Filed Under: Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis

0002/9/21
Nibelheim

[In a helicopter flying over Nibelheim.]

Player

There! Tseng, I can see the Nibelheim reactor.

[The scene switches to the reactor.]

Tseng

That’s the first reactor our company ever built.

Player

Built 50 years ago, right?

Tseng

It’s fallen into a bit of disrepair because of its age.

Player

The workers at the reactor all went missing. Could it be because the reactor is old? Like, maybe a beam broke, and they all fell into the Lifestream or something like that.

Tseng

I wonder. It’s your job to find out what really happened there.

Player

Yes, sir.

[Meanwhile, in the mountains, a girl calls out to someone.]

???

Wait!

[A white cat wearing a red collar scampers across the mountain path.]

Cat

Meow.

???

I said wait!

[The young girl, dressed in white and brown, catches up to the cat.]

???

Oooh. You’re always running around outside, even though you’re sick. It’s dangerous for you out here. Come on, we’re going back to the house.

Cat

Meow.

[The cat runs up the mountain trail.]

???

No, wait!

[She chases after it]

???

Don’t go any further! There are dangerous things in these mountains!!

[Back in the chopper…]

Tseng

Ready?

Player

I’m ready to go anytime.

Tseng

All right. I’m leaving it up to you.

Player

Yes, sir. Then I’m off!

[You jump out of the helicopter. A sudden gust of wind rocks the chopper.]

Tseng

Wind?! It’s strong…

[The chopper veers off course before returning to its original position.]

Tseng

Rosalind got blown away… (Thought) I hope she’s all right…

In the Nibelheim Mountains

Rosalind

Looks like I landed pretty far away…

[Your PHS rings.]

Tseng

Rosalind, are you all right?

Player

Yes, but it looks like I’ve landed pretty far away from the Mako reactor.

Tseng

If you keep heading west of your current position, you’ll reach the Mako reactor eventually. You’re going to have to walk there; there isn’t any other way.

Player

Yes, sir. (Thought) Okay! Let’s go.

[You must now make your way in a generally westward direction. You turn the corner and see a bridge. Flying high above it is a Zuu. It swoops down and knocks a Kimara Bug off the bridge and into the gorge below. You must get across the bridge without engaging the Zuu.

Meanwhile, the girl in brown is still chasing after her cat.]

???

Wait!

Cat

Meow.

[The cat scampers off again.

Once you’ve crossed the first bridge, you’ll come across another. Once again, be careful that you don’t run into the Zuu flying above it. Watch out also for any Kimara Bugs. Once you’ve crossed the second bridge, the scene will switch again.]

???

Cooooooome on~!

Cat

Meow~

[You duck through a hidden cave and come out the other side. There is a natural staircase set into the stone, and you head down it.

Meanwhile, the girl has chased her cat deep into the mountains.]

???

Oh, I said wait!

Cat

Meow. Meow.

[Just as you finish descending, you are beset upon by two Kimara Bugs.

FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x2]

You come across another bridge, guarded by another bug.

FIGHT: Kimara Bug

You cross the bridge. Immediately, you see that something is wrong. The girl in brown has run up against three Kimara Bugs.]

Player

A person?! And they’re in trouble?! Hey, you! Get back.

???

O-Okay.

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x3]]

???

Um… thanks!

Player

Are you all right?

???

Yeah, I guess…

Player

Still, what are you doing here in the first place?

???

She ran into the mountains, see. I was trying to get her back when the monsters attacked.

Cat

Meow.

Player

Following the cat… do you know what’s in these mountains?

???

Of course. There isn’t a person in this town that doesn’t. They say that anyone that tries to cross these mountains will never come out alive.

Player

That’s right. This mountain’s also an important place to the Shin-Ra. So we’re going back.

???

Huh?

Player

You can’t go back alone.

???

……

Player

Okay. Wait here a bit. When I’ve finished with my business here, I’ll head back to town with you.

???

Sure. Oh! I’m Tifa, by the way.

Player

I’m Rosalind.

[You turn around and start crossing a particularly long bridge. Halfway across, you see your goal.]

Player

There it is. The reactor. (Thought) That’s the Mako reactor…

[You arrive at the reactor.]

Player

Hm?

[A dragon leaps out of nowhere at you.]

Player

(Thought) D… Dragon!!

[The dragon lumbers forward. You step back. Another dragon joins its mate.]

Player

(Thought) I’ve got to call Tseng!

[On the bridge, you call Tseng on your PHS.]

Player

Tseng, this is terrible. There are dragons in front of the reactor.

Tseng

What did you say?!

Player

There are tons of them. I’ve never seen that many at once before.

Tseng

There are that many? Were you able to get inside?

Player

No. I don’t think I could get in, with all of them there.

Tseng

I see. All right, pull out. The investigation will have to wait for now.

Player

Yes, sir. But we can’t hold it off forever. What are we going to do?

Tseng

I’ll check in with Veld.

Player

He’s been sent out somewhere, sir. I heard no one’s been able to reach him.

Tseng

This is an emergency situation. I’ll find a way to get a hold of him. In the meantime, go back to the town and wait for further instructions.

Player

Yes, sir.

[End of Episode 12.1]

Tifa

Rosalind!

Player

Sorry to keep you waiting. We’re leaving now. Follow me.

Tifa

Huh? Where are you going? If you want to get down, it’s this way.

Player

There’s a special ropeway that the reactor employees use.

Tifa

There was something like that?! I didn’t even know.

Player

I didn’t think you would. It’s only for Shin-Ra employees. Most of the townspeople don’t know of its existence.

[Inside the cable car.]

Tifa

Um…

Player

Yes?

Tifa

Can I ask you something? Do you know a boy named Cloud?

Player

Cloud… I met someone with that name on another mission before. You know him?

Tifa

We’re childhood friends. He left town 2 years ago saying he was going to go join SOLDIER.

[FLASHBACK…

Cloud

I want to join SOLDIER. I'm going to be the best there is, just like Sephiroth!

Tifa

Hey, why don't we make a promise? Umm, if you get really famous and I'm ever in a bind… you come save me, all right?

Cloud

What?

Tifa

Come on---! Promise me---!

Cloud

All right… I promise.]

[Something impacts with the cable car. Tifa screams.]

Player

What was that?!

Tifa

The car’s stopped!

[The car shakes again as another impact rains down.]

Tifa

Look at that! Down there!

Player

!! The dragon’s ramming it!!

[The car rocks from another blow.]

Player

What should we do? At this rate –

[The car shakes again. Tifa screams.]

Player

Tifa! Grab onto me!!

[The car rocks again.]

Tifa

?!

[The car snaps off the cable and falls.]

Tifa

Kyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!

Player

(Thought) We’ve got to jump out! It’s our only chance!

[It is pitch black.]

Player

Ugh…

[You open your eyes and get up.]

Player

I’m alive…

[You look straight down. You’ve landed just at the edge of the mountain.]

Player

Whew… (Thought) If I’d gone just a little further, I would have fallen to my death… (Out loud) Oh! Tifa?!

Tifa

Rosalind!

Player

Thank goodness, you’re safe.

[Tifa looks around frantically.]

Player

What’s wrong?

Tifa

The cat… my cat’s missing!!

[Tifa spots something across the bridge.]

Tifa

Oh!

Player

Huh?

[Across the bridge is a dragon.]

Tifa

It’s the dragon from before!

Player

(Thought) If it comes here, the bridge will collapse! (Out loud) I’m going!

Tifa

Rosalind?!

[FIGHT: Dragon.]

Player

Whew… I did it…

[You meet up with Tifa again.]

Tifa

Are you okay?

Player

Somehow.

Cat

Meow.

[Tifa’s cat turns the corner and stops at her feet.]

Tifa

Thanks goodness!

Player

We should get out of here before another one comes along.

Tifa

But…

[Tifa looks down the precipice.]

Tifa

The ropeway’s broken…

Player

Yeah. We’ll have to walk.

Tifa

Right. The town’s not far from here. We have nothing to worry about.

Player

(Thought) Oh, I should report in. (Out loud) Wait a minute, will you Tifa?

[You get on the phone.]

Player

Tseng, sir. A dragon attacked the ropeway. We can’t use it anymore.

Tseng

What?! That’s going to be a problem… Sephiroth and his company have been sent out to survey the reactor, but…

Player

Sephiroth has?!

Tseng

That was the President’s decision. I couldn’t get in touch with Veld, so we’ve got no other choice.

Player

I guess so. I’m sure Sephiroth can deal with the dragons.

Tseng

Still… It’ll be harder to navigate a path to the reactor without the ropeway… Rosalind, find someone that knows the way who can act as a guide.

Player

Yes, sir.

[You put the phone down for a moment.]

Player

Someone who knows the way… Tifa?

Tifa

Yes?

Player

Do you remember the route you took to get here?

Tifa

Yes.

Player

Do you think you can lead an investigation team up here?

Tifa

Forget it. The mountain path is full of monsters.

Player

You won’t have to worry about that. Sephiroth will be leading the team. If he’s with you, it’s probably a lot safer than staying in the village.

Tifa

Sephiroth! The SOLDIER 1^st Class Sephiroth?!

Player

Yes.

Tifa

Okay. I’ll do it!

Player

Thank you.

[You bring the phone back to your ear.]

Player

Tseng, I’ve found someone.

[You hang up and start making your way down the mountain.]

[End of Chapter 12.2.]

[Just outside the Nibelheim inn, you spot a familiar face.]

Player

Zack!

[Zack, Sephiroth and a Shin-Ra guard stop in front of the inn.]

Zack

Hey! It’s been a while.

Cloud

A long while.

Player

Is that you, Cloud? (Thought) Why is he wearing that mask today?

Zack

What? You know Cloud?

Player

We worked together once before.

Zack

Oh, I got it.

Cloud

……

Sephiroth

Hey, Zack. Finish this. We need to plan for tomorrow.

Zack

Okay, I’m coming.

[Sephiroth enters the inn.]

Zack

(To the others) You’ve got some free time until tonight. (To Cloud) You’ve got relatives living here, right?

Cloud

Yeah…

[Zack runs into the inn.]

Player

You’re from Nibelheim?

Cloud

Yeah, kind of.

Player

Then you’re the one. Tifa said she had a childhood friend named Cloud that went off to become a SOLDIER a couple of years back.

Cloud

You know Tifa?

Player

Yeah. I asked her to be the guide for tomorrow.

Cloud

You mean, she’ll be leading us up?!

Player

Of course. Tifa asked about you, you know.

Cloud

! What did you tell her?!

Player

I told her I didn’t know. I couldn’t tell just by the name if you were that same Cloud.

Cloud

Oh… Hey… Can I ask you a favour? Don’t tell Tifa I’ve come back.

Player

What?!

[FLASHBACK:

Cloud

I want to join SOLDIER. I'm going to be the best there is, just like Sephiroth!]

Player

(Thought) So that’s why he’s wearing the mask today. (Out loud) Okay. I won’t say a thing.

Cloud

Thanks. I owe you one.

[Cloud heads off somewhere. You return to the inn.]

[VOICEOVER: The next morning, the investigation team headed out for the reactor at Mt. Nibel. Once the survey was over, they came back to the town.]

[Sephiroth, Zack, Cloud and Tifa have just returned from the investigation and are standing at the inn’s entrance. You approach them.]

Player

Good work everybody. Could I get a report of your findings -?

[Sephiroth walks into the inn in the middle of your sentence.]

Zack

Don’t let it get to you, Rosalind. He went all funny while we were out there investigating the reactor.

Player

(Thought) What’s wrong with Sephiroth?

[VOICEOVER: Sephiroth just locked himself up in his hotel room. He didn’t come out of there for days.]

[Tseng is speaking to you from the PHS.]

Tseng

What about Sephiroth?

Player

Nothing’s changed. He’s still locked up there in his room.

Tseng

Have you been able to determine what’s triggered the change in his behaviour?

Player

Yes. It seems like he reacted badly to something he saw inside the reactor.

Tseng

I see… (Thought) Why does this have to happen when Veld’s away…? It’ll be good if nothing worse happens…

Player

Tseng? Is just keeping watch fine?

Tseng

There’s nothing we can do until we get more information. Just keep an eye on him. If Sephiroth’s behaviour changes, let me know.

Player

Yes, sir.

[VOICEOVER: Then something did happen.]

[Nibelheim is burning. In a panic, you call Tseng.]

Player

Sir!! Sephiroth’s –

[A brilliant flash of white light. Sephiroth is standing in the middle of the burning square.]

Player

-set fire to the town!!

Tseng

What?!

Player

At this rate the town will be completely destroyed.

[Another flash of white light. You are standing in the same place Sephiroth was in the flashback.]

Tseng

What’s Sephiroth doing?

Player

He’s headed in the direction of the Mako reactor.

Tseng

Damn. (Thought) We should have done more.

Player

Tseng, at this rate, we don’t know what Sephiroth will do. I’m going to follow him!

Tseng

We’re heading there as well. Take care of the monsters on your way up so we can follow you up.

Player

Yes, sir.

Tseng

(Thought) I misjudged this situation. Sir… Where are you at a time like this…?

[You’ve made it to the anthill paths that make up the Mount Nibel range.]

Player

(Thought) I’ve got to hurry. The reactor’s Northwest from here. I’ve got to take care of the monsters, too.

[You make your way through the paths. There will be secret passages and obstacles, as well as Kimara Bugs along the way. You must navigate all of these to get to the reactor.

As soon as you arrive at the reactor, a dragon stands in your way.]

Player

There was a dragon left. Fine. Let’s go!

[FIGHT: Dragon]

Player

Inside the Mako reactor…

[Back in the town…]

Tifa

This is terrible… I won’t forgive him!!

[Tifa heads for the reactor. Her cat follows her. Several minutes later, Zack surveys the same scene.]

Zack

(Thought) Tifa, don’t get yourself killed.

[Zack heads for the reactor.]

[End of Chapter 12.3.]

Nibelheim Reactor, Interior

[Sephiroth strides purposefully down a corridor.]

Player

Sephiroth!

Sephiroth

!

[You catch up with him.]

Sephiroth

Traitor.

Player

What are you saying?! Why did you set the town on fire?! It’s completely destroyed!

Sephiroth

I'm only getting started. Mother was supposed to rule this world. But you stole it from her.

Player

Wait a minute!

Sephiroth

Shut up! Traitor!

Player

?!

[Sephiroth swings out with his Masamune causing an explosion just behind you.]

Player

Ugh… (Thought) What power… I can’t move…

Sephiroth

I am the chosen one.

Player

(Thought) Come on, body… move!

Sephiroth

I am the one chosen to rule this world. I will take the Planet back from you.

Player

I won’t let you do that…

Sephiroth

And I will be the one who rids the Planet of you – the usurpers.

Player

All of this… just for that…

Sephiroth

It's only a matter of time before I destroy you all. If you value it, leave with what remains of your pitiful life while you can!

Player

They didn’t do anything… (1)

[Sephiroth begins walking away.]

Player

How could you do this to them!

[You move to attack Sephiroth. He raises his sword in the air causing a giant crack to spread out around the ground where he is standing. There is a split second where nothing else happens. Then the damage spreads out and debris goes flying in an explosion that knocks you out cold. Some time later, you hear a voice in your semi-conscious state.]

???

Oi…

Player

……

???

Rosalind!

Player

Nn…

???

Rosalind! Tell me you’re alive! Get up.

Player

Uughh…

???

Just wait a little longer. I’ll go check on Tifa.

[Several feet away from where you are lying, an unmasked Cloud is staring at the prone form of Tifa.]

Cloud

Sephiroth!! I'm not going to let you get away with this!!

[He runs up to the JENOVA room.

Meanwhile, you finally regain consciousness.]

Player

Cloud?! Did he go after Sephiroth?! That’s reckless!

[With all of 10 HP, you limp toward the JENOVA room. You’ve only gone a little way when you hear a familiar sound.]

Cat

Meow.

Player

?! Tifa’s cat?!

[You come to a stop where Tifa is being watched over by her cat. When you reach Tifa, the cat darts off.]

Player

Hey! Where are you going?! Tifa! Tifa!!

Tifa

Ughhh…

Player

Whew, it looks like she’s still alive.

Tifa

Uuughhh…

Player

Tifa, get a grip. Cloud’s… Remember that promise he made with you? That he’d come rescue you whenever you were in a bind? He did.

Cat

(From off screen) Meow.

???

(Off screen) Tifa!!

Player

?!

Cat

(Off screen) Meow.

[The cat rejoins Tifa. She is followed by a grizzled man with white hair.]

???

Tifa, are you all right?!

Player

She’s unconscious. She’s badly wounded, but as long as she gets treatment right away, she should be fine.

???

I’m glad I made it in time.

Player

This might seem rude, but who are you?

Zangan

My name is Zangan. I teach Tifa martial arts.

Player

You’re Tifa’s master. It’s a good thing you came.

Zangan

It’s all thanks to Tifa’s cat here.

Player

Her cat?

Zangan

Yeah. I was looking for her when the cat came bolting down and yowling something awful. I think she knew.

Player

You showed Zangan the way. Good job.

Cat

Meow.

Player

Zangan, you look after Tifa.

Zangan

Of course. What are you going to do?

Player

I’m staying. There are other people still in here. I’m going to see how they’re doing.

Zangan

Be careful.

Player

Yeah. You too.

Zangan

Yeah.

[Leaving Tifa with Zangan, you hobble up the stairs to the JENOVA room. A bit of the way up, you notice something strange about one of the pods.]

Player

Oh!

[Zack is lying on a pod, injured.]

Zack

Ugh…

Player

Zack!! Sephiroth did this to you too?!

Zack

I’m… fine… I’m… more… worried… about… Cl… out… He’s… in there… Go…

Player

Right. Leave it to me.

[Inside the JENOVA room. Sephiroth has got Cloud speared on his Masamune.]

Cloud

Uuughh…

Sephiroth

Hm?

[With an almighty roar, Cloud unskewers himself from Sephiroth’s sword and shoves him back. Cloud hunches over, breathing hard.]

Sephiroth

This… can’t be! You… couldn’t have…

[Cloud continues breathing harshly.]

Sephiroth

Those eyes… Hmph. I won’t let anybody get in my way.

[Sephiroth leaves Cloud and approaches the pod JENOVA is stored in. You come in to find Cloud lying unconscious on the floor, shards of broken glass all around him.]

Player

Cloud, get up.

Sephiroth

Mother… Let’s take this Planet back together.

[A flash of white light. Sephiroth is no longer there.]

Player

!! Se- Sephiroth!! No way… Sephiroth jumped into the Mako pit?! Why?

[You call Tseng.]

Player

Tseng, sir! Trouble!!

Tseng

Is that you, Rosalind? What’s wrong?

Player

Sephiroth’s… Sephiroth’s…

Tseng

Calm down, Rosalind.

Player

Sephiroth fell into the Mako. He’s probably dead.

Tseng

What?! (Thought) He destroyed the town, too. How are we going to cover something like this up? Veld, wherever you are, come back quickly…

[Inside the Mako pool.]

Sephiroth

(Thought) I will gain the knowledge of the Lifestream, and gain new power…

To be continued…