I do not own FF 7. I know the last to chapters were kinda boring… but this chapter things are gonna heat up.
Chapter 3: Apocalypse.
(morning Northern Crater)
The moon edged over the edge of the crater shining down lighting up the crater. A red cape flapped in the distance it wrapped around a figure sprawled out on the ground laying in a of dried blood. His face pale, his blond spiky hair matted with blood, and his eyes closed, not far from his left hand was a colossal sword, the man was Cloud Strife. The Cloud's eyes fluttered and slowly opened.
Cloud: where am I?
Cloud slowly stood up and looked around, and slowly the memory of the fight the night before returned to him. He looked down and saw the wound on his stomach had healed. He noticed Vincent's cape laying on the ground and picked it up.
Cloud: I hope the guys are ok…. Seeing that I don't see them around I think they think I'm dead…
Cloud put on Vincent's cape and picked up his Buster Sword and sheathed it on his back.
Cloud: I guess I should get going.
Cloud was about to walk off when he saw a figure walking toward him.
Cloud put his hand back to the handle of the Buster Sword ready to draw it incase it was hostile. As the figure got closer he could tell it was a woman, dressed in pink with long brown hair tied in a ponytail.
: Cloud.
Cloud recognized the woman's voice and drew his hand from the handle of the Buster Sword.
The figure walked up to Cloud and right away he knew who she was.
Cloud: Aeris?
Aeris: long time no see Cloud.
Cloud went to hug her but his arms passed through her.
Cloud: what.. What happened?
Aeris: Cloud I only have a short amount of time…
Cloud: let me guess the world is in danger?
Aeris: yeah.
Cloud: what is it I need to know?
Aeris: Sephiroth and Tarah are looking through the all the Ancient's books, that weren't destroyed by meteor, that Shinra had recovered.
Cloud: what's in those books?
Aeris: in one of the books it gives instructions on how to build a machine that can fuse materia.
Cloud: what's so bad about that?
Aeris: well Sephiroth's new wife came up with a plan, they build that machine and take the white and black materia and fuse them.
Cloud: what would happen?
Aeris: it would make a Holy meteor.
Cloud: but would holy cancel out the destructive power of Meteor?
Aeris: no it would make it at least 1000x stronger than the one Sephiroth first summoned.
Cloud: then we ha….
Aeris: you mean you…
Cloud: you're not gonna help?
Aeris: look Cloud I'm only a ghost right now…. I can't fight like this.
Cloud: oh…
Aeris: but I can give you the power of the Ancients.
Cloud: if it will help me…
Aeris put her hands on Cloud's chest but they passed though and Cloud could feel a warm feeling in his chest where Aeris's hands were. Black tentacles, that look like a Black life stream strand slowly circled around Aeris's arms and toward Cloud, the passed into Cloud and he felt a sudden head rush. A black aura surrounded Cloud and it slowly grew larger. Cloud felt a sharp pain in his back and a wing that looked like Vincent's transformation Chaos's wing but it was all black shot out of his back. His eyes turned red liked Vincent's and they glowed just like Cloud's had. The last bit of power was put into him and Aeris pulled back her hands. Cloud felt different, more powerful, and like he could do anything. The wing shrank back into Cloud's back.
Aeris: when you get angry it will return and your power will increase 100 fold.
Cloud: cool, where are the others?
Aeris: they set up camp in the city of the ancients. I can teleport you to outside the city.
Cloud: do it.
Aeris: I'll see you around Cloud.
Cloud: yeah same here.
Cloud felt light headed and the image of Aeris faded from him and he felt like he was lifted off the ground. Next thing he knew he was staying in the canyon that lead to the city. He could see the city and the fire the group had made.
Cloud: it will give them all a shock when I come back.
Cloud walked toward the city and down one of the paths. The group had set up camp in the bottom level of the place where the waterfall showed the image of what had happened to the white materia when Aeris was killed. He could see four figures around the fire. Vincent and Yuffie, and Yuffie was in Vincent's arm's. and the other two where in shadow. Cloud climbed down the steps and toward the fire and he saw who the other two figures were, one was Tifa and Sam had his arms around her waist and they were sleeping and from the looks of things so was Yuffie, but Vincent was awake and gazing at the fire, Cloud walked up and Vincent turned his head toward him.
Vincent: you're alive.
Cloud: yeah… apparently….
Vincent: I could sense your presence from when you appeared outside the city.
Cloud: what's the story with Sam and Tifa?
Sam: there isn't one.
Cloud: how long have you been awake?
Sam: long enough to hear you coming from at least a mile away.
Cloud: So how is she?
Sam: she's better…
Cloud: good.
Cloud sat down next to the fire.
Vincent: I guess this means I'm no longer leader.
Cloud: they made you leader?
Vincent: much to my protest yes…
Cloud: hey It's about time I take a break of being leader you stay the leader.
Vincent: no really Cloud please take it back….
Cloud: nope you're the leader.
Sam: you're different?
Cloud: huh, oh that?
Sam: how did you get that much power?
Cloud: a ghost gave me a visit.
Vincent: a ghost?
Cloud: yeah Aeris's.
Yuffie: is it morning already?
Yuffie rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Yuffie: why are you all still up….Cloud?
Cloud: yeah Yuffie.
Yuffie: CL…
Vincent covered Yuffie's mouth and put his lips to her ear and whispered something into her ear.
Vincent: you are not to say a word to him about Sam and Tifa understand?
Yuffie nodded and Vincent removed his hand.
Yuffie: how did you survive?
Cloud: I don't know really… I just woke up not long after moon rose and my wounds were healed, Aeris told me where to find you guys so here I am.
Yuffie: oh.
Cloud: do you think we can wake Tifa now?
Sam: she's recovering from an event that accrued earlier this evening.
Cloud: what was that?
Sam: A clone of Sephiroth came disguised as you… until I noticed something was off about his disguise we all thought it was you…. Before I killed him he hurt Tifa….
Cloud: I'm gonna kill him….
Sam: we all have reason's to kill Sephiroth.
Cloud: what's yours?
Sam: it's personal.
Cloud: oh…
Sam: I don't believe some of the plans Sephiroth has come up with since the first battle in Northern Crater are his, I think Tarah is giving him ideas.
Cloud: that reminds me Aeris told me their master plan.
Vincent: and what would that be?
Cloud: they plan on building a machine that can fuse materia…
Sam: what's so bad about that?
Cloud: that's what I said when Aeris told me… the bad thing is if the fuse the white and black materia it will make a Holy Meteor over 1000x stronger than the one Sephiroth summoned before.
Sam: that…. is bad.
Yuffie: well Mr. Leader what are we going to do?
Vincent: you might not think this to be the wisest course of action but I believe before we go to Midgar we go to Nebleim and check out the library in the Shinra Mansion. The books there may contain something we can use to stop them.
Cloud: actually that sound like a good plan I would have never thought of that.
Sam: then we should all get some rest.
Vincent: me and Yuffie will go take my tent….
Yuffie: I guess that means you three have to sleep out here.
Vincent and Yuffie got up and went to Vincent's tent, went in and zipped it closed.
Cloud: so how did she act when she found out I was dead?
Sam: well of course she was heartbroken, and she cried herself to sleep.
Cloud: then she'll wake up to my smiling face, I hope that will cheer her up.
Sam: Cloud there's something I must tell you…
Cloud: what is it?
Sam: Tifa and me… well…we're…kinda of a couple now….
Cloud: you're what?
Sam: we're a couple….
Cloud: I see….
Sam: don't be mad at her Cloud, she thought you were dead. She needed someone and I happened to be there…. and I…aaaa… jumped at the chance…
Cloud: does she act happy with you?
Sam: she does.
Cloud: as long as she's happy I don't care who she's with.
Sam: so you don't feel like killing me or something?
Cloud: no… I didn't expect her to wait for someone she thought was dead to return.
Sam: friends?
Cloud: friends.
The two shook hands.
Sam: we should get some rest.
Cloud: right.
The two closed their eyes and not to long after they were fast asleep.
(that morning)
Sam's eyes opened slowly and he yawned. Sam looked around and saw Cloud laying on the ground, and everyone else must have still been in their tents. Sam nudged Cloud this his boot and Cloud woke up. Cloud rubbed his eyes and sat up.
Cloud: why did you wake me up?
Sam: it's morning, I think we should all be getting up.
Cloud: whatever…
Vincent and Yuffie came out of their tent and came over to them and sat next to Cloud.
Cloud: hey Vincent mind if I keep the cape?
Vincent: as long as you never wear purple with it again… and no bright colors…
Yuffie: since when do you have a sense of fashion?
Vincent: since it involves my cape.
Next to emerge from their tent was Cid. He walked over to the group and sat between Cloud, Vincent, and Yuffie.
Cid: nice to see you're alive.
Cid took out a cigarette and lit it.
Cloud: can I have one?
Cid handed him a cigarette and the lighter, Cloud put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, then tossed Cid the lighter.
Sam: since when do you smoke?
Cloud: since about twelve seconds ago.
One by one the rest of the group came out of the tents and each time they were surprised that Cloud was there and that he was smoking. Cloud told the group what Sephiroth and Tarah where up to, and Tifa had slept through it all.
Vincent: I think we should head to Nebleim and check out the library in the Shinra Mansion. The books might contain something to help us stop Sephiroth.
Cloud: that's a good plan… I would have said lets just charge in.
Sam: does she always sleep this late?
Cloud: I've never seen her sleep this late before…
Angelina: it could be out of depression…
Kale: is she running a fever?
Sam felt her head.
Sam: no she's normal…
Tifa: who you talking about?
Tifa's eyes opened slowly and one of the first things she saw was Cloud.
Tifa: Cloud you're alive!
Tifa jumped up and hugged Cloud.
Cloud: nice to see you too.
Tifa felt a sharp pain on her neck and moved back, and rubbed it.
Cloud: oh did I burn you? I'm sorry.
Tifa: how could you have burned me?
Tifa then noticed the cigarette in Cloud's mouth.
Tifa: since when do you smoke?
Cloud: since a little after I woke up this morning…
Tifa sat between Cloud and Sam.
Tifa: uumm… Cloud there's something I need to tell you.
Cloud: I already know Tifa….
Tifa: how?
Sam: Cloud and me talked about in last night.
Tifa: why didn't you wake me up?
Cloud: we decided to let you rest.
Tifa turned to Cloud.
Tifa: so you're not mad?
Cloud: as long as you're happy I don't care who you're with.
Tifa: thanks for understanding Cloud.
Cloud filled Tifa in on what the group had been talking about, and the group ate breakfast.
Sam: how are we going to get to Nebleim?
Cid: I can help with that…
Kale: how?
Cid: not only do I have the Highwind, I have another airship called the Slipstream it's a hell of a lot faster than the Highwind.
Angelina: but how are you going to get it here?
Cid: I'll call Shera and tell her to come pick us up.
Cid took out his PHS and dialed Shera's number. He talked to her a bit then hung up.
Cid: she's gonna land in the canyon outside the city.
Vincent: then we should get going.
The group took down the tents packed up their stuff and left the city. They walked out to the canyon. Not to long after the Slipstream descended toward them. The Slipstream was like a stealth plane, black in color, and like the Highwind there was a woman painted on the side, but it wasn't the one the Highwind had, it was Shera in a two piece bikini.
Cloud: I knew it….
Yuffie: so you do love her.
Cid: yeah, so what if I do ya brat?
Vincent: Cid… it would be wise if you did not call her that.
Cid: why's that vampire boy?
Yuffie: LEAVE MY BOYFRIEND ALONE!
The group looked at Vincent and Yuffie in awe.
Cid: you're going out… with her?
Vincent: I am…
Barret: the last thing I would have expected out of you was you going with the hyper, materia stealing, snot nosed brat.
Vincent: there is a first for everything.
The side of the Slipstream opened and a staircase folded out of it. The group walked in and took their seats.
Cid: move out of the pilot, Shera.
Shera: why can't I fly?
Cid: me need to move fast and I don't trust you flying at full speed.
Shera got up and Cid sat in the pilot seat and Shera in the copilot.
Cid ran his hand across the keyboard and typed in something and a T.V. came out of the roof and some movie started to play.
Cloud: dang Cid you got a T.V. in here.
Cid: and a 52 speaker stereo system.
Cid typed in something else and the speakers came out.
Sam: why the movie?
Cid: just to entrain you on our flight.
Shera: and to distract you from Cid's reckless flying…
Cid: shut up woman.
Cid took the controls of the Slipstream and it lifted into the air. The group hear the engines building up energy then Cid pressed a button on the top of the steering and the Slipstream shot forward with a burst of speed.
( 20 minutes later in a field right out side of Nebleim)
The group had climbed out of the Slipstream and were walking toward Nebleim. The group walked through the town into the mansion and down into the library.
Vincent: look for books on the Cetra, Materia, and Cetra technology.
The group fanned out and started looking through the books. One by one they found a book that was related to what they were looking for and sat somewhere to read through them in hopes of finding what they were looking for. Sam was reading a book on Materia when he came to a page that caught his eye, it was about a materia called the Crystal Materia.
Sam: guys listen to this, The Crystal Materia has the power to revive dead Cetras and is the power source for a weapon called the Rekin cannon, the Rekin cannon has the power to destroy entire planets with one shot. The cannon was used as the Cetra's defense against alien invaders called the Jenova. The Crystal Materia lies in a cave located on the Religious mountain of Wutia along with a map for the location of the Rekin cannon and the instructions on how to use it.
Cloud: the power to revive dead Cetras….
Vincent: we could use the cannon if we fail to stop Sephiroth from summoning Holy Meteor…
Cloud: and we can revive Aeris as well…
Sam: yes… but we should wait until after we defeat Sephiroth and Tarah.
Cloud: why?
Sam: what if we revive her now and we lose? She'll just die again..
Cloud: right…
Vincent: we should get moving.
Kale: right.
Vincent: grab as many as books as you can and come on.
The group grabbed some books at they all ran out of the mansion and to the Slipstream. The group laid down the books then went to their seats.
Cid started the Slipstream and it rose into the air and shot off toward Wutia.
(Wutia)
The group had began to climb the mountain, Yuffie as their guide. She lead them to the only cave on the mountain, it was really only one large room, the group searched the room and they found nothing.
Kale: could someone have taken it already?
Red XII: I don't believe the Ancients would leave it out in the open I think there must be a hidden room here.
Sam: good idea.
Sam went to one of the walls and began tapping on it, as he slowly moved along the wall, he tapped one spot and it sound different than the rest had.
Sam continued in that area and it sounded the same until about a foot away from where the noise first changed, it changed back to the way it was before.
Sam: its there.
Sam took a few steps back.
Sam: Barret, Vincent, use your guns and try to shoot through.
Vincent and Barret raised their guns and started firing, pieces of rock began to chip away and a haze of smoke hid the wall from sight.
Sam: that should be enough!
They stopped firing and let the smoke clear, the rock had been cut into deeply but they still couldn't see on the other side.
Sam: Cloud, Kale, it's our turn…
The three of them drew their swords and chopped away at the wall, after awhile it fell away reviling a passage way.
Vincent: let's go.
The group entered the passage way and farther down the passage they could see a light. As they got closer they could see the light was coming from machines, and computers. As they got to the end of the passage they came to a large room the wall on the sides where lined with computers, showing data in the Cetra langue, at the far end of the room there was a alter and on both sides there stood statues, one of them was large and muscling, long claws, and a angel wing on the left side of it's back and it carried a sword about the size of Cloud's Ultimate Weapon and it eyes on both sides of the blade, the other one was smaller and shaped like chaos but it only had one wing, and it carried a large sword like the buster sword but it had eyes on both sides of the blade.
Angelina: it's pretty obvious where the Crystal Materia is.
Tifa: oh yeah…
The group walked up to the alter and as they were about to walk up to take the Crystal Materia the eye's on the swords came to life and the swords came down and blocked their path.
: what is your purpose with the Crystal Materia?
Vincent: we want to use it to power the Rekin cannon and stop Holy Meteor, if it comes to that.
: Holy Meteor is going to be summoned?
Vincent: yes unless we can stop the man who is trying to summon it.
: you must prove that you are worthy…
Vincent: how?
: show us that you are good hearted, and not one with a dark heart.
Vincent: how do I go about doing that?
: you must think of that…
Vincent: what could I do to show that?
: and you're friends can not help you think of a way but they could be part of the solution.
Vincent: love…. it's what all good people stand for.
Vincent turned to Yuffie an wrapped his arms around her.
Vincent: I love you.
Vincent kissed her as passionately has he could, when he broke the kiss Yuffie said.
Yuffie: I love you too.
: you have proven to us that you mean good.
The to statues raised their sword and Vincent went up to the alter and took the Crystal Materia, and the book next to it.
: may the gods be with you.
: and remember the planet is depending on you all… do not fail us.
Vincent: we swear we will not fail…
The group nodded and Vincent came down off the alter, they turned toward the door, there was a loud roar.
Angelina: what.……… was that?
The growling grew louder, but due to the echoing effect of the room the group couldn't pin point where it was coming from but they could tell it was in the room.
Cid: where is it?
Cloud left something wet hit him on the head and his looked up. On the ceiling a monster hung, it had two powerfully build arms, it's eyes were red, it's skin was a bluish color, it had two large, long daggers sheathed on it's back and four muscle-bond legs ending in feet with four long toes the shape on the foot was like a plus sign. The monster drew one of it's daggers and dropped from the ceiling.
Cloud: it's above us!
The group moved out of the way as the monster it the ground landing on it's feet. It drew it's other dagger and snarled at the group. The group readied their weapons as the monster charged toward them. The monster swung one of it's daggers toward Kale but he ducked under the blade, then slashed at the arm passing over him cutting it off. The monster screamed in agony and raised it's other dagger, and with lighting speed brought in down into Kale's right shoulder. The monster lifted his dagger, with Kale dangling on it and threw him off it and into Vincent, causing him to accidentally fire. Vincent climbed back to his feet and fired a shot right at the monster's head, it left and big hole right through the center of its head but the monster swung his dagger at Cloud, who brought his Buster sword up and blocked. Sam jumped up into the air and his black angel wing shot out of his back, then flew at the monster. His masumanes appeared in his hands and his cut a X into the monster's chest. The monster screamed in agony and blood gushed from it's wound. Cid jumped up and jabbed the monster in one of it's eyes but before Cid could pull his spear out the monster smacked Cid away, and his spear still embedded in it's eye. The monster pulled it out and used it to pin cid to the ground through his right shoulder. Cloud unleashed his omislash on the monster and it finally fell over dead.
Vincent: everyone ok?
Cid: get this thing out of me!
Vincent pulled the spear out of Cid and helped him up.
Cloud: I'm ok.
Tifa: me too.
Sam: yep fine here.
Red: I am fine.
Barret: good.
Cait Sith: same here.
Angelina: fine.
Kale: me too.
There was quite.
Vincent: Yuffie?
Vincent looked over to where he last saw Yuffie, she was laying on the ground with a gunshot wound on the right side of her chest, and blood was trickling down from her mouth and pouring from the wound. Vincent ran over to her and sank to his knees.
Vincent: Yuffie…YUFFIE don't leave me!
Sam came over and checked her pulse, there wasn't one.
Sam: I'm sorry Vincent…. she's dead.
(A/N: The group has the crystal materia, but at the price of Vincent losing his love, and his own gun took her life. How will the group react to this? And will their leader find the strength to go on? Or will he return to rest inside his coffin for the sin he has committed?)