And returning for a forth chapter... It's mee! Ho ho ho, a cracker for you here. Hopefully. I haven't typed it yet. I'm just being positive. But what I have in mind should be a good chapter! I HOPE!

I moved reviews to the end! Thank you so much for all your time taken to review! I appreciate it! :D

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The Planet's Core was always lit, bright green walls rushing with the energy of the Life Stream. The small outcropping of rock that levitated in the centre of the energy was densely populated.

Sephiroth sat with his back to a large stone, eyes closed and a soft frown of concentration on his face. Firion perched above Sephiroth's head, on the rock he leaned against, with his bow drawn and aimed directly at the silver haired man's head. Warrior of light stood to Sephiroth's left, sword at the man's throat, Cecil to the right, spear against the side of the SOLDIER's forehead. Cloud stood in front of him, the edge of the Buster Sword just resting on Sephiroth's chest. Sephiroth did not move save for where he breathed, suddenly opening his eyes. They glowed brightly, exactly the same colour as the swirling energy about them. Green sparks danced and wove their way up and down his arms where he rested them on the floor, a particularly dense cluster of them gathering around the gashes in his leg and the stabs and breaks in his side.

"That's good enough." Cloud speaking. Sephiroth's eyes slid up to look at him without moving his head. "We can't let him stay here any longer."

"Agreed. I want as little risk as possible." The Warrior of Light's sword moved closer, nicking Sephiroth's skin. "We're going."

Sephiroth was silent for a moment, taking what he could of the Life Stream, as quickly as possible. He should be able to walk freely again, he decided, and could breathe. The ribs were fragile but mended, new skin forming on his leg and the higher of the gashes on his ribcage. The second, deeper wound that Ultimecia had so graciously enlarged was smaller and neater around the edges, yet not fully closed, the thick red line still showing through the tear in his coat.

As Sephiroth went to stand, the various threatening weapons moved with him. Not once did he see an opening. A little smirk crawled onto his thin lips. Oh how perfectly cautious they were being with him. It was almost amusing how seriously they were taking this. How nervous of him they were. Their fear pleased him, though he'd never admit it.

"If you betray us, Firion will put an arrow in your back." Cecil said after a moment, somewhat sadly as if he didn't like to mention this fact and merely wanted to remind Sephiroth of the threat.

"Not willingly, but I will do it." Firion nodded, "Just do as we discussed Sephiroth, it benefits all of us."

The SOLDIER said nothing, though his smirk broadened, clearly unsettling both Cecil and Firion. Cloud's expression only darkened and seemed to turn inwards, thoughtful and brooding as always. The Warrior of Light's eyes narrowed but he too was silent.

There was a bright spark of light and the five of them vanished.

The five warriors reappeared in the midst of a lunar landscape. Mounds of earth and boulders rose up on all sides of them, stretching into the distance for what seemed like miles. The five kept close to Sephiroth for a moment as Firion drew his bow, a Straight Arrow gleaming in the hold of the taut string.

"Alright." The Warrior of Light nodded. "Let us finish this."

Cecil, Cloud, Firion and the Warrior of Light all promptly vanished, though Sephiroth could feel eyes on him from all sides, and that prickle of tension from the arrow aimed at his back. His cold eyes scanned the lunar surface, trying to pick out any detail that might give away his enemy. However, he appeared to be totally alone.

Taking advantage of this, Sephiroth reached up into the air and pulled Masamune from nothingness. The blade glittered in the moon's glow as Sephiroth moved it to a relaxed stance, the tip just touching the floor.

Several seconds passed and nothing stirred. Perhaps he was feeling particularly impatient, but Sephiroth was eager to gain his own personal revenge against those that had so quickly risen to attack him. Eventually, he gave in with this waiting. It was clear simply being here was not going to encourage those on Chaos' side to appear to him. He raised a black gloved hand, dark energy coiling about his fingers before he launched a Shadow Flare at the nearest pile of rock. Eyes slid to the side and he glanced over his shoulder, almost daring the Warrior of Light and his comrades to show themselves and question his actions. But they did not and he looked forwards again. Dust was settling from the explosion in little motes and swirls, clearing the way for one to see again.

A figure stood in the swirling dust. Sephiroth's eyes narrowed as he tried to make out the form of this person. Tall, wide, imposing, Sephiroth took a half step back into a defensive stance with Masamune. For a few moments, the figure did not move, then, suddenly, a beam of energy shot towards the SOLDIER. He hopped to one side, avoiding the shot and it hit the floor ineffectually. Laser fire, perhaps? Sephiroth was a little irritated. So Ultimecia had not shown herself, unless she had miraculously gained the power to use Higher technology. There was only one man that Sephiroth knew of in this place that could use such mechanical creations. Only one man that was broad enough to support the armour that this outline suggested.

"Golbez." Sephiroth murmured, stepping across a step and into an attacking stance with Masamune, bringing it round to the side. Golbez did not respond, stepping out of the swirling dust so he was visible, the small particle of dirt settling. Although the imposing, iron-clad man looked the same as usual, there was a different air about him; a distinctly more bloodthirsty aura emanating from his person.

Sephiroth's cat-like eyes narrowed at his apparent foe as Golbez raised his hands, the dark purple haze of a Nightglow forming under Sephiroth's feet. The Ex-SOLDIER darted to the left then lunged forwards, Masamune tight in his left hand.

Sephiroth feinted to the left then lunged to the right, but Golbez blocked, the sword richoting off of his thick armour. Sephiroth turned and swung again yet Golbez blocked the blow once more. Sephiroth hopped back and circled clockwise, jumping forwards as another Nightglow began to form around his booted feet. He threw a wave of wind blades from his Godspeed technique towards his foe as he moved before darting back again, clearly playing safe. The tear in his side panged and he paused momentarily. Thankfully, his attack had struck and caused Golbez to stumble, a few dents showing in that armour.

And then they were both on guard again, Sephiroth slowly circling his foe. Any other man may have cared about the wellbeing of a team mate such as Golbez but Sephiroth merely analysed the other man's state. He was clearly not sound in his head, or he would not be fighting. It was clearly the influence of some outside source. The SOLDIER did not even bother to try and reason with Golbez, simply deciding to cut him down and ask questions later.

Golbez was waiting. Sephiroth was waiting. Nothing happened for a few, peaceful moments. Then a blur or silver and black as Sephiroth closed the gap, bringing Masamune round for the first blow of the Octaslash. The heavy armour of his foe prevented many of the eight slashes from landing more than glancing blows. Yet the final blow was powerful and fast, a diagonal cut from Golbez's right shoulder, down to his left hip. His armour broke under the strain of this attack, cracking all the way along this line. Blood seeped from this rent, running down his chest plate and causing Golbez to stumble. Sephiroth landed lightly, putting his free hand to his wounded side. It was bleeding again.

Golbez made some identifiable noise, a mixture of a howl of rage and a cry of confusion and pain. Sephiroth turned to face him once more, turning Masamune into an attack stance yet again. The other also faced his foe, lunging forwards in a slow yet powerful attack. Sephiroth blocked the blow with Masamune but stumbled under the weight of it. He could feel a spell charging under his feet and was midway from stepping back as the Nightglow discharged and exploded. The force of the attack sent Sephiroth vertically into the sky, easily hitting the invisible ceiling that divided this lunar realm from the rest of the strange dimension. He was stunned for a few seconds, feeling a coppery cough rising in his throat but biting it down. As he recovered, he twisted, seeing Golbez standing below and recovering for a moment, blood dripping freely from his chest. Sephiroth smirked and turned Masamune.

He dropped from the sky like a hawk on a mouse, tip of Masamune aiming down. They'd dubbed it 'Hell's Gate' but he didn't think of it like that. It just made him think of that oh-so-perfect moment where he'd impaled that foolish Cetra girl, right where she prayed in her precious Capital. A leer formed on Sephiroth's lips as Golbez looked up and Sephiroth came near to delivering his final blow.

The first few inches of Masamune sunk into Golbez's back, puncturing the armour as if it were made of paper. But, out of no where, two new swords formed a cross and blocked Masamune from causing further damage, infact removing it from it's target completely and forcing Sephiroth to land heavily.

Warrior of Light withdrew his sword, as did Cecil, both of them turning to Golbez as Cloud and Firion appeared, their weapons trained on Sephiroth. The silver haired man made no reaction save for reaching to his lips to wipe away his own blood.

Golbez had sunk to his knees, seemingly staring wordlessly into space.

"Brother?" Cecil was speaking, standing before Golbez, a frown evident on his face as he stood in his Paladin form. "Brother? Please speak to me! Do you recognise me?" He reached out to touch his brother's shoulder. Golbez did not stir. Cecil looked to the Warrior of Light who grimaced.

"There is something strange happening to those on the Chaos side and no mistake." The Warrior stated after a moment, looking down on Golbez. Cecil knelt after a moment, placing a hand on each of Golbez's shoulders.

"Golbez!" He cried out, sounding more than a little worried. At this calling of his name, Golbez seemed to sigh before falling forwards into the dirt, a small cloud of dust coiling from the barren ground.

"Cecil." Golbez's words were weak but at least they were there. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, watching with vague interest, though most of his attention laid on Cloud and a little on Firion.

"Cecil, please, you have to be careful. There are those going against the plans of Chaos, whilst saying they are not. They will not follow the same ideals as others on Chaos' side." Golbez sounded confused, though about what was uncertain. He sounded distant, vague, not quite in control of what he was saying. "I... I don't ..." His uncertain tone was so unlike him, Cecil bit his lip. Were his brother's words usually full of wisdom? Clipped down to the most important parts, even if they were buried under cryptic clues? The Paladin looked so worried.

"So your plan was a failure." Sephiroth's cold words broke the sad silence. His eyes were fixed on Warrior of Light. "Pathetic. I expected more from one such as you." He shrugged.

"You didn't know this would happen either." Cloud speaking to Sephiroth, his grip shifting on the hilt of the Buster Sword.

"If I had known, I would not have cared." Sephiroth smirked, his eyes slipping to the blonde and holding his gaze intently. Cloud eventually looked away, unable to take that unblinking, emerald stare.

"What will we do now then?" Firion asked, his voice slightly tense from where he still held his bow taught, arrow still trained on Sephiroth. What strength did it take to hold a bow with an arrow for so long?

"Golbez will be returned to Cosmos. Cecil will take him." Warrior of Light looked to the Paladin who nodded in agreement, going to help his brother. "I don't trust him, but both will be safest in Cosmos' domain. We will try to implement our plan again. Though I have a feeling they will realise our intent with this second attempt." The Warrior of Light grimaced. "But little we can do. The use of Sephiroth as our weapon is unfortunate but—"

"Let me make things clear for you."

Sephiroth's voice was icy, edges of his cruel mind lacing his tone. "I don't do this because you force me. I do not do this because I respect you or your plans or your oh-so-precious Light, Warrior. I do this because I wish to." His eyes narrowed, his glare hard and unwavering. "You would do well to remember that."

The Warrior was silent for a moment, matching Sephiroth's unblinking gaze and not turning away from it.

"Very well." He said eventually, his own words laced with forced courtesy. "Let us remove the legs out from under the enemy. A certain Time Witch will be our target."

Cloud sighed softly, Sephiroth smirked. "Perfect." He all but purred, making Cloud visibly shiver.

Firion's expression darkened. He had a very bad feeling about this.

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And now, my lovely reviewers:

Senshi of Sadness: ^_^ WoL is a sneaky one. I hope I didn't make him too mean in this chapter... Hmm, I hope you enjoyed this fight! Though I think Sephi fighting alongside Comos warriors might be fun too...

Robert Donahue: I didn't update fast this time, did I?! I view Cosmos as a bit of an awkward person... she seems a bit out of touch with real life things, doesn't she?

Chencheya: I am glad you enjoyed chapter 3! WoL I view as noble... but willing to do anything he can to save the world. Noble but happy to make sacrifices, perhaps? Also, Cosmos is very unrepresented.... it's kind of sad. Why do 'good' characters tend to get ignored? (not including FF series mains of course!) Chaos is always favoured over Cosmos! And thank you... Wow, that really means a lot to me! That's probably the nicest compliment I've ever got about a fanfic I have written. :D

Lor: -Salute!- I will do!

Skykhanhunter: Many thanks! :D

Phew, now that is out of the way... I hope you enjoyed this... And I hope you leave a review!