Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Lifestream: Shadow Blood ❯ Chapter 17: Battle for Gaia ( Chapter 17 )

Cloud and Marlene stared as a beam of darkness crashed out the Northern Cave. The ground quaked; cracks appeared in the ground, swallowing houses and many bodies along with it. Marlene turned to see her father's body slip under the ground. She lowered her head, and turned, holding a little of Cloud's weight. They didn't have to hop far when the Sierra lowered overhead and a ladder hit the ground. They both looked up to see the familiar smile of Yuffie.

`Get up her quick!' she snapped, smiling still, `something big is happening.' Marlene climbed, Cloud turned to look back one more time at the north cave that was still emitting dark beams, before hanging on as the ladder rose up and the airship took off.

 

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Denzel's body buzzed as he landed on a giant stone floor. Staring around he could see similar towers around him, he realised where he was. The Dark Tower. The one he had seen whilst he was with Aeris, the flower girl. He was inside the lifestream, the land of the Shadows. A ruffle of a cloak behind him made him turn to face the cloaked man: The Leader. He seemed happy to see Denzel. He removed the cloak over his face, letting it hit the floor. Black hair fell, covering over the shoulders. His eyes were pale blue, the pupils black as night. His thin lips curled up his pale face.

`Well done Danzol!' his smile curled even more, reminding him of a snake. `You have fulfilled a part of your grand destiny.'

`My destiny?' Denzel questioned, the same puzzled face appearing on his face. Searching his memory he found no recollection of a destiny ever being mentioned to him.

`Yes,' the Leader raised his arms, `The destiny that holds you to the power of the Shadow Arms. To complete your destiny you must take upon the power of the Shadow.'

 

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The world screamed in pain. All over the world the earth was cracking open. Midgar, Edge, Mideel, Junon, Icicle Resort, Nibelheim, creatures were pulling themselves out of the lifestream, dark creatures, hearts as cold as ice.

 

The Sierra rushed overhead, staring down at the planet that they had fought to protect just 10 years before, falling to pieces as the true darkness ripped through. Cloud stared out, Tifa beside him, holding his hand.

`Head for Midgar.' He said, Cid hitting the deck in confirmation. Rufus came into the room.

`Reeves is on his way.' Cloud nodded, and turned to stare back out onto the world that seemed to be on auto-destruct sequence. Reno stirred in the corner, walking forward.

`These things are…' he scratched his head, `…they seem be worse than the silvers!' Cloud spun and faced him, glaring. Reno backed off. `I meant no offence; these things seem to be of a new type of evil, a lost evil.'

`What Reno means,' Yuffie said, walking towards Reno and grabbing his shoulder, making him wince in pain, `is that these creatures are quite powerful, but are different than what we have faced before. Right, Reno?' Reno nodded in agreement, Yuffie letting go off his arm. He rubbed it and grinned at Cloud. He turned facing Midgar. The crew gasped in surprise. Midgar and Edge were both covered in black creatures fighting against towns people who fought back to defend their home and family.

 

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Denzel stood there, silent, thinking. The power of Shadow! He looked up, the Leader staring back. `What do you mean the power of the Shadow?'

`Well,' he said, turning and facing out onto the Shadowland. `What I mean is quite simple. You gain the power of the Shadow and make it more powerful than ever before. You make it what it has never been before.'

`But that would make me the leader!' He looked up. `And you are the leader. Then…?'

`Correct.' The giant man turned. `You must defeat me and take the power of the Shadow. With your skill…you should have no problems.' Denzel stood, stared, quiet. The man stared back, smiled. `Come Danzol, for the future of the Shadow!'

`I won't fight you. I refuse to.' He looked into the dark eyes, which turned black.

`If you won't fight me, then I am afraid I have no choice.' He held out his hand, a dark sword appearing in it. Denzel stared at it, before pulling out his own.

 

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The Sierra hovered over Edge. The team pondering what to do. The radio started to crackle.

`Alright lads,' Reeves booming voice came through, `I'm here!' Suddenly twenty ships appeared on either side. `I've sent more around Gaia, so it shudnae be a problem!' The ships paused over Edge, lowering itself to the ground. Millions of WRO jumped out, firing straight away at the Shadow soldiers.

`Thanks Reeves!' Cloud said into the radio.

`Nae problem Cloud, anything for a friend.' Cloud looked at Cid and nodded.

`Aw hell no!' Cloud smiled and nodded again. He huffed and flew the Sierra forward and slowly lowered it. `Well, this could be the last ride for her.' He patted his ship.

`Don't worry Cid,' Rufus said to him, `We will make sure the ship doesn't get damaged. That is after all, what we are defending.' He wheeled off, leaving Cid looking sheepish. The team ran out, Cloud walking slowly behind them all. Turning to look back into the cockpit one last time, he seen Aeris.

`Don't worry,' she said, `he's okay!' She then disappeared as if wasn't even there. Cloud turned back to face a smiling Tifa. Marlene came out of her room holding a giant gatling gun.

`Let's fight!' She ran off after the others. Cloud turned to Tifa, smiling weakly.

 

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Denzel held his sword out in front of the dark leaders face. He snorted in anger, swiping his sword into it, clashing together. Denzel was thrown backwards by the power.

`You cannot win Danzol!' He charged at Denzel, who rolled out the charging mans swipe. Panting, he looked behind him to see the man staring, no friendship left in his eyes. Denzel picked himself up, steadying himself for the next attack. `It won't last long Danzol!'

 

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The soldiers fought against the Shadow soldiers with all their might, knocking them down, but the Shadow soldiers were too large and powerful in numbers, an old magic. They hacked their way through many soldiers. All over the world they tried their best, defending the planet, keeping Gaia safe. Nibelheim was burning, fires raging, people still fighting to the very end of their life. Mideel raged with soldiers knocking down the Shadows, only for more to generate through the lifestream.

 

Deep in Edge the more soldiers were deployed as the battle got heavier, soldiers were being knocked down and injured easily. Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie and Cid fighting at the town square, knocking back soldiers upon soldiers, fighting like they had done once, so long ago. Rufus, Reno and Rude fought amongst them, soldiers of the WRO surrounding them, many knocked down in their own blood. Reno had one Shadow soldier by the neck, while whacking another with his rod. Rude smashed one in the face, felling him. The battle raged on, more soldiers swooping around the Shadows, hitting them down, and taking them by surprise.

 

Cloud parried an attack of two soldiers, swiping them down with his sword, and finishing them off on the ground.

`This…' he panted, `…will never end!' Tifa punched down another soldier, nodding to him. Cid threw his javelin, it sunk throw a charging soldier.

`Enough chit chat,' he pulled out his weapon from the dead soldier, `we focus on fighting.' Cloud smiled, holding his sword in a ready position. They clashed weapons again, fighting off many soldiers. The battle continued on, more and more WRO soldiers losing their lives faster than they arrived. Eventually, it became obvious that the battle was lost. Cloud, Tifa, Cid and Yuffie pushed back, running up an alley. Up ahead they could see Rufus, Reno and Rude, falling back, away from the losing battle. A barrage of soldiers charged for them, causing them to make their quick escape, pushing to into the alley aswell.

`This…battle…is…lost!' Rufus panted. `We…must…escape!' Reno and Rude were bent over, catching their breath. Cid walked forward.

`We could get to the Sierra, it's on the far side of the city, and between us and it there are most likely thousands, if not millions, of those creatures.' Rufus lowered his head in thought. The WRO that remained fought on for the cause, giving their lives. Many were raw recruits, sliced down so easily in battle. Rufus brought his head up, looking at them all.

`We will have to run for it!' Cid laughed, nodding. `Our best chance is to run…'

`Uhh…boss!' Reno was tapping Rufus on the shoulder.

`Not now Reno, we are planning our escape from the city. Now, our best time to escape will be…'

`NOW!' Reno yelled, staring down the alley as Shadow soldiers charged to it. Rufus stared, his eyes flashing wide.

`I agree, let's…run!' Rude grabbed the wheelchair, bolting out the alleyway with it as a stampede of soldiers followed. As they exited the alleyway, they ran though many battling soldiers. Cloud slashing any that made for them, knocking them back if only for a few seconds. They ran through the streets, the Shadow soldiers roaring, chasing behind them. The crowd caused the very ground to shake, splitting. As they rend a corner the ground burst, lifestream pouring out. The Sierra was up ahead. The ground started to shake more vigorously. The group fell as the shaking became too much to move on. Buildings around them collapsed, the Shadow soldiers stood, waiting. Marlene came running out a collapsing house, falling near the foot of the soldiers and screamed. She turned to see Cloud and Tifa, and walked over as the shaking decreased. It stopped, settled.

`That was a close one!' Cid said, standing up and turning around. Suddenly a burst of energy tore through the ground around the Sierra, crumbling and falling. The airship quavered on the edge and stood steady. `Noooooo….my beauty!' It slowly slid off the edge and toppled into the planets core. The group stared around as the enemy came in on them, sneering, drawing their weapons. They drew in closer, the group drew their weapons, but the quickest of the enemy knocked them out their hands, hitting them down. Cloud stared up into the eyes of one of the soldiers, the man had no soul. He was empty. Suddenly statues that stood so peacefully for years around Edge started to shake, crack. The soldiers all turned, backing off. They smashed open, white light pouring out. Soldiers fell around them. When the light drew back the soldiers surrounding the group had been killed. Standing up they faced soldiers of light. They were the Ancient Soldiers, the soldiers of the Planet. They turned away from them and faced a group of Shadow soldiers, bigger than was first here. Cid walked forward.

`Is that the whole Shadow Army?' Cloud thought, slowly nodding. A soldier of the Ancients came up behind them.

`Will you fight with is?' He asked to Cloud. Cloud stared around the group, and nodded. `The Lady said you would.' He walked off back to the front of the soldiers, being the captain. Cloud and the team faced the massive army. Silence fell over both armies, then the Shadow army charged after a call from their captain. The Ancient captain raised his hand, dropping it. `Charge!!!!' Cloud and his team ran in screaming.

 

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Denzel fell to the ground again, sweating and exhausted. The Leader walked over to him.

`Give up!' he boomed, his sword pointed to Denzel's face. Denzel shook his head, jumping up, hitting the sword away. He backed off from the diving slash, and hit the edge, wobbling but catching his balance. The Leader laughed. `Now, it ends!' He thrusted the sword forward, Denzel fell back and held onto the Tower's edge. The sword darted over the side, missing Denzel. He looked down at him. `My, my, my aren't you a lucky one. Now I shall end this!' He brought his sword, the air curling around it. Denzel closed his eyes, ready for impact. But before any impact came, a clash of colliding metal arrived. He opened his eyes to see a long silver sword blocking the attack from the Leader. Denzel stared up into the eyes of long silver haired man, dressed in black.