Part Thirteen

The Sorceress Battle

Deling City

The Clock Tower

It was supposed to be a simple mission. The SeeD and their new group led by Sora reached Deling City before the Sorceress Parade could begin. General Caraway had explained that they would need to split up into two groups for the mission to succeed. Squall and Irvine made up the Sniper Team while Quistis, Zell and Selphie made up the Gate Team.

With the arrival of Seifer and his group Caraway had to make adjustments to the plan. In the end the groups were as follows: Squall, Irvine, Seifer and Ienzo for the Sniper Team. Quistis, Zell, Selphie for the Gate Team and Riku, Sora, Baralai and Roxas for the Extraction Team.

Once the Sorceress died they would need a quick escape route and the Extraction Team was to ensure that. Rinoa had been ordered to stay in the mansion by Caraway. It turned out the man was her father and the two had a very frosty relationship as it was.

Squall could only grit his teeth as father and daughter argued. In the end Seifer got their attention by melting the glass snow globe on Caraway's desk. The tall blond went on to explain that he possessed a new GF and he was still slightly volatile. Rinoa had been left behind in the end and Squall was now sitting in the Clock Tower with Irvine, Ienzo and Seifer.

Getting to the tower had not been a walk in the park. Rinoa had been captured by the Sorceress and almost eaten alive by two Chimeras created by the Sorceress. Squall had mentally admonished the girl when she explained what she had done.

She thought that the Odine Bangle could've stopped a woman as powerful as the Sorceress. The Odine Bangle was supposed to be able to act as a buffer and stop the Sorceress from using her magic. Rinoa was now with Squall and the others on the top of the tower waiting for the float to pass through the gate.

Finally the gate came crashing down and the Sorceress was locked inside. The crowd started screaming and running around in a frantic mess. Irvine perched the sniper rifle on the edge of the balcony and peered through the scope.

Seifer, Ienzo and Rinoa stood near the edge of the tower, their eyes fixed on the float carrying the Sorceress and her Knights. Squall glanced from the float to Irvine and he could hear his heart thundering within his chest. Once Irvine took the shot this would all be over. It was at that moment everything fell to pieces.

The sniper fell to his knees, his breathing laboured and his grip on the rifle loosening. He said he couldn't pull the trigger, he was sorry but he couldn't do it. Ienzo and Rinoa looked at one another in shock while Squall yelled at Irvine to shoot her already.

The cowboy just shook his head in misery. If Squall had glanced towards Seifer maybe he would've seen the pained look on the blond's face. His jade eyes turned back to the Sorceress trapped within the gate and he felt his heart crack apart. How could someone like her become such an evil woman?

Do you think you should tell Squall the truth? Axel questioned softly.

What good would that do? Besides it doesn't matter anymore. She's the enemy now. Seifer sent back.

I feel bad for you man. She was like your mother. Axel sighed.

I can't think about that. But I appreciate you trying to cheer me up. Seifer sent back with sincerity.

So are you ever gonna tell Leonhart about that little incident pre-Shiva? Axel teased with grin.

You keep out of my memories. Seifer warned with heat in his tone.

Hey you keep throwing them up for me to watch. Not that they aren't entertaining. Axel grinned.

You're in a very perky mood. Seifer growled lowly. It looks like Roxas had a good effect on you.

I don't think the cowboy can do it. Axel snorted, very deliberately changing the subject.

Just as Axel said that the cowboy in question finally stood up and stared down the scope again. Squall had very calmly convinced him to pull the trigger and end the life of an evil woman before she could do anymore damage. Zexion and Seifer held their breath when Irvine pulled the trigger and the bullet flew towards its intended target.

For a split second Squall believed that this was it, the ends of the mission and another Sorceress. As the bullet whizzed towards the gate the Sorceress raised her hand and a thick bubble-like shield emerged around her body. The bullet slammed into the shield and a smile spread across her features.

Squall swore as the people below screamed and ran for cover in fear of more bullets suddenly being fired. The shield continued to shimmer around her body, a smile on her face that made her look all the more evil.

Squall glanced down and he noticed a balcony below. He could reach the street from that floor. Glancing to the side he noticed that Seifer had summoned Phoenix. Crimson wings spread out and hands grabbed hold of a sick looking blond. Squall watched as the Phoenix flew off towards the gate with Seifer in his arms.

Ienzo had summoned the Siren and large aquamarine eyes took in the chaos that had engulfed the city. Squall looked at Irvine then Rinoa and he made his decision. After ordering Ienzo and Siren to keep an eye on Rinoa the scarred brunet jumped down onto the balcony below along with Irvine.

They landed in a heap on the marble floor. Squall glanced down into the street then turned to look at the gate when a large fire ball emerged from behind the thick bars. A battle was occurring over there. Squall and Irvine wasted no time in jumping down onto the street below.

The crowd had parted to reveal a long stretch of road that lead directly to the gate. Not bothering to waste another minute the duo took off towards the gate, their weapons drawn for the fight. When they finally reached the broken gate they slipped through the gap made by some sort of weapon and ran towards the float. Fire exploded over head and the sound of someone yelling could be heard. He saw a flash of crimson feathers and knew Seifer was there with his GF.

When Squall reached the top of the float he saw a tall spike haired blond wielding the biggest sword he ever laid eyes on. Seifer was using Hyperion to battle the blue haired Knight. The red haired GF was blasting fireball after fireball towards the Knight with the eye patch. Zell, Selphie and Quistis were lying unconscious near the Sorceress. The third Knight tossed razor sharp cards at another man on the float. This man had long brown hair and was wearing a jacket with a pair of red angel wings on the back. He was also brandishing a Gunblade that looked a lot like Squall's own blade.

"There are two of them?" the Sorceress hissed when she tossed a Bliazzaga spell towards the spiky blond.

"What?" Squall barked. When he spoke the spiky blond stiffened before turning his head.

"Oh my god..." he murmured in utter shock. The blond was, in a word, stunning. His face was smooth, his skin creamy white and those eyes...there was something unnatural about them. "Leon?"

"What is it Cloud?" Leon called out then he turned around and time froze to a halt.

Squall felt his whole body stiffen and his grip on his Gunblade increased. He was staring at his exact double. The eyes, the face, even the scar was the same. The hair was longer and the clothes were different but aside from that they were twins.

Nothing else existed in that span of a few seconds. Squall could only stare at his equally shocked twin. The spell was broken however when Irvine screamed and Squall to duck moments before a large icicle came towards him.

For Seifer seeing the twins wasn't as big a shock as he was expecting. Axel had already given him the head's up about it but it was still Twilight Zone bizarre to actually see two people who were exactly the same.

Seifer had to admit that the spiky blond, Cloud, was an exceptional warrior. That sword of his looked like it could cut through anything. The Sorceress growled then unleashed her ice attack on the two brunets with Gunblades.

It was Cloud who made the first move. He dashed forward, his back exposed to the ice and he cried out when the shard pierced his body. The icicle exited through his right shoulder and blood coated the thick ice shard.

He had had worse injuries than this when he fought Sephiroth but it still hurt like a bitch. Leon gritted his teeth in rage as he watched Cloud stumble to the floor. Turning back he charged towards the Sorceress but his blade stopped when he saw who she was holding.

Sora was in her grasp. Her long nails were dragging along his neck drawing blood and cries from the boy. Riku and Roxas were also there but the Sorceress had imprisoned them in bubble-like shields. Riku was screaming at the woman to let Sora go. Leon felt his heart leap into his throat. Seifer and the Phoenix had stopped fighting when they saw who the Sorceress had. A smile graced her features as she sliced into Sora's skin and Riku howled in pure rage.

"Did you honestly think you could defeat me?" she said triumphantly.

"Let him go you bitch." Leon hissed out.

"You are in no position to make threats. I see and know everything. I am the Sorceress and now I want you to come with me." She declared.

"Ahh..." Cloud gasped as he tore the ice from his body.

"I should also mention that I laced that shard with poison of the highest level." She smiled sickeningly. "Unless I give him the cure your friend will die in less than an hour."

"No..." Leon stumbled back towards Cloud.

"Surrender to me or someone will die tonight." The Sorceress demanded calmly.

"You're not invincible after all Keyblade Master." Saix snarled. "Even with your friends you still lost."

"Leon!" Sora cried out.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Riku raged on in his prison. "I swear I'll make you beg for death."

"What an amusing child." The Sorceress smiled. "So what is your answer?"

"Don't hurt them." Leon said quickly. "We surrender."

"What?" Squall growled out.

"I won't let Sora get hurt and Cloud needs help." Leon barked out.

"Excellent." The Sorceress laughed and Leon silently prayed that he was doing the right thing. Squall swore but he hoped that Ienzo, Rinoa and the Siren were still out there.

Their fate rested with them now.