One To End It All
My sword beside me,
Bloodied and broken,
My enemy above me,
Triumphant and spoken.
Tifa's shoes squeaked as she landed, twisting gracefully to dodge what could've been a deadly blow from the large sword. Flipping backwards, lashing out with her feet, she dealt two kicks to his chest before retreating. She twisted as he retaliated, bringing his sword down and sweeping it out in an arc where her head had been. The kicks seemed not to have affected him, as he charged on again. She ducked as his sword embedded itself in the wall beside of her head. She leaned back, and he lashed out with his own foot, pinning her to the wall. Tifa winced as the sword squealed through the metal, plowing a track towards her head.
Cloud jumped back, landing on his feet. They had cut their way from the control room, resulting in a shower of sparks, and the backup lights now flickered on and off. Cloud raised his sword to defend himself as the hybrid faced him. The hybrid made another charge towards Cloud. He had regained his composure it seemed, but there was still a wild look in his eye. Plowing towards Cloud, the hybrid twisted his sword up, making Cloud jump back yet again, before striking at the hybrid with Zack's rusted sword. The swords screamed in protest as they met, and Cloud glared at the hybrid before pushing himself away. The hybrid stood away from him for a moment, poised and ready. It reminded Cloud of Sephiroth too much. Even the hybrid's sword resembled that of Masamune, only he could tell it was shorter. His mind flicked to Nanaki and Tifa, wondering whether or not they had gotten out. It seemed the hybrid took this chance to attack, noticing that Cloud's attention had been stolen away once again. Charging forward, Cloud went to raise his sword up to block, the hybrid aiming for Cloud's head.
Tifa brought out her forearm, using it to knock Zac's foot away from her shoulder, before ducking, the sword sweeping above her head a second later. She reached out, grabbing the hilt, surprising the hybrid, and used it to lever herself as she kicked out again. Zac's hands released the hilt, and he was knocked into the wall opposite. He sat there for a moment against the crumpled wall as Tifa pulled herself up.
"Even if you do get past me, do you think you can kill my brother?" He asks with a small chuckle.
Tifa didn't want to think of the consequences if either her or Cloud failed. The hybrid stood slowly, dusting himself off, bringing up his eyes in a menacing glare. Tifa met his look with narrowed and determined eyes.
"Nothing will stop me."
"Even death?"
"Even death."
He laughs again, taking a step closer.
"Then get ready." He stated simply, and Tifa went into a defensive stance as he moved closer.
Tifa kept her back to the sword, knowing she'd have a chance to end this quicker if she kept his sword from his hands. She could've took it for herself, but she knew that would only make matters worse. The hybrid increased his speed, throwing a punch at her. She easily blocked, bringing him forward and slamming an elbow into his back, before kneeing him in the gut. The hybrid's air escaped through his lips, and he rolled away onto the floor away from her. He moved quickly up again, recovering much more quickly than Tifa anticipated. He launched himself from the floor, getting a punch in, hitting the left side of Tifa's face. She jerked back quickly, blocking a number of other punches and kicks. Throwing in a kick of her own, the hybrid caught her right foot, holding to his side. She bent her left knee, crouching low for a half second before launching herself up, bringing her right foot around, and striking the side of Zac's face. He released her foot instantaneously, and she landed, crouched, turning quickly to face him. He was slower getting up, and Tifa frowned. He was still getting up, and that was the problem.
Cloud blocked the blow clumsily, his sword flying up above his head, leaving him open, and the hybrid took his chance. Cloud twisted away as much as he could, but the sword still pierced his left arm, and the hybrid twisted the sword as it plunged deep through Cloud's flesh. Cloud grimaced, his arm burning, and hefted his sword back under control with his right hand. He brought it down in a quick movement, but the hybrid was already gone. Cloud grimaced, grasping the sword again with his left hand as well, but much more loosely. The hybrid gave him no time for recovery as he charged yet again. Cloud blocked again, his sword bouncing around dangerously. He fought to control it more after each blow the hybrid dealt. That's when he caught him off guard. As Cloud blocked another blow from the sword, the hybrid lashed out with his foot, kicking Cloud's feet from beneath him. Cloud landed harshly on the metal floor with a muted grunt, before rolling away from the sword that plunged into the ground. Cloud twisted himself up, only to find another onslaught. He dodged and blocked again and again, and every few times, the hybrid broke through Cloud's defenses, though Cloud could not break any of his. Cloud realized grimly that the hybrid was wearing him down, slowly but surely.
Cloud brought his sword up with a new determination, and as the hybrid brought his attacks on again, Cloud was ready, and managed to break the hybrid's defenses. Blocking one of his blows, he threw the hybrid off balance, driving his sword towards the hybrid's now exposed body. The hybrid was caught off guard, and Cloud's sword grazed the hybrid's side. The hybrid retreated quickly, clutching at his side where blood ran freely. The hybrid raised his eyes, glaring up in an anger Cloud had yet to see. Cloud swallowed, feeling as if things were about to get much more dangerous.
He was right.
The hybrid moved so quickly, he barely had time to react to the attack. Once again, the sword aimed for his head, Cloud tried to move, but the tip of the blade bit into his flesh. It marked him forever from the tip of his forehead, down across to the edge of his left eyebrow. Cloud brought a hand up to his head, trying to staunch the bleeding. He winced as the hybrid was moving again, and tried to bring his sword up. Cloud tried to blink the blood that ran into his eyes away, but the hybrid was behind him now and dealt a crippling blow. His sword sliced into the back of Cloud's right knee, and Cloud crumpled onto the ground, trying to hold himself up. Shaking his head, and blinking furiously, Cloud's eyes darted up to search for the form of the hybrid. He didn't have to search long though.
The hybrid was standing right before him, the tip of his sword resting on his left shoulder.
Tifa dodged another blow as Zac charged at her again. It seemed the more she damaged Zac, the more he was determined to win, and came at her with a fierce determination set in his eyes. Her mind flickered to Cloud, and she wondered how long they had left. The base had shuddered a few times since their battle had ensued, and she was growing nervous. The hybrid sensed her distraction, and charged again. This time it was he who did the damage. Slamming his fists into her ribs, she crumpled up, knocking into the wall behind her. Before she had time to recover, he was pinning her to the wall with his body. She winced, her ribs bruised and possibly broken. She felt his breath hot on her cheek, and she shrank up against the wall. Thoughts of just giving up entered her head, and a tear leaked from her eye.
No Tifa, don't give up...he needs you.
The voice radiated in her head, and she gasped, recognizing it immediately. Tifa flashed her eyes to the hybrid. His grip had loosened, and his eyes were squeezed shut, as if battling within himself. Tifa took her chance, head butting him in a rather ungraceful way, before kicking out with her foot, driving Zac back even farther. Tifa looked to her side, something catching her vision. Tifa walked over to it swiftly, with a determined air about her. She reached out, grabbing the hilt of it as she yanked it swiftly from the wall. Turning back, she saw Zac looking up at her with wide eyes, his hands clutched to the side of his head.
However she felt no mercy for the seemingly distraught hybrid as she advanced on him, holding in the large sword tightly in her hand.
Cloud starred up at the hybrid as the blood flowed freely from his wounds. The hybrid stared back, almost as if questioning killing Cloud. Cloud focused on what he still had going for him. Tifa and Nanaki should be out by now; the base was sinking and taking all the experiments with it; he still had Zack's sword gripped loosely in his right hand. Staring up at the hybrid, Cloud wondered if he would really die at the hands of a man who was actually a part of him. Cloud hadn't given much thought of death since the Geostigma incident. He had wanted to die for so long after Meteor, and after defeating Sephiroth for a second time, he saw what he truly had before him. For the first time, Cloud was fearing death. He wasn't ready to leave Denzel and Marlene behind. He wasn't ready to say goodbye to the former AVALANCHE. He wasn't ready to see Aerith and Zack again. He wasn't ready to accept the fact that his and Tifa's goodbye had been their last. He wasn't ready to leave her alone again. He desperately wanted to see her, and wanted to try having a child again, and he wasn't ready to let that hope go. Gripping the sword tighter as the hybrid stood, lost in his own thoughts, Cloud brought his sword up quickly, knocking the blade away from him. It sent the hybrid into an anger though, and before he knew it, the hybrid was gripping him from behind, the blade of his sword pressed against Cloud's neck. Cloud stood breathless for a moment, Zack's sword clattering to the ground.
Tifa didn't watch as the blade sank into the hybrid's skin. She kept her eyes on his, though, trying not to think of the fact she was killing someone who resembled Zack so much. She left the bloodied sword sticking out of his chest where he slumped up against a wall, and continued down the hall. She walked slowly at first, in shock of what just happened, but the base shuddered violently, and she felt a sense of urgency returning to her weary limbs. She went into a flat out run heading down a hallway she vaguely recognized, and praying she wasn't too late.
As she sped past the control room, she noted the deep gashes in the walls and floor left by Cloud and the hybrid's battle. She bit back the fear, pushing onwards, following the marks, until she at last came to a large opening. That's when she spotted them, and the fear slammed back into her chest making her gasp before she screamed out.
"Cloud!"
Cloud stood as still as possible as the hybrid's blade rested against his neck. He swallowed, the cool metal gracing his skin lightly.
"You're foolish." The hybrid stated.
"I'd rather die a fool than live as a coward."
The hybrid let out a mocking laugh, the blade inching away from Cloud's neck a bit, allowing him a bit of breathing room. Immediately thoughts of Tifa returned to Cloud, and his hand brushed against something in his pocket. His eyes widened in shock, his hand gripping against the handle of Tifa's small blade. Inching it slowly out, the hybrid resumed his speech.
"Don't you want to die? Isn't that what you were trying to pull so long ago? Why didn't you let Sephiroth take you that day?"
"I'd been changed."
"Hmph...by that foolish woman? Honestly what do you expect from that tramp?"
Cloud fought to remain calm as the blade slipped from the confines of his pocket.
"She's probably dead by now...along with that bestial creature."
"Shut up."
"I don't think you're in any position to be issuing commands."
"You think wrong."
The hybrid gives his mocking laugh again, moving the blade closer to Cloud's neck in preparation to kill him. The hybrid's laughter was cut off though, changing to a forced gurgle as Cloud plunged Tifa's blade into the hybrid's neck. He buried it up to the hilt, and the hybrid released the sword, sending it to the ground as he clutched his neck. Twisting Cloud around, the hybrid grabbed his neck with one hand, squeezing Cloud's throat. Cloud retaliated, kneeing the hybrid in the gut with his good leg. The hybrid released him, and Cloud fell, his right leg giving out. Crumpling up on the floor, he watched as the hybrid grasped at his throat, falling down to his knees. The hybrid writhed about for a few moments, the blood pouring from his wound as he yanked the blade from his throat. Cloud watched confused, since the hybrid had only accelerated his death. Grasping the blade weakly, the hybrid drug himself towards Cloud, determined to kill him. Cloud slid back slowly, but the hybrid collapsed short of him, his hand still clutching the blade. Resting on his knees, Cloud summoned his remaining strength, trying to push himself up with weak arms. He fell to his elbows, though, and pressed his forehead to the cool metal floor, the base shuttering again.
"Cloud!" Tifa screamed.
Cloud frowned, thinking of how much blood he must've lost. He gasps though, when he feels her hands grasp his face, tipping it up gently. She gazes upon him with such sadness in her eyes. Ripping part of her shirt, she tied off the cuts on his leg and arm quickly. Her eyes met his again, and she kissed him swiftly.
"Oh...oh Cloud..." She whispered, slipping an arm beneath his.
She stood shakily, pulling him to his feet.
"We have to get out of here." She said, dragging him towards the door.
Cloud put as much effort into it as he could as she drug him from the room. Using her as support, Cloud hobbled along. As the base shuddered again, Cloud felt his second wind coming on, and he urged forward. He and Tifa managed a steady jog, making their way awkwardly up stairs as the base shuddered more and more.
"Then they're both dead." Tifa stated quietly as she pulled him down another hall.
Cloud glanced at her surprised. So she had killed him then. That would explain the blood on her shirt and skin. Cloud recognized the hallway, pulling her towards the door that had led him in here. It was jammed, and Tifa kicked it, denting it once. Glancing around, he spotted a ladder. Yanking Tifa towards it, he pushed her up onto it, and began to follow quickly. As they neared the top, Tifa spied a hatch. Glancing down at Cloud she frowned.
"We may already be under water."
"We have to try." He croaked, speaking for the first time.
Tifa nodded once, wrapping her legs securely around the ladder, Cloud steadying her with his hand as much as he could. She twisted the hatch's lock, and then pushed with her shoulder, the hatch squeaking open. No water rushed in, and she pushed it all the way back before climbing out, reaching back in to help Cloud. They were on the very top of the base, their eyes cast out about them, the early night wind chilling them.
"Just barely made it." Tifa smiled.
It was true. The base seemingly sunk slow. It shuddered again, and the space left decreased as water rushed up.
"How are we going to get off?" Cloud asked.
"I sent Nanaki..."
"He won't be back in time..."
"Cloud..."
"I can't swim, Teef..." He stated staring off into the distance. "Go."
"No!"
He looked at her, sadness in his eyes but did not protest. Instead he pulled her into his arms as the base in the ocean shuddered again.
o
O
o
Yuffie leaned over the railing of the boat as the spotlights shined into the water. Vincent joined her at the railing.
"Well?" She asked, her voice anxious.
"They haven't found anything yet..."
"That doesn't mean anything!"
"Yuffie...there are no tracks on the beach, even though Nanaki's are still there...it isn't looking good." He stated softly.
"You lie! They're okay! They're okay!" She shouted as she burst into tears.
Cid was cursing in the background, swearing there was something caught in his eye. Barret was clinging to Marlene and Denzel, while a soaked Nanaki paced the boat restlessly.
"They had to get out! They just had to!" Yuffie sobbed, balling up onto the ground of the ship. Vincent cast his eyes out over the dark water one last time.
A/N: that was the last chapter...MUHAHAHAHA...but I will be giving an epilogue...I really debated on cutting this one into two...it's super long...but I decided against it...I felt it'd ruin the flow...anyways...I liked dividing up the fights...I think it's more interesting that way...and you have to wait in suspense to see if they'll die...muhahaha! Oh! and one last thing...the poem is from a poem I wrote a while back. Thanks for Reviews!