Chapter 9: The Chaos Fight
"Hello?" The stuffed mog finally talked after 4 days of silence.
Yuffie jumped up, suddenly awoken from her light sleep. "Cait?!"
"Yes, I am Cait Sith."
"Guys come quick! Cait's awake!" Yuffie cheered out.
Barret was the first into the room, grumbling and cursing the whole way. But he was suddenly awake when he saw Cait. Red was the lost one in, a thoughtful look on his face as he appeared in the doorway.
"Hi everyone." Cait said, looking at them all, as if for the first time.
"Hey Cait." Cloud eyed him carefully, "You ok?"
"Course I'm ok. Why do you ask?"
"Well you've been out for four days." Tifa piped in.
"Yea...well I was off running some bussiness for Shinra." He replied hastily, maybe even a little too hastily.
"What the hell you goin' doin' Shinra's durty work fer?" Barret asked, sleep still evident in his voice.
"Shinra isn't so bad anymore guys. Not after the meteor crisis." This time his reply was more carefully put.
Red still sat in the corner, now speaking quietly to Vincent.
Cid lit up a new cigar. "Damnit you had us worried Cid. Thought you were dead or somethin." He puffed smoke into the air.
"I'm sorry guys, but it was really important." Cait said defensively. For a moment there was silence.
"What was this really important thing?" Vincent's voice rang out from the corner. The nighmare haunted voice cut into the silence.
Cait looked at Vincent for a moment. A look of recognition sprang onto his face, but only for a moment, and it disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Well..uh...it's classified."
"So classified we can't even here about it?" Cloud questioned.
"Sorry guys. No can do." Cait forced a smile.
"At least tell us where you went to go on this mission." Red spoke for the first time.
"I really can't guys." An awkward silence fell on the group again. A rift between Cait and the rest had been made. But for now he was allowed to travel with them. Off once again on the journey to find Sephiroth.
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"I'm sorry Seph, I just can't keep going." Blood escaped his mouth and nose. Hise black eyes were rimmed with red, blue, and purple. His face was scarred, blood running from some of the more fresh wounds.
"Of course you can." Sephiroth gave a hard kick to his ribs. "Do you think Cloud is going to show you any mercy when you fight him?" He asked, as he kicked him again.
"I can't...go on..." He said in between coughs of blood.
"Then get up and training is over."
Tyler attempted to get to his feet, but one of his legs was obviously broken. "I can't, my legs broken!" Desperation filled his voice. "Please Sephiroth, help me get up."
His only response however was a kick to the leg. "You just don't THINK you can't get up. Now, get up!" His voice boomed even in the desert wind.
A scream escaped Tyler's throat, but he quickly repressed it. My leg will heal. He thought, trying once again to get to his feet. This time he accomplished to stand for a few seconds. Sephiroth kicked at his bad leg again, causing him to fall once more.
"Again."
"Stop this. I CAN NOT do this." Tyler's voice was filled with hidden anguish. He wasn't sure if all this was worth it. He wasn't sure if Sephiroth was all that great a man anymore. Maybe, just maybe he had chosen the wrong side.
But he got up, and this time Sephiroth let him stand. "Now follow me back to camp." Sephiroth said, walking away at a quick pace.
Tyler stumbled trying to keep up. He fell many times, hiding screams of pain and torment.
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"There he is!" Tifa yelled from the side of the flying airship. "Cloud over here! It's Sephiroth!" Cloud scrambled over to Tifa's side.
"Cid! Land the ship now!" No sooner had the orders been ordered the ship began to plumet. Faster and faster it sped toward the ground.
Cloud grabbed Tifa and jumped out of the falling airship. He held her and absorbed the fall. He quickly put her back on her feet and raced off to catch up to the two walking men.
"Sephiroth! Tyler!" He yelled. The two turned around, both drawing their swords at the exact same moment. Time itself seemed to freeze as two Sephiroth suddenly pointed two Masamunes at Cloud.
Cloud drew his Buster sword and quickly went into a battle stance. Tifa ran up beside his side. A thousand thoughts flowing through her mind. Sephiroth and Zack, no one had identified which was which, stood ready for the fight. Cloud dug his feet in and sprang into the air. The sand behind him kicked up in a mini sand-storm. Before the dust could settle Cloud was hacking and slashing at the two.
Sephiroth was keeping his power down, and making sure his fighting technique was equil to Tyler's. Cloud had no idea which to go after harder, so he faught equilly hard. His ferocious strikes badgering the two, but never hitting. They're waiting for something! Cloud thought, jumping back.
Neither man in black had broken a sweat, but neither had Cloud. Cait slowly approached the group from the back. A sly look crossed his face, and only the quick eyes of Sephiroth and Vincent caught it. Vincent was quick to draw his shot gun. But Sephiroth was quicker. And suddenly all Hell broke out amoungst the group.
A shot was heard, but the end of the shotgun was cut off as it was shot. Bullets sprayed out. One hitting Cait's stuffed arm. Hojo felt nothing, and suddenly a laugh broke out of the cat sitting on top of the mog. Tyler and Cloud were fighting off by them selves until Cloud heard a scream from Tifa.
A bullet had ripped into her leg. Red was down on the ground. He had apparently been hit by Sephiroth. Another blast came from the gun, this one striking its mark. Blowing a whole through the stuffed mog. But Cait charged Barret, whole and all.
Barret was aiming his gun for Sephiroth when he was knocked down by Cait.
"Shit!" HE sword as the blast went off, hitting the Highwind.
The mog laughed viciously as he pounded on the large man.
Yuffie tried to hold Tyler off, but was unseccessful and he was able to smash Cloud over the back of his head with his sword. He was knocked to the ground on his way to Tifa, who was struggling to get back up.
Vincent was fighting against Sephiroth, but losing. His gun lay 20 some feet from the fight. Barret regained control finally and blew the stuffed mog into nothing. Stombing on the cat as he went be to help Cloud.
Barret shot at Tyler, but he took the bullet and kept on walking toward Cloud. Barret stood awestruck. He fired again, going for Tyler's leg, but still almost no effect. Barret ran and tackled Tyler, but suddenly felt a liquid pouring down his leg.
Tyler had quickly sliced at Barret, but his blow had been deflected by Tifa and it had only taken out his leg. He toppled over from the weight of the big man. And was knocked unconscious when Barret's gun arm struck his head.
Yuffie yellped from the other side as she tried to stop Sephiroth from killing Red. she was knocked back far from the battle. She scrambled to her feet though and dove for Vincent's lost shotgun. She recovered the gun and aimed it at Sephiroth. When she fired Sephiroth spun in midstep. He quickly deflected the two bullets that would have hit him, leaving the rest to travel their erratic paths.
Cloud hammered Tyler over the head once more to be sure and cradled Tifa in his arms for a moment. When she gave him a node and a smile he lay her gently down. He stood up and ran over to Sephiroth.
The two familiar sword clashed yet again. Each stroke was matched by the other, but Sephiroth had the obvious advantage, having Tyler attack Cloud at first had weakened him greatly. But stroke after stroke of the Masamune was matched by Cloud. Everything else in the world suddenly took a back seat to the great fight. The two had improved greatly since their last encounter, but neither had made it past the plateau their level of skill seemed to rest on.
Cloud made a quick leg sweep while deflecting the six foot sword away from his chest. Sephiroth jumped nearly five feet in the air, easily clearing the leg and coming down with a counter kick of his own. Cloud ducked and came out of the duck with an upper cut that Sephiroth got to the jaw.
Sephiroth stumbled back a couple of feet before regaining his balance. He spat red to the side. Then charged Cloud again. Cloud diverted the blow yet again. But his energy was running lower as he slashed at Sephiroth's knees. Sephiroth jumped back this time. He smiled at Cloud and then walked away. Cloud looked at him, a puzzled expression covered his face.
Then realization hit. Cloud dove at Sephiroth tripping him up before he could reach the helpless Nanaki. Sephiroth fell face first in the hot desert sand. He kicked with his back foot, hitting Cloud in the face. Cloud's grip loosened and Sephiroth again went for Red. This time Cloud brought his sword down.
The shinning blade cut deep into Sephiroth's leg. He let a sharp yelp escape his mouth, more out of surprise than pain. He got quickly to his feet, causing the sword to come out. He quickly grabbed Tyler and flew off before anyone could do something.
His echoing laugh remaining long after he left.
"Hello?" The stuffed mog finally talked after 4 days of silence.
Yuffie jumped up, suddenly awoken from her light sleep. "Cait?!"
"Yes, I am Cait Sith."
"Guys come quick! Cait's awake!" Yuffie cheered out.
Barret was the first into the room, grumbling and cursing the whole way. But he was suddenly awake when he saw Cait. Red was the lost one in, a thoughtful look on his face as he appeared in the doorway.
"Hi everyone." Cait said, looking at them all, as if for the first time.
"Hey Cait." Cloud eyed him carefully, "You ok?"
"Course I'm ok. Why do you ask?"
"Well you've been out for four days." Tifa piped in.
"Yea...well I was off running some bussiness for Shinra." He replied hastily, maybe even a little too hastily.
"What the hell you goin' doin' Shinra's durty work fer?" Barret asked, sleep still evident in his voice.
"Shinra isn't so bad anymore guys. Not after the meteor crisis." This time his reply was more carefully put.
Red still sat in the corner, now speaking quietly to Vincent.
Cid lit up a new cigar. "Damnit you had us worried Cid. Thought you were dead or somethin." He puffed smoke into the air.
"I'm sorry guys, but it was really important." Cait said defensively. For a moment there was silence.
"What was this really important thing?" Vincent's voice rang out from the corner. The nighmare haunted voice cut into the silence.
Cait looked at Vincent for a moment. A look of recognition sprang onto his face, but only for a moment, and it disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Well..uh...it's classified."
"So classified we can't even here about it?" Cloud questioned.
"Sorry guys. No can do." Cait forced a smile.
"At least tell us where you went to go on this mission." Red spoke for the first time.
"I really can't guys." An awkward silence fell on the group again. A rift between Cait and the rest had been made. But for now he was allowed to travel with them. Off once again on the journey to find Sephiroth.
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"I'm sorry Seph, I just can't keep going." Blood escaped his mouth and nose. Hise black eyes were rimmed with red, blue, and purple. His face was scarred, blood running from some of the more fresh wounds.
"Of course you can." Sephiroth gave a hard kick to his ribs. "Do you think Cloud is going to show you any mercy when you fight him?" He asked, as he kicked him again.
"I can't...go on..." He said in between coughs of blood.
"Then get up and training is over."
Tyler attempted to get to his feet, but one of his legs was obviously broken. "I can't, my legs broken!" Desperation filled his voice. "Please Sephiroth, help me get up."
His only response however was a kick to the leg. "You just don't THINK you can't get up. Now, get up!" His voice boomed even in the desert wind.
A scream escaped Tyler's throat, but he quickly repressed it. My leg will heal. He thought, trying once again to get to his feet. This time he accomplished to stand for a few seconds. Sephiroth kicked at his bad leg again, causing him to fall once more.
"Again."
"Stop this. I CAN NOT do this." Tyler's voice was filled with hidden anguish. He wasn't sure if all this was worth it. He wasn't sure if Sephiroth was all that great a man anymore. Maybe, just maybe he had chosen the wrong side.
But he got up, and this time Sephiroth let him stand. "Now follow me back to camp." Sephiroth said, walking away at a quick pace.
Tyler stumbled trying to keep up. He fell many times, hiding screams of pain and torment.
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"There he is!" Tifa yelled from the side of the flying airship. "Cloud over here! It's Sephiroth!" Cloud scrambled over to Tifa's side.
"Cid! Land the ship now!" No sooner had the orders been ordered the ship began to plumet. Faster and faster it sped toward the ground.
Cloud grabbed Tifa and jumped out of the falling airship. He held her and absorbed the fall. He quickly put her back on her feet and raced off to catch up to the two walking men.
"Sephiroth! Tyler!" He yelled. The two turned around, both drawing their swords at the exact same moment. Time itself seemed to freeze as two Sephiroth suddenly pointed two Masamunes at Cloud.
Cloud drew his Buster sword and quickly went into a battle stance. Tifa ran up beside his side. A thousand thoughts flowing through her mind. Sephiroth and Zack, no one had identified which was which, stood ready for the fight. Cloud dug his feet in and sprang into the air. The sand behind him kicked up in a mini sand-storm. Before the dust could settle Cloud was hacking and slashing at the two.
Sephiroth was keeping his power down, and making sure his fighting technique was equil to Tyler's. Cloud had no idea which to go after harder, so he faught equilly hard. His ferocious strikes badgering the two, but never hitting. They're waiting for something! Cloud thought, jumping back.
Neither man in black had broken a sweat, but neither had Cloud. Cait slowly approached the group from the back. A sly look crossed his face, and only the quick eyes of Sephiroth and Vincent caught it. Vincent was quick to draw his shot gun. But Sephiroth was quicker. And suddenly all Hell broke out amoungst the group.
A shot was heard, but the end of the shotgun was cut off as it was shot. Bullets sprayed out. One hitting Cait's stuffed arm. Hojo felt nothing, and suddenly a laugh broke out of the cat sitting on top of the mog. Tyler and Cloud were fighting off by them selves until Cloud heard a scream from Tifa.
A bullet had ripped into her leg. Red was down on the ground. He had apparently been hit by Sephiroth. Another blast came from the gun, this one striking its mark. Blowing a whole through the stuffed mog. But Cait charged Barret, whole and all.
Barret was aiming his gun for Sephiroth when he was knocked down by Cait.
"Shit!" HE sword as the blast went off, hitting the Highwind.
The mog laughed viciously as he pounded on the large man.
Yuffie tried to hold Tyler off, but was unseccessful and he was able to smash Cloud over the back of his head with his sword. He was knocked to the ground on his way to Tifa, who was struggling to get back up.
Vincent was fighting against Sephiroth, but losing. His gun lay 20 some feet from the fight. Barret regained control finally and blew the stuffed mog into nothing. Stombing on the cat as he went be to help Cloud.
Barret shot at Tyler, but he took the bullet and kept on walking toward Cloud. Barret stood awestruck. He fired again, going for Tyler's leg, but still almost no effect. Barret ran and tackled Tyler, but suddenly felt a liquid pouring down his leg.
Tyler had quickly sliced at Barret, but his blow had been deflected by Tifa and it had only taken out his leg. He toppled over from the weight of the big man. And was knocked unconscious when Barret's gun arm struck his head.
Yuffie yellped from the other side as she tried to stop Sephiroth from killing Red. she was knocked back far from the battle. She scrambled to her feet though and dove for Vincent's lost shotgun. She recovered the gun and aimed it at Sephiroth. When she fired Sephiroth spun in midstep. He quickly deflected the two bullets that would have hit him, leaving the rest to travel their erratic paths.
Cloud hammered Tyler over the head once more to be sure and cradled Tifa in his arms for a moment. When she gave him a node and a smile he lay her gently down. He stood up and ran over to Sephiroth.
The two familiar sword clashed yet again. Each stroke was matched by the other, but Sephiroth had the obvious advantage, having Tyler attack Cloud at first had weakened him greatly. But stroke after stroke of the Masamune was matched by Cloud. Everything else in the world suddenly took a back seat to the great fight. The two had improved greatly since their last encounter, but neither had made it past the plateau their level of skill seemed to rest on.
Cloud made a quick leg sweep while deflecting the six foot sword away from his chest. Sephiroth jumped nearly five feet in the air, easily clearing the leg and coming down with a counter kick of his own. Cloud ducked and came out of the duck with an upper cut that Sephiroth got to the jaw.
Sephiroth stumbled back a couple of feet before regaining his balance. He spat red to the side. Then charged Cloud again. Cloud diverted the blow yet again. But his energy was running lower as he slashed at Sephiroth's knees. Sephiroth jumped back this time. He smiled at Cloud and then walked away. Cloud looked at him, a puzzled expression covered his face.
Then realization hit. Cloud dove at Sephiroth tripping him up before he could reach the helpless Nanaki. Sephiroth fell face first in the hot desert sand. He kicked with his back foot, hitting Cloud in the face. Cloud's grip loosened and Sephiroth again went for Red. This time Cloud brought his sword down.
The shinning blade cut deep into Sephiroth's leg. He let a sharp yelp escape his mouth, more out of surprise than pain. He got quickly to his feet, causing the sword to come out. He quickly grabbed Tyler and flew off before anyone could do something.
His echoing laugh remaining long after he left.