Warning: Okay, if you're really attached to the Final Fantasy VII cast being in charge of The Edge of Sanity, I suggest you turn around and walk away from this story. If you don't take well to change and seriousness in a Coffee Break, run from here. And if you have no idea who the people here are, I suggest you either brush up on your RPGs or stay away from here. Period. *_* BTW, there's also some spoilers for different games in here, so don't read unless you want spoilers for Breath of Fire 3 and other RPGs.
Started: August 17, 1999
Finished: September 5, 1999

"Okay, that is IT!! I have had it with this place!!" Cloud frowned at Athena as they stood outside of the cafeteria. "No offense, Athena, but I have to get out of here! This place is. . . Well, this webpage is . . . cursed!!"

"What are you babbling about, Cloud?" demanded the girl.

"I can't get any decent sleep here anymore and my hair's suffering for it," Cloud replied, pulling on his blond hair. Surprisingly, he was able to do so, the spike springing back into place once he let go. He then grabbed another section of his hair, snapping a spike off with ease. "I'm packing my stuff! I've gotta get out before my hair falls out and I end up like Rude!"

". . . . . I heard that," Rude's voice came. Cloud turned, seeing the Turk towering over him.

"Lay off, Rude," Tifa sighed. She then turned to the webpage owner. "We're getting out of here, Athena. We've been here too long, and we're suffering because of it." An annoyed look fell over her face. "And I'm still having nightmares of Kira cutting my hair." Her hair had grown back thanks to Hojo's Miracle-Gro potion and was once again tied in its regular style.

Athena's face fell as she noticed more and more of the FF7 cast nod in agreement. "I still have a lot to do back in our world," Cid was saying. "'Still have to fulfill my life-long dream of goin' into space. . ."

"Hey-hey! I'll help with that!" That, of course, was Palmer.

"I want to get those towns Shinra destroyed back into shape," Reeve said, thoughtfully scratching his chin. "I also plan to get these three to make up for their crimes." He pointed to Scarlet, Heidegger, and Hojo, who all threw him annoyed looks.

"Damn right!" echoed Barret and Zack, pumping their fists into the air. Zack grinned and continued in a whisper to Athena. "Besides, I've gotta win Aeris' heart back from Cloud over there." He gestured to Aeris and Tifa, who were trying to win Cloud's attention. "Heh heh, we don't want a love triangle forever, do we?"

Athena laughed. "Some people seem to want it that way." She looked sadly at her webpage staff that had been with her for over a year. "So you're sure about this?" Many of them nodded. The ones that didn't nod drew Athena's attention.

"I'm not going back," declared Rufus.

"Neither am I," added Sephiroth.

The girl blinked especially hard. "What?!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "I would have thought you two would be the first to jump at the chance to go home."

"I'm comfortable right where I am," replied the former President of Shinra Incorporated. "Besides, there's no Shinra Incorporated anymore, and the Planet doesn't need anymore trouble."

"Yeah, 'dat and the fact 'dat Shinra's got himself a best friend right here," Barret piped up.

Rufus exchanged glances with Gremio, who had remained silent and was looking surprised now. "So what if I made myself a best friend?" retorted Rufus. "I'm not going back anymore."

"What about you, Sephiroth?" queried Red XIII.

"What's the use of going back to the Planet when I know everyone's going to try to kill me once I go back? Do you want me to go insane again and start killing everyone?" the silver-haired SOLDIER asked.

". . . . . . Good point," Yuffie sighed.

Flik, who had been leaning against the wall just next to the entrance of the cafeteria, spoke up. "I can't believe what I'm hearing! So you're going to stay here and work with me in the Library then?"

"What are you talking about?" Sephiroth frowned. "You're leaving. . ."

"No, I'm not," replied Flik. "Someone from Suikoden's gotta keep Grem company, and I'm that someone!" Sephiroth immediately looked regretful for his words.

"If Sephiroth is staying, then I will stay as well," Vincent stated. "There is nothing left for me back in our world . . . and he is the only thing left of Lucrecia." Sephiroth silently stared at the red-eyed man while Hojo looked away from them.

Tseng suddenly stepped forward. "The Turks aren't going back to the Planet either," he announced.

"Huh??" That came from everyone other than the blue-garbed four.

Reno had a wild smile prepared for their reaction as he turned to Athena. "You're stuck with us, kid," he began, "whether you like it or not."

Elena smiled brightly from where she clung to Tseng's arm. "I think myself, Tseng, and Gremio can save you from the insanity of all these others."

"Watch it, Elena!" Reno chuckled. "You're not quite sane either if you joined us to begin with." At that, Elena stuck her tongue out at him. Reno rolled his eyes in response.

"So your staff will be greatly cut down," Cloud sighed finally, "but not taken out completely. Will you be okay?"

She was touched by his concern, despite all the torture she'd done to all of them in the past. "Yeah, I'll survive. Take care, all of you."

"We won't say goodbye," Reeve said, smiling. "I doubt this will be our last encounter."

"See you! Don't forget to write!" Aeris waved as they all began walking away. "We'll tell you all about home in an e-mail!"

And then they were gone, taken back to the Planet of Final Fantasy VII.

"Okay, tell me again why we're here," Reno said as he looked over the grass-covered hill he and several other people stood on. The sun was shining brightly and the forest was vibrant with life down below.

"Because we are recruiting more staff for The Edge of Sanity," was Gremio's reply.

"Why are you here?" Reno queried.

"Because he's my best friend and I'm second-in-command," Rufus said.

"Why is Sephiroth here?"

"Because it was my idea to do this to begin with," sighed the black-garbed man.

"Why is Flik here?"

"Because I wanted to annoy the hell out of Seph."

"Why is Athena here?"

"Because I'm the one who has to pick the new staff."

"Why is Vincent here?"

"Because Elena and Tseng wanted my help keeping monsters away from this area."

"Why is Rude here?"

". . . . Because you didn't want to come alone, Reno."

Reno blinked in realization. ". . . . Oh. Well, as long as we all know why we're here. . ."

Just then, a red-haired teenager made his way up the hill, smiling and waving as he approached. Athena waved back in greeting from behind the desk she had teleported onto the hill. "Hi! Are you here for the interview?" The boy nodded in reply. "All right. What's your name?"

". . . . . . . ."

Athena blinked. "Um, can you tell me what your name is?"

". . . . . . . ."

"I don't like him, Athena," Flik said warily. "He's too quiet, and he's giving me the weirdest look."

Athena nodded. "Um, that would be all. Thanks for coming."

Crono, realizing that he wasn't going to be chosen, walked away dejectedly. Seeing the boy walking away, Vahn and Rudy both walked off too.

Next came up a mysterious figure dressed in colorful robes, its face hidden beneath veils and colors. "I am Gogo," the person announced, bowing before them.

"Hello, Gogo," greeted Athena. "Umm. . . Weren't you killed by the SOLDIERs in the first Coffee Break?"

"I cannot die."

Sephiroth exchanged glances with Vincent, and they both shuddered.

"Well, uh, you'll have to remove the veils so I can see your face, Gogo. I can't just hire someone who keeps their face hidden."

Gogo was unfazed by Athena's words. "Then I am afraid I cannot be hired." With that, he spun and walked away.

Rufus shook his head and sighed. "That was weird."

"No kidding," agreed Reno. "That guy freaked me out."

"Actually, I think it was a girl," Flik said.

While a major verbal battle raged between Reno and Flik over the gender of Gogo, Athena took more applicants and rejected them. Some applicants included Dekar of Lufia 2, the boy from Secret of Evermore, and random Phantasy Star characters. Just when they were about to give up and head back to The Edge of Sanity, a little onion-creature with a face bounced up the hill.

"What the heck is that thing?" Sephiroth asked, scratching his head as he leaned forward for a closer look.

"Pukiiiiiii!" screeched the little thing, sending the legendary Sephiroth falling backwards in a very undignified manner.

"How absolutely adorable!" exclaimed Gremio, striding forward and picking up the onion.

Athena grinned. "It's Peco, from Breath of Fire III!"

"That little onion is from Breath of Fire?!" Rufus gasped, still staring at it in disbelief as Gremio cuddled it.

"Can we take him back to The Edge of Sanity, Miss Athena?" begged Gremio, still holding the plant creature. The girl giggled, unable to believe that someone was actually begging her for something.

"Sure, Gremio," she said with a smile. "You can keep him with you in the Updates!"

". . . You have got to be kidding me!!" Rufus shouted, aghast. "That . . . thing is not going to stay in the Updates!"

"Yes, it is," Athena replied firmly. "I just hired him as part of the staff."

Everyone was surprised by that move, but Rufus was horrified beyond belief. He would have began to rant if it weren't for Vincent's PHS, which began ringing. The ex-Turk answered it quickly. "Vincent, we found some punk kids wandering around the area. We have them cornered, but we'll need some help with them. They are vicious!!"

Vincent reported this to his companions then took the lead as they walked down the hill.

The staff of The Edge of Sanity all gathered near an area where a rock formation blocked off three sides of the forest. Tseng nodded in greeting as they neared. "Those teenage punks tried to put up a fight when we asked for their names. We had to force them back with that Alexander Materia."

"Good work, Tseng," Athena commented, walking past him to look at the teenagers. She stood in surprise for a few moments.

She knew all three of the older teenage boys before her. The eldest of the three had vibrant blue eyes and brown hair that defied gravity with a cowlick-like hairstyle, his clothes consisting of yellow and blue robes. Next to him was a boy only shorter than him by an inch, his long, lavender hair reaching his waist as he watched them all with suspicious, crimson eyes. Last was a pale, black-haired youth with cool, violet eyes wearing a blue tunic and a pink cape, grasping a dangerous-looking sword in his left hand.

"My God. . .," she whispered, realizing she was standing before her favorite characters of different RPG games.

Reno swaggered over to her side, looking at the three with a raised eyebrow. The boy with lavender hair stepped forward, frowning. "Who the hell are all of you?" he demanded, clearly angry that he had been cornered by a strange group of people.

"Hey, what ever happened to manners, kiddo?" he queried, stepping next to the kid.

"Uh, Reno?" Athena started, a sweatdrop forming on her head. "I wouldn't tick him off if I were you. . ."

Reno chuckled and proceeded to play with the kid's hair. "Why's that, 'thena?" He turned his head to look back at her, not noticing the deadly glare that was slowly forming in the lavender-haired teenager's suddenly-fiery eyes.

"No one messes with my hair and gets away with it," he hissed, pulling away and clenching his hands into fists. Reno snapped his attention back in a flash, just in time to watch the boy wind his foot back. "Aaayyy!" His foot connected with Reno's shin, something similar to an explosive sound ringing out upon contact.

"AHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!" Reno began hopping around on one foot, screaming all the while.

The sweatdrop grew bigger on Athena's forehead. ". . . . Because that's Teepo from Breath of Fire III," she replied, biting her lip as Reno continued jumping around.

Rufus laughed lightly as he watched his annoying tormentor hold his shin in pain. "I already like this kid," he remarked to Gremio, whose eyebrows just rose in response.

Sephiroth chose this moment to approach the other two teenagers, who looked at the silver-haired man bearing a deadly longsword warily. "We're from Final Fantasy VII. Who are you two?" he asked.

"Final Fantasy?" repeated the black-haired boy, lowering his sword slowly. It seemed to glow in his hand for a brief moment as he clenched his right hand on something invisible. ". . . I'm Leon Magnus, Master Swordsman of the Kingdom of Seinegald, and my Swordian is Chaltier . . . from Tales of Destiny."

"And I'm Nash, level three mage from the magic city of Vane, which . . . used to fly around the Goddess Tower." Nash looked a little troubled by that. "Oh, I'm from Lunar: The Silver Star Story. Complete, actually, if you want to be specific."

"What are you guys doing around here?" Athena suddenly asked, motioning Sephiroth to drag Reno back before Teepo decided to kick him again.

Nash didn't manage to hide a sweatdrop that formed on his forehead. "We, uh . . . well. . ."

Leon, very surprisingly, was embarrassed as well. "We got chased through the forest by . . . some sort of thing. . ."

"Care to be any more vague?" Vincent commented dryly.

The youngest of the three "punks" traded his embarrassment for annoyance in a split-second. "It was a tall creature with tentacles and laser-like attacks. If it weren't so large and unbelievably fast, we would have stayed to battle it."

"Tentacles?" repeated Tseng.

"Laser-like attacks. . . Could it have been Jenova?" Rufus crossed his arms and looked at Athena.

Things quieted at Rufus' disturbing thought. ". . . I hope not," Athena murmured. "But I'm sure we could get rid of it easily. There's enough of us here to take on a small army."

"Make that a big army," Elena added. "Remember, you have some of the most powerful people of FF7 as your staff, Athena."

Teepo blinked. "Staff?"

"Erm. . . I run a homepage. They all work for me," explained the youngest member of the group. When the three boys threw confused looks, Athena sighed. "I'll explain it better later."

". . . . We should find Jenova quickly," Rude said, finally speaking for the first time since they had arrived.

"Puuuuuuuuuukiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!"

Gremio leapt backwards, clutching Peco as it screeched. He managed to stammer, "I-- I believe it-- it found us. . .!!"

Weapons came up as Jenova floated forward from the forest, cutting off all thoughts of escape. Reno, finally over Teepo's kick to his shin, glared at the looming creature. "Heh. This'll be fun; 'haven't had a good fight for a while."

"Yeah, but it's just like Jenova to not fight fairly. . . Look!" Tseng hissed, pointing behind Jenova. Six human-like monsters walked into the clearing, snakes writhing on their heads where hair should have been. "What are those things?"

". . . . They look like the Greek monster, Medusa," Athena whispered, backing behind Rufus and Gremio, who had put down Peco to brandish his axe.

"Medusa? . . . Didn't she have the ability to petrify?" Rufus queried.

Rufus' answer was a Medusa's bellow, then beams of light that shot from its eyes and straight at Elena, who shrieked in terror as she was turned into a statue of herself. Tseng screamed and was immediately at her side as Rufus, Gremio, and Athena all swallowed hard simultaneously.

"Does anyone have a Soft?!" Tseng shouted.

"Elena had all the healing materia!" groaned Athena, slapping her forehead. "Dang it, someone stop those things before they petrify more people!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Reno declared. "Turk Light!" The fireball struck one of the nearing Medusas, forcing it backwards.

Teepo jerked his right hand up, a sphere of energy coming into existence between his fingertips. "Simoon!" He popped the sphere, an explosive fire dome swirling around the same Medusa Reno had hit.

While this was happening, Sephiroth, Tseng, Flik, and Gremio were busy casting spells of his own, not wanting to risk the chance of being petrified. Vincent had transformed into Chaos and was taking on Jenova, shoving the giant creature back into the forest and fighting in there. Rude had to use his Grand Spark from a distance as Peco busied itself by kicking rocks at the other Medusas.

Leon shifted his gaze to Nash, who looked at him expectantly. "Cover me," he hissed, gripping Chaltier and dashing at the Medusas.

You do realize this is crazy, right, young master? Chaltier queried as Leon raced towards certain doom.

"That thought's crossed my mind, yes," Leon admitted, not at all slowing in his charge.

Nash concentrated on his spell, eyes narrowing considerably. "Check this out!" he shouted dramatically, hands blazing with energy as he spun around. "Thunder Thrust!"

Lightning sizzled in the air, streams of electricity raining down on the enemies so quickly that there was no hope of dodging it. Leon took this to his advantage, covering more and more ground. "Leon, look out!!!" The shout came from Athena, noticing one Medusa not dazed by Nash's spell. Its eyes were glowing in the same manner as before.

Leon responded to this by lifting his right arm in front of himself. "The kid's suicidal!!" screamed Reno, shaking his head as he shot off another Turk Light.

"Either that, or a pure genius," Sephiroth retorted, watching intently at the boy's daring move. The Medusa fired its petrifying beam at the young swordsman, a bright flash erupting out of nowhere as it struck Leon's arm, revealing the outline of something he held in his hand. Leon continued on, the beam not hurting him. "An invisible shield! He had an invisible shield!" Sephiroth shook his head in amusement as the Beam Shield disappeared from sight again.

"Kuu Shuu Ken!!" The boy reached his destination, charging through two Medusas and flying back to his original spot with his Flying Dragon technique. "Koga Hazan!" He followed up with a Tiger Blade attack, tearing off one Medusa's head as he leapt up and brought Chaltier down.

"Let's help him out," Rufus suggested, raising his materia-filled bracelet. "Comet!"

A Medusa sneaking up on Leon was immediately crushed under a falling meteor summoned down by Rufus, a signal that sent Sephiroth, Flik, Rude, and Gremio dashing at the remaining enemies. They took out the other five Medusas quickly, raising their heads to watch Chaos battle Jenova.

"How do we help him?" asked Tseng, nervously watching the Vincent-monster dodge Jenova's W Laser attack.

In immediate reply, Teepo clenched his hands into fists as a bright aura engulfed him. He left out a scream as he was completely overtaken by the light, a black dragon standing where the boy had stood before. The dragon took off to aid Chaos in its battle.

". . . . Okay, now I've seen everything," Reno whispered in awe, not exactly believing Teepo had just transformed into a dragon.

Nash shook his head and raised his hand towards Jenova. "Check this out!" he announced, eyes averting to him at that. "Thunderbolt!" A stream of lightning struck down on Jenova, causing it to screech in both pain and surprise. Striking both Teepo and Vincent down with a Tail Laser, Jenova aimed down at the rest of the fighters.

". . . Oh, s--" started Reno, only to be stopped by Rude.

". . . . Don't say it," Rude ordered. Reno immediately shut up.

"Um. . . I suggest we run!" Flik shouted, already dashing from the clearing.

Taking Flik's suggestion to heart, everything ran into the forest, scattering under the protection of the trees. All, that is, but Peco and Gremio. Gremio had tried desperately to drag the onion-creature to the forest, but the little, mysterious mutant had held its ground, looking defiantly at Jenova. Then, from Peco's mouth came a strange magical breath that caused Gremio to step away in shock, gazing upward as the breath drifted and swirled around Jenova. Peco's Dream Breath caused the monstrous being to sway, then tumble backwards.

"Holy crap!" Teepo emerged from the forest, followed by Vincent, shocked by the power of Peco's spell. He shook his head and hurried towards Gremio and Peco.

"That little creature took out Jenova?!" Rufus was sputtering as he followed Athena and Nash out into the clearing.

"Believe it," Flik mumbled, followed by the Turks and Leon. "I say we get going before anything else finds its way to us. I wouldn't like to fight off some weird boss-monster around here again."

Sephiroth walked up and patted Elena, who was still stoned. "What about Elena here?" he queried. "No one has any spells to heal this ailment."

"I don't have a spell, but I have the next best thing," Leon offered, reaching into his pack and pulling out a Panacea Bottle. The boy opened it and poured it over Elena, stepping back as it started to take effect.

Elena coughed as she returned to normal, blinking in confusion. "What happened?"

Tseng strode from Rude's side to hug her. "You don't want to know," he replied. "Come on. We should leave now."

"I agree with Tseng," piped up Gremio. "Let us return to The Edge of Sanity."

Everyone else nodded in turn, walking as a group into the forest. Flik trailed behind, snorting crossly. "Sure, no one listens to me," he mumbled as he walked, "but when Tseng says it. . ."

The cast of Final Fantasy VII and the two members from Suikoden watched in amusement as the four newcomers stared at The Edge of Sanity in awe. "Funny," Leon remarked dryly, "I always imagined the edge of sanity to look a lot more morbid."

A sweatdrop slid down Athena's forehead. "Uh. . . I think you're thinking about the edge of insanity."

Rufus' brow shot up. "Wouldn't that mean you're a step away from sanity?" he questioned.

". . . And about ready to give up insanity?" added Rude.

The sweatdrop was traded for a flustered look in a split-second. "What I mean is-- I mean-- no-- wait-- AHHH! Don't confuse me!!" She blushed as the other characters started laughing. "Stop it! Please!" They stopped, Reno being the last to have to stifle a snicker. "Thank you. . . Um . . . Nash, Leon, and Teepo?" The three boys looked at the girl quietly. "Would you like to join the staff?"

All three boys blinked, first at Athena, then at each other. "Join the staff?" repeated Nash, a grin appearing on his face. "Hey, sure! Why not? I mean, I need to get away from Lunar sometimes. . . Wow, stay on a webpage?" He shook his head. "I can't wait to brag in Vane!"

Teepo played with his long tendrils for a moment before answering. "Oh, I don't know," he sighed. "There's not much to do in the Breath of Fire world, but I don't want to miss anything there. . ." He paused, then chuckled. "Never mind. The worst thing that can happen back home is Rei getting himself pitted against Nina's mother or something along that line. I guess I can stick around."

All eyes went to Leon, who calmly ran a hand through his shock of hair. "Well, I'm sure not going to miss all those incompetent lackeys of mine back in my world, and I don't see myself getting bored of this place anytime soon. . . I don't see why not."

Reno slapped his forehead and sighed. "Great, just great," he exclaimed. "Just what we need around here! More hair freaks!"

Rufus had the gunblade he had stolen from Final Fantasy VIII out in a flash.

Leon brandished Chaltier so quickly no one was quite sure when he had moved his hand to his sheathe.

Teepo's right hand immediately began blazing with purple energy.

Nash was ahead of Teepo by several seconds, electricity jumping from hand to hand.

Sweatdrops claimed all the other characters' forehead. "Uh. . . One suggestion, Reno," Vincent hissed. "Run!"

Reno was only too happy to comply, screaming all the while as the four young men raced after him. He would later be found hanging in the freezer like a slab of meat, teeth chattering as his hair continued to freeze away, having been previously dunked in water several times.