FINAL FANTASY VII:

Return of Sephiroth PART 5
Raid on Paris

By: Dave (Cloud)

     Three long and restless have passed since AVALANCHE and Joe took off from Iceland. There was still no sign of Sephiroth or anymore of the WEAPONS. "How long untill we reach Paris?" Cloud asked. "About another four or five hours," Joe responded. Cloud sighed as he went back to his seat and held Tifa in his arms. Cloud looked down on her sadly. This may be the last time I see her sleep, he thought to himself, the last time I cradle her in my arms, the last time I see her beautiful face in front of me. Cloud layed back and tried to go to sleep. Cid, on the other hand, wasn't sleepy and decided to ask Joe some questions. "So how long have you been a pilot?" Cid asked. "Oh about eight years or so," Joe replied, "how about you?" "It's hard to remember for sure," Cid said, "All I konw is it's something I enjoy to do." "Same here," Joe said, "I remember my first time I got to fly one of these puppies. It was January 1991. I remember flying over the Persain Gulf when some Iraqi war planes attacked. They had to retreat because they were low on fuel." "Must have been a relife," Cid said. "It was," Joe said as he took a sip of his coffee, "let's see whats on TV." He turned on the TV. "This is a CNN special report. " Tifa woke up, only to find that Cloud was holding her tightly. She turned toward Joe. "How much longer?" she asked. "Shhhh!" Cid shouted, "a special report is on!" "We come to you with breaking news. One of the Weapons attacked London about an hour ago. It left a path of destruction along the shoreline of the Thames River. We have a camera crew out there right now. So whats the latest you've heard?" The reporter answred, "Well its not good. Officials are saying at least 3000 are confirmed dead with thousands more injured. The Weapon shot a beam through the Big Ben, destorying half of it and the Parliment with it. Also, the London Bridge is reported to be destroyed as well. The Weapon flattened a quareter of the city but the British army took it down. Now back to the studio in Atlanta." "Jesus Christ!" Tifa shouted, "Did you see what it did to that city?" "I saw it," Cid replied in a angry voice, "it's that f**kin' Sephiroth's fault! All those people didn't deserve to die!" "I know Cid," Tifa said in a soothing voice, "but we can stop him from doing more damage." Cloud woke up to the shouting. "What's going on here?" he asked. "One of the Weapons attacked London," Joe replied, "He flattened a quarter of the city and has killed at least 3000 people." "Where is this London?" Cloud asked. "Rigth here," Joe said as he pointed to it's location on his map. "That isn't too far from Paris," Cloud said, "We can stop it!" "The British army all ready took it down," Joe said. "Sephiroth," Cloud said to himself, "I won't allow to do anymore damage or take anymore innocent lives. I will defeat you at Paris. Just you wait!" Cloud crunched his fist together tightly.

     It wasn't long until the One Winged Angel reached the northern coast of France. "Almost there," he said with an evil grin, "When I reach the city, It'll be too late for Cloud and the others to stop me! Mwa ha ha ha!" Sephiroth flew over the beautiful landscape, filled with trees, birds chirping and bright green grass that sprang to life. Sephiroth decided to transform into his human form and rest. He when a through, he followed the road to the city of Le Havre. As Sephiroth entered the city, he heared roaring noises. He looked around and saw nothing.] "I have a better view if I look from the air," he said as he transformed into his One Winged Angel form. When Sephiroth took flight, people saw him and began to scream and run for their lives. "I'll take care of them as soon as I find out what that roaring was," he said.

     On the coast some fisherman were getting ready to head out to sea. "Another great day for fishing I can just sense it!" one of the fisherman said. "We've had a lot of luck catching fish the last two weeks or so," the other fisherman replied. The two graceful fisherman got in their boat and headed off to the sea. Suddenly they hear roaring noises. "What the hell was that?" one of the fisherman asked in a panicked voice. "I don't know," the other one replied, "but whatever it is I don't think I'm gonna like it!" They hear another roar. "That was louder than before," one of the fisherman said. With all of the confusion, the boat began to rock back and forth. "It must be a dinosaur or something," one of them replied. Out of nowhere, the Diamond Weapon sprang out of the water, toppling the boat and the two fisherman inside. The Diamond Weapon walked ashore and was heading for Paris. "Hahahahahahaha!" Sephiroth shouted in a happy voice, "Another Weapon is on the move and seems to be heading for the same city I'm heading for! Mwa hahahahahaha!" The people on the streets continued to run and scream. "Now you fools," Sephiroth said as he charged up his Heartless Angel attack, "You shall never see the light of day again!" Sephiroth released it onto the city. The city of Le Havre, France had suffured the same fate as New York. It became a ghost town full of dead bodies. Sephiroth continued his journey toward Paris.

     Back in the bomber, AVALANCHE continued to get the much needed rest they deserved. "Hey guys I'm getting something on my radar!" Joe shouted in an alarming voice. Cloud and the rest of the gang ran over to see what the problem was. "What is it?" Reeve said. "I don't know but whatever it is, it's heading for Paris," Joe replied. "Sephiroth!" Red shouted. "I don't think it's him," Cloud said. "What do you mean?" Red asked with a puzzled look on his face. "This object is traveling on land," Cloud answered, "if it was Sephiroth this dot on the radar would be going a lot faster." "Your saying this object is moving too slowly to be Sephiroth?" Tifa asked. "Exactly right," Cloud said," It could be another Weapon." "F**k!" Cid shouted," That's all we need!" "We need to get to Paris a fast as possible Joe!" Cloud said. Suddenly they hear a roaring noise. "What the f**k was that?" Barret asked. "It's a dangerous force," Vincent said. All of a sudden, the radar picked up a second object. "I'm picking up a second object on radar!" Joe shouted," It's coming toward us from behind!" "Lets go check it out," Barret said. "Just let me put this on auto pilot," Joe said. The crew heads for the back of the plane toward the cargo doors. "Can we open them?" Cloud asked. "Are you crazy? I'm not opening them when we're several thousand feet in the air!" Joe said. "It's the only way we're gonna know what's following us," Cloud said. Joe hesitaed for a minute and then agreed to open the doors. "Stand back," he said, "this could get windy." He opened the doors. "Do you see anything sweet heart?" Tifa asked Cloud. "Notta thing," Cloud said. "Joe are you sure your radar isn't malfuntioning?" Cid asked. "I'm positve," he replied, "I just had it checked two weeks ago." "Well, you better get it checked again because I don't see a damn thing!" With the team looking out the doors they hear another roar. "There it is again," Red said. "Let me go check the radar again," Joe said as he walked back to his seat. He looked at it and discovered the object was right over them. "Shit! Guys, the object is right over us!" he shouted. "What!?" Barret exclaimed. The team ran back to the front of the ship. "Hey Joe how do you close the doors?" Cloud asked. "Press that red button," Joe said. Just as Cloud was about to push the button, the plane was hit by a blast of energy. "Shit! We've been hit!" Cid shouted. The mysterious object flew in front of the plane, reveling itself as the Ultimate Weapon. "Another f**kin' Weapon!" Barret shouted. The Ultimate Weapon fired it's Ulitima Beam at the plane. The plane swereved just enough where the beam clipped the left wing. "We can't take another hit like that!" Joe shouted. The Ultimate Weapon fired again. This time the left side was hit. The impact sent Tifa flying out the doors. "Tifa!" Cloud shouted as he grabbed her arm just in time, "Hang on I'll pull you in!" "Cloud! I'm scared! I'm so scared!" she cried. "There'll be nothing to be scared of as long as I'm around," Cloud said smiling. This comforted Tifa. Cloud pulled her in and pushed the button to shut the doors. "Oh Cloud! You're my hero!" Tifa said as she wept tears of joy and relief. Cloud and Tifa returned to the front of the plane. "You all right?" Cid asked. Tifa nodded as she held Cloud. "Time to get rid of this f**ker once and for all!" Joe shouted. He fired several small missiles he attached to his bomber before they left Iceland. The missiles hit the Ultimate Weapon with deadly accuracy. The Weapon screamed in pain as in plunged into the Atlantic. The crew cheered and patted Joe on the back. The bomber reached the French coast and landed, only to find yet another surprise waiting for them.

     Sephiroth and the Diamond Weapon continued their advances on Paris. "Only another two or three hours before I set in motion the Suprenova! This puny planet will get wiped out entirly, leaving me as ruler of all time! Mwa hahahahahahahahahah!" The Diamond Weapon crushed everything in its path. People jumped out of their cars as the Weapon walked down the highway, smashing them under his big heavy feet. At a French military base somewhere near Paris, the persomal there have been tracking Diamond Weapon's movements since he came ashore. "That's right Mr. President," the general said, "Weapon is advancing toward Paris along with Sephiroth." "When do you think they'll arrive?" the French president said on the other line. "Expect some trouble within two to three hours." the general replied. "Thanks, Keep me updated," the French president said as he hung up the phone. "Mr. President," his secretary said, "we need to get you out of here before Sephiroth and Weapon reach the city." The president nodded in agreement as he boarded a helicopter. "Where to?" the pilot asked. "Head for Frankfurt," the president replied. He looked out the window. "I hope Cloud and the others can save this beautiful city from desturction," he said, "may God be with them. The chopper took off for Germany.

     "How bad's the damage?" Cid asked Joe. "It's bad but I think we can make it to Paris without any trouble," Joe responded. "That's good to hear," Cloud said. "Hey guys," Reeve said, " I have bad news." "What?" Tifa asked. "A city about ten miles south of here was attacked by Sephiroth. He wiped out the people just like he did in New York." "How do you know?" Barret questioned him. "I saw it on the news," Reeve replied. "So, Sephiroth IS heading for Paris after all," Red said. "And possibly another Weapon," Cloud added. "We need to go now if we are to reach Paris in time," Joe said. The team nodded in agreement as they boarded the damaged bomber. In the bomber, the crew saw an announcement from the president of France. "This is the president of France. I have only a few minutes so I'll make this brief. It has been comfirmed that another Weapon is heading for Paris. And the death of thousands of precuios, innocent lives in La Havre has brought me to call for all nations around the globe to help us in this terrible fight that will start in about two hours on French soil, a fight that could mean either the liberation or destruction of this fine planet. Cloud Strife and his crew along with military support from the United States and Britain are on their way to the final battleground. This could very well be my very last speech. Good luck and may God bless those who are fighting for this planet and those who died defending it. Good night. The crew looks at each other. "Well guys," Cloud said, "At least we'll be getting help from other countreis." "The shadow of death is apon us while the light of heaven has strayed from us," Vincent said. "Don't lose faith," Tifa said, "Nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it!" "Tifa," Vincent replied, "I wish I had that kind of attitude that you do. That's one thing I admire you for." Tifa just blushed and said thanks. "We should reach Paris in 45 minutes," Joe announced. As the time passed the crew thought about what was about to take place in two or so hours. They thought of their families, freinds and their homes and their lives, wondering if they would ever see them again.

     The city of Paris was getting ready for the arrival of Sephiroth and the Diamond Weapon. They prepared by getting fighter jets ready for battle, getting themselves and other people to safe locations, stocking emergency supplies and other preparations. "Almost there," Sephiroth said to himself, "another half hour and the world will feel the wrath of the Mighty Sephiroth! Hahahahahaha!" As Sephiroth drew nearer and nearer to Paris, he sensed something was coming. "Someone's coming this way," he said as he looked to his right. Suddenly an evil smile apperaed over his dark and gloomy face. "Cloud's returned," he said, "and he thinks he can defeat me! Well I'll so him and his pathetic crew just how weak they are!" Sephiroth closed his mako green eyes and began to invade Cloud's mind once again.

     On the bomber, Cloud began to freak out. "Cloud?" Tifa asked, "Are you okay?" Cloud knelt down, holding his head. "Get out of my mind, Sephiroth!" he shouted, "You....have....no control.... over me!" "Hahahaha!" Sephiroth laughed, "I have plenty of control over you, puppet!" Suddenly, Cloud's was back in his subconscious, where he defeated Sephiroth last time. "Sephiroth, where are you, you coward!" Cloud screamed. "If you can defeat me, show yourself and let's finish this once and for all!" Cloud drew his Ulitma Weapon. It was peaceful and dark. No sign of Sephiroth. "What's the matter, Sephiroth?" Cloud shouted, "afraid I'm gonna whip your sorry ass again!" Still no answer. Cloud looked around. He couldn't see anything but pitch blackness around him. Suddenly images of the past came upon him. Images of Aeris's death, images of Nibleheim bieng burnt and images of the final showdown. Cloud looked around and heard voices. "Cloud.....Cloud," the first voice said. "Aeris?" he shouted in surprise, "Aeris where are you?" "Cloud," she said, "you failed me. You didn't live up being the bodyguard I was hoping you would be. You couldn't even save me from Sephiroth. You've failed me. "I tried being the best bodyguard I could," Cloud said as he fell to his knees crying, "I tried by damned hardest!" "It wasn't enough, Cloud," she said, "Zack was much better than you ever will be!" "It's not true! It's not true!" he shouted, "Sephiroth! Stop trying to trick me with all of your stupid lies!" Suddenly, Aeris's voice was replaced with Sephiroth's voice. "Hahahahahahaha!" he laughed as he apperaed in front of Cloud, "you really expect to defeat me in Paris in an hour and a half? Hahahahahahahaha!" "Stop your goddamn laughing Sephiroth!" Cloud shouted, "I will do whatever it takes to get rid of you once and for all!" "You foolish puppet!" Sephiroth said, "I'm not that weak, pitiful self I used to be! I have more power than you can imagine! Wake up!" Suddenly Cloud appeared back on the bomber. "Ahhh! where am I?" he screamed. "Shh! It's okay Cloud! It's okay! You're back with us again!" Tifa said. "You freaked out again," Cid said. "Tifa," Cloud asked, "was there anyway of preventing Aeris's death?" "No Cloud," she replied, "there wasn't. Did Sephiroth tell you a bunch of lies?" "I fell it was my fault she died," he said crying, "Sephiroth's right. I'm responsible for Aeris's death!" "That's a bunch of bull!" Barret shouted, "you did everything in your power to stop it but you couldn't it!" Cloud continued to cry. "Listen Cloud," Cid said, "Bad stuff happens. Joe walked in the back of the plane where Cloud and the others were. "We've landed in Paris," he said. "Thanks Joe," Tifa said, "We'll right there." "Is he gonna be alrigth?" Joe asked. "Sephiroth is toying with his mind again," Red said, "he'll have to fight it himself."

     AVALANCHE got off the plane with Cloud in a strecher Joe got in case of an emergency. They took him to the military base outside Paris where they were planning an offensive on Diamond Weapon. Joe entered first. "I'm Joe Nagah and this is the AVALANCHE team," he said. The crew introduced themselves one by one. "This person is my husband, Cloud" Tifa said as she held his hand. "I'm General William Sanders of the French air force. It's a pleasure meeting you all. What's wrong with him?" "Sephiroth is torchering his mind," Cid said. The general looked at Cloud, who was still unconscious, "I hope he gets better," General Sanders said, "Thanks, General," Barret said. "Listen we're running short on time here. We're in desparate need of pilots. Any of you here no how to fly a plane?" General Sanders asked. "Hell yeah!" Cid shouted, "I've been flying practically all my life!" "I also know how to fly," Joe said. "Great," the general said, "would you guys mind if you helped us by flying a couple of fighter jets?" "What's the mission?" Cid asked. "Weapon has stopped about 50 miles west of Paris," the general said, "We were gonna send in five fighters, one carrying a small nuclear missile, to the Weapon and take him out. So, how 'bout it? Will you help us?" Cid and Joe nodded. "Then follow me." "General?" Tifa asked, "where should I put Cloud?" "Take him to that room over there," the general said as he pointed to an empty crew quarter. Tifa took Cloud in the room and layed him on the bed. She grabbed his hand. "Oh Cloud," she said, "I hope you'll be okay, just fight Sephiroth Cloud, fight him!" Tifa kissed her husband on the cheek and then went out to join the rest of the gang in the hanger.

     Cloud appeared in his mind again. He was again visited by another mysterious voice. "Cloud....Cloud," the voice whispered. "Who's there?" Cloud demanded. A figure suddenly appeared in front of him, taking the shape of his mom. "Cloud you failed to save me," she said, "failed to save me from the intense heat of the flames, Cloud." "I'm....I'm.... sorry mom," he said, "there was nothing I could've done!" "Your wrong, Cloud," his mother said, "You could've ran into the house and gotten me out of there." "I was knocked out by Sephiroth, mom!" Cloud shouted, "It was his fault you died, not mine!" Suddenly the voices from everyone that died at Nibleheim that terrible night began to haunt him. "Cloud," they whispered, "You could have saved us!" "No I couldn't!" Cloud demanded, "I couldn't save you all!" They continued to whisper, "You could have saved us, Cloud! But you were too weak and selfish! You could've saved many lives that day, Cloud!" "Shut the f**k up, Sephiroth!" Cloud shouted, "stop toying with my mind! I'll never believe the lies your telling me!" Sephiroth appeared in front of him. "Oh really," he said, "then how come you were on your knees telling the ghosts of Nibleheim you couldn't save them?" "I don't.... I don't.... I don't know!" Cloud shouted, "but it doesn't matter because I wanna end this right here right now!" "I don't think so puppet," Sephiroth said, "I have more important things to do then fight a weak, pathetic fool like you. Now if you excuse me, I must destroy the world!" "Your a coward, you know that?" Cloud shouted, "Your a real f**kin' coward!" Sephiroth just taunted him as he disappeared.

     In the hanger, Joe, Cid and three other pilots were preparing to attack the Diamond Weapon. "Listen," the general said, "these aren't the planes your used to flying. But they're not that hard to control. All you need to do is push the back of the stick to fire the machine guns, the top button here to fire a missile and move the stick around to control the jet any questions?" Cid, Joe and the other pilots all seemed to know what to do. "Be careful Cid," Tifa said as she hugged him. "Hey don't worry about me," he said, "all you need to worry about is Cloud. We'll blow that f**kin' Weapon up in no time!" "Good luck Cid," Barret said as he shook Cid's hand. "Be careful Joe," Red said. "Well Cid, shall we get into our fighter jets and blow the shit out of that Weapon?" Joe asked. "Yeah let's teach that Weapon a thing or two about messing with us!" Cid exclaimed. The five pilots climbed into their jets. Cid and Joe waved bye to everyone as they took off. "Whoa! These babies are FAST!" Cid shouted. "What, you don't have jets in your time?" Joe asked. "No we have chessy planes that can't do shit except get in the way of my airship!" Cid replied. The five fighter jets flew over the calm and peaceful city. "We have a good view of the city huh Cid?" Joe asked. Yeah, it's amazing," Cid replied. The five brave pilots flew their jets over the city and pass the Effiel Tower. "Okay pilots," the squad leader said, "Get ready. Weapon should appear any second now." Within a few seconds, Weapon was spotted. "There's that son of a bitch!" Cid shouted. Diamond Weapon sensed the threat and opened it's shoulders, loading up on energy. "General," the squad leader said, "Weapon has opened up it's missile launchers and is preparing to fire! I repeat, Weapon is preparing to fire!" "Keep your distance pilots," the general ordered, "I don't any casaulties." The jets kept their distance. Within seconds, Diamond Weapon unleashed a barrel of missiles heading right for Paris. "General," the squad leader said," We have a problem!" Cid and Joe could only watch as a legion of missiles came right for them.