A/N: Ok school is a pain in the neck, and I am sorry for the delay. I hope this chapter was worth the wait for you. So sit back and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, so you can call off your lawyers right now.

Apocalypse Rising
Chapter 11: Demon's Rebirth

....................................

The realm of the spirits. A world composed of green light, and gray stone. Green mist floated here, though no wind blew it. It moved as if it were being drawn to something. It moved slowly but surely. At last it reached its destination. Just below it was the form of a dead man. The man's black hair was a tangled mess, clustered with patches of dried blood. His face very pale, and covered with scars. Here lying under this strange mist was the dead form of Vincent Valentine, the last savior of man.

The mist began to lower itself, until it covered the body like a thin sheet. Slowly the mist began to force itself into the body, being absorbed by every pore, until there was nothing left. Nothing happened for several moments after this strange event. Then without warning his eyes opened.

With a sudden spastic movement Vincent lurched into a sitting position, hacking and gasping for air. His body felt like it was on fire, every cell was crying for oxygen, and none was being supplied. No air came to Vincent, for no air existed in this world. Eventually Vincent stopped gasping, not because he could breathe, but rather the need had left him. Vincent carefully rose to his feet, his legs feeling uncharacteristically weak. After taking a few light steps, and satisfied with his own strength, Vincent surveyed his surroundings. At first he was confused, where was he? Then like a tidal wave the memories flashed before him. He could remember the pain of his torture, and the sweet embrace of death.

He was dead, a concept he accepted fairly easily. So if that were true, than his location was obvious. Vincent decided that if this was his new home, then it would be best to explore it. He traveled for what had to be hours, and with each step he felt like he was becoming numb. By the time he stopped walking, he body was not only numb, but it had begun to fade. Looking down at himself he found that he could see through himself, a sight that might have driven another man to hysterics.

" YOU BASTARD!!" Came a ferocious inhuman roar from Vincent's left.

The spectral warrior had just enough time to dodge the blurred form of his attacker. Crouching in an attack position. Standing before him, in all his gruesome glory was Chaos.

" After thousands of years of battles, I get die because of an insignificant human!!" Chaos screamed as he swung his black blade. Vincent sidestepped the attack.

" You act like those years of living had a purpose. As far as I'm concerned I did the world a favor by dying." Vincent spat in cold indifference.

" Don't you get it you fool? This is it! This is our existence now. We will be trapped here for eternity." Chaos screamed while lunging with his sword again.

" Then why do you attack? I doubt that sword of yours will have much effect on me now. What use is killing the dead?" Vincent snarled at the crazed demon.

" Well Vinnie, I'm glad you asked. You see, if we are doomed to spend eternity here, then I will make sure to make it your hell." Chaos said as he swung the blade to decapitate his calm foe. Tired of this battle Vincent didn't move.

" STOP!" Boomed a commanding voice, and as she said that the blade stopped, just an inch away from Vincent's neck.

Vincent looked at Chaos, with open confusion. Not only had the blade frozen, but the demon was also in the same exact position. As he inspected the paralyzed demon, he could make out the sounds of footsteps behind him. Vincent turned around sharply, expecting to find some new evil, only to be face to face with Aeris.

The earth goddess had changed much from when Vincent had last seen her. Her hair was now clean and neat, clean of the black poison that had once engulfed it. Her green robes were spotless. Her body now generated great power; truly she looked the spitting image of a goddess.

" How've you been Aeris?" Vincent asked totally unimpressed.

" Fine thanks to you Vincent, though I assume that you have seen better days." Aeris said in her lighthearted voice.

" You could say that. So what do want?"

" Just to thank you I mean you did die to save me."

"You act as though that means something. Now can you leave me alone, I kind of have an eternity of torment I would like to get to. Or would you like to tell me what you really want?" Vincent said with a hint of sarcasm.

" All right I wanted to see how you were doing. Not many men can take existing here. They are too fond of life that they are reincarnated." Aeris said in a soothing tone.

" You want to know how I feel? I feel great. I find out the bastard that ruined my life is still alive, he kills me, and now I get to spend eternity fighting that demon. The only upside is that I don't have to pretend to be your champion!" Vincent yelled, his emotions finally taking over.

" I am truly sorry Vincent. I know you didn't ask for this."

" You're damn right I didn't ask for this! Why didn't you tell me that bastard was still alive?"

" I didn't know." Aeris said quietly.

" You didn't know! For a goddess you seem to be in the dark on a lot of things." Vincent spat.

" It was the black mako, it has weakened my powers. That is how they have managed to keep their plans secret. If I had known I might have been able to send Cloud."

". Oh yes! Let's talk about your golden boy. Look at what he's become. Last I saw he banished me from the group. I don't suppose you would possibly know what's wrong with him?"

" I'm well aware of what's happened to Cloud, and don't think it causes me any small amount of pain. A dark force has taken him, and sadly I think that Tifa will be the one to suffer the most." Aeris said, her face filled with sorrow and remorse.

Aeris's last words were like an electric shock to Vincent sending him out of his rage. " What do you know?" Vincent asked solemnly.

...................................

Tifa had was running for her life. The moon was the only light had. She was now only hours away from the ferry in Junon. She knew she was being chassed. She had sensed something following her for the past two days. As she was growing weaker from constant travel, the creature seemed to be getting faster.

Lost in her own thoughts Tifa didn't see the root in front of her, and tripped. As she fell her ankle turned at an unnatural angle, and she felt her tendons rip under the strain. She fell hard, and almost blacked out right there. Gasping in pain, she clutched her ankle. As she lay there, a huge shadow fell over her. Tifa looked up to see the creature that had been hunting her.

At first glance it looked like a giant snake. However when it moved at just the right angle, the moonlight reflected off it, to reveal that it was made of metal. It had a large body, and at its end was a long blade, dripping with venom.

The metallic creature loomed over her and with lightning speed struck. Its tale swung and attempted to impale her. Gritting her teeth in pain, Tifa managed to role away from the deadly stinger. As she rolled away she pulled a potion out of her bag, and downed half of it. Her body filled with a little strength. Her ankle no longer hurt as bad and she quickly stood up.

Right as she rose from the ground, the beast swung at her. Its metal body tackled her and sent her sprawling twenty feet away. She felt as if all her ribs were broken, and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. However, she was determined. Pouring in all of her pain and despair into her fist she sent a powerful blow at the creature's heart. The blow landed, and a single scale fell from the creature's body. The beast whipped around and swung its stinger at her. Tifa would stopped however and using the last of her strength cast Fire 3.

" Go to hell you monster!" Tifa yelled as the burning inferno was sent into the beast through the single hole left by the missing scale. Gears smoldered, and the creature's skull melted from the inside, as it fell dead.

When the creature died Tifa felt a huge stinging sensation from her right side. She looked there and saw the stinger had impaled her right side. The blade had only gone in two inches, but already she could feel the poison working its way into her system. Quickly she pulled the stinger out and collapsed on the dirt. Her blood felt like it was on fire. She looked up at the sky and wished for someone to be with her in these final moments.

" Vincent" She whispered, she wished that Vincent were there with her, to tell her that everything would be alright. Sadly the dark man was not with her. Her only companion was the growing darkness, and the excruciating pain.

....................................

" I don't think she will survive the night." Aeris said solemnly, as she finished telling Vincent the young woman's situation.

" Then do something for her. You have the power to heal. Go and save her!" Vincent yelled worry ringing clear in his frantic voice.

" Sadly I can not." Aeris said sadly.

" What? Why the hell not?" Vincent roared in rage and sorrow.

" I must go to Wutai. Already Hojo has attacked, and if I do not intervene."

" No! Wutai is a nation of warriors, they can handle themselves. Tifa needs you now!"

" Sadly that is not the case, Vincent. It will take me a great deal of time to heal Tifa, and time is something I don't have. If Tifa's death means the survival of the nation then so be it. I must do what is better for the planet."

" How bad is Wuati?" Vincent asked slowly.

" Bad." Aeris said as her voice broke for a split second.

....................................

Yuffie was too focused on the battle. So angry was she at her father's death, that her rage blinded her to the form of Hojo and his harpies. Hojo dived towards this young ninja. The masamune pointed right at her heart. Yuffie didn't look till it was too late. She would have been stabbed if not for one of the generals. He had seen Hojo's dive, and in a valiant effort pushed the young leader out of the way, and took the wound for himself.

Blood splashed over Yuffie's face. Before she could react, fire rained from the sky, as the harpies cast their spells. As the fire fell, Yuffie saw the fall of her homeland. " Retreat!! All of you Retreat to the mountains!!" She screamed as tears burned her eyes.

" Oh no you don't" Came the voice of the hooded man, as he pulled the body off his blade.

The sound of his voice Yuffie's mind reeling. "Ho.. Hojo?" Yuffie whispered in disbelief.

" Oh you remember me young empress." Hojo laughed. " Then I suppose you will also remember this blade." He cackled as he waved the masamune in front of her. " I took it from your friends dead body!" He yelled.

These words were almost as bad as any physical blow. Vincent couldn't be dead. She had only seen him a couple of days ago. But here was the masamune, and Vincent would never part with that blade, not after what he had gone through to get it.

In the time Yuffie spent thinking Hojo acted. He jabbed the blade, had Yuffie not moved a second later she would have died. Instead the blade imbedded itself into her shoulder.

Yuffie felt like she was going the faint. The physical and emotional injuries she was sustaining right now were just too much for her. Before she could fall to the ground several of her soldiers cast spells on Hojo. The madman flew upwards to get out of their range. Meanwhile the soldiers grabbed Yuffie and began to run away from the enemy army. Many soldiers were already dead, but they would not let their empress die.

" That's it, run away you pathetic creatures. Run to your mountains. This isn't over I will bathe in your blood before this night is over. " Hojo laughed from atop his griffin. He did regret not killing the girl, but the night was fairly young, and there would be plenty of time to kill her. Besides the look on her face when she had realized Vincent was dead had been priceless. For now he would just pick off as many soldiers he could.

Yuffie couldn't stay awake. The pain, and mental exhaustion were just too much. Her mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, but amidst them, one stood out. Vincent was dead. There was no denying it, Vincent was dead, and she and her people might as well be.

....................................

" So you see Vincent, there is nothing I can do. I can help Yuffie, and save Wutai. Or, I can save Tifa, and Wutai falls. I must save Wutai. If it falls, then the darkness will have an even firmer hold on this world." Aeris said, a small tear forming in her eye.

Vincent stood still. He was absorbing all this information. He knew that what Aeris said made sense, but he could not bare to think about leaving Tifa to die alone, like he had. She deserved better than that. Hell, she didn't deserve to die at all. There had to be something he could do. How he hated being helpless. It reminded him too much of watching Lucrecia die.

" Aeris." Vincent said slowly.

" Yes Vincent?"
" Can you bring me back?" Vincent asked. " Can you bring me back to life?"

Aeris's sad face brightened a little. " I thought you might ask that."

" So can you?" Vincent said a little impatiently.

" Yes, but purpose would it serve?"

" I could fight in Wutai, I have a go at Hojo anyway. While I defend the city, you can save her."

" That is a good plan." Aeris said in a melancholic voice.

" Then do it." Vincent demanded.

" It is not that simple. Your soul lacks the strength to return on its own. Already you have faded much." She said pointing to Vincent's almost transparent form. " If you were to go back as you are, your soul would be destroyed five seconds later. "

" So what can we do?" Vincent said with a definite edge.

" I can combine your soul with that of another. You would merge with that soul to become one being."

" Who do you have in mind." Vincent said halfheartedly, for he already knew her answer.

" Chaos, is only choice. You have been with him for so long that you are already connected. It will also make you much stronger. If you merge then you will be able to access any of the demon's powers without fully transforming. "

" That sounds good, but what's the catch?" Vincent growled.

" Your minds will also merge. You will retain your own personality, but part of you will never be the same. There will be no distinction between the two of you. Your demenor might also change. You will become more demonic than you ever were before."

Vincent was stunned by what he was hearing. He had been expecting a sacrifice, but not one this big. " So.. So you're saying that to be resurrected I would lose my humanity?" Vincent stutterd.

Aeris nodded sadly. " Yes, I can understand if you don't want to do this. You have already done Vincent. I will not force you" Aeris whispered.

Vincent thought for a minuite. He thought of how he hated the demon he had been cursed with for such a long time. He thought of how he valued what little humanity he had left. Lastly he thought of Wutai burning, Tifa dieing alone, and finally how he had watched Lucrecia die, how he'd vowed not to watch the ones he loved die ever again. That decided it.

" Do it." Vincent said coldly.

" Vincent, are you sure."

" Yes now do it."

" You really are amazing, I wasn't wrong when I chose you." Aeris said with a smile on her face. " All you have to do is accept the demon, and you will be revived." She said, and with a snap of her fingers Chaos was mobile again.

The demon looked at Vincent with pure hatred and with a mighty roar ran and stabbed him. Vincent for his part just spread his arms out, welcoming the blow. The blade embedded itself into his heart. Chaos let out a yell of triumph, and then tired to pull the blade out.

To the creature's surprise the blade wouldn't budge. Instead the blade seemed to be merging with Vincent. Soon the blade was gone and the demon himself was being absorbed. With a final yell the demon became one with Vincent.

As the demon was absorbed Vincent yelled with pain, his eyes became bright red, and then in a split second his body blew up into a thousand tiny green motes of energy. They stayed still for a second, but then they disappeared. Going to find their real body. Floating somewhere in the lifestream.

Aeris smiled at this sight. She had honestly been worried that Vincent would refuse. Tough she should have known that he was too loyal and kind to refuse the idea. As she thought about how Vincent would have to adapt to this new change, a tiny green mote caught her eye. One of the few specks of Vincent that hadn't dissapeard.

Aeris looked at it with mild interest. However, after a few seconds of observation she saw something that caught her interest.

" Vincent, what are you?" She mused to herself before teleporting to the injured Tifa.

...................................

Vincent awoke in a green ocean. The lifestream river that was floating around the northern continent. Most bodies would have been badly degreaded from staying in the lifestream for so long, but instead of destroying it, the lifestream seemed to have healed all his wounds. Even the scars on his face were gone.

With great strength Vincent grabbed the sheer rock wall of on the side of the river. When he grabbed the wall his hands were not human. They were the claws of Chaos, yet the rest of his body hadn't changed. It was Aeris had said. He now had complete control over the transformations and could focus on only one part of it.

With strength he had never had before he climbed the rock wall at incredible speed. When he reached the top of the cliff he could see the continent of Wutai. Fire was spreading over this land. Despite his nature, Vincent looked forward to seeing the slaughter. He walked to the edge of the cliff. The moon caught his dark red eyes, and in the light they were a brilliant shade of crimson. Licking his lips in anticipation Vincent summoned his wings. A procedure that was normally very spastic and painful, was done smoothly in seconds, without even an itch. Looking at his right claw he turned them back into hands, and in his right, formed the chaos saber.

Launching from his perch Vincent flew, at speed that even he was not expecting. With a grim smile he headed towards the falling nation. Soon he would Hojo. Soon the battle between the demon and the devil would begin.

A/N: Well I hope this didn't totally suck. I also hope that you didn't hate the way I brought Vincent back. Anyway, this was a tricky chapter for me to write, and I tried my best. I really hoped you at least enjoyed something from this chapter, and know that unless I get bombarded with school work, then I will try to update soon. Also if you have any comments please share them. So please review your opinions mean a lot to me, and I can't get any better without your feedback. Thanks for reading.