Chapter Eighteen

Back to the Crater

When everyone got back on the airship Cid started barking out orders and it felt like they were going to the Northern Crater for the first time. Yuffie told Cid not to rush over there so they could devise a plan but Jessi guessed she just didn't want the ship going five-hundred miles an hour and losing every single content in her stomach. But there was logic in her reasoning and Cid must have known that as he agreed to take their time. As they neared the crater, everyone checked their weapons and talked about their plan of action.

"We should split up into teams again like last time, that seemed to be really effective when we fought Sephiroth." Cloud suggested.

They nodded and agreed and Aeris had an idea.

"But we should have each team have different purposes."

Cloud looked at her and nodded. "Go on and explain."

"Well, one team can be healers, one defense, and one attack."

"That could work, and since we have so many people it should be a little easier. We could also combine tasks though. Like the healers can cast defense spells and so on." Tifa said.

Cloud nodded again and smiled.

"Jenova won't know what hit her and the planet won't need to use a WEAPON."

"When we were in Tenneco the planet said it wouldn't send a WEAPON unless it feels we are unable to stop Jenova."

"No worries there, we're gonna beat the hell outta Jenova and she won't dare show her &$ face ever again. Cid of course, they laughed and felt very confident. Just then, there was a violent shudder that rocked the ship.

"What the hell was that! What just hit us?" Barret yelled.

Cid was trying to calm the crew down and yelling for them to prepare the missiles and barrier shield. The rest of the group looked out the window. They saw a large jellyfish like creature hovering above the crater and it was shooting energy beams at them.

"What are you idiots waiting for! Shoot the damn thing!"

The crew prepared the missiles and activated the barriers. They flew up to the creature and shot the missiles; it had no effect. Cloud turned quickly to the others.

"That didn't work, get ready to fight!"

Jessi looked down into the crater at Lifestream.

"We have to make sure no one falls or else it's all over."

Tifa nodded. "We gotta come up with teams now!"

"Right," Cloud looked around at the group; "this looks like an aerial battle."

He looked at Vincent and nodded to Jessi.

"You two are going to be the aerial team of course."

"Of course, and we'll be able to make sure none of you fall to your death."

"Aeris, Tifa and Elena, you guys make sure everyone is well defended and healed."

"Hey, who put you in charge? You don't give orders to the Turks!" Reno yelled. Reeve glared at him.

"No, but I do and I order you to do as he says, this is no time for childish fighting!"

Reno closed his mouth and Cloud continued.

"Yuffie, you stay on the ship with Barret and cast offensive magic, allright?"

She nodded and Cloud turned to Rude.

"Would you mind staying to help them since you have a long distance weapon as well?"

Rude nodded and Reno scowled, not happy at all at being separated from his friends.

"What do I get to do, boss?"

Cloud ignored his sarcastic comment and smirked at him.

"You are going to be out on the battlefield with Red and I."

Reno pulled out his nightstick and grinned.

"Fire up the grill cause tonight we're having sushi!"

"Cid, you obviously stay on the ship and work your magic."

"What?! Hell no, I ain't staying here, I'm going with you!"

"No, you stay here and help your crew. And Reeve, you stay here as well and cast offensive magic too."

Reeve nodded and Cloud pulled out the big sword that Yuffie had hidden away with everyone else's second level ultimate weapons. It looked strikingly like his Ultima weapon with its crystal texture, but it was much larger and stronger than the other sword.

"Allright, let's go kick some ass!"

"Cloud, you seem to be forgetting someone." Aeris said quietly.

He looked at her and she jerked her head to the side. Sephiroth was standing there with his arms crossed looking slightly agitated.

"Oops, sorry bout that."

"He doesn't need to tell me what to do Aeris. I will be out there fighting alongside him."

He looked at Cloud.

"Just like old times."

Cloud grimaced.

"Except without Zack…"

"I hate to break up the trip down memory lane, but we need to get out there and kill that thing before it multiplies anymore."

Cloud and Sephiroth yelled "What!" and looked out the window. There were two more of the creatures and they noticed the ship was taking quite a beating.

"If my ship is destroyed you're all going down with her! I'll see to it personally! Now get your sorry asses in gear and get down there NOW!"

They all headed to the back of the ship and prepared to fight. Elena, Aeris, Yuffie, Tifa, Rude, Barret and Reeve stayed behind while Cloud, Sephiroth, Reno and Nanaki jumped off the ship onto one of the Crater's many rock ledges to battle up close. Vincent and Jessi transformed and flew towards the other two creatures and started to attack. Tifa casted Regen on all of them while Aeris casted magic and normal barriers. Rude, Yuffie and Barret opened fire on the creatures and Reeve casted bolt on all of them.

"Aw shit, it absorbed bolt!"

"It might absorb all elements!" Yuffie yelled.

"Don't risk it, cast non-elemental magic like Demi!" Tifa said.

Yuffie cast Demi and it had no effect as well.

"So much for that idea." Rude muttered as he blasted the middle monster.

Yuffie launched an origami star at the first monster and smirked when it howled in frustration.

"I don't think it likes getting its tentacles chopped off. Let alone being shot in the eyes."

Barret laughed as he put out three of the third monsters many eyes.

"You heard the girl, aim for the legs an' eyes."

But the creatures weren't going down without a fight. One shot a beam at Cloud that drained some life energy and took all of his magic power away. He swore and stabbed it in the eye that did the attack. The creature screeched and lashed out at him with one of its tentacles. But Cloud was too quick and he cut down into it. He was shocked when it fell off…literally. The tentacle wrapped around his sword and electrified him. He yelled and tried to let go of his sword but couldn't.

Sephiroth sliced the slimy thing in half, and as it fell to the ground he pulled out an elixir and gave it to Cloud. Nanaki casted Fire and was disappointed when it had little effect.

"There's got to be some weakness this thing has."

Cloud smiled viciously as he pulled out a red materia orb.

"I know something it won't like."

The orb flared to life as Cloud crossed his arms and bowed his head, concentrating all of his energy towards the materia.

The sky grew dark around them as Bahamut flew down and looked at the creatures. He opened his mouth and did his famous attack, Mega Flare.

The monsters shuddered and one of them shriveled up and fell to the ground, dying. The other two monsters started to glow and their tentacles began to spin around them wildly.

"…That can't be good." Jessi said.

She threw her sickle at the monster but it didn't hit. It just bounced off and returned to her. Jessi looked down at the monsters confused as Yuffie's, Barret and Rude's weapons all got deflected. Vincent did Chaos Saber and it hardly phased them.

"What the hell!" He said angrily. He tried Satan Slam and that did a little damage, but not much.

Just then the two monsters grew even brighter and unleashed a great energy beam at them. It broke all the barriers that were up and threw everyone down, causing all of their hit points to drop down drastically. Aeris used her limit Healing Wind while Tifa casted Cure3 and Elena put up new barriers.

"We can't let that happen again, that's for damn sure! The ship can't take it and neither can we!"

Cloud noticed the monster's tentacles had stopped moving and the beasts were not moving much. He figured they had to recharge and that was their chance.

"Everyone! Give them all you've got before they start moving again!"

He began to fight furiously and he noticed the others do the same. Jessi lashed at them with her claws and noticed her status attack worked. The creature was poisoned. Vincent attacked the other beast with Yuffie and the other's help. The monster sent bolts of lightning out and shocked everyone within its reach. Its sidekick did the same to everyone else. Elena began to laugh.

"The stupid thing just gave away its element weakness. We need to cast water!"

Yuffie grinned as she pulled out a summon orb.

"Now you're speaking my language!"

She did her pose as Leviathan appeared and screeched at the monsters. A large wave of water rose behind it and smacked into the monsters. Another one vanished but the remaining one began to glow and the tentacles span around again.

"Shit! Defense, cast some defensive spells people and use your limits!"

Elena and Tifa casted shield after Aeris cast Regen on them all. Aeris did Breath of the Earth and Yuffie used Clear Tranquil to heal the team completely. The monster did its attack and everyone's health dropped dramatically once again. The Highwind began to tremble and smoke in some places. They heard Cid start screaming many new vulgar profanities and spit out countless threats.

But they were all angry themselves. Barret used Satellite beam and Nanaki did Earth Rave. Cloud had enough as he unleashed Omnislash upon the monster. When he landed on the ground, he was shocked to see the creature was still alive and started to spin again.

"Oh no you don't, DIE asshole!"

Cloud cast Knights of the Round and the beast was torn to pieces by eleven mystic knights; and finally, the ultimate warrior who delivered the fatal blow. The creature shriveled up and died and everyone let out a sigh of relief. They all yelled out to see how everyone was and relaxed when they seen everybody was OK. A member of the crew lowered the rope ladder and Vincent and Jessi transformed back as they landed next to Cloud, Reno and Sephiroth. They tensed when they heard clapping echo around them. Nanaki's hair prickled as he growled, "We have company."

A/N: ....right. Ah hope you don'tmind the ending heh; and please please PLEASE R&R...I think I had a few people slightly OOC. Don't be harsh now! Lol