Last time, on LOTHK: The Lifestream Vol, Book 3:

"We can win! The planet is counting on us! We have to win! For everyone who Jenova has killed. For my people!" called Aeris as she gravitated to Cloud.

"That's right! If we don't fight then there's no hope for the planet!" replied Cloud.

"Let's end this!" said Naruto before they all converged on Jenova.

And now, the conclusion...

Chapter 14: The Final Battle

"So be it!" Jenova controlled Sephiroth shouted, and with that he rose swiftly upward, disappearing into the darkness that hung like a dark cloud over the mako pit.

When he descended, his form had changed. The human being they knew as Sephiroth was gone, and in his place was the monster known only as Bizarro Jenova. He stood taller than a building, with monstrous shoulders and arms that ended not with hands but with powerful wings. He had two heads, one rising out of the other, both with eyes that were ice-cold blue and devoid of the warmth of life. At his waist there was a brightly glowing yellow orb, pulsing with power.

"Ok, this is the plan!" called Naruto and everyone turned to him. "Myself, Gaara, Vincent and Cloud will be actively attacking Jenova either with spells, summoning or physical attacks. Tifa and Aeris will be healing and everyone else is to support us with either the odd attack, summons or support spells. My guess is there's a second form behind this one and that will be my chance to finish this for good. Kyuubi has a plan for stripping away the Jenova cells inside Sephiroth and fusing similar cells with him so that he won't die. Is everyone good on the plan?" Everyone nodded. Naruto then glanced at Bizarro Jenova again and took notice of the yellow orb. "And someone observe what that Yellow orb does while we're attacking, just in case it's a big super attack or some sort of heeling pod."

Jenova's heads turned and their gaze settled upon Cloud. She raised one large winged arm and brought it crashing down onto the rocky podium where the two swordsmen and two gunmen stood.

Cloud jumped back out of the way of the feather fingers as they slammed into the rock. The strength of the blow cleaved the podium in two, sending chunks of rock tumbling towards the pit below them. These chunks of rock fell and then suddenly stopped and floated in midair, held up by the power of the Lifestream. Cloud glanced down at them before returning his attention to the monster before him. Jenova was raising her hand again, preparing another strike. The swordsman braced himself.

A light flashed overhead, and Naruto's voice called out to him. "Cloud! Up here!"

Cloud looked up and even Jenova halted her attack long enough to see Bahamut emerge from the light overhead and dive into the pit. Sitting on the dragon's back were Naruto and Aeris, riding the dragon as it swooped down to the broken podium.

Jenova scowled and brought her hand down on the podium. Cloud turned and dived off just as Jenova's hand smashed into it, breaking it apart. The swordsman meanwhile landed on the floating rocks and jumped rapidly from one to another, using them as stepping stones. Bahamut flew alongside and Aeris held out her hand to Cloud. He took it, and she pulled him up onto Bahamut's back just as Jenova's hand swiped again. Bahamut roared and soared back up to the sky, out of reach of Jenova.

Jenova turned her heads upwards and watched as Bahamut rose to a safe distance and circled the pit, watching her. Both heads smiled with evil intent and she raised her arms. Flames gathered around the tips of her feathery fingers. They formed into fireballs and she fired them off, one by one, up towards Bahamut.

"Hold on you three!" Bahamut said and Naruto, Cloud and Aeris clutched on tight onto the dragon. He dodged, barrel rolled and weaved through the fireballs as they soared past. One skimmed Bahamut's tail, and the dragon roared in agony. He writhed and lashed his tail.

"Wow, that was close!" said Naruto, looking back. Leviathan was not hurt badly—the flames had only skimmed it. The ninja sighed and turned to Jenova. "Is that the best a calamity can do?" he taunted.

His words were met by another series of fireballs. Once more Bahamut was forced to weave his way through as the air became hot with fire. This time he avoided being hit, but kept on moving to avoid being a still target.

Jenova watched as Bahamut circled the pit, amused by their attempts to avoid her fire strikes. Once more she spread her hands and flames began to form, larger and more condensed, intent on bringing the dragon and his riders crashing down.

A series of sharp, painful shots struck Jenova in her right shoulder. Jenova lowered her arms, the flames dissipating, and turned to look at the new attackers.

Barret, Vincent and Gaara were standing on one of the lower platforms, gun-arm and triple barrelled handguns raised and firing a continuous stream of bullets at the monster before them. Jenova raised her wing to shield herself from the bullets, and then without warning lunged and swiped her arm across the podium. Her fingers swept over the rock and sent it spinning across the pit with the trio still on it. Vincent and Gaara were able to jump to a new platform in time, leaving the resistance leader to drop down and cling for his life to the rock as it spiralled wildly out of control. His world spun and then stopped with a great shudder as the rock slammed into the wall of the pit. Barret lost his grip on the rock and slid down towards the edge. He reaffirmed his hold just in time and held on tight.

The rock remained in place, stuck in a crack along the wall of the pit. Barret tried to pull himself back up the rock, but lost his grip again and slid down and over the edge. For a brief moment he fell, before he was roughly picked up and deposited gently onto an outcropping of rock several feet below, thanks to Gaara and his sand. The man groaned and rolled onto his back. He breathed heavily, amazed. He was still alive. "Thank you!" he called over to the red haired sand wielder.

On the other side of the mako pit, Vincent sat behind a recently summoned Odin as Sleipnir galloped across a winding path that circled the outer edge of the pit. Odin tugged on the reins and Sleipnir obediently turned and leaped off the path and onto one of the nearby platforms. Six heavy hooves thudded into the dirt, churning up rock, but the horse ploughed on regardless, leaping to the next platform and then the next. The horse followed the platforms as they moved across the pit, heading towards Jenova.

Pausing briefly on one platform, Odin raised his spear and threw it at Jenova. The calamity saw it coming and swiftly dodged to one side, showing that she was more agile that what was first thought. The spear sailed past and struck the wall behind her.

Jenova moved back and turned to face Vincent and Odin. She closed her wings over her torso, and the yellow orb at her waist began to glow. The air around it wavered, and sparks of light formed and were drawn into the orb. A beam of light suddenly burst out of the orb. Sleipnir jumped out of the way of the beam as it ripped through the rocky podium. It did not destroy the rock but obliterated it entirely, leaving not even a single trace of it behind. Sleipnir missed the beam only by a hair's breadth—signified by the steam rising from his rear hooves.

After destroying the podium the beam carried on and hit the far wall of the pit. It tore through the rock, incinerating it. The blast caused the pit to shake violently. The beam ended, and as the steam and smoke faded away the damage to the inner wall became clear. There was a massive hole nearly ten metres wide burned into the wall, and delving metres deep.

Overhead, Naruto leaned over Bahamut's side and looked down at the hole.

"So it's a super beam weapon," he noted. "Very powerful. We need to smash it before we get in close. Even though it seems to be a long range attack only, it's still powerful enough to pose a great danger to the others."

"So what's the plan?" asked Cloud. He also leaned over Bahamut's side, surveying the battlefield. Jenova had turned her attention away from them and was following Odin's horse as it darted around the pit, leaping from platform to platform, trying to find an opening. When Jenova turned his back, Cloud grasped Naruto's shoulder. "Dive, Naruto."

"I see your plan," Naruto nodded. "Let's go Bahamut!" he commanded.

Bahamut also saw what the two on his back saw and dropped into a steep dive. Naruto, Cloud and Aeris held tightly onto the dragon's scales as he dived. Air rushed past their faces, drowning out all other sounds. Jenova's monstrous blue form zoomed in to meet them, and at the last moment Cloud drew up his knees and pushed himself away from Bahamut. Aeris cried out to him but Cloud was already moving, his sword in hand, falling down towards Jenova.

The uppermost head heard Aeris's cry and looked upwards. She saw Cloud descending, his blade crackling with powerful electric light. Jenova scowled and pushed her palms into the cranium of the lower head. The long lengths of blue hair that framed its face rose up like antennae. Electrified energy began to crackle around them. Cloud brought down his sword and crashed headfirst into the energy.

A loud and deafening explosion filled the air and the pit was filled with a wave of bright light. Naruto and Aeris covered their eyes as a wave of electrified light swept over them, making the hairs on their arms and necks stand on end. Bahamut quickly pulled back and curled his tail around his body, protecting his riders.

Cloud opened his eyes. The light was blinding. His blade pushed down on the two antennae-like bangs, trying to break through the shield of energy that separated him from Sephiroth. Electricity swept over his blade and over his hands, tightening the muscles, but Cloud gritted his teeth and kept on pushing. He would break through.

Through the light he could see Jenova. The upper head glared back at him with eyes that were cold and empty and full of hatred, narrowed into thin slits. Cloud put all of his strength into his arms, pushing down on the shield of crackling light. It was a battle of wills between him and Jenova, and Cloud was not about to lose.

The shield wavered. Cloud could feel it weakening. His will, his desire to protect his friends, gave him the strength that he needed. His blade cut through the shield and the light disappeared. With no barrier to separate them, Cloud dived forward. Seeing him approach, Jenova's eyes widened with interest. Was this the same puppet?

Before she could finish that thought, Cloud was suddenly in front of her. Jenova met his gaze and grinned as Cloud landed in front of her, drew back his blade and then, with a cry, thrust it out with all his strength.

The blade sliced through Jenova's neck, almost completely severing the head from its body. Cloud raised his sword and slashed again, and this time cut the head from the body. The rest of the companions stared in wide-eyed amazement as the bodiless head rolled down Jenova's broad back. Those in range caught a glimpse of the face as it fell—it was still grinning. The head plunged down and landed with a splash into the Lifestream. It sank out of sight, disappearing beneath the surface.

Jenova spread her wings and flapped them gently. She did not seem at all fazed by the loss of her upper head. Instead she just beat her wings harder and sent a powerful gust of swing sweeping throughout the mako pit.

Cait Sith clung to his Mog as the podium he was standing on was caught up in the breeze and lurched suddenly upwards. It smashed into the wall and hung there, suspended at an angle. The collision made Cait lose his grip on the Mog and he fell through the air. Nanaki, running nearby, leaped and snatched the cat up in his jaws. The hound landed on the winding path surrounding the pit. He dropped Cait, who clambered onto his back. Then the hound set off with his new rider, running along the path to rejoin the others.

The upper body sagged backwards, lifeless. With his job done Cloud jumped back out of the way. As he descended he caught a glimpse of movement and turned to see Ifrit slam into one of the lower platforms and then leap up towards Jenova. Jenova turned and swiped one of her large wings, brushing the fiery demon aside. Yet as soon as she did she realised her mistake as Vincent, astride Sleipnir, leaped at her, with Gaara flying through the air next to Vincent on his small platform of sand. Jenova opened her mouth and unleashed a stream of fire, but Sleipnir and Gaara smoothly dodged to one side, missing the flames.

Vincent stood up and pushed himself away from the horse. He raised his gun and fired two shots. Both shots struck Jenova in her round shoulder. The two gunmen landed on Jenova's shoulder and quickly jumped again, firing two more rounds each into Jenova's other shoulder. They did little damage, but were enough to draw Jenova's attention long enough for Nanaki, with Cait on his back, to leap onto a nearby podium and call upon Titan. The summon appeared before him and charged forward, his footsteps causing the platform to shake. Before Jenova could turn Titan jumped, his fist clenched, and struck the glowing globe at Jenova's waist.

The globe cracked… and then shattered. A blast of intense energy fired out from inside, surrounding the summon. Titan roared in pain, and then his voice died out.

"Yes! We did it!" Naruto yelled out from above on Bahamut's back as he saw the interaction below.

The burning energy surrounded Jenova too, and even her skin was burned by the searing energy. She writhed in pain and folded her arms across her torso. The feathers shimmered and showers of sparkling light began to filter down onto the burned skin. The skin bubbled and began to close, healing itself.

Naruto saw this and called out. "Jenova's healing herself!" he called. "Someone stop her!"

"You got it!" replied Barret. He raised his gun-arm and opened fire. His bullets sank into Jenova's arm, but Jenova ignored the wounds and continued to work on healing herself. Barret cursed and used his Fire materia to add more power to his bullets. The bullets did damage, piercing and burning the flesh of her shoulders. A hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around. Barret stopped firing as Cid snatched the Fire materia from his gun-arm and slotted it into the pole of his spear.

"Let me take a crack at the bitch!" he said. The pilot then hoisted his spear (which he had retrieved from where it had fallen) up onto his shoulder, took aim, and then threw it.

The spear landed in Jenova's shoulder. On contact the Fire materia flashed and the spear erupted into flame. The flames spread like wildfire along Jenova's shoulders and across her broad torso, damaging the skin faster than her healing magic could fix it. Jenova roared and writhed in pain, her wings flailing as she tried to bat out the flames that were spreading quickly along her body.

"Not so fast!"

Jenova looked up and had a sudden sense of déjà vu as he saw Tifa falling down towards him after jumping up to a higher spot and diving down toward the calamity. The fighter kicked a devastating blow to Sephiroth's jaw, sending his head reeling backwards. She grasped Sephiroth's head and drove her knee into his face, before drawing back her fist.

"Tifa," she heard Barret call, "get back now!"

Tifa looked down at her feet. A ball of light rose up in front of her, separating her from Jenova. It shimmered and began to take form. Tifa stared as the light took on the form of an angel, with small, glowing wings and a cool, calm face. But unlike the angels she had seen in stories, this angel had eyes that were literally made of ice. They glinted as they stared at her, and the angel's calm face split into an evil, heartless smile.

"Tifa!" called Naruto as he also jumped off Bahamut and landed next to Cloud. "Get back!"

This time she heeded his words and jumped back away from Jenova, landing on the platform beside Cloud and Naruto. The angel spread its arms and then raised them over its head. Numerous fireballs filled the air above them, covering the sky in a blanket of fire. The angel then lowered its arms and the balls rained down onto the battlefield.

The companions raised their arms to shield themselves as the fireballs rained down around them. Those that hit the platforms dug deep holes into the rock, incinerating them so that they were black and charred. Cait covered his head with his hands and cried out as Nanaki leaped from podium to podium, dodging the fireballs whilst trying to make his way over to his friends.

Through the falling fire he saw Vincent, Gaara and Barret standing back to back as they fired shots imbued with ice up at the fireballs that fell around them, freezing them and shattering them. To the other side, Cloud and Naruto swiped their swords, slicing the balls that came within range. Tifa could only dodge, ducking and rolling around the platform, trying not to be hit. And Aeris was safe from harm as she was still on top of Bahamut who was now carrying Yuffie. Aeris cast healing spell after healing spell to keep everyone alive from this fiery onslaught.

Then, something pierced through the fire. It struck Jenova squarely in her chest and flung her back into the wall of the mako pit, pinning her against it. Jenova screamed in rage as she looked down at the massive spear that penetrated her torso and pinned her to the wall. She looked up at Cid and Odin, standing together on the outer rim. The pilot rubbed his nose and gave Naruto a thumbs up.

"There ya go! I got him pinned. Now hurry up and finish the job!" he shouted.

Naruto nodded. He turned to Barret. "Barret, I need a boost!" he called.

Barret nodded and leaped down onto the lower platform. He ran alongside Naruto to the edge, where he stopped and stretched out his arm. Naruto jumped and, thanks to his ninja training, landed perfectly on his gun-arm and then, with Barret giving him a push, jumped again and soared up towards Jenova.

Jenova was pinned and unable to escape. She raised her wings but did it too late. Naruto zoomed in, swung his blade, and thrust the sword. He struck. The blade sank home.

And, in that moment, everyone held their breath.

(AN: Sorry it's been a while since the last installment on this story, but I've been busy with the other stories. I'll still be concentrating on them, but I'll continue to write on this story.)