(Cries) Where is everyone!? You all left me? My precious reviewers, where art thou? Well anyways y'all probably busy with your own things. But I hope you're still reading this because I got a real nice treat for all of you out there. The questions have been rising as to where Cloud is, and now finally, after this long nail biting wait. The answer has come. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you the thrilling conclusion of those endless questions going through your heads. Sit back and enjoy this long awaited chapter that will answer your old questions and only leave more then what you had before. LOL I know you hate me now heeheeheehee.
Disclaimer- N/A (Currently working out new plan to take over Squaresoft)
Chapter 44- Truce Among Rivals.
On the plains of Gold Saucer, just a few miles north of the desert prison is a lone wanderer. Slowly dragging his feet while he walks, dragging a massive sword behind him. His face reflecting confusion and angst. Mako blue eyes stare out in the distance as the blond haired warrior remains lost in thought as the questions for his actions race across his mind. How did this happen? What's wrong with him? Did he really kill Kao? Will his comrades ever forgive him?
These are few of the questions that are racing through Cloud's mind. He had searched the lands for Yuffie after escaping Vain's prison. He traveled on that motorcycle he stole back when he escaped. He sold the bike on the Junon ship after running out of money. Now he wishes nothing more then to have the bike back so he wouldn't have to travel on foot. Cloud's thoughts go back to that night when he killed the man. Disbelief and fear was all across Yuffie's face when he finally noticed his surroundings.
Suddenly Cloud lashes out, swinging his Ultimate Weapon at a tree cutting through the trunk in hopes to cut through his own anger. Anger he feels for himself. 'She's afraid of me!' He shouts within his mind. He slashes another tree down in fury. He killed an innocent man. HE could have killed Yuffie if he hadn't snapped out of it.
Cloud's shoulders drop, the tip of his sword laying on the ground, as Cloud's eyes focus down to the grass. He doesn't know what was wrong with him that night. He was blinded by his rage for some reason. Then there was a voice that kept repeating in his head telling him what to do. And just like the weakling he is, he obeyed the voice like he had when he was searching for Sephiroth two and a half years ago.
A swooshing sound from behind him gets Cloud's attention. The grip on his sword tightens as he quickly slashes behind him at the intruder. A loud clang rings throughout the area as metal clashes against metal. Cloud's eyes travel up his blade to the long deadly blade that's connected to his sword. His blue eyes lock into the emerald eyes of his attacker.
"Sephiroth" Cloud sneers as he brings his Ultimate Weapon back and slashes at his mortal enemy once again. Sephiroth merely jumps away out of Cloud's reach. Cloud's eyes narrow as he glares down Sephiroth. Then as if the answer was there all along Cloud's rage snaps once again as he remembers that Sephiroth was able control him before. He could of very well be the one who did it last night. "YOU!" Cloud shouts in anger.
Sephiroth brows lower in question before Cloud charges at Sephiroth. Sephiroth widens his stance to have a better balance for the attack. Cloud lets out a battle roar as he swings his sword towards Sephiroth. Sephiroth's eyes widen a bit as he brings the Masamune up to block the attack. Obviously he had done something to piss the blond haired swordsman off.
Cloud continues to slash at the cold swordsman in a blind rage, pushing the other man back. Sephiroth continues to stay on the defensive, blocking Cloud's blows. He doesn't understand the sudden rage the other man has towards him. He didn't come here to fight him, but Cloud isn't giving him much choice at the moment.
Sephiroth's thoughts end at his body is forced to the side as Cloud's Ultimate Weapon makes contact with his shoulder armor. Before Cloud can throw another attack him, Sephiroth jumps several feet out of the way and extends out his right hand, "Stop." He chants. Cloud's body freezes as the magic stops his movement.
All Cloud can do is stare ahead at Sephiroth as he's stuck at Sephiroth's mercy for the time being. Instead of being attacked by Sephiroth like Cloud has assumed would happen, Sephiroth sheathes his Masamune and crosses his arms as he waits for the spell to wear off. Sephiroth's brows remain lowered in question as he stares at the enraged swordsman, "I don't know what angered you. But I suggest you calm yourself down." Sephiroth speaks for the first time since he arrived.
The look in Cloud's eyes remain the same telling Sephiroth that the fury Cloud feels isn't going away. Sephiroth snorts in disgust at the warrior, "Fighting in a rage makes your technique sloppy and easy to read. If you want a chance to beat me you need to control your emotions." He advises.
The hold on Cloud's body releases and Cloud stumbles a bit since he was in mid-step when the magic was cast. He straightens up and shots a deadly glare at Sephiroth, debating whether or no to attack again, "I should kill you now you bastard." Cloud's hands tighten on their hold on his sword, his knuckles turning white.
Sephiroth's face remain unreadable, seemingly unaffected by the blond swordsman's threat. "You lack the skill to kill me." He simply states.
Cloud snorts in disbelief at the statement, "I know I'm the better swordsman. I killed you once before."
To Cloud's disbelief, Sephiroth laughs. Sephiroth throws his head back his right hand resting on his forehead, as his shoulders rock violently with laughter. Cloud's glare never dies done as the man laughs at him. Sephiroth shakes his head waving his left hand out in front of him as he regains his composure. All though he's no longer laughing, a smirk is spread across Sephiroth's face as his eyes glow in amusement, "You actually think you beat me?" He asks, obvious surprise.
The silence is enough to answer Sephiroth's question. The smirk across Sephiroth's face disappears as his face becomes once again unreadable. Sephiroth crosses his arms once again and says, "What you won that day was a one-sided battle." The look in Cloud's eyes are easy enough to see as confusion as Cloud lowers his sword a bit as he ponders the phrase's meaning.
Sephiroth turns his head as he looks out into the plains. He closes his eyes as he recalls memories of the one on one battle between himself and Cloud two years ago. "The truth is. I let you defeat me."
"You lie."
Sephiroth looks all around the area, seeing nothing but total darkness. He looks down at his hands wondering where he is. His body begins to burn as he feels intense pain in his chest. Heat, intense heat spreads across his body. Panting heavily from the heat, he rips his shirt off trying to cool down. He collapses to his hands and knees as he feels his insides turn. Suddenly he vomits, a mixture of blood and green fluid hitting the ground.
Sephiroth stands back up and steps back as the green fluid that was inside of him begins to boil. Then it begins to grow taking a solid form. A hideous creature is soon standing before him, towering above him. That creature is Jenova. Suddenly everything comes back to Sephiroth as he sees flashes of his life for the past seven years. He remembers going to Nibelheim for a mission, remembering the heavy scent of Mako in the air.
He remembers going to the reactor with Zack, his partner. They found people inside the mako chambers, being turned into the hideous monsters that were attacking the town. He remembers walking up to the door to Jenova and while standing in front of the door he felt something happen to him then. Something in his body had reacted to the presence of something behind the door. He remembers feeling like something was in his body, making its way to his mind and begin controlling his thoughts as he lost control of his own actions.
Then everything else comes back to his mind. He sees flashes of the things Jenova has told him to do. He sees flashes of Cloud, of AVALANCHE, and Shin-Ra. He sees flashes of the flower girl being brought down by his sword. He sees flashes of Cloud giving him the black materia and using it to summon Meteor. Then everything goes black. His mind goes blank leaving nothing but total blackness.
No wait, there is light... the smallest shimmer of light can be seen. He can see the soft pale green glow and the unusual relaxing hum it gives off. It seems so, it hard to explain. It fills his being with warmth. His arms reach for it, if only he can reach it, to get closer to the warmth. It's as if the light is something holy.
Sephiroth's eyes snap back into focus as realization dawns upon him. Holy... the only hope for the planet. Sephiroth blinks rapidly as his gaze falls upon Jenova. Now he knows what he must do. He must destroy the creature that's holding back Holy from being released. He looks to his left and spots it. His sword the Masamune sits silently on the ground waiting to be used.
Jenova shrieks and swings a tentacle at Sephiroth. He ducks, dodging the attack and runs for his weapon. He picks the Masamune up and unsheathes it, thrown the sheath off to the side. He stands ready for the next attack by the creature who has controlled him for so many years. Now he's free from the creature's control and he can take revenge on the vile creature.
Jenova swings another tentacle at Sephiroth. Sephiroth ducks again and quickly slashes at the tentacle with the Masamune. Jenova shrieks in pain as its right tentacle is cut in half. The sliced tentacle twitches and jerks, Jenova's purple blood oozing out of it. Jenova quickly attacks Sephiroth again with its right tentacle. This time Sephiroth doesn't make an attempt to move as the tentacle wraps around his waist and lifts him off the ground.
Jenova brings Sephiroth's body close to her as she stares down at the swordsman, making shrieking noises. Sephiroth's mako emerald eyes narrow at the creature. Jenova slashes her claws towards Sephiroth ready to kill him. In one swift motion Sephiroth slices Jenova's head cleanly off. The head flies through the air as the tentacle releases its hold on Sephiroth. He falls to the ground and lands on his feet as he watches the vile creature, Jenova, as her body incinerates into nothing.
Holy will no longer have anything holding it back. It should be released now that Jenova is destroyed. Sephiroth's brows lower in confusion. Something's not right. Holy isn't moving. He stands there and ponders what the problem is. Then he remembers... His existence is preventing Holy from breaking free from its hold. Ironic. Being controlled for years on end by Jenova and then finally being free only having to die to save the whole planet.
Sephiroth closes his eyes and lowers his head a bit as a small smile plays across his face. Sephiroth can't help but start laughing at the irony of things. So after being free he must die by his own hands just to save the planet. Sephiroth opens his eyes and looks down at the Masamune in his hand. So this will be his end. To die by his own hands, no one else's. Sephiroth closes his eyes 'So be it.' His grip on the sword tightens as he prepares himself.
Something stops him however as he hears something heading towards him. The sound of something through the air in this dark and silent place is easy to hear. Sephiroth turns around and looks up to see the spiky blond haired warrior coming towards him in some sort of vortex. Cloud...
Cloud opens up his eyes and Sephiroth's eyes light up as he smiles. Cloud's eyes narrow as he lands on the ground and unsheathes the Ultimate Weapon. Sephiroth holds up the Masamune and the two square off and stare each other down. Sephiroth's face becomes unreadable as he stares down the blond warrior, 'I won't have to kill myself after all.'
Sephiroth's eyes narrow as he shoots a glare at the confused warrior. Sephiroth sneers, "Believe what you want." He says turning his back to the warrior. "It doesn't matter either way. You don't have the power to destroy Vain, and I can't get close enough to him without being controlled again."
Sephiroth turns around and walks towards Cloud. Cloud quickly gets down in his combat stance ready to defend himself. Sephiroth however keeps his sword sheathed as he walks in a circle around Cloud as if analyzing him. "We both know that Vain's power is stronger then our own. With the power he holds he doesn't have to fight his own enemies. He'll bring back anyone if he must to destroy his enemies. I'm an example of his desperate moves." Sephiroth explains as he continues to circle Cloud.
Cloud follows Sephiroth with his eyes, keeping absolutely still, "I'll find a way to defeat him. Once I gather up my friends again we'll take him on head on."
Sephiroth snorts in disgust, "You sense of strategy is unbelievably bad. Haven't you learned how to fight him by now?"
"I don't care what you think. I get rid of you once and for all and then get rid off Vain." Cloud snaps.
Sephiroth smirks as he unsheathes the Masamune. Cloud instantly prepares himself ready for an attack by the cold-hearted swordsman. Sephiroth stare down Cloud, examining his stance. "So be it. If you can beat me, you can beat Vain." With that said Sephiroth charges forward. Cloud braces himself ready for the attack. The Masamune swings through the air from the right, Cloud quickly blocks it with the Ultimate sword.
The two warriors continue to clash swords, sparks fly between the two as steel crashes against the mystical material the Ultimate Weapon is made from. Sephiroth continues to attack vigorously making Cloud back away with each forceful strike, The Masamune slashes at Cloud with blinding speed, becoming nothing but a blur for Cloud to block.
Cloud tries his hardest to keep up with Sephiroth, blocking all the strikes with extreme difficulty. His breathing is labored with the strength it take for him to keep up with his adversary. Then he loses hold of the Ultimate Weapon and falls to the ground, catching himself on his elbows. His eyes widen as the Masamune stops mere centimeters from his face. "You can't beat Vain." A moment later the sword is lifted away and in its place is a gloved hand stretched out. Cloud stares at the hand and then up into Sephiroth's cold eyes.
Sephiroth notices Cloud's confusion and decides to clears things up, "You wish to have the power to defeat Vain. I can give this power. With our combined power we'll be able to defeat Vain."
"But... my friends." Is the only thing Cloud can think to say.
Sephiroth stands there his expression contorted as he fights an internal battle with himself. "After the procedure, we'll join your friends." Sephiroth says still standing there with his hand outstretched.
"Procedure?" Cloud repeats not understanding what Sephiroth is talking about.
"You'll find out soon enough." Sephiroth pauses a moment, "What's your decision? Will you trust me or will you continue to wander aimlessly?"
Cloud lays there, his eyes looking between Sephiroth's hand and his eyes. This is suppose to be his enemy and he's asking to join forces. This is the man who killed hundreds, including Aerith. This is the man who summoned Meteor to destroy the planet to become a god. He's wants to help Cloud defeat Vain? What will Sephiroth gain for helping him, What if this is some sort of trick?
Cloud's thoughts slowly turn to Yuffie. Vain had gotten the ability to perform Le Cas Fo Gollost by taking some sort of ancient Wutianease chant. He could very well go after her again. Vain had not only raped her mind but killed Barret and Cid, two of his close friends, no they weren't friends they were part of his family as are the rest of AVALANCHE. He hadn't had a real family until he met them all. And he'll do anything to protect what's left of his family.
A look of determination forms in Cloud's make blue eyes. It would most likely be a stupid move to trust Sephiroth but he doesn't care. Cloud lifts up his right hand up to Sephiroth's, "Deal." Cloud says confidently. Cloud nods his head once.
Sephiroth nods his head also and speaks, "We go to Nibelheim." With a quick handshake the truce is sealed. Two warriors who are mortal enemies, now joining forces for the better cause. One to protect his friends and family while the other's intentions remain unclear. But with their combined power they are sure that they will be able to defeat the greater evil.
Okay everyone that's where things are going to end in this chapter. Sorry if it's shorter the last few chapters but I really must end it here. I have to. Wanna know why? I'll tell you why. Because I want to that's why MWAHAHAHA! Hmm.. Sephiroth sure can get around real quick can't he lol. Well anyways, what is he planning on doing that will help them defeat Vain? When it's over will they truly go back to Cloud's friends? You'll have to wait and find out heeheeehee. Surprise! Surprise! You'll NEVER be able to guess what it is that's going up in that brilliant mind of Sephiroth's hehehe. I love being able to be an ass. Review y'all! TTNC!