Ch 52

Being woke up before the crack of dawn had been one of the things I despised most in my life. I had never been a morning person, let alone early mornings. Traveling had tempered that feeling into a mild irritation since more often then not the group would be taking guard shifts on nights we were out in the wild. I was still very disgruntled when Cid showed up basically in the middle of the night to grab us so he could surprise Cloud and Tifa in the morning. At the very least Yuffie shared my sentiments as we both grabbed a power nap as Cid picked up everyone else. I will admit I smiled when those two woke up and got on the Highwind to find everyone waiting for them.

"Thank you everyone for being here, it means a lot"

"One day Cloud you'll lose that doubt. I did tell you everyone would show up." I commented.

"Still...its good to know I have you all at my back for this. So whats the plan of action Nate."

"We have twelve days to save the world, problem is we have a lot to clean up before we take the plunge into the Northern Crater. We have to deal with the derelict WEAPONS first since there still causing problems which makes no sense to me."

"How so?" Yuffie asked.

"They started attacking Shinra because they couldn't sense Sephiroth behind his barrier. After it went down they should have realized what the real threat was and start going for him. But from what Cait's told me the last three are still running amok."

"Ultimate is flying around and terrorizing random villages and towns and flying off before people can retaliate, Emerald has attacked anything the navy sends and Ruby is turning the desert near Gold Saucer into the worlds largest sinkhole. If they're left alone then more damage will be dealt that will be that much harder to fix after we defeat Sephiroth." Cait explained as everyone else started to look thoughtful.

"Any theories you got that make some sense out of it?" Cid asked me as I leaned forward in my chair.

"The only thing I have is that they already believe they completed their objective. Their the Planets weapons and I can't say their smart, they act like powered up monsters more than anything. Maybe before they were called they were given an order and now that they aren't deep in the earth they can't receive anymore orders. I can only guess they're running on autopilot now that Shinra is officially dead."

"If they're all instinct than what ever plans you have for them has a better chance of working." Nanaki remarked.

"Its going to be touch and go. Ultimate we can take down without summons, Ruby will require us to have an earth summons that has just as much control of the landscape so others can attack from the ground since I assume just bombarding it from the air will make it sink into the earth to avoid us, and Emerald will be a bitch because we have very few summons that can do underwater combat and even if we had the materia necessary to circumvent that I would have recommend against it. Otherwise my game plan is that every other day we take on a WEAPON leaving us with seven days left, we then use four days to prepare before we attack Sephiroth"

"I have questions." Tifa chipped in. "First is why won't we use summons on Ultimate, second is what materia did you have in mind, third is why wait to attack. If we wait we risk the possibility of running out of time and Meteor making an impact.

"In order, we can actually deal with Ultimate without having to start putting people on rotation for summoning duty, I would rather we be able to use all of our best candidates against Ruby or Emerald at their best. Going on the materia I mentioned about is one that casts a spell that allows people to breath and travel underwater with ease, even at the depths Emerald patrols. Problem with it is that as deep as the thing is whoever fights is going to be blind that deep in water, plus to get the materia requires us to morph a ghost ship or a monster that looks like a ghost in the shape of a ship to get a log book to give to the guy that has the materia otherwise he won't do shit for us, and finding the monster is a whole other can of worms. And the last is because we still have a ton of shit to grab before we can finish this." I took a breath before I continued.

"Besides myself we are still missing three ultimate weapons which are Cloud's, Yuffie's, and Vincent's and four limit breaks that include Tifa, Cid, Cloud, and Aeris. To summarize, Cloud we will get your weapon right after we deal with Ultimate and the technique you need is a prize at Gold Saucer, Aeris' ultimate is located back at that dudes house that sold the keystone to Dio, all we need is some Mythril which I know where to get and give it to the guy. Tifa yours is inside your piano back at Nibelheim, Zangan passed by and left it there for you years ago. Yuffie's weapon is stuck at the bottom of the ocean so I don't know what to do about that." I took a breath as it had been some time since I had explained so much.

"Vincent I remember you just happen to get yours after you went to the waterfall so if anything we get Cait to dig a prototype rifle up that could be more powerful but otherwise we just have to work with it. Cid yours was to call the Highwind to bomb the area so I'm lost on that. Otherwise when we grab everything I need every last one of us to push our magic to the fucking limit and train what you can during that downtime before we go to the crater because I don't want us going in half cocked and find out that no one can perform because we didn't prepare enough."

"Why is there always so much shit to do?" Barret asked as I took a breather.

"Least it isn't boring." Yuffie added which only made the man grumble.

"Anything different about Ultimate we should know?" Vincent asked.

"Nothing new, refresher is that it still attacks with its claws and can cast quake at mid-level. From what you guys told me it takes SOLDIER grade weapons to get through it so make your hits count, Also if it starts floating randomly or acting like it has a seizure just run because its going to blow itself. The one problem we'll have to face is the fact that it knows when to cut and run so when it does land and we attack it will just fly away making us chase it."

"The Highwind is fast but reports we've gotten show that it can at least match it. Then even if we catch up we have to avoid damage to the airship, with no way to ground it the battle is that much tougher" Cid coughed at that.

"You're wrong on two fronts there Cait. I didn't build this thing for transport, you've seen the missiles sure but I put a whole lot more in than that. I'll show you how this ship was made to take down monsters when we get to that thing but the first thing you all get to see is how fast this baby can really get."

"Uh Cid, I know what your talking about so do we need to strap in or something" Flashbacks from the rocket were hitting me right when I voiced my concern.

"Nah, we'll feel a little more turbulence but nothing that's going to hamper our movement." Cait froze, likely having caught up to what Cid was talking about."

"You checked to see if the engines were up to code right? Shinra never used them so upkeep on them may have been lax."

"My crew ain't dumb, they made sure everything was good while it was in their hands. I do recommend everyone be seated though, the start-up is the real kicker." Everyone found someplace to hunker down as Cid went back to his controls.

"Last known location of the WEAPON?"

"Calls have been made by residents at Gongaga. The WEAPON is currently on a path head towards them.

"Well then lets go greet the fucker, everyone brace!" Cid slammed two levers down as the ship began to shudder. I heard loud clanks as the Highwind rocked side to side before the scenery sped past us. My head knocked against my seat as we boosted forward, but I was able to still myself as the whole room shuddered around me.

"I don't feel good" Yuffie mumbled as I patted her back.

"God I love it when she goes fast!" Cid laughed as we made our way to Gongaga in record time. Eventually the reactor of the town peaked the horizon when a crew member called out.

"Ultimate approaching, its head straight for the town."

"We're going to make it change direction, adjust flight path till we're parallel then fire missiles on my call." In the distance I saw Ultimate making a beeline for the village as the Highwind swerved and started to line up with it.

"Fire!" Missiles flew and collided with the monster. A huge cloud of smoke covered it for a moment before it burst out and flew past the Highwind, roaring in anger.

"Stay on its tail!" I swayed in my seat again as the Highwind turned to chase it down. It was scary to see how fast that thing could actually go. As we approached a saw its wings cut through the air as it seemed to swim rather than fly as its wings would only flap occasionally.

"Break away!" Cid yelled as we turned sharply, just in time as a glow I hadn't noticed flared from the WEAPON before it twisted in the air and let loose a beam where we were as it cut through the clouds.

"Fire missiles, keep hassling it!" The projectiles flew ahead of us and trailed after the monster as it spun and twisted in the air making most of the missiles collide or miss their mark before dropping out the air. A couple were able to clip it but it just accelerated with the Highwind hot on its trail.

"Target is heading due west, we will be caught up in two minutes sir!" A crew member shouted.

"Get the Wyvernator ready, we're going to ground it!"

"The whatinator?" Barret yelled in confusion, Cid smiled.

"The Type 7 Wyvernator, one of the many weapons I put in to deal with big threats like dragons when encountered, made specifically to pierce even the toughest hides. Now that things skin may be tough, but-"

"Operator calling in, Wyvernator is ready."

"Fire when ready." Cid looked back at the rest of us with the biggest smile I'd seen him have. "But I don't think its wings are as thick."

We came closer to Ultimate as the ship veered left. In a split second I saw a large spear fly out from the ship as it cleanly pierced through both of its wings making the WEAPON suddenly drop straight into one of the many plateaus that marked the areas south of Cosmo Canyon.

"Target hit, time to make sure it stays down now, everyone gear up." The ship slowed down as we all went to grab everything we would need for the monster. Despite my own words I did make sure we had Bahamut and Phoenix if things got dicey. I kept my usual arsenal since I didn't remember Ultimate having immunity to specific elements. All of us met on the open deck as we looked down at the cliffs below. The plateaus should have made it harder to find the thing but it was kicking up a fuss on the ground, energy was being shot into the air and quakes could be heard close to where it had collided.

"Things pissed again." Barret said as we descended to the ground.

"It's going to have a whole lot to be mad about soon enough, lets get around of barriers up just in case though." I said as we all made our way over to the WEAPON's crash zone. The quakes were more pronounced now as we arrived to see the monster rampaging, attacking boulders and even the ground as it tried to lift itself into the air and failing as whatever magic it used to float up wasn't enough without the help of its now wrecked wings, both of which were shredded and torn with purple blood leaking down its back.

"Split up and try to flank it, Keep out of sight until I give the signal to attack." Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Yuffie and myself stayed while everyone else made to circle around the boss monster. There was more than enough debris around from Ultimate's tantrum that the rest of the group could circle around. I didn't want us to all get caught up by whatever it would do. With everyone in position I threw the first shot of lighting at its back, I was satisfied at the roar that followed as I got into position to run. It quickly turned and started charging at us but a slew of spells were shot at its side forcing it to slow down.

Everyone popped out of cover as more was thrown at the monster before people like Cloud, Nanaki, Cid and Tifa started to go for close combat. I started sprinting as some fire and ice landed while Cloud closed in first to chop its legs. Ultimate took a huge jump back, clearing away from all four before it stomped the ground. Rectangular chunks of earth rolled as it caught all of them to stumble or in Nagasaki's case crush two of his legs between the stone as it ground together and tried to turn his appendages into paste. Shots were now being added to the spell mix as everyone tried to cover for the attack. With m starting later than the others I entered after the spell ended, I just had to watch my footing as I quickly approached. Steel blew past me as Yuffie's shuriken spun, arcing towards its head as I jumped to the side, avoiding a slash that aimed to deflect and then cleave.

The weapon flew away as I came in and slashed at its chest. I rolled with the hit as I avoided anther attempt at being skewered. Jumping back I focused and unleashed an Air-slash to its back. To quick it turned and ignored what was being thrown at it as it charged threw my attack before sinking its claws into my armor as I was slammed and dragged through the earth before being tossed. Chocking as I impacted something I twisted and rolled on the ground before I stopped and hopped back up. I felt the pain in my shoulder and chest as I ran forward again, getting in front of Barret as he scrambled to recover from being hit by me. Thankfully Ultimate became preoccupied as Vincent, now in his Death Gigs form since bullets seemed to be useless against its skin.

As the two traded blows I could see that I was able to do some damage to the monster, its chest sporting a gash in the center while the jewel in its chest looked scratched meant my sword could hurt it. I circled around as Vincent tried to beat it down but despite having everything hurled at its back the monster was physically stronger. Both giants struggled before the monster just grabbed his leg and preceded to throw him into the ground again and again, even turning around forcing our back-line to stop casting as a few spells hit him in the process.

Cloud came in and chopped the monsters tail off and jumped onto its back. The WEAPON actually bucked and jumped to get him off as a now recovered Nanaki jumped and bit one of its arms. For the moment I just stood and took in the image of the worlds weirdest rodeo before Cloud leaped and stabbed into its leg, cutting it to the foot causing the monster to fall back. Nanaki let go and glowed with energy, but before his limit break came out the surroundings suddenly turned stark white before black orbs appeared around the two and imploded. Debris flew as I covered my eyes before I felt the ground under me shift. Caught flat-footed I fell knee deep in the quake attack, nearly causing me to bit my tongue off as I felt the crushing force bend my knees back.

Someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me out before dragging me away. I opened my eyes to see the field now a deeper crater than before as Cloud and Nanaki were being taken away by Tifa and Cid while a now normal Vincent crawled from the hole he was in. I looked up to see Yuffie cast a cure on me as the strain on my legs lessened before I looked at Ultimate. Blue energy built up around it and coalesced into a large orb aimed at the other for. I tried to yell out but a fog of black suddenly covered up its face before Vincent, holding a shotgun with deathblow attached, aimed and fired at its head. Shot after shot pelted its face as I saw the materia activate on each confirm as Aeris shouted to him. Vincent moved as the monster finally got fed up with him and sluggishly turned, the ball now almost solid energy was released and sped passed where Vince was and into the side of a plateau. The orb exploded out, causing boulder size rocks to fly away as chunks of the earth was blown through.

"Its blind and slowed, it won't last so hit it with everything!" I heard Aeris yell before everything around me sharpened, her haste spell now kicking in as Yuffie helped pull me up to run in. Everyone now was working in sync against the monster as Tifa jumped in to bash its face before she was protected by Cloud throwing his sword up to block a swipe. Cid vaulted over them as he kicked it into the face making it stumble back as I saw a bright red stick of dynamite fall in front of the creature, exploding while Cid escaped and Nanaki howl as he cut across in the opposite direction. Still stumbling Ultimate started spitting energy orbs randomly around it but a sound-wave from Cait caused them to prematurely explode in its face as Vince and Barret riddled it with more bullets, causing into roar in pain as the numerous wounds on its body were big enough to let the normally ineffective weapons to pierce it.

Fire, ice, and lighting from Yuffie, Aeris, and myself joined in until we were close enough to engage. The bullets stopped and the blind wore off allowing the monster to see Yuffie go low and me go high as I stabbed into its chest and pried under the jewel in its chest as Yuffie did the same from under. Both of us kicked off causing blood to spew from the monster, now back against the rock as we were joined by the rest of the group.

"sit dead yet?" Cid muttered. A weak growl answered him as the now two legged monster stumbled forward. A leg stomped down but the ground barely rumbled before it fell forward. It thrashed around as it spit energy again into the air as everyone forced back. More and more it struggled, injuring itself more as it tried to right itself, but slowly the monster stopped struggling and its raspy breaths slowed until finally silence fell. We all slowly approach, not sure how the monster would react anymore until its body started to rise. This time it simply floated into the air as the blue energy from its beam before collected around the corpse.

"Run its going to blow!" I dragged Yuffie away as everyone scattered. I felt pressure all around me as I looked back to the the energy moving erratically, shaking the earth around it before it felt like the ground around us was breaking apart. I felt pulses pass under me as we all kept sprinting for our lives. No one stopped when the pulsing did, nor when the earth stopped shaking. I saw a shimmer from a now depleted barrier on me before all of us were thrown forward. The force from the explosion cracked the earth and pressed it down as we all were covered in rock and dirt, huddling down from the fall as we waited for the end. I kept my eyes closed and held my breath as me and Yuffie were buried, the earth still shuddering in the aftermath.

I waited until everything was finally calm before wiggling around. I started digging where I thought up was as I felt another pair of hands scrape alongside mine. Light hit my eyelids as I finally took a breath and pulled myself and Yuffie from the loose soil. I surveyed the destroyed environment before Barret's metal arm shot from the ground and revealed he had shielded Aeris as he stood up and let the earth fall from his back. Cloud shoved through with Tifa from further away as Cid and Vincent popped out as well.

"Anyone happen to see where Nanaki and Cait got covered up?" Surveying what was left of the land didn't yield anything good. The only reason I knew where the battle took place was because of an entire side of the plateau we had cornered the monster had been blown away, a large slope of sizzling earth led up from the crater that Ultimate had created. Amidst all the destruction I saw just the barest hint of white poking out of the ground.

"There, passed that pile of rocks." All of us ran over and dug at what I could see now was a mogs paw. The machine had been buried face down and it took our stronger members to pull it up only to see nothing underneath.

"Well shit." I heard someone say, I started to get nervous before I heard something padding at the ground. Wandering passed another pile of rubble I saw Nanaki halfway into a hole. Pulling back he flopped out of the hole with Cait making spitting noises as he flailed in Nanaki's mouth.

"Didn't like that one bit, I need some upgrades because I couldn't do a thing. Thank you by the way Nanaki so if you could let go before any of your drool drips on any of my important bits that would be swell, oh hi guys." Both finally noticed the rest of us wandering over.

"Okay that's everyone, that was...unpleasant but shit that could have gone worse." I muttered.

"Explosion was bigger than I thought it would be." Cloud added, Tifa nodded in agreement.

"Thank goodness this place had enough terrain, The rock wall it was stuck on is basically gone now." Taking another look at the side of the plateau I saw that what was left was a pretty steep slope that could be hiked up from the crater.

"That makes sense now. Nearly forgot about this place."

"Ah is this some more bullshit to save the world?" Cid grumbled as I started walking towards the crater.

"Not really, but I think its a good place to check out after we rest. Its called the Ancient Forest, although I don't think it has anything to do with Cetra. Its just a unique ecosystem compared to everywhere else."

"Anything useful?" Thinking about it I held up a finger.

"Another sword, a gun and...a slash-all materia. That last one we could use so I think tomorrow we go in, lets just make sure we aren't over extending when we do." I took a peek into the crater as I felt a smile come to me.

"Cloud you really do have to see this thing though." Waving him over his eyes widened right before he started sliding down. Right when he hit the bottom he pulled the blade by its hilt and lifted it in the air.

Once again I found a moment the game just couldn't capture as the sword glowed with energy. The blades silver edges and purple center looked more like crystals than steel. The handle was a mix of gold and black with ruby red accents that made the blade glow like a lightsaber. As Cloud twirled it around I felt waves of power pulse just slightly in the air.

"Shits dope." I summarized perfectly.

"It feels amazing." Cloud took the weapon and climbed back up.

"You have a few days to get used to it. Most of your training with it though will be at the Gold Saucer so you can get a guide for a really sick sword technique. Until then...good job guys...I honestly think we can get through this."

"Nate lets slow down and rest up before we start getting confident. We still have a long way to go." Nanaki corrected me, I gave him a nod.

"Fair enough, lets get back to the airship guys. I need to get patched up and something to eat."

"I hear ya, I could eat a whole chocobo right now."

"Barret you already could eat a whole chocobo." That earned Yuffie a glare.

"Imma let that slide since everyone's in a good mood but you better watch it."

"Bring it big man."

I laughed as I felt a weight come off my shoulders. The race was on but we got through one hurdle, even with the trepidation I felt for what we had to do next still lingering, killing another WEAPON eased it just the slightest. Ruby and Emerald would be more difficult but after seeing what we could do...

I shook my head. No use getting a big head now, I still had to think up battle plans for everything else after all.

XXX

It was about two months ago i finally felt up to writing again, That was also the moment i realized i was months behind on my "schedule" and right after i realized the anniversary of this fic was coming up so i finally mustered up enough energy to finish this chapter and get it out before it passed. I always keep coming back to apologize for my lateness but i suspect whoever cares for this story is already in for the long haul.

Now this chapter and the next one of two and maybe even the last will be about the same length since these is only a little story and a whole lot of action that i have to pack into them. In any case i am surprised its been seven years since i started this whole thing and its only now that i find the irony in that. Thank you to everyone who still comes back, to the new guys that keep coming by in hopes for something different, and whoever is still around from the beginning that still think i'm worth something.

Quick couple things, just so everyone knows i am not looking at the poll results until after this fic is down so basically consider it indefinably open until i have posted the second to last chapter. second as it seems i like to shout out to random people for random things thank you viewer (as i don't know if you want to be 'named' named) because you are the first local ready i know of and am happy someone from my neck of the woods even consider giving this a look. to all who still keep tabs on me (local, statewise, and my international readers) The adventures end is near, i hope i can please when the time comes.