Remembrance

by Shikaku Zetsumei

Vincent awakes to find that everything he experienced was nothing but a dream. Though he vows to change the future, he is left wondering if his interference will fix anything or simply make things worse. (Story Completely Revamped June 2017) Chapter 20 up.

20. A Wrench in the Works

A/N: I'm not a liar. I didn't take a year to post this… just under a year. In all seriousness, I was editing my fantasy manuscript and am now making an earnest effort to get it published. While I play the querying game, here's another long chapter.

Final Fantasy VII – Remembrance

Chapter 20 – A Wrench in the Works

The world trembled.

For a moment, Nanaki tensed. Something primal inside told him to flee, to hide from whatever had just happened. Accompanying the tremors was a pervasive feeling of unease. And while he fought off his instincts, the creatures in the Ancient Forest were not as successful. Even the most simplistic animal could tell something was not right. All manner of beasts stampeded through the underbrush and took to the air. In that chaos, he and Barret did their best to avoid being trampled to death.

"The hell's going on?!" Barret shouted as he dove out of the way of a horde of diablos.

Nanaki wove between a pair of epiolnises and scrambled up a nearby tree.

"I don't know, but I think it's time we leave!"

His voice was nearly lost in the din. The branch beneath him swung as beasts collided with the tree. He dug his claws into the wood, hoping it would not break. Barret tried to climb a tree as well, but with only one functional hand, he could only go so far. He resorted to clinging to the trunk, scant inches above the animals. More than one Diablo horn raked across his back. He roared out in defiance as passing creatures threatened to knock him back down to earth. After a few harrowing minutes, the forest fell silent. There was only the fading echo of the stampede. Nanaki waited for a moment longer before leaping down.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

Panting, Barret let himself slide to the ground before slumping backward. His clothes were torn. His legs and back were covered in scratches, but he was otherwise fine.

"When this is all over, I'm getting' one of those fancy hands like Vincent," he said through breaths.

"I imagine that would be wise," Nanaki replied.

Barret cast a quick Cura over himself and stood.

"Somethin' tells me we should go call the Highwind."

Nanaki nodded.

"We've done what we can here anyway," he said. "That strange summon Materia should give us a bit more firepower."

"Damn shame the weapons were useless," Barret grumbled.

Though disappointed as well, Nanaki shrugged.

"It was a bit of a stretch to hope that equipment from long-lost adventurers would still be usable. I'm not surprised they were rusted after this much time in a damp climate."

"Yeah, yeah."

They began making their way back through the forest. Their surroundings were quiet; no animals remained.

"Look at all this destruction," Nanaki said as they walked.

The fleeing beasts had destroyed most of the plant life in the area. All around them were crushed leaves and putrid acid spilling out from dying flowers. It left behind a noxious yet earthy aroma. His nose twitched in irritation.

"At least we don't have to worry about those maneater plants," Barret said.

Nanaki shook his head.

"Who knows how long it'll take for it to regrow though?" He wondered aloud. "Before that WEAPON crashed here, this was an isolated biome."

Barret scowled.

"Bet Sephiroth had somethin' to do with this," he muttered. "Wonder what caused all that shakin'?"

Nanaki sniffed at one trampled plant. Its colorful petals were now muted and crushed. White sap bled out from a broken stalk. A once fragrant scent mixed with the smell of dirt.

"No idea," he finally replied. "But considering the circumstances, it can't be good."

Half an hour passed in relative silence as they focused on leaving the forest.

"Kinda creepy in here without any creatures," Barret said.

"They sensed something wrong with the Planet," Nanaki explained.

Barret snorted.

"You mean other than that Jenova bitch?"

Nanaki let out a thoughtful hum.

"We should visit Grandfather if we can. Perhaps he'll have a better grasp of the situation."

"That old man sure knows a lot, huh?"

They soon arrived at the edge of the forest. Almost immediately, both of their PHSs pinged. The two exchanged glances before pulling out the devices. Nanaki had to use his teeth to get it out of a pocket in his travel bag.

"Cloud call you?" Barret asked.

Using a claw, Nanaki opened the PHS and scrolled through the recent messages.

"Yes. It seems he was trying to check in with us. I'm guessing we didn't have a strong signal inside the forest."

"Want me to call?"

"If you could. I still have trouble with the buttons."

He gripped the bottom half of the PHS with his teeth and closed it against the ground.

"Maybe that Reeve guy can make you a better one," Barret said as he dialed a number.

"I believe we have bigger concerns at the moment," Nanaki replied.

After putting his PHS away, he sat and waited for Barret's call to go through.

"Yo, Spike. What's goin' on?"

"…"

His ear twitched as he caught the sound of Cloud's voice. It was faint and unclear. There was likely still some instability in their connection.

"… a vision? You sure you ain't goin' cuckoo again?"

Nanaki perked up at this. Barret was frowning now as he listened to the reply.

"Alright, alright. I don't really get it, but I'll take your word for it."

He glanced over at Nanaki and gave a worried shrug.

"Yeah, we left the forest when all the creatures started freakin' out."

"…"

"We'll be here."

With that, he hung up and heaved a sigh.

"Is he alright?" Nanaki asked.

Barret shook his head.

"No idea, man," he replied. "He was sayin' somethin' 'bout seein' a vision of Shinra. Said he had a bad feelin'."

Nanaki's nose wrinkled in thought.

"While he is his own person now, he may still have a lingering connection to Sephiroth."

"You think he's bein' controlled again?" Barret asked.

Nanaki shook his head.

"Perhaps he sensed something like those creatures did," he said. "I'm surprised you didn't detect anything. The ominous feeling was quite strong."

"Yeah, well, I'm not as attuned to the Planet as you are," Barret replied.

Barret sat down next to him with a huff.

"Hope Marlene's alright," he grumbled.

"Have you called her recently?"

A wistful smile crossed his face.

"Yeah, few days ago. She was askin' when I'd come home. Told her we were gonna save the world…"

He let out a soft chuckle.

"She told us to be careful."

Nanaki felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

"We'd better do as she says then."

"She also said she wanted to ride the big kitty next time."

That smile vanished. Barret gave him a cheeky grin.

"Just messin' with ya."

He let out a huff of annoyance. Barret had introduced the team during a call with his daughter a while back. Since then, the young girl had insisted that he was a giant kitty. The 'small kitty' that was Cait Sith did not help.

"But seriously," Barret continued. "I wonder what's goin' on in Midgar now. City just can't catch a break."

"I don't like that we're depending on Shinra to get through Sephiroth's barrier," Nanaki said.

Barret snorted at this.

"If anyone knows how to destroy somethin', it's Shinra," he said in a dark voice.

"Vincent, Tifa, and Cait Sith are still in Midgar," Nanaki said.

At that reminder, Barret slumped.

"Right… no word from them either…"

Barret opened his PHS again as if hoping they had messaged the team in the last few minutes.

"I worry most for them," Nanaki said.

"Yeah…" Barret agreed.

They sat in silence for a time, staring out into the crater where Ultimate WEAPON died. The flattened earth marred the grassy plains and left the smell of ash in the air. Even now, there were still some animals fleeing into the distance. Where they were headed was a mystery.

"I still can't believe our little resistance group has to save the world…"

Barret had a rather grim expression on his face. It reflected the uneasy feeling Nanaki had in his stomach.

"Sometimes you don't get to choose your path in life," he replied. "You just have to do what you can."

Barret snorted.

"You have an answer to everythin', huh?"

Nanaki shook his head in response.

"It's what I learned from my father."

"He died defendin' Cosmo Canyon, yeah?"

"Yes."

"Kinda like what we're doin' now, huh?"

Nanaki flicked his tail in agitation.

"I hope we do not turn out the same way."

"Are you nervous? About all this?" Barret asked. "I worry 'bout Marlene, but who else is there to do what we're doin'?"

Nanaki let out a huff.

"I am likely the last of my kind," he said. "But I do not intend on throwing my life away. If there is a chance there are more of my species hiding somewhere, then this is the right thing to do."

Barret grabbed his canteen from his bag and drank from it. He brought out a bit of dried meat and offered some to Nanaki. As they rested, a dark shape in the sky grew larger. Even from such a distance, they could hear the roar of the Highwind's engines.

"But," Nanaki said as he gnawed on a piece of meat. "I believe we are prepared for the upcoming battles. We have grown much stronger over the last few days. And now that Cloud is sane again, I think Sephiroth has reason to be worried."

"Let's hope so," Barret muttered.

He stood as the Highwind closed in on their position.

"Time to go," he said as he hopped to his feet.

The massive metal machine slowed to a hover just outside the crater. They ran to the ship, taking care not to slip on the uneven ground. As they got close to the ship, one of the crew members threw down the rope ladder. He waved for them to climb aboard. His voice barely audible over the thrum of the engines.

"Hurry! We're going to Midgar immediately!"

Nanaki and Barret exchanged worried looks before quickly boarding the ship.

#

"Aerith! Wait up!"

Zack ran after his girlfriend. In life, he would have easily caught up to her thanks to his training. But in this land of energy, their roles had reversed. Because she was proficient in energy manipulation, she was able to speed herself up at will. All around him, Cetra ran away from the Nexus. Most seemed frightened of something. Many were in tears, but more were only following the panicked crowd. There was no time to question anyone as Aerith pulled further ahead.

"We don't know what we're up against!" He called out. "Be caref – oof!"

Turning a corner, he ran right into Aerith, bouncing off her still form. He let out a grunt as he hit the ground.

"Aerith, what…?"

His words trailed off as his jaw slackened. Blackness crept up the road toward them like a puddle of tar. Far in the distance, the white spires of the Nexus were also slowly turning black. It was as if the Promised Land was being corrupted. Spider-like creatures of crystalized magenta energy skittered across the blackened road. Some scaled buildings, trailing that corruption as they went. Others patrolled the roads. They all looked to be searching for something. As they watched, a pair of Cetra burst out of a building. Seeing Aerith, they ran toward her.

"Hey! Help us! Please!"

But before they could reach her, a pack of crystal spiders descended upon them. One Cetra was stabbed through the leg with one sharpened claw. He fell, screaming as jagged mandibles descended upon him. The other got a few more steps before being pulled down and torn apart as well. Their corporeal forms burst into tiny motes of light that began to drift through the air. But before they could fully dissipate, the crystal creatures pounced on the energy. Small pedipalps shoved those particulates into their mouths. The light was quickly extinguished.

"Jenova…"

Aertih's voice came out as a low hiss, Zack almost did not hear it. Before he could react, she charged forward, hands blazing with energy.

"Whoa! Aerith! Wait!"

Though the creatures had easily killed her fellow Cetra, they were surprisingly weak. Either that or Aerith was putting way too much energy into her attacks. Each blast of fire and ice caused shards of magenta to scatter across the corrupted ground. Zack advanced, using a bit of energy to project a copy of his former weapon. He charged toward a crystal spider sneaking up on Aerith. But when he stepped out onto the blackened road, he hissed in pain. His very soul burned with every step he took on that surface. But urgency caused him to grit his teeth and surge forward.

"Look out!"

With that shout, he brought his blade down onto the creature. It shattered with little resistance. A few motes of light drifted out of the corpse, sending the nearby creatures into a frenzy. He forgot about the burning sensation as fighting took precedence. But with every easy kill, his body grew heavier. His blade flickered as he struggled to maintain its form. The road around them continued to blacken, spreading at an alarming rate. Soon they would be stuck in a field of corruption.

"Aerith! We can't stay here!"

He reached out and tugged on her arm, but she fought back. With a roar, she continued firing magic at the crystalline creatures all around them. But even as he continued to fight alongside her, more crawled out from between the houses. Spider-like creatures of all shapes and sizes rushed toward her, sensing her energy. Within seconds, the road had become a veritable sea of crystals. The monsters pushed and shoved at each other, trying to get to Aerith. While this made them easier to target, there were too many to even count. For a moment, it appeared that she wanted to make a last stand on this corrupted ground.

"Aerith! Pull back!"

"Attack!"

A barrage of magic soared past Zack and collided with the closest group of monstrosities. Aerith paused. Zack seized the opportunity to pull her out of the corruption. A group of Cetra stood several up the road. One of them waved to him.

"Quickly! Over here!"

Aerith struggled but allowed Zack to lead her away from the crystalline spiders.

"Cut them off!"

Another squad of Cetra rushed forward, slamming their hands onto the uncorrupted ground. The pristine roads of the Promised Land crumbled away, and a bottomless trench formed. Zack jumped in surprise as the building to their right fell with a deafening boom. The motes of light dispersed, revealing more Cetra. These groups worked efficiently, forming a barrier between them and the monsters. Despite the gap, many creatures still leaped toward the Cetra, only to be blasted out of the air. Stunned, the spiders fell into the emptiness below.

"The others are in place! We're sealing it off!"

In the distance, more buildings collapsed as the trench continued to expand. Some structures fell into the trenches, others simply dissipated into energy. Soon, these Cetra had sealed off everything around the Nexus of the Promised Land. The corruption spread to the edge of that island, but no further. It was not something those Elders would have even considered. It left Zack wondering who these people were.

"Unforgivable…"

Aerith remained transfixed on the isolated island before them. He reached down and took ahold of her hand. Her grip was almost painful. They watched as the last motes of energy floated away. Silence fell, only broken by the shrieks of the creatures across the chasm. After a moment, they turned and left. Zack had a sinking feeling they had gone hunting for any survivors on that island.

"Are you alright?"

An older man approached them, a look of concern on his lined face.

"Yeah… what was that stuff?"

The Cetra around them scowled.

"Corruption," the man replied. "Jenova's doing, no doubt. She infiltrated the Promised Land. We were afraid she might do this."

Aerith perked up at this.

"You knew?" She asked, a glint in her eye.

The man's eyes widened as he realized what he had said.

"Excuse me, Miss Gainsborough," he said. "What I meant to say was, it was one of the potential avenues for attack. Jenova and Sephiroth have been within North Crater for years now."

"Then why – ?"

Her rant was cut off as another Cetra, a younger woman this time, spoke.

"We did what we could to watch the city. We warned the Elders that knowledge of the future could shift the flow of events. But they were too fixated on the Planet and that vision. Your mother, Ifalna, suggested we set aside resources should the situation turn dire. Several like-minded people joined and over time we formed a small faction. Her foresight has bought us some much-needed time."

Aerith turned her gaze back to the now-isolated island in the Promised Land.

"How… how did you manage that?" She asked.

The man shook his head sadly.

"It was all too easy, to be completely honest. It seems that the Planet's weakened state is starting to affect our existence. But we should move away from here for the time being."

Even as he said this, another crystalline spider made a leap to cross the chasm. Before it even got halfway, one of the Cetra sent out a blast of energy. The spell struck true and the creature fell into the infinite void below. Scowling slightly, Aerith nodded. Zack let out a small sigh. He had worried she would insist on staying. Several Cetra had begun patrolling the newly formed rift. In some places, they widened the gap between corrupted and uncorrupted land a bit more. With the threat temporarily at bay, the two that seemed to be in charge led Aerith and Zack away from the center of the town.

"We evacuated everyone we could to the outskirts. There have been few protests now that the worst has happened. Even the staunchest supporters of the Elders have volunteered their help."

"How did Jenova even get here?" Zack asked. "I thought you had to be invited by the Planet to get here."

Before either could answer, a familiar figure ran up to them.

"Aldra! Gareth! What's going on?"

Ifalna had a worried look on her face. Her brow was furrowed, and her step unsteady.

"Ifalna!" The man, Gareth, rushed forward in case she needed help.

Aldra joined them.

"Jenova took over the Nexus. No one has seen the Elders. We believe they are either dispersed or being held captive."

A sudden strength seemed to fill Aerith's mother. She stood a little straighter and gave a firm nod.

"We should meet with the others then," she said.

With that, they began to move again. As they hurried through the streets, Aldra turned back to Zack and addressed his question.

"Jenova sat within North Crater for hundreds of years. While we do not know what she did there, we suspect she found a way to trick Lifestream into accepting her presence. Perhaps it is related to the corruption we're seeing."

"But… we've been in tune with the Planet for decades. How did we not feel it?" Aerith asked.

A look of shame crossed the faces of many in this small group. Both Aldra and Gareth seemed unwilling to answer. Ifalna looked just as disappointed, but she faced her daughter as the group slowed.

"Aerith, you're likely one of the few who can still truly understand the Planet. Most of the Cetra here have lost the ability to commune to the extent you can. Even the most attuned of our group can only sense the Planet's moods at the best of times."

"What?"

Aerith looked around as if hoping someone would deny those words. No one did.

"It's unfortunate, but what's done is done. Right now, we need to find a way to purge Jenova's presence from this land," Gareth said. "We've done what we can to slow the corruption, but if Jenova remains, the entire Promised Land may be lost."

Aldra led them into a large house near the edge of the Promised Land. A small group of Cetra waited outside, the nervousness clear on their faces.

"Gareth! Aldra!" One of them called out when they spotted the group. "We saw what happened to the Nexus. What should we do?"

Gareth broke away from the group as Aldra opened the front door.

"For now, keep vigilant," Gareth said. "Stay indoors and watch for signs of Jenova's corruption. The worst has come to pass, and we must strike back while we have the chance."

Aldra ushered them inside. The noise from outside faded as Gareth closed the door behind him. He guided them to a long table where a few other Cetra were already seated. They sat, with Zack placing a supportive hand over Aerith's as he did.

"So, what's the plan?" Aerith asked.

Zack flinched. Anger rolled off her smaller form in waves. The air almost crackled with residual mana. Even some of the Cetra appeared uncomfortable with the shift in her personality.

"We need to organize an assault team," Gareth said. "I don't know if you noticed, but just standing on that corrupted ground drains you of your energy. You may be stronger than us, but you're not invincible. Even without being killed by those creatures, you'd dissipate before you even got to Jenova."

Aerith relaxed somewhat, though her eyes remained defiant.

"Fine. We need a way to get over the corruption then," she said. "Any ideas?"

Aldra stood from the table.

"We actually made some progress on that front during the attack," she said.

A faint shimmer appeared around her feet and she rose by a few inches. Aerith narrowed her eyes as she studied this effect.

"You've cast magic barriers around your feet," she said.

Aldra smiled.

"Indeed. It doesn't stop the draining effects, but it does lessen it significantly."

"Are you sure it works?" Zack asked.

"A few of us used this to rescue those in the corrupted grounds. It was a spur of the moment thing, but it ended up working."

For a moment, a look of relief passed across Aerith's face. But Aldra shook her head with a sigh.

"Unfortunately, the one who came up with this idea fell during the evacuation," she said. "The corruption was spreading too quickly. Those creatures overwhelmed us near the eastern district. We were forced to cut our losses to seal off the area before containment was no longer an option."

That hopeful look faded into sadness. For a moment, Aerith did not speak.

"How did it spread so fast?" Zack asked.

This time, Gareth responded.

"Those creatures, they appeared to be harvesting energy. No doubt Jenova grows stronger with every bit she absorbs. Everything in the Promised Land uses energy to maintain form. The buildings here only hold a sliver of energy compared to us Cetra. It seems that those creatures can sense where we are, making them a deadly foe."

"How many did we lose?" Aerith's voice was soft, but there was anger simmering below the surface.

Aldra shook her head.

"Too many. We did what we could to usher people away from the Nexus before isolating the corruption. But," she closed her eyes. "Those that lived closest to the Nexus wouldn't have made it, even if we could find them. If the creatures don't get them, the corruption will."

"So, do we fight the creatures or go for the Nexus?" Zack asked.

Gareth rested his chin on clasped fingers.

"I believe the less capable fighters should help destroy the creatures. They're quick, but they're weak. Those who are stronger should take on Jenova."

"A few faster Cetra have volunteered to scout the area," Aldra added. "They've formed small teams and are ready to make the jump across the chasm. We're hoping to get more information about Jenova and the Nexus soon."

"Alright," Aerith said. "Let's go as soon as we have information then."

Gareth cleared his throat as his expression grew grim.

"You were badly hurt by the corruption. Can you sense it?" He asked.

Aerith looked a bit defiant at this. But after a moment she eased herself back into her seat.

"Yeah," she admitted quietly.

"It's amazing you lasted as long as you did," Aldra said. "You were the Planet's favorite for a reason, it seems."

Aerith did not reply.

"For now, I recommend you get some rest. You'll need your strength."

Gareth turned his eyes to Zack.

"You… you are not Cetra, but you were strengthened by that madman's experiments."

Zack grimaced.

"I can fight if that's what you want," he said. "I'm going with Aerith though."

He flexed his fingers. There was a faint tingle before his Buster Sword appeared in his hand. It dissipated back into motes of light the moment he leaned it against the table.

"I've only been practicing since Aerith showed me, so I'm not too good at it yet," he said. "But it's getting easier.

Gareth nodded at this.

"If you can, use the time that Aerith is recovering to hone that skill. You may have the combat prowess, but if you lose the ability to manipulate energy, you're as good as dead."

"I'll do it," Zack said without hesitation.

Aerith stood from the table.

"Is there a room where I can rest?" She asked in a weary tone.

Zack tried to catch her eye, but she continued to stare at her feet.

"We have some spare rooms upstairs," Aldra said. "Or, if you prefer, some of the nearby houses are open as well."

"Upstairs is fine," Aerith replied.

Aldra motioned for her to follow. Before she left, Aerith turned back to the group.

"Please tell the scouts to be careful. Jenova has only gotten more dangerous with Sephiroth's cooperation."

And with that, she left the room.

#

'Vincent? Vincent get up!'

Chaos's voice pierced the haze of unconsciousness.

"Whoa! One of them's still alive!"

The unknown voice jolted his brain into action. His eyes snapped open and he pulled out his pistol, left hand ready to use as a shield.

"Shit!"

Two men stood several paces away. A sliver of light from the vault door outlined the two as they backed away from him. When Cait Sith had closed the door earlier, it had not locked before the explosion. Now people had come into their hiding place when he was vulnerable. He pointed his pistol at one of the two men.

"Hey, man, we just wanted to see if there was anything in here. No need to shoot!"

Vincent's head throbbed in pain.

"Get out of here," he growled.

Chaos's voice leaked into his own and the two would-be thieves fled. Several seconds later, he slumped.

"Ugh…"

He let out a groan as his pistol clattered to the floor. The door to the vault had been propped open, likely by those intruders. As he clutched his head, the faint sound of screams and shouts echoed into the vault.

'How long were we out?'

'A few minutes? I'm not sure,' Chaos replied. 'Time moves differently in here.'

The dim light illuminated the vault just enough for him to see. The room was a mess. One section of safety deposit boxes had dislodged from the concrete vault. Both metal boxes and frame had crashed down onto the other side of the room. The twisted metal had barely missed him.

'Wait… down?"

He blinked as the gears in his mind ground to a halt. The throb in his head faded as his healing abilities repaired his body. When he could focus, he took another look at the room. Everything was tilted at a ninety-degree angle.

'What happened?'

The demon growled.

'I don't know, but the air is… wrong. There was an explosion outside. Last we saw, the Sister Ray was about to fire. It may have exploded.'

Fear gripped Vincent's heart. If there was no cannon, there was no good way of getting past Jenova's barrier. Without entry, they would be doomed. He closed his eyes and took a calming breath.

"Tifa? Cait Sith?"

There was a faint groan from behind him. He squinted through the semi-darkness before letting out a sharp gasp. Tifa was face-down under a pile of rubble. The explosion had thrown everything that was not bolted to the floor. This included a heavy filing cabinet and a metal table. One of Tifa's legs was currently caught under the cabinet. The table legs had bent, pinning her to the ground under its weight. He cursed and scrambled to his feet before feeling a tug. While the falling deposit boxes had missed him, his cape was stuck under the rubble. With a growl, he tore off the clasp and abandoned it.

"Tifa!" He called out. "Can you hear me? I need to move this cabinet."

She let out another groan, but her eyes remained closed. Gritting his teeth, he hooked his fingers under the cabinet and lifted. The effect was immediate. As the pressure was lifted, Tifa woke with a scream. It quickly faded into pained whimpers as she tried to move. Her leg had broken in at least two places, with the knee bent at an odd angle. He shoved the cabinet aside before moving the table as well. With the debris cleared, he kneeled at her side.

"Tifa," he said in an urgent voice. "Tifa, listen to me. I'm going to need to straighten it first before I can heal it."

She did not respond but shook her head frantically. He stood and went back to where his cloak was caught in the rubble. Tearing off a piece, he returned to her and held it out.

"Bite onto this. I don't want you biting your tongue."

Her eyes were wide with fear now, but she did as she was told. He helped her lay down in as straight of a position as he could manage. By now, she was already biting the cloth, her eyes dancing with anxiety.

"Ready?"

She reached out and grabbed his leg. Her grip was painfully tight as her breathing quickened. Without warning, he forced her knee back into place with a dull pop. She let out a muffled scream and her grip tightened further before slackening. As she was distracted by the pain, he worked quickly to straighten the breaks in her leg as well. To her credit, she did not pass out as he worked. Instead, she took ragged breaths, half-sobbing as she did. Tears streamed down her face as she writhed on the ground. Reaching over to his armor, he channeled a Curaga into her leg. As the green energy danced across the injured limb, Tifa let out a shudder. She slumped on the floor, exhausted.

"What… what happened?"

Her voice was hoarse. She peeked at him from between her arms, red-rimmed eyes barely open.

"One moment."

Vincent looked around for their travel packs. Somehow, the bags were in a pile of rubble under another dented table but appeared undamaged. He rummaged through her bag and found a canteen. A faint slosh indicated the tough metal had survived the blast. Returning to Tifa, he handed her the canteen and helped her sit up. She leaned heavily into his side.

"The bank vault was thrown in the explosion," he explained as she drank.

"Huh?"

Tifa looked around the room, her eyes still hazy from the quick triage. Her body swayed from the motion and she closed her eyes again. She took another drink before letting out a dry cough.

"Where's Cait Sith?"

At her query, Vincent searched the room once more. The vault was dark. The light from outside did little to illuminate the interior. Several rows of heavy metal shelves further blocked his view of the rest of the space. A knot of worry formed again in his stomach.

"I don't see him…" he said. "He might have fallen deeper into the vault. Will you be alright for a bit?"

She nodded and slowly laid back down. As he stood, her breathing began to even out once more. He ran a hand through his hair and tried to make sense of the situation. The vault's layout had security deposit boxes along the walls. They now made up most of the floor and ceiling. Normally, heavy metal shelves served as extensions to the deposit boxes. These were now a series of high barriers that blocked his view of the deeper parts of the vault. He approached a shelf.

"Cait! Cait are you there?"

His voice was almost muted because of the reinforced walls. There was no response. Using the shelf storage spaces as footholds, Vincent began to climb. The metal creaked but held his weight. Reaching the top, he peered into the darkness below him. It took a second, but his eyes adjusted, and a small, off-white shape came into focus. The bulk of Cait Sith's mog lay under a pile of broken boxes.

"Cait! Are you alright?"

Again, there was no response. He dropped down nearby and pushed the dented metal boxes off the stuffed toy. A groan came from above, causing him to freeze. A damaged wall of boxes hung precariously from the ceiling. Half of the bolts seemed to have broken, causing the metal frame to sag. Several boxes had already fallen, but most were still in place, at least for now. With a grunt, he turned the mog over. The mog was deactivated but clutched within its arms was a small black cat. His eyes were dull, his body limp. With Cait Sith in one arm, he used his prosthetic to climb back over the shelf. It was a precarious task. He needed to regain his balance before quickly reaching for the next handhold. But after a few moments, he reached the top and vaulted back over. As he landed back on the other side, there was another crash from behind him. He winced, knowing another box had fallen from the ceiling.

"What was that?" Tifa asked weakly as he approached.

"Security boxes falling," he answered.

Kneeling, he gently set Cait Sith's body near her.

"See if you can get him back on. The mog protected him, but they were under quite a bit of rubble. I'll try to pull his mog over with a bit of rope."

She nodded and he went back to work. Rummaging through one of the bags, he procured a length of rope long enough for the task. A chill ran down his spine as he climbed over the shelf once more. The vault continued to creak and groan with the awkward position on its side. Working as fast as he could, he tied one end of the rope around the mog before scaling back up the shelf. It took a bit of force, but he managed to get the heavy toy to rise. As it did, the wall of boxes on the ceiling gave a particularly loud groan, followed by a sharp crack. The damaged concrete had succumbed to the weighed of the metal. The sound of metal stress grew as he pulled faster. He grabbed one of the mog's feet and heaved just as the rest of the supports gave way. An entire wall of shelves came crashing down as he threw himself backward.

"Oof!"

He let out a sharp breath as he landed several feet away from the now crushed shelving unit. Groaning, he let mana flow through his Restore Materia once more. With a slight limp in his step, he returned to Tifa's side.

"Any luck?" He asked.

Tifa held Cait Sith like a stuffed animal. She had not made any effort to turn him back on.

"Are you alright?" He tried instead.

Slowly, she shook her head.

"I'm so tired, Vincent," she said in a soft voice.

He reached out and took the cat from her.

"We survived," he said. "We'll make it through this."

She wrapped her arms around her knees, wincing a bit as she did.

"I almost wish we could still use that vision to guide us," she said. "At least we would know what would happen."

Vincent let out a small scoff.

"We both know how that vision ends. Let's get our bearings and see what kind of damage we're looking at."

He found a tiny button in the cat's mouth and reached in to push it. Cait Sith's jaw closed on his finger, causing him to jump in surprise.

"Haha… you sh-should've seen your face-ace…"

Cait Sith's eyes flickered back to life. His voice was crackly. It sounded like something had been damaged during the explosion. His movements were shaky as well, and one of his arms did not quite bend all the way.

"Are you alright?" Vincent asked.

One of the robot's eyes sparked before they dimmed.

"Cait?" Tifa asked, worry creeping into her voice.

Then, the cat shook his head.

"I'm… a bit dama-maged. I-I don't think I'll be much use in a fight-t. Something's blocking my si-signal to R-Reeve. If I can connect with the Shinra mainf-frame, I can get a better sense of what's going-ing on."

Vincent gestured at the vault.

"Let's get out of here before it collapses any further," he said. "We've been lucky so far."

"Lucky?" Tifa muttered.

"By the w-way, what were you talking ab-out visions-s for?" Cait Sith asked.

Vincent twitched. Off to the side, Tifa gave him a worried look. Cait Sith turned his head from side to side, his eyes questioning. Every passing second only made the question more suspicious. With a sigh, Vincent set the cat down on the inert mog.

"The Cetra… they knew something was coming decades ago. When I was in the Turks, they projected a vision of the future into my mind. Apparently, they can do things like that with the Planet's help."

"Oh," Cait Sith said with a tilt of his head.

"They wanted me to kill Sephiroth before he could even grow up. Maybe even kill Cloud before he could hand over the Black Materia."

"What?" Tifa whispered.

There was a bit of shock in her voice.

"They dragged me to the Promised Land when I fell in Lifestream." He let out a small scoff. "Scolded me for not doing what had to be done."

"So, in this vis-sion," Cait Sith said slowly. "Did we win?"

Vincent shrugged.

"I don't know. I died in it."

"Oh."

A moment passed and the building let out another strained creak. Vincent shook his head.

"We can talk later. This place isn't safe, and we need to fix your body."

"Did you t-try res-s-etting the mog?" Cait Sith asked. "It's meant to t-take hits, unlike me."

He waved his broken arm. Following his direction, Vincent opened a panel hidden in the mog's back and pressed a few buttons. There was a low beep.

"It should turn on soon," Cait Sith explained.

While they waited for it to turn on, Vincent collected the remains of their supplies. Death Penalty lay by the rubble where he awoke. He fiddled with the trigger a few times and checked the alignment of the sights. Satisfied, he returned to Tifa, who was casting another Cure over her leg. After a moment, the mog whirred to life. Its movements were shaky as it ran through what appeared to be diagnostics. Then, it bounced twice.

"Just put-ut me on top. I can still con-t-trol it, I think," Cait Sith said.

Vincent did as he was told and the mog waddled forward a few steps.

"Alright. Let's go."

They made their way over to the vault door. A chunk of concrete was wedged behind the heavy metal, preventing it from swinging shut.

"Can you squeeze through?" Vincent asked.

"I think… so," Cait Sith said with a minor hitch in his voice. "How about you, Tifa?"

His lips twisted into a broken smile. Tifa did not seem to have the energy to retort. The tiny robot was clearly trying to ease the tension in their current situation. Vincent motioned for Cait Sith to go first in case the mog did get stuck. The rigid metal under the fluff proved to be malleable enough. Without much effort, they pushed the mog out of the vault. He followed Tifa outside and froze in his tracks.

"What…?"

Tifa's voice was small, but it rang out across the ruined street. The cube of metal that was the bank vault had been launched down the road. Large pits indicated where it had broken through the pavement. The rest of the district they had sought shelter in was gone. Many of the buildings had crumbled completely. Some looked to be on the verge of collapse. A line was carved into Midgar, leading directly toward North Crater.

"Come on! I heard Lance managed to get a rope off the edge. If we're lucky, it hasn't been cut!"

A group of people rushed past them and down the street.

"That… bastard…"

The distorted sound of Reeve's voice jolted them out of their thoughts. Cait Sith stood still atop his mog, one ear twitching slightly. Reeve sounded strained.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Vincent asked.

Cait Sith sparked for a moment before Reeve replied.

"Hojo fired without enabling any of the suppressors for the cannon. I don't know what caused him to do that…"

His voice trailed off; his breathing was harsh. The sound of something heavy hitting the floor came through Cait Sith's mouth.

"We got lucky. Most of the energy from that shot projected forward. I don't know about the rest of the building, but my workshop is safe…"

There was another crash.

"Well, as safe as it can be, I suppose," Reeve said. "I think the bulk of the building protected my lab. Everything's running on emergency power right now, though. I don't know what's going on outside, but I heard screaming. I was surprised I could even connect to Cait Sith."

"We need to regroup," Vincent said. "And Cait Sith needs repairs. He was badly damaged. Can we meet up with you?"

"Where are you right now?" Reeve asked. "I'm missing a chunk of data from Cait Sith. Did you manage to get away from that apartment?"

Cait Sith's voice box was starting to crackle more.

"Cait Sith got us to a bank down the street," Vincent replied.

"Are you alright?" Reeve sounded alarmed. "That's still really close to the blast site. I was hoping you'd get further."

"We survived, somehow," Vincent said.

He glanced over at Tifa, who had not spoken yet. Her eyes remained fixed on the destruction in the distance.

"It'll be a bit of a walk, but if you head toward Shinra Headquarters, I should be able to get you in. It sounds like chaos outside. I'll look around, see what I can do."

"Got it. Stay safe."

"You too," Reeve replied before there was a click.

"We'll get you fixed up," Vincent said as he patted the robotic cat.

"H-Hope so," came the crackly reply.

He touched Tifa on the arm and she flinched.

"Tifa?" He asked.

A wave of sadness passed across her face.

"There… there were still people living in those buildings…" she said in a small voice.

Vincent swallowed hard.

"Let's get to shelter first. It's not safe to stay around here. Who knows if the MPs will respond to this?"

She only nodded. There were still groups of people fleeing from the destruction, but no one gave them a second glance. The street they were on was badly damaged, forcing them to move to a safer street. Without another word, they made their way toward the ruins of Shinra Headquarters.

#

Kiev leaned as close as he dared against a wall. The coldness of the corrupted building reached out for him. Those probing tendrils groped for his inner energy. Only the thin barriers around his feet kept him alive. Compared to casting the spell over his entire body, the localized usage was less draining. He lowered his mana emission as low as he could. They could not stay here too long, or they would end up like the poor souls around the corner.

"NO!"

Several houses away, a trio of spiders tore away at a small family. They must have hidden from the spiders when the corruption spread. Kiev had spotted them fleeing as they crept through the blackened streets. But before they could rescue the family, the spiders had arrived. He had made a judgment call and his team hid from the spiders. The family made it partway down the street before the spiders caught them. Kiev and his team could only watch in horror as the three Cetra dissipated into energy.

"Keee! Keee!"

The spiders let out a series of chilling screeches as the Cetra died. They scuttled around, sharp appendages reaching out to collect the beads of light. The essence of the fallen Cetra disappeared into those jagged maws within seconds. But before the energy was completely collected, they stopped.

"Scree!"

Letting out another call, they ran toward the Nexus. Several seconds passed before Kiev let out a breath.

"They're gone," he said.

His partners, Melis and Tevan, sighed in relief.

"Monsters," Melis said, her face twisted in guilt.

"They didn't stand a chance," Tevan muttered.

Kiev gritted his teeth. While his decision had kept his team safe, the guilt weighed on his conscience.

"We need to focus on our mission," he said after steeling himself. "We can't let those deaths be in vain."

"They didn't collect it all," Tevan said. "Look."

As he pointed, the remaining fragments of the dead Cetra floated into the sky. Perhaps some fragments of those killed would return to the Lifestream. It was a small bit of comfort.

"Maybe they couldn't grab anymore?" Melis suggested.

Kiev scanned the street for spiders.

"We can discuss this later. I don't sense anyone or anything in our vicinity. Let's move while we can."

"I say we follow them," Melis said. "They look like they're headed for the Nexus."

"That's where Jenova is," Tevan replied. "Going there is akin to suicide."

Melis scowled at the name.

"But," she said. "We already have a good idea what's around here. Shouldn't we try to get information for the ones facing her?"

Kiev sighed. She was right, of course. After breaking off from the other scouts, they had seen the same thing around every corner. The spiders scratched away at the houses, breaking off bits of the Planet's energy. The few Cetra remaining on the isolated island were hunted down without mercy. All the while, the spiders funneled energy toward the Nexus.

"I have to agree with her, Tevan," Kiev said. "We're here to get useful information. It's dangerous, but we've been able to avoid detection so far. At least it seems the spiders don't call out for others if you kill them fast enough. That'll be useful for the others."

Tevan sighed, his hand tightening around the hilt of a blade strapped to his waist. The lines on his face deepened as he closed his eyes in thought.

"Alright," the older Cetra finally replied. "Keep your wits about you, Kiev. You're the best sensor among us."

Kiev swallowed. The pressure was immense. Even now, there were dozens of those creatures crawling around several streets away.

"Right."

With that, they snuck out from the side street and down the corrupted road. The blackened Nexus loomed ominously in the distance. Tendrils of purple crystals wove up the towers of the magnificent building. They had not been there during the evacuation.

"What do you think those are?" He asked, pointing at the towers.

"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Melis replied.

"Enemies on the left!" Tevan hissed.

He collided with a spider that rushed out from an alleyway. His blade clashed with a crystalline claw, letting out a sharp ping. Kiev and Melis quickly channeled mana and dispatched the creature.

"Focus, Kiev. We should get out of here before anything else comes," Tevan said.

"Sorry," Kiev replied. "I don't know how I didn't sense that."

"It appeared to come out of the ground," Tevan explained. "Keep your eyes out. Mana detection may not be enough."

Kiev nodded and continued down the road. Their footsteps were muffled, an unexpected benefit of the shields around their feet. Soon, they arrive at the courtyard before the Nexus. The area was empty. An unearthly silence hung over the open square. Not even the strange chittering of the spiders could be heard.

"Be ready to run," Kiev said.

The front doors of the Nexus were ajar. It was as if Jenova was welcoming them in with open arms. They huddled in a hidden corner, doing everything they could to keep their mana emissions low.

"I don't like it," Tevan said. "If Jenova has control over everything, we could be trapped without a way to escape.

"What about the second floor?" Melis suggested. "We could boost up there with a bit of mana."

Kiev looked to where Melis was pointing. Dozens of feet in the air, there were several small openings. Without any need for ventilation or lighting, these were mostly decorative. But even from this distance, it looked to be a tight fit.

"I'm not sure," he said after a moment. "Tevan is a pretty big guy. And it would take a lot of mana to climb up there…"

Melis bit her lip in frustration.

"What if I boosted you up?" Tevan suggested. "Could you slip in on your own? We could try to cause a distraction?"

Her eyes darted up to the opening and then back to Tevan. Then, she nodded.

"Let's do it," she said. "I don't know where the other teams are, but maybe you can coordinate with them for this diversion."

"We'll do what we can," Kiev said.

They made their way over to the side of the building, out of sight of the main road. Caught between a high wall and the Nexus, the corruption was palpable. Kiev shuddered. The air around them was rotten, leaving behind an almost slimy sensation across his skin. Tevan let out a breath.

"Don't forget to shield your hands," he said.

Melis rolled her eyes as two barriers wrapped around her hands. The mana flowed like water, encasing each finger artfully. Kiev raised an eyebrow. A small part of him admired how quickly she had done that. Tevan held out his hands for her to step in.

"Be careful," Kiev said.

"Yeah," she replied, her jaw tense.

And with that, Tevan heaved her upward. His strength got her about halfway up before she had to touch the wall. In a series of quick movements, she scaled the seemingly flat surface and made it to the opening above. Then, she was gone.

"Alright," Tevan said with a huff. "How do we do this?"

Kiev drew a short blade and coated his other hand in energy.

"Let's give them a distraction," he replied.

A grim smile crept across Tevan's lips. He gripped his broadsword with both hands and the blade began to glow with heat.

"Take a few of them out while we're at it," Tevan added.

But as they made their way to the front of the Nexus, an explosion rang out from somewhere nearby. The ground shook as a shockwave of mana washed over them. From above the buildings several streets down, magical flames rose into the air. Kiev and Tevan shared a look.

"You think that was a scouting group?" Kiev asked.

"Possibly," Tevan said. "Or maybe survivors."

They took off running toward the beacon. As they ran, another explosion nearly sent Kiev sprawling onto the corrupted road. He righted himself with a scowl.

"Well, we got our distraction," he growled.

"Get ready. We've got incoming hostiles," Tevan warned.

A pair of spiders burst out of a house, but Kiev and Tevan were not the targets. They began running in the same direction before Tevan blasted one with a burst of fire.

"Over here!" He shouted.

The two spiders turned and screeched at him. Before they could move, Kiev pierced the same one with a bolt of lightning. It collapsed, causing the other to rush at them. Tevan caught this one with his blade. The heavy weapon cleaved through the fragile crystalline form without effort.

"Come on!" Kiev said as he ran past.

He stepped out onto the next road just in time to catch another wave of mana. Down the street, a single Cetra threw spell after spell at a veritable wave of spiders. Behind him, two more huddled in a small barrier. The smaller of the two leaned against the other, clearly exhausted. Kiev glanced at Tevan before running over.

"What's going on?" He shouted over the noise.

These three were clearly part of the reconnaissance group. Their minimal use of the barriers suggested as much. But the one in the distance was beyond reason. That man screamed as he hurled another overpowered spell. Kiev braced himself against the pressure.

"Ruko," the one holding the barrier said. "He… I think he had family here…"

Kiev scowled. The name was familiar. They had not been close, being several generations apart. But they had worked together, and the reasoning was believable enough. The only upside to this was that Ruko appeared to be holding off the spiders. Though who knew how long he could keep it up.

"Hold on. You need to leave at once. How's your partner?" Kiev asked.

At his words, the exhausted one cracked an eye open.

"Selah, I'm sorry," she said. "I wanted to help. I thought I could help…"

"It's not your fault, Nessa," Selah replied. "Nobody could've seen this coming."

Selah turned back to Kiev.

"Nessa shielded us from an ambush when Ruko started…" she looked over at the other Cetra.

"At this point, it might be wiser to leave him," Tevan said.

He cut into a pair of spiders trying to ambush them.

"I'm not sure he can tell friend from foe," he finished.

The lone form of Ruko shone amidst the sea of black and purple. His voice was raw from screaming, but he continued to attack. He appeared to be tiring, which did not bode well for their position. Kiev threw a few spells but stopped when each dead spider was replaced by two more.

"It's not safe here," Kiev said with a scowl. "The distraction helps, but their numbers are increasing with every passing moment. Selah, can you focus on carrying Nessa? If we can get back into hiding, you can come with us on the way out."

Selah glanced between Ruko and Nessa.

"A-Alright," she said.

Shouldering her partner, she let the barrier shift back to her feet.

"Save your strength, Nessa," she instructed. "Try to watch our sides if you can."

"Got it."

Kiev turned back to Tevan, who watched their surroundings with sharp eyes.

"Come on, Tevan. We'll get overrun like this."

Tevan only nodded. The two injured Cetra followed him into the alleyway and away from Ruko's one-man stand. As Kiev followed, he caught a glimpse of Ruko being swarmed by spiders. He continued to scream in defiance, his spells hitting the creatures at random. With a scowl, Kiev turned away. They needed to survive if the rest of the Cetra were to make a successful counterattack. It was a frantic retreat, but they made it back into the hidden corner by the Nexus.

"We should evacuate as soon as Melis gets back," Tevan said as they got situated. "Not to mention we now have wounded with us. It would be irresponsible to try to scout further."

"I agree," Kiev said. "Just hope Melis is careful – "

As if on cue, a blood-curdling scream rang out from within the Nexus. It was not Melis. No, the tone was deeper and more feral. There was only one creature capable of such fury within the Nexus. Tevan's eyes widened as he came to the same conclusion.

"We've outstayed our welcome," Kiev said. "Steel yourselves Selah, Nessa. We might need to run for safety."

There was an explosion from inside the building. The front doors of the Nexus flew from their hinges in a shower of magical energies. From within that cloud, Melis tumbled through the air. Seeing her, Kiev and Tevan began to run. She barely had enough time to right herself before landing on the corrupted ground. Her eyes were wide with excitement and fear.

"What happened?" Kiev said.

"No time! We gotta run!" Melis replied.

She did not even give the two newcomers a second glance as she began running down the street.

"You heard her!" Kiev said. "Run!"

As they fled the Nexus another more animalistic roar echoed through the air. A wave of cold washed over him, causing him to shudder. Shrieks rang out from all sides as if Jenova had called her minions to attention.

"Look sharp!" Tevan shouted. "We're breaking through!"

As spiders began flooding into the streets, Tevan swung his heavy blade in a wide arc. The momentum of his run caused the magical construct to cleave through those closest to him. Melis was right there with him, sending a shower of ice into two more. Nessa even managed a few spells as Selah carried her. Kiev watched their rear, using electricity and his blade to slow down pursuers.

"What did you do!" Kiev shouted over the cacophony of shrieks.

"I found Jenova!" Melis replied as she created a wall of ice. "She has the Elders in the council chambers!"

The road behind them was filling with those jagged crystalline creatures.

"Isn't this a bit much?!"

He let forth a burst of lightning that arced between the closest spiders. They exploded into fragments of crystal. He winced as the shards scattered past his face. Even those minuscule pieces caused a flash of pain as they touched his skin. But his attack stunned the spiders for a moment. It let them put some distance between them and their enemies.

"I might've put an ice spike through her eye…" Melis said between breaths.

Kiev nearly tripped over his feet.

"What!"

"She was watching a screen! It was too good of a chance!"

They slowed briefly as Tevan clashed with another pod of spiders. Kiev and Melis provided support, keeping the injured out of harm's way. As they began moving again, Kiev caught up to Melis.

"You could've jeopardized the entire operation!" He said.

"But I could've killed her!" She argued.

"Leave it alone, Kiev," Tevan said.

He sounded a bit out of breath.

"But – " Kiev began to protest before Tevan interrupted him.

"We've got a bigger thing to worry about."

Kiev glanced at their front and his heart sank. A sea of spiders stretched out as far as the eye could see. He could barely make out the edge of the isolated island.

"W-What do we do?" Nessa asked.

Tevan tightened his grip on his weapon.

"We break through. Kiev, Melis. Cover me!"

Kiev's eyes widened as mana began to condense around Tevan. They took their positions and began unleashing spells on the advancing creatures. Sensing what Tevan was doing, the other two did what they could as well.

"T-There's too many of them!" Nessa's voice was almost drowned out by the shrill cries.

"Keep them back! We'll get our opening!" Kiev instructed.

His mana reserves depleted rapidly as the spiders surged ever closer.

"Nessa!"

"I… I can't…"

"Hold on!" Melis shouted.

A semicircular wall of ice blocked off their rear. But even as it formed, the spiders were already breaking it down into energy. Others climbed over the top, making them easy targets for Kiev.

"Anytime now, Tevan!" He shouted.

There was a loud crack as the ice wall broke. It had only lasted a few precious seconds. But that was all they needed.

"Ifrit!"

Tevan's deep voice rang out over the commotion. The air grew bone dry as a figure wreathed in flames exploded out of the ether. The Planet's ancient creation burst into the Promised Land with a roar.

"Clear the way!" Tevan instructed.

His face was pale. Kiev could sense that he had expended a large amount of energy to bring such a being into existence. Ifrit let out a roar and spat a fireball at the crowd behind them. It detonated as the vestiges of the ice wall were disappearing, the immense heat washing over him. But before those flames even dissipated, Ifrit had turned. With another roar, he blasted a line through the swarm of spiders before them.

"Move!" Tevan shouted.

Selah followed him, Nessa limping worse than before. Melis went next, sending random icicles into the surviving spiders. But as Kiev turned to follow, something strange happened. He lost sensation in his right leg and pitched forward onto the corrupted road. A larger spider, this one with sharpened mandibles, had charged through the flames. Though it was injured, it had enough strength to bite through his leg. He hit the ground with a grunt, hissing in pain as the corruption sapped at his dwindling mana. Melis must have sensed something, because she turned, eyes wide.

"Kiev!" She screamed.

"GO!" He shouted even as another claw tried to pierce his body.

He let forth a burst of electricity, causing those grappling him to disintegrate.

"Get off me!" He snarled.

Another spider leaped at him and he was forced to deflect it with his blade. But when he reached the end of his swing, a third spider tackled his arm, knocking his blade to the ground. Without a connection to his body, it quickly dissipated into motes of energy. That small burst drove the creatures into a frenzy. Even as he finished off the larger spider, the path created by Ifrit was already closing. In an instant, he made his decision. His arms pulsed with energy as he began casting a spell.

"You want my mana? Come get it."

As if in response, the spiders screeched and rushed toward him. More flooded out of the nearby buildings at the calls. Dozens of claws pierced into his body, pinning him to the corrupted ground. And yet, he did not lose concentration. The coldness threatened to overwhelm him. He roared in defiance and continued to let his energy build. And when those purple crystals threatened to block out his view of the sky, he let the energy run wild.

#

Tifa could not get the image of the destroyed street out of her mind. Only an hour ago, they had used that abandoned home to rest and hide from Shinra's forces. Now, only rubble remained of that family's home. Her letter would never be read.

"Oo-ooh. Look at th-at."

Cait Sith pointed up at the Sister Ray. From the unshielded energy coursing through it, the metal barrel had buckled. The final third of the cannon was missing, leaving behind only jagged edges. The shards of metal still carried a faint orange glow as the metal cooled. On the next street over, the damage to the road was worse, almost carving into the even asphalt.

"Hojo was up there…"

Vincent's voice echoed as they passed through an empty alleyway. In the distance, there was still the sounds of people fleeing Upper Midgar. Some had headed for the footpaths leading to Lower Midgar as well. A small voice in the back of her mind noted they would not get far since those exits were all closed.

"Was tha-at a gunshot-t?" Cait Sith asked.

Vincent shook his head.

"I didn't hear anything. You might be more damaged than you think. We should pick up the pace. I don't think anyone is going to stop us at this point."

Cait Sith slumped.

"O-Oh…" he said in a broken stutter.

They were a few streets away from the bulk of the destruction and the buildings around them were quiet. If there was anyone left, they were probably in hiding, hoping they would survive by staying in place.

"A-Are you ok-okay, Tifa-a?"

She blinked when she heard her name.

"Just a little shocked by all this," she replied.

Cait Sith turned his head to look around, his movements halting as the gears in his neck stuck. There was a faint whirr before he turned back to her.

"Either my s-sensors are faulty-ty, or most of the MPs are… gone," Cait Sith said.

"Reeve might have a better understanding of all this," Vincent added.

Even as he said this, he began walking faster. It was a subtle reminder that they were in dangerous territory. If Shinra's armed forces were still active, they could be in trouble. The further they traversed Sector 3, the more nervous she got. The lack of other people gave her a strange sense of isolation, despite her companions. With no one to stop them, the distance to Shinra Headquarters melted away. But three blocks away, Vincent froze at the mouth of another alleyway. Tifa stopped, her body tensing in alarm.

"What is it?" She asked.

"The cannon…" Vincent said looking out toward the building.

She peered past him and let out a gasp. Against the shattered backdrop of Shinra Headquarters, a green glow pulsated. There was a faint hum in the air as the Sister Ray slowly recovered from its first shot.

"No way," she said. "How? How is it still active?"

"I don't know. But if that thing fires again, we'll all be caught in the blast."

With that, Vincent began running. Cait Sith bounced after him, the mog unhindered by the robot's condition. Tifa chased after them, worry writhing in the pit of her stomach. The cannon's glow slowly grew as they drew closer to the building. Their footsteps echoed across the abandoned buildings. Vincent led the way with his pistol drawn, Death Penalty bouncing across his back. His eyes darted back and forth, looking for enemies that might hinder them. And as they moved, another set of footsteps joined theirs. Vincent rounded the corner, gun drawn.

"You've got to be kidding me."

She recognized that voice. Tifa caught up in time to see Vincent pointing his gun at Reno of the Turks. Behind him were Elena and Rude. They looked worse for wear. Their crisp uniforms were dirty and torn. Elena's mascara was smeared; she looked like she had been crying. One of her arms was in a makeshift sling made from Reno's jacket. Rude was missing his sunglasses. But Reno was in the worst shape. Blood and dirt were slowly turning his white dress shirt an ugly brown. There was drying blood smeared across half of his face and a purple lump beginning to form on his forehead.

"You!" Elena said as she reached for her gun. "Did you do this?"

"Forget it, Elena," Reno said in a weary voice. "We have bigger problems."

"But what about our orders?" She protested. "We should take them in, especially if they're responsible – "

"AVALANCHE is no longer any concern of ours!"

Elena jumped at the harshness in Reno's voice. There was an uncharacteristically serious look on his face.

"Look around you! There is no more Shinra! We're on our own! I don't know what that cannon's doing, but I'm sure as hell not going to roll over and die!"

"Reno."

Rude's single statement caused Reno to pause. The redhead let out a harsh sigh and ran a hand across his face. The smear of blood only became worse, but he was not actively bleeding.

"Sorry," he said. "I'm in a bad mood."

"That's putting it lightly," Elena grumbled.

"What's going on?" Vincent asked.

"Hell would I know?" Reno spat. "One moment we're driving back from that explosion at Scarlet's factories, then we're crashing through a wall."

Vincent looked up at the Sister Ray. The hum had grown more prominent, but the glow had not increased yet.

"Hojo fired the Sister Ray," he said. "We were heading there to stop whatever was going on."

"Looks like we're going in the same direction then," Reno groused. "Come on, then. Lead the way, Mister Immortal Turk."

"I'm not immortal."

"Yeah, whatever."

Vincent gave them one last look before turning away. The Turks did not seem to mind his leadership. Rude only gave Tifa a curt nod.

"What's up with the cat?" Reno asked as they ran.

"Cr-rushed by a wa-all!" Cait Sith said cheerily.

"Ugh. Thank the gods for airbags," Elena said.

She adjusted her sling as they moved.

"Don't you guys normally carry potions and the like?" Tifa asked.

Elena scowled.

"Broke," Rude said.

Tifa hesitated for a moment.

"Here," she said.

She channeled her Restore materia and cast once over each of them. Reno stumbled and Elena let out a sigh of relief.

"Whoa, my head feels funny," Reno said.

"Probably cuz you had a concussion. I told you to sit down," Elena replied.

"Thank you," Rude said. "I think my ribs were broken."

Elena's head snapped over to her partner.

"What? Why didn't you say anything?"

Rude did not reply. Elena let out a frustrated sigh.

"Well, we should be able to tackle whatever's going on in the tower now," she said.

"Thanks, toots," Reno said with a cheeky grin.

Tifa rolled her eyes and kept moving. They soon reached the outskirts of Shinra Headquarters. A vending machine had shattered the fence that once blocked access to the building. It was here that they came across the first visible casualty of the explosion.

"Ugh… I think I had a drink with him once," Reno said.

The Shinra employee lay in a twisted mess. His body was broken, but his eyes still held a look of fear. Blood splattered the street around him. He had hit the ground with considerable force. Tifa looked away.

"He… must've fallen from the building," Elena said shakily.

"We should keep moving," Vincent said. "That glow is getting brighter."

"Dammit," Reno cursed. "How are we getting up there?"

Vincent took them to the side door where they had last seen Reeve. The man was already there, leaning against the doorframe. His suit jacket had a large tear in it, and he was covered in concrete dust. One sleeve had ripped at the seam, leaving his left arm bare. Blood dripped from a deep cut in his upper arm. There was a smear of blood on his face as well.

"Good, you're here! You – "

He paused when he caught sight of the Turks.

"Oh, uh, hello. I wasn't aware your team was in the city."

Reno groaned when he reached the door.

"Dammit… now I owe Tseng money," he said.

"I'm sorry?" Reeve asked.

"We made a bet a while ago. Don't worry about it," Reno replied.

Reeve shook his head.

"Never mind. We don't have time for this. Come in, quickly!"

He motioned for them to enter but winced and let his arm fall. Vincent channeled his Restore Materia and looped Reeve's good arm over his shoulder. The cut on his arm closed, but his breath was still shaky.

"What's going on, Reeve?" Tifa asked as they moved inside the building.

There was a low groan from deeper inside the building.

"Is it even safe to be in here?" Reno asked as he looked around warily.

"I don't know," he said. "I barely have a connection to Cait Sith. Most of the cameras in the building are black, but I managed to get a few working. Something's happening with the Sister Ray, but I can't get sight on it. I'm working on gaining access right now."

"The penthouse and about four floors under that are gone," Vincent said. "The Sister Ray seems to be charging up again."

Reeve's eyes widened.

"Shinra and his lackeys were up there…" he said softly. "I barely had time to warn you about being in the blast zone. There's no way they got out of there."

The building groaned again.

"Seriously, I think this place is about to collapse," Reno said again. "Can we even get up there?"

Reeve sighed.

"I don't know. If the Sister Ray is charging, we should evacuate the survivors as soon as possible. I need to grab a backup body for Cait Sith as well."

"How is it even functioning?" Tifa asked. "The barrel is completely busted!"

"I don't know," Reeve repeated, a look of frustration crossing his face.

They arrived at Reeve's workshop. The automatic door had been forced open and he had wedged a broken broom in the groove. The inside was in disarray, many of the heavy machinery had fallen to the ground. Several lights had detached from the ceiling and shattered on the workbenches.

"Cait Sith, please hook up to the computer. I'm going to try to transfer you over before we lose power in the building."

He pointed over at a laptop on a dirty workbench. The debris had been swept away, but there was still a good amount of clutter.

"O-Okay-ay!" Cait Sith said.

He tried to get off the mog and fell onto the ground. Tifa reached down and scooped him up.

"What happens if the power goes out?" She asked. "Will we lose him?"

Reeve shook his head.

"His body's damaged, but his mind is fully digital. What I'm doing is merely copying him over to the new body. Once all the checks are complete, we can remove the ghost copy."

"Oh," she replied.

The explanation made sense, but it was strange to think of Cait Sith like that. She placed a hand on the robot's head.

"Will you be alright?" She asked him.

"It's f-fine…" Cait Sith said. "I w-went through something-thing like this at the Tem-Temple of the Ancients-ts, too…"

She frowned at the memory but placed him next to Reeve's laptop. As she did, there was a beep from the other room. Reeve perked up at this. After plugging Cait Sith into the laptop, he rushed into the other room. His office was surprisingly undamaged. Perhaps it served as some sort of panic room as well.

"What was that?" Vincent asked.

"I forced all the glitching cameras in the building to reboot. I was hoping some of them might still work following a reset."

After typing a few things into a computer, he stood back and waited. His foot tapped impatiently as a progress bar moved across the screen. Then, several boxes flickered to life, displaying various scenes of destruction. One camera showed one of the dining halls, now littered with chunks of concrete. Metal rebar poked out from the ceiling and glass was scattered across the floor. Another showed an employee huddled next to someone trapped by a piece of a wall. Tifa could not tell if they were still alive.

"No signal from the top floor," Reeve muttered. "That's to be expected."

He scrolled through the video feeds; many were still dark. Different scenes of destruction rolled past, a morbid reel of what had transpired. Then, Reeve stopped and enlarged one feed. A jagged line ran across the image. The display moved slightly as Reeve manipulated the camera remotely, pointing it toward the sky.

"Lens was broken but I'm still getting the feed," he explained.

"Where is this?" Vincent asked.

Reeve pointed at a ledge where a small glowing terminal was barely visible.

"It's one of the security cameras on the outside of the building. I turned it toward the top of the Sister Ray."

He tapped the image again.

"It looks like the terminal for the Sister Ray is still active. You need to hurry if you want to turn it off. If we're lucky, we'll survive the next thirty minutes. It takes about an hour to charge, but with it in such a state, who knows how long you have."

"Wonderful," Reno grumbled. "Let's go climb the crumbling building."

Tifa clenched her fists. This was no time to falter. Vincent turned to her, leaving his travel pack by Reeve's desk and shouldering Death Penalty.

"Let's move out," he said before addressing the Turks. "You may come if you wish."

"Not like we have much choice here. We're stuck in the blast zone if that thing goes off," Elena grumbled.

Reno let out a weary groan. Rude only nodded. They left the building, heading toward the nearest stairwell.

"I don't suppose the elevators are functioning," Reno said with a weak chuckle.

"Pretty sure they were all destroyed when the top of the building disappeared," Elena said.

Vincent opened the emergency door and glanced inside. It was surprisingly undamaged, though the stairwell extended up and out of sight.

"This brings back memories," Tifa said with a sigh.

"What?" Vincent asked.

"Never mind."

And like before, the stairs were a torturous climb. Shinra's tendency to make rooms taller than normal meant each floor was more difficult to climb. But with an unknown timer counting down on the Sister Ray, no one dared voice any complaints. Within ten minutes, they had reached the topmost floor. Vincent pulled on the emergency door to find it unlocked. A dry breeze blew into the stairwell.

"Oh…" Tifa muttered.

The hallway before them was filled with rubble. The broken concrete and bent rebar led to the open sky. A chunk of the building had sheared off in the blast. Upper Midgar was visible through the opening.

"I hate this," Reno said in a small voice.

Vincent eased his way to the edge and looked outside the building.

"I think there's a way up if we climb," he said.

"Um," Elena said. "Do we have any ropes or anything?"

"Unfortunately, I am not in a position to carry people up with my abilities," Vincent said. "There is enough space if you press against the outside of the building."

Tifa swallowed.

"Let's do it," she said before walking to where he was.

Her stomach dropped as she caught sight of the ground below. If Chaos was still weakened, falling would be a messy end for any of them. Gritting her teeth, she stepped out onto a heavy beam that had bent in the explosion. It barely creaked, despite the deformed metal. It was a testament to the force of the unshielded blast from the Sister Ray.

"It seems alright," she said with only a small hitch in her voice.

"Take your time," Vincent said. "I'll bring up the rear."

With that, she began inching her way up. The next floor was only a few feet away, but the distance almost stretched out before her as she moved. Every tiny breeze tried to rip her from her tenuous perch and throw her into the abyss beyond.

"I really hate this," Reno said from behind her.

She had no intention of looking back to chastise the redhead.

"Don't look down!" Elena squeaked.

Relief flooded her body as her hand touched broken concrete. The top of the building was open to the sky. The destruction was more severe than it had seemed from the ground. She barely recognized what was originally on this floor. But further up, the bulk of the Sister Ray extended past the building. A small walkway led out to the cannon controls. She pulled herself away from the edge of the building, letting out a deep sigh of relief. One by one, the others crested the ledge as well. She reached out and pulled them up as they scrambled to safety. Elena collapsed as though her bones were made of jelly, forcing Tifa to drag her away from the edge.

"I don't want to go down anymore," Reno complained. "Can you tell Reeve to send a helicopter?"

Like Elena, Rude let out a heavy sigh and slumped against broken concrete. Vincent brought up the rear, barely out of breath. Tifa felt a weird pang of jealousy at how calm he looked. But his eyes remained fixed on the Sister Ray. Without waiting for them, he made his way toward the catwalk.

"Vincent! Wait up!" Tifa called out as she forced herself to her feet.

The Turks made disgruntled sounds as they followed suit. Though the floor they were on was almost flattened, the concrete was still cracked. Tifa froze as something crunched under her boot, but it turned out to be broken glass.

"This isn't good for my heart," Elena said.

Reno shuffled forward, his eyes darting everywhere as they moved.

"The ground better not col – "

"Don't say it!" Elena interrupted him before he could say any more.

Vincent walked with that same catlike grace despite the uncertain flooring. Tifa tried to follow where he stepped just in case Reno's fears came true. Vincent paused for a second at the edge, allowing them to catch up to him.

"The catwalk looks safe," he said.

Heavy struts and welding kept the walkway firmly attached to the side of the Sister Ray. Though the metal was charred, its location kept it shielded from the bulk of the blast.

"I'll go first," Vincent said as he stepped off the ledge.

His boots hit the walkway below with a hollow clang. Tifa swallowed hard as they waited. Then, Vincent waved for them to descend.

"It's safe. The door back into the building also appears intact. We might be able to return through there," he said.

Reno let out a sigh.

"After you," he said gesturing at Tifa.

She rolled her eyes and kneeled by the edge. Her breath caught in her lungs. Though the platform below was wide, it was also hundreds of feet above the ground. She had a moment of déjà vu of Sector Seven. But even the pillar holding up the plate had not been this high. She reached out and placed a steadying hand against the side of the Sister Ray. The metal was still warm. Or maybe it was warming up as the cannon prepared to fire again. That single thought pushed her fears aside and she dropped. The catwalk vibrated slightly when she landed, but it felt solid under her feet. She moved aside so the Turks could follow.

"Hojo might still be up here," Vincent said. "Be on your guard."

"Here?" Reno asked. "How? This place is completely wrecked!"

Vincent did not reply but continued forward. They reached the control station of the Sister Ray. The platform was more unstable here. Several pieces of the cannon had punctured the heavy steel as if it were paper. The shrapnel now formed a forest of broken metal. The platform creaked as they walked, but it remained standing. The railings were a twisted mess, scattered every which way across the platform. Everything smelled strongly of ozone. At the end of the broken platform, a partially damaged terminal flickered, the same one Reeve saw.

"If we're going to do something, I suggest we do it now," Reno said. "I think that cannon is getting louder."

The constant hum of the cannon had almost faded into the background as Tifa focused on how high they were. But as Reno drew attention to it again, she realized he was right. When they reached the terminal, Reno turned to Elena.

"You think you can shut this down?" He asked.

Elena bit her lip, staring at the flickering screen.

"I'll have to, won't I?" She muttered.

"And so, the heroes arrive…"

A raspy voice sounded from behind them. Tifa and the Turks turned with weapons and fists at the ready. Tifa felt her jaw drop. A truly grotesque creature was impaled on one of the shards of metal stuck in the platform. And even though Tifa had expected it, Hojo's appearance still disgusted her. His jaw drooped impossibly wide and his legs had melted into a pulsating mass. Hojo's first mutated form, if she recalled. Vincent's journal had mentioned another form, but Hojo seemed far too injured to move. He was missing an arm and a dark red goop was oozing out of his chest. The smell of blood was strong, but there was a trace of rot beneath it as well.

"Ugh… What the hell is that?" Elena asked.

"Hojo," Vincent said.

He was the only one who had not moved to draw his weapon.

"Elena," he continued. "Please focus on stopping the Sister Ray."

Elena glanced at Reno before holstering her pistol and turning back to the console.

"Ah… Vincent. How are you?"

Despite the spike in his chest, there was a casual tone to his voice. It only made Tifa more nervous.

"Why?" was all Vincent asked.

That drooping mouth stretched into a distorted smile.

"She said her son needed the power to cleanse this filthy world," Hojo replied.

"She?" Reno asked.

"Jenova…"

Tifa shuddered. There was an almost mocking tone in Hojo's voice.

"Long, long ago. Feels like a lifetime. Those cells sure were fascinating to study," he said with a small sigh. "Pretty impressive for an alien parasite, no?"

Reno leaned toward Rude.

"I think we're a bit out of our depth here, buddy," he whispered.

Rude only nodded.

"What did she tell you?" Vincent demanded.

He had taken a step forward, but his hands remained at his side. Hojo's eyes closed and he let out another chuckle.

"Absolutely nothing. That's the beauty of it," Hojo replied. "Those stupid Cetra Elders thought they knew everything. They had so much faith in themselves with a cheater like you running around."

His eyes cracked open and there was a hint of anger in that glare.

"Imagine my disappointment when I found out you were holding out on me, Vincent…"

Vincent scowled but did not respond.

"And now, the Planet will supercharge my son so that he may erase those Cetra parasites from existence. Or something like that."

"Alright! What?" Reno shouted. "Son? What the hell is going on here?"

"Sephiroth was born to Hojo and Lucrecia. Jenova corrupted his mind to make him think she was his mother," Tifa said tersely.

"Ah… Lucrecia," Hojo said with a sigh. "Poor, stupid Lucrecia. Give her a sob story and she'll eat it up. I wonder what happened to her. Could've used an assistant in these last couple decades that wasn't an imbecile."

Vincent's mechanical hand creaked as it tightened into a fist.

"Whatever Jenova promised you, it was a lie," he said. "There is no power waiting for you. No godhood. She will die, just like you will. And then Sephiroth can finally rest."

Hojo laughed. It was a bright and eerie sound. Vincent seemed to falter.

"I know," Hojo said. "What kind of idiot would actually fall for those words?"

"Sephiroth did," Vincent retorted.

"Yes… clearly took after his mother," Hojo said with a roll of his eyes.

His voice was growing weaker, but that fervent, mad look remained in his eyes.

"Then why?" Vincent sounded genuinely curious. "Why this? Why destroy everything you've achieved?"

He waved a hand at the wrecked platform and the totaled city beyond.

"It grows tiresome to be a genius," Hojo said. "Not that you'd appreciate it."

Vincent's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"Everyone I've ever worked with has been so predictable. Shinra wanted to prove he was better than his father. Heidegger wanted power. Scarlet was just obsessed with weapons. Reeve was a do-gooder and a terrible liar at that. Even Jenova. Her grand crusade against the Cetra? Little more than petty spite. A boring, dull hatred that she's convinced herself is real. I listened to her for years, you know? It comes with the cells."

Vincent frowned.

"Jenova is… boring?" He said carefully.

Hojo gave him a slow blink.

"When you listen to someone tell a lie over and over and over, some things begin to stand out. She claimed she wanted vengeance for what the Cetra did, but there was something she omitted. Sephiroth ate it all up, of course. But no situation is ever black and white, Vincent, my boy."

Hojo let out a sigh and sank a bit further onto the spike impaling him. His smiling face, though grotesque, betrayed no signs of pain.

"Maybe I just wanted a show. Maybe I wanted to see someone break my expectations. I've heard of the Cetra and their little prophecies. I've heard Jenova and her plans for annihilation. And now we have you and your little band of misfits. What would've happened if I did as Shinra wanted? Would I have overloaded the shield around North Crater? Shinra wanted a second shot to destroy the Crater itself. I wonder if your little crew would've come to stop me. Maybe we would've had a fantastically boring battle right here."

Vincent opened his mouth, but Elena interrupted him.

"Got it!" She shouted.

A broken klaxon rang out and the humming from the Sister Ray slowly died.

"Ah… what a shame," Hojo said. "Would've been nice to go up in flames."

"As if you didn't plan on firing again," Vincent said with a scowl.

"Come now, Vincent. Don't be droll. Think, for once in your life."

Vincent's scowl deepened.

"You want me to believe you weren't planning on shooting North Crater again?"

"Oh, I was," Hojo said. "If only to mess with Jenova's perfect little plan."

Hojo let out a few short chuckles. Silence fell between the two men. No one else dared interfere. Soon, Hojo's head began to droop.

"Tell me, Vincent. Will you play puppet to those useless Cetra forever? Even now Jenova is corrupting the Promised Land. Their little crusade is all but lost. What are you even trying for? They're certainly not going to thank you."

"The Planet is worth saving," Vincent replied.

Hojo let out a choking cackle as blood and ichor oozed from his mouth.

"Maybe. It would've been nice to explore the stars, but Shinra was too much of a coward. Would've liked to find that home planet Ifalna mentioned…"

His breath was growing heavy. Though Jenova's cells had kept him alive, the effects appeared to be lessening. With immense effort, Hojo raised his head again to lock eyes with Vincent.

"I suppose you'll keep struggling against Jenova, then? After all, that's all you have left is it not? Scurry around like the bug you are. Will you win? Will you lose? Give me a show, Vin – "

A gunshot rang out, ringing out across Midgar. Vincent had drawn and fired in the blink of an eye. Hojo's malformed body slumped to one side, an insane grin still on his face.

"Whoa!" Reno shouted at the sudden execution. "What the hell, man!"

The silence was deafening. Vincent appeared lost in his thoughts as he stared at the corpse of Hojo. The Turks exchanged glances before looking to Tifa as if she would solve everything. Licking her lips nervously, she stepped forward. A shard of the cannon crunched under her boot and she froze at the sound.

"Vincent?" She asked.

For a moment, he did not answer. Then, his shoulders slumped.

"Let's get back to Reeve. It's still dangerous up here," he said. "We should help get people out if we can."

And no one questioned him.

#

A/N: Thanks for reading. There were several scenes I felt cluttered up this chapter, so I moved them. It gives me a small head start on that next chapter, I guess. Either way, I'm trying not to drag it out too much, but I also didn't want the entire Cetra aspect to be ignored. I'll probably push toward the final fight right after this. Not much time for goodbyes when things aren't quite what they seem anymore.

#

Omake 20:

Zack stood on the outskirts of the Promised Land. The field of white stretched out into eternity, giving him a wide area to use. And he would have been fine training on his own had several Cetra not insisted on helping him.

"Alright, punk! We've got until Miss Aerith recovers to get you in shape! I've seen how you swing that oversized meat cleaver! My grandma could do better!"

"You bet your ass I can!" An old Cetra woman said from the sidelines.

Zack stared at the man who had offered to train him. The man's grandmother kept hurling insults from a small bench.

"I'm pretty sure I'm in shape, man. I just need practice with energy manip – "

"Did you just talk back to me? Who the hell do you think you are? Drop and give me twenty!"

Zack blinked, his eyes darting to the old woman who squinted menacingly at him.

"Uh…"

"Are you deaf, maggot? Make that fifty!"

With a conflicted grimace, Zack did as the man said. Even in this world crafted from mana, his spirit still remembered his training. Such a task was hardly a challenge. He stood and waited for this strange man to continue.

"Show me what you got then, maggot! Arm yourself!"

Zack focused and brought the Buster Sword into existence.

"Too slow! You're trying to make steel from mana! Are you stupid? You're working with energy! Do it again!"

Zack frowned, trying to work through the unstable individual's advice. Had the memory of his sword's weight affected the creation? He tried again, this time focusing only on the shape. The Buster Sword reappeared, though it felt way too light.

"Better! Now refine it! That thing can't even cut butter!"

And the man was right. Though he had the shape, the edge of the blade was dull. The tip was almost rounded as well. He squinted his eyes and the blade's shape wavered.

"What the hell are you doing?" The trainer shouted. "Do you even know how to use mana?"

"Like using Materia?" Zack asked. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"It has everything to do with everything! How…"

The trainer paused.

"Have you just been forcing the mana in the air into the shape of a sword?!" He demanded.

Zack blinked.

"Huh? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

"Do you cast spells by forcing mana through your hands?"

"Well… no," Zack replied, slightly confused. "You channel through Mat – "

"You channel through Materia!" The trainer shouted.

"But I don't have any Materia. What do I use to focus energy?"

"You ARE the focus!"

"Oh."

"I thought Miss Aerith taught you!"

"Well… it all sorta went over my head," Zack said sheepishly.

Mana swirled around his trainer.

"Find the flow! Channel it into yourself! Then form your oversized meat cleaver!"

Zack did as he was told. It worked.

"Oh."

"You're damn right, 'oh'!"

The trainer pointed into the distance.

"Now we're going to practice while running! You think those spiders are going to give you a chance to focus? Go! Get your ass moving!"

Zack began running while maintaining his blade. As he did, only one question floated through his mind.

'Where did he get that bike?'