Darkness Falls Chapter 40
By Gemini83
Cloud ran at Sephiroth, pointedly ignoring any words intended to enrage him.
Cloud hacked his way through Sephiroth’s defense, despite all the man
could do. Finally, Sephiroth lashed out with a pure wave of energy, flinging
Cloud against one of the various pillars.
The others cried out in dismay, raging against the restraints of Cloud’s
energy shield.
He yelled out to them, “stay back! You might break through the barrier,
but in his present state, he could kill you all!”
Sephiroth nodded, “now you begin to understand Cloud.”
He sneered as strands of energy began to spring forth from him, almost like
the tentacles of some misbegotten beast.
Cloud laughed harshly, “you look like Jenova.”
Sephiroth grinned smugly, “I am what I was created to be...and
more...”
Cloud laughed, “you...are nothing Sephiroth. A self-proclaimed god?
Don’t make me laugh. What, by the Planet, is a god made by humans?”
Sephiroth sneered, “I AM a god, and you will all fall!”
Slowly, determinedly, Cloud drew raised his sword from behind his
back.
“What are you? Nothing but a failure, a machine, a project created and
discarded by your creators.”
“I am a man Sephiroth,” said Cloud, “don’t you ever forget
that.”
“A man?” spat Sephiroth, as if insulted by the word, “a mere
man defies me? In the age of gods and demons? All of creation will quiver
at my feet. But before that, unfortunately, you will already be
dead.”
Cloud said nothing...
“What?” asked Sephiroth, “no quirky reply, no last declaration
of defiance?”
Cloud said nothing...
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes, “have you nothing to say before you
die?”
Cloud said nothing...
“Damn you!” screamed Sephiroth, “answer me!”
Cloud still said nothing...
Sephiroth nodded, gathering great strands of energy about his body.
“If you will not kneel to me now,” stated Sephiroth, “then
you SHALL kneel...in pieces!”
Sephiroth, one of the most feared and powerful men on the Planet, struck
forth at Cloud with all his might, bringing his tendrils of energy to bare
upon the leader of Avalanche.
And still Cloud said nothing...
He merely rushed the assault, seeming for all the world, to be running towards
his death.
His friends cried out in dismay, looking on with fear. But they could do
nothing.
Cloud ran faster...faster...pushing the limits of his muscles. And slowly,
implacably, he brought his sword out in front, charging at his foe.
Sephiroth felt for a brief moment that something had gone terribly wrong,
then Cloud was there...
He sliced through all the tendrils, breaking past Sephiroth’s defenses,
and plunged his sword deep into Sephiroth’s chest.
Sephiroth was paralyzed with pain, and coughed out blood, his eyes grew blurry.
Cloud stared back coldly into Sephiroth’s glassy eyes, and drew out
his sword with a jerk.
Sephiroth staggered back, eyes wide, clutching at the deadly wound in his
chest. The Masamune fell from his hand.
“What...how...,” struggled Sephiroth,
“not...possible...”
Cloud was breathing raggedly, “there are...no limits to what a man may
do...for those he cares about.”
Cloud fell to his knees, exhausted. The energy field around his friends
disappeared. Avalanche and the Turks rushed to his side, helping him to
stand.
Kaede looked calmly as he saw his death approaching. His only regret was
that he could not see Aeris again.
Dear Aeris...
He felt a gentle tugging at his hand. Kaede looked down, and saw Aeris’
string necklace wrapped around his wrist. And joined to the necklace was...his
sword.
He must have subconsciously put his hand through the loop...he had his sword
after all.
Renewed hope surged through his veins, a calm, grim determination, and Kaede
gripped his sword tightly. He had to time this just right...
Methos soon closed the distance between them, and thrust his sword at Kaede.
The Planeswalker spun around, sidestepping the attack. Methos’ blade
sliced through Kaede’s back, but it wasn’t over yet...
...For Kaede brought his own sword around, and, using the Drahk lord’s
own momentum, struck Methos through the heart...
Kaede’s blade ran clean through, emerging from Methos’ back. The
Horseman’s sword fell clattering from his hands, and his shoulders slumped.
Kaede drew out his sword, and Methos’ body jerked in pain.
“Damn Kaede,” said Methos, “you killed me...”
Kaede’s eyes widened, as he heard a...softness in his brother’s
voice. Methos stumbled backwards, falling to his knees. Kaede stared into
his eyes, and saw the blood red haze disappear, leaving a pair of clear
blue-green eyes staring right back.
“Brother?” asked Kaede, not daring to believe.
He ran forth, catching Methos before he fell, cradling his brother in his
arms.
Methos coughed painfully, “I...didn’t think you’d actually...thank
you...Kaede.”
Kaede stared shocked into his brother’s eyes, “what do you...what
are you talking about?”
Methos shook his head, “I’ve been such a fool, such a damn fool.
Kaede, I was wrong, I let my thirst for power blind me. I feel it leaving
me now, I feel my energy draining bit by bit.”
He gripped at Kaede’s hand, tightly.
“I can tell you now...now that I’m no longer drunk with power...I
love you...brother.”
The Planeswalker could only gape, at a loss for words, “but
before...you...why now? Why...?”
More blood leaked from his mouth, and Methos grimaced from the pain, “like
you said brother, I let my pursuits...I let them take control.”
Kaede tried to say something, anything, but Methos silenced him.
“Don’t say anything Kaede, just be glad you were able to break
the cycle, that you were able to set me free. You killed the beast that has
been controlling me all these years.”
Kaede’s eyes widened in shock, ”you mean...you, you
too?”
“No Kaede, I was not forced, like you, to become a Drahk. But I did
let them change me, turn me into something worse than I had ever intended.
But I’m back now. I am truly me after such a long time.”
Kaede blinked back his tears. Why now, dammit? Why was is that the only was
he could have his brother back...was to kill him?
“Just hang on,” said Kaede, “I’ll get you
help.”
“No...use...Kaede,” grunted Methos.
“Don’t say that.”
“Kaede, we’ve never...harbored...false illusions. Let’s not
start now. You are a great warrior...perhaps the best of us...you know a
death wound when you see one. Under normal circumstances, I would already
be dead...”
Kaede shook his head, closing his eyes, and knew it was true. In the heat
of battle, there had always ever been one choice, kill or be killed. That
was his life, that was his legacy.
Methos reached his hands up, and hugged Kaede. Kaede grimly closed his eyes,
and hugged back.
“For the first time in years,” whispered Methos, “we are truly
brothers.”
“Brothers...” echoed Kaede.
Then Methos felt a strange force, like sparks running through his veins,
and he knew there was one thing left to be done...
...Out in space, clouds of energy surged forth from the remnants of the Drahk
space forces, and circled above the Planet...
“Kaede...help me to my feet.”
“What is it?”
“Please, just do it.”
Kaede nodded, and helped him up.
“Brother,” said the Methos, “I have something to tell you,
about this place...about the emperor’s plans...”
“You’re even more stubborn than me Cloud,” grimaced
Barret.
Cloud looked into his friends’ eyes, and laughed.
Tifa groaned, slowly opening her eyes, Cloud took her in his arms, running
his hand along her hair.
“Cloud...”
He kissed her forehead, “hush Tifa, I’m
here...”
Sephiroth forced his shaking hand to reach for the Black/White
Materia.
“Fools,” he said, “you have not beaten me...”
Cloud jerked his head up, looking at Sephiroth. The others followed
suit.
Sephiroth laughed, raising his hand with the materia in it, “I still...have
this. And it contains all the power I need...to defeat you
all...”
“That bastard Jenovan, Sephiroth,” spat Methos, “he has the
power to destroy us all.”
Kaede nodded, “we have to stop him.”
“You will need the Cetra.”
“Aeris?”
Methos nodded, “I know how you feel about her Kaede...hold on to her,
for she is this Planet’s greatest treasure.”
“I know...”
“Goodbye brother...”
Kaede looked askance, ‘...good...goodbye...?”
Without a word Methos ran forward, bursting through the hole in the wall.
Kaede yelled at him to stop.
Sephiroth turned as he heard the noise, and saw Methos running at
him.
“Ah, good. Now we...”
Methos silenced Sephiroth by leaping into the menace, reaching for the
Black/White Materia.
“No you fool!” shouted Sephiroth, “what do you think you’re
doing?!”
“You cannot not have the power of this planet,” shouted Methos,
“I will not allow it!”
Methos trapped Sephiroth in a headlock, and prepared for his final
attack.
“No! Methos! Wait!” shouted Kaede.
“Too late brother,” replied Methos, “it’s been too late
for a long time.”
Methos stared into the night sky, glaring at the remnants of the Drahk fleet,
and cried out, “YOU BASTAAAAAARRR-”
Methos unleashed his attack. A great halo of fire engulfed him and swallowed
his words in a rush of sound, consuming both he and Sephiroth...
When it was over, Sephiroth was lying sprawled on the ground, gasping for
breath, his clothing was charred.
...Methos was gone...
The Black/White Materia rolled towards Kaede’s feet, and
stopped.
He heard a voice in his head, Methos,’ ‘the rest is up to you
brother...farewell.’
Kaede grabbed the materia in one hand and raised it to the sky. He closed
is eyes and finally let out the anguish that had gathered within him for
so long...
“NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!”
Aeris opened her eyes, feeling a strange power surging around her. She looked
up, and saw what Kaede was about to do. She screamed in denial.
Sephiroth struggled to his feet, leaning heavily upon his knees, and slowly
stepped forward, reaching out a hand, “no...you
can’t...”
Kaede gripped the materia in both hands, and raised it above his head. He
screamed in rage, as his eyes began to glow with untapped
energy.
“No! Kaede please! There must be another way!” shouted
Aeris.
“What’s he doing?” asked Reeve, shielding his face with his
arm.
Vincent felt a strange power surging, a shift in the Lifestream, “is
that...?”
Cloud could feel it as well, “what is he doing...?”
Aeris staggered over to them, “you have to stop Kaede.”
“What’s he doing?” asked Shera.
“He is going to split the Materia in half,” replied Aeris, “make
it pure White and pure Black again.”
“So?” asked Reno.
“Don’t you understand?” asked the Cetra, “this technology
draws on the energies of those who wield it. Kaede has virtually none left
to give...”
Yuffie gasped, “you mean?”
“It’s draining the last of his life away,” cried Aeris,
“he’s dying!”
Cloud turned to Kaede, shouting at his to stop...
...But it was too late, with a final cry, Kaede let forth a beam of energy
from his eyes, which lanced straight through the Black/White Materia. The
sphere’s colors churned furiously, and a crack appeared in the middle.
Soon, the Materia broke apart in Kaede’s hands, once more two, Black
and White.
Kaede lowered his hands, turned wearily to his friends, and smiled.
Aeris, teary-eyed, smiled back. The others looked on with varying looks,
of astonishment and smiles...
Then Kaede’s eyes closed, and he collapsed.
Aeris screamed, and rushed to Kaede’s side, picking him up, trying to
get his to say something.
She held him in her arms, yelling past her tears, “Kaede! Wake up! Wake
up! WAKE UP...please...”
Cloud and the others came up from behind, and looked on in silence...
...Kaede wasn’t moving...
Author’s Note: Yes! Keep reading, I have more surprises left! Hope you’re enjoying this as much as I am!
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