Hey! I know its been a long time, but I've been having some slight…career problems ^_^ But, now I'm back! And as for all hmmm…5 of my reviewers, thanks for the support, the rest of you should be ashamed!

Chapter 4: The Merging

The void that the mercenaries were stood in began to take to same hue as the pulsating light, until they were surrounded by it, no longer able to see the sorceress, or each other.

"Guys?" Zell's question reverberated about the void, and he began furtively glancing about searching for his allies and friends in the light.

Quistis began to panic. "Squall? Zell?" She wandered aimlessly about, trying to find her friends while slightly hoping that she wasn't walking straight to the edge of whatever platform they were stood on.

Squall, however, seemed calm on the surface, his expressions and stance not changing. His eyes, however, betrayed how he felt inside; he was afraid, afraid of being alone, just like back when Sis had left him. He knew that he acted like he didn't need anyone, and pushed people away, but deep inside he was aching for a friend right now.

The light continued to grow in intensity, until it was a blinding white light. Zell tried to shade his eyes with his hands, while Quistis and Squall continued to peer into the brilliant glow wondering what the Sorceress was doing.

As the light grew to an impossible intensity, the three SeeD's heard a faint whine. It was the same sound that was heard before they slipped into Laguna's world.

Squall recognized it immediately. "Not now," he moaned, clutching his temple and lowering the Lionheart.

Quistis and Zell heard it also, but by the time they had figured out what had happened, they fell to the floor, unconscious.

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Zell awoke in Balamb Garden. Music was playing. He recognized it as the same music that was played at the Graduation Ball, that was nearly a year ago, it couldn't possibly be…could it? He looked over the dance floor with bleary eyes. Empty. No, wait, he thought, there IS someone here. He started to cross the dance floor, but as he took his first step, his whole world span and twisted. He gripped his head and took a deep breath, before starting out again this time with determination. Time seem to slow down, the air felt thick, like he was walking in a dream. The figure across the floor seemed to be retreating…no; he just wasn't getting any closer.

"HEY! WHO'S THERE?" he yelled.

Quistis was suddenly jarred awake by the sound of someone shouting. She lay there, disorientated, trying to figure out what was happening. "HEY, WHO'S THERE?" the voice bellowed again. "Its me" she managed to reply weakly, glancing about for the source of the voice.

Her eyes fell on Zell, who was franticly running on the spot, trying to reach her. "ZELL! I'M HERE! IT'S ME, QUISTIS!" she called back.

Groggily, she got to her feet, and began to cross the floor towards Zell. She stumbled, and fell forward, the room rushing about her, but instead of hitting hard floor, she was caught by Zell.

"What's happening? Where are we? Where's the others?" She stammered, still lying in Zell's arms.

"Dunno. I guess this means we failed." He deadpanned, looking once more at his impossible surroundings.

Quistis looked up at him, before diverting her gaze at the floor and letting her body go limp. "Damn..." she said, forlorn.

Zell was about to speak, When a concerned looking Selphie came charging into the room, followed promptly by Irvine and Rinoa.

"What happened?"

Did we win?"

Where's Squall?"

Questions came at Zell and Quistis at impossible speed.

"No. We didn't. And I don't know where Squall is…."

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MEANWHILE

"ULTIMA"

A burst of dazzling green light enveloped Cid, who stood, dumb-founded on the spot, eyes wide in terror. A mirage of colours were emitted, causing a tornado like wind to whip about, preventing the others from reaching either Cid, or Cloud. Sephiroth seemed unaffected by the wind, his silver hair still, and his long, satin black coat merely fluttering as though in a gentle breeze. The intensity of the light and colors increased, and the spell finally came to an end with a powerful explosion, throwing Cid across the crater. He lay there, motionless, his limbs twisted in impossible angles, and crimson blood trickling from a deep gash on his head and out of the corner of his mouth.

'Well, this is nice' Cid thought sarcastically, as the world began to fade away into darkness. But, Cid soon realized, not a normal darkness. He wasn't unconscious. "Should I be grateful?" he asked the black void. Wait a moment. Asked? 'Right. So I'm not dead. So where the $^* am I?' he thought.

Sephiroth turned his attention back to Red, who was still floating impossibly in front of him. The Generals eyes blazed for a moment, as he thought of how best to dispatch the creature. Red was desperately struggling to free himself, and get back onto the ground, all four legs thrashing wildly against the air. Suddenly, the silver haired man was violently awoken from his thoughts, ducking with inhuman speed and agility as Vincent and Barrett sent a volley of bullets towards him. Vincent's expression showed a momentary respect for the man, no one had ever dodged away from his sniper accurate shots before.

Sephiroth straightened up again, the smile returning to his face. The Masumane was now set to sever Clouds head once more, its owner's muscles flexing in the effort. Cloud, however, began to realize the peril he was in, and, with only a few milliseconds left of life, managed to hoist Ultima Weapon above his head. Sparks flew as the legendary swords met again, Sephiroth's expression changed to show disgust and annoyance rather than the normal cruel smirk. The two men stared at each other, mako sapphire blue meeting mako jade green. They parted, and the two men stood facing each other, reading their fighting stances.

Unbeknownst to any of the group, a strange transformation was taking place to the very ground they stood on. It was slowly becoming green with life, grass and flowers. Yuffie was the first to notice. "Look at the ground! Look at the ground!" she squawked, while jumping up and down madly.

Everybody heard Yuffie's excited squawks, Sephiroth included, and began to notice for themselves the strange transformation that was taking place around them. The cold stone floor of the crater they were stood on became green, sprouting with small flowers and grass. The ceiling of the cave, so far below the ground, gave way to the sky, which, in turn began to change from its foreboding, dark colour with the blood red tint of meteor into a beautiful, cloudless blue. The craters walls seemed to melt into nothingness. The wind dropped, and the only sound was from the Highwind, the backwash from the propellers sending petals soaring into a swirl of colours.

The transformation that the crater was undertaking sent a strange sense of life into both AVALANCHE and their most abhorrent enemy, healing the fallen and those still standing. The group of warriors took in the scene around them, the battle now in the back of their minds, weapons hanging uselessly by their sides.

Well, that's me again, sorry it's a short chapter, and it doesn't make much sense, all will be revealed, I promise!

Thanks to all 7 (7!!!) of my reviewers, Especially Mako_majic, who has been inspiration, a huge source of ideas, and a brilliant friend! Also, thanks go out to Alan_Bates, for all his ideas.

As for mistasparkle123, You never know…

Thanks again every one! Please keep reading and reviewing!

~Vincent~