Chapter 14: Battles of the Living
Dart VS Tseng and the Unknown person
Dart was running at them with his gunblade ahead of him while Tseng rushed at Dart with his dual blades. The other person stayed behind Tseng to look for the weakness around Dart. Tseng jumped and span around with his dual blades which Dart stepped backward quickly.
Tseng landed on his feet, smirking at Dart with arrogant air. Dart snarled at him and he yelled, "Despair of Darkness!" His gunblade's blade retracted back to itself and a sleek black gun came out of the slot where the blade was. Tseng remembered this technique and he quickly ran backward to ensure that the gun won't shoot at them.
The unknown man took out his gun from his white coat and began to shoot at Dart. But there was seem to be a shield wrapped around Dart which was blocking the gunshot. Dart gave a bloody laugh at them and began to shoot with dark bullets. To the unknown man's horror, the shots exploded on impact which he knew that Dart was a deadly foe but he still couldn't why that Dart was called an Elemental Master.
Dart laughed at them and Dart saw the unknown that seems to be thinking. He said, "Penny for your thought!" The unknown man looks at him, wondering if it would be a harm to be asking.
The unknown man said, "Why are you called Elemental Master? I don't see any element apart from the darkness so why are you called…"
Dart chuckled and four orbs appeared around him. "I am called Elemental Master because I can control them as they can be alive. I won't show it to you because basically, you ain't worth it."
The unknown man growled and seems to chant a spell from one of his materia. Dart narrows his eyes in suspicion and somehow he was knocked back from the unknown man's fist.
The unknown man quickly said, "Like it? I cast a spell from my materia called Haste which makes me faster than other people." Then the unknown man quickly drew his rapier and quickly stabbed through Dart three times. First, in his arm, second, through his leg and lastly, through his chest just before the heart beating.
Tseng was impressed at Jacob's strategy and said, "Well done, Jacob. Let like you have just beaten one of the greatest…" Then Tseng noticed a faint green glow around Dart and glares at it until he remembered about Aeris.
Aeris was behind Dart which she was healing him with her special spells. Jacob laughed darkly at them and Dart got up. Almost quickly Jacob began to wish that he didn't attacked Dart because in his eyes was pure anger. Dart said; "Now you will see the true power of the Elemental Master!" Then without materia with him, he gathered an icy spike around him. He grinned a sneering grin and he unleashes a cold hell on them.
Jacob and Tseng dodged most of them but only one struck on Jacob through his right arm which was holding his gun. He dropped the gun and kneels on the ground, screaming his head off with pain and the coldness. He could feel his arm beginning to freeze and the blood will cut off from his arm. He knew that if he didn't take the icicle out of his arm, he will lose his arm and he weren't willing to lose it. He pulled it out with all of his strength in his left arm. Slowly he slid it out and there was a huge wound on his arm that he knew he couldn't fight any longer.
Tseng saw the wound and he winced at it. He said, "Jacob, get to the second helicopter and get that arm fixed. I will deal with them with my secret technique." Jacob shivered but he nodded at him before running back to the direction they was from. Dart laughed while Aeris look concerned for Jacob. Tseng looked at them and quietly said to Aeris, "Aeris, it is better for you to step back because Dart and I will fight. Beside, I know Dart feel the same because…well let just say that he got a grudge on me."
Dart growled at him and he slowly nodded to Aeris, "He's right. I want to fight him without help. Go to Marlene and take her to your mother now. I will catch you up if I beaten Tseng." Aeris looked into Dart's eyes and she saw a burning flame in his eyes and she stepped backward away from them. Dart gave her a grin.
Aeris said to Dart, "Promise me that you will be still alive after this battle. Otherwise, I will never forgive you…ever." Dart nodded and he faces Tseng tense with his weapon drawn. Aeris nodded and walks to where she hidden Marlene. Dart and Tseng looked at each other in their eyes, each holding their terrible blades baying for blood. Tseng looks at his dual blades for two seconds, sensing his power that was to be unleashed soon. Dart checked inside his mind that his power will be unleashed but unlike his two powers before, this power would be stronger than he ever had before. He grinned at Tseng and they struck at the same time.
Dart clashed with Tseng with his own weapon which Tseng spanned around knocking Dart's weapon off course. Dart smiles a little and kicks him down on the floor then he ran to get his gunblade. He caught it as it fell from the sky and he turned to see Tseng running at him. Dart felt his power increasing and it was time to show his new power to Tseng. He said, "Tseng, I am going to show you my new power. Crossbow Flame!"
His gunblade transformed into a crossbow with flaming arrows attached to it and Dart kneels on the floor, saw aim at Tseng and before shooting, he smirks. Tseng saw three flaming arrows headed for him and he ran sideway, missing the arrows. But to his horror, the arrows turned around and went toward Tseng again. Tseng saw no choice but to destroy the arrows. The first arrow he slashed with both of his swords and also the second one he did the same. The third arrow went through Tseng's leg and he fell on his knees, hissing in pain.
Tseng took out the arrow and cast a healing spell over it. Then Tseng relax his leg while looking at Dart whom was looking back.
Then Jacob came back to the battle, all healed and Dart mentally groaned at the other person disrupting their battle. Then Dart suddenly couldn't move because Jacob cast a spell on him. Jacob smirked at him and Tseng joined Jacob. Jacob said, "People, beat the shit out of him then bring him with us but I want him alive. Meanwhile I will find Aeris and Tseng will join me…"
Out of nowhere, Shinra's soldiers appeared from the way Jacob came from. There were five soldiers; each holding a beatstick and Dart knew it was going to be painful for him. Without him knowing, his crossbow changed back into the gunblade. The Shinra soldiers sneer at him before striking him with their beatstick.
Tseng and Jacob left them alone as they began looking for Aeris…
Cloud, Barret and Tifa VS Reno
Reno ran toward at them which Tifa ran at Reno, her fists ready to do combat. Reno smirks and somersault over Tifa then he spanned around and needle her from behind, which Tifa fell downward with electricity running surrounding her. She gasped in pain which Reno laughed at the noise before turning around to see Cloud and Barret looking very pissed off.
Barret began shooting at the direction of Reno which Reno began to use the electricity in his rod then shooting at the air which the bullets seem to hit the lighting without going to Reno. Cloud saw this and took the advantage of Reno which was contracting all his abilities to stop the bullets going to Reno. Quickly, Cloud gathered the power of his sword and chopped down the floor which sends a huge shock-blade toward Reno. Reno heard the thud from Cloud's sword and he stopped his lighting attack.
Reno began dodging the bullets while keeping the eye of the shock-blade which was coming very dangerously close. When it was about to strike him, he jumped backward and ran to the side of the computer. He laughed at the challenge of three people which was skilled in their weapons. Barret was crafty with his bullets while Cloud was smart, adapting to his abilities but he didn't care because he haven't even showed his true power yet.
Then Reno seem to ran at Barret so fast that Barret didn't even see him then Reno stabbed him with his rod and a yellow pyramid appeared around Barret. Barret fell on the floor, in pain where Reno stabbed him. Then Barret saw another problem; he couldn't breathe very well and the oxygen seems to run out of his lungs. "Cloud…help…" he mutters out quietly.
Reno then ran at Cloud which Cloud heard Barret but he couldn't go near him because he was fighting Reno. He sensed that Reno was very good in swordfight almost as good as himself. But Reno forgotten about one person and that was Tifa. Tifa got off the floor, holding her ribs and saw that Barret was about to passed out so she walks quickly over to Barret. She clenches her fists and strike at the pyramid which was smashed like a glass. Barret quickly breathe the air and nodded his thanks to Tifa. Barret observe, "Reno seem like a strong guy to use that on me…damn, if it weren't for you, Marlene might lost his father…"
Tifa smiles and ran over to Cloud which was blocking the rod with his sword. Reno heard the footsteps from behind and threw Cloud away before turning around to see Tifa lifting her legs to his throat. Reno caught it with his left hand then he kicked the other leg that is holding her up. She heard a snap in her leg and she fell down, wincing in terrible pain. Reno holds his rod near Tifa's neck but Barret save the day by shooting his bullets at Reno. Reno rolls his eyes as he ran near the pillar, hiding from the bullets.
Cloud shook his head and he finally knew the power of the Turks. Turks was scum but he couldn't deny that the Turks were strong and smart as they say…but they do have weakness with the elements. Of course! He love use thunder magic so if we can stop him using his magic, he has to use his strength…
Cloud thought more and finally said quietly to Tifa, "Tifa, don't let Reno use his magic! Make him you're weak so he can hurt but you would be kicking his ass then!" Then Cloud took the healing materia from Tifa bangle and Cloud healed Tifa leg. Tifa sigh in relief and she nodded at Cloud suggestions so she ran just to the pillar and she started to pretend to be gasping in pain. Reno heard this and smirks at the sound. I will kill her for breaking my power!
Then Reno glared at Tifa coming near then he struck at her. To his surprise, Tifa grasped the rod and took it off him then she gave him a upper jab on his jaw. Reno cursed at the pain from his jaw but his speed was very good to use as he quickly grasped back his rod off her but before head-butting Tifa down to her knees. Barret began again to shoot at Reno which he hides again, cursing at Barret. Then someone on the radio said, "We have Aeris now. Standby for us to collect you from the top of the pillar. Over and out."
Reno smirked and he decided to unleash his trick on them. Reno shouted out aloud, "OK, I'm surrendering so don't shoot at me!" Reno came out with his hands up in the air. Barret stopped firing but still holding his gun-arm at him just in cause. Reno seems to be unfocused at them but Cloud realised too late that Reno was casting a magic attack on them. Reno's hand became liquid and he shot out water everywhere including other people nearby. Cloud seems puzzled at the worthless attack but he realised why…
Reno's rod was full of electricity and if it went contact with the water… SHIT! We would be fry alive! Damn! Reno smirked and Barret was about to shoot when Cloud quickly yelled to Barret, "Don't shoot! Look at the floor and yourself! It's water! Remember what he said about his rod!" Remembering what Reno said, he became afraid. Barret slowly brought his gun-arm down and back away from Reno. Reno was still smirking but once again, he forgotten about Tifa. Tifa grasped the rod from behind of Reno and snapped it in half. Reno turned to see his one of the rod made, snapped. An fury came in Reno's eyes and he yelled at Tifa and was about to strike her again…when he heard the helicopter coming. He stopped his fury and laughed at them.
Then Reno checked his watch and said, "Only five minutes left…think you can get out of here by five minutes? Well I can, and I will." Then Reno ran and jumped off the pillar. Cloud and Barret was thinking. What the fuck! What da fuck! Unknown to them, there was two helicopter which one was about to show Cloud and the other Aeris and the other was full of Turks. Reno caught the ladder the helicopter was throwing. Reno smirks and he mutters, "I will get my revenge. You may hurt me badly…but I will get you back…"
Tifa ran over to the computer and almost straight away, she knew she didn't understand what it was about. Tifa whimpered out, "I don't know how to stop this! There a time on here and it is ticking down to four minutes left…we're dead now…"
Then a helicopter appeared from the sky and Barret began shooting at the helicopter. But Tifa quickly told him to stop because she saw Aeris in the helicopter. Then the door slide back and they saw Tseng holding Aeris. Tseng laughed at them and he said, "Well, well, what do we have here? Three weak scumbags who have problems fighting with Reno. Tsk, tsk…well we have Aeris and Dart here now. Finally, we have the last remaining Ancient…It took us very long time to find this person."
Cloud gasped at the name of Ancient and his fists began to clench. Aeris said quickly, "Tifa, she's safe at my home…" Then Tseng slapped her back to the helicopter and Tifa growled out. Then Tseng said, "Well, I'll be going now. It's a shame you have to die here and now… Too bad…" Then they left from them. Cloud fell on his knees, realising that they are going to die here.
Barret ran about, trying to find a way out quickly from the pillar. Suddenly something began to explode and they felt it from the top of the pillar. Tifa begin to cry then Barret something that will save them. But he needs to check it first so he quickly ran over it and saw that it can save their life.
Barret yelled out loud, "Yo, we can use this wire to get out! Hurry up spiky ass!" Barret took the wire and hold it carefully before letting Tifa sit on him. He saw a problem that Cloud won't be able to fit with. But Cloud easily saw the way out so he climbed on Barret and wrapped his legs around Barret head before holding the wire. They all nodded and Barret jumped off the pillar.
Suddenly the pillar began to collapse as it was exploding from everywhere. They swing to the sector six away from exploding debris and more.
Meanwhile, at Shinra…
The president was watching the explosion while drinking his vodka then he quietly laughed. Then he got madder, laughing his head off but he dropped his vodka on the floor. Finally he was quiet and he said quietly, "Part one is now completed. We finally got the last Ancient…now it is time for part two to begin…hahaha…HAHAHAHAHA!"
Back to Cloud and party…
They landed on the floor near the playground that Cloud remembered from before but he didn't expect to see it again. Suddenly Barret screamed in pure anger and went over to debris in front of them, and began shooting it with his gun-arm. Cloud knew this was at the loss of his friends Jessie, Biggs and Wedge.
Barret screamed out, "BIGGS…WEDGE…JESSIE! NOOOOOO!... MARLENE! GODAMMIT! DAMMIT ALL TO HELL!" Then Barret unleashed an orange ball at the debris which did not do much. Cloud and Tifa stayed away from his anger, each knowing the sorrow of friendship and more…
Ten Minutes later…
Barret was slowly calming down and Tifa chosen the time to tell Barret something, "Barret, remember that girl on the helicopter?" Barret nodded once, not caring why Tifa was asking him. Tifa continues, "Well, I told her to take Marlene somewhere safe and Dart went with him…remember what she said? She's safe at my home…she was talking about Marlene…" Barret turn to Tifa, not sure what she just said. Then he slowly smiles then he laughed out in the air. Tifa smiles as well.
But Cloud weren't thinking about them or Marlene. He was thinking about what Tseng said that Aeris was the last remaining Ancient and he was remembering a person from his memory. Slowly, Cloud began walking away from them while Tifa was telling Barret about the three people.
Then they noticed Cloud walking away from them and Barret was saying to Tifa, "No, Tifa! That ain't it! Hell no! It ain't us! It's the damn Shinra! It's never been anybody but the Shinra! They're evil and destroyin' our planet just to... build their power and line their own damn pockets with gold! If we don't get rid of them, they're gonna kill this planet! Our fight ain't never gonna be over until we get rid of them!"
Tifa nodded and they looked at Cloud but he was nowhere to be found and she remembered about Aeris. Sighing, she ran after Cloud which Barret follows after Cloud.
Good battle weren't it? Anyway, the next chapter won't include Dart because…well I'll let you figure it out yourself. Next chapter will be called, The Golden Wire of Hope. This chapter will be different from other chapters you've seen in other FF7 novels. I am adding second last character to join them which you will be wondering who it will be. I'll give you a clue, she don't fight with weapons or with her body. Find out in the next chapter.