Hello there.

My apologies on this 'fic.  Several people have pointed out something I
overlooked in my ignorance; many on the FFML do not fit the otaku
stereotype, and might not be into playing Playstation video games.  My
apologies again, and an explanation:

The crossover in this series is with Ranma 1/2 and the popular Squaresoft
game, Final Fantasy VII.

Here is a brief recap of Ressurrected Memories, as I try to explain a
little the madness I concocted:

In the story, Ranma is the reincarnation of the main protagonist of the
game, Cloud Strife.  When he arrives in China, his father forces him to
undergo Mako enhancement (a kind of life energy), which is the tank
alluded to in the mention of the Chinese tongs.  When in the tank, the
soul/spirit of the main villain of the Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth, to
whom Cloud was supposed to be a replacement/copy of, merges with Ranma.
Ranma, with Sephiroth a part of him, discovers Materia (the magical
stones, which grant abilities or spell powers), and goes to retrieve the
sword of Sephiroth, Musasume (sp?).  Ranma knocks his father into a
spring, where Cait Sith, hoping to make ammends with Cloud (and by
extension, Aeris), merges with Genma.  Ranma, jumping into the spring to
get the sword, is contacted by Aeris Gainsborough, one of the heroines of
the game, and part of the love triangle between Cloud, Aeris, and Tifa.
She attempts to counter Sephiroth's influence by merging with Ranma as
well, the Lifestream of Jusenkyo allowing this.  Sephiroth and Aeris
fight, Sephiroth losing. He sees his loss as victory though.  He believes
Ranma/Cloud will come to see things his way, that humanity is evil, and
should be destroyed.  Aeris, fearing his might be correct, sets out to
bring back the others from the game, so that they might defeat Sephiroth
one last time.  Parts of (not complete spirits/souls or memories) Tifa
Lockheart, Yuffie Kisagari, Red XIII (aka Nanaki), and Aeris Gainsborough
merge with Akane, Nabiki, Tofu, and Kasumi respectively.  Meanwhile,
Ranma has found the White Materia and the Black Materia.  All around him,
he hears and feels the pain of Mother Earth.  He returns to Japan, and
Nodoka, trying to decide which he should use: the White Materia? Or the
Black Materia....?

To be quite honest, I thought at most, I would get a few comments.  I also
thought that something like this had already been done.

Original ideas that were thought of (and rejected):

Ryoga-Vincent (maybe on this one)
Soun?-Barret?
Soun?-Cid?

I really drew a blank on this one.

The story was originally one of two ideas; the other a Final Fantasy VIII
crossover, with Ranma as Squall Leonheart's reincarnation, and Ryouga
Squall's rival (name escapes me).  But I rejected that idea (due in part
to the fact I speak little Japanese and read even less, and that I have
only seen disc 1 of the game, so I am a little unsure of the story.


Continuing the story?

I actually have quite a bit already on my docket: Night Sabers, It's A
Kind of Magic, and other shorts (stories similar to Resurrected Memories.)

I *might* continue this (I have only a very sketchy outline), but it
probably won't be for quite a while.

Though quite a few people have urged me to continue it...


The greatest inspiration for this 'fic came from the fact I have recently
begun playing FFVIII.  I am now over 50+ hours into the game, with over 30
mastered materia, Cloud at 71 level, and have fought nearly 2000 battles.
 
I still haven't gotten past the first disc.

Sigh.

I am too methodical sometimes.


At any rate, sorry for the spam.

But most important:

My apologies, denizens of the FFML.


Sincerely yours,

Curtiss Nelson
curtiss@seattleu.edu