You know, Wensday I tend to only update one... what ever. thank you for all the reviews and comments, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

also, I'm not very good a fight signs, exspecally when their in walk through graphics from 1997 so let me know if the fight scene in here is ok.

Don't own Final fantasy 7

Part two

Chapter sixteen

They entered the cavern and the group grounded to a halt. Below the walk ways was a flowing lake of lava. It bubbled and spit heat into the air and the group looked at Burgen as if he were crazy.

"I told you this place was dangerous" he said "now move carefully, monsters lurk down here."

As they walked they heard hissing noise, and it set them on edge. In the darkness they could hear something sliding over the rocks, following them from the shadows. There was a growl and one of the braver creatures leapt from the darkness. It growled at them; its skin stretched tightly over bones with a purple tint to it. Its glowing eyes eyed them before jumping at Burgen; mouth wide open.

Kisala unsheathed her sword and swiped it over the old man's head cleaving the creature in two. Kisala lowered her sword only to turn just as another creature jumped at her. It was an inch from her face when a long sword removed its head. She followed the sword up to its owner; where green eyes glared at the dead thing.

"Thanks Sephiroth" she said and he nodded to her with a small smile.

Cloud watched them interact; and loosened the grip he had on his sword as he did so. Maybe he had been wrong about Sephiroth. If only he could remember. Fix the memories that were his and ones that were Zacks.

"We should keep going" Burgen said once they were sure none of the others would be courage's enough to jump into the open.

As they went further into the cave the group staid on edge, sensing the creature lurking just beyond the rocks, the lava spit red fire up around them and sweat gathered from the heat.

Shelk was listening hard, to a heavy breathing to her left. She was trying to pick out the others footfalls to distingue if that was one of them breathing or something else.

"Genesis" she whispered and a hmm was her response "where is Nanaki"

Genesis glanced down at her before scanning there little line.

"He's in front of us; Barret, Cait sith and Aerith are between us and him. Why?" He looked back down at her.

Shelk nodded but didn't answer; instead she pulled the rod from her back and brushed the Materia in its handle. The ice Materia sparked to life in her hand as she spoke its activation spell.

"All Ice Materia" she called out and a creature that had just burst out of the rocks shade followed by to others, were covered with shards of ice and knocked into the river of lava below. Shelk rested the end of her staff on the ground and smirked.

There was silence for a moment before Kisala muttered

"Well, alright Shelk" she grinned and cheered. Genesis took the blind girls arm again and they continued, keeping all their weapons out.

However the creatures of the cave seemed to have learned this group was no easy prey and would fight back so they were left alone; even if they still growled close by in the shadows. They reached the paths end and Burgen turned to them once more.

"As you can see" he waved around "this cave leads to the back of Cosmo canyon; it was unfortunate the Gi were larger than us" he continued his story from before "If they attacked through here, we wouldn't have stood a chance."

The others were silent; Nanaki gazed at his grandfather wondering how this story was important to this cave. Kisala looked around her as she sensed what this story would be about and how it would affect the Cosmo canyon wolf.

Determined to keep them in suspense Burgen walked forward motioning for them to follow.

"Nanaki I think your grandfather took one too many rocks to the skull" Genesis mumbled as they walked but Nanaki didn't say anything to that. Shelk nudged him in the ribs and he grunted and smirked down at her.

After many more twists, monster and caves they reached the end of the very long tunnel, and Burgen turned to them again.

"This warrior went through the cave alone" he spoke sadly.

"What warrior" Zack asked and Burgen shushed him, Zack made a face as he looked at Cloud who rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Fighting attackers one after another" Burgen as if Zack hadn't interrupted him.

Zack shook his head and rolled his eyes to the heavens.

"So the Gi tribe did go through here, but this warrior stopped them from going all the way through right?" he asked trying to understand.

Burgen nodded and Nanaki asked a question.

"Grandpa, that warrior…" but Burgen pointed through the new tunnel

"We're almost there" and he moved on.

Sephiroth turned to Kisala with a raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure we can follow him?" he asked and she smiled.

"He may be old but this story is important" her eye shifted to Nanaki who was watching his grandfather "and he always knew how to tell a good story" she smiled widely.

Sephiroth nodded and said

"If you trust him, we will follow but…"he frowned "I don't like being lead around in circles" he crossed his arms.

The others nodded and Kisala frowned

"This trip has a purpose, have a little patience" she snapped then followed the old man.

Genesis looked at Sephiroth and Shelk sighed before slipping from Genesis's arms. He blinked when she stood away from him.

"I trust Kisala" she stated "she's always good a knowing what people true nature is and she's known Burgen long than any of us" she then slowly walked through the cave.

Aerith and Zack were next to walk through, followed by Tifa, then Barret. Cait sith looked at them before his moogel waddled on followed by a bouncing Yuffie.

Cloud turned and looked at Genesis and Sephiroth. His eyes lingered on Sephiroth, confused and conflicted; a battle raging within. He sighed and turned on his heel following the others.

"This is going to get really complicated" Sephiroth said rubbing his face.

Genesis snorted

"My friend, do you fly away now, to a world that abhors you and I" Genesis said and green eyes snapped to him

"This is so not the time"

"Oh but my friend, loveless can be put into any situation, in this case; can you live in the world where Cloud Strife, the boy you helped raise up to be the best, hates you?" Genesis smirked at him, crossing his own arms.

Sephiroth ignored the stab at his heart and muttered

"Save Loveless for your girlfriend" he then stalked after the others, Genesis chuckling as he walked past and took his place back by Shelk.

They had expected more path ways and tunnels, instead they got a very short rock bridge cutting over a lake of spiting lave, leading up to a rock with a demons head. The carved teeth and eyes bore down at them. Burgen stared up at it before saying

"What is this?" several eyes snapped to him in shock.

"What, you don't know what this is" Zack waved his hands at the figure head "you took us down here" he shouted.

Nanaki's fur stood on end and Kisala narrowed her eyes. The red wolf turned to his grandfather and said

"Grandpa is he….?"

"After death the ghost of the Gi…" Burgen shook his head "like stagnant air…this can't be"

Suddenly there was a rumbling from above and they looked up as the statue's teeth open and its eyes glowed. Genesis pulled Shelk behind him as they took steps back in shock.

The statue's jaw dropped and moved as if speaking a silent message. Its face then was cast over by a new image, an illusion of a maniac grin, grinning down at them as if they had walked into a trap. The illusion sank away from the stone forming into a creature.

They drew their weapons and stared at the spirit before them. It had green armor and the head of a dog. Its body was cut off at the spine, and bones stuck from its end. Nanaki and Kisala growled at it.

A red glow appeared around the spirit and it raised its hand and a spear appeared in its blue tinted fingers. He swung the massive weapon and they dove for it. The spear made a swishing noise as it swung over their heads.

Genesis glanced at Sephiroth who nodded. They raised their swords and jumped up in sync, slashing at the spirit. It roared and Barret let lose a hail of bullets as Zack and Cloud came from opposite angles with the same attack.

Shelk stood with Kisala who was scanning for an opening. Nanaki stood with his grandfather, also waiting for an opening. Shelk held her staff and fire shot out at the spirit. The spirit roared in anger and pain and swung its large staff at her. Kisala grabbed the girl and jumped while Nanaki snatched up his grandfather and dove the opposite way.

Genesis watched them before swinging his sword, alight with fire Materia. Sephiroth nodded to Kisala and jumped away from the Spear. Yuffie joined Nanaki and began to throw giant star at the creature, shouting when it didn't inflicted damage.

Cloud watched Sephiroth jump out of the away and swung his large sword at the creatures other arm. The creature snarled and two flames appeared on the creature's side. Zack cursed as one of them began belching fire at him.

Genesis smirked as the fire demons appeared and he landed next to Shelk.

"Shelk" said girl looked up "I need you Blizzard Materia" she nodded and pushed the light blue sphere from its place.

He looked at the swirling ice within its surface and flew forward with a grin, feathers falling out behind him.

Sephiroth swung at the spirit, and dodged a burst of fire from its demon helpers. The spirit twirled its spear then knocked Nanaki from the air and onto Zack; the two went rolling in the dust. Sephiroth turned his attention back just in time to fly out of the spears path only to see it was headed for someone else.

Cloud watched as Sephiroth flew into the air and felt an inner conflict rise in him again. Sephiroth, the man who destroyed his home, his mother and got him trapped in a Mako container for four years or so he remembered. He had his back to him, wide open for an attack, one blow and the nightmare of Jenova would supposedly end. The grip on his swords handle tightened as that thought crossed his mind.

His focus divided he didn't see the red tipped spear flying for him till Tifa called out his name. He blinked and his eyes widened; there was no time to dodge this and he couldn't block it without being injured. He narrowed his eyes and the grip on his sword tightened. Suddenly the collar of his shirt was being pulled on and he was flying, flying sideways. As he settled out of harm's way he turned expecting to thank Genesis only to stare at green eyes.

"Sephiroth" he gasped out taking a step back. Sephiroth stood before him, his sword at his side, his body away from Cloud but his head turned over his shoulder.

"You shouldn't let your mind wander SOLDIER" Sephiroth said "are you aright" he added as if almost an afterthought.

Cloud could only nod dumbly and Sephiroth walked away, sword at his side. He watched as the Ex-General raised the sword; slashed sideways and the sprit paused before sliding apart and dissolving.

Genesis huffed and muttered something that sounded like "Show off" he blasted the fire demons with the blizzard Matera and they exploded as well. As he landed he could be heard grumbling "should have done that in the first place, we're wasting time. Damn Show off. "

Zack leaned on his sword and looked at Cloud, staring dumbfounded at Sephiroth. He narrowed his eyebrows; what had happened. Barret came up next to him and looked at him questioningly. Zack could only shrug.

Tifa rushed to Cloud while Aerith followed behind with a cure Materia. Genesis raised one of his eyebrows at Sephiroth before moving to hand Shelk her Materia; Yuffie eyed it hungrily. Cait sith cheered from his moogel head.

Kisala moved to Sephiroth sides while Cloud still watched the two; even after his wounds were cured. She looked up at him and grinned.

"Sephiroth" he made a noise and she continued "I do believe he may believe us now"

"Let us hope so" Sephiroth said as he nodded his head to Cloud before turning to Burgen, walking over, one hand on Nanaki.

"Thank you, all of you, I did not know that thing was here…but I did warn you it would be dangerous" he reminded then turned to his grandson

"Nanaki, you've grown powerful" Nanaki didn't look so convinced "Now I know it wasn't it a mistake to bring you down here"

They all looked at the small old man now and Nanaki turned his whole head to him.

"What his down here grandpa?" he asked and Burgen looked to where the head use to be. There was now a tunnel with rocks for foot holds, leaving the tunnels they now stood in. bits of light filtered from the whole in the wall.

"Come…I have something I want to show you"

Nanaki jumped the rock fixture, Kisala, Burgen and Sephiroth following. The rest of AVALANCHE moved after but Zack stayed and looked at Genesis and Shelk.

"What happened between Seph, and spiky?" he asked and Genesis looked at him, smirking.

"Dreams of the marrow hath shattered soul, pride is lost, wings stripped away, the end is nigh" he then walked forward, helping Shelk up the rocks.

Zack stood for a moment before growling at the retreating two.

"What the hell does that even mean" he ran up the rocks waving his fist.

Outside, they were surrounded by the tops of the Cosmo canyon. Nanaki had sat and stared at one of the stones, the others stared at the statue on top of its structure.

"This is…?" Nanaki said in shock, Burgen smiled sadly and said

"The warrior who fought against the Gi, he kept them from taking even one step into Cosmo canyon" Burgen smiled sadly at the sky, his hands clasp behind his back "but he was unable to return to the village" he looked pointedly at his grand son

"Look Nanaki. Look at your father, at the warrior, Seto."

The moon was red in the dark sky and it cast an eerily glow on the statue in the rocks. The frozen Cosmo canyon wolf was in a hunting pose, his maw wide open in a snarl, still defending his home from all intruders. They could see a few arrows, now stone, still sticking out of his body. The group took a couple steps back, giving the old man and Nanaki a bit of private space.

"Seto continued fighting the Gi tribe here…to protect this Canyon" Burgen said "even after the Gi's poisonous arrows turned his body to stone; even after they all ran away…Seto continued to protect us and he continues to protect us even now"

"Even now" Nanaki whispered in awe.

Nanaki stared wide eyed at the protecting statue that was once his father, all the stories he had heard, who had concluded about his father; how he was a coward, a traitor, how he had run away and left his mother to die…they were all lies and he felt shame.

"You thought he was a coward and ran away" Burgen said, his tone calm "but he, alone risked his life to protect Cosmo canyon" there was pride in his voice "That is your father, Seto."

Nanaki glanced at Kisala, now understanding slightly why she turned herself human for the sake of the world; protection, that always what it had been about, protecting the things in the world you loved the most.

He turned away and looked at his grandfather

"Did mother know?" he asked

Burgen laughed

"She knew, the two of them made me promise to keep this cave shut, they asked me to seal it myself and not tell a soul. They said we should forget this cave"

Nanaki wanted to fill anger at his mother, but guilt took part of his heart and he just couldn't be mad at his mother, not at her; never at her.

Burgen turned to the others

"Do you guys mind giving us a moment?" he asked

The group shook their head and filed out and back down the rocks. Kisala paused and looked back and spoke to Nanaki

"Everything we've ever done, and everything we ever do is always for those we love; there is no room for the selfish in the goddesses plan" she smiled "but sometimes it's ok to be selfish, if it means you get to love" she looked at the sky then vanished back into the cave.

As they sat inside the Cave Kisala suddenly smiled and looked up at the rock ceiling; before anyone could ask what it was they heard a howl and saw Kisala's smile get bigger

"A true warrior is born today, and a hero weeps in joy" she said and the others gave her a strange look; all she did was smile and hug Sephiroth.

I thought the ending was rather sweet and emotinal, go tell me what ya'll think now and I will post again this weekend.