Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Dreams ❯ Mabuz's Return ( Chapter 62 )

Warning: Blood, Gore, and Graphic Violence

The M rating isn't just for sex!

 

Chapter 62: Mabuz's Return

 

It was nearly silent in the helicopter, except for the sound of the whirring blades above them. Elena piloted without error, deftly checking measurements and watching their course with a keen eye. The three didn't really speak to each other, fraught with worry for the fate of their companions and burdened with concern over their own providence. They had no clue what to expect in Icicle. The report had only been a brief but frantic call for help.

 

Reeve was the first to notice anything wrong, sucking in a breath of horror as his eyes took in the thick, grey smoke rising from the direction of the village, ash already staining the pristine snow. Flares of orange flame and red fire arced above smoldering rooftops, evidence that the battle still raged. And even from the distance and within the cockpit of the helicopter, they could hear the frightened screams.

 

“Elena, land us!” ordered Reeve, his heart thudding in his chest.

 

The Turk gritted her teeth, suddenly gripping onto the throttle in front of her. “The wind here is incredible. I don't know if I can get closer.” As if to accentuate her words, the copter jerked to the side, nearly throwing them all to the floor. It shuddered and groaned; yet, somehow, Elena managed to keep it on course.

 

“We have to get down there,” Yuffie insisted, itching to fight and destroy the shapes she could see flitting around the area. Her fingers curled around her weapon, eyes locked on the battle.

 

Reeve frowned. “There's no time. Seiryu?”

 

The air sparkled and pulsed before the demi-deity swirled into existence, appearing behind the executive with a twinkle. “I am here, Reeve.”

 

“Who is attacking?” questioned Elena, glancing once over her shoulder. “Can you tell?”

 

(My daughter…) Raijin spoke within her mind, the sorrow in his voice plainly evident to the Turk. (I never thought I'd see the day when I would be forced to fight my only child. Truly, madness has descended on Gaia.) The slight crackle of electricity trickled across her mind, proving that her anima was restless and troubled.

 

The blonde cocked her head to the side. `Your daughter?' she repeated.

 

But it was Seiryu who unknowingly responded to her question. “Mabuz, for certain, I recognize that aura. The twins, Typhoon and Pandemona, as well as King Arthur. There is one other, but I cannot recognize which knight; their magics are nearly indistinguishable one from the other, save for their king,” the wisest of the demi-gods explained. He frowned slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. “And a horde of monsters to complicate things.”

 

A vicious gust of wind rose up, battering angrily at the side of the helicopter and causing it to jerk to the right, Elena fighting to regain control. She cursed and shook her head, banking away and pulling back from her approach of the town.

 

“It's no use,” she stated, voice crackling through the headset she wore. “I'll have to land her here.”

 

“We're too far away,” Reeve protested.

 

The blonde shook her head. “There's nothing I can do about that!” she snapped. “I can't risk crashing and killing us all.”

 

The executive narrowed his eyes in thought for a second before running to the sliding door, throwing it open immediately and wincing at the great rush of air that assailed him when he did so. He stared down at the rapidly passing scenery, resisting the urge to gulp at their sheer height. Amber eyes flickered to Seiryu, ignoring Elena's `What the hell are you doing?' shriek.

 

“Are you going to fight with me?” the executive questioned, gesturing towards the battle.

 

The demi-deity nodded, stepping up beside Reeve. “I'm going to fight as part of you,” he amended.

 

Something passed between the animum pair, and before anyone could say anything further, they leapt outside, falling directly down towards the grey smoke. Yuffie immediately ran to the door, biting back the rise of nausea that threatened to explode as she watched their descent with wide eyes.

 

At first she saw their bodies, clear as day, then suddenly there was a great flash of light, nearly blinding as it sparkled and effloresced. She was forced to shield her eyes as another great gust of wind tore at the helicopter. When Yuffie opened them again, she gasped in shock, completely surprised at what her eyes revealed to her.

 

Where once there was two now flew one, a completely new being unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was as if Reeve and Seiryu had merged, and now, the President sported a pair of silver wings, glittering in the low autumn sun. Even from the distance, she could see the shine of his eyes, one amber and one emerald. Long silver strands of hair interspersed with his shorter and darker strands. He was strong and powerful… and ultimately beautiful. She wondered if she would merge with Barinthus as well.

 

Below her, Reeve was nearly giddy with the force of his strength, the power exerted by his wings as he flew through the air. He could feel Seiryu's presence at the back of his mind, and he literally surged with magical energy. He never would have thought that the true meaning of bonding with one's anima was an actual physical joining. It made sense, but he probably wouldn't have believed it before.

 

Seiryu spoke to him then, the demi-deity sounding particularly amused. (You are surprised,) he commented. (Do not be. Now… keep sharp; enemies lie ahead!)

 

The executive nodded but was unprepared for what came next. A body barreled into him from the side, throwing him off balance, and he careened wildly, struggling to control his new wings and salvage his flight. They plummeted downwards, and Reeve vaguely registered that it was human-like hands about his body before he quickly summoned up an Ice, throwing it blindly at his attacker.

 

There was a crash and a tinkle as Ice raced along its body, and with a startled yelp, his assailant let go. Reeve flapped furiously, regaining his own momentum and whirled around, laying eyes on what had attacked him. A somewhat human male, wearing a bright blue cape and carrying a gleaming sword. There was a strange but sorrowful gleam raging in his eyes.

 

(Galahad,) Seiryu growled in his mind. (One of the knights. I never thought that they would turn on us. They were always about justice and honor.)

 

Galahad howled as he shook at his arm, struggling to throw off the spell. Reeve pressed forward, determined to take out this enemy before moving on to the others Reeve could see just below them. The air was thick with the smell of blood and ash, and the executive could hear with startling accuracy, the screams and cries of the dying. It filled his heart with rage.

 

He flicked his wrist, calling a dagger to his hand even he summoned Flare to his other, surprised at how little of his own energy it drew. He vaguely wondered why he had kept control of his body and not the smarter Seiryu. Or perhaps it was Seiryu quietly whispering to him the best magic to use in the battle. Reeve couldn't really say, and it wasn't the time to ponder on it.

 

Galahad growled low in his throat, a rather inhumane sound as he launched himself at Reeve in mid-air, despite having no wings or either means to fly. The two came together with a resounding clang, sword meeting dagger as Reeve thrust his hand forward, pushing the Flare into the demi-deity's belly. The knight howled and twisted, scraping his blade along Reeve's dagger and managing to skim it across the back of the executive's hand.

 

Blood dropped to the ground below as the smell of burnt flesh permeated the winds around them. Galahad's free hand darted forward, grappling with Reeve's casting arm and trying to force it away from as the magic melted his flesh. The president's wings beat furiously, struggling to keep both bodies afloat.

 

(Reeve! Behind you!)

 

Slam!

 

Before Reeve could even register what was going on, another body crashed into him from behind, rendering his wings nearly useless and cracking some of the bones in the delicate appendages. He snarled in pain as stars danced in front of his eyes, and the three plummeted downwards. The executive gasped as he struggled to draw a breath from the bone-crushing arms that were wrapped around him, attempting to summon up enough thought to cast again.

 

He curled back his dagger and struck out at Galahad, managing to slice the deity across the face, and crimson blood splashed down on him. Reeve thrashed in his assailant's grip, lashing out with a leg to get himself free as his stomach leapt into his chest due to what was basically a free fall to the ground below.

 

Reeve grappled with them, eyes widening in surprise when one of his arms displayed an unnatural strength. Claws emerged from fingernails, slicing down the front of Galahad's chest. Ghostly blue eyes bugged out in shock as the deity gasped, spluttering out blood. A hand wrapped around Reeve's throat, threatening to choke him from behind.

 

And still they fell.

 

He gasped and fought, knowing nothing else to do but cast. Bolts of electricity rippled through the knight at the same moment that he threw an Aero at the body behind him, nearly managing to free himself. It was creepy, these humanoid deities, who were unable to do anything but grunt and groan like animals as they absorbed everything he threw at them. Reeve shook his head to clear his thoughts before casting another quick Ice at the creature behind him.

 

It was amazing, no matter how many high end spells he threw, he felt no more fatigued than before. It must have been because of his melding with Seiryu.

 

There was a snap and a snarl, and suddenly, for a moment, he was free. He spread his wings, wincing when one protested the movement before obeying. The wind slapped into the webbing and immediately slowed his descent, managing to cushion his subsequent crash into the still snow-covered dirt. He struck hard, breath stolen from his body, and agony shot through him at the same moment he heard a definite snap. One of the delicate bones of his wing… it had to be.

 

(Don't worry. I'll heal it,) Seiryu soothed in his mind as Reeve's head whirled.

 

He grunted as he tried to sit up, blinking away the bleariness in his eyes as he struggled to his feet. He caught sight of Galahad, thrown away from him in the crash, but as for his other assailant, he saw nothing. They had landed in the center of Icicle, the town burning around them. The screams of the dead and dying were even louder now that he was on the ground, and he choked on the thick ash filling the air as warmth began to spread through his back, the teasing tingle of a healing spell in the works. Yet, another perk of being bonded.

 

In front of him, Galahad struggled to his own feet, shaking his head as he lifted his fallen sword from the ground. Reeve wasted no time in attacking, knowing that his opponent wouldn't either. He ignored the sounds of further battle around him; there was little he could do until Galahad and the other were both defeated. The sounds of crashing lightning and vicious winds faded as he concentrated solely on this one battle, determined to live and fight another day.

 

He darted towards the knight, a spell on his lips and a dagger at the ready when another body skidded in front of him, green eyes blazing and black hair flitting in the wind.

 

(Arthur,) Seiryu informed, his voice solemn and grave. (The Lord King of the Knights of the Round. He is smarter and more powerful than all the others. Be wary.)

 

Reeve barely acknowledged the warning before he shifted his attention, preparing another spell to attack both deities at once. He didn't know how he could call spells that he didn't have the materia for, nor did he question how he knew the weaknesses of his two enemies. Another burst of Ice flew from his fingertips, striking Arthur directly as Reeve quickly parried the spear thrust from Galahad with his dagger, the screech of metal along metal grating to his ears.

 

He pushed forward, summoning up the energy to cast again and again since physical attacks weren't his forte and magic was. He dimly registered Yuffie and Elena appearing on the battlefield, their anima at their sides. It was more a feeling, a pulse in his senses, than anything else, and he paid them no mind, concentrating intently on the battle before him. Demi deities were nothing like monsters, their eyes…

 

Reeve gasped as he dodged a jab from a sword that Arthur had aimed at him, quickly backpedaling with the sudden realization. The knights, their eyes were dead and lifeless. They didn't shine with wisdom of the ages or their own special element and power. They were empty, hollow, and somehow, Reeve knew that something was very wrong with them.

 

But he had no time to contemplate as both rushed him again, sharpened metal of their weapons gleaming in the dim sunlight, already caked with soot and blood. He tossed out a Flare and a Bolt in succession, but they shook off the attacks as if they were mere insect bites. Reeve ducked and dodged, rolled and nimbly avoided, reacting on pure instinct… something he had not realized he had before.

 

“Reeve!” Elena shouted, her keen Turk eyes catching sight of the President, somehow managing to hold his own against the onslaught of the two male demi-deities. She skidded to a halt, Yuffie panting beside her as they took in the carnage and destruction of Icicle. Just like all the other cities and towns, they would have to rebuild, if they even managed to survive.

 

The blonde darted forward, intent on helping her companion when a hand grabbed her arm, stalling her movement. She whirled around.

 

“What? We have to…” Her words died on her lips as Yuffie set her mouth in a grim line, eyes locked on the three that had landed behind them. She recognized them easily enough: Typhoon, Pandemona, and one other. This female with golden yellow hair and brown eyes, not unlike her own, Elena did not know.

 

“Fujin!” Raijin cried from the Turk's side. “Why have you betrayed me? Us? Your blood?” he demanded, body literally trembling with anger and sadness. His hand clenched tightly on his staff, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

 

The demi-goddess laughed, mocking and loud as she fingered the curved rapier sword in her hand. “Father,” she hissed, her voice sounding anything but repentant. “You spent so much time stuffing my head with your own delusions that you failed to see that I had already stopped believing them. This is the future. Accept it. The humans are going to die.”

 

Elena narrowed her eyes, disliking the tone the female had taken with her anima, kin or not. She stepped forward, a sharp retort on her tongue, but Raijin held out a hand.

 

“No,” he intoned without looking at her. “I will handle her. She is my responsibility.”

 

“Responsibility,” Fujin repeated, her tone on the edge of a sneer. “That is all we have, isn't it? Chains and fate… no freedom!”

 

The Turk thought to argue. They were supposed to be a team, to fight together. She could feel his grief over his daughter reverberating through her, as if they shared the same emotions, and she knew she wanted to help him. Even if she was just a human, she could be of some aid. Raijin was a part of her; she couldn't just abandon him to the battle alone.

 

Elena could feel the immense rise of power in the air around her, literally crackling with it, and her eyes widened in surprise when Raijin began to glow, the wind whipping about his face and sending his wizened, white locks flitting about him in a flurry. He was grim, determined, as he stared down his errant daughter, completely ignoring all others on the battlefield.

”It seems I was too lax in my discipline, or perhaps my love was never expressed quite enough,” the Lightning God boomed, narrowing his sights on his only child. “Nevertheless, your mistakes weigh heavily on my conscience, and I will put an end to this foolishness.”

 

Fujin smirked, dropping quickly into her own battle stance as a reddish glow began to rise up around her, freely lashing her own power through the air. It was obvious she was less dominant than her father, but she stared back unflinchingly, fighting heartedly for a cause in which she had devoted her life and allegiance. They moved fast, almost quicker than Elena could register, attacking each other with the speed of light itself. But she had no time to watch the awe-inspiring spectacle since the other two chose to attack then.

 

Twin swirls of whipping wind ripped across the ground, heading directly for Elena and Yuffie. They screamed and screeched their anger as the twins, Typhoon and Pandemona, laughed; the madness and chaos of Balaam had infected them as well. The two humans scrambled out of the way, but they were saved when Barinthus thrust himself in front of them. His arms were to the side as a great column of water appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the wind.

 

The two mighty forces collided, pushing at one another, both elements refusing to give ground. Water flung from side to side, mini tornados whipped out of the main horde and crashed into already burning buildings. The sky crackled and raged as Barinthus stared down his opponents with determination.

 

On the edge of her sight, Elena caught the creeping approach of demons and lesser monsters, eager for a taste of fresh blood. Perhaps their hunt in the town had ended; perhaps there was no one left to defend. A sick feeling of dread settled in the Turk's belly, but she drew her most powerful hand guns, nevertheless, one for each hand. She started firing, not flinching as blood sprayed into the air, bones cracking under the pressure of each materia enhanced bullet.

 

Yuffie was a comfortable presence at her back, the ninja standing firm in the face of destruction, even though it had to be a painful reminder of both Cosmo Canyon and her birthplace. But they were all used to it. The battle, the blood, the death… every one of their group was a battle-hardened warrior. Sure, the first time was hard, the first time they took a life. After that, when it became clear it was “us or them”, they learned to numb themselves to it. And now, they were methodical and precise dealers of death, even the youngest of them.

 

More of the lesser creatures crept from the shadows, displaying bloodstained fangs and claws, soot-blackened hides. Yuffie's Conformer flew through the air, whipping through their ranks followed by fierce casts of the Earth materia she now wore around her neck. For a moment, it almost felt as if Nanaki was fighting along side her. Elena emptied her rounds into the creatures, reloading on instinct, gritting her teeth against the melancholy that threatened to overwhelm her.

One thought prevailed in her mind. Why Icicle?

 

It was relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Nothing more than a tourist town. It presented no threat, not like Cosmo Canyon or Junon or Wutai. It was a small village. Why?

 

There was a crackle of some fierce energy behind her, and she dared a look, finding that the blue knight had cast, sending balls of fiery stone raining down on Reeve. His wings flapped backwards, trying to pull him out of range as a shield suddenly sprang up around him, shattering the stones and driving him against the dirt with the force of their strike. Deep furrows gouged into the earth, and Reeve gritted his teeth.

 

He was panting, gasping for breath, unused to such long and drawn out fights of great magical magnitude. The meteors of Galahad's Meteor Storm beat against his shield, but he kept his eyes locked on Arthur, knowing that the Knight King was up to something. He was proving to be the far more difficult opponent of the two, craftier, and he had even managed to slip in under Reeve's guard. His left arm sleeve was ripped and torn, hanging by sheer threads and a long gash glistened wet and bloody in the dying light.

 

Seiryu hadn't the time to heal it yet.

 

The last of the fiery rocks faded, and Reeve sprang into action. He didn't wait for Arthur to make his move, preferring to meet his fate head on. His left hand burned bright green and deadly with the beginnings of an Ultima magic, while he held his dagger at the ready. Earlier, an Ultima had done nothing against Arthur, but on an unprepared Galahad, obviously the weaker of the two, perhaps he would have a chance.

 

Emerald green fire enveloped the blue-clad Galahad as the demi-deity screamed, stumbling backwards when Reeve followed it up with a fierce upper slash across Galahad's chest. Blood sprayed into the air, but Reeve ignored it, concentrating as he used his wing to turn and block Arthur's attack just in time. Dagger and spearhead met with a resounding clang that reverberated up the deity-human duo's arm.

 

Reeve snarled, eyes flashing with emerald fury, a carry-through from Seiryu inside of him as he quickly called up another cast, attempting something to break through Arthur's magical barriers. Intuition took over, and as he battled against the greater physical strength of the deity, Lightning and Tornado struck in quick succession so quickly that he had barely finished the motions for one before the second struck.

 

Arthur's eyes widened with pain as he stumbled backwards, but not before he thrust his spear out and down, slicing through Reeve's upper thigh, sending rivulets of blood pouring down the President's leg. Reeve gritted his teeth against the pain, pressing forward to take advantage of the small window of opportunity. He scarcely noticed Galahad dissolving into dust behind him, eyes locked on his opponent. Arthur smirked then, dead eyes empty and lacking in all emotion.

 

The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, accompanied by the sound of crashing thunder and rushing wind. A storm roared above them, Reeve dimly registering the others fighting all around him. He only concentrated on the battle of now. Darting forward, pushing past the pain of his own injuries and the weakness of his leg, Reeve cast a cloud of poison gas, obscuring Arthur's vision.

 

As the other demi-deity spluttered, waving a hand to try and clear away the mist, Reeve took the opportunity to attack, slicing valiantly at Arthur with a dagger brought to hand by a twist of his wrist. At the last possible moment, the other male dodged, and Reeve's dagger slashed across Arthur's forehead, dislodging some nearly invisible object and sending it flying through the air in a spray of blood.

 

A spear fell from nerveless fingers as Arthur stood stock still, staring with almost awe as Reeve pulled back from the attack, fully prepared to strike the killing blow. But that was only until Seiryu screamed in his head, ordering him to stop. The President drew to a halt, stopping mid-thrust and pulling back in confusion as Arthur continued to stare, comprehension returning to his once dead eyes. His wings folded against his back as Arthur blinked, drawing in a shuddering breath.

 

“I…” One blood-stained hand came up to his forehead as Arthur looked around him, clearly perplexed. “Where?”

 

Reeve furrowed his brow. “You don't know?” he questioned.

 

(He doesn't,) Seiryu affirmed. (The confusion is honest. Something has happened to him.)

 

The other deity shook his head. “I… Something has happened. We would have never turned our backs on our duties.” Arthur slashed his hand through the air in a firm negative. “Never. We are faithful! They must have found some way to control us.” He bit his lip, gaze sliding towards where Galahad had disintegrated. “My knights…” Arthur coughed, blood dribbling from his lips as he slumped.

 

(The control chips!) Seiryu hissed, filled with a righteous fury. (There is no other viable explanation. That is how they are doing it.)

 

Suddenly, stars exploded in Reeve's eyes as pain seared through his chest. Blinding agony raced through his body moments before he lost all consciousness, dimly registering that Seiryu was being forcefully ripped from his body. The great dragon deity stumbled as he was torn from Reeve, gazing down with surprise at the spear that had been thrust through the human's chest with enough force to take out Arthur at the other end.

 

Behind him, the President slumped, blood pouring from the gaping hole in his chest, only to be caught up by the arms of his assailant, barely alive. Mind spinning from the sudden separation from his animus, Seiryu coughed. Robes swishing across the blood-soaked ground, he turned to find Mabuz grinning murderously at him, Reeve's limp body in his hand and chin held between two clawed fingers.

 

“Father, I should have known to meet you here… on the field of battle,” rasped Mabuz, scraping a claw down the side of his captive's face, drawing a thin line of oozing blood. Reeve didn't even stir.

 

Seiryu's eyes narrowed with fury as his hands clenched at his side, unconsciously noting the dispersal of Arthur behind him. “Why are you doing this?” he demanded harshly, wincing when his shoulder ached, a transferal of pain from Mabuz' attack on his animus.

 

“For freedom!” declared Mabuz, his voice barely louder than a hiss. “Or haven't you learned yet? These mortals get what they want, take what they want, and ruin what they have.” He glared down at the President in his hold, eyes tainted with malice. “Selfish creatures. They are not worthy of life or freedom. And yet, they are favored. So we… it is time we got what we deserved.”

 

With a sparkle, Seiryu called his weapon, a platinum staff adorned with a jade sphere. “You are my son, so it is up to me to show you the error of your ways,” he replied, sadness settled deep into his face. It pained his heart to know that his words would be unable to pierce his child's delirium. Somehow, he had to rescue his animus and defeat Mabuz before even more destruction and death occurred.

 

- - -

 

Yuffie panted but pressed forward nevertheless, dodging a wind scythe attack from Pandemona in the same moment that she dove forward, throwing her shuriken towards Typhoon. He quickly deflected it with a well-timed tornado but fell under a cresting wave of swirling water when Barinthus barreled onto the scene. Pulling back, anima and animus stood together, back to each other as they faced their opponents.

 

“Any brilliant ideas?” Yuffie questioned, wincing when a particularly vicious steam of lightning struck the shield that Barinthus had hurriedly erected around them. “Can't we bond like Seiryu and Reeve did? Or something equally cool?”

 

Barinthus shook his head, his face solemn. “Only the eldest among us have that particular talent. It will be several hundred years more before I am capable.”

 

Yuffie sighed, hefting up her shuriken as the shield around them fluctuated. “Looks like its time for a good old-fashioned ass-whooping then,” she commented. Though she was tired, her face held nothing but excitement. It was the thrill of battle that she had been looking forward to, hating the fact that she had been left behind.

 

“It appears to be so,” Barinthus responded. Moments later the two exchanged glances, each diving to opposite sides as a tornado ripped between them, narrowly missing when the shield shattered into oblivion.

 

Yuffie rolled on a shoulder, quickly bouncing into an upright position as she tossed her shuriken. The weapon glided through the air in a wide arc, slicing through Typhoon's red, bulbous shoulder. She wasted no time in gloating as she rolled away from an impeding attack, catching her shuriken in one fell swoop and quickly tossing out a Fire 3 to a minor demon monster that wandered too close. It crumpled into a burning, screeching pile of dust.

Behind her, Barinthus sent a spray of water bullets flying at Pandemona, which were promptly knocked aside by a stream of wind encircling the female demi-deity. He wasted no time in darting forward, quickly calling forth his battle staff and letting out a fierce and thunderous battle cry. Rod met sharpened claws as Pandemona snarled, a clamoring clang resounding around them.

 

He spun quickly on his heels, stomping one foot on the ground to force a water geyser up from directly beneath the demi-goddess. She screeched in fury, violet eyes blazing as she danced back from the great spout. He pressed forward, taking the advantage and giving her a sound rap across the head with his staff. She swooned but maintained her ground, slashing out with one hand and catching him across the belly before he could guard against her.

 

Barinthus stumbled as a fiery pain spread across his stomach, blood dripping down his front. He knew it would heal within time, but the agony was still present, making his head spin. He quickly regained his lost balance, blocking a slashing claw with his staff, strength of a deity against strength of a deity.

 

To his right, Yuffie grappled with Typhoon, nimbly dodging around him and inflicting small cuts and scrapes. Still, she not able to get close enough to injure him with something more deadly. The human quickly executed a backwards cart-wheel, narrowly missing the swipe of a wickedly-curved scythe as Typhoon advanced upon her, grinning like a demi-deity truly gone mad.

 

She quickly cast a Fire 3 at him, cursing very unladylike as he merely brushed the flame aside with the twirl of his fingers. Another demon appeared out of the cloaking black smoke, still thick and billowing from the burning homes. The girl dodged its breath of black acid with a tuck and roll, coming up on her heels and tossing a shuriken before rolling out of the way of a vicious swipe of Typhoon's scythe.

 

He laughed manically as she pushed herself to the balls of her feet, pulling a small dagger from a hidden sheath on her thigh and slicing at him mercilessly. A thin, garish gash spread across his left thigh, spurting blood almost immediately. The laughter quickly changed to a growl of anger as Typhoon's eyes flashed and he back-handed her, using all of his inhuman strength.

 

Yuffie cried out in pain as her head snapped back, and she went sprawling to the ground, blood pouring from her sliced lip. She curled up in agony as her brain literally bounced around in her head. She couldn't even breathe, air knocked from her body as moans escaped from her mouth.

 

Nearby, ocean blue eyes widened in surprised as Barinthus whipped around, locking it on his fallen anima, sensing her pain. “Yuffie!” he exclaimed, turning immediately to help her. Yet, that was his mistake. In the very same moment, Pandemona tackled them, sending both deities crashing to the sodden ground.

 

Arms immediately pressed down on his, pinning him to the ground. He growled angrily, twisting to break free when another weight piled on top of them. He recognized the bright red blob immediately. No doubt, it was Pandemona's twin brother, Typhoon. He smacked a fist against the ground, summoning up another water spout, but then, claws raked across his chest, ripping through his cheek and leaving brash strips of blood behind as the weight across his ribs increased, cutting off his air.

 

“Heh heh,” Typhoon laughed, spittle flecking across Barinthus' face. “I heard about what happens when an animum bond is broken.”

 

Pandemona rasped, “Care to test it?”

 

“No!” Barinthus growled, straining to break free, but the Wind Twins only laughed all the harder, holding him down with their weight as he kicked and flailed uselessly. He tried to summon enough concentration to change forms, but his lack of air made it difficult.

 

Seconds later, they raised their arms in tandem, pointing it directly at Yuffie who was struggling to rise to her feet. The ninja had only a moment to raise her head and catch sight before two swirling masses of wind struck her full on, but there was nothing to protect her from the force of the blow. She went flying backwards, crashing into the remains of a burning shed and sending it crumpled around her.

 

She didn't even have time to cry out.

 

“Arrrgh!” Barinthus snarled, releasing a flare of power so large that the area around them briefly shook. Pandemona and Typhoon went flying from his body, landing on their hands and knees several feet away, twin gazes narrowing in anger. He paid them no mind as ocean eyes flared with fury, sweeping the ground in search of his fallen staff.

 

At the back of his mind, worry swirled for his animus. He could hear the steady thrum of her heart beating in his senses, so he knew that she lived. Yet, until their foes were defeated, he couldn't spare the moment to check. A brief glance to his right ,and Barinthus' concerns were alleviated if only for a second. He concentrated on the twins, one hand held at his side as he called up one of his more powerful attacks, the obliterating Tidal Wave.

 

Elsewhere, Elena stared around her in horror as more beasts crept out of the ash and fog. She cocked her shotgun again, sighting up the crimson-tinged eyes of a porcine monster and shooting with perfect aim. She swung the gun around again, firing with faultless accuracy as always. She swept her eyes to the right, jaw falling as her heart leapt into her chest, her fingers loosening around the trigger as the shotgun sagged in her grip.

 

Reeve dangled limply in Mabuz' hold, Seiryu at a standstill nearby. Blood dripped steadily down the President's chest, and his head lolled limply around on his neck. If she hadn't spotted the faint rise and fall of his chest, she might have thought him dead already. The two deities seemed to be speaking, but over the roar of battle and flame, she could not make out the words.

 

A growl issued from behind her, and she turned and shot without another thought before sweeping her gaze around, trying to catch sight of some ally. As a result, her eyes caught the vicious slap across Yuffie's face… as well as the follow up attack that sent the ninja sprawling into the nearest shed. Without a thought, she took off running, throwing out an idle Bolt 3 at the nearest monster that dared think her an easy meal. She scarcely noticed as Barinthus roared angrily, taking on the Wind Twins by himself.

Then, pain raced across her back, fiery and hot. She arched with agony, teeth gritted and clenched against the flaming hurt as she turned to catch sight of the perpetrator. It was already rearing back for another strike, and Elena narrowed her intent eyes as she quickly reversed the shotgun in her grip, slamming the butt-end directly under the creature's chin. Its head snapped backwards before she gave it another sound strike, sending it crashing to the ground and snapping its skull on a rock.

 

Elena ignored the blood dripping down her back and into her pants as she sprinted the remaining distance to the shed. She vaulted over the outside shell, all that remained of the shack, landing neatly on the debris. Without a second thought, she began to dig just as a low groan of pain caught her attention. A board shifted and then went flying upwards, revealing a flattened, scratched, and bleeding but still very much alive Yuffie.

 

“Are you ok-- Urgh!” Damn those monsters and their lack of honor. She stared down with slight horror at the spear that protruded an inch through her shoulder. It hurt like a bitch, making stars appear in her eyes. The monster gave another great yank, tearing it out and sending sharp stabs of pain through her as blood trickled in a warm path across her skin.

 

Fighting against the pain, Elena turned and cast a Bolt 3, unable to help a smirk of satisfaction as it hissed and sizzled in front of her eyes, caterwauling like a frightened cat in agony. Without sparing it another glance, she turned back towards Yuffie, breathing labored. The ninja groaned as eyelids fluttered weakly.

 

“E… Elena,” Yuffie muttered weakly, lifting a blood-streaked hand to her forehead.

 

The blond breathed a sigh of relief. “You're alive,” she said unnecessarily, surreptitiously glancing around them for anymore monsters. She could not see much in the surrounding gloom and smoke, but for the moment, there didn't appear to be any.

 

The ninja chuckled feebly. “Unfortunately,” she muttered in response, struggling to rise from the debris around her. Unexpectedly, brown eyes widened. “The battle!” she exclaimed, fighting to rise to a sitting position. However, pain wracked her body from unknown broken bones and other bruises, and she promptly fell backwards again, coughing and groaning.

 

“I know,” responded Elena gloomily, wincing as she gingerly prodded at her own wound. “It was a mistake to come here. We're getting our asses kicked.”

 

Abrupt footsteps across the gravel behind them alerted both to the fact they were not alone. Quickly grabbing her gun with her uninjured arm, Elena spun around on her heels, raising the barrel with the intention of taking out whatever approached the moment it became visible. A figure emerged from the smoke and haze, and if she had been any wearier, she might not have recognized the form before pulling the trigger.

 

It was Barinthus.

 

He was beaten, bloody, looking incredibly weary. He walked with an obvious limp, but like them, he was at least alive. Elena had completely lost sight of Reeve and could only hope that Seiryu was protecting him. She did not want to have to tell Reno that she had failed in protecting the person that meant the most to him. A wave of dizziness struck her, and for a moment, she slumped before gritting her teeth and forcing herself to regain control.

 

“Barinthus!” Yuffie rasped, weakly trying to rise once more, gently being aided by Elena, who offered a shoulder to the injured ninja. “Are you okay?”

 

The anima frowned, eyebrows pinched together as he raised his gaze to the area around them. He tried to peer through the hazy smoke as screams still echoed in the distance.

 

“I think you should be more concerned about yourself. It takes much to destroy my kind.”

 

As if in direct response to his statement, the sky above them suddenly flashed with a fresh burst of power, a mix of electric blue and crimson red, all swirling and intertwining. Beneath them, the ground quaked with enough force to make Yuffie and Elena to fight to keep their feet. The definite treble of power rose static in the air and caused the hair on the back of their neck's to rise. A fierce wind began to whip through the air, gradually clearing away the smoke and haze. It revealed hollowed shells of homes and two battling demi-deities in the sky, Raijin and Fujin locked in combat.

 

Lightning crashed to the ground around them, and Barinthus quickly sprung into action, darting to their side and erecting a quick barrier. Seconds later, a particularly large bolt struck it, energy crackling all around and making their hair stand on end. Another blast hit a semi-standing building to their right, sending into an explosive burst of flame.

 

“Oh no,” Barinthus commented, blue eyes darkening. “That… it's impossible. He knows better. He--" His words suddenly halted as he took an obvious step backwards in surprise, gaze locked on the heavens above where the humans were already staring, blood dripping down in a macabre rain. “We… we have to leave.”

 

Elena shook her head, breath coming in sharp pants. “Not without Reeve,” she denied, wincing when another burst of power and lightning struck the shield. A loud boom echoed around them.

 

“He is here,” came a low voice, announcing itself out of the shadows and darkness. The three forms turned towards the voice, peering out of their shield to find Seiryu staggering towards them, bleeding from several places but carrying an unconscious Reeve on his back.

 

Laughter resounded through the air from behind Seiryu, and Elena's attention was drawn to the sight of Mabuz flapping his bat-like wings as he rose into the sky, demonic face filled with glee as he headed towards the still occurring battle between Raijin and Fujin.

 

“But Raijin--“ Elena protested weakly, her heart sinking at the sight of the President. He looked dead, his face incredibly pale and sickly, while his body flopped around weakly, blood sluggishly dripping from the wound in his chest. She swallowed thickly, clutching more firmly onto her own injury as Yuffie sucked in a breath of worry.

 

Barinthus' eyes rose to the battle in the sky, solemn and sorrowful. “He has made his choice,” the sea-deity intoned softly, though they could not mistake the tremble in his voice. “If a deity is killed by another, the massive release of power will destroy everything around here. We must leave.”

 

Yuffie gasped. “Killed?” she questioned. “Raijin is going to be killed?”

 

Brown eyes widened as fear struck Elena's heart. “He can't!” she exclaimed. “We are supposed to fight together!” Though she had only known of Raijin's existence for a short time, she could not deny that she felt as if he were a part of her. Like he had always been there, but she had been too blind to see it. The thought of losing him was like losing a piece of herself.

 

“We don't have time for this!” Seiryu exclaimed, losing his evident composure for the first time. His hands tightened their hold on his animus, concern etched into his features. He could feel and hear the weakening of Reeve's breath and heart. He needed to get his bonded away from here.

 

“This battle is lost to us! We've no choice but to leave!”

 

“Back to Midgar,” Yuffie commented softly. “We never should have left at all.” She shook her head, tears threatening to fall from her suddenly moist eyes. “How did Sephiroth know?”

 

Barinthus shook his head, a thick sheen of sweat building up on his brow from the effort of holding up the barrier as more power boomed through the area. “No, we cannot return to Midgar…”

 

“What!” Elena exclaimed. “What are you talking about?”

 

Lightning crashed, the two remaining buildings near to them going up in flames, and a deadly torrent of tornados sliced through the area. The sky had completely darkened, becoming little more than a black, roiling haze.

 

“No time! We must go! And now!” Barinthus ordered. He wasted no time as Seiryu nodded ,and the human females were left exchanging confused glances. The shield fell as he lost his concentration, but the moment wasn't wasted as he grabbed onto Yuffie, ignoring her injures for the more important tactic of simply getting away.

 

Seiryu quickly darted forward, maintaining one hold on Reeve as he grabbed onto Elena with the other. Barinthus stepped forward, and before another shock of lightning could strike, the entire group disappeared with a shout.

 

“Migro!”

 

In the sky, Raijin avoided a particularly lethal blow that was intended for his head and darted forward, shoving the end of his rod towards Fujin. His eyes filled with sorrow as they met the rage-filled orbs of his daughter.

 

“Forgive me,” he whispered softly as a surge of power rose from him, pouring into his weapon as it dealt the final blow. “I have failed you.”

 

An emotion flickered in Fujin's eyes, though he wasn't sure what to make of it, whether relief or guilt or determination. It hurt him to have to be the one to take down his own flesh and blood. Yet, if someone had to do it, he preferred it be himself. Out of love. With one final glance, he threw up a shield as streaks of light began to emanate beneath Fujin's skin, releasing all of her stored magic and power.

 

She shattered then, a spray of explosion that filled the sky with orange and yellow ripples. Below them, monsters screeched and hollered as their bodies were disintegrated by the surge of power, becoming little more than ashy, black stains on the once snowy ground. Houses turned into piles of debris, crumpling to the ground, and the clouds boomed. When the last rumbles of the ground faded, the sky loosing the incredible glow, all that remained was partially erect rubble.

 

Panting with the strain, breath heaving in his chest, Raijin slowly lowered himself to the ground. His hand clutched over a wound in his belly that he had no more strength to heal since it had taken all of his power to form the shield. His legs buckled beneath him, and he crumpled down to one knee, the world spinning around his head.

 

`Elena,' he murmured in his head, trying to contact her softly, hoping that she and the others had enough sense to escape before he had destroyed Fujin.

 

Suddenly, blinding pain struck through his entire body as something sharp pierced him from behind. He looked down to see a huge claw weapon protruding from his chest. He could feel the warmth seeping out of him immediately. His eyes widened as he gingerly pressed a finger to the bloodstained claw at the same moment that the defining feeling of every ounce of his power being drained from him wracked his form.

 

They were killing him. Just like he had taken the life of his own daughter.

 

“I loved her!” hissed a voice in his ear, a warm and heavy weight suddenly pressing against him from behind. “You bastard!”

 

Raijin coughed, blood dribbling from his lips. “You… are wrong. Balaam… is wrong.” His head spun then as he slumped, feeling he was on the verge. Already cracks were appearing in his body, power seeping from him as the ground trembled violently. “This is… not the way.”

 

Behind him, Typhoon's eyes narrowed angrily. “I never cared about freedom. I only cared about her,” he hissed, jerking the claw in Raijin's body and sending another fresh stab of pain through the demi-deity, and more power escaped as the ground boomed. “But that doesn't matter anymore.”

 

With that, Raijin's world went dark as it shattered around him, leaving nothing behind but a blackened pit in the ground.

 

- - -

 

A sharp pop deposited the survivors of the Icicle attack outside of Fort Condor, Yuffie coughing and sputtering with the unexpected sudden transportation, her anima doing the same. Seiryu staggered under the weight of Reeve, his energy severely depleted from the cast. But it was Elena who seemed to react the strongest.

 

She breathed in sharply as she dropped to her knees, one hand clutching onto her chest. “Raijin,” she croaked, tears filling her eyes as an unbelievable wave of sadness overwhelmed her. It felt like a part of her had been rended from her body without her permission.

 

Her breath caught in her throat as a wave of dizziness struck her seconds before it all went black.

 

- - -