To be honest, last chapter was mostly improvised. I couldn't think of the direction I wanted it to go, so i just wrote until I had a cliff hanger. I have like three different endings for the story in mind and I can't decide on which one.
Bodum, Farron – Strife Residence, The Next Day
"I am going to fucking kill him!" Cid shouted when Vincent broke the news to the group.
Everyone had been surprised to hear that Vincent had wanted to talk to them. They all had gathered at Lightning's house because Lightning had become a wreck after Vincent told her. The only one who was not at Lightning's house was Hope, who was in school at the moment. Fang had taken Vanille aside after noticing that she was just not as bouncy as before.
Fang and Vanille could hear most of Avalanche talking about Cloud. Most of them were talking about how ridiculous Cloud was being and it might just be a mental breakdown. Fang though only kind of cared about the blond warriors motives at the moment.
"What's wrong Vanille?" Fang said in the most innocent tone she could muster.
"Nothing," Vanille replied with a distant tone.
"What's wrong Vanille?" Fang asked again, but much less friendly.
"Kadaj called me yesterday," Vanille said without looking at Fang.
"Whats wrong with that?" Fang asked, genuinely confused by the statement.
"He sounded different," Vanille stated, keeping her eyes on the floor between her and Fang "He said he was coming back today, to have a reunion."
"Well that's an odd thing to say," Fang said as she began pacing "What do you mean different?"
"He just sounded odd," Vanille said quickly "I'm not sure how."
"Well did he say when?" Fang asked.
Directly after Fang spoke, they heard Sazh Shout something something from the front room where everyone else was. Fang and Vanille went back into the room and saw everyone looking at the television in complete silence.
As usual Sazh had it set to the news, but it was what was being reported that had everyone's attention. The report was coming from down the beach and it was about a violent three on one fight.
"Sazh, why are you watching this? It's just another thing the Corps will deal with," Barret said to the pilot.
"Just watch," Sazh said quickly.
After a moment of watching, what they were waiting for was presented. There were four people on the beach in a face off. The team of three, who wearing all black, were forming a triangle around the solo fighter who had two large swords in his hands.
"Cloud!" Lightning yelled.
Everyone immediately leapt into action. Everyone who had put down their weapons grabbed them and flew out the back door. Lightning raced upstairs to put on her uniform and grab Blaze Edge. It only took a few moments for Lightning to climb out of her robe and into her uniform. She ripped Blaze Edge from the sheath and ignored attaching the boxy sheath.
Lightning was soon right behind the group running down the beach. They reached the small battle within five minutes. It was indeed Cloud and three others, but the three were something out of the nightmares of the others. The three had silver hair and black leather outfits, rendering all those who just arrived stunned.
The three also had different weapons. One had a two bladed katana, one had a AMP power fist and the last had two small gun-blades.
"Kadaj?" Vanille said quietly. The one with the sword turned to her and let a small smile appear. Everyone saw his bright green slit pupil eyes and flinched.
"Ah, Vanille," Kadaj said unusually smooth "Are you here to join us and father?"
"Father?"
"Sephiroth," Kadaj said with a cheerful voice "He is the one that gave us our lives and power. We all owe him so much," As Kadaj spoke he turned back to Cloud "Even you Cloud."
"I owe him nothing!" Cloud shouted as he rushed at Kadaj.
Cloud recombined his swords mid stride and razed the large weapon above his head. He brought it down with all his strength in an effort to vertically cleave Kadaj in half. Kadaj sidestepped the attack with great ease and watched the massive fusion blade slam into the sand, forming a small crater.
"Take care of them," Kadaj said to Yahzoo and Loz while nodding towards the large group "I'll take on brother,"
"Brother?" Fang asked loudly just before a bullet from Yazoo's Velvet Nightmare ripped through the air beside her ear. The only reason he missed was because of Vincent pulling her away.
Fang hit the sand fully surprised. She had not been expecting the sudden appearance of ground on her arm. Four shots rang out, the explosive sound started a familiar ringing in the ears of everyone in the immediate area of Cerberus.
The twelve bullets raced towards Yazoo, but hit the sand as he jumped to the side with inhuman speed. Yazoo sent a volley of shots back towards Vincent, who had mimicked Yazoo with a dodge. Seeing how futile it was to shoot at Vincent, Yazoo chose to target everyone else.
Loz charged at the large group and began swinging wildly. It did not matter who he hit because all of group were an enemy to him now. Loz had come very close to slamming his fist into the gut of several of them, but they had help from the stronger few of the group.
Barret, Snow, Tifa, Cid, and Fang all stepped forward to battle the melee fighter. Vincent, Yuffie, and Sazh prepared to engage in a long distance fight with the gunner of the black garbed trio. Lightning ran to Cloud's side and gave him a slight look of happiness, but then quickly turned her most vicious glare on Kadaj. Aerith and Vanille stayed in the back, wordlessly agreeing to support the others with a small nod.
The fight quickly exploded out of hand. Cloud, Lightning and Kadaj were nearly flying all over the beach with their sword and magic combat. Aerith and Vanille were unable to keep up with the injuries Yazoo and Loz were inflicting on the others. The combat was quickly diminished to just Kadaj versus Cloud and Lightning, Vincent and Fang versus Loz and Yazoo, and Aerith and Vanille.
"Where is it brother?" Kadaj said calmly to Cloud.
"Brother?" Lightning asked with complete confusion.
"That will be explained later," Kadaj said with a shake of his head "But where is it brother? Where is the Black Materia?" Kadaj looked between Cloud and Lightning for any sort of give away of the Materia's location.
"Kadaj," Loz said loudly to get the silver haired swordsmans attention.
"It is on her wrist," Yazoo stated, directly after Loz spoke, by waving his Velvet Nightmare towards Aerith.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Kadaj snapped at the two.
Vincent, Fang, Vanille, and Aerith saw the smiles of pure cruelty spread on the faces of the two Sephiroth like warriors. Sephiroth had been the only other person to master the smile that showed every single one of his cruel intentions, it was the one thing that haunted Avalanche to this very moment.
Loz vanished from sight and the sound of Fang being launched off her feet distracted Vincent. The gunslinger looked over just in time to see Fang take flight from the sheer force of Loz's hit and with his attention pulled elsewhere, Yazoo struck. The young man's foot collided with the gunslingers jaw, knocking him off his plated feet. Vincent and Fang hit the ground at the same time and rolled an equal amount, but Fang was much further away.
Cloud and Lightning wanted to rush to the aid of the others, but the second their backs were turned to Kadaj, they would have the two bladed katana Souba through them. Kadaj chuckled at the sight of Cloud and Lightning wanting to help their comrades and not wanting to be killed by a back attack.
"Lightning," Cloud said only loud enough for her to hear him "Go help them, leave Kadaj to me."
"No. He's to fast for you," Lightning replied harshly "You go help them."
Cloud was hit with a serious dilemma. Help his friends and leave Lightning to an extremely vicious foe, or stay here and open a chance for his friends to be killed. Cloud let body decide for him.
"Be careful Claire," Cloud said quietly before running towards Loz and Yazoo.
The blond warrior lifted his massive sword above his head and sharply brought it down over Yazoo. The long haired gunman quickly spun and used his dual gun-blades to stop the sword short. Everyone other than the three Sephiroth like warriors were completely stunned by the act. Yazoo took advantage of the stunning moment and planted a very powerful kick into Cloud's gut. The blond warriors feet left the ground and he flew past the downed gunslinger and huntress. Cloud adjusted his weight and landed with his feet safely on the ground; he charged once more towards Yazoo and Loz.
Lightning and Kadaj circled each other, the air heated, sparks took flight, and their eyes burned. Lightning's eyes had pure, unchecked hatred in them; Kadaj had amusement with a hint of insanity in his bright green eyes. Their feet slowly created a circle in the sand as the battle between Cloud and the other two silver haired men raged on.
Lightning saw a small twitch in Kadaj's wrist and razed her sword into a defensive stance. The instant her sword was in front of her, Souba crashed down onto it. Lightning was amazed at how much power had been in that swing, it was far more than the blows from the Buster Sword. The speed at which Kadaj had moved across the ten foot gap was stunning, but Lightning had been expecting it.
"Why do you try to stop us?" Kadaj asked Lightning with genuine interest.
"You are trying to revive Sephiroth, and I will never allow that."
"But Father knows where your parents are," Kadaj's statement stunned Lightning. Kadaj watched as Lightning's eyes grew wide and took the advantage. In a moment, Lightning had Blaze Edge forced from her grasp, spun around, pushed onto her knees and had Souba at her throat.
"Brother!" Yazoo shouted to Cloud.
Cloud halted his advance and looked towards Yazoo, the young gunslinger that had vanished from sight for a second. What Cloud saw made him freeze, Yazoo was behind both Aerith and Vanille and had his Velvet Nightmares directed at their heads. Cloud checked on Lightning and saw the blades at her throat and did not see any way of salvaging this situation.
"Drop your weapon, brother," Yazoo said calmly to Cloud, who complied, and let the Fusion Sword fall to the sand "Loz. Grab the Black Materia."
Loz strode forward, grabbed the chain bracelet on Aerith's wrist and pulled. The chain shattered easily and fell away from the ink black orb. Loz placed it between his left thumb and index finger and examined the orb. All could see that he was entranced by the light absorbing sphere.
"Give it to me," Kadaj commanded. Loz swung his arm and the Black Materia sailed through the air.
Vincent watched as Kadaj's arms relaxed and brought the sword away from Lightning's neck. As the sword slid into the sheath, Vincent reached his right arm forward and closed his hand around the handle of Cerberus. He rolled over and fired twice. Yazoo and Loz had not been expecting the occurance and both took the three bullet formation to the head. They both tumbled back, completely lifeless. No blood poured out of the two bodies, just the dusty smoke that Sephiroth had transformed into the last time they saw him.
The Black Materia landed in Kadaj's left hand and his fingers snapped shut around it. A flash of dark purple light and a tremble ran through the ground. Kadaj let a large maniacal smile grow on his face and looked up to rub in his success. His face was met by Lightning's fist. Kadaj fell backword and the Black Materia flew out his hand and landed behind Lightning.
Cloud and Lightning had their swords on Kadaj before he had a chance to stand up. Aerith cast cure on everyone and they regrouped behind Cloud, Lightning, and Kadaj.
"Seems like your reunion has been cancelled," Cid said to the last silver haired warrior.
"Don't be so sure," Kadaj said with a smile and a miniscule amount of laughter in his voice "Any Pulse born can be used," Kadaj's eyes slid shut and his breathing became even.
Cloud's eyes grew wide with realization. He stood up quickly and spun around, everyone following suit. Everyone saw the same thing at the same time, Vanille's bright green eyes now had slit pupils. She extended her right arm and the Black Materia launched off the ground, into her hand.
"A slight inconvenience, but I will manage," It was Vanilles voice but she did not have her accent.
"No fucking way," Barret, Cid and Fang said in unison.
"This is going to be fun," 'Vanille' said with an unusually calm tone. With a flash, the seven foot slim sword appeared in her left hand, and a very large black feathered wing erupted from the right side of her back "Today, your world ends."