Hey. I forgot it in the previous part but here it is: I don't own the FF series. Never have and thank god I never will. I'd probably screw it up and then I'd have thousands of irate fans after my ass. I do, however, own the story. I won't say plot because knowing my luck there's something similar already out there. *shrugs* My little world I've created within the FF realm is a little...weird. You see more and more of it as the series goes. Try not to get confused.

                Anyway. Hope you enjoy this. Got anything to say, you know the deal. Review or write. e-mail's on th' profile page. *shrugs* I'm paranoid. Anyway. Hope you enjoy this.

                "Spoken word"

                {Mind-speak}

                ~Thoughts~

                Emphasis

                Spells and special moves

                * * * Scene/time change

                ~*~*~*~ POV change

                There's the key for the thingies, 'kay? *S* Then see ya at th' bottom!

                                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

                2000 years later

                Cloud was not having a good day. Or week or month or year, for that matter. He'd only just come out of the coma when Cid said there was this 'big-ass Weapon' he had to settle a score with. Said the thing, which had attacked Mideel while he was still in a coma, had nearly destroyed the Highwind while it ran away after the fight.

                So he had relented and allowed Cid to search for the massive beast to avenge his precious airship. They found the creature hovering above the new lake that had formed east of Junon a few hours later. Seeing no other way around it, they had flown the Highwind up to the creature and thus the battle was joined.

                Unfortunately for them, however, they soon found themselves hard pressed to hold off its attacks. And while he absolutely loved that sword, it was a pain. Literally. Even though Cid had immediately cast Wall on everyone, he could still feel the sharp bite of that beautiful sword with every swipe the beast took.

                Fed up, he cast Comet to distract the beast then leaped back to where Vincent stood, taking shots at the beast when he could. Cid, seeing Cloud jump back, followed suit after taking a swipe at the beast.

                "So, what's the plan, O Fearless Leader?"

                Cloud glared at Cid but also made sure to keep one eye on the beast at all times. "Look, this isn't working. Didn't you guys find any better materia or get better weapons while I was out?"

                Cid opened his mouth to answer but instead cursed instead when the beast took a swipe at all three of them with the sword. They barely managed to get out of the way in time. "Dammit, no we didn't find any better materia or get better weapons while you were out."

                Cloud raised his sword, Heaven's Cloud, to block the beast's sword from taking his head. "Well, what materia do you guys have?"

                They both took quick stock of the materia they had equipped. The results, while promising, weren't all that reassuring. Not as much as they'd hoped, anyway.

                "Well," Cid said as he took a long pull from his ever-present cigarette, "hope you guys have made your peace." This, of course, did nothing to instill confidence in his companions.

                                                                ~*~*~*~

                On the other side of the proverbial playing field, Atma--or Ultima as these Heroes would know Him as--watched the three discuss their attack strategy. He figured He'd let them score another hit or so before moving on. He'd arrived rather late in the game, which meant that the Heroes were far more powerful than their predecessors had been. Because of this, He had no plans on making this skirmish easy for them. Not by a long shot.

                Out of the three, He had His eye on one in particular: the spiky-haired youth. While he had suffered a great deal in his life, he was destined to do the Planet a great service; a service that would be aided greatly by His blade--now known as the Ultima Weapon.

                All the youth known as Cloud Strife had to do was defeat Him.

                                                                ~*~*~*~

                As soon as the light had faded, Cloud and the others quickly ran to the window to look down at where the beast--whom they had since found to be called Ultima Weapon--had, well, crashed.

                "Holy shit!"

                Cloud was inclined to agree with Cid's oh-so-eloquent assessment of the large crater that now existed just east of Cosmo Canyon. Of the Weapon, there was no sign. Although...

                Cloud leaned closer to the window and squinted down at the center of the crater. ~Is that...~ His eyes widened until they were nearly the size of dinner plates as he realized what was in the center of the crater. Wasting no time, he spun around and headed for the deck, calling over his shoulder as he went, "Land us near the crater!"

                Everyone turned to look at where Cloud had disappeared up the stairs then at each other before following. Before he followed the others, Cid told the hesitant pilot to do as Cloud said and land them near the crater.

                                                                 * * *

                Cloud tossed the ladder over the side and was already halfway down when the Highwind started it's decent. By the time the Highwind had landed and the others had joined him, Cloud was in the process of thoroughly inspecting just what it was that had caught his attention.

                Tifa gasped when she caught sight of what was in Cloud's hands. "Cloud, isn't that the sword Ultima Weapon was using?"

                Cloud nodded absently as he ran a hand over the luminescent blade of the weapon. Even though it had seemed much bigger when the Weapon had been using it, now it only looked to be about as long as he was tall.

                When Cloud had first put his hands on it, he had suddenly found himself filled with more power than he thought possible for a single living creature to possess. The sword hummed softly, such was it's power, and the blade itself glowed with a holy, white light that seemed to turn blue the further into the blade you went.

                Along with the power came images of a girl. She looked only a few years younger than himself and was wielding a similar white-blue sword with such skill that it almost boggled his mind. Something was strange about her though--something other than her green-tinted blonde hair. She seemed to have as much--if not more--power than the sword alone did. This was explained a moment later with more images of the same girl transforming into a violent, pink-tinted creature that reminded him a lot of the Summons in the Summon Materia they had.

                Next had come images of three extremely powerful women who could only be described as goddesses and an even more powerful, if that was even possible, man. Shortly after the image of the man came an image of a beast similar to the behemoths he'd read about in school as a child only it was gray and blue, not purple and red. Following *that* image was yet another of the creature, Ultima Weapon.

                It was then that he noticed startling similarities between the two, power-wise anyway. That caused a frown to mar his features. While some monsters were similar, power level-wise, it was quite rare to find this many similarities in two radically different creatures. Especially considering he couldn't remember seeing--or hearing about, for that matter--that particular breed of behemoth before.

                ~Is it possible that the two are related? We don't know how long Ultima Weapon was trapped inside the Planet or how long ago this other creature lived.~

                "What are you going to do with it," Tifa asked, a moment before comprehension dawned. "You're not seriously thinking about using that thing, are you?!"

                "I also have reservations about using such a potentially dangerous weapon, Cloud." This came from Red XIII. The Cosmo Cougar was sitting on his haunches and eying the blade in Cloud's hands warily.

                Cloud finally looked away from the blade and over at his friends. ~Why are they objecting? Can't they see that this blade, this Ultima Weapon, wouldn't...couldn't hurt me?~

                {They are frightened of it, Cloud. They saw what they took to be a monster wielding the sword you now hold. They are afraid of what could happen if a mortal, especially one they perceive to be mentally unstable, were to use its power.}

                Cloud looked around, startled by the voice. "Did you guys hear that?"

                Cid frowned slightly. "Hear what, Spike?"

                {They cannot hear me, Cloud; only you can hear me. My name is Atma and I am the owner of the blade in your hands.}

                Cloud looked back down at the sword, the Ultima Weapon, surprise coloring his features. This strange behavior, given what had recently happened to Cloud's mental state, caused his companions to exchange worried looks.

                Cloud, however, was oblivious to his friends' concern over his own mental health as he replied aloud. "Why can't they hear you, Atma?"

                Cid looked up at Barret and made a 'he's crazy' gesture with his hand. Everyone else, save Yuffie, watched with increasing worry, even Vincent. Yuffie was too caught up in trying to remember where she'd heard the name 'Atma' before.

                {You are my Chosen, young Cloud. You might not realize it, but you are descended from a great and powerful warrior. The same warrior, in fact, as she who last held my blade.} Soon after, an image of the green-blonde haired woman appeared again, but this time she was on the arm of a blonde haired man. Both were dressed in the finest clothing Cloud had ever seen. By the crowns that graced both their heads, he assumed that they were royalty.

                This, as expected, surprised him. "I'm descended from royalty?"

                By this time, his friends were really starting to worry. Yes, Cloud had told them he occasionally heard voices but he'd never talked aloud to them before. At least not where they could here him.

                Tifa slowly stepped towards Cloud, intent on trying to bring him back around from whatever was going on in his head. Worse came to worse, she could always knock him unconscious. "Cloud? Cloud, can you hear me?"

                Atma noted the concern of Cloud's friends but decided to answer His Chosen's question first. {Far removed, but, yes, you are. Yours is a line of both warriors and royalty, young Cloud. One that spans millennia.} Atma paused then a soft chuckle was heard. {But we can discuss these things another time. I do believe that your comrades are worried about you.}

                Cloud blinked and looked up from the sword in his hands to find Tifa only a foot or so away, looking at him worriedly. Behind her, the others were gathered with varying degrees of worry and wariness painted on their faces.

                Tifa licked her lips and asked, "Cloud?"

                He smiled and sheathed the sword on his back. "I'm fine, Tifa; everyone." He looked past her to the others and nodded. "Lets go." And with that, he started back to the airship, leaving behind a very confused group of warriors.

                Barret looked puzzled as he watched Cloud walk to the airship then turned to the others. "Did...I miss somethin'?"

                Red sat on his haunches and tilted his head thoughtfully. "It would seem that Cloud has found a new sword." Behind him, his tail twitched. "Though I do wonder where I've seen it before."

                From near the back of the group, Yuffie gasped as she suddenly remembered where she'd heard the name 'Atma' before. "No way..."

                Cid frowned at Yuffie as he puffed on his cig. "What is it?"

                Yuffie looked up to watch as Cloud climbed up the last few rungs on the ladder and over the railing of the airship. "In Wutai, there's an old legend of a powerful sword that once belonged to Atma, King of the Gods. It's said that in times of great strife, the Sword of Atma will find it's way to a great warrior, whom with it will end the strife and bring peace to the land."

                Everyone stared at Yuffie in silence. This earned them a glare from the ninja. "You guys thought I didn't know anything, didn't ya?"

                While everyone else stuttered and turned crimson, Vincent stepped up to Yuffie. "If that was indeed Atma's sword, then why did Ultima Weapon have it?"

                Yuffie looked up at the cloaked man and shrugged. "Who knows? The legends mention a beast testing the future user of the Sword so maybe that was it?"

                Vincent shook his head, frowning thoughtfully. "That makes no sense. How would a Weapon come to be this beast and why would it hold the Sword?"

                Yuffie huffed and turned to go to the airship. "How am I supposed to know?! I just know what the legends say, nothing else."

                Cid puffed on his cig and shook his head. "Well, if that damned sword ain't gonna mess with Spike's head, then I guess there's nothing to worry about."

                Tifa bit her lip as the others headed for the airship. "I hope you're right, Cid..."

                                                                 * * *

                "One last fight, Cloud. You may have defeated my physical form with the help of your friends but can you defeat me on your own?"

                Cloud stared at Sephiroth with hard mako blue eyes. Soon after they'd defeated his 'Safer' form, Cloud had felt a pull from the Lifestream. Looking down, he'd found himself traveling through what he assumed was the Lifestream to where he was now: a dark chamber with Sephiroth, in his human form. His rival was only wearing his pants and, along with the Masamune, looked ready for a final fight.

                The blond dropped into a ready stance, Ultima Weapon held at ready. He could feel the blade thrum in anticipation of the fight to come. ~This is it, Atma. We beat him now, he's gone for good, right?~

                {Indeed.} Came the rumbling reply from the blade. Atma had been pleasantly surprised by how perceptive this Chosen was. The others had been wise in their own right but Cloud saw things not many others did. That is Terra's influence, no doubt. Having the blood of an Esper in you would undoubtedly give you higher levels of perception.

                "I can take anything you got, Sephiroth." He adjusted his grip on the blade in his hands. He felt a sudden rush of power from the Sword as he moved to strike his opponent. A red haze settled over his eyes as he used the power granted him by Atma to perform a dizzying array of slashes, jabs and strikes. After roughly twenty of these powerful hits, he jumped back to survey his work, breathing heavily.

                Before he had time to blink, Sephiroth found himself covered in a multitude of gashes, all bleeding profusely. He looked up at Cloud in shock as he felt his being disintegrate and become one with the Lifestream.

                Cloud watched the green light of the Lifestream as it surrounded him. Looking up, he saw a hand reaching towards him and reached for it...

                                                                * * *

                Atma sat back and watched as Cloud took Tifa's hand, a proud smile on his face. This one had done very well and now he would be able to claim his prize; his destiny in the form of a tough-loving martial artist.

                "What now, Atma?"

                The god half-turned to find Goddess walking up to him and the scrying pool. She glanced down at the scene playing out--how AVALANCHE was now trying to get out of the Crater before it completely collapsed on them--then looked up at her Lord.

                Atma smiled at her then returned his attention to the scrying pool. With a small wave of his hand a spell was cast to ensure that the Highwind and all those within her would come out safe. "We wait until the next time we are needed."

                A laugh akin to bells echoed throughout the chamber. "'We', my Lord? This is all Your doing. My sisters and I have had no part in any of this; as You well know."

                "Ah, but you did."

                Goddess looked at Him in askance.

                He waved his hand again and the scene changed to show Aeris and Sephiroth in the Lifestream watching AVALANCHE. "You guided our young Cetra and her mate down their paths."

                Goddess watched the pair sadly. Indeed, it had been Her Voice which Aeris had heard when she communed with the Planet and, indeed, it had been Her hand that lead Sephiroth down the path he chose. She was not proud of that last, however it had to be done, though. If Sephiroth hadn't accepted that mission to Nibelheim and if she hadn't subsequently put his body in stasis, none of this would have come to pass. While some might see this as a good thing, it would ultimately prove the Planet's undoing.

                You see, the Planet and those who reside on it *need* conflict and destruction wrought by the Evils that occasionally came up. Those times of strife helped everyone grow and develop as a species and brought them one step closer to their final Purpose. Though what that was, not even She knew. Only Atma did and He refused to speak on the subject.

                Atma waved his hand again and the scene went back to AVALANCHE, who were now in Kalm with Reeve and Marlene celebrating and recovering from the ordeal they'd just been through. Cloud and Tifa were noticeably absent. "Good, he has finally taken my advice." At Goddess' questioning look, he explained. "I have been counseling him to confront her with his feelings for months now. He almost did it the night before they went into the Crater."

                She nodded; she was well aware of the love between the two Heroes. Part of her duties as one of the Goddesses was to watch over and nurture love wherever it was to be found. War was primarily Doom's area while death and the after life were Poltergeist's.

                "He will make her happy. She has loved him for many years."

                "I know."

                Both god and goddess looked on as the people of the Planet celebrated. They had been through so much hardship; they deserved the peace they would have for the next few millennia.

                                                                * * *

                Cloud looked down at the mako well in Mideel. Atma had told him that was where He wanted His blade to be sent, now that it wasn't needed any longer. At first Cid thought he was crazy when he asked him if he could fly him down here. The most powerful sword since the Masamune and Cloud wanted to chuck it into the Lifestream.

                The blond chuckled inwardly at that thought. Cid really would have had a cow if he'd known that Atma had originally wanted Cloud to bring the Ultima Weapon to the alter in the middle of the Ancient City. Cloud had argued with the god for weeks over that one. He simply refused to go down there again. The memories were too painful; too fresh.

                So here he stood. Tifa waited for him several yards away. She hadn't understood anymore than Cid had but could see that this was something he had to do so gave her support. He was glad for that; he didn't know what he'd do without her.

                {Cloud, it is time.}

                Cloud nodded in acknowledgement then drew the sword from its sheath. He looked down at it one last time and felt a pulse from it; a farewell. ~Goodbye, Atma. Thank you for Your help.~

                {You are welcome Cloud, though it is I who should thank you. You helped to protect My Planet from harm when the Weapons could not. For this, you shall have a peaceful life for you and your companions.}

                Cloud bowed his head in thanks. It calmed his mind to know that there would be no worries for, at least, the rest of their lives. With a final look at the blade in his hands, he reached back and threw it with all his strength. The sword spun through the air in a lazy arc before falling into the center of the mako well with barely a ripple. The Lifestream seemed to pulse for a moment before calming down.

                That done, Cloud turned and walked back to Tifa. She looked up at him worriedly. "Are you all right?"

                He nodded with a smile. "Yes, now I am." He took her hand and lead her back to where Cid was waiting for them in the Highwind.

TBC

Whew! Wasn't sure I'd ever get this one done. Hope you liked it and that it wasn't TOO OOC. I had a little trouble with the rest of AVALANCE but Cloud and Cid. Yuffie an' Vince seemed to have come through well enough. Dunno about the others. *L* Loved writing Cid, though. He's funny as hell. Had trouble writin' th' Atma/Goddess scene because I seem to have gotten confused with the tenses I've been using. Ugh. Hope they make sense. Well, off to finish the next one. In that one, we see how Squall handles the added responsibility of wielding the god's sword and being His Chosen. *snorts* And he thought being Commander of Garden was bad. Ta.