A/N: I'm sorry this took so long everyone! I've been really busy and all with school starting up and my friend having a bit of a personal problem, so I couldn't work as much on this as I should have. I was gonna add another section with the beginning of Yuffie's and Vincent's venture into the Northern Crater in here, too, but that would have taken longer and I thought you all deserved the fastest with the best quality, so here you all go. Some more answers and questions in this chapter...

Chapter 19

God…I do not wish to become 'God'…

You have no choice, human filth.

I only wish to see her again…to feel her…

You are only a puppet.

Death is beckoning to me.

Death is impossible for you.

Gast struggled against himself, calling out for death to take him, but the demon inside him merely laughed. He ceased his futile wishes and felt condemned; trapped.

Suddenly the auburn-haired man was before him again, the bodies of his two comrades slung over his shoulder. He dropped them crudely on the hard, stone surface, then knelt down and bowed his head.

"What is it?" Gast felt the demon ask, his voice piercing and commanding. "Do not tell me these fools got themselves killed by the mere likes of that Immortal?" He sneered disdainfully. "I gave you powers you could never achieve even in immortality and yet you still fail me? Pitiful."

"But, please, my Lord," started Ryo suddenly, looking up with fearful eyes. "Valentine did not fall as easily as intended! He became a different being…transcended, in lieu of a more fitting word." He kept quiet for a moment, hoping against hope he would be spared. Demon Gast pondered this slightly, calculating what Ryo could have meant.

This certainly intrigues you. I thought you would have killed him by now and be done with it.

I still intend on destroying him. Along with everything else in this pitiful universe, but that fool Hojo created a being more complex and more powerful than he could ever comprehend. I do not wish to risk anything after my lucky…opportunity.

Demon Gast looked down at Ryo and smiled slightly. "Very well, you shall be granted another chance to defeat the Immortal." Ryo breathed again, but his glory was short-lived. "But you shall still be punished for your failure."

Before Ryo could even breath in to scream, it was over. He felt as if every muscle in his body was burning, and sharp knives were cutting at his throat and lungs. He wanted to die and waste away right there, but as soon as the pain had come it ceased, and the wave of power he felt flood over him made his heart race.

"Ma…Master…" he began, slowing rising to his feet.

"Now, Ryo," called Demon Gast, looking down upon his servant from his granite throne. "You, the highest of my servants, now have the godly speed of Lartsa and the savage physical force of Golem. Do not fail me again." He waved his hand, and Ryo bowed his head, retreating casually.

As he left the cave and the fresh smell of salt water reached his body, he ran a hand through his hair. Waves crashed below him, showering him in a spray of water, but he could care less.

He finally had the power to destroy Vincent Valentine.

xxxxXxxxx

"Sephiroth," Hojo called out. He shuffled over to where the sleeping Soldier rested and stood over him, taunting him. "Inferior dog. You came stumbling from those mountains, in a rage like a mad beast, then after I enhanced you and even died for you, you had yourself killed by that failed project, Strife."

The name stirred Sephiroth slightly, as he shifted his weight. Hojo's arrogant sneer merely grew more pronounced.

"Now you have the chance to do away with him, and yet you still lounge about. Completely worthless fool."

It happened in a moment. Hojo only saw the gleam of the blade in the brief light before it skewered him, slashing him into two along the waist. He gasped in pain, blood flowing freely from his mouth as he fell lifelessly to the ground, dead.

Sephiroth admired his handiwork for a moment, then whispered, "Strife is mine. I do not need to go to him. He will come for me."

xxxxXxxxx

Yuffie couldn't believe it. She was kissing Vinny! But as she was about to skip with joy, the arms that wrapped around her waist and stroked her back were not his. His ebony locks gone and replaced by the blonde spikes of Cloud, his crimson eyes turned Mako, and she suddenly realized she was not kissing Vincent.

It was Cloud…and she never wanted to let go.

Yuffie woke up, gasping for breath and looking around wildly. Slowly her brain started working again, and she slowly calmed down.

The Highwind had made it easily to the Northern Crater, but everyone had been exhausted from their search, and Cloud and Vincent were not much better off from their battle. So, they agreed to rest up slightly before venturing forth.

Suddenly the dream popped back into her head, and Yuffie shuddered.

"What a nightmare," she whispered, thinking she might vomit just from the thought of it.

xxxxXxxxx

"Alright people," Cloud called out, gaining everyone's attention on the bridge. "We're finally here, rested and ready to move out. Now everyone, the explosion after the battle with Sephiroth might have moved some things, so be careful." The others nodded in universal agreement.

"Okay then, Yuffie, Red, and Vincent will take the west side. Tifa, Barret and me will take the east. Cid will keep a vintage point from the sky, and Cait Sith, since you're a machine and completely immune to cold and pain, will patrol from the ground. Make sure no one comes in or out unless we're all in a group, understand?" The captain and the feline nodded in understanding. The air suddenly felt heavy and tense. "Let's mosey people!"

Tifa shot a concerned glance to Vincent as they made their way out, and he strode over to her side, falling behind the others and following her pace.

"Vincent…" she started, but before she could make out what she was going to say, he pecked her slightly on the lips, silencing her.

"Don't worry," he whispered calmly, as if he was merely discussing the weather. "It'll be fine. Just make sure to look out for yourself. I want to see you as soon as possible." She gave in, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his masculine frame. He immediately responded, stroking her back soothingly.

"Don't worry," he said gently. He pulled away from her, holding her by her shoulders. "Whatever is in this place, I'll make sure we all come out alive. We will see each other out of this, okay?"

Tifa shuddered slightly, wrapping her arms around herself. "I just had a really bad feeling…"

"Come on you two!" called Cait Sith, shouting into his megaphone. "Hurry on up!" With one last fleeting glance at Vincent, Tifa walked down the ramp and hurried to her group. Vincent could not help but notice that Cloud kept uncomfortably close to her as they slowly descended into the dark crater. His thoughts were interrupted as the little shinobi jumped him, screaming, "We got Vinny! We got Vinny!" over and over again. Vincent could feel his head starting to ache.

This is going to be a long day, he thought. If Vincent knew what awaited him in a few hours time, he would never have agreed with himself more.

xxxxXxxxx

Cloud let Barret lead the way for once. He held back, bringing up the rear of the party as they descended into the awesome darkness of the crater. Remnants of the Lifestream drifted about as plainly as dust, and Cloud could feel his entire body suddenly react to the mysterious plasma.

They continued to walk for some time, and though Cloud tried to stay close to Tifa, he felt her move as far ahead of him as possible.

She doesn't feel comfortable around me, he thought, slightly disappointed and angry that one who had such deep feelings for him before now shied away from him. Must not have been very deep feelings.

As they made their way into a large, open portion of the crater, a large, black dragon suddenly loomed into view, gazing down upon them with fierce eyes.

"Damn!" cried Barret indignantly as he brought up his gun firing aimlessly at the creature's face. He roared in anger and irritation and swung its tail up, catching Barret full in the chest and throwing him against the wall.

"Barret!" Tifa cried, hurrying to him as Cloud drew his sword.

He ran up to the reptile and lunged up, bringing his sword down through the dragon's skull. As his feet touched the ground, he wasted no time, slashing relentlessly at the dragon's exposed abdomen as Tifa joined him, smashing scales and flesh alike with her gloves.

The creature gave a weak whimper before collapsing in front of them, revealing a man covered behind it. His armor gleamed in the scarce light, and his long and magnificent sword made shivers of malice and fear run up both the conscious Avalanche members.

With silver hair down to his waist and the Masamune in his hand, Sephiroth stood before them, as powerful and suave as ever. He shifted his blade, a slightly gleam running the length of the giant blade as he smirked, savoring the look of terror and surprise on their faces as it slowly contorted into anger.

"Sephiroth!" cried Cloud suddenly, charging forward as he bared his sword.

"Yes, Cloud," whispered Sephiroth softly, sidestepping Cloud's slash and spinning elegantly on a single foot as he evaded another attack. "Attack me with your anger, so when I kill you, it will be just revenge for my death." Cloud roared in defiance and anger, his blade starting to shine.

"Omnislash!" he screamed, shooting forward.

"Cloud, no!" shrieked Tifa in alarm. "You can't take on Sephiroth on your own."

"She's right, Strife," taunted Sephiroth, holding out his arm as Cloud drew nearer, his sword glowing brighter with each step. "You are no longer a threat to me," and in an instant, Sephiroth's sword was up, parrying each of Cloud's rageful attacks, sparks flying from the contact.

Cloud raised his sword for the final attack when Sephiroth shot from under him, slashing Cloud across the abdomen with his huge Masamune. He coughed, blood flying from his open mouth, as he fell onto his back against the cold, hard earth. From his waning vision, he could make out Sephiroth's black wing and his metallic shoulder guard, both coming closer, but becoming increasingly blurred.

"Now, Strife," Sephiroth said, the cold words ringing through the cavern. "I shall kill you." And Cloud remembered no more.

A/N: Cliffy! I'm sorry, like I said earlier, I was going to add more but this also seemed like a good place to stop so I did. Next chapter: Yuffie and Vincent, Cloud and Sephiroth ending, and the conclusion of this story is nearing. I plan on making this about maybe 25, 30 chapters? Not too much longer. I have the ending all planned out, just got to get there :) Thank you everyone for holding on and waiting! I will not abandon this story, no matter what!