Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of the Bahamut ❯ An Emerald Rebirth, A dark Reunion ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: An Emerald Rebirth, A dark Reunion.

Cloud barely had enough time for a single "Ack!" of surprise as he discovered himself scraping along the ground, he swung his sword and embedded it into the ground, slowing his slide. Cloud clung with both hands as the dirt rebounded off his face. He caught a glimpse of Red XIII sliding but then he was engulfed by blackness. Shea! As soon as he stopped, Cloud leapt up to his feet, making sure that Shea was all right and he began running towards Kayin and Synnoria. He knew that Red XIII would be all right. Just to be sure however, Cloud glanced over at Red XIII as he knelt by Shea's body and sure enough, he was already up and facing the threat, expertly ordering the startled Condor into action.

He put a hand on Shea's neck, feeling for a pulse, and immediately pulled it back as if scalded as he felt the definite murmuring of another voice inside his own. He doubled over as remembered pains, slashed through his conscience, throwing him to the ground. But a voice abruptly took him out his trance. "Human! Pick yourself up! Red and the bird can't handle it for long!" A wet nose pushing against his face accompanied the mysterious voice. He looked up to see the fierce visage of Shea, poking him onto his feet. He put his hand on her mane for balance as the irascible voice continued, "Hurry up now, you have your magic, his weak-" Cloud blinked as the connection was suddenly lost, but then he felt Shea pressing against him "-is ice. Go. Now!" With that she pushed Cloud down the hill even as she leapt passed him, a flurry of claws and fangs.

With instincts born of many battles, Cloud shook off his astonishment. He spun around to face the dragon, and as he lifted his sword, he extended his conscience to that of the Ice materia. The Ice materia flared as he spoke the trigger words. "Ice 3" Cloud murmured, and then he was rewarded with a scream of pain from the dragon even as he felt a bit of his magical ambience fade as the spell used it up. He ran forward, his sword cleaving the way through a host of small golem-like creatures as he raced to reach the battle raging between Red XIII, Synnoria and Bahamut.

Cloud soon reached the side of Shea, her claws a whirlwind as she ripped into the Golems, protecting Red's rear. She snarled viciously and several Golems stepped back as the slower ones fell to the ground, the stomachs and heads slit open by the scathing fighting strength of Shea. She spared him a quick smile as he pushed through the corpses, pausing repeatedly to cast Ice 3 at Bahamut. Suddenly he was through the ring of Golems and standing before the great dragon Bahamut himself. It seemed that as even the Golems fought for the dragon, they would not approach him too closely for fear of being eaten. His trained eyes quickly took in the field, scanning for Red XIII. Soon he found him, the strong feline legs propelling him around the claws of Bahamut even as he lashed out with powerful spells, enhanced by his own natural spell-casting ability. The thought made Cloud pause, there was only one other person he knew of who had that talent, Aeris, but now-Angrily he shook his head, clearing his thoughts, knowing that this was not the time for this.

Cloud sprang into action, his instincts taking over as his sword slashed into Bhamut's whip-like tail. He ducked and rolled as the great dragon's head swung around, the huge fangs trying to catch him in his mouth. Leaping up, his sword cut down as the ground which he had just vacated exploded in a blast of energy. Fortunately, his sword absorbed most of the energy, turning it to it's own ends. But suddenly, he was in the air, his feet pulled out from beneath him by the tail of the dragon. He looked up to see the sharp teeth encompassing his vision when suddenly, ice crystals formed on the teeth and snout. Cloud felt bad breath roil over him even as he rolled away, his sword coming up. And then Red XIII was beside him, the blue glow of Ice materia dissipating from his headdress.

"Cloud! Bahamut is stronger this time!" He cried as he just barely dodged a sharp-clawed hand that slashed into the ground and whipped towards Cloud in the same second. "Ice 3 was more than enough to put him down last time but it's barely affecting him now!"

Cloud looked to the giant dragon, wondering how even Ice 3 could have taken this beast down but that thought was lost as the dragon let loose another blast of energy, nearly frying him. He rolled and dodged as he sought to find Kayin and Synnoria, trying to tell them that they must flee the battle. He had to tell them that Bahamut had become too strong. But Synnoria was occupied, her claws raking the tough scales of Bahamut while Kayin flicked his daggers. They were pinpricks to the dragon, until Kayin struck his eye. The pain sent the dragon reeling and the great body twisted, energy pouring out of its mouth to crash against the Condor. The energy hit Synnoria full in the face and she careened to the ground, Kayin hanging on for dear life. As Bahamut staggered back in pain, Cloud leapt in, his sword a slashing blur as he initiated his most powerful technique, "Omni Slash!" He cried. His sword ripped into the rock-hard scales of the dragon, slicing through them as if it were butter. His fury and desperation to save the Condor and the child that he barely knew lent strength to his arms. The area was bathed in a strong white light as the Ultima weapon fell through to the scales of Bahamut one last time with explosive energy. The cut sent out a shock wave that nearly tore Red XIII off his feet and sent several Golems flying across the churned-up earth.

Cloud dropped his weapon, thankful that he had survived the technique, knowing that it was foolish to execute an Omni Slash when Bahamut had already weakened him to his present state. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Then Red XIII came beside him, holding Cloud's weakened body up with his own. But as the dust began to clear, Cloud's eyes widened in horror and surprise and he collapsed to the ground unable to summon the energy to fight once again. Blood and ichor dripped off ravaged scales, but the dragon stood, his eyes glowing with such anger and vengeance that the remaining Golems fled at the sight, crying out to whatever primitive Gods they held dear.

Bahamut roared in pain and fury, his two consciences never knew this level of pain. The conscience half known as Thanu felt the vision that was not his own reddening as rage built up inside of him. A rage he had not thought possible. Energy pulsed beneath his scales, aching to be released onto these beings and rip them from existence in exquisite pain. He smiled evilly as he saw the red beast initiate a shield covering him and the human, from the peripheral side of his vision, he noted a second shield spreading over the Condor and the other child. No matter, he thought as he reared back, his jaws opening as he prepared to deliver the final blow in this battle, intending to take them all in one sweep. They cannot stand up to me. Red XIII exerted his will desperately, putting all of his energies into maintaining the shields, knowing that he would most likely die if it failed.. Through a haze of rage Bahamut/Thanu saw this and faintly respected this but even that could not stop him from fulfilling the directives instilled in him by another source. His open jaws exploded in white light as the searing energy slammed against the feeble shields of Red XIII and then suddenly his jaws snapped shut, the energy that rebounded against his mouth nearly knocking him unconscious.

Shea looked around confused, she was fighting hordes of Golems when suddenly they just disappeared, replaced by a cloud of dust such that she couldn't even see anything. Her mind reached out and sought that Red XIII, "Red! Where are you?" She didn't receive an answer except for an exclamation of pain, followed by a flash of light that singed her fur. "RED!!!" She leapt towards the light and emerged through it to see Red XIII collapse under the attack of the huge dragon. She sprinted desperately, trying to get over to Red XIII when she fell to the ground in shock as awareness coursed through her. "Thanu?" She asked as his soul, scared and pained at the same time, slipped into her mind. The dragon reared up and shut his mouth, plainly unknowing of what to do. Inside his mind however, a flurry of commands from an unknown being were striking into his brain without mercy.

"KILL HER!!!" The man in scarlet robes cried, knowing that this was the crucial point in his tool's destiny. "Kill the Cats! She must die!" He sent out his will, slashing into the muscles of the dragon, causing it to draw up a claw and swing it towards Thanu's mother. But less than an inch away from her head, the claw stopped, the dragon let out a scream and leapt into the air, flying away quickly.

Belios was horrified that he had lost control of his tool so easily, he would have to punish the dragon. "You will suffer for this!" With that, Belios sent out a black-red pulse of energy that seared through the skies, slamming into Bahamut/Thanu's conscience. The dragon fell out of the sky with a scream and disappeared into the dense jungle, a sickening thud marking his landing.

cd

Cid swore softly as he traversed through the dank pipe that Barret had tumbled through moments before. His ears were attuned to every noise. Cid hefted his lethal pike, reassured by its weight. "Damn, how fast is he going? He's gonna need help!" Cid picked up speed and his wet boots slipped on the grimy muck as he rounded a curve that led onto a steep incline. The cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground, lost behind him as Cid slid down the pipe. "Shi-I-I-I-I-T!" He cried as he saw light ahead, and then suddenly he was out of the pipe, suspended 10 meters in the air and rapidly losing height. Cid hit the ground rolling, bringing his pike into a ready position as his eyes scanned the area. He saw Barret just ahead of him, his gun arm held tense. Cid hissed Barret's name to get his attention but Barret's eyes were riveted to something behind himself.

"Shut up Cid!" Barret hissed, his gun arm unwavering, not moving in the least. He didn't even bother to look at him. Cid looked at him, confused and then followed his line of sight. His mouth dropped open and he rapidly moved towards Barret, scrambling to his feet.

"Oh boy, what the hell do you expect we do about that?!" He whispered, his voice was level but his eyes were wide and staring. Barret only glared ahead, plans going through his mind at an amazing rate and just as quickly being rejected. There, standing fully 30ft, was the head of the Emerald Weapon, and surrounding it were hundreds of little weapons. A phalanx of the things that squirmed and bristled as they collected themselves at the head of the beast. "Oh my God, Tifa!" A twisting of Tifa's body as she tried to break free of several weapons rewarded Cid's exclamation. But she moved sluggishly and it was apparent that she was not well.

With an inarticulate cry, Barret leapt forward; his gun blazing as he ignited a lightening spell that ripped into the nearest ranks of weapons. They squealed as powerful lightening sliced through hard scales and tore into the hearts beneath. His bullets often glanced off the hard hides but several punctured the less defended eyes. Cid, who had been standing motionless at this sudden ferocity jumped into action as well. His pike cleared the way to Tifa along with Barret's bullets. Then Cid fell to his knees, pain coursing through his body as an electrical pulse coursed through his body. It seemed the weapons had other weapons besides their claws! Hastily he threw a reflect spell around himself and Barret. And none too soon, another far more powerful spell rebounded off his reflective shield and fried several weapons around him. He looked over and saw the eyes of the Weapon head glowing; she was throwing all she had against them. Luckily, the spells simply bounced off the Reflect barriers and killed the closer weapons before dissipating. But it was not long before she stopped. She had realized what was happening and was changing her tactics. She motioned with her head towards the weapons and they cleared to either side, providing a clear path of sight. The weapons holding Tifa were slowly contracting their claws! Cid froze as did Barret and then the weapons stopped their contraction but did not release the hold.

Cid looked to the side as his peripheral vision caught movement to his side. A weapon came to his side and grabbed his arm and was tugging him towards the grotesque head. He almost sliced the weapon in half, but thing was not putting any pressure on him so he relented, curious.

He was the original one.

As he came closer to the head, Cid let out a small breath of amazement. The head of the weapon was completely disfigured and ravaged from the blast of the Mako Cannon. He put a hand gingerly on the rough scales that could not heal and he felt the pain that the weapon had been experiencing for nearly a full year. "Mental communication!" He thought incredulously as the weapon began to convey thoughts to him, thoughts that told him that they must not destroy her.

The Emerald weapon was the original. Thought to be the most important, it had played a prominent role in the shaping of the planet. When it's brothers and sisters were made, the Emerald weapon was designated to be the weapon that would regenerate itself and it's brothers should some great calamity come upon them. When the clarion call of the Earth summoned them, the Emerald weapon was the only one to feel the twinge of foreseen defeat. They fought their battles valiantly but fell to superior powers just the way Emerald had seen it the day she was awakened. And now it was up to her, in this ravaged and pained form, to recreate the four weapons and to increase their strength a hundred fold. So now she worked, deep inside this dank dungeon, trying to perfect her own form first before she began the reforming of the weapons.

"So that's why there are so many Emerald weapons!" Cid said, astonished, as he looked around, able to perceive minute differences in each weapon now that he was looking for them. "But we can't have all these little weapons running around!" Emerald replied that all prior attempts would die. He thought at the head. "But please, could you let Tifa down? She is in a great deal of pain." Her moan bringing her back to his attention. But the weapon told him how he needed to use the cells of Tifa to recreate a perfect clone of the Emerald weapon with her qualities. Her own cells were imperfect now because of radiation from the blast from the Mako Cannon that had destroyed her. All this was conveyed by images of which Cid could barely understand. It seemed that an ordinary human could not communicate properly with the weapons of the Earth.

"So you're now extracting DNA from Tifa to use for your cloning!" Cid said, in a flash of inspiration. Suddenly, a noise to his right beckoned him. He glanced over to see Barret helping Tifa out of the grip of the Weapons. She stumbled over to Cid with the help of Barret and spoke.

"Don't worry Cid, I had agreed after I was told." She said, her voice cracking. Hurriedly, Barret let her down to her knees and ran off to get some water for her parched lips. "I'm weak because I couldn't communicate to the weapon well enough to tell him of my needs, and well, extraction of DNA is not easy going, even by magical means." She chuckled softly and then continued, "I've learned most of Emerald's story and it is truly amazing. She is the original as you know, and since her brothers have been destroyed, it once again falls upon her to recreate the Weapons of the Earth."

"How can we help her?" Cid asked, "As you well know, we can't have those weapons spreading across the land." He moved his arm in a grand motion, indicating the vast amount of weapons. The moved uncomfortably as if they knew their lives were in the balance. He put his hand to Emerald's snout once again and bowed his head in communication. Then Tifa did the same.

"He is able to produce the clones!" Tifa said joyfully, "The DNA he extracted from was enough!" She leapt up into the air in joy and wrapped her arms around Barret who was flustered, obviously ill at ease.

He quickly voiced his concerns, "What do we do about the little weapons?" Barret asked, eyeing the large group.

"They will die after a short time because of their imperfect cells. The four new weapons will grow inside this ship until such time comes that they must leave and rejoin the planet." Tifa paused, a frown fleeting across her face. "Then, this Emerald weapon will be allowed to depart from this life of pain, her task completed."

Even now, Barret could see the little weapons dying, they were dying slowly but he could see it just the same, by the droop of their tails. The discolored scales. He turned around to see the imperturbable Vincent trotting in, with a guard of 6 crewmen. "Vincent! Why are you down here?" He asked, confused.

Vincent replied, his face straight, "I knew because Emerald told me," He put up his hands at the already opening mouths of the incredulous trio. "I could not tell you before because I had made a deal with them, or rather, the Earth. They were the ones of who put me into that sleep following their prophecies set millions of years ago. The prophecy told that someone who could communicate with them something that no human has done for many, many years, would approach them. The deal was that they would grant me the sleep I so desired but I could not reveal my ability to communicate with the weapons when the time came for me to be awakened and fight to protect the Earth." Smiling wryly, he added, "I did not think I would be fighting them."

Barret was moving out already with a grim expression on his face. "We'll talk about this later Vince, but right now, we haveta get to Cloud."