CHAPTER VI: BATTLES IN THE CRATER
After the Highwind landed on a flat area around the side of the crater, everyone got off, one after the other. Zack took a look around the crater when his feet touched the ground. The crater had gotten less deep than it was in the game, because he could see the bottom now. As he scanned the bottom, he was surprised when he saw a small figure standing close to the vortex of light.
"Cloud!"
Hearing that, Cloud rushed over, "What's wrong?"
Zack points to the figure, "Look over there!"
It took Cloud a while before he saw the figure, "Sephiroth!"
"Sephiroth?" Yuffie rushes to where Zack and Cloud stood and scans for the figure. When she sees the figure, she nods her head, "Yup, that's him, all right."
She takes a closer look at the figure, suddenly she gasps, "And he's looking right at us!"
"What!?" Cid shouted before Sephiroth suddenly appeared in front of the group, surprising everyone.
"I see you have all arrive in time," Sephiroth said, sinisterly, to the group.
"Tell us what's going on, Sephiroth," Cloud questioned while looking at him, suspiciously.
Sephiroth smiled that evil grin of his that Cloud could never forget, "Why don't I show you, instead?"
Then, before any of them could react, they were teleported suddenly to where Zack saw Sephiroth standing. Everyone slowly shook off their shock from the teleportation as they turned to face Sephiroth, who had been watching them for a while.
"Are you all ready?"
"What's going on, Sephiroth? You still haven't answer me!" Cloud exclaimed.
"And above all, what the heck is that thing?" Barret shouted, pointing at the vortex.
"Oh, this," Sephiroth, turns to look at the vortex, "This is the Dimensional Vortex."
He turns back to the group, "It is connected to a whole new world that even I never knew of."
"A whole new world?" Tifa, surprised.
"That even you didn't know of?" Cloud continued.
"Yes, that is right," Sephiroth answered calmly.
Barret then shouted, "If you didn't know about this whole new world, then why is that thing there?"
"Oh, if you think this vortex was created by me, you are greatly mistaken."
Everyone was surprised as he continued, "It was created by another."
He then glares Zack, "Remember that someone, Zack, the one I told you about before."
Zack is shocked as Sephiroth smiles his sinister smile again, "He's the one that created it."
"Who is it, Sephiroth? Who is that 'he' you're talking about over and over again?" Cid shouted.
Sephiroth continues smiling, "He's."
He suddenly stops as his face shows a sign of surprise. He recovers back after a short moment.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?"
As Sephiroth continued to stare at them, Barret suddenly sees something coming out from the vortex, "What is THAT!?"
A figure was coming out from the side of the vortex. The figure appeared in full form after a short while. It was a man, whose body was hidden in a dark-blue cape. He had long, bright-blue hair and wide, yellow shoulder pads.
"Greetings," the man, his voice thundering loudly everywhere around Zack and the others.
"Who. What are you!?" Cid gasped.
The man's eyes glared sharply at Cid, as if trying to pierce through him, but Cid stood his ground.
"I am Thora," the man, his voice thundered once more.
"Thora? Hah, what a stupid name!" Barret shouted.
Thora glared furiously at Barret and with a swing of his hand, Barret suddenly flew to the back. Barret shouted in pain as he landed on the rough ground.
"Don't EVER make fun of me," Thora roared, still glaring furiously at Barret, who stared fiercely back at him while slowly getting up.
"Why did you create the vortex, Thora?" Vincent shouted, taking Thora's attention away from Barret.
"I intend to dominate the worlds that exist within the grasps of my hand," Thora answered with his thundering voice.
"Worlds?" Zack gasped, "Do you mean to say that there are other worlds, besides this world and mine!?"
"Yes," Thora answered, as he looked at him, frightening him a little, "But you should already know about them, Zack."
Zack was shocked when he heard that.
"Sephiroth," Thora called as Sephiroth turned around in reply, "Take care of them. I've only come to personally meet with Zack."
Sephiroth smiled, sinisterly, as he faced back towards the group. Thora slowly entered the side of the vortex.
"Wait! What do you mean that I already know about those other worlds, Thora?" Zack shouted.
However his question was ignored by Thora as he disappeared into the vortex.
"Well," Sephiroth, smiling his unmistakable smile.
"Father," he continued as Hojo suddenly appears from a bright ball of blue light.
"Mother," he continued again as Lucrecia suddenly appears, too.
Everyone was surprised when they saw them.
"Lucrecia!" Vincent gasped.
Sephiroth continued on, "What shall we do with them?"
"Oh, you decide, son," Hojo exclaimed, looking as fiendish as he always had.
Lucrecia, on the other hand, kept quiet as she stood still on the spot where she appeared on, staring blankly at everyone.
"Well, Thora told me to take care of them," Sephiroth recalled and then his face turned even more sinister, "So, let's take care of them!"
Suddenly, Sephiroth draws out his sword and charges for Cloud. Fortunately, Cloud was quick enough to hold Sephiroth's attack with his sword. The sound of their sword clash echoed within the crater. Now, they were right at each other's faces.
"You'll pay for what you did to me, Cloud," Sephiroth said as they were glaring at each other's faces.
Cloud quickly raised his sword, forcing Sephiroth back, "All right! I'll pay you back. the same way that I did before!"
"Cloud!" Tifa cried in concern as Cloud and Sephiroth continued with their fight.
"If you want to help him, you're going to have to go through us first," Hojo said menacingly as he stood beside Lucrecia.
"Lucrecia," Vincent murmured, looking at Lucrecia.
"Oh, I'm sorry to inform you, Vincent, but Thora had changed her to how she is now, after the discovery of her misdeed," Hojo explained, laughing his unmistakably sinister laugh.
"What?" Vincent, surprised.
"That's right. She isn't the Lucrecia that you once knew," Hojo, laughing sinisterly again.
Vincent stared at Lucrecia, shocked. Looking into her eyes, he could tell that she was, indeed, different. Her eyes were blank as if lifeless or hypnotized. He looked down to the ground, shocked and at the same time, in complete disbelief.
"Well, enough of this! Come out!" Hojo shouted as he threw two, what seems to be, capsules to the ground in front of him.
"Iron Giant! Malboro!" he continued as the two monsters appeared from the smoke released by the capsules.
Everyone was surprised to see the two gigantic monsters in front of them.
"Iron Giant. Malboro." Zack thought in his mind, "They are two of the toughest monsters in the game."
As he took out his spear, Cid stared at Vincent, who was still grieving over Lucrecia.
"Get a hold of yourself and focus on what's more important! Your LIFE!!"
Vincent was surprised by Cid and quickly recovered from his grief as he drew out his gun. As the monsters continued to slowly charge at the group, they had their weapons out and ready.
"Let's do this, everyone!" Yuffie shouted as she charged for Iron Giant.
"Don't leave without me, Yuffie!" Cid, following behind her.
"I'm coming with you!" Cait Sith cried through his megaphone, the HP Shout, as it hopped after them.
"Leave the Malboro to me!" Tifa shouted as she charged for the Malboro.
"Don't forget about us!" RedXIII shouted as he and Cinna ran after Tifa.
Zack turned to Vincent. He was standing still, looking at Lucrecia as she lumbered slowly closer and closer to him, like as if she was a zombie. Zack then turned to Amber
"Amber, go and help Vincent!"
"But what about you?" Amber, concerned, as she looked at Hojo.
"Don't worry about me! I'll be fine! Now, go!"
She stared at him for a moment before she nodded and ran off towards Vincent. Zack then turned to face Hojo.
"You seem to be confident, Zack."
"Let me guess, all of you were told about me by Thora," Zack, holding his sword tightly in his hands.
Hojo laughed, "You don't have to be a 5 year old child to guess that."
The two stared at each other for a while without saying a word.
"Are we going to fight or are we just going to stand here and stare at each other til we get sick?" Hojo exclaimed to Zack.
"Which would you choose?" Zack asked as he held his sword in his fighting position.
"Why ask when you already know the answer?" Hojo quoted as he slowly took out a capsule from inside his coat.
He then threw the capsule right underneath him, releasing a huge cloud of purple smoke that surrounded him in an instant as he stared sinisterly at Zack. After a quick moment, the smoke started to lift. Zack was shocked to see Hojo, revealed in the form of a monster. Hojo now looked exactly like the monster he turned into, in the game, after being defeated twice in a row.
"Let's fight!" Hojo hissed to Zack.
Hojo charged towards Zack. Zack stood still, waiting to attack Hojo when he has gotten close enough but Hojo suddenly stopped a few feet away from Zack, surprising him. Hojo then somersaulted, stinging Zack painfully with his tail. Being inexperience, Zack felt the pain flow through his whole body quickly as he stepped back a few steps.
"It would seem that you are weaker than I've anticipated. This is really disappointing!"
Zack slowly recovers from the pain, "Sorry to have disappointed you then. Let me make it up to you."
He charges and strikes at him with his sword, hard. Hojo flew to the back as he felt the impact but recovered quickly.
"Now, that's better."
"Humph, I can show you even better!" Zack, holding his sword tightly as he smiled in excitement.
"Hey, kid! Have you forgotten about me?" suddenly Zack heard from behind before he heard sounds of a gun gatling.
Hojo was repeatedly being shot by hundreds of bullets. Zack turned around to see Barret, who had his gun-arm, the Missing Score, pointed at Hojo. Barret smiled at Zack and Zack returned the smile, feeling a little glad. He turned back towards Hojo, who was hurt badly.
"You think. that's going to be enough. to kill me," Hojo mutters out.
Zack then suddenly realized.
"Kill!? I've forgotten that I might need to do so after I have a weapon," Zack thought to himself. He tries to think of what to do for a short moment, "Hey, wait! This is Final Fantasy VII. Why do I need to worry? This is just only a game!"
"Well?" Hojo, mocking at Zack while laughing his menacing laugh weakly.
"No. But I think this will!" Zack answered him as he charged and stroke Hojo, hard, right at his chest, sending him flying to the ground. As Hojo's body slowly disappears into nothing, Zack said proudly, "Yup, I was right."
*********
After Zack told her so, Amber ran to help Vincent. As she did, she wished in her mind.
"Please let him be alright."
When she reached Vincent's side, she took aim at Lucrecia. Vincent saw her but couldn't decide whether to stop her or not. He then stares back into Lucrecia's eyes again. It was still as blank as before. But then, he was surprised when he suddenly saw tears welling up in them. Suddenly, Amber took a shot and hit Lucrecia's right shoulder.
"You're too nervous!" Vincent barked at Amber, surprising her, "Stay calm at all time, Amber, and aim."
Amber starts calming herself down by taking in big, soothing breaths. She aims at Lucrecia again, who was still walking slowly at them. Blood has started flowing a little from the bullet wound on Lucrecia's shoulder. As Lucrecia continued walking closer and closer, Amber takes another shot and hits Lucrecia's right chest.
"No!" Amber, disappointed with herself.
"It's all right, Amber," Vincent said, "I'll take care from here."
He then holds up his gun at Lucrecia, "Farewell, Lucrecia."
That was what he said before he pulled the trigger, sending a bullet right at her. Lucrecia flew to her back when the bullet hit her. Vincent and Amber stood still for a while, looking at Lucrecia's dead body.
"That took a lot out of you, didn't it, Vincent?" Amber said softly, looking at him. He stares at Lucrecia's face, "Yes, it did. But look at her face."
Amber then looks at Lucrecia's face and was surprised, "She's-She's smiling!"
As Lucrecia's body started to disappear slowly, Vincent explained to Amber, "She had been in torment since Thora changed her to the way she was just now. But now, she can rest peacefully."
As Lucrecia slowly disappears, Vincent says once more, "Farewell, Lucrecia."
Amber, smiling happily for Vincent, turned to look at Zack. He was standing in front of Hojo's disappearing body. Amber smiled even happier.
"He's alright," she whispered, feeling extremely relieved.
After the Highwind landed on a flat area around the side of the crater, everyone got off, one after the other. Zack took a look around the crater when his feet touched the ground. The crater had gotten less deep than it was in the game, because he could see the bottom now. As he scanned the bottom, he was surprised when he saw a small figure standing close to the vortex of light.
"Cloud!"
Hearing that, Cloud rushed over, "What's wrong?"
Zack points to the figure, "Look over there!"
It took Cloud a while before he saw the figure, "Sephiroth!"
"Sephiroth?" Yuffie rushes to where Zack and Cloud stood and scans for the figure. When she sees the figure, she nods her head, "Yup, that's him, all right."
She takes a closer look at the figure, suddenly she gasps, "And he's looking right at us!"
"What!?" Cid shouted before Sephiroth suddenly appeared in front of the group, surprising everyone.
"I see you have all arrive in time," Sephiroth said, sinisterly, to the group.
"Tell us what's going on, Sephiroth," Cloud questioned while looking at him, suspiciously.
Sephiroth smiled that evil grin of his that Cloud could never forget, "Why don't I show you, instead?"
Then, before any of them could react, they were teleported suddenly to where Zack saw Sephiroth standing. Everyone slowly shook off their shock from the teleportation as they turned to face Sephiroth, who had been watching them for a while.
"Are you all ready?"
"What's going on, Sephiroth? You still haven't answer me!" Cloud exclaimed.
"And above all, what the heck is that thing?" Barret shouted, pointing at the vortex.
"Oh, this," Sephiroth, turns to look at the vortex, "This is the Dimensional Vortex."
He turns back to the group, "It is connected to a whole new world that even I never knew of."
"A whole new world?" Tifa, surprised.
"That even you didn't know of?" Cloud continued.
"Yes, that is right," Sephiroth answered calmly.
Barret then shouted, "If you didn't know about this whole new world, then why is that thing there?"
"Oh, if you think this vortex was created by me, you are greatly mistaken."
Everyone was surprised as he continued, "It was created by another."
He then glares Zack, "Remember that someone, Zack, the one I told you about before."
Zack is shocked as Sephiroth smiles his sinister smile again, "He's the one that created it."
"Who is it, Sephiroth? Who is that 'he' you're talking about over and over again?" Cid shouted.
Sephiroth continues smiling, "He's."
He suddenly stops as his face shows a sign of surprise. He recovers back after a short moment.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?"
As Sephiroth continued to stare at them, Barret suddenly sees something coming out from the vortex, "What is THAT!?"
A figure was coming out from the side of the vortex. The figure appeared in full form after a short while. It was a man, whose body was hidden in a dark-blue cape. He had long, bright-blue hair and wide, yellow shoulder pads.
"Greetings," the man, his voice thundering loudly everywhere around Zack and the others.
"Who. What are you!?" Cid gasped.
The man's eyes glared sharply at Cid, as if trying to pierce through him, but Cid stood his ground.
"I am Thora," the man, his voice thundered once more.
"Thora? Hah, what a stupid name!" Barret shouted.
Thora glared furiously at Barret and with a swing of his hand, Barret suddenly flew to the back. Barret shouted in pain as he landed on the rough ground.
"Don't EVER make fun of me," Thora roared, still glaring furiously at Barret, who stared fiercely back at him while slowly getting up.
"Why did you create the vortex, Thora?" Vincent shouted, taking Thora's attention away from Barret.
"I intend to dominate the worlds that exist within the grasps of my hand," Thora answered with his thundering voice.
"Worlds?" Zack gasped, "Do you mean to say that there are other worlds, besides this world and mine!?"
"Yes," Thora answered, as he looked at him, frightening him a little, "But you should already know about them, Zack."
Zack was shocked when he heard that.
"Sephiroth," Thora called as Sephiroth turned around in reply, "Take care of them. I've only come to personally meet with Zack."
Sephiroth smiled, sinisterly, as he faced back towards the group. Thora slowly entered the side of the vortex.
"Wait! What do you mean that I already know about those other worlds, Thora?" Zack shouted.
However his question was ignored by Thora as he disappeared into the vortex.
"Well," Sephiroth, smiling his unmistakable smile.
"Father," he continued as Hojo suddenly appears from a bright ball of blue light.
"Mother," he continued again as Lucrecia suddenly appears, too.
Everyone was surprised when they saw them.
"Lucrecia!" Vincent gasped.
Sephiroth continued on, "What shall we do with them?"
"Oh, you decide, son," Hojo exclaimed, looking as fiendish as he always had.
Lucrecia, on the other hand, kept quiet as she stood still on the spot where she appeared on, staring blankly at everyone.
"Well, Thora told me to take care of them," Sephiroth recalled and then his face turned even more sinister, "So, let's take care of them!"
Suddenly, Sephiroth draws out his sword and charges for Cloud. Fortunately, Cloud was quick enough to hold Sephiroth's attack with his sword. The sound of their sword clash echoed within the crater. Now, they were right at each other's faces.
"You'll pay for what you did to me, Cloud," Sephiroth said as they were glaring at each other's faces.
Cloud quickly raised his sword, forcing Sephiroth back, "All right! I'll pay you back. the same way that I did before!"
"Cloud!" Tifa cried in concern as Cloud and Sephiroth continued with their fight.
"If you want to help him, you're going to have to go through us first," Hojo said menacingly as he stood beside Lucrecia.
"Lucrecia," Vincent murmured, looking at Lucrecia.
"Oh, I'm sorry to inform you, Vincent, but Thora had changed her to how she is now, after the discovery of her misdeed," Hojo explained, laughing his unmistakably sinister laugh.
"What?" Vincent, surprised.
"That's right. She isn't the Lucrecia that you once knew," Hojo, laughing sinisterly again.
Vincent stared at Lucrecia, shocked. Looking into her eyes, he could tell that she was, indeed, different. Her eyes were blank as if lifeless or hypnotized. He looked down to the ground, shocked and at the same time, in complete disbelief.
"Well, enough of this! Come out!" Hojo shouted as he threw two, what seems to be, capsules to the ground in front of him.
"Iron Giant! Malboro!" he continued as the two monsters appeared from the smoke released by the capsules.
Everyone was surprised to see the two gigantic monsters in front of them.
"Iron Giant. Malboro." Zack thought in his mind, "They are two of the toughest monsters in the game."
As he took out his spear, Cid stared at Vincent, who was still grieving over Lucrecia.
"Get a hold of yourself and focus on what's more important! Your LIFE!!"
Vincent was surprised by Cid and quickly recovered from his grief as he drew out his gun. As the monsters continued to slowly charge at the group, they had their weapons out and ready.
"Let's do this, everyone!" Yuffie shouted as she charged for Iron Giant.
"Don't leave without me, Yuffie!" Cid, following behind her.
"I'm coming with you!" Cait Sith cried through his megaphone, the HP Shout, as it hopped after them.
"Leave the Malboro to me!" Tifa shouted as she charged for the Malboro.
"Don't forget about us!" RedXIII shouted as he and Cinna ran after Tifa.
Zack turned to Vincent. He was standing still, looking at Lucrecia as she lumbered slowly closer and closer to him, like as if she was a zombie. Zack then turned to Amber
"Amber, go and help Vincent!"
"But what about you?" Amber, concerned, as she looked at Hojo.
"Don't worry about me! I'll be fine! Now, go!"
She stared at him for a moment before she nodded and ran off towards Vincent. Zack then turned to face Hojo.
"You seem to be confident, Zack."
"Let me guess, all of you were told about me by Thora," Zack, holding his sword tightly in his hands.
Hojo laughed, "You don't have to be a 5 year old child to guess that."
The two stared at each other for a while without saying a word.
"Are we going to fight or are we just going to stand here and stare at each other til we get sick?" Hojo exclaimed to Zack.
"Which would you choose?" Zack asked as he held his sword in his fighting position.
"Why ask when you already know the answer?" Hojo quoted as he slowly took out a capsule from inside his coat.
He then threw the capsule right underneath him, releasing a huge cloud of purple smoke that surrounded him in an instant as he stared sinisterly at Zack. After a quick moment, the smoke started to lift. Zack was shocked to see Hojo, revealed in the form of a monster. Hojo now looked exactly like the monster he turned into, in the game, after being defeated twice in a row.
"Let's fight!" Hojo hissed to Zack.
Hojo charged towards Zack. Zack stood still, waiting to attack Hojo when he has gotten close enough but Hojo suddenly stopped a few feet away from Zack, surprising him. Hojo then somersaulted, stinging Zack painfully with his tail. Being inexperience, Zack felt the pain flow through his whole body quickly as he stepped back a few steps.
"It would seem that you are weaker than I've anticipated. This is really disappointing!"
Zack slowly recovers from the pain, "Sorry to have disappointed you then. Let me make it up to you."
He charges and strikes at him with his sword, hard. Hojo flew to the back as he felt the impact but recovered quickly.
"Now, that's better."
"Humph, I can show you even better!" Zack, holding his sword tightly as he smiled in excitement.
"Hey, kid! Have you forgotten about me?" suddenly Zack heard from behind before he heard sounds of a gun gatling.
Hojo was repeatedly being shot by hundreds of bullets. Zack turned around to see Barret, who had his gun-arm, the Missing Score, pointed at Hojo. Barret smiled at Zack and Zack returned the smile, feeling a little glad. He turned back towards Hojo, who was hurt badly.
"You think. that's going to be enough. to kill me," Hojo mutters out.
Zack then suddenly realized.
"Kill!? I've forgotten that I might need to do so after I have a weapon," Zack thought to himself. He tries to think of what to do for a short moment, "Hey, wait! This is Final Fantasy VII. Why do I need to worry? This is just only a game!"
"Well?" Hojo, mocking at Zack while laughing his menacing laugh weakly.
"No. But I think this will!" Zack answered him as he charged and stroke Hojo, hard, right at his chest, sending him flying to the ground. As Hojo's body slowly disappears into nothing, Zack said proudly, "Yup, I was right."
*********
After Zack told her so, Amber ran to help Vincent. As she did, she wished in her mind.
"Please let him be alright."
When she reached Vincent's side, she took aim at Lucrecia. Vincent saw her but couldn't decide whether to stop her or not. He then stares back into Lucrecia's eyes again. It was still as blank as before. But then, he was surprised when he suddenly saw tears welling up in them. Suddenly, Amber took a shot and hit Lucrecia's right shoulder.
"You're too nervous!" Vincent barked at Amber, surprising her, "Stay calm at all time, Amber, and aim."
Amber starts calming herself down by taking in big, soothing breaths. She aims at Lucrecia again, who was still walking slowly at them. Blood has started flowing a little from the bullet wound on Lucrecia's shoulder. As Lucrecia continued walking closer and closer, Amber takes another shot and hits Lucrecia's right chest.
"No!" Amber, disappointed with herself.
"It's all right, Amber," Vincent said, "I'll take care from here."
He then holds up his gun at Lucrecia, "Farewell, Lucrecia."
That was what he said before he pulled the trigger, sending a bullet right at her. Lucrecia flew to her back when the bullet hit her. Vincent and Amber stood still for a while, looking at Lucrecia's dead body.
"That took a lot out of you, didn't it, Vincent?" Amber said softly, looking at him. He stares at Lucrecia's face, "Yes, it did. But look at her face."
Amber then looks at Lucrecia's face and was surprised, "She's-She's smiling!"
As Lucrecia's body started to disappear slowly, Vincent explained to Amber, "She had been in torment since Thora changed her to the way she was just now. But now, she can rest peacefully."
As Lucrecia slowly disappears, Vincent says once more, "Farewell, Lucrecia."
Amber, smiling happily for Vincent, turned to look at Zack. He was standing in front of Hojo's disappearing body. Amber smiled even happier.
"He's alright," she whispered, feeling extremely relieved.