AN: Okay about time I got back to this story. As you might or might not have read on my profile, I will be solely concentrating on this story until I finish it. So I have until August 21 (the day I go back to school) to finish this story. I have already decided that after this chapter, only two more will be left. I just hope I can make my deadline since I'm horrible at keeping them.

Rikku: So any plans for a sequel?

DT: That's a very good question. I actually have a sequel of sorts brewing in my mind. I was thinking of writing like...one-shot chapters or something like that. These chapter will follow the every day life and Rikku and Ryu along with the rest of the Spirans as well. You know like one chapter about their first date while the next could be about Rikku, Yuna, Paine having a 'girls night out'. Something along those lines.

Ryu: Sounds...normal. I'm going to live a normal life?

DT: As normal as it's going to get in Spira. Well I better not give away too much. Now I'd like to once again thank the following for reviewing: Faye Leingod, xBabii-lozx, and D2Killerz. You guys are very awesome. Really. I mean it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X-2 or Kingdom Hearts.

Ch 17 Final Battle pt 1

Yuri and Karen sighed in relief. They had some how managed to evacuate all the people in Bevelle. Now they had exactly 10 hours to get to their designated meeting spot before the Heartless arrived. They cast a worry glance towards Mt. Gagazet. Unfortunately all they saw now was darkness and it was fast approaching. They were about to depart when some Air soldiers and Gargoyle's attacked. They took care of them quickly, but more Heartless began to arrive.

"We better get moving. Otherwise they might keep us here long enough for the army to reach us." Yuri said as he sliced a Gargoyle.

"You're right. We're wasting time." with that, Karen sprouted her wings and hauled an unsuspecting Yuri into the air.

"Give a little warning next time!" he all but screamed as he desperately tried to grab on to something.

Since she was hanging on to him by his jacket, he decided it would be better to zip it up since (with his luck) he could end up slipping out of it. That still didn't leave him very secure about flying like that.

"Hey Karen?"

"Yeah."

"Is it possible to, uh, adjust our way of flying?"

Karen glanced back. "Well I suppose I can land for that."

Once they were on the ground she and Yuri proceeded to find a more comfortable way to fly. They soon found themselves with an uncomfortable solution. Karen wrapped her arms around Yuri's chest and flew into the air again. What was uncomfortable was the fact that Karen's boobs were pressing up against his back. He remained silent for the fear that he may something stupid. Unbeknownst to him, Karen was also keeping quite for that same fear. Whether she would admit it to herself or not, she had had a crush on the brown haired boy for a while now. They both decided to keep quite until the other messed up and talked. It was going to be a long ride.

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Meanwhile, Yuna and the others were set up in the forest. They were anxiously awaiting their enemy and their friends. In only six hours, the Heartless would reach them and there was still no sign of Karen and Yuri. Aerith had been trying to fight off her worry by keeping herself as busy as possible. Yuna looked at the brown haired healer with sympathy. She was, after all, also worried about her husband and son. They hadn't heard anything from them and they had no way to contact them. They could only hope they arrived in time for the battle.

"Something is coming!" a watchmen from New Yevon said.

Yuna quickly drew her guns and aimed in the general direction of the object. Several of the other guards followed her example. A smile crossed her face when she recognized who it was.

"Lower your weapons!" the guards obeyed her order. She then turned to Aerith. "Karen and Yuri are here!"

Karen dropped Yuri a few inches off the ground. The keyblade wielder easily landed. Karen dropped next to him. She soon found herself in the embrace of her mother.

"I'm glad you made it." Aerith whispered to her daughter.

"I told you I'd be okay mom."

Aerith pulled away and looked at Yuri. "I'm glad you're safe as well."

Yuri smiled and nodded. Yuna and the others walked up to them.

"What's the situation out there?" Kai asked.

Yuri scratched the back of his head and sighed. "The citizens of Bevelle were all safely evacuated about four hours ago, however, there are a group flying Heartless ahead of the main army. I think we should prepare for an early attack."

"Hmm, we better go talk to Nooj, Baralai, Gippal and Auron. We need to come up with a plan of attack against these flying Heartless." Yuna concluded.

"Right. We don't want to tire the soldiers before the main army arrives." Paine added.

The group went to talk to the four men about their strategy. They were located in a tent behind the rest of the army. A large square table was in the middle of the tent. A map of the area was laid out on it. Gippal, Baralai, Nooj, and Auron were currently examining it. Their heads lifted as the group entered the tent.

"You have returned safely." Nooj said.

"So what's up?" Gippal asked in his laid back manner.

"Well we're going to have several groups of flying Heartless arrive before the main army." Kai summed up.

"Hmm, that's not good." Gippal said as he waved them over to the map.

Karen and Yuri did their best and gave them an estimate of the group. From there they talked about ways to combat their enemy without tiring out their army. The best idea they had was to prepare some squads from Bevelle and the Youth League to shoot down as many Heartless as they could. Then the remaining Heartless could be taken down by the machina, however, they were left worried about the amount of ammo the soldiers would be left with and whether the Heartless would even engage the machina. They might just fly past them and attack the soldiers.

"Noojie! I'm here to help!"

The Gullwings sighed at the sound of that voice. Who else could produce such an annoying and bossy voice?

"Leblanc." Nooj said mildly surprised. "I though I told you to get to a safer place."

"Like she ever listens." Rikku whispered to Yuna.

"Well, I wasn't about to sit back and worry about you. I'm more than capable of fighting."

"Boss, lets get out of here while we still can!" Ormi said panicked.

"There's an army of those things this time. Not the small numbers we fought in Guadosalam." Logos tried to persuade his boss.

"Shut up both of you!" She turned back to Nooj. "I even brought some reinforcements."

Confused by her words, the occupants moved aside the tents folds and looked outside. There, at least three platoons of Leblanc's Goons were waiting around for orders. In addition, she also had brought along two squads of Recoils. Yuna turned to her formal Sphere hunting rival.

"Say how many rounds can those Recoils shoot?"

"I'd say about 100."

"Let her help." She told Nooj.

Not wanting to argue with the former summoner, Nooj agreed and they went back to planning. This time, they devised a plan that involved using the Recoils. They had been spread along the two mile or so battle line as evenly as possible. The Recoils would be the ones to deal with the flying Heartless first. Then as they were being reloaded, the squads of Bevellian and Youth League soldiers would shoot down more. Any Heartless that got through them could then be taken out by ground soldiers with whatever weapon or magic they could. They just hoped that most of the Heatless could be taken out so head to head combat could be avoided. At least until the main army arrived. Nooj immediately called for Lucil and Elma. He charged them with positioning the Recoils as fast as they could. The two women saluted and went to work. Since the planing was done, Aerith offered to go look for Cloud and Ryu since they had yet to show up. Brother, Shinra and Buddy were assigned as her escorts. She promised to return as soon as she could with the swordsmen. They bid her farewell and went back to discussing other matters.

Nooj saw it fit to assign those gathered their own platoons. Yuri and Auron would lead the western most platoons. Yuna and Tidus were right next to them. Then Rikku and Paine followed by Nooj and Baralai. Finally Kai and Gippal would command the eastern platoons. Leblanc was told to stay back, but when has she ever listened? Karen and Maya would be scouting from the air until they were needed on the ground. They both had a pair of binoculars to scope out their incoming enemy. Before they separated, they were also given comm links so they could communicate with each other. They walked out of the tent and Nooj addressed the troops.

"Fellow Spirans. Today we have gathered in order to protect our home once again, against an enemy unlike any we have faced. Regardless of this fact, I believe that we will triumph. In the past, we have face enemy's just as powerful and we still stand today. The only factor that has changed is our unity. Whether you're from New Yevon, the Youth League, the Machina Faction, or any other organization, I am confident when I say, you are the finest men and women gathered for this fight. Now let us show these Heartless the power that has enabled us to save our home time and time again!"

A cheer erupted from the soldiers. Baralai and Gippal gave Nooj a pat on the back. He really knew how to get a crowd motivated. They then set off to their respective spots to wait for Karen and Maya to give the signal.

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Five hours and 50 minutes later

For 10 minutes, Karen and Maya had been floating in the air. They watched their enemy get closer and closer and also watched for any signs of their father and brother. The worry they felt for Ryu would not leave them. What if he wasn't ready? He did have only a couple of days to get stronger than that white haired psychopath. Why couldn't he have just stayed dead? At least they would have had only Ansem to worry about and compared to Sephiroth, that was a gift. Another thing that kept nagging at them was their inability to locate him. The insane swordsman could be anywhere. For all they knew he had joined Ansem in hopes of destroying them all! Now that would be bad, but they tried to not to think of that worse case scenario.

"Maya!" Karen called to her sister.

"What?"

"They're coming!"

Maya quickly looked through her binoculars. "Listen up everyone! The enemy is approaching! Prepare to fire!"

The platoon commanders readied their soldiers.

"Awaiting your signal." Yuna said.

In that instance, the wind stopped blowing, noise became non-existent, and time seemed to still. This was the culmination of days of anxiety and anticipation.

"FIRE!"

And just like that, they were brought back to reality by a hail of gunfire from the Recoils. The bullets pierced many of the Heartless in the front, leaving them looking like swiss cheese. There were some bold ones that flew lower to the ground and attempted to attack from that angle, however, they were prepared. Some soldiers were placed as snipers and easily picked them off. The Recoils soon stopped shooting and the soldiers took over until they were reloaded. Everything seemed to be going well until several explosions went off in the forest.

"The traps!" Tidus said over the comm link.

"How close are they?" Gippal asked the girls.

"About two miles away." Karen answered.

"It seems he plans to swamp us with attacks from the air so we'll be more vulnerable from the ground." Auron stated.

"We'll just have hope that the traps we set will take out some of the army." Nooj said.

"Since it looks like hand to hand combat is inevitable, watch out for the Heartless that may have merged with fiends. They might be stronger." Yuri warned.

"Roger!" they all answered.

The traps continued to be set off with Karen and Maya giving them details of the Heartless advance. Just as more flying Heartless were about to plunge at them, they abruptly stopped and pulled back. The soldiers and their commanders were confused by this sudden change in attack.

"What's going on?" Kai asked.

"They've pulled back and..." Maya's voice died.

"Maya!" Kai said anxiously. "What's happening!"

"They're all charging!" Karen suddenly said.

"Point the Recoils at the forest and the soldiers should aim at the sky!" Maya quickly advised.

The Heartless soon burst from the ground and from the sky. Gun fire was let loose upon them as they emerged.

"Everyone! Once the Recoils have run out of ammo we will charge!" Nooj exclaimed.

"Right!"

Seconds later, the Recoils ran out of ammo and the Spiran army moved to meet the advancing Heartless. Swords were heard as they clashed with the enemy. Gun fire and explosions filled the area. Maya and Karen were about to go down and help, but Karen got the feeling that there was something she should look for. She looked through her binoculars at a Behemoth that was immobile. Her eyes widened and she could feel herself begin to sweat. Maya looked at her sister with worry. Karen's skin had become pale in a matter of seconds. She was about to ask what was wrong when some Heartless were about to attack them. She quickly cast Firaga on all of them and shook Karen.

"Snap out of it! We're in the middle of com..."

Karen interrupted her with one word. "Sephiroth."

"What! He's here?"

"Yes, he's hovering next to Ansem. It looks like he's waiting for something."

"Or someone." Maya said quietly. "Listen up everyone! Karen has spotted Sephiroth with Ansem!"

"Great just what we needed!" Yuri grunted.

"Has he made any move to attack?" Nooj questioned.

"No. He seems to be waiting." Karen answered.

"He's waiting for Ryu and Cloud." Auron stated. "Fight the Heartless from the sky and keep an eyes on Sephiroth. Warn us should he make a move."

"Roger!"

Karen and Maya nodded to each other. They pulled their staffs out and faced their enemy. It was time they got their hands dirty.

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With Yuri and Auron

Auron had just performed his Tornado attack on a large group of Heartless.

"Wow, your really good." Yuri commented as he slashed through his share of enemy's.

"I've had practice." Auron smirked.

Yuri chuckled. "Then I guess I better practice to get as good as you!"

They both sink their weapons into a Large Body.

"You're young. You'll have plenty of time to get better after this."

"Sounds like you're confident we'll win."

A swarm of Heartless come at in all directions. Auron and Yuri smirked as they stood back to back. Just as the swarm was about to overtake them, they smashed through the wave, slicing and dicing their enemy. They finished off their combo by creating a massive whirlwind that drew in any nearby Heartless. An explosion filled the whirlwind, destroying all the Heartless it drew in.

"Do you doubt it now?" Auron asked Yuri.

"Haha, at this rate I think Ansem is done for." Yuri grinned as he and Auron went back to slicing up Heartless.

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With Yuna and Tidus

"One down, about a billion more to go!" Tidus cheered after cutting down a Dark Ball.

"Don't celebrate just yet." Yuna told her husband.

"Eh, why not?"

Yuna pointed towards a Heartless/fiend hybrids that was charging at them. It seemed that a shadow got friendly with an Iron Giant. The fiend/Heartless was smaller than a normal Iron Giant, but and it's sword seemed to have shrunk too. Suddenly, it pointed it's sword at them and it stretched. Tidus and Yuna rolled out of the swords way. Tidus whistled at it's new trick.

"I guess we better take it out. Let's go Yuna!"

Yuna nodded and changed into her Warrior dress sphere and ran towards it. The hybrid noticed her and swung it's sword at her. Yuna jumped onto the weapon ran along it. She then slashed it with Armor Break to lower it's defense.

"Slice and Dice!"

Tidus charged at the hybrid and delivered six quick slashes. The Iron Heartless fell to pieces and disappeared.

"We did it!" Yuna exclaimed.

"Now let's take care of the rest of these pests!"

With that Yuna and Tidus continued to destroy any Heartless that got in their way.

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With Nooj and Baralai

"You realize that this makes fighting rather..."

"Difficult." Nooj finished for the New Yevon Praetor.

"Yes."

Baralai and Nooj had started off fighting along side their soldiers, but that was cut short when Leblanc appeared out of no where with her goons and ordered them to shielded Nooj from any harm. It also wasn't intended for Baralai, but Nooj made sure he wasn't the only one to suffer the fate of being left out of the battle.

"She really never listens." Nooj said exasperated.

"Perhaps you should stop giving her hope for a relationship." Baralai offered.

"I never gave her any in the first place."

"You do realize that the time you used her to find spheres didn't help."

"Shuyin was at fault for that." Nooj countered.

"But you're the one who informed her of our intent to fight."

"It's was so she wouldn't worry."

An Air Pirate got past Nooj's 'security', but it didn't get far since Nooj shot it down. That was the most action they'd seen since the battle began.

Baralai thought for a moment about his partners words. Then it hit him.

"You actually care about her. Don't you?" he said with a sly smirk.

"..." was Nooj's response.

Baralai chuckled. "Fear not my friend. Your secret is safe with me."

"Make sure that it is."

And so the two men waited for any break in the Goons formation so that the may escape their prison. After all, they wanted some part in the battle.

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With Gippal and Kai

"This isn't the time to talk about that!" a red faced Kai yelled at Gippal.

"Oh come on. We might not live long enough to get to know each other." Gippal replied with a grin.

"You're just trying to get to know Maya through me!" Kai retorted.

"What's wrong with that?" Gippal asked. He really didn't see what the problem was.

Kai slammed two Heartless with his Keyblade in frustration. It's not like he was jealous or anything, but he didn't want to disclose any information about his friend without her consent. Really. It was just that.

"Well then can you tell me if she has a boyfriend?" Gippal asked as he blasted more Heartless with his gun like weapon.

"No."

"No as in she doesn't have a boyfriend or no as in you won't answer?"

'God what's with his constant prying? It's bad enough that guys back home ogle her, but she doesn't notice because she too busy ogling Leon's son! What am I chop liver? I'm the one always making sure her stalkers don't hurt her, but does she notice that? Noooo! It's "Skylar did this" or Skylar did that". BAH! What's so great about him anyway?'

Gippal noticed the intense rage Kai was emitting.

"Hey are you okay?"

"GAH!" Kai let out a battle cry as he transformed to his Dark form.

He then proceeded to annihilate the Heartless with his Dark Aura. Gippal watched slack jawed at his companions display. At the end of his attack, Kai's dispelled his Dark form.

"Huh, I'll stop asking question." Gippal finally said and went back to work.

Kai only grunted in response and wondered why he was taking this so personally. It wasn't like him to loose his cool, especially over Maya. She was his friend since childhood. He didn't like her like that. Nope. Not one bit.

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With Paine and Rikku

"You know I hate to admit it, but that monkey is good at combat." Paine told Rikku.

The monkey, who now had a red bandanna tied around it's neck, had been slinging some of Rikku's grenades every now and then. It definitely helped when Heartless tried to attack them from behind.

"Yup, Rikki sure is helpful. I wonder if Ryu will like him?"

Paine Flametongued some Heartless. The one's that didn't die on impact were running around and burning.

"I'm sure he'll think it's like taking care of a child."

"You really think so?" Rikku asked as she sliced a Pirate.

"Perhaps."

Rikki suddenly began to screeched uncontrollably, like in the Zanarkand Ruins. Paine and Rikku looked around for anything more dangerous than the current Heartless they were fighting.

"Rikku! Paine!" Maya yelled over the comm link. "Get out of there! Sephiroth is flying in your direction!"

They turned towards the direction Rikki was screeching. Their eyes widened as a pillars of fire erupted from the ground and headed towards them. They rolled out of harms way, however, Paine noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

"RIKKU!"

Paine's scream was heard through the comm link.

Rikku saw a blur fly at her. She had a horrible feeling at the pit of her stomach that it was Sephiroth.

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Karen began to panic when she didn't get any response from Rikku.

"Rikku are you okay!"

All they heard was static.

"Rikku please answer!" Yuna pleaded.

Again, only static was heard.

"Paine is Rikku okay!" Gippal shouted.

"I can't tell. A pillar of fire is blocking my view!"

"Rikku!" Karen called out desperately.

They wait for what seemed like hours for an answer.

"Ryu?" was all they heard as the link was taken over by static.

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An: Yes, I know that was probably an evil cliff hanger, but hey I gotta make things as interesting as possible. I hope you won't all be too mad and I also hope there wasn't too many spelling and grammar errors. I kind of didn't proof read the last few parts of the chapter. I was in a hurry to get this out.

Ryu: Expect to have people ready to linch you though.

Rikku: You should probably go into witness protection or something.

DT: You guys are scaring me.

Ryu and Rikku: Good.

DT: Uh well, two more chapters to go. Also check my profile for an important announcement. Well sort of important. So , uh, until then review and no flames. (Goes to hide from potential angry reviewers.)