The two adversaries faced each other. Fezzik let the man in black take the first swing. He blocked it and rushed the man in black, grabbing him around the waist. He lifted up the man in black and squeezed until there was no life left in him. He then tossed the body aside.
Well, that was the idea, anyhow. He never got past the grabbing part, actually. The man in black slipped through his hands and pulled out a green materia orb. "Sleepel!" he muttered, and before the giant could turn around, he was snoring on the ground of Ghost Square.
"I don't envy you the headache you'll have when you awake," murmured the man in black, "but in the meanwhile, rest well and dream of large women." He left the giant lying there, and followed the footsteps along the path, to the gravestone marked "Event Square."
Moments later, he flew out of the tube and landed in a large auditorium. He looked around. It was dark, and appeared to be deserted. Suddenly lights flashed on all around him.
"Hey-hey...well, look who it is. The mysterious man in black." Palmer was seated at a table onstage, which was covered with a small tablecloth and contained a bottle of wine and two goblets. Next to him was a tied, gagged, and blindfolded Aeris. Across from him was an empty chair. He gestured for the man in black to sit down.
"Don't make any sudden moves, now. I've got my Mako gun and I'll use it on her." The man in black nodded, and slid carefully into the empty chair.
"So--what do we do now?" he asked.
"Beats me," responded Palmer cheerfully. "I mean, you're a big strong guy, all brawn and no brains, so you could kill me, but I'd still be smarter than you." A loud coughing noise came from Aeris's vicinity, muffled by her gag. Even the man in black looked skeptical.
"If you say so," he said. He paused in thought for a moment. "Well...if you're so brilliant, then I don't suppose you'd object to a battle of the wits."
Palmer's eyes sparkled. "For the Cetra?" The man in black nodded slowly. "To the death?" The man in black nodded again. "Hey-hey!! I accept!" He rubbed his hands together in excitement.
"Good. Then pour the wine." The wine was poured, and the man in black pulled out a small, faintly glowing test tube from his cloak. He held it up so Palmer could see it. "Examine this, but do not touch."
Palmer took the test tube and scrutinized it. "I see nothing except that it glows." He handed it back.
"What you cannot see is concentrated Mako. It is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. It's also one of the deadliest poisons known to man. The concentration I have here will kill within three minutes." The man in black took the two wine goblets, and turned around. When he turned back, the test tube was no longer glowing. He placed the goblets on the table; one in front of Palmer, one in front of himself.
"Where is the poison?" he said. "The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide, and we both drink...and find out who is right--and who is dead."
Palmer looked stumped. "Ooh...this is a toughie. Think think think. Hummmm....Eeny, meeny, miney, moe!" He picked up the cup in front of the man in black and drained it. He looked around. "Oh good, I'm still alive! I win!" He started laughing maniacally. He was quite cheery until the Mako set in.
The man in black untied Aeris, who looked up at him in awe. "And to think, all that time it was your glass that was poisoned."
"They were both poisoned. I have an immunity to Mako." He pulled her roughly to her feet.
"Who are you?" she asked, trying to regain her balance.
"I am no one to be trifled with. That is all you ever need know."
* * * * *
Prince Rufus was examining the landing area of the Gold Saucer. "There was a mighty duel," he said, retracing the footsteps that had been left in the soft dirt.
His confidante and advisor, Count Sephiroth, spoke up. "Who won? How did it end?"
"The loser rode off alone," responded Rufus, pointing the the Ropecar, "and the winner took that tube to Ghost Square."
"Shall we track them both?" offered Sephiroth.
"The loser means nothing," replied Rufus dismissively. "Only Aeris matters."
* * * * *
The man in black had pulled Aeris along to Battle Square, looking for a way out of the Gold Saucer. Aeris was out of breath and tired, so he stopped in one of the inner chambers.
"Catch your breath," he told her. She sank onto the ground, next to a large machine.
"I know who you are now. Your cruelty reveals everything. You're the Dread AVALANCHE Leader Roberts, admit it!"
He bowed mockingly. "With pride. What can I do for you?"
"You can die slowly, hit with every possible summon and spell until you're nothing more than a pile of used hit points."
"Hardly complementary, my dear. Why loose your venom on me?"
"You killed my love," she hissed.
He nodded sagely. "It's possible. I kill a lot of people, but after all, once word leaks out that a terrorist's gone soft, it's nothing but work, work, work all the time."
"You mock my pain!"
"Life is pain, Cetra! Anyone who says differently is selling something." He voice softened slightly. "I remember this love of yours...this would be what, five years ago? I was destroying the Junon Underwater Reactor at the time....Does it hurt you to hear?"
"Nothing you can say will hurt me."
"He died well, that should please you. No bribe attempts, or blubbering. He simply said, 'Please. Please, I need to live.' I asked him why, he went on to describe an Ancient of surpassing beauty and curative magic. I can only assume he meant you." He spat the word out. "You should be glad I killed him before he found out what you really are."
"And what am I?" she cried.
"Faithfulness, Aeris! He spoke of your enduring faithfulness! Now tell me truly, when you found out he was dead did you get engaged to your corporate prince within the same hour, or did you wait a whole week out of respect for the dead?"
Aeris's eyes burned with anger not usually seen in the gentle Cetra. "You mocked me once, never do it again! I died that day."
The Dread AVALANCHE Leader Roberts put out a hand to hush her. He listened intently, picking up sounds of the approaching Prince Rufus and his party. Aeris, however, did not hear these.
"You can die too for all I care," she whispered, and pulled a lever on the machine next to her. A piece of floor dropped out from beneath Roberts, and he fell into the Corel Desert Prison.
From far away, she heard his saying warm, familiar words..."As...you...wish..."
Aeris gasped. "Oh, my sweet Cloud! What have I done?" She threw herself into the dark pit after him.
A/N: Here it is, part four. If you're familiar with the movie, you'll notice the last scene is basically intact...it's my favorite, and I didn't have the heart to change it much. Anyway, please review! Flames, as always, are welcome...I never get flamed and I feel so out of it. ::pout:: - Desdemona