Chapter 3 "The search for Strife"
 
     Sephiroth was not having a good day as he attempts every single known medical practice in the book to discourage the pounding of mallets in his head. The ice pack he had on his head was helping a little, but the pounding wouldn't go away. Those late nights partying at the bar for the past year was taking a serious toll on his mental health, however his physical health was perfectly okay to most fact. Settling down in one of his reception room of his Costa de Sol summer house, he press the ice pack over his face as the pounding continue even louder.

    "I hate hangovers..." Sephiroth murmur to himself as he leans back.

    "You wouldn't have this problem every morning, if you stop drinking so much." Lucretia reply as she exits the kitchen handing him another ice pack. Sephiroth grumble a little too much in pain to reply as he replaces the icepack with a new one. Shaking her head in pity as she walks back to the kitchen, Lucretia mutter, "He never learns."

    "Fighting Jenova is way better than this." Sephiroth continue to murmur massaging his temples with the ice pack still on his head. Look across the room he stare at the sheath Masamune hanging on the wall, letting out a sigh, he closed his eye as blissful sleep consume him.

    "I've heard the tales from the other, but I have a question for you Dad." Sephiroth said as he held Masamune out before him preparing for any attack. "Why was I concede, this who thing now prove this is something more than to prove yourself better than Ghast?" Sephiroth ask as he looks into his father eyes.

    "If you must know," Hojo sneer as he raise he partially mechanical left arm, "you're only existence was to be the basis for my Numbers." "To consider in the end you and Cloud the Failure survive compare to the rest is laughable." Hojo laugh as his eyes close as he remembers the whole thing. "My only mistake was allowing you to become so strong that you could challenge me, but I'll atone for that mistake now." Hojo declare as his body starts to glow.

    Sephiroth shield himself as the container explodes showering shards at him. Looking up, he stare in shock at the floating form of Hojo surrounded by a dense aura of energy before him.  Letting out a growl Sephiroth brought his sword back as he did a massive swing straight at his father. Chuckling at the attack Hojo easily caught the blade with his hand inches from his face. Raising his other hand, Hojo smirk as he release a huge energy blast as Sephiroth sending him colliding in to the back wall. Sephiroth curse t himself as Hojo float menacingly before as his hand forming a spell.

    "Shadow Flare!" Hojo scream as a huge wave of darkness consumes Sephiroth in it.

    "Are you okay?" she ask she notice the strain and sweat on his face.

    Shaking his head Sephiroth reply, "I'm okay for now."

    "It's Hojo isn't," she said flatly looking deep into Sephiroth face, "he's dead there is no way he can come back."

    "You're right, mom." Sephiroth comment as he walks over to the Masamune and took it off the wall. Turning around, Sephiroth said,  "I'm going to Junon, there something I need there." Lucretia nod in understanding at gave Sephiroth a soft hug as he left the house.

    "The power of the planet is dying fast." The old Cetra murmur as he watches the darkness consume the White Materia's light. He felt remorse for the Cetra that had died here, he met here in the Ancient temple, but he knew he could do nothing to help. The old Cetra looks to the warrior before him and hope that at least he could stop this decay.

    "Looks like its over, Gramp." the warrior comment at the situation. "Without Cloud there is no way they can stop the forces that are gathering before them." the warrior continues cynically.

    Frowning Gramp replied, "We will help the find Cloud, you and I will help them." The warrior took a step back in surprise, as the Gramps continue, "I'll use my life so that they may have a chance to of finding Cloud."

    "But if you die then the Cetra bloodline will end and besides Cloud went off on the foolish quest to find the 1/2 Cetra Aeris." the warrior retort waving his arm in frustration.

    "It doesn't matter," Gramps rely calmly, "are you with me or not?"

    Shrugging the Warrior grumble, "Do I ever have a choice?" Gramps chuckle to himself as a huge white sphere surrounded the two flew off to Junon.

    "Hi there Reeve." Sephiroth said as he opens up the door, however the site that he saw cause him to drop the bottle in shock. I the room staring at him was the entire Avalanche group, something he did not expect at all.

    Snorting, Barret reply, "Look who finally decided to show up."

    "Go easy on him, Barret." Cait Sith reply as he and the Moggle were both doing a cat cradle.

    "What's going on?" Sephiroth ask scanning the room also sighting the Turks near the back behind Reeve.

    Clearing his throat, Reeve answer, "We called all Avalanche members for an Emergency meeting, didn't you get that on your PMS?"

    As Sephiroth shook his no, Barret chuckle, "He probably left out somewhere and forgotten to check it."

    "As a matter of fact, Mr. Barret I never received one." Sephiroth retort as sparks start to fly between the two.

    "Here they go again." Yuffie mutter as she walks in between them in an effort to keep them from hurting each other.

    Pondering the situation Tifa comment, "Barret aren't you responsible for everyone having a PMS?" A huge slab of rock fell on Barret head as the hard truth came up.

    "That's enough!" Zack yell as slam his fist on Reeve's desk deafening the room and breaking Reeve's desk in half. Letting out a sweat drop, he mutters, "A sorry about the desk."

    Reeve shrug, "I'll just have another one build."

    "We all didn't come here to clown around, the matter at hand is life threatening to the planet." Zack said. "Thanks to information brought to us by the former Turks and Junon surveillance team." Zack continue gesturing to the ex-Turks. "We have over whelming evidence that Shinra has totally reform itself and is know currently controls the East Side of this continent." He finishes as a wave of gasp fills the room.

    "How come no one notice this before?" Yuffie ask.

    Stepping up Reeve answer, "Shortly after the destruction of Hojo over a year ago, we all spent are resources fix up what we could in our own place. Since none of had bother to work around Kalm and Midgar it would more than easy for a rag tag survivor of Shinra to rebuild their foundation there."

    "So how far are they prepare so far?" Sephiroth question his arm cross as he leans against the wall.

    "This far." Zack reply as the curtain close and a screen light up. The picture displays a totally rebuilt Midgar that now stretches to even consuming Kalm in itself. The most frightening of all were the eight reactors surrounding Midgar all activated on full power.

    "Damnit." Cid grumble throwing his cigarette in the floor as grinding it with his feet.

    "Shinra back at full power it seems," Barret grumble to himself, "this is like damn cycle first we wipe out Shinra and Jenova. Then Hojo comes back, after we kill him now Shinra's back what's next Jenova?"

    "There is a probability that she may return you know." Sephiroth respond.

    "Oh Shut Up Pretty boy, if I want your opinion I talk to a frog." Barret growl.

    "Jenova is back."

    All of them turn their heads around as the search for the source of the voice, all eyes eventually turning to the curtains. Quickly flipping them open they saw a huge humanoid figure with long telescoping legs and a huge whip for one arm. It's skin was cover with smooth exoskeleton of some sort that reflect numerous different colors at once. It had a wedge shape head with no distinct features except for a vacant looking eye on its right side.

    "My sister decided I should let you know that little bit of info." the thing chuckle as it floated outside.

     "Sister?" everyone gasp in union.

    "You being are so amusing." It laughs out loud. "To bad playtime is over." It sneer at them as it's eye widen causing all the windows to shatter, sending shards of glass at them. "To bad I was hoping for more of a threat." It mutters at the smoke cover room.

    "Reidia!"

    "What?" Reidia scream as a huge wave fire lashes out from the smoke at him. Screaming as the flame burn him, Redio vow, "You'll pay for this Cetra!" As he teleport away into thin air.

    Gramps and the Warrior step out of the smoke as they watch Redio escape. Waving his hand a little, a wind sweep through the room clearing the smoke as the Warrior watch from afar.

    "Who are you?" Reno asked upon seeing the two strangers carefully reaching for his weapon.    "Easy Reno", Tifa said as she walk up to the old man, "you're the Cetra from Ancient temple?"

    "I am he," Gramps answer, "however we have no time to talk, the planet is dying quickly. We must find Cloud Strife now."