Shards of Memory
I was planning to do this all as one chapter but it ended up being much, much longer than I thought. Thus, you can have a two-parter, look at it as good or bad as you like.
Chapter 37
Warriors of Light and Darkness
"It is all an endless dream. Yet still…the fantasy must come to an end…"
Morning had dawned sufficiently late enough for the Warrior of Cosmos to each get a sound night's sleep. As the sun rose and the warriors roused, one by one they emerged from their rooms and came to the deck of the airship. Few words were spoken among them, the horizon, distant at the dawn but now much closer, drawing their attention. At some point forward an invisible line had been drawn, and the grassy plains under the airship now stopped. Beyond that line lay a dark, bleak and dead wasteland, the dirt gray and faded. The clouds rumbled with thunder, glowing purple of varying shades as they rolled against each other. Beyond the border lay a great abyss, and over that abyss floated a large island, a large temple partly in ruins on it. In the air around and above it, bits of rubble floated suspended in the air.
"There it is," Cloud whispered. The others silently agreed. The Chaos Shrine was so close Cloud could walk there, if not for the problem on the ground below. Standing at the bow of the airship, he took a step forward and looked down again. The ground below was teeming with Crystelle. There were thousands, perhaps tens or even hundreds of thousands, writhing as a great colored mass. Warbled battle cries and shouts came from below, but fortunately the creatures were either too unintelligent to know how to attack them in the air or were simply unable to. Cloud didn't care either way, he was grateful for it.
"Let us hope we don't have to fight them, there is no way we could defeat such a horde," Cecil whispered. Beside him Zidane nodded in agreement. Luneth looked over the edge of the ship and whistled lowly.
"Anyone else thinking of finding something to throw at them?" he asked. He looked over his shoulder from the railing to see a few irritated glares. "Oh come on, like I'm the only one thinking it!" he cried defensively. Bartz coughed slightly and looked away sheepishly.
"Let's not antagonize them, we shouldn't take any chances," Firion advised. Cloud turned to Golbez at the controls.
"Take us right to the shrine. I don't see a bridge there so we're going to have to make an air landing," he called. Golbez nodded. Turning back, Cloud braced himself as the border of the two territories reached the airship's bow. He was expecting some sort of tingle or other sensation, as he had felt when he entered Order's Sanctuary. And there was such a sensation, but not a supernatural one. A cold breeze shot through the air, raising the hairs on Cloud's arms. The air was thick and chilled, and a stale stench reached his nose.
"Why has nothing happened yet?" Terra thought aloud. "Shouldn't they know we're here?" Cloud was thinking much the same thing. Then again, as had been pointed out before there had been many chances in the past for them to attack while the group was off their guard.
"Maybe they're waiting to spring an ambush," Tidus suggested.
"We'll have to chance it," Cloud said. "We can't turn back now, we've always been aiming for this place since the start. Even if we are walking into a trap, we have no choice but to spring it." The airship neared the shrine, and began to turn. They soon came parallel to the wall, and a small piece of land in front of the doors was soon underneath them. Luneth heaved the rope ladder over the side of the ship, and it piled slightly on the ground.
"Everyone has everything they need, right?" Squall asked. They grouped as they thought it over. Cloud looked over his shoulder. The six swords were firm in their harness. The airship's engines went faint as the airship stopped and hovered in the air. The air suddenly seemed a bit too quiet aside from the distant rumble of the clouds. Even the Crystelle below were relatively silent. Cloud approached Luneth and looked down at the ground, and realized everyone was looking at him as he turned around.
"Well, this is it," he said, taking a breath. "Alright, everyone, let's mosey."
Turning back around Cloud descended the ladder. He had a clear view over the landscape through the rungs as he descended below the bottom of the airship, not long after which he felt the ground under his feet and stepped back. One by one the Warriors of Cosmos followed him, Golbez being the last to come.
"What about the ship?" Jecht asked, looking the airship over. A few of them followed suit.
"She served us well," Cecil replied. "But there's nothing we can do for her now. Let's just hope she gets back to her own world in one piece." Turning towards the doors of the shrine, Cloud's eyes scanned them. They were carved out of dull gray stone and seemed to swing outwards. Reached to his back, Cloud took out the main blade of his swords and held it out.
"Shield your eyes," he warned. The blade glowed brightly, and Cloud slammed it into the door. A blast of golden light pulsed from the blade, shattering the stone inward. As the dust settled, Cloud looked at the light over the blade, slightly stunned.
"That was different," he thought, watching the gold aura subside. That power though, was very familiar."Hikari…" looking back up Cloud entered, the others behind him. The main hall of the Chaos Shrine stretched before them, a red carpet leading up a ramp to a throne against the far wall. Pillars line the hallways beside them, other doors leading deeper into the building. Terra looked around and frowned. She couldn't sense anything here, her powers were still responsive but she couldn't detect any enemies.
"Cloud," she began quietly.
"I know," he nodded, sensing the same thing she was. "They're hiding." Taking a few steps forward Cloud began to ascend the ramp, gaining a better view over the balconies and ledges overlooking the hall. Tidus' suspicions were correct – an ambush in this place would be easy to set up. Cloud glanced behind him to see the rest of the group spreading out, and turned back to the throne that was now a foot in front of him. "Where are they?" he thought aloud. He heard footsteps behind him, and from the now familiar tingle of energy on his senses knew who it was.
"Something's not right," Terra whispered. "Do you think something happened to them?"
"I'm not sure," Cloud replied. "They have to be here somewhere." Turning around he began walking back to the group. "If they're hiding, we have to go to them. We split up, four groups, I want you guys in threes, divide yourselves up. Terra, you're with me."
"Where do we look?" Zidane asked.
"Pick a hallway," Cloud shrugged. The thief nodded, and he and Bartz scurried up a ledge, Squall climbing up after them. Firion put a hand on Luneth's shoulder and gave the youth a sharp nod, leading to another path. The remaining four looked at each other for a moment. Eventually Jecht sighed and turned to the hall Firion and Luneth had gone towards, hefting his sword onto his shoulder.
"Guess I'll be the fourth wheel. Ya look after the boy, ya hear Golbez?" he said.
"No. I shall accompany Firion and Luneth. You stay with Cecil," Golbez replied, walking past him. "I trust you to protect him in my place." Jecht shrugged and turned to the two with a grin. Tidus made a face, and the three set down a darkened hall. Golbez, Firion and Luneth went down the other.
"Where are we going?" Terra asked. "Why send them off?"
"I trust them to handle themselves if they come across Kuja or Sephiroth. You and me though, we're going to find Garland," Cloud replied.
"But we don't know where he is."
"I've got a plan. I want you to-" Cloud was cut off by an explosion, and whirled his head to the entrance of the shrine. The two ran forward to the doors to see the airship descending into the abyss below, flames spewing from its rear. It fell into the swirling vortex between the floating island and was quickly torn apart in a display of lightning and darkness. Loud thuds range throughout the chamber in sequence behind them as massive sheets of stone slammed down the hallways, blocking their entrances. At the sound of laughter, the two turned.
"That was easier than we expected," Garland laughed, standing in front of the throne. "We had thought it might take some provoking to separate you. How fortunate for us we underestimated your gullibility."
"And fortunate for us, the man we're looking for came right out to meet us," Cloud muttered, walking towards him and holding out his sword. "Garland! Face me!" Garland tilted his head, and then leaned back.
"Ah, you must be the one he chose. Hikari's successor as Champion…he chose well enough, I suppose, you seem to be possess considerable strength. Still, you're not half the warrior he was," Garland declared. "I could twist you into a knot with one hand, little man."
"Face me now and I'll prove otherwise," Cloud said.
"And the woman?" Garland asked. Cloud looked at Terra, who met his gaze firmly.
"She's back-up," Cloud replied, looking back at him.
"Hah. Amusing, the new Champion appoints a female as his right hand," Garland said.
"I'm no ordinary woman," Terra shot back, lightning crackling along her fingertips.
"True enough perhaps, but it matters not how powerful you may or may not be. The rules of engagement state that the Champions of Light and Darkness are the only ones able to kill the other save for the gods. However Cloud, there is no law on how we come to that final blow."
"Meaning?" Cloud asked. Garland lifted his hands and clapped twice, the metallic sound echoing. With flashes of light, one by one Crystelle appeared on the ledges on either side of them.
"Meaning I may sit back with Lord Chaos and observe you fight until your last ounce of strength leaves you. Then I shall arrive to finish you," Garland said. "If by some chance you survive, make your way to the roof of the shrine. I shall await you beyond the Edge of Madness!" Garland vanished in a burst of darkness, and Cloud and Terra looked over the Crystelles facing down at them, stepping back until their backs pressed up against the other's.
"Any ideas?" Terra asked, blue eyes darting over the colored mass poised to strike.
"Nothing's coming to mind, except for 'destroy them all'," Cloud said. Terra nodded.
"Works for me," she replied. Orbs of energy appeared in her palms, and she brought her hands up to fire a burst of flame at the Crystelle. A golden aura appeared over Cloud's sword and this time he didn't question it, instead opting to leap up and swing it through the air, a band of light flying forward and cleaving several Crystelle apart. The battle begun, the remaining automatons leapt forward to swarm the two.
"I told ya it was a trap," Tidus lectured, hands folded with the Brotherhood tucked under his arm. "But no one listens to me, huh?"
"Yeah yeah, ya want a medal, runt?" Jecht grumbled. Ahead of them Cecil lead the way, eyes and ears alert for danger. Coming into a more open cavern, he halted immediately. Jecht and Tidus came up behind him and saw why. The room before them had a balcony overhead wrapping around the walls. And the balcony was holding a large mass of Crystelle staring down at them.
"Think we can turn back and walk away?" Jecht muttered. The Crystelle leaped forward in one motion. "Guess not!" he snapped. Cecil ran forward, twirling his sword in his hand. He ducked the swing of a Crystelle's weapon and brought the blade into their stomach, flipping them over to the ground. With the same motion the tip of the blade pierced another's head, its body shattering. Tidus ran forward, leaping and planting his sword in the fallen Crystelle's back, then leaping off into the air to swing at another. Behind the two came Jecht, leaping over their heads and slamming a fist into a Crystelle's chest. He turned to punch another, his arm flying out with the momentum to cleave apart a second beside him.
"We've gotta get through them and find a way back!" Cecil said. He cut apart a Crystelle, his armor flashing and turning black. Cecil turned and held out a hand, a swirl of dark energy orbs flying from his palm and pushing several Crystelle back. He looked around and pointed towards a distant doorway. "That's our escape," he said. Tidus looked where he pointed and smirked.
"No sweat," he said, backflipping and then springing forward. He brought his sword down to cleave apart an enemy in one blow. "We can take down these guys."
"Tidus, there's an endless supply of them," Cecil protested.
"I'm with the kid," Jecht grunted, fist smashing into red crystal. "We'll retreat when we need to, if we just run they'll follow us. At least we can thin them out." Cecil reluctantly nodded and turned his attention back to the fight. His armor flashed again as he shifted back to his light-aligned armor, ducking under a diving Crystelle and standing to flip it over his head. Tidus ran past him, jumped up onto a Crystelle's shoulders and leaping off to fly forward, the Brotherhood cutting apart three of them before he landed on the ground and rolled, knocking down two more.
Cecil turned and held out his sword, swirls of light energy gathering along the blade. Swinging it back a wave of light flung forward, shattering several Crystelle on contact. A blow to his back caught him off guard and he fell to his knees. Jecht turned at the sound and swung his sword, smashing a Crystelle that had gotten behind Cecil. A short distance away, Tidus was turning and parrying blows as the Crystelles began to overwhelm him. Backflipping away and cutting apart two that leapt at him, he landed next to Jecht and Cecil as the trio turned to survey their enemies.
"There's no end to them," Cecil said, panting slightly.
"Maybe we should rethink our strategy," Tidus agreed. "Dad?" Jecht made a face but looked around.
"…fine, let's go," he said, punching down a Crystelle. "Go on!" the three turned and began to run for the earlier exit, dodging and counterattacking on the way. Tidus swung and was knocked forward by a blow from behind. Not breaking stride Jecht reached down and grabbed the back of his shirt. "Keep swingin' kid," he called, using his free hand to slash apart more enemies. Scowling slightly Tidus obeyed and defended his father's other side. In front of them Cecil sent out waves of light to push them back and clear a path. Finally reaching the door, Tidus and Jecht ran through as Cecil stopped and turned. Shifting into his dark armor, he held his sword over his head and slammed it into the ground. A blast of dark fire knocked several Crystelle back, and Cecil took the chance to lift his sword back up. A second dark wave cracked the frame of the door, and he turned to follow Tidus and Jecht as the entrance collapsed.
"I could've told him splitting up was a bad idea. Splitting up is how you end up separated," Bartz said, walking in step beside Zidane.
"We would have gotten trapped regardless. All things considered, it's better that only the two of them got trapped, the rest of us are free as far as we know," Squall replied behind them.
"Good point," Zidane said. "But now we're all apart and we have no idea where we're…" the thief trailed off as the hallway ended. The shattered segments of floor and wall continue on for a few feet indicated that once it may have continued, but now it ended outside the shrine. Pieces of rubble floated in the air, some large enough to perch on, and several of them slowing spinning in place. Leaning over slightly Bartz saw the swirling abyss of darkness below the floating island the shrine lay on, and backed up.
"So uh, where to from here?" he asked.
"We could chance climbing up the rubble to the roof," Zidane suggested, gesturing to the bits of wall and floor hovering in the air.
"Not all of us are as dexterous as you," Squall muttered. The floor under their feet shook, and behind them a stone wall slammed into place, trapping the three on the small outcropping of stone.
"Well," Kuja said, floating from behind a block of rubble. A blood-red aura lit up his arms and legs, which were covered in red and purple fur. "That may be a problem."
"Kuja!" Zidane snarled, grabbing his daggers from his belt. "I'm only gonna say this once – back off and let us go, or die here!"
"Oh my," Kuja feigned shock, pressing a hand to his cheek. "Are those my only two options?" with a dark glint in his eye, glowing blue orbs of energy appeared in the air around him, circling him in formation. "In that case, I choose destroying the three of you." The orbs flung forward, and the three leapt up as they impacted the stone and exploded. Squall landed on an outcropping higher up the wall, while Zidane briefly landed on a smaller piece of rubble floating in the air and leapt off it to a larger one, wobbling for a moment as he got his balance. Bartz, however, landed on a floating chunk of wall and began to slide off as it rotated onto a slant with his added weight.
"Bartz!" Zidane looked around and jumped onto another floating piece of stone, then jumped down to grab onto the other end of the piece Bartz was holding onto. The force of impact tilted it back, and Zidane reached a hand down. Kuja sneered and lifted a hand, the orbs circling his arm and lighting up in fire.
"Back off!" Kuja turned and flew back in the air as Squall dove at him, the Revolver slicing past him. Squall looked back as he flew past and pulled the gunblade's trigger. It lit up red for a moment before firing a blast of flame into Kuja's face, an empty shell casing flipping out of the barrel. Recoiling with a screech Kuja clutched his face. Landing on a floating rock Squall turned to it and slammed the Revolver into it, his feet sliding and then stopping as he used it as a handhold.
"Ignorant cretins," the genome hissed, lowering his hands. The orbs began to orbit him faster, and with a snarl Kuja launched them towards Squall. Squall looked up and jumped, the Revolver emerging from the rock as he flew through the air and landed on another distant stone. Kuja grunted as he felt an impact on his back, and was catapulted forward as Zidane kicked off his back, landing in a crouch behind him. Turning around as he stopped in the air, Kuja looked around to see the three surrounding him. "You think the three of you are enough to destroy me?" he laughed.
"We know we are," Zidane countered, leaping at him. Kuja giggled and ducked out of the way, the orbs of magic flying up to cut Zidane off and encircle him. Zidane leapt away from them, the orbs tracking him. Kuja turned as Squall jumped after him, dodging and waving his hand to shoot two fireballs into his back. Squall pitched forward in the air and looked up as Bartz came down the rubble. In a flash of dark light a long spear-like sword appeared in his hand, and he dove down to throw it through the air. Squall looked down as the sword pierced his jacket and embedded in the rock behind him, stopping his descent.
"Comin'!" Bartz yelled, jumping onto a nearby outcropping. The force of his landing sent it spinning forward towards Squall, who pulled the sword free and fell onto it while Bartz leapt to a safer foothold. Meanwhile, Kuja was distracted with Zidane, leaping in and out of view on narrow platforms. Orbs of magic were slung through the air, shattering them as he caught glimpses of his hair or tail darting about. Squall look up and snapped the Revolver to the ground. He pulled the trigger and the blade lit up in blue energy, sending him rocketing upwards. Kuja's head wrenched back with a shriek as Squall cut up along his torso. Doubling over, the genome glared at him as he landed on solid ground.
"You…" he whispered, the wound already healing itself. "You'll pay for that!"
"We should attempt to relocate Cecil and the others before seeking our enemies," Golbez said quietly. Ahead of him Luneth looked over his shoulder at the half-Lunarian.
"Yeah, assuming we can. They split us up to fight us alone, I don't think they're gonna let us go back that easy," he replied. "Besides, there's a bright side to this, if they split us up then they're split up too."
"Perhaps, if you assume they will be fighting us all at once, and not picking us off team by team, one after the other," Golbez said.
"Way to be a buzzkill," Luneth grumbled. Walking at the lead of the group Firion didn't speak until they came to a fork not long after.
"Which way?" he asked.
"My instincts say left," Luneth said confidently.
"Any particular reason why?" Golbez asked.
"No more than we have reason to go right," Luneth shrugged.
"He has a point," Firion nodded, heading to the left. Luneth followed, and with a small sigh Golbez did as well. The three came to a large open room with pillars lining a long red carpet leading to a grand set of stairs.
"Welcome, honored guests." With a flash of light and feathers, Ultimecia appeared atop the stairs.
"Ultimecia. The time witch," Golbez muttered, reaching to his shoulder for the handle of his sword. The three drew their weapons as Ultimecia looked them over.
"A pity you strayed from our flock, Golbez. You could have been a worthy ally to Mateus' schemes," the sorceress mused, crossing her arms. "And you two, so young to be throwing your lives away. I do hope you have treasured what little time you had before you came here, for that time runs short."
"Yeah right. It ain't like we're gonna die here," Luneth replied.
"He's right. Stand aside Ultimecia, or fall," Firion declared, pointing his sword at her. "We're here for Garland and Chaos, not foul temptresses who will only be a waste of time."
"Spare me the bravado. You haven't the strength to prevail over Chaos and Garland. Your power is too insignificant to challenge a god. We shall be more than strong enough to deliver you to your eternal sleep on our own," Ultimecia laughed.
"Our?" Golbez asked. Ultimecia smiled and spread her arms out. A shadow fell over the trio, and then turned and looked up. Descending above them was a massive beast. Large wings with torn white feathers slapped slowly. It had dark blue, red and black limbs, muscular and strong. Its head was as a lion's, with five red horns. Two sharp red blades emerged from its forearms.
"Griever," Ultimecia called, "make them bleed." Griever roared, the sound echoing through the chamber, and dove down. The three warriors dived out of the way, Luneth rolling to his feet. Griever flew back up and turned to dive again. Behind Luneth Firion grabbed his bow. Reaching over his shoulder he quickly notched and fired two arrows. The heads imbedded themselves in Griever's face, and the beast snarled in pain but kept flying. Running past Firion Golbez leapt up and brought down his sword, hacking off one of Griever's horns. A swipe from a claw knocked him back into a wall.
"It'll take more than a few arrows to bring this beast down," he muttered. "And we still need to deal with the witch."
"Leave it to me!" Luneth shouted, running across the floor. Griever swooped down and he rolled under it, getting back to his feet in an instant and charging at Ultimecia. A small smile on her lips, she lifted a hand to her face and vanished as a bright yellow sword slashed at her. Reappearing to the side she snapped her hand out. Several bright pink arrows of magic appeared behind her and fired forward. Luneth dove out of the way, the arrows turning as he dove and adjusting trajectory to come at him. They narrowly missed him but continued to fly, turning and whistling through the air towards Firion and Golbez.
"Heads up!" he called. Firion ducked one of Griever's claws and lifted his arm to show his shield. A barrier of energy rippled over him as the shield flashed, and Ultimecia's arrows dispersed as they hit it. Above them Griever turned its head to dive back down, and Firion reached to his belt.
"Golbez, can you help Luneth with Ultimecia?" he asked.
"Yes, but what of you?" Golbez replied. Firion unclipped his daggers and twirled them as Griever came closer.
"I've got Griever!" he shouted, throwing the daggers forward. Griever ducked its head to fly under them. Coils of cord unraveled from Firion's belt, and as Griever turned to fly back up they caught on its horns. Firion was pulled into the air, gripping the cords tightly. Realizing its unintended passenger Griever roared angrily and began to spin and dive in the air. Firion gritted his teeth and began to climb. Below Golbez charged at Ultimecia, the witch turning and spreading her arms and wings to fire more arrows of magic into the air. Golbez dodged them and jumped to swing at her. Ultimecia teleported out of the way once again, appearing behind Golbez and holding out a hand to fire a string of arrows into his back. Golbez was flung forward, hitting the ground with a groan. Above, Firion turned his head and lifted his legs to run along the wall as Griever directed him into it. Looking down he loosed his grip on the cord and they quickly unraveled from his belt as he kicked off the wall and flew through the air. Firion lifted his legs as he neared his target, and ltimecia turned in time for him to plant his feet on her chest, kicking her back through the air. Ultimecia flipped over the railing of the stairs to land on her back, grimacing.
"How…undignified," she growled, pushing herself up. Over Firion's head as he tried to get a grip on the cord again with Griever twisting him around, the monster looked down and fired a blast of blue-black energy at him. Firion let go again and dropped down out of the way. He brought his sword up and sliced the cord, flipping down to the ground.
A blast of flame instantly destroyed six Crystelle, but three more were charging in their wake. Behind Terra, Cloud dual-wielded two of his sword, spinning and slicing apart a swarm of them. He looked across the room and flipped his sword around. The smaller, triangular blade clicked into place over the tip of the larger sword, and Cloud swung it into the ground. A blast of golden light shot from the tip along the carpet and stone, shattering the Crystelle into fragments as it hit them. Terra ducked a sword blow and planted her hands on the ground, columns of fire shooting up in front of her and spinning three of her attackers away.
"We've got to cut through them and find Garland!" Cloud said, drawing another sword from his harness.
"That might be a problem, there's an endless supply of these things, and no exits from the room," Terra replied. Cloud looked around and tried to focus even as he parried and counterattacked incoming blows. There had to be a way…
"The throne. Beyond the throne."
"What?" Cloud cried, wincing at a particularly hard blow that his sword caught.
"I didn't say anything!" Terra said.
"Destroy the throne. Beyond it is the hall that will take you to the portal. Hurry."
"What the hell…Sephiroth? No…" Cloud looked at the throne and tried to figure out who or what was talking to him. Not Terra, it was similar to those dark days when he could hear Sephiroth laughing in his head. But this voice wasn't his…
"They will overwhelm you soon. Go. The throne. Now." Cloud scowled.
"The throne, get to the top of the ramp!" he ordered. Terra nodded, holding out a hand to fire a blast of ice, then fleeing through the hole in the horde she had made. Cloud sliced apart a Crystelle and then leaped into the air. "Watch out!" he yelled, a bright orange aura appeared over his sword. He swung the blade out and a barrage of meteorites rained through the air, slamming into the throne at the top of the ramp and the wall around it. "Go, through the smoke!" Terra obeyed and ran as Cloud landed, cleaving apart two Crystelle and following her. He ran through the collapsed wall and ducked as Terra fired a large blue orb of energy over his head. Twin pillars against the wall crumbled and collapsed to close the passage.
"How did you know this was here?" Terra asked as Cloud turned around, panting slightly.
"I sensed it…I think. Or it was a lucky guess. Take your pick," he said. "That voice…where did it come from? I've never heard anything like it…" Cloud didn't need yet another complication to his life this late in the quest, not when they were so close to ending it all. Brushing it aside for the moment he looked at their new surroundings. A darkened hallway stretched to the right and left. Terra held up a hand, flames appearing over her fingers.
"Which way?" she asked. Cloud held out his sword, light appearing over it.
"Either one, doesn't matter. They go the same way," he said, remembering the voice. 'The portal', whatever that meant. Unless the voice meant the portal to Chaos' realm? It would make sense for Garland to be there, Cloud supposed. "Take the right, I'll take the left," he said.
"You're sure? Splitting up again?" Terra asked.
"Yeah, like I said they go to the same place. We just follow the path, if either of us comes to a fork, turn around," Cloud said.
"Alright. Be careful," Terra said.
"You too," Cloud nodded. The two turned and went their separate ways.
"You are wise to trust me."
"You could thank me by telling me who you are," Cloud replied as the voice returned. "I don't make a point of trusting random voices in my head, so a name would be helpful."
"I must refuse. I am a guide and a mentor, not a participant. My name would have no meaning to you anyway, for it no longer holds any importance. All you need know is that I am trustworthy, and I seek to assist you."
"Right." Cloud clicked the third sword in his hand into the main blade of the assembly. "We're heading into another battle, aren't we?"
"It is highly probable," the voice replied.
"Time to get ready while I can then," Cloud said, reaching for another sword.
Terra ascended the stairs to find another landing where the passage turned back on itself. Following it back she wondered how high it went, by her count that was the fourth staircase. The hallway was entirely linear and just zigzagged vertically as far as she could tell. She heard, and felt, the distant sounds and sensations of battles being waged and magical energy pulsing and spiking, and silently hoped the rest of them were doing well in whatever conflicts they had been drawn into. As she continued down the hall she saw light at the end of the passage, and began to jog. A final set of stairs lead out into open air, and Terra slowed as she emerged. She had reached the roof. Stepping further out she saw the roof was a large, flat surface with four small stone altars and another stairwell entrance at the far end. Turrets rose all about them. A few ruined walls and stray bricks indicated perhaps this had been an indoor area but the walls and ceiling had been destroyed.
"Welcome." Terra stopped as a dark portal opened up in front of her. Green eyes slowly opened as the portal closed, black cloak and silver hair blowing in the breeze.
"Sephiroth," she muttered, tensing. The swordsman made a show of turning his head to look around before meeting her glare.
"I see you've come alone. Have the rest of your companions already fallen to the rest of my would-be allies?" he asked. "Pity. I had contemplated eradicating them myself, one by one."
"They'll be fine," Terra said confidently.
"Maybe, maybe not. Irrelevant either way," Sephiroth said. "I am pleased, though, that you eluded them and found your way here. I was preparing to come find you, but you stumble up here in time to save me the search."
"So, you're here to fight me. I figured as much," Terra nodded. "Try it though, it won't be like last time."
"I do not 'try', girl. I succeeded in killing Cloud, dispatching you without him to distract me will be simple," Sephiroth replied. Terra was confused.
"Killing Cloud…he doesn't know," she realized. The two of them were archenemies, and Sephiroth didn't know Cloud was revived? How had no one told him? Garland certainly seemed to know. Sephiroth seemed to notice the change in her demeanor and smirked.
"I apologize. Do the memories still bear despair for you?" he mocked. "That despair and rage you feel for me served you quite well the last time we fought. I wonder if the darkness in your heart has grown deeper since then. Perhaps you'll indulge me to let it loose. It is your last battle, after all. You may as well channel that rage towards me while you still draw breath."
"What are you talking about?" Terra asked. Behind Sephiroth, she saw Cloud emerge from the opposite stairwell. Moving swiftly but silently, he approached Sephiroth.
"I have higher aims now. I've new goals, which you will help me reach," Sephiroth explained. "It shall be your final purpose before you perish. Focus all your hatred and anger into killing me. It won't be enough to win, but it will be useful for my plans."
"I'm not going to help you do anything," Terra said.
"Oh, but you shall. You severely underestimate me. I have had years to learn the ways of the heart, and yours is frail and weak. It's why you failed to save Cloud, and it's why you've already fallen victim to my whims, even if you cannot see it. Eventually the darkness in that heart will consume you, and once you exhaust all of your strength trying to destroy me, I will take what I need from you and kill you. If need be I shall do the same to your friend." At the final word Sephiroth swung, the Masamune appearing in his hand. Cloud raised his swords to block the strike, the clash of metal ringing through the air.
In that instant, there was a sight Cloud decided to remember and treasure. The seemingly permanent sadistic smirk on Sephiroth's face faded, his eyes widening and his mouth opening. Openly expressing his shock at the man standing behind him, Sephiroth stared at Cloud for several seconds before narrowing his eyes again. His surprise was replaced with barely-concealed anger.
"You," he hissed. Cloud knocked the Masamune away.
"Something wrong?" he replied. Sephiroth glared at him and began to circle him. Cloud turned his head to watch him, their eyes not parting.
"This isn't real…it's a trick…some sort of illusion," Sephiroth whispered. "You're dead…you cannot be here now…" Cloud smirked, enjoying the rare sight of seeing his archenemy caught off his guard, and moved to stand in front of Terra. Sephiroth stopped, his free hand clenching.
"You're not the only one who can come back to life," he replied. Sephiroth sneered and looked between him and Terra.
"Something is changed…you are augmented somehow…" he realized.
"You can thank Hikari for that," Cloud said. Sephiroth thought for a moment, then chuckled lowly.
"Ah, so that's it. He made you the Champion of Light. It is indeed just as I've heard…he made a pathetic choice."
"We're not here for you. Where's Garland?" Terra asked. Sephiroth looked up, and Cloud and Terra followed his gaze to the swirl of clouds overhead.
"He has gone beyond, to the Edge of Madness. You seek the final Crystal Garland holds, isn't that right?" Sephiroth asked. "The portal to Chaos' throne opens for the Crystal bearers, the final Crystal will do you no good. As long as you hold that wench's Materia, Garland is a triviality. Thus he finds himself at Chaos' right hand, awaiting the final stand with his god."
"In that case, we're wasting time here with you," Cloud decided, assuming a fighting stance. "Unless you want to run, I suggest we make this quick."
"Please. Are you so eager to die again?" Sephiroth taunted. "You seem to have forgotten our last battle, Cloud."
"It's different this time," Terra said. "Hikari's light is Cloud's now. Your hold over him is broken."
"She's right. Your cells in me are gone. Your last rope to the living is cut, Sephiroth," Cloud said. "This time, it's the final end for you." Cloud thought he saw Sephiroth's eyes flash for a moment, and decided to think it was fear or hesitation, before Sephiroth turned away and closed them.
"I see…all the more reason now then, to show you no mercy…not that I ever did before." Sephiroth flung out his hand. His coat tore into shreds at his feet, six white wings bursting from his waist as a black wing emerged over his shoulder. "Light or no light, you'll die again just the same," he sneered.
"Not today. We settle this once and for all," Cloud snapped, a golden aura appearing over his sword. Terra slowly floated into the air beside him, blue energy lighting up her torso. Sephiroth slapped his wings and rose into the air to float above them.
"The pathetic puppet never learns, even with his strings cut he follows the same patterns," he whispered. "No matter, I do not need the S-Cells, they were nothing more but a method to avoid death. Now I don't need them. Your new power means nothing to me."
"You always did talk too much when it came to our fights," Cloud said. "Terra."
"Yes?" the half-Esper replied.
"What say we shut him up for the last time?"
"It'd be an honor," she said. Sephiroth smirked.
"Very well. You two can stand together once again, and so you shall die together as well."