The silence that followed Arthur's display was almost heavier than the earlier tension.
The clatter of fallen weapons, the groans of the incapacitated Shinra grunts, and Reno's distant yelp were the only sounds.
It was clear: Shinra goons hadn't just been fought off; they'd been absolutely dominated.
Cloudia let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Well,"
She said, a hint of awe in her voice,
"That was... efficient."
Tifa, still holding a defensive stance, slowly lowered her fists. She looked at Arthur, a mix of relief and surprise on her face.
She knew that Arthur still hid his true power but she didn't think it would to this extent.
"Efficient is an understatement. Arthur, what was that again?"
Arthur gave a small shrug.
The intense glow had faded from his eyes, but a subtle power still seemed to hum around him.
"I won't hide power anymore. Those whisperers be damned."
He then moved quickly to Aerith, checking on her with a gentle touch.
"Are you alright?"
Aerith nodded, leaning into his touch.
"I'm fine, Arthur. More than fine, thanks to you."
She looked around at the damage, then back at him, her eyes shining with admiration.
"You really showed them."
Barret, on the other hand, was practically bouncing.
"Hah! You hear that, Shinra?! That's what you get for messing with us! What a beatdown! That pretty boy Reno got sent flying!"
He stomped over to one of the dazed Shinra grunts, who was slowly trying to push himself up, and lightly kicked a fallen rifle away from him.
"Stay down, chump!"
Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge emerged from their defensive spots, looking wide-eyed and a little shaky.
"I... I thought we were going to die,"
Jessie admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
"But then Arthur just... poof! And they were down!"
"Yeah, that was wild,"
Biggs agreed.
"Never seen anything like it. Are we sure he's not... one of them?"
He gestured vaguely towards the empty aid. Everyone knew what he meant.
Arthur heard Biggs and shook his head with a small smile.
"No, Biggs. Definitely not one of them. I am much more powerful than them. In various ways."
The Aftermath and Future Plans
With the immediate danger gone, the adrenaline slowly started to drain from everyone.
Tifa began directing Biggs and Wedge to help clear the debris and check the structural integrity of Seventh Heaven.
"We need to patch this up fast,"
She said,
"They might not come back tonight like this, but they'll be back."
Cloudia nodded, looking thoughtful.
"Shinra won't just give up. They'll rethink their approach, send more forces, maybe even their big guns."
She looked at Arthur.
"You really rattled them, Arthur. That's good. It buys us time."
"Time for what?"
Barret grumbled, though his earlier excitement hadn't quite worn off.
"More fighting?"
Arthur sat down next to Aerith, who had settled onto a stool, still holding his arm.
"Time to prepare properly,"
He said.
"They're smart. They won't repeat the same mistake. Next time, they'll know what they're up against, and they'll come with a plan for it. We need to be ready for their new plan."
"So, what's the plan, Arthur?"
Tifa asked, joining them.
"You clearly have a few tricks up your sleeve."
Arthur looked at the small, tight-knit group of Avalanche members.
"We can't stay here forever,"
He began.
"This place is too exposed. They'll eventually bring down the whole force if they have to, just to get Aerith. Our advantage was surprise and their desire to take Aerith unharmed. Next time, that might not be their priority."
Aerith looked worried.
"So, we have to run?"
"Not run, Aerith,"
Arthur corrected gently.
"Move. Strategically. We need to find somewhere safer, somewhere they can't easily corner us. And we need to use this time to gather information, to understand what Shinra's next move will be."
Barret slammed his good hand on the counter.
"Sounds like a plan to me! Where do we go? The sewers? Sector 5?"
Cloudia leaned against the bar, a knowing look on her face.
"They'll send more than just Turks and elite SOLDIERs next time. They'll send Hojo's experiments, maybe even Rufus Shinra himself. We need a sanctuary, not just a hiding spot."
The conversation continued into the early hours of the morning, the relief of their immediate victory slowly giving way to the grim reality of the coming conflict.
Shinra was a massive, relentless machine, and Avalanche, even with Arthur's immense power, was still a small group.
…
The next few days in Sector 7 were a blur of repairs and hushed planning.
Everyone knew Shinra wouldn't give up. Arthur's powerful display had bought them precious time, but it wasn't a permanent solution.
They needed to move, and they needed allies.
That's when a new contact came through Avalanche's hidden network.
A message, coded and secretive, arrived for Barret. It spoke of a potential partnership, not with any local group, but with Wutai.
Wutai was a distant land, once a powerful nation, now struggling under Shinra's heavy thumb.
They were known for their skilled warriors and their deep hatred for the company that had stripped them of their independence.
The message suggested Wutai was interested in funding Avalanche, providing resources, and maybe even soldiers, if Avalanche could prove themselves valuable.
Specifically, if they could keep Shinra's attention focused on Midgar.
"Wutai, huh?"
Barret scratched his head, looking at the message.
"Sounds good, but what do they want from us?"
Cloudia, always thinking ahead, had an idea.
"They want Shinra distracted. They want Shinra bleeding resources here in Midgar, so they can't focus on Wutai. It's a classic move: the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
While the grown-ups talked strategy, a different kind of quiet understanding was growing between Aerith and Arthur.
After his fierce protection of her, Aerith felt an even deeper connection to him.
She would often find herself just watching him, a soft smile on her face.
Arthur, usually focused and serious, found himself relaxing more when Aerith was around.
Her easy laughter, her gentle way of looking at the world, it all drew him in.
He would sit with her for hours, listening to her stories about the Sector 5 slums, about the flowers she loved, and even about her secret, scary past.
He found himself sharing things he hadn't told anyone, little bits about his own strange journey, though he kept the biggest secrets to himself.
One evening, as they sat on the repaired bar stools, the dim lights of Seventh Heaven casting long shadows, Aerith gently took his hand.
"You know,"
She said, her voice soft,
"When you stood up to them, to all of Shinra... I felt so safe. Safer than I've ever felt."
Arthur squeezed her hand.
"That's all I want, Aerith. For you to be safe."
His gaze was steady, warm. In that moment, it was clear to anyone watching that their bond was becoming something special, something deeper than just friendship.
They found comfort and strength in each other, a quiet spark growing in the midst of chaos.
Just as plans for reaching out to Wutai were solidifying, a new, unexpected element crashed into Seventh Heaven. Literally.
One afternoon, a loud clatter and a stream of colorful curses echoed from the back alley.
Jessie, who was out checking the perimeter, rushed back in, wide-eyed.
"There's... there's someone in the alley! They just crashed through a fence!"
Barret, ever ready for a fight, grabbed his gun-arm.
"Another Shinra goon?"
But it wasn't. From the alley, a small, agile figure burst into the bar.
She was a young teen, with short black hair, wearing a cute moogle hood, and carrying a massive, four-pointed throwing star on her back.
She moved with incredible speed, her eyes darting around the room, taking everything in.
"Alright, Avalanche!"
She declared, striking a dramatic pose.
"The great ninja Yuffie Kisaragi has arrived! And I'm here to... well, let's just say I'm here for some valuable materia!"
Her eyes landed on Cloudia's Limit Break materia, glowing subtly on her wrist, and then on Arthur's own glowing eyes.
She mistook his crimson eyes for mastered materia!
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
"Ooh, and what's that cool glowy stuff you got?"
The whole group stared. Barret looked confused. Tifa looked wary. Cloudia looked amused.
This was definitely not a Shinra operative.
Yuffie, without waiting for an invitation, began to bound around the bar, poking at things, examining weapons, and generally causing a delightful ruckus.
She was loud, impulsive, and clearly had her own agenda.
"So,"
She said, finally stopping in front of Barret, her hands on her hips,
"You're the famous Big Gun Barrett, huh? Heard you've been giving Shinra a real headache. Good! Because I've got a score to settle with them too, and I could use some help... and maybe some of your shiny treasures."
.....
Craze: Look like Fairytail is going to win the vote.
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Little spoiler: Xenovia is here
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