Shards of Memory
Soooooooo sorry for the long wait, my old PC crashed and I had to wait for an adapter cable for my new PC to get my files from the old. But, here I am, back at all and at full steam! Let's move on!
Chapter 38
Broken - Cloud & Terra vs Safer Sephiroth
"Lowly pawn, has your vaunted blade altered fate's course?"
The Masamune flashed through the air, waves of energy cutting forward. Cloud leapt forward over them as Terra flew up. Cloud's blade flashed gold, and he cut through the waves as he came near Sephiroth. Steel clashed, sending out a shockwave as Sephiroth blocked Cloud's strike. Swinging to knock him away, Sephiroth flung Cloud back through the air and turned to Terra as she fired several orbs of white energy at him. Tendrils of darkness appeared in the air and skewered forward, dispersing them and pursuing Terra. In the air behind Sephiroth, Cloud raised his sword over his head and swung it down, a wave of golden light shooting from the tip. Sephiroth turned at the spike of energy and held out his hand. A blast of green light shot from his palm, the two attacks exploding in the air as they collided. Cloud landed on the ground, his weapon aglow in gold light that pulsed steadily.
"This augmentation to your strength is impressive," Sephiroth conceded, wings flapping in the air. "But it is still not enough to overcome my own."
"We'll see." Jumping back into the air, Cloud landed on a blue barrier that appeared under his feet and jumped again, Terra flying up alongside him. With a scowl and a flurry of feathers Sephiroth vanished. Cloud felt a tingle of energy and turned in the air, raising his sword. A moment later Sephiroth appeared in a flash of light and attacked, the Masamune glancing off the blade. A large shard of ice fired from Terra's hand and Sephiroth vanished again. "Terra!" Cloud cried. Terra spun and dove back in the air as Sephiroth reappeared and swung where she had been, the Masamune leaving a trail of violet light in the air and narrowly missing her. Sephiroth growled and swung the sword back again. Bands of energy lashed out through the air. Cloud jumped forward and slashed through them, holding out his hand. Lightning fired from his fingertips, catching Sephiroth in the hip. Recoiling with a cry, Sephiroth looked down as Cloud came closer and dove after him, bringing his sword over his shoulder. A flash of light caught his eye, and a large ball of fire slammed into his side, knocking him off balance. The dive became a fall, and Sephiroth caught a glancing blow on his chest as Cloud passed him.
"Seems things are a bit different this time," Terra called, floating down beside Cloud as he landed on a glowing blue barrier. In the air before them Sephiroth righted himself, his free hand clutching his chest. Sneering at the two he waved his hand through the air. Orbs of darkness appeared surrounding him, and a swing of the Masamune sent them spiraling forward. Cloud and Terra charged, simultaneous blasts of ice and fire stopping the orbs in the air. Sephiroth flapped up higher and raised his hand, an orb of black energy appearing in his hands. A glowing portal opened in the air behind him and a swarm of meteors rained down before him. Cloud looked up and swung his sword up over his head, swinging it twice and snapping it down. Six meteorites appeared from the blade and shot forward with the motion. The two meteor swarms met and shattered into rubble in the air, falling to the roof of the shrine below.
"Disappointed?" Cloud called up. Sephiroth descended before them, scowling. "We're not going to lose, not this time!" he snapped. Without another word Sephiroth spun in place, more orbs of energy appearing around his wings and firing towards them.
Stone exploded inches in front of Squall's face, sending him flying backwards to land on a pathway running between two towers. Jerking his head to the side Kuja avoided a lance flung at his head and turned to the thrower. Bartz jumped away as the orbs circling Kuja shot five streams of flame at him, tracking him as he landed on a larger piece of floating rock and ran along it to land beside Squall. Kuja turned to look for where he had last seen Zidane and flew out of the way as several red bolts of energy fired at him. He flung out a hand as he flew and sent his orbs towards Zidane, the five acting on their own to chase and attempt to slam into him as he ran to join Bartz and Squall.
"You can't keep scurrying out of my grasp forever!" Kuja snarled, snapping his fingers to bring his orbs back into formation around him.
"Same to you!" Zidane shot back. The three leapt into action again. Bartz held out a hand, a lance appearing in his grasp. Squall held out the Revolver as he ran and pulled the trigger, blasts of magic firing at Kuja as he flew around the rubble to evade. Zidane followed him, jumping over the rubble and keeping him in view until he saw a chance to strike. Jumping forward, Zidane planted his feet on a rock in a position vertical to the ground and pushed off to lunge at Kuja. The two genomes were flung back, Zidane using one hand to grab Kuja's wrist while one of his legs entangled with Kuja's to keep them locked together. His other hand swung a dagger as Kuja's face, Kuja pulling back his face to see the blade pass before his eyes. Orbs of magic descended around them, swooping through the air like birds of prey to attack Zidane. He was knocked off of Kuja and flailed in the air with no immediate handholds coming into view.
"On my way!" Zidane turned his head to see Bartz running towards him. Bartz held out a hands and a pair of daggers appeared in them. He jumped and threw the daggers to Squall as a spool of core unwound on his belt. He swung down, using one hand to hold onto the cords and the other held out to Zidane. Zidane reached for Bartz's hand and missed, the mime's hand instead finding a grip on his tail. Zidane let out a yowl but didn't complain otherwise as they swung to safety. The cord on Bartz's belt vanished in a flash of light.
"Thanks," he said, looking over his shoulder at his tail, a bit of fur matted down from Bartz's hand. The two looked up at Kuja flying overhead. "We've gotta ground him somehow, we can't fight as long as he can just fly around freely," Bartz said.
"I'm open to suggestions," Zidane replied. Kuja waved a hand and the magical orbs spun in a circle in front of him, conjuring several large balls of fire that launched down at them. The two ran out of their way, jumping onto a higher ledge.
"I got one," Squall said, jumping down next to them. "Let him fly and keep blasting us, I say we give him a taste of his own medicine. We got a way to reflect it?"
"Leave that to me," Zidane nodded. The three jumped into action, running across choice bits of rubble. Momentarily unnerved by their fragmentation. Kuja flung out a hand. The ring of energy turned to send more fireballs at Bartz. The mime grimaced as waves of heat pounded into his back and kept running. Some distance away Squall took up position on a larger, flat piece of rock and snapped the Revolver out to the side, the blade glowing with blue energy. Below Kuja, Zidane clicked his daggers together and twirled them, getting ready.
"Enough scampering around, little mouse!" Kuja taunted, drawing a hand over his shoulder. Another blast of flame launched at Bartz, and he skidded to a halt and looked up as it neared. A dark lance-like sword appeared in his hand, and he thrust it forward. A blast of dark purple flame shot forward, slamming into Kuja's attack and exploding. Kuja wrenched his head back in a screech. Below, Squall jumped up, holding the Revolver behind him, and triggered it. The blue blade flashed and sent him rocketing up, the Revolver slashing across Kuja's back. Kuja pitched forward, tumbling in the air.
"This is it Kuja!" Zidane cried, diving at him. Kuja lifted his head to Zidane as he came close and waved a hand to see his orbs at the thief. Zidane slashed them out of the way, bolts of energy crackling along the blades of his daggers, and descended on Kuja. Zidane stabbed one of the Mage Mashers into Kuja's chest, Kuja doubling over into him, and the second Mage Masher embedded itself in his back. Kuja slowly turned his head to look at Zidane. On either side of him, the daggers began to glow with blue light.
"Z…Zidane," he gasped weakly, his eyes wide. Zidane gave him a grim look.
"You brought this on yourself," he whispered. With a cry, the daggers pulsed and sent a powerful burst of energy into Kuja. Zidane leapt back, pulling them from Kuja's body and backflipping through the air to land on a lower platform. Kuja clutched his chest, floating in the air. Zidane coiled his haunches and leapt, holding his daggers out as they glowed again, forming a pink aura over Zidane as he flew forward. He slammed into Kuja's chest, knocking him back with an explosion of energy. Kuja slammed into a lower ledge as Zidane arced through the air to land nearby, the stone shattering on impact. He fell down, rolling over a slanted roof to land heavily on a balcony below. A few purple and red feathers knocked loose in the impact floated down around them.
"Did we do it?" Bartz asked, coming closer. Zidane turned towards Kuja. Squall looked up through the air as the orbs of energy circling overhead flickered and vanished. Zidane walked closer to Kuja, the defeated genome tilting his eyes up as Zidane came into view over his head.
"Once again, you destroy me, Zidane," Kuja whispered. The red aura over his body faded, purple clothing coming into view as his feathers and fur receded.
"You should know by now to not underestimate me," Zidane replied. Kuja let out a loud laugh.
"Yes, I should…" he agreed. His right hand pushed onto the stone to roll him onto his stomach, red stains beneath him from where Zidane's daggers had sliced into his chest and back. Breathing heavily, Kuja looked down at his hands as dark energy began to emanate from them. Closing his eyes he forced a bitter smile. "So, the hero of our little tragedy emerges victorious once again…and his rival fades into unforgiving shadow…so familiar is this ending, isn't it?"
"It didn't have to be this way," Zidane said.
"Didn't it?" Kuja asked, climbing to his feet as his body began to fade. He stumbled slightly, weakly lifting a hand to brush some blood-matted hair from his eyes. "Alas, that my encore should end prematurely..." Looking over his shoulder, Kuja caught Zidane's eyes, then closed his own. "Well…if I must endure a third curtain call…it is to the only cretin of the lot of you worthy to be the executioner." This time Zidane didn't reply. With a flash of light, Kuja's body vanished into twinkling lights, flittering away and fading into nothingness.
"Luneth!" Firion yelled, ducking behind a pillar as a string of magical bolts flitted past him. Luneth was running across the carpet, Griever swooping down behind him. A rush of wind came in its wake, sending the boy head over heels to lay on his back. Stopping in the air overhead, Griever roared and descended. Luneth cried out and rolled away as Griever's rear claws slapped into the floor. The lion-like beast turned and roared again, swinging a claw at him. Golbez stepped in front of Luneth and lifted his sword. Griever's claw slammed into it, pushing Golbez back until he nearly fell backwards onto the boy.
"Get him!" Golbez snapped, straining to keep his footing. Luneth jumped over his head and ran up Griever's claw. Griever snarled and tried to slap him away. The best distracted, Golbez ducked under its claw and stabbed his sword into Griever's belly. Rearing up in pain, Griever snapped out a claw to fling Golbez across the room. He hit the ground and rolled several times. As Griever reared up Luneth was thrown off balance, falling and grabbing onto one of Griever's wings. With a triumphant laugh he swung onto its back and jabbed his shorter but no less deadly sword into the monster's flesh, jumping away as Griever moved to find the pest out of its view.
"Golbez," Firion gasped. Picking up his bow from over his shoulder, Firion reached to his back and drew a fist of arrows. Spinning out from behind the pillar he shot one at Ultimecia. The witch vanished, and Firion's eyes darted around. A flash of feathers from a balcony and he turned to fire again as Ultimecia reappeared. The arrow whistled as it narrowly shot past her head. Scowling she waved a hand, a flurry of magic projectiles appearing in the air and firing at Firion. Rolling out of the way, Firion avoided them but they turned to circle back into the air.
"Insolent!" she seethed, leaping into the air. Arms held out, pairs of bolts fired up into the air from her palms and turned to rain down. Firion looked up and reached to his belt. Grabbing his daggers he flung them to the far side of the room where they wrapped around a pillar. Dropping to his back, the reel of cord on his belt began to wind, pulling him across the room. Smoking circles of charred black followed in his wake as the arrows tried to track him and missed. Rising to his feet and unraveling his daggers, Firion ran to Golbez's side as the former mage began to climb to his feet.
"We cannot hold off both of them," he said. "We must eliminate Griever."
"Great idea!" Luneth said, running over as Griever swiped at him. "And what have we been doing before now, playing with it?"
"Golbez!" The three looked up to see a familiar face emerge over a balcony on the other side of the room.
"Cecil?" Golbez asked, standing up. Tidus and Jecht ran in behind him. Griever turned its attention to the intruders and paused as it considered the potential change of opponent.
"Griever, pay them no mind! Focus on the others!" Ultimecia commanded. At the witch's words Griever turned to Firion, Luneth and Golbez and raised a claw. It slammed into the stone over their heads, forcing the three to run as rubble began to come down around them. On the opposite balcony Cecil jumped over the edge, grabbing a tapestry hanging on the wall and sliding to the ground, Jecht and Tidus following suit. A string of magical bolts flashed past them, slicing the tapestry apart and leaving them to fall the last few feet.
"We'll handle the witch!" Jecht shouted, landing on his feet and running forward. Ultimecia chuckled, vanishing in a flurry of feathers as Jecht swung at her. She reappeared behind him and snapped out her hands, twin blasts of energy slamming into his back to send him flying forward.
"Dad!" Tidus gritted his teeth and ran up to Ultimecia. The sorceress vanished and Tidus quickly looked around. She reappeared across the room and held her arms out. A flash of golden light drew Tidus' eyes to his feet, where an eight-pointed star of energy traced out. A column of blue magic pulsed up from it, sending him into the air. Cecil ran over to Golbez, and the brothers looked on as Firion and Luneth dodged Griever's claws.
"I cannot fight without my sword," Golbez said, nodding at Griever's torso where the blade sword was still embedded.
"Then let's go get it!" Cecil said, running into battle. "Firion, Luneth, keep him busy!"
"Easy for you to say!" Luneth snapped, running behind a pillar. The stone crumbled as Griever slashed at him, the balcony it supported creaking and falling. Firion reached to his belt and picked up his axe, throwing it at Griever's horns. One of them shattered, drawing the lion's gaze to him. Cecil leaped up, twirling his sword over his head, and slammed it into Griever's shoulder. Griever growled and lifted its other claw to slam it down on Cecil. He ducked and tilted the sword, bringing its other tip into Griever's palm. Below, Golbez reached up and grabbed his sword, pulling it free. Griever reared into the air, its claws clutching at the gaping wound. Its wings beat furiously, sending a gale across the room. Luneth ran up a pile of rubble and leapt across several balconies to get closer.
"Incoming!" he shouted. With a final jump and a cry, he landed on Griever's neck and slammed his sword into the back of its head. Ultimecia turned at the long moan of pain.
"Griever!" she cried, her eyes wide. Distracted, she was knocked back by Jecht's fist slamming into her stomach. As Griever struggled to stay in the air, Firion drew his bow again and notched three arrows. Flying with the skill of a master archer, the steel headed imbedded in its throat. Griever landed on the ground, wobbled on its legs, then tilted forward. Firion, Cecil and Golbez ran out of the way as the legendary beast was felled, the room shaking with its impact. Luneth grinned and put a foot on the back of its head to pull his sword out.
"The bigger they are," he said, jumping to the floor. Opposite the room, Ultimecia pushed herself off the ground and looked at Griever's body as it began to fade in swirls of black smoke and green light.
"Gri…Griever…" she whispered, standing. She reared to her full height as the assembled six heroes moved to stand together. "This insult will not be tolerated by a Sorceress!" she seethed. She slowly lifted a hand above her head, smiling. "Enough games!" With a snap of her fingers, dozens of magical bolts appeared in the air surrounding her and flitted through the air. The heroes scattered again, the bolts turning and weaving through the air. Golbez cried out as two sliced past his arm, leaving burn marks. Luneth was knocked back as one hit his chest and exploded.
"Your corpses will be preserved as statues in my new castle!" Ultimecia declared, flinging out a hand. A crest of light appeared under Tidus and Jecht, a blast of magic erupting from it. "You will serve as a warning to all who oppose me!" Out of view behind a pillar, closing his eyes as three bolts whistled past his face, Firion reached to his belt. Picking up his staff, the orb on it glowed purple. Stepping into view, Firion held out his arm to hide the staff from view behind the pillar.
"Ultimecia!" he shouted. The witch turned to him and sneered, waving her hand. Several bolts flying past her stopped and turned to fire at Firion. The rebel whirled his hand forward and pressed his palm against the orb of his staff. With a bright red glow, a column of orange light fired from it, orbs of red energy spiraling around it. Ultimecia gasped, stunned as her bolts vanished before the spell's wake. The fiery blast engulfed her, her wings snapping back. Gasping in the blast, she clenched her eyes shut.
"This can't...I…" Ultimecia's final words were buried beneath the explosion of the spell around her, an orb of red energy appearing around her and collapsing. Firion was panting, and he lowered his staff. The smoke cleared to reveal Ultimecia crumpled to the ground, feathers lying singled around her. Dark energy was spiraling into the air from her and vanishing. She weakly lifted her head as the heroes approached. "My…this last…my…time…not yet…" shuddering, she collapsed to the ground, fading away in a sparkle of light.
A barrier of light surged out of Cloud's sword, protecting him as several orbs of darkness slammed into the ground around him. Swinging the blade to disperse the smoke he leapt up.
"Same old tricks!" he yelled, landing on a blue barrier and jumping again. His slashed at Sephiroth, the swordsman flapping backwards. With a pulse of blast of light energy shot from the top of Cloud's sword, knocking Sephiroth back further. Flying around behind him, Terra held out a hand of send a large shard of ice flying through the air. It struck Sephiroth's back, drawing a grunt from him and pitching him forward. He turned and snapped his hand out. An orange crest appeared in the air, three pillars of flame erupting up from it. Terra weaved through them to safety, and the flames dispersed.
"Irritant," he muttered, eyes watching as Terra swooped back towards Cloud. A snap of his fingers manifested tendrils of darkness around him that swirled towards Cloud. Cloud held out his own hand in response, blasts of lightning shooting in three directions and dispersing them. Sephiroth dove forward, the glowing brightly. Slicing the air faster than Cloud or Terra could see, ribbons of energy sliced forward. A barrier rippled up over Cloud, Terra floating down behind him. Taking a moment to focus, Cloud hefted his sword over his shoulder and swung it out. Six glowing swords of light appeared in front of him and fired forward. Sephiroth was driven back through the air, the swords slamming into his body in rapid succession. Clutching his shoulder as he righted himself, he glared down at the two.
"I tire of these games," he whispered. Vanishing in a flight of feathers, Cloud gasped and leapt out of the way as a pillar of flame appeared from thin air. Falling through the air he turned and lifted his sword to block the Masamune from behind. Almost as quick as he registered the blow Sephiroth was gone again, and Cloud landed on a blue barrier. His senses spiked.
"Terra!" Terra turned and flew back as a blast of darkness fired past her, Sephiroth appearing and slashing at her with the Masamune. Cloud leapt up and he vanished again. The three weaved, jumped and flew through the air. Sephiroth vanished and reappeared in the blink of an eye, steel cutting and blasts of energy exploding from thin air. Terra grimaced as a slash caught her on the upper arm, drawing blood, and Cloud cried out as a slice appeared on his back, but they stayed a split-second ahead of the frenzied assault. Cloud turned to see a flash and swung his sword, but the flash vanished. Caught off-guard by the fake-out, Cloud darted his eyes to the side as Sephiroth lit up to his senses again. A clash of steel filled his ears and he turned his head.
Terra floated behind him, her sword held out glowing with blue energy. The Masamune hummed against it. With a sneer from Sephiroth a pulse of energy shot into the blade, knocking Terra back into Cloud. The two were sent spiraling through the air, a barrier appearing under them to cushion them before they hit the ground. A split second later though a burst of energy shot out from below it, shattering it and sending them flying to opposite sides of the roof. Cloud hit on his back, flipped head over heels and onto his feet, sliding backwards and digging in his heels. He hit a wall and fell to his hands and knees. Terra hit and rolled on her side, wincing as she hit the ruins of a wall. Hovering overhead, Sephiroth looked between the two for a moment.
"Do you see?" he asked, lowering to the ground, his wings brushing the stone as his feet touched down. "At my full potential, going all out, I am without equal. Even as two, you can barely defend yourselves. You're too weak, too pathetic, to be a threat to me."
"Still talking, always talking," Cloud muttered, standing up using his sword as a brace to push himself to his feet. "If you're so invincible, why aren't we dead?"
"I've toyed with you, let my cruelty get the better of me at the cost of my judgment. No more," he snorted.
"Maybe…or maybe you're just not as powerful as you'd like to think," Terra called. "You go all out and hurt us, but we're still standing."
"For now."
Sephiroth leapt into the air, Cloud and Terra following. A swirl of dark energy pushed them back, keeping them distracted as Sephiroth flew higher. Stopping below the dark clouds overhead, he looked up at the swirling vortex over the Chaos Shrine and thrust the Masamune into the air. The blade lit up brightly, Sephiroth's wings extending and spreading in the air.
"Now…" he whispered, his eyes glowing green. "This ends…" Cloud and Terra landed on the roof of the Chaos Shrine, and looked around. The shrine shook, and pieces of rubble and stone began to levitate into the air. Up above, Sephiroth tilted his head back, the clouds flashing and the vortex they met at speeding its turning. A ray of dark light shot out of the Masamune into the vortex. Cloud and Terra stumbled and fell backwards as the shrine's shaking grew stronger, the rubble around them floating up towards Sephiroth. The dark vortex then parted.
A massive orb of yellow and orange flame appeared behind Sephiroth, a ring of white light surrounding it. The rubble was being absorbed into it, the orb growing larger and slowly descending. Sephiroth slowly lowered his head to look down on them, silhouetted against the fire.
"Taste this…your final despair!" he crowed, snapping his arm down to point the Masamune at them. With a flash the orb of fire coiled around itself and shot downwards.
"I don't think we'll be dodging this one," Cloud said, his eyes wide. Terra set her mouth in a line and raised her arms, projecting a barrier over them.
"Get to cover, I'll take the brunt," she ordered.
"You can't endure that kind of power!" Cloud countered.
"Neither can you! If I can protect, you'll still have a chance to finish him!" Terra said. Cloud looked up at the oncoming fire wave and stepped up behind her. His sword swung up in front of her hands, his other hand and both of hers resting on the blade. It lit up in a flash of gold, the light extending into the barrier in ripples of blue and yellow. Terra turned her head to look at him behind her, and Cloud looked down at her.
"Then we'll protect each other!" he shouted. "We've come this far by working together, fighting as one, and we'll see it through the same way!" Terra nodded firmly, and the two looked back up. The fire wave came down, and the two closed their eyes and braced themselves.
The force of impact reverberated through the air with a deafening roar. The entire room was set ablaze, stone superheating and melting in the blast. Flying up ahead, Sephiroth slowly descended, watching the fire. Green eyes darted about looking for signs of movement. A shadow appeared from the flames, and he stilled.
"No…impossible…" he whispered, hand clenching at the air.
Cloud walked out of the flames of Sephiroth's attack, Terra in his arms leaning on his shoulder. Blue eyes staring forward, he stopped, stumbling slightly but remaining standing. Letting go of Terra's legs, he snapped his sword out to the side. A wave of light energy cleared away the remaining flames. The blade then turned forward to point at Sephiroth. Cloud was panting slightly, but his gaze didn't waver.
"That…all you got?"
Sephiroth scowled and dashed forward. Cloud caught the Masamune and slammed his fist into Sephiroth's chin, sending him stumbling back. Terra turned to him and stood up from Cloud.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, putting a hand to her chest and breathing heavily. Sephiroth was livid, his face and body language barely concealing his rage.
"You embarrass me yet again," he muttered, clenching his hand so tightly his nails dug into his skin.
"You can't win this, Sephiroth," Cloud warned. "It's over."
"You threw your best…and we're still here," Terra nodded. Sephiroth turned his head away, closing his eyes.
"I will not accept this…" he whispered, his hand shaking. "….I can't!" He lunged, the Masamune held over his head. Cloud blocked the blow and pushed him back, Sephiroth flying back into the air. Cloud jumped after him, landing on a blue barrier that appeared under his feet to deflect another slash.
"Cloud!" Terra called, flying past. "Like before!"
"What?" Cloud asked, watching Sephiroth shoot a blast of dark smoke at Terra, which she dodged narrowly.
"You said it yourself – we've come this far fighting as one!" she replied. Cloud realized what she meant, and nodded.
"Right!"
"Meaningless babbling!" Sephiroth snarled, his eyes blazing. "You'll die together!" rising into the air, he drew the Masamune back and dove at Cloud. Cloud jumped out of the way and spun his sword over his head, now glowing with golden energy again. Sephiroth halted his descent and looked up at him.
"Sephiroth!" he turned to see three orbs of light slam into his chest, Terra swooping in. With a grunt he was knocked back up into the air, wings hurriedly flapping to regain his bearings. Cloud snapped his sword out behind him, and then flung it out. With a flash the sword separated into its six components, the five auxiliary swords floating up and surrounding Sephiroth. Cloud leapt up, sword overhead and slashed down Sephiroth's back. Below, Terra held up her arms and fired a large fireball. It slammed into Sephiroth's chest and spun him around. Cloud had taken hold of one of the five auxiliary blades, and dashed past him to rake it across his waist. Doubling over, another fireball smacked into Sephiroth's face and pitched him backwards in the air. Cloud dashed back and forth, one by one slashing into Sephiroth's flesh with his swords as Terra bombarded him with fire.
Slashing with the sixth sword, Cloud let go and leapt up, holding his hand over his head. His original sword floated up to his grasp. Terra held out her arms, a field of blue energy appearing over Sephiroth. Gathering energy from the air itself, it collapsed upon him. The five swords surrounding him flashed and snapped up to Cloud, the six swords reassembling themselves.
"Cloud!" Terra called. "End this!" she snapped her hands together as Cloud descended, his sword held back. The blue energy field exploded, consuming Sephiroth in a blast of pure magical energy. In its wake Cloud tore through the smoke and stabbed.
Time seemed to stop as Sephiroth's eyes snapped open, blood streaked over his face. Cloud floated in the air above him, his sword embedded in Sephiroth's chest. Its tip emerged from his back, coated in blood. Leaping back in the air, Cloud charged forward once more. Sephiroth lifted the Masamune to block the attack, and the blades collided with a flash of light. Looking on from below, Terra watched as golden and purple streaks of energy poured off the two. Sephiroth gritted his teeth, and looked down. A white crack had appeared in the Masamune's blade, spreading out from where Cloud's sword was grinding on his own.
"C….Cloud…" Sephiroth gasped out, the Masamune vibrating.
"Farewell," Cloud said coldly. He swung his sword back over his head and cleaved down. With a shockwave of purple and gold energy the Masamune shattered, shards of metal flying through the air. Sephiroth cried out as he was flung back, slamming into a ruined wall and shattering it as he fell over the edge of the Chaos Shrine's roof and out of sight, a trail of black feathers falling to the ground along his path. Cloud descended to the ground, landing in a crouch.
"Think that's it?" Terra asked, approaching him. Cloud climbed to his feet, breathing heavily. There was a metallic clang, and he turned his head to see the tip of the Masamune spinning on the ground, still faintly glowing. Without a word he picked the shard up, the glow dying. It was only a few inches long now, barely long enough to be a dagger, even with a handle. He looked over the roof and saw a few glowing specks that might have been other pieces.
"That….this is my power…" he thought, looking back down at the broken blade tip. "Masamune…Sephiroth…"
"Cloud! Terra!" The two turned to the entrance to the shrine roof. Cloud dropped the fragment of the Masamune, discreetly kicking it away.
"Squall. Bartz, Zidane," he nodded as they came near. "You look frazzled."
"Eh, we had a bit of a fight. Little bit of fighting, little bit of ass-kicking, we're good now," Zidane shrugged.
"I'd say the same for you two. Trouble?" Squall asked.
"Sephiroth was here again," Terra said. "We dealt with him."
"Good. They're just distractions, buying time for Chaos," Squall advised.
"Speaking of which, we need to find Garland, it's gonna take all the Crystals to get to Chaos, right?" Bartz asked.
"No," a voice said in Cloud's head. "As Sephiroth said, the portal opens for the Crystal bearers…"
"…It doesn't have to be all ten of them. Hikari is gone, so we just need our nine together," Cloud said aloud, repeating the voice's instructions.
"Then we still have to find the others," Zidane said.
"They approach," the voice said. "Be patient."
"You're talkative again. Where were you during the battle?" Cloud asked.
"I felt my presence would be a distraction."
"How considerate."
His newfound advisor didn't respond, and Cloud turned his attention to the group again.
"Does anyone need healing?" Terra asked.
"I think we're okay," Zidane shrugged. "But, well, if your healing hands are available," he wagged his eyebrows slightly. "If Cloud doesn't mind, that is."
"I'll pass, thank you," Terra said, smiling. Cloud didn't show a response to the mention of his name, though Bartz watched for one. A moment later, there was movement from the corner of their eyes and they turned to the other entrance to the roof.
"Hey!" Tidus cried, running forward.
"You're all safe," Terra said, smiling.
"Sure, piece of cake. Kill a giant lion, blast a witch," Luneth shrugged.
"Ultimecia?" Squall asked, eyes widening slightly.
"Yeah. We took care of her," Jecht grinned. "Sorry kid, but it's first come first serve in battle." Squall snorted.
"Whatever. Good thing for her you found her and not me," he muttered.
"We are all assembled now?" Golbez asked.
"Yes," Firion nodded. Golbez lifted a hand and pointed. The group looked where he pointed. A small ramp leading into nothingness was on the far roof of the Chaos Shrine.
"That is the focus point for the Crystals. We must focus our energy there," he said. Cecil reached into his armor and pulled out his Crystal. The other eight followed suit, Terra manifesting hers from her necklace and Cloud pulling out his from his pocket.
Stepping out from the group and approaching the ramp, Cloud's Crystal lit up bright green. Behind him, the other eight also lit up in various colors and floated forward out of the grasp of their holders. Cloud opened his hand and watched his Crystal float forward as well. The eight Crystals floated into formation, forming a circle of eight vertically in the air with Cloud's in the center. Beams of light shot from the eight Crystals to Cloud's, its own green glow fading in their midst. A ray of rainbow light fanned out from Cloud's Crystal, travelling along the ground, up the ramp and up through the air. As it travelled in the air at the end of the ramp, a glowing purple and black portal appeared. Their task done the Crystals floated back to their holders, dropping into their hands.
"This is it," Cloud said, turning around. "Ready?" he asked the group. They nodded and stepped forward. Cloud turned back to the portal and moved to step towards it, then paused. Terra walked past him after the others, but stopped when she noticed Cloud wasn't following them. She turned to him to see his head held low. Ahead, Golbez and Jecht stopped as well. The others had already crossed over.
"Cloud?" Terra called, approaching him.
"Not yet…wait…" he whispered. "I can feel it…he's still alive…" Cloud lifted his head to look at Terra. "He's dying, but he's clinging…" Terra got a knowing look in her eyes.
"It doesn't matter now, right?" Terra replied. "He was just a distraction, now that the portal is open we can deal with Chaos."
"I know, but if this is really it, I have to see it…I have to make sure, that it's the true end," Cloud replied. "Go on, go with the others. I'll join you once I see him."
"Are you sure?" Terra asked.
"Yeah. I just want to be sure he's dead, and I'll be there."
"We'll stay here and make sure the portal is clear," Golbez said behind them.
"But don't take too long," Jecht said, crossing his arms. Terra nodded and turned from Cloud, stepping up to the blue vortex. It rippled like water as she put a hand through it, then stepped through entirely. Turning away, Cloud walked to the edge of the roof, sliding his sword into the harness on his back. Looking over the side he coiled his legs and jumped down, landing on a slanted roof and sliding down. Looking back to make sure he could get back up, he jumped down to the final ledge, slowly rising to his feet.
Several feet away, Sephiroth lay sprawled out on his back. Rubble and stone littered the ground around him, the roof cracked under him to form a small crater from the impact of his landing. Blood and feathers lay on the ground around him, his wings torn to shreds and stained red. His head lay back against the stone, his eyes closed. Blood was streaked down his face and chest, his limbs limp. Cloud stepped towards him, and emerald eyes cracked open. Sephiroth slowly raised his head and managed a small smile, leaning his head back.
"Satisfied at last, Cloud?" he whispered. "Does it please you to see me battered like this at your hands?"
"Actually, not as much as I thought it might," Cloud replied, stopping before him. "After all the times we've fought, seeing you on the brink of death has lost its impact." Sephiroth let out a bitter chuckle. "This is it, you know. You won't be coming back. Ever," Cloud reminded him.
"Perhaps," Sephiroth said. "But you are foolish if you think I accept that result. Death will not claim me without a fight, it never has."
"Try if you like then. Even if you manage to come back, I'll kill you again. As many times as it takes," Cloud vowed. "I've always stopped you before, and I'll continue stopping you until you give up."
"Then you and I are destined to an eternity of conflict, for I shall never give up," Sephiroth said, channeling as much ferocity into his voice as he could. Turning his head to the side, Sephiroth let out a low murmur. "But…if per chance, these are indeed my final breaths, Cloud…I ask you indulge me with a final request."
"Why should I?" Cloud asked.
"A simple favor, from a fallen foe to the 'hero'. Consider it an act of mercy. If I am to die, allow me my dignity." Sephiroth's hand flicked to the side, and Cloud followed it to see what he was gesturing at. The broken handle of the Masamune laid not far away, leaning against the ruins of a broken pillar. Cloud walked towards it and picked it up. Even broken, the shard still stuck in the handle came to a point.
"Grant you your dignity, so you can rise up and stab me with it?" Cloud said suspiciously. Sephiroth snorted.
"I would, had I the strength. But had I the strength to stand and plan a final ambush, I would have taken it myself and waited with it here. So put your mind at ease, there is no trickery here," he replied. Cloud looked back at the blade in his hands and paused, then casually flung the sword away. It hit the roof and clanged loudly, bouncing away, sliding with a metallic screech until it came to the edge of the roof, then fell twirling in the abyss below. Sephiroth turned away. "I am not surprised…I see I did not underestimate you."
"For once. Every time we fought, you underestimated me greatly, and I killed you," Cloud said. Sephiroth closed his eyes.
"Every time but the last…interesting twist of fate, that I at last meet my equal in power on the eve of my demise. I can admit that at last, now…I fought to the fullest extent of my strength and was struck down…you are my better, in the end, Cloud." Sephiroth's wings lit up in a dark glow, and as Cloud watched they dissolved into particles of light. Sephiroth looked down at them and closed his eyes.
"The Lifestream calls once again," he whispered. "I confess I have always wondered what awaits me beyond that final light, the other side of the border between life and death…perhaps your friends shall be there. Or perhaps I go to my own personal purgatory. Either way, I shall face my fate with a high head." Cloud walked back to Sephiroth and knelt down, resting his arm on his knee.
"You do that. And know that if you ever dare to try and find another way to crawl back, I'll put you down again," he whispered back. His wings gone, dark smoke rose from Sephiroth's body, his arms and legs fading away. "Even if I'm an old man when it happens, I'll ever forget, no one will. I'll always remember what you've done, to me and everyone else on the planet. But I'll be content to know that after it all, you were dead and gone."
"Then I too, shall be content, that I may live on as a shadow of fear in the hearts of the peasants…heroes and villains all die in their time, but legends do not, even if they are legends of terror and chaos. Thus I will take that small victory and cherish it in the beyond," Sephiroth said, closing his eyes as his torso vanished. "To be naught but a memory after all…even if an everlasting one…Farewell Cloud…" With a final flash of light, Sephiroth shattered into thousands of small particles of dark light, flying away and flitting through the air for a few seconds before burning out and vanishing. Cloud watched them disperse, closing his eyes and letting out a breath.
"He's gone…" he thought. Something inside him – he wasn't sure if it was some remnant of his Sephiroth cells or due to his new abilities – lightened as the final particle faded. Opening his eyes, Cloud turned to look up at the wall of the Chaos Shrine and began climbing, jumping up the ledges back to the roof.
"How'd it go?" Jecht asked as he came into view.
"He's dead," Cloud replied, heading towards the portal. "Did everyone make it through?"
"Yeah, Firion told us it's a bit hot on the other side but they're safe. They're heading on to Chaos now."
"Right, let's go," Cloud said. He stepped between the two towards the glowing vortex, when a loud sound caused him to spin around. Across the room, the collapsed stairwell shook, and one of the pieces of rubble blocking it began to shift position.
"The Crystelle," Golbez muttered. "They've arrived."
"We've gotta hurry then, if they get through they'll overwhelm us," Cloud said. Jecht looked over at Golbez, who shifted his eyes and Jecht's direction and nodded.
"Yup. Get goin' then kid," Jecht said, moving in front of Cloud. Golbez walked up beside him, reaching over his shoulder to draw his sword.
"What?" Cloud cried.
"We shall hold off the Crystelle as long as we can. You hurry to Chaos and destroy him," Golbez explained.
"No, we're going to fight him together!" Cloud insisted. Golbez looked over his shoulder, his eyes clouded.
"We cannot…the portal will not let us pass," he whispered.
"We tried it, doesn't like us. We're stuck here," Jecht nodded. He looked back at Cloud as well and smiled. "So, let's make the best of it."
"But…" Cloud protested.
"This is the end of our paths, but yours continues on to the God of Discord. Go, do not let all our efforts be in vain!" Golbez urged. The rubble on the stairs shifted again, a large block falling to the ground.
"The longer you stand here talking, the better the chance they'll get to you before you finish the job," Jecht grunted.
"There was never a guarantee of salvation even if we went with you," Golbez said. "We have made our choices!" Cloud looked between them and nodded.
"I'll let them know!" he shouted. "I'll make sure Tidus and Cecil let everyone on your worlds know what you did!" Turning around, Cloud jumped into the portal. It flashed as he vanished into it. The stairwell entrance shook again, another piece of rubble coming out of place. Flashes of color could be seen through the gaps in the rubble now.
"Hey, got any regrets about it all?" Jecht asked, looking up at Golbez.
"Far too many to count," Golbez nodded, tightening his grip on his sword. "But this is not one of them."
"Same here," Jecht grinned, hefting his sword over his shoulder.
The rubble was knocked out of place, and the first Crystelle stepped over the rest to emerge on the roof. Without another world, Golbez and Jecht charged forward into battle.
Cloud fell a few inches as he emerged from the portal. He looked behind him to see it was gone, and turned back around, his eyes surveying the landscape. The entire area was a field of molten magma, but somehow it was only humid and not as hot as the environment would have indicated. A path of black rock stretched before his feet, leading up to a long black staircase up stone pillar. Glowing orange, red and black spires emerged from the ground stretching into the distance, and meteors rained down from blackened clouds.
"The Edge of Madness," he whispered, starting forward. He walked briskly, looking up the stairs before him. He couldn't see anything up them and so kept going. The path wasn't that long, but it was eerily silent. When he reached the first step Cloud hesitated for only a moment before he began climbing. His footsteps were the only sounds that reached his ears. The sword on his back bumped into his shoulder in a steady rhythm, his feet climbing at a calm pace. His hands tightened slightly, his eyes narrow. As he neared the top he saw the torsos of figures come into view. They had already arrived.
Cloud stepped onto the top of the plateau and walked forward between Terra and Bartz. The other eight Warriors of Cosmos formed a row before the stairs, facing the opposite side of the large black platform they were on. Cloud stepped out in front of the group and forced himself to take slow, steady breaths as he watched the being sitting opposite him.
Chaos' lower hands were flung lazily on the armrests of his throne, his upper hands clasped in front of his chest. A single slender claw slowly tapped against the back of the other hand. His tail hung in the air to the right, twitching randomly. Pupil-less red eyes opened, and though he couldn't tell visually, Cloud knew Chaos was looking at him. The god sat back, wings folding in and upper set of arms. Beside him Garland stood silently, eyes glowing yellow within his helmet. Chaos chuckled darkly.
"Welcome to my throne…Warriors of Light."