Author's note:Well, here we have it, our first real confrontation. I would say more but I'm afraid to spoil some of the stuff on this chapter so... Have a good read.


An Unending Struggle

Chapter Four

The Magitek Elite vs The Perfect SOLDIER


Shin didn't have the reflexes to dodge. What seemed to be only one slash felt like at least ten, sending him flying into a building. "This guy... what IS he?" Shin said while coughing blood.

"That's it? I don't remember you being so... weak." The man spat. He seemed to be sincerely disappointed. He obviously knew who Shin was and seemed to have already seen him fight.

"Shin!" Terra called as she looked for him in the rubble.

"I'm right here." Shin informed, standing with his hand clencing to the cuts on his chest.

"Try and stay still. Cura!" Terra casted, a green light shone on her hand as Shin's wounds started to disappear. That however took a lot of energy out of her. "Even level two spells are two much? How can we get out of this?"

The man however was chuckling, hand covering his face. "Shin? SHIN?" He asked as he started to laugh maniacally. "Where did you get that name? You don't even remember who you are? The irony of it is too much, everyone knew your name and now... look at you, even you don't know it." He quickly regained his calm, bone chilling composure. "I am sorry about that, now... shall we begin?"

"Stand back Shin... This isn't an opponent you can face at your skill level." Terra ordered. She had a different look on her face, the look she thought to have vanished forever. No one who had ever gotten that look was still alive.

"Let's wreck that cocky bastard Sunshine!" The voice in her head yelled gleefully

"Heh... you know, for once I agree with you." Terra thought before lunging at the man, shooting ice shards from her left hand to distract him. The man started to deflect everything effortlessly but as he was busy deflecting a blade pierced the air in his stomach's direction. Just as the hit seemed to connect, the sword crashed into a green wall of light, making Terra flinch.

"Fear not..." the man said as he delivered countless stabs to Terra. "The pain will stop now..." he muttered as he tried to bisect Terra, who was imobile in mid air after so much punishment.

"Oh no, you don't!" Shin yelled as he blocked the blow with his sword. The sword didn't hold though and shattered into a million pieces.

"Slow!" The man taunted as he delivered tens of slashes to Shin's body, then again, lifting him up, and one last time sending flying. He then pointed his arm at him, shining in a red light. "Firaga!" he casted, but as he did he felt his arm get stabbed, changing the direction of the massive fireball, only grasping Shin, who fell on a roof nearby.

"You ignorant traitor... you dare stab your former ally?"

"I would never ally with someone like you!" Terra shouted, ignoring what she thought to be a bluff.

"You would ally with anyone... because you are nothing but a puppet."

"Shut up! Just who do you think you are? Calling me a puppet!"

"Humpf, maybe my name will refresh your memory. I am Sephiroth."

"Doesn't ring a bell!"

Terra jumped and started flying, shooting shards of ice again at Sephiroth. But this time she was going to take a gamble.

"Again with the childish tricks? How did Kefka lose to you not once, but three times?" He spat as he started to deflect the shards of ice again.

"Three times?" she thought. "No, I won't let him get to me." And with that she started to cast fireballs at the same time as the ice shards. Sephiroth had no trouble at keeping up, but in the middle of this intense heat and the fireballs the shards of ice started to turn into water and evaporate.

"Now's my chance, Thundara!" The humidity in the air made it impossible for Sephiroth to escape the bolt, making him take his first hit. He growled in pain as electricity coursed through his body. Before he had regained his sence of awareness Terra was already on top of him, impaling him with her sword and sending him against one of the flaming buildings, Sephiroth grunted in pain as his body meet the stone walls.

"Not done yet! Blizzara!" A huge chunk of ice flew out of Terra's hands, coliding against Sephiroth's body, making him go through the wall. The house, already weakened by the fire could not stand this pressure and fell on top of Sephiroth. Terra however, fell to her knees.

"What's the matter with me?" She thought as sweat covered her face. "Normally this wouldn't even phase me... Why am I so tired?"

"Well Sunshine, you can't just expect to be back at full force after losing your magic for a year. I would say to take it easy but, by the looks of it, if you do you're as good as dead." The voice in her head explained.

The rubble started moving and from beneath it came Sephiroth, a small grin still planted on his face. His body was pretty much unscathed, a few scratches was the best that Terra could do.

"I was wondering why this hurt so little, you aren't trying you hardest are you?" Sephiroth asked while summoning his katana back to his hand.

Terra froze at that statement.

"Thought so... you are afraid to lose control of your powers again. Can't you just forget about the others? Let's enjoy this." The small grin in Sephiroth's face turned into a sadistic smile as he said that.

"He's right... If I dive even deeper into my powers I might..." Flashes of the destruction she had caused in the past haunted Terra. "What can I do?"

"So you won't give in to your powers? I see... Maybe I can make you reconsider."

Sephiroth dived straight at Terra with a speed she had never seen before, he passed through Terra and stopped dead on his tracks.

"Did he miss.. AHHHHH" Terra screamed as she felt every muscle of her body being slashed countless times.

"You're body really is special, I thought you would only feel the slashes in a minute. I guess that cuts our fun short." Sephiroth said approaching Terra, who had just fallen to the floor immobilized.

"Stay away from her!" Locke shouted as he ambushed Sephiroth from the air, driving both his knifes on Sephiroth's shoulders.

"Oh, the one of the original Warriors of Order. I am honoured." Sephiroth seemed unhurt even with the two daggers twisting his flesh. He didn't even flinch when Locke pulled them out.

"Just what hell IS this guy?" Locke asked himself, thinking about how to penetrate his seemingly flawless stance.

"Locke Cole, let me see it, the speed that made you the first Warrior of Order to ever look Chaos in the face."As Sephiroth said that he unleashed a unending flurry of slahes. Locke could barely keep up even though speed was his strong point. "That's it? If so, I'm trully disappointed..." As he said that he rested his sword above his head, holding it with both hands while pointing at Locke."Cut..." Seven strong slashes hit Locke at a blinding speed, hitting the precise muscles that allowed him to move, incapacitating him. "Vanish!" A final, vicious slash followed, the impact of it leaving a gushing wound on Locke's chest and sending him flying, only to be catched by Celes.

"I'll take it from here Locke." Celes said while giving Sephiroth a disgusted look.

"Thanks, I owe ya..." Locke said as he fell unconscious.

"Ah the foil, you remind me of my remnants Celes Chere." Sephiroth said as he blocked an incomming slash from Celes. "But I do give credit to when it is deserved. I heard that you were an example of a Warrior of Order in a cycle previous to mine. Took down both of the Zilart princes at once, I heard."

"What are you babbling about?"

"None of your concern. But do you really believe you can stand up to me if you haven't even regained your magic?" Sephiroth asked as he overpowered Celes, making her lose her grip of her sword and grabbed her throat. "You are nothing but a shadow of the original, never forget that." He said as he plunged the Masamune into her.

"CELES!" Terra cried desperatly.

"Wake up Sunshine, why don't you let me take over? You can avenge them that way." The voice battered in her head.

"Oh... does this enrage you?" He said as he droped Celes to the ground. Terra cringed and sparks started flying from her skin. "Yes, give in. Show me what you are capable of." He then started to kick her in the stomach, making her cough blood. Terra's hair began to untie at seeing her best friend get treated that way.

Good, gooooood Sunshine! Let it all out, that hatred, that rage, that sadness, that frustration... Do it!" The esper said in the midst of an irracional laughter.

"I don't care anymore I just.. WANT TO KILL HIM!" Her skin began to shine just like it used to, she was about to lose control.

Sephiroth rested the tip of his blade right on top of Celes's heart. "I'm going to kill her and you can't do anything about it... or can you?" Sephiroth taunted. He was getting just what he wanted... Until he caught a flash of steel coming in his direction, jumping to avoid it he caught a very familiar face, one that he never expected to be in that place.

"Sorry Sephiroth, but I can't let you go around and murder such fine women." The stranger joked, he seemed awfully playful for this kind of situation. "I'll find a way to make it up to you... Hey, I know! How about we have our rematch."

Seeing the stranger arrive and Celes safe made Terra start to calm down, her skin and hair getting back to normal and the sparks disappearing.

"Who does he think he is? Stealing my fun..." Her esper side mumbled.

Terra paid no mind to it and continued to observe the stranger, he was wearing what seemed to be a black uniform, having the same symbol on his belt as Sephiroth. "Are they allies?" She thought. "If so... why did he save us?"

"I have no interest in fighting a traitor."

"Hey, hey Sephy. The way I see it YOU betrayed us. You betrayed SOLDIER and worse you betrayed your honour, your friends and every single person that looked up to you as a hero. That includes me of course." The stranger replied, his face getting serious for the first time.

"You'll never see the truth will you? But on a more pressing matter, why... no HOW are you here?"

"Let's just say I have some "contacts" on the Lifestream. That girl can really pull off amazing things don't you agree?" The stranger had gone back to his playful self.

Sephiroth grunted before making his sword vanish.

"I have no further business here. But don't worry, if you get in my way one more time, there will be no Cloud to save you." Sephiroth warned as he disappeared in a storm of black feathers.

"What, no talk about pears? Oh no I didn't!" The newcommer joked before understanding the gravity of the situation. Terra was over Celes breathless body casting a weak excuse for a cure spell while sobbing.

"Please Celes... Don't die...You're the only one that understands me!" Terra begged, starting to cry after so much useless effort to reanimate her friend.

"Stand back, I don't like to see pretty girls cry." He said as he took a green sphere and implanted it into his arm. "Raise materia do your stuff. Raise!"

As a white light surrounded her body Celes started breathing again.

"She's lucky, a few more minutes and not even raise would have brought her back."

"Thank you! I... I..."

"Save it. It's a hero's job to do the right thing." He said putting his hands on his hips. Hearing some footsteps he quickly grabbed his claymore preparing for a fight.

"Terra! What happened? Where is that man?" Shin had arrived, cuts all over his body and dragging one leg. "Who is this guy?" He asked as he noticed the stranger.

"That man, Sephiroth is gone. As for him I don't really know who he is..." Terra answered before looking at the stranger scratching his black, spiky hair.

"Who am I? Name's Zack Fair, SOLDIER 1st Class... But I guess you don't know what that is do ya?"

Terra and Shin just shook their heads, confirming Zack's suspicions.

"Well I'll explain later, we need to get this two to a doctor... Now!" Zack said while grabbing Celes. "Ohh soft skin..."

"She has a boyfriend." Terra said before Zack got any ideas.

"They all do..." Zack replied, disappointment plastered on his face.

"Guys, Locke's bleeding to death here... Hurry up."

And with that they headed back to the castle.


""The flames have died down!" Terra exclaimed.

"Not thanks to any of you, might I add." An familiar voice said.

"A monster! Kill it with fire!" Zack screamed playfully.

"Very funny... whoever you are." Edgar his face completely black and was covered in ashes with one bucket of water in each hand. "Wait, what the hell happened to you all?" Edgar asked as soon as he realized the how everyone was heavily wounded. "And who's he?"

"Long story, where's the infirmary?" Shin asked, the last thing they could do is waste time talking.

"Right, this way."


""I'm not sure they can make it, their cuts are too deep for us to cure. We would need a miracle to save them." The nurse said in the calmest way possible. "I'm sorry..."

"Then let's make a miracle! Edgar did you keep those ethers?" Terra asked, determination appearing on her face."This curse might come in handy now..."

"Yes, but why do you need them? It's not like you can use magic." Edgar responded.

"Well, about that... That's kinda part of the long story." Shin admitted, maybe they should have talked after all.

"Wait... seriously? I'll go get the ethers right now!"

"And what about you? You sure have been keeping quiet." Shin asked turning to Zack. "Anything you can share with us yet?"

"Well, duh by I'd rather explain it to a large crowd than explaining it one thousand times." He gained a naughty grin on his face. "But if you go on a date with me I can make an execption..." He said turning to Terra.

That caught her totally of guard. "Well... uh .. we just... you know... meet and... uhh."

"A date it is!"

"No!"

"Yeah, yeah I... What?" Zack asked as his jaw hit the floor. "That's... the first time the "date" line doesn't work. I'm impressed, and somewhat disappointed."

"I'm here. Good thing I don't like to waste this kind of stuff." Edgar said while holding a whole box of blue jars. He tried to wink at Terra but it failed to get her attention.

Not wasting any time Terra grabbed two and drank them. She felt completely energized, she even stopped feeling her wounds.

"No reason why I can't waste energy now is there? Curaga!"

A green flood of light filled the room. As it died down nobody in that room had so much of a scrath on them. That however was way too much for Terra's current state and she passed out.

"Terra!" Edgar got on one knee and checked her pulse. "Thank god... she's only exausted."

"I'll get her to her room, we all need rest." Shin proposed.

"Yeah. Tomorrow I'll tell ya everything I know about this situation we're in."

"That's all good but... she HAS NO ROOM!" Edgar informed. "The right wing is all but a pile of ashes now."

"She'll just take yours. You ARE a gentlemen aren't you Edgar?" Shin knew he had got him, if there was something Edgar though he was, it was being the dashing knight that all women adore. He had gotten that even in the small amount of time they had been together, it was just THAT obvious.

"I guess..." Edgar hesitantly replied.

"Then it's done, we'll just sleep here on the floor."

"Yes... of course we will..." Edgar and Zack looked at each other with evil grins on their faces.

"Edgar, if I know that ONE perverted deed happened tonight I WILL kill you." Celes said as she woke up, she seemed to have a perv radar. "Don't make me stand here watching you."

"Point taken." If there was one rule in Edgar's book it was not making Celes angry.

"Now that that's settled I'll get Terra to Edgar's room and then we'll sleep. We went a lot today." Shin anounced. He felt like being a leader was something he had already done. "Well no use thinking about it now."


After leaving Edgar's room Shin felt tired, very tired. "Guess I'll crash here."

The hallway had a window which showed the beatiful night sky. As he stared at it Shin remembered about how he woke up in Mobliz, the mysterious man, how he watched the parade in the company of the old lady, how he quickly befriended everyone at the dinner, about his "meeting" with Sephiroth and all the memories that came at the strangest times.

"What kind of mess have I, no, have we gotten ourselves into?" He thought as he drifted to sleep, reclining on the door to Edgar's room.


Next chapter:

"These people, they are not from this world."

"A wild card indeed..."

"Manikins!"