"Transcending Reality"  by: Emerald Eyes

"I try to close my eyes, but I cannot ignore the stimuli. If there's a purpose for our soul it remains a secret to me. Don't ask me to justify my life." –Bad Religion

It's a crossover between Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. So what's the plotline?

 Well, some of the characters find out that the world they've lived in all their lives is, in reality, 

just a fantasy world from a video game that we're all so very fond of. 

But... I'm afraid things just can't be that simple. 

Our favortie mad scientist shows up as well as another familiar face... 

and things turn out to be completely different than anyone ever expected them to be... ^_^

Oh yeah, I don't own Reno (although it would be rapture if I did), Elena, Rude, or any of the other Final Fantasy characters in this fanfic. Squaresoft owns them. In fact, much to their surprise, characters are inexplicably popping up in the middle of Squaresoft Headquarters. They're conducting secret experiments on Vivi right now (poor kid). ^_^

^_^_^

Chapter One: The Light

The last rays of the sun slid behind the black silhouette of a line of buildings on the side of the bustling street. Above, in the darkening sky, the stars began to twinkle. It was a comfort to look up in the sky and finally not see the red glare of Meteor. It seemed as if the world was peaceful once again.

It was just another normal night on the Planet for the Turks. Two months since Meteor, and the ex-Shinra employees were aimlessly moving from city to city searching for a new job. Some places paid ridiculously low, most turned them down. Turks: Shin-Ra's elite force. They're the bad guys now. Nobody wants them. So naturally, after a hard day trying to become employed, Reno and Rude would head out to the nearest bar and get completely intoxicated.

Elena sighed and stared at the door to the old run-down Rocket Town pub, waiting impatiently for her two drunken friends to stumble out. The wait became unbearable, and just as she was about to storm into the bar and drag Reno out by the hair, a familiar face appeared.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy!!!" Reno greeted drunkenly, "Why won't you come in and have a drink with Rude and I?" He smiled and hiccupped.

Elena looked at her drunken friend: his shock of red hair was sticking out in all directions, more than it usually was. His eyes were glazed over and unfocused, and he was swaying on his feet. "Uhm… Reno? I think you've had enough to drink, don't you?"

Reno, who now had to be held up by Elena, seemed to consider her question for a few moments. After much contemplation he answered, "No."

"Reno," Elena said slowly and carefully, as if trying to talk to a five year old, "I'm going to go in and get Rude. I want you to stay here, okay?"

Reno wasn't paying any attention. His eyes were fixed on a scantly dressed, attractive brunette who was walking up the street. "Heya, babe. You're lookin' pretty hot. Wanna go out with me?" At those words the brunette gasped and brought her hand up to cover her mouth. Her other hand came up and slapped Reno across the face. "Ow," he said, wincing.

Elena frowned. "On second thought, I think you can come with me."

Reno nodded dumbly as Elena led him into the bar. Inside, Rude was sitting on a stool drinking a concoction of orange liquid. From the citrus smell of it, the libation appeared to be a screwdriver.

"Come on," Elena said flatly, "we're leaving."

Rude looked knowingly at her and responded. "I'm surprised he hasn't passed out already."

Elena glanced at Reno. He flashed her a clueless grin and started humming a nameless drunken tune.

"You're right," said Rude, "Let's get out of here before he decides to have another drink." Elena knew Rude was just as drunk as Reno, but for some reason he always seemed to handle the alcohol better.

Rude and Elena helped Reno, who was still humming, out the door. As soon as they entered the cold night air, a young man with black hair and dark blue eyes walked up to them. He was dressed down in a pair of old jeans and a gray t-shirt. The man put his pale hands in the pockets of his black trench coat to protect them from the cold.

"You're the Turks, right?" He asked, just slightly unsure of himself. The man knew how to mask his emotions well. "Come with me."

"Who are you?" Rude asked.

"That's not for you to know," the man replied, all hints of emotion gone. "Now if you'll follow me." He waited patiently, leaning casually against the wall of the pub.

"Um…" Elena started, "I don't think we should—" She was cut off by Rude, who held up his hand, signaling for her to stop. This was what Rude was like when he was drunk. He wasn't an idiot or an asshole like Reno, he just lost all common sense. There was a job opportunity in Cosmo Canyon, and Rude had been the one who wanted to get there by morning. Again, there was the fact that about half the planet wanted to kill them, and it wasn't a bright idea to go off with someone not familiar.

Elena shut up and walked after her two drunken companions who were following the mysterious man. If the man decided to try anything, she should be able to take care of it. After all, she was a Turk, and the man didn't look that tough. And if he wasn't there to kill them, whatever he needed to say, it shouldn't take long, and they'd be on the road and at Cosmo in the morning.

He led them into a dark alleyway. Elena silently wondered why he didn't just say what he needed to say out in front of the bar. Finally the man stopped and turned around to make sure everyone had followed.

"All right," said Rude, "start talking."

The man, however, didn't talk. Instead, he reached into his coat pocket and retrieved something that looked somewhat like a remote control.

"What the hell is that?!" queried a shocked Reno.

The man smiled. "This device, Reno, will bring you into reality." The ambiguous expression the statement brought to the redhead's face amused the young man.

"Huh?" Reno replied, confused, "What the fuck does that mean?"

"You'll find out soon enough" was the only answer he would offer.

Elena looked puzzled. "Who are you?" The man chose not to answer. Instead he pushed one of the many buttons on the odd-looking device.

Before any of the Turks could react, a blinding flash of light erupted out of nowhere, sending Rude, Reno, and Elena into unconsciousness.

^_^_^

Emerald's Ramble: I re-did the chapter because I wasn't happy with it. It seemed too cheesy. Anyhow, I like this revamped chapter a lot better. ~_^