Ezio, Tifa, Aerith & Yuna

[Elario Luminus]

((Nah, just a higher level Imitation.))

Rinoa saw Aerith's Shell break and gasped. She focused on one of the Imitations, but it was destroyed before she could help. Stopping in mid-dive, the Sorceress raised an eyebrow at Aerith's sudden, and instinctively powerful Firaga spell.
Obviously more powerful than she thinks...cool!
Rinoa floated slowly down and landed without a sound near Aerith. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a Curaga spell over her friend, and knelt down in front of her. Tilting her head, she said 'You okay, Aerith? You handled that very well, for someone who never uses Black Magic.'

Squall and Sephiroth had been clashing and parrying nonstop for what seemed like hours, but in reality was just a few minutes. Squall wasn't near tiring, but he was quickly growing bored. He'd been playing at a game where he was trying to not get hurt, but he'd quickly decided he'd need to take a risk. The Knight feigned a failed parry, and expectedly felt the katana slide into his torso. Sephiroth chuckled, lifting Squall into the air, who played unconscious. He flicked the sword deftly, flinging Squall into a wall. The ex-SOLDIER huffed and turned to walk away. Through blood-loss, Squall's vision went slightly hazy. Struggling to stand up, he went on instinct and summoned the only thing he knew to do.
I summon Griever to my aid...rip him apart.

There was a flash of bright light, and the giant form of a creature, part dragon, part lion, and part demon, spilled forth. Griever stood in front of Squall facing Sephiroth. The beast lunged forward before Sephiroth could react, and grabbed him. Griever swung him down into the ground, and began clawing and punching at the man. There was a flash of blue light, and an Imitation Sephiroth lay in his place. Seeing this, Squall growled. I need to pick up my game a bit...
The Imitation was destroyed utterly, and Griever turned to face Squall. Kneeling down, he disappeared back into Squall's ring. Feeling one last little gift from Griever, Squall's injuries were healed instantly.
Thankyou for allowing me stretch, Lionheart.
Squall mentally chuckled.
Anytime.
Another portal opened up, and Squall quickly entered.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack gave a roar as he saw Aerith get hit with the thunder spell, and though he picked up the pace to double-time it over to her, the battle was done and Rinoa had arrived before he made it.
"Are you alright!?" He demanded, taking Aerith up urgently in his arms to hold her close to him, hands searching for any wounds.

[Yuna Braska]

Yuna stepped onto Tidus' webbed hands and used all her strength to propel herself high into the air. She reloaded her weapons, kicked one enemy, which tried to follow her, in the ribs before aiming her weapons at most of the imitations behind Tidus. She took in a breath and took a spin before using her rapid 'Trigger Happy' at the Squall's, one by one shattering them before falling back down to the ground in a series of flips. That took care of most of the copies that surrounded them.

Cloud took a turn around a corner to be surprised by a fist just missing his cheek as he reflected back away from the threat. Cloud was shocked to see that a crystal copy of Tifa was rushing towards him. he avoided her attacks one by one, but he was skipping from wall to wall to avoid it. She was fast, and very creative. The imitation would judge where he would doge to next, appearing there before he did which made avoiding the fight.. difficult.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith dropped her hand and looked up at Rinoa with an appreciative glance as the ache in her chest subsided. But before she could thank her, or reply to her statement, she felt Zack's arms secure themselves around her, pulling her in against his warm body.
"I'm fine..." she assured gently, touching his face. "Just... a little breathless..."
With that, she inhaled slowly to steady her breathing.
"I'm so out of touch..." she sighed.
"I haven't dealt with anything like this in a long time. I don't think I had even touched my staff since before we had the kids..."
She gave a small smile for a moment though.
"At least Squall's pointless attempts at trying to train me at Radiant Garden finally paid off," she joked, but the expression didn't remain for too long.
"Just the thought of never getting back to Yn and Ash... that's what scared me into that spell..."

"Nice!" Tidus grinned to Yuna as he engaged in a sword fight with one of the last remaining Squall's.
"You know, if there wasn't the whole serious death thing hanging over our heads, I'd actually be enjoying this..." he said as he blocked the gun-blade, countering with a slash that caught the copy on the side of the head, sending it to the ground.

[Elario Luminus]

Rinoa could actually envision exactly what Aerith described; Aerith, quaking in her boots while Squall "accidentally" missed her with slashes and Black Magic spells, trying to force the Ancient to use some form of attack magic to protect herself. She giggled a little, and put a hand to her mouth to stop herself from laughing too much in the serious situation. She was sure Zack wouldn't appreciate laughter at a time like this.
'At least he took the time to do so, right?'

Squall stepped out into another area, this one on a small circular platform made of rock. There were no apparent walls; instead, the area was surrounded with a swirling green mist of some kind. Squall was mystified, but then he realised it must be the Lifestream on Cloud's world. Looking around, Squall couldn't see or hear anyone or anything, so he decided to sit on the edge of the platform he'd been set on to reflect and meditate.

[Tifa Lockhart]

It took all of Zack's self-discipline to stop him from shooting an angry glare at the sorceress as she laughed. He didn't want to make enemies out of his friends just because he was a little pissed off at the world right now.
"Though he never really consulted ME about it." He grumbled softly, remembering those days when Aerith had come home with bruises, and he was about ready to go out an hunt down the bastards that hurt his wife... until she informed him it was one of his friends. It had been a slightly awkward moment XD

He already hated how aimless this quest was, they didn't know where to go, what to look for. All they knew was they needed their crystal. Zack didn't like the idea of wandering around aimlessly, getting into trouble and getting potentially hurt for an indefinite period of time without even being able to be certain whether it would lead to their crystal or not.
This is ridiculous, i'm not making a habit of running around playing the games of Gods. That's for damn sure.

Tifa was just beginning to think she was completely alone in this place when a thunderbolt struck the ground just in front of her, narrowly missing her.
"Whose there!?" She yelled, raising her fists so she was ready for battle.
The replica that emerged was one of rinoa, it floated down from up high on its crystaline wings, and began blasting spells at her ferociously. Tifa backflipped to avoid them, using the wall as a jump point to get up to the replica, delivering a swift kick that knocked it from the sky and evened out the playing field.

[Yuna Braska]

Cloud let the imitation of Tifa come at him over an over again, blocking every strike before taking a chance to push it far away from him to allow him to power up his first attack. The copy ran up the sides of walls before coming straight towards him, right in the path of his attack. Cloud dodged her kick and fist before taking a few swipes at it's torso before hitting it hard with a large swing. The imitation stumbled to the ground but got up after a quick shake of the head. It would take more than a few powerful slashes to break this copy down.

Yuna took in a breath and stretched her arms as she rocked back and forth on her heels. " it's been a few years..." Yuna said putting her pistols away. " Let's keep going" Yuna requested pointing a nod towards a portal that opened up just opened across the platform.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith sighed softly, shaking her head and kissing Zack softly.
"You worry too much. Come on..."
She got to her feet, still holding on to Zack's hand.
"Time to move on, I suppose?"

Tidus nodded to Yuna, taking a step to follow her. But as he did, a second portal opened. He hesitated.
"I guess they don't want us travelling in pairs..." he frowned.

[Elario Luminus]

Rinoa inwardly agreed with Aerith about Zack worrying too much...but she wasn't about to tell him that.
'Time to continue forward!'
The Sorceress started walking towards the portal that'd just recently opened.

Squall was abruptly brought out of his thoughts when a portal loudly opened nearby. He instantly jumped to his feet, grabbing his gunblade, ready for whatever came through.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa had finished her foe, her own blood only spilled a little, one of the icy shards that Rinoa had launched at her had sliced her forearm. She nursed the wound as she walked, still alone in the seemingly endless corridor.
I never realised how much i hate being alone... She thought with a whimper, eyes darting every time she heard even the smallest noise.

Though Zack grumbled a little under his breath he said nothing more, taking Aerith's hand tightly in his before following Rinoa toward the giant portal. He hated all this aimless wandering.
Something substantial had better happen through this portal... He thought to himself.

[Yuna Braska]

Yuna frowned when the other portal opened. She didn't want to go at it alone but she knew that she would be strong enough. " Ill whistle if i need you" She said with a smile before giving him a big hug around his neck. " Be careful"

After a few more minutes of fighting the Tifa copy, Cloud was able to wound her enough to give one last slash. The Imitation screamed at the pain before disappearing. Taking in deep breaths he closed his eyes, hearing a sound beside him. CLoud picked up his sword again and pointed it at the portal that just opened up. Nothing was coming out of it so he figured that it was the next place to go.

[The Painted Lady]

"I'll come running," Tidus promised.
He kissed Yuna's cheek softly.
"I'll see you soon," he grinned with a wink.

Aerith drew Zack's hand to her lips to kiss gently.
"Just remember who we're doing this for..." she said quietly.

[Elario Luminus]

Rinoa decided to block out Aerith and Zack talking, lest she get saddened by the fact that Squall wasn't nearby for her to cuddle up to for protection. She scoffed at herself. Not as if she needed protecting anyway. Walking tall, the Sorceress headed through the portal.

She came out at a strange place, and she was surprised. Not by her surroundings, but by who was nearby.
'Cloud?' she asked at the blonde-headed figure, leaning forward with her arms behind her. 'Is that you?'

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack summoned up the image of his smiling children as Aerith told him to remember what they were fighting for. With a sigh and a confident nod he followed her into the portal, still holding tightly to her hand.

[Yuna Braska]

Cloud dropped his sword to hold it away from his friend, a frown nearly fell on his lips but he pulled it back. If anyone was to come out of that portal... he was hoping it was Tifa. "Unfortunetly yes" he replied.

Yuna gave a wave to Tidus before stepping through the portal. She staggered a bit when reaching the other side, the portal disappearing the moment she was out. She looked up and saw a figure walking away from her. She squinted a little before smiling greatfully. "Tifa!" She called out cupping her hands around her mouth. It was then she hoped it really was Tifa and not a copy.