-Djose Temple / Core-

The tallest cloaked member froze as Tidus leaped in the air then seconds after began to crash down. The figure let out a 'damn' before actually getting its body to move and jump back before Tidus could land a blow. As the blonde landed he charged at the figure yet again but dashed to the side as he realized another cloaked figure stepped in front of him- Tidus didn't bother with that one, he knew that wasn't the one that seemed to talk to him like it knew him. With that thought in mind the blitz player leaped again, hoping to jump passed the figure blocking him from the tallest opponent.

From afar the others stared, especially Squall. Tidus was over there, in their line- so why was it that all 5 of them weren't even bothering to jump him? It made the teen confused..something was up with that group and sadly..the teen had a feeling that they had nothing to do with the group in the crimson cloaks- which meant..no tie to Insinda.

Zidane lightly jumped in the same place, feeling his blood race and his energy just spiral within- It was a confusing feeling for the Genome, but nevertheless he did turn to his teammates and blink. "Hey anybody else feel they can run a marathon right now?"

"Thank Tidus for that." Cloud let out before glancing over to Vincent.

The older male said nothing just leaped over to the oldest blonde as he began to race over to the cloaked team to help Tidus. Irvine smiled getting a bit excited, it was then he looked back to Squall who just analyzed the scene with very serious glare. Irvine knew something was up, after all the glares he's received from Squall over the years, he could tell each one apart like it was nothing, "Hey-" the buck started getting his attention. "Something wrong?"

"Don't attack them." Squall spoke before looking over to the group once more.

Irvine blinked a little confused, but nevertheless tucked away his gun and listened to the guy. What was it about the enemy that made him not want to fight? The cowboy looked to the brawl only a good foot ahead of him and examined until he could find the reason...

Cloud jumped into battle, taking on the opponent who blocked Tidus from his personal enemy- He quickly swung his blade, hoping that it would at least his the enemy across the chest, but sadly enough the enemy was too quick to catch which kinda irked Strife. Who in the world was faster than a person influenced by Hastega? This was where Vincent hopped in- the crimson cloaked male quickly leaped over Cloud and hovered above the figure who guarded the tallest, without a second wasted, the man pointed his gun and fired 2 times. The figure quickly held up its right hand before a shell type aura encircled itself and its comrades, making Vincent frown(doesn't he always?) before landing on the surface closest to the circle.

"Get away from there!" the figure who previously threatened the group called.

Vincent looked up slightly catching a thin silver blade slide from under the figures left sleeve, as the person leaped over the circle and over to him.

From afar Irvine groaned folding his arms trying to play Squall as he watched- Tidus was leaping about obviously trying to get to the tallest cloaked guy, while Cloud dashed in front of him as soon as he made it in the air only to strike the person guarding the tallest- however thanks to that Shell spell, his strikes were being deflected and Vincent was evading a very talkative figure who tried to land hits with his sword. What was wrong with this picture? Irvine glanced to the very right of the fight only to spot the two other cloaked members slightly hold each other while slowly backing away from the fight. This made the cowboy raise a brow and continue to gaze, however he rested his hands beside him then looked over to the monkey a good distance to the left of him.

"Zidane."

The blonde boy jerked to his comment but quickly leaped over to the cowboy, landing on all fours but standing straight right after. "What is it Irvine?"
"I need you..to check something out for me.." he let out.

"Isn't this a bad time?" Zidane blinked.

"Nevermind that, how fast are you at grabbing things?" The cowboy mumbled glancing back at the fight.

"Hrm?...I'd say I'm pretty fast...why?" He asked blinking between each pause.

The cowboy hunched over slightly to the boys height then whispered in the boys right ear. The monkey kinda jerked to what he was hearing but turned pink as he glared. "If you're wrong, Imma slit your neck."

"Scouts honor I won't move if you do it." the auburn haired teen let out holding up three of his left fingers.

With that Zidane twirled the daggers in his hand then dashed off into battle making the cowboy cross his fingers afterward. No way was he going to stay still if a knife was at his neck.

"I don't want to fight you." the evading figure let out as he finally leaped away from the tallest figure.

Cloud chased holding his sword high before crashing it down on the enemy again missing in the end. The blonde scowled before standing straight and staring down the figure who was breathing a little harder than before. "...You're putting a lot of magic into Shell. You'll fall if you keep it up."

"I'm aware." the figure let out. "But..I will not allow my comrades to be harmed, if fighting is the outcome."

"If that's the case..Tell me what you were going to do with that circle, so this could all be avoided."

The figure stood frozen before Cloud glared again and dashed after him. Not too far away Tidus was leaping in the air once more only to crash his blade on dust. He stood straight panting as he glanced to his left where the tall figure stood.

"That's the Spiral Cut correct? I watched you when you first learned that...I believe it was the fight with that huge Sin spawn right?"

"Enough! Just how do you know so much stuff about me!"

"Oh so now you want to talk?" the tall figure let out with a shrug.

"Not if you're involved in this Insinda mess. If I defeat you, then Yuna will come back to me and everything will be back to normal."

"Yuna will come back to you..but defeating me won't grant you that wish."

"You know who Yuna is..." Tidus stated a bit calmer. "Please, just tell me where! -Tell me where she is so I can save her!"

"...I can't."

"What!"

"I can't tell you, because I don't know where she is.."

Tidus widened his eyes- for some reason..even though he's heard those words before, it hurt. It hurt to hear that figure, who knew exactly who she was tell him that he didn't know where.. Tidus closed his eyes for a second before opening his eyes to scowl and grip his sword tighter, as he ran at the figure who held its right arm up in defence.

The two figures who hadn't entered battle only stood watching the fight ensue- it seemed it was getting no where and in the process people were getting hurt. The figure- who was just a bit taller than the other- stared at the Cloud fellow, watching how which each swing of his blade he was slowly affecting the mage of their party.

"..Cloud.." the figure let out before jumping as Zidane leaped before them.

Zidane smirked as he held up his weapons but stopped only to stand straight and bow, making the other figures jump.

"Sorry for this..." he mumbled rubbing his head a bit. "But I really need to prove something.."

With that the monkey leaped after the tallest of the quiet figures, making them both gasp softly. The shortest one felt the taller counterpart slightly shove'im to which the figure ran off unbelievably slow. Zidane couldn't help but notice that from the corner of his eye as he went in to tackle the figure already in front of him. As soon as they both crashed on the ground, the boy tossed his weapons to the side before holding his hands together in a prayer.

"Heh- like I said, I'm sorry, no hard feelings?"

The figure below him said nothing, only reached for the boys wrists which made the boy growl and struggle to reach for the character below him. The shortest member of the cloaked troop leaned on the wall closest to it before turning around and glancing at the sight behind'im. What was the kid with the tail trying to do exactly?

A distance away- Vincent leaped from the figure chasing him while swinging the sword hidden under his cloak like a madman It made the man think of who he was actually up against. In all his years of living the only people who held a sword and swung it around like a moron were novices- that or children.. So why was this foe doing it? Was it to throw him off? He could only wonder as he landed on his feet and watched the figure bolt toward him. The older man easily evaded the shorter enemies lunges and strikes only to scan just exactly what the figure was doing. So far from what the man could determine- the figure under the cloak was a male, not too old, but not exactly a child either..the shrill and yet deep battle cries it'd let out could determine this. The crimson eyes of the older man widened as the boy under the cloak jumped a distance away, pulled back his sword then grabbed it with both hands as he bowed his head then swung the weapon- allowing a wind like sickle to bolt at him. Quickly the man jumped away only to watch the sickle collide with the wall to the very left of Irvine and Squall. With that information taken in..Vincent could only assume that the boy under the cloak was skilled, but he was still a novice..

The boy pointed his sword at him rather limply before speaking, "Give up! And tell your friends to go away as well!"

Vincent stared, noticing a certain color of gray whisp away from the kid which made him shut his eyes, then point his gun only to shoot two more times. The boy held up his sword to block one bullet however he clutched his left shoulder before dropping his sword. Vincent found the opportunity to dash at the foe, and with some luck, remove the cloak to see a face however some loud grunts and hissing were distracting the man. He froze in mid-step glancing to his right taking in the image of Zidane as he pretty much struggled to straddle..his foe..?

It was..disturbing..and yet..the man couldn't look away. What the hell was he trying to do?

Zidane maneuvered his right hand around, successfully getting a grip on gloved wrist- which in the end made the monkey gasp for a second before his right hand shifted to grab another. It was then the Genome pinned the wrists above the figures head, and the left dove to feel the chest area of the enemy. The figure below him froze, and the monkey couldn't help but turn red as a perverted grin laced on his face.

"Thank you Irvine~" he sang to himself.

Before the molestation could go any further the figure below him bucked, sat up then slapped him off before standing. The monkey screeched before holding his cheek and turning to Irvine.

"You were right! This one's a girl!"

Irvine smirked thanking himself for knowing women's mannerisms so well, Squall twitched finally figuring out what Irvine told Zidane to do, Cloud stopped while his opponent fell to the ground defeated, Tidus jumped away from his opponent to look over to the Genome, and Vincent widened his eyes for the first time. An awkward silenced filled the area... -Till Gippal and some other Al Bhed stood before the entrance of the corridor.

"GUYS!"

As soon as everyone looked, the boy under the cloak picked up his weapon(with his good arm) and dashed to Vincent figuring the man was still distracted. It was then he lifted his arm and went in for a kill. Vincent glanced at the child from the corner of his eye then ducked a vertical slash which took a few strands off his head- to his notice this gave him an opening. He swiftly kicked the child from off his feet then stood pointing his weapon down at him. To his surprise- the cloak had slipped off revealing sandy blonde hair, and a childs face that could be no older than 17. Vincent cocked his head to the right in confusion- this was one of the people behind Insinda?

The boy glared before an aura of yellow surrounded his right hand- with that he hit the ground he lay on causing the ground to shake, and rocks to fall. Squall quickly moved noticing most of the rocks crumble before the doorway and forbid the Al Bhed to move in for assistance, but most importantly there was no exit.

"Quake?" Cloud uttered before looking down at his already exhausted opponent.

Tidus glanced about watching rocks the size of boulders begin to fall making him glare at the tall figure.

"I'm sorry Tidus.."

The blonde gripped the hilt of his weapon feeling conflicted- should he fight..or should at least attempt to get out of her alive with his team? The boy growled to himself before he raced over to Cloud and grabbed the collar of the mans vestment, it was then he pushed the older man toward the exit.

"We're leaving!"

Cloud did nothing but abide by the command as he rushed toward the exit with the blitz player quick to follow. Vincent looked down at the boy then put his weapon away as he followed after Cloud and Tidus leaving Zidane to look about as if he was lost.

"Whats going on? An earthquake?"

Before the monkey could think about it any longer, a rock the size of his head landed on the boy making him instantly black out and fall. The woman of the group looked as if she was going to tend, but stood firm running over to the shortest member of her team and pulling her close to her other comrades.

"Reks you idiot!" the tallest counterpart let out while sternly marching over to him.

"I'm sorry." the boy let out.

"Theres no time to argue..lets just get out of here." the exhausted teammate spoke, getting off the ground.

"But what about them?" the woman let out as she ran over.

"We can do nothing.."

"But Cloud-"

"We can't do anything." the taller person spoke.

Squall glared watching the figures talk amongst themselves however he watched as one of the members held out his hand and a circle began to draw itself around them- he knew of that magic. Feeling of bit of Hastega still in him, the brunette dashed across the room and over to them, making Irvine call out to him and only watch how in seconds- the shortest member of the squad ran out of the circle and Squall ran in disappearing afterwards.

"What the hell?" the cowboy uttered to himself before he spotted the small cloaked person make it over to Zidane.

"Irvine!" Cloud let out.

The boy turned only to see a small climbspace in the doorway leading to the temple with Cloud glaring beside it.

"We climb through."

"But Zidane-"

"I'll get him!" Tidus let out before being pulled back by Vincent.

"Theres no time."

Cloud glanced at the ceiling watching how large slabs of the Temples core room was falling. He knew that there was no way to make it over to Zidane without getting hurt or dying, however the man still began to think of any magics or something that would get the kid over. Before the older man could think any harder he glanced at the unconcious monkey in the distance being carried over to the magic circle by the small cloaked person- this brought some ease to the man as he shut his eyes for a second then looked to Irvine.

The cowboy glared, "Just give me a minute I'll."

Cloud hurriedly grabbed the coat of the teen and forced him over to the opening he and the few Al Bhed on the other side happened open, with that- the roof fully collapsed and that was the end.

A/N: To answer the question of the previous chapter. 'No' I did not write that song- that just happens to be the song 'Growing Wings' from the sadly underrated game Drakengard.

We miss you Caim..

Nowe: What about me?

Er...I like your hair :D

-Anyway, saw a FF amv with that song so I thought it would go great in this story, you should give it a listen on youtube but I must warn you, its a pretty sad tune.
As for the whereabouts of Squall and Zidane- eh they're in hell obviously. :T Nah jus kidding, well maybe Squall is, but the next few chapters will be solely focused on Squall( of whom I feel hasn't gotten much screen time) and Zidane(who...hasnt..uh...become smart as the others..?) Anyway- hope you had a great read, and if any parts in this chapter, or overall story confused you- Please tell me. I'd like to fix them and make this story an enjoyable read as much as I possibly can. :D