Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sqauresoft Characters such as Cloud,
Tifa, and Barret etc. I do however own all of my own Characters Such as
Gale Amber, Stratus Strife and so on.

The Forgotten

Chapter 43: Arrival of Apocalypse.

The usually quiet town of Costa Del Sol was bombarded by noise as the Highwind flew overhead, sending a wave of wind upon the town. The Highwind landed outside of the town and our heroes gathered on the bridge of the ship. Rain was at the helm of the ship, with his father standing not far behind him.

"We ready?" Cloud asked as he got into his usual position on the bridge and gazed out at the land below him.

"Ready." Rain announced and with that they set off through the air towards their destination. The Forgotten Island in the south west of the world.

It was a great feeling to be back on the great airship that had been of great help to them on their last quest. Great for all but one person. Yuffie Kisiragi. The great ninja stood in her usual position, hunched over and trying not to throw up in Cid's 'precious' ship. She was so wrapped up in her task that she failed to noticed the light footsteps that grew ever closer to her, until it was to late and she felt arms wrap around her body.

"You going to be okay?" Vincent asked her.

"No." she said before covering her mouth to stop the contents of her stomach from emptying themselves.

"Here." Vincent said as he ruffled through his pocket. "Take this." He handed her a tranquilliser and she took it with pause. The medicine did wonders for her and she relaxed enough to sit on the floor, the uneasy feeling leaving her for the moment.

"Thank you." She said as Vincent sat next to her and put his arm around her.

Meanwhile back on the bridge the others stood and waited, Cloud, joined by his son Stratus gazed out at the lands as it blew by underneath him. Piper had hid himself in the back, where Vincent used to stand and was keeping to himself. Gale stood up and rightened her clothes before leaving the dock and walking out into the airship's interior. She noticed Vincent and Yuffie snuggled up together and smiled at the sight, glad that her mother (or who she considered her mother) was happy. She continued on and found herself on the deck, the blowing wind ruffling her hair as she looked out over the balcony. They where now crossing the ocean and would arrive at the location soon. The water below he was dark and violent but also beautiful as the water rose and dropped in an endless pattern. With this she was glad she didn't share Yuffie motion sickness and sat on the deck, holding the bars before her and looking down at the water.

"Enjoying yourself?" came a voice from behind her and she turned to see Stratus stood a few feet away with his arms behind his head and a goofy smile on his face.

"What are you so happy about?" she asked ignoring his question.

"Not happy." He said. "I just feel there's no need being sad. That would only make things worse right. Besides I'm kinda excited."

"Excited?" she blurted out in horror. "What is there to be excited about? That we might die? Hell, probably will."

"You already forget my promise." Stratus asked as he stepped closer and got serious. "I said I wouldn't let anything happen to you and that everything would work out. And I never break my promises."

"But." She began but her cut her of as he took a quick step, knelt and kissed her. After they parted he began to speak:

"No buts. Okay?"

"Okay." She smiled, and to her surprise it was genuine.

----

Staan stood still on his little island, looking out on the world around him. To his left was a high mountain that towered above him. Everything else around him was relatively flat. The weather was cold and harsh winds blew in the frozen lands as he drew up hid hand ad held out a palm sized red orb that glistened in his palm.

"Soon," He whispered. "The time will come. For Apocalypse to rise and for the Armageddon to arrive on this pathetic waste of a planet."

The wind picked up and blew his hair about him. His tail whipped around his feet and then coiled around his leg. With a sharp tug he ripped his vest from his chest and dropped the torn rag to the snowy ground below him and soon it was covered. To his surprise his sensitive ears picked up the sound of light humming. The sound got louder and louder and soon he saw the grey figure of the Highwind approaching him. He hissed in anger and then smiled wickedly as a thought occurred to him.

"I will make then suffer and watch as I destroy their beloved home."

"Stratus!" Gale cried. "That's him. And he's seen us!"

"Hey." He soothed. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

He stood and was about to call his allies when to his surprise they came out through the door and onto the deck.

"He's seen us." Stratus informed.

"As I thought he would." Piper answered. With that he lowered the rope ladder and everyone began climbing down into the snowy ground below. It didn't take long for everyone to reach the ground and they closed in on their enemy.

"So you found me." Staan hissed. "No matter. It just makes this more fun for me."

He held up the orb in his hand again and was rewarded with puzzled looks.

"What the hell are you doing?" Piper roared and un buckled his sword, holding it out before him.

"I bet your wondering what this is." Staan asked with glee. "It is Materia. More specifically it is summon Materia. This orb holds the power of Apocalypse. The ultimate God of evil."

"What?"

"You see when I was woken by my fellow Forgotten I was confused." He informed them. "You see they all had strange gifts. Or curses. However you look at it. But I didn't. I was normal. Or so I thought.

"It was a cold night when I first discovered my power. I was out by a fountain of Mako that had burst through the ground when one of my comrades approached me. He was very strong indeed, with a great long tail at his hide. He insulted me for being weak. What he didn't expect was for me to attack, and attack I did. I grabbed his throat and began to choke him. He coughed and pleaded for me let him free but I didn't. I loved this feeling. Then it happened. I absorbed him. His essence. His soul. His powers. It came natural to me. I just knew and did. When I was finished I had taken apart of him and made it me. I had his tail."

To emphasise this pint he thrashed the tail at his feet around in the snow.

"Then I found this. Gleaming in the light created by the fountain. I picked it up and instantly knew it to be Apocalypse. That's when my plan began to form in my head. For the days and weeks to come I lured my comrades to this place and one by one absorbed them. And when I was powerful enough I confronted our leader. The winged beast we called 'Master'. I choked him and drew him into me in front of the others. Then I was the boss. The king. The leader. Chose which ever pleases you but I was in charge. I then informed my company about my plan and that's how it started. This is the conclusion of my efforts that have so far not failed me. And they wont. There is nothing you can do. You are powerless against my power."

"You bastard!" Piper shouted. "You will not win. I will not allow it."

"But you are too later Piper my boy." Staan retorted in the voice of the President of Ranish and the old Shinra Rufus.

With this the ball of Materia in the demons hand glowed brightly then flew inside the creature, tearing through his demonic flesh. Staan roared and then suddenly began to grow at an increasing rate. His hands became huge, even compared to his new size along with his legs. His body grew great black armour that seemed to enclose around him and slowed anyone who was unfortunate enough to look into its dark depths. Two giant horns pieced his skull and grew to enormous lengths down his back and his hair turned white as it fell down his back to his ankles. And to top it of the orb of Materia rose out his forehead and shone brightly, casting a array of light onto out heroes, blinding them.

"Shit!" Blain grunted. "I can't see!"

"Damn him!" Piper added.

When they could finally she again he stood several stories high above them and just passed the Cliffside in height. His eyes where a dull void white and his lips twisted upwards in the most evil smirk known to man. At his side where two very long katana's.

"Dammit!" Cloud yelled. "Here goes nothing!"

Cloud held out his Ultimate Weapon and in one of its slots glowed a bright red orb. The sky went black and the area was drawn into darkness before clearing. Before them stood the knights of the round in all their glory. They attacked with fury, slicing away one by one at the demon but to everyone's surprise thee attacks did nothing against the black armour, not even leaving a tiny scratch.

"What the?" Stratus whispered to himself.

"Fools!" Staan/Apocalypse roared and with one quick defining slice he cut the knights in two and they fell to the ground and disappeared back into there know cracked orb.

"Holy shit this isn't good." Lance exclaimed.

"Not good at all." Added Gale as they stared at their impossible foe.

----