Yay! Someone Reviewed! Thank for the reviews Videlatplay and hope you and everyone else like this next chapter. This one is a tiny bit longer than my others, I aim for around 1,700 words normally but this one is around 2,100 so enjoy! And remember, Read and Review!

The Forgotten

Chapter 34: The Army of The Forgotten.

Piper stood still and silent in the ever-dark room of the President, waiting patiently for the man to speak. The President began pacing back and forth, his face hidden by the cloth hood over his head.

"Sir?" Piper interrupted his pacing after several minutes.

"You let them go? You have been waiting years for this chance and you let him escape? Explain yourself boy!" The Presidents tone carried his anger and the man began pacing once more.

"I didn't let them sir. Besides I think it worked perfectly. The boy is afraid of me now, it is only a matter of time until we meet once more and I finish what I started. He knows this and it will eat at him until his end at my hands." Piper explained with an air of confidence.

"Very well. I have had enough of these damned Rebels and it is about time we finish this. Send the planes to the location we received and bomb them to hell. Understood?"

"Understood."

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Vincent felt like a thousand knives had pierced his body over and over again as he rose from his slumber slowly. His eyes hurt so he didn't bother opening them, the ground below him was warm and fluffy instead of the cold slabs of the cell. He felt around but found nothing but blankets and pillows. Either I'm not in that cell or they took a turn for the four star cells, he thought. He fought the urge to go back to sleep and slowly opened his eyes, being blinded and dizzy at first before they cleared and he recognised the dark blue roof of his tent. He let out a sigh of relief and rolled to his side, his eyes drifting shut slowly as he fell once more into the darkness of sleep only to be tugged right back out:

"Vincent? You awake?" Red asked from the tent's door as he poked his head through the flap.

"Where am I?" Vincent droned sleepily as he rolled back onto his back, all hope of getting some rest gone for the moment.

"Just past the desert in your tent, don't worry. Everyone is fine and well." Red answered as he took a few more steps into the tent.

"That's good. The last thing I remember was getting surrounded by Ranish soldiers. Then waking in that cell. What happened?"

"Well, we were apprehended by Ranish like you said. After that we assume they interrogated you and Yuffie. Cloud and Barret broke free and let the rest of us out, and then we escaped with you."

"Oh. I'm tired; you think you can give me a few more hours. After that I think we need to talk." Vincent said sadly, closing his eyes and holding his hand to his head.

"Very well." Red called back as he strolled out the tent and into the cool afternoon breeze.

----

Exactly three hours later Vincent appeared from out of his tent and joined his friends around a burning fire. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Cloud spoke:

"So what happened to you?"

Vincent looked up and thought for a second before answering. "They tortured me."

"Tortured? Why?" Lance yelled and tightened his fist.

"For information. I'm sorry Blain. Akira." Vincent said as he hung his head in shame.

"Sorry!" Blain asked. "Sorry for." Then it hit him. "You told them our location! You weak selfish bastard! You couldn't stand the torture so you told them! Because of you hundreds of people will die! My people!" Blain roared and after his rant lunged towards Vincent, only to be held back by Akira.

"No Blain." Red interrupted his string of curses. "Vincent didn't tell them because they hurt him. He told them because they hurt Yuffie. Vincent is a strong man but even he could not bare that."

"That is no excuse!" Blain spat. "Even if they killed her she would have gave her life for hundreds and that would have been for the greater good! Now all we have is gone and this is all that's left. Some Rebel force this is!"

"Enough Blain!" Cloud yelled above his endless rants. "I'm sick of this! You! It has happened and there is nothing we could do about it. I'm sorry for your loss Blain. Akira."

"I don't think there is a loss Cloud." Red voiced after a few seconds. "At least not much of one."

"Explain." Blain ordered fiercely.

"Shika." Red said calmly. "She has the best ears I have ever seen. I have no doubt she heard the attack long before it happened and had everyone evacuate. Granted, everyone is scattered but that is better than dead. Right?"

----

The next day the company set out once again, riding their Chocobo's through the open fields towards the mountain that blocked their path. The mountains where at their feet in hours and gone in a matter of minutes as their fast paced Chocobo's strode across the land. They could see the sunny holiday spot known as Costa Del Sol on the horizon when a defending shriek filled the sky and caused the Chocobo's to jerk around wildly and throw their riders to the ground. Without a moments waste they spread there wings and darted away towards the sea. The shriek drew to a finish as the group removed their hands from their ears.

"Shit! Now we have to walk!" Cid growled furiously.

"I'm more worried about that damn noise." Barret grunted from the back of the group. "What the hell was that foul fuckin' thing?"

"I have no idea but I think where about to find out." Lance said as he pointed towards the mountains behind them. The group turned and followed his finger to the mountains. Hundreds of black dots could be seen storming down the mountainside and heading straight for them.

"I think he's right." Cloud nodded. "Shera. Luna. Get as far away as possible. Everyone else. Get your weapons."

"Don't you think someone should go with them?" Rain asked.

"I do but we need all the help we can get here and we can't spare anyone. Sorry."

"Luna can handle a gun just fine." Blain put in.

"And Shera can handle a stick too." Cid added.

"Fine then." Cloud agreed and Shera and Luna grabbed their weapons and ran for the nearby town.

Within minutes the black dots became clearer and many strange creatures could be made out among the small army. The creatures had a mixture of wings, fangs, claws, long slimy tongues and where of multiple colours. The closer they got the more they became clearer, revealing their glowing eyes. They stopped just a few feet away and began to stare down our heroes. Their bodies where protected by shabby rusting armour that was splattered with mud and dirt. At their sides many carried various forms of blades, both long and short, some curving and some straight but all ending with a shiny point. Moments after the company of creatures stopped what appeared to be their leader stepped out into the middle of the gap. He wore the most armour out of the entire army, the only one with a helmet. He rose several feet above the rest, stopping at a huge nine foot. His huge muscular form bulged out of his armour and at his side he held a rusted black thick blade with a jagged tip. His dark red eyes shone beneath his helmet as he let lose another painful shriek, his long green tongue protruding from his mouth with a hiss. With that the rest of the army echoed his shriek with a deafening battle cry joined with the sounds of rattling metal and feet hitting the ground.

Cloud stared into the depths of his enemies as rain began pouring in huge droplets from the dark clouded sky, the sudden change in weather unnerving him. The cry withered to nothing and near silence fell on the warriors, the only sound being the noise of rain hitting the ground.

"Charge!" roared the leader of the army, who cloud had come to call Jag because of his strange blade. The army rose to life and within seconds they clashed with our heroes.

Cloud raised his sword into the air as many creatures clashed around him, swinging here and there. With one quick spin he brought it down upon ones lowered head, cutting it cleanly from its neck and following through with a sweep that took three more down to the ground.

Tifa back flipped as four of the army closed in around her, she cleanly made it out of their grasp and began dodging as more rounded her. With another flip she found herself on the end of the four as they charged her. Dropping to her knee's she summoned up hidden depths of strength and hit the ground, cracking it in two and splintering the ground under their feet. They fell into the crevasse with a yelp, only one managed to grab hold of the ground before he fell. Tifa made it to him and stood firmly on his blade before kicking him square in the head and sending him tumbling into the darkness below him. She bent and picked up his dropped sword before charging into battle once again.

Lance, Barret, Blain and Vincent had been tricked into a circle of enemies, all pointing swords towards them as they closed in. Barret, Lance and Vincent picking of the one's that got too close with well aimed shots, Blain joining in her and their with his Uzi.

Rain sloshed into the ground with a splash of mud and quickly rolled onto his back, joisting his stick into the air and hitting one in the chest with a clunk of its armour. The foul yellow creature smiled and licked at his mud-covered face with a sick grin before shooting out his tongue and wrapping it around Rain neck. Rain pushed at it with his stick but found it only tightened the hold on his neck, cutting of his air. Suddenly a swift blade swept down and through the tongue, severing it with a squeal from its owner. A foot connected roughly with its face and it fell back into the mud soaked land. Rain took the offered hand and was pulled to his feet by his unknown saviour. He whipped around to find Akira in all his glory, clutching his blade firmly. Rain thanked him and the two continued to break away through the crowds together.

Cid swung his stick around him, taking out the surrounding foes and began charging through the crowd. He dodged here and there and swung his stick into their chest, heads and legs. Creatures fell left, right and center around him as he continued to volley his stick around him, sometimes getting two or even three at once. However, no matter how many he took down they continued to get up and continue their assault on him.

A yell sounded in his ears and he turned just in time to see a sharp pointed end of a lance coming straight at him. He ducked as it whizzed over his head and with a flick of his wrist swung his stick into the creature's manhood. Or where it should have been anyway. The lance wilder stood still, not fazed by Cid low blow and let out a harsh ringing laugh. With one rough kick Cid was sent sprawling into the mud behind him with a splash.

"Surround him!" barked the lance wilder. Cid struggled to his feet, a small trickle of blood leaking from his nose to find himself enclosed in a ring with the huge lance wilding demon. Cid grabbed his stick and attacked, swinging the stick into the air and bringing it down onto the fiends Lance with the click of wood on wood. They volleyed their respective weapons of each other until Cid let out a cry and swung his stick down and around the creature's legs, sending him to the floor. Cid jumped onto the demon and began chocking it with his stick. The monster gasped for air and would have gone pale in the face if that were possible.

Before the creature was to choke its last breath Cid was tugged back by the surrounding Forgotten. They held him in place as their apparent superior got to his feet and with a grunt began pounding Cid with his large black fists. Cid coughed blood up as he slumped to the floor, clutching at his wounded gut. The Forgotten backed away again as the lance wielder took a few steps back and brandished his lance above Cid's head and with one sharp jab he thrust downwards. Cid clenched his eyes tight in anticipation for the sharp pain but when it never came he slowly opened his eye's to see a pair of blue pants and black boots blocking his view.

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