The Terran Rangers/Final Fantasy VII by Heather Ray (summer beach reads txt) 📕

The two mighty swords, one of silver, and the other of gold, clashed again and again, at a frightening speed and with deadly strength behind each powerful thrust. A shower of sparks flew in all directions each time the two blades collided, creating a heavy amount of friction. The clashes of the metal echoed so loudly, anyone near the mountaintop would hear it. Yet, the area was completely deserted, save the two bitter enemies, and the remains of the Command Center that littered the rocky earth.

"You're much slower today," the hideous beast Goldar commented. "Under the weather, Tommy?"

"Actually, I'm feeling much better, thanks," Tommy rebuffed. "If you had attacked...say, an hour ago, you might have had me at a disadvantage. But of course, you missed your golden opportunity, Lassie."

Goldar ignored the witty human's latest jibe to his canine appearance, not allowing himself to lose the perfect rhythm of his attacks. Still, although the two warriors were about evenly matched, Goldar was easily the stronger of the two. It was simply Tommy's speed and agility that allowed him to counteract that advantage. Yet, Goldar pressed even harder, focusing all the strength in his body with each thrust, hoping to overpower his young opponent.

Tommy received each thrust with a perfectly timed counter-thrust, yet he couldn't stop himself from being pushed back slightly at every turn. It was like standing in the way of a speeding train...simply impossible to hold one's ground. Tommy knew he was inching backwards, and considering the hazardous battle ground, he was sure he'd eventually either fall off the cliff, or strike his foot against a mound of debris and trip. In either case, Goldar was quick and sharp enough to use that momentary distraction to his benefit.

In an attempt to push the odds in his favor, Tommy sidestepped a particularly powerful down-thrust, allowing Goldar's sharp blade to plow into the earth like a shovel. Tommy then whirled around and slammed his knee into the small of Goldar's back, using the beast's own momentum to throw him hard on the ground face first. Tommy grabbed Goldar's sword, which he had dropped, and channeled his heat energy through it. Once it started to glow with fire energy, Tommy returned his gaze to Goldar, who had returned to his feet.

"Here," Tommy said, tossing the heated sword like a dart to a target. Goldar scowled, dodging the sword and letting it lay on the dusty ground. He noticed the heat energy, and wasn't stupid enough to injure himself by trying to use it.

"Your tactics have grown less sportsman-like each day," Goldar hissed. "Perhaps you aren't as much a goody-good as you like to appear."

Tommy's face was grim beneath his helmet, but his exaggerated breathing gave testimony to his own fatigue. "Well, this isn't a game, Goldar, so losing fair and square isn't an option."

Rocky watched the five battles on the main computer screen so intensely that he almost felt each blow his friends received at the hands of the various evil opponents sent to destroy them. It was painful to watch, yet Rocky knew it was necessary, in the hopes that he could somehow help them.

If only Billy were here,

Rocky lamented. He'd know how to help them. Maybe with some secret weapon or something. I feel so useless!

Tanya and Adam were still busily tending to Aisha, trying to recalibrate the coolant to effectively reduce her life-threatening fever, or perhaps devise another way to inhibit the spread of the virus, to prolong her life-expectancy. No one knew how Zack and Billy were faring on their mission to Midgar, and if they would even be successful in finding a cure. Tanya and Adam desperately searched for other options, in case the primary solution fell through.

"I've gotta do something," Rocky said aloud, his focus fixed on the lower, right-hand corner. There, he watched the Purple Ranger painfully steady herself on her feet, preparing to launch another attack that most likely wouldn't connect. Out of the five battles, she was faring the worst. Not only was she fighting Shade, one of the mighty Dreadkin, she was also fighting a dangerous virus. This was a fight the brave Alexis Darling might not be able to win.

Several times, Rocky's hand passed over the emergency teleport button, which was locked onto the Purple Ranger's coordinates at all times. Tommy had advised him to keep an eye on all five rangers, and to teleport them out if it appeared they were losing. It was clear that Alexis was dragging her feet, yet he couldn't bring himself to bail her out.

Rocky cared about the brash Purple Ranger a great deal...perhaps more than he himself realized. They were friends at first, and then they sort of dove into a relationship. Still, it was far more casual than the bonds that connected Kim and Tommy, Tanya and Adam, or Kat and Jason. It was far more sudden, and far less nurtured. They spent time together, but they seemed more like very close friends than a romantic couple. It was something Rocky wanted to remedy, although it never seemed like the opportune time to do so.

"And now isn't the time either," he determined, glancing away from Alexis. He knew she would hate to be pulled out of the fight, especially considering there was no one else to fend off Shade. Also, he had strong faith in her willpower and ability to recover. After all, she picked up the pieces after the loss of her powers, and became an even more formidable Purple Ranger, protecting the streets of Philadelphia without the aid of other rangers, nor the support of a mentor like Zordon or an adviser like Billy.

She was the bravest person he knew, and if anyone could bounce back into the fight, it was her.

"No, Alexis isn't coming out yet," he said, watching the other battles, "but I have to contribute something here!"

Tommy seemed to be about evenly matched with Goldar. Although anyone could tell Tommy wasn't at his peak performance, it was clear that Goldar wasn't as focused as usual either. The Red Ranger could hold off without help for a bit longer at least. Unfortunately, the others were losing ground with every passing minute.

"Kim can't get the edge on Rito, because she can't focus her telepathic or telekinetic powers effectively against him," Rocky judged, "Kat's water isn't enough to quench Blaze's Black Flame, and Jason still can't shake the perceptual manipulations of Nirvana. Nirvana confuses all five basic senses..."

Then, an idea dawned on Rocky. "...but, can she confuse the sixth?"

A grin crossed the former Red Ranger's face, and his rusty brown eyes widened with excitement. "Of course!! Jason, Kat, and Kimberly are fighting bad guys with abilities that cancel out their own! Jason can't beat Nirvana's perceptual control, but I'd bet Kim can, with her telepathy. Also, Kat's water powers aren't enough to quell the Black Flame because the water evaporates, but Jason's earth powers may do the trick. And since Kat's powers don't require the concentration Kim's powers do, she'd be able to respond to Rito's attacks better."

Rocky immediately flipped on the communication relay, and channeled the signal to reach the Gold, Blue, and Black Rangers.

"Listen up, gang," he announced, "I'm going to teleport each of you to another fight. Kat, you're going up against Rito in the mall, Kim, you're going to fight Nirvana in the business district, and Jason, I'm sending you to the park with Blaze. Kat, watch out for Rito's weird teleports. Kim, be prepared for Nirvana's sense disruption. And Jason, get ready for Blaze's powerful Black Flame. Maybe we can turn the tables on these guys."

^You got it,^

Kim's voice chimed.

^Great thinking, Rocko!^

Jason congratulated.

^Thanks a lot,^

Katherine added.

Rocky's smile widened as he activated the teleporter, and then watched the fight scenes again. Nirvana, Rito, and Blaze were all shocked to see the sudden teleportation of their opponents, and were even more stunned to see their replacements. However, whereas they were acquainted with the abilities of the other rangers, the new opponents were a mystery to them. Yet, they had the feeling they weren't a mystery to the rangers.

"Score one for Rocky DeSantos, Master Strategic Adviser!" he said, sitting back smugly on the chair behind him. "Now, all I need to do is figure out how to help Lex..."

"This...place is incredible

!" Zack whispered in awe, holstering his Winchester rifle. After an arduous journey through the cliffs, the members of Cloud Strife's rebel forces, accompanied by Zack and Billy, arrived at the towering stairs leading to the city of Cosmo Canyon, carved into the side of a mighty cliff. Once they reached the top of the staircase, Billy and Zack were treated to an incredible view. Dozens of tents were erected along the plateau, which served as entrances to the coves that contained residences, shops, and rest areas. Also, at the very center of the plateau was a blazing fire, whose burning embers flashed with an almost magical radiance. A handful of citizens stood around the fire, either admiring its beauty, enjoying its sustaining warmth, or even consulting its majesty. And finally, another case of stone stairs stretched upwards, leading to another level of the town.

"It feels so peaceful here," Billy commented, glancing at Red XII. "It must have been wonderful to grow up here."

The crimson wolf nodded. "Cosmo Canyon is a city fully devoted to nature and philosophy. My grandfather Bugenhagen is the present elder and head sage. The knowledge he has accumulated over the centuries is awe-inspiring. Believe me, in the forty years of my life I still haven't absorbed all the wisdom Bugenhagen has to offer. Also, his understanding of nature and the Lifestream is second to none, other than the Ancients themselves perhaps."

"It's not all that impressive," Cid huffed, placing the blue Huge Materia on the ground so he could light another cigar.

"Anything is better than that awful airship of yours," Yuffie remarked. "The slightest turbulance turns the entire thing into a blender!"

"It's