Zack was watching Sephiroth, who was watching Dragon Shadow, who was watching Zack. Each was waiting for the other to make the first move. Since discovering how to move, she'd quickly learned much else about her new form. including the way the mind link worked. The closer she was to Sephiroth, the weaker the link. She also found out that if the two were too far apart, then they'd both feel the pain from the link. But neither one could force their mind on the other. There was one other thing they'd discovered by accident. That the link could be used to speak through, Not only could they communicate with each other, but they could also hear what was going on around the other, if they were so inclined.
Sephiroth knew his brother was moving. Since he knew, so did Dragon Shadow. The question was, what were they gonna do about it. "I don't see him attacking the city on his own. Which means he's got help."
Dragon Shadow didn't really care much. "He tried to kill me. Why should I care what happens to him.?"
Sephiroth was getting annoyed about having to go through this argument constantly. "It was my brother. And another thing, he may be the only one who can help you become human again."
That got her attention. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
Sephiroth shrugged. "I thought I did. But still, Cloud must have made contact with the people of this world. That means he'll have more help then he did before. Which means my brother's got a pretty big army with him. And that means…"
Dragon Shadow caught his drift. "They'll need all the help they can get."
But Zack saw where Sephiroth was heading. "It may be easier for us to get close to them, so that they will not try to kill us on sight, Right?"
Sephiroth nodded in agreement. "I don't know of any other way. Especially not with her."
"Oh sure, blame the dragon."
Sephiroth and Zack laughed at that. After a few minutes, so did Dragon Shadow. Zack came forwards, to stand beside her. "Can you give me a ride? It's gonna be a long walk otherwise."
Dragon Shadow nodded, or at least as best a dragon can nod. "I owe you a lot. So I guess I can." She turned to look at Sephiroth. "What about you? I know you can fly, but can you keep up with me?"
Sephiroth though a moment. "Perhaps it is best if we both rode. That way, it will be hard for my brother to know how many are coming."
Dragon Shadow nodded, then waited, as Zack and Sephiroth got on. Then, launched herself into the air, in an attempt to reach Gardian castle before it was too late….
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
IMeanwhile, back at the castle./I
"I never realized there were so many. They may not be strong…"
Cloud finished for Chrono. "But sometimes numbers overwhelms the strongest warriors. This doesn't look good."
Barret, Nadia, and Lucca, along with the army's few archers, had taken positions along the top of the castle wall. The rest of Cloud's party, along with Chrono, and the rest of the army, had taken position in front of the castle. But things didn't look good. They were out numbered at least 10 to 1, and the whole army had not yet come into sight. Chrono looked at Vincent, then to Cloud. "Why is he down here?"
Cloud looked over to where Chrono was pointing. "Oh, well he's got a more effective weapon then his gun." Then he added to himself, "If he can control it."
Suddenly, the last of the army was in place, and Sephiroth was plainly visible. And he did not look happy. "Surrender to me, puppet, and perhaps I shall allow your friends to live."
Cloud looked up at his nemeses. "I'd rather die first."
Sephiroth's grin was unnaturally evil. "So be it."
With those words, the army began to charge. Until a shadow over flew them. And a dragon landed behind the army…
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
Sephiroth turned as the dragon landed. He knew very well what figure would come from there. The army, his army, had begun to advance on the pitiful humans. True, it would probably lead to Cloud's death, but one puppet lost was no big deal. Then Jenova rose up beside him. "Can you take him? If he is destroyed, the beast is yours."
Sephiroth began to laugh. "I have been waiting years for my chance to destroy him. I shall not be denied."
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
As Dragon Shadow landed, Sephiroth prepared for battle. The wound that his brother had given him had since healed. One of the few benefits of his curse. He looked over at Zack, who nodded. The two had decided what to do. Sephiroth would keep Jenova and his brother occupied, while Zack, and Dragon Shadow would help Cloud, and his friends out. What they hadn't counted on was the depth of the dragon's instincts running in Dragon Shadow. Those instincts included honor, and the need for freedom.
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
Sephiroth and Jenova advanced towards Dragon Shadow, Sephiroth, and Zack. It was then that Jenova made a grave error. "So you have returned with my beast. Now, with it, my son shall conquer this world!"
Sephiroth and Jenova began to laugh. But Dragon Shadow became angered. Her scales began to glow bright red. The same color as a summoning Materia. "I am no one's, but my own!" Suddenly, a mighty host of knights emerged from the forest, and began to attack Jenova, and Sephiroth. Zack and Sephiroth stood there, and watched in amazement.
Then Jenova spoke again. "It seems I underestimated your strength. Monsters, attack!"
A portion of the beasts turned towards Dragon Shadow, Sephiroth, and Zack. Jenova took this opportunity to flee, and the Sephiroth she called her son, followed. Zack tuned to Sephiroth. "The two of us can handle them. Maybe you should…"
Sephiroth nodded. He knew what Zack was going to say. He leaped up to Dragon Shadow's back, and surveyed the battle field. One figure in particular caught his attention. Somehow, during the battle, Cloud had become separated from the others. And was quickly being overwhelmed. The others were too busy with their own battles to be able to help him. There was only one way for Cloud to survive, and Sephiroth wasn't sure Cloud would like it, or that he'd survive it. But it was the only way. Once again, using his cursed powers, he leaped up to the sky, and landed behind Cloud.
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
Cloud was dead. He knew it. After he was cut off from the others, the creatures quickly surrounded him. He'd seen it happen to other soldiers. And now it was happening to him. Be felt the weapons ring against his armor, but it was only a matter of time before one found a hole somewhere. Suddenly, the blows to his back stopped. It was as if someone was fighting at his back. Cloud soon figured that must be what had happened. He didn't know how, but someone had fought there way to him, and was now responsible for keeping him alive.
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
As soon as Jenova and Sephiroth had fled, the monsters became more disheartened. And when the dragon began to attack them, the sure victory the were told of vanished. First a trickle, then a steam, and then finally a whole flood of creatures vanished into the woods. Sephiroth attempted to return to Dragon Shadow. It was his hope that her presence would at least slow down the possibilities of an attack. But that idea was quickly shattered by a bullet though his leg. Sephiroth had used too much of his strength in the battle, and now had none left to fly with. And Cloud and his friends were a lot closer then Zack, and Dragon Shadow. That fact was confirmed by a sword to his back.
"Not so hot now, are you Sephiroth."
It was Cloud. He was the only one close enough to have been able to reach him this fast. If it were only Cloud, there was a chance that Zack and Dragon Shadow could reach him before the others. Their presence could be enough…
But Cloud saw them too. "No closer. Or else he's dead."
Sephiroth was scared. He knew he could get Cloud to back away from him, but that would make him no better then his brother. The brother he'd come to stop. But anything he could say right now would just make matters worse. He could feel Dragon Shadow's concern though their link. But she knew there was nothing to do in this situation. Any moves to avoid any trouble would need to be made by Cloud, and his friends…
HR
Author's notes: Yea, I know. Another cliff hanger. Only this time, it's Cloud who has the upper hand on Sephiroth. So how's this gonna end? Wait and see. The thing to keep in mind is this. The Sephiroth being discussed at the end is the good Sephiroth. That's affecting a lot of his actions. This is just to help clear up the situation for anyone who's totally confused.
