Cloud
Strife stepped onto the circular platform standing above the
shimmering pools of water at the city's center. His eyes trailed
from the altar; he could picture her there now, head bowed. Cloud
felt tears stinging at the corners of his eyes and he cleared his
throat, shaking his head. The green sphere in his hand throbbed
suddenly and he held it out in front of him. White light poured from
its surface, illuminating his features and the marble platform
beneath him. He heard her footsteps on the path behind him and closed
his eyes. He felt a small hand on his shoulder and pressed his cheek
to the fingers. They trailed up his face and stroked through his
hair, and he finally turned to face her.
Tifa smiled gently at
him. He looked away, still feeling as if he were about to
cry.
"Aeris–"
"Shh," Tifa pulled his face close to
hers. "It wasn't your fault. My dream had to mean something
else."
"I don't know, Tifa, I–"
"Listen to me.
Aeris wouldn't like to see you like this, would she?"
He shook
his head and his eyes fell from hers. "No."
"I don't like
to see you like this either," she continued. "Let go of your
pain, Cloud. I'm here for you."
Cloud looked back into her
face. The stone in his hand suddenly seemed to burn into his palm. He
broke hie gaze from hers and lifted the rock into his sight.
"This
has something to do with her," he said softly. She clasped both of
her hands around his own, prying the stone gently from his fingers
and walked to the glass altar. Tifa placed the orb inside a small
indentation on the surface. It gleamed, then the entire pulpit shone
white. The light spread to the ceiling and gold suddenly ran into the
waters below them. Vibrant color spread throughout the City of the
Ancients, the cascading waters filling with golden light, the pillars
standing white in the green hue which painted the central shrine and
gleamed out through the city windows. Tifa backed over to Cloud and
they waited, hung in suspense. Just above where she had placed the
sphere, a white light glittered. It grew until it took the shape of a
person. They both gasped, seeing the figure of Aeris Gainsborough
look up from her eternal prayer.
"A-Aeris!" Cloud gaped.
Her
figure smiled at them; she extended her hands to them, palms facing
upward. Before them all appeared a golden light. It stretched
outward, shifting and twisting, greenish-white energy gathering in
its midst. With another harsh gleam, all the green and gold energy
abruptly disappeared.
"Cloud, look!" Tifa yelped.
He
glanced up, then did a double-take and stared in amazement. A sword
was hanging in the air above them. Its blade was a deep glowing mako
crystal, enveloped in veins of gold. It was broad and
long–approximately six feet in length. The handle was wrapped in
white ribbon. The sword hummed with power; Cloud could feel this
power surging through him. The weapon lowered from the sky and
hoovered chest-height beside his figure.
"Cloud, that's the
sword from my dream," Tifa whimpered.
He blinked, then reached
forward hesitantly and grasped the handle. Great, unimaginable power
shot up his arm and flooded his body. Something inside him released a
piercing shriek and his body grew hot as he envisioned fire
encircling him. The feeling was so intense he fell to his knees and
cried out. Tifa gave a little shriek and dropped beside
him.
"I'm...okay," he grunted, reaching for the sword handle
again–now it was lying on the floor. Another surge of energy
slammed into him and he winced, grabbing onto the handle
convulsively. Cloud slowly worked his way to his feet and Tifa stood
too, looking deeply concerned.
"The Ultimate Sacrifice will do
that to you."
"The what?" Cloud panted.
Tifa bowed her
head: "That's what it's called; Aeris told me..."
Cloud
looked at the large weapon. It was so heavy even he had to wield it
with two hands.
"Well, thank you for finding the ultimate weapon
for me!"
Cloud and Tifa spun around and looked down at the path
leading back toward the outer city. Cloud Strife's duplicate stood
blocking their only way out, Tifa Lockheart's double crouched
beside him as his fingers clenched tightly in her hair. She
whimpered, struggling to free herself.
"Give me the sword,"
Damien grinned, "or both of them shall die."
"No!" Cloud
raced down the altar steps. He swung the new sword around, hearing
the power that sung through the air with the attack. The clone ducked
his head, the blade passing directly above his head. Cloud stumbled
and almost spun around from the force of the swing. They looked at
one another and Damien threw Arina to the side. She yelped, hitting
the ground and rolling to a stop as she slammed into one of the stone
pillars. Tifa gagged, a little red line of blood running from the
corner of her mouth. She held onto the railing for support. Cloud
screamed and swung the blade again. Damien pulled out his own Ultima
Sword and blocked it. They traded blows; Cloud bracing his feet and
still skidding back from the incredible strength of his clone's
attacks. They both paused and Tifa ran down from the pulpit.
"Cloud,
behind you!"
He was grabbed by two small, strong arms. He
glanced over his shoulder to see Arina's glowing green eyes. She
had her arms hooked around his so he could no longer raise his sword.
It fell to the ground with a clatter. He grunted, gripping her arms
tightly and trying to yank her off. She laughed in delight, her lips
brushing his ear. Then she growled and sunk her fangs into the tender
flesh of the lobe. Cloud shrieked in surprise, falling back on top of
her. Arina stumbled, her grip on him loosening and Tifa took the
opportunity. She tangled her fingers in her clone's hair and yanked
her away. All three collapsed to the ground.
Cloud leapt to his
feet and rushed over to the golden sword. Damien tripped him and he
went rolling. He turned, slammed into his double's feet, and they
both hit the floor. Damien landed on top and pinned Cloud, then
proceeded to knock him sensless. Cloud's head slammed against the
marble floor. However, he saw the spill of blood that began to
trickle from his clone's nose.
Tifa threw Arina into the
darkness and stood, looking at the fight between the two Cloud's.
They were punching, cursing, thrashing...and she couldn't tell
which was which.
"Cloud!" she screamed. The one on the floor
kicked his double away and stood shakily.
"Tifa!" he gasped
and started forward, but the other swung out his leg and tripped him.
They fell onto one another, fighting again. Tifa watched, not sure
what to do. Arina came from the side and tackled her. The girls hit
the ground and Tifa kicked her in the stomach, feeling the blow in
the pit of her own. She moaned, sitting up as Arina crashed into the
water below. Tifa got up and let out a cry, diving into the water
after her clone.
Down in the murky depths, they both took their
fighting stances. Tifa's body glowed bright yellow, and then she
lunged forward to perform her Limit Breaks:
Beat Rush–Arina's
fist met her own.
Somersault–their legs struck painfully
together.
Water Kick–the water around them rushed in two
identical bursts.
Meteodrive–their arms met one another's
quickly.
Dolphin Blow–two grayish-silver dolphins came from the
water beneath them, swirled together, and disappeared.
Meteor
Strike–they grabbed one another about the throat, glaring heatedly
back and forth.
Final Heaven–Tifa's right fist and Arina's
left drew back, gathering incredible power on the knuckles and they
swung at the same time.
Cloud and Damien both looked up as a
typhoon of water spun upward from where the girls had fallen
in.
"Tifa!" Cloud yelled.
"Don't look away, you might
die."
Cloud glared back up into his clone's face, clenching
his teeth in frustration.
Tifa and Arina suddenly burst out of the
center of the water twister, landing half-crouched on the ground.
They both stayed in that position motionless for a long time. The
sounds of struggle between the two Cloud's was at this moment, of
no importance.
"Why do you even bother?" Arina hissed and Tifa
flinched. "Haven't you two figured it out yet?"
"Yes,"
she replied, finally standing. "And I told myself I wouldn't run
anymore."
"Then you are foolish."
"Maybe I am...but I
won't let you harm Cloud again."
She extended her arms, a
white light surrounding her. Arina grinned smugly, her eyes pulsating
green and a white light engulfed her body as well.
"Don't try
it–I even know that move."
Tifa stopped, the power around her
fading. She glared at her clone and took a step back. Arina formed a
pink energy sphere in her hands, letting the white beams of light
swirl around her figure. The sound of battle still continued off to
the side and the female clone turned in that direction.
"Damien!
Throw him this way!"
"Cloud!" Tifa shrieked. One of them
kicked his duplicate away, jumping to his feet. Before he could speak
the one on the floor dove at his ankles and they fell again. They
rolled around shouting, and Arina grinned, getting ready to throw the
sphere. Tifa gasped and darted forward as one of them stood and
looked at the attacker. Arina let the pink light surround her and her
target, spinning around. The boy standing stared ahead as the attack
rushed for him. Tifa lunged.
Cloud Strife let out a yell and threw
Damien away. The clone winced and got to his feet, then looked up at
Arina. She was throwing a pink energy ball at Damien, probably
thinking he was the real one. Cloud suddenly wondered what would
happen if it hit his double...but before he could find out he saw
Tifa rushing forward.
