Chapter III

"The Planet's End"

The Northern Crater was the most desolate place on earth, a frozen wasteland. The surface of the Crater consisted of miles of razor sharp rock and stone. Its pathways were narrow and unstable. One wrong step and you may find yourself plummeting into a lightless crevasse. It was the end of the world…

Deeper and deeper into the planet's core, past the warm reach of sunshine, the small band of rebels journeyed onward. Their faces grim and determined, they marched fearlessly into the deep, headless of the growing number of terrors and monstrosities gathering around them. Leading the column was a young man. His name was Cloud Strife. He wore a dark gray uniform with armor over his left shoulder and forearm. His hair was blonde and very long and spiky. It stuck out in every direction no matter how hard he tried to flatten it out. His hair wasn't the only unique aspect about him. His eyes glowed an eerie ice blue. Upon his back was strapped a massive sword. The sword was made of magical crystal and was nearly as large as the man who used it. Despite the sword's immense size, the young man could wield it as if it were light as a feather. As he walked through the cavern a beautiful girl walked beside him, her hand in his. Her name was Tifa Lockheart. Her endless compassion and kindness was only shadowed by her great beauty. Her long brown hair shimmered in the low light as a smile crossed her flawless features. Cloud and Tifa had been childhood friends in Nibelheim before fate brought them back together to fight for the planet. Both cared greatly for the other, but had always been too shy and embarrassed to admit it.

It seemed that this moment would never come. It seemed as if all of their efforts to save the planet were in vain. But they had finally achieved victory. They defeated the monstrous and angelic forms of the maniacal Sephiroth. HOLY could now destroy METEOR. They had saved the planet and everyone on it. Weary from the difficult battle, Tifa leaned heavily on Cloud's shoulder as they approached Sephiroth's final resting place. The One-Winged-Angel had fallen into a pool of Mako; it's death cries still ringing in the victorious duo's ears.

"Is it finally over?" asked Tifa quietly. "Did we really win?"

"You doubted us?" smirked Cloud. Tifa looked up at Cloud, smiling. As always, Cloud was left breathless by her radiant beauty.

"Of course not," she said. "But it is really incredible that we did isn't it?"

Yes it is," replied Cloud holding her closer. "We survived Tifa. We saved the planet. Let's go home." The pair turned to leave when Cloud suddenly fell to his knees. Holding his head, he involuntarily began to scream in pain. Tifa rushed to his side, trying desperately trying to calm him. She had seen this behavior too many times before. It happened when Sephiroth activated the mind control that had been brainwashed into Cloud's subconscious. She thought she had broken its hold over him when they fell into the Lifestream in Mideel.

"Cloud!" she screamed as she tried to hold him still. Cloud rolled around the ground screaming, "He's alive!" over and over again. He broke away from Tifa and stumbled towards the Mako pool. Tifa ran as fast as she could, but couldn't make it in time. Cloud plunged head first into the glowing pool. For several long drawn out seconds the surface of the pool was as still as glass. Cloud suddenly surfaced in the center of the pool, to far for Tifa to reach out and help. Cloud thrashed in the Mako; still clearly in pain and still screaming, "He's alive!" Tifa scrambled along the bank, frantically looking for someway to help him.

Suddenly, the bare white torso of Sephiroth himself burst forth from the pool. Surfacing right next to Cloud, Sephiroth grabbed onto the thrashing Cloud and dragged him under. The two disappeared beneath the pool's glossy surface, without a trace. Tifa stood at the bank, waiting and hoping against all hope that Cloud would resurface from the depths. When no souls returned to the pool's surface, Tifa sank down on the bank, sobbing freely. A sorrowful rage began to build up with in her. She began to pound the rocky earth beneath her, her tears mingling with the Mako washing up besides her.

"Cloud…" she whispered. "Please don't leave me…"

-VII-

Cloud fell. He fell for miles and miles into the depths of the planet. Surrounded in white light, Cloud plummeted unconscious through the endless darkness. Cloud's prone body passed into a massive chamber. Strands of green Lifestream blew past him like gusts of wind. Above him hung a large golden orb, the very core of the planet. It glowed like an underground sun, casting shadows along the chambers walls. Cloud passed beneath the golden orb and entered the Lifestream. A familiar presence washed over Cloud and he awakened, still traveling through the heart of the planet. Cloud's eyes opened and gazed upon his enemy.

'Sephiroth was waiting for me this whole time. The final confrontation…' thought Cloud. "It's time we finished this Sephiroth! You will die for your crimes!" shouted Cloud as he landed across from his nemesis. Sephiroth stood ready, bare-chested his sword drawn.

"Come puppet. My time is now. You cannot stop me!" Sephiroth cried as he leapt at Cloud. His massive sword, The Masamune, slashed downwards aiming for Cloud's chest. Caught off guard, Cloud barely managed to deflect the blade with his own. The battle was soon joined. Both sides fought fiercely, Sephiroth slowing gaining the upper hand. Cloud stood away from him, breathing heavily. He was bleeding from many wounds and was having difficulty lifting his own massive sword. Cloud began to despair. He knew he was losing and could see Sephiroth approaching laughing, not a scratch on him.

"What is the matter Cloud? Are you still not strong enough to defeat me? How pathetic," sneered Sephiroth. "It makes me sad to see you like this, a dog crawling on its belly. I considered you my rival, the one man who could possibly defy and battle me." Sephiroth began to circle Cloud, taunting him as he spoke.

"I dreamt of this battle between us for years. I saw us battling up and down mountains and across seas. We battled for days, trading blow after blow. It was glorious. And now it's just a disappointment. You sicken me puppet." Sephiroth strode towards Cloud, an evil smile upon his face.

"It's time to die, Cloud. Don't worry about Tifa and the rest of your little friends. I'll take care of them just like your pretty Cetra girlfriend. Only this time you wont be around to watch." Sephiroth began to laugh sinisterly.

Cloud lay helpless. He knew he was finished. He flashed back to the City of the Ancients, to Aeris' murder. Except this time it wasn't Aeris kneeling on the alter, waiting to die. It was Tifa. She had taken Aeris' place and he could see Sephiroth falling from the sky to impale her…

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Cloud rose to his feet, leaning on his sword at first. Sephiroth stopped his advance, astonished that Cloud could still move. Cloud lifelessly held his sword as he limped towards Sephiroth.

"You've taken away my entire life. I was created in your image. I never even had my own life to live. I was just an extension of you! You took my hometown, my friends, MY MOTHER! AERIS! You heartless murderer! I will make you pay!" roared cloud as he blindly charged Sephiroth. Cloud's rage fueled his broken body as he swung his massive sword recklessly. Sephiroth easily dodged each attack. He slipped through each swing with ease. At the right moment, Sephiroth ducked under another one of Cloud's errant blows and counterattacked. He plunged his sword through the remains of Cloud's shredded armor deeply into his stomach. Blood began to pour out of the wound onto the rocky ground beneath him as the glowing light began to fade from his eyes. Cloud fell to his knees, completely drained of energy, as Sephiroth cruelly removed his blade. He circled and taunted Cloud as he wiped the blood from the sword.

"Make me pay? How pathetic. Mother has foreseen your future, puppet. You have none, it ends right here. You will die!" he cackled manically. Cloud was beginning to lose consciousness, the great amount of blood loss making everything grow dim. An overwhelming sense of failure swept over Cloud.

"I'm sorry everyone. I failed…I'm sorry…"

"Tifa… he whispered as he breathed his last breath.