-Chapter Nineteen-
Inevitable

"Piper! You have to do this last thing!" Charis shook Piper.

"Did we..." Rikku sat, out of breath. "...beat him?"

"Hojo is no more. He's gone..." Gippal wrapped an around his wife's shoulder.

"Charis... I told you..." Piper coughed her words in a raspy voice.

"Just do it! Dammit Piper!" Charis held her head in frustration.

Behind them, there was a monstrous roar.

"Odin!" Aeris' voice yelled. "Piper!" she cried, running to her daughter.

"Stay back!" Charis ordered.

"Piper!!" the trio of friends gasped simultaneously.

Zalèa covered her mouth, nausea washing over her. "She can't be..."

"She's alive! But she has to finish this!" Charis said.

"Get away from her Jenova!" Cloud roared, charging at her.

"I'm not Jenova!" Charis waved her hands. "Don't come close! Odin'll--"

Another deep growl emitted from the vortex-like portal behind Piper, causing everyone to freeze.

"Piper, please..." Charis helped the girl sit up.

Paine stood tiredly, leaning on her sword for support. Each of the Hojos they had defeated had burst in clouds of dust, which lay all at their feet. She couldn't speak. Her husband was not the man she had thought he was. Betrayal, anger, and hurt. She felt all three and more. What worried her more is what she would tell her son.

"Are you all right, Paine?" Yuna spoke, holding her injured arm carefully.

The warrior nodded slowly. "I will be."

The ground around them was beginning to rumble. They had so little time.

"Piper! Just do it!" Charis yelled.

"I won't!" Piper argued.

"I'm already dead anyway!" the black haired girl begged. "Please!"

"Do you think Piper and the others are all right?" Tidus said as they walked quietly to the Celsius.

The ground shook under their feet, nearly knocking them down.

"I think we better go back!" Rikku squeaked.

"Come on!" Paine started to run.

"Piper, look at yourself! You don't have a choice!" Nari said impatiently.

"Just do it!" Evan attempted to convince.

"Come on!" Yuna's voice was heard.
There was another deep growl as a monstrous looking head poked though the portal behind Piper.

Odin.

"Piper!" Charis shouted.

Dark claws grasped the ground as it began to pull its body from the portal.

It was the final straw for Piper as she lifted the dagger, dripping her own blood, far enough to draw enough strength. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, unheard over the cries of her friends, parents, and Odin. With her last bit of energy, she threw all her might into her thrust. Her stomach rolled as she felt the blade push through the skin of her close friend, straight into her heart.

You did it. Thank you...

Piper closed her eyes, staggering on her feet. A bright light emitted from the portal, washing over her as Odin let out a cry of pain. A soft warmth seemed to push her over, her body crumpling into a ball as she fell into unconsciousness.

It isn't over yet.

The End

A/N: Hardly a chapter, I know. But it's the end. The prologue for the next story is up. It's called "Our Last Chance" and is up in the FF Crossovers section still. All questions will be answered in the next story and all the original characters will be more in depth, including the few who were hardly in the story. And EvanxPiper fluff! YESHNESS! Hehe. But if you didn't get it: Charis is dead. Odin is gone. Piper collapsed. The end.
Always - Letselina