Planetary Crisis

by ShadowKitsune77

Set 1 year after Dirge of Cerberus, life has returned to normal for Cloud and the others until strange creatures appear on the planet claiming that they were sent there by accident. This is my first fanfic, please go easy on me.

30. Castle of Illusion and a Promise Kept

Chapter 30: Castle of Illusion and a Fulfilled Promise

I apologise in advance for the long chapter, in order to avoid eye strain injury please read it in small sections at a time.

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Max stared at Illusion in shock as the Dark Kitsune walked closer to the group. "Illusion…" Max spat the woman's name like a bitter poison as he summoned his sword from his dimension and pointed it at Illusion.

"Are you going to run me through with your sword?" Illusion questioned in a mocking tone. Max growled at Illusion but he said nothing as he continued to point his sword at her. "I wouldn't if I were you, you might make me hurt my guests," Illusion continued as she pointed at Rufus and Pandora.

"You wouldn't…" Max hissed under his breath.

"Try me…" Illusion answered as she smirked evilly at Max. Max glared at Illusion refusing to back down, but then his eyes moved upwards to Pandora who was still floating in the air unconscious.

Max squeezed his eyes shut not wanting to look at Pandora, "damn…she looks so vulnerable…" Max thought sadly to himself still with his eyes shut. "Illusion knows my weakness…and now she's going to use Pandora to get to me…but…if I try any heroics now…Pandora will be…" Max shuddered not wanting to think of what Illusion would do to Pandora if he tried anything. Max opened his eyes again and as he did so his glare softened. He sighed before hanging his head, his arm feel limp to his side before his sword disappeared into his dimension.

"A wise choice," Illusion spoke as her evil grin grew wider. Max still had his head to the floor not looking at Illusion, he didn't want to see the smug grin on her face. Nor did he want to give her the satisfaction. "At a loss for words are we?" She asked mockingly. Max still said nothing, he was breathing deeply trying to remain calm. "Awww…poor little Maxi…" Illusion continued to mock the young Kitsune, "can't even protect the woman he cares about…" Max gritted his teeth as Illusion's words were slowly getting to him. Illusion walked up to Max and placed her hand under his chin and forced his face upwards so that he was looking at her. "You're pathetic you know that…you're weak."

"Don't listen to her Max," Nightshade warned his son. "She wants a reaction from you, don't give her what she wants."

"Yes, listen to me Max," Illusion continued to goad him.

"Let me out so I can tear her limb from limb!" Dark Max's voice echoed in Max's head, Max just ignored his alter ego.

Illusion laughed as she saw Max struggling to keep himself calm, "well I got what I came for. If you want to see Rufus Shinra and your darling wife again, you will do exactly as I say…"

Max glared at Illusion before giving in, "yes…" he whispered quietly.

"There's a good boy," Illusion stated patronisingly. "Oh, and if you thought that destroying the reactors was going to stop me you're wrong. There's more than one way to conquer a planet, and if you'd care to look out the window you will see what I mean."

Everyone walked over to the window and were shocked to see that the sky was filled with purple coloured clouds and numerous purple coloured crystals fell to the ground and transformed into hideous purple armoured monsters. There were also many Dark Kitsune soldiers plus Illusion's necromical army. "Oh no…" Sunny uttered with a gasp, "there's more of them."

"A lot more…" Drogo added as he tried his best to hide his shock.

"We have to do something, otherwise those monsters will destroy everything we tried so hard to rebuild." Cloud stated in a worried tone.

"Well, I'd love to stay and watch the fun, but I have other engagements." Illusion mockingly told the group.

"Illusion!" Max screamed at the woman and dashed towards her but Illusion had already teleported along with her two captives. Max ran passed the place where Illusion was stood a few seconds before and he crashed into the wall.

"Max are you ok?" Tifa asked as she ran over to Max and helped him up.

"Yeah…" Max uttered as he let Tifa help him up, "Pandora…she's gone…" Max stated sadly as he looked over at where she was floating before.

Nightshade walked up to Max, "don't worry son," he tried to reassure Max as he placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "We'll get her back, and Rufus too."

Max looked up at Nightshade, "I thought you weren't one to offer emotional support…" Max stated as he gave Nightshade a questioning look.

"Well you look like you need it right now," Nightshade answered. "I can be caring when I want to be, just don't mention it to the others or you're a dead man."

Max smiled weakly, "there's the father I know and love," he replied as he stood up. "You're right, I can't sit here moping. That's never gonna get Pandora back."

"Don't forget Rufus," Tifa added as she reminded Max of Illusion's other captive.

"And Rufus as well," Max stated as he walked over to the rest of the group. The group heard the sound of an elevator and turned round to see the elevator doors open and they saw Reeve and another person leave the elevator and enter the room. "Reeve…" Max uttered the man's name as he walked over to him. "You're ok."

"Of course," Reeve answered as he smiled at Max. "Thanks to this young lady," Reeve gestured to the person behind him. The person stepped forwards to reveal Shelke, "those strange creatures were attacking everywhere," Reeve explained to the group. "I thought I was a goner for sure but young Shelke here fought bravely against them."

"It was nothing," Shelke replied modestly.

"Don't be so modest Shelke," Reeve told the young girl. "You did well, I always said that I could count on you."

Shelke blushed when she heard Reeve say that, even though a whole year had passed she still wasn't used to people saying that they were counting on her. Nevertheless it gave her a warm feeling inside whenever she heard it. "We're glad you're ok Reeve," Cloud stated as he walked over to the man, "but we have to get you out of this building, it's no longer safe here."

"I know," Reeve replied as he nodded at Cloud.

"Reeve, do you still have the teleportation devices?" Max asked, "It's just that we really need them."

"Don't worry, the teleportation devices are safe." Reeve told Max.

"I have them right here," Shelke replied as she held up a bag. "I managed to grab them before me and Reeve left the workshop."

"So, I guess this means that we're on a rescue mission," Reno stated as he looked at the group.

"It would seem so," Rude responded as he cleaned his shades.

"I'm coming too," Elena decided. "If that's ok," She added as she smiled at Reno.

"Well I dunno," Reno answered in a cheeky manner as he smirked at Elena. "Are you sure you're a good shot with that gun?"

Elena scowled at Reno, "you know I am," she stated in an irritated manner as she placed her hands on her hips. "I saved your ass enough times."

"Hey relax Elena I was kidding," Reno told her. "I just didn't think you'd want to come."

"I can hold my own," Elena told him.

"You're not kidding there," Reno stated in a flirtatious manner.

"Are we missing something?" Aerith questioned as she looked from Elena to Reno and back at Elena.

"Errr…no…" Reno answered quickly as he gave Aerith a nervous stare. "Come on…let's go…" Reno pushed passed Aerith and left the room.

"What's up with him?" Sunny asked Elena.

"It's best you don't know," Elena answered vaguely.

"Did something happen?" Sunny continued to question Elena.

"Sunny, can you interrogate Elena later?" Max demanded, "We've got more important things to tend to."

"Right, sorry," Sunny apologised, the group ran out of the room. Elena sighed a huge sigh of relief before following everyone out of the room.

Everyone made their way out of the WRO building and they saw the crystal creatures and the Dark Kitsunes close up. "This is bad…" Drogo uttered as he stared at the new monsters.

Max closed his eyes and growled under his breath before opening them to reveal that they were red and pupiless. "OUT OF MY WAY!" Dark Max yelled as he charged at the Dark Kitsunes, he ran at one of the Dark Kitsunes and slashed at him repeatedly with his claws until the Dark Kitsune fell to the floor dead. Dark Max continued in this fashion creating a path in the sea of monsters.

"To the Sierra!" Cloud ordered the group as they followed Dark Max, killing any Dark Kitsunes they came across. The group reached the hangar and were about to enter when a giant crystal Behemoth blocked their path.

"I hate Behemoths…" Zack complained as the monster roared at the group. "They don't fight fair!"

(A/N I do not own any of the Mummy films in any way.)

"We must defeat it if we are to get to the Sierra," Shelke replied calmly as she took out her electromagnetic sabres and held them out in front of her.

"I still don't understand how you can be so calm," Zack told the girl as he gave her a confused stare.

"It's easy, I have a little something called discipline," Shelke answered without looking at the raven haired man. "Maybe you should give it a try."

"LET'S JUST KILL THIS THING!" Dark Max yelled impatiently as he charged at the crystal Behemoth, the monster roared as it breathed a purple fireball at Dark Max. Dark Max easily avoided it by side stepping to the left as he ran, the Behemoth then slammed its giant paw into the ground in order to crush Dark Max. However Dark Max leapt into the air just as the paw slammed down, he leapt on to the paw and started to hack away at the armour on the arm.

Shelke also ran at the Behemoth dragging her sabres behind her creating sparks as she ran. The Behemoth swung its other arm at Shelke but due to her small size the arm easily swept over her head. As the monster's arm was right over Shelke's head she quickly swung her sabres upwards into the Behemoth's arm cutting the armour clean off. The monster let out a loud roar as it stomped the ground with its feet creating seismic waves which knocked the group off balance.

The Behemoth then turned its attention to Dark Max who was still hacking away at the armour on its arm. The monster violent shook its arm causing Dark Max to lose his grip, his claws scraped against the armour as he held on for dear life. The group could hear a metallic snap as Dark Max's claws finally penetrated the armour revealing a small purple crystal. "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh…it's weak spot…" Dark Max uttered with a smirk as he quickly and violently dug his claws into the crystal completely shattering it. The Behemoth roared in pain but it was still very much alive. "IT'S STILL ALIVE!" Dark Max yelled at the top of his lungs as he leapt off the Behemoth's arm just in time as the other arm slammed down on it.

"There must be multiple weak points on its body," Shelke stated as she along with the others staggered to their feet. Shelke noticed a small glowing object underneath a single plate of armour on the Behemoth's other arm. "I think I found another one," she added as she quickly leapt up and knocked the remaining piece of armour away fully exposing the crystal on the other arm. However before Shelke could destroy it the Behemoth opened its mouth wide and snapped Shelke up.

"SHELKE!" The group screamed at the top of their lungs before Vincent and Lance lunged forwards. Lance stopped and held his spear straight out in front of him. Vincent leapt on to the spear and Lance flung him into the air in the direction of the Behemoth. As Vincent performed a twist in midair he removed Cerberus from its holster and shot at the Behemoth's head denting its armour. The Behemoth shook its head violently as it thrust its arm forwards and shot purple energy balls at Vincent, however just as the energy balls were about to hit Vincent a reflective barrier appeared in front of him and deflected the energy balls. The energy balls flew back into the Behemoth and exploded, the impact caused the armour on the Behemoth's head to fall off and reveal a third crystal.

Vincent looked down and he saw Angel stood there her eyes had opened as if coming out of a trance. "Thanks," Vincent told the rabbit gratefully as she nodded in response. The Behemoth spat Shelke out, she swung round in midair and slashed at the crystal on its arm shattering it before landing ass first on the ground. Vincent also landed and dragged Shelke out of the way as the Behemoth landed on all fours and roared at the group.

They saw more armour along its back, Cid and Lance smirked at each other before running towards the Behemoth and using their spears as poles leapt on to the Behemoth's back and drove their spears into the armour to loosen it before kicking it off. Meanwhile Cloud and Zack charged at the crystal on the Behemoth's head while Barret, Isis and Sunny shot at it from a distance. Cloud performed his famous Braver attack while Zack performed a whirling slash at the same time on the crystal cracking it. Barret and Isis loaded armour piercing rounds while Sunny imbued her bow with Holy power. The three opened fire at the same time, the armour piercing rounds and the Holy arrow hit the crystal right in the centre and it exploded in a bright white light.

The Behemoth roared in pain and its body violently shook to the point where Cid and Lance had to dig their spears into the monster's back to stay on. "If I wanted to play Buckaroo I would've played it in the safety of ma own home!" Cid yelled as the Behemoth continued to shake.

"CID THIS IS NO TIME FOR JOKES!" Lance screamed at the pilot as he continued to hold on for dear life.

"Who's jokin'?" Cid retorted, he looked down and he saw a purple crystal embedded in the Behemoth's back. "I think I found another weak spot," Cid informed Lance. "I sure hope it's the last bloody one!"

Lance looked in Cid's direction and he too saw the crystal, "alright, we both stab our spears into it on the count of three." Lance told Cid, "1, 2, 3!" Lance yelled as both he and Cid quickly removed their spears from the monster's back and stabbed them deep into the crystal cracking it.

The Behemoth let out a loud pained roar and it shook itself again causing Lance and Cid to fall off, they along with Dark Max ran back to the group just as Behemoth cast comet on the group. "EVERYONE SCATTER!" Drogo yelled at the top of his lungs as the group ran just in time as a giant comet slammed into the ground where the group was stood a few seconds before leaving a giant crater. The group breathed deeply as they looked at the Behemoth which was continuing to roar in pain as its body became crystallised and smashed into millions of pieces.

"It...tried to take us down with it..." Angel uttered as she stared at the crater in shock.

"Behemoth's tend to do that," Yuffie answered. "Believe me it annoys us as well."

"They don't play fair," Zack added as he walked passed Angel.

Dark Max panted heavily as he reverted, "Come on...we better get to the Sierra before more of those things show up." Max stated as he made his way into the hangar, the rest of the group followed and they got into the Sierra.

A few minutes later the Sierra was airborne and everyone was in the media room, Tifa turned the TV on just in time as the news came on. They saw the city of Edge and an attractive young blonde haired woman, "we're live in the city of Edge where we have received word that strange monsters have spawned out of nowhere and have started attacking cities world wide." The news reporter informed the public, "WRO agents have been post all over the world and are trying to hold these monsters back but the monsters have proven to be quite a challenge."

"That's because the monsters aren't of this world," Max muttered under his breath. "WRO aren't equipped to fight monsters like that."

"Citizens have been warned to stay indoors at all times and to lock all windows and doors," the news reporter continued unaware that a pack of purple armoured wolves were advancing on her. "Also be sure to have plenty of food supplies as this threat could take quite a while to..." The news reporter stopped in midsentence as she heard growls behind her, she turned round and saw the crystal wolves. The news reporter screamed as the wolves leapt on her and started to tear her limb from limb before Aerith turned the TV off.

"I can't watch anymore..." Aerith uttered in a disgusted tone.

"Every city is being attacked," Red stated as he gave the group a worried look. "The situation is worse than I thought, Illusion has dispatched these creatures all over the world at the same time."

"Great..." Yuffie muttered as she rolled her eyes. "First Wutai gets destroyed by Shinra and now strange monsters are gonna destroy it."

"I guess this means we've gotta slay the monsters to make all this stop," Reno replied as he sighed to himself.

"To what end?" Max asked, he was stood at the back of the room leaning against the wall. He hung his head low and his eyes were closed.

The group turned round to look at him, "what do you mean?" Sunny questioned.

Max sighed as he looked up, "those aren't ordinary monsters," he answered as he pushed himself off the wall and walked over to the rest of the group. "They were created by a necromancer, we could slay all those monsters and it would only take a single incantation for Illusion to revive them."

"But if we kill Illusion," Reeve added understanding what Max was saying. "Then all her magic dies with her."

"Exactly," Max replied as he nodded at Reeve. "That's why we should only go after Illusion herself, to end this and to rescue Pandora and Rufus."

"Be careful Max," Aurora's voice spoke in Max's head. "Illusion isn't just any necromancer, she's extremely powerful."

"I know," Max told his mother. "I'm not as naive as I used to be, I'm aware of her power."

"I just thought I'd warn you, this isn't like the time you defeated Pandora's aunt in that village." Aurora reminded him.

"Well, thanks for the warning mum," Max replied gratefully.

"Don't suffocate the boy Aurora," Nightshade joined in the conversation.

"I'm his mother," Aurora spoke in Nightshade's head. "It's my job to worry about him."

"But you have a tendency to over do it," Nightshade told Aurora.

"I don't!" Aurora protested.

"You do," Nightshade stated calmly, "You over reacted when you found out that Max was riding a bike without a licence."

"He was doing something illegal," Aurora reminded Nightshade. And you were no better."

"Mum, dad!" Max yelled at both his parents, "I'm a big boy now I can take care of myself. Mum, you need to learn to back off a bit and give me some breathing space."

"But..." Aurora started to protest.

"I'll be fine mum," Max reassured Aurora. "This isn't the first time I've stared death in the face and it won't be the last either."

Aurora tried to protest again but she knew that Max was right. "Alright..." she gave in, "but please be careful."

"I will," Max promised Aurora, now that she was fully reassured that her son was going to be fine she left his head. Max sighed, "Mothers..." he muttered half to himself.

"I'll access the SND to find out where Illusion has gone," Shelke informed the group. "It will take a few minutes." She left the room and made her way to the computer room.

"I'll make my way to the workshop on the airship and try to find out more about the teleportation devices." Reeve stated as he too left the media room and made his way to the workshop.

Everyone went their own separate ways, Reno walked down the corridor until he stopped at Elena's room. He knocked on the door, "who is it?" Elena asked through the door.

"It's Reno," Reno answered through the door. "Can I come in?"

"Just a minute," Elena replied as she walked over to the door and opened it. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you about something," Reno answered. "Preferably in private."

"Well, you'd better come in then," Elena offered as she moved away from the door so Reno could enter the room. She walked over to the bed and Reno closed the door behind him and locked it. "What do you want to talk to me about?" She asked as she sat down on the bed.

Reno ruffled his hair, "I wanted to talk to you about earlier tonight," Reno answered as he walked over to the bed. "When we...you know..."

"Kissed..." Elena finished Reno's sentence.

"Yeah," Reno replied as he nodded."Why did you kiss me?"

"I was drunk," Elena answered not taking her eyes off Reno. "We both were, it was just a stupid drunk kiss."

Reno gave Elena a knowing look, "well that's not the impression I got." Reno told Elena as he walked over to the bed. "To me, it seemed like more than a drunken kiss."

Meanwhile Tseng was walking through the corridor and he stopped outside Elena's door. He was about to knock on so that he could talk to Elena properly and explain everything to her. However he hesitated when he could hear Reno and Elena talking. "Listen to me Reno, it was just a drunken kiss and we need to forget about it." Elena said to Reno blatantly lying to herself.

Reno smiled ruefully, "Elena, I've known you long enough now to be able to tell that you're lying to yourself. He stated as he sat down on the bed next Elena.

"Kiss…" Tseng thought to himself as he listened in on Reno and Elena's conversation. "What kiss?" Tseng was tempted to barge in there and demand an explanation however his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to listen in to hear more.

"Reno please," Elena begged the red haired man as she stood up and walked away from the bed. "You just broke up with Emma and my relationship with Tseng ended so suddenly…I was upset and you…well I'm not really sure how you were feeling but…you were just there at the time, we both had too much to drink and we should leave it at that."

Reno stood up and walked towards the blonde haired woman and wrapped his arms round her waist. "I think that you're too afraid to give in to your real feelings," Reno told her as he kissed her on the neck.

"I feel nothing for you!" Elena yelled as she pried Reno's arms off her and pushed him away. "And you don't feel anything for any woman, all you want is a bit of fun."

"Well, a certain attractive, blonde haired woman has changed all that," Reno stated as he stared at Elena.

"What do you mean?" Elena demanded as she turned round to face Reno and placed her hands on her hips.

"Well, when I first met you I thought that you were annoying and naive." Reno told Elena as she scowled at him. "But when I heard that you had feelings for Tseng and started going out with him I was secretly jealous." Reno admitted causing Elena's glare to soften.

"Jealous..." Elena repeated the last word Reno said as her scowl turned into shock.

"Yeah," Reno answered as he nodded. "I did have feelings for a woman for quite some time, and that woman was you."

Elena's shock turned to confusion as she continued to stare at Reno. "If you had feelings for me the whole time then why did you go out with Emma?"

"Because I was too afraid to admit how I really felt about you," The red haired man admitted as he ruffled his hair. "I thought you'd find it stupid that a renowned womaniser had feelings for a woman, so I decided to play it cool. I dated Emma in the hopes of making jealous but it didn't work out the way I'd hoped."

Elena thought for a moment before sighing, "You were right Reno," she stated as took a few steps closer to him. "I've been too afraid to give into my real feelings, it's time I was honest with myself."

"What do you mean?" Reno asked as it was his turn to look shocked.

"When you were going with Emma, even though I seemed like I was happy for you. I was secretly jealous."

"Wha..." Reno uttered as his eyes grew wide with shock. He stared at Elena stunned for a moment unsure of what to say and for some time there was an awkward silence between the two. "But I thought you were going out with Tseng." Reno spoke up breaking the awkward silence

"I know, I know," Elena stated as she was stood right in front of Reno now. "I did love Tseng at first, but he became so obsessed with his work and I felt neglected." She admitted as she gave Reno a sad look. "I wanted a man to love me and to treat me like a woman, all Tseng wanted was to get his paperwork done." She sighed deeply and Reno wrapped his arms round Elena's waist again, this time she didn't push him away. "Mine and Tseng's relationship became sour very quickly, I mean in the three and a half years we were going out, we only had four dates."

"Yikes," Reno uttered. "That's all..."

"Yeah," Elena answered as she nodded. "Reno...I...I love you."

Reno stared at Elena in shock, "y...you do..." He stammered.

Elena nodded, "yeah," she answered truthfully. "Tonight was more than a drunken kiss, I know that now."

Reno smiled, "I love you too Elena," he admitted. The two stared at each other for a moment before moving closer to each other. Their lips were almost touching until they kissed passionately, Elena moved her hands up to Reno's head and started to ruffle his hair as she lifted her left leg up. The two moaned in pleasure as their tongues made contact with each other and Elena slowly pushed Reno back towards the bed and they both lay down on it still kissing.

Tseng was still stood outside the door, too stunned to speak or even move. He could clearly hear Elena and Reno through the door moaning as they continued to kiss each other passionately. "I can't take this anymore..." Tseng thought to himself as he finally walked away from the door.

Meanwhile Shelke had d the computer and walked over to her chair. She sat down on the chair and picked up the helmet from the side of the chair and put it on her head before lying back. Shelke's body shook as she entered the Synaptic Net Dive. "Show me where Illusion is," She requested, as she made this request the SND downloaded information into Shelke's brain and she saw the Northern Cave and secret lab within it. She also saw Pandora and Rufus locked in a cell still unconscious. Information continued to surge into her brain before she deactivated the SND and woke up in the chair.

Shelke removed the helmet and put it in its usual place before standing up. She took a metallic blue phone out of her pocket and dialled a number. Max was stood on the deck by himself looking at the fast moving scenery when his phone rang. Max reached into his pocket and pulled out a green phone with two blue streaks on the side of it. He pushed the answer button and put the phone to his ear, "hello?" Max spoke into the phone.

"Max it's Shelke," Shelke spoke up on the other side of the phone.

"Hey, what's up?" Max questioned.

"I used the Synaptic Net Dive to find out where Illusion had taken Pandora and Rufus," Shelke started to explain. "It turns out that there's a secret lab there."

"A secret lab..." Max uttered, "Why is there a secret lab in the Northern Cave?"

"My guess is that Illusion created it at some point," Shelke answered. "I saw glimpses of it when the information was downloaded into my brain. The technology is not of this world, it looks more advanced."

"Kitsune technology," Max uttered as he knew what Shelke meant.

"Most likely," Shelke stated. "Rufus and Pandora are there as well, they're in a holding cell deep in the secret lab."

"Pandora..." Max whispered his wife's name. "Are they ok?" Max asked his voice was filled with concern.

"As far as I know they're still unconscious," Shelke told him. "They looked unharmed to me but I'm not sure how long they'll be safe for."

"We have to get to them as quickly as possible," Max stated.

"You'll have to tell the others where Rufus and Pandora are," Shelke replied.

"I will," Max stated, "thanks Shelke."

"You're welcome," Shelke responded before Max hung up on the phone.

Max sighed before going back into the airship and walking towards the control room. He entered the control room and he saw Cid stood at the control panel and the co-pilots busy doing various jobs, Max walked up to Cid. "Hey Cid, can I use the speaker?" Max requested as the pilot turned round and looked at the Kitsune.

"Why do you need it?" Cid responded as he gave Max a questioning look.

"I know where Illusion has taken Pandora and Rufus," Max answered. "I need to inform everyone."

"Oh, well sure you can use it." Cid stated.

"Thanks," Max replied gratefully as he picked up the speaker. "Attention everyone!" Max's voice echoed on the intercom throughout the Sierra. "I need you all to meet me in the control room immediately!" Max put the speaker down and waited patiently.

A few minutes later everyone arrived in the control room, "what is it?" Sunny questioned as she stared at everyone.

"What's the emergency?!" Barret demanded as he scowled at Max. "I was just about to kick Drogo's ass on a boxing game."

"More like you were getting your ass handed to ya," Drogo corrected the man as he smirked at him.

"Whatever!" Barret snapped at Drogo.

"Guys!" Max yelled causing everyone to stop talking and turn to look at him. "Now that I've got your attention Shelke has found out where Illusion has taken Pandora and Rufus," Max informed the group.

"Where?" They asked in perfect unison.

"The Northern Cave," Max answered as the group stared at him.

"Why the Northern Cave?" Yuffie questioned as she stared at Max.

"Illusion has a secret lab there," Max explained as best he could. "Don't ask me how or why, the point is that's where Pandora and Rufus are being held."

"So we're going to the Northern Cave then," Tifa stated as she looked at the others.

"Don't worry," Cid reassured the group. "Thanks to Max's upgrades I'll get us there in no time flat." Cid pulled a lever and two more thrusters emerged out of the Sierra. "Alright, I'm settin' a course for the Northern Cave!" Cid pushed a button and the extra thrusters became active and it sped off towards the Northern Cave.

---

Meanwhile in the secret lab in the Northern Cave Rufus woke up to find himself lying on the floor in a cell. "What is this place?" He thought to himself as he stood up and walked around the cell, he turned to his right and he saw Pandora lying on the floor a short distance away still unconscious. Rufus walked up to Pandora and knelt down beside her.

After a while Pandora woke up, "Uuuuuuuuuhhhh…" she moaned as she opened her eyes and saw Rufus. "Rufus…" She questioned as the man nodded.

"Yes," Rufus answered as he was still kneeling beside her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Pandora replied as she sat up and shook her head. "All I remember is leaving Kalm to go to bed and after that it was all…"

"A blur…" Rufus finished her sentence for her.

"Yeah," Pandora answered as she nodded. "I saw some strange creatures attacking WRO before I was knocked unconscious."

"Same here," Rufus told her. "I sent the alert before I was knocked out."

Pandora lifted her head up and looked around to find herself in an unfamiliar place. "Where are we?" She asked as she looked up at Rufus.

"I'm not sure," Rufus answered truthfully. "I woke up a few minutes before you did, no guards have entered the cell yet."

"I wish someone would enter the cell soon," Pandora stated as she folded her arms. "Then we can find out what the hell's going on here!"

As soon as Pandora said this the cell door was opened and Illusion flanked by two Dark Kitsune guards and two Deep Ground Soldiers entered the cell. "So you're both awake," Illusion uttered in her usual manner as she smirked evilly at her two prisoners. "Good, I wouldn't want you both to miss out on the fun."

Pandora and Rufus both stood up, "Where are we?" Rufus questioned as he stared at Illusion.

"You're in the Northern Cave," Illusion answered as she gestured all around her. "You're currently in a secret lab that I've created 2000 years ago."

"Well I don't think much of your taste in decoration," Pandora scoffed as she looked around the cell.

Illusion laughed a little at this, "well this is a prison cell," she retorted as she turned her attention to Pandora. "What were you expecting a five star suit?" Illusion joked causing her guards to snicker at this.

"What do you want from us?" Pandora demanded as she scowled at Illusion.

"Simple, you're my bargaining chips," Illusion answered as she paced round the cell. "You and your pitiful friends are standing in the way of world domination."

"Of course…" Pandora muttered sarcastically which caused the nearest guard to hit on the back of the head with the barrel of his gun. "Ouch!" Pandora yelled as she rubbed the back of her head.

Illusion gave Pandora a satisfied smile, "But that isn't possible if you continue to oppose me."

"So we're to just back off and let you take over and destroy what we have worked so hard to rebuild…" Rufus asked calmly as he stared at Illusion showing no hint of fear. "It's WRO policy to not negotiate with terrorists."

Illusion laughed, "oh Rufus Shinra you have such a high opinion of me," she stated half sarcastically as she smirked at him. "I don't want to destroy this world and the people will be safe, they'll just be my slaves. Of course I will slay my enemies and that includes your friends." Illusion summoned a crystal ball, "Would you like to see what's happening to your precious world?" She asked as she held the crystal ball out to the prisoners.

"Do we have a choice?" Pandora questioned in response causing Illusion to laugh again.

"No you don't," she answered. "But you'll love it, it gives me a lot of laughs." As she said this she waved her hand over the crystal ball and an image materialised in it.

Rufus and Pandora looked at the crystal ball and they saw crystal monsters forming all over the world and people screaming in panic as they ran away from the monsters that were attacking the cities. Pandora just gasped in shock when she saw this, "you're a monster…" She uttered as she glared at Illusion.

"Why thank you," Illusion stated deciding to take what Pandora said as a compliment. She waved her hand over the crystal ball again and the images disappeared. "You two are gonna watch as I conquer this world and destroy your friends, and then I'm gonna destroy you both."

"We won't let you do that," Rufus told Illusion as he and Pandora folded their arms defiantly.

"Is that so?" Illusion questioned, "Well you're in a prison cell, you're unarmed. Oh…" she turned to Pandora as she said this next part. "And if you're thinking of using magic to escape don't bother because I put an anti magic bracelet on your wrist." Pandora looked down at her wrist to see a golden band wrapped round it before looking back up at Illusion and glaring at her. "Well I better get going, I have more evil plans to concoct. My guards will be keeping you company," Illusion told the two as she walked to the door of the cell and opened it. "Oh, and if you're good, I may spare your lives when I kill your friends." She added before smirking and leaving the cell. The guards took one look at Pandora and Rufus before they followed Illusion out of the cell and locked the door before patrolling the area.

Pandora sighed before collapsing to her knees, Rufus walked over to her. "We'll get through this," he told her.

Pandora looked up and nodded, "I know," She answered before sighing. "That's twice in one adventure that I've been caught by Illusion, I was hoping not to make a habit out of it." Rufus laughed light heartedly at this, Pandora laughed too for a while before sighing and standing up. "I hope Max and the others are ok." She whispered to herself as she walked over to the door and rested her head on it.

---

The Sierra had arrived at the Northern Cave and hovered over it, "alright, we're here." Cid informed the group, "So let's get our asses down there." Cid left the control room and made his way to the deck, the group followed him.

"How are we getting down there?" Yuffie questioned as she looked down into the crater below.

"Same way we bloody did the last time we were here," Cid answered without looking at the ninja. "Climbin' down the ruddy rope ladder now stop with yer bloody questions or I'll hang yer by yer feet behind the Sierra when we return."

"An empty threat…" Yuffie scoffed as she called Cid's bluff.

"Empty huh…" Cid retorted as he turned round to face Yuffie, "you just carry on and we'll see how empty my threat is."

"Come on guys!" Max snapped at the pilot and the ninja, "arguing isn't going to help Pandora and Rufus." He walked over to the edge of the deck where the rope ladder was folded up, Max kicked the rope ladder so that it became unravelled and stopped at the mouth of the crater. "Let's go." He told the group before climbing down the rope ladder.

Reno was about to climb down the rope ladder but he stopped when he saw Tseng stood next to him out of the corner of his eye. Reno turned round so that he could see Tseng more clearly and he saw that the Turk Leader had his arms folded and wasn't really looking at him. "Hey Tseng!" Reno called out to the Turk to try and get his attention. "You ok?"

"Yes," Tseng answered blankly not turning round to face Reno. "I'm fine."

"You sure?" Reno continued to question out of concern for Tseng.

"I'm sure," Tseng answered still in that same emotionless manner. He turned round and faced the red haired man. "We have a mission to do," he told Reno quickly changing the subject. "Just keep your mind on it." Tseng continued as he walked over to the rope ladder and began to climb down it, Reno just stared at the rope ladder in shock.

"I wonder what's up with Tseng," Reno thought to himself as he continued to look at the rope ladder. "Something's wrong but Tseng's just not saying anything…that's odd even for Tseng. I guess I better keep an eye on him." Reno snapped out of his thoughts and he too climbed down the rope ladder

The group climbed down the rope ladder one by one until they were all at the top of the crater. Cid took out his mobile and dialled the Sierra's number, "keep the Sierra in the air so we can make a quick getaway once we've rescued Pandora and Rufus." Cid told the technician that answered the phone.

"But…we could run out of power…" The technician told Cid.

Max walked over to Cid, "those power crystals have an infinite power source inside them," Max informed the technician down the phone. "The Sierra can stay in the air forever, plus they're environmentally friendly."

"How's he talking to me?" The technician questioned down the phone.

"It's on loud speaker," Cid answered. "Just remember to keep the Sierra in the air for when we get back," Cid reminded the technician.

"Sure," The technician responded. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Cid replied gratefully. "Cid out," Cid hung up on his mobile and turned to the rest of the group. "Well the Sierra's still in the air so we can make a quick getaway."

"Let's go," Cloud commanded the group and they slowly made their way down through the crater. They walked through the winding caves fighting several monsters along the way and they eventually reached the area where the path split into two directions.

"Hmmmm…" Max mused as he looked from one path to the other as he remembered the last time he was here. "Which way should we go?"

"Well it wouldn't matter in the long run as both paths lead to the same place," Red answered as he looked up at Max. "However, since this is a rescue mission I would suggest that we take the right path it is quicker and not so many enemies to slow us down."

"Thanks," Max replied gratefully as he smiled at Red.

"Any time," Red answered as he bowed his head slightly.

"Ok, let's go right," Max told the group and he started to walk towards the right. The rest of the group followed him and they made their way down the spiral path, Reno was last in line and he stopped as soon as he heard the sound of a gunshot and saw a bullet fly right passed his ear out of the corner of his eye.

"What the…" Reno yelled as the bullet narrowly missed him and landed in the far wall. "Very funny…" Reno muttered as he rolled his eyes before looking at his friends. "Who fired a bullet at me?"

Everyone began talking among themselves before looking over at Tseng to find that he was holding his gun in his hand. "Why is everyone looking at me?" He questioned as he looked at everyone, "don't think that I shot at Reno just because I'm holding a gun in my hand." He continued as he held his gun up.

Reno and Elena gave Tseng suspicious stares, "well if it wasn't you then who was it?" Reno demanded, "no one else has a gun out and I don't see any enemies around."

"I think Tseng might be telling the truth," Isis spoke up causing everyone to stare at her.

"How do you know?" Yuffie questioned as she gave Isis a sceptical stare.

"Based on the angle of the bullet lodged in the wall I'd say that it was fired from behind," Isis answered as she pointed at the bullet. "And Tseng is at least a good foot in front of Reno. So Tseng couldn't have fired the bullet."

"If it wasn't Tseng then who was it?" Elena questioned wanting to know who shot at Reno.

"My sensors are picking up some unidentified life signals," Isis replied as she looked at the group.

"Mine too," Lance replied as he looked around him. "The assailant maybe…"

"That and more," Isis answered. "I'm detecting more than one life sign."

"ALRIGHT YOU SNEAKY BASTARD!" Reno yelled at the top of his lungs as he looked all around him trying to find the one who tried to shoot him. "YOU BETTER SHOW YOURSELF!" There was silence as the group looked all around them and took out their weapons just as several forms began to materialise out of nowhere to reveal Deep Ground and Dark Kitsune soldiers. The soldiers had the group completely surrounded.

"An ambush," Max remarked as he looked at all the soldiers. "Illusion must've known we were coming and sent out the welcoming committee."

"All in favour of turning back and going down the left path…" Yuffie stated in fear as she held her hand up.

"There'll be enemies waiting for us there as well," Vincent told Yuffie as he loaded his gun and pointed it at the Dark Kitsune that was nearest to him.

"What I want to know is how the hell they managed to sneak up on us like that…" Barret uttered confused at the whole thing.

"They must be wearing cloaking devices," Drogo answered as he looked at the man with the gun arm. "It enables the wearer to become invisible at the touch of a button.

"You know so damn much abou' it!" Barret yelled at Drogo.

"I used to have a cloaking device myself back in my thieving days," Drogo admitted. "If it's one thing I know it's stealth technology."

"But the Dark Kitsunes aren't wearing cloaking devices," Tifa remarked as she pointed that the Dark Kitsune closest to her and the group saw that there was no cloaking device attached to the Dark Kitsune's belt.

"Dark Kitsunes have the natural ability to become invisible at will," Nightshade answered. "Which makes them so tricky to track and kill them."

"We have you surrounded," one of the Deep Ground Soldiers (obviously the leader) spoke up as the Deep Ground Soldiers and the Dark Kitsunes pointed their guns at the group, this caused the group to fall silent. "Surrender now and we'll spare your lives."

"How do we know you won't just kill us anyway?" Max questioned as he gave the Deep Ground Soldier a sceptical stare.

"The lives of your friends depend on it," the Deep Ground Soldier answered as he walked closer to Max and pointed his gun at his head. "And I believe that one of the captives is your wife." Max stared at the Deep Ground Soldier in shock for a moment before the soldier smirked under his helmet. "That's right, if you really care about your wife's wellbeing then don't make any rash moves. Of course, I could just kill you," the soldier continued as he held his gun closer to Max's head. "That would break your wife's heart in the process, she'll become a broken shell and be easier to control."

Max growled under his breath but he managed to keep his cool, he knew that the soldier was goading him, trying to get a reaction out of him. But Max wasn't going to react at all, he wasn't going to show his emotions to the enemy, that would just give them more ammunition. Max slowly lifted his head up and stared at the soldier, there was no fear in his eyes. "You think that I'm afraid of a lowly soldier and his gun…" Max uttered calmly showing no hint of fear. "Go ahead, shoot." Max told the soldier.

Everyone just stared at Max in shock, "Max, what are you doing…" Cloud whispered to the Kitsune.

Max said nothing, he continued to stare at the soldier. Even though he knew that he was staring death in the face he wasn't afraid of it, not any more. He had faced death many times before and it was no longer a new experience for him. "Go on, shoot me," Max continued to order the soldier still in that eerily calm voice which was beginning to scare his friends.

"What's he doing?" Sunny questioned Nightshade.

"I think he's calling their bluff," Nightshade answered his eyes showed a hint of fear for the first time in his life. A fear that Max was going to do something stupid, nevertheless he watched to see how it would work out.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Max questioned the soldier as his friends and his enemies continued to stare at him. "Shoot me, I'm not afraid." The soldier continued to hold his gun at Max's head his finger poised at the trigger, he just stared at Max his face indifferent and showing no hint of fear and this unnerved the soldier so much so that he hesitated. Max saw the soldier hesitate and with swift reflexes he elbowed the soldier in the stomach stunning him before successfully disarming him with an upper cut before summoning his sword and pointing it at the soldier's throat.

The soldier was in too much shock to even fight back and stood there and watched as Max performed a powerful round house kick on the soldier completely snapping his neck. The soldier stood there for a moment still in shock before falling to the ground dead. The other Dark Kitsune and Deep Ground soldiers saw this and stared at Max in shock before pointing their guns at the rest of the group and advancing towards them.

Nightshade summoned his sword and held it in both his hands, he stood there patiently and watched as a Dark Kitsune decided to attack using his claws rather than his gun and charged at Nightshade. "Humph…" the Kitsune huffed and smirked evilly before swinging his sword round horizontally cutting the Dark Kitsune cleanly in half before he even had chance to get to Nightshade. However because Nightshade was wielding a heavy weapon it took it a while to swing full circle and return to it's original position leaving Nightshade open to attack.

A sabre wielding Deep Ground Soldier saw this weakness and crept up behind Nightshade in an attempt to exploit it. The Deep Ground Soldier was about to stab Nightshade in the back with his sabre but he was pelted by armour piercing bullets, which easily broke through his bulletproof vest. The Deep Ground Soldier looked at his assailant before collapsing to the ground lying head first in a pool of his own blood. "You really need to watch your back," a familiar voice warned Nightshade before Isis walked up to him holding two magnums.

Nightshade smirked at his friend, "thanks for the advice," he replied gratefully before charging at his next opponent.

"You're welcome," Isis replied as she saw two Dark Kitsunes open fire at her. She easily dodged the bullets and smirked at the two Dark Kitsunes. "My turn," she stated mockingly as she leapt into the air and flipped while opening fire at Dark Kitsunes with her magnums. She was so fast with the guns that the Dark Kitsunes barely had time to dodge before they were both hit in the neck killing them instantly. Isis landed gracefully on her feet (like cats do). She looked down at the two bodies and smirked again before blowing on her two magnums. "That's how you use guns."

Meanwhile Lance and Cid were stood back to back as they were surrounded by a circle of enemies. "Looks like we're outnumbered huh…" Cid spoke to Lance without facing him. "I didn't think there'd be this many."

Lance merely smirked, "they may have superior numbers, but we have superior skill." Lance told Cid, "and in the grand scheme of things, that's what's important."

"Yeah, you're right," Cid agreed as he nodded. "How do you propose we get rid of these jackasses?" Lance's smirk grew even wider and he turned sideways away from Cid, Cid looked at Lance and seemed to guess what he was planning as he turned sideways opposite to where Lance was facing. The two held their spears in one hand as they each grabbed the other's hand and began to spin as the enemies started to charge at them. Cid and Lance spun round faster and faster striking each enemy with their spears as they spun. They could hear several pained yells as more enemies fell and when Lance and Cid stopped spinning and released hands they saw dozens of dead Dark Kitsunes and Deep Ground Soldiers lying in a circle round them. "Now that's what I call devastating Cid yelled as he smirked at Lance.

Elena was backed up against the wall shooting at the enemies that advanced on her. One Deep Ground Soldier got close to her and slashed her leg with his sabre causing her cry out in pain. The Deep Ground Soldier laughed before he was hit from behind with a blunt object and was electrocuted on impact. The Soldier fell to the ground stunned before Tseng and Rude both shot at him killing him. Reno ran over to Elena, "Elena are you ok?" He asked out of concern for his comrade.

"Yeah," Elena answered, she looked down at her leg and sighed.

Reno also looked down, "it doesn't look too bad," he replied as he smiled at her. "Nothing a cure spell wouldn't fix," he added as he took out a piece of green materia and held it close to the wound. "Cure," he whispered and a green coloured light criss-crossed through the wound and when the light had disappeared the wound was gone.

"Thanks Reno," Elena replied gratefully as she hugged him and kissed him unaware that Tseng was watching. She released Reno and they moved away from the wall.

Max backstabbed a Dark Kitsune killing him instantly before quickly removing the sword and thrusting it into the stomach of a Deep Ground Soldier that was advancing towards him. Max smirked as he removed his sword and the Deep Ground Soldier fell to the ground. The Northern Cave now resembled a bloodbath as there were countless bodies littered all over the floor as the soldiers were either killed or had fled. The group panted as they looked around at the dead bodies. "I'm glad that's over," Aerith stated in relief as she still breathed heavily.

"These are mere fodder, the real fight is still ahead of us," Max reminded the group. "We still have a while to go, we need to find the entrance to the secret lab and rescue Pandora and Rufus." The group continued down the spiral path until they reached the Lifestream geyser and the cavern was illuminated by a pale green glow.

"It's so nice to see the Life Stream pure again," Tifa stated as she smiled at the Holy green light. "I was so worried when it was corrupted."

"Yeah, I almost forgot how beautiful it was." Cloud agreed as he wrapped his arm round Tifa. "We're so lucky."

"Yo lovebirds!" Barret yelled at the two causing them to look at him. "This ain't the time fer sight seein', we've got a job to do."

"We're coming," Tifa called out to Barret before sighing. "I'll be glad when all this is over," Tifa admitted as she turned back to Cloud. "Then we can get back to our lives and do what we want without a care in the world."

"Yeah," Cloud agreed as he smiled at her. "When all this is over we should go on vacation, I know I've been saying it for a while now but I mean it this time."

Tifa smiled weakly at Cloud before shaking her head, "I'd love to go on vacation," Tifa told Cloud before turning away from him. "But, we have so many commitments, we have the bar."

"Hire a barmaid," Cloud replied as he looked at Tifa's back.

Tifa turned back round to face Cloud, "you have your delivery service." She continued.

"I'll get Zack to cover for me," Cloud answered quickly as he had already thought about his response.

"And what about Marlene and Denzel?" Tifa questioned. "We can't exactly leave them with a neighbour, it isn't fair."

"We'll take them with us," Cloud told Tifa as he smiled at her. "They deserve a vacation as much as we do." Tifa merely sighed, "Look," Cloud started to say as he walked over to the raven haired woman and wrapped his arms round her waist. "You've spent so much time looking after other people, me, Marlene and Denzel…the list goes on. You've been so busy looking after us that you've hardly had anytime to yourself," he continued to tell her. "If anyone deserves a vacation Tifa, it's you. Be a little selfish for once in your life, take a little 'me' time."

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to think about myself for a while," Tifa stated as she smiled at Cloud. "And we both could do with a vacation, and Marlene and Denzel too."

Cloud smiled at Tifa and was about to respond when Zack appeared behind them and placed his hands on both their shoulders. "It's great that you're both talkin' about vacations an' all, but why don't you make your vacation plans after all this is over?" Zack questioned the two as he smirked at them.

"You're right Zack," Cloud agreed with his friend. "We have a job to do first, it's up to us to rid the Planet of Illusion."

"Yeah," Tifa agreed, "let's get going." Tifa, Cloud and Zack walked over to the group who were stood outside a wall. "What are you looking at?" Tifa questioned.

"According to my secret passage detector there is a secret passage way beyond this wall," Shelke answered as she held a strange looking device to the wall.

"But how do we open it?" Max questioned as he looked at the young girl.

"The device is also detecting some sort of lock that is hidden to the right of the wall," Shelke informed him as she moved the device away. "But, I can't figure out how to make it appear."

"Hmmm…" Max mused as he stepped closer to the wall. "I wonder," he continued to muse as he gently waved his hand over the wall that was slightly to the right and was surprised to see a green coloured hand symbol appear.

"Amazing…" Shelke uttered as she stared at the symbol in surprise.

"That's a funny lookin' lock," Yuffie muttered as she rolled her eyes. "I mean how are we supposed to activate it?"

"I've seen this type of lock before," Max answered as he examined it more closely. "It's a psyche lock."

"A what?" Avalanche, the Turks and Shelke uttered at the same time as they stared at Max in surprise.

"A psyche lock," Max repeated the name of the lock. "It's a special type of lock that Kitsunes and Dark Kitsunes use to keep their valuable possessions and secret passageways secure." Max explained to them, "Only Kitsunes and Dark Kitsunes can use them."

"So how does it work?" Aerith asked as she gave Max a curious stare.

"I have to place my hand over the symbol and telepathically unlock it by solving the puzzle inside it." He answered.

"And you can unlock this…" Reno questioned as he gave Max a sceptical stare.

Max merely smirked, "just leave it to me," he told the group. "I'll have it open in no time." Max turned back to the door and placed his hand on the symbol, his eyes flashed before glazing over as he saw a series of locks in his mind and he worked to telepathically unlock them one at a time. It was a complex and delicate process which required a lot of concentration, one false move and the lock reset itself and Max would've had to start over. However Max had become such an expert at these types of locks that he was able to unlock it without making a single mistake.

Max could hear a ding sound in his head and his eyes returned to normal before he removed his hand from the symbol. The hand symbol glowed and there was a low rumbling sound and the ground shook slightly as an outline appeared on the wall at the side of the symbol and that part of the wall swung inwards revealing a passage way. "Whoa…"the group uttered hardly daring to believe that there was even a secret area like this in the Northern Cave.

The group entered the passage way and walked through it, the passage way was fairly large, big enough to fit the whole group in and it seemed to twist and turn at certain points. The group carried on walking through the tunnel until it opened out into a large cavernous room. The group looked around and stared in awe at the clear crystalline walls, they looked up and saw a decorative chandelier which seemed to be emitting a soft blue glow that radiated throughout the entire room. At the far end of the room there was a decorative looking archway with a door underneath it which led deeper into the cave.

The group walked to the other side of the room and walked through the archway to find themselves in another tunnel but it was shorter than the other one and they found themselves in an even larger cavern. They looked around and saw all kinds of strange equipment and apparatus which looked like they belonged in a lab, however the equipment didn't look like it had come from this world, it looked much too advanced. "A secret lab…" Vincent uttered as he stared at the equipment in disgust, "how could there be a secret lab down here…"

"Maybe it was built into the cave over the last few years without us noticing," Yuffie suggested, however Max shook his head.

"No," He answered as he walked closer to one of the pieces of equipment and examined it. "This equipment is Dark Kitsune technology, even though it's more advanced than the technology on this world it's still old. Very old."

"How old would you say it is?" Zack questioned as he was intrigued by the technology.

"Well from the looks of the place, I'd say it's about 2000 years old." Max answered as he showed that some of the equipment was derelict and dusty.

"Wait…so you're sayin' that Illusion built this lab 2000 years ago…" Barret questioned as he gave Max a confused look.

Max nodded, "yeah," he answered. "Illusion must've been on this world 2000 years ago."

"How the hell is that even possible?" Cid demanded as he stared at Max.

"Kitsunes and Dark Kitsunes are immortal," he replied a little more irritably than he intended. "Which means they can live forever, unless they're killed."

"Oh good," Cid stated as he heaved a sigh of relief. "I thought you were gonna say that there's no way of killing her."

"Kitsunes and Dark Kitsunes are immortal…" Max repeated his previous statement as he glared at Cid. "Not invincible, now come on, we've wasted enough time as it is." Max stated matter of factly as he walked around the lab trying to find a way out. At the other end of the lab there were two more archways, the one on the right looked quite decorative whereas the other one looked much more plain. Max looked at the two archways and thought. "Hmmmmm…" he mused as he continued to look at them.

"What is it?" Cloud asked as he approached Max.

"There are two archways," Max answered as he pointed to the archways in front of himself and Cloud. "They both lead deeper into the cave but they go off in different directions."

"We need one that leads to the cells," Cloud stated as he looked at the two archways. "Question is, which one?"

"I think the one on the left leads to the cells because it's all plain looking." Max theorised, "but the one on the right looks really decorative so that probably leads to Illusion's personal quarters."

"Well maybe Illusion's probably playing tricks on us," Cloud also came up with a theory.

"Nah," Max replied as he shook his head. "Illusion wouldn't want her minions entering her private quarters by mistake so she deliberately made the archway leading to her quarters more decorative."

"So we go left?" Cloud asked as he looked at Max.

"Yeah," Max answered as he nodded.

Meanwhile Aerith had begun exploring the lab much more closely and she spotted several tubes at the far corner of the room. She walked over to them and saw that most of them were empty, however she walked over to the furthest one and she saw a mutated man in there. He was floating in the stasis liquid and looked like he was asleep. "What is this?" She questioned as she placed her hand on the side of the tank. "Is this one of Illusion's twisted experiments?" Aerith didn't have time to question it any further as a hand suddenly reached out and smashed through the glass causing the stasis liquid to start draining out. "Aaaaaaaaahhhh!" Aerith yelled in fright as she jumped back causing everyone to look around and see what the commotion was.

"Aerith!" Zack called out as he ran over to the Cetra, Aerith continued to back away as the mutated man broke out of the tube and slowly walked towards her dripping wet. He walked a few paces before he collapsed to the floor lifeless.

Zack slowly walked over to the body and knelt down next to it, "be careful Zack," Aerith uttered as she gave the raven haired man a frightened look as he placed two of his fingers on the body's neck.

"It's ok Aerith," Zack reassured the woman as he removed his fingers from the body's neck and stood up. "It's dead," he told her.

"Are you sure?" Aerith questioned as she eyed the body suspiciously.

"I'm sure," Zack answered as he wrapped his arms round Aerith. "Breaking out so suddenly must've been a shock to its system." He explained as he looked back at the broken tube, and saw the liquid all over the floor. "Come on, I think Max and Cloud have figured out a way to get to the prison cells." He told Aerith before taking hold of her hand and taking her back to the group.

"What happened back there?" Sunny questioned as she stared at the two.

"One of Illusion's experiments," Zack answered as he pointed at the dead body. "It broke out of the tube but died a minute later."

"Isn't that one of those mutated Cetra?" Cloud asked as he stared at the body. "Didn't we fight those?"

"Illusion must've forgotten about that one," Aerith replied. "Because the other tubes were empty, anyway, which way do we go?"

"Left," Max answered as he started to walk through the left archway. The others followed and they found themselves in another long tunnel which seemed to lead further down and the tunnel became less decorative the further down the group went. "Hang on Pandora, I'm coming." Max thought to himself as he started to run down the tunnel.

Meanwhile Pandora was pacing round the cell, "where's Max?" She questioned half to herself as she continued to pace round the cell. "I thought he'd be here by now."

"You need to be patient Pandora," Rufus stated calmly as he watched her pace round.

"You're so calm for saying we're in danger," Pandora uttered as she stopped pacing for a moment and stared at Rufus.

"This isn't the first time I've been taken hostage," Rufus answered as he looked back at Pandora. "You learn to be calm in situations like these."

"I guess…" Pandora muttered and with a sigh she resumed pacing round the cell again.

Back in the tunnel the group managed to get to the very end of the tunnel and they saw the cells that were being patrolled by guards. "Guards…" Lance whispered as he saw Dark Kitsunes patrolling the area.

"Figures…" Max muttered under his breath and rolled his eyes. "Which cell are Pandora and Rufus being held in?" He questioned as he saw that the first few cells were empty. "Damn it…" He cursed quietly so that the guards couldn't hear him. "We're never gonna get close enough, not without the guards catching us…unless…Drogo…" Max called out his friend's name.

"Yeah…" Drogo answered as he walked over to Max.

"You still have that cloaking device of yours right?" Max asked as he stared hopefully at Drogo.

"Yeah," Drogo answered as he pointed to a button on his belt. "Why?"

"Because I need you to use your stealth to get rid of the guards so we can get to Pandora and Rufus," Max told Drogo.

"Sure, no problem." Drogo stated as he smirked. "I'll get rid of those guards faster than you can say 'King of Thieves'."

"King of Thieves," Zack said suddenly causing Drogo to stare at him.

"It was just an expression," Drogo stated as he folded his arms.

"Sorry," Zack apologised and he fell silent again.

Drogo merely shook his head before pressing the button on his belt causing him to become invisible. Drogo then crept out of the tunnel and crept up behind the first guard on patrol. When Drogo got closer to the guard he took a knife out of its sheath and when the time was right he stood up and grabbed the guard from behind clamping a hand over his mouth to stop him from crying out before slitting his throat. Drogo then released the body and moved on to the next one.

After a while Drogo had killed all the guards and pushed the button on his device making himself visible again. He looked over at Max before signalling with his hand for Max to come over. Max ran over to Drogo and smirked at him. "Nice," he stated as he looked down at the bodies. "They didn't even suspect a thing."

"For now," Drogo whispered to Max. "But it won't be long before their deaths are noticed, we'd better make our move fast."

"Right," Max agreed as he and Drogo looked in each cell to find Rufus and Pandora. The first few cells were empty but they approached one and saw Pandora and Rufus in there. "Pandora…" Max called into the cell causing the raven haired woman to look up at him.

"Max…" Pandora uttered as she walked over to the door of the cell. "I knew you'd come."

"Of course," Max answered as he put his hand threw the bars and took hold of Pandora's hand. "I wouldn't leave you to rot in a place like this, I love you too much."

"I love you too," Pandora stated as she smiled at Max.

"Stand back," Max warned Pandora as he let go of Pandora's hand and brought his hand back through the bars.

"What are you going to do?" Pandora questioned as she stared at Max.

"You'll see," Max answered, "you'd better get out of the way too Rufus." Max warned the president of the WRO. Rufus gave Max a confused stare but he moved to a safe part of the cell as did Pandora.

Max also stepped back from the cell door and his body glowed a pale green colour as he felt his psychic energy surge through him. "Max…" Drogo called out Max's name. Max said nothing as he continued to build up his psychic energy. "Max!" Drogo yelled but louder.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Max yelled at the top of his lungs as he released his psychic energy causing the door to be ripped off its hinges and be thrown to the back of the cell crashing into the rear wall. Max breathed deeply as he knelt down on the floor slightly exhausted.

"You know, one of the guards did have the key to the cell," Drogo told Max as he held up a key.

"Not my style…" Max uttered as he continued to breathe deeply.

Drogo shook his head as Pandora and Rufus walked out of the cell. Pandora ran over to Max and knelt down beside him. "Drogo did have a point," She stated agreeing with Drogo. "It would've been easier and less draining to use the key."

"Yeah…I guess…" Max answered as he looked up at Pandora. "As long as you're ok, that's all that matters to me."

Pandora helped Max up and hugged him and the two kissed. "Ehem…" Rufus cleared his throat causing the two to stop kissing and stare at him. "As much as I'm enjoying seeing you two tongue wrestle there's still the matter of getting out of here."

"Yeah, you're right Rufus," Max stated agreeing with the ginger haired man. "Come on, everyone else is waiting." The three ran through the corridor and returned to the others who were waiting for them in the tunnel.

"Mr President," Tseng spoke to Rufus in his usual manner. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Rufus answered as he smiled at the Turk. "We must return to the surface so that we can get rid of those creatures that are attacking the Planet."

"Very well sir," Tseng replied as he saluted. Without another word the group ran back through the tunnel and ended up in the lab area again. The group carried on running until they ended up in the entrance hall.

"We made it," Max uttered in relief as he smiled at Pandora. "We just need to…" Max was cut off in midsentence as evil laughter echoed round them.

The group looked around and they saw Illusion walking through the tunnel flanked by Sephiroth, Weiss, Balthazar, Scarlet and several Dark Kitsunes. "My, this has turned out to be quite a show," Illusion stated as she smirked at Max.

"How did you…" Max uttered as he stared at Illusion in shock.

"Know you were coming…" Illusion finished Max's sentence for him. "Simple, I knew that you'd come to Pandora's aid if she was in danger." She laughed, "You're so predictable. Did you honestly think that I'd leave the place fairly unguarded for long?"

"You mean…you planned this…" Tifa questioned as she stared at Illusion.

"That's right," Illusion answered as she continued to smirk. "I let you break the prisoners out to a point, of course now I can reveal that the Pandora that's currently with you isn't the real Pandora."

"What?!" Max yelled as he looked at Pandora who was next to him and back at Illusion.

"She is merely a copy that I created while the real Pandora was unconscious," Illusion replied. "She is merely an illusion programmed to behave exactly as the real Pandora was."

"So…we rescued a fake…" Max uttered hardly daring to believe it.

"That's right," Illusion answered as she gave Max a triumphant smile. "And you fell for it," she laughed. "You're so gullible."

The fake Pandora also smirked before walking passed Max and disappearing in front of the group. They all gasped in shock, "that can't be possible…" Yuffie uttered in shock.

"Highly illogical…" Isis stated as she somehow managed to remain calm.

"Where's Pandora?!" Max yelled as he glared at Illusion again.

"Very well," Illusion answered before snapping her fingers and moving to the side as two guards marched into the entrance dragging Pandora.

"PANDORA!" Max yelled at the top of his lungs as he started to run towards her but the other guards blocked his path.

"MAX!" Pandora screamed as she struggled against her captors' grip.

"What are you gonna do to her?!" Max demanded as he glared at Illusion again, his hands were balled into fists and were shaking violently.

Illusion laughed, "Don't worry, I won't hurt her." She answered as she walked over to Pandora, "I like her, she's feisty. She'd make a perfect addition to my army, don't you think?"

"I won't let that happen," Max stated stubbornly as he tried to get passed the guards. "I won't let you brainwash her!"

Illusion smirked at Max, "well I won't be doing anything to her yet. We shall be moving to another location, if you really love your wife you will come to my castle on the Dark Kitsune World."

"Dark Kitsune World…" Max repeated Illusion's last words, Illusion nodded and her grin grew wider as her guards began to teleport one by one. "WAIT!" Max yelled as he ran towards Illusion but she warped along with the guards that were holding Pandora. Max skidded to a stop and looked at the spot where Pandora was stood before and sighed.

"What's our next move?" Reno questioned as he stared at Max.

Max sighed again and stood still for a few seconds before turning to look at the group. "We go after them," was all he said before he walked passed the group towards the tunnel that led back to the Northern Cave.

"But how?" Elena questioned as she looked at Max. "We don't have a spaceship."

"We'll think of something," Rufus answered as he smiled at Elena. "We won't let Illusion win, I just can't believe that I was sharing a cell with an illusion."

"So where was Pandora kept?" Tifa questioned.

"That's something we can ask her later," Max replied as he turned round to face the group again. "Right now she's in trouble and needs our help, we have to save her before Illusion turns her into one of her soldiers." Max shuddered as he thought of Pandora being one of Illusion's soldiers. "Let's head back to the Sierra," he commanded as he ran back through the tunnel. Everyone else followed and they quickly made their way back to the Sierra, as soon as everyone was on board the airship took off and everyone including Rufus and Reeve were stood on the bridge.

"What are your orders captain?" One of the technicians asked as he looked at Cid.

Cid said nothing and he looked at Max, "well, Pandora's your wife so it's your call," he told the Kitsune.

Max walked over to the window and looked out, "we find a way to get to the Dark Kitsune World," he said quickly without even thinking about it. He didn't need to, Pandora was in danger and he needed to save her quickly.

"But we don't have a spaceship," another technician spoke up, "and building one can take years."

Max turned round and scowled at the technician," we don't have years!" Max snapped at the technician causing them to shrink back in fear. "We don't even have days…" Max added a little softer.

"They have a point Max," Rufus replied as he walked over to the Kitsune. "If we knew that the Pandora was a fake sooner we would've been able to save the real Pandora."

"But we didn't," Max stated as he sighed sadly. "We didn't know and now Pandora's in serious danger…" Max hung his head and closed his eyes believing that all hope is lost when he suddenly remember something. "That's it!" He yelled suddenly causing everyone to look up and stare at him.

"What's it?" Aerith questioned.

"Why didn't I remember it before?" Max asked half to himself as he walked over to Cid. "We do have a means of travelling through space, I just completely forgot about it."

"I don't follow you," Sunny stated as she along with the others gave Max a confused stare.

"When I upgraded the Sierra, I put another mode in," Max continued to explain. "Cid," Max called out the pilot's name as he turned round to look at him. "Remember that button that I told you not to press?"

"Yeah," Cid answered as he looked down at the button.

"Push it," Max ordered.

Cid pushed the button and the Sierra shook as it began to change, the thrusters became larger and two more emerged out of the Sierra as it transformed into a spaceship and took off so that it was leaving the planet. The group looked out of the window and stared in awe at the stars and the planet that was now below them. "Wow!" Tifa exclaimed.

Cid laughed, "I like this upgrade!" He yelled as he smirked at Max, "now I can go into space whenever I want. Now…how do we get to the Dark Kitsune World?" He questioned as he looked at Max.

Max pushed a button on the control panel and a holographic map appeared, "this is a map of the galaxy," Max started to explain. "Your world is here," he pointed to a planet on the map. "These are planets that we haven't discovered yet, "the Kitsune World is here." He pointed to the Kitsune World, "there's Terra Firma," he pointed to another planet on the map. "And the Dark Kitsune World is here," he stated as he pointed to the Dark Kitsune World, "normally it would take two months to get there from our current position, but thankfully I installed a hyperdrive so all I have to do is type in the co-ordinates," he continued to explain as he typed in the co-ordinates for the Dark Kitsune World. "We're still quite near the planet so we'll have to wait until we're at a safe distance before we activate the hyperdrive." Cid steered the now converted Sierra further away from the planet and as soon as it was a safe distance away Max activated the hyperdrive and the Sierra travelled to the Dark Kitsune World at super speed.

---

Meanwhile in Illusion's castle Pandora was taken to a room where there was a strange looking chair in the centre. Pandora was dragged to the chair and was forced into it before she was strapped down to it. Hojo walked up to her and started to pace round her, "so beautiful, you'd make a fine experiment," he told Pandora as he stroked the side of her face.

"Don't touch me…" she uttered in a disgusted tone as she scowled at Hojo.

"She is too valuable to be one of your experiments Hojo," Illusion uttered as she walked over to Pandora. "Now go and prepare the injection." Illusion ordered.

"Of course," Hojo stated as he bowed before walking to another part of the room.

"What are you going to do to me?" Pandora demanded as she looked up at Illusion.

"Simple my dear, I'm going to turn you into one of my soldiers," Illusion answered as she smirked at Pandora. "You'll be asleep for the whole process but when you wake up, you'll remember nothing of your former life, you will be my puppet. But don't worry, you won't be just any lowly soldier, I'll make sure you're of a high rank."

"I'll never become your soldier!" Pandora spat as she struggled wildly.

"Struggle all you want," Illusion stated calmly. "You won't get out of here, I'm already well on the way to conquering Cloud's world, once I've conquered that pitiful planet I'll move on to the Kitsune World and you're going to help me conquer it whether you like it or not."

Pandora struggled even more wildly as Hojo walked over to her holding a needle and he stabbed it into her neck and pushed down on the plunger as the liquid entered her blood stream. Pandora wanted to scream but she couldn't make a sound as it felt like her was throat tightening, "sweet dreams…" Pandora could just about hear Hojo's voice as she drifted into unconsciousness. Illusion and Hojo laughed as Illusion grabbed a strange looking helmet and placed it on Pandora's head. She pushed a button on the side of the helmet and a visor fell down covering the top half of Pandora's face.

Illusion walked over to a control panel and pushed a button, Pandora's body jerked slightly as the brainwashing process began. "Soon you'll be my slave, perhaps I'll make you my right hand woman," Illusion stated as she laughed evilly before leaving the room.

---

Meanwhile, the Sierra had reached the Dark Kitsune World thanks to Max's hyperdrive and had landed near a large castle quite far from the nearest town. Everyone except Rufus, Reeve, Shelke and all the technicians got off the ship and looked around to find themselves in a barren wasteland. "How can anyone live here?" Yuffie questioned as she looked around to see desert as far as the eye can see, she looked up at the sky and saw to her surprise that it was permanently dark. "And what's up with the sky?"

"This is the Dark Kitsune World," Max answered as he turned round to look at Yuffie. "Yes it is a barren wasteland but the Dark Kitsunes have adapted to living in extreme environments as a result. The reason why the sky is permanently dark is because the planet itself has a dark essence within it. The Dark Kitsunes can harness and use this power to their own advantage."

"So they have the home team advantage," Cloud stated as he walked over to Max.

"Yeah," Max answered. "And if you do ever come here again, don't drink the water here."

"What if we're really thirsty?" Yuffie asked as she looked down to see a dark coloured river flowing near her.

"Make sure you have plenty of water with you," Max told her. "And don't drink from that river!"

"Oh…but I'm thirsty…" Yuffie moaned as she looked longingly at the river.

"We have plenty of water," Max stated irritably as he gave Yuffie bottle of water. "Besides, if you drink the water here you can get sick from dark power poisoning."

Yuffie greedily drank the water and stared at Max as she stopped drinking and gave the bottle back to Max. "How can the Dark Kitsunes drink it without becoming sick?" She questioned as she gave Max a curious stare.

"They've grown accustomed to it," Max answered as he turned away from Yuffie to look at the castle. "Now come on, we're wasting time. Any minute now Pandora could be…" Max didn't finish his sentence, he didn't have to everyone knew what he meant.

"So this is the castle huh?" Zack asked as he walked over to Max.

"Yeah," Max answered, "this is where Illusion's taken Pandora."

"Well, we're all in this together," Drogo stated as he too walked over to Max and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "And that's how we'll finish it, we're with ya to the end."

Max smiled at Drogo, "thanks Drogo," he replied gratefully. "Alright," let's go." Max stated as he walked up the path to the castle entrance. The rest of the group followed and they entered the castle through the large double doors and were amazed at the large and ornate entrance hall. The rectangular room was lined with black pillars and there was a double staircase at the other end of the hall which led upstairs. There were numerous doors that lead to different areas of the castle.

"So what's the plan of attack?" Isis asked calmly as she looked around at the different doors.

"We split up," Max answered as he looked around. "We're more likely to find Pandora that way, ok. Reno, Rude, Tseng and Elena, you all go in one group."

Reno and Elena gave Tseng a nervous glance, it felt awkward working with him but they knew that they had no choice. "Sure…" Reno uttered a little nervously as he looked back at Max again.

"Very well," Tseng stated in his usual calm manner.

"Zack, Aerith, Lance and Angel," Max began to list off the next group. "You guys ok working together?"

"Of course," Lance answered as he nodded.

"Good," Max replied before turning to Barret, Red, Nightshade and Isis. "You guys go together," he told the four. They nodded but said nothing so Max turned away from them. "Vincent, Yuffie, Drogo and Sunny." I need you guys to look in one of the rooms."

"We'll do our best to find Pandora," Sunny promised Max as she smiled at him.

Max smiled back before looking at the remaining people, "Cloud, Tifa and Cid, you guys come with me."

"You've become a right leader now," Cid stated as he stared at Max.

"You guys don't mind do you?" Max asked as he continued to look at them.

"Nah," Cloud answered as he smiled at Max. "Pandora's in trouble, you have every right to take charge. I'd be the same if it was Tifa."

"Really…" Tifa questioned as she smiled at Cloud.

"Of course," Cloud replied as he kissed Tifa on the lips. "You mean everything to me."

"Get a room!" Drogo yelled at the two causing them to scowl at him.

"We should get going," Tifa stated.

"Yeah," Max agreed, "but first I want everyone to be careful," Max started to warn his friends. "This is Illusion's castle after all, anything can happen. We may even find ourselves facing our worst fears and we've gotta be prepared for that." Everyone nodded to show that they understood. "Everyone move out!" Max ordered and the groups went their own separate ways.

Reno, Rude, Tseng and Elena entered a room to the left on the lower floor and found themselves in what looked like a dinning room area. "Wow…it looks so elegant…" Elena uttered as she walked over to the table and examined it closely.

"Yeah…for a Dark Kitsune place," Reno added as he looked around the room.

"It's odd," Rude stated in his usual manner.

"We must get going if we're to find Pandora," Tseng ordered the group as he walked passed the dinning room table towards a door at the other side of the room and walked through it.

"Hey Tseng wait up!" Reno called after the lead Turk as he, Elena and Rude ran after him. They went through the door and to their surprise they found that the room was completely empty. "This is weird…" Reno uttered as his voice echoed throughout the empty room.

"Anything can happen," Tseng warned his teammates. "So keep your wits about you." Everyone took their guns out and started to examine the room.

Elena found the door and tried to open it but to her surprise she saw that it was locked, "ok…our only way out is locked."

The four continued to look around, Tseng examined the other side of the room as mist formed all around him. "Reno! Rude! Elena!" Tseng found himself yelling his friends' names as he found himself surrounded by the mist and scrambled frantically as he tried to find a way out. Suddenly the mist had cleared as quickly as it came he looked around and saw that he was to his surprise in Elena's apartment. "What the…" Tseng uttered hardly daring to believe it. "Why am I here?"

Tseng found himself instinctively walking down the corridor as he heard the sound of laughter which grew louder as he walked further down the corridor. He stopped outside a room and he could clearly hear the laughter, Tseng opened the door and found Reno and Elena on Elena's bed kissing each other passionately. "YOU!" Tseng yelled at the top of his lungs as he glared at Reno.

Reno and Elena quickly broke apart and stared at Tseng, "Tseng…" Reno uttered as he gave his friend and superior a nervous look.

"I always knew that you were a womaniser Reno!" Tseng snapped at the red haired Turk. "But I didn't think you'd stoop this low!"

"Tseng please…" Elena begged as she gave Tseng a pleading look. "We're over remember…"

"So you decided to move on to the next guy huh…"

"No…" Elena tried to explain. "Me and Reno…it sort of happened…"

"These things don't just happen…" Tseng muttered under his breath as he pointed his gun at Reno and shot him.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Reno yelled in pain as he grabbed the area he was shot.

"RENO!" Elena yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran to Reno's side.

Tseng stared at Reno in shock, "what have I done?" He asked half to himself before running out of the room.

---

While this was happening Elena found herself being surrounded by the same mist that Tseng was and when the mist cleared she found herself in a strange place. "What is this place?" Elena questioned as she walked down what looked like an aisle and she saw her friends sat in chairs all dressed in black. "What's going on?" She questioned again as she looked at her friends.

"We're so sorry for your loss Elena," Tifa spoke up as she walked over to the blonde haired woman and hugged her.

"What are you talking about?" Elena asked, she couldn't help but feel confused.

"Poor thing," Aerith uttered as she gave Elena a sympathetic look. "She's still in denial."

"In denial about what?" Elena questioned a fourth time becoming increasingly annoyed.

"Reno's death," Aerith answered as she gave Elena a grave stare. "He was shot…remember?"

"Reno's dead!" Elena shouted as she ran to the back of the room where a coffin was lying flat on a table. She got closer to the coffin and looked inside it to see Reno lying there unmoving. "No…" Elena uttered in shock as she staggered back from the coffin and placed her hand over her mouth to stop herself from being sick.

Elena felt a hand touch her shoulder, she turned round and saw Tseng stood behind her with a guilty expression on his face. "I'm sorry Elena, I really am…"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Elena screamed at the top of her lungs.

---

Reno staggered around as he found himself surrounded by mist and he found that he was in his own apartment. "What the hell…" He uttered as he looked around. "Why am I at my apartment?" As Reno looked around his apartment he entered his room and he saw to his surprise that there were several pictures of him on the wall. "What is this?" He uttered as he looked at all the pictures of himself.

"Do you like it?" A familiar voice spoke to him, Reno turned round and he saw Emma stood in the door way, only she was more creepy looking. "I made it just for you…"

"Emma…" Reno uttered as the woman smiled and entered the room.

"That's right…" Emma answered as she walked closely to Reno and grabbed hold of his wrist tightly.

"Errr…Emma…you're hurting my hand…" Reno let out pained moans as he struggled against Emma's grip.

Emma grinned eerily, "it may hurt now…but it won't hurt for much longer."

"Emma…are you ok?" Reno asked his voice was filled with concern, "I have a feeling that the break up affected you worse than I thought."

"I'm perfectly fine…" Emma answered in that same creepy voice. "Although the breakup broke my last heartstring and caused me to become insane…" She explained as she took out a large butcher knife and pointed it at Reno. "But I'll be fine once we're together again…"

"By killing me…" Reno uttered as he stared nervously at the butcher knife.

"It'll only hurt for a second," Emma reassured Reno in that same eerie voice which far from reassured Reno. "Then we'll both be together forever and ever…I love you Reno…" Emma uttered creepily as her eyes flashed.

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!" Reno yelled as he struggled against Emma's grip, he kicked the knife out of Emma's hand before grabbing hold of her other hand and prying her fingers off his hand. However she dug her fingernails into his wrist which scratched him as they were pulled off.

Once Reno was free he quickly made a run for it out of the room and down the corridor. "Get back here!" Emma yelled as she opened the closet and pulled out a serrated chainsaw and revved it up.

"Shit!" Reno cursed loudly as he heard the sound of the chainsaw and Emma ran out of the room wielding the chainsaw.

"Come on Reno!" Emma yelled manically as she hunted for the red haired man. "This won't hurt a bit!"

Reno quickly ran for the front door and opened it to see Tseng stood there, "Tseng...you've gotta help me…" Reno pleaded as he grabbed his friend's collar. "There's an insane woman wielding a chainsaw on the loose and she wants to kill me…" Tseng said nothing but he took his gun out and pointed it at Reno. "What are you doing…" Reno uttered as he stared at the gun in shock.

"Stay away from Elena…" Tseng threatened as he shot Reno.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Reno yelled in pain as Tseng shot him.

---

Rude frantically searched for his friends in the mist when it disappeared and he found himself on a street corner engaged in a fight with a thug. Rude smirked as he dodged one of the thug's punches before punching the thug himself. Rude and the thug continued to throw punches and dodge each others attacks as people stopped what they were doing to watch. "You're goin' down punk," Rude told the thug calmly as he pulled his fist back to punch the thug in the face. However the thug quickly kicked Rude in the face breaking his shades, Rude sighed and pulled the broken shades off his face before reaching into his pocket before patting them frantically to discover that his spare pair of shades were gone. "Huh…" Rude uttered in shock.

"Lookin' for these…" The thug questioned mockingly as he held Rude's shades in his hand.

"How did you get those?" Rude demanded as he glared at the thug.

"I swiped 'em when you weren't lookin'," the thug answered triumphantly as he smirked at Rude.

"Give those back!" Rude yelled at the thug as he charged at him, the thug merely laughed before putting the shades down on the ground and stomping on them with his foot breaking them. Rude stopped in his tracks and stared at the shades in shock.

---

All four of them found themselves surrounded by the same mist and when it disappeared they found themselves back in the empty room in Illusion's castle and they saw that everyone was confused and exhausted. Tseng looked around and was relieved to see his friends again, "what happened?" Tseng questioned as he gave his friends confused stares.

"You shot me…" Reno uttered as he held his arm where Tseng had shot him while he was in his illusion. "That's what happened."

"I shot you…" Tseng questioned in shock.

"Yeah," Reno answered. "Fortunately you didn't hit any vital areas."

"Hang on," Elena spoke up as she walked over to Reno and took out a first aid kit. "I'll patch you up." She took a wet cloth out and pressed it on to the wound to stop it from bleeding before removing it and taking out a bandage, she wrapped it gently round the wound and tied it at the end so that it was secure.

"Thanks," Reno replied gratefully as Elena smiled and nodded.

"Any time," Elena stated. "What I want to know is, what that was about…"

Before anyone could answer her question they could hear the sound of evil laughter, the four looked towards the exit and pointed their guns in that direction as a purple light appeared and Scarlet appeared in the room. "So you all survived your fears…" she uttered, "looks like I'll have to take care of you all myself." She added as she got into a fighting stance.

---

Meanwhile Zack, Aerith, Lance and Angel entered a room to the right of the lower hall and found themselves in a fancy looking lounge area. "This is the kind of room I want back home," Angel commented as she looked around the room. "Of course, the décor would be brighter and more cheerful," she added as an after thought as she looked around at the dark purple wallpaper and the jet black leather furniture.

"We're in a strange castle on the Dark Kitsune World and all you can think about is decorating our living room…" Lance uttered as he stared at Angel in surprise.

"Well I have to keep everyone's hopes up," Angel stated as she looked at Lance.

"Why don't we wait until all this is over?" Lance suggested as he walked passed Angel and over to the fireplace and looked at it. "Hmmm…" He mused as he examined it more closely, he looked to the right and saw a dragon statue carved into the wall with its tail hanging down. Lance looked at it for a moment before pulling on the tail.

The group could hear a low rumbling sound as the ground shook, "what the hell?" Zack cursed as he held on to the wall to balance himself before looking over at Lance. "What the hell did you do?"

Before Lance could answer the ground continued to shake and the fireplace moved back before sinking into the floor to reveal a staircase. "A secret staircase…" Aerith uttered in awe as the group walked over to where the fireplace was before. "I wonder where it leads."

"There's only one way to find out," Lance answered as he stepped on to the first step.

"You're actually going down there…" Angel uttered as she stared at the secret staircase. "It looks all dark and scary…"

"Don't worry," Lance reassured Angel as he turned round and smiled at her. "You'll be fine, I won't let anything happen to you."

"Besides, Pandora could be down there," Zack added as he stepped down on to the first step next to Lance. "And we can't miss out on a vital chance to rescue her because a posh bunny is afraid of the dark."

"I'm not afraid of the dark!" Angel yelled as she scowled at the raven haired man.

"Prove it," Zack retorted as he smirked at Angel. "Prove that you're not a scaredy bunny." Angel continued to scowl at Zack and she moved her hands to the sheaths attached to her belt itching to get her blades out. "You do know I can regenerate," Zack told her.

Angel sighed before moving her hands away from the sheaths but she still scowled at him. "Come on," Lance spoke up before Angel could say anything. "We're wasting time," Lance walked down the steps and one by one the others followed him.

Angel walked passed Zack, "I'll get you back for your remarks," she whispered in his ear as she walked passed him.

"If it involves cutting me up with those blades of yours, it won't work because I can regenerate." Zack reminded Angel as he smirked at her.

"You'll see," Angel stated evilly as she continued to walk down the stairs.

"No really, what are you gonna do?" Zack questioned a hint of fear in his voice as he followed Angel and Lance down the stairs.

"I don't want to spoil the surprise," Angel answered vaguely as she smirked to herself.

Zack opened his mouth to protest but Aerith got there first, "stop it Zack," she quietly admonished him as she was right behind him.

"But she's scaring me," Zack told Aerith as he pointed at Angel.

"Awww…Are you scared of the little bunny rabbit?" Lance questioned in a mocking tone as he looked back and smirked at Zack.

"Don't mock me fox boy," Zack retorted as he glared at Lance. Lance merely laughed as he turned back round again and carried on walking down the stairs. Zack looked back and saw Aerith scowling at him, "he is mocking me…" he protested as Aerith shook her head.

"Honestly…the way you act sometimes it's like I'm dating a child," Aerith stated as Zack scowled at her.

"Gee thanks…" he uttered in an offended tone.

"Let's just hurry up…" Aerith cut in quickly changing the subject. Zack continued to scowl at Aerith before turning round and following Angel and Lance down the stairs.

After a while the group walked down the last step and looked around to find themselves in what looked like a torture chamber. "What a horrible place," Angel remarked as she looked around at the room and ran her finger along one of the torture devices and looked at the thick dust on her finger. "Not to mention that it's dusty," she added in disgust as she wiped the dust off her finger. "That would've seriously caused the property value of this place to go down."

"Do you have to do this now?" Lance questioned as he stared at Angel.

"But this place could do with a thorough cleaning," Angel answered as she pointed to the dusty areas of the room.

"Well there's a time and a place for that and this is neither the time nor the place." Lance stated with a sigh as he looked round at the room. He walked over to what looked like a rack just as a strange mist surrounded him. "Huh…what's goin' on?" Lance questioned as he looked around for his friends trying hard to remain calm. The mist eventually cleared and Lance found himself strapped to a table, "huh…what is this…where am I?"

"So you're finally awake," a scratchy voice spoke up. Lance looked up and saw Hojo stood over him.

"Hojo…" Lance uttered as he struggled against his bonds but he couldn't break free. "What the hell…what did you do to me?"

"Nothing yet," Hojo answered as he smirked evilly at Lance. "The nanotechnology inside you is absolutely fascinating."

"You examined me while I was unconscious…" Lance uttered in a disgusted tone as his body shuddered at the thought of Hojo touching him.

"You have enhanced speed and strength," Hojo started to explain as he paced round the room. "In fact you are on par with a First Class SOLDIER."

"Yeah, and they were all just pawns in Shinra's games…" Lance spat as he glared at Hojo.

"Hmmm…but the nanites inside you could do with updating," Hojo stated as he took out a needle. "With the new nanite software inside you your strength and speed will be further increased not to mention it would replace your whole skeleton with a metal frame and you'll lose all sense of freewill!" Hojo laughed evilly and this caused Lance to shudder even more. "Now don't worry, this will hurt…a lot!" Hojo laughed again and Lance's screams could be heard as the new nanites were injected into him and the inside of his body felt cold and metallic as his skeleton was replaced with a metal frame and he felt himself slowly losing his freewill.

---

Angel looked around and saw Lance struggling against nothing before the same mist surrounded Angel. "Hello!" Angel called out to the group as she ran round in circles in panic. "Can anyone hear me?!" The mist disappeared and Angel carried on running and she bumped into someone. "Sorry about that," Angel apologised as she looked at the person and saw to her surprise that the person was a nurse.

"Miss Angel," the nurse stated as she curtsied towards Angel.

"Why are you doing that?" Angel questioned as she gave the nurse a surprised stare. "Where am I?"

"You poor thing," the nurse answered as she gave Angel a sympathetic look. "I don't blame you for being confused what with Lance being in here."

"Lance is here!" Angel yelled in panic as she gave the nurse a worried stare.

"Yes," the nurse replied.

Before the nurse could say anything else Angel ran down the corridor until she reached a room and ran through the door where she saw Lance lying in a hospital bed. He was shirtless and he had countless wires connected to him. He was in an extremely bad way and was connected to a life support machine. "Lance…" Angel whispered the man's name as she walked closer to the bed, however he didn't respond. "Lance…" Angel uttered again as she grabbed hold of his hand.

The nurse entered the room and saw her, "miss Angel, I'm really sorry to have to tell you this…"

"Tell me what?" Angel questioned as she turned round to give the nurse a worried glance.

"The doctors did everything they could," the nurse started to explain, both her voice and expression were sad. "But Lance's body rejected the nanites that were put inside him…"

"What?!" Angel uttered in shock, "but they told me that the chance of Lance rejecting the nanites were slim."

"Unfortunately that's what happened," the nurse told Angel. "We think it was because he was too weak and that the injuries were too severe for the nanites to repair."

"You mean…" Angel started to say but she stopped herself not wanting to think about it.

"I'm afraid so," the nurse stated sadly. "The life support machine is keeping him alive but I don't see any hope for him. However we won't turn the life support machine off without your say so."

Angel stared at the nurse too shocked to speak, she looked back at Lance tears streaming down her face. She took hold of his hand before resting her head in his chest and she cried. After a while she stood up and looked at the nurse with tear stained eyes. "Do it," she whispered sadly.

"Are you sure?" The nurse questioned.

"Yes," Angel answered as she walked out of the room, she looked through the window and watched as the nurse turned Lance's life support machine off. Not wanting to watch anymore she turned round and ran down the corridor.

---

Zack looked around trying to find a way out of the room when he was surrounded by the white mist and when the mist disappeared he found himself at the bottom of a hill. "Huh.." Zack uttered as he looked all around him. "Where am I?" Zack started to climb up the hill and he when he reached the top he saw Midgar in the far distance.

"That's Midgar!" He exclaimed as he took a closer look at the city. "But…Midgar was destroyed…what is this?

Zack didn't have much time to look around as he could hear the sound of shouting and gunshots as several men in uniforms that looked very familiar to Zack started running towards him. "There he is!" The captain yelled as the soldiers pointed their guns at Zack.

"Shinra soldiers…" Zack stated as he gave the soldiers a confused stare. "Shinra was disbanded…what the hell's goin' on?!" He didn't really have time to look for an answer as the soldiers were shooting at him. Zack called his sword from his dimension and started to fight off the soldiers.

Zack managed to dodge the bullets and slay the soldiers but for everyone that he killed several more took their place. "Shit!" He cursed as he swung his sword round, "they're everywhere!"

Zack resumed fighting the soldiers and he managed to wipe most of them out, however he was exhausted. "Phew…" Zack sighed with relief as he looked at all the dead bodies. "I finally got 'em all…" Zack suddenly looked up as he heard the sound of shouting and three more soldiers charged at him and opened fire at him. Zack winced and cried out in pain as he looked down and saw several bullet wounds in his stomach, blood oozing out of the wounds.

Zack suddenly felt sick and dizzy, he looked up at the soldiers with slowly blurring vision as they continued to pump bullets into him. Zack's pained screams echoed throughout the entire plains as he fell to the ground with numerous bullet holes in his chest. Zack looked up and saw the three soldiers stood over him reloading their submachine guns. "This is it…" Zack thought to himself as he continued to look up at the soldiers his eyes were wide with fear. The soldiers smirked at Zack before pumping bullets into him, Zack screamed at the top of his lungs as his vision faded to black.

---

Aerith looked around in confusion as she was completed surrounded by white, her friends were nowhere to be seen. "Zack!" Aerith yelled loudly as she stood on her tiptoes and listened for her boyfriend's voice. "Angel! Lance!" Aerith called out her friends' names as she ran this way and that trying to find her companions. "Where are you guys?!" She continued to yell but all that followed was an eerie silence which frightened her and she clasped her hands tightly to her chest and closed her eyes.

When she opened her eyes she saw that the endless white had disappeared and she found herself in a very familiar place. "The City of the Ancients…" she whispered as she looked up at the crystalline buildings. "But why am I here?" She questioned becoming more confused than ever. However when she didn't receive any answers she walked down the street until she reached the middle of the city and found herself staring at the altar which held so many bad memories for her. "Why am I here of all places?" She questioned again as she looked at the altar with a mixture of pain and fear.

Aerith continued to look at the altar in fear but she found herself instinctively walking towards the edge of the lake. She then leapt on to the first pillar and leapt from pillar to pillar until she landed on the altar. She walked over to the railing on looked into the lake below to find that the White Materia was still there exactly where it had landed when she was killed. Aerith was so busy looking at the White Materia that she didn't notice that someone had crept up behind her until she was grabbed from behind.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Aerith screamed as she lashed out at her attacker trying to throw the person off her, but Aerith's attack was too strong and they picked her up and threw her into the middle of the altar. Aerith landed hard on her back side and shook her head before looking up just as a figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal a man with long silver hair and glowing green eyes. "Sephiroth…" Aerith uttered in shock. "What are you doing here? How dare you enter the sacred city of my people!" Aerith yelled this last part feeling a little braver.

Sephiroth merely laughed, "you've become a lot braver since the last time we met Cetra," Sephiroth spoke in both an admirable and mocking tone at the same time as he smirked evilly at Aerith.

Aerith stood up and glared at Sephiroth, "the least you can do is remember my name!" she shot back at the silver haired man. "It's Aerith!"

Sephiroth laughed again, "so feisty, where's the sweet naive girl I used to know?"

"She grew up…" Aerith uttered through gritted teeth. "What are you doing here, and where are my friends?" Aerith demanded as she scowled at Sephiroth.

"Well that's up to you Aerith," Sephiroth answered vaguely.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aerith demanded again growing increasingly annoyed at the silver haired man's antics.

"Your friends aren't dead, yet," Sephiroth answered as he paced round Aerith. "And as long as you co-operate with me they'll be fine." Aerith glared at Sephiroth but she said nothing. "I plan to summon Meteor once again to destroy this pitiful world," Sephiroth stated as he smirked at Aerith.

Aerith stared at Sephiroth and staggered back slightly nevertheless she showed no fear. "That'll never happen!" She yelled adamantly, "I won't let you, besides in order to summon Meteor you need the Black Materia and last time I checked it was destroyed!"

Sephiroth laughed manically as he gave Aerith an amused smile, "yes, you're right, I do." He stated calmly before a black orb appeared in his hand causing Aerith to leap back in shock.

"Th…that's the…B…Black Materia…" she uttered hardly daring to believe what she was seeing. "But how…"

"I had it synthesised," Sephiroth answered as he tossed the Black Materia up and down.

"That's no ordinary Materia, it can't be synthesised using ordinary means…" Aerith informed Sephiroth her voice was shaking slightly.

"I had special help," Sephiroth answered again. "And I require more help." Sephiroth added as he advanced towards Aerith. Aerith knelt down and clasped her hands together and closed her eyes before muttering a prayer in the Cetra language under her breath.

After a while she opened her eyes and looked up at Sephiroth while smiling. "Your plan won't work, the Planet will stop it."

"Really…" Sephiroth stated as he too was smiling. "Perhaps you should look more carefully."

"Huh…" Aerith uttered in surprise before Sephiroth grabbed Aerith by the arm and dragged her to her feet before dragging her to the edge of the altar. "Ouch!" Aerith exclaimed in pain as she struggled against Sephiroth's grip, "Let go! You're hurting me!"

Aerith continued to struggle as Sephiroth threw her into the railing, "as I recall, when a Cetra's prayer reaches the Planet the White Materia glows pale green, am I right?" Sephiroth questioned as he continued to hold Aerith's arm tightly, Aerith nodded nervously wondering why Sephiroth was bringing it up. "Take a look," Sephiroth added as he grabbed the back of Aerith's head and forced her to look down.

"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" Aerith screamed as she was forced to look downwards into the lake.

"Tell me, what do you see?" Sephiroth demanded as he continued to hold Aerith in that position.

"The White Materia…" Aerith uttered as she saw the orb at the bottom of the lake.

"Very good, now tell me what colour it is," Sephiroth commanded, his very voice sending a chill down Aerith's spine. Aerith examined the White Materia more closely and was shocked to discover that it wasn't glowing at all. "It isn't glowing is it?" Sephiroth questioned Aerith while answering his previous question at the same time.

"No…" Aerith muttered a hint of fear and worry in her voice. She let out a scream as Sephiroth lifted her back up. "But…how's that possible?"

"Simple, your prayer hasn't reached the Planet," Sephiroth answered still with that eerily calm voice.

"What?" Aerith questioned as she stared at Sephiroth in shock.

"I couldn't have you thwart my plan this time so I severed your link to the Planet," Sephiroth answered as he smirked evilly. "You can no longer communicate with the Planet."

"No…" Aerith uttered hardly daring to believe what she was hearing. "Why are you doing this?!" She screamed at the silver haired man. "What do you want?!"

Sephiroth laughed as he stepped closer to Aerith again, "what I want Aerith, is to destroy this world and everything in it, so that I can recreate it to my liking." He explained his plan as he smirked evilly at Aerith, "I shall rule this Planet as its king and you my dear, shall rule by my side as my queen." Sephiroth added as he reached out and stroked the side of Aerith's face.

"Don't touch me…" Aerith uttered in a disgusted tone as she quickly pushed Sephiroth away from her.

"What's the matter Aerith?" Sephiroth asked in a mocking tone as he gave Aerith an amused look. "You could have everything you ever wanted."

"I already have everything that I want!" Aerith snapped at Sephiroth, "A home, family, friends, a boyfriend that loves me, everything I have you're going to take away from me for your own selfish gains. This world doesn't just belong to you it belongs to everyone and I'm not going to help you destroy it!"

Sephiroth sighed exasperatedly, "I was afraid it would come to this," Sephiroth stated quietly as he walked away from Aerith slightly. "However if it gets you on side…" Sephiroth started to say as he held his hand out to summon a dark portal. He reached his hand in and slowly dragged something out.

Aerith looked at what Sephiroth was dragging out of the portal and she saw something black and spiky folded by a face that looked familiar to her, and finally a whole body was dragged out of the portal. "Zack!" Aerith gasped as she looked at the man that was lay on the floor, sure enough it was Zack but he was badly beaten up and his hands were tied behind his back.

Zack looked up as he heard his name being called and he saw Aerith stood there. "Aerith!" Zack yelled at the top of his lungs before Sephiroth dragged him to his feet and pointed his Masamune at his throat.

"You monster!" Aerith yelled as she charged at Sephiroth and started hitting him in the chest.

Sephiroth sighed before knocking Aerith away, "pathetic…" he scoffed as he stared Aerith down. "I tried to get you to listen to reason, but you wouldn't listen. So I took your boyfriend hostage," Sephiroth explained as he pointed at Zack. "Now, which is it to be, the Planet, or your boyfriend?"

"Aerith…don't do it…" Zack pleaded with the Cetra as he struggled against his bonds.

"Zack…" Aerith called the man's name as she stared at him, tears forming in her eyes.

"Help me summon Meteor and I'll spare Zack's life," Sephiroth promised as he slightly lowered his sword from Zack's throat.

"He's lying!" Zack warned Aerith as he continued to struggle. "He'll kill me anyway regardless of what choice you make. My usefulness to him has passed!"

"What do you mean?" Aerith questioned as she gave him a confused stare.

"Sephiroth forced me to reforge the Black Materia," Zack confessed as he sadly hung his head. "He said that if I didn't do it he'd hurt you, I didn't want that so I reforged the Black Materia. But that was a mistake, I don't you to make the same mistake I did!"

"Zack I…" Aerith stammered unsure of what to say, unsure of what to do. On the one hand she didn't want Sephiroth to kill Zack, she loved him too much. But on the other hand she didn't want to be responsible for the deaths of billions of innocent people, she was in such a major dilemma but now it was worse as she couldn't consult the Planet for advice.

"Which is it to be?" Sephiroth gave Aerith the ultimatum, "the Planet, or your boyfriend?" He asked as he point the sword so close to Zack's throat that Zack could feel the tip of the sword.

"Don't do it Aerith!" Zack called out to his girlfriend again, "save the Planet! Save yourself! Don't worry about me!"

"Do it Aerith," Sephiroth began probing the Cetra. "Help me and I will spare Zack's life, I will take him to the safe location with us and he can be our slave in our new world."

"He's just using you to get what he wants!" Zack tried to reason with Aerith. "I know you Aerith, you won't sacrifice the Planet's very being for me and I don't expect you to. Please Aerith, don't put the Planet in danger for me, I'm not worth it!"

"Don't say that Zack!" Aerith yelled tearfully, "I don't want to think of life without you!"

"What's one life compared to a billion?" Zack questioned the Cetra, tears were forming in his eyes. "Nothing," Zack answered his own question. "You can't put the entire Planet in danger to save one life."

"Take the Black Materia Aerith," Sephiroth commanded as he held out the orb in his free hand. "Take it and summon Meteor and the cleansing of the world can begin."

"Destroy it Aerith!" Zack yelled to the Cetra, "destroy the Black Materia! It's the only way!"

"Tell me Aerith, what's the point of living on a planet when you have no one to share your life with?" Sephiroth asked a very deep and hurtful question.

"I…" Aerith stammered as the tears streamed full flow down her face.

"Do it, and I'll ensure his survival," Sephiroth continued to probe deeper.

Aerith sighed sadly to herself, still unsure at what to do, Zack stared at Aerith, he was crying too. "I love you Aerith…" he whispered quietly, Aerith looked up at him and by looking into his eyes she knew what she had to do.

Aerith walked over to Zack, "I love you too," she whispered in the raven haired man's ear as she tenderly stroked the side of his face. "But please…please don't hate me for what I'm about to do…" she begged Zack.

Zack stared at her, his eyes were wide with shock for a moment but soon his shock faded as he knew at once what Aerith was going to do. "Aerith…" he started to say but Aerith placed her finger on Zack's lips to silence him.

"Please…don't make it any harder for me…" Aerith pleaded again as she kissed Zack passionately on the lips. Zack moaned as he tried to wrap his arms round Aerith's waist but his hands were still tied behind his back. After what seemed like forever Aerith released Zack and stepped away from him before taking the Black Materia from Sephiroth and stepping back to the centre of the altar.

"Aerith…" Zack started to beg as he struggled against his bonds again.

"I'm sorry Zack…" Aerith tearfully apologised as she clasped her hands tightly round the Black Materia. "But I have no choice…" Aerith wiped the tears from her eyes as she closed them and started to mutter in the Cetra language, the Black Materia glowed as Meteor was being summoned.

Aerith opened her eyes again, shocked at what she had done, "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" She screamed her anguish to the heavens as she collapsed to her knees and buried her head in her arms.

---

"Aerith…" A voice spoke to her.

"Please…leave me alone…"

"Aerith…wake up…"

"Huh…" Aerith uttered as she opened her eyes and looked up to see Zack, Angel and Lance kneeling around her.

"Are you ok?" Zack questioned as he gave Aerith a concerned stare.

Aerith rubbed her eyes and took a closer look at Zack and she saw that he was perfectly fine. "Where are we?" She questioned still confused.

"We're in Illusion's castle," Zack answered he too was confused.

Aerith let out a sob before throwing herself into Zack's chest, "I'm so glad you're ok…" she sobbed into Zack's chest. Zack was knelt there in shock at first but he lifted his arms up and wrapped them round Aerith. "It was horrible…I was in the City of the Ancients…Sephiroth showed up, he had the Black Materia remade and I couldn't summon Holy to stop him…he wanted me to help him with his plans and he captured you to black mail me and it worked…" Aerith continued to cry into Zack's chest.

"Sssshhhhh…it's ok…" Zack whispered in Aerith's ear to reassure her as he stroked her hair. "We're not in the City of the Ancients, we're in Illusion's castle," Zack reminded Aerith of where they were. "We're here to rescue Pandora, remember?" Aerith nodded. "The Black Materia hasn't been remade, Meteor hasn't been summoned as far as I know you can still communicate with the Planet, ok."

"Ok…" Aerith stated as she looked up at Zack. "Sorry for getting all emotional on you all like that.

"It's ok…" Angel told Aerith, "I was the same, I had a nightmare about Lance too and I was beside myself when I snapped out of it…I thought it was real."

"Hmmm…" Lance mused as he looked around the room. "There's something strange about this place…"

"Yes," Angel agreed with Lance as she stood up and looked around. "I sense very powerful magic in this place," she informed the group as she closed her eyes.

"We can counter it right?" Zack questioned as he gave Angel a curious stare.

Angel opened her eyes, "it's no ordinary magic," Angel answered as she shook her head. "This is very powerful magic, it's like it's reading our minds…"

"It seems that the enchantments put in this castle were designed to see our deepest fears and turns them into a realistic vision." Lance stated as he looked around the torture chamber.

"So what you're saying is that this castle knows our fears and is making us see them…" Aerith questioned as she gave Lance and Angel a knowing look.

"Yes," Angel answered as she nodded. "We should be careful from here on out."

The group suddenly heard clapping and they looked around trying to find the source of the clapping. "So the rabbit actually has a brain," a dark male voice spoke.

The group leapt up in shock and quickly withdrew their weapons, "who said that?!" Lance demanded as he spun round looking for the source of the voice. "Show yourself!" They heard the sound of laughter as a figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal a man with black hair, he was wearing strange clothing and was surrounded by a dark aura. "Nero…" Lance uttered as he instantly recognised the man and he and his friends pointed their weapons at Nero.

"Humph…pathetic weapons…" Nero scoffed as he sneered at the group's weapons.

"We kicked your ass before with these 'pathetic' weapons and we can do it again…" Lance hissed menacingly as he glared at the dark man.

"You just got lucky," Nero remarked as he walked closer to the group. "You may have survived through your fears without killing each other but you still have to get passed me before you can proceed."

"Easy…" Zack bragged as he smirked at Nero and got into a fighting stance, Aerith, Angel and Lance did the same.

Nero merely laughed again, "I don't know whether to call you all brave or stupid," he commented mockingly as the group scowled at him. "You're probably both, I do commend your bravery but it won't help you against my dark power!" Nero yelled this last part out loud as he spread his arms out wide and was surrounded by a dark aura and two guns appeared out of two small dark portals and Nero grabbed them and pointed them at the group. "Let's dance…" He whispered evilly as he started to advance on the group.

---

Meanwhile Barret, Red, Nightshade and Isis were upstairs and entered the bedroom, the bedroom was a large circular chamber with a large four poster bed with a decorative purple canopy and a matching lace curtain over the bed. There was a large, ornate wardrobe made out of ebony wood next to the bed and the room was dimly lit with a purple glow from overhead lamps. "This must be the master bedroom," Isis remarked as she looked all around her.

"What the hell makes you say that?" Barret questioned as he stared at Isis.

"Just call it woman's intuition," Isis commented as she smirked at Barret.

"They say that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their bedroom," Red informed the group as he looked round the room intrigued.

"So Illusion is dark and mysterious with an over active libido…" Nightshade muttered to himself as he looked at the bed.

"What was that?" Red asked as he turned round to look at Nightshade.

"Sorry, I forgot there was a child present," Nightshade stated as he smirked at Red causing the beast to scowl at him.

"When you kids have stopped arguing, we need to find out where Pandora is," Isis cut in before Red could say anything in response to Nightshade's cryptic remarks. Without another word the group started to look round the room for any switches or buttons that would lead to secret passages or even secret rooms, but alas after ten minutes of searching they found nothing.

"This ain't gettin' us nowhere!" Barret yelled in frustration as he punched one of the lamps causing it to spin round an point towards the window where the red sun's light shone on the lamp which caused a strange door like reflection to appear on the wall. "Now that's a funny lookin' reflection…" Barret commented as the group stared at it.

"That is impossible…" Isis uttered unsure of what to think, "Totally illogical…"

"That's magic for you," Nightshade told Isis as he walked closer to the reflection. "It's not supposed to be logical."

"Fascinating…absolutely fascinating…" Red uttered in awe as he walked up to the reflection to examine it more closely. He sniffed the reflection before putting his paw on it, Red quickly jumped back as the reflection glowed before an ornate looking door appeared in place of the reflection.

The group stared at the door in awe with their mouths wide open, "what the hell…" Barret cursed as he continued to stare at the door. "What the hell is this?"

"In an old castle like this, you should be prepared for a whole host of secrets," Nightshade informed the man as Barret turned round to stare at him. "It's possible that Pandora is behind this door," Nightshade continued as he pushed the door open and was blinded by a purple coloured light. The light faded and Nightshade walked through the door to find that he was in a dark room, he looked down and saw that he was standing on what looked like a glowing step. He looked down even further and saw that he was stood at the top of a spiral staircase, each step glowed as vividly as the last. He looked up and saw that the room was littered flickering star like lights which seemed to slightly illuminate the darkness.

"What do you see?" Isis called into her comrade.

"A staircase which leads down," Nightshade answered as he walked down to the second step.

"Is it safe?" Red questioned.

"Yeah," Nightshade replied. "The room is mostly dark but there is some light, it's fine."

"Well we ain't gonna rescue Pandora by standin' here," Barret stated feeling slightly braver now that he knew that it was fine on the other side. "Let's go!" He commanded as he walked through the door and was stood on the top step. "Ok…why are we outside all of a sudden?" Barret questioned as he looked up to see what looked like a full moon and millions of stars.

"We're not outside," Nightshade called up to him from a few steps down. "It must be some kind of image generator that's creating the illusion that we're outside."

"Really…" Barret asked as he looked down at the Kitsune.

"Yeah," Nightshade replied. "It's very commonly used on my home planet."

"I see…" Barret stated as he started to walk down the steps.

"This place is remarkable," Red remarked as he stepped through the door and looked around. "You say that it's some kind of imaging technology that created this…" he questioned as he gave Nightshade a curious stare.

"Yeah," Nightshade answered as he looked back up at the beast.

"Fascinating," Red commented with a keen interest. "Certainly worth looking at."

"Maybe you could borrow Max's when all this is over," Nightshade told the beast.

"That would be great," Red replied, he smiled at the Kitsune as he started to jump down the steps to catch up with Barret and Nightshade.

"Let's just hurry up and rescue Pandora so we can get out of this creepy castle!" Isis yelled impatiently as she stepped through the door and was stood on the first step, however she couldn't help but stare in awe at the stars and the moon and the glowing staircase.

"Fascinating isn't it?" Red questioned as he looked up at Isis.

"It is a mere distraction from our mission," Isis stated blankly in an attempt to hide her awe as she walked down the steps.

"What's the matter?" Nightshade questioned mockingly as he gave Isis a sly grin. "Can't admit that you actually find something amazing…or are you just afraid to use your emotions?"

"I'm not afraid!" Isis snapped as she glared at Nightshade, "emotions are useless, they cloud one's judgement. You of all people should know that Nightshade."

"Let's get going," Nightshade quickly changed the subject as he turned round and started to walk down the steps. "After all it is my daughter in law that Illusion has captured."

Without another word the group walked down the spiral staircase going round and round as they descended. The stairs seemed to go on forever but still the four carried on going for they knew that they had no other choice. After what seemed like an eternity the group finally walked down the last step and they found themselves in a narrow corridor. "That took too long!" Barret complained loudly his voice echoing through out the corridor. "It would've made our lives easier if the staircase actually moved!"

"I wonder where this corridor leads," Red mused as he looked down the corridor that looked for the most part dark, but there was a pale purple light being emitted from purple flames that were on torches on the walls.

"I'm not sure," Nightshade stated as he started to walk forwards to get a better look down the tunnel. "But other than going back up the staircase it's the only way we can go."

"Finally…some logic to this place," Isis stated in relief as she walked behind Nightshade. "Red, I think it would be best if you led."

"She's right," Barret agreed as he looked at the beast. "Your tail could help us see better."

Red looked from Barret to Nightshade to Isis before nodding. "Very well, I shall go first all of you follow and try to stay close. Who knows what dangers we'll face on the other side." Red warned as he started to walk down the tunnel, the red glow from the end of his tail mixing with the purple glow of the torches completely lighting up the otherwise dark corridor. Red sniffed the ground and Isis used her keen eyesight to look at every crack in the tunnel but she could find nothing lurking in the tunnel.

Compared to the staircase the corridor was surprisingly short and it wasn't long until the group emerged into a well lit room. The room was incredibly large and extremely ornate with a long red carpet with gold trimmings trailing the entire length of the marble floor which was so shiny that the group could see their reflections staring back at them. There were ornate columns holding up the high ceiling which had a highly complex painting of several prominent figures in Dark Kitsune history one of which was Illusion herself. The room looked old however it showed no signs of decay, there was no dust or cracks in the floor or the columns nor were the colours fading. Rather the room looked just as grand and beautiful as the day it was built. Nightshade closed his eyes as he sensed the actual age of the room, "this room is extremely old," he informed the group has he opened his eyes.

"But that's impossible," Red remarked as he looked at the room. "There is no sign of decay."

"There must be some sort of enchantment on this place that preserves the room," Nightshade replied as he looked around. "But this room is thousands of years old, just like this castle but everything in it looks brand new…"

The group continued to look around the room and they saw that the only real furniture in the room was a very decorative throne made entirely out of gold. "A throne room…" Barret uttered as he stared at the throne.

"Odd…" Isis stated as she thoughtfully rubbed her chin."If this is a throne room then why is it down here?"

"That is an interesting question," Red replied as he looked round the room inquisitively. "However we have more pressing issues right now."

"Like findin' a way outta here," Barret stated as he walked near the throne room. "I wonder if there's a switch or somethin'…"

However Barret didn't have much time to find a lever or a switch as he found himself being surrounded by a strange white mist which covered the entire room making it impossible for Barret to see his friends. "What the hell…" Barret yelled at the top of his lungs as he looked around frantically for his friends. "Nightshade! Red! Isis!" He called out his friends' names as he ran through the mist, however the mist was so thick that he couldn't see anything. "Where the hell is everyone?!" He questioned as he stopped finally giving up, all of a sudden the mist disappeared and Barret found himself in a very familiar town.

"Corel…" Barret uttered as he looked round the old miner town that had long since been rebuilt. "Why am I here?" He questioned as he walked down the street, when he reached the end of the street he found himself stood in front of a very familiar house and it didn't take him long to realise that it was his own house. "This is my house…why the hell am I here?" He asked as he looked around the desert town in confusion, nevertheless he walked over to the front door and opened it.

"Hello?!" Barret called into the house as he peered round the door, however when he received no answer he entered the house and walked down the hallway and entered the living room where he saw a young girl with long brown hair sat on the sofa. "Marlene…" Barret called out to the girl, the girl looked up at him and sure enough she was Marlene however she was older at least 13 or 14 and was wearing a knee length purple dress, purple gloves and purple boots, her hair was longer and just sat on her shoulders. "Marlene am I glad to see you…" Barret uttered in relief as he walked towards his daughter.

"Stay away from me…" Marlene suddenly snapped as she quickly leapt to her feet and glared at Barret.

"What's goin' on?" Barret questioned obviously confused at Marlene's strange behaviour. "Marlene, it's me…your daddy…"

"No you're not!" Marlene screamed at the man as her hands were clenched into fists, "you're not my father…my father is dead…"

"I don't understand…" Barret stated still confused at why his daughter would act like this.

"Denzel told me," Marlene explained to Barret still in that hostile manner. "He blurted it out that you weren't my real father and Cloud and Tifa were forced to tell me everything!"

"Oh that…" Barret uttered as he suddenly remembered what Marlene was talking about. "You weren't supposed to find out…not like that…"

"You mean you didn't want me to find out at all!" Marlene snapped as she walked towards Barret and jabbed her index finger into the man's chest.

"That's not true!" Barret yelled in defence, "we didn't tell you because we didn't want to hurt you," Barret tried to explain himself to Marlene. "We wanted to protect you."

"Protect yourself more like!" Marlene yelled, "you killed my father!"

"No I didn't…" Barret replied sadly as he remembered his old friend. "He felt he had nothing to live for…before he died he told me to take care of you…I know I'm not your father by blood but I'm still your father."

"No you're not! Marlene screamed at Barret as she thumped him in the chest and walked passed him. "You're just a murderer! I hate you and I never ever want to see you ever again!" Marlene yelled before walking out of the living room and slamming the door behind her.

"MARLENE!" Barret yelled his daughter's name at the top of his lungs as he fell to his knees and punched the floor repeatedly with his cybernetic hand as the living room started to fade all around him.

---

Meanwhile Red was walking through the mist looking for signs of his friends when the mist disappeared and he found himself in Bugen Hagen's Observatory. "Strange…" Red uttered as he tried hard to remain calm at the sudden change of scene, "why am I in grandpa's old observatory?" He asked himself as he looked around, however he didn't get an answer to his question as someone had burst into the room.

"Nanaki!" The man called to Red while breathing heavily, "We have a serious problem!"

"What's the problem?" Red questioned as he gave the man a concerned stare.

"The canyon is under attack!" The man answered in a panicked tone, "We desperately need your help!"

"I'm on my way," Red replied without hesitation as he quickly ran out of the room and out on to the balcony where he saw several strange beings wreaking havoc on Cosmo Canyon and he saw the people running and screaming in panic as they were being attacked by the beings. "It can't be…" Red uttered in shock as he took a closer look at the beings. "They were defeated…my father made sure of that…we defeated their spirits…"

"A strange woman revived them," the man explained as he too looked down.

"Illusion…" Red uttered the woman's name, "gather as many warriors as you can," Red told the man. "I'm going to hold them."

"Right away Nanaki," the man replied as he nodded and ran off.

Red sighed before leaping off the balcony and he leapt from wall to wall as he descended to the bottom of the canyon. A young woman and child were huddled against the wall as an armoured skeletal like creature wielding a giant sword advanced on them. A loud roar could be heard and the GI warrior looked up just in time as Red leapt towards the undead warrior and focused all his energy causing a bright green aura to surround him as he fell even faster and as he fell towards the GI warrior he sped up causing himself to go right through it and he landed safely on all four feet on the other side of the warrior. The GI warrior looked down in shock to see a large gaping hole in the middle of it before it collapsed into a pile of bones.

Red turned round and walked over to the woman and child, "are you alright?" He asked them, his voice was filled with concern.

"Yes," the woman replied as she and her child slowly stood up. "Thank you Nanaki," she thanked the red beast as she nodded her head.

"You're welcome," Red responded as he lowered his head modestly before sensing that something was behind him and he kicked out with his back legs knocking another GI warrior off balance. He then turned round and bit the undead warrior and began to shake it in his mouth as several bones were sent flying all over the place. Red threw the last bone away before turning back to the woman and child, "go further into the canyon and find shelter," Red told the woman. "It's too dangerous to stay out here." The woman nodded and she and her child ran into the caves and further up the canyon.

Red sighed before he ran off fighting other GI warriors and saved the terrorized civilians, soon the warriors from Cosmo Canyon joined in the fight to aid Red. However even with their valiant effort there were far too many GI and they soon found themselves overwhelmed. "There's too many of them…" Red panted as he was forced to back away into a corner still putting up a brave fight against the GI. Red roared as he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder he looked down and saw a strange dart lodged in his shoulder. "A dart…" He uttered as he looked up in shock. The GI saw that Red was injured and they started to advance on him while several GI archers shot more darts at him. Red howled in pain as more darts pierced into various parts of his body.

Red suddenly started to feel weak and dizzy, he tried to fight off the GI warriors but he couldn't move very well. Red looked down at his paws and he saw that he was slowly turning to stone and he began to quiver in fear. "Those darts are turning me to stone…" Red uttered in fear. "Just like they did to my father…" Red howled sadly as the scenery faded all around him.

---

Isis looked around the mist trying to find her friends, but even with her cybernetic enhancements it was hard for to see what was right in front of her let alone her friends. However Isis wasn't one to panic easily so she calmly stayed in one spot until the mist cleared. Isis could hear strange bleeping sounds before she opened her eyes and found herself in a strange tube. "Huh…" Isis let out a muffled sound as she looked around her to find that she was in some kind of lab. "Where am I?"

Before Isis could receive an answer to her question she could hear the sound of footsteps as a man wearing a lab coat approached the tube she was in. "So you're awake…" he spoke into the tube. Isis looked at the man but she said nothing. "Your father will be pleased that you've woken up," the man continued as he smiled at Isis.

"My father…" Isis thought as she gave the man a confused stare.

In answer to her question more footsteps could be heard and a male Persian cat that looked very much like Isis and wearing a suit entered the room. "So my daughter is awake," the man stated as he looked at the doctor.

"Yes sir," the doctor answered. "The nano-therapy was a complete success," the doctor happily told Isis' father.

"Excellent," Isis' father replied as he smiled at his daughter. "And how are the ehem…other implants?" He asked the doctor as he whispered in his ear.

"You mean the weapons upgrade…" the doctor whispered to Isis' father, however Isis overheard.

"Weapons upgrade…" Isis thought to herself as she scowled at her father. "Just what is my father up to?"

"Yes, that's what I mean," Isis's father answered as he paced round the room. "I'd like to test it as soon as possible."

"Are you sure that's wise sir?" The doctor asked the rich man.

"I don't pay you to ask questions!" Isis' father snapped at the doctor, "I pay you to do what I tell you now get her out of the tube so we can test out her fighting capabilities. Ha ha, Tony's gang won't know what hit them."

"Tony…what's he gotta do with this…" Isis questioned to herself growing more and more concerned for her welfare.

"With Isis and her knew cybernetic enhancements no one will dare mess with me!" Isis' father yelled triumphantly as he smirked at his daughter. "I will be the number one crime lord in this town!"

"So that's it…he wants to use me as a weapon…" Isis thought angrily as she realised what her father's true intentions were. "He didn't want me to have that surgery for my own good, he wanted me to have it so he could secretly implant weapon manufacturing nanites inside me…he hasn't changed at all…"

Isis' hands instinctively balled into fists but no one seemed to notice, "Release her from the tube," Isis' father ordered. Isis looked down as she heard a strange sound and the water was drained all around her, as the last of the water drained she landed gracefully on the bottom of the tube and lowered her head. The tube's door opened and Isis slowly stepped out of it still with her head to the floor. "At last…my daughter…my beautiful daughter," Isis' father remarked as he looked at Isis.

"Should we run the target practice test?" The doctor asked.

"No," Isis' father asked as he shook his head. "I have a better test, bring in the prisoner!" He yelled out of the room and a few seconds later two men entered the room dragging a third man, the third man was beaten up and had numerous cuts and bruises on him. "One of Tony's informants, he'd make a perfect test."

"No…please…" the captured man protested as he struggled against his captors.

"Silence him!" Isis' father ordered as one of his goons punched the man. The man winced in pain but he fell quiet, "that's better," Isis' father stated as he gave a satisfied smile. "Now Isis, show me what you can do." Isis stood there for a moment unmoving, she hated Tony's gang. After all it was because of their rivalry with her father that she was left fighting for her life in the first place, however she didn't want to be involved in her father's games, nor did she want to be his personal assassin. "I said do it!" Isis' father yelled at her, without warning Isis created a magnum in her hand and aimed it at the captured man before pulling the trigger, the man fell to the floor dead with a bullet hole in the middle of his head right between the eyes. "Remarkable!" Isis' father yelled as he smiled at Isis, "the implants were a complete success, with you at my side I'll be unstoppable!" He shouted again as he laughed before walking up to Isis.

Isis then pointed her gun at her father's head, "I'll never help you…" she hissed menacingly her finger was etched on the trigger. "It's because of you that I'm like this in the first place…you and your stupid gang wars!"

"Are you really going to shoot your own father?" He questioned Isis as he looked down the barrel of the magnum.

"Don't tempt me…" Isis uttered, "I was two meters away and I shot that guy right between the eyes. At point blank range there's no way I can miss…"

"You will do exactly as I say, or so help me I'll have the nanites inside you shut down…" Isis' father threatened.

Isis laughed when she heard that, "resorting to threats now…" she uttered there was no hint of fear in her voice or on her face. "But then again, that's all you're good at because you were a second rate father…"

"When you were caught in the cross fire I could've left you for dead, but instead I paid a good amount of money for you to have that nano-therapy!" Isis' father screamed at his daughter.

"Only because you wanted to turn me into a weapon!" Isis snapped back as she pushed the gun closer into her father's face.

"I can have those nanites switched off at any time," Isis' father threatened again. "And due to the extensive damage that was done to your body you won't be able to survive without them, you'll be dead within minutes."

"I'd rather be dead than be forced to work with you," Isis hissed at her father. "But of course, that was just an empty threat because you wouldn't dare switch the nanites off, because you're all talk and no action. Now I'm leaving to live my own life away from you and away from gang violence," Isis continued as she glared at her father. "And if you try to follow me I won't hesitate to kill you."

"There was me thinking you weren't a killer," Isis' father scoffed as he smirked at his daughter.

"For you…I'm willing to make a big exception…" Isis answered before pulling the gun away from her father's face and made it disappear. "And if you value your life you'll leave me alone to get on with mine…or what's left of it." Without another word Isis left the lab and as soon as she was out of the room she started crying as she ran down the corridor the scene fading to black.

---

Nightshade sighed to himself as he walked slowly and calmly through the mist, "my shades are getting all fogged up…" Nightshade uttered in annoyance as he removed his shades and cleaned them using his coat. "I wonder where the others are…" He continued to walk through the mist until it faded and he found himself in what looked like a prison cell.

"A cell…" Nightshade uttered as he looked around the small room, "why am I in a cell…"

Before Nightshade could do or say anything else the cell door opened and two Dark Kitsunes entered the cell, "Balthazar wishes to see you," one of the Dark Kitsunes spoke as the two walked over to Nightshade.

"Balthazar…" Nightshade spat his brother's name but at the same time he was confused.

"He's impressed that you managed to allude him for ten years but now he finally has you," the second Dark Kitsune replied as he and his comrade grabbed Nightshade's hands and held them behind his back. Nightshade fought back against the guards but they jabbed him with shock sticks causing him to cry out in pain. "I wouldn't fight back if I were you, you'll only get more pain."

Nightshade merely moaned in response, the electric shock sapped most of his strength so he could nothing but let the guards drag him out of the cell to Balthazar's personal quarters. The guards dragged Nightshade to a decorative circular room where a red furred Kitsune was sat on a throne. "Balthazar…" Nightshade weakly muttered the man's name.

Balthazar smirked as he stood up and walked towards Nightshade, "it's good to see you again little brother," Balthazar greeted as his grin grew wider.

"Enough of the pleasantries Balthazar…" Nightshade spat as he glared at his brother. "What the hell do you want?"

"You're very abrupt," Balthazar stated in an amused voice as he knelt down so that he was level with Nightshade. "Very different to the innocent and naïve boy I used to know."

"That's because I was force to grow up…fast…" Nightshade retorted tempted to spit in Balthazar's face. "All thanks to you…"

Balthazar laughed before he stood up and paced round the room, "I must say I'm impressed, you've managed to avoid me for a whole decade," Balthazar started to drone as he stood still for a moment with his back to Nightshade. "However, when you left the palace you left with someone else," Balthazar continued as he turned round to face Nightshade again. "A baby…"

Nightshade's eyes grew wide with shock," Max…" He uttered under his breath.

"So that's his name…interesting…" Balthazar mused as he rubbed his chin. "But what's more interesting is that when my bounty hunters finally caught you, this Max wasn't with you…now why is that? Were you trying to hide him?" Balthazar questioned but Nightshade said nothing rather he looked away from Balthazar. Balthazar sighed before walking over to Nightshade and he knelt down beside him again before placing his hand under Nightshade's chin and forcing him to look at him. "Where is he?"

"I'm not gonna tell you where he is…" Nightshade stated defiantly as he glared at Balthazar.

"Have it your way," Balthazar stated before clicking his fingers and his guards started to beat Nightshade up. Nightshade winced as he was punched, kicked, bitten and telekinetically attacked by Balthazar's guards but not once did he cry out. Balthazar clicked his fingers again and his guards stopped, Nightshade was lay on the floor holding his stomach and he coughed thick specks of blood which landed on the floor. Balthazar walked up to Nightshade before lifting him up with his psychic powers. "Now, I'll ask you again. Where is the boy?" Balthazar demanded a little more impatiently as Nightshade struggled against Balthazar's grip.

"I'll never…tell you…" Nightshade uttered weakly but stubbornly, refusing to back down. "I won't…betray my own son…"

"You're strong I'll give you that," Balthazar complimented his brother. "But you're stubborn, but let's see how long it takes for you to crack under mental torture." Balthazar used his telepathy to enter Nightshade's mind and he forced Nightshade to see images of Aurora's death.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Nightshade yelled as he was forced to watch his wife dying over and over again in his head. Balthazar laughed manically as Nightshade struggled obviously in severe mental pain.

Eventually Balthazar released Nightshade and he fell to the floor shaking violently from what he was forced to see. Balthazar walked over to Nightshade and dragged him to his feet, "where is he Nightshade?" Balthazar asked a third time.

"In…an orphanage…" Nightshade muttered barely above a whisper, to shaken to speak properly.

"There are millions of orphanages in the world," Balthazar told the younger Kitsune. "Be more specific!"

"He's…in…Metropolis…" Nightshade uttered weakly as he felt sick.

"Metropolis…" Balthazar repeated the name as he rubbed his chin. "Thank you Nightshade you've been most helpful…" Balthazar added as he smirked evilly, before Nightshade could react Balthazar withdrew a knife and stabbed it deeply into Nightshade's stomach.

"Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh…" Nightshade moaned in pain as he felt the knife twisting in his insides.

"Goodbye little brother…" Balthazar whispered tauntingly in Nightshade's ear as blood started to froth out of Nightshade's mouth as he continued to moan weakly. "Say hi to Aurora for me…" These were the last words Nightshade heard before Balthazar pulled the knife out of him and released him letting him fall to the floor, Nightshade fell unconscious as the scene started to fade all around him.

---

"Nightshade…" Several voices spoke to him causing him to open his eyes.

Nightshade quickly looked down and he saw much to his amazement there wasn't a gaping stab wound or a scratch on him for that matter. "What happened?" He questioned as he looked up to see Barret, Red and Isis stood over him.

"We're not sure," Isis answered. "We were searching for a way out of this room when we were all surrounded by mist."

"Then we started freakin' out!" Barret continued to explain as he reached out and helped Nightshade to his feet.

"Thanks," Nightshade replied gratefully as he was back on his feet again. "Freak out…" He questioned as he stared at his friends.

"We saw things that appeared to be real but they really weren't," Red answered. "But I thought that illusion magic only affected the weak minded…"

"This is no ordinary illusion magic," Nightshade informed Red as he held his head, still visibly shaken from what he had seen.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Red asked him his voice was filled with concern. "You look pale."

"I'm fine," Nightshade answered as he smiled at Red. "What I saw just disturbed me that's all…"

"Well now that we've come back to our senses let's try to find a way out of this room," Isis reminded the group of their task.

"If only it were that easy…" a male voice echoed throughout the room, the group looked around and they saw a man sat elegantly on the throne.

"Balthazar…" Nightshade uttered as he instantly recognised the man.

Balthazar smirked as he stood up and walked towards the group, "did you enjoy your nightmares?" He questioned as he continued to smirk at the group.

"If that's all that Illusion can do then we're not impressed," Isis replied coldly as she and the others scowled at him.

"I see…" Balthazar uttered as he rubbed his chin. "You managed to get through the illusions with your sanity relatively intact…it would seem that I have to defeat you myself," he added as two swords appeared in his hands.

The group also withdrew their weapons and pointed them at Balthazar, "you're forgetting…we've defeated you before and we can do it again!" Nightshade yelled at his former brother as he bared his teeth at him.

"You may be more skilled since last time, but here I have the upper hand!" Balthazar yelled as he charged at the group.

---

In another part of the mansion Vincent, Yuffie, Drogo and Sunny had entered a large and very grand looking bathroom. The bath was very ornate with gold taps, there was a wash basin next to the bath with silver handles and a shower at the end of the room with a purple coloured curtain draped round it. "Wow…" Yuffie uttered as she looked round the bathroom, "This room looks very familiar to the bathroom at my house," she commented as she looked at the bath. "Only it's not…"

"As drab and depressing as yours…" Vincent muttered darkly causing Yuffie to scowl at him.

"I was going to say that it isn't as fancy as mine if you hadn't have interrupted…" Yuffie retorted as she continued to scowl at Vincent.

Sunny walked over to the bath and touched the taps with her finger, "hey Drogo, these kinds of taps will be perfect in our bathroom…" She commented as she smiled at Drogo.

Drogo sighed as he walked over to Sunny, "Sunny how can you think of decorating at time like this?" He questioned as he stared at her.

"Just trying to brighten up the mood," Sunny answered as she continued to smile at her husband.

"I know you are but we have more pressing issues right now," Drogo told her.

"I know," Sunny stated as her smile fade. "I do want to find Pandora but it doesn't all have to be doom and gloom does it?"

"Not unless you're Vincent," Yuffie answered as she pointed at the raven haired man. "He thrives on doom and gloom…kidding…" Yuffie uttered quickly as Vincent pointed Cerberus at her.

"Good," Vincent stated blankly as he continued to point his gun at Yuffie. "Because if you weren't you'd get bitten not once, not twice, but three times…"

"The old three headed dog joke…" Yuffie uttered nervously, "very funny…"

"It wasn't a joke," Vincent retorted but he pulled his gun away from Yuffie and put it back in its holster before walking away from her. "There is nothing in this room, let's move on," he commanded as he walked out of the room.

"It's called a sense of humour Vincent!" Yuffie called after Vincent, "you can buy it at any store!" Vincent sighed as he slammed the door shut behind him. "Fine! Be that way you jerk!" Yuffie continued to yell.

"Come on, we better follow him," Drogo stated as he too walked out of the bathroom. Sunny and Yuffie followed him out and the group themselves in the corridor, they saw Vincent and ran to catch up with him. "Look I know Yuffie's a pain in the ass," Drogo started to talk to Vincent.

"Hey!" Yuffie yelled as she scowled at Drogo.

"But…we're all in this together," Drogo continued as he ignored Yuffie. "And we're not gonna rescue Pandora by arguing among ourselves."

"I know," Vincent stated as he looked at Drogo. "Let's try this room," he quickly changed the subject as he pushed a door open and stepped inside.

Yuffie, Drogo and Sunny followed him and they found themselves in a beautiful library with a large ornate window at the far side of the room. "This place is amazing…" Sunny uttered in awe as she looked at the books on the shelves. "Illusion has her own library…" Sunny remarked as she took a book down from one of the shelves. "Advanced Necromancy…" Sunny read the cover of the black leather book she was holding in her hand before she quickly put it back. "No thanks…" she uttered slightly unnerved.

"You do know that all the books in here will be on Necromancy right?" Drogo asked Sunny.

"Yeah," Sunny answered. "But I thought it was a forbidden art…"

"Just because something's forbidden doesn't mean that people will stop practicing it," Drogo told Sunny. "Come on, we need to find the room that Pandora's in."

The group continued to explore the library, "this place is so boring…" Yuffie muttered as she sighed and looked at the books. "I mean take a look at these books…" Yuffie continued as she pulled several books off the shelf. "All of them about Necromancy…I mean what's the bloody point?!" She yelled as she threw each book on to the floor. Yuffie pulled one more book half way off the shelf when the ground began to shake.

"Whoa!" Everyone yelled at the same time as they quickly grabbed on to something to prevent themselves from falling over. "Yuffie, what did you do?!" Drogo called over to Yuffie.

"Nothing…" The ninja lied through her teeth as she fell backside first on to the floor.

"Doesn't sound like nothing!" Drogo yelled to Yuffie, the group looked just in time to see several bricks in the wall rearrange themselves creating what looked like a passage way.

"A secret passage way…" Sunny uttered as she walked over to it. "Do you think it'll lead us to Pandora?" She questioned as she looked back at her comrades.

"There's only one way to find out," Drogo answered as he walked towards the tunnel and entered it.

"N…no way am I going in there…" Yuffie stammered as she staggered back her body was visibly shaking in fear.

"Just get going…" Vincent commanded as he stepped behind the ninja. "Unless you want to feel Cerberus up your ass…" Vincent threatened as he smirked at her.

"Actually…that tunnel doesn't seem so bad…" Yuffie quickly uttered as she ran towards the tunnel and ran through it to catch up with Drogo. Vincent and Sunny both sighed as they followed their comrades down the tunnel and the bricks rearranged themselves completely closing off the tunnel.

The group walked through the tunnel and they found themselves in a large square room which was completely empty except for a door on the other side. "A door…" Yuffie stated as she pointed to the door, "maybe that'll lead us to Pandora…"

"Well considering it's the only door in the room then yeah…" Drogo muttered sarcastically.

"There's no need to be sarcastic…" Yuffie snapped as she glared at Drogo.

"Then stop pointing out the blatantly obvious…" Drogo retorted as he walked passed Yuffie. The group made their way to the door but as they did so they found themselves surrounded by mist.

"What's going on?!" Yuffie screamed as she ran frantically through the mist trying to find her friends. "Guys! Can you hear me?! Please…don't leave me…" Yuffie muttered as she suddenly felt afraid, then the mist quickly disappeared and Yuffie found herself in a forest. "Ok…this is weird…" She uttered as she looked around her in confusion. "Then again this whole place is weird…" Yuffie walked through the forest pushing through some trees when she spotted a shiny object on the ground. "What's that?" Yuffie questioned as she took a closer look at the object and she discovered that it was a piece of Materia. "MATERIA!" Yuffie squealed with excitement as she ran straight towards the Materia not realising that she had caught her foot in a rope that was hidden in the grass. "Whoa!" Yuffie yelled at the top of her lungs as the rope round her foot tightened and she found herself hanging upside down in a tree. "What the hell is this?!" Yuffie demanded as she struggled wildly not realising that the pouch she kept her Materia in had fallen to the ground. "Get me down from here!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" A shrill laugh echoed through out the forest.

"Who are you?!" Yuffie demanded again as she looked around frantically for the source of the laughter. The laughter echoed in Yuffie's ears again as she saw a person leaping from tree to tree before they landed gracefully on the ground she quickly picked up Yuffie's Materia pouch and put it round her waist before Yuffie could notice. On closer examination Yuffie saw that it was a young woman barely older than herself, the woman had long blonde hair which she tied back in a ponytail, green eyes and she wore a green tube top underneath a dark green jacket, matching green shorts dark green fingerless gloves and dark green leather boots with white socks sticking out of the top.

The woman looked up at Yuffie and smirked, "man I can't believe you fell straight into my trap!" The woman mocked Yuffie as Yuffie glared at her. "You're so gullible…"

"Do you even know who I am?!" Yuffie yelled down to the woman as she continued to struggle. "My name is Yuffie and I'm the greatest Materia Hunter ever!"

"Hmmm…the name sort of rings a bell…" the woman mused as she mockingly rubbed her chin. "Nah…come to think of it I haven't heard of you…"

"Well at least tell me who you are!" Yuffie demanded as she glared at the woman.

"Very well, my name is Sasha the greatest Materia Hunter in the world!" Sasha boasted as she pointed to herself. "Perhaps you've heard of me."

"Nope," Yuffie answered as she continued to scowl at the woman.

"That's a shame…" Sasha replied as she continued to look up at Yuffie. "If I were you I'd brush up on your information."

"And if I were you I wouldn't wear that ridiculous get up!" Yuffie retorted as she pointed at Sasha's clothes.

"Where as your outfit screams 'look at me! Take heed of me!'" Sasha retorted as she scowled at Yuffie, "talk about obnoxious."

"Obnoxious! You just let me down and I'll kick your ass and we'll see who the greatest Materia Hunter in the world is!" Yuffie screamed at Sasha as she struggled again.

"I'd rather fight against worthy opponents," Sasha stated dismissively. "But I will let you down," Sasha added as she took a kunai from her belt and threw it at the rope holding Yuffie. The kunai cut through the rope and Yuffie fell to the floor.

"Ouch!" Yuffie yelled as she landed stomach first.

"Well I better get going, got plenty more saps to steal Materia from. Oh a word to the not so wise, don't fall into any traps," Sasha advised causing Yuffie to growl under her breath and scowl at the blonde haired woman. "Thanks for the Materia," Sasha thanked Yuffie as she calmly walked off.

"What the…" Yuffie questioned she tried to find Sasha but Sasha had disappeared, she then looked down and saw that her Materia pouch had been stolen.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" She screamed at the top of her lungs in shock that someone had actually stolen Materia from her, she fell to her knees and continued to scream as the scene faded all around her.

---

Vincent was running through the mist breathing heavily as he ran in search for his friends, as the mist fade Vincent found himself in WRO Headquarters. "What the…" Vincent uttered as he stared at the room he was in, however something was wrong, there was blood everywhere and several dead bodies were littered all over the floor. "What happened here?" Vincent questioned as he walked over to the nearest body and examined it. He turned the body on to its back and he saw large claw marks, "what kind of monster would do this?"

"That's a very interesting question Vincent," a familiar voice spoke. Vincent turned round and he saw Shelke walking towards him.

"Shelke…" Vincent whispered the girl's name as he stood up.

"I heard the alarm," Shelke replied in her usual manner. "And I got here as soon as I could, but by the time I got here I was too late…they were already dead…" Shelke explained as she hung her head sadly.

"What happened here?" Vincent questioned as he stared at the girl, "What monster did this?"

"You did," Shelke answered as she stared at the dark haired man.

"I did…" Vincent uttered, his eyes were wide with shock. "But…that's impossible…"

"I have the security footage to prove it," Shelke stated as she held up a video tape. She put it into a video player and switched the screen on. The two saw a monster that bore a striking resemblance to Chaos brutally attacking the WRO employees, it looked up at the camera its red eyes lusting for blood and its mouth curled into an evil grin.

"Stop…" Vincent uttered as he staggered back, "I don't want to watch anymore…"

Shelke pushed the stop button on the video player, "I know it's a shock to you Vincent," Shelke spoke to Vincent. "But you had to know, you had to know what you were doing."

"But…I can control Chaos…" Vincent stated as he stared down at his own hands. "The Protomateria enables me to do that."

"It would seem that Illusion has found a way to override the Protomateria," Shelke told Vincent as she shook her head sadly.

"So Illusion's controlling me…" Vincent questioned as he stared at the girl, shocked at what he had heard.

"When you're in Chaos form yes, thanks to Illusion Chaos has lost all inhibitions, it can't tell the difference between friend and foe, thus it becomes a ruthless killing machine…" Shelke explained solemnly, Vincent sighed at the thought that when he turns into Chaos he could kill his friends. "But of course, you won't remember it because you're not in control," Shelke continued.

"Illusion's turning me into a blood thirsty monster," Vincent stated as he paced round. "Next time I could kill my friends and I wouldn't know it."

"Don't worry," Shelke reassured Vincent as she smiled at him. "Reeve and I are working on a way to override Illusion's control over Chaos so that you'll be back in control of it again."

"Reeve's still alive…" Vincent uttered as he sighed with relief.

"Yes," Shelke answered, "fortunately you didn't go down to the basement level. He's currently in his workshop, it could take a while Vincent, so until we find a way to rid Chaos of Illusion's control you'll have to go into stasis."

"No…" Vincent uttered as he backed away from Shelke.

"It's for your own good Vincent," Shelke told the man as she walked towards him holding out a piece of Materia. "As well as everyone else's." Vincent continued to back away but Shelke muttered a few words under her breath and Vincent suddenly felt a wave of unconsciousness hit him, he fell to the floor unconscious as Shelke, the blood, the dead bodies and the whole of WRO HQ began to fade.

---

Drogo walked through the mist as he searched for his friends, however his efforts were futile as the mist was so thick. Drogo could feel his heart pounding in his chest so he stopped and closed his eyes and meditated in order to calm himself down. When Drogo opened his eyes again he saw that the mist had gone and he was stood in the middle of his and Sunny's hometown. "Why am I here?" Drogo questioned, however he didn't have time to ponder the matter as he could smell smoke. "Smoke…" Drogo uttered as he sniffed up, "where's it coming from?"

Drogo ran down the street and he saw that one of the buildings was on fire, "fire!" Drogo yelled as he stared at the building in shock and it didn't take him long to realise that it was his and Sunny's house. "Sunny!" Drogo yelled as he ran towards the house.

"Hey! You can't run in there!" A fire fighter shouted as he blocked Drogo's path, "it's too dangerous!"

"My wife is in there!" Drogo screamed as he pushed passed the fire fighter. "I can't just stand here and do nothing!" Drogo ran over to the house and kicked the door in, he shielded himself as he was met by the glare of the flames before running in. "Sunny!" Drogo yelled before he coughed because of the smoke. "Sunny where are you?!"

"Drogo!" Sunny's panicked yell echoed throughout the house.

"Sunny!" Drogo yelled the woman's name again as he ran into the hall and quickly ran up the stairs. He kicked several doors down as he searched for Sunny, he eventually found in their bedroom lying on the bed. "Sunny!" Drogo shouted as he ran towards her. "Sunny…come on…don't fall asleep on me!" Drogo told Sunny as he shook her in an effort to wake her up.

Sunny let out a soft moan, Drogo quickly picked her up and carried her out of the room. He made his way to the stairs but as he got there some debris fell and blocked the stairs. "Shit!" Drogo cursed as he took a few steps back. He made his way to the spare bedroom and locked the door to stop the flames, he put Sunny down on the floor and opened the window before grabbing the mattress from the bed and throwing it out of the window. "Don't worry Sunny, I'm gonna get us both out of here," Drogo reassured his wife as he picked her up and walked towards the window. He took a deep breath before jumping out of the window with Sunny in his arms.

The two landed safely on the mattress and Drogo put Sunny down on it before placing his ear on her chest. "Shit! She's not breathing!" Drogo yelled as he quickly pressed his hands on Sunny's chest, "Come on Sunny…" Drogo called out Sunny as he pressed on her chest. "Wake up…" He opened up Sunny's airways and was dismayed that she still wasn't breathing so he pinched her nose shut with his thumb and index finger started to give her mouth to mouth. "Breathe Sunny…" Drogo uttered in between breaths as he started to press down again. "Come on breathe…" Drogo tried for half an hour but Sunny wasn't responding and Drogo had no choice but to stop. "No…" Drogo uttered as tears fell down his face, "no…it can't be…" he continued to utter as he picked Sunny up and cradled her in his arms. "You can't be dead…no…this isn't fair…this is too cruel…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Drogo yelled his anguish to the heavens as he continued to hold to Sunny's body, he looked down at her and sobbed into her chest as everything became black.

---

"Yuffie! Vincent! Drogo!" Sunny called out desperately to her friends in an attempt to find them as she ran frantically through the mist, she ran this way and that but she couldn't find her friends. In the end she stopped and gave up just as the mist faded and she found herself on the beach in her hometown. "Why am I here?" She questioned as she looked around at the beach she used to play on when she was a child.

"The beach is where it all happened…" Max's voice echoed in her head. "This is where he died…"

"So this is where it happened…" Sunny uttered as she looked out to sea and sighed sadly to herself.

"Hello Sunny…" a familiar voice spoke to her, Sunny turned round and she saw a green furred hedgehog with black fringe spikes, sea green eyes and wearing a brown trench coat stood behind her.

"Spike…" Sunny uttered the man's name as she walked over to him, "it's so good to see you again…"

"Is it?" Spike questioned coldly causing Sunny to stop in her tracks.

"Of course it is," Sunny stated as she smiled at him while hot tears were stinging her eyes. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"I was hoping you could tell me…" Spike answered as he walked towards Sunny.

"I don't understand…" Sunny questioned hurt and confused by Spike's behaviour.

"After our argument you couldn't be bothered to come after me," Spike snapped at Sunny as he scowled at her. "You couldn't be bothered to make it up to me…"

"We're brother and sister…" Sunny explained herself. "We're expected to argue…and we always made up afterwards…"

"You still could've found me…we could've made it up with each other but no…you left it…" Spike spat as he continued to glare at his younger sister.

"But you stormed off before I had chance to apologise…" Sunny uttered defensively. "I thought you needed some time to calm down…"

"What I needed was for my sister to be on my side!" Spike snapped at Sunny, "Instead you chose him over me!"

"Well you kept accusing him of being a criminal…" Sunny tried to reason with Spike but to no avail. "I had to say something."

"But I was right, because he killed me and murder is a crime!" Spike shouted at Sunny as he continued to glare at her.

"And he's been living with the guilt ever since," Sunny told Spike hoping it would offer him some comfort. "And…so have I…" Sunny added sadly as she hung her head.

"Oh…" Spike uttered as he raised his eyebrow.

"Yes…" Sunny answered as she nodded her head. "I've been living with the guilt because we had an argument and we weren't able to apologise to each other before you died…but I'm going to say it now…I'm sorry Spike."

"Well sorry doesn't quite cut it!" Spike snapped at Sunny as he turned his back on her.

"Spike…I'm not entirely blameless here…" Sunny told her brother as she walked up to him. "It was as much your fault as it was mine."

"No, the point is I was right about Max," Spike stated as he turned back round to face Sunny. "And you couldn't admit that you were wrong and now I'm going to haunt you as well as Max," Spike added before turning round and walking off.

"Spike…don't go!" Sunny called out to her brother but he had already left. "Spike don't do this!" Sunny yelled loudly before falling to her knees and crying into her arms before the whole scene faded round her.

---

"Sunny are you ok?" A familiar voice asked her.

"Huh…" Sunny uttered as she quickly looked up and saw Drogo kneeling down beside her. "Drogo…I thought I saw…" She started to say but she suddenly stopped in midsentence.

"You thought you saw who?" Drogo questioned as he gave Sunny an inquisitive stare.

"Never mind…" Sunny quickly answered as she staggered to her feet. "It's nothing…"

"You sure?" Drogo asked still concerned for Sunny.

"Yeah," Sunny answered as she nodded, "we should keep going."

"Man you're being calm about what you saw," Yuffie uttered as she stared at Sunny in surprise. "I mean what I saw terrified me…there was someone who's actually a better Materia hunter than me…"

"Which isn't too difficult…" Vincent muttered under his breath causing Yuffie to scowl at him.

"Hey!" She yelled as she gave Vincent a sharp dig in the chest, Vincent didn't flinch. "I resent that! Especially since I'm the greatest Materia Hunter ever!"

"I find that highly doubtful," Drogo stated as he agreed with Vincent.

"Oh…you're just mean!" Yuffie yelled at Drogo as she placed her hands on her hips and stuck her tongue out at him.

"When you've finished being childish," Vincent uttered as he shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Let's get going."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out at Vincent but she quickly pulled it back in again as he scowled at her, but he said nothing and turned round. The group made their way towards the door but a dark coloured barrier appeared blocking their path. "A barrier…" Sunny uttered as she stared at the dark barrier. "Do you suppose…"

"Yeah…" Drogo answered as he removed the katanas from their sheaths, "we've walked straight into a trap."

"Are you serious!" Yuffie yelled as she stared at Drogo.

"Sssshhhhh…" Drogo told Yuffie to be quiet as he slowly paced round the room before suddenly swinging his katanas round only to be met with a metallic clang. Drogo looked down and saw a strange looking sword before looking up and staring in shock at the wielder. "You…" He uttered as the stranger stepped out of the shadows to reveal Kadaj.

"So the katana wielding hedgehog actually remembered me…" Kadaj spoke as he smirked at Drogo.

Drogo merely growled before twisting his katanas round and freed them before pointing them at Kadaj. "What do you want?" He questioned as he scowled at Kadaj, Sunny, Yuffie and Vincent also saw him and took their weapons out before pointing them at him.

"Well, having you scared to death by your own fears didn't work so Illusion sent me to personally take care of you," Kadaj answered as he paced round the group.

"Ha, didn't I kick your ass back in Kalm?" Drogo questioned as he smirked at Kadaj.

"A mere fluke…" Kadaj answered quickly as he scowled at Drogo. "You just got lucky, but I'm stronger now."

"But you only took on Drogo last time," Vincent reminded the silver haired man. "Now you'll be taking on all four of us."

"Man, you really do have a death wish…"Yuffie mocked as she pulled faces at Kadaj.

"Shut up Yuffie!" Drogo and Vincent both snapped at the ninja and she shrank back slightly.

"You sure you wanna go for round two?" Drogo asked mockingly as he smirked at Kadaj.

Kadaj smirked back, "I only have two words to say…" Kadaj responded as he readied his weapon, "Let's play!" He yelled as he charged at the group dragging his sword behind him.

---

After searching several rooms, Max, Cloud, Tifa and Cid found a staircase which led down to the basement. The basement was a fairly large but dark room, lit only by the purple coloured lamps which hung from the ceiling and the basement was mostly empty except for large barrels and bottles of alcohol. "Alcohol…" Tifa uttered as she looked at all the giant barrels and the assorted wine bottles. "I thought Kitsunes couldn't tolerate alcohol."

"We can't," Max answered, "But Dark Kitsunes are the exact opposite, they have a high tolerance to alcohol."

"How high is their alcohol tolerance?" Cid questioned as he looked at Max.

"They could easily drink Reno and Rude under the table," Max answered with a smirk as Cid laughed.

"Damn…that's a high alcohol tolerance!" He yelled as he patted Max on the shoulder, "what about you and Nightshade?"

"Huh?" Max asked as he gave Cid a confused stare.

"Well, you and Nightshade are Kitsune and Dark Kitsune hybrids," Cid answered, "so does that mean that you have a slightly higher alcohol tolerance?"

"You'd think that wouldn't you?" Max answered as he smirked at Cid.

"I don't follow ya," Cid replied, it was his turn to be confused now.

"Even though me and my dad are hybrids we still have a very low tolerance to alcohol," Max explained as Cid nodded to show that he understood.

"Let's get going," Cloud commanded as he started to walk off, everyone else followed and they found a door on the other side of the basement. When they entered they found that they were in an even larger room which was completely empty. "Ok…this room is completely empty…"

"Not quite," Tifa spoke up, "it looks like a door over there…" She stated as she pointed to the door.

"It's another psyche lock door," Max stated as he saw a hand symbol on the door in place of a normal lock.

"Well hurry up and get the bloody thing open!" Cid ordered as he looked at Max.

"Hang on," Max spoke up as he stared back at Cid. "Give me a chance to get to the door…" The group began to make their way to the door but they were surrounded by thick mist which suddenly seeped into the room seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

"Hello!" Cid yelled at the top of his lungs as he searched for his friends. "Cloud, Tifa, Max! Damn…I seriously need a smoke…" Cid muttered under his breath as he searched his pockets before remembering that he didn't have his cigarettes. "Oh yeah…I forgot the bitch in pink hid them…" Cid sighed, "shit…I really needed those cigarettes…"

As Cid continued to search for his friends the mist disappeared and he found himself on the Sierra. "What the hell?!" Cid cursed as he looked around the corridor, "why am I here?!" He questioned himself as he walked down the corridor and entered the bridge and he was shocked to see a technician working on the control panel. "What the hell are you doin' to ma ship?!" Cid yelled as he stormed over to the technician and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up.

"I…I was just installing an autopilot sir…" The pilot answered nervously as he looked at Cid.

"Autopilot…" Cid repeated the technician's words. "Why the hell are yer puttin' one of them in?!"

"Because Rufus Shinra ordered it sir," the technician answered still with that nervous tone.

"Why would he order somethin' like that?!" Cid continued to demand.

"I don't know…" the technician replied as he pulled himself free from Cid's grip and returned to his work. "Look, I'm just a technician, but Rufus himself will be here soon so why don't you ask him yourself?" The technician suggested as he continued with his work.

"The hell I will!" Cid cursed, he turned away from the technician just as Rufus entered the bridge. "Rufus you son of a bitch!" Cid yelled as he stormed over to Rufus. "What the hell are yer playin' at?! Installin' an autopilot device! I'm the best damn pilot in the world!" Cid boasted as he pointed to himself.

"I know you are Cid," Rufus replied calmly as he sighed. "And I appreciate all the help that you, Avalanche and Max and the others have given to WRO," Rufus told Cid as he gave the pilot a grateful nod. "We wouldn't have been able to help the Planet recover if it wasn't for your tireless efforts."

"I don't like where this is goin'…" Cid uttered as he gave Rufus a worried glance.

"Times are changing," Rufus continued to explain as he paced round Cid. "And technology is advancing, everything is pretty much done automatically now. I've ordered all the airships to be installed with an autopilot in order to keep up with times," Rufus told Cid. "Unfortunately that means…"

"That you're lettin' me go…" Cid finished Rufus' sentence.

"I'm sorry…" Rufus apologised as gave Cid a grave look.

"No yer not!" Cid yelled at Rufus, "All you care about is your damn money!"

"I didn't come to this decision lightly," Rufus calmly told Cid.

"After all these years of loyal service!" Cid continued to shout at Rufus, "and all you can say is sod off!"

"I'm not saying that…" Rufus started to say.

"It's bad enough that ya took the Shinra 26 and the Highwind from me!" Cid yelled as he reminded Rufus of the past. "Now you wanna take the Sierra away from me too!"

"The Sierra is part of the WRO fleet," Rufus told Cid. "And it's not just you we're letting go, all the other pilots will be let go as well but you won't be out of pocket."

"Just get out" Cid yelled at Rufus. "I wanna be alone with ma baby!"

"Cid think about this…" Rufus started to say.

"OUT!" Cid screamed at the top of his lungs causing Rufus to back away before leaving the room. "YOU TOO!" Cid shouted as he glared at the technician. The technician quickly stood up and ran out of the room, Cid looked around the Sierra, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He yelled loudly as he banged his fist on the control panel as the Sierra faded all around him.

---

"Max! Cid! Cloud!" Tifa yelled as she tried to find her comrades. "Where are you?!" She continued to yell as she ran through the mist looking left and right frantically. As she ran she saw the mist disappear all around her and she found herself in the Seventh Heaven. "The Seventh Heaven…" Tifa uttered as she looked around the bar. "Why am I here?" Tifa walked up to the bar just as Cloud walked through carrying a large bag. "Cloud…" Tifa uttered as she stared at the bag he was carrying over his shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving," Cloud answered blankly as he walked out from behind the bar.

"Leaving…" Tifa uttered as she stared at Cloud in shock. "Why?"

"Because I have to…" Cloud answered without looking at Tifa.

"I need an answer!" Tifa demanded as she walked in front of Cloud blocking his path. "Is it because you don't love me anymore…" Tifa uttered as she gave Cloud a tearful look.

Cloud sighed, "Tifa, it's because I love you that I have to leave," Cloud replied as he gave her a sad look. "I'm scared that Sephiroth will return."

"But we defeated him…" Tifa reminded Cloud as she smiled at him.

"This time…" Cloud stated clearly unconvinced by Tifa's reassurance. "But he'll find a way to come back…he always does…"

"If he does come back again, we'll defeat him, like we did the last three times." Tifa replied as she reached out and took hold of Cloud's hand.

"I appreciate your support," Cloud told Tifa as he smiled at her. "But…Sephiroth will use you against me."

"I won't let him," Tifa stated defiantly.

"I can't take that chance…" Cloud uttered sadly as tears formed in his eyes. "It's better this way…" he whispered as he pulled his hand away from Tifa's and started to walk towards the door.

"Why are you doing this?!" Tifa screamed causing Cloud to stop and turn round and stare at her. "Why are you letting the past get to you again?!" Cloud said nothing, but he stared at Tifa in shock. He had never heard her yell like that before. "When can we get to the point where you'll actually let go of the past and move on?!"

"I want to move on…" Cloud told Tifa, "but too much damage has been done…I can't forget the past…"

"So there really is no future for us…" Tifa uttered as she stared at Cloud with teary eyes.

"I'm sorry Tifa…" Cloud apologised as he stared sadly at her. "You deserve someone else…someone who'll treat you right…someone who won't let the past get in the way of their future…"

"I don't want anyone else!" Tifa cried as she walked over to Cloud again. "I want you!"

"We can't be together…" Cloud told Tifa. "Not until I can fully rid myself of Sephiroth…he may be dead, but he still lives on in spirit…too strong to fully die…"

"Only because you're letting him live!" Tifa yelled at Cloud. "I know you can't erase the past but you have to let go!"

"I love you Tifa…" Cloud whispered to Tifa as he kissed her on the lips. Tifa kissed Cloud back and she held on to him tightly, never wanting to let go, never wanting that tender moment to end. Cloud eventually stopped kissing Tifa and he took a few steps back. "Goodbye Tifa…" Cloud stated sadly before turning round and walking out of the door. Tifa watched sadly as Cloud left and the door shut behind him, she started to sob as she fell to her knees hardly daring to believe that Cloud walked out of her life once again. "We were going to go on vacation together…" she cried as she balled into her arms as the Seventh Heaven started to disappear.

---

"What's happening?" Cloud questioned as he looked round but he couldn't see anything through the mist. "Max, Cid, Tifa! Where is everyone?!" Cloud called out to his friends hoping against hope that they could hear him but he got no response. Cloud sighed, but he refused to give up so he walked further into the mist and he saw it fade before his eyes and he found himself outside the Seventh Heaven. "How did I end up here?" Cloud questioned as he looked at the building, nevertheless he felt the need to enter, Cloud walked over to the door and opened it. "Hello?!" Cloud called out as he entered the bar to find that it was empty. "Tifa! Cloud called out the raven haired woman's name as he walked round the bar and peered into the living area at the back.

"Maybe she can't hear me…" Cloud uttered as he walked through and searched downstairs for Tifa. After being unable to find her downstairs he began to search upstairs, "Tifa! Where are you?!" Cloud yelled again as he began to search the rooms upstairs, he didn't find Tifa in the bathroom or any of the spare bedrooms so he made his way to his and Tifa's room. As he approached the door he sensed that something wasn't right, nevertheless he opened the door, "Tifa…" Cloud uttered as he stepped into the room, he gasped in shock as he saw blood everywhere. He walked further into the room and he saw Tifa lay on the floor next to the window unmoving.

"Tifa!" Cloud yelled as he ran over to her, he knelt down beside her and cradled her in his arms. He looked down and saw a large wound in her stomach. "Tifa...please wake up…"

Tifa moaned as she began to stir, she opened her eyes and stared at Cloud. "Cloud…" she muttered weakly barely above a whisper.

"Yeah…" Cloud told her as he took hold of her hand, "What happened?"

"S…Sephiroth…he…he came back…" Tifa explained as she continued to look up at Cloud.

"He can't be…" Cloud uttered as he stared at Tifa in shock.

"He was…looking for you…he wanted to…settle the score…" Tifa continued to explain as she moaned in pain. "I refused to tell him where you were…so he…he ran me through…"

"It's ok Tifa…" Cloud whispered to Tifa as he continued to cradle her in his arms. "I'm here now…I'm gonna heal that wound…"

"You can't…it's too deep…" Tifa told Cloud as she found herself getting weaker.

"There has to be something I can do…" Cloud uttered tears forming in his eyes.

"Take care of Marlene and Denzel for me…" Tifa told Cloud her dying wish. "They need you…more than ever now…"

"Don't talk like that…" Cloud told Tifa as he felt himself wanting to cry. "Don't talk like this is the end…"

"Cloud…I just want you to know that…" Tifa started to say before moaning in pain. "That I…love you…"

"I love you too…" Cloud told Tifa as he kissed her on the lips, her lips were cold and Cloud could feel both his tears and Tifa's tears on his face before he stopped kissing Tifa. Tifa moaned one last time before closing her eyes and fell perfectly still, never to move again. "Tifa…" Cloud called out the woman's name as he shook her, however she didn't respond. "TIFA!" Cloud screamed his anguish out loud before looking down at Tifa's body, he lifted her up and cried into her body as everything around him went black.

---

"It's that mist again…" Max uttered as he remembered seeing the mist before. "That can't be good, I better find the others quick." Max continued as he began to search for his friends, eventually the mist disappeared and Max found himself in a strange room. "Where am I?" Max questioned as he looked round the room, "where's everyone else?"

Max continued to explore the room and he saw someone stood near the window with their back to him. "Pandora…" Max questioned as he walked closer, the person turned around and sure enough it was Pandora but something was wrong. Her eyes were glazed over and she looked completely out of it, "Pandora…" Max called out to her again.

Pandora saw Max and she smirked evilly at him before kicking him in the face and sending him flying. "Must kill Max…" Pandora muttered monotonously as she walked towards him and placed her foot on him to prevent him from getting up.

"Pandora…please…" Max begged his wife. "It's me Max…your husband…"

"My orders are to kill you…" Pandora stated still in that same blank tone which caused Max to stare at her in shock.

"I'm too late…" Max whispered sadly as his ears drooped, "Pandora's nothing more than a puppet…please Pandora…snap out of this…"

"Say goodnight…" Pandora uttered she smirked evilly as she lifted her foot up and started to bring it down point first on to Max's head.

---

Max quickly raised his arms up to his head in order to protect and he closed his eyes as he waited for the blow that would end his life. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Max before opening his eyes and he saw that he was sat on the floor in the basement of Illusion's castle with Cloud, Tifa and Cid staring down at him.

"Are you ok?" Tifa questioned her voice was filled with concern.

"Yeah…" Max replied as he looked up at the group. "For a second I thought…" he started to say.

"You thought what?" Cloud questioned as he held his hand out to help Max to his feet.

Max took Cloud's hand he stood up, "Pandora was attacking me," Max told his friends.

"Ya must've been hallucinatin'," Cid told Max as Max gave him a confused stare.

"Pandora's not here," Tifa told Max. "We haven't found her yet."

"We have to hurry," Max told the others as he started to run for the door. "We have to save her before it's too late!"

"Wait Max!" Tifa called out the Kitsune as she, Cloud and Cid ran after him. The group reached the door but skidded to a stop as a flash of purple light appeared and Sephiroth was stood in front of them.

"Sephiroth…" the group uttered at the same time.

"So we meet again…" Sephiroth uttered calmly as he smirked evilly at the group.

"I wish we could say the same for you," Max retorted as he and his friends took out their weapons. "But you're in our way."

"I'm impressed that you all made it this far," Sephiroth stated as he slowly took his sword out of its sheath. "Too bad it all ends here!" He yelled before charging at the group, Cloud and Max barely blocked Sephiroth's attack with their own swords and a metallic clang echoed through out the room as they got into a three way fight.

Meanwhile Scarlet kicked off a wall and launched herself at Elena dodging the bullets that Rude and Tseng were firing at her. She kicked Elena in the face sending her flying, she landed on the floor and quickly rolled out of the way as Scarlet slammed her foot down where Elena's head was a few seconds before. Elena quickly leapt to her feet and pulled her gun out and she fired at Scarlet hitting her in the leg. "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!" Scarlet yelled in pain as she looked at the wound which quickly healed before looking up at Elena and scowled at her. "You'll pay for that!" She screamed at Elena.

"Bring it on bitch!" Elena retorted as she did a just bring it sign. Scarlet snarled before launching herself at Elena, Elena blocked her with her fists and launched into a punch and kick combo of her own.

"Whoa…" Reno uttered as he stared at Elena in shock.

"She's good…" Rude stated just as shocked at Reno was. After much furious kicking and punching Elena finally saw an opening and performed an upper cut on Scarlet sending her flying into the air. Elena then leapt up and punched Scarlet causing her to slam down into the floor.

Nero created several dark portals round him and he shot into two of them causing bullets to fly out of the portals. Aerith and Zack used their Life Stream abilities to deflect the bullets away while Lance held his spear out, Angel leapt on to the spear and Lance launched her into Nero's direction, Angel swung her blades round causing her to spin as she flew towards Nero. As she reached Nero she swung her blades round catching Nero completely by surprise and she cut him two places. She landed gracefully on her feet and she continued to swing her blades round like a demon possessed. However Nero was ready for her this time as he summoned two dark blades and blocked her attacks.

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Nero heard a yell as Zack leapt upwards and held his sword down above Nero's head. Nero disappeared in a portal of darkness just as Zack's sword slammed into the ground where Nero's head was a few seconds before.

Nero then reappeared behind Aerith and was about to strike her with his dark blades. However Aerith sensed him and she quickly summoned a sword and easily blocked his attack. Nero stared at Aerith in shock, "How…" he uttered as the sheer force of Aerith's blocked knocked him back.

"I've had training," Aerith answered as she struck at Nero again forcing him back. "A girl's gotta defend herself." Lance, Zack and Angel saw this and they rushed over to help Aerith, all four of them attacked at the same time causing Nero to be sent flying backwards, he summoned a dark portal and disappeared into it as he fell towards the ground.

Meanwhile, Barret opened fire at Balthazar, but the Kitsune merely deflected the bullets using his psychic abilities. "Pathetic…" he mocked as he smirked at Barret. "Your weapons are no match for me…" Balthazar was so focused on Barret that he failed to see that Red was behind him until the red beast charged at him and knocked him to the ground before scratching and clawing at him in every available spot. Balthazar eventually pushed Red off him but Nightshade soon joined in the fray, he picked Balthazar up and threw him into the air before leaping up himself. Nightshade and Balthazar launched into a punching and kicking frenzy, Balthazar punched Nightshade in the jaw as Nightshade punched Balthazar in the stomach.

Isis saw that Balthazar had left an opening so she leapt up and summoned two hand guns, as she got close to Balthazar she opened fire and bullets riddled Balthazar's body. Balthazar fell to the floor as Nightshade and Isis landed in front of him. Balthazar staggered slowly to his feet before laughing, "Is that the best you can do?" He questioned as the bullet wounds, healed up and the bullets fell out of Balthazar's body. The group were in so much shock that they failed to notice that Balthazar was charging up a psycho blast attack until he unleashed it and they were sent flying into the far wall.

"It's no use…" Isis uttered as she fell to the floor along with the others. "My bullets aren't even fazing him…"

"We need to weaken him," Nightshade told the others. "We need to combine our attacks."

"Right," the other three uttered in unison as they staggered slowly to their feet. They let out a cry as they all charged at Balthazar at the same time.

A metallic clang could be heard as Drogo and Kadaj were having a one on one fight with their katanas. Kadaj swung his katana but Drogo easily blocked it with his left hand katana while striking at Kadaj with his right hand katana. Meanwhile, Yuffie, Vincent and Sunny were dealing with the shadow beasts that Kadaj had summoned. Yuffie charged at one of the shadow beasts and stabbed her giant shuriken into the beast's back causing it scream in pain. It snapped at Yuffie as she leapt up but it missed her. She leapt on to its back and dragged the shuriken through its back before pulling it out and leaping off the beast, the beast roared in pain before it fell to the floor dead and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Yuffie landed safely on the ground and smirked as she rested her shuriken on her shoulder for a second before charging off towards the next shadow beast.

Sunny had quickly taken an arrow out of her quiver and loaded it into her bow as a shadow beast charged at her. Sunny took a deep breath and carefully aimed at the beast before releasing the arrow, the arrow hit the beast right between the eyes. The beast roared in pain as it staggered around before falling to the floor dead and disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Sunny quickly loaded another arrow into her bow before quickly and gracefully turning round and firing the arrow hitting another shadow beast in the heart before it too fell to the floor dead and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Meanwhile Vincent had transformed into Galian Beast and tackled one of the shadow beasts pinning it to the ground. He roared at it before clawing it in several areas before picking it up in his mouth and swinging it round so that it hit several other shadow beasts that charged at him. Vincent then released the shadow beast in mid swing causing it to crash into the other shadow beasts completely stunning them. Vincent then formed an orange coloured ball in his mouth before several orange coloured balls appeared round the shadow beasts and Vincent performed his devastating Beast Flare attack which incinerated the shadow beasts.

Kadaj saw this and growled angrily before striking at Drogo again twice as hard as before but Drogo easily blocked it. "Too slow…" Drogo taunted before striking back, Kadaj growled again before jabbing his sword forwards but Drogo stepped back and jabbed with one of his katanas into Kadaj's stomach.

Kadaj moaned in pain before looking down and seeing the katana lodged in his stomach, he looked up at Drogo and smirked. "Just a scratch…" he muttered before pulling the katana out and he rose his sword up preparing to do an over head strike but Drogo performed a high kick on Kadaj's arm knocking the sword out of his hand before plunging both of his katanas into Kadaj's stomach. Kadaj moaned and staggered back in pain as Drogo removed the katanas. "Is that the best you can do?" Kadaj questioned as he gave Drogo a pained grin.

"Oh I'm not finished yet…" Drogo stated as he grinned evilly, "My friends still want a piece of you." Before Kadaj could even respond Yuffie charged up and started to attack him repeatedly with her giant shuriken causing blood to spurt out every where with each strike. Sunny loaded three arrows into her bow and imbued them with Holy magic before aiming at Kadaj and firing the Holy arrows, the three arrows all landed in Kadaj's back and glowed as the Holy power entered Kadaj's body burning him from the inside.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kadaj screamed in pain as he felt the Holy power burn his insides and he staggered round in pain with the arrows still lodged in his back.

Kadaj stopped as he bumped into something and he looked up to see Vincent (who had reverted back to his human form) stood in front of him smirking and pointing Cerberus at Kadaj's head. "Say goodnight," Vincent uttered evilly before pulling the trigger and three bullets were shot into Kadaj's forehead. Kadaj fell to the floor dead with three bullet holes in his forehead oozing blood before he dissolved and a bone was lying there where Kadaj's body was a few seconds before the group walked over and looked at the bone before Drogo crushed it under his foot.

Meanwhile Scarlet had launched herself at Rude and kicked out at him but Rude quickly grabbed her foot. Scarlet struggled wildly as Rude threw her, she performed a backward somersault in midair and landed gracefully on her feet quickly dodging a punch as Rude lunged at her. The two continued in this fashion punching and kicking each other, Rude punched Scarlet in the face causing her to scowl at him. "My beautiful face!" She screamed as she snarled at Rude showing her sharp teeth before kicking Rude in the stomach and sending him flying across the room.

Scarlet smirked at the downed Turk before she felt an electric shock in her shoulder, "you mess with Rude then ya mess with me," Reno stated as he smirked at Scarlet and tapped his nightstick on his shoulder. Scarlet growled before kicking out at Reno, Reno quickly held his nightstick out in front of him and quickly moved it in several directions in order to block Scarlet's kicks. However he soon began to tire quickly and he found it harder and harder to keep up with Scarlet's kicks. "Shit!" He cursed as he lifted his nightstick up to his face just in time as Scarlet was about to punch it. "Hold still!" He yelled at her.

"Sorry, no can do!" Scarlet shouted before smirking evilly, she performed a sweeping kick knocking Reno off his feet, she kicked him in the stomach as he fell to the floor. She smirked at Reno and lifted her foot up, "it's a shame you're cute…" she uttered as she stood there with one foot up. "It just makes it harder to kill you…oh well…" Scarlet quickly brought her foot down but a fist flew out of nowhere and punched Scarlet in the face knocking her flying.

Scarlet looked at her attacker as she was sent flying and she saw Elena stood there with her fist raised. "You mess with him…" She started to yell just as Scarlet reached the other side of the room and was punched in the face again and was sent flying to another corner of the room.

"You mess with all of us," Rude finished Elena's sentence as he cracked his knuckles and watched as Scarlet was punched again at another corner of the room and she was knocked back into the centre again.

"And now you'll see what the Turks are really made of," Tseng stated as he, Elena and Rude walked towards her. Reno had managed to stand up and was also walking towards Scarlet, soon the Turks had her surrounded.

"Four against one, hardly fair…" Scarlet protested as she looked from one to the other.

"That's because we're a team," Tseng told her. "That's how we work best."

"Your time is up," Elena added as she smirked at Scarlet before massaging her fists. Scarlet stared at the four Turks in shock as they punched and kicked her at the same time, Tseng punched Scarlet in the face before he scissor kicked her in the stomach. He then round house kicked her towards Elena, Elena punched and kicked Scarlet repeatedly in the stomach before punching her in the face.

Scarlet staggered round injured before she received a tap on the shoulder, she turned round and saw Reno stood behind her smirking. "My name is Reno and I'm your air host for today, hope you enjoy the flight," he remarked before punching Scarlet and sending her flying. He then charged up his nightstick before running towards her. "Although we will be experiencing some turbulence!" He yelled before jumping up and striking Scarlet with the nightstick causing 30,000 volts to surge through her body. Scarlet fell to the floor electrocuted and her body dissolved to reveal a skull. The Turks smirked at the skull before Rude picked it up and crushed it in his hand.

Nero had reappeared behind Lance and lunged at him with his dark swords, however Lance quickly leapt out of the way and swung his spear round catching Nero in the side. Nero winced in pain before scowling at Lance and he sliced Lance in the side with his swords. "Uuuhhhh…" Lance moaned in pain as he fell to the floor holding his side.

"Lance!" Angel yelled as she Nero hit Lance. She scowled at Nero before charging at him, she leapt up into the air and brought her blades down underneath her.

Nero was stood over Lance smirking, the wound in his side slowly began to heal. He kicked Lance in the stomach causing him to moan in pain again. "Pathetic…" Nero uttered as he took one of his guns out and pointed it at Lance's heart, he was about to pull the trigger but he suddenly stood their frozen on the spot, his eyes were wide in pain. Nero turned his head round and saw Angel stood behind him her blades were stabbed deep into Nero's back. "You…bitch…" Nero uttered before groaning in pain as Angel twisted her blades round doubling Nero's pain.

"That's MY husband you were about to kill!" Angel yelled at Nero, "and now I'm gonna kill you!" Nero twisted and turned and tried to throw Angel and the blades off him but Angel held on tightly to her blades, keeping them in Nero's back. Nero tried to use his dark powers to heal the wounds but the wounds couldn't heal because Angel's blades were still in his back.

Lance, Zack and Aerith noticed this and Zack and Aerith looked at each other and nodded before charging at Nero dragging their swords behind them and they stabbed the swords into Nero's sides and held them in place. Nero yelled in pain and glared at Zack and Aerith, "how…" he uttered as he continued to glare at them.

"Your healing powers only work when there's no weapon in the wounds," Aerith answered as she stabbed her sword deeper into Nero's right side.

"Hence why we're keeping our weapons inside you," Zack added as he stabbed his sword deeper into Nero's left side.

"So we can easily defeat you," Lance concluded as he staggered to his feet. "Good bye Nero," Lance finally said as he stabbed his spear into Nero's stomach, before Nero could react Lance quickly pulled his spear upwards through Nero's stomach, neck and head cutting him in half. Both halves fell on the floor before exploding to reveal a severed hand cut in half.

Angel stabbed both her blades into the two halves of the severed hand. "I hate these things…" Angel uttered in disgust as she stared at the two halves. Lance placed his hand on Angel's shoulder and she pulled the blades out of the two halves of the hand sheathed them. "Oh Lance, you're hurt," Angel uttered.

"I'm ok," Lance told Angel before wincing in pain. Angel sighed sadly before placing her hand on Lance's side where Nero had struck him and she cast a healing spell on the wound. When Angel removed her hand the wound was gone. "Thanks Angel," Lance replied gratefully as he hugged Angel. "I wonder how the others are doing."

Meanwhile Balthazar was still giving Nightshade, Barret, Red and Isis a hard time. He used his psychic powers to deflect their attacks. In the end the group decided to combine their attacks in order to defeat Balthazar. Nightshade and Red charged at Balthazar at the same time, Red rammed himself into Balthazar knocking him into the air. He then grabbed Balthazar's centre tail and started to swing him round and round.

Nightshade then leapt up and punched Balthazar in the face repeatedly before grabbing Balthazar. Red released Balthazar and Nightshade kicked downwards slamming Balthazar into the floor. Red and Nightshade both landed on him and punched, kicked and clawed him. Balthazar used his psychic powers to propel them into the air. But Isis had ran up while Balthazar was busy with Red and Nightshade, she was now right above Balthazar and was holding two submachine guns and she quickly opened fire on Balthazar before he even hand chance to stand up. Balthazar's body violently shook as machine gun bullets continued to be pumped into him. Isis landed on the floor next to Balthazar and continued to open fire but Balthazar used his telekinesis to knock the guns out of her hands.

He rose to his feet and glared at the group as his body was riddled with bullet holes, "is that really the best you can do?" He questioned as he glared at the group.

"We ain't done yet!" Barret yelled from behind Balthazar, Balthazar turned round and stared at Barret. Barret smirked at Balthazar as his gun arm was charged with energy.

"Now Barret!" Nightshade ordered as he looked at his comrade.

"Ok, eat this!" Barret yelled as a giant ball of energy shot out of the gun arm, Nightshade, Red and Isis leapt out of the way just in time as the energy ball got closer. Balthazar's eyes grew wide with shock as the energy ball hit him and exploded on impact, the group shielded their eyes as they were met by a bright glare. When the explosion cleared the group opened their eyes and they saw a severed foot where Balthazar was a few seconds earlier. "Gross…" Barret uttered as he stared at the foot in disgust. Isis sighed before taking her handgun out and shooting the severed foot repeatedly. "Thanks," Barret replied as he smiled at Isis, Isis nodded in acknowledgement. "I hope everyone else is ok."

Meanwhile Sephiroth had forced both Max and Cloud back with a single swing of his sword. They both slammed into the wall and slumped down. "Humph…" Sephiroth uttered as he smirked at the two. "You're both pathetic." Cloud and Max moaned as they looked up at Sephiroth, Sephiroth merely laughed before swinging his sword round. Max and Cloud quickly rolled out of the way as the sword passed them, they leapt to their feet and pointed their swords at Sephiroth.

"You missed," Max uttered as he smirked at Sephiroth.

"I won't miss next time," Sephiroth remarked as the three resumed fighting. The three exchanged blows at such speed that it was difficult to keep up with them. Cid and Tifa were on the sidelines waiting for the right time to intervene and it wasn't long before Sephiroth had both Max and Cloud backed into a corner again.

"Cloud! Max!" Tifa yelled before running towards Sephiroth, Sephiroth was about to run Cloud and Max through with his sword when Tifa leapt on top of Sephiroth and started to punch him repeatedly in the head. "Leave them alone!" She screamed at Sephiroth as she kept punching him.

Sephiroth sighed before throwing Tifa off him, Tifa landed on the floor and looked up at Sephiroth as he placed his foot on her stomach. "Foolish girl…" he uttered as he scowled at Tifa. "You wish to challenge me…"

"I won't let you harm Cloud, or Max," Tifa uttered defiantly.

"Then you'll die," Sephiroth calmly told her as he brought his sword overhead and he was about to perform a vertical slice on Tifa when four metallic clangs could be heard.

Tifa looked up and she saw Cloud, Max and Cid stood over her, their weapons clashed against Sephiroth's sword to prevent him from killing her. "Guys!" Tifa yelled happily as she smiled at her friends.

"Don't worry Tifa," Cloud reassured the raven haired woman as he, Max and Cid pushed Sephiroth back giving Tifa some room. "We'll protect you."

Tifa stood up and stood beside Cloud, "no, we do this together," she told Cloud as she readied her fists. "Just like old times."

Cloud looked at Tifa and smiled at her, "just like old times," he repeated before the group looked at Sephiroth. "You're finished…" Cloud added as he smirked at Sephiroth.

"I'll come back," Sephiroth told Cloud as he smirked at the blond haired man.

"Then we'll defeat you again and again," Cloud retorted. "And it'll give me great pleasure to rid the world of you." Max, Cid and Tifa nodded before they all charged at Sephiroth. Cid thrust his spear out at Sephiroth and he kept striking at him, Sephiroth blocked the spear with his sword. Cid then quickly spun his spear round creating a whirlwind which knocked Sephiroth into the air. Tifa then leapt up and punched Sephiroth repeatedly followed by a backward somersault. She then grabbed Sephiroth's leg and threw him before launching herself at him again she grabbed him again and turned her body and Sephiroth's body around so that they were both facing the floor and she slammed Sephiroth into the ground creating a giant crater from the impact. Tifa landed flawlessly next to him, Sephiroth looked at Tifa, he was in a weakened state.

Cloud and Max then leapt up into the air and thrust their swords down into Sephiroth's chest, they twisted their swords before removing the swords and Sephiroth lay their lifeless before his body dissolved and was replaced by a bone. "Do you want to do the honours?" Max asked as he picked the bone up and held it out to Cloud.

"Gladly," Cloud answered as he took the bone and crushed it in his hands and he dropped the dust on to the floor.

"I'm glad that's over," Tifa stated in relief.

"No, we still have to save Pandora," Max reminded Tifa. "Come on, we need to get the door open." The group walked over to the door and Max placed his hand on the symbol. He closed his eyes as he solved the telepathic puzzles in the lock before the door opened. "Let's go," Max commanded and the group walked through the door.

In all the other rooms after the defeat of Sephiroth, Kadaj, Scarlet, Balthazar and Nero doors appeared and the barriers were removed from the doors. The groups walked through the doors and found themselves in corridors. The groups walked along the corridors and found themselves in a circular room with six doors, as the groups entered the room they saw the other groups enter the room at the same time. They walked to the centre of the room and joined together again. "What are the odds that those doors would lead to the same room?" Zack questioned as he looked at everyone.

"Is everyone ok?" Sunny asked all her friends out of concern.

"Yeah," everyone answered in perfect unison.

"I'm just glad we're all together again," Max stated as he smiled at everyone. "Come on, let's go." He commanded as he started to run to the sixth door, everyone followed him and they ran through the door. They found themselves in another short corridor before entering another room which looked like some kind of lab. The group looked around and they saw Pandora sat in a chair with a helmet on her head, "Pandora!" Max called out to Pandora but she didn't respond. "Pandora!" Max called her name out again but she still didn't respond.

Max sighed and started to walk over to Pandora but Nightshade reached out and stopped him, "whoa there…" he called out to Max as he pulled him back.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Max questioned as he stared at Nightshade.

"I don't like this," Nightshade answered as he looked round the room. "Something's not right."

"But…we're just inches away from Pandora…" Max uttered as he pointed at Pandora.

"It feels too easy to me," Nightshade warned Max. "Like…Illusion's expecting us, be careful."

"I'll be fine," Max told Nightshade as he pulled himself free from his father's grip and walked over to Pandora. Max stopped in front of Pandora and knelt down beside her, he slowly removed the metal bands that were binding her to the chair and he looked at the helmet before removing it. Max then gently shook Pandora. "Pandora…" Max whispered in his wife's ear as he gently shook her again.

Pandora's eyes fluttered open and she stared at Max for a moment before her eyes narrowed and she lifted her foot up and kicked Max sending him flying. "Max!" Cloud yelled as he started to run towards Max to help him but Nightshade stopped him.

"No, this is something he has to do alone," Nightshade told Cloud. Cloud stood there and watched as Pandora walked over to Max.

"Pandora…" Max uttered as he looked up at her, "It's me…Max…"

"Max…" Pandora uttered as she staggered back for a moment before glaring at Max again. "You must die!" She yelled in a voice that wasn't her own as she slammed her foot down, Max rolled out of the way just in time and leapt to his feet. Pandora kicked out at Max again but he dodged it, she then punched him but he ducked and Pandora's punch passed over Max's head. "Fight me!" Pandora screamed as she punched him in the face.

"No…" Max uttered as he stood there.

"I said fight!" Pandora continued to scream as she cast a fire spell at him. The fire spell hit Max but he didn't flinch or show any sign that it hurt, rather he remained still. Pandora stared at Max in shock that he wasn't fighting back. "Why aren't you fighting back?!" She demanded as she kicked him in the stomach and knocked him to the ground.

"Because I don't want to fight you," Max answered as he staggered to his feet and looked at Pandora, his expression was sad. "This isn't who you are, Illusion has brainwashed you…you have to snap out of it."

"I…" Pandora uttered as doubt began to flood her mind, however it was quickly replaced by determination to kill Max. "I'll kill you!" She screamed as she focused a nova spell in her foot and launched herself at Max but Max quickly grabbed her and kissed her passionately on the lips. Pandora struggled at first but memories of her and Max's adventures together and their first kiss flooded into her mind and she fell into the kiss, the nova spell in her foot disappeared as Illusion's brainwashing was shattered by Max's kiss. After a while Max released Pandora and she opened her eyes, "Max…" Pandora uttered she stared at him in shock.

"I'm here," Max told Pandora as he kept hold of her.

"What happened?" She questioned.

"You were brainwashed into trying to kill me," Max explained to her. "We came here to rescue you."

Pandora was about to say something but the group heard the sound of clapping, the group turned round and they saw Illusion flanked by numerous guards enter the room. "So you managed to infiltrate my castle," she spoke to the group as they ran over to Max and Pandora and took their weapons out. Illusion merely laughed, "But unfortunately for you it all ends here."

"Want us to take care of them?" One of the guards asked Illusion.

"No," Illusion answered as she shook her head and stepped forwards. "I shall take care of them myself." Illusion laughed as she slowly removed her robes to reveal a purple coloured breast plate lined with gold and a short purple chain mail shirt under the breast plate. She wore elbow length purple gauntlets and purple knee length armoured boots. She wore a gold coloured belt with a purple cloth draped down the centre of her legs. The group stared at Illusion in shock, "now I shall show you all my true power!" Illusion yelled as she summoned a spear into her hand and spun it round.

The group charged at Illusion but she easily blocked their attacks with her spear, she then launched into a vicious attack combo of her own completely knocking the group back. Cid and Lance both charged at Illusion and the three engaged in a spear fight, Illusion spun her spear round like a windmill blocking both Lance and Cid's attacks at the same time. Lance and Cid continued on the offensive, Lance managed to knock Illusion back stunning her for a moment giving Cid the opportunity. Cid swung his spear round and cut Illusion the side, Illusion leapt back and snarled at the two before using her telekinesis to knock them both back.

Tifa and Aerith charged at Illusion next but Illusion merely created balls of dark energy around her, "Try and dodge this!" She yelled before launching the dark energy balls at the group. The group easily dodged the dark energy balls and Max, Cloud, Drogo, Zack and Nightshade even swung their swords round at the right moment and sent them flying back to Illusion. "Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh!" Illusion cried out in pain as the dark energy balls hit her and stunned her, Aerith and Tifa saw their chance and they charged at Illusion and launched into a double team punching and kicking combo kicking and punching Illusion in every available spot. Tifa picked Illusion up and threw her into the air before Aerith cast a powerful Holy spell on Illusion, the spell seared her body causing her even more pain. She landed back on the floor again and scowled at the group. "You'll pay for that!" She screamed before floating into the air and casting a powerful dark lightning spell which covered the entire room.

Drogo, Red and Yuffie looked at each other as they used their speed and dexterity to dodge the lightning bolts and quickly made their way to Illusion. Illusion cast several dark fire bolts at the group which hit them but they weren't too badly injured. Drogo looked down at Sunny and she smirked as she focused her magic and Drogo's katanas glowed with Holy energy, Drogo smirked as he struck at Illusion. Illusion blocked each of Drogo's strikes with her spear which wasn't in her hand at the moment but was being controlled by Illusion telekinetically. Yuffie threw her shuriken at the spear while Red charged at it knocking the spear away. Drogo saw his chance and he swung both his katanas together and he repeatedly struck Illusion with the katanas, the Holy power burning through her skin. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! It burns!" She yelled as she used her telekinesis to throw Drogo, Red and Yuffie back but the last attack had taken its toll on her and she fell to the ground stunned. The rest of the group saw their chance and they charged at her, Cloud and Max combined their attacks together to perform a double cross slash attack, while Isis, Vincent and Barret opened fire with their guns. With the whole group attacking Illusion it was starting to take its toll so she used her dark power to throw them all back.

Illusion staggered to feet panting at the group, the group stood there staring at Illusion, "it's over Illusion!" Max called out the Dark Kitsune. "This ends now!"

Illusion merely laughed, "It's not over till it's over!" Illusion yelled before raising her arm into the air and creating a dark coloured portal. "If you wish to end it then follow me!" She yelled before jumping into the portal.

The group looked at the portal, "what shall we do?" Angel questioned as she stared at it.

"I'm going in," Max stated as he walked towards the portal.

"No!" Pandora called out to Max as she grabbed hold of his arm. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"I have to stop her," Max told Pandora. "If I don't, who knows what'll happen."

"You're going alone…" Pandora uttered as she gave Max a worried look.

"She's weakened, it won't take all of us," Max stated as he looked down at Pandora.

"I'll go with him," Cloud volunteered as he stepped up.

"Be careful Cloud," Tifa pleaded as she gave him a worried look.

Cloud kissed Tifa on the lips, "I'll be fine," he reassured Tifa. "Stay here."

"Ok," Tifa answered as she stepped back.

"You be careful too Max," Pandora begged as she kissed Max. "Cos if anything happens to you I'll kill you myself."

"I will be careful," Max promised Pandora. "We won't be too long, you guys get out of here."

Cloud and Max said goodbye to their friends before jumping into the portal, everyone else looked at the spot where the portal was before they started to make their way out of the castle. Meanwhile Cloud and Max found themselves in a strange world that had a dark purple sky and they found themselves on a large floating platform. "Where are we?" Cloud questioned as he looked around the strange place.

"This must be Illusion's dimension," Max stated as he too looked around.

"It looks different to your dimension," Cloud remarked as he looked at Max.

"A dimension is different from person to person," Max informed Cloud as they stepped into the middle of the platform. "A dimension is also based on a person's intentions, because Illusion is evil her dimension reflects that."

"I see…" Cloud uttered as he continued to look around. "But where could she be?"

"I'm not sure," Max answered, "But we need to be careful now. Illusion has an advantage here." Max and Cloud were so busy looking around for Illusion that they didn't see a dark portal appear behind them and Illusion lunged at them. Max and Cloud dodged out of the way just in time and Illusion landed on the ground, Max and Cloud looked at her and they saw that she looked different. Her claws were now out and were digging into the floor, her fangs were more prominent and her hair and fur was standing up on end and she had a more feral look to her. (A/N, the form that Illusion is in is known as Feral Form, it is the form that Dark Kitsunes go into when they are angry or on their last legs.)

"Whoa!" Cloud yelled in shock as he leapt back, "she's become even uglier."

"Now I shall defeat you both once and for all!" Illusion yelled as she growled and snarled at Max and Cloud before charging at them. Max and Cloud took their weapons out and barely had chance to block when Illusion charged at them and knocked them both up into the air and started clawing them. She grabbed them both and swung them round above her head before throwing them to the ground.

Max and Cloud quickly rolled out of the way as Illusion crashed into the ground where they were lay a few seconds earlier. Max and Cloud lunged at Illusion with their swords but she was too quick and she easily dodged the strikes and knocked them back with a mighty sweep of her hand. Max and Cloud managed to stop themselves before they reached the edge. "Shit! She's too strong and fast!" Cloud yelled in panic as Illusion summoned two large boulders and threw them at Cloud and Max, They both dodged out of the way and the boulders tumbled off the edge of the platform. "Our weapons can't even touch her!"

"In Feral Mode they are stronger and faster," Max told Cloud as he dodged one of Illusion's kicks. "But their magical resistance goes way down."

"So…we just…throw magic at her…" Cloud questioned as he dodged Illusion's claws with each word.

"Yeah," Max answered as he smirked at Cloud. "Got your Materia?" He asked.

"Of course," Cloud answered as he nodded, Max nodded back and the two looked as Illusion's body glowed before she disappeared into a portal. Cloud and Max ran back into the centre of the platform and they both readied lightning spells. A few seconds later a portal appeared and Illusion flew out of it and clawed at them before disappearing into another portal, she kept appearing and reappearing and she caught Cloud almost knocking his concentration.

Max grew increasingly annoyed at this, "hold still! He yelled before he and Cloud fired their lighting spells at Illusion. The spell hit just before she disappeared into another portal, Illusion's body crackled with electricity as she stood there stunned. Cloud and Max saw their chance and they charged at her and struck her with their swords causing Illusion immense pain.

After a while Illusion was able to move again and she knocked them to the ground with her sheer strength, she then grabbed them both and carried them to the edge of the platform and dangled them over the edge. "Now you'll both pay by falling forever in the dark abyss!" Illusion yelled as she smirked at the two, "once I defeat you I'll take over your pitiful planets! Any last words before I drop you!?"

"Yeah…" Max replied as his hands glowed with magical energy. "Don't play with fire…" Max continued as he placed his hands on Illusion's arms and they ignited in flames. "You might get burned!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Illusion screamed and roared in pain as she staggered back on to the platform and she threw Max and Cloud to the ground. She shook her arms vigorously until the flames went out and she glared at Max. Illusion then laughed as she rose into the air her body glowed with dark energy. "You've seen nothing yet!" She yelled as the aura round her body glowed even brighter and a dark energy shield formed all around her, she rose her arms in the air and the entire area went pitch black. Illusion's laughter could be heard as pools of dark energy formed under Max and Cloud's feet and they leapt out of the way as pillars of dark energy emerged out of the ground and kept emerging every where Max and Cloud went on the platform.

Illusion continued to laugh as the pillars of darkness continued to rise, "I think I have an idea," Max stated as his sword glowed with Holy energy. Cloud looked down at his sword and saw that it too was glowing with Holy energy. "It's the only way to defeat her." Cloud looked at Max for a moment and nodded, Max grabbed hold of Cloud's arm and threw Cloud into the air and leapt up himself just as a pillar of darkness erupted out of the ground. Max and Cloud both struck upwards with their swords and they cut Illusion's sides and the Holy power burned her insides causing her great pain. The aura in their weapons changed as they zoomed round her striking her with every element in the book, from fire, ice, lightning and earth to Holy and non-elemental power. They then swung their swords round in perfect unison, Cloud's sword came apart into its separate components and several ghost swords formed round Max's swords.

Cloud and Max both pointed their swords at Illusion and the sword components and the ghost swords all formed a circle round Illusion. "Huh…" Illusion uttered as she stared at the swords in shock, before Illusion could react Cloud flew towards Illusion and grabbed each sword component and sliced through her several times with each sword component while Max telekinetically controlled the ghost swords and got them to repeatedly slice Illusion in the same pattern that Cloud was, after a while Max, Cloud, the sword components, ghost swords and Illusion fell to the floor as Max and Cloud caught their swords. They looked down and saw that Illusion was unmoving.

Cloud and Max looked at Illusion's unmoving body and laughed. "We did it!" Cloud yelled as he grinned at Cloud, "it's all over…"

"Yeah…" Max started to say but he was interrupted when the ground started to shake.

"What's happening!?" Cloud questioned as he looked at the ground in shock.

"Illusion's dead," Max answered as he looked at Cloud. "So her dimension is slowly falling apart," he continued as they saw several floating objects fall from the sky.

A portal appeared in front of Cloud and Max and they ran towards it, "we should head back before the whole place collapses on us," Cloud stated as he looked at the portal.

"Yeah," Max agreed. "They'll be wondering where we got to," Cloud and Max ran to the portal and they were about to jump into it when Max was suddenly dragged back.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Max yelled as he looked down and saw that Illusion was grabbing on to his leg barely alive.

"Max!" Cloud yelled as he tried to reach out to his friend.

"Cloud! Just get through the portal!" Max called out to Cloud as he struggled against Illusion's grip.

"I'm not leaving you!" Cloud desperately told Max.

"Just go!" Max yelled to Cloud. "I'll catch up with you I promise!"

"If I must die, I'm making sure you go with me!" Illusion yelled to Max as she tightened her grip on his leg.

Max yelled as he felt himself being dragged even further back, "Cloud go!" Max yelled to Cloud one last time, Cloud gave Max a tearful nodded before he jumped into the portal and it closed forever.

---

Meanwhile everyone else had made it out of the castle when a dark portal appeared and Cloud tumbled out of it. "Cloud!" Tifa yelled as she ran over to Cloud and helped him up before hugging him, "are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Cloud answered as he smiled and hugged Tifa back.

"Where's Max?" Pandora questioned as she ran over to Cloud a panicky expression on her face.

Cloud sighed as he sadly shook his head, "he didn't make it…" Cloud answered sadly as he hung his head. "I'm sorry…"

"No…" Pandora uttered tearfully as she fell to her knees and started to sob. "He can't be…"

"Illusion grabbed him," Cloud explained what happened. "He couldn't break free…" Everyone hung their heads sadly and cried silent tears for their lost friends. "You were a great friend and hero Max," Cloud continued, "we'll never forget you…" Everyone muttered several hear hears before hanging their heads again.

"Hey guys, why the long faces?" A voice suddenly broke the silence, everyone turned round and saw Max stood there.

"Max!" Pandora yelled as she ran over to Max and dived on him knocking him to the ground. "Oh Max…I missed you so much…" Pandora uttered between kisses, "I was so worried about you…"

"Hey come on Pandora…" Max spoke to Pandora as he hugged her back. "I'm fine…just let me up…"

"Sorry," Pandora apologised as she got off Max and helped him to his feet.

"It's good to see you again Max," Cloud stated as he smiled at Max. "How did you get out of there?"

"I'm not sure," Max answered as he gave the group a confused expression. "After you went through the portal, I finally managed to get Illusion to loosen her grip on my leg…she just fell to the floor dead. The whole place was collapsing all around me I thought for sure I was a goner, but then…I was warped and I found myself in a strange place…"

"What kind of place?" Drogo questioned eager to hear more.

"I'm not sure but I heard this really strange voice," Max answered.

"What kind of voice?" Sunny asked.

"They didn't tell me who they were," Max explained as he turned round to look at Sunny. "They just said that it wasn't my time yet, I still had a lot to do. Another portal appeared, I jumped through it and I ended up here."

"Fascinating though this story is…let's get out of this creepy place!" Yuffie demanded as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Let's go," Max ordered and the group made their way back to the Sierra. Thanks to the hyperdrive that Max installed they were able to get back to Cloud's world in no time. As they entered the Planet's atmosphere they saw that the crystalline creatures turned to crystal before shattering.

"Hey! Those creatures are dying!" Aerith yelled as she looked out of the window.

"When a necromancer dies, their magic dies with them," Nightshade informed Aerith. "Illusion is dead so all those creatures will be dead too."

"I'm just glad this is over…" Tifa uttered as she sighed with relief and rested her head in Cloud's chest.

"Me too," Cloud agreed as he stroked Tifa's hair. "We can finally relax."

"Alright you pieces of shit!" Cid's voice echoed throughout the intercom. "We're about to land at WRO! I'm gonna drop Rufus, Reeve and Shelke off then we're gonna go to the Seventh Heaven in Edge and party like we've never partied before!"

Everyone cheered when they heard Cid's announcement and an hour later everyone was sat in the Seventh Heaven drinking, talking and generally celebrating. Tifa was stood behind the bar and Cloud walked over to her, "come have a drink with us," Cloud offered as he kissed Tifa on the back of her neck.

"I can't I'm working," Tifa told Cloud but she couldn't help but giggle.

"Come on," Cloud enticed Tifa. "You have a right to celebrate too."

"Go on then…" Tifa replied as she smiled at Cloud, "but first I need to make an announcement." Tifa rang the bell and everyone stopped talking and looked at her. "Since this is a special occasion, for the rest of the night, drinks are on me!" Tifa announced and the whole bar cheered, Tifa poured everyone drinks including one for herself and she walked over to her friends. "A toast," Tifa told everyone as she raised her glass, "to…what should we toast to…" She asked as she looked at her friends.

"How about to alcohol?" Cid questioned as everyone laughed.

"Be serious Cid…" Tifa muttered.

"How about to friends?" Aerith suggested.

"To friends!" Everyone toasted as they clanged their glasses together, music was played and Yuffie was on the karaoke machine while, Cid and Barret played poker with Reno and Rude.

Max sighed happily to himself as Pandora walked up to him, "fancy another go on the karaoke machine once Yuffie's finished?" She asked.

"Nah," Max replied, "but feel free…" Max sat down and continued to watch as everyone had a good time and he couldn't help but feel satisfied that he helped to save an entire planet. The celebrations went on long into the night until the early hours of the morning when everyone went to bed.

The next morning Max was woken up to the sound of his phone ringing, Max sighed before picking the phone up and answering it. "Hello…" Max spoke sleepily down the phone.

"Max, it's Reeve," Reeve answered on the other end of the phone.

"Hey Reeve," Max greeted still half asleep.

"Glad you're ok my friend," Reeve stated happily. "Now, I've just been looking at those teleportation devices of yours and I discovered something interesting about them."

"What is it?" Max questioned suddenly sounding interested.

"Why don't you come down to my workshop in WRO," Reeve suggested. "That way I can tell you in person, and feel free to bring everyone else along too."

"Ok, thanks Reeve," Max replied gratefully before hanging up on the phone. He looked to his left and saw Pandora lying in the bed next to him asleep. "Pandora, wake up," Max whispered to Pandora as he shook her.

"Uuuuuuuhhhh…" Pandora moaned as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Max. "What…" she asked sleepily.

"Reeve called," Max answered. "He's discovered something about the teleportation devices and he wants us to go to his workshop right away…"

"Can't we go later?" Pandora questioned.

"No," Max replied as he pulled the covers off.

Pandora moaned, "You're no fun…" she uttered as she glared at him.

An hour later everyone had entered Reeve's workshop, "this had better be good Reeve…" Cid muttered irritably. "Kitsune boy dragged me out of bed…"

"Shut up Cid!" Max snapped at the pilot as he glared at him before turning back to Reeve, "Go ahead Reeve."

"Thank you," Reeve replied gratefully as he nodded at Max. "While you were fighting Illusion, I continued my work on your teleportation devices," he explained. "But, when you defeated Illusion, something remarkable happened. Your devices became active…"

"Active…" Everyone uttered in unison.

"Yes," Reeve answered as he looked at everyone. "The devices weren't broken, they were merely deactivated for a time."

"Until we defeated Illusion…" Max uttered as he began to understand.

"But wait, when you needed to get to the Kitsune World to get those ingredients to revive Zack and Aerith one of the devices activated…" Emily stated looking confused.

"I'm not sure why that happened," Max replied, "but I'm gonna look into it, thanks Reeve."

"Your welcome," Reeve responded as he smiled at Max and gave him and his friends their devices back.

"The devices are active again," Isis stated as she looked down at her own device. "You all know what that means…"

"It's time to go home," Max stated.

"You're leaving already…" Yuffie uttered looking disappointed.

"We have our own lives back on our own world," Pandora answered as she looked at Yuffie.

"Will we ever see you all again?" Tifa asked as she gave her new friends a hopeful stare.

"Of course," Max replied as he smiled at them. "Oh Barret, I know you mean well finding a new energy source for Corel but, oil isn't really the answer trust me."

"Why not?" Barret questioned as he gave Max a confused stare.

"Because it's finite and it will cause as much harm to the Planet as Mako did," Max answered. "Here try this instead," Max offered as he threw Barret a blue coloured crystal.

"What is it?" Barret questioned as he stared at the crystal in his hand.

"It's a power crystal," Max answered as he pointed at the crystal. "It can easily provide Corel the energy it needs, it has an infinite amount of power and it's environmentally friendly too."

"Thanks," Barret replied as he smiled at Max.

"Oh and Rufus, if the crystal is successful I've got plenty more that you can use for every city on the Planet." Max told Rufus as he gave him a bag full of blue coloured crystals.

"Thank you," Rufus replied gratefully, "they will be a great help."

"Cloud, I want you to have this," Max stated as he gave Cloud a device.

"What is it?" Cloud asked as he looked down at it.

"It's a communication device," Max answered, "If you want to talk just push this button and you can talk to me any time." Max explained as he pointed to a green coloured button. "It also doubles as a teleportation device, if you ever want to visit our world just press this button," Max added as he pointed to a blue coloured button.

"Thanks," Cloud thanked Max as he smiled at him.

Max and his friends said goodbye to Cloud and the others in turn, eventually Max came to Shelke. "Thanks for everything Shelke." Max thanked the girl as he smiled at her.

"Goodbye Max," Shelke replied as she hugged Max. "Don't forget your promise," she reminded him of a promise he had made to her not too long ago.

"I never forget my promises," Max told Shelke as he smiled at her. After the group said their goodbyes they pressed the buttons on their teleportation devices and they warped back to the Kitsune World.

---

1 Month Later

Max's POV

It's been a whole month since we defeated Illusion and everything has pretty much returned to normal. Barret followed my advice and he closed all the oil wells down before testing out the power crystal I gave him, now Corel has unlimited power and isn't harming the Planet. In fact it was so successful that Rufus is now using the crystals as an energy source in every town and city. Cloud and Tifa finally went on that vacation they wanted to go on, they're currently in Costa Del Sol spending their holiday in a villa that Cloud bought a few years back. They took Marlene and Denzel with them and they're having a great time according to the postcard they sent. Aerith and Zack are currently holding the fort at Seventh Heaven, Aerith is also running her own flower shop which is actually doing really well and Zack has now become Cloud's partner in Strife Delivery Service.

Cid after finally following the advice of Shera had quit smoking, he's been smoke free for a month now and he's still as irritable as ever, I guess some things never change. But he now goes into space whenever he wants thanks to the modifications on the Sierra and Shera really enjoys it too. Red took some time off being Guardian of Cosmo Canyon and went travelling for a while, during his travels he found a female member of his species called Kyra. Which was actually surprising as we all thought that Red was the last of his species, apparently she's really friendly and sophisticated and her and Red have really hit off, I'm happy for him though, he deserves some romance.

Reno and Elena's relationship has reached the next level and they're currently living together, Reno has finally stopped his womanising ways. I'm guessing Elena put her foot down but he still goes out for the occasional drink with Rude. Tseng is actually ok with Reno and Elena's relationship and is still married to his work as usual. Yuffie returned to Wutai and decided to make peace with her father, she's finally given up on her Materia Hunting and decided to stay in Wutai to help make it better. That's the most mature thing she's ever done in her entire life. As for Vincent, well he's just being Vincent, he keeps to himself and he occasionally visits Lucrecia's shrine. But he's decided to be a little more sociable and is now a fairly regular customer at the Seventh Heaven and he helps WRO with the occasional jobs, I guess some people are just too busy to rest.

As for my friends, they've returned to Terra Firma, Drogo has gone back to policing the streets. Last week he put 30 thieves behind bars. Sunny and Angel are currently teaching people the art of white magic, Emily has decided to expand her blacksmiths business and she now makes, swords, daggers, bows, spears, gauntlets and even guns. Her business has really done well since she decided to expand it, Lance is now joint governor of the city of Windermere along side Angel and he has passed laws that weren't passed before, Windermere has become a much better place as a result. My father is still a miserable git as always but he helps me to keep my finances in order, Pandora is still enjoying the life of luxury, she has servants wait on her hand and foot for everything. But as long as she's happy then I'm happy.

As for me well…when I'm not doing royal lessons I'm doing what I do best, inventing and even working on alchemy projects. At least until the next adventure comes along, which given my track record isn't too far away, but until then I'm just happy relaxing.

---

Normal POV

Max was in his lab stirring the contents of a cauldron as Pandora entered the room wearing a revealing purple dress. "I thought you'd be in here," she stated as walked over to him, she then looked into the cauldron. "What are you making?" She questioned curiously.

"Just a project, I've been working on," Max answered vaguely as he continued to stir the contents as he added another ingredient to it.

"You've spent a whole month working on a potion…" Pandora uttered as she stared at Max in shock.

"Actually this is the thirtieth potion I've been working on," Max corrected Pandora as he stopped stirring and grabbed a glass bottle before putting it into the cauldron and brought it back out to show a light green liquid inside it. "I hope this works," he added as he looked at it before putting a rubber stopper into the bottle.

"What is it for?" Pandora asked as she stared curiously at the potion.

"It's a secret," Max stated as he walked away from her.

"So you're not going to tell me?" Pandora questioned as she followed Max to the door.

Max stopped and turned round to Pandora, "I tell you what, if it works I'll tell you all about it." Max promised before kissing Pandora on the lips, "love you," he stated quickly before leaving the lab. Pandora sighed and shook her head before she too left the room.

Meanwhile in WRO Headquarters Shelke was sat in Reeve's workshop waiting as Max entered the room, Shelke stood up and walked over to him. "I thought you'd forgotten," she stated as she smiled at him.

"I told you I wouldn't give up," Max replied as he smiled back. "I made another potion," he added as he held up the bottle containing the light green coloured liquid.

"Are you sure this one will work?" Shelke asked as she stared sceptically at the bottle, "the last few attempts weren't exactly optimistic."

"I know the other potions didn't work too well," Max admitted, "but I have a good feeling about this one."

"Ok…" Shelke uttered as she took the bottle from Max's hand and pulled out the stopper. She sniffed the potion and pulled a disgusted face before downing it in one. Shelke put the bottle down and for a few seconds nothing happened but after a while her stomach started to feel funny. "Max…what did you give me?" Shelke questioned as she stared at Max.

"Just give it a few minutes, the pain should subside," Max answered as he tried to be reassuring.

Shelke nodded and she waited a few minutes, after a few minutes the pain stopped. Shelke walked round the room but she felt that something wasn't right. "I didn't realise the floor was so low…" Shelke stated as she felt like she was higher than usual, she then looked up and saw a mirror and she was surprised to see that she was much taller, "what the…" Shelke uttered as she leapt back, she looked down at herself and she saw that she was now in the body of woman and was no longer trapped in a girl's body. "I…I look like a real woman now…" Shelke uttered before smiling. "I look my age…"

Max smiled when he saw this, "how do you feel?" Max asked.

"Like a woman," Shelke answered as she turned round to look at Max. "Now I can do the things I've always wanted to do, thank you Max." Shelke replied gratefully as she walked over to him and hugged him.

"I told you I'd keep my promise," Max reminded her as he hugged her back. "I'm glad I could help, why don't you give Aerith and Elena a call see if they want to go out tonight," Max suggested as he held out a phone to Shelke.

"Ok," Shelke stated as she took the phone and dialled a number, Max listened to the conversation that Shelke was having on the phone. She hung up and dialled another number and had another conversation before hanging up again. "They said they'd love to go out tonight," Shelke happily told Max. "I need to go out and buy a nice dress that actually fits," Shelke stated as she started to leave. "Thanks again Max."

"You're welcome," Max replied as he nodded his head. He smiled at Shelke and watched her leave before pushing a button on his teleportation device and he returned once more to the Kitsune World happy that he was able to fulfil his promise and help Shelke become a woman.

---

Meanwhile in the ruined dimension, Illusion's body was lay on the broken and crumbled platform limp and lifeless. A few seconds later a dark coloured aura started to surround her body and she was lifted up into the air, Illusion hovered in the air still for a moment before her eyes flickered open and glowed before evil laughter escaped her mouth.

---

That's the final chapter of this story, it took me forever to type it and I apologise for the many pages but I wanted the story to go out with a bang. I hope you enjoyed it and it won't be the last of Max and the others either, they will be appearing in other stories that I am planning on typing. Final Fantasy VII and all its settings and characters belong to Square Enix. The original characters belong to me so if want to use them for anything please ask for permission first.