Red 13th Street

[Cloud Strife of Nibelheim]

It had been months now since the attack on Callisto had yielded the Red City to the warriors of the Resistance. People were beginning to move about the city without fear, for the remnants of the Red Dragon Syndicate were all but eliminated from within. Sure, there were reminders, such as the graffiti in certain alleys and the tall Headquarters building that had been deemed to expensive to destroy. But to look into the eyes of the people was to realize how much safer they felt since the new governor had taken control.

'Perhaps it's safe enough to begin the Tournament again...' said governor, Cloud Strife thought as he made his way down the street named for his old companion. His eyes shifted from one side to the other, taking in all the people...young and old...chattering away about this and that. Truly, it was a sight to behold compared to the wretched place it had been under the Syndicate and the State Military. Wherever Vicious had disappeared to before the battle, Cloud silently hoped he would find it wise never to return.

Still, there was much danger about even without the memory of Vicious looming overhead. The Empire had moved again, and he had received word from Tidus (his emissary to and from Meribia) that the Wolf Demon Tribe of the North had been the target. Why they had not said, only going far enough to explain that Kouga's home had been destroyed, and that the White Knight himself was leading their tribe to a new home in the deserted City of the Ancients.

'Sephiroth...' it was hard to believe that the Jenova-infected SOLDIER could really be defeated. He had handled that task enough times on his own, only to watch the b*****d rise from the grave to torture them again. Would this be the last time? Had the Lord of the West's demonic sword struck the blow that would finally lift the dark cloud of Jenova's son from his life and the life of those he loved?

'Maybe...' was all he could decide upon as he neared the docks where they had struggled so hard for victory that fateful December afternoon. He still remembered Auron's sacrifice in battle against those damned homunculi. 'You won't be forgotten, Sir Auron...we will always remember.'