Crisis Core: Blades of Destiny

Prologue

In the sprawling, technological marvel that was Midgar, the Shinra Company reigned supreme. Its SOLDIER program had long been the pinnacle of military might and heroics, an elite force of warriors capable of performing extraordinary feats. For years, it had been an all-male domain, a symbol of power and strength in a world where only the strongest survived.

A whispered wind of reform and equality had begun to blow through the city. The world had evolved, and so too had the perception of strength. The time had come for SOLDIER to open its doors to a new kind of warrior.

The slums were a place of forgotten dreams and lost hope, a place where the city's underbelly fought to survive against the weight of the plates above. In one corner of this unforgiving world, tucked away was a young woman named Cindy. She was an enigma in the slums, known to few and seen by even fewer. She was timid, her voice soft, and her eyes carried the weight of a thousand unspoken sorrows. She had never known friendship or camaraderie, always kept at a distance by her own guarded heart. Cindy had grown up an orphan, the cruel hands of fate denying her the warmth of family and security.

Cindy knew little about her past; the circumstances of her birth and the identity of her parents were shrouded in mystery. The only constants in her life were the cold steel of her sword and the deadly precision of her marksmanship. In a world where strength meant survival, she had honed her combat skills to perfection, becoming a formidable warrior in her own right.

Life in the slums was tough, and Cindy's reserved nature was a product of the world that had shaped her. She had few interactions with others, preferring the solitude of her trailer and the quietude of the night. But in her heart, she yearned for answers, for a connection to her past that had been stolen from her.

It was a time of change in Midgar, when the walls of tradition were beginning to crumble. The SOLDIER program, once an exclusive club for men, had opened its doors to women. The announcement sent ripples through the city, offering a glimmer of hope to those who had been denied the chance to rise above their circumstances.

Cindy seized this opportunity. She applied for the SOLDIER program, determined to prove her worth in the world. The path ahead was daunting.

And it was during the simulated combat test, amidst the clashing of swords and the roar of gunfire, that a pair of keen eyes noticed her exceptional skill. Angeal Hewley, a revered figure within SOLDIER, saw something in Cindy that set her apart. He recognized the raw potential within her, a potential that could not be ignored.

Angeal's decision was clear. He would personally take her under his wing, alongside another promising SOLDIER named Zack Fair. Together, they would embark on a journey that would not only reshape Cindy's destiny but also challenge the very fabric of SOLDIER tradition.

The story for Cindy had begun, a tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the forging of bonds that would transcend the boundaries of Midgar's class divisions. In the darkness of the slums, a new hero was about to rise.

Cindy's small trailer in the Sector 7 slums was enveloped in the stillness of the night. Moonlight filtered through the tattered curtains, casting faint shadows across the room. She lay in her makeshift bed, wrapped in solitude, her eyes closed in restless slumber.

In her dream, she stood on the outskirts of a small, nameless town. The air was heavy with an ominous tension, and a chilling wind whistled through the empty streets. Cindy's breaths hung in the frigid air, her heart pounding as she surveyed the eerily quiet scene.

Then, a figure, cloaked in shadows, emerged from the darkness, their features obscured. It was a being of terrible presence, emanating an aura of malevolence that sent shivers down Cindy's spine. Flames danced in their wake, leaving a trail of destruction in their path.

Cindy watched in horror as the figure approached the town's humble buildings. With a wave of their hand, fire erupted from their fingertips, engulfing everything in its path. The once peaceful town was reduced to ashes, the flames roaring like a vengeful beast.

As the inferno raged on, the mysterious figure turned to face Cindy, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. The gaze locked onto hers, sending a jolt of terror coursing through her.

Then, with a voice that echoed through the depths of her mind, the figure spoke,

"The flames of destiny shall consume all."

Cindy woke with a start, her heart racing, and her body drenched in cold sweat. The memory of the dream hung heavy in her mind, like a warning from the depths of her soul. She knew not the identity of the mysterious figure, but their message was clear—a harbinger of destruction. With a heavy heart, she resolved to confront the mysteries of the ominous vision that haunted her. Although the plate above cast nothing but shadow onto her part of the slums, she knew it was morning. It was time to head to the city.

The dimly lit corridors of Shinra's underground SOLDIER training facility stretched out before Cindy as she walked with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Each step echoed through the cold, metallic halls, a constant reminder of the imposing world she had entered. The SOLDIER program was no place for the timid, but Cindy was determined to prove herself.

She had been selected as one of the few women granted the opportunity to join the ranks of SOLDIER, a momentous occasion that had been years in the making. It was a chance to escape the drudgery of her life in the slums and become the warrior she had always believed herself to be.

As Cindy reached the designated room, she took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Inside, the room was spacious, with walls lined by rows of virtual reality pods. The buzz of conversation and anticipation filled the air as fellow recruits, both male and female, chatted nervously.

At the front of the room, a man with shoulder-length hair and a stern expression stood beside a SOLDIER in a vibrant red uniform. The man was Angeal Hewley, a legend within the SOLDIER ranks known for his unparalleled combat skills and unwavering sense of duty. The man beside him, Genesis Rhapsodos, was a 1st Class SOLDIER and a rising star in the organization. He would be training the other recruits.

"You can do this..."

Cindy's heart pounded in her chest as she approached them, her eyes cast downward in a show of respect. Angeal noticed her immediately, and his sharp gaze fell upon her.

"Your name is... Cindy. Correct?" he asked, his voice steady and commanding.

Cindy nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, sir."

Angeal's eyes softened as he regarded the timid recruit before him. He signaled to a 2nd Class SOLDIER. He had fluffy black hair with two bangs coming down on both sides of his face.

He extended a hand, gesturing to the energetic 2nd Class SOLDIER at his side. "This is Zack Fair, You'll be training together."

Zack grinned enthusiastically and offered a friendly handshake. "Hey there! Ready to become SOLDIER?"

Cindy met Zack's warm smile with a nervous one of her own. "I'll do my best."

Angeal's voice held a note of encouragement as he continued, "Zack will be your partner, he's one of the best 2nd Class SOLDIERs we have, and you're in good hands."

Zack clapped Cindy on the shoulder, exuding a contagious enthusiasm. "We're going to make 1st Class SOLDIERs, Cindy, no doubt about it!"

With Angeal as her mentor and Zack as her partner, she took her first step into the world of SOLDIER, ready to face the challenges and forge her destiny.