Author's Comments:

No reviews last chapter yet, but that's okay. Chapter 10 has been edited a little for content, but still is better overall now that I cut away most the the epic fight part for later. This is where the plot thickens and everything starts to become a little more complex. Now here is the obligatory fight! Please enjoy. :)

Final Fantasy 7: The Rebirth of Sephiroth

Chapter 10: Nightmare

The lightning crashed and the ground shook. Darkness swept down from the hills and blanketed Cloud and Sephiroth in darkness. Sephiroth's Masamune was drawn and Cloud drew his First Ken.

"This ends here Sephiroth!" yelled Cloud.

Sephiroth flew at Cloud and Cloud lunged in, swinging swords the ground exploded beneath them. Energy shot from the tip of Sephiroth's Masamune at it connected with Cloud's blade, sparks shot forth as the swords connected. The two landed on the ground, energy swirling around Cloud, a green surge of energy ripped from the ground and encased him. Sephiroth recoiled and drew back, a black aura forming around him, seeping into the ground and spreading around.

Sephiroth lunged again sword outstretched, the Masamune directed at Cloud's heart. Almost instantly Cloud blocked the thin blade with his First Ken and swung it away, running into Sephiroth.

Directing the hilt down the Masamune connected with the base of the sword and he pushed away, digging both feet into the ground and throwing Cloud into the air. Sephiroth raised his right hand to the sky and a flash of light in a circle glowed. Cloud saw it only for a second, but a triangle surrounding a circle with inscription formed. The light glowed brighter and the glyph was completed. Two triangles bound within a circle in a square surrounded in a rhombus with a final circle and four seals around it. The seal of fire. Glowing red like fire.

The ground shook and a great beast arose from the flames, like a devil from Hell Ifrit broke from the surface and appeared. Cloud landed on his feet just as the summoning was completed and lunged at the beast. He ran at the beast as fire shot from the ground, an attempt to burn him away by Ifrit.

Sephiroth swung at Cloud forcing Cloud to parry and push himself away, the hell demon inhaled and spewed fire from his mouth at Cloud. Its burning fists swung at Cloud.

Cloud raised his sword and struck the beast, severing Ifrit's right and then dragging his blade around and severing the left arm in two quick swings of his sword. Leaving no chance for another attack Cloud pressed in as Ifrit let out a terrible warcry and his arms reformed only to form too late as Cloud pierced the demon's chest with his sword and kicked off him, escaping the clenching arms and flying over the head of the beast bringing his sword sword onto its head as he landed, driving it down with his weight.

The sword stabbed into Ifrit's head and the spirit of the demon was released, the form disappeared and from her peripheral vision Cloud saw Sephiroth raising his left hand with the sword pointed high into the air.

Cloud moved back and the Masamune slammed into the ground, digging in purposively as a center for Sephiroth to swing himself around and slam both feet into Cloud's chest, flinging him high into the air. Sephiroth released the Masamune from the ground and shot into the air after Cloud. Seperated by only three feet Sephiroth's speed brought him within easy striking distance of Cloud.

Cloud recoiled from the kick and swung his sword out at Sephiroth, the swords collided and sparks flew. Sephiroth unleashed a powerful onslaught of stabs and swings upon Cloud in the air. Cloud parried each one in succession and changed the position of his body downward as he fell, stretching his feet out.

As Cloud landed on the ground he pushed off and slammed his sword forward into the Masamune, forcing Sephiroth backwards. As Sephiroth's long hair suddenly covered his face from the quick change of direction Cloud pushed in, but Sephiroth gave a short laugh and deflected Cloud's thrust with ease. The recoil was strong enough to throw Cloud off balance and stunned him from following up with his own onslaught.

Sephiroth landed on his feet and with his right hand and taunted him, "What's wrong Cloud? You can't do it?" Sephiroth charged in again, jumping in front of Cloud and leaping over him, stabbing his sword down on Cloud from above. Cloud ran from the strike with a quick duck and wildly swung his sword back behind him to catch Sephiroth as he landed. The swords connected, but Sephiroth pushed in and slammed Cloud's sword into his back and flung him forward.

Cloud landed on his chest and started to get up, but a blast of ice shot from the ground forcing him to roll over. As soon as he rolled over another burst formed and threatened to impale him on the ground. He kept rolling as spike after spike threatened to finish him, but he quickly got onto his feet just to see Sephiroth running towards the line of ice spikes, swinging his Masamune at them, cutting clean through them as he ran towards Cloud. Cloud stood ready to deflect the hit, but on the last spike only a foot from Cloud now, Sephiroth flattened the Masamune and used the spike as a balance to throw the ice into Cloud and spin around still coming at Cloud.

Cloud chopped the thick ice in half with a cleave of the sword, but Sephiroth's Masamune came in right after from the left. Barely dodging it Cloud threw himself to the ground as Sephiroth spun past and stabilized himself on the ground.

"Come, quell my fury with your sword!" called Sephiroth. He stood waiting for Cloud to come to him. The Masamune at his side. The oversized katana outstretched, awaiting Cloud.

Cloud got to his feet, holding his head wearily with his left hand, "Sephiroth! Where is this? What have you done to me, you bastard!" Cloud looked in all directions, but nothing else then barren wasteland and a endless darkened sky surrounded him. Engulfed in darkness Sephiroth stood alone as a master of this world created for Cloud.

Sephiroth raised his hand to Cloud as if reaching out for him, "This is the future of this world. Once I have returned I shall rule over this wasteland and leave this wretched world forever. You worthless humans have stolen this planet from Mother, but I will not let you do it any longer!"

Sephiroth swung his hands into the sky, the clouds parted and an unnaturally beautiful blue was revealed. The grown burst forth long grass, trees and flowers. Life sprung force from the wasteland and embraced the sky. What would have taken thousands of years to do was instantly done in seconds. Mako spewed forth from the ground and shot into the sky, the planet embraced the Lifestream and it grew into bands, spreading out and covering everything in a thick mist.

The green mist became wild and furious, reacting violently and soothingly in nature. All of a sudden the Mist vanished and the lush life turned to nothing, leaving the planet. Only the wasteland remained.

Sephiroth approached Cloud, "This is the life cycle of a planet given life by the Lifestream. Planets are mere houses for the Lifestream to grow. Then it becomes dangerous as a thick mist and covers the planet. Then at last it grows unstable in its over crowded environment, killing everything, drawing all it has up and leaving the planet to a new one. Leaving a destroyed and desolate wasteland behind. Sometimes the Lifestream becomes part of the planet and becomes stable. Death and draining the Lifeforce is the only way to keep it in check. Mother is the guardian angel of planets, creating balance."

Cloud looked into Sephiroth's glassy eyes coldly with skepticism, "What does this have to do with me?" Sephiroth circled Cloud slowly, with a grin on his face.

"Out with it Sephiroth!"

"Such fury…"

Cloud raised his sword to Sephiroth's neck, "Tell me before I end this illusion of yours and finish you off once and for all."

Sephiroth at last satisfied whispered into Cloud's ear. Cloud's eyes widened and fell to the ground, shattered. Sephiroth only grinned and Cloud shook his head before screaming, "You lie! You lie! LIAR! Heartless bastard! HEARTLESS BASTARD! STOP FUCKING WITH ME! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Cloud grabbed his sword and stabbed out at Sephiroth, "Die! Damn you! Die!" Sephiroth easily moved, Cloud's skill and ability impaired by his anger and tears turned him into a child. Sephiroth swung his sword at Cloud, thrusting through the chest.

Cloud gasped in pain, "This….is….REAL?" Blood ran down his leather jacket and filled with sudden realization of what Sephiroth was intending to do to him. Cloud grabbed the sword with both hands, cutting into him and forced it from his body and down into the dirt.

"You're sick. You are disgusting beyond all belief."

Sephiroth grabbed Cloud's chin with his strong hand and lifted it up so Cloud could look into his superior eyes, "Are you afraid of me? You constantly thought about me ever since we met…no…before that even. Why do you run from your own feelings?"

Cloud gritted his teeth and yelled, "You're evil."

Sephiroth drew back slightly, "I am about to be a God, I want to share it with you. You will be my Sin, Cloud." Cloud drew back and looked at Sephiroth, wondering what he was talking about.

"Sin?"

"The body of God in the world. Through you I will speak, even after I leave this world. Will you free me, Cloud? I cannot die, this life is torture! Come! Set me free for good! Quell my anger, not with your sword, but with love."

Cloud glared at him, "You'll take Jenova to?"

Sephiroth nodded.

"What do I get out of it?"

Sephiroth though for a moment and smiled, "Your life, your memories and…"

"I won't do it!"

"…your wife."

Cloud gasped and he awakened in the middle of the forest. Blood poured from Blonde's chest, a needle was stuck in Cloud's arm. Tifa was gone. Cloud looked at his sword, covered in blood. Had he really just murdered Blonde without even knowing it? Cloud looked up the sky and yelled, "SEPHIROTH!"