The Calamity

Once they passed through the transgate, the lush green of Pulsian land expanded before them. Tifa couldn't imagine it turning into the wasteland of Midgar; if they didn't act soon, Jenova will suck the life out of this world, all to meet her vague "Maker". She could see the Adamantoise in a herd on the Archylte Steppe, walking away from Cocoon along with the rest of the wildlife. The way they moved…She could tell they were running from something serious.

'Jenova…'

Sazh navigated the airship to their camp back in Vallis Media, keeping it just low enough for the l'Cie to jump out of the hatch.

"Don't let Lady Luck down now!" he called over his shoulder.

Snow gave a salute. "See you at the after-party," he said before turning around and following the others to ground level. As soon as the airship ascended out of sight, they turned their direction to the path that led to the Steppe…and the end of their journey.

"Keep a clear head," Lightning said calmly as she took the lead, with Cloud just behind. As the rest of the Pulse l'Cie followed, their silence masked the raging thoughts in their heads. The end of the terror was so close, and it was their choice to reach it. As much as the fal'Cie flaunted their powers and abilities to control their fates, it was ultimately up to them to make the choices. The small but strong flicker of hope rested in their hearts, helping the l'Cie take the future into their own hands.

Once teeming with wildlife, the Archylte Steppe now felt barren and empty. No creature could be seen across the greenlands as the l'Cie made their way toward the pillar. Cloud felt himself torn into two halves, with each half pulling farther apart as the pillar came closer. Deep within his heart, he wanted to sweep Lightning up and take her far away, doing whatever he can to delay her inevitable fate. He wished there was more time left for them, but it looked like fate consistently denied them the chance. In the back of his mind, Cloud could clearly see Lightning transforming into a monstrous cie'th – a momentary lapse that almost plunged him into dread.

With each step, a silhouette began to appear more clearly at the base of the pillar. Golden hair swayed in the wind, a beacon in the early sunset. Cloud cautiously reached back and gripped the main blade's handle; Vincent wrapped his fingers around Cerberus expectantly. Serah's fingers grazed the bowstring, eager to counter any movement the primarch could make. Tifa and Snow's hands clenched tightly into fists.

But it was only Lightning who remained calm, who didn't show anything in her stone hard glare. Her hands remained relaxed at her sides as she took the lead, never breaking her gaze from the primarch.

At last, when the l'Cie stopped a good 15 feet from Jenova, the primarch turned away from the pillar and took them in with her bright blue eyes. Like Lightning's, her visage was hard, unyielding.

"For a while, I found it amusing that you think you could stop me." She lightly shook her head with disappointment. "Now, it's just bothersome."

"Glad to disappoint you," Lightning retorted.

Though Jenova put up a strong front, the l'Cie could see through the bravado. Jenova was down to her last resort – Lightning's life as a fail-safe – and even that move is risky. Pitting loved ones against one another was a smart move, but no one could see this level of determination coming.

"End this now, Jenova." Cloud finally unsheathed the main blade, holding it at the ready beside Lightning. "Even without the gold materia, we won't let you destroy this world."

But the primarch simply gave him an amused look, her head slightly tilting to the side. "And you truly believe you can stop me? When you couldn't even stop me from killing that Cetra in front of your eyes?"

Rage rippled through Cloud, growing stronger with every inhalation. It took much of his willpower to keep him from seeing red, from charging forward and avenging Aerith. No matter how many times he tried to put the past behind him, he could never shake that failure off.

Tifa gritted her teeth. That dark moment was seared into her memory, unable to escape it. In no time at all after meeting her, Aerith and Tifa bonded like good friends, and they never lost their way up until Aerith's life was taken. For a long time, she had blamed Sephiroth for Aerith's passing, but Tifa knew now that the true mastermind of her death was right in front of her.

The team caught the hint of a smirk from Jenova, as she completed her intent in tearing open old wounds. She brushed a lock of hair from her shoulder, ridding herself of the incident like an inconvenience. "It doesn't matter anymore. My time has come." A sinister smile grew upon her features as she turned back to the pillar. Her hands rose before the mighty continent. "The era of humanity is over, and with the return of the Maker, we can recreate this world to our liking."

Cloud saw Lightning briefly glance over her shoulder, her expression baring a hint of concern. The mind games were tricky, but she had faith he could see through it all. Cloud gave her a firm nod, shaking out the blind anger that threatened to overtake him. They would get their revenge for their lost friend – that much was guaranteed.

"Not gonna happen," Snow growled, clenching his hands into fists.

Serah spun the bow in her palm and readied an arrow. "We're not your pawns anymore."

Vincent stepped forward and stood beside Lightning, pulling Cerberus out of its holster. "You think you can scare us by turning Lightning into a l'Cie, risking her life to reach your goals."

"Don't take us for idiots," Tifa warned as she readied her stance. "At the end of the day, you can't control us."

Cloud planted his feet firmly beside Lightning. He couldn't rip his eyes away from the being, the entity that haunted his life. No matter what he did, she wrapped her tendrils around everything he held dear, just to tear them apart. This was a chance for freedom not just for him, but for Lightning and the others, who never asked to get swept up in this mess. They deserved to be free of this darkness, no matter what it took.

"You've taken everything from us." He leveled his breathing as he unsheathed the main blade. "You treat us like dogs, so don't be surprised when we bite back."

All but Lightning stood at the ready; she kept her hard glare with the primarch's. "You thought you snuffed out the last bit of hope in us. In me. For a moment, you almost had me. But not anymore. My will is my own." She took the Blazefire Saber out of its holster and pointed its extended form toward Jenova. With lips curled back into a snarl, she defied her maker one last time. "I've had my fair share of abuse from your kind, and we're here to end it, once and for all!"

Jenova's eyes glowed a bright green hue before the rest of her body illuminated. "Suit yourself. It's just a matter of time until I rid myself of your infestation." She levitated from the ground and spread her arms wide as she tilted her head toward the sky. "If you're so adamant about dying, then come!"

A blinding light engulfed Jenova. The l'Cie shielded their eyes, yet still gripped their weapons tightly. Dust billowed around them, easing up only when a shadow finally loomed from above. A machine-like sphere descended upon the l'Cie, its layers of gold and silver gleaming in the sunset. Two tentacles thrashed about from its front side, with clouds of dark smoke emanating from the tips.

The stigma, Cloud surmised. But what captured most of his attention was the metallic figure of an angelic woman between the tentacles. Her surface was bare and silver, save for the green eye sockets that shined like emeralds.

In an instant, Cloud was brought back to Nibelheim – the horrible night which he could never forget. In his mind's eye, he could see Sephiroth walking up to the angel-like doll. What he saw before him in the present reminded him exactly of the Jenova effigy underneath the mansion; he remembered seeing it in his nightmares after they defeated Sephiroth. Dread and rage stirred within Cloud, but in the end, it made him all the more eager to be rid of the fal'Cie.

Dark tendrils sprouted from the ground and raced toward the crystal pillar, anxious to jumpstart Jenova's plan. Tifa gritted her teeth and lifted her foot before slamming it to the ground. Torrents of water rushed out of her brand and flooded toward the pillar, racing with the darkness to see which could reach it first. Sure enough, the water made it in time to throw up a cerulean wall before the crystal pillar, and it proved to be impenetrable by the darkness. Siren appeared nearby, strumming her harp with ferocity to maintain the integrity of the water.

The dark tendrils ricocheted off the water and directed itself back toward the l'Cie. At the last moment, the l'Cie jumped out of the way as the tendrils ravaged the ground they had just stood upon. Cloud reached his hand toward the l'Cie brand, and a pale aqua orb rested in his palm before he tossed it toward the sky. Following suit, Lightning called forth the rose crystal from her chest, crushing it to shards as thunder rippled through the clouds in the sky. In a large flurry of wind, Valefor and Odin revealed themselves before they lunged toward Jenova's beastly form. An intense beam of energy erupted from Valefor's beak, and she aimed it at Jenova. However, it only caused the smallest of charring damage. Odin did his best to avoid the tentacles as he brought his Zantetsuken blade to slice across Jenova's surface. Not even a scratch could be seen. Cloud and Lightning synchronized their strikes with the Eidolons, exploiting any opening they found, only to be thwarted by the tendrils or Jenova's seemingly impenetrable shell.

From afar, Vincent aimed shot after shot at the tendrils, intent on keeping them at bay. Whenever they got too close, he leaped out of the way. Tifa did her best to maneuver out of their reach. After endless flips and dodges, she would think she was safe until another one almost ensnared hadn't Vincent sent a bullet in its direction. Together, they raced toward the pillar to put distance between it and the darkness, throwing up endless walls of water and air alongside Siren. One spellcast proved to be futile; they found themselves preparing for each strike, the onslaught refusing to weaken.

Meanwhile, Snow and Serah drew some of Jenova's attention on the opposite end, batting away dark tendrils that came their way. They managed to hold their ground, but Jenova knew the team's weaknesses all too well.

"You can act strong, but don't think I'm blind to your weakness!" Her voice rang out like an echo as the darkness surged toward Serah and Snow. Serah wrestled with a tendril that wrapped around her bow, but once she managed to wrench it free, it was too late. She couldn't move anywhere by the time she noticed the darkness; her breath was caught in her throat, and her heart pounded in her ears.

Before Serah could react, Snow put himself before her as the darkness engulfed him, crushing his body with an intangible force.

"Snow!"

Adrenaline shot through Cloud at the sight of Snow. Their efforts at the moment were ending up ineffective. He refused to drag it on any longer and give Jenova the opportunity at a victory. As the others gained Jenova's attention, Cloud reached back and drew the hollow blade before attaching it to the main blade, then drew one of the back blades for his left hand.

Valefor hovered close and whipped her tail around with steady speed. One thought from Cloud's mind assured her that he was ready; in a flurry, she spun and reached her tail out just as Cloud jumped and planted his feet on her tail. Her tail shot him forward like a sling, and he flew toward Jenova with fierce determination.

Serah spun her bowsword into its blade form and swung down on the tendril ensnaring Snow. As he shook his head clear upon release, Serah spun on her heel and twirled the bowsword in her hand, reverting it back to its bow form and charging it up to bitterly release a barrage of arrows in Jenova's direction.

Odin handed Lightning his combined Zantetsuken blade. Without skipping a beat, he took her other hand and spun to launch her toward Jenova as well. The l'Cie brand had burst open like a fire in her chest, but she refused to back down now.

Meanwhile, Vincent had drawn a hand to his chest, grasping at the crimson fang shard that appeared before him. He tossed it in the air, and Ifrit emerged in his knightly fire and glory. He handed his lance to Vincent without hesitation; the l'Cie folded it into its shotgun form and took aim at Jenova's center.

They were sure that attacking Jenova on multiple fronts was bound to leave an opening, but she refused to go down so easily. As Cloud and Lightning continued to close in, Jenova lashed out with one of her physical tentacles and struck Lightning in the head, knocking her off course. Cloud's heart leapt to his throat, but there was nothing he could do. It was now or never to finish this nightmare.

As he approached, Cloud raised his swords high above his head. Once his feet landed on the ground, he brought the swords down, but they were met by Jenova's limber appendages, shielding her from his every strike. No matter how swift he was, Cloud had trouble breaking through the last of her defenses.

Before Lightning could collide with the ground, Tifa slid forward and held her arms out to catch the l'Cie. Dirt and rocks flew around them as they skidded to a halt; Lightning rolled into a crouch, breathing heavily as she squeezed her eyes shut from pain. Tifa quickly righted herself into a crouch as well and looked to Lightning for a sign of reassurance, but she held her breath at the sight of the glowing red eyes. There was something otherworldly in Lightning's voice as she struggled to hold back the force threatening to consume her.

Her nails dug into the ground, her body heaving with every breath. It only took a moment to realize – this was it. Any moment now, they could lose Lightning and everything they've worked for. Tifa braced herself for what was to come; would she have to put down her friend here, or allow her to end the lives of those she cherished?

Tifa was certain of one thing. Lightning wouldn't want to end things like this: in a moment where she had no control, where her last moments were decided for her. 'No…Not yet!'

Tifa reached out and gripped Lightning's hand, squeezing it tightly. "You can do this," she murmured steadfastly, low enough for only Lightning to hear. "You can beat this!" The glowing red eyes locked in with hers, finally seeing the strength to fight back. Lightning gritted her teeth with a growl, internally willing the force to recede.

In a matter of seconds, Tifa felt Lightning's grip slacken, and she let out an exhausted breath. Tifa helped her get up on her feet and looked toward the monstrosity that was Jenova. A glance toward Lightning's visage showed that her eyes were no longer glowing, yet the crimson color settled in to replace her pale aqua irises.

Lightning gave Tifa a firm nod, who returned the gesture before willing Siren to return to her side. With a single thought, Lightning instructed Odin to keep Zantetsuken for the time being. Once he retrieved his blade, Lightning unsheathed the Blazefire Saber and flicked it into sword mode, and together, she and Tifa rushed toward Jenova will all their strength.

Of course, the fal'Cie wouldn't give them the opportunity to strike so easily. Mechanical tendrils shot from the sphere and rushed toward the pair, scourging the ground as they approached. Torrents of water erupted from where Siren hovered, giving the tendrils as much resistance as possible. Even then, some of them got too close.

Tifa refused to let them slow Lightning down for a second. With great leaps, she managed to kick and swat back the appendages that got too close to Lightning, though this slowed her pace. At last, it was only Lightning left to charge Jenova. From the corner of her eye, she saw Cloud merge his Fusion swords together with the main blade, preparing for a final strike. Snow and Serah followed Tifa's lead – distracting the other appendages to keep them off of Cloud.

"Light!" she barely heard Snow shout. "Cloud! Go!"

As Lightning began to approach, Cloud's steps synchronized with hers. He gripped his fused sword with both hands and rushed toward the creature that haunted his life. It was time to be rid of this calamity forever.

A moment too late, it appeared that Jenova saw watched her devious plan crumble right before her. "Stop!" her voice echoed, demanding control over her l'Cie one last time.

But Lightning was having none of it. She could have sworn she saw horror over the metallic figure's features, but she reminded herself that fal'Cie felt no remorse.

"I'm no one's slave!" she shrieked as she brought the Blazefire Saber in with an upward strike. Electricity surged through her veins; with every strike, Lightning moved faster, struck harder. She focused her attacks in the same spot, never losing aim. On the opposite side, Cloud swung his sword mightily, creating more indents. Sure enough, Jenova's shell began to crack. Tendrils continued to thrash wildly, but Cloud and Lightning's swift movements avoided all of them. Neither of them tired, their attacks continuing relentlessly until the bending metal finally revealed a gap – an opening to Jenova's interior.

At last, Lightning gripped her Saber with both hands as she spun on her heel, ready to give a final strike. Her heart pounded in her ears when she flipped her grip on the blade and plunged it into the gaping wound, driving it in with all her might. She raised a free hand, calling to Odin with her thoughts. He immediately answered and threw a connected Zantetsuken to her, and she caught it with ease. Right next to her Saber, Lightning sank her Eidolon's blade into Jenova's shell.

The fal'Cie released a painful and thundering cry; the tendrils were frozen and shriveling, their blackness fading to gray. By then, the female figure began to move, her lips stretching to mimic her shriek. The bright green eyes were fixated on Lightning, and her claws stretched out toward her. Lightning focused on driving Zantetsuken deeper, hoping that it would finish her off for good. She returned Jenova's glare, her crimson eyes glowing brighter with rage.

Cloud drew his sword to his left side, as if preparing to unleash it from an invisible sheath. Gripping the handle with both hands, he put all his strength into one last swing, throwing every ounce of effort into the strike. He could feel the end at his fingertips, Jenova's well-deserved demise in his sights. He had to end it here, even when one last string pulled at his heart. Lightning was counting on him to follow through with their mission, and Cloud couldn't let her down now. He remembered the pain, the losses, and the victories that proved to him that Jenova wasn't inevitable. Cloud refused to allow her to leave any more scars in his life.

As his sword sliced through metal and armor, Vincent took aim at Jenova's core once again. At dead center, he pulled the trigger, allowing the bullets to whistle through the air and pierce Jenova's armor.

A deafening cry almost shattered everyone's ears. Then, a blinding light erupted from Jenova's figure and engulfed the l'Cie. None of them knew what to do – cover their ears from the unbearable screech, or shield their eyes from the glare.

Before they lost sight, Cloud and Lightning looked to one another with indescribable waves of emotion. Fear, anger, relief, joy, pain…neither of them were ready for what was to come afterward. Cloud couldn't understand how anyone could live with the gravity of the emotions weighing in his heart. In that moment, he wouldn't have known how to describe what he felt towards Lightning.

He was certain of one thing: Lightning was finally free. To save one thing he cherished from Jenova's grasp was more than enough. Cloud felt the weight finally lift off of his chest as he fell into oblivion, at peace to know that what he did was right.

Serah knew her mind was awake, but nothing came to focus until she saw her hands before her. Wandering thoughts came to her head as she looked across the vast expanse of the Archylte Steppe. What was she doing there? How much time had passed? She saw three other figures around her, but her mind couldn't place names on them for the longest of seconds.

The one closest to her was incredibly tall with long blonde hair; he stretched his arms out like she did, as if curiously questioning his presence.

"Snow?" Even hearing her own voice felt surreal for a moment. She remembered this feeling from before…as if she had just woken up from a dream.

A dream that came back to her like a crashing wave.

'Jenova…Cloud…Lightning!'

Her memories flooded back as her eyes darted back and forth. To her left, Tifa spun on her heels, taking in her location with shock. Far ahead close to the pillar, Vincent walked toward them, his eyes also darting around.

Holding her breath, Serah rushed to Snow and wrapped her arms around him, waiting to see if she were to wake up from a dream again…only this time, he was really there. She gave a great sigh of relief and held him close, and she could feel his big arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace.

"Serah…We're alive!" She could hear the surprise and relief in his voice. He lifted her off her feet and buried his face into her hair, the feeling of everything being unreal still hanging in the air around them.

As Snow set her back down, Tifa and Vincent joined them, exchanging looks of relief and unexplainable joy.

"We did it," Tifa uttered breathlessly. Thinking quickly, she knelt and bent the side of her shoe. Emotions welled up inside at the sight of the clear skin on her ankle; she brushed it with her thumb, making sure it was completely free of the Pulse l'Cie brand.

Serah and Snow checked their arms immediately, squeals and laughter erupting as they realized they were free. Vincent laid a hand on his chest, realizing that his burden was lifted as well. Did this mean they truly completed their Focus?

"Cloud! Lightning!" Tifa's voice chirped excitedly as she turned around, her eyes searching the plains around them. Seconds after taking in the sight, however, her smile gradually dissolved. Nothing else was there aside from billowing dust and the crystal pillar, safe and intact.

Vincent turned to search as well, and Serah and Snow held hands as they looked across the plains.

"Light?" Snow called out. Dread was slowly but surely settling in, and the longer they looked, the heavier their hearts grew. Vincent and Tifa decided to disperse and search farther, in case the blast somehow blew them into the distance. Snow looked toward the horizon; the sun was almost gone. If they were somehow in stasis after defeating Jenova, Cloud couldn't have gone too far.

And then it hit him. If they were in stasis, it meant that they completed their Focus. They stopped Jenova. But for Lightning…

Snow fearfully turned toward Serah, who was slowly stepping forward, toward the pillar. She seemed to be in shock, and he worried if she was starting to put the pieces together, as well. How could she handle the fact that her sister had lost to the fal'Cie, after working so hard to save them before? Snow knew it would be too much for Serah to bear, especially after they had just reunited after a year.

"Where are they?" he heard Serah ask uneasily. Pursing his lips, he struggled to find the words. Snow couldn't just outright say it –

"They were just here."

His forehead creased. "What was that…?"

Serah turned to him confused, but not with the worry he had expected. "We beat Jenova, and they were just here. Where did they go?"