Ki vs. Materia

"You're sure there's something there?" The black cat asked skeptically from a top his stuffed mog perch. "What little that's left of Shinra's relocated to Junon and they quit excavating the ruins almost a year ago. I don't think there's anything down there."

"Well, there IS," Aeris insisted. "I know there is, and it's something VERY important too."

"Like what?" Cid asked, taking a long drag on a new cigarette. He'd stopped the Highwind over the jungle-like ruins of the once great city of Midgar. It hadn't taken long at all for the fast ship to reach the nearby city.

"I don't know," she replied, her braids bouncing side to side as she shook her head in frustration. "But something's supposed to start there. I don't know what it is exactly though..."

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Nanaki stated the obvious. "I just hope the structure can hold out a bit longer, it seems as though it is ready to cave in any moment."

"Yeah, well, I guess Cloud will be okay," Tifa snickered. Cloud's returned glare stifled the laughter. "It was just a joke. Geeze, lighten up."

"I don't like this," Cloud said, trying to sound normal. The truth was, ever since he'd left Aeris to talk to the Ancients he'd had a horrible feeling that something was wrong. Every time he looked at Tifa he had this nagging urge to lock her up somewhere safe, like if he didn't he'd never see her again. Foolish really. She was just as strong as any of them, why should he be thinking like that? He shook his head. At any rate, it would be good to use a different party this time. The other people could use some EXP points themselves.

"None o' us do!" Barret shouted throwing his hands up in the air. "We aint got no choice though!"

"Well, Cloud," Yuffie got strait to the point, playing idly with some materia she'd recently acquired, "who're you going to bring?"

Cloud sighed. He really didn't want Tifa to come, but if Aeris went, there would be no choice. "Does anyone want to go?"

"I do," Aeris answered quietly, dashing Cloud's hopes. "I need to know what's down there. I need to figure this out."

Cloud nodded. He'd expected as much, but he really wanted to keep Tifa away from that dilapidated mess. There definitely was something down there, and his instincts told him it was deadly. "Cid, you wanna come?" Tifa's eyes tore at Cloud. The daggers in her eyes were almost more than he could stand, but it was for her own good, he thought.

"What?" Cid stared bewildered. Cloud was definitely an odd fellow. Just when you thought you knew him he did the opposite of what you expected. "I'd rather not, but if you really want I'll go."

"Cloud," Gohan piped up shyly. For the first time the conversation caught Vegeta's attention. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go too."

Cloud couldn't believe what he was hearing. This boy wanted to be in the party? He didn't even know what materia was or how it worked!!! "Well," Cloud couldn't pass up the chance to keep Tifa out of harm's way, "we'd need to teach you how to use materia in order to keep a good stock on us while we're down there, and for that we need to get you a weapon."

"He doesn't need a weapon," Vegeta commented angrily. His blond hair seemed even more regal than normal when he was angry, and for a moment Cloud thought he saw a slight aura around the man. It must have been his imagination.

"To use materia he does, otherwise there's no way to equip it," Cloud retorted.

"Why must he use your infernal materia, he has no need of it," Vegeta still faced the great glass windshield of the Highwind. With his back slightly turned to Cloud he had an air of superiority as he spoke. "You underestimate his potential."

Cloud forced himself to hold back his anger and refrain from drawing Ultima Weapon. "You fool," he whispered. "You have no idea what you're saying!!!"

"Do I?" Vegeta turned, uncrossing his arms and staring angrily into Cloud's Mako-eyes.

Everyone in the room watched amazed. No one had ever questioned Cloud's authority before. His confidence just made him a natural leader. Could it be that Cloud was wrong? If someone had the air of a leader besides Cloud, it was definitely Vegeta. But what would happen if these two battled it out? Yuffie was already edging towards the door of the control room and reminding herself of where the parachutes were kept. There was no way the ship would be able to take a fight like this.

Cloud met Vegeta eye for eye with an unwavering gaze. "If you knew anything about this world you'd realize that I know what I'm talking about."

"Well, if you knew anything of this boy you'd know he doesn't need your ideas to win battles," Vegeta let himself fall into a battle stance floating inches above the floor. "Do I need to show you what a Saijin is capable of?"

There was no avoiding it any longer, and Cloud knew it. "Everyone get out!" He shouted over his shoulder as he pulled Ultima Weapon from its place on his back. "This could get ugly," he glanced one last time over his materia as he settled into his own comfortable battle stance and waited for the room to clear.

"Cloud don't do this!!!" Aeris shouted as she was dragged from the room by Barret and Aeris. "It's not worth it!!"

Vegeta laughed to himself. What could a human do to a Super Saijin? Starting with a string of punches, Vegeta saw the man was no ordinary human. Still, even a well trained human was no chance against a Saijin Prince.

Cait Sith watched in amazement at the battle that was transpiring in the control room of the Highwind. Thank the Planet it was a spacious place. "He did it again!" Cait Sith watched in horror as Vegeta disappeared as the they had previously watched the boy do. How Cloud continually managed to deflect the blows with the flat of his blade was beyond the cat. "Did anybody catch what he was equipped with?"

"No," Yuffie answered quickly. It was dangerous to stay, but she couldn't help it. This was a sight to behold. "He never lets any of see. He just tells us what to use and takes care of it all himself." Everyone else agreed to that; Cloud was secretive when it came to strategy.

"He must have a speed plus equipped if he can keep up with that," Nanaki stated truthfully. The people watching were at a loss as to where Vegeta was, but Cloud was definitely parrying something.

"We'll just have to watch and see," Tifa murmured, overawed by the constant display.

Vegeta was impressed with this human's speed, but it was still no match for him. After all, he'd only been playing with the man to test him so far. It was improbable that Cloud could keep up if he picked up the pace even more.

Cloud could feel a sweat breaking out on his back. How was it possible to be so fast? He could barely keep up with this, and it was only a matter of time before his Speed Plus materia gave out, it wasn't mastered yet after all. Then, Cloud saw the next attack coming, but his body couldn't follow his mind. All he could do was prepare for the impact.

Vegeta could smell victory already. There was no way Cloud could block this. It was simple really, once more the superiority of the Saijins would be proved to the lesser species. Success, Vegeta felt his punch hit home. But it was a bitter victory as Vegeta felt cold metal bite deep into his abdomen and easily pass through him like soft butter.

"So he had a Counter Attack," Cid deducted. "Not unusual for him."

Anger stormed through Vegeta as he felt the same cold of the blade meet his flesh a second and a third time before he could regain his senses.

"Multiple ones at that," Barret added. "I'll admit, that spiky head has a sense for a good fight."

Vegeta forced his senses to come back under his control and forced his back to straighten again. Cloud couldn't help but grin, this was perfect, he had been saving his limit break for sometime, and now was perfect.

"OMNI-SLASH!"

Vegeta watched as Cloud came at him, but couldn't force his body to respond to the attack. He felt himself losing control of his limbs as blow after blow fell on his already wounded form. He couldn't lose like this, he WOULDN'T! But, what could he do?

A wave of desperation washed over Vegeta. Was this really a human? With this kind of power? He couldn't be! It was not possible!! Then, he'd been deceived by Cloud, but could this man truly defeat the Prince of the Saijins? Vegeta's own sudden fear that threatened to overwhelm him fed him. It rose an awareness deep in his blood and called out the power of the true warrior within. Vegeta couldn't help cackling as he felt his energy growing, doubling and then tripling itself. This was the true power of the Saijin, he was going Super Saijin 2.

As Cloud cut off his attack Vegeta didn't retaliate immediately. He let himself bask in the electric pulses that formed around him in awe-inspiring blue flashes. He could wait for victory to come to him now. There was no way he'd lose.

"Guys, this's trouble," Gohan warned, the light of fear brightening his black eyes. "I've never seen Vegeta go Super Saijin 2 before, but there's no doubt in my mind that's what just happened. Cloud's in trouble, we have to get him out of there!!!"

Gohan was met with stares all the same even on the many different faces around him. Their question was obvious. How?

Note: Sorry this chapter's so short, but I'm gonna hopefully get the next part out by tomorrow night, or Friday at the latest. Hope you like the teaser fight-cliff hanger!! ^_^