Chapter 15 - Final Confrontation

Do what ever you want. Is that what you want to hear? ... Cloud...

Alyssa awoke to a disturbing dream. The same disturbing about Sephiroth. She even heard Avidan's voice echoing in her mind, but her chest immediately felt heavy with fear and adrenaline. Her eyes looked around quickly, the room she was now standing in was dark and the aura was unpleasant.

Alyssa quickly noticed that something was defiantly wrong. As she tried to take a step, her feet slip underneath, having her lose her balance. The carpet around her was soaked in something unexplainable. Her eyes adjusted to the petrifying darkness. Alyssa grew shocked as soon as she could see who it was. It made her jaw drop, Avidan was now laying on the ground.

"Avidan! Avidan!" Alyssa cries to Avidan with a concerned, worried voice.

Her legs scurried over to a nearby light switch and flipped it on. Alyssa grew ill, knowing that smell. The carpet was soaked with blood. It was from his wound. Even Avidan himself was soaked in his own blood. Alyssa took a slow breath then a deep, quick breath. She was feeling weak kneed and now unable to concentrate.

"Oh god..." Alyssa whimpered through her hurt voice. Avidan please don't be dead. Don't leave me, not yet, please.

Forcing herself walk over to Avidan. Alyssa didn't know exactly what to feel, say or even think. She knelt down next to Avidan's lifeless body. No more signs of breathing were left. Alyssa examined the blood, it was cold as her fingers rubbed the fluid slowly.

Gasping for breath and clutching her fist, Alyssa was sitting silently, holding Avidan's cold body. She grasped his body, feeling anger, rage and depression mixed all together. No tears were to cry this time, nothing was having her make her cry. She felt hurt, but couldn't cry. What she wanted was something else, it was revenge. Anger, and rage mixed, wanting Sephiroth dead. Alyssa's mind was screaming to kill Sephiroth.

Alyssa settled her eyes upon Avidan's face. There were signs of him trying his best however. Avidan was at least trying to hang on before he passed away. With a warm, slight smile, Alyssa hugged him on last him. She then slipped off his trench coat, putting it around herself. Her fingers then slipped through his body, taking what was left of his equipment: Shotgun, handgun, bullet, a few flash bomb and even money that was with him. There seemed to be enough gil to buy whatever was needed.

Standing up, Alyssa brushed off a few things off Avidan's trench coat, examined the equipment and she arranged it, loaded up the gun and shotgun with an evil glare. She knew time itself was going to turn with her, no matter what.

With a last look at Avidan, she departed, heading to Midgar. Nothing was going to change her mind of reference. All of this was her fault and it was going to be the end of the war. Her thoughts focused on this more than anything. A feeling then stopped her. A vibrating feeling was soft against her chest. It was Avidan's phone. Alyssa skimmed the caller ID seeing it was Cloud's number, it displayed his name. Alyssa felt her own heart sink. What was she going to tell Cloud? Nothing came to her, silence. Something was telling her to say it in person. Any more interruptions then it would become more of an issue it already was. Her has trembled softly as she pocketed to phone. With a deep sigh, Alyssa continued through the grassland and traveled through the wasteland, heading to Midgar.

Cloud stared at his phone disgusted. Why aren't you answering your phone, Avidan. What's going on?

The battlefield turned into a living hell. Companions suffered and enemies fell. Some of the Keepers have died and have been willing to give up what was left of their life. Cloud's companions tried the best they could to assist, but no matter which way it would turn, someone ended up suffering. Overall, everything was happening too fast. One by one someone collapsed. The battle was soon going to be lost with the looks of it.

Cloud continued charging what was left of Sephiroth's army- blocking attacks and slicing through them. Gunshots, clinging swords and sound of agony had Cloud push on with the courage. He wanted to stop this pointless battle, All the pain that was caused was for nothing. With every attack, it enraged Cloud to continue.

"Cloud!" A voice calls out as a couple of swordsmen were brought down. "Sephiroth is just ahead. Let's finish this!"

Cloud noticed it was Tifa. "Tifa, back me up, I'm going after Sephiroth!"

With those last words, Cloud ran after Sephiroth as Tifa held off the silvers. Cloud was feeling anger and desperation at the same time. Silence soon fell as his eyes scanned the empty wasteland.

Gripping his sword tightly, Cloud screamed. "Sephiroth where are you?"

"You understand so little, Cloud. With Alyssa's help I will become a God... she will become a Goddess. Alyssa will have no memory what so ever."

Cloud turned around by the sound of his voice and backed up swiftly before anything would happen. "Sephiroth, I won't let you manipulate her any longer-" He got straight to the point, "- all ready you have done too much. Would you want to forget that there are people who care for her?"

"Would you want her to remember that she was created like me in every way? All the experiments... all the pain... all the misery. Would you want her to remember that it was her own father that used her for Mother's plan?"

"Plan? What plan? There was NEVER a plan! Alyssa was used for all the wrong reasons! Her father... I believe he never knew what she went through!" Cloud yells.

Sephiroth laughed hearing those words. "If you wish to believe that, very well. Alyssa was meant to be part of something more great than this pathetic life."

Cloud was feeling his anger burn inside like an everlasting flame. He rushed after Sephiroth, clashing swords. No words could express what he was feeling. With every thought, with every movement, Cloud felt his rage, his pain building. With every swing, he grew faster, stronger. Sephiroth blocked every attack as if it was nothing. He then pulled away as Cloud was pushed.

Flashes if the sound of their swords filled the air. Every moment count, Cloud was sometimes even lucky to dodge Sephiroth's attack at times. Cloud was caught off balance a few times, but quickly regained his footing, even returning a few attacks. Sephiroth then stopped, inches away from Cloud's face. Cloud shot a glare, fighting him off. Sephiroth ignored his gestures and snatched Cloud's throat. Cloud felt himself choking, wanting to breathe. The grip was tightening as Sephiroth began to enjoy Cloud's gasping and struggling.

With an unforgettable laugh, Sephiroth smirked. "No more shall you try. No more will you live."

Cloud kept trying to struggle free. The only thing he could focus on was the pain that Sephiroth was causing. The grip was then loosening, a gunshot was heard from afar and a familiar voice called out Cloud's name.

"Let him go, Sephiroth! You have no right to kill him. I'm the one you want!"

Cloud was dropped to the rubble underneath his feet. Sephiroth looked back at who was calling. It was Alyssa. She had Avidan's handgun out, pointing for a head shot. Sephiroth couldn't believe his eyes. He examined her determined look in her eyes to kill him. Anger was overtaking her thoughts.

"Alyssa, it's a pleasure to see you again." Sephiroth says.

"Lay down your sword and I'll spare your life." Alyssa offers.

Sephiroth chuckles. "Why would I do such a thing fo-"

A bullet was shot through Sephiroth's left shoulder. "The next shot won't miss." Her words remarked what Avidan said a while back.

"Traitor!" Sephiroth screams, running at her with his sword.

Alyssa pushed off a nearby ruined building, drawing her sword and clashing her sword with Sephiroth's. Cloud watched only for a couple of seconds before he decided to help. Alyssa was caught by Cloud right before she fell back. Cloud gave a nod and rushed after Sephiroth. Alyssa balanced on a piece on metal as Cloud rushed after Sephiroth, making their way through Midgar. She ran after them, knowing Cloud needed help. Battle taunts were heard and Alyssa saw that with every word that was said, Cloud was taking them harshly. It was as if Sephiroth was planning to drain Cloud's energy, but Cloud wasn't going to give in so easily. Cloud was knocked back into Alyssa and she was now laying on the ground. Cloud helped her up with a concerned look.

Alyssa gave a nod. "I know what you're going to say, but I don't want to. I want Sephiroth dead, Cloud. I want him out of my life..."our" lives. That's why I'm fighting here too,"

Alyssa exchanged her weapons, putting away the handgun and sword, drawing Avidan's shotgun. Cloud refocused his thoughts and jumped off after Sephiroth once more. He was watching as Alyssa was starting to cast magic at the same time she shot a bullet. Cloud then gracefully combined his skills with Alyssa's attack, educing the power in his sword. He took his sword, combining the magic with his own strength performing Finish Touch, making his attack twice as strong.

Sephiroth was pushed to the ground and smacked down hard upon the streets. Cloud lands, just being inches away. Sephiroth rose to his feet and laughed. Cloud felt his anger once again take his thoughts. Alyssa was immediately there as they started battling again. She then stops, putting away Avidan's shotgun. Her eyes kept track, watching as Cloud blocked every attack.

It's your fight, Cloud. Finish him off. Alyssa thought.

"I won't let you take her!" Cloud assures, gathering all his anger and rage.

Sephiroth was then taken by surprise as Cloud did a movement that was out of blind fury. His legs jumped back, pushing Sephiroth away. Everything was happening so fast to the point where there was only flashes of white light. Cloud was now doing his Omni-Slash. Every move was swiftly made, knocking Sephiroth off focus and collapsing to the ground. Cloud was now standing over Sephiroth with his sword at his neck.

"Alyssa deserves better than you. She deserves a better life." Cloud says in a normal tone.

Sephiroth laid on the ground, looking up at Cloud's determined look. "I will get her, Cloud. I WILL FIND HER!" His last breath was slowly let out and his body grew lifeless.

Rain started pouring down through the sunny sky. Cloud backed off and watched as Sephiroth was floating away, becoming part of the Lifestream. Cloud looks over at Alyssa. She stood there, with nothing to say except with a worried look. Cloud and Alyssa both met half way, walking up to each other.

Alyssa's eyes were focused on Cloud. "Is it over?"

Cloud gave a confident nod, saying nothing. Alyssa wrapped her arms around Cloud as he did the same. She laid her head against his chest. He said nothing, noticing that Alyssa felt relieved, but at the same time upset. Cloud held her close, sharing her pain. There was nothing to say at the moment. All they needed was just to hold each other... just to be there.

Alyssa took a deep breath after a little while. "I'm glad it's over."

"Yeah." Cloud responds. "Everything will be all right."