Chapter 4

Secrets?

"What the @$#%? How can we beat ten of that freak?" Cid yelled. "I doubt they are all real Sephiroths, more like shadows," Red implied. "But since we don't know which one is real be careful!" "Yeah, yeah," Barret grumbled. Now everyone went full force. The Sephiroths started spinning around them. Red cast Knights of The Round and Tiffa linked it with Quadra Magic. The spell was cast four times, but it seemed like none of the Sephiroths were being hurt.

All ten of them swooped in and out, faster and faster. The whole party felt Sephiroth's sword cutting them but couldn't tell which one was doing the damage. They screamed out in pain. "Stop! Mega All!" Barret and Tiffa linked the stop but it only affected one. Cloud jumped up and slashed it, but it dissapeared, a fake one. Again they all felt the Masamune upon their bodies. Longs cuts were forming across their chests and backs. Barret cast stop again and this time Yuffie threw her Conformer at it and the Sephiroth dissapeared, another fake one. "Cast more spells!" Red yelled. "Even if we don't know which one is which, the real one will still be hurt. Barret went to cast Ultima, but was knocked down by another blow. In unison, Vincent and Cid shot and slashed at the Sephiroths, but failed.

"What is it? What's your secret?" Cloud yelled. "NOT NOW! I SAID IF YOU LIVE I WILL TELL YOU!" While Sephiroth was yelling Barret was casting more stop spells on the shadows. Yuffie and Cid took them out. The party was still being hurt, and Tiffa could barely stand. Barret cast Full Cure on her and she was back up, but only to be knocked down again.

All of a sudden everyone was knocked down on the ground. They tried to get up but it was like they were being held down. "Ahhh!" Yuffie yelled. She was being cut and slashed and quickly losing hp. "Stop it!" Cloud tried desperatley to get up but couldn't. Then, Yuffie wased unconsious. Now, Barret started yelling and screaming. He cast another Full Cure and Tiffa used Mega All. The party was healed but Barret was still quickly losing life. All of the Sephiroths seemed to be cutting them, but they knew it was only one. Red, trying to keep up with the 6 Sephiroths that were left, caught something at the corner of his eye. He thought he saw another one behind the shadow Sephiroths. Then he knew. "Cast behind the copies! He's using them as shields!" Immediately, with out question, everyone started casting their strongest spells behind the shadows. Each spell cast seemed to lessen the grip.

Red cast KoTR and all the shadows were gone. They stood up and saw an out of breath Sephiroth standing there. "You guys, huh, uhh, are better than I thought. Your will to live is strong," he taunted. Barret cast Life 2 on Yuffie then cast Full Life. She was back. "Well, I guess you guys are waiting for a secret huh?" the devil smirked. "I also have a very strong will to live. But let's start with the basics. Each life, weather human, animal or plant, has a will to live. Some, stronger than others." "Cut the bullshit! You ain't no philosopher!" Barret yelled impatiently. "He's probably trying to get us off guard, so becareful!" Vincent yelled. Realizing they were off their guard, everyone got into fighting stance. "LISTEN YOU INSOLENT FOOL! As I was saying…the will to live is in every living thing. This will still remains. It's what you refer to as 'Spirits'. Everything that dies becomes a spirit. If a living being were to fuse with a spirit, that being would gain new energy and become stronger and have a bigger will to live. The bigger the will to live you have, the stronger you become when near death." "Good story, what the hell's the point?" Cloud asked. Sephiroth stared at him then continued. "Fine, I'll cut straight to the point. Your little girlfriend, Aeris, is now me Cloud!!! AHAHAH!" Sephiroth let out a shrill luagh and then everyone stared wide eyed at what they saw. Sephiroth's chest opened and they could see thousands, millions of spirits in him. Then…..Aeris was there. She was transparent but they could all see her. Her voice was faint. "Cloooouuuuddddd. Heeeelllpppp meeeeeee," she pleaded.

Sephiroth laughed. "See Cloud, she's there, right there. You could be with her, if you joined me Cloud." Cloud was becoming hypnotized. "Ae---Ae---Aeris?" "Yesssss Cloud, It'sssss meeeeee!" A black light formed around the edge of Cloud. Everyone was transfixed on what they saw. Cloud started floating up. Sephiroth smiled. "Yes Cloud, come. I have already some of your spirit in here from the last time we fought. I can feel you in me. Come!" Cloud floated higher toward his chest. Red, coming out of the trance yelled. "NOOOOO! DON'T LET CLOUD BE TAKEN!!! IT WILL MEAN THE END OF US AND THE WORLD!!" Everyone started all out on Sephiroth. Cloud stopped momentarilly. Sephiroth needed to take care of the annoying little rats. Clouds eyes were clouding, quickly losing control of himself. He could hear the screams of pain from his teammates, but his thought were on Aeris. She was still there. Sephirtoh left her there to keep the trance on Cloud while he slaughtered the others. Little did he know it was not really her. It was just an image Sephiroth produced. But her spirit was still there. Cloud's last bit of consiousness was fading. The last thing he heard was his teammates screaming and the last thing he saw was Aeris.

Find out next time what happens.