Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Dreams ❯ Invulnerable Weakness ( Chapter 70 )

 

Warning: This chapter is very fast-paced. Just a warning. The final battle consists of about twenty different people fighting each other so... be prepared for rapid conflict.

 

Chapter 70: Invulnerable Weakness

 

She had a strange feeling. It wasn't something that she could explain, but it tugged at her heart and left her restless. Thus the reason Elena was pacing back and forth across the floor of Aeris' room, most likely annoying the grieving flower girl but she couldn't help it. She strongly wished she had been able to join the battle and being ordered to stay behind made her feel just this side of useless.

 

With a sigh, Elena turned on her heel and smoothly avoided a desk table, moving to cross the room once more. She was worried, concern tugging at every pore of her senses. A motley collection of former ShinRa and a few faithful demi-deities against Balaam, his cronies, and a nearly limitless power... she had right to be apprehensive. And she wasn't there! Who would watch Tseng's back? And Reno was so unstable. It seemed that they were all set for doom. She didn't want to believe it but she feared it were true.

 

“You're going to wear a hole in my floor if you continue your pacing,” Aeris commented as the door to the bathroom opened and she emerged. The light went off with a click when the flower girl waddled out and shut the door behind her. She managed a weary smile before gently lowering herself down into a chair.

 

A smile tried to tug at the Turk's lips but it failed miserably. “I'm sorry,” she replied, immediately drawing to a halt as she regarded the other weary female. “I can't help but be worried.”

 

Aeris nodded. “I know.” Her eyes fell to the floor and turned contemplative. “I feel it as well. Something is happening.” One hand automatically rubbed across her belly, soothing the troubled motions of her unborn child. “Something they were not prepared for.”

 

“Great,” Elena muttered on the tail end of a sigh. She flopped down into a chair and propped her chin in the palm of one hand. “I wish I could be there.”

 

“I'm sure Sephiroth had his reasons,” Aeris murmured in return.

 

The Turk blew out an annoyed gust of air, wishing she could chase away the lingering feelings of emptiness that ached in her chest. “Yeah, but... this is boring and Tseng can't possibly survive without me to watch his back. He has the tendency to be careless.”

 

A small laugh escaped Aeris before she could stop it. Elena raised her head in surprise, finding amusement breaking its way into the flower girl's expression. “You are beginning to sound a bit like Yuffie,” she teased lightly, regarding the blonde Turk with the beginnings of a twinkle in her jade gaze.

 

Elena rolled her eyes. “I'm not sure if should take that as a compliment or an affront,” she countered with a huff. “Either way, I am glad to see the return of a smile, even if it is only a small one.” As if her words had been a trigger, the smile slowly faded, leaving nothing behind but the same strained and saddened expression as before.

 

“It will take time,” Aeris replied quietly, feeling a sudden urge to return to her vigil at the window. “But someday, I will be able to think of him without tears filling my eyes.” She laboriously rose to her feet and started across the floor.

 

Suddenly, the door to the room slammed open, loud enough to cause both women to jump and Elena to whirl towards the aperture. Garig, one of Neme's subordinates, stood in the doorway with a strange look on his face.

 

“It's Zack!” he announced, sounding slightly out of breath. “He woke up!”

 

Elena gasped, brown eyes widening in shock as she took a step forward. “W--what?” she repeated. “Zack?”

 

The burly man nodded exuberantly. “Just a few minutes ago. He opened his eyes, Miss Elena. The doctor says he appears to be absolutely fine.”

 

Aeris turned towards the Turk. “Go,” she urged, a bit of relief rushing through her. “I'll catch up to you in a minute.”

 

Elena wasted no more time. She threw a `thank you' over her shoulder as she rushed out of the room, letting Garig lead the way. The door remained wide open behind them. Aeris knew Elena and Zack would want a few minutes alone and decided to wait before making her own journey up to see him.

 

With that in mind, the flower girl headed to the window and looked out, though there wasn't much she could see. The thick rain obscured most of her vision and the dark, grey clouds weren't that inspiring either. She couldn't help but wonder how the others were faring.

 

And then Aeris felt it. The evidence of another presence, not her own and not that of her anima either. It was a subtle surge of power, a trickle of unfamiliar energy that surged into the room somewhere behind her. Her skin prickled at the strange sensation and an aura of bloodlust tainted with despair filtered through her senses.

 

(It is Tifa,) Hephaestion whispered in her mind, stirring instantly. (I don't know why... but somehow she has found her way here. She seeks you.)

 

Jade eyes closed in both understanding and recognition. Though Aeris wasn't sure of the exact reason for any of Tifa's choices, she acknowledged that Tifa placed a lot of blame and hatred on her. `Stay out of this battle, my other,' she responded. `If there is even to be one... it is mine to fight.'

 

Hephaestion hummed in acquiescence before settling back down in her mind. He would leave it to her as she requested.

 

“We thought you were dead,” Aeris commented aloud before turning around, one hand protectively on her abdomen. Her gaze instantly sought out the other female, standing half-hidden in the shadows. “I'm glad to see we were wrong.”

 

There was a derisive snort as something flashed in the dim. “Save your pity,” Tifa snapped coldly. “You never cared either way.”

 

“You're wrong,” the flower girl insisted. “I always thought of you as my friend.”

 

Tifa laughed, but it was harsh and mocking, holding little amusement. “Didn't you ever wonder?” she hissed, stepping to the side though staying within the shadowy sections beyond the reach of the floor lamp. “Didn't you ever ask yourself why I would betray Cloud and the others?”

 

The flower girl's eyes softened. “Are you going to tell me?”

 

Her senses prickled again. Tifa was preparing some sort of magic, though she couldn't be sure which kind. Just in case, Aeris quickly weaved a protective barrier around herself, something defensible against magic. Thanks to her bond with Hephaestion, it would be undetectable to any others. Tifa would still believe she was unprotected.

 

The martial artist stepped into the light, one hand raised towards Aeris and revealing that she held a handgun in her fingers. “Would you even care?” she demanded, trembling slightly. Brown eyes narrowed as they glistened with someone unnamed emotion. “Would it even matter if you knew why I wasn't the woman everyone thought I was? Or why I turned to ShinRa of all people, the one organization I should have hated?”

 

A gasp escaped Aeris' mouth at the sight of the weapon. She never expected Tifa to use something like that. The other woman had always relied on her fists before, expressing her hatred for manmade weapons. Yet, Aeris could tell that something had changed in Tifa. Something more than the treachery that had seethed beneath the surface. It was as if she had finally snapped into lunacy.

 

“Yes, that's right,” Tifa continued, not waiting for Aeris to respond to her earlier statement. Her face twisted into a derisive sneer, seeping away all beauty. “You're surprised to see a gun in my hand but you know... you shouldn't be since you never really knew me at all... did you?”

 

Aeris shook her head. “Were we ever really your friends, Tifa?” she questioned, unconsciously strengthening the barrier around her body. Fear for her child spurred her on, as Midori grew a little restless. Cloud... give me strength.

 

“Did you ever even care for Cloud or was that nothing more than an act as well?”

 

For the briefest of seconds, something painful and soft flashed through Tifa's brown eyes. Her resolve to kill wavered, her face losing a bit of its hard edge before it suddenly firmed again and she set her jaw. “No matter what I did, Cloud always loved you more! When you were gone, he wasted no time in chasing after you,” Tifa hissed before pausing, obviously trying to compose herself.

 

The martial artist took an angry step forward, closing the distance between her and Aeris. The gun wavered in her grip. “He was almost possessed with the desire to protect you and when you died, nothing anyone especially not me said would get through to him. It was as if I wasn't even there.”

 

Aeris frowned in confusion; Tifa was making little sense. “I don't understand,” she countered, shifting slightly to the side to keep Tifa in her line of sight. “You were spying on us for ShinRa! How can you turn this around on him? On us?”

 

“I disappeared!” Tifa roared, color flying into her cheeks. Her voice echoed around the room. “They knew it!” she continued, practically spitting the words at the other female. “They knew to blame ShinRa but they did nothing anyways. He left me. Cloud left me to DIE!”

 

She unconsciously recoiled from the vehemence in Tifa's tone. It was filled with so much hatred that it made Aeris feel sick on her stomach. “But you were on their side the entire time,” she protested, shaking her head. Her gaze flickered to her weapon, which was propped up uselessly on the other side of the room... far out of her ability to reach.

 

Hephaestion stirred in her mind, obviously concerned for her health but she again asked him to stay back. There was still a chance... still hope that there was something left of the Tifa Lockhart she had once known. Aeris wanted to believe that it hadn't all been a front.

 

“I would have changed,” Tifa shot back, something bright shining in her cherry-brown eyes. “If he had kept his promise....” Her free hand clenched into a fist as her body began to tremble. “If he had saved me... I almost believed I was in love with him again. I almost turned away from ShinRa.”

 

Aeris curled an arm around her waist, mentally preparing some sort of spell to defend herself. The other woman was getting more and more unstable and she couldn't help but wonder if there was any way to get through to her. “Tifa... I'm...” The martial artist was starting to make little sense and Aeris wondered if she no longer held sanity.

 

“It's too late now!” Tifa snarled, slashing her free hand through the air and cutting off whatever it was Aeris planned to say. “Rufus is gone! Your precious Cloud is dead and all that's left is for you to die! You should have stayed dead just like I should have died back in Nibelheim.” There was a click as she chambered a round and aimed the pistol directly at Aeris' rounded abdomen. “No one ever asked why I'm alive, did they?” she continued. “No one ever wondered what Sephiroth did to me.”

 

Jade eyes blinked in confusion. “What are you--” Her gaze caught something that might have been movement out of the corner of her eye and just behind Tifa. She had the suspicion that it was Elena coming back to check on her.

 

“I can't have children, you bitch!” Tifa screamed, one hand violently slapping to her own belly, fingers tracing over a scar on her abdomen, hidden beneath the fabric of her shirt. Tears welled up in her eyes but she blinked them away, replacing her grief with hatred. “It wasn't until Sephiroth nearly killed me that I realized my power wasn't enough. And you have it all... everything I was supposed to have. Give it BACK TO ME!”

 

Her voice screeched around the room as her finger moved to squeeze the trigger. Aeris prepared herself, her hand twitching at her side as she strengthened her shield and prepared to throw something disabling back at the other woman. Except, Tifa suddenly gasped, cherry-brown eyes widening as blood bubbled from her mouth and dribbled down her chin. In the same moment, she reflexsively squeezed the trigger.

 

The sound of the bullet was deafening in the tense silence as it screeched across the room and slammed into Aeris' shield, only to be absorbed the barrier. It dissolved into little more than dust, falling into a useless pile on the floor. Aeris gaped in surprise, her eyes immediately flickering back to Tifa.

 

The handgun fell from nerveless fingers, clattering noisily to the floor. “I... don't...” Tifa murmured before coughing and slumping to the ground. Behind her, Shera was staring in surprise at her own hands, one of them clutching a bloodied dagger.

 

Shera raised her eyes to Aeris. “I can't believe I did that,” she breathed, not really in shock but more in awe of her own strength. “I didn't even know I had it in me,” she finished as Aeris shook her head and hurried forward, automatically dropping her shield.

 

She knelt at Tifa's head, reaching out and pressing two fingers to Tifa's neck. A weak pulse met her touch. Tifa was alive but barely. She would not last long, evidenced by the blood beginning to seep into the floorboards. Shera must have struck something fatally internal with that blade.

 

Aeris knew she could heal Tifa, she certainly had the materia and the energy but couldn't help but wonder if it was something she should even consider doing. Tifa was a woman at the end of her ropes, driven to a desperate madness by circumstance. She had only ever wanted to find a measure of happiness and life kept stealing it away bit by bit until there was nothing left but her hatred.

 

“I hate you,” Tifa rasped, peeling her eyes open to glare angrily at the flower girl. Her face twisted into something vile and ugly. “I hate you for what I never had.”

 

Jade eyes softened, wondering how the cheerful little girl that Cloud had always talked about would have grown up if she had never met Sephiroth. “I know,” she murmured quietly. “I know.”

 

She didn't even have to make the choice; it was made for her. Tifa's eyes slid shut and Aeris reached forward, gently closing her eyelids. A simple Life would have sufficed but perhaps it was better this way. The sound of footsteps interrupted her morose thoughts and the flower girl looked up to see Rude and Elena standing in the doorway, staring with horror at the scene.

 

“Shera!” Rude exclaimed in surprise, his jaw gaping. It was the most expression either Elena or Aeris had seen on his normally stoic face. “What happened here?”

 

The flower girl rose to her feet, her face pinched with solemnity. “I wish I could say I understood.” Jade eyes flickered to Tifa's body before she sighed. “I don't know if she truly meant to kill me or if she was here to die.”

 

Elena dashed into the room, her fingers hurriedly pressing to Tifa's neck and checking for a pulse. It came as no surprise when she felt none. Behind her, Rude entered as well, moving quickly to his wife's side. He plucked the knife from her fingers and dropped it the floor. Shock bloomed inside of him, never in a million years believing that his wife would have been the one to take Tifa down.

 

Shera managed a small smile as she looked up at him. “I only wanted to let Aeris know that Zack was up and joking but then I saw Tifa and....” She trailed off as she shook her head. “I guess everyone gets a chance to be a hero, huh? That dagger you gave me came in handy.”

 

Her husband shook his head. “I don't know what I'm going to do with you,” he replied softly before pulling her into his arms. The fear that had struck him when he first caught sight of the scene still reverberated in his mind. It only served to prove why he had wanted his wife and unborn son away from the battle. He never had reason to fear before as a Turk but now... he had something he just couldn't lose.

 

“I'm sorry,” Shera replied, her voice muffled by his chest and not really sounding contrite.

 

“No,” Aeris interrupted softly. “I am the one who should apologize. I wanted to believe there was something I could do to save her and it nearly cost me my life.” Her fingers rubbed over her belly.

 

Elena rose to her feet and reached for a nearby chair, her fingers hooking around a crocheted blanket and pulling it from the back. She laid it over Tifa's body, cloaking it from their sight until they called for someone to remove her. Knowing Aeris, she would want the woman to have a proper burial even if she had been the enemy.

 

Sighing softly, the Turk's eyes turned towards the window, just catching a bright white flash of lightning as thunder rumbled above them, rattling the glass in the panes. Her thoughts instantly turned to the others and a feeling of dread washed over her senses. Elena mentally whispered a silent prayer to someone, truthfully anyone that would listen. If they lost this battle then there was no hope left for Gaia.

 

- - - - - -

 

His emotions were raging, his breath was burning in his chest and his body trembled. He barely felt the dripping of the rain, barely noticed the flash of each lightning as the sky rumbled and declared its anger above him. His boots squelched in mud, slowing him down but not stopping him. His hand clenched so tightly to his Electro Rod that it ached, fingers leaving marks in the black grip.

 

Reno swung the weapon and destroyed another monster, not even sparing it an impassive glance as it crumpled to the ground. He hadn't even noticed what kind of beast it was, only spilling its blood effortlessly before moving on. He no longer cared about anything, not with the world around him veiled in shades of crimson fury. He wanted to see the enemy bleed; he wanted some kind of relief from the pain in his heart.

 

Something stepped out of the mist in front of him, attempting to bar his path. It wasn't a monster this time, but a human, or at least something that appeared human. Another demi-deity, eyes barely visible through thin slits in a silver helm were void of all feeling and the man gripped a mace tightly in slim fingers.

 

Reno didn't even slow in his rampage. He darted forward, a battle cry banking behind his lips but not emerging as muddy water splashed up around him, soaking his trousers.

 

Vacuous green eyes widened almost imperceptibly before the deity was forced to defend against Reno's ruthless assault. Mace met Electro Rod in a jarring motion that reverberated through Reno's arm. He was sure that it had made a resounding clang but couldn't hear the noise over the rushing of his ears. Everything was nothing but hate now.

 

A growl spilled from his lips, wordless and guttural as Reno pushed against the stronger deity. A fist headed for his head, only to glance off of the barrier that Reno naturally produced thanks to his bond with Asclepius. He didn't know where the perky deity was... hadn't even heard her voice since the fight began.

 

Reno shifted positions, whirling on his heels only to dart forwards, surprising the taller male with his voracity. The mace came up again but Reno batted it away with his left hand before swinging the Electro Rod with the other. One end slammed into the deity's stomach, sending out his breath in a whoosh of hot air before Reno twirled the Rod in his hand, reversing its direction.

 

The metal tip slammed against the knight's temple, blood spraying into the air. It was a garish, scarlet color against the grey morning sky and the deity groaned, his eyes still showing no emotion. Reno didn't pause. He could still hear Balaam's voice, his taunting laughter. Balaam was somewhere in the mist, he had only to find him.

 

He sprang past the deity, throwing a spell at his opponent who was still gasping for breath. The unnamed male was enveloped in a Destruct spell, the magic ripping him apart from the outside in. The materia had been a parting gift from Yuffie, a silent request for him to kick some ass with her in mind. Yet, Reno spared the deity not another glance, charging forward with little subtlety.

 

A beast popped out in front of him. He sliced it down without a moment's thought. Two more emerged from the side, little more than pawns in Balaam's claw. He threw out a Destruct at the first one, ignoring its howls of pain as he turned towards the other. A quick jab to the chest and this one was gone. Footsteps squelched behind him and Reno whirled, Electro Rod at the ready.

 

His eyes fell on the falling form of a beast, head cleanly sliced from its body and Nanaki standing just behind it, heaving for breath. He opened his mouth as if to speak but Reno ignored him... there was only silence, blood rushing in his ears. The Turk turned back around and started running again, Balaam's voice echoing in his head. In this direction, somewhere... he was sure of it.

 

Reno splashed through a puddle, deep enough to soak him to his knees and was forced to nearly climb out of it. His senses flared and he narrowly avoided the swing of a rusted axe, held in the hand of a snaggle-toothed goblin. He twisted his back, body flowing against the weather, and threw out another spell, his energy beginning to lag from the constant casting.

 

Soon he would only have his physical strength.

 

Two more beasts, one right after another, a continuous tide of merciless assault. He jabbed his Electro Rod through the eye of a bird-like combination that he didn't even want to consider, greenish blood spilling out of the now empty socket. He shuddered unconsciously as the brackish smell filled the area, nearly drowning out the strange sulfurous scent of the rain.

 

Something tumbled against his back and Reno whirled to find yet another beast already falling in its death throes. Nanaki had saved him once more.

 

The demi-human darted forward and grabbed the Turk by his shoulders, squeezing angrily and resisting the urge to shake some sense into him. “Snap out of it, Reno!” Nanaki argued, shouting over the deafening pulse of the weather. “Reeve won't get any better if you die by acting reckless!”

 

Aquamarine eyes blinked, trying to find coherence amongst the madness.

 

“That's right, wild one...” A voice suddenly echoed around them before a bolt of lightning struck the ground less than ten feet away. When the glare faded, three figures were left standing before them and Reno could only assume that they were demi-deities judging by the power they exuded. The one in the middle he immediately recognized. It was Mabuz and beside him was Daunte. The third, however, he did not know.

 

Mabuz sneered. “Yes, I know the name the faithful has given you,” he finished as a static charge began to fill the area, making their hair stand on end. Above them, the sky swirled and darkened, the clouds growing thicker. A rumble loud enough to shake the heavens make the ground beneath them tremble.

 

A mocking cackle followed the deity's statement. Daunte chortled as the third remained blank-eyed, staring vacantly into space. “How does it feel to be used?” he taunted, flexing powerful muscles. “How does it feel to know your lover's fate is the fault of the faithful?” The last came out as an amused hiss.

 

Reno growled, rage instantly fueling his fire. He jerked forward, weapon gripped tightly in his hand but Nanaki's fingers clamped around his arm, stopping him immediately. “Don't fall for their taunts,” he urged, though golden eyes were narrowing in annoyance. “We can't afford to lose this battle.” He released Reno's arms, trusting the Turk to remain calm, and stepped back from the other male.

 

The moment the words left his lips; however, a swirl of crackling, fiery energy appeared at the demi-human's side. Suzaku flashed into existence, flames licking at her feet. She exuded enough heat that the rain did not even touch her body, evaporating before it could wet her down.

 

“Enough of this foolishness!” she declared, slashing a hand through the air. “This ends and this ends now, Mabuz. You will pay for what you have done to Reeve.”

 

The God of Thunder merely laughed all the louder, lightning beginning to crawl in evident traces upon his skin. Pale amber eyes glinted with something indescribable. “You could try,” he hissed as he thrust his hand to the side, a three-pronged weapon appearing between his claws. Before another word could be spoken, he leapt at Reno, determined to end his life.

 

Reno took a step back, a shield immediately enveloping his body. Their weapons met with a resounding clang, sparks flying into the air despite the rain. The Turk slipped in the slimy mud and tumbled backwards, desperately trying to keep his balance. It was to no avail and he crashed ass-first into the mire, Mabuz wasting no time in leaping atop him.

 

Lightning crackled harmlessly over Reno's barrier but it was only magical in nature. He was still vulnerable to physical attacks. The points of the demi-deity's sai slipped through his defenses and stabbed into his shoulder, piercing the flesh easily. Reno groaned against the pain, throwing his body upwards in an attempt to dislodge the deity. Mabuz only laughed louder, easily thwarting his efforts and sounding very much insane.

 

“Bleed mortal!” Mabuz screamed, jerking his left arm back to strike once more. “Bleed and die! Urk!” He reared when arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind, a slim grasp clasping onto his wielding arm.

 

Reno briefly received a glimpse of soft green hair and scarlet eyes, instantly recognizing his animus. Mabuz roared and tried to buck her off but she was tenacious. The Turk used the distraction to push himself through the mud, digging his heels into the soaked soil and sliding out from under Mabuz. He winced as blood cascaded down his arm and threw his Electro Rod to the side in disgust. Against the God of Thunder it would be absolutely useless.

 

His hand dove towards the hollow of his back where he had earlier stashed the Flare-powered handgun Elena had pressed into his fingers previously. In the same moment, Mabuz snapped his wings to the side and threw Asclepius away from him. The female deity soared through the air and landed in a puddle with a wet snap, her body twisted unnaturally.

 

“Asclepius!” Reno screamed. A feminine groan reached his senses as she shook her head and struggled to rise, obviously very dizzy. She was alive but seeing her thrown made Reno see crimson. He turned back towards the deity, squeezing off a shot.

 

The Flare bullet flew out of the gun, clipping Mabuz in the side. It exploded as it collided with the older male, engulfing him in a sea of orange and crimson flames. Reno snarled, hatred beginning to fill his heart as he stepped closer, gun still raised and aimed for the burning deity. He blinked rain out of his eyes and from the corner of his vision noted Nanaki locked in a duel with Daunte, claw against chakram. However, Reno would leave that battle up to the demi-human.

 

He had more important matters to take care of. With that in mind, Reno fired off another round but before it could even strike home, a bolt of lightning emerged and met it midair. A great flash and explosion rocked the air, the boom loud enough to cause Reno's eardrums to rattle. Mabuz laughed darkly and crossed his arms in front of his face before slashing them down to the side, dispelling the flame. A fanged smirk broke out on the demi-deity's expression.

 

Reno muttered a curse under his breath but was determined not to be defeated so easily. He squeezed off another round, already darting to the side to avoid the attack he knew was going to be coming. His feet moved with unnatural speed, given to him by his bond with Asclepius. There were certainly perks to be bonded.

 

“Too slow!” Mabuz suddenly appeared behind Reno, sneering his disgust. He twisted his wrist, swinging the sai for what he expected to be Reno's unprotected back. A hand immediately rose up and blocked the assault, absorbing the force of the blow yet Mabuz countered with a firm backhand, leaving four red and bleeding marks on Reno's cheek.

 

The Turk went flying backwards, slamming into the ground hard. His breath was momentarily knocked out of him but he took satisfaction in knowing that Mabuz was limping, one of his wings completely scorched even if it was slowly healing. Coughing, Reno abruptly rolled over, narrowly avoiding Mabuz' new round of attacks.

 

He dizzily jerked to his feet and twisted his body around, squeezing off his fourth and then the final fifth round before dropping the empty magazine. Reno groped in his pocket for the Freeze reload pack, mentally tallying up his remaining ammo. Elena had only had time to make another Flare and a rather useless Bolt to give him. He would have to make every shot count.

 

Mabuz blocked the first shot with his unharmed wing, absorbing the fire but causing damage in the process. He wasn't prepared for the second round and it exploded in his face, making him stumble backwards in surprise.

 

There was a click as Reno popped in the second cartridge, only to be overrun by the sound of a voice, screaming in pain. A bright light enveloped the area, chasing away much of the fog and enabling him to better see the vicinity. Reno's gaze flickered to the left, catching sight of Suzaku blazing against Tristan, his strength no match for her power.

 

Then lightning burst against Reno's shield, the wave of power enough to cause him to stumble but the magic causing little damage. He abruptly returned his attention to Mabuz who had shaken off the last attack. His face was charred but he was slowly beginning to heal, a look of complete fury etched into his expression. Reno smirked and moved to meet him.

 

Mabuz would pay for what he had done to Reeve.

 

On the other side of the battlefield, Nanaki slashed at Daunte, his claws meeting the deity's chakram with a sparking clang that sounded abnormally loud against the constant plopping of the rain. Though Daunte was exuding heat strong enough to sear him on the spot, Nanaki was protected against it thanks to his bond with Suzaku. Not to mention the shield Asclepius had so helpfully cast earlier was absorbing a good bit of the energy.

 

Metal screeched on metal before the two jerked away from each other, only to dart forward, exchanging a rapid series of blows. Metal sparks flew into the air as their weapons shrieked in protest.

 

Daunte pressed forward and swung with all his might, striking a heavy blow against Nanaki's wrist. The demi-human cringed, feeling his bones rattle and leapt back to avoid the next blow. Daunte gave chase, grabbing Nanaki's weaponed arm by the wrist with one hand and sliding strong fingers around his neck with the other.

 

Grinning maliciously, he picked up the demi-human as if he weighed no more than a feather and slammed him into the mud. Water splashed up, nearly drowning Nanaki as the shield absorbed most of the blow. He gasped for breath, the fingers feeling like an iron vise around his throat as his mind spun. His skull had smacked into a rock hidden in the mud and he felt as if his brain had rattled within his cranium.

 

“Your puny fire tricks won't work on me!” Daunte rasped, a snarl pulling back on his lips. He tightened his hold, delighting in each twitch of his opponent beneath him. “What are you going to do now, mortal?”

 

“Nanaki!”

 

Golden eyes peered through bleary vision to see Suzaku already starting his way, angry fires dancing over her body. Not even the rain could dampen her flames and a spot of blood peeked at the corner of her mouth but otherwise she was unharmed.

 

Finger tightened around his neck until he could no longer even choke and his body was shoved further into the mud. “Don't,” Daunte warned, narrowing his eyes. “Or I'll kill your precious mortal. Don't you dare come any closer, fire brat.”

 

Suzaku immediately froze in place as Nanaki struggled to draw a breath, but couldn't even gasp under the greater strength of the deity. His body twitched and his lungs burned. “Let him go, Daunte,” the phoenix immediately demanded, slashing her hand through the air. The sky crackled and grew darker. “I'm tired of dragging the mortals into this. It isn't their fight.”

 

“Mwa ha.” The male deity sneered. “Maybe I should just kill him for fun, he?” he countered, flexing his fingers and forcing claws to emerge from them. Each dug five little holes into Nanaki's neck, causing blood to seep out and mix with the mud. “The despair on your face would be worth it... even if it would only be a fraction of what I suffered in my prison.”

 

Beautiful crystalline blue eyes began to burn ocher. “You broke the law,” the phoenix argued, obviously barely holding in her anger. She clenched one bangled hand into a fist. “Our decision was just.”

 

“The words of a faithful!” His hold unconsciously loosened as he began to concentrate more on Suzaku and Nanaki gasped, gaining only the slightest breath. Spots danced in his eyes. It wasn't enough, but the sound alerted his anima. Suzaku took a step forward and Daunte screeched, “Stay back!”

 

Tired of being a damsel in distress, that brief gasp enough to return some coherency, Nanaki weakly reached up with a trembling arm and gripped Daunte's wrist. Golden eyes narrowed. “Try... a little ice,” he gritted out before casting the most powerful ice spell in his inventory.

 

He felt the surge of power moments before an Ice 3 started climbing up Daunte's arm, leaving spidery trails of frozen liquid in its wake. The cascading rain hardened and thickened around the appendage, locking it in a cold prison. Daunte yelped at the burning chill, his body weak to such attacks, and immediately retracted his wrist, cradling the offended appendage.

 

Coughing and sputtering as he desperately sucked in much needed breaths, Nanaki rolled to the side, trying to restore his darkening vision. He could feel himself coated in the thick mire, blood trickling down his neck from the wounds yet he was alive and that was all that mattered. He gagged and hacked, nausea curdling in his belly from the brush with death.

 

His advanced senses barely caught the sound of Daunte attacking him once more. Nanaki quickly sprang forward, rolling on his shoulder and spinning in the morass until he was kneeling on one knee, facing Daunte. More coughs spilled from his lips, heaving for breath as the rain continued to spill down on them. If it were even possible, it seemed to be gaining in intensity, nearly making it impossible to see through the sheets of water.

 

Daunte snarled and tried to concentrate on heating up the ice that coated his arm. But thanks to the weather and spell both, it was thick. Far too thick for him to remove in a short amount of time. Suddenly, a fireball blasted him from the side and knocked him from his feet, the force of the attack more a threat than the actual flame. Using this to his advantage, Nanaki darted forward and tackled Daunte. He grabbed the deity by the neck, mirroring his earlier treatment and reared back his weaponed arm, fully prepared to stroke.

 

Cold, ageless eyes met his fearlessly as Daunte merely laughed in the face of his loss. “You can defeat me now,” he mocked in a condescending tone. “But I'll never stop fighting for my freedom.”

 

`Do it, my animus,' Suzaku urged calmly. He could feel her eyes watching him, waiting for him to finish his move. `Send him back to Elysium.'

 

Swallowing thickly through his sore throat, another cough tickling at his tonsils, Nanaki's fingers curled through his claw in momentary indecision. He had never stared a sentient enemy in the face before and killed him. Even if he that Daunte wouldn't be truly dying... it still felt strange.

 

And then he remembered Yuffie. Her pain was the fault of this one, the male that he had in front of him. Nanaki knew in his heart that revenge was wrong, that it wasn't the way to solve anything. His Grandfather had taught him that. But he had never been so scared in his entire life. The fear that he might be left alone was worse than anything he had ever felt before. With Bugenhagen gone, he had no one but Yuffie and his friends.

 

Chortling, mocking laughter burned in his ears as his world tunneled until it was nothing but this decision, this choice. He barely felt Daunte shift and on the edge of his mind, Suzaku called his name again. Then pain arcing across his abdomen, the bite of a chakram slicing across his belly and just skimming the flesh. Without a second thought, Nanaki struck in retaliation.

 

His free hand snaked around his stomach, stalling the bleeding as Daunte dissolved into gray ash beneath him, that ever present smirk on his face. Yet, he left behind a small black orb, the tainted materia of his prison. Regarding it curiously, Nanaki plucked it from the mud and slipped the orb into his pocket. It was remarkably similar to the one Vincent already held.

 

Suzaku immediately rushed to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right?” she asked softly, concern etched into her voice. She had been aware of his hesitation.

 

He nodded almost imperceptibly as he called up a cure, letting the restorative magic pour over his wound and fingers. “Yes, I'm fine,” he responded, a strange tone emerging from his mouth. Suzaku wasn't sure how to interpret it and tilted her head to the side, confusion furrowing her brow.

 

Yet, a cry of pain assailed their ears. The sky thundered and rolled, accentuating the moan.

 

The victorious animum pair caught sight of Reno, coughing up blood as he crouched on the ground, perched on hands and knees. The expectorant spattered against the dirt, mixing with the brown and rain, creating a garish scarlet stream. Mabuz was circling around him, tossing his sai from hand to hand. And Asclepius was on the ground, seemingly unconscious.

 

“Mortals are weak, yet you are given the freedom. I don't understand it!” Mabuz screeched, darting forward and lashing out with a booted foot. But Reno threw up his arms and blocked the kick with his arms, skidding backwards through the mud on his feet.

 

He regained his balance and shakily rose. “I don't fucking care!” Reno snarled, hunching his back against the pounding press of the rain. Aquamarine eyes flickered towards his animus in concern, relieved to find that she breathed. In a moment of defending Reno, she had taken a shock of Mabuz' electricity unshielded. It was brave but stupid.

 

“I don't care about your fight or what you fuckin' want!” the Turk's hands clenched into fists as he abruptly spat out a gob of blood to the side, his lips painted a morbid color from the liquid. “All I care about is Reeve and what you did to him.”

 

Nanaki and Suzaku exchanged glances before moving forward, intent on helping Reno. The phoenix was already making her way to Asclepius' side, the bubbly demi-deity needing her help. Yet, Reno heard the sound of Nanaki's footsteps squelching in the much and noticed his approach from the corner of his eye. He whirled towards his ally.

 

Slashing an arm through the air, Reno snarled, even as more blood dripped into his face from the wound on his forehead. “No! This is my fight! My pain!” He angrily swiped the back of his hand over his head, wiping away the blood. “Stay out of it or I'll consider you my enemy, too!”

 

Mabuz snorted. “So the hero shows his true colors. How amusing!” The last was said with a hiss seconds before he darted forward, catching the sai on its last flip.

 

Reno fired his second-to-last round of the Flare bullets realizing that unless he managed to get closer, the last bullet would be uselessly expended. Mabuz blocked the exploding attack with the last of his tattered wings, grinning maliciously behind the ragged leather. Shoving the gun into the hollow at his back, Reno flickered his gaze around, finally catching sight of his earlier abandoned Electro Rod. A plan began to form.

 

“Your bullets are useless!” Mabuz taunted, shaking his body as if he had easily shook off the attack. “It's time to lay down and DIE!” He dove for Reno in the same moment that the Turk dove for his weapon.

 

Lightning crashed in the sky, illuminating the area as Reno skidded through the mud only to wrap his fingers around the handle of the Electro Rod. He flipped over on his back just in time to parry the sai and rip it from Mabuz's hand, sending the three-pronged weapon flying. As Mabuz gaped from the loss, Reno slammed his fist into Mabuz's face, shattering the deity's nose.

 

The God of Thunder howled and staggered backwards, clutching his injured nose. Using that to his advantage, Reno darted forward, slipping slightly in the mud and feeling a bit woozy from his earlier injuries. A battle cry spilled through his lips as he stabbed the Electro Rod forward, using all of his strength and his momentum to shove it through Mabuz's gut.

 

The deity grunted, his body jerking on the end of the rod. Reno smirked and whipped up his other hand, revealing that he held the gun with its last round of explosive Flare.

 

“It's a little gift.” He sneered. “From me to you.” He balanced his firing arm on his other arm and squeezed the trigger directly in Mabuz's snarling face.

 

The deity couldn't even scream before he fell back, engulfed in flames and missing part of his head. The fires were so strong that blood didn't even spatter on the Turk. The gun fell from Reno's fingers as he slumped, clutching his side where blood seeped from a deep wound. The mud had helped to coat it but now that the rain was washing away the thick dirty, it bled freely.

 

Mabuz dissolved into black ash, leaving behind a black orb of materia. Reno blinked through the haze and managed the pluck the small sphere from the ground, shoving it down deep in his pocket. He collapsed forward, eyes rolling into the back of his head, only to be caught by hands before he reached the ground.

 

He fuzzily tilted his head to the side, catching a glimpse of Asclepius gently lowering him down. “Ichigo!” she called, shaking him slightly as her eyes desperately searched his face. He was losing consciousness but he was alive and that was what mattered. “Kami, I'm so sorry,” she continued, apologizing profusely.

 

Nimble hands ripped the Turk's shirt open, revealing the bleeding gash. She pressed one hand to his side, healing the wound. “I should have been helping you--”

 

“It's fine,” Reno rasped, trying to maintain hold on consciousness. Yet, he could already feel himself slipping. He was in pain, his entire body aching as if he had been put through a grinder, but it was nothing compared to the ache inside. He had known that defeating Mabuz would not instantly heal Reeve but he couldn't help but need to do it all the same.

 

“No, it's not,” Asclepius countered, shaking her head as she let the healing magic pour over her fingers and into his wound. “Erebus was right. I need to stay back and defend like I'm supposed to and--”

 

A sigh echoed from behind her. “You did well, Asclepius,” Suzaku said as she and Nanaki emerged out of the pulsing rain behind them. Though the mist was beginning to lift. “For one so young and unlearned in combat, you did better than expected.”

 

Yet, the bubbly deity couldn't find it in her to beam at the praise. Ichigo was hurt and she hadn't protected him like she was supposed to. She frowned and returned her attentions to Reno who was staring hazily around them, slipping in and out of unconsciousness.

 

Nanaki stared down at his companion, having it in his mind to reprimand the reckless Turk once again. They were separated from the others and Sephiroth would be without their strength. Yet, a strange prickle raced up his spine, literally bursting with power. He looked to Suzaku but the phoenix was looking towards the east, her face pinched in worry.

 

“I don't recognize this,” she whispered. “What is this power?” Suzaku turned towards her animus. “I battle may have already begun. We may be too late.”

 

The demi-human followed her gaze. It was as he had feared. It was up to the others now, however. He could do nothing more to help them.

 

- - - - -

 

The fog was thick enough that he could barely see his hand in front of his face. And if it weren't for the fact that he could feel Orthrus beside him, he wouldn't have seen his anima either. Sighing softly to himself, Tseng came to the conclusion that only his ability would be able to help him now. As much as he still loathed the secret, he would use it to defend Gaia.

 

Steeling himself for the rough encounter, Tseng gradually opened his senses to the influx of voices and sensations. The small murmuring at the back of his mind became a flood of thought and sound and he gritted his teeth. Concentrating, he slowly dampened the tide until it centered on that island alone, and then the subtle press of immortal tone.

 

He felt it then, the surge of power without a voice somewhere to his right, accompanied by the ancient pulse and throb of two unknown demi-deities. It had to be Apocalypto. Nothing else would need such energy.

 

`Can you feel it?' Orthrus questioned him telepathically.

 

Tseng nodded. “Yes,” he answered aloud, preferring that method. He squinted slightly, trying to pinpoint the exact distance. “Twenty meters to the left. If not for the mist, then we would most likely be able to see it.”

 

With that in mind, he decided to try and see if Orthrus had been speaking the truth after all. The deity had explained the perks of being bonded to him not but a few hours before they left for battle. Tseng had opted not for sleep, unable to rest while getting accustomed to no longer blocking his abilities.

 

Raising a hand, he splayed his fingers and sent out a pulse of power, shaping a current of wind that would blow away the mist in his mind. His body thrummed seconds before a breeze stirred out of nowhere before quickly strengthening to a large gust. He could literally see the threads of wind in the air as they wrapped around the fog and blew it into the sky, clearing the entire area.

 

And then he could see them, two demi-deities with empty gazes guarding some sort of strange object which hovered over an upwelling over the life stream. The faint gurgle and glow of mako green was plainly visible. The machine itself was nothing like Tseng had ever seen before. Vaguely resembling a giant drill and made entirely of metal, it literally pulsed with power.

 

Stepping out of the cloaking magic, Tseng approached.

 

“Percival and Bedwyr,” Orthrus said aloud, blinking into existence besides his animus. “Two of Arthur's knights. They are not to be taken lightly.”

 

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the air shimmered around them, almost like it would in the heat of a summer mirage. They were suddenly met with countless faceless knights, all aiming weapons of various design at them.

 

Orthrus sighed, one hand twitching at his side. “It is Percival's ability. We can destroy them but unless we destroy the man himself, they will continue to be reborn once defeated.”

 

Tseng's hands slid to the twin katana at his waist, quickly drawing the Tenken. He nodded briefly, already slipping into Turk mode before animus and anima sprang forward in opposite directions. Ahead of him, Bedwyr was racing forward through the hordes of faceless knights, wielding a set of twin katal to match Tseng's own blades. Percival stayed behind, ceaselessly guarding the machine as it rumbled towards the completion of the task it had been created for.

 

Animus and anima tore through the knight illusions as if they were mere paper, the things easily destroyed but just as quickly renewed. Orthrus wielded magic, tossing it from his hands faster than most could speak. Fire balls, cones of ice, and lightning bolts burst from his fingers, striking with deadly accuracy. And for close encounters, he could shape his energy into a physical weapon. Although the knights were mere illusions, the injuries they caused were all too real. Tseng's blades rose and fell, slicing cleanly through each opponent.

 

Yet, the battle felt strange. Their enemies did not speak, did not cry out in pain. The lack of sound gave both men an eerie feeling that shivered along their spines. Ahead of them, the light from Apocalypto grew brighter and brighter as it absorbed more of the planet's energy, powering some unknown purpose.

 

Orthrus flashed his away across the battlefield, his eyes set on the vacant stare of Percival. Lightning bolts flew from his fingers from afar, yet Percival skillfully stepped to the side, avoiding each one. His movements were languid and at ease, yet no emotion showed in his face.

 

To the deity's left, Tseng came face to face with Bedwyr, staring directly into blank brown eyes. He raised his blades, only to meet Bedwyr's with a piercing screech that rattled his eardrums. He faintly heard the dull murmur of a voice coming from the deity, but it was muted and masked... as if spoken through a filter.

 

They traded strength for a moment, neither gaining ground as their boots squelched into the mud, digging deep. For every press forward, Tseng was pushed back, his arms trembling from the weight. Then suddenly Bedwyr withdrew, whirling around and leaping into the air to strike from above. He performed an acrobatic twist before heading straight for Tseng.

 

The Turk braced himself for the attack, crossing his swords in front of him. Metal met metal with a resounding clang as Tseng leaned back to absorb the momentum, then suddenly shoved forward with a great heave. Bedwyr careened backwards, his boots digging furrows into the mud. He flicked his arms to the side, using his katal to slow his momentum.

 

The moment it ceased, he darted forward again, not wanting a single second's reprieve. Their blades struck in a rapid exchange that sent sparks flying into the air. Yet, neither refused to give in, their movements becoming so fast that only a deity's advanced sight could follow the swing of each blade. They were nothing but blurs of motion within a film of rain.

 

Then a misstep, perhaps only a minor miscalculation but enough to curry the duel in Tseng's favor. He knocked away Bedwyr's katals in one smooth motion, his second Tenken rising upwards in a firm swipe. The tip of his blade skimmed across Bedwyr's forehead as the deity leaned backwards to avoid the blow and caught against some unknown object. It shattered, bits and pieces flying into the air only to land and mix with the mire below.

 

Bedwyr immediately paused, one katal held in front of him for defense, the other halting mid-swing. He blinked, coherence and a look of light returning to once dead eyes. Tseng instantly halted his next attack, drawing back with some shock at the pressing difference in the man.

 

The deity blinked again, brow furrowed in confusion. “I... I--” he cut off as he groaned, a katal tumbling from his fingers and splashing noisily to the ground. He groaned, clutching his head.

 

Tseng lowered his Tenken as all the knights surrounding him suddenly shimmered before shattering into dust. On the corner of his vision, he noticed that Orthrus had defeated Percival, the Knight of the Round already dissolving to Elysium. The marked change in Bedwyr; however, was far more pressing. It was then that Tseng understood.

 

“Those control chips,” he murmured, recalling what Elena and Sion had both reported to him before. “He was using them on you... wasn't he?” Silver eyes regarded Bedwyr piercingly.

 

Pale blue orbs blinked before Bedwyr slowly nodded, visibly trying to regain control of himself as he had so long been denied. “Yes... the materia that held our power had long been forgotten by the mortals in the Lost Grounds.” He paused, clearly trying to remember before continuing, “When Balaam was freed, he found us and used that bastard mortal's technology. We resisted but...” Bedwyr trailed off, anger and disgrace both evident in his gaze.

 

Tseng tipped his head in understanding. “But there is never much resistance against a Hojo,” he finished for the deity, well aware of that mad scientist's methods. It was precisely why he had hidden his ability so thoroughly, along with the fear of rejection by his peers.

 

Suddenly, the ground rumbled and an explosion rocked the area, sending both males flying through the air before slapping wetly to the ground. One of the Tenken skittered far out of Tseng's reach, burying halfway in a puddle and beneath a fall of mud. He hit hard enough to knock the breath out of him and was vaguely able to hear Bedwyr groaning somewhere nearby. Even more pressing was the abrupt absence of the low murmur of Orthrus' presence on the back of his mind.

 

`Orthrus?' he muttered telepathically, already searching for his animus' voice.

 

There was no response.

 

Groaning and coughing in the mist, rising once more but now accompanied by the debris of whatever had exploded, Tseng pushed himself to his knees and attempted to peer through the haze. The rain obscured his vision nonetheless he gasped. Apocaplytpo had exploded apparently, nothing remaining where it once sat except for the vague and dim pulse of what remained of the mako pool. Standing before its remains was a woman of ethereal beauty, nearly transfixing the Turk who had wholly believed his entire life that he was homosexual. Just one glance at her however, and he thought that she was the most stunning woman he had ever seen.

 

Pale, milky skin wrapped in heavy velvet scarlet robes made her appear little more than a bloodstain against the smoky grey sky. Her crimson hair was so dark that it was the color of dried blood. He couldn't see her eyes for her lids were closed, but she was lithe and shapely, the true epitome of every man's fantasy. Even Tseng felt the smallest of stirrings.

 

Beside him, Bedwyr coughed noisily, still somewhat dizzy from the recent release from the mind control chip. “Who... is that?” he demanded, obviously shocked. “She feels like an immortal but I do not recognize her.”

 

“Then Gilgamesh was right,” Tseng murmured, feeling somewhat cowed by her presence. “Only the eldest have heard of Persephone... the goddess of destruction.”

 

Bedwyr gaped at him in astonishment but Tseng ignored him, returning his attention to Persephone who didn't seem to be too keen on either moving or even speaking. With her seemingly distracted, Tseng took the opportunity to sweep the battlefield once more.

 

`Orthrus?'

 

Again, there was no answer, nothing but white fuzz on the edge of his senses.

 

Silver eyes raked through the storm and it was then that he caught sight of it, not but feet away from the motionless Persephone. It appeared to be a prism formed of crystal and caught within was his anima, frozen in time. He even appeared to be in the midst of casting, even his robes flying about his body yet he was trapped mid-movement within the box.

 

“Orthrus!” he exclaimed in shock, jerking to his feet with the intention of freeing his anima. His fingers wrapped tight around one half of his Tenken, the other gone to his sight as a spell jumped to the fingers of his free hand.

 

“There's nothing you can do, mortal.” A low voice whispered from behind him, but still sounded startling loud above the press of the rain and in the tense silence. “Only I can open Pandora's Prism.”

Tseng whirled to find that Persephone stood just behind him a few feet away, abruptly moved from her earlier position. A snarl leapt to his lips, already feeling his fingers heating up with the flames of the spell he was summoning. “Let him go!” he demanded, taking a threatening step towards her.

 

A smile curled across her lips, seductive and inviting. From the corner of Tseng's eye he caught Bedwyr slowly rising from the ground, quietly swiping his dropped katal into his grasp. He could only assume that the freed demi-deity was on his side now.

 

“I do not think I will,” Persephone replied, her eyes sliding open and revealing shining golden orbs, nearly overtaken by abnormally large pupils. Tseng saw nothing of the deadness like the Knights of the Round... but madness inside, thinly controlled yet destined to spiral out of control.

 

Recognizing that there would be no reasoning with the deity, Tseng sprinted forward. He sent out a spray of blue flame, far hotter than orange fires. It struck Persephone, only to flare against her shield and absorbed just as quickly. He refused to let that hinder him however, and attacked in the wake of the magic.

 

His fire tenken sliced through the air, aimed for her seemingly unprotected breast. She smirked, holding up a single elegant hand and an invisible shield intercepted his blade, striking with a musical clang.

 

Tseng gritted his teeth, retracting his blade and whirling for another strike. Lightning flashed and crackled above them, the rain wetting his hair down onto his scalp uncomfortably. Yet, Persephone blocked him with astounding speed, her eyes glinting mischievously. Before he could attack again, she sent him flying backwards with an invisible move.

 

Whatever it was tore through his clothes, seeking the tender flesh beneath and drawing blood. He hit the ground hard, momentarily seeing stars. As Tseng struggled to regain his breath, Bedwyr stormed past him and attacked.

 

Persephone summoned another shield to attack the deity with but he darted around her, tricking her with his constantly flitting movement. His katal flashed, slicing across a fair cheek before Persephone shifted slightly, that invisible blade tearing into Bedwyr's chest. He gasped, his entire body jerking before he dissolved to Elysium.

Tseng gaped in astonishment. The woman had defeated Bedwyr in a mere blink. He rose to his feet, knowing that he must stop her yet wondering if there was even a method for a mortal such as himself to accomplish that.

 

Seductive and sultry, Persephone stepped towards him, her hips swaying. “It is a shame you are my enemy,” she purred, raising the fingers of her left hands and waving them at him. “You are rather pretty, my dear. We could have had fun together.” Golden eyes flashed before a pulse of power rippled through the air.

 

Tseng felt it rather than saw it, automatically bringing up his sword to block the attack and absorb most of the blow. He barely succeeded, feeling his entire body bow against the pressure. He grunted but was unprepared for her second assault, this one of psychic strength.

 

Pain suddenly radiated through his head. “Aaagh!” A scream poured from the Turk's lips as he fell to his knees, Tenken falling from his fingers. It felt as if his skull was splitting in two. Memories not his own, voices of the multitudes screaming in his mind so loudly that he feared his brain was boiling. Flashes of images, mortal and immortal alike, even Persephone's original imprisonment came to his mind.

 

She had hurt. She had been confused. She had begged for forgiveness but Kami had turned deaf ears on her. In his eyes had been sorrow and regret, and in her heart burned bitterness until there was nothing but darkness and emptiness. Trapped alone beneath the seal for thousands of years, knowing nothing but the silence of her imprisonment and feeling the definite loss of half her power, she degenerated further. There was nothing left of her mind when Balaam found her. What sanity remaining had melted into a sludge of monotony.

 

Tseng screamed until his voice turned raw and hoarse, his throat closing up on him. And then he felt it, the shadow falling over his body and making his skin crawl with chill. Mud squelched and he felt her presence, Persephone standing over his immobile form. Perfectly manicured fingers pressed under his chin, forcing him to look up at her.

 

“Yes,” she mused thoughtfully, her voice a purr. Tseng's body wracked his pain and he felt as if he was trying to hold himself together by the strength of his arms alone, fingers digging into his shoulders. Yet, she did not cease her assault. “Very pretty indeed.”

 

He wanted to say something, anything to make the pain stop but his voice caught in his throat. His eyes burned with restrained tears and anything he wanted to say was stuck in his mouth, behind his lips where they refused to emerge.

 

Persephone's golden gaze burned. “But now it is time to sleep,” she whispered seductively before releasing his chin. His head didn't even have time to drop before a finger was flicked across his forehead, not even painful.

 

Tseng's entire body seized, stiffening like a board before he felt the shadows encroaching. Persephone was walking away, seemingly floating over the mud. He then felt as if he were falling a far distance, though he knew the ground was only inches away. Darkness invaded his sight and before he lost consciousness, his last thought was that he had failed in his mission. He had failed Sephiroth.

 

- - - - -