AN: As I continue to torture my readers with my agonizingly, short lengths of chapters, I promise thee I'm trying my best to stretch them. But, alas, I failed for the eighth time!

Oh well…… :slaps forehead: Oh yeah! The Disclaimer!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy Seven and never will. Not in a million, billion, trillion, quardrillion years.

Chapter 7: Along the Way

Sephiroth's P.O.V.

I was surrounded with swirling green lights, as the Lifestream engulfed me into its waters. I felt dazed for a moment, as I scanned the greenish-red light around me. But seems that I cannot waste a moment to get out of the mako-river.

Pain ran through me as remained there, webbing across my system like liquid fire. It penetrated my weakest point, me right shoulder and seemed to narrow its attack into it. I squeezed my eyes shut, as searing pain tormented my right arm.

I had to get out of the Lifestream, fast! I remembered my earlier thought.

I just don't feel that well to jump into water that might eat me alive.

It seems that my hypothesis was correct, as I lunged myself into swimming position, trying to ignore the aching, throbbing mess of a shoulder as I swam to the nearest pool of light. Light often means an exit.

Hurry, hurry! I urged my aching body as thrashed towards it, hoping for the best.

As I reached it, light surrounded me. The last thing I remember before I fell into blackness was the solid stone I landed on as I climbed out of the Lifestream.

Midgar

Rain beat heavily has hours passed by. Tifa scrubbed some mugs clean as she watched the others. Vincent was just gazing out the window, deep in thought. Cait Sith sitting in a corner. Red was swishing his fiery tail as he watched with interest as Cid, Barret, Cloud and Yuffie were playing poker in the middle of the bar.

"All right, let's bet our Materia!" The materia hunter exclaimed gleefully.

"No deal." Cid grumbled.

"Awww, c'mon," Yuffie wheedled, " If you win, you'll have more materia and I'll even throw a few Gil!"

"………" Silence reigned in the table.

"Pleeeeeeeeeease?"

"All right, all right. But you better lose." Barret mumbled.

"Sure, Barret…" Yuffie flashed a toothy smile.

Cards were shuffled and passed to the players.

"I bet you fire and restore materia." Cid pushed the orbs onto the round table. Yuffie peered at it and sniffed in disgust. "It's not even mastered!" She huffed, and placed one orb next to others. "Contain materia! It's mastered too!"

Barret and Cloud pushed theirs in. Tifa lost interest of the game, putting the sparkling mugs to their shelves. Thunder roared above their heads. She proceeded towards the tables, with a rag in hand. She duck out of the bar and began wiping the dirty tables at the farthest corner.

"Hey! You cheated!" Cid's voiced rose above all the noise of the storm. His palms slammed down the wooden surface of the table.

"Nu-uh!" The teen-aged girl denied, hands also slapping down the table. "I won, fair and square!"

Tifa's voice cut in. "If you wanna brawl, take it outside or you'll be paying for new tables!"

"There's no &# way you can get a royal flush like that!"

"I'd have to agree with that." Cloud chimed in.

Yuffie whirled towards the swordsman's direction. "I didn't cheat! I promise! You're just ganging up on me." She waved her arms up in the air. Cards went flying out of her armored left arm.

All three men glared at her. "Not cheatin', huh?" Barret said almost under his breath.

Yuffie turned bright red.

"Aw right, hand over the materia!" Cid gleefully gestured towards the ninja.

Yuffie mumbled something that couldn't be heard over the rain and hesitantly dispensed the multi-colored globes.

"I'll get you for this." Yuffie stormed away to her room as Cid sat back with a satisfied smirk on his face.

Northern Crater

His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to get up. His head was throbbing like mad. He rubbed his sore temple as looked around. Where the heck was he? Dark walls that seemed to stretch for eternity surrounded him and not much light reached the area. He shuddered.

This looks too much like hell.

As his eyes focused, he gazed around him, the location registered into his mind, breathing in the somewhat-familiar musty atmosphere. It was definite. He was in the Northern Crater, deep into nadir. How light made its presence in this cold, dark cavern was a wonder to him. This was where he fell, where he bled to death from the gaping wound Strife left.

He looked down his body; he found the deep, long scar that ran across his torso, a shivering reminder of the battle. Along with it were lighter scratches scored all of him, everywhere.

'It seems that Strife's party had made sure you stayed dead.'

He rolled his eyes. He recognized the reaper's voice, the one who helped him escape the land of the dead. Haha, very funny. I never knew you were a comedian.

Tybalt chose to ignore that remark. 'I never told you my name. I am Tybalt, one of the Guardians of Hell.'

Well, Tybalt, will you be hanging around my mind as I complete this 'task'?

'Frequently so.'

Great, another JENOVA.

Tybalt made no reply, as he disappeared from the depths of his mind. Sephiroth stood up and dusted off his pants. Apparently that was the only clothing he had, aside from his boots. He examined the rough stonewalls, looking for possible handholds and footholds. He gripped the rough edge jutting out and pulled himself upward.

This was going to be a long, painful, and dangerous adventure.

"Honesty is the best policy"

Cervantes (1547-1616) Don Quixote

AN: Nothing's really happening in this chapter, boring…… I promise the next one will be more promising!