Case of Denzel pt. 1

Denzel is one of the children Tifa and Cloud, but mostly just Tifa, take care of in Advent Children. He's the Geostigma infected friend of Marlene, who ends up joining up with the wannabes for a bit. He's the one who hits Bahamut, so we know he’s a real BA. This is his story to becomes the BA.

It starts with a framing device telling us about Midgar after Meteor. We’re in a city named Edge, which was built on the outskirts of the great Metropolis. Johnny has returned from wherever he was and started a bar called Johnny’s Heaven, as a tribute to Tifa’s Seventh Heaven from the slums. Little does he know, Tifa has already rebuilt her new bar across town, but what can ya do? Johnny has taken it upon himself to protect the children who live around the city. As Denzel enters his establishment, he tries to offer him some dating advice thinking the kid is here on a date. Even though he’s shocked that Denzel is already dating, it's what Johnny knows. Denzel turns it down just as a man named Reeve enters. Reeve is an ominous man we met in the game. He's a, mostly, benevolent person and the man behind the controls of Cait Sith. He sits down next to Denzel, which upsets Johnny, but nothing comes from it.

The two then discuss the WRO, which is an army, apparently. We don’t know much about it yet other than it used to take all comers but has become more selective of late. Denzel offers to join the WRO, but Reeve asks for his backstory first. Denzel, being ten, doesn’t think he has a backstory, but gives what he can, regardless.

Denzel was born to Eber, a man who worked in Shinra’s Third Business Department, and Chloe, a “social person and who was good at tending to the house." The family currently lives on the Sector Seven Plate. There’s a lot of backstory about Eber’s early life and work life, which points to the family being happy and kind. “There was no meaning to life without smiles.”

Until one day...

While Denzel was home alone, the phone rang. It was Eber asking for Chloe. She’s not home, so he says he’ll call her. I think there's a translation issue there. Denzel goes to the TV, which is replaying the attack on the Mako Reactor from a few days ago. I imagine it's the first one. Eber returns home, alone, and then leaves to go look for his wife. Denzel follows. They find Chloe in the shopping district, and the conversation quickly goes awry. Eber says that the Sector Seven Plate is about to be attacked by AVALANCHE. There is a new house for them in Sector Five, and Denzel tries to get his family there. Chloe, however, is far too kind. She wants to save as many friends and neighbors as she can, but Eber is adamant that there’s no time. This is also classified information from Shinra that he probably be saying in public. She rushes off anyway, as Denzel and his dad go to their new home.

On the way there, they meet a colleague named Mr. Arkham, who lets out that the Turks have planted the bombs. Denzel is confused, as that’s not AVALANCHE. Eventually, Mr. Arkham is told to take Denzel home, as Eber goes to find his wife, and does. He sets up the new TV and goes to get food.

...and then the plate falls.

Denzel rushes home, or as close as he's able to before he’s stopped by a soldier who blames AVALANCHE. Denzel begins to mourn and promises vengeance on the eco-terrorists.

We quickly return to the present where he asks Reeve if Shinra was responsible. Reeve confirms and takes the blame.

We return to the past, where Denzel is now pretty much alone. Arkham stole a mattress from next door for Denzel’s use, but he’s gone. Denzel still hopes against hope that his parents are alive and working, but deep down, he knows. As he eats his creme filled bread, he gets mad and rushes outside. He explores some of the nearby houses, but everything is empty. He ends up finding a model Airship and throws it against a window. A woman begins to yell. She asks a few questions to judge the scene and, during the boy's fit of tears, invites Denzel in. They end up living together for some time.

We learn that Ruvi, the old woman, has a son somewhere. He used to have a Monster Encyclopedia for children that always said to run for an adult if you encounter anything. Ruvi, meanwhile, would read a large book about the stuff her son was into. They read these books every night. While living together, she easily tears down Denzel's new emotional walls. He happily holds her hand, cleans the house, and accepts her pink floral print shirts. Ruvi seems like a wonderful person, and I feel like I’m about to have another broken heart. They lived a peaceful life together until the day a large, black spot appeared in the sky.

Meteor.

We then connect to a few of the game’s plot points. The Sister Ray is moved to Midgar, and the Shinra building is destroyed. Despite these events, Denzel and Ruvi’s peaceful live remains largely unchanged. They don’t clean the outside of the house, but ultimately, life as usual.

But if you know Final Fantasy VII, you also know this won’t last. As the two go to bed one night, the wind begins to blow, the earth shakes, the sound of a train replaces all possible senses, and everything goes white. This was the night Meteor and Holy collided.

In the morning, Ruvi lies motionless outside Denzel’s room. She tried to keep the window that Denzel broke shut. She was pleased that the boy is unharmed. The two held hands until the strength in Ruvi drained away, and Denzel went outside to observe the damage. Every window in the neighborhood was blown out, which makes me wish Miss Ruvi had just stayed under the blanket with Denzel. Denzel returns to his ruined home and tries to awaken his caretaker. The only that happens is a thick, black liquid falls from her mouth. Unsure of what it is, Denzel screams for his parents and runs outside where...

I’ll finish this tomorrow.

This is great so far. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and I really like all of these characters. I’m only ending here because it’s getting dark, and the cicadas are loud. Plus, I've already got enough to type up as is.