Chapter Two: Traps and Reunions

Morning once again finds Squall in a bad mood. Then again if you woke up and didn’t know about your past wouldn’t you be in a bad mood?

Getting dressed and headed for the bar

Marlene greeted Squall as he walked in. “Hello Squall what can I get you?” The young girl asked. “My usual thanks.” Squall told the young girl.

“Hey Squall Cloud and Barret well be right back there doing some supple shopping from us.” Tifa told them.

“That’s fine. So Cloud is a child hood friend?” Squall asked, somehow he knows that to Tifa Cloud was something more. ”You can say that, But he more then my friend, I lo…” She never finished because Cloud and Barret walked in.

“Old man get out of my way.” Cloud called back to Barret. “What did you say?” Barret questioned. “I Said get out of my way these things are heavy.”

Cloud said. Barret moved but not before trying to trip Cloud.

“Hey what did you do that for?” Cloud asked. “I don’t trust you, Solider.”

Barret told Cloud. “Now listen here Old Man I can take you out before you know what happen.” Cloud gloated. Squall rolled his eyes. “Barret give it up and stock the boozes.” Tifa said.

Muttering but doing what he was told Barret restocked the sheaves.

Cloud sat next to Squall and ordered a drink before he helped.

Squall Looks at Tifa who just shrugs off what she said. Taking the hint squall went back to his drink and breakfast

Soon after Jessie, Wedge and Biggs walks in to start the days meeting.

No one says anything as they go to the secret room of AVALANCHE.

Squall stood up again paying Tifa for the great meal and headed to the room also.

“Glade you decided to join us.” Barret said. “Now thanks to Squall Shirna probably started to rebuild that rector.” Barret Said. Jessie stood up. “Not likely boss, seeing as the rector was blown from the inside.” She said before she sat down.

Barret mutters. “Okay only one more to go before this place is shut down.” Barret said. “Not Likely Boss.” Squall said cleaning his Gunblade. “They know we’ll hit the next rector. We need to lay low for a few days.” Squall said. Everyone looked at Cloud.

With a heavy sigh. “We lay low make them think we’re going after that rector. When we go after the seventh one instead. It’s a sample Mind game or we can all die.” Squall said loading the weapon.”

Barret slammed his fist down on the table. “Damn it I hate it when you’re right.” Barret said. “Fine everyone has a three day vacation.” He said. “I want you back here so we can shut down that rector.” Then everyone got up and left. “Squall I know you have a plan.” Cloud said. “I’m going to go and hunt for some monsters, you want to come along?” Cloud looked at him.

“Sure But I don’t have a weapon” Cloud said then Squall throw a box at him. Opening the casing Cloud found that there was an old model gun blade inside. “It called a revolver it’s a weaker model of what I have but, seeing as how you need to build your skill maybe this can help you.” Squall said.

“Cloud, Are you sure you want to do this?” Squall asked. Cloud looked at Squall there was just something about him.

“Yes. I failed as a Solider. And Let my hometown get burned, I want this.” Cloud said. Squall though about this. Then with a nod Squall bought out his hand. Cloud looked at him.

“Learning a gunblade is hard but once mastered no I mean no one can stop you.” Squall said.

Cloud looked at the weapon it was smaller then Squalls Lionheart.

Cloud stood up and looked at the weapon then he lifted it up and placed it on his shoulder. “I’m ready when you are sir.” Cloud said.

Squall got up and walked out of the bar, Trying to think were he could teach Cloud the weapon.

After awhile of walking the two decided that it was best to go outside of Midgar. Just a few meters away for the front gate Squall looked at Cloud.

“Umm, Squall there’s no slots in this thing.” Cloud told Squall.

“So?” Squall asked back. Cloud just looked at him with wide eyes. “We’ll be killed.” Telling Squall this may not have been a good thing. “Cloud, My gunblade doesn’t have any slots. Now shut up and take a few swings.” Squall said angrily. Cloud did what he was told.

Meanwhile back at 7th Heaven Tifa looked around only to find Squall and Cloud gone. ‘Hmm. Maybe Barret knows were they gone.’ Tifa thought to herself. Rumors were flying around that the Shinra president was in town for some reason.

Tifa Find Barret playing with his daughter. “Barret have you seen Cloud and Squall anywhere?” She asked. “What do you think I am a babysitter?”

Barret asked. “Barret, Squall was right, Rumors going around that Shinra president was seen heading to the reactor.” Tifa told him.

Barret looked at Tifa. “You think Squalls working for them?” Barret asked.

“No. Both Cloud and said that he helped then when they were ambushed.”

Tifa said. Barret looked at her. “Can we trust him?”

Tifa looked backed at him. “So far he hasn’t done anything to us or the group. I Trust him. You should too.” Tifa said as she turned away and headed back to the bar.

Outside of Midgar about two hours later.

“Who?” Squall asked as the two sat down to eat lunch. “Sephiroth, He died a hero.”

Squall looked at him. “Never heard of him.” Squall said. “Squall you never did tell me where you’re from.” Squall looked at him. “That’s the funny thing about memories Cloud. I don’t remember. All that I do remember is waking up not far from you, and the skill I learned as well as my guardian force.” Squall said.

“What are guardian forces?” Cloud asked. “This.” Squall Said calling the Gfs. As soon as that was said the sky started to get dark. One by one Squalls GF’s started to appear. The first to show was Shiva, the goddess of Ice.

Next was Ifrit, The Monster of fire who in turn was holding Bahamut

By his neck to keep him from flying away. Next was a little green thing, it looked somewhat like a rabbit with a red ruby in its forehead.

"What's that a Pokemon?" Squall looked at cloud like he grew another head. "What's a pokemon?" Cloud looked at him sweat drooping. "Never mind sorry I asked." Squall said. "This is carbuncle a noncombatant. His attack ruby light can reflect the strongest of magic attacks." Squall looked at his GF's the only one who ever gave him a problem was Bahamut

"We don’t have much time. I'm sure Tifa is worried about you."

Squall leads Cloud back to 7th heaven. Just as he reached the gate Shinra soldiers ran after Zack, just as they past Squall and Cloud they started to open fire. "Shoot first and ask questions later." One Shouted as he fired, Getting Zack in the back.

"Booya! I got him." The Solider shouted. "Zack!" Cloud yelled running to his fun as Squall attacked the soldiers. Zack looked up at his friend and smiled. "It's just a fresh wound; you'll see I'll be up in….." But he never finished

Cloud bowed his head. "I'm Sorry Cloud." Cloud stood up darkness in his eyes. "I don’t need your pity. I need your help." Cloud said. Squall looked at him. Squall nodded. "I'll help you get your revenge." Squall said. He helped bury Zack not far from the gate. Then the two gunblade wielders made there way back to the bar.

Chapter Three: Going to church, and cross dressing.

"What made you change your mind?" Tifa asked Cloud. "No reason." he answered.

Squall was polishing his gunblade just as Barret walked in. "Squall how did you know President Shinra was going to be here?" Squall looked at him. Then he shrugged.

"I thought he would want to check the damage. Seems like a good idea if we stay low but a friend of ours recently was gun down."

"So are we attacking to night?" Barret asked. "No Barret, there's rumors going around of something bigger. So You, Tifa and Cloud should go. I'm going to go see it I can conform anymore of the rumors." Squall said. Cloud Tifa and Barret looked at one other. "Just the three of us?" Cloud asked.

"Yes, I'll be busy looking for clues to this rumor, from the sound of it, its big." Barret wondered if Squall could be trusted. Everything he said and did seems like he knew Shinra from the inside out. "You think we can do it?" Cloud asked.

Squall nodded. "Sure it’s an easy enough job. But be careful. Just because it's easy doesn’t mean it can't be hard." Squall said. "Just remember the first sign of trouble get the hell out of there." The Trio nodded, and after checking their gear they made there way to the train station.

Checking his own gear Squall made sure to leave his gun blade in his room at the hotel. Then he decided on changing his clothing, but where? He knew nothing of the city and as far as he can tell sector seven had no clothing store. That when he thought about the second level. From what he learned there where clothing stores for the wealthiest. Since Squall had more then enough Gil, He should be able get what he needed.

It seems like hours since the team left for the rector. It was here that Squall was able to get information about some type of attack on the sector seven pillar. Squall now wearing military like boot, black jean, a black tee shirt and a black duster Squall moved his way still and past sector five where he thought he saw a man dressed in a suit exit a church. Shrugging it off Squall was heading back when he heard Cloud yell for him.

"Squall! Hey, over here." That when he looked up to see Cloud and the young woman he met the other night. "Cloud I thought you were with Tifa on a mission not picking up a date." Cloud looked at him. "Whatever we need your help Aerith has some people after her." Squall nodded. "I was on my way back. Come on." Squalls lead the way back when Aerith tapped him on the shoulder. "Umm, Squall is it?" Squall nodded. "It's too dangerous to move at night because of the monsters."

Squall looked thoughtful for a minute. "Okay, but Cloud and I have to be back first thing in the morning." They made their way through the sector to Aerith house, once inside a elder looking woman walked in both Cloud and Squall took a guest and figured it was Aerith's mother.

To Say Aerith's mother was surprised that her daughter almost got kidnapped was like saying chocobos are chickens. Aerith explained to Squall that a group of people known as the Turks were after her but she didn’t explain why. Squall nodded and left it at that. Aerith mother who she insisted be called Elmyra Led the boys upstairs so she could talk to them.

"Listen, could you take Aerith with you?" Elmyra asked. Squall looked at Cloud and Cloud looked at Squall. "As you know people are after her, it'll be safer if you take her with you."

Squall looked thoughtful. "Ma'am it may be more dangerous where we are going." Squall said.

Then Cloud stepped up. "Squall I promised Aerith I would be her bodyguard." Squall nodded. "Okay there's nothing much I can do if you are. But you have to keep her safe." Cloud nodded and checked his gun blade. "We'll leave first thing in the morning." Squall said.

That night Squall and Cloud shared a room Cloud was sleeping while Squall seems to be mediating.

It was somewhat the truth. Squall was really talking with his GF's. "I been meaning to talk to you guys, can you help me with my memories?" Squall asked. They all looked at each other then at Squall. "We been trying young warrior." Shiva said. "Do not worry young Squall, you will get your memories we promise." Then they were gone.

Morning didn’t seem to stay as the three made their way through the old ruins between the to sectors. Both Squall and Cloud was on high alert. Making sure that they were save from harm Squall, Aerith, and Cloud stop at an old play ground to rest for awhile. While Cloud and Aerith talked Squall decided to do some small practices with his gunblade, the weapon was heavy, and yet Squall was moving fast. Moving it like a master. Cloud was watching this and it made him thought of one person. Sephiroth. The way Squall was moving in out swinging side stepping all of this was like watching his old mender. Aerith was also watching him, she wondered if he had a he had a girlfriend.

Just then the doors behind them opened up. A chocobo pulling a cart behind them passed but thats not what got Clouds and squalls attention. It was who was standing at the end of the cart that did.

“Hey Squall did you see that?” Squall nodded. “I got a bad feeling about this.”

Squall said. “Come on she in trouble, lets me and Cloud handle this. Aerith, maybe you should go back home.”

Aerith looked at Squall. “No way mister, I can help and I will.” then she ran off after the cart.

“Hey Wait you can’t just go off and run away like that.” Cloud said chasing after Aerith.

Squall stood back and watched. Something was up. He ran after Aerith and cloud in hopes of keeping them out of trouble.

Just as Squall caught up to them he heard Aerith say. “This place is scary in a lot of ways, especially for a girl, We should find Tifa fast.” Squall walked up to them. “You guys go right I’ll go straight. We may or may not fine clues. Meet back here in an hour.” Squall said.

As Squall left the two he wandered around wondering why and how Shinra could do this to people. As the thoughts continued he came upon a mansion. A Man was standing there talking to another Squall hide in the shadows listening in.

After several minutes Squall got all he needed to hear and headed out to fine the others.

Squall thought about what was said as the men talked. So Don Corneo was looking for a bride. Well if a bride is what he wants a bride he’ll get.

“Hey squall over here.” He heard Aerith yell out. Looking up he saw Aerith and a embrace looking Cloud with her. “What’s up with him?” Squall asked. Aerith: Oh we found out where Tifa is.” Squall nodded. “Good luck getting in.” Squall said. “It appears that Don Corneo is looking for a bride and only women can get in.”

Aerith looked at Squall thinking up a plan.

“I have an Idea but. Tell me something Squall, what Size dress do you wear?”

Squall just looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh boy.”

TBC