Darkness Rising By Chibi Nataku

Disclaimer: In no way do I hold claim over any of the characters of Kingdom Hearts, who are currently owned by Square. Despite my attempts to grab hold of even a cardboard cut-out of my favourite characters, my efforts have fallen short so they will probably always remain under rights of Square (the world is so unfair :P)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: ' indicates a dream-like voice, and indicates the speech of Zax 'cause...well, only Cloud can usually see and hear him.

AUTHOR'S WARNING: This fic has been bumped up to a yaoi pairing between Sephiroth and Cloud. You have been warned so proceed at your own risk. So far, it is merely some shounen-ai, but it might turn a bit more in later chapters.

Chapter 13 - The Showdown of Fate

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Sephiroth slipped in the shadows to gaze at the fighting arena where he had just fought his last battle under the contract of Hades. His cat-like eyes focused on the youth chatting with two animals, his hand travelling down his chest to feel the bruises that he managed to acquire thanks to that blasted keyblade.

He had never met an opponent that could injure him with mere touches, but he suspected that the keyblade had reacted to the darkness and added an extra rather hard punch to each of the hits he received. The keyblade was an item to purge the darkness, and Sephiroth understood why Cloud had dropped in a heap when grabbing the keyblade, since he had now been at the receiving end of an attack from it. He also realized that Cloud was in much worse condition by the way the blonde had been affected, only slightly more harmed than himself.

Hey, pops. We liked the way you lost with both tact and style. Very nice. Zax commented as he stepped up beside the silver-haired man, grinning like a maniac when Sephiroth glared at him. Their relationship was developing such a nice love-hate taste to it. You're pride looks a little bruised. Maybe we could get you a bandage.

Sephiroth had to fight the urge to strangle the dark-haired man, instead sending his best death-glare at Zax. "Has anyone told you that you are, by far, the most annoying and bothersome spec on the face of the planet?"

Zax quirked an eyebrow before lifting his hands and pointing his index fingers at his face. Hello, fragment of the planet. He was amused that he had to remind Sephiroth of that fact. Besides, we were created to be Cloud's guide... so we really didn't have much association with anyone else...well, except you now!

"I feel so honoured...." Sephiroth managed to grit out between clenched teeth, sending another glare at Zax just for good measure. "What is it you want this time, guardian? I've done what you have requested of me. The brat has gone free, just as I promised." His gaze switched from the keyblade master back to the dark-haired man standing beside him, sighing heavily.

Zax nodded his head, pleased with Sephiroth's ability to keep up on their bargain. Cloud is on his way. We can feel him drawing closer. He passed a sideways glance at the silver-haired man, noting the small twitch in Sephiroth's cheek, the only movement the former General made. Are you still serious about going through with this, pops? You can't wait until Hollow Bastion is free?

Sephiroth kept his eyes focused straight ahead, not willing to look at the dark-haired man standing beside him. "I've waited too long for this opportunity to cage my little canary." He replied neutrally, not allowing Zax any idea on what he was really thinking.

Things have changed, pops. We can feel it in you...ever since Cloud ejected you from his dream...the wheels have been turning in that head of yours. Zax crossed his arms in front of his chest, eyes closing briefly as he felt Cloud entering the Coliseum through the darkness. The planet knows you are different...you cannot tell us otherwise.

Sephiroth turned to regard Zax fully. "So what if things have? Nothing will prevent this fight from happening."

Zax slowly nodded his head before turning away and stuffing his hands into his pockets, not surprised by the tension in Sephiroth's voice. Cloud is here. He took one glance at the silver-haired man, noting another small twitch. He immediately walked off into a shadow, disappearing from Sephiroth's side to go and check on Cloud.

Sephiroth watched Zax leave, his fists clenching at sides as his gaze shifted to the ground, not certain if he was more angered with the fact that the dark-haired man had pointed out the change, or the fact that Zax was right. "Most...annoying spec," he muttered to himself before sighing and crossing his arms across his chest, his gaze shifting back to look at the now empty fighting arena. "The showdown of our lives, Strife...one battle, one victor. Nothing will stop this battle...I've waited for too long for this. I will defeat you so that you may rest your wings in peace for awhile, no worries, no more battles, no more darkness... just your beautiful sleeping form next to mine."

He waved a hand in the air and teleported to the top wall of the Coliseum that over looked the fighting arena, walking along the even stone until he found a comfortable place to his liking and crouched down. His gaze shifted around the arena, studying it intently before his eyes flicked to the door where he knew that Cloud would walk. His gaze washed over the doorway, planning out his movements, finally deciding that he would face off against Cloud in the middle of the arena. He decided it would give them both the room needed for a good fight, and it would most likely reduce the chance of Cloud leaving through the door again, though the chances of that are slim already. He knew General Strife would never back down from a challenge.

But, he had come to realize that he would not be facing the blonde General of Hollow Bastion. He would be facing off against Cloud Strife, only son of Elecia, strong heart of the planet, lost child of the darkness, youngest Royal Guard that never grew. He had come up with too many titles for the blonde warrior, no longer settling for 'his canary' now that he had encountered Cloud so differently in that dream. He had come to realizations about the blonde that had almost made him worry for the wisdom that Cloud had used to hide all those secrets away. Even he recognized when such things became unhealthy, and now Cloud was paying the ultimate price for those secrets.

So things had changed after that encounter, after Cloud had found out about his connection to Elecia, after the blonde had willingly allowed him to hold Cloud. He had felt the brief relaxation of battle-honed muscle under his touch, and he had almost thought that Cloud was about to reach up and embrace him back. That brief shift of weight against him, that feeling of near acceptance of his embrace had changed everything, a large wall protecting the blonde crumbled before him, allowing him brief access to the true Cloud Strife, the lost lonely child living a lie.

Yes, even in his own obsessive insanity, he knew in the back of his mind that things had changed between himself and the blonde warrior. Certainly, their encounter had only affirmed in his mind the battle at hand, but the outcome had changed significantly from his first intents. He still wanted to defeat Cloud, and he still wanted to wave around that defeat in front of the blonde for the worlds to see. However, he could no longer bring himself to consider killing Cloud after he had caged the blonde and had his little fun; rather, he could almost bearly consider caging Cloud at all.

In some ways, all he wanted was to defeat Cloud for the blonde's health and drag the younger General off away from the darkness, away from the loneliness, away from the festering wounds. Not purely selfish reasons for the thought, but he thought that he was the only one that could defeat Cloud and be able to draw Elecia's only child out into the open. He had taken Cloud's reactions, slight warmth, and hesitation as a sign that the blonde was stepping up to him; in fact, Zax had mentioned on several occasions that he was the only thing that got reactions out of Cloud anymore. Once he had defeated the blonde, he could use those indications to his advantage so that Cloud would come to him and rest quietly where no other element could bother the blonde.

So his goals had changed in their intents. He still was driven by an obsession to defeat Cloud Strife and capture the younger man, but he was more willing to coax the blonde into his arms rather than simply forcing Cloud into it. He could divert some of his energies into the upcoming challenge of drawing the blonde to him and pressing Cloud into a more safe neutral zone; although, he would definitely not be against some affection if he could get some. He knew that the challenge would not be enacting affection of the blonde, more the real challenge was to get Cloud to be affectionate back, especially when he was certain Cloud was the biggest naive virgin that ever walked the planet.

Of course, this new challenge was after he defeated Cloud, which he had failed to do on their previous three fights. He was aware that the blonde would be a huge challenge to defeat, even if Cloud was hindered by darkness and weakened. His last spar with the blonde had been after Cloud had done two days of night shift and not slept for one of those days, and Cloud had managed to come up with a victory, not an easy one, but a victory all the same. He knew that Cloud would not fall easily, but he was more than aware that in a serious fight, General Strife would fall back on the devastation left by the Omnislash. If he could fend of that attack, he knew that Cloud would be off balanced and tired from it, but no less beatable.

"Come to me, my canary." He whispered to the fighting arena, gazed fixed on the entrance way. As soon as Cloud moved far enough away from the entrance, he would make his presence known by dropping down into the blonde's path, starting the showdown. He had anticipated this moment for years, and he would play any game that Cloud wished to play so long as he was the victor at the end. "When all the games are over, you will disappear into a different kind of darkness, the solitude where you may rest your wings, little canary. Come and let the showdown begin...."

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Cloud opened his eyes to find himself staring up at the sky around the Coliseum, a soft growl of frustration leaving his throat as he once again found himself unable to teleport anywhere properly. He shifted in his position on his back, wincing as the sharp stone of the steps that he was currently lying down dug into his already tender back, making the position all the more uncomfortable.

He groaned softly as he struggled to sit up again, eyes widening as he found himself slipping down the steep few stairs, grunting as he failed to grab onto to anything to stop his slipping. He let out a more unceremonious grunt as his bottom hit each step on the way down before finally ending up on his back again, another sigh of frustration leaving his lips. He shifted slightly, checking his back and pride, finding both sore with the unceremonious fall.

Geez Spike, you are not having a good day. Zax appeared next to Cloud's side, a small grin on his lips as he bent to help his friend back up. He took the time to dust the blonde off, noting Cloud's somber mood. He wrapped an arm around the blonde's tense shoulders, bending his face down to peer beneath Cloud's bangs, forcing their gazes to meet. Come on, let's get you a warm shower and clean clothes. You look like crap.

Cloud shot a glare over at Zax, not fully meaning it. "Thank you, Mr. Abandonment," he growled out before beginning to walk across the open stadium, listening the gravel crunch beneath his boots before finally stopping. "I'm tired, Zax."

Zax glanced over at Cloud before smiling warmly, ruffling the blonde's hair playfully with a hand. He quirked a dark eyebrow when Cloud accepted the treatment without a word, a bit unusual for a grown man. However, he kept his mood light, wanting to bring a smile back to Cloud's face again. Don't worry, Spike. You can have a nap after we get you cleaned up. Everything is going to be fine!

"No...not that..." Cloud slowly lifted his head to regard Zax before finally allowing his weight to lean heavily on his friend, resting his head on the dark-haired man's shoulder. "I'm tired...I'm losing my grip, Zax. He's starting to manifest in the real world instead of just my mind, and I'm having trouble resisting." He lifted his eyes when Zax stiffened with his words before sighing heavily. "I don't know how long I can keep this up...for the first time in my life, I'm having trouble staying awake and focused. My fighting skills are slipping from me and I'm becoming more ruthless." He slowly shook his head against Zax's strong shoulder. "I don't like the person I have become, but it is too late to turn back now..."

Zax sighed heavily and released his hold on Cloud's shoulder, beckoning the blonde to sit on the ground with him, aware at how hard Cloud had been fighting a losing battle. He settled in next to the blonde, allowing Cloud to rest against him for a while before he spoke again. Cloud, you need to hold on, just for a little while longer then I promise that you can rest all you want. You are so close to getting back to Hollow Bastion...I know you want to fight Sephiroth, that it is important to you, but we need you to take care of yourself too...

Cloud slowly lifted his head from Zax's shoulder, staring at the dark-haired man. He had never heard Zax refer to himself with a 'we' before, making an eyebrow raise. It was so strange that his attention caught on such a small detail, but it seemed to just sit like a steel ball in his mind. "We?" He finally asked quietly.

Zax stiffened, silently cursing himself for slipping up, especially at such a critical time for Cloud. He could not afford to strain the blonde's mind anymore than Cloud was already doing, but he needed Cloud to still be his friend when this all ended. Cloud...I...

The planet's consciousness immediately surged in him, not wanting this small detail revealed just yet. It wanted Cloud back on the planet's surface before he was allowed to speak of himself as an entity of a greater consciousness. Yet, he tried his best to reason with the planet, practically pleading with it to allow him this small grace, which Cloud would be so much better off knowing about him. He spoke that Cloud was slipping away with no one to lean on, that their friendship had become strained over time because of his disappearance. He wanted to get Cloud back just as much as the planet did, but he needed to blonde's trust for anything like that to happen, for his word to hold any weight in Cloud's mind. He needed to speak the truth for once, not hide behind a greater consciousness.

Cloud pulled himself off of Zax's shoulder when the dark-haired man went suddenly very silent, cocking his head to the side to find his friend staring off into space. He waved a hand in front of Zax's eyes, leaning in close when he got no response, his scanning the dark-haired man's face, trying to find a reason for the distance internalized look that Zax held. He found himself drawn to Zax's eyes, finding them a doorway to a friend he still knew nothing about. He could sense...something in those eyes, something way beyond human capacity, like thousands of voices in one mind. He felt drawn, almost safe looking into his friend's eyes.

Zax eventually came back to himself, gaze shifting to regard Cloud who was leaning in close to him, their gazes locking as the planet shifted away from his direct consciousness. He lay a friendly hand on Cloud's shoulder, jarring the blonde from staring at him, a small smile pulling at his lips as Cloud immediately looked away. Spike, when you finish your battle with Sephiroth, I want to talk with you alone. I think it has been too long since we talked. Will you meet me in the courtyard here when everything is said and done?

"You make this battle sound easy, Zax." Cloud replied with a snort, gaze finally returning to regard the dark-haired man. "Sephiroth is no easy opponent, especially with me on the verge of exhaustion with many more fights left to go in this day."

You will win, Cloud. Higher powers are out for your well being, and they desire a victory out of you. There is no way you can lose. I promise, but you have to promise me to meet here after the fight. I want to tell you something. Zax lifted a hand when Cloud began to protest the fact that the upcoming battle had been arranged with victory. How close that victory, not even Zax knew, but Cloud would come out on top, hopefully with a minimal amount of damage. He smiled warmly at his blonde friend and cupped Cloud's cheek with one hand. Promise me, Spike. Promise that you will meet me in this very spot after the fight.

Cloud's gaze flicked down to the ground before leaning into Zax's hand. He considered what Zax was asking of him then nodded his head. "Alright, I promise to meet you here after the fight." He raised his eyes to regard the dark-haired man, not resisting when Zax hauled him back to his feet, instead taking the time to dust off his pants. His eventually raised his gaze back to his dark-haired friend before nodding his head. "This is it. The moment I've been waiting for..."

Zax smiled warmly and patted the blonde on the shoulder, his expression never changing even as Cloud's darkness lashed back at him, ignoring it completely. You'll do fine, Spike. This should be an easy battle for you. He cupped Cloud's cheek briefly before taking a step to the side, allowing the blonde a clear path to where Sephiroth would be waiting. Go get him, Spike.

Cloud lowered his head and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I'm scared...Zax." It took all of his courage just to speak that small sentence, and he could only stand in silence to his own weakness, ashamed.

Zax felt his smile falter, having never heard those words from Cloud's lips in all of his existence. Even if Cloud had felt those words, Zax knew that the blonde would never utter them out loud, since Cloud feared weakness. He knew that things were more than extremely serious when Cloud Strife, strong heart of the planet, spoke of fear in battle. He felt the planet murmur in his mind warnings that he should stop this upcoming fight and take care to get Cloud back to Hollow Bastion...but he could not. He was afraid for Cloud's fear, but he knew that the blonde would press on anyway.

Gently, he took a step up to the blonde and wrapped his arms around Cloud's shoulders, pulling the blonde to his chest before letting on of his hand smooth down Cloud's wild hair. He leaned the side of his head on Cloud's temple. It's going to be alright, Cloud. You are going to get back to Hollow Bastion, and everything is going to be fine. There's nothing to fear.

Cloud leaned his head on Zax's strong shoulder, drawing strength from his friend. "Sephiroth is going to arrive there...and we are going to fight to the death...only one of us is leaving that arena." He ran his hands down his pant legs, his eyes closing at the fact that his skin bearly produced any warmth anymore. "I'm not afraid of death. I'm not even afraid of if I face defeat and become his pet, caged away for his enjoyment..."

What are you afraid of then, Cloud? What in that arena makes you frightened? Zax asked softly, his hands still stroking the blonde's hair, again ignoring the darkness biting at his flesh.

"I'm...afraid that I will walk in there and not see my darkness anymore." Cloud struggled to get the words out, ending up only speaking in a whisper. He knew that Zax heard his words though, since the arms around him tightened. "He loved my mother...she loved him in return. How can I soil her memory by killing Sephiroth...someone who could have been my father?"

Zax sighed heavily, the planet's voices surging in worry in his mind, none of them ever having considered what Sephiroth's confession in the dream a few days ago would do to Cloud. He let his hands drop down to rub Cloud's back, attempting to comfort the blonde, a warm smile returning to his lips as the planet poured out sympathies to its strong heart, eyes closing as wisps of green drifted around Cloud's body, holding the darkness off for a few moments. He is not your father, Cloud, as much as he wants to be. He knows that he is not.

Cloud nodded his head, eyes drifting close as he felt warmth flowing through his body again, never really realizing just how cold he was. Even his wing and left hand felt warm for a few moments. "I know that...but...he was so close to being my father, and...I never knew until I was fifteen." He shook his head before running a hand through his hair, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I never believed Grakas back then...I only believed it when Sephiroth mentioned my mother...and here I thought that the General and I had no connection other than men-at-arms."

Zax pushed Cloud away, holding the blonde at an arms-length from him, smiling when their gazes met. If you don't want to do this, you don't have to walk through that door and fight him. We can go to Hollow Bastion right now and leave it all behind. Just say the word, and we go back home. He dropped his head, cocking his head so that Cloud looked at him, a warm smile crossing his lips. Let's get you home, Cloud.

Cloud sadly shook his head at his friend, looking back down at the ground. "I can't... not yet. I have to fight." He ran his right hand down his left arm, stopping when his fingers made contact with the cold skin of his demonic hand. He closed his eyes briefly. "If I don't go in there, I will never know if I will see my darkness or not. I have to be sure of what side of Sephiroth will stand in front of me."

Alright...I won't stop you. Zax somewhat wished that he would protest and urge Cloud to just forget this crazy mission, but he knew that the blonde would not listen to him. He had felt the small shift of both men, of the strong heart reacting to its light, and vise versa. Even in the lull of darkness, both Cloud and Sephiroth had reacted briefly to one another in the true connection meant for them. He could only hope that that spark would occur again, and that Sephiroth would take Cloud home and forget about fighting.

Cloud nodded silent thanks to the dark-haired man, his gaze shifting to the path that would lead him through a set of doors, into a well-lit room, down a darkened hallway, and into the fighting arena. Beyond that fighting arena, he could rest for some time in the locker room, probably removing the white bandages around his sword since he was not in a simple spar anymore. He could rest until Sephiroth appeared, then...then he would fight and eliminate the former General and return home.

He had to force his feet into motion, taking heavy steps towards that suddenly intimidating door as all emotion erased from his face, his mask of indifference swinging into place naturally. His eyes never left his intended path, his body rocking with each step, the sword on his back a heavy weight as he drew ever closer. "The showdown..."

Yet, the moment he ascended the steps and pushed open the door, his muscles relaxed as he took a deep breath. He stopped in the middle of the small room, enjoying the heat from the flames as he reached up and adjusted his cloak more comfortably, setting it higher on his face before running his fingers through his hair. He looked around the small room before shifting his spiked hip guard, tightening the belts around his waist and pants, a routine he always did before a fight which had a calming effect on his body and mind, setting his concentration.

Slowly, he pulled the sword from his back and stared into the blade as he held it up in front of his face, staring at the battle-hardened glowing gaze that stared back at him. Once satisfied with the reflection he carried, he dropped his blade into his right hand and began to walk again, settling himself into a nice relaxed rhythm, carefully monitoring his weight shift to make sure that he still moved smoothly. The last thing he needed was the black veins in his legs and back to make movements uncomfortable and put more strain on his already tired muscles.

He walked out into the fighting arena, relaxed in his walk and keeping his mood casual in order to conserve energy. He kept his gaze staring straight ahead, slipping his chin more into his cloak collar, a soft sigh escaping him as he walked. He enjoyed the sturdy feel of his sword in his grasp, considering taking off the bandages now since there was a bit of a breeze whistling through the Coliseum. He decided against it and just kept on walking, somewhat relieved the potential chance to sit down for a rest.

Yet, he found his casual thoughts interrupted by the feeling that he was not alone, his gaze shifting up only slightly to fix on the descending single black feather, gaze fixing on the small object as it floated down almost harmlessly to the ground. He knew there was nothing harmless about that feather, and he had to fight to hold his ground as leather boots landed beside the feather, gaze shifting up to regard General Sephiroth of Hollow Bastion. He remained neutral, though slightly defensive, as his eyes crawled over the older man's form; however, he felt his insides turn to ice, not wanting to fight just yet. He was desperate for a rest, but it appeared that he would be forced to go without, probably just the way that Sephiroth had planned it.

Sephiroth smirked slightly as he found himself faced off with Cloud Strife, noting immediately that the blonde looked tired. His gaze crawled over Cloud's body, keeping himself almost casual as a breeze washed over them, shifting his hair and coat as he found himself in a standoff with the blonde. Yet, he was certain that he caught a small look of disappointment flash briefly through the blonde's blue eyes, his smirk growing a little at the thought that he had caught Cloud tired and vulnerable.

However, he would not speak until spoken to. He would wait for Cloud to raise a voice to properly judge the blonde's mood. He was perfectly willing to play along with any game that Cloud wanted to play, but he was also hoping to see a flash of the sick little canary that he had only briefly glimpsed.

Cloud stood watching Sephiroth closely, eyes narrowing only slightly at the smugness that the silver-haired man held with him. He couldn't lose, not now, not being so close to going home. He had waited for this moment for years, this confrontation and not even exhaustion would hold him back now. He felt all emotion fade from his eyes as the weight of his sword felt more comfortable, the worries of black veins and of a dying planet no concern to him as he faced down his enemy, the sole reason that the darkness was taking him over. "So we meet at last," he spoke, weighing up the other man.

Sephiroth's smirk only grew when Cloud spoke, immediately knowing the feel of the blonde's aura of battle. So, he would not catch a glimpse of the hiding blonde at this point unless he forced it out into the open for his own personal viewing. He tucked that piece of information away as he only slightly nodded his head, bearly noticeable. "I was searching for you too."

Cloud's eyes narrowed at the tone that Sephiroth used with him, that same mocking voice as in the dream. He loathed that tone, simply because it made him feel like a child being scolded, made he feel like he was back in that small body waiting for Grakas' hand. The mere thought made his back shiver as the veins whispered, cursing Sephiroth for it. "As long as you exist, I can't wake from this nightmare," he stated coldly, referring more back to the empty dream that they had originally fought in a few days prior. "You are my darkness."

Sephiroth had to fight the urge to laugh, finding himself faced with the same accusation that Cloud had used on him in their last dream encounter. That same stubborn look marked Cloud's elegant features, and he once more was ready to play the accusation game. The last time, he had been vaguely pleased with the results, and, if he could take Cloud without the need to beat the blonde into submission, he would take the opportunity. There would be plenty of time to spar with Cloud once the blonde was resting under his watchful eye.

If only to make his words more dramatic, Sephiroth threw his arms out to the side, allowing Cloud to see that he would fight. "If that is so, I shall draw you into the darkness," he said, his gaze lifted from Cloud's face, not really liking the taste of the words spilling from his mouth, since he wanted exactly the opposite at this point. However, he was willing to run with the theme Cloud had going with him, if only to amuse the blonde. "Into the nightmare that forever deprives you of light, from which you will never awaken...." And tucked safely in my arms, he added but did not speak aloud.

Cloud was not entirely shocked to be faced with the Sephiroth that wanted to cage him, slightly disappointed but not surprised. Instinctively, he swung his sword above his head and grasped the hilt with both hands as he brought it down in front of him, ready to fight now that he knew that his mother's lover did not stand before him. His eyes narrowed as Sephiroth responded to his silent challenge, and he found himself in the face off that he had been waiting for, red energy running over his muscles, pulling loose stones from the ground and tossing them about.

Sephiroth stood with his head tilted slightly down, hand posed on the hilt of his blade, similar energy crackling over his own body, only a blue instead of red. He had waited for this moment, lived, breathed, and slept only for this very face off with General Cloud Strife of Hollow Bastion, to finish their unspoken rivalry in the grandest of fashions. To be able to face down the blonde warrior was his passion, their duels always bringing him back to life and itching for the feeling of opposing strength against his blade. It nearly excited him to the point where he wanted to start this battle as quickly as possible, but he knew that was not the manner of their duels. They would face off against each other as normal with their small traditions until something triggered the first attack.

So, he stood posed and ready, eyeing the blonde halfway across the arena from him, all of his muscles tense and ready for action. 'He'll surely omnislash right after the first hit. Once that attack is over, Cloud will be open for only the merest of seconds before he will lift his sword and guard...he always guards well.' His mind shifted through their previous fights and analyzed the blonde's tactics, finding the techniques similar in each other. He was so attuned to Cloud's fighting style that he could probably judge the blonde as well as the blonde could judge him even when they were both standing perfectly still.

There was tension set around the entire arena, no onlookers but the gods and planetary consciousness themselves. Only the wind dared to make any movements around the two warriors, and even it moved cautiously, slipping over each man's form gently, shifting their clothing to deceive the other into attacking. And when the tension could not get any more nerve wracking, a small stone that had been tossed by each man's energy landed on the ground with the tiniest of noise...the Showdown of Fate instantly began...

Cloud's weight shifted forward a fraction of a second before he launched at Sephiroth, eyes narrowing at the fact that Sephiroth moved to charge him at the exact same moment. Energy slipped over his muscles as he charged at the silver-haired man, eyes set firmly on his target, unwavering and determined. His blade immediately swung out to side to be held in both hands as he began to bring it down with as much speed and strength as possible. He grunted softly when their blades finally met exactly midway in the arena, closing his eyes as their power clashed just as powerfully, blinding light and crackling blue and red energy arching out around their connected blades. He put his strength into the short pushing match, gaze locking with Sephiroth's for a brief moment as he both read the older man and was read by Sephiroth.

He pushed off of Sephiroth's blade while using his strength to repel the silver-haired man from following him, flipping back in the air to land on the balls of his feet. He lifted his sword protectively in front of him as his wing shifted out from his cloak to balance his weight and the remaining red energy crackled around him. Just as quickly, he shifted his footing back as he swung his sword around to force his weight forward again before shoving off, passing his sword to his right hand as his wing picked him off of the ground and charging at the older man.

Sephiroth skidded to a halt as the same instance as Cloud, his weight balancing quickly before he too launched back at the blonde. He went for higher ground on Cloud, flipping into the air gracefully as he shifted his blade down as he completed the flip, his gaze never leaving the blonde flying at him. He smirked as his forward momentum added to the strength of his blow, and Cloud lost some semblance of balance as their blade collided, thinking that the blonde would be forced back.

He was surprised when Cloud used their connected swords to leap over his head, eyes narrowing as he pushed his own blade up to counter Cloud's, shoving the blonde off as he turned himself on one foot. He leapt into another flip, hoping to chase Cloud down before the blonde managed to touch down, turning himself in midair to face Cloud as he brought his sword around and smashed it down. He let out a small growl as the blonde was fast enough to parry his blow, using Cloud's strength, paired with his wing to fly back higher in the air.

Cloud looked up at Sephiroth, gaze locking on his target as he launched after the silver-haired man, swinging his sword with deadly accuracy, only to be parried away. He used the parry to propel his body to the side, turning them around as he swung again, once more parried away from harm. He glared when Sephiroth shoved him, forced to turn to the side as he drew his blade back, noting the position of Sephiroth's sword behind the older man's back.

Sephiroth's sword sung through the air at the blonde, arching from his back and upwards towards Cloud, not at all surprised when the blonde raised a sword to parry before shoving his blade back more viciously than he had expected. He was lucky to find Cloud just as off balanced with the force, which gave him time to bring the long Masamune up in front of him to parry Cloud's incoming hit on him, forcing their bodies apart with a great show of his strength. He tucked his sword at his side again as he flew back.

They both stopped in midair, staring at each other for a brief second. Both warriors sized up the other before another round of attacks foreboded. Again, only the wind dared make its presence known with the two formidable fighters.

Cloud watched as Sephiroth's head rose to watch him, his next charge initiated by the meeting of their gaze. He launched at Sephiroth, raising his sword high in the air as his legs shifted back to propel his weight more forward. His gaze locked on Sephiroth as the silver-haired man moved to slash vertically on his unprotected shoulder. At the last second, he swung his body around and shoved his sword behind his back, ramming Sephiroth hard with the flat side of his sword as he literally sat on the other side of the blade, looking over his shoulder as Sephiroth's sword slammed into the hilt of his blade between his hands.

He smirked when Sephiroth's weight shifted back, obviously not expecting such an attack from him. He forced the silver-haired man to hold his weight as they flew back several feet, not resisting when Sephiroth finally shoved him away again. He twisted around in the air to face his opponent, pulling his gigantic blade out from behind him and lifting it in time to parry Sephiroth's next attack. He blinked in surprise when Sephiroth suddenly withdrew the attack.

Sephiroth found the opening he was looking for on Cloud as the blonde warrior tumbled forward in the air. He moved to attack, but he was forced to withdraw when one of Cloud's legs kicked out at him, lifting both legs away from the spontaneous attack. He quickly recovered and grabbed the hilt of his sword in both hands as he brought it down with lightning speed towards the blonde, cursing slightly under his breath as his attacked was once more deflected away.

His curse quickly turned into a low growl as Cloud grabbed his sword and the blonde used his own strength against him to pull Cloud sailing back into the air in the upside-down position. He had to either release his hold on the Masamune or pull Cloud back into range fully again, deciding on the latter since he could always make an opportunity to defeat Cloud in the near future.

Cloud let out a surprised gasp as Sephiroth pulled him faster than he had expected through the air, turning himself midway in the air as he flipped forward. He became instantly aware that his back was open for attack as he sailed through the air, looking over his shoulder to confirm that Sephiroth was about to swing at him again. He twisted his body in the air, grasping the hilt of his sword tighter in his right hand as he swung back, his body half facing Sephiroth as their blades connected solidly.

Sephiroth shoved back against Cloud's blade, sailing back several feet. He needed to get Cloud back on the ground, since having an opponent that could fly as well as he could was rather frustrating. He wanted to severe advantage against the blonde, meaning he needed to either break that wing of Cloud's or cut the appendage off. He would need to work towards such a goal.

He suddenly stopped in midair and charged Cloud again, swinging his sword out on the diagonal, not surprised when the blonde parried easily - a skill that Cloud had been best known for. He once more retreated some distance away before shifting his momentum forward again and moving to meet with Cloud's blade.

Cloud flew at Sephiroth, his blade smashing into Sephiroth's before metal ground together as he closed the distance to the silver-haired man, pulling back his left arm. He launched his fist at Sephiroth's face, smiling when his demonic fist made contact with the older man's chin. His smile did not last long as Sephiroth's smacked his face with an open hand, his face rolling with the blow as he closed his eyes.

However, his punch had been considerably harder than Sephiroth's slap and launched the older man back away from him. Cloud recovered very quickly from the small blow to his cheek and charged Sephiroth, aware that opening in the silver-haired man's guard. He kept his gaze on Sephiroth as his legs rose closer to his body as he lifted his blade into the air above his head, smirking to find Sephiroth unable to defend in the manner that the silver-haired man sailed back with a hand touching where his punch had connected.

He rose slightly in the air as Sephiroth shifted down, putting all of his strength into his arms for one devastating slice, wanting to make this one count for all that it was worth. He swung with deadly accuracy, cutting the wind and air as he went, gaze fixed on Sephiroth. His eyes narrowed as he felt dark energy slip around Sephiroth's body, his jaw clenching tightly as his blade passed straight through the silver-haired man's body as Sephiroth teleported away from him in a flash of bright blue light.

Sephiroth telelported himself above Cloud, gaze locking on the slightly surprised blonde below him. He held one of his hands out to Cloud, beckoning the other warrior to attack him, smirking as his gaze locked with Cloud's as the blonde noticed his position. He grabbed his own blade in both hand and instantly flew down to meet Cloud's attack, very aware that he had the advantage of increased forward momentum, meaning more strength behind his hit.

Blinding energy lashed out as both warriors' blades met, sparks jumping from the grinding metal as a battle of strength and wills continued even as the energy spread out around the entire arena.

Cloud grunted softly as his hold gave way, and he was forced back to the ground, wing flapping accusingly at Sephiroth who drifted to the ground halfway across the arena. He only became aware of how cold his skin felt as he stood silently, the black veins having dug deep into this back and legs, making small spasms of pain race up his spine, distracting him slightly. Yet, he dared not take his attention off of Sephiroth for a second.

Now that he had fully tested Cloud's swordsmanship, Sephiroth decided it was time to bring the blonde warrior down in a completely different manner. He lifted a hand in the air and gathered darkness in the form of a spell, his hand lighting up with blue energy as his fingers danced through the air, forming the components. He was surprised at how fast Cloud reacted to him casting, eyes widening as Cloud suddenly launched at him, grunting as the flat side of Cloud's sword smashed into his chest. He was forced to take a step back as the spell fizzled out, grunting again as Cloud flew into a series of attacks against him.

However, he wasn't about to let Cloud win so easy and raised his hand in the air, calling forward large pillars of fire to encompass the area around them. "Meet your fate," he whispered to Cloud since the blonde was so close to him, smirking as fire erupted around them, only aware of Cloud's small cry of pain. He quickly came to realize that he had gained the advantage since Cloud was not used to facing magic in the form of darkness, which certainly was more powerful than the strongest elemental spell, especially against a strong heart.

Cloud flipped back out of the range of the flames, wincing as he shook off the fire that singed the hair on his arms. He skidded to a halt a short distance away before launching into the air and charging at Sephiroth, battering right through the remainder of the flames in time to have his sword parried and forced back. He gritted his teeth and flipped in the air before attacking again, arching his massive blade down in a combination of three sword strokes, a downward diagonal, a horizontal slash, then finishing a upwards diagonal. He gritted his teeth when Sephiroth managed to parry the sword strokes, but he managed to fly back out of range as the silver-haired man once more called up pillars of fire, settling in the air out of Sephiroth's reach.

Sephiroth's gaze never left Cloud, and he had growing frustration over the blonde's ability to simply fly out of range and return to it when he casted a spell. He needed Cloud on the ground, or he needed the blonde to make a serious mistake that would allow him to drop his opponent to the ground. He wanted that blasted wing disabled so that Cloud could only rely on the blonde's ability to jump long distances. With Cloud's wing intact, he couldn't simply teleport above the blonde's head and cast one of his more devastating spells, namely Descend Heartless Angel. That spell would make victory easy if he could get it to work on Cloud.

He glared at Cloud from his grounded position as the flames subsided around him, his wing tightening as he launched to meet Cloud's next attack, grunting as his blade was slammed back. He twisted his body to allow the blade to rest against his shoulder pad, freeing up a hand to punch Cloud. He thought his fist would make contact with the blonde's cheek, but he found his fist blocked by one of Cloud's forearms at the last second.

Cloud shoved Sephiroth off of his blade as quickly as possible, twisting his back in a midair flip just over top of the older man's swinging blade. He drifted back several feet before he dropped back to the ground, eyeing Sephiroth up from the far end of the arena, quirking an eyebrow when Sephiroth did not pursue him. He blinked when the silver-haired man teleported, raising his blade immediately to defend against any sword attack coming his way, hiding more of his body behind his enormous blade.

He blinked when no strike came, lifting his head slightly to find Sephiroth on the opposite side of the arena from him. His eyes narrowed as the silver-haired man was once more casting that strange spell, gaze rising at the sight of a halo appearing above his head. He leapt forward, holding his sword in one hand as he half charged, half flew at Sephiroth, desperate to close the difference in space between them, his strategical blunder of not expecting Sephiroth to suddenly use magic against him possibly costing him dearly.

Sephiroth smirked in triumphant as Cloud was still too far out of his range as the last of the spell went off, three single words spoken to complete the spell, "Descend Heartless Angel!" He watched as the halo above the blonde's head activated, sucking out all of Cloud's lifeforce and transferring it to himself. He sighed in heavy triumphant at the pained cry that ripped from Cloud's lips as the blonde fell hard to the ground, not moving as Cloud's body tumbled towards him, gaze set on the prone body that stopped just inches away from his boots.

He knew from Cloud's positioning and the fact that the younger man wasn't moving that his property was almost on the verge of unconsciousness. He lifted one of his feet from the ground and pinned Cloud's back down as he shifted his weight, eyes moving to regard the cloak around the blonde's neck and shoulders. He bend and pulled the red material off, tossing it to the side as he regard the one element that had made this victory more difficult than it should have been.

Sephiroth reached out and seized the leathery black wing that clung closely to Cloud's shoulder, pulling the appendage into full extension. He examined it closely, gaze briefly flicking to Cloud's head as the blonde groaned in pain, aware that not even a spell as powerful as the one he used could keep Cloud down for long. "Terribly sorry, canary, but your wing must be clipped..."

Cloud raised his head slightly and coughed, shaking dirt from his eyes as he forced his body to shift, slowly rising back to his hands and knees. He grunted as his wing was tugged roughly into full extension, lifting his gaze in time to see the glint of metal seconds before he came to realize the truest meaning of pure and utter agony. He knew the instance that Sephiroth's sword made contact with his wing, the older man's aim as true as ever, taking the appendage from his body and scrapping dully against his navy sweater.

Cloud had never screamed in pain like that before, the cry of pure agony clawing its way from his throat and echoed in the sudden silence of the arena. The arms supporting his body instantly surrendered as all of the black veins that had run their course almost completely through his body all screamed together with him at the loss of his wing. His body convulsed on the ground as all he could do was scream and grab at his wounded shoulder, inky black blood sweeping into his sweater and smearing over the exposed skin of his neck. The veins in his back felt like burning shards of ice that sent all of his muscles into spasms, the agony not even comparable to the most horrible torture he had ever faced or witnessed. He screamed until his throat was raw, writhing in pain on the ground at Sephiroth's feet, then he screamed more, his finger nails penetrating his palms to spill more blood in hopes of drawing away from the scorching pain in his back that ran endless circles, travelling with lightning speed down every dark vein so that he was helpless save for his ability to continue shriek in pure unbridled agony.

It send such a unexpected shock through his body that something burst open, the walls around his heart shattering sending splinter shards into the deepest portions of his conscious and subconscious mind. And suddenly, he wasn't screaming alone, his voice magnified with the agonize screech of thousands of voices joining with his own.

Sephiroth could do little but stand in complete and utter shock at the noise that left Cloud's throat, staring down at the writhing blonde as his mind analyzed the sound. He had never heard a cry that comprised of so much suffering, and the vision of Cloud's struggling helpless body made the pained noise sound all the more loud to his ears. He found himself forced away by the sound of that scream, the fact that Cloud Strife - most powerful man in Hollow Bastion save himself - made a noise like that. It was almost completely inhuman in nature, slicing into his mind and calling up all the darkness in his own body.

He was perhaps only more surprised when he became aware of not only one voice screaming, but many. With that sound, he knew with crystal clarity that the planet was reacting and the darkness in Cloud was reacting violently. His action had unwittingly caused the exact opposite effect that he had desired... instead of saving Cloud from the darkness, he was killing the blonde with it.

"Cloud..." He slowly bent, letting the wing slip from his fingertips to fall to the ground, his attention placed fully on his property. Quickly, he reached out and seized Cloud's shoulders, pulling the blonde up to face him, blinking when all Cloud seemed capable of doing was screaming. He noted that Cloud's muscles were all tense, the blonde's body rigid even in struggling. "Strife, snap out of it! Fight the darkness!" He pulled Cloud to his chest when it appeared like Cloud could not even hear him, keeping his hold tight on the blonde in any attempt to ease some pain. "You've come too far to let something as simple as an appendage loss stop you, Strife! Get your miserable self back so I can defeat you properly!"

Cloud shuddered in Sephiroth's arms before his body finally expended all of its energy and drifted into silence, his movements ceasing as he went limp in Sephiroth's hold. He was falling into darkness as all the patient tendrils desired, his heart unsheltered and open for destruction as the darkness closed in around him. Vaguely, he was aware of maniacal laughter as the demon stepped forward to merge with him and take complete control, allowing the darkness to reign supreme and Hollow Bastion to fall...

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"Cloud Strife! You drop that sword right now, young man, or you are getting a good spanking!" Elecia screamed from the bottom of the stairs, stomping her foot on the floor when there was no response. "Get your butt down here, Cloud! I called you for dinner ten minutes ago!"

"Leave the boy be, Elecia." Grakas spoke up from behind her, his massive arms crossed in front of his barrel chest. He slowly lowered himself to a chair, easing his bulk as gracefully as a man of his size could. He leaned back in the chair, pushing it off of the front to legs as he regarded the fiery woman. "I shouldn't have to remind you to keep your voice down either. The pup can hear you perfectly fine without you having to scream at him. Besides, your boy would technically be alive to everyone if you had managed to keep your vows."

Elecia turned to regard Grakas from her placement next to the stares, sending him a glare. "I had no vows back then, Grakas. I shouldn't need to remind YOU of that as well." She turned back to looking up the stares, a soft rustling indicating that her son had heard and was responding to her call. She walked back to the table and stiffly sat across from Grakas, lowering her voice considerably. "What was between the General and I..."

"Is thankfully over," Grakas instantly responded before lifting a hand and pointing an accusing finger at the stairway leading up. "However, the possible product of that romp in the sheets could be up there, but we won't know that for sure until the pup grows up and fills out." He let his hand return to resting on his thigh, looking almost distracted as he said, "if the boy is Sephiroth's bastard, you'll end up losing the pup anyway. A bastard of a bastard is put to death."

"Keep your mouth closed about such things, Grakas." Elecia whispered, passing a glance towards the stairs. Her child had yet to come to realize the reason why Cloud was not allowed outside. She was already having enough trouble gripping the fact that she had to fake her own child's death and raise her son in secret just to see if Cloud was a bastard's child.

Grakas quirked an eyebrow at the blonde woman, following her glance. He sighed heavily and allowed the front legs of the chair to return to the floor with a loud 'clump', the chair creaking as he leaned forward over the table. "You soiled Walian's memory and his child with your inability to keep her legs closed." He expected the hard slap on his cheek and willingly accepted it, his gaze never leaving Elecia who looked about ready to try and stab him with a dinner knife. "The pup has weak blood with you as his mother. He'll be lucky if Walian fathered him, and he'll be dead if that arrogant General of ours got you with child."

Elecia leaned over Grakas, her eyes narrowed and furious that Walian's brother would dare insult her in such a way with the possibility that Cloud could hear. She raised a finger of warning at him as she fumed angrily. "My son is strong, Grakas, no matter the man who sired him. Cloud will surpass everyone, and he will be the strongest one in this entire family!" She pulled back and returned to her seat, once more glancing at the stairs, wondering where Cloud was. "I have allowed you in this house to torture my child, Grakas. He's bearly able to walk a straight line, yet you force a giant sword in his hands and order him to swing it. Even now... he's strong, and he shows you that he can do what you ask of him. Don't you dare tell me that my son is weak! He will..."

"Momma...?" All eyes turned to regard the small child wobbling in the stairwell, wild blonde hair arching up at odd angles. Cloud took a step forward, holding his bandaged hands up to his mother for inspection. "They fall off! Momma, they all red 'gain! Hurts..."

Elecia immediately jumped up from her seat and went over to her small son, bearly five years old and inspected his tiny hands. She smiled down at her child and scooped Cloud up into her arms, carrying the little boy over to sit in her chair. She shot a glare over at Grakas as the sight of her son's raw fingers and palms, all the wounds of the previous days open and oozing blood. She removed the bandages with care and wiped the wounds down. "Cloud, didn't momma tell you to not make your hands hurt?"

Cloud smiled up brightly at his mother, his little legs kicking out from the chair he was seated on. He winced only slightly to his mother's careful treatment of his hands. "I'm gonna be a Royal Guard when I get big!" he announced happily, his smile faltering somewhat when his mother paused to stare at him. "Be like daddy!" he clarified, hoping to make things right again. He had little idea about the double meaning of that since he was unaware of his questionable lineage.

Grakas laughed and patted the table lightly. "You have a lot more training to do, pup! If you want to be a Royal Guard, you have to practice and stop being lazy!"

"Uncle Grakas doesn't know what he's talking about, Cloud. Ignore your old uncle." Elecia ignored the glare set at her back and continued to rebandage Cloud's little wounded hands up again. "You are my strong little boy. You can do anything you set your mind to, no matter what anyone else says. If you want to be a Royal Guard, you can be one if you try hard and show your strength."

"I'm gonna be a strong Royal Guard!" Cloud announced soon after his mother released his hands, waving them above his head to show how strong his little hands were.

Elecia smiled and bent, kissing the top of his son's head, remaining close to him for a brief moment to whisper to her only child, "You're my ray of sunshine, Cloud. You are so strong and so beautiful... no shadow will ever cover over how bright you are." She smiled when Cloud lifted his little head to regard her, nuzzling her son's face softly. "Remember that no matter how many times the sun sets, it will always rise back up out of the darkness on the other side. You chase away my darkness, my little sunshine."

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Sephiroth blinked and let out an unceremonious cry as he was suddenly blow back, his hold on Cloud slipping away as rocketed back several feet, instantly jumping back to his feet. He looked up at the cloud of dust that he had been sent flying from, reaching up to brush away some dirt from his cheek testily. His eyes narrowed as the dust began to clear away before he took a step back in slight hesitation at the sight before him.

Cloud took a step forward, green energy pulsating around his boots and drifting out around him. His skin glowed lightly as the same green passed over his naked arms and shifted his quickly growing hair that was turning silver at the ends. The wisps arched the lengthening locks, encouraging them to grow out to rest against his bloody sweater, over the curve of his buttocks and extend down his pants until they rested occasionally down to his knees, the wild spikes still moving in the warm breeze. His eyes were wise with knowledge, all of the planet's knowledge suddenly crystal clear to him, all the confusion pushed away and all the questions answered. Faint wings flickered on his back as all the ethereal green wisps focused on his back, coming together into seven great wings.

He lifted his right hand in the air, palm up, gaze never leaving Sephiroth even as he sword came to him. His gaze removed hauntingly neutral as his fingers closed around the hilt once more, and he shifted the blade in front of him in slow motion until the tip pointed at Sephiroth's chest. "You must returned to the planet, just as I must. Your taint must be removed with the cleansing of your soul." His voice carried a softly musical bounce to it, attracting his light to him.

Sephiroth's hand settled on the hilt of his sword, drawn to Cloud but not certain of the blonde's intents at this point. He had to fight the urge to jump back into battling with Cloud, wanting to finish their fight like he had dreamed for years. Slowly, he stooped his posture and fell into a defensive fighting stance, eyes set on Cloud. "You look wonderful, my little canary. Shall we continue?"

Cloud ignored Sephiroth's words and walked over to his fallen cloak, each step causing green wisps to fly outwards. He beckoned the material, grasping it when he settled into his free hand, turning slightly to watch Sephiroth out of the corner of his eye. "I must return to Hollow Bastion. Our fight is meaningless."

"You miserable coward!" Sephiroth yelled at the blonde, wanting, no NEEDING to finish this fight. He had lived his life by the fact that he had to defeat Cloud in battle, and the blond had already proven how dangerous the darkness was. He denied that he was actually worried that he would lose Cloud, not believing in such things at the moment. All that he needed to was to claim his property and give his canary a chance to rest. "You WILL finish this, Strife! I've waited too long for this, and you cannot back down from it! Fight me, you insignificant pup!"

Cloud turned slightly to regard Sephiroth, quirking an elegant eyebrow. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to kill Sephiroth, but the older man seemed intent on hindering him from returning to the planet. He could feel both Sephiroth's light and darkness reacting to his presence, one wanting to claim him and force his own darkness out and the other wanting to grab him to reduce his darkness. "Don't make me kill you, Sephiroth. Return to the planet willingly and I stop hindering me from my duty."

When Sephiroth launched at him, the planet surged in worry and anger behind his gaze as he lifted a hand at the silver-haired man. "You are of the planet, and I control all things that were born from the Lifestream," he stated as he grabbed control of Sephiroth's essence and held the older man in midair, walking over to Sephiroth's struggling form. He stopped when they were a few feet apart, looking up the distance between them. "You cannot win against me. Go home, General of Hollow Bastion."

Sephiroth snarled and tried to get free of whatever hold Cloud had on him, never having experienced such power around him. He turned his gaze down to the blonde, snarling with anger over this end to their battle. "No, this battle ends with one of our deaths! You have to kill me to leave this arena!"

"Fine," Cloud replied quietly, lifting a hand to rest on Sephiroth's chest, smiling warmly when the older man seemed to settle with his reply. He looked up, his eyes shifting with the many consciousness of the planet, laying his palm flat against Sephiroth's exposed chest. "Return to the Lifestream, General," he said as he easily removed the soul encased in flesh, smiling sadly when the light in Sephiroth's eyes faded as he pulled his hand away with a white light in his palm. "Come home with me, Sephiroth."

His fingers closed around the small light, absorbing it into his body and returning the silver-haired man to the planet's essence. He turned away and waved a hand, the now lifeless body ripping apart into green wisps that surrounded and danced around his body. The wings on his back flexed slightly before the wisps composing them once more pulled away, following Sephiroth's essence back to Hollow Bastion.

Cloud! Zax screamed as he limped across the arena towards the blonde, feeling the darkness welling up again. It was obvious that Cloud was straining to hold the angelic form because of the distance from the planet. He watched in unbridled fear as the light faded from Cloud's skin again, the long hair pulled away into more long wisps, leaving the mortal form of the blonde. Cloud! Stay there, Spike! I'm coming!

He gasped when Cloud suddenly crumpled to the ground, pushing himself hard to get to the blonde, sliding down the rest of the way on his knees to scoop Cloud up off of the ground. He shook the blonde's shoulders urgently, feeling darkness welling up again, but less dangerous this time since the planet had rebuilt walls around Cloud's heart again. He pulled his friend to his chest and rested his cheek on the top of the blonde's head, slowly rocking the blonde back and forth. We are going back now, Cloud. Everything's going to be fine. You did it. You beat the darkness!

'Not so fast, guardian. We rule here now, and you are helpless against us.' A sly voice announced cheekily from behind the planet's guardian.

Zax pulled Cloud closer to his chest and looked over his shoulder to find the demonic Cloud standing watching him. He glared at the demon, shifting when the dark Cloud took a purposeful step towards them, growling softly. Leave here, darkness. You have no place with us. We are returning to Hollow Bastion. Say good-bye to your existence and return to the shadow with which you came from.

The demonic Cloud laughed in obvious mockery, still walking towards the pair, eyes set upon its unconscious self with a predatory look. After fifteen long years, it would finally rule this miserable universe. 'A lovely sediment, guardian, but purely untrue. Lovely is ours now. Stand aside or be destroyed...oh wait, that will happen anyway.' It grinned cruelly, showing its canines off.

Zax looked down at Cloud, lifting a finger to stroke the blonde's cheek gently. He wrapped his arms more tightly around Cloud's shoulders, wincing at the feel of black blood that soaked almost the entire back of the blonde's sweater. He knew that Cloud needed to get back to Hollow Bastion if the blonde was going to have any chance of survival, especially with Cloud's darkness so powerful now. He had hoped to speak with Cloud before they left, but now, there was no time. Spike... I'm really sorry, and I know you probably won't forgive me, but... this is the only way now...

'This is no time for a touchy-feely moment, guardian!' the demon yelled with some glee as its blade cut through the air, chuckling softly as its sword impaled the dark-haired man. It was pleased with the surprised and pained grunt that left the planet's guardian's throat, stepping up so that its cold leather boots indicated with harden steps its victory. 'Just die, guardian... don't worry, we will take VERY good care of Lovely in your absence.'

Not yet... Zax whispered as the blade in this gut twisted painfully, attacking his essence and trying to consume it from the inside out. He looked down at Cloud tucked in his arms and smiled weakly at his friend, finding it difficult to keep up with human functions. Cloud... always remember that I am your friend and that I believe in you... please, go home and live the life I never did...

The demonic blonde blinked in surprise when the dark-haired man began to glow and green wisps pulled away from the planet's guardian's body, at first angry with this action. It ripped its sword free and reached out to seize the dark-haired man to rip Zax away from its unconscious self. However, its hand passed right through the dark-haired man's form, instead, wisps of green surrounding both it and the unconscious Cloud. And it suddenly understood what was happening, a fact that made the demon pause. 'You sacrifice yourself for him...? Such a stupid martyr!'

Zax shook his head and pulled Cloud tighter. Cloud Strife is my friend, and I want to see him with a smile on his face! I am a fragmentation of the planet, but I AM his human friend! I want to see Cloud smile! I want to see him laugh! I want him to be happy! He looked back at the demon before his form disintegrated into wisps of green, wrapping around the unconscious blonde and lifting Cloud from the ground. I believe in Cloud, and I will do everything to see him happy! Go home and smile, Cloud!

'...you cannot care that much! No one cares about us!' the demon replied, but this time, its voice was uncertain, most of the anger drained away. How was it possible that someone could care that much? It simply couldn't think that such a thing could happen, that anyone could care that much. It watched in frozen silence as its unconscious form was wrapped in the lifeforce of Zax and suddenly disappeared. '...you care that much...impossible...'

'Wake up, sunshine,' A woman's voice sounded, deep with motherly love.

'Papa, look at my pretty dress! Look at how pretty I am!' A female child's voice sounded, bouncing with happiness and adoration.

'General Strife, you are my challenge, and I am glad to call you a man-at-arms. I would put my life in your hands any day,' a deep male voice echoed, full of respect.

'Hey Spike! Promise me when you become a Royal Guard that you will smile more! Everyone should see those pearly one's of yours!' Another male voice called, rich with trust and friendly humour.

The demon shuddered and grabbed at its shoulders, falling down to its knees as its black wings began to melt away, its hold on any conscious thought and feeling melting away along with its wings. He jerked forward with pain as the same began to happen to its legs, shifting away to never again take a place in the world of the living. Its demonic hands rose to grab handfuls of its blonde hair as it let out a scream of anger that slowly turned into anguish, and it eventually screamed one name as its body pulled apart forever...

'ZAAAAAAAXXXXXX!!!'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter done, but I had to rewrite the battle three times, and it took a long time to do. I was sad with the destruction of several characters, but I think it fit.

I thank everyone who took the time to read this chapter and my fic. You don't know how much I appreciate all your reviews. Thank you to everyone, and I will start working on the next chapter right away, 'A Shadow of Doubt'.