Chapter 5: The Dark Crusade
"Ok,forget that gummi ship, what does the report say?" asked Cid to Yuffie. Yuffie read it out loud.
"I recieved a visit from The Dark Crusade. Bizzarely though, they revealed their complicated plan to me. Maybe theypredicted I'd write it down in this report. Their terrifying plan consists of this: Using the Thoughtless, they'll consume all of the worlds' imagination, then they'll attempt to capture the keyblades. They'll use them to open up the universe's imagination. Once that is consumed, they will galvanise. They'll soon find 'The Creator' and steal his imagination. Once they obtain this, they'll become gods. They shall then wipe the universe clean and imagine a new. One that'll suit their dark purposes. Keybearers, stay away from The Dark Crusade."
"Utterly amazing, they wish to be gods!" said Yuffie, fearfully. "We have to leave" sighed Aerith. "What about The King!" shouted Sora. "We can't just leave him!" yelled Riku. "I'm truly sorry kid, but the stake of the universe is at risk; if DM gets the keyblades, we're all doomed" replied Cid. "What does your heart tell you to do?" Kairi asked the others. There was silence throughout the cockpit. Everyone placed their palm on their chest. "Mine tells me to rescue him" Squall spoke up. "My heart tells me to save His Majesty" Aerith followed up. "Me too" said Yuffie. "Me three" added Cid. "Ok then," Sora laughed. "Captain Cid, land the Cruiser."
"So, their hearts have lead them to the end of the universe," said DM as he smiled. "Echie, Shades, Tronnit and Sephiroth...come." The last remaining members of The Dark Crusade appeared without question. "Prepare to fight" DM said quietly. Shades pulled out a katana sword and a shotgun. Echie summoned a giant scimitar. Tronnit revealed his twin duelling lances and Sephiroth unsheathed his masamune. "Sephiroth, if you're invincible as you claim you are, then destroy them" laughed DM. "Of course my liege" replied Sephiroth. He covered himself with his wing and disappeared. "He's gonna lose isn't he?" asked Tronnit. "Well, duh! He's a bit too cocky" answered Shades. "Actually," DM spoke out, "only one being can eliminate Sephiroth, but he's gone." "Well then," smiled Echie. "The keyblades are as good as ours." The last members laughed their heads of with evil laughter.
"Ok, to find King Mickey, we'll split into three groups," said Squall to the group. "Sora, Riku and Kairi will be one; Aerith, Yuffie and I will be another and Cid will be on his own." "Oh thanks a lot" Cid said sarcastically. "Sora's group will take the left wing, my group will take the center and Cid will take the right wing...on his own" Squall laid down the plan. Cid shook his head and mumbled "why me?"
Darkmaster's manor was bigger than anyone expected it to be. "Wow!" exclaimed Riku. His words echoed throughout the foyer. "Ok, we know where to go, according to Tron, all wings lead to the highest room in the tallest tower" Squall said. "Where does that sound familiar?" asked Yuffie. Anyway, the heroes split up and moved on.
"Hey guys!" shouted a voice. Everyone looked behind. There was a girl that only Sora, Yuffie, Aerith and Cidrecognised. "Tifa?"Sora asked. "Yep" she replied. "How did you get here? And why are you here?" Cid asked. "Well, I came here on a small gummi ship, and I'm here because I'm sure Cloud his here," she explained. "What makes you sure ofthat?" Aerith asked. "Because Sephiroth is here."
"WHAT?" Sora shouted. "He's here to join The Dark Crusade," answered Tifa, "he's obviously up to something." Sora was scared. He knew only Cloud could defeat Sephiroth. "You're correct Tifa" said a voice from afar. Everyone looked up. On top of the stairs was the One Winged Angel himself. "Everyone, go find DM; me, Riku and Kairi will handle this" whispered Sora. Everyone but Tifa scattered away. "Didn't you hear Sora?" asked Riku. "My heart tells me to stay" Tifa replied. "Very well, it seems your hearts have lead you to death," mocked Sephiroth. He jumped downand pointed his extra long sword. "Prepare to enter the underworld."
Sora, Riku and Kairi pulled out their keyblades. Tifa put her fighting gloves on. "Wait, how about I make this match a bit more challenging for you?" asked Sephiroth. He raised himself into the air and lifted up his hand. "Heartless Angel" he muttered. Red lights surrounded Sora and the others. A blast struck them. "Soon, your old wounds will open up and you'll bleed to death" Sephiroth laughed. Sora's arm started to slowly open. "Curaga!" he yelled. Nothing happened. "Oh yes, I forgot to mention that your magic strength has been depleated. "Take these!" said Tifa, she handed the others green bottles. She drank hers, Sora and friends drank theirs. Their wounds magically healed. "Praise be to potions" she chuckled. She failed to notice Sephiroth behind her.
Sephiroth punched her across the foyer. 'Tifa!" screamed Kairi. Sephiroth then hit her across the back. He then teleported away. Sora looked around. Sephiroth suddenly appeared behind him and performed an uppercut with his sword. Sora was sent flying in the air. Sephiroth then jumped for him and continuously stabbed at him. Riku leapt after him but Sephiroth grabbed him and flew him down. Riku hit the floor hard. Sephiroth then did it again to Sora. He pointed his sword at Sora's neck. "You cannot stop me" he scoffed. Tifa picked herself up and charged at Sephiroth. Sephiroth grabbed her by the neck. His emerald eyes stared at her struggling face as he choked her. "C...Clo...Cloud" she gasped. "He's not here to save you, he never cared" he laughed. A bright light shone above Sephiroth.
"Huh?" The light grew. An object fell and struck Sephiroth. He was knocked across the room. "Apparently I do care" the object said. "No!" gasped Sephiroth. The object stood up. It was a person. The person wore black, carried a large oversized sword and had spiky blonde hair. "Nice to see you again...Sephiroth" the person said. "Cloud!" Sephiroth growled. Sora and Tifa were shocked.
"Cloud!" cried Sora. "Hey Sora" Cloud replied. "How did you get here?" asked Sephiroth. "I heard Tifa's voice calling out to me, then I was here" he replied. "Doesn't matter, you won't stop me becoming a god!" Sephiroth and Cloud rushed towards each other. Their swords clashed. They jumped in the air. Cloud swung his buster sword at Sephiroth. He had barley enough time to block. "It won't matter Cloud, your darkness will always call me back" Sephiroth taunted. "Not anymore Sephiroth, I've learnt to live in the light."
Cloud pushed against Sephiroth's sword. He then spun it out of Sephiroth's hand. "No more! OMNISLASH!" Cloud screamed as he rammed his sword into his foe's chest repeatedly. Sephiroth went rigid. "Stay where you belong...in my memories" Cloud said. Sephiroth smiled. "I will...never be a memory" he laughed as he dissolved away. "Good job, Cloud" Sora cheered. Tifa ran into Cloud's arms. "I thought I lost you" she said,crying. "It's ok, I'm here now" Cloud replied.
Riku gave Cloud the info about The Dark Crusade. "Cid is out there on his own," Kairi said. "Maybe you shoud join him." Cloud nodded and left with Tifa. Kairi nudged Sora for the third time. "I wonder how Squall and the others are doing" Riku said.
-------------------------------------------------------------Tronnit---------------------------------------------------------------------
"This bridge seems to go on forever" Yuffie complained. "I think we're almost there" said Squall, trying to boost moral. None of them seemed to notice the person looking at them from behind. "C'mon,"Aerith said."We just got to keep go..." Squall and Yuffie turned and looked at Aerith. A long metal lance had penetrated her body. "Wow, I thought you guys were the best of the best" said the murderer. He pulled out the lance and kicked Aerith's body to the side. "Aerith!" Squall and Yuffie screamed in unison. "Anyhoo, lets get this over with" said the murdered stepping into the light. It was Tronnit.
"Why did you kill Aerith?" asked Yuffie. "Ok, she's the 'enemy' and she's a hippy white mage" replied Tronnit. "No excuse! Feel my Gunblade!" yelled Squall. He rushed to Tronnit, who was preparing his lances. Squall struck, Tronnit blocked with one lance and struck Squall with the other. Yuffie tossed her shuriken at Tronnit. Tronnit caught it before it hit his face. "You see, that's the problem with projectiles," he said as he returned fire. "They can be used against the owner." The shuriken hit Yuffie in the face. Luckily it wasn't the spike that hit her.
Tronnit jumped after the two heroes. He slammed his lances into Squall's Gunblade. "Firaga!" Squall screamed. "Uh-oh!" Tronnit said, scared. A fireball blasted it's way through the lances and exploded into Tronnit. Squall acted while Tronnit was in a daze. "Lionheart!" he yelled. His Gunblade grew a large amount of meters. "Gimme a bloody break" Tronnit sighed. Squallplunged his Gunblade into Tronnit's torso. "C'mon Yuffie, let's go" said Squall, upset about Aerith. The two left for the exit. "Ahem! Where do you think you're going?" said a voice from behind. It was Tronnit. "Curagun!" he said, his wounds suddenly healed. "You can't be alive!" screamed Yuffie. "Oh but I can, and I will," replied Tronnit. "I'm not going down without a fight, I want my revenge on The Creator!" he screamed. He then stretched out his arms. An angel and demon wing stretched out from his back. "Prepare to be hung, drawn and quartered," he laughed while picking up his lances. "Angels don't deserve to die."
Tronnit raised himself up into the air. He then swooped down and slashed Squall and Yuffie. "Na-na, you can't get me" he taunted. Yuffie flung her shuriken again. "You obviously weren't listening" Tronnit tutted as he caught it. He threw it back. Yuffie just dodged it. "I've got a projectile you couldn't even block!" yelled Squall. "Name it!" Tronnit called back. "Firagun!" Squall screamed. A enormous fireball was unleashed from the Gunblade. Tronnit's eyes widened as it was about to impact him. "Oh boll...!" The fireball blasted him from the sky. He fell all the way down the side of the bridge. Squall shook his head. He and Yuffie picked Aerith's body and dropped it down the side into the moat. They moved on in sadness.
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"Well, nice of you to join me" Cid said to Cloud and Tifa as he slew a bunch of Thoughtless. "Whatever" Cloud replied. They climbed up the steps. "So Cid," said Tifa, "how's the Highwind?" "Never been better, I've been upgrading her every second I could, she's a beaut" Cid replied. Cloud smiled, he missed his friends while he was in the realm of light. They soon reached an empty chamber. "What is this place?" asked Tifa. "Dunno," answered Cloud, "looks like a fighting arena." "That you're right, Cloud" said a voice ahead. It was Shades. "You must be Shades" said Cid. "No! What gave it away?" Shades replied sarcastically, he pointed to his sunglasses. "Anyway, lets get going." Shades aimed his shotgun at Cloud. Bullets flew at him. Cloud had to move extra quick to deflect them.
"Well, bullets won't work on you, what about you?" he pointed the gun at Tifa and fired. Tifa backflipped and bounced off a wall. Shades fired at Cid, he simply pole vaulted over the scattering shells. "Screw it," Shades sighed. "Dodge this!" He whipped out a katana. He moved like lightning. Cloud was jumping over the speedy attacks. Tifa ran along walls and flipped over, she landed a punch on Shade's head just at the right time. Shades fell down and rolled across the floor. "Ok lady, you asked for it!" In a flash he was right in front of her. He sliced the air with his sword. It left a huge cut across her cheek. "Tifa!" Cloud screamed. He ran to Tifa's aid. Shades turned his attention onto his new target.
Cloud quikly thrusted his buster sword at Shades. He quickly disappeared and reappeared behind Cloud. He cut Cloud's back. Shades then turned his sword onto Tifs. She primed her fists. She threw quick jabs and kicks at Shades. It was no use. Shades just simply dodged them with his agility. Tifa panted, she was getting worn out. Shades reappeared. He pressed his katana against her neck. "No contest" he said. He raised his katana and thrusted it down. Tifa screamed and closed her eyes. She felt nothing. She opened her eyes. There was Cloud in front of her. The sword was in him. "Cloud?" she cried. "I'm sorry Tifa,it's better off this way" Cloud replied. Cloud then disappeared in a green light. "How romantic," Shades laughed "don't worry, you'll soon join him." Shades raised his sword. He then stopped when a squishing sound came from his chest. He looked down. A spear was protuding from his chest. Shades dropped his katana, staggered around and collapsed to the floor. "Curse...you...people,...ultimate...power...was...in..reach" he gasped for air and then went limp. Cid dusted off his hands. "I hate it when people forget about me" he joked. He then realised it wasn't the time of jokes. Tifa was in tears. She looked at Cloud's sword and his lion brooch. She attached the brooch to her shirt. Cid hugged Tifa and helped her off her feet. They walked to the exit crying.
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Sora's group reunited with Squall's and Cid's. "Where's Cloud and Aerith?" Riku asked. Squall and Cid closed their eyes and shook their heads. Kairi took a spare lucky charm from her pocket. She placed it on the ground. "Let us remember Aerith and Cloud, who fought bravely to make the cosmos a better place." Everyone said "amen."
"Well, lets go find that Darkmaster guy and free the king" said Sora. Everyone finished moping and moved on. "We can avoid casualty if we stick together" Riku added. They all proceeded through the door ahead. The hallway was long and a tedious walk. "I wonder if The King is safe" said Yuffie. "He'll be okay" replied Riku. A flash of light went off. "What was that?" asked Sora. The light went off again except it was brighter that before. "What's happening?" asked Kairi. Everyone closed their eyes. The lights faded away. Everyone opened their eyes. They were in somesort of different dimension surrounded by darkness. "Where are we?" asked Squall. "You're in my battle room" said a figure ahead. "Who are you?" asked Sora. "I'm the last guardian, My full name Echiecoral, but I'm known as Echie" said the figure, which was a dragon in robes.
"Echie! You're in our way to find King Mickey and Darkmaster" cried Yuffie. "I'm afraid I can't let you othersinterfer with the plan, but the keybearers can procede" Echie replied. "We're not going anywhere without Sora, Riku and Kairi" shouted Squall as he pointed the Gunblade at Echie. Echie examined the weapon. "My...such a unique weapon," said Echie. "What do you call it?" "It's called a Gunblade" replied Squall. "Hmm...very well, hand over the Gunblade and I'll let you all pass" said Echie. "Never!" yelled Squall. "In that case, I'll just have to kill you." Echie raised his hand. Fire prisons caged Sora, Riku, Kairi, Yuffie, Tifa and Cid. "Not again" sighed Sora.
Squall charged after the dragon. Echie flew after Squall. The Gunblade and Scimitar clashed. Sparks flew as the weapons continuously crashed into each other. "Blizzaga!" screamed Echie, raising his hand. Iceicles shot out after Squall. "Firagun!" screamed Squall. The fireball melted the ice and blasted Echie. He was sent flying across the dimension. Echie jumped and hovered in midair. He aimed himself after Squall and launched himself, swirling his sword. Squall jumped onto Echie's back and stabbed him in the spine. Echie fell to the ground. "Cur...aga!" he mumbled. He healed his spine and raced after Squall. "Lionheart!" Squall screamed. Again, his sword grew. Squall then jumped backwards and shouted out "Meteorga!"
Echie paused. A meteor built up from the edge of the Gunblade. "Oh snap." The meteor launched itself at Echie. Echie stood in a relaxed stance. "I'm sorry Darkmaster." He was obliterated from the meteor. The dimension vanished and everyone was set free. "Well," smiled Squall, "lets get a move one!"
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Ok, I'm sorry this goes on. I got a bit carried away. I'm also not sure if Meteroga, Curagunand Firagun are real spells. And I'm sorry I didn't add this earlier. Disclaimer: I don't own KH or FF characters. In fact the only character I own is Tronnit.