Prologue
Authors Note: I don't own any of this stuff, it all belongs to Squaresoft. This is a flashback to Advent Children, describing part of the fight between Cloud and Sephiroth. It's going to turn into a full story, so keep checking back for updates!
The ring of clashing weapons filled the ruins of Midgar. Now and then, a foundation shaking rumble announced the collapse of a derelict building, and the flash of green light seconds before indicated that the destruction wasn't the natural erosion of time.
From a distance, the fight that was in motion could have been passed off as a mere squabble being settled by a duel, with a reward of property or money.
But this fight held in its balance a prize of a slightly more monumental scale.
The Planet.
An acute, piercing pain shrieked through Cloud Strife's right shoulder as his enemy's razor sharp sword, Masamune, sliced into him and hit bone.
He had been forced into a sitting position, with his back against a ruined wall. Cloud had been weakened by the strange aura that seemed to surround Sephiroth, and by sheer weariness from the fruitless chase that had brought him to face this foe.
He was only dimly aware of the cold metal throbbing inside his shoulder. Cloud's mind was on other things.
A chill despair crept over him. This was the end. For himself, for his friends, for the Planet.
Cloud's left hand groped blindly for the sword that was pinning him to the wall. Hot blood oozed onto his fingers and the sting increased. He could almost feel his foe's sadistic pleasure:
'Tell me what you cherish most.' Sephiroth purred in his rich baritone. 'Give me the pleasure of taking it away.'
Cloud was filled with a sudden deep fury, fuelled by fathomless hatred. A thousand thoughts filled his mind in less than a second.
Sephiroth had left him bereft of family and hometown. Bereft of future, and more recently, bereft of the only woman he had ever loved.
And now, Sephiroth was planning to destroy the life that Cloud had managed to scrape together after such a short time?
Cloud tore the blade out of his shoulder and leapt at Sephiroth with anger burning in every nerve. His enemy parried and dodged several overly violent onslaughts, surprise evident on his face.
'I pity you.' Cloud said quietly. 'You don't get it at all!' This was accompanied by a fierce thrust of his sword.
When Sephiroth remained bewilderedly silent, Cloud's rage was stoked to double strength. Images of all he loved flowed into his mind: AVALANCHE, Marlene and Denzel…Aeris.
Cloud's sword divided into the seven parts that made it up. He was left holding the main sword, while the other six blades moved to surround Sephiroth, illuminated by an eerie green glow.
From the stunned expression on his adversary's features, Cloud judged that Sephiroth knew: defeat was coming his way.
'There is nothing I don't cherish!' Cloud's words echoed through the deserted city, rebounding off the rubble that filled the streets.
The blades closed in on the silver haired 'Nightmare', and Cloud gave an aggressive slash with his sword, letting go of it so maximum damage could be inflicted. He somersaulted, and landed cleanly, just in time to catch his falling sword.
The six components of his weapon landed blades down in the ground in front of him.
Cloud looked up to see his childhood idol, now his greatest enemy suspended in the air with a single black wing swooping from his back.
Sephiroth had his eyes closed, and his mouth open slightly. Cloud relaxed and said more to himself than to the one winged angel above him;
'Stay where you belong. In my memories.'
The apparently dead being opened its eyes and glared down at the spiky haired hero below him. His expression changed from grimace to a scheming, gloating half-smirk.
'I will… never be a memory.' Sephiroth's rich tone did not change, even in defeat.
He enfolded himself in the single black wing, a gust of stagnant wind dispersing black feathers, and Sephiroth's form, into oblivion.
'I will…never be a memory.'
End of Prologue! Please review, even though this was just the prologue!