Shards of Memory

Just a note, those of you into the more "mature" aspects of CloudxTerra may want to go pay a visit to AdultFanfiction - I've posted an X-rated CloudxTerra story there. It has no relation to this story though, so if you're not interested don't worry,

Chapter 28

Into the Depths of Darkness

"With right hand wet with blood he thrust. And with his sword my breast he cleft, My quaking heart thereout he reft, And in the yawning of my breast, A coal of living fire he pressed." – Alexander Pushkin, "The Prophet".


Cloud leapt up, Terra pushing off the ground and flying alongside him. Sephiroth waved a hand, a ring of dark energy orbs appearing around him. With a second flick of the wrist they flew forward. Terra surged ahead of Cloud, firing orbs of flame at the orbs as they neared. They exploded on contact in bursts of purple and red light. Cloud charged through their wake and swung the Buster Sword towards Sephiroth's head. The Masamune blocked it, the blade pulsing. Sephiroth swung and knocked Cloud aside. Terra turned her head as he fell and held out a hand. A horizontal wall of blue energy appeared, Cloud landing on it with a soft grunt. He looked up at Terra and tossed her a nod, climbing to his feet on the magical platform.

"You're proving more trouble than you're worth," Sephiroth muttered, glaring at Terra. He lifted a hand to the clouds. Spirals of black energy circled down, twisting through the air and flying at Terra. She flew forward, blasts of fire and ice launching from her palms. The dark tendrils dispersed into orbs of darkness, then reformed and resumed the chase moments after. Terra looked behind her at her pursued and fired another fireball, two tendrils breaking apart. She looked forward and gasped as a larger tendril rushed towards her. It slammed into her face-first, consuming her in a torrent of dark energy, the wind cutting her like razors. With a larger gust the blast subsided and she was flung away, blood dripping from her cheeks and arms. She landed on the ground below heavily.

"Sephiroth!" Cloud roared. Sephiroth turned his attention down. "Leave her out of this!" Cloud leapt up, bringing the Buster Sword over his shoulder. Sephiroth slowly smiled. As Cloud came closer, five dark tendrils gathered in front of Sephiroth, wrapping around each other and rushing him as one large rope. Cloud was pushed back, the darkness tearing at his clothes and skin. He landed on the ground and skidded back as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Behind him, Terra slowly climbed to her feet, stumbling slightly. Flying high above the two, Sephiroth waved his hand through the air. More tendrils formed out of thin air and began circling the air around him, the sky a flurry of dark energy. He chuckled lowly, wings flapping their steady rhythm.

"He's stronger than ever," Terra whispered, holding her arm where one particularly large gash oozed blood. Blue energy surrounded it to heal it as she stepped up beside Cloud. "He hasn't laid a hand on either of us and he's already got us bloodied." Cloud nodded, watching Sephiroth above them.

"I've got to get up to him," he said, turning his head her way. "Can you get me there?" Terra nodded. Above Sephiroth drew his hand back and send the tendrils around him spiralling down.

"Go," she urged. Cloud held the Buster Sword back and leapt up again, Terra flying after him. Cloud reached the peak of his jump and began to descend when a barrier rippled into place under his feet. He coiled and jumped again, the barrier dispersing as quickly as it had formed and a second appearing ahead. Terra flew up along side him, one arm held out to manifest supports for Cloud as the two headed for Sephiroth. Her other hand was occupied sending out orbs of white energy to stop the tendrils circling them from striking. Sephiroth scowled and swung the Masamune, sending a large beam of energy forward. Terra turned and flew away as it cut the air in her wake, a flurry of tendrils following her down. Cloud landed on her final support and jumped, swinging the Buster Sword towards Sephiroth. Sephiroth looked back up at him and sneered.

"Please."

Sephiroth vanished in a flash of black and white feathers as the Buster Sword cleaved through where his chest had been. There was a rush of wind, and Cloud felt steel cut into his back, Sephiroth reappearing behind him. Another rush, and the Masamune was whipped across his face, cutting his left cheek and nose. A third, and Sephiroth appear in front of him and brought his sword down in an overhead cleave, cutting Cloud's shirt entirely in two from behind and pitching him back. Terra looked up at him as he fell and flew up. Ahead of her the dark tendrils were growing more numerous, three of them circling up to aim at Cloud. She narrowly dodged two only to be struck by a third and driven back. Within the darkness Terra gritted her teeth and snapped an arm out, an orb of blue light flying up into the air.

"Cloud!"

Cloud looked down as the orb flew into his chest, flashing and expanding into an field of energy. His fall stopped, his feet touching the orb's bottom. The dark tendrils slammed into the orb, driving it upwards. The orb and darkness exploded in a flash of bright blue light, Cloud emerging from the smoke with the Buster Sword spinning over his head.. Sephiroth scowled and dove down, bringing back the Masamune. The two swords clashed in a shower of sparks, wisps of green and purple energy flowing along their edges. Sephiroth twisted, flipping Cloud through the air and holding up his hand. A beam of green energy fired at Cloud, red rings pulsing from it in its wake. Cloud was pushed back into a large pillar of dark smoke that appear in the air. The darkness snaked around his wrists and ankles. Cloud turned his head to see his limbs bound, and watched as he was stretched out in the air. He looked forward to see Sephiroth slowly descend in front of him, eyes glowing in the darkness.

"How many times have we been here?" Sephiroth asked, his wings flapping slowly as he floated in front of Cloud. "How many times have I held you at my mercy, and squandered my chance to finish you?" he looked at the Buster Sword. With a near invisible jerk of the hand, the darkness binding Cloud's wrist tightened sharply. Cloud let out a cry of pain, and Sephiroth swung the Masamune to knock the Buster Sword from his grasp. Cloud looked down at the broadsword spun down through the air, vanishing into the mist of the mountain below.

"Sephiroth…" Cloud panted, looking into his eyes. "This isn't…"

"Don't play me a fool," Sephiroth sneered. He floated backwards and lifted his hand. Cloud froze as the Masanune's tip traced over his cheek, sliding up to the shallow cut from earlier that had stained Cloud's face with blood. "There is no escape this time." Sephiroth drew his hand back and sliced, drawing a diagonal across Cloud's torso. The tattered uniform fell away, leaving Cloud's chest bare. "No last-minute bursts of strength." Another cut, this one drawing blood. Cloud's head snapped back at the sudden pain. "No friends to save you." A third slice across the collar and shoulder. Cloud's head fell forward, his eyes clenched. He would have collapsed if not for the bonds holding him upright. "This time," Sephiroth said lowly, bringing the Masamune's tip to Cloud's chest. "I end it."

Cloud looked up, a small bit of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. In the distance behind Sephiroth Terra floated into the air. Cloud turned back to Sephiroth. The angel's attention was focused squarely on him.

"You seem to be drawing this out like usual though," Cloud muttered, distracting him as Terra flew forward. Sephiroth chuckled. Behind him, Terra lifted an arm, a blue aura forming over her hand. "Maybe you haven't learned after all."

"I want it to sink in how helpless you are," he said. "You cannot stop me this time." Suddenly, Sephiroth vanished, Terra flinging her hand forward and firing a burst of magic where he had been a moment earlier. He reappeared in front of her and wrapped his fingers around her neck. Bands of shadow energy appeared over her wrists, binding her arms outright while Sephiroth choked. Terra cried out as he choked her, staring at her coldly. "And neither can you," he whispered, bringing his sword back. The Masamune lashed back and forth in the air, moving like liquid steel. Terra let out cries of agony as Sephiroth attacked her, more cuts and gashes carving into her body.

"Terra!"

The half-esper battered and bleeding, Sephiroth grabbed her ponytail and spun in the air, hurtling her to the ground below. Terra hit in a cloud of dust and rolled onto her stomach, her fingers twitching weakly.

"No…" Cloud whispered, staring down at her with wide eyes.

"As I said," Sephiroth repeated, rising up in front of him. "There are no friends to save you this time." He drew the Masamune over his shoulder, thunder rumbling in the clouds overhead. "Goodbye Cloud." The sword drove forward and impaled Cloud's chest. Cloud let out a scream, and Sephiroth withdraw his weapon and stabbed again. A third stab, and Cloud let out a weak gurgle. He looked up in time to Sephiroth offer a final cruel smile, before he stabbed again. Cold steel pierced Cloud's heart, Sephiroth diving forward to drive the sword into the hilt. Cloud's hands snapped up to his shoulders, weakly clenching at the steel pauldrons. The sword twisted, and Cloud gave out a weak groan. Sephiroth flew back, withdrawing the Masamune, and brought it down in a two-handed cleave.

Cloud's eyes snapped open, his heart thudding in his ears. A band of bright violet energy cut the air where Sephiroth had slashed. He felt air rush over his wrists and ankles, and slowly turned his eyes upwards to see Sephiroth hold out a hand. Within a split second he registered he was beginning to fall, when a blast of green energy erupted into his chest. The attack drove Cloud down, slamming him into the ground and sending chunks of dirt and rock flying into the air. The impact left a small crater in the ground, smoke billowing upwards. Sephiroth lowered his hand and hovered in the air, wings flapping in a steady beat.

Several feet away, Terra turned to where Cloud had hit. She pushed herself up, coughing, and ran through the smoke.

"Cloud!" she called, tripping over a stone and falling to her hands and knees. She looked up to see Cloud limp in the center of the crater. His shirt was in tatters in the dirt around him, his chest bare and covered in bloody wounds. His head was rolled to the side, his eyes closed. "Cloud!" Terra crawled over to him and grabbed his shoulder to roll him towards her. He didn't respond to her calls. "Cloud, wake up, he's still there," she whispered, shaking him. Terra looked down and pressed a hand to his stomach in preparation for a healing spell, and stilled.

His chest wasn't moving.

"Cloud, come on," she said more urgently, her palms lighting up. Her breathing quickened as the spell failed to take effect. She let out a muffled gasp. The Cure spell wasn't working…the only time curative spells didn't work…

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "Cloud!" Terra cast the spell again, her hand lighting up and going dark. Tears began to roll down her face as she resorted to slapping his cheek, her other hand holding Cloud's head up. He still didn't respond. "No…he…he can't…" Terra clenched a fist and collapsed forward, burying her face in Cloud's chest. Warm tears mixed with warm blood as she sobbed, her hair falling over the sides of her face. Cloud still didn't move.

"At last…" Sephiroth chuckled darkly, tilting his head back. "Free of that meddling fool after all these years…" his wings stretched out. "Such freedom…" he closed his eyes. "When our world is remade, there will be no-" Sephiroth stopped as he sensed a spike of energy, and tilted his head down. The clouds above rumbled in his ears. The wind around him picked up, blowing dirt and a single stray black feather through the air, spiralling downwards to the mountain. Terra's hair was blown out to the side in the wind, her hair whipping over her face as she lifted her head from Cloud's body. With a crack of lightning in the distance, blond turned to bright green in an instant. Terra slowly climbed to her feet, a blood-red aura appearing over her entire body. Her eyes blazed bright pink as she stood upright and turned and lifted her head to lock eyes with Sephiroth. She stood silently for a moment, and then whispered three words so faint they were nearly lost to the wind.

"You will pay."

Terra launched herself upwards, her skin sparking and turning pink as she flew towards Sephiroth, her hair coming loose from its ribbon and growing longer along her back. Sephiroth lifted a hand and fired a barrage of energy orbs at the transformed Esper coming at him. With a bestial snarl Terra snapped out a claw, white orbs of her own shooting out. Explosions of energy rang out in the air. Terra didn't even flinch as two exploded right before her face. She lifted a claw and slashed the air. Sephiroth scowled and lifted the Masamune to block her strike.

"So this is your true form," he hissed. "An Esper's rage unleashed in the wake of his death? Your power is impressive, but I don't fear it."

"I'll fix that for you!" Terra snapped, pushing the Masamune aside and bringing her other claw up. Sephiroth flapped to the side, the tips of Terra's claw passing in front of his face. Sparks flew as Terra rapidly slashed at him, the Masamune deflecting and catching each blow. Terra flipped back and lashed her arms out, crescent-shaped bands of energy flying forward. Sephiroth vanished in a swarm of darkness, reappearing behind her and swinging his sword. Terra narrowly dodged and lifted a hand to fire a blast of magic into his chest at point-blank range. With an undignified grunt Sephiroth was knocked back in the air, his wings flapping in a frenzied fashion. Terra flew at him as he regained his bearings and turned to her.

"Do not grieve," he hissed as he dodged her strikes. "You'll be soon to join him!" Sephiroth caught Terra's next attack with his free hand and swung the Masamune to knock her backwards. Dark energy tendrils formed in the air around her and spun together, trapping Terra in a cyclone of darkness. She gritted her teeth and held her palms together, an orb of blue energy forming. The orb exploded in a bright flash of light, destroying the cyclone. Before she could react, steel sliced into her stomach and she doubled over in pain. An upward slash carved a deep gash on her face and made her arc backwards in a howl of agony. Sephiroth thrust his arm into her stomach, a flurry of energy orbs sending her flying backwards. Terra turned in the air as Sephiroth lifted his hand, a dark black orb appearing hovering in his grasp. A storm of meteorites rushed Terra, knocking her around in the air and sending her falling to the ground. Sephiroth watched as she landed and snorted.

"Foolish girl…" Terra lay on her side, coughing weakly. With a flash of red and violet light, the transformation reverted, leaving her smeared in dirt and blood, blond hair matted with both sticking to her forehead. Terra slowly rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself onto her hands and knees, her eyes half-closed. Behind her Sephiroth descended to the ground and walked towards her. Thunder rumbled overhead, small droplets of rain beginning to fall. Terra looked over her shoulder, the blurry image of Sephiroth raising the Masamune over his head coming into focus.

"Cloud! Terra!" Terra and Sephiroth turned their heads to the path up to the reactor. Cecil, Tidus and Onion Knight were running towards her. As he noticed what was happening, Onion Knight picked up the pace and drew his sword. Sephiroth turned back to Terra and swung. She lifted her arm and erected a barrier within a nick of time, the force of the blow spinning her onto her back with a cry. The Onion Knight came closer and lifted his sword.

"Back off!" he snapped, diving at Sephiroth. Sephiroth gracefully leapt backwards, leaving the knight to tumble to the ground. Tidus and Cecil moved in behin him, weapons at the ready.

"Hmph. A temporary reprieve," he muttered, the Masamune disappearing in a flash of green light. Cecil pulled Terra to her feet, and the girl turned to Sephiroth. He held her gaze and chuckled darkly.

"One down."

With a crackle of lightning and a flurry of feathers, Sephiroth vanished. Terra turned away from Cecil and took two steps before her knees buckled and she fell, catching herself before she hit the ground. The rain was falling harder now as she pushed herself out of the mud and stumbled forward.

"We heard an explosion. What happened?" Cecil asked. Terra reached Cloud and crumpled to her knees in the mud. She pulled herself closer and looked at his face for any sign of response. None came.

"I tried…Cloud…" she whispered, laying a hand on his cheek. "I…I…tri…" exhaustion finally overtook her and she fell onto his chest, the faint cries behind her falling on deaf ears.


Hikari stopped suddenly, his breathing catching. He focused and tried to determine precisely what he had just sensed.

"What's up?" Zidane asked, running in front of him. Hikari raised a hand to his chest.

"A Crystal…its light has done dim…" he whispered. His hand clenched. "Chaos' forces…have claimed one of us."

"Claimed…you mean?" Zidane said. Hikari closed his eyes.

"I fear we ten…are now as nine."


Terra let out a soft murmur and cracked open her eyes. Her vision was blurry, images of green light and brown and grey walls coming into focus slowly.

"She's awake!" Terra saw Onion Knight move to fill her field of vision, a hand reaching out to her. "Terra? Hey, Terra!"

"Wha…"

"Give her room, she was heavily injured," Cecil said, putting a hand on Onion Knight's shoulder to pull him back. "We found you up on the mountain, we healed your wounds as best we could but you were weak from your battle. That was Sephiroth up there wasn't it?" Terra stared at him in confusion, eyes still half-closed. Memories of the battle flooded back to her in a split second, and she jumped to her feet, crying out and clutching her hip as she did so.

"Careful, you're still a bit sore. Magic can't do everything you know," Tidus lectured. Terra ignored him and looked around the cave, spying Cloud propped against the wall.

"Cloud!" she ran up to him and knelt beside him. She reached out to him and shook him.

"Terra," Cecil said softly. "Don't. We tried." Terra stopped when she noticed Cecil was right – Cloud's chest was still, his head slumped to the side. She felt her eyes begin to water and threw her arms around him. She sniffed but held back the tears, clenching her eyes shut to help will them away.

"What happened?" Onion Knight asked. Fury filled Terra's eyes as she opened them again.

"Sephiroth happened," she replied, pulling away from Cloud. "He's stronger than before. Cloud and I…we didn't stand a chance." Terra turned to them. "You got there in time to save me, didn't you?" she asked. Tidus nodded.

"Yeah, we were a bit worried when we heard the storm begin but figured you two were okay. Then we heard an explosion and decided to try and find out what was going on." Tidus sighed. "I guess…we got there too late." Terra gave a sharp now, turning back to Cloud. All things considered, in the back of her mind she had thought they were doing well. They had gathered almost all the Crystals, dispatched their archenemies again…then she had reached the mountain summit and seen Sephiroth alive in his new form. That the swordsman could overpower the both of them with such ease, Terra hadn't anticipated.

"We'll beat him. We've come too far to let him win now."

"I'm an idiot," Terra thought bitterly, her own words echoing in her head. "It doesn't matter how far we go, who we face…it's never too far to lose." Her hands clenched in the tatters of Cloud's shirt still hanging from his suspenders and belt. "I thought we'd win easily. Cloud beat him before, how much stronger could he be now, especially with two of us? I underestimated him…" She swallowed a rising sob and took a shaking breath. "I'm sorry Cloud. I didn't know…"

"We're gonna move on after the storm is over, right?" Tidus asked. Terra looked over her shoulder. "I mean, not to be insensitive, but we've gotta keep going." Cecil looked at Terra.

"I know what it is like to see comrades die in battle. I've known the feelings you're experiencing now too many times for my tastes. I also know that when it happens in situations like this, you have to keep going in spite of the pain. There will be time to grieve later, but for now we need to find Shantotto's secret and rescue Golbez and Jecht."

"I know," Terra said. She stood up and took a deep breath. "We need to go. Now."

"Now?" Onion Knight asked. "Like, 'right now', that now?"

"Cecil's right, completely right." Terra turned. Her eyes were steeled, looking among her three comrades unflinching. "We need to find them and get to the Chaos Shrine. Chaos and his minions will pay for what they've done."

"Terra, I understand you're upset. But it's one thing to press on in the face of loss and another to seek vengeance," Cecil warned. "You're being irrational." Terra turned back to him.

"Last time I checked, seeking vengeance is what we've been doing ever since we woke up here," she said. "Isn't it? Trying to kill them to get our worlds back? I'm not losing my head. I just know what I have to do now. Sephiroth took Cloud from us, like Chaos took everything else from us. And we are going to repay the favor." She meant it. She remembered the desire for vengeance, she had tasted it when she had fought Humbaba and she had tasted it when she regained her memories and realized Gestahl was personally responsible for the death of her parents. The need to avenge Cloud was there yes. She tempered it with resolve and focus, harnessed it and held it back. There would be plenty of opportunities to unleash that rage later…when they found Sephiroth again…

"We can't go now, it's still raining," Onion Knight protested, gesturing to the cave mouth.

"I'm not afraid of water." Terra knelt back down and reached into Cloud's pouch. Her hand came out grasping Cloud's Crystal. She noted quietly the Crystal's glow wasn't as bright as before, its normal bright green a duller shade, its swirling depths now solid. She tucked it into a pocket on her skirt. "I'll protect it now. I promise."

"We can wait until the morning," Cecil agreed. "Besides you're still weak, you need your rest. The adrenaline rush you're feeling now will only take you so far." Terra thought for a moment, and finally relented.

"Alright," she said. "But let's pick up the pace. Golbez and Jecht need our help."


"Hey! You waking up?"

The voice shouting at him echoed slightly as Golbez drifted awake, his head swimming. With a deep moan he slowly cracked open his eyes. Blue floors, purple walls…Golbez opened his eyes fully and took in his surroundings in clearer detail. Red and beige protrusions ran along the walls pulsing like veins. Pillars of light blue and violet rose from floor to ceiling, arcane lettering carved into their sides.

"Hey big guy, over here," Jecht called. Golbez turned his head to see Jecht on the opposite side of the room, his wrists and ankles chained to two larger pillars. His posture was lax against the wall behind him but the chains were short enough to keep him from going much farther. "About time you woke up. You've been out of it ever since we got left behind," Jecht said.

"Left…behind…" Golbez muttered, remembering the events at Order's Sanctuary. He took a step towards Jecht and felt a pull on his ankle. He looked down to see a band of metal running around it, and followed the chain to another pillar. He lifted his hands and frowned at the cuffs around his wrist. "So, we are both prisoners here," he said. He held a hand towards a pillar and focused. A small crackle of energy burst from his hands and dispersed in the air. "Chaos has seized even my most basic of magic," he mused, looking over himself. "I cannot free us."

"I doubt magic would do much good on these chains. Trust me, I've spent hours tugging on them and they haven't given one bit," Jecht shrug. "It's Mateus, this is his place, Pandaemonium. He came by a bit earlier to see if you were awake. It's been a day or so since…that."

"Why does he keep us here?" Golbez asked. "What purpose is served by keeping us alive now?"

"You are a means to an end, that is the purpose you serve." Golbez and Jecht turned to the wall. Like living flesh it pulled up and formed a doorway, Emperor Mateus walking into the room with a slow, leisurely stride. The wall closed up behind him. "You remain alive because I still have a use for you two. Be grateful," Mateus laughed.

"Were they not in shackles I would wrap my hands around your throat," Golbez threatened. Mateus glared at him and lifted his staff, clicking it on the ground. A jolt of pain shot up Golbez's limbs, and he let out a howl of agony. The jolts stopped, and Golbez fell forward onto his knees, the chains binding his arms going taunt were all that kept him from collapsing. Mateus walked behind him and lifted a foot, digging his heel into Golbez's back underneath his cloak.

"I will not suffer such insolence, not anymore," he warned in a low voice. "I played the part of the fool emperor, letting you run about tricking our less intelligent allies and guiding the hands of light to clutch their Crystals. But I play that part no longer. I am in control now, and you will show me respect or suffer."

"You won't kill me. You said it yourself, you still need me," Golbez replied. The emperor smiled and withdrew his foot.

"Death would be but a release from the torment I could subject you to. But I am in a joyous mood and so am feeling merciful." Mateus turned from Golbez to Jecht. "Now that you are both awake, I have news for the both of you. You will be able to see your family one final time before you perish."

"Cecil? What have you done to him?" Golbez yelled.

"I have done nothing. He and Tidus and a handful of the others have it in their heads to free you," Mateus said, pacing back in front of Golbez. "They think perhaps due to your alliance with Cosmos, you know something that can be of use to them. That, or they seek your help in the battle with Chaos."

"I am of no help to anyone," Golbez whispered, closing his eyes.

"I must disagree. I found you two to be of considerable help to my plans," Mateus mocked. Golbez didn't respond. "Do not despair. Do not cause us any more trouble, and perhaps you two can remain when my allies and I rebuild the worlds to our liking. You may live out mortal lives in a prison world of my design. I may even return your families to you. A small reward for helping my schemes to fruition," Mateus looked down at Golbez. "You are a true pity, Golbez. With your heart of light to earn Cosmos' trust, I had once thought you the perfect accomplice for my plans. The feckless destroyers were to be erased, and the intelligent among us to remain as my new lieutenants. You would have been perfect to rule under my wing. Alas, your heart strayed too close to the light, and I had to use you as my pawn rather than my partner…sad. What a waste of potential."

"For someone who claims he was just playing the part, you still like listening to yourself talk," Jecht snapped. Mateus tossed him a smirk.

"Jecht, be careful. I have been generous up until now, but if you wish it I can be cruel," the emperor warned. Jecht brought his hands together and cracked his knuckles, straining his chains with the motion.

"Same here, take these chains off me and I'll show ya what I can really do," he said.

"I think not. I must prepare. The Warriors of Cosmos will find their way to me sooner or later. I will have to make sure I have a suitable greeting for them. In the wake of Cosmos' death, Chaos has gifted new power to my lieutenants and me. With our strength greater than ever it is unlikely they will defeat us in time to reach Chaos. You know as well as I, the borders leading to the Edge of Madness are closed off to the forces of light as Order's Sanctuary was closed off to darkness. Without the Crystals they cannot confront Chaos."

"They have nine. Only the Axis Crystal remains," Golbez said. "They can defeat Garland with ease. You and your 'lieutenants' as you call them will be naught but bodyguards for him or your schemes will crumble."

"Garland is a triviality. He has been stripped of his title and rank." Mateus chuckled. "The forces of discord have a new leader now. It is not Garland and the Warrior who will fight. To claim the Axis Crystal the Champion of Light must best the Champion of Darkness in single combat, as it has always been. This is Hikari's tenth cycle, and when they come to face us they will have a new leader. He will be unversed in his new powers. Defeating him myself will be simple."

"Chaos has made you champion instead of Garland? For a god he ain't too bright," Jecht laughed. The emperor ignored the remark. With a swing of his staff a portal opened in the wall before him.

"There is no telling when they will arrive. I go to prepare myself, and my palace, for them. When the time comes for them to meet their doom, I shall allow you a vantage point as I eradicate them." Mateus entered the portal and it closed behind him, leaving Golbez and Jecht alone in their chains. Golbez let out a long breath.

"Well, he's gone. Let's bust out of here!" Jecht called. Golbez kept his head down. "Hey! Say something!"

"I thought I could change things," Golbez whispered, closing his eyes. "I thought I could stop the cycle of eternity, that I could disrupt the balance…and for my effort I ended up nothing but a pawn in a greater scheme. All my careful planning, all my manipulations…I tried to help them and steered them and myself into Mateus' trap." His fists clenched. "My own darkness blinded me…I'm a fool."

"Hey, don't talk like that!" Jecht snapped. "It ain't too late, they can still kill Chaos right? And we're gonna help them, once we get out of here! We ain't out of this game yet!" Golbez didn't answer, or even hear him, lost in his thoughts. Jecht out a frustrated grunt and shook his head.

"Something ain't right though..." he thought. Golbez hadn't caught Mateus' slip, but he had.

"I found you two to be of considerable help to my plans"

"You two...meaning me," Jecht lifted his hand and propped his elbow on the wall to lean his head into his hand as he stared at Golbez. "Golbez has been the brains behind this...so where do I fit it?"


"Let's go," Onion Knight said, looking out over the mountain, lit up in the morning sun. Terra watched him silently. Sleep had refused to come to her last night, to the point she had been tempted to use her magic to put herself to sleep. She checked on Cloud what must have been every few minutes, waiting, hoping, to see if he was still alive somehow. No signs had come.

"It's strange…somehow it doesn't feel like he's really gone," she thought, looking over at him. An odd sense of detachment had kicked in as she had paced about the cavern unable to rest. Cloud wasn't dead, his body lay only a few feet away and she had been there when he was killed, but somehow she didn't believe it. At least, she chose not to. During the night she had been surprised to find that Cloud was still warm. It made no sense, as far as she was aware bodies usually went cold, but Cloud's skin was still soft and still gave off heat. If he had just been a bit more responsive she would have believed he was simply asleep.

Tidus and Cecil moved to follow Onion Knight out of the cavern. Cecil turned at the entrance.

"Coming?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll be there in a moment," Terra nodded. Cecil gave her an understanding look and nodded back, and left. Terra approached Cloud and knelt down. She had his Crystal, his weapon had been lost during the battle. There was nothing to do now but say goodbye. "Cloud…" she whispered, wondering what to say. She looked down, trying to think. She had attended funerals before, but this somehow felt wrong. It felt wrong to leave him, wrong to abandon him.

"I can't," she realized. It was irrational, but when she made to stand her body wouldn't listen to her. "I can't leave him, not like this…"


"Is she going to take long? I don't wanna be mean but we've gotta go," Tidus said. Cecil looked back at the cave.

"I see her," he said. As the three watched, Terra slowly stepped out into the morning light, her eyes clouded. She approached then with slow, uneven steps. As she got closer the three saw why – Cloud was slung over her back, arms looped over her neck.

"Terra?" Onion Knight asked, running up to her.

"I can't leave him," she said quietly.

"Terra, there's nothing to do for taking him with us," Cecil said gently.

"Then what? Abandon him out here? Leave him and let who-knows-what happen to him when the worlds get put back?" she snapped, suddenly irritated. She calmed herself. "Besides…it doesn't feel like he's…maybe there's a way to bring him back, or maybe he's not really gone."

"Terra…" Tidus said.

"I know it's stupid, but if there's a slim chance…and even if there isn't, I can't leave him in the middle of nowhere. If we take him with us, at least we can maybe see his body gets back to his own world," Terra insisted. "I won't slow you down much, if you want to go ahead then fine, but I'm bringing him."

"Terra, I ain't letting you do that," Tidus said, walking towards her.

"It isn't up to you, he's coming," Terra repeated.

"I mean, you ain't exactly strongest person here." Tidus grabbed Cloud's arm and slipped it over his own neck. "Let the ace handle it, huh?" Terra looked at him with a defiant look in her eyes. "I'm not saying you're weak, but magical and physical strength are kinda different. Besides, if we get attacked I'd feel better knowing you're free to fight than burdened down with him," he continued. Terra gave a sharp nod and moved aside for Tidus to heft Cloud's other arm up.

"Thank you," she said, smiling. Tidus grinned and flashed her a thumbs up.

"Don't mention it."

"Alright, if we're ready," Cecil said. He turned and nodded towards the horizon and the rest of the mountain. "Let's go."