Dawn finally came to the snow-covered village. Slowly the warriors emerged, all heading for the meeting point. They knew that today, for better or worse, would be the day of decision. For the sake of two worlds, and their inhabitants, the warriors could not lose.

But not all were driven on by this thought. For Dragon Shadow, it was time to prove once and for all, that she was not going to be Jenova's slave. For the brothers, it was a chance to win their freedom, and escape the dark shadow, which had hung over their lives for so long. For Cloud, it was a chance to re-pay Jenova for what she had done to him. And for Magnus, it was a battle to avenge his sister's disappearance. There were others who had other motives as well.

But they were all united in one belief. Jenova and Lavos had to be stopped.

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Cloud took a deep breath as he looked at the gate. He knew, like everyone else, that the force, which may lie beyond it, was greater than anything any of them, except Shadow, had ever battled before. And Shadow knew that they may find three more friends, or foes beyond the gate.

And she also knew that those three would be the hardest to battle. For those three were going to be the ones she had the most in common with. Her greatest fear was that she'd find herself battling the great dragon. The one who had spoken to her of Jenova's plans, and the one who was suffering as a result of Jenova's interference.

But at the same time, she knew she had no choice. Jenova had to be stopped. And no matter what happened, Shadow intended to see that she was. "No one else shall suffer as I have because of her…"

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Chrono looked at the gate. "The nightmare returns again…" Unlike the other worlds that lay in danger, his world was in the greatest. For it was not only the present that was in danger, but the past and future as well.

Time travel had given him and his friends a great gift, but it gave them more to defend as well…

"I wonder if the Epoch will be there?" Chrono looked over, as Luca walked up beside him. "I mean if we win, we probably won't need it anymore. But the Epoch is like a friend to me. I don't like imagining that it was used for evil…"

"We'll know soon enough Luca. We'll know…"

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Frog was heading over to the gate, when he came across a familiar figure. "Ti's a surprise to meet you here!"

Magnus looked up. "The black wind howls. I cannot recall the last time I heard it this loud. Perhaps it is a warning of my death…"

Magnus threw the edge of his cape over his shoulder, and lifted his scythe. He turned, and walked towards the gate.

"Or perhaps your search shall finally come to an end…" Frog looked up and, for perhaps the first time in his life, he felt sorrow for the lonely figure who walked before him.

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Tifa shook her head again as she walked towards the meeting point. "I never imagined that I would end up fighting next to Sephiroth. All this time I've only wanted to kill him…"

Zack's words came back to her. I"You worry about Cloud. But who was there to worry about Sephiroth…?"
/I
"Until he said that, I never thought. And even now, I find it hard to accept that one man could be used just like any other. Sephiroth was always seen as a hero. Yet now, I find out he was a pawn. Just as Cloud was. Is this why I feel sorry for him, after I've wanted to kill him for so long…?"


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Zack was still over with Vincent. The two were both lost deep in thought. They had gotten little sleep the night before.

Finally Vincent turned to Zack. "Do you fear this battle?"

Zack looked up. "Yeah, kind of. It will be hard to keep my emotions under control. Especially my anger. That's what this creature feeds off. Strong hatred…"

"Indeed. Yet you are different from me. You still show your emotions. I lost mine years ago…"

Zack shook his head. "You never lost them. In some ways you're in a more difficult position that I. I can tell when my emotions are dangerously close to releasing the beast within. But by denying yours, you place yourself in greater danger. You will have little warning before the beast awakens…"

Vincent was quiet, as if considering what he had just been told. He then turned to Zack. We should go. The others shall be awaiting us…"


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Back at the gate, almost everyone had arrived. There was silence from around the gate clearing. But that silence hid a secret. The two brothers were deep in discussion…
I
"So, the final confrontation has come. Now I can re-pay Jenova for what she has done to me…"

"To us brother. She may have controlled you, but she destroyed my life. And Shadow's as well."

"You are right. What is common place to us is unknown to her world. I guess that she will no longer fit into her world. Not until her curse is removed…"
/I


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At this moment, Zack and Vincent, the last two to arrive, entered the clearing. Everyone had gathered. Now was the time for the final battle to begin. Chrono nodded at Lucca, and she opened the gate. No one knew what awaited them on the other side. But they knew they would not, could not back down. The battle to save two worlds was about to begin…/FONT/BODY