On the Airship, the Party feared the worst. The Al Bhed Cid came barreling through, crying something about launching. Cid Highwind was in awe of the structure of the ship itself, taking mental notes to improve his baby, the Highwind.

Tidus ran through and grabbed the Al Bhed Cid by the collar, yelling at him. A small argument broke out between the two and Cid threw the young blonde to the floor and commanded the pilot, Brother, to do something. He sighed deeply and started singing the Hymn of the Fayth.

Rikku gasped. Wakka looked at her.

"What?"

Rikku looked down, "We’re gonna blow up our home."

Highwind was still looking at the structure when a slight turbulence caused him to lose his balance.

"What the Hell was that?" he said to nobody. Vincent just happened to appear.

"The captain of this airship had ordered the pilot to fire upon their home. They sacrificed all they worked hard for just to get rid of a miniscule amount of Fiends."

"That’s their problem," Cid mumbled. Vincent looked at the pilot.

"You are disturbed?"

"This guy’s ship is way more advanced than mine!" Cid Highwind whined, "I was looking over this area and found out that I don’t have half as much of the technology that they have!"

Vincent raised a delicate eyebrow and folded his arms. Cid Highwind looked at him questioningly.

"Quit your bitching." Vincent said bluntly.

Reno looked out the window, holding tight to Rufus.

"The view is incredible…" Rufus began. Reno shrugged.

"All I see is clouds," Reno quipped. Cloud blinked. "It could be relaxing… if we didn’t have other things to do…"

Rufus nodded and yawned slightly.

"I’m going to down to one of the rooms for some much-needed rest," the young president stated as he was released from the Turk’s grasp.

"Sonno teso." Reno said shortly but sweetly. Rufus nodded again and headed downstairs. Cloud came up behind the red-haired Turk.

"For how long?" the puppet asked. Reno didn’t answer at first.

"A few months… on and off—I screw up and he breaks up with me… once in a while I get by with a warning but…" Reno lit a cigarette, "but I love the guy to death."

"That’s sweet… but… the last time I heard, he was dead and you were still a whore," Cloud quipped. Reno blinked a couple times and inhaled deeply.

"I saved the kid… and… I wish I wasn’t one… it gets me in trouble—bein’ promiscuous an’ all, but… hey—it’s a part of life…"

Cloud nodded and was about to speak when he head a giggle.

"Mwehehe, how’s my little boy?" Kefka giggled as he sidled next to Reno. The Turk felt his cheeks flush… out of anger; he had no idea—possibly embarrassment.

"Fine. And you?"

Kefka giggled again. Cloud found it best to leave them.

Cloud continued down the straight path leading to the cockpit, running into Kuja, literally.

"Watch where you step!" the Mage growled. Cloud looked at Kuja and blinked. Why does he remind me so much of Sephiroth?

"I’m… sorry, I wasn’t paying attention," Cloud said softly as he stepped out of Kuja’s way. Kuja was about to walk away again when he suddenly turned around.

"Cloud… the day grows somnolent, and wary are we. Be on safeguard, something is tentative." Cloud blinked as Kuja continued, "The victorious are not the ones who essentially won the crusade, but the skirmish and endure. I have an eccentric sensation that this will be our final altercation."

"But… that Auron guy says we could go home…"

Kuja shook his head.

"Remember what I have said… he’s a devious one… keep your guard up and hopefully the skirmish will end without a casualty," Kuja finished and walked away. Cloud repeated in his mind what Kuja said:

The day grows somnolent, and wary are we.

Be on safeguard, something is tentative.

The victorious are not the ones who

essentially won the crusade, but the

skirmish and endure.

"I have an eccentric sensation that this will be our final altercation," Cloud repeated aloud to no one in particular. He decided to see Auron.

"So," Wakka started, trying to make conversation with the silver-haired Demigod.

"I’d rather not talk now, Wakka. I have too much on my mind."

"There’s something going down, I feel it too, ya? It’s like… an ache in my stomach…"

"You’re probably hungry," Lulu quipped.

"Oh yeah."

Sephiroth sighed and looked out the window again, seeing a large flying snake-like creature pass them.

"We must be close to Bevelle… c’mon, we’ll have to fight that thing!" Tidus exclaimed.

Flying snake was right. We got up to the roof and I literally froze. The damned thing was easily over fifty feet long, possibly longer than the Midgar Zolom… I’ve been attacked by that thing… and nearly…

"Reno! Get your skinny Turk ass over here!" Cloud called.

Great… I’m up front for this attack, Reno thought as he walked slowly over to the Party.

"You’re up front with Wakka and Tidus," Cloud finished. Reno looked at the Evrae.

"Why me?"

"Scared, ya?" Wakka joked. Reno fumed.

"A Turk doesn’t get scared in the heat of an onslaught. My sensei taught me that." Reno looked at the flying snake again. "Bring it on!"

Evrae was attracted to fear… I could tell. That thing nearly killed me as we fought it, and I ripped it with my magic, bullets and nightstick. I had just about had it with Evrae when he did something really petrifying to me.

"Stupid Turk." Cloud grumbled as he cast Esuna on Reno. "Stay alive for us or we won’t get through."

"Well, la-dee-fuckin'-da, Cloud… Sephiroth, your turn, I have nothing left," Reno replied and stepped back. Sephiroth grinned maliciously.

"Of course."

Evrae inhaled deeply whilst Sephiroth poised for an attack. He lowered his Masamune and brought his hand to his forehead. No headache this time, but a thought had occurred.

"This is the last attack on you, demon. The finishing blow is up to me, and I choose… SUPERNOVA!" Sephiroth screamed, floating up and transforming into his Seraphim self. Cloud grimaced at the sight of Safer Sephiroth again, as did Vincent, Yuffie, Cait and Cid Highwind.

In the heated moment, the Evrae had become so confused that it depicted the giant asteroid as edible. With its mouth gaping open, the flying snake evaporated by the touch of Supernova. Safer Sephiroth floated down and transformed back into his natural self, despite the fact that he was weakened by the abundant energy he taken in for that attack.

"Such a transformation could not be natural," Kuja spoke softly, planning to speak with the black-clad silver when they got a moment together.

With that, we safely headed into Bevelle to crash Seymour’s wedding plans. Sliding down the suspension cord, we all landed near the place of the wedding. I was anxious to do it and get it over with, but I was also dead tired from fighting the giant snake thing.

Everything went as planned, crashing the wedding, but the guards held their spears and guns at our throats. I could have sworn I felt their eyes upon us from the other worlds. The wedding proceeded and Seymour got his kiss from Yuna, who, undoubtedly, didn’t want it from Seymour. She backed away to the edge of the wherever we were and told everyone to meet her at some place… I wasn’t listening, so sue me… after her little speech, she let herself fall from the balcony, summoning her Valefore and flying away. We did the same, getting away from Seymour and the monk guards.

Another Cloister of Trials, and we were all invited. Making our way through was easier than before, yet difficult because of the technologies used in Bevelle.

"Ah, Hell, I’m confused." Cid groaned, looking around.

"It seemed easier when we started… now… where do I put this?" Tidus wondered. Wakka looked at the sphere in Tidus’ hand.

"Over there, bud."

Tidus conferred. "A job well done, I see the Chamber of the Fayth." Kefka gave a gleeful squeal.

"Bahamut!!! Oh, it’ll be MINE!" Kefka giggled. Garnet shook her head.

"Only a Summoner can withstand the power bestowed upon them." Kefka looked at her.

"I’m a Summoner… I am! I summon… …" Kefka began whilst fishing for the flame red ponytail of Reno. "I summon a TURK!" he cried and pulled hard on the ponytail. Reno let out a yelp and fell backward.

"Ow, shit… Don’t do that again. How ‘bout I rip out your locks, Blondie?"

Kefka snarled at the Turk.

"Oh, you two are acting like infidels," Kuja stated and walked past to the Chamber of the Fayth. Reno stood again as Steiner helped him up.

"No worries… we shall escape here soon enough," the Pluto Knight Captain whispered. The Turk nodded.

All too soon was that said. The Bevelle guards captured us when we exited the temple. Whilst most of us put up pretty good fights against them—we were knocked out—they still dragged us to the trials.

Seymour… Mika… the other Maesters… I was so confused—latched onto Rufus. I looked toward Sephiroth, who held his head high, glaring at Seymour. Auron also glared at Seymour, but the twisted Guado smirked back at them.

Poor, poor Yuna, though. She had been through so much, a follower of Yevon throughout her life, and now this. I felt for Wakka as well; his heart had been crushed when we had to battle against Seymour.

I wondered what the Guado was thinking.

It wasn’t long after that we were thrown into cages: round prisons of torture. I was separated from Rufus, and, sulkily, I leaned on the bars. My companions? Steiner and Amarant.

Rufus looked out of the cage at his lover.

"Damnit… this is torture…" Cloud groaned. Rufus lowered his head and nodded. Sephiroth grunted and sat down, closing his eyes.

"Why would they do this? Are they that afeared of these people trying to bring down Sin?" Sephiroth started. The two blue-eyed blondes looked at the black clad silver. "Defy Yevon?"

Cloud cocked a brow. "Something’s going on in that mind of yours, Silver… and I want to know what it is."

"Yes. Out with it," Rufus implored. Sephiroth shook his head.

"Think for yourselves."

Kuja growled. "Not only am I in this cage… but I’m stuck here… with you two." Zidane gave a glare while Kefka stared out through the bars.

"Right this is not," Kefka started. Zidane looked at him. "What are they planning?"

"Hey… for once, the clown’s makin’ sense…" Zidane chimed. Kefka blinked and wiped off his makeup.

"They’re planning on throwing us in the river. Prepared you must be. Monsters lurking in the depths there are."

"Man…" Reno slouched on the bars, eyeing Rufus from his cage. "This bites big time."

"I most formally agree. As long as I am away from the princess… she is in danger."

"… Vivi’s with her," Amarant said monotonously. Reno watched as a Monk guard came through with what looked like members of the ShinRa army.

"Looks like trouble’s about to begin."

Thrown in the river like dogs. What luck we’ve had so far. Yet we all managed to meet up in different places. Tidus, Rikku, Wakka, Sephiroth, a few others and myself met up in the water while the rest of the party went looking for Yuna.

Rufus cursed aloud. Not only was he dirty, but wet as well. What fucking luck. Stupid Auron, remind myself to kill him when this is through, he thought bitterly. He met up with Kuja, who was thinking the same things, wringing out his hair.

"Well," Rufus started. Kuja looked up. "Might as well find the others."

"I’m not leaving this spot. I look like shit."

"Same here, but there are people that I care about scattered around and I, for one, don’t want to abandon them at this moment in time. I look like shit about as much as you do, so get off your ass and help me!" Rufus was obviously at the beginning of a tantrum. He always got what he wanted, either by will or by force.

Kuja snorted. "What do you think you can do, good sir?"

"As much as I can. I want to go home! And in order to do that, we have to defeat these things in our way!"

Tears glistened from Rufus’ eyes. Kuja looked up at the large sapphires and shook his head. Standing up, he patted Rufus on the shoulder.

"Let’s go, then."

Garnet shook involuntarily. This was the longest time she’d ever been away from Zidane or Steiner… or Vivi or Amarant. She was always with one of them, and now they were gone.

"Are you okay?" Garnet looked up.

"Yuna…"

"We must get out of here before…" Yuna ceased to talk. She took Garnet’s hand and quickly ran to the right.

"What?"

Yuna looked out. "Fiends. We mustn’t let them see us, or we’ll be done for."

"What about our summons?"

Yuna shook her head. "We must find the others."

Cid Highwind inhaled on his everlasting cigarette.

"So we wait here until she comes looking for us?"

"Cid may go. Kimahri wait."

"No way. I’m not leavin’ ya an’ gettin’ lost. I’m stayin’ right where I am."

"Fine. Then shut up until Yuna come. Kimahri like silence."

"YOOHOO!!!" They heard.

"Oh no," Kimahri groaned. Kefka came up from the water.

"You look like a wet cat, Kefka—oh… sorry, Kimahri."

"Kimahri no listen anymore."

Kefka smiled sadly.

"And speaking of wet cats…" he said as he brought up a waterlogged Cait Sith, Mogless as it were. Cid’s blue eyes widened.

"Cait!" he called as he ran to the villain and the robot. He helped Kefka out of the water and took Cait’s miniature body. He took both to where Kimahri was and set Cait on a piece of debris.

"C’mon little buddy… wake up…" Cid whispered. "Cait… wake up…!"

"What’s going on?"

Yuna and Garnet made it to where Kimahri, Cid, Kefka and Cait were, but they only saw three.

"Kimahri?" Kimahri looked at the Summoners.

"Cait Sith…" Kimahri said, but nothing more. The two Summoners dashed over to the four, just as Cid was taking off his jacket sadly, about to put it on Cait’s body.

"Can’t save him. He short-circuited as soon as he touched the water."

"Wait—" Garnet began. "I have Life." Cid backed away from the lifeless body of Cait Sith and Garnet cast Life. The small robot sputtered and choked, spitting out water in his synthetic lungs.

Almost instantly, Mog came out of the water and hopped to Cait’s side.

"Ungh… what luck I have…" Cait Sith groaned. Cid smiled.

"You may have lost one of your nine lives, cat, but I guarantee you that I’m glad you’re alive."

"You knew this was to happen, Sir Auron," Vincent said solemnly, glancing at the red-clad warrior. Auron shook his head. Steiner shook involuntarily.

"Princess… I do hope you’re okay," the large knight whispered.

"She should be with Yuna, Steiner. And Yuna will come looking for us."

"I do hope you’re right, Sir Auron," Steiner replied.

"Are you telling me that this… JENOVA could be worse than Necron?"

"Uh-huh," Rufus replied. "And to make matters worse… if JENOVA really is here… then she could take over Sephiroth’s body instantly. I wonder why she hasn’t to him, and only to Cloud…"

Kuja shrugged. "Perhaps his will is stronger than she expected." He looked around, confused. Where were they? "So… you say that where you come from… you’re president of a large corporation?"

Rufus nodded.

"How so?"

"My… father—if you could call him that—was murdered by JENOVA, posing as Sephiroth. I, being his bastard son, was forced to take over—like I had any choice. But I’m only 22, you know? A child can’t run a large corporation…" Rufus glanced at Kuja. "What about you? You look a lot like Sephiroth, you know that?" Kuja scoffed.

"I am a Genome—though I wish I wasn’t. That is why I dress this way. I was sent to Gaia—which is where Garnet, Vivi, Amarant and Steiner live—to destroy it. If I were to destroy Gaia, Terra—the planet where Zidane and myself are from—would thrive again."

"Why… is Terra a dying planet?"

Kuja nodded and Rufus looked down. "So isn’t my Planet… … the two dying Terra’s…"

Vivi looked up at Lulu weakly. The water would have killed him, had Amarant not been there. Lulu kept a straight face, staring ahead. Amarant, bored with the silence, began to walk away.

"Stop," Lulu said simply. "We are to wait here until the others find us."

"…" Amarant began, "Frankly, I don’t care. I’m outta here."

"Wait—" he heard in front of him. Kuja’s voice. "The Mage told you to stay."

Amarant growled and folded his arms. Rufus looked up and sighed.

"Reno… I hope he’s okay…"

Tidus led the group of eight deeper into the prestige to find a way out of the water. They ran into some small bunches of Fiends, but with Sephiroth’s piercing Masamune, they were a cinch.

Jeezus… Reno thought. They weren’t even close to the Highbridge yet when they heard a roar split the water. Reno immediately froze.

"It… it can’t be…"

Evrae was still… alive—if you could call it that. Yuffie shook as she saw the immense snake.

"It’s a zombie—" Sephiroth seemed to shout. "Throw anything healing at it!"

All eight searched for healing spells and potions… to no avail.

"Great, just great… where’s Aeris when you need her?" Cloud groaned. Both Sephiroth and Reno glared at him.

"Are you that dependant on her?" Sephiroth growled. Reno looked at the Evrae again.

"Uh… guys… people… it’s going to attack us… and then eat us if we’re lucky."

Tidus looked behind him. The locks!

"Hit the locks, we can trap it!" Tidus replied. Rikku and Wakka conferred. The gate opened and everybody swam through. Everybody, per say, but Reno—who was trapped within the Evrae Altana’s grasp.

"LET GO OF ME, YOU GODDAMNED FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT SNAKE!" Reno shouted, losing the air in his lungs. Sephiroth gripped Masamune in his hands and stabbed at the zombie snake. Letting out a screech, it dropped its prey and lashed out at the villain. Sephiroth dodged out of the way and grabbed onto Reno, dragging him through the gates until they reached the end… where Evrae couldn’t reach them.

"Hold on, Reno…" Wakka said as he threw his Blind Pass at the Evrae Altana. Yuffie gripped the Conformer in her hand as she sliced down onto the zombie snake. Cloud summoned Knights of the Round on the beast to kill it off—so-to-speak.

It wasn’t long before they reached the Highbridge and met up with the others that Reno regained consciousness.

"I… hate snakes…" Reno gasped as he coughed up water. Cloud smirked.

"Oh, so the Turk DOES have a weakness. Remind me to give you a cobra for Christmas."

"Blow me, Strife!" Reno spit and walked away, redoing his ponytail, grumbling about Cloud and snakes. "I say we take a break so we can rest up!" he shouted. The others either rubbed the back of their heads or shook their heads. They fell silent as Reno continued walking, and walked straight into Seymour.

"I do wish you would watch where you were going, son of Shiva," Seymour sneered. Reno glared at him.

"You know… you piss me off… we’ve been through just about everything to get home, and you and JENOVA and Necron and… and Sin are standing in our way—now if you don’t mind, move it, bud, or I’ll be forced to take actions against you," Reno’s voice was very calm, despite the rising anger in his emerald green eyes.

Seymour just scoffed and pushed the Turk away. Kimahri ran up, about to stab the twisted Guado with his Knight’s Lance as Wakka helped Reno up. Seymour continued to laugh and transform, a being next to him: Mortibody.

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