Disclaimer: Nothing in reference to Final Fantasy VII or Kingdom Hearts II belongs to me. They all belong to Square Enix, the producers of the Final Fantasy series.


Honor of the Rising Sun

Chapter 8

The Man with One Wing

Rain couldn't believe what he's hearing. After years of being told that the Dark Templar is responsible for their deaths, and now he's hearing that a man described to have one wing is responsible for his parents' death and the fall of Clan Delta.

"Shultz, why is it that you didn't tell me? What reason is it that you implanted false information into the story? Hell, what the hell's going on here?"

Shultz couldn't answer as he began to cough heavily from the sickness that he has. However, Nikolai stepped forward and began to speak. "Rain, it's because he and my deceased sister were given orders to not speak of this day until the time came that you should be given this information."

Rain got out of his chair and turned to face Nikolai with a confused look. "Nikolai…how does your sister know?"

"My sister was a part of Clan Delta as a new recruit. I'm sure you didn't notice since there were only two ninjas that were a part of the clan. My sister was a newly recruited Archer. New recruit Archer Kalira…"

Shultz spoke up, wishing to continue with what he wanted to tell Rain. "Rain…I'm…ssorry that…I couldn't…ssave…your parentss. I…disshonored…the clan…and…my own…name."

Rain turned back to Shultz, noticing that his condition is worsening. "Shultz…you didn't dishonor anyone. You were given orders…and that's all that matters."

"But…I…should've…went…againsst orderss. Then…maybe…your parentss…would've been…ssaved."

Rain couldn't decide what to do, whether to try to forgive him in his parents' place or to ignore it all. However, he thought of something else to be sure of how he should treat Shultz's decision. "Shultz…if you can…will you tell me everything that happened?"

Shultz looked to Rain with heavy eyes, knowing that this would be hard on Rain. However, a request from the son of Clan Delta's leaders is a request he must fulfill. "Rain…lissten clossely…and…you'll undersstand…why I've…disshonored…the clan."

Shultz began to tell Rain how it all happened as the memories from that day replayed from his mind.

"It…wass a dark day…ssix yearss ago. Many clanss…ssupported Clan Delta…but were killed…in…the process…while we…invaded…the Jagd region. We…paid…our respectss…to them…as ssoon as we…entered…the Jagd. However…we didn't…have time to…mourn…ssince our first priority…iss to…destroy…the Dark Templar…and…sstop their reign…of terror. However…all of that…wass interrupted…by one man."

Arriving at the Central Plaza, the clan looked around; making sure that what the residents of the Jagd are saying isn't true. Rumors have been spreading that a man is in the central plaza with a barrier around a wide area. Kline Sagarouso, leader of Clan Delta, and Isabel Zamoreta-Sagarouso, Priestess of Clan Delta, decided to investigate the area thoroughly. The other members kept close just in case someone does come out.

Kline has that gut feeling as he can sense a powerful energy source, and spoke to his wife. "Issabel…do you ssense anything?"

Isabel began to speak, noting about the barrier rumor. "I do sense a large area of this plaza in a barrier. It's like they said: 'The barrier covers a large area.' However, I didn't think it'd cover the area as far as nearly half the plaza."

Before they could investigate further, an ear piercing shriek that followed the sound of metal cutting flesh filled the area. Everyone looked over to where the source came from as a body fell to the ground. One of the Viera Snipers was attacked from behind as her body lie in a pool of blood. As the clan looked to see the source, a man clad in black with long silver hair stood atop of the structure as he held in his left hand a long sword resembling a katana dripping with the blood of the Viera he just killed. He jumped down to ground level, and stood there, staring straight at Kline and Isabel.

Kline stepped forward, readying his Bangaa Spike. "You!"

Before he could attack, the rest of the clan began to attack the man, or at least try to. As soon as they could get even within a few feet, the man gave one swing of his sword, and five of the members on the front line have fallen. After seeing that, the other members stood there in shock as the man brought the seven foot sword back for another strike. The clan members began to run, but another three were struck from behind as they fell to the ground lifeless as well. The two Ninjas that are a part of the clan both stopped, as they tried to hold off the man. However, one of their efforts is a failure as she was immediately impaled onto the man's sword. The other Ninja did manage to put up a fight, but the man found a weakness right away in the Ninja's tactics and exploited it by dodging one of his attacks and impaling him onto the sword from behind. One of the archers, a new recruited female who is the daughter to the two Ninjas, fired an arrow using her Faster ability. However, that failed as the man caught the arrow with ease and threw it aside. All of the other members on ground level began to charge in as well, yet Kline and Isabel tried to stop the other members from charging in.

"No! Retreat! Don't attack!"

However, his order came in too late as half of the remaining 22 members of Clan Delta that are on ground level were killed there. And because of that one strike that killed all of those members, the others began to retreat again, this time in full retreat as Kline called. In the process, however, seven more members were killed, leaving the remaining three members on ground level to retreat back with the sniping group as they began to make their retreat. However, the Defender, Shultz, stayed behind with Kline and Isabel. Looking to see the progression of the retreat, he can see that all but one member left. The young new recruit is on her knees, crying after witnessing her parents' death.

Kline spoke up to Shultz, giving him his final orders, "Shultz; take the new recruit and Issabel out of here! I'll take him on mysself."

"But…Commander Ssagarousso-"

"I ssaid retreat!"

Isabel turned to her husband, knowing that this would be a dangerous task. "But…you must come with us! You don't stand a chance against him!"

"One of uss hass to die to give cover for the rest! As the clan leader, I musst be the one to do sso!"

Kline began to proceed forward, holding his Bangaa Spike in his right hand. He has never seen such a powerful enemy before, nor has he seen his clan fall this quickly. Even after recovering their strength earlier, his clan still lost horribly to this one man. He knew that he had to do something, and he decided to take this fight to the death using whatever tricks he has up his sleeve still. He took one glance back, seeing that they only retreated to the point where the new recruit is posted, or at least where she's supposed to be posted. He refocused to the man in front of him, challenging him.

"Whoever you are, I won't take you sslaughtering my clan as a way to mock me!"

The man merely grinned and said, "You will be a worthy challenge. I am a man like no other. I would like to fight you, seeing as your clan was no challenge."

Kline readied himself and said, "Well, we'll see how well you do once I besst you in battle!"

Kline charged in quickly, trying to take him by surprise. However, once their weapons locked, Kline can see the man didn't change his expression. Kline took one step back, yet that put him in a bad position as the man began to make his assault. Swift and powerful strikes kept coming at him one after the other as he kept blocking and parrying the man's attacks, yet with great difficulty. Kline found one small opening and took the initiative to make his move. He quickly charged his fist with energy and thrust his fist down for a gut wrenching point blank Air Render. However, Kline didn't feel an impact as he could see that the man isn't in front of him anymore. Instead, the man is in the air, plunging down at him with his sword out in a stabbing position. Kline jumped out of the way and began to make an assault pattern of his own. However, the assault pattern that he's using proved to be ineffective as the man merely blocked every single strike effortlessly. The man blocked one more strike and swiftly flung his sword at Kline, which sent Kline flying into the air. This, however, gave Kline an opportunity to use one of his attacks.

"Thiss will be the end for you!"

Kline began to charge his fist with energy as he came down fast. "FINAL HEAVEN!"

As he struck at the man, a crater follow the attack as a cloud of dust covered the five foot diameter crater that followed the attack. Shultz and Isabel couldn't tell the battle situation, and yet, Shultz wants to pull Isabel and the new recruit away from the battlefield.

Shultz turned to Isabel. "Priesstess Issabel, we musst leave now!"

"I can't leave my love behind. And I won't leave him, regardless of what he says. Take Kalira out of here."

"But-"

Isabel turned to Shultz with a sharp look in her eye. "Shultz, I'm speaking on behalf of your commander! Leave at once!"

Shultz couldn't bear to leave behind the people that he has to protect, but he also can't go against direct orders either. He made the dire choice to take his orders and leave. He took the young archer and slung her over his shoulder before taking off. However, as he managed to make his retreat, he also felt something as he made it to the 20 foot mark from where he was standing previously. He looked back, seeing that there was a barrier. He didn't see it earlier when they arrived there, but what he's looking at now isn't the barrier, but what's inside the barrier. He can see that the man is still alive and well as he floated in the air. Isabel, on the other hand, stayed as she looked towards Kline.

Kline couldn't stand after the assault that he pulled as the man managed to escape at the last second. Kline would've expected the shockwave of the blast to at least affect the man. However, that didn't go as planned. Kline has but one attack that he can use that's extremely effective against one target. He decided to use his trump card as it's his only option.

"If you won't die, then how about taking a bite at one of my attackss!"

The man still stood there; however, his look seems more of a bored look. "So far, I'm not impressed, but I would like to see this 'attack' of yours."

Kline knows that this man is being overconfident about his strength. Yet, the perception of the man's strength may be true as well. He had no choice but to use the attack.

"If you want to see it, then I'll show it to you first hand!"

Kline took one step back, spinning his Bangaa Spike behind him as he kept charging his strength. The man, even though he could just end it now, would much rather see this attack. Kline finally built up the energy needed for his attack, and began to unleash his most powerful Limit Break. A Limit Break that has been called Trinity Limit for reasons unknown. Kline flew straight towards the man and began to strike with continuous chained attacks as the man couldn't block these attacks. After fifteen consecutive strikes, Kline veered back and finished his Limit Break with a lunging strike that went through the man. Kline dropped back to the ground, satisfied that he managed to strike at the man for once, knowing that no one has ever survived that Limit Break before. He dropped to one knee, heaving as he used every ounce of strength that was left in his body for that one attack. However, at the last second, he felt the man's presence behind him, yet he also felt something else that went into his back and through his chest. Kline barely looked down, seeing the blade of the man's long sword.

"…H…how?"

The man pulled out his sword as Kline's body fell from his crouching position onto his side after losing all feeling and senses. The only thing he could feel before he died was cold.

Isabel couldn't move after seeing that Kline, the most decorated and renowned Templar in Ivalice has been defeated by this man. The man, however, began to take his focus on her. Isabel managed to regain her focus quick enough to realize that the man is charging in at her with his sword back. The man swung down, yet Isabel brought her hands up as she put up a barrier to block the man's attack, which rendered the strike useless. She kept holding the barrier up as the man continued to pound on the barrier. Eventually, she would have to bring it down and somehow manage to escape the man; that is if the barrier is the borderline that the man can travel. However, something happened as she couldn't feel the man pounding on the barrier anymore. At the last possible second, she realized that the man is attacking from behind, the only place that the barrier doesn't cover. She felt the blade of the man's sword impale her from behind as she cried out in a loud shriek of pain. Instead of giving her pity, the man decided to torture her as he picked her up by his sword and held her up while Isabel kept screaming out in pain. The man finally threw her off of his blade with one swift swing as Isabel's body flew to his side. The man merely turned and spoke.

"My time here is done. I have no need of being here. I shall return to my own world now as the time has come for my return. I shall become all powerful, and no one can stop me!"

The man's body began to dissipate as a black angel wing sprouted from his right side. He finally disappeared with the barrier that surrounded the battlefield. Shultz left the traumatized archer there to help Isabel as he can see that she's barely alive.

"Priesstess Issabel!"

Isabel looked up with heavy eyes as her gown is covered in blood. She knows that her wounds are impossible to heal now after what happened to her. Even if she were to be given medical treatment, it'd be too late for her. She has only one request.

"Sh…Shultz…Please…please don't…tell…my son…about this day…until he…learns to…use…Final Heaven. Only…only then…sh-should you…tell him…of…the…arrival…of…th-the…One-Winged…A-Angel."

"…I…I will do sso…P-priesstess…Issabel."

"And…if you can…please…give him…Kline's journals…even…th-the entry…about…the young…Viera…that I…gave birth to…s-so…that…he doesn't…f-feel…alone…in this world."

"…I will do as you ssay…"

As her eyes began to close, a smile on her face is all that remained to shine for her. Even though this does risk many things, she felt that Shultz can be trusted with this information.

"I…I thank you…Great Defender…Shultz Razher…"

With that, Isabel's eyes closed forever as her body became lifeless. Shultz began to shiver from the events that took place, but he has orders to follow. He took the archer with him as the memories that happened here are never to be revealed until the day that they must be revealed. The only thing left now is to hope that the son of Kline Sagarouso is able to become an Ancient Templar and to learn the three Final abilities that have been sought out for so many years. For now, Shultz must remain silent until the day comes when the rise of an Ancient Templar comes.

"Ever ssince…th-that day…however…many…remaining…m-memberss…of…C-Clan Delta…have…been…hunted down…and…killed. I…wass…targeted as well…but…I…had a mission…to complete. But…but if…if I would've…went againsst orderss…th-then…maybe…maybe you're parentss…would be alive. Only…very few…of uss managed…to…esscape. Nikolai'ss ssisster…however…didn't m-make it. Sh-she…didn't die by…the Dark Templar…b-but…by…by ssuicide. However…t-today…only…I remain…as the lasst…existing… member of Clan Delta…who…has knowledge…of that day. And…as of now…only…you and I…are the lasst memberss…of Clan Delta."

Rain could only sit there, knowing that only half of what Shultz said to him before this is true. Clan Delta still had their honor and fought in the war against the Dark Templar; however, the Dark Templar had no involvement in the death of Clan Delta.

Rain couldn't help from staying silent anymore, and said, "Shultz…from what you've told me…you never did dishonor the clan or your name. You only did what you were told."

"B-but-"

"Shultz, I'm speaking on behalf of my parents. You did your job, and you held true to your word."

"…Rain…about…this spell…that they casted on me. It…it's actually healable…but…only…a Priestess…or Ancient Templar…can heal…this…ailment."

"Yet…there isn't any Priestesses left to help…and I'm the only one qualified to be an Ancient Templar…yet I don't have those powers yet."

"It…doesn't matter. I…will be…with your parents…once again. Thank you…for…giving me…my…honor. Take…care of…Becile."

With that, he breathed his last breath. Rain could only sit there, knowing that Shultz now feels better for himself. Giving Shultz his honor is the only thing that allowed him to let go. Rain can hear Becile sobbing with Shultz's death while everyone else waited in silence.

"May you rest in peace…Great Defender Shultz Razher. I promise you, I will bring back the honor that Clan Delta had, and I will avenge them if I ever do encounter this One-Winged Angel."

As Rain stood up, he can still remember the day that Shultz came to him, telling him of the news of Clan Delta's defeat and destruction. Now, he knows why it happened and what caused Shultz to go into hiding for all of these years. Rain grasped his left arm, turned on his heel, and walked away as the last true memories of Clan Delta faded away with Shultz. Now, he must do everything in his power to protect those that he cares for, and for the clan that he's with.

"Even though Clan Nutsy shouldn't have any involvement in this battle, they're more than likely to decide for themselves to help me with my mission to eradicate the Dark Templar…just like they did with the Ancient Templar, the Priestesses, and all of the ancient arts. They are still responsible for that."