OK, before I start this chapter I have a few things to say: It's been a while since I've worked on this story, and had to read through it again to remember where I was going. So this chapter may seem a little off, or different, some of both. Just, bear with me.

Also, towards one of the reviewers: "Info?" If you'd like to argue with me about Zidane's weapons, Trance, and who's more powerful, feel free to drop me a line. Netraveler6545@hotmail.com

Now that that's cleared up:

Chapter 4:

The Nighthawk flew through the night in some erratic pattern that could only be made by one who was skilled with the controls, and was attempting to maneuver to dodge oncoming attacks, or by someone who had no idea what he was doing whatsoever.

The Highwind trailed a little further behind, and Tifa was able to witness the sudden red flash in the distance behind them.

"What was that?" Her fearful voice blurted out, breaking the monotony of the engines hum.

Cloud shrugged. "We've got more important things."

Cid looked at the instruments of the great ship and back to Cloud, "We're headed for the North Crater."

"I figured as much," came the dull reply.

"He has no idea what he's gitten into." Barret whispered, hanging slightly over the rail in the front of the ship.

Vincent sat in a corner, his eyes closed, perhaps resting, too afraid to fully go to sleep. Dreams would plague him all too well.

Cloud looked over at Tifa, and for the first time since they had lifted off, he smiled.

She smiled back, their love for each other had only grown since the wedding, and Cloud was glad that no real fights had broken out. Not even a small skirmish over where socks went when they were dirty.

He laughed aloud to himself in the night, the thoughts in his head making his uneasy mind somewhat humored.

The temperature dropped, and Cloud turned back to the front of the ship to see the North Crater loom on the horizon.

"Shall I land by them?" Cid asked, as he lit up.

Cloud nodded and turned to Barret. "We may have to restrain them and bring them back to Midgar. There's no way we can fight Sephiroth as two separate groups, we have to be united, I'm sure those other's are here to.

"Yea, I don't much like dis any more than you do…." He replied to his good friend.

Yuffie jumped from her seat as the jolt of landing awakened her. "My material!" She gasped, suddenly reaching for her pockets, and then sighing.

The group laughed, even the most relaxed of the group was now having nightmares.

Cloud jumped down the ladder, five rungs at a time, and then slid down the last bit and jumped off, running after the group that was walking ahead of them.

Zidane turned as he heard footsteps.

"You…" He said, not sure what else to say.

Cloud eyed the man carefully. For the first time he saw him. Here in the dark, he saw Zidane for the first time.

Cloud sighed, trying to think of what to do. Suddenly very confused. Of course, if he were in the same position he'd be running off to save Tifa. Nothing would stand in his way…

"We're here to help." Cloud responded.

Zidane nodded, and the group began walking again, Zidane still limping slightly.

Suddenly an unmistakable laugh resounded in the cavern of the North Crater.

Cloud and his group looked up immediately, seeing the dark presence that floated in mid air.

Sephiroth slowly lowered himself to the ground, looking at the bunch of characters before him.

"It looks like I brought you over with the villains of your world…" He muttered to no one imparticular.

Zidane simply starred at the being for the second time.

Sephiroth smiled back. And then he brought his hand now occupied by the great Masamune into plain view.

The one's who recognized the glowing orb gasped, while those from a different time and place simply starred in baffled confusion.

"It's…it's beautiful…" It was Yuffie of course.

The glowing orb changed colors, as they mixed and mingled inside, swirling about.

"It is also your doom." Sephiroth said, amused by the attention the orb brought.

"Flash."

The word came from Sephiroth's mouth, and the orb suddenly blinded all but him. He took his Masamune and stepped over to Zidane.

"Zidane…I'm scared…" Vivi was groping around, trying to figure out what had happened.

Suddenly the black mage screamed in agony.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Cloud and Zidane yelled it out at the same time.

Only laughter in return.

Suddenly Zidane tumbled to the ground, after feeling something connect with the back of his head.

"That's…it…" He said, picking himself back up.

A strange light seemed to emanate from his body, and he was suddenly transformed into some beastly creature, that only resembled him.

"Time for you to do." The beast of Zidane said to Sephiroth.

Sephiroth cocked his head to one said and looked at wonderment at the being. "Fascinating…" He breathed.

"Acquire."

Again the material glowed, and a single beam of light came from Zidane and was absorbed by the material.

"Anything else you're willing to give me?"

Zidane growled and charged Sephiroth.

"You might find this familiar." Sephiroth said, as he jumped into the air, easily dodging Zidane's increased speed and power attack. He held the material again, and it glowed yet again.

"Deffera Ultima." The two words brought the cave ceiling crashing in, and the Ultima from Zidane's world came crashing in upon the two groups of heroes.

Sephiroth laughed as he watched Cloud's group managed to block all the attack, and as Zidane's group was rendered quite near useless without their black mage.

Zidane however took the hit and looked at Sephiroth with eyes intent upon killing.

"Where's Dagger?!" He demanded.

"Probably dead…" Sephiroth said casually. "I gave her to those friends of yours…Necron? Garland? Kuja? Any of those ring a bell?"

Zidane yelled out and charged in at Sephiroth. His Ultima Weapon, (for those that haven't played, think Darth Maul's lightsaber only with swords on either end) slashing and cutting at Sephiroth, but each time the cling of the Masamune deflecting the blow was heard, again and again.

Sephiroth was expending almost no energy, while Zidane was becoming more and more exhausted, trying to stay in trance as long as he possible could.

"Diminish." Sephiroth spoke the word, deflected another blow, and the material began to glow again. Zidane was blown against the wall, thrown out of trance, and all of his strength, dexterity, speed, and stamina were greatly reduced.

Zidane looked at Sephiroth through half open eyes before stumbling to his feet.

Cloud, however, jumped into the fray. "That's enough Sephiroth." His piercing Mako eyes glared down at Sephiroth's own pair.

"Hehehe, foolish child, you think you can stop me?"

"I've already done just that once." Cloud jabbed back in the verbal fight.

"I was without my key weapon." He held the material high, just so Cloud would get the point.

Cloud pulled a material of his own, and suddenly cast a multitude of spells. It was the Master Magic material. Regan, Haste, Wall, then Reflect. Followed by a quick Ultima on Sephiroth.

Knowing this would come, Sephiroth had already jumped high into the air, dodging the glowing green mass of destruction.

But, what he didn't predict, was Cloud was in the air as well. And with the flat end of his Ultima Sword he sent Sephiroth flying back down into the still growing green mass.

Cloud landed lightly on his feet, the material in his hand glowing again. Green curative dust seemed to sprinkle around Zidane as Cloud cast Cure3.

Then, he turned back to Sephiroth. "I can see you're stronger here, and you have a new play thing. But you're outnumbered by far. There's nothing you can do here to win."

Sephiroth chuckled again, until it turned into a rolling laughter that echoed throughout the cavern, a laugh that would chill the bones of the devil himself.

"FOOLS!"

Necron, Kuja, and Garland suddenly appeared, ambushing Freya, Vivi, Steiner, Amarant, and Eiko. Zidane was barely able to move, even after the curative magic.

And then something even more unexpected happened. Monsters. Dragons. Every imaginable type came flooding through the entrance, trying to kill anything and everything in their way, with Sephiroth floating high above, still laughing.

As the group was overwhelmed Sephiroth made his way out of the cave, hoping for their demise, but knowing well they'd be back for more.



Tifa, battered and bruised, cried out as she saw what they had to return to.

Midgar was nothing more than a pile of ashes, and burning buildings now. The earth around the city was scorched, some of it burned into glass due to the extreme heat.

"…Sephiroth…" It was Cloud, a lone tear making its way down his face, trying to carve the lines of sadness into the battle hardened visage.

Yuffie sat down hard, letting out the air in her lungs quickly. "My God…"

Red surveyed the damage. "Obviously he is much more powerful than we ever anticipated. This is no magic I have ever heard or read about." His voice was solemn, even more so than usual.

Barret simply swallowed hard and sniffled back the chocking sensation he was filling. His life of tragedy continued. Dyne. North Corel. Biggs. Wedge. Jesse. He punched the ground with his gun arm and let a few rounds go.

Freya leaned herself upon her lance, not sure what to say or do.

Amarant was leaning on a tree, battling with demons of his own.

Vivi was watching with fearful eyes, looking to the sky, and then back to Midgar. "What kind of a monster does this?" His voice trembling.

Zidane lowered his head. "Dagger…Damn it! Why couldn't I save her!"

Silence.

After a while Cloud broke it. "None of us could."

Cait Sith waddled over to Zidane. "It's not your fault. Besides, we'll find a way to save her. I know these guys better than you, and they've never failed…Although…" He cut himself off, he didn't want to divulge that he had once been a traitor to them, the memory was one he would like to forget.

Cloud whipped away another tear. "Zidane, she's alive. Sephiroth has a use for her, and that's to bait us into his traps. He knew you would figure out how to get to the North Crater. He knew we'd try and stop you. And then he made his attack, while our defenses were down. And after that, the North Crater turned out to be nothing more than a trap anyway…" Cloud was apparently in deep thought now.

"We have to figure out how to outsmart the little ^@%^!" Cid replied, lighting up another cig.

The rest nodded.

"We'll go to Kalm for now…" Tifa whispered, still recovering from the shock of Midgar being destroyed. Cloud had worked so hard. They had made friends their, built a community within the structure. That city had been a happy place again, not a dreary mako sucking factory. But now all that was gone.

Now more than ever they had to stop Sephiroth.