C.T.K.: Alright, let's light this candle. (Pulls out a candle and lights it) There! It was rather dark in here. (Budum tish) Now that this bad joke is out of the way, I would like to thank a reviewer by the name of Alter Shead. He gave me some quotes for Duodecium. So, here they are.

To Red -

Lightning: You're more human than most people.

Vaan: Wow, stronger than an Elite Mark!

Yuna: I wish I had your resilience.

Laguna: Y-You won't bite, right? Hehe...

Kain: The unwavering strength of a true warrior.

Tifa: Do we really have to do this?

Gilgamesh: Hey, you don't have a collar?

Prishe: Here, kitty kitty kitty!

C.T.K: and it would only be right to have Red's responses, right?

Lightning:

"A lot of things can happen in a flash."

Vaan:

"I don't share your enthusiasm for flying"

Yuna:

"All it takes to start change is one step"

Laguna:

"Settle down, don't cause a squall"

Kain:

"Your resolve is admirable"

Tifa:

"I shall test myself against you"

Gilgamesh:

"I am not a pet!"

Prishe:

"(Sigh) What I'm forced to deal with."

C.T.K.: and because I forgot Chaos last time,

Chaos:

To Red XIII: "If a beast can speak, is it more than a beast?"

Red XIII: "Chaos needs balance"

Finally I bring you… a story.

Nanaki's head was reeling. Where was he? How did he get here? Where was here? Nanaki closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Opening them, he looked around. While it certainly looked like the planet's core, to Nanaki something felt… off. The life stream that swirled and flowed around the masses of rock felt fake, as if there was no life in the life stream. The red creature tried to think how this had happened.

That's right, Nanaki thought.

He was in the planet's core, the real planet's core; Nanaki had already decided this core was little more than a copy, fighting Sephiroth with Cloud and Yuffie, when he was blind-sided, while charging a cure spell. The attack knocked him over the edge of the rock they were fighting on. Last thing he remembered before losing conciseness was Yuffie diving to the edge to try catching him while crying "Red!"

Nanaki looked around. "Need higher ground."

Nanaki jumped up the stepping stones, but stopped. When he had hopped on a ledge, he had startled someone on that ledge, someone familiar.

"Cloud!" Nanaki said surprised.

Cloud had his sword drawn, his eyes showed no signs of recognition. "Friend…or foe?"

"Cloud, it's me Nanaki, Red XIII."

Cloud stared hard at the mysterious creature in front of him. He searched deep in his mind.

"Hojo called me Red XIII, but that name means no significance to me. Call me what you wish."

"Would you kindly hurry? The heat is drying my nose."

"I am Nanaki, son of Seto... Warrior and protector of Cosmo Canyon."

"Nanaki," Cloud said as recognition filled his eyes. He put his sword away and kneeled. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

Cloud shook his head. "You should leave. You shouldn't be in this fight."

"Cloud." Nanaki looked him in the eyes. "What's going on?"

Cloud proceeded to tell his friend about the conflict of gods.

"Will it ever stop?"

Cloud had his back turned. "I'm not sure. My memories of where I come from, their… blurred."

Suddenly the two heard a scream.

"No, why is this happening!"

The two ran towards the scream. What they saw was a girl, around 18 by Nanaki's guess, hunched over in pain as a pink aura surrounded her. She had long, curly, green hair pulled in a pony tail. She wore a deep red dress with a sash around her waist, and what looked to be a dagger. She also wore long red gloves and a pink cloak.

"Its Terra," Cloud said slightly worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Terra has great magical power. She can use spells without materia," Cloud began. "But she is afraid of it. And now it would seem it's overflowing."

"I see," Nanaki stated as he closed his eye. "When anything overflows, the best solution is to get rid of the excess. I'll make her use it fighting me."

"Red, are you sure?"

"Trust me, Cloud."

Cloud nodded. "Alright, do what you can."

Nanaki walked forward making his presence known to the girl.

"Who are you?" She asked scared. "What are you?"

Nanaki provided no answers, only getting into a battle stance.

"No," she screamed. "Go away."

She pointed her hand at him and fired off a large chunk of ice. Nanaki dodged to his left.

Blizarra. Impressive. He thought pulling his own magic. Sensing that the only materia he had was fire, Nanaki summoned it.

The fire pooled under Terra's feet. Just before it erupted, she jumped dodging the flames and firing off five balls of holy.

"Here."

Nanaki was unable to dodge and was sent into the air, where Terra followed up with 4 flare spells, all finding their mark.

Nanaki recovered quickly and shot through the air with Sled Fang. Terra dodged but was then hit as Nanaki used his claws to attack, before sending her flying with a flip. Not missing a beat, Nanaki chased after her. He struck, but Terra dodged to his right, his blind side. She pulled out her sword and struck, sending Nanaki flying into an invisible barrier that was in front of the swirling life stream. Nanaki pealed himself away and began dashing at Terra, who had taken position on a high ledge on the other side of the battle field.

"Darkness of gravity."

Nanaki heard this as he was dashing. Looking up, he noticed the black swirling mass of a gravity spell. Before he could properly react, the ball slammed in to him taking him down to the bottom of the planet's core. He hit the floor hard. Staggering as he stood, he tried to clear his now pounding head.

I underestimated how strong she could be, He thought sourly. Very well, I will stop holding back.

Nanaki began his charge again.

"Darkness of gravity."

Not this time, He thought.

At the last second, he dodged the drop and continued. He clawed at her in the air, before slamming her into the ground. Landing, he followed with a sled fang. Jumping into the air, he howled. Suddenly, a comet slammed in to his target.

Terra was breathing hard. Whatever this thing was, it was strong.

"I have no choice," she said as she steadied herself.

Nanaki watched as Terra's form changed. Her skin became a bright pink, her hands and feet became clawed, her hair became pink and unfurled, fanning out, and her eyes became vibrant neon yellow.

The new form of Terra charged and fired off a blizzara. Nanaki easily dodged it only to be hit by another fired not seconds after.

She can cast her spells at a faster rate.

Terra began charging something as orange energy swirled around her. Nanaki charged. At a split second, she fired a giant fire ball from her hand. Nanaki narrowly dodged, only to be hit by another one from her other hand.

"No more running," she said as she slammed Nanaki into a ledge with blizzara.

She crossed her arms charging energy. "I can protect everything."

Reaching full power she twirled in the air. "I won't be defeated." Swiping her arms in an x formation, she let the crescent waves of energy fly.

Nanaki let out a yelp as he landed in a heap on the lower level. He staggered as Terra, now human again, landed in front of him. Nanaki looked her over. The pale pink energy that had engulfed her before was gone. Satisfied, Nanaki closed his eye and sat back. Opening it and looking into her eyes he spoke.

"I apologize if I hurt you, miss."

Terra's determined look was replaced with shock. "You… you… you talk!" she stuttered. "What… What are you?"

"A question with a difficult answer. What you see, is all I am. My name is Nanaki, though most refer to me as Red XIII." Nanaki nodded as a greeting. "You may call me what you wish."

"My," she gulped still slightly scared. "My name is Terra"

"You are afraid," Nanaki said sighing. "Is it my appearance that frightens you?"

"No," Terra says holding her arms out. "It's just that…" She put a hand to her chest and turned her head away.

"Why did I attack you?" Nanaki asked.

Terra nodded.

"I assure you, there was no malice behind my attacks, Miss Terra"

"Just Terra, please," she said slightly embarrassed.

Nanaki nodded. "I was simply trying to help you use some of that energy that was plaguing you."

"You fought me to keep my powers in check?" she asked in disbelief.

Nanaki simply nodded.

"Uhm… well, thank you," Terra said.

"Come along, then," Nanaki said walking past her. "Cloud is waiting for us."

"Uhm, Nanaki?" Terra asked. "Uhm… I know this will sound odd… but could I…" She seemed to be struggling with her question.

"You want to pet me, right?" Nanaki stopped walking.

"I know it sounds weird but… well… I've had this fondness for fluffy things and…uhm…"

Nanaki rounded staring at her with his one eye. "Know this now; I do not enjoy being treated like a pet. I am as sentient as you and should be treated as such."

Terra looked at the ground feeling sorry she had asked.

Nanaki sighed. "But… just this once… I suppose I could… allow it"

Terra smiled and hugged him. Nanaki felt heat under his fur. As she stroked his back he had to admit, it did feel good.

"Tell no one of this," Nanaki said.

After a couple minutes, Nanaki cleared his throat.

"We… should get going."

Terra sighed but smiled. "Yes."

When the two met up with Cloud, Terra explained her problem. Both promised to help her. As they walked away, Cloud whispered to Nanaki.

"I saw the all of that, Red."

"Tell anyone and I will rip out your throat and throw your body in the Cosmo Candle."

Cloud only chuckled.