Theme: weapon
Characters: Sephiroth, Aeleus/Lexeaus, Braig/Xigbar, Cloud, Squall/Leon

Okay, I know what I said in the previous chapter. But this one is Damion's fault.

Who's Damion? Well, he's a crazy bugger. He's also the brains behind using "Hello World" as a theme, and the one who showed me Seanmonster's comics and Ladychimera's artworks in devaintArt, both of which inspire this chapter. You would know him better as Rogancryd, or Flypipe.

Rated for... -cough-hints-cough-.

"Length," Sephiroth insisted. "It's not a question."

"I insist," Aeleus replied. "Width."

Both turned and stared each other across the room.

"... Length," Sephiroth repeated.

"Width," Aeleus repeated as well.

Then, there was a sudden hush as the General's mighty tool in all its fear-instilling glory was brought forth and displayed.

"Behold, and understand," Sephiroth stated purposefully. "Length."

And then, encouraged by the awed noises in the room, he launched into his explanation.

"When you have length, you can go where others can't, reach into depths that others would find difficult getting to, and do not forget...touch what others would not be able to touch. You have the power of range, of being in control even without being too close. There is a great satisfaction in this length."

Another flash, and all attention diverted to where the Captain of Ansem's Guard rose to his feet. In his hand was his own giant, mighty weapon, as wide in proportion as the General's was long, and when he swung it in open mockery at his opponent, he too earned much appreciative and awed response.

"A man of honor does not need length, but width," Aeleus insisted quietly, even as all eyes stared at the weapon he displayed with such callous regard. "There is honor in not being at a range, but being up close and personal. There is honor in having your presence felt as you make your strike, with each inch forward that you take. And for one who has honor, that is the greatest satisfaction."

Then there was more silence, as the two continued to stare at each other evenly across the room.

Meanwhile, their audience went ignored. Zack was grinning from ear to ear with a weird glint in his eye, apparently finding this whole event incredibly amusing. His juniors, Squall and Cloud, just looked on in confused interest, between their two physical instructors and their grinning senior, wondering what the big fuss was about.

"Perhaps..." the General spoke, his voice low and challenging. "We should demonstrate our point."

"Agreed," replied the Captain, his voice also but a low growl. "After all, it matters not unless you use it."

Zack, not being able to take it any longer, grabbed his gear and made a hasty retreat from the area. Squall and Cloud later heard him laughing uncontrollably in the distance, but neither paid much attention to it. Instead, their focus was on General Sephiroth and Captain Aeleus, who were now circling one another, eyeing each other with a challenge for dominance. It was a tense situation, and a little like a train wreck - something you shouldn't be looking at, but you're gawking openly anyway.

Then there was a noise behind them, and they turned to see someone else enter.

"Well, if it ain't you two. What's you kids still doing, sitting here?"

"It's the General and the Captain, Mr. Braig," Squall explained, pointing back in the direction of the commotion. "They're in the bathhouse settling a debate."

"A debate? Them?" Braig raised a brow. "What on earth would those two debate about?"

"We asked them what should matter most in a weapon, and they haven't decided yet," Cloud supplied usefully.

Suddenly, Braig seemed really interested. "Well I'll be! So that's what's going on. Excuse me, laddies, but there's only one way to settle all this..."

Stepping around the two interested children, Braig entered the soon-to-be battlefield. There was a loud clunk that could only be the older man's belt, and even as Sephiroth and Aeleus' attention went to him, Squall's eyes widened appreciatively as Cloud continued to be very confused.

"Yo check it, y' nancies," Braig declared smugly. "... Multiple rounds."

And then, there was an explosive reaction as the three decided to settle the matter in the most effective way possible, much to the awe of their audience.

"...I think..." Squall finally spoke up, his eyes still wide and staring at the mess before them. "I've found my answer."

"Me, too," Cloud supplied, his own focus trained. "...wow."

Needless to say, when Ansem found out, he was rightly indignant about the three men and their "immature" way of handling the situation, and in front of the impressionable young ones, no less.

It came to no surprise that, shortly afterward, no one was allowed to intentionally display their arsenal within a public bathhouse ever again.

And Zack never did explain what was so terribly funny.

Damion, I owe you big time. You and your quirky sense of humor.

Shadow Cat17: Well, I always figured that Squall might have started early with the computer, if he knows enough to be always around it in Kingdom Hearts II as he is. But as I said, Damion was responsible for the "Hello World!" idea, which I guess I'm thankful for.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, by the way - I have full intention of writing When Keyblades Rust, and hopefully, I'll have it ready soon.