Mirror Image

by T'Shael

Chapter 20

No matter how much she fought, Aeris couldn't get Zephiroth to loosen his grip. She drew her hand back to slap him across the face. He dropped her on her feet and caught her hand. It stopped just short of its target. "Oh no, my pretty one, you and I have an appointment!"

"Let go of me!" she cried beating at him with her free hand. "You let go of me!"

Zephiroth let go of her hand, grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head back. Gasping in pain, Aeris reached back and tried to pry his hand free. Zephiroth kissed her. She swung as hard as she could. This time her slap found its mark. He roared in pain and thrust her away keeping a firm hold on one arm. He swung an open palm at her face. Aeris tried to dodge, but he struck her on the side of the head. Dazed, she staggered and he swung from the opposite side. The blow connected. Zephiroth let her fall to the floor and stood over her laughing. Aeris rolled over and tried to crawl away.

"No you don't!" Zephiroth grabbed her legs and dragged her back to him. With a twist of his arms, he flipped Aeris on her back. When he let go of her feet, Aeris rolled again, kicking at his closest leg.

Zephiroth dodged the kick. "So you want to play rough? That's all right with me!"

Aeris kicked at his hands when he reached for her again. She tried to scoot away, but he grabbed her feet and dragged her back once more. He dropped to his knees straddling her and forced her to turn over. Pinning her beneath his weight, he started kissing her. Aeris screamed as he tried to hold her thrashing arms.

The door behind them flew open and crashed against the wall, falling off its hinges. With Zephiroth's silver hair plastered to the tears on her face and his body blocking her view, Aeris couldn't see what was happening. She dearly hoped a monster had broken in and would kill them before Zephiroth carried out his intentions.

"Let her go."

Aeris had never heard a voice so deadly before. It sent an icy chill down her spine even as she was relieved to hear it.

Zephiroth turned to look over his shoulder at the intruder. His voice was no less deadlier than Sephiroth's. "This is not your affair, brother. The woman is mine. Get out." Aeris managed to raise herself enough to see Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth!" cried Aeris. She struggled against Zephiroth. "Get off me!"

"Silence!" Zephiroth shouted in her face and forced her back down. He looked turned to look at Sephiroth. "I claim the woman as my own. Find another."

Sephiroth stepped into the room. Aeris felt Zephiroth's body tense.

"You heard the lady," said Sephiroth in the same deadly voice. "Get away from her."

"I will tell you one more time . . . brother." Zephiroth's silver black eyes were beginning to glow with something more than lust. "This is not your affair. If you leave now, I'll let you live. Stay and you will die."

Sephiroth pulled his sword from the sheath. "This is my answer."

"If the lady to be the prize, so be it." Zephiroth grinned. He rose, dragging Aeris to her feet. He held her against his chest as he backed away from Sephiroth toward a nearby desk. Sephiroth took one step forward.

Zephiroth pressed his fingers into Aeris' throat. "Stand fast, or I'll kill her and neither of us will get her."

Sephiroth stepped back.

Zephiroth favored him with a smile. "We understand each other then. I just want to make sure our little beauty doesn't run away. I've chased her far too long as it is. I'm most eager to get started on our little project." He kissed Aeris on the cheek despite her efforts to turn it away from him.

Pinning her arms to her side, with one arm, Zephiroth ripped the power cord out of the back of a computer on the desk. He jerked the other end of the cord from the wall. He shoved Aeris into a chair pinning her arms back. Keeping an eye on Sephiroth, he lashed her hands to the chair. Enjoying Sephiroth's ire, he kissed the top of her head.

"Later my darling Cetra," he said in a stage whisper.

Sephiroth took a few steps into the room as Zephiroth drew his blade. Smirking Zephiroth approached Sephiroth and stopped just beyond striking distance.

"I could probably finish you quick with spells and materia, my dear brother," Zephiroth said, "But I want my little pretty over there to see you die by my hand. This will be her first lesson in obedience."

"You're wasting your time," said Sephiroth keeping an eye on his adversary. "Hojo is dead. There is no one to grow your army for you."

Zephiroth's eyes widened, "You killed him?"

"The same way I intend to kill you." Sephiroth smiled.

"You fool!" snarled Zephiroth, "I needed him. I didn't want him dead yet!"

Zephiroth lunged, Sephiroth parried. Aeris watched as they circled each other. Their faces were unreadable. She struggled against her bonds but Zephiroth had made sure she wasn't going anywhere. Aeris feared for Sephiroth's life. If Zephiroth wasn't insane, she would have considered it a fair match. She dared not call out to Sephiroth and distract him.

"I'll do you a favor then, " said Sephiroth, "I'll send you to meet him. In Hell!"

Their swords met again and they began to duel in earnest. They moved so fast, Aeris could barely follow the action. Sometimes she couldn't tell one from the other. Every time the swords touched, sparks flew into the air. Zephiroth pressed forward forcing Sephiroth to retreat. A moment later Sephiroth got through Zephiroth's defense and slashed at his face. Zephiroth dodged and countered the next blow but he stumbled. Sephiroth took advantage of the situation and backed Zephiroth up against a desk. Sparks flashed across the desk leaving burn marks on a sheet of paper. With nowhere to go, Zephiroth was forced to press forward. He managed to hold Sephiroth back just enough to maneuver away from the desk.

"You'll have to do better than that, dear brother," he laughed.

The blades were flying faster than ever. A constant stream of sparks flew around the room. At one point, Zephiroth tried to force Sephiroth to back into Aeris but Sephiroth executed a riposte and slashed his opponents' chest.

Zephiroth glanced down at his wound. "You'll pay for that!"

Angry now, he charged his green eyed twin. He tried to force Sephiroth into a corner, but Sephiroth's footwork helped him to avoid the trap. His blows were lightening fast and deadly.

The duel went on. Both combatants looked for an opening through the others' defense. Sephiroth had had many years of training in combat and practice with fencing partners. He was fighting with the fury of a man defending a woman close to his heart. Zephiroth, on the other hand, was fighting with the mentality of a child to whom a treat has been denied. He knew all the rules and moves of swordplay from Hojo's tapes, but he was a master of the blade in theory only. He had no physical training and very little time to practice since his emergence from the pod. He was beginning to tire and it showed.

Sephiroth's attacks were forcing him to retreat more and more. Zephiroth tried to maintain his outer appearance of confidence but deep inside, he felt the first touch of desperation. The thought of giving up the girl to his green-eyed foe put a sour taste in his mouth. Zephiroth's attacks became wilder and more undisciplined.

Passing a desk, Zephiroth reached called on his abnormal strength. He grabbed the end of it and flipped it over at Sephiroth. Sephiroth dodged the desk and the items that flew from the surface. Zephiroth raced across the room toward Aeris, raising his sword as he came. Aeris saw what he intended and screamed. Unbelievingly, Sephiroth was there to block the blow before it fell. Zephiroth roared and made a clumsy attempt to plunge his weapon into Sephiroth's heart. A flick of Sephiroth's wrist sent his opponent's sword flying. Another thrust sent his sword into Zephiroth's chest.

Zephiroth's eyes went wide in disbelief. "NO!" blood bubbled over his lips. "I . . . am . . . . . . better . . . than you."

"Not good enough!" Sephiroth gave his sword a final twist. Blood gushed from the wound.

Zephiroth sank to his knees. He turned his failing eyes on the girl bound to the chair. She was beautiful and he still wanted her. He stretched out a hand to her. The silver black eyes closed. He slumped forward. Sephiroth jerked his blade out of Zephiroth's body, pushing it backwards with his foot. He wiped his blade on the body and turned to Aeris. Her eyes were very green in a very white face. Sephiroth turned the chair around and cut through her bonds. He put his sword into its sheath. He ushered Aeris to the main hallway and pushed her outside. He walked back Zephiroth's body. Except for the color of his eyes, Zephiroth was his exact twin.

Sephiroth stared at the body and his anger grew. This man would have violated Aeris. His mind went back to the sight of Zephiroth holding Aeris on the floor and his anger became an inferno. This abomination would have forced Aeris to bear his child. The room grew warmer. Sephiroth's Mako eyes began to glow like miniature lamps. He felt as if an electric charge was building in his body. The air crackled around him. He raised his palms toward the body on the floor. Sparks skipped over his fingers as Sephiroth cast the strongest fire spell he had ever cast in his life.

The power rushed out of his fingers and struck Zephiroth in a blast of light that slid over his body and encased it like a cocoon. The light was too bright for normal eyes but Sephiroth didn't even squint. The light vanished leaving a heap of ashes where Zephiroth's body had been. Sephiroth cast a lightening spell. With a loud "poof!" ashes scattered all over the room. Sephiroth brushed off his clothes and went to Aeris.

Aeris stood with her back to the broken door, leaning against the wall. Her hands covered her face as she wept. Sephiroth took Aeris in his arms and held her trembling body.

"I didn't think anyone would find me," Aeris said between sobs. "Hojo was going to make me bear children for his experiments. He was going to let Zephiroth . . . "

"Sh-h-h" Sephiroth closed his eyes and held her close. "It's all right now. You're safe Aeris."

Aeris raised her head from his shoulder. Her damp green eyes were filled with trust. Sephiroth couldn't help himself. He kissed her. She kissed him back passionately. He could feel something stirring inside . . .

"How touching. The lovebirds sharing a tender moment. If I still had tear ducts, this little scene would make me cry. It's really too bad I'll have to kill you Sephiroth and keep the Cetra for myself."

Aeris and Sephiroth turned toward the voice. Hojo was coiling himself in the hallway. A very different Hojo than Sephiroth had met in the lab.

Hojo's body had turned lime green. His face was covered with scales. He had two slits for nostrils. His hair looked limp and greasy. There were no were no whites in his black eyes. Two fangs protruded from his upper lip. A black forked tongue flicked in and out of his mouth. He had two scaly arms and a thirty foot long serpentine body. His skin had the damp gooey texture of a slug. A trail of slime marked his path from the lab.

Aeris drew closer to Sephiroth. "Is that you Hojo?"

"Yesssssss," he said in a whispery voice. "It is I."

"What kind of trickery is this?" demanded Sephiroth.

"I evolved." Hojo waved his upper body gently. "It takes more than a sword through the chest to kill me, my son. I have Jenova's ability to regenerate. This is an alternate form. This is why it's so important to breed the Cetra with you or one of your clones. Imagine the power they would have at their disposal!"

Aeris clung to Sephiroth. "Never!"

"Let's not start that tired game again," hissed Hojo. "You know you don't have a choice. I don't intend to argue with you."

"When I kill you this time," said Sephiroth menacingly, "You won't get up again."

"Come off of it son," Hojo bobbed his head. "I'm not the only one you have to deal with. If you've killed Zephiroth, and I think by that cute little scene I just witnessed you did, he should be getting up soon too."

"I seriously doubt that," replied Sephiroth. "I burned him to ashes."

"You did what? You burned up his body? How?" Hojo tested the air. He didn't sense any smoke but he didn't think Sephiroth was lying. What was left of his eyebrows creased in a frown. "Damn you boy, what did you have to go and do that for?"

"Because both of you have to die to save the Planet from your madness," answered Sephiroth.

"You think because you're not crazy anymore, you have the right to pass judgement?" Hojo grinned. "I think not. If I had known you would find us here before I was ready for you, I would have killed you in the Nibelheim forest and taken the Cetra away from you."

"How did you know we were in Nibelheim?" asked Aeris.

"He was probably spying on us," answered Sephiroth.

"No we weren't. From the rumors we heard, you were still in Icicle Village. We were just passing through the area when we saw both of you on your chocobo." Hojo flicked his tongue at her. "I was making plans for Zephiroth to slip into a window during the night and kidnap you but you saved us the trouble when you went riding alone."

"A mistake I'll never make again," said Aeris.

Hojo made a hissing noise, his version of laughing. "That's true," he said. "I intend to keep you in your cell when you're not being mated."

"Zephiroth is dead." Sephiroth's voice was cold. "Your mating plans are over."

"I wasn't referring to Zephiroth," said Hojo. "I was referring to me."

Without warning Hojo uncoiled and struck. Aeris was knocked aside. Hojo rammed Sephiroth with his head, sinking his fangs deep into Sephiroth's chest. Aeris screamed as Sephiroth crumpled to the floor.

His eyes rolled back and his body shuddered. Hojo removed his fangs and coiled his body again. Aeris dropped to Sephiroth's side. He was gasping for breath. His lips and face were turning blue.

"Sephiroth!" she cried. She cradled his head in her lap. She looked at the evil creature before her. "You poisoned him!"

Hojo flicked his tongue at her. "He won't be bothering us anymore. I may look like a snake Aeris but I don't have to have a snake for a mate. I still have a few human parts within this body. Sephiroth destroyed the clones I was preparing, but you and I can start over again. We can still be the mother and father of a new race."

Aeris was stroking Sephiroth's hair. His eyes were open, but he didn't seem to be aware of her. His body shivered. Aeris kissed his cold lips. "I'll save you Sephiroth," she whispered.

"Stop that!" roared Hojo. "I won't have my mate kissing another man."

"I'm not your mate!" shouted Aeris, putting her hands together. "Go away and leave us alone!"

"This has gone on long enough!" snapped Hojo. He lunged forward and butted Aeris with his head. She slid backwards. Sephiroth's head fell from her lap and thumped on the floor. Aeris tried to crawl back to him. Hojo screeched and struck her shoulder, knocking her away from the unconscious man. Sephiroth was gasping for breath now. His body went into convulsions. Aeris screamed, rose to her knees and tried once more to get to him. Hojo hit her hard enough to knock the air out of her. She collapsed on the floor trying to breathe.

Hojo laughed and began to coil himself around her body. Fighting for breath, Aeris tried to push the slimy coils away but it was more muscular than it looked. She didn't have the strength stop him. She beat at the gooey coils as they encased her.

"Let me go, let me go, let me go!" Tears were streaming down Aeris' face. "Don't take me away from Sephiroth!"

Hojo shook his head. "Sephiroth is no longer any of your concern." He flicked his tongue over her face. "Let's go home, sweet Aeris."

Sephiroth made a gurgling noise in his throat and his back arched.

"Sephiroth!" cried Aeris.

Sephiroth gurgled again. His body stiffened. His glowing Mako went dim. His head lolled to one side as his body went limp.

"He's dead Aeris." Hojo flicked his tongue at her.

Aeris found her breath and started screaming. Hojo lost his temper. He began to shake her vigorously with his coils. "Stop it! Stop it right now or I'll squeeze you unconscious!"

Aeris stopped screaming. Her face was drenched with tears. "You killed him!"

"Big deal," said Hojo. Holding Aeris in his coils, Hojo started slithering down the hall. "We've got work to do. Our children are waiting!"

Pleased with himself, Hojo was already thinking about how he would replace the samples Sephiroth had ruined. The reflection of a flickering light caught his eye. Turning to look back, he saw Sephiroth under a beam of light that seemed to come from nowhere. Hojo stopped crawling and stared in surprise. As he watched twinkling golden stars drifted down the beam and sprinkled Sephiroth's body. He looked at Aeris. She was praying. He looked back at Sephiroth and saw a hand twitch. He looked back at Aeris. The Cetra was doing this. Somehow she was bringing Sephiroth back to life.

He shook her angrily. "Stop that! Stop it right now!" he ordered.

It was too late. Inside the beam of light, Sephiroth was sitting up. He looked around and his gaze fell on Hojo.

Hojo gave Aeris an evil look. "You did this!" he hissed. He began to squeeze.

Aeris eyes grew wide. "Sephiroth! Help . . . me . . . " her breath was gone.

Hojo saw movement out the corner of his eye. Sephiroth was running toward him, sword upraised. He loosened his coils and Aeris rolled free, gasping for breath. Hojo crawled away from her. He barely had enough time to make one strike at Sephiroth. He missed. Sephiroth swung his blade. Hojo felt a breeze as it sliced past his nose.

He reared back, coiling himself again. "When I kill you this time, there's no coming back!"

"What a coincidence," snarled Sephiroth, "I was just about to say the same thing about you!"

Hojo frowned. He could have sworn Sephiroth's eyes were glowing more than usual. He ducked as Sephiroth swung his blade again. He tried to strike as the blade passed, but Sephiroth cast an ice spell. The cold went through Hojo like a razor. He shook himself and ducked another slash. He'd get this troublesome son out of his way once and for all.

He moved to follow Sephiroth's movements. Before he could strike again, Sephiroth cast a Wall spell. Hojo's head hit the barrier and bounced off. Enraged, he made a high-pitched screeching noise and the wall shattered. Flicking his tongue, he struck again. His fangs barely missed Sephiroth's arm.

"You'll have to get a lot closer than that Hojo!" said Sephiroth.

"I intend to," hissed Hojo. "I intend to, my son!"

Hojo weaved out of harms way as Sephiroth dashed forward, aiming at his head. When he jumped back, Hojo spat venom at him. Sephiroth threw himself to one side and the thick liquid struck a wall. The wall bubbled and smoked as the venom began slowly eat through.

Hojo balanced and raised his barbed tail. He made a move as if to strike, then whipped his tail toward Sephiroth.

Sephiroth dodged and the barbs ripped through the hem of his black cape.

"You're not much of a fighter are you?" asked Sephiroth grinning evilly.

"You think so?" Hojo dodged an ice spell and swung his tail again. "I don't have to be a good fighter. I'm a better lover. Your mother believed it, and Aeris will too."

Sephiroth froze where he stood. His face hardened. "Don't talk about my mother or Aeris like that. This is between you and me."

Hojo hissed angrily. "You fancy yourself defending the honor of your women. You'd do well to be concerned about your own welfare."

"You aren't my father but you're as bad as he was. He killed my mother," said Sephiroth, "If I don't stop you now, you will kill Aeris and the rest of the Planet with your sick experiments."

"There's nothing sick about my experiments, you fool!" hissed Hojo. "You had a chance to share it all with me, but you are no better than that weakling Cloud Strife. For your information, I am just as much your father as the first Hojo. My cells came from his body. The only thing I would have done differently is, I would have smothered you the day you were born. He would have saved himself the trouble of putting up with your insolence!"

"If anyone had to put up with anything, it was I," said Sephiroth. "I was his flesh and blood and he treated me like a specimen."

"I AM your father and that's ALL you were good for!," hissed Hojo, "I should have found a replacement for Lucrecia. A weak mother produced a weak son! It was hardly worth the effort creating you. Your mother wasn't much of a lover."

Sephiroth put his sword back in its sheath.

"When I'm through with you," said Hojo, "I'm going to have the Cetra all to myself. You'll never know what you missed. I'll bet Aeris will survive beyond her first pregnancy. I'll bet a Cetra isn't weak . . . like your mother."

Aeris listened to Hojo's words and her face turned pale. Sephiroth was just standing there but something about him had changed. Even when he was insane, Aeris had never seen the expression on his face that he wore now. Hojo was dangerous but Aeris had a feeling Sephiroth was even more dangerous now than Hojo.

"Aeris," said Sephiroth in a quiet voice, "Turn your back and cover your eyes. Don't look, no matter what. Cover your eyes with your hands and tuck your head in with your back to us."

Aeris did as he asked.

Hojo looked amused.

"What's the matter Sephiroth?" he grinned, "Don't you want your little Cetra to watch me kill you?"

Sephiroth's body was crackling. His eyes never left Hojo's face.

"No," he said. "I don't want her to see me kill you."

"Don't make me laugh!" spat Hojo. "If anyone is going to die here, it's you."

Hojo turned his barbed tail in Sephiroth's direction. A beam shot from his tail. Sephiroth raised his right hand and the beam hit the center of his palm and fizzled out.

"Not bad," Sephiroth gave Hojo a chilly smile. "I don't have time to play with you anymore, so forgive me if I cut this short and kill you."

"I don't know how you did that but you won't have a chance to do it again!" Hojo fired beams from his eyes and tail at the same time.

Sephiroth raised his hand. The beams went into his palm and vanished.

"What the hell? How did you do that?" cried Hojo. "That should have fried you like a fish in a skillet. How did you survive?"

"The secret is, you don't hate me nearly as much as I hate Hojo!" Sephiroth felt the power building inside him again. The temperature began to rise in the hallway. He found his hate for Hojo and let it join the power. Sparks crackled around the ends of his hair. The silver locks began to fan out around him.

"What are you doing?" asked Hojo. He could feel his thin hair standing on end from all the static electricity in the air. "What kind of power is that?"

"This kind." Sephiroth's palm was glowing. Sparks danced over his fingers. The light that surged from his palm was even more brilliant than the light that consumed Zephiroth. It struck Hojo and enveloped his body. Hojo began to scream horribly as his flesh started to bubble. He began to strike blindly in all directions. The light coming from Hojo's body was far too brilliant for the naked eye. It would have caused permanent injury to a human eye. Sephiroth's vision was not affected. He dodged two strikes and rushed past Hojo to Aeris pulling off his cape as he came. He dropped next to her and covered her with it.

"Keep your head down," he whispered urgently. "Shield your eyes. I have to cast a Wall spell to protect us in case he strikes!"

"Don't," said Aeris' muffled voice. "I've taken care of it."

Sephiroth's eyes widened as his body began to glow. Under the black cape, Aeris was glowing too.

"What did you do?" he asked.

"It's my Great Gospel spell," she said. "For a short time, we're invincible."

It wasn't a moment too soon. Still covered with light and blind as a bat facing a supernova, Hojo struck in their direction. He was repelled three times before he turned to strike at the walls. His horrible screaming continued. Aeris could hear a frying noise and an awful smell tickled her nostrils. She felt Sephiroth's arm tighten around her and she was comforted. Hojo kept screaming. They could hear him throwing himself against the ceiling, walls and floor. Just as Aeris thought she couldn't take anymore, Hojo's last scream reached a frightening pitch and stopped. The light vanished. When Sephiroth looked back, he saw something that looked like a statue made of coal. It was Hojo frozen in his last grimace of death.

"He's dead." Sephiroth said. His body stopped glowing.

Aeris pulled the cape from her head. She wasn't glowing either. She looked back at Hojo. She gasped and covered her mouth with the back of one hand. "What happened to him? What did you do?"

Sephiroth stood up, helping Aeris to her feet. "It doesn't matter. He's dead and he can't hurt you anymore."

Aeris wrapped the cape around herself. "I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I," he said solemnly.

"Your powers have grown." Aeris looked at Hojo and shivered.

"Professor Gast said they would." Sephiroth looked at Hojo without remorse.

"Do you think he'll come back?" Aeris pulled the cape around herself.

"I don't think so," Sephiroth turned to Aeris. "Will this make you afraid of me now?"

Aeris shook her head. "I'm not afraid of you Sephiroth. I could never be afraid of you."

Sephiroth was about to speak when unexpectedly, Hojo's body exploded.

The blast knocked them off their feet. Aeris struck her head against the wall and slid to the floor. Both of them were showered with ashes.

Sephiroth crawled to Aeris' side. She was alive but unconscious. He had to get her back to the ship. One of the crewmen had medical training. Sephiroth wrapped her in his cape and picked her up. He kissed her forehead. "I'll take care of you Aeris."

He carried her toward the outer doors.

"I've had it!" said Cloud. "This monster heals himself every time we make a major dent in his hide. Our only chance is to take out his wings before he can heal himself again. Vincent use Chaos on one wing and Red use your Cosmo Memory on the other!"

"Ready Red?" asked Vincent.

"On the count of three," said Red XIII. "One, two, three!"

Simultaneously they leaped forward. Vincent tore into the left wing, Red hit the right just as the monster tried to wrap them around himself again. The force of Vincent's flaming skulls and Red's ball of fire destroyed both wings in a powerful blast. The monster rocked under the assault and stood dazed.

Tifa used her aqua lung spell and the creature staggered a little.

Yuffie used a shadow flare. The monster stumbled fell to its knees and pulled itself up painfully.

Cid cast a pandora's box spell. The creature fell on its face. Before they could congratulate themselves, it began to pull itself up again. Both of the stubby wings glowed weakly and started to get brighter as they tried to heal themselves.

"Everybody use your strongest summon, " yelled Cloud. "Red, you mime each one. On the count of three! Ready everyone?"

"We're ready. We're ready!" yelled Barret from his hiding place. "Let's kill this damned thing so I can go home. Marlene is waiting!"

"Yeah!" yelled Cid. "I'd like to see my wife, sometime this year!"

"I have a job waiting for me back in Gongaga!" shouted Vincent. "I'm not making money on this job!"

"Likewise," said Yuffie. "I have places to be . . . "

"Materia to steal . . . " finished Cid. Yuffie gave him a dirty look.

"I do have some studying to do," said Red XIII.

"My plants need to be watered!" called Tifa.

"Okay," said Cloud, "One, two, three!"

"Holy Judgement" yelled Tifa. She covered her eyes as lightening bolts began to fly.

"Mime!" shouted Red XIII. The light show began again.

"Gung Lance!" yelled Yuffie. A flaming spear hit the creature squarely on the head.

"Mime!" shouted Red. A second spear repeated the move.

The monster fell to its knees.

"Tetra-Disaster!" yelled Cid. The next summon rolled into action.

"Mime" shouted Red. The monster lost its healing wings.

"Terra Flare!" yelled Vincent. A bolt of light shot out of the sky and hit the monster between the shoulder blades.

"Mime!" shouted Red. The monster got a double dose.

"Giga Flare!" yelled Barrett.

"Mime!" shouted Red. "Now Cloud! Use the big one!"

Down but not defeated, it tried to rise again.

"Ultimate End!" yelled Cloud. Thirteen knights left their mark.

"Mime!" shouted Red and the knights were back for a repeat performance.

When the last knight struck the final blow, the monster lay twitching on the ground. As they watched, it shuddered and lay still. Cloud and his team collapsed in exhaustion.

"Why didn't we just do that before?" asked Cid.

"Who knew it would take so much to bring him down?" asked Cloud.

A monster roared in the distance.

"I sure hope," said Yuffie, "that's not another one of THESE!"

"Shut up before you bring something else down on our heads," said Cid.

Yuffie made a face at him.

Cloud stood up wearily. "Let's go find Sephiroth and Aeris."

Tifa pointed. "There they are now!"

Everyone turned to see Sephiroth carrying an unconscious Aeris in his arms.

"What did you do to her?" asked Barret.

"Shut the hell up Barret." Said Cid. He turned to Sephiroth. "Is she okay?"

"We were caught in an explosion," answered Sephiroth. "She needs medical attention."

The monster roared again. It was closer.

"Let's get the hell out of here before something else wants to kick our asses," said Cid. "I've had enough for one day."