Chapter 10 – All For Nothing?

The Northern Cave was a lot different than last time, although Cloud couldn't say he was surprised. Holy, the ultimate white magic, had blasted through the cave after all. It was visibly noticeable that there was more damage, the airship could go a lot further down than the last time which made things easier.

Cloud noticed Tifa telling Denzel and Marlene to stay put on the airship, he couldn't allow that. "Tifa, they need to come with us," There were a few surprised looks from Cloud's friends and he didn't blame them. He had always been against bringing the kids into the battle but this time they needed to come.

"If we can't stop Jenova, we have a way out. At the bottom of the Northern Cave, where we last fought Jenova, there is an unusual amount of mako. The lifestream is at it's strongest there and it will take us to Spira. No one can stay behind."

It was strange, Cloud and Yuna were only guessing that it would take them to Spira but something was calling out to Cloud. It was assuring him that it would lead to Spira, was it the same voice as that of the being he had been meeting?

They were moving at a slow pace which was expected considering they had to make sure the kids got down the slopes and got across the jumps safely. The fiends in the crater were more skilled than your average fiend but they weren't causing them too much trouble.

Cid, Tifa and Priscilla were at the front where as Paine, Rikku and Red were at the back. Both of those parties were fighting the fiends while the others made their way down. The pong range users helped out when they could but to be honest the help wasn't really needed. Cloud was focusing on getting Marlene and Denzel down safely and making sure they were alright and not freaking out.

"Listen guys. When we fight Genesis or Jenova, you find a place to hide and stay there until the fight is over. Understand?" The two children nodded in answer to Cloud's question and kept moving down.

It wasn't long until they found themselves coming up to the entrance to the planet's core and of course Genesis was there, just waiting. "Hmph, you're late." Genesis smirked at Cloud when he gripped his sword. He noticed a remote in Genesis's hand, was it what Cloud thought it was?

"I see the poison didn't work, no matter you're too late anyway. Once I push this button…" Genesis raised his arm in the air and before anyone could react he pressed a button on the remote. "That's all she wrote. As we speak the mako will be sinking itself into the veins of every man woman and child on the planet. Soon enough the exposure will make it's way to the crater as well, it's over!"

Just like that, they had failed. No, there was still time. If Cloud could kill Jenova before she absorbed the life energy of the people maybe, just maybe they could save the planet. "It's not over yet! All we need to do is destroy Jenova before she consumes the life essence of all the people. But first, we need to go through you!"

As soon as Cloud lunged for Genesis, SOLDIER members jumped out from the shadows and began attacking the others. They had split themselves up into groups of 3, Yuna and Tidus had come to help Cloud fight Genesis. Marlene and Denzel were hiding and out of sight Cloud noticed which was good.

Cloud went for a high strike and swung his sword downwards however Genesis was expecting it and blocked the strike. Yuna then prayed a flurry of bullets at Genesis which he only just managed to dodge, that was followed up by Tidus who launched a few quick attacks that were blocked easily. It seemed as though Genesis was holding back a little bit, the three of them would have to be weary about this. Cloud came in with a sweeping swing to the feet which Genesis jumped over, but Clod wasn't done there. He continued to spin around and launched a follow up attack which sent Genesis into the wall of the crater. As the dust came up, Yuna casted a few fire spells and sent them just above the place of impact causing rocks to fall onto Genesis. Tidus ran towards him doing a few flips in his build up to gain a bit of extra strength before slamming his sword down on Genesis. In a moment of surprise, Genesis placed his sword into the small hook on Tidus's sword. Not only did he block the attack but he also managed to plunk the sword out of Tidus's hands. If it wasn't for Cloud's quick thinking Tidus would surely have suffered a fatal injury or worse… Cloud could see the move coming and rolled just in front of Tidus as the dual wield attack came in, blocking it as soon as he got there. Two swords against one was dangerous so Cloud decided to even out the playing field by taking out the front blade of his fusion sword. It was like watching someone fight their own reflection in a mirror, the two matched each other's movements and attacks perfectly almost as if they were in a synchronised dance routine. Parry, thrust, slash. Parry, thrust, slash. They were at a stalemate, that is until Cloud heard the cocking of a pistol behind him. He immediately knew what to do, he backflipped over Yuna who was waiting to unleash a wave of bullets. Genesis was caught off guard and dropped Tidus's sword as well as his own which allowed Cloud to dash in and slash Genesis across the chest.

"You think even if you defeat Jenova you will save the planet? Have you not been paying attention?" Genesis could barely speak and he was breathing heavily with blood dripping down his clothes. "Jenova has been absorbing energy from the planet ever since she got here, the two are connected. If you destroy her what do you think will happen?"

"You mean, even if we kill Jenova the planet will be destroyed anyway?" Cloud couldn't believe what he was hearing, if Jenova absorbed the rest of the life essence from the people the world would be destroyed. If they killed Jenova the world would be destroyed because she has already been absorbing energy from the planet and the two were interlinked.

Genesis has just vanished into the green streams of the lifestream as the others made their way over. Cloud explained the situation to them and left them in silence. The realisation of failure had kicked in.

"There's only one thing we can do, you all have to take refuge on Spira. It's too late for everyone else on Gaea." Cloud broke the silence and presented them with a solution, though a grim one it was the only one they had.

"What about you, Cloud?" Yuna asked the question everyone else was thinking. It wasn't easy for Cloud to face them. He was silent for a few seconds until he found the courage to tell them what he was going to do. "If Jenova succeeds in destroying the planet then she'll just move onto the next one. I'm the only one here who can resist her will, I have to stop her and put an end to her rein of tyranny."

Cloud heard their arguments and complaints but his mind was made up. He knew the others were worried, he knew they wanted to help, but he knew that only he could do it. "You don't have to worry. I'll be fighting her right next to the way to Spira. As soon as I beat her I'll jump through, trust me."

After jumping across to each platform the group had made it to the planet's core. Just as Cloud suspected their was a swirling green portal on the floor right at the end of the circular platform. In the centre stood a woman, Jenova. Cloud didn't expect her true form to look so human like but it was. The only difference was the blue skin and the radiant glow being emitted from her being. She held two long swords by her side, one in each hand. When Cloud approached she looked up from the ground and smirked.

Jenova didn't take any notice of the others, her gaze was fixed on Cloud. "Get to the portal. I'll meet you there, I promise." Cloud locked eyes with Yuna before she headed to the portal along with the others. Jenova didn't batt an eye when they ran past her.

Cloud drew his fusion sword and held it firmly to the right side of his face. Jenova tilted her head a little. "You resist me. Why?" She seemed puzzled when Cloud didn't reply, she mustn't have been used to people ignoring her. "A hero of the planet, the guardian of the lifestream, the Cetra always were overly dramatic."

"Cetra?" What was Jenova talking about? What did the Cetra have to do with Cloud? She seemed to find amusement from Cloud's confusion, a smile of sympathy creeping onto her face. "You mean you were never told? She didn't tell you about your father?" Who was she talking about? Was it the being that had been visiting Cloud?

"My father died when I was young, he wasn't special or important. He was a simpleton so why are you bringing him up?" Cloud was getting agitated with Jenova, his family was a touchy subject for him and he didn't like talking about them. "You're father wasn't a simpleton, he was one of the last remaining Cetra. A protector of the planet, just like you. I remember when I fought against him, it was a good fight and I took great pleasure in claiming victory as well as his life."

Cloud's father was a Cetra? Did that mean Cloud was a Cetra? Those questions didn't matter to Cloud at the moment. Jenova killed his father. She took him away from Cloud and for that she would pay.

The first mistake had been made by Cloud. His first attack was easily dodged and Jenova swung for his neck. Luckily he managed to roll forward just in time, however he didn't have any time to rest as Jenova came in with a follow up attack which he had to spin around to block. Cloud hadn't forgotten about her free sword and rolled sideways to dodge the incoming attack on his left that he anticipated. Three more strikes came in, one on the right, one on the left and one in the centre which Cloud stopped by wedging his sword in between Jenova's two swords. He pulled the fusion sword through the swords breaking their connection then span around to gain momentum and extra strength in his strike. Jenova blocked it but the resulting impact sent her skidding backwards on her feet. Cloud followed up with his Braver limit break which Jenova caught by crossing her swords just above her head. By pushing against the fusion sword she managed to send Cloud back up into the air, she jumped upwards to follow him and unleashed a flurry of speed attacks. The attacks were so fast that not even Cloud's enhanced reactions could keep up. It was basically a 50% chance that Cloud would block one of the strikes. At this point he was just guessing where she was going to strike based off of his own sword play knowledge.

If this kept up Cloud would be a goner. In a moment of quick thinking he span around rapidly swinging his sword as he did which caused Jenova to be redirected towards the ground. Once again Cloud had breathing air, while he had the opportunity he chugged down a potion just before he landed which caused some of the minor wounds to vanish straight away while the more sever ones were only healed slightly or not at all.

Again the two engaged in a close quarters situation. Cloud had to take the offensive in order to stop Jenova from unleashing her deadly speed. He swung the fusion sword with his right arm downwards towards Jenova's left which was blocked and anticipated. Despite this, Cloud had other intentions. When their sword locked Cloud unclipped one of the smaller side blades which span in the air and landed straight in Cloud's left hand where he then released a quick powerful strike. He just couldn't break through her defence, the attack was blocked and with even greater speed she countered with a swing at Cloud's legs.

Cloud was swept off of his feet and fell on his back. Two swords came flying at his face which he just managed to block with his own two swords. Quickly after blocking the swords Cloud rolled out of the way of a downward aerial strike that would've surely killed him.

Only one thing could save Cloud. He recombined his swords and held it straight out in front of him. Cloud felt the power of the mako surging through his veins and blue energy began radiating from him. With all the power in his body he launched himself at Jenova and performed Omnislash. Left, right, up, down, across, vertically, horizontally, you name it that's the direction Cloud attacked. Not a single strike landed and when he went in for his final aerial blow Jenova blocked it with one of her swords leaving Cloud in midair. With her free sword she slashed Cloud's stomach, sending him backwards and causing him to land on his back.

Cloud was bleeding out. He had lost. Is this how it was going to end? Would Cloud die here with so many unanswered questions? "I haven't had a fight like that in centuries. You put up a good fight, but it was obvious from the start that you were put matched." Jenova made her way over to Cloud who lay there gripping his sword yet too weak to use it. She raised her swords and stabbed Cloud in both sides of his chest. "Argh!!"

"Why don't you take a look at all of the people you have let down in your dying moments as I drain their life essence?" Jenova waved her hand and an image of all of the people on the planet was created. They were all lying on the floor, some were in the air. Green streams were coming off of them as if it were being sucked away from them.

Cloud had rolled over onto his stomach now and watched in horror as Jenova collected the energy. All of those green streams of energy had congregated at their location and were swirling around Jenova. Cloud wasn't going to stand for this, Jenova said that his father was a Cetra which meant Cloud was also a Cetra, the last one. If his job was to protect the planets then that's what he was going to do. Jenova couldn't be allowed to live. Cloud crawled towards her before standing up and ramming his sword straight through her back.

"That's for my father." When Cloud removed his sword both of them fell to the ground and the energy that was swirling around them began to frantically rush around. The planet was screaming in pain. In the image of the people Cloud could see cracks forming on the ground and surges of green energy gushing up from them. The planet was dying. Cloud crawled towards the portal that lead to Spira hastily. Just as he got there, an enormous scream could be heard and the last thing Cloud remembered was feeling the pain of the planet and the blinding white light that burned his eyes.

"Breathe."

Returning to the New World is done! There will be a continuation of this and Cloud in the New World in my next story! Avalanche aren't done with their adventures, but is Cloud? Let me know in the reviews what you think happened to Cloud! Did he die? Did he make it to Spira? Let me know! Be sure to favourite the story if you enjoyed it and just wait for the next story, Trouble in the New World!