It’s an honor to write one of the first of probably thousands of Dissidia fics that will appear once the game is released in North America. I’m gonna give it my best shot, got a good idea for a plot, so let’s get to it!

Before we begin, let’s make something clear. I have not played Dissidia. However, I’ve watched dozens of gameplay videos, I’ve followed its development closely, I’ve read translations of the storylines, and I have subtitled portions of Cloud and Terra’s storylines and put the videos on YouTube. So even if I’ve not played the game, I am still confident I have a sufficient enough grasp of its basic workings and story to write this fanfic.

This story is primarily CloudxTerra. However, numerous allusions will be made to the Clerith pairing and Aerith herself, but she won’t actually appear. She’ll just be an (very) important part in Cloud’s character, is all. As well, this story will have chapters approximately twice as long or more as normal chapters of mine are.

Well, enough rambling. Enjoy!

Shards of Memory

Chapter 1

Living in a Dreamworld

“A man's real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor.” – Alexander Smith

Cloud kept his head ducked inside the small, slightly cramped gondola car. He couldn’t believe he had been talked into this. But he was on the car now, not much to do for it. He listened to the car creak as his companion turned to look out the window.

“Oh, Cloud! Look!”

Cloud turned his head to watch the Chocobos run by on the track a few feet away, fireworks launching into the air as they crossed the finish line.

“Teioh won again,” his companion mused. Cloud turned to face the opposite side of the gondola car.

The seat was empty.

Cloud’s eyes went wide as the voice of the young woman, so familiar and yet so foreign, kept speaking.

“You know, when we first me, I think I saw him in you,” the voice said. Cloud shook slightly as he edged as far away from the source of the voice as he could. “Cloud, you okay?” the voice asked. Cloud stared at the nothingness of the seat as the voice kept speaking. “Cloud?” it asked, coming closer. Cloud shifted off the seat, and fell against the side of the gondola as the source of the voice settled above him.

“Cloud, what’s wrong?”

“Cloud!”

Cloud’s eyes popped open, and he sat up, letting out a cry. He lifted a hand to his forehead, and brought it back covered in cold sweat.

“Another one of those dreams, hm?”

Cloud looked up at Firion standing over him, arms crossed. Beside him in the halls of the ancient castle they had been searching that day, Tidus and Cecil slept propped up against the wall, undisturbed by Cloud’s nightmare. They had hoped one of the Warriors of Chaos had been hiding here, or one of the Crystals been hidden here in their place. They had been wrong.

“Yes,” Cloud nodded, blinking and turning his head away. The same type of dream, speech that he sensed he knew but couldn’t remember, and an invisible speaker who wouldn’t reveal themselves. More discomforting than the dreams of someone he couldn’t seem, was the idea that somehow, Cloud knew someone should be there. More than that, he knew who that person was. But as he tried to grasp at some idea of who that could be, who they were or what they looked like, the fragments evaded his hand and refused to answer him.

“And you still cannot remember her?” Firion asked, crouching down beside him. Cloud shook his head. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, different scenes had played in his head ever since Cosmos had summoned him and the other nine warriors to save the Crystals and restore order. At first he had brushed them off as nightmares caused by the stress and revelation of the event, but it had been some time now and the nightmares had not ceased. It was a small comfort they only happened two or three times a week, every day and Cloud was sure he would have lost his mind to insomnia.

“No, all I know is that it’s a woman’s voice, and…she’s a friend…I think,” Cloud said. His memories of whom and what he should know were getting harder to recall. Cloud couldn’t understand it, but one by one his memories were slipping away. He had spoken with Cosmos on the matter. The goddess of harmony did not know the cause, but she felt certain that the power of the Crystals could undo whatever spell Cloud was under. He had said, and she had agreed, that this amnesia was not natural, that his memory loss was being forced upon him.

“Is there anything at all, you can remember about her?” Firion asked. Cloud strained to recall what little he could.

“She…was important to me, and…pretty, and nice,” he said slowly. “Something…something happened…she went away…dammit, why can’t I remember!?” Cloud clutched his hand to his face and let out a small cry of frustration. Firion cast a gaze up at Cecil and Tidus. Tidus was a surprisingly sound sleeper, considering his energy when awake. Cecil was somewhat more responsive, but fortunately, Cloud’s outburst hadn’t awoken either of them. Firion was awake to keep watch over his sleeping comrades, but he was a light sleeper anyway. As he had told Cloud, he was used to functioning with little sleep.

“I don’t know,” Firion replied. “But for you to have so many nightmares like this, and you to still know her, you must have many memories.”

“But that’s just it!” Cloud said. “I used to have so many, I know I did. So why are they slipping away? I can’t remember her face, who she was to me, how I knew her…I mean, Tifa, Barret, Cid, I remember them. So why can’t I remember who she is?”

“Her name, even?” Firion asked. Cloud closed his eyes and thought hard for a moment.

“Something…something beginning with an ‘A’,” he finally said. “I don’t know.” Firion sighed and stood up.

“What was happening in this dream, anyway?”

“It…there were fireworks, and Chocobos…and…and…”

“And…what?” Firion prompted. Cloud strained himself, and his shoulders slumped.

“And…nothing. That’s all I can remember.”

Miles and miles away, a pair of slim, slightly luminous green eyes cracked open. With a satisfied grunt, Sephiroth rose from his cross-legged position and cracked his neck.

“I trust your foray was successful,” Golbez said, standing some distance away.

“Yes,” Sephiroth replied, brushing off his coat from the time on the ground in the rear halls of the Chaos Shrine. “Another night, another memory sliced as cleanly as a blossom. Not that he’ll miss it, in a few hours he’ll barely know it was ever there.”

“I have to say, though I am willing to allow you to go about your meddling in the boy’s memories, I don’t fully understand your reasons for doing so,” Golbez muttered, crossing his arms. “If you can seize control of him, why not do so now?”

“Surely you’re no stranger to mind manipulations, Golbez,” Sephiroth said lowly, casting the armored mage a glance. He had heard all about his time on his world, manipulating and being manipulated. In that, Golbez was one of the few Warriors of Chaos who could appreciate his efforts with Cloud. “I could take control of him, yes, but unfortunately his mental defenses are too strong. In shattering his memories of the Ancient, I can make him much more malleable. In time, he will be mine to control, but not yet.” Sephiroth smiled slightly. He had made Cloud his puppet once before. To do so again would be a satisfying taste of nostalgia.

“I see,” Golbez nodded. “This I understand. What is it about that girl that makes destroying her memories so particular to you?” Sephiroth closed his eyes as his small smile faded.

“The Ancient has caused me just as much trouble as Cloud Strife ever did, if not more,” he growled, clenching his fist. “To use his memories of her to destroy him is a too-fitting method for them both.”

“Hmph. Just so long as you remember our agreement,” Golbez warned, stepping closer. “When you take control of him, Cecil is to remain unharmed.”

“Of course,” Sephiroth agreed, opening his eyes. Entering Cloud’s mind in his sleep and removing his memories was a careful, challenging process. But it was one he had no trouble performing. All the same, were he to be careless or distracted, he could snap the wrong thought at the wrong time and shatter Cloud’s mind into chaos. And he would, eventually, but for the time being he needed Cloud’s mind intact, and to ensure it stayed that way he needed concentration when plucking the memories away.

Among the other Warriors of Chaos, Golbez was one of the few competent ones not wrapped up in his own self-absorbed schemes and desires, at least as far as Sephiroth was concerned. He had his own agenda, of course, but he was not so focused on it to not look to the side. When he had heard of Sephiroth’s plan to seize control of Cloud, he had confronted Sephiroth on it. If the swordsman agreed to leave Cecil alone when the time came, Golbez would watch over Sephiroth during his time in Cloud’s mind and ensure the others did not disturb his concentration.

Sephiroth held no interest in Cecil. He was a competent warrior, and if need be he could enjoy sparring with him and testing the strength of his so-called light, But in the end he was simply an object of vague interest, nothing more. And so he had agreed with Golbez’s terms. Firion and Tidus, neither Golbez or Sephiroth cared for them. Mateus wanted Firion for himself, but if Sephiroth had Cloud kill the man then he would just have to deal with it. As for Tidus, well, he and Jecht were a case all their own. Killing Tidus would intensify the complications surrounding Jecht’s loyalties, so that would have to be handled delicately. Of course, if they were lucky then Jecht himself would be gone by that time and then the matter was much simpler.

“So, how much longer will it take?” Golbez asked, drawing Sephiroth from his thoughts.

“Not long at all. It will be several more days, a week or two. Once I’ve finished cleaning up what few fragmented memories of the Ancient that are left, overlaying the gaps in his mind with more ‘suitable’ memories will be simple. Cloud will bend to my will as easily as grass in a harsh breeze,” Sephiroth said

“You’re beginning to sound like Kuja,” Golbez snorted.

“Oh, is he now?”

Golbez and Sephiroth turned to the end of the hall as Kuja himself floated from the darkness, flicking a few strands of lavender hair from his eyes as he stopped a few feet from the two.

“Speak of the devil,” Sephiroth muttered.

“You flatter me,” Kuja said drolly, making a show of bowing. Sephiroth grunted. Kuja was intelligent enough, but his playful and bizarre nature made him irritating to be around for any extended period of time. But, he was useful and loyal, two qualities it seemed too few of the Warriors of Chaos possessed at once. Sephiroth tolerated him, he had no reason to quarrel with Kuja and the genome had thus far not given him one, his eccentricities not withstanding.

“What do you want, Kuja?” Golbez asked. Kuja turned his attention to the man in armor and smiled.

“So harsh, Golbez, and what for?” he said. “Are we not all allies in this grand play that Chaos has so graciously written for us?”

“Just answer the question,” Golbez ordered. Kuja’s smile widened as he crossed his arms.

“It’s time for a dress rehearsal; Mateus has called a gathering,” he answered. “We’re all to attend. Come along, now.” Kuja turned and glided away down the hall, inches above the floor. Golbez slowly walked after him to the main hall, and after a moment Sephiroth followed.

Emperor Mateus turned and nodded slightly as Kuja emerged from the pillars lining the sides of the Chaos Shrine, Golbez and Sephiroth stepping out behind him. From his vantage point, Sephiroth looked over the shrine and surveyed his “allies”.

Mateus was a powerful, intelligent man, but his pride would prove his downfall. Sephiroth knew he was planning to seize power and challenge Chaos himself, but the god of discord had ordered no action taken against him. For now he was too valuable a pawn to lose carelessly. Besides, Chaos had made it clear, through his emissary Garland, that Mateus did not even resemble a threat to him.

Beside Mateus, the top platform of the shrine stood empty. Ultimecia had been the first of their number to fall, dispatched, appropriately enough, by the one boy she had worked so hard to deceive, Squall Leonhart. When she was alive, Sephiroth didn’t care for her. She was as arrogant as Mateus and as vain as Kuja, and she flaunted her looks and power needlessly. It wasn’t good news to hear she had been slain, but all the same, Sephiroth did not miss her.

Below where he now stood, the Cloud of Darkness hovered. Sephiroth had spoken with her briefly. She was a powerful, deceptively beautiful woman, or so she appeared. She had expressed a great interest in Sephiroth turning Cloud against his allies, and had smiled at the idea. Sephiroth had decided she was a possible ally if he needed one, although she was so often gone searching for the Warriors of Cosmos, he hadn’t spoken with her much since. She was tolerable at least, and perhaps worth his attention.

At the bottom of the shrine walkway, on the opposite side where he now stood, Sephiroth looked down at Jecht. The man was leaning his arm on his sword and kept his head low. Jecht had been coerced into serving Chaos through some thread of fate that bound him to his world, or so Golbez had cryptically stated. Sephiroth knew his son Tidus fought among the ranks of the Warriors of Cosmos, but he didn’t know what that meant for Jecht, and that made him a liability. Other than Tidus, Jecht had left him alone, and Sephiroth had done the same. Above Jecht, reclining on the wall picking at his ear, was another Warrior of Chaos Sephiroth was not fond of.

Kefka Palazzo.

The flamboyant and wisecracking mage was perhaps one of the most devoted members to Chaos’ cause. The prospect of destruction and disorder had made his eyes bulge, and he had burst out laughing and rambling about things Sephiroth couldn’t decipher. Strange but certainly loyal, Kefka had briefly fought with Zidane to distract him while they separated him from Bartz. Sephiroth had watched the battle, and had to grudgingly give the bizarre man his respect. Kefka may have been more than a bit insane with a penchant for bad jokes, but he was certainly powerful when the fight was at hand. Otherwise, Sephiroth had made a point to note that Kefka, strong and destructive though he might have been, was too unstable and insane to make a good accomplice.

It was then Sephiroth noticed an uneasy silence in the chamber. A second look around the room revealed why.

“Where is Exdeath?” Golbez asked, turning towards Mateus. Mateus drummed his fingers on the handle of his staff and growled.

“Gone, swallowed back into the Void he so claimed to have harnessed,” Mateus announced. “Bartz has destroyed him.”

“Bah, told ya we should have killed the kid when we had the chance!” Kefka snapped, sitting up from his place. “Oh well, big loss, one less clunky suit of armor to keep me up at night.”

“This is now the second of our number to fall,” Mateus continued, ignoring Kefka as he giggled. “This is a loss we cannot allow to go unpunished. Two of our number fall and the Warriors of Cosmos stand as ten!”

“We’ve an advantage they do not,” the Cloud of Darkness whispered, the fanged tentacles at her sides coming forward to look up at their mistress. “They are scattered, disoriented and lost. We are united, focused and prepared. We can defeat them.”

“Easier said than done, my dear,” Kuja lectured, tossing her a look. “Those wretched little cretins house strength that we have underestimated us all. Or, is that not why we are all here?” Kuja looked around the Chaos Shrine. The genome had spoken the truth, Chaos had given them a chance to reclaim their glory, their power. A second chance they needed. The god of discord would not be pleased if they failed.

“We must take action, formulate a plan lest our numbers continue to shrink,” Mateus said, drawing attention back to him. “Anyone care to step forward with information? Who among the Warriors of Cosmos is their weakest?”

“The little boy is still weak and childish,” the Cloud of Darkness said, resting her hands on the tips of her tentacles. “We can defeat him easily, if we separate him from that girl he pretends to protect, Terra.”

“Yeah, speaking of her, she’s mine!” Kefka snapped, jumping to his feet. “I got her covered.”

“What are you scheming, Kefka?” Golbez called from across the hall. “What is it about Terra that you’ve ‘got covered’?”

“That mind of hers is all outta whack,” Kefka laughed, waving a hand in the air. “I’ve been feeding her lies and false memories bit by bit. At this rate she won’t know her hand from a rock, much less be any threat to us! She barely remembers who she really is now!” As Kefka spoke, Sephiroth focused his gaze on him. Something in the mage’s words rung as eerily familiar. Had Kefka been toying with Terra’s memories as he had been toying with Cloud’s? The possibility struck a chord, and Sephiroth tucked Kefka’s claim in the back of his mind to ponder later.

“As you know, I’ve made similar progress with Cloud,” Sephiroth announced. “His memory is full of holes, now, and soon he will be mine to control. At that time, his allies shall die easily.”

“Excellent,” Mateus nodded. “Such a thing would truly be in the best interests of Chaos!”

“And what would you know of the desires of the god of discord, Mateus?”

The emperor fell silent as the doors of the Chaos Shrine creaked open, revealing a swirling black portal at the entrance. Mateus paled slightly at the silhouette of horns and a cloak, but quickly regained his composure and scowled.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled, swinging his staff before him. Ignoring the question, Garland stepped out of the portal and began walking up the ramp to the head of the shrine, the portal to Chaos’ realm closing behind him. The others were silent as he stopped at the top, and then spun around swiftly, swinging his sword with him. Mateus cried out and leapt back as the gigantic weapon sliced the air, narrowly missing him. Garland watched as Mateus jumped and shouldered his sword.

“Apologies. I didn’t see you there,” Garland boomed. Mateus sneered and stood up to his full height, crossing his arms. Sephiroth watched, suspecting Garland was smiling under his helmet.

Garland was, along with Golbez and the Cloud of Darkness, someone that Sephiroth had decided was worthy of his attention. The armored swordsman was a powerful foe in battle, and wielded his massive sword as easily as Sephiroth wielded his own. But more importantly, Garland was the mouth through which the Warriors of Chaos heard the words of Chaos himself. As the emissary to Chaos’ world, Garland conveyed his orders to the rest of their alliance, and in such was the only one among them to whom Chaos spoke directly.

“Chaos is not pleased with the demise of Exdeath,” Garland announced, looking over the room. “He is not pleased at all. And while we are on the topic of what does not please him, your haughty commands are something else to that effect, Mateus,” Garland didn’t look at Mateus this time. Chaos had decreed that Garland was their leader, but Mateus hadn’t taken kindly to that and tried to order about the other Warriors of Chaos in his absences. It wasn’t working well, not when only half of them listened in the first place.

“However, your plan intrigues him, Sephiroth,” Garland turned to face the caped man, and Sephiroth reared to his full height. He’d not met Chaos in person, but the god had seen fit to give him a chance for vengeance on Cloud, and to claim his place as ruler of his world. For that, he had to give Chaos his respect and thanks. His was not a will Sephiroth meant to cross.

“Does it, now?” Sephiroth asked, pleased he had earned Chaos’ eye.

“Indeed. Effective and nefarious. You are hereby ordered to continue your manipulations and take control of Cloud as soon as possible. Once done, you are to use him to dispatch Firion, Tidus and Cecil.”

“Cecil?” Golbez asked, stepping forward. Sephiroth looked down as Jecht lifted his head to give Garland a blank stare.

“If either of you wish to engage your relatives, then Chaos gives you free reign to do so. But Cloud gets to them first, it is your lost. Chaos waits for the desires of no man,” Garland said. Jecht snorted.

“Meh, big loss. It’s not like the crybaby could take me anyway,” he mumbled, looking away. Golbez stepped back, not pleased but willing to obey. Not one among them wished to defy Chaos’ orders.

“And you, Kefka,” Garland continued. Kefka grinned and looked up at him, leaning his chin on his hand. “The girl Terra is not one to be taken lightly. Chaos will be pleased if you can sway her to our cause, but if not, you’d best be careful.”

“I ain’t worried!” Kefka cried, rolling his eyes. “I’ve taken her on before, how hard could it be to take her again?”

“Her power is great, and yet unstable. We must not allow her to access her Crystal, lest that power be channeled towards us,” Mateus said, stepping closer to Garland.

“Yeah yeah, I told ya, I got it covered!” Kefka laughed. “That little wildcat inside her is easy enough to handle, so long as you keep her burned out. I sent a bunch of Crystelles after her now, they'll keep her busy!”

“Kefka, are you insa-” Mateus cut himself off as he realized the obvious answer to his unfinished question. “Our supply of Crystelles is not infinite!” Mateus said instead.

“Yeah, but we have a lot more Crystelles than Cosmos has warriors!” Kefka reminded.

Onion Knight snored loudly and turned over, mumbling. Sitting across from him, legs drawn up to her chest with her hands on her knees, Terra smiled and looked up at the sky. On the horizon in the distance, ribbons of light weaved in and out of the clouds, signaling dawn’s coming. Terra climbed to her feet and looked out over the forest below them. The two of them had decided to use the mountain as their resting spot for that night, the idea being they would spot any attacking Crystelles before they arrived. Onion Knight had offered to take the first watch, but Terra knew better and waited, awake but feigning sleep, as he nodded off.

The two of them had found each other quite by chance, when Onion Knight was searching for his world’s Crystal in an abandoned castle Terra knew as Doma. Surprised to find another survivor, Terra had suggested they travel together for safety. The revelation that she wasn’t the only person to have survived the calamity was a welcome relief. Onion Knight was a spirited and trustworthy ally, and Terra was happy to have someone like him along as a companion.

“No…it’s more than that…” Terra thought, lifting a hand to her breast. Something about him stirred something inside her. Something…warm. And not the bad kind of warmth she had been forced to deal with since leaving her world. A more pleasant, soothing kind…she had felt this feeling before, she knew it. But from where? Not for the first time, Terra mentally cursed her amnesia.

The holes in her memory were things she suspected now, she would never reclaim. Her forced servitude to the Empire had warped her mind beyond total repair, Cosmos had told her. There were memories, thoughts and ideas that were forever beyond her reach. Moreover, the calamity had twisted reality beyond recognition. Cosmos had said that because of Terra’s “unique” situation, her mental integrity would be compromised even more.

“I’ve lost too much already…not anymore,” Terra said, closing her eyes. “Remember…you’re here to reclaim the Crystal and restore your world. Locke, Celes, Edgar, Sabin, everyone…they’re counting on me to find the Crystal and put things right again. I can’t let them down! And I will not forget about them.”

A sound broke Terra out of her thoughts, and she opened her eyes. She knelt down and looked at a few broken shards of rock littering the ground. They were shaking. Terra rose and turned to the bridge and the cave leading deeper into the mountain. She crossed the rope bridge and entered the small cavern, lit by a single hole in the ceiling. She emerged on the other side, and gasped.

The path spiraled down to another cave, and along the path downwards, were Crystelle. There had to be two dozen, or more. Terra stepped back, and tried to hide within the cavern doorway. One of the Crystelles looked up, and roared, pointing its sword at her. The others spotted her, and began charging up the mountain path. Terra cried out, and looked back over the bridge. With a cry, she turned and sprinted across it, looking over her shoulder as the Crystelles charged through the cavern. Terra leapt up and turned, holding out her hand. The Crystelles looked up at her and stopped as she focused, channeling an orb of orange energy into her palm.

With a cry, Terra hurled the fireball into the bridge. The wood and rope exploded and fell into the gorge below, shattering on the rocks. Terra landed in a crouch as the Crystelles roared angrily on the other side of the gorge. Terra stood up, panting slightly. Behind her, Onion Knight slowly opened his eyes and yawned.

“I miss something?” he asked sleepily, looking up at Terra.

“Crystelles,” Terra informed. Onion Knight cried out and jumped to his feet, drawing his sword. “It’s okay, they’re trapped,” Terra said, nodding across to the army opposite them. “But I think we’re going to have to turn back now,” she turned back to Onion Knight and smiled.

“What’s that one doing?” Onion Knight asked, pointing. Terra turned as one of the Crystelles on the edge of the gorge kneeled down and lowered its head. As the two watched, a second Crystelle charged forward, ran up the first’s back and leapt up.

“RUN!” Terra screamed, spinning around. Onion Knight cried out and ducked as the Crystelle lifted a massive sword over its head. Terra cried and grabbed Onion Knight, leaping out of the way as the sword slammed into the dirt. On the other side of the mountain, the other Crystelles roared their triumph as more began to follow the example set by the first.

“Go, get out of here!” Terra ordered, standing up.

“No way, there’s way too many for you to beat alone!” Onion Knight protested.

“I said go!” Terra cried, pushing him backwards into another cavern. Onion Knight stumbled back, and Terra flung out her hand.

“No, Terra!” Onion Knight climbed to his feet as a sheet of ice formed over the cavern entrance. Terra looked back as the first Crystelle heaved its sword up, and a second and third landed behind it from their jumps.

“I’m sorry,” Terra whispered, stepping back as her opponents advanced. “But this way, they only get one of us.” As she spoke, two more orbs of orange energy formed on her palms. “But even so, I’m not going out without a fight!”

Terra cried out and flung the two fireballs forward. The lead Crystelle deflected one and was hit by the other. It was flung back, and its foot slipped. With a cry, it fell down into the valley below, hitting the rock bellows and shattering into crystalline particles on impact. Back above, Terra jumped to avoid another Crystelle charging at her, and landed on a small ledge. She jumped again as the Crystelle slammed a fist into the ledge, the rock exploding. Terra flung out her hand and sent a barrage of glowing white orbs at the construct. It took the Holy attack with a grunt and fell back to the ground with a groan. Terra landed and cried out as a Crystelle slammed into her from behind. She rolled to her feet and lifted her hands, firing a blast of ice. The Crystelle froze solid, then shattered into more crystal shards. The shards glowed for a moment, then rose into the air and transformed into particles of light.

Terra spun and drew her sword to parry a sword attack on her, deflecting the attack and firing another Blizzard attack at the swordsman. As the Crystelle stumbled back, Terra looked down at her hand and gasped as pink and violet crackles of energy raced over her fingertips.

“No, not now!” she hissed in horror. She turned her attention back to the fight as two Crystelles leapt towards her. Terra drew her hand back as the wind rushed over her skin. With a cry, a whirlwind spun up from the ground, flinging the two Crystelles off the mountain, more light particles in their wake. Terra jumped forward and flung a fireball at two more Crystelle, the light particles floating into her skin.

“I can’t keep this up,” she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. She landed and lifted her hands to conjure a large fireball. With a cry, she let loose her focus and launched it. So few feet away, a Crystelle raised its sword and swung at the fireball.

The projectile exploded, and Terra screamed as the force flung her backwards. She reached out and grabbed at a tree protruding from the mountain, gasping. Beside her, more Crystelles fell to the rocks below. One by one they shattered as they hit the mountainside, their remains forming glowing orbs of energy. Terra looked up to see more of the glittering constructs staring down at her. One of them lifted a hand and fired some sort of energy blast. It slammed into Terra, and with a scream, she lost her grip.

The wind rushed past Terra’s ears as she plummeted downwards, looking up. As she fell, the light remains of the Crystelles floated into her skin.

“I hope Onion Knight is okay…” she thought, lifting a hand. Terra’s eyes went wide as crackles of pink and violet energy raced along her skin. “Well…doesn’t matter now,” she thought sadly, a pink and violet aura appearing around her hand. “You can come out.” With the mental reminder the ground was rushing towards her, Terra reached deep, deep inside her and found the small bundle of energy she tried so hard to keep contained…

And relinquished her control of it.

With an animalistic scream, Terra’s head snapped back, her eyes glowing red. The aura flared up and consumed her. Fur exploded from her skin and clothing, and her nails grew longer and pointed. The red glow on her eyes subsided, and Terra calmly pulled herself into a standing position. She looked down and scowled as the ground rushed up to her. With a snarl, she stopped in the air, and looked up. She yowled and flung her hands to her sides, zooming up through the air.

The Crystelles stepped back as Terra rushed up the mountainside, her body surrounded by an aura of pure, magical power. Her hair, lengthened and turned purple-pink by the transformation, streamed down her back and to her legs as she flew. Finally, she flew over the Crystelles and whipped a hand back. With a cry, Terra flung her hand forward, and a wave of white energy sliced through the air. The Crystelles were cleaved in two, and the surviving ones turned and fled.

Terra landed with a growl, and dashed after them. She leapt on the back of the first Crystelle, digging her claws into its head and flinging it over the mountainside. The other Crystelles stopped as they reached the edge of the mountain, the bridge Terra had burned earlier fluttering its planks on the cliff face below. Terra dashed forward, drawing her arms over her chest. The Crystelles turned as Terra snarled and flung out her hands again. A barrage of crescent-shaped energy waves tore them apart and sent them hurtling over the mountain. Terra reared back her head and shrieked as she realized no more Crystelles were left standing. A noise caught her attention, and Terra turned her head at the cavern entrance covered in ice. With a snort, she lifted her hand and fired a blast of flame. The ice melted instantly, and Onion Knight climbed out.

“Terra, you…” he trailed off as he saw Terra floating over him, her blue eyes glowing yellow. “You…transformed again,” Onion Knight whispered, falling to his knees. Terra tossed her head back and let out a snarl, and closed her eyes. Onion Knight shielded his eyes at the flash of light that emanated from Terra. When it faded, he lowered his hand to see Terra descend to the ground. “Terra!” Terra swooned forward, and Onion Knight caught her.

“I’m sorry…” Terra whispered weakly, her eyes drifting shut. “The…only way…”

“It’s okay Terra, it’s over…you beat them,” Onion Knight coaxed. Terra out a breath and went limp, and Onion Knight knelt to set her unconscious form on the ground. A glare of light shone in the corner of his eyes, and he squinted as he looked up into the morning sunrise.

“Well, this is a great way to start the morning,” he grumbled, sitting down beside Terra.

Crystelles are my term for the generic enemies fought in Dissidia. Their nature, story and purpose will be explained later. The same goes for Dissidia’s backstory, which will combine my own theories with the game’s established facts.

Mateus is the first name of the Emperor in the Japanese novelization of Final Fantasy II, and I decided to use it instead of just referring to him by his title.