Chapter Eleven
'Lie to me, convince me that I've been sick forever.'
They're coming. The words were soft but deliberate. Sephiroth turned from the light of Holy. Nearby, eight stood. Will you let them stop you?
'…No…' he thought. Suddenly the group rose from the rocky path, and Sephiroth closed his eyes. Energy burst forth, a ring of fire cut through them. Eyes opened and a smirk crossed those lips.
"Sephiroth!" the blond yelled, and Mako eyes fiercely met that gaze. Vicious rage burst forth, and the group moved further back, writhing in midair.
"Is this…the true power of Sephiroth?" one of them strained.
"My…my body…" another struggled. "I can't control my body…" Sephiroth chuckled and let another blast propel forward.
"My front legs…my hind legs…" someone groaned. "My tail's about to tear off!"
"This is definitely not good…" an anxious voice agreed. "He's way outta our league!"
"I-I don't know if I can…go on…" a girl whimpered. He laughed, the soundless gesture inaudible to the group before him.
"Cloud…" she said softly. "Cloud…!" He groaned and eyes opened, meeting the gaze before him.
"…there…" he muttered weakly. "It's…there…"
"Cloud…?" she repeated.
"…Holy…" he said. "Holy…is there…! The Holy is shining…. Aerith's prayer is shining!"
"Holy…" the brunette repeated. "Aerith…"
"It's not over yet…" Bright blue pierce him. "This isn't the end yet!" He drew them inward, and another wave of energy cut through. They yelped with the shock.
"…We're not gonna lose!" the brunette assured with determination. "Aerith is here…everyone is here… Cloud is here with us!" She shook her head and a falling tear glimmered in the light. "There's still many things for us to do… I'm not giving up!"
"Aerith's memories…our memories…" the blond said. His voice was quiet at first, but rose as he continued. "We came…to tell you…our memories… Come Planet! Show is your answer!" Those fierce eyes met his once more and brows furrowed. "And Sephiroth!To the settling of everything!"
Light swirled around him, flashing brightly as his vision wavered. Pain shot through him and it felt as though his insides were being ripped from him. A soundless scream escaped those lips, and bright green flickered into his view. White light erupted, drowning him and he was sure that his body would be ripped to pieces.
Stillness.
Weak eyes opened, and Sephiroth gazed upward. Over the treacherous cliffs of the cavern, he could see blue. The sky. Clouds painted the distant scene, and for a brief moment, he felt as though he could touch it. A hand reached forward, distorted and fuzzy. Sephiroth examined the limb. To the touch it felt normal – warm flesh beneath cold layers of leather. But it was as though his vision was fogged, and pieces were missing. Soundlessly, he stood, and eyes gazed downward.
Below, a battle took place. A large being towered over the party, stale skin and a second groups attacked the mutated form, each from another side. Blades flickered in the light of the Lifestream and magic flashed brightly. The mutant form recoiled as a large shining blade pierced through rapidly. Blond locks fell over sapphire eyes, and a smirk to cross his lips. The beast bellowed ferociously; massive wing-like arms lashed through the air. He dodged, landing back beside his teammates. A blast came from its other side, and a roar echoed in the cavern. It turned, and Sephiroth's heart sunk
The beast looked like him. The face – the expression…it was his own. Dull flesh coated it and long green longs fell across its face. Bright yellow eyes gleamed beneath bangs that sprouted upward like antennae. Horns curved from above is ears, and a smaller form sat atop them. The second face was his, too – menacing and false.
A bright flash erupted around him, and Sephiroth allowed his senses to refocus. A formaldehyde-like odor overwhelmed his senses and the form healed itself. Suddenly, the brunette jumped upward to the form, defying gravity as she landed a series of powerful blows. The abomination recoiled with each blow, and the blond joined her. His sword slashed across the being, the gashes ripping across its body. They didn't bleed – instead, a dark green fluid oozed like mud down its limbs. It screeched, and the mutant slumped, weakly withering before them.
And suddenly pain pierced him. A hallow screech echoed through the cavern – a cry that was not his own. It tore at his limbs, his insides – flesh felt as though it was ripped from muscle. His heart raced as he cried out again, the heavy sound reverberating against his mind. Light burst around him and a wind whipped through the air. Sephiroth forced his eyes open. It was no longer dark – but as though they stood somewhere among clouds. A whirlwind cut through the air, spiraling towards the struggling party. Sephiroth fell to his knees as the pain released. Insides twisted, and he felt nauseous. Forcing himself to see what had happen, he looked up.
Mako eyes glared, and he met his own gaze. The form had change. A white-winged chariot supported it, and Sephiroth gazed at his own figure that sat atop it. Sleek silver locks floated gracefully behind him, and golden rings floated around him. Rather than an arm, a long and delicate wing extended outward. He loomed over them, a strike of fear fluttered over their faces. The blond swallowed hard, and readied his sword. The rest followed his lead, and the battle commenced.
Light flashed, and a Shadow Flare erupted around them. The darkness swirled inward, and for a moment, they were no longer visible. It burst away, and they recoiled from the powerful magic. Determination glowing in his eyes, the blond dashed forth and struck the God-like being. Barely wincing at the attack, the wing rose and cut through the air. With no way to dodge, the blow threw the blond to the ground. A teammate covered him, the four-pointed weapon raced through the air, gleaming in the light as it struck.
The form rose upward, chariot wings dancing beneath it. Unable to physically reach, the brunette's Materia began to glow. A blast of fire exploded around the being. Bullets flew through the air as it lowered, and the blond seized the opportunity. Blade glowing, he flew upward. A wing soared downward, and again the blow blocked him. Another blast of magic erupted around him; it was getting weaker. Its arm rose and he took the opening. As he jumped, the sword began to glow once more, and the being didn't have time to react. It cut through the air impaled its chest.
As the sword hit, a sharp pain cut through Sephiroth. White flashed before him and his vision blurred. Light erupted from the being, flashing like lightning that cut through the sky. It hacked through him, and the pieces began to fall. They disintegrated as the mirror shattered, flecks shimmering in the light. The pain faded, and suddenly he was alone in the darkness.
Eyes scanned the pitch black, and ears pricked alert, trying to hear any sound over the howl of the rushing wind. His body felt weak and heavy, and Sephiroth stood against that gravity. A bright flash glowed behind him, and Sephiroth turned. '…Holy…' A hallow screech echoed in the emptiness, and Holy shuddered with the sound. Rays of light swirled around it, fading if they grew too distant.
Don't worry, my child…we'll be together always… The voice was distant but clear. She was still there – a part of him. Jenova…the calamity from the skies… 'This Planet will cease to exist… Together…we will create our own future…
"…No…" he whispered, the words almost soundless in the abyss. "…This…this isn't what I want…" Sephiroth closed his eyes. He sensed the blond – he was still inside the crater. His voice spoke, calm and determined…but muffled. He couldn't make out the words.
'…Cloud…' The name echoed inside him, and suddenly his voice became clear
"…He's still…here…" The blond spoke quietly, the words hesitant and unsure. "Still…" A light flashed around him, and the blond came into view. He struggled; gloves fisted blond locks, and his form trembled.
It is too late! Sephiroth chucked to himself. There was fear behind those words, and he could finally see through her rouse.
"He's laughing…" the blond said quietly, the voice now much more distant.
'Come to me, Cloud,' Sephiroth thought. As the words were spoken, the translucent double lifted from the blond, gliding through the air. He could feel him now, spiraling closer – rapid light strobed through the darkness. The Masamune hissed quietly as it glided from his sheath. Voices echoed around him – muffled and slurred as they all spoke at once. They became louder, more desperate to be heard – understood. Eyes closed and suddenly it settled.
And bright blue struck him. Those eyes widened, shocked, as they met jade. Sephiroth allowed a brief smile to touch his lips, but his expression hardened fiercely as the blond came closer. The sapphire gaze softened, and for a moment he wondered if the blond understood. They stood before one another, eyes fierce. For a moment, eyes met and static drifted between them. He couldn't look away; captured by that gaze, he didn't move as the blond drew his weapon. Silence sank over them.
The blond made the first move, and a sudden wind rushed around him. The blade rose to his face and gleamed in the darkness, emitting its own light. Cobalt flickered into view as the wind settled, and for a moment, everything was still. He leapt forth, blade striking against bare flesh. Pain cut through him again from behind, and silver locks swayed as he turned. Blue flashed as the blond landed beside him, the sword slicing through the air once more. Metal gleamed from every direction, and screamed as is cut through flesh. A bitter metallic odor reached his senses as blood spattered his face; he no longer felt the pain of the hissing sword.
The sound hesitated, a screech filling the air as the blond fell through the darkness, blade glowing with power. The moment froze as their eyes met. A tear rolled down his cheek, but Cloud's eyes were still fierce and full of determination. And Sephiroth allowed a smile to touch his lips as he braced for the final blow.
And it fell, fast and heavy as it plunged through him. Sephiroth stumbled backwards, and the Masamune fell silently beside him. Blood trickled in steady streams that leaked from the gashes. The rivers dripped from his fingertips, beads falling like rubies to the ground below. Sticky fluid matted in disheveled tresses, crimson tainting the shimmering locks. Breaths, once so easy to take, came painful and strained. Finally, he met that gaze once more.
Ice shot through him, and light engulfed him. Sephiroth fell, the stained locks billowing out gracefully. Like angel's wings. Blue disappeared, and he knew that the blond had succeeded. White. It filled his body, his mind, his vision – enclosing all around.
And the words fell, inaudibly from his lips.
'…I'm sorry…'
'And all of this will make since when I get better.'
*~*~*0*~*~*