Wow…it just hit me that this may be the second- or third-to-last chapter for this story. I've been working so hard on it I didn't realize how much I had gotten done! It makes me a bit sad that I will have to see this story end, but who knows…I may end up making a sequel to this.

Well anyway, here's the next chapter! Hope you guys enjoy!

Unclouded, Sequel to Unarmed

Chapter Ten: The Final Battle


"Good to see you, Cloud." My eyes widened as I realized the voice belonged to the one and only Sephiroth. Sephiroth threw Cloud backwards, before hitting him with his sword and making Cloud fly upwards, eventually catching his balance and landing on a building. Sephiroth landed on the building opposite him. Cloud took a battle stance as he stared still slightly disbelieving at Sephiroth. "Your Geostigma is gone? That's too bad," Sephiroth said in that same menacing voice.

"Sephiroth! What do you want," Cloud asked harshly.

"The last thoughts of Geostigma's dead. Those Remnants will join the Lifestream and girdle the planet…choking it, corroding it. What I want, Cloud," he stated, "is to sail the darkness of the cosmos with this planet as my vessel…," he continued, raising his right hand above his head as he did so, "…just as my mother did long ago."

As he opened his palm to the sky, dark gray clouds started to gather above Midgar, turning the sky dark and obscuring the sun from view. I jumped down to a lower building just to be safe as Sephiroth spoke again. "Then one day we'll find a new planet, and on its soil we'll create a shining future."

"What about this planet?," Cloud asked, his temper rising.

"Well, that's up to you, Cloud," he retorted smugly, before snapping his right arm back down to his side and charging at Cloud. Cloud swung his own sword at him, their swords clashing loudly.

I looked up at the sky as what looked like dark streams of energy started coming down from the sky. Suddenly my head was hit with a wave of pain. I gripped my forehead tightly as it passed. What is that stuff…could it be…the Jenova-infected Lifestream? Shaking my head, I jumped to get to a better position to see what was happening and to make sure Cloud was alright.

Spotting them clashing and jumping from place to place as they fought, I couldn't help but remember Cloud's words to me when we left the church to go after Kadaj…

*flashback*

"No matter what happens…you have to promise me that you won't jump into my fight with Kadaj…or god forbid that bastard Sephiroth." I looked at the back of Cloud's head as we rode.

"Not even if you're in trouble…?," I questioned. He suddenly stopped the bike, turning and looking directly at me, a worried look in his eyes.

"Especially if I'm in trouble. The last thing I ever want to do is get you killed. Especially if you do so because you're trying to protect me. Please, Christina," he begged, grabbing onto my shoulders, "you HAVE to promise me that. Please." I didn't want to agree to that…but I knew if I DID end up breaking that promise, I wouldn't have been able to stop myself anyway.

Because the one thing I could never do is let Cloud Strife die without trying to help him…

"A-alright Cloud, I promise…I won't."

*end flashback*

I was snapped from my thoughts by Cloud suddenly yelling out in pain. I looked over to see Cloud flying, eventually hitting and going through one of the buildings, crashing into the inside of it. I winced horribly, oh god, I hope he's alright…, as I watched Sephiroth follow him into the building. I jumped to a building closer to that one to get a better look.

I watched as Sephiroth attacked him, swinging his sword; Cloud parried with his own, sending the blue flame sparks everywhere. Again and again the same thing happened, their swords clashed over and over, sending sparks flying through the building, unfortunately those being my only way of seeing what was happening.

I watched as they locked swords again, sending more blue flame sparks flying. "Where did you find this strength?," Sephiroth asked mockingly.

"I'm not about to tell you!," Cloud shouted, pushing on his sword and sending Sephiroth flying for once. I saw Sephiroth fly through the roof of the building, disappearing from my view. Cloud jumped up through the hole to the roof and landed there.

Not two seconds later a piece of rubble from one of the buildings started falling towards Cloud; he jumped forward to avoid it. Suddenly Sephiroth came from the right, trying to ambush Cloud from behind. Cloud stepped back, forced to parry with his own sword as Sephiroth swung his at Cloud. Cloud jumped up to avoid the sword, flipping and bringing his own sword down at Sephiroth with a yell; Sephiroth dodged it easily. Sephiroth was lucky though; I looked down where Cloud's sword had struck the ground to see three huge cracks in the ground.

Suddenly a huge piece of building (obviously hacked off by Sephiroth) flew at Cloud at high speed; Cloud jumped far away to avoid it. Sephiroth followed and attacked him in midair, slashing at Cloud over and over again, forcing Cloud to parry every one of his attacks without having an opening to counterattack.

As Cloud landed on the building below him to catch his balance, Sephiroth came at him again, slashing and trying to cut Cloud down; Cloud managed to block every one of his attacks, throwing Sephiroth away from him once more. Sephiroth regained his balance like it was nothing, turning and looking back at Cloud as he jumped to try and go after Sephiroth.

"I've thought of a wonderful present for you," Sephiroth mocked in a condescending tone, turning back around and slicing a piece of the building away, making it fall towards Cloud. Cloud cleaved the thing clean in two, following after him. They clashed once again in front of the Shinra building, their swords locking once again. "Shall I give you despair?," he suggested coldly, slashing upwards and knocking Cloud off balance, sending him flying.

Cloud recovered quickly, spinning in midair and stabbing his sword into the building, standing on it to gain a vertical base as he looked upwards. I looked up from Cloud's position to see Sephiroth hovering near the top of the building. "On your knees, I want you to beg for forgiveness," he spat harshly at Cloud as the top part of the building began to crumble and fall.

Sephiroth turned back to the falling pieces of building, slashing them in the middle and causing them to break apart slightly. I looked back down at Cloud to see him step on the handle of his sword, splitting his sword in two and stabbing the second sword into the building as well. Cloud then grabbed the handles of both swords, flipping in the air twice and pulling his swords free.

Cloud started slicing and dicing the building pieces as they came at him one by one, before Sephiroth appeared from the dusty rubble to attack Cloud again. Cloud parried his attack, once again sending sparks flying. Unfortunately I couldn't see much aside from the occasional flash of a sword being swung for a few moments, but the fight was getting even more intense, that much I could tell.

Suddenly I saw Cloud jump up, slashing another huge chunk of building in two before jumping up to the top of the building, putting his swords together into one again as he did so. I quickly hopped and jumped up to the top of the building as well, trying to stay out of sight as I did so. I know if Sephiroth sees me he'll come after me…so I have to stay hidden. Cloud's having a hard enough time as it is without having to worry about protecting me.

When I made it up to the top of the building, Cloud had collapsed for a brief moment; I could quickly tell that this fight was taking its toll on him. Sephiroth is one tough son of a bitch…, I thought, much to my disdain.

Cloud didn't get much of a breather as Sephiroth jumped up to the top as well, trying to cut him in two as he brought his sword down; quickly Cloud pushed himself out of harm's way. Sephiroth slashed at him again and again, each time Cloud's parrying getting a bit more fatigued.

Oh Cloud…please, hang in there!

Cloud swung his sword at him once more, trying to land a blow, but Sephiroth parried once again, this time pushing him back and knocking him over slightly with his shoulder. Cloud quickly rolled and made it back to his feet, only to be knocked over once again by the hilt of Sephiroth's sword. He kept coming at Cloud, each time Cloud just barely parrying before Sephiroth swung his sword upwards; Cloud moved his head back and dodged, but Sephiroth kicked him in the gut, causing him to double over in pain. Sephiroth took that opportunity to throw Cloud backwards, sending him spiraling into the wall. Cloud cried out in pain.

No…Cloud get up! Please!

A few seconds later I saw the dust fly away from where Cloud was, my eyes widening a bit as Cloud stood up and took a battle stance, his entire body and sword glowing with blue flame. Sephiroth charged at him with a grunt of slight frustration. With a running leap Cloud attacked him, slashing and trying to land a blow. Sephiroth parried every one, eventually knocking Cloud back slightly. Cloud got up again quickly, jumping higher and trying to dive attack Sephiroth. Sephiroth 'hmph'-ed slightly in annoyance, then brought his sword up, impaling Cloud straight through the chest. My hands immediately flew to my mouth, trying my best to hold in a scream.

"Is this the pain you felt before, Cloud?," Sephiroth asked him as Cloud tried to jump away but failed to do so, groaning in pain. "Let me remind you. This time you won't forget," he concluded, a black wing coming out from his back before he threw Cloud off of the sword and into the air. No! Cloud!, I thought helplessly, my promise to Cloud the only thing holding me back from running to help him.

Cloud blocked the first two but the rest of the slashes cut Cloud open and bleeding in various places. Cloud grunted loudly in pain as Sephiroth's sword went straight through his foot, catching the sword with his left hand. I winced considerably. Sephiroth threw Cloud to the ground, his impact making a crater on the building's roof.

CLOUD!, I screamed internally, every fiber of my being telling me to stay where I was for my own safety, but my heart practically tearing out of my chest telling me to help him. My hands were clenched tightly over my mouth but I was screaming into my hand, tears starting to come into my eyes. Cloud was barely moving.

Cloud…Cloud no you can't…you can't die…you just can't…

Cloud barely managed to make it to his feet, staggering significantly and dripping with blood as he leaned on his sword, panting harshly. Oh god…there's so much blood where he landed…oh my god… I felt the first tears starting to pour out of my eyes.

"Tell me what you cherish most," Sephiroth told him. "Give me the pleasure of taking it away," he continued, grasping his sword and going to attack Cloud.

NO! PLEASE!

I shut my eyes tightly, my whole body shaking, not wanting to think about what was about to happen. No! It can't happen, Cloud just CAN'T die! Please, someone…! Someone has to help him…!

Aerith! Zack! Help him! PLEASE!

...

…Suddenly I felt a pair of gentle hands on my shoulders.

I opened my eyes to see that the environment had gone pure white. I looked in front of me to see a very familiar head of black spiky hair, who was standing back to back with Cloud.

Zack…?

So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up, Zack said encouragingly.

Don't worry, another voice told me. I looked to my left to see Aerith, who was the one who had her hands on my shoulders. She smiled and nodded at me, You believe in Cloud don't you? I nodded instantly without thinking. Her smile broadened a bit. Then you have nothing to worry about. Trust me, she said, directing me to look back at Cloud, if you believe in him then he can do anything. Your belief in him has kept him going since the day he met you. That's not gonna change now, don't you think? I looked back at Aerith; she nodded again. I looked back at Cloud as Zack spoke again.

Embrace your dreams. And no matter what happens protect your honor as SOLDIER. Zack chuckled slightly. Well, okay, you never made SOLDIER. But it's what's in here that counts, Zack continued, pointing to his heart, and I know that you've got a lot of people that believe in you in there. One of which without I wouldn't be here to help you. I chuckled a bit.

"You're right. As long as I believe in Cloud…I know he can do anything. Even if it looks hopeless. I'll never give up on him." I smiled with determination.

"Zack?," Cloud asked.

Well, Zack replied, You need a hand with him? After a brief second Cloud shook his head no. You're darn right you don't, you Chocobo-head. You've got this. Cloud slowly made his way back to his feet, gripping his sword once more. You already beat him once, didn't you? This should be a cinch!

"Yeah," Cloud agreed, picking up his sword in a battle stance and standing up fully. Zack turned to me and grinned broadly; I laughed slightly.

I'll always believe in him. And I know without a doubt now; not even Sephiroth can beat that.

The white world, and Zack and Aerith, vanished as Cloud jumped up at Sephiroth, swinging at him. Sephiroth dodged, jumping higher and using part of the building to boost himself as he did so. Cloud did the same, holding his sword over his shoulder as he spoke.

"I pity you. You just don't get it all," he said, raising his sword and holding it beside him before lifting it over his head.

"There's not a thing I don't cherish!," he yelled loudly.

Cloud spun his sword around above his head three times, a blue flame surrounding it before bringing it downwards where it clanged against Sephiroth's sword as he parried. Suddenly all five of the other swords released out of the one Cloud was holding, forming a circle around them, and he jumped to one of them, a blue flame surrounding his form. He quickly grabbed the sword, practically teleporting back and slashing Sephiroth with it. Cloud then quickly teleported once again, grabbing another sword and cutting Sephiroth with this one as well, then teleported to another one, and another, hitting Sephiroth with each one in turn. He was going so fast that I could barely keep up with my eyes; Sephiroth looked back and forth trying to figure out where Cloud would strike from next, but Cloud was too fast for him to keep up. Eventually he grabbed the last sword and attacked multiple times with that one, the last blow being when he slashed through Sephiroth, landing on the ground below, his swords landing in a circle around him. He caught the last one in his right hand, looking up at the fading Sephiroth as he did so.

"Stay where you belong, in my memories," Cloud stated firmly. Sephiroth looked down at him as the sky cleared, the dark gray clouds dissipating.

"I will…never be a memory," Sephiroth responded, before his black wing wrapped around him. He dropped back to the ground, Kadaj appearing in his place, looking heavily hurt but still holding a weapon. I ran out from where I was, pulling my pistol out and aiming at Kadaj, ready to fire if he attacked Cloud. Cloud took another fighting stance as he stared at Kadaj warily.

Kadaj tried to charge at him with a yell, but dropped his sword from his lack of strength, falling over as he did so. Cloud caught him as I ran over, putting him down gently as we kneeled beside him. "Brother…," he called out weakly. Cloud and I exchanged a look; there was no way Kadaj was going to live through this. I instantly thought of Lindsey and how this would affect her when she found out.

Kadaj…?, I heard Aerith's voice call gently. Suddenly a raindrop fell on Kadaj's face. I looked up; it had begun to rain lightly. You don't have to hang on any longer.

"Mother…is that…?," Kadaj said quietly.

Everyone's waiting, if you're ready, Aerith told him; I saw Aerith reach out a hand to Kadaj as he nodded slowly, tears coming out of his eyes as he looked honestly happy for once. She took his hand and slowly pulled him upwards, and as he disappeared into the Lifestream his body became glitter-like specks of light, floating upwards and disappearing into the rain. Cloud and I stood up and watched as he disappeared, the rain falling all around us.

After a few moments Cloud looked back down and at me. I looked at him and grinned slightly. "Guess you finally did it, Spikey," I joked. He chuckled slightly. My grin disappeared as I teared up slightly. His eyes widened a bit with concern.

"Hey, hey you okay?," he asked me lightly. I squeezed my eyes tightly closed for a second before I jumped at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him close. The force from my impact made us spin a bit but he regained his balance.

"Holy chocobos you scared the hell out of me…," I mumbled, part of my voice being muffled from burying my face in his shoulder. He stood there awkwardly for a second before he relaxed, placing his arms around me and hugging me back. "…don't you ever do that again Strife, you hear me…" I sniffled a bit. He placed a hand on the back of my head, pulling me closer.

"…it's alright. I couldn't have survived without you anyway." I chuckled a bit, smiling lightly.

"Of course. You can't do anything without me, can you?" He laughed lightly.

"Never."

I'm not sure how long we stayed embracing in the rain that day. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. And I know I'll never forget it.

Unfortunately…I also know I'll never forget how it was cut short in a single instant.

Suddenly Cloud shoved me to the left side, shouting "MOVE!" as he pushed me as hard as he could. I fell to the ground as I heard a gunshot ring out.

I quickly picked my head up from the ground and looked back up at Cloud…

…To see him on one knee, panting heavily.

Because of a gunshot wound from a bullet that had passed straight through his chest.

Oh my god…no…

"CLOUD!"


OMG! Bet you guys didn't expect a cliffhanger, did you? ;)

Yeah, I know, I'm evil. XD I didn't like doing that, (I hate that part in the movie; it always makes me cry Xp) but I had to keep up the suspense somehow.

Do you guys think I'll really kill Cloud? I honestly want to know what you guys think! But don't worry, you guys will find out soon, I promise!

Till then my lovelies, leave a review! It makes me write faster lol (j/k ^^)

-Catalyna Christopher