the Sector 7 station amidst a massive crowd...with all three men holding a blade to one another's throat. Zack's blade to Cloud, Cloud's blade to Sephiroth, and Sephiroth's blade to Zack. Such a pose was met with thunderous applause while the three of them smiled and sheathed their swords.
"Impressive...and a bit ironic." was the remark from the General as he watched the local police break up the crowd that had gathered before the three of them began walking on towards their goal.
The blond SOLDIER could not help but be puzzled. "How was that ending ironic, sir?"
"If you can remember this day in another lifetime Lieutenant, I'll tell you."
Cloud's partner tried in vain to hid his laughter. "So who won General?"
The product of Hojo's mad research turned to the both of his men and smirked. "Cloud...I believe. So he has the honor of introducing us to AVALANCHE."
Said young man's surprise turned into disdain on his face so quickly it was hilarious to the other two warriors. "Don't worry...my sources tell me the one you want to contact works at the 7th Heaven Bar, and is someone we both know rather well."
"General...Lieutenant Zack is much better with people then I am, perhaps he should-"
"Spiky."
Cloud's suggestion died on his lips at hearing his call sign. Wherever, WHENever his CO used that nickname Nibelheim's proudest son knew without fail what followed was information and orders that could, and had, save his life in whatever mission they were on. "Anything you think you know about Shinra, forget right now. The company has become far too corrupt to leave alive, as their continued existence threatens the safety of the populace. Zack, what are our standing orders regarding threats to the safety of Midgar?"
The dark-haired man's response was quick and well-rehearsed. "To stop any and all threats to this city and it's people." It was the best part of the job in his opinion, and the reason the Shinra General's platoon was the most loved in all the city. Whereas most of Shinra's army fought to protect the company and it's solidarity, The Honored Seventh fought for all the people of Midgar, above and below, at least they did now.
"Exactly, and I have seen far too many examples of filth here and above to stay my hand any longer. This may have been a mission from President Shinra, but it's also my invitation to defect. I don't ask the two of you to come with me on this-"
"But we are anyway." Cloud finished for him. "I wouldn't even be in SOLDIER if it weren't for you General Sephiroth, so I'm with you...Pretty Boy."
"Took the words right outta my mouth.." Zack grinned. "Since I can't exactly stay and rat on both of you I'll come too." The man from a small town in the south snapped a quick salute. "Wiseguy reporting in sir."
The silver-haired hero's heart filled with pride once again. Though he had seen them display their loyalty to him and his whenever he 'played the hero', it always made him smile inside knowing that he had a hand in making men of such caliber.
"Very well. We'll follow the orders till they become inconvenient, then leave our employer in the cold. I'll run some errands for supplies, Zack, you better get home to your lady friend...you might not get anymore chances to be with her after tonight..." Said man's face became grim before he ran off in the direction of his girlfriend's home."...Cloud...you know what to do. Make contact, offer our services, but do not mention our plans to truly defect until the time is right, understood?"
"Yes General." He too then ran off toward the bar, while the Anchor of this world was left alone with his thoughts...
...and the recording devices which had picked up much of the previous conversation.
***
With the battle in the sand over and Ranma getting some distance from his opponents, he came to a very astute conclusion.
Hojo needs to be pranked... Repeatedly.
Granted the normal response was seeking the fiend's death for bringing such horny evil into the world, but the Son of Genma had spent far too much time in the Loops in general to think such an option was viable. That and he wasn't sure the two magical girls were ACTUALLY crazy.
Crazy for him, to be sure. Just not crazy in general.
Sadly the last battle had left him in a rather bad situation, what with his backup being captured and at last knowing, being fitted for a harness that would do more to show off her curves and form than actually cover it.
Turing his head at a sudden noise allowed him to catch sight of the oddest thing he'd ever seen in this world to date. Usagi and Nanoha riding in a horse-drawn floating carriage that was being pulled by...two...four...ei ug-gah!
Ranma's passing out at the sight saved him that very instant, as his flopping into the sand helped bury him just enough that his pursuers passed him on by.
A few minutes later, a massive scream resounded throughout the dunes.
"HOJO! I WILL HAVE YOUR ASS IN A SLING FOR THIS TRAVESTY!!!"
"Did you hear something Usagi-chan?" The Ace of Aces looked all about the hills of sand for the source of the noise before needing to adjust her top so that everything bounced like it was supposed to. She only wished she could figure out how Lina's friend had made those sounds as she walked so the cosplay would be accurate.
Still the other getups came out really well--especially considering none of the girls wanted to wear them at first. But the promise of a ride on the Stallion was enough to make most swallow their pride for a little while. It helped that the hovercart was pushing itself and the girls were merely flying slightly in front of it.
But from a distance one could almost swear that there were ten copies of Naga the Serpent pulling the cart with the current Moon Princess driving them on.
***
Had it been in a less depressing locale the 7th Heaven would have been a rather lively place to it's patrons. A lovely hostess, good food and party atmosphere still did much to lift the spirits of many who lived in the Lower Tier of Sector Seven.
That is, when its resident bouncer wasn't in a bad mood.
"OUT! OUT! OUT YOU DAMN PUNKS!"
The hail of gun-arm fire proved rather effective in getting people to move, and within seconds the bar was empty save for those who worked at the bar, and they who secretly worked for AVALANCHE.
Though at the moment none of them wanted to be there.
"Bad enough you lot almost got killed in that damn reactor an' we haveta rely on this orange punk from Wutai to blow up the !@#$%ing security drone, but then he OF COURSE has to overdo it with that damn fancy magic o' his!" The large colored man stormed up to the 'orange punk' in question before hoisting him up by the collar so brown eyes met blue. "You got anything to say to me, Sunshine?"
A smirk. "Two things. One: 'Hope you don't have a glass jaw.'"
Suddenly the brightly dressed young man disappeared in a pop of light smoke leaving the hostess of the bar, Tifa Lockheart, in his place. But the fact she was a good head taller than the young blond meant Barret's hand found purchase in a rather...generous portion of her anatomy.
Blushing furiously at this sudden development the young martial artist from Nibelheim reacted to the threat to her honor, and cleaned his clock with a solid uppercut while the rest laughed aloud at the sight.
She then turned to the little instigator of the prank and looked ready to hurt him also. "And what was the second thing you were about to say, Naruto?"
The ninja from Konoha grinned his foxy grin and henge'd into the brunette bombshell with arms around her busom in a sexy pose. With the hottest sound her voice could come up with replied "And two: 'These aren't stress balls so be gentle.'"
The sight of his best friend from back home chasing herself with the intent to harm was the sight Cloud saw upon entering the bar. ~Maybe this is the reason the General wanted me to make the initial contact.~
~And since when did Tifa have a sister?~
***
For the longest time the silver haired General of Shinra thought nothing could surprise him. After all, when all of time seems to follow a repetitive pattern, you can easily say you've seen it all.
Defect, Join AVALANCHE, save the world. Were it not for the several permutations that could still occur when others "Awakened" for a loop or two, Sephiroth might have stopped playing altogether.
An amusing game...that some entity seemed to have added pieces to.
Before his eyes the whole of AVALANCHE was assembled, but the number of buxom martial artist girls had increased somehow.
"Interesting. I did not know Miss Lockheart had a sister."
Cloud smirked and mentioned saying a similar thing when he arrived at the bar to make the sales pitch, just before the second Tifa disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving a young man wearing of all things a bright orange jumpsuit with black highlights.
"Sorry Girly man, no hot twin action today. Name's Naruto Uzumaki, Shinobi. Course if I'm here, others might be too."
Grinning widely as Sephiroth's eyebrow rose up in curiosity, the Son of Minato plowed on with the explanation. "From what I hear much of the Starters are joining in this time, so you might wanna watch out for Usagi. She's a bit of a Nympho."
The proud son of Nibelheim was now very confused. "What's a 'Usagi'?"
"In Wutai the word means 'Rabbit', though why I'd have to be wary of an overly amorous animal is beyond me, Cloud."
The Konoha Shinobi grinned again. "Don't worry Hot Pants. You WILL."
***
A new chapter of Looping madness has begun...enjoy and watch for low flying goddesses.