Disclaimer: The same as before.

Chap. 17

Everyone has regrouped in an inn in Costa De Sol. The people returned to town after the attack.

Barret shrugged, "So what do we do now? We defeated Weapon, right? So there should be no more problems."

"No. Hojo said that they were going to use Ultima Weapon. But I don't see how. That Weapon crashed and exploded."

Cid shook his head, "Not quite. If it was a Weapon, then it may have survived the explosion."

"...canyon..."

Everyon turned to see a barely conscious Red XIII who was still suffering from the ill-effects of his energy transfer.

"....Cosmo....canyon.....weapon..."

Tifa's eye's widened, "Oh, no. Didn't Ultima crash near Cosmo Canyon?"

Vincent nodded, "Yeah. If Weapon awakens there, it might..."

Red XIII struggled to rise, "Have to....go...."

Cloud went to his friend, "Lie still. You'll hurt yourself."

"No!" Red XIII growled, "It's....my duty...to protect it. I....can't...."

"Look. You're in no condition to go anywhere, let alone fight. Let us handle this."

Yuffie bent down to him, "Don't worry. We'll stop Weapon and protect Cosmo Canyon." she promised.

Red XIII looked around and finally slumped, "Okay."

Cid jumped up, "Then what are we doing here sitting on our butts? Let's go!"

Everyone boarded the Highwind and it sped away at full speed toward Cosmo Canyon. It wasn't too far from Costa De Sol, but it gave them time to prepare for the pre-emptive battle. During their preparation, Aeris managed to find Zack alone in the Chocobo stable.

"Zack. Do you want to talk?"

"......."

Aeris walks closer, "I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help."

"Do you know the one thing I regret?"

"Huh?"

"I regret not listening to you. You told me that the mission was dangerous, yet I went anyway. All of this....Cloud, Sephiroth, you. All because of me."

"Heh. I think I see how you and Cloud became friends."

"What?"

"I bet that right now, Cloud is blaming himself for everything."

"Probably."

"It's not his fault and it's not your fault. So don't blame yourself like this."

"I really missed you, Aeris. I was mistaken. My biggest regret is that I won't be alive with you."

Aeris looked away, "About that. I....won't be here long either."

"What do you mean?"

"I was only sent to aid the Planet. When that is over, I have to return to it. I won't be here long either."

There was a long moment of silence between them.

"Aeris. This...Promised Land. Do you think...I'll be able to see you there?"

Aeris looked away sadly, "I... honestly don't know."

"If that is possible, then perhaps dying wouldn't be so bad."

Zack reached out and grasped her hand. Aeris looked down and smiled before leaning her head on his shoulder.

The Highwind finally reached Cosmo Canyon. Everyone on board expected to see the worse-case scenario. However...

"Huh?"

To their surprise, Cosmo Canyon was virtually unscathed. The Highwind hovered there for a while and then moved over to where Weapon had been thought to been destroyed. On the hill was a few large marks reminiscent of claw marks

"So they did it. They revived Ultima."

"I don't get it. The place is untouched."

Aeris thought for awhile, "Well, they are going to use Weapon to destroy Planet, so maybe they're not going to waste time."

Zack stepped forward, "Let's head to the Northern Crater. We might be able to intercept it before it gets there."

Vincent moved next to Tifa, "Good idea."

Zack then looked over to Cloud, who had a dejected look on his face. Damn, I really should shut up. He then looked over to Tifa and Vincent. Oh, so that's it.

The trip to the Nothern Crater would take a little longer. Cid chose a certain route which was best able to intercept Weapon. Meanwhile, Cloud was in one of the other rooms looking out a window. Despite the discovery they made in finding out that Cosmo Canyon was safe, his thoughts were focused elsewhere. Tifa and Vincent. I never knew.... I guess it really doesn't matter.

"Cloud."

To Cloud's surprise, it was Lucrecia, "Hi Lucrecia."

"Cloud. I think we need to talk."

"Okay. What about?"

"Your mother."

"Huh?"

"I believe I knew Bethany at one time."

"You knew...my mom?"

Lucrecia started to pace, "Long ago in Nibelhium. She was an energetic woman, but kind. She always knew how to make people feel better at times." Lucrecia then looked down. "We were good friends."

Cloud looked strangely at her and she was about to continue when....

Alert! Alert! Weapon approaching!!!!

"What?"

Cloud immediately ran to the bridge, leaving Lucrecia behind. He arrived on the bridge where everyone else already was. Heading toward them was a giant black shadow. It was the Ultima Weapon.

"Okay, how are we going to fight that?"

Well, we can't fight it in the air. We'll have to ground it."

"We'll have to rely on materia. Barret, you and Vincent have an advantage with your gun weapons. And Yuffie, your shirken will be good as well. The rest of us will back you up."

"Right."

"Once we ground it, then we can all attack and destroy it."

Ultima flew straight at them and they were waiting for it on the outer deck. The Highwind stopped and everyone waited for it to come. Weapon suddenly stopped and hovered in front of them

"What is it waiting for?"

Weapon's lower chest suddenly opened up and streams of energy shot out and surrounded the heroes. Cloud watched as everyone on the deck began to disappear. Then he saw nothing....

When Cloud awoke, he was in a darkened room. In the center was a giant glowing orb. It resonated with strange energy. Everyone lay unconscious around him.

"Where are we?"

"Inside Ultima."

That voice... Cloud looked up as a dark figure floated down from out of nowhere. The figure with a single black wing over his right shoulder and emanated with great power.

"Sephiroth."

Sephiroth looked down at Cloud, "It seems that we keep meeting like this."

Cloud stood up, "I'm going to stop you for good this time."

"Is that a fact? Without a weapon?"

Cloud raised his fists, "These will be more than enough."

Barret and Tifa awoke next to Cloud.

Barret rubbed his head, "Where are...whoa. I'll ask later."

"Cloud, are you alright?"

"Yeah. We're inside of Weapon. Sephiroth brought us inside."

"Well, I guess that means we stop him."

Sephiroth floated down before and they tensed up as they set themselves to fight. He glowed in a beam of light and he suddenly transformed. When the light faded, he was in his alternate form. His right arm was a wing and his lower body was composed of six wings. He floated in the air and Sephiroth waved his left hand.

"Come."

AN: Hmhmhmhehehehehehehe. Oh, what to do next? Hey, I know just the thing. And I think you'll love it. Maybe I lost my mind, but so what! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!