Kingdom Hearts Advent: The New Universe

Chapter 6

As Sora unlocked everyone's cells, Tifa looked at Aerith, while Cloud... he wasn't sure how he felt about how close Sora and Aerith seemed to be getting.
"Aerith, I have a question." Tifa said as she looked at Aerith.

"What?" Aerith asked.

"Does this Promised Land really exist?" Tifa asked. Sora looked at Aerith curiously, now himself very curious.

"I don't know." Aerith replied with a shrug before she continued.

"All I know is... The Cetra were born from the Planet, speak with the Planet... and unlock the Planet. And... then.... The Cetra will return to the Promised Land. A land that promises supreme happiness." Aerith explained.

"Unlock the Planet?" Sora asked.

"What does that mean?" Tifa added.

"More than words... I don't know." Aerith replied, but Aerith then looked at Sora.

"Maybe... it's like what you used to do... locking world keyholes." Aerith said to Sora. Sora was surprised at this... he never really spoke to Aerith about his adventures too often, being too busy having new ones with her and Cloud... so how would she know...

"I'll explain how I know later... I know you have your questions, Sora." Aerith said. Sora nodded.

"Right. We need to get out of here." Sora replied.

As Sora and his friends were escaping.. they heard screaming... that's when Sora saw...

"Sephiroth!" Sora said. Sephiroth smiled as he looked at the group.

"So... you know who I am... no doubt due to the other me you fought... the White Lotus informed me... you defeated that other me." Sephiroth said.

'S-sora.... defeated Sephiroth?' Cloud thought in shock.

"Leave for now... you are not my enemy just yet." Sephiroth said. Sora just nodded... sure... he could defeat Sephiroth... but if he was in a fight when Sephiroth... then the White Lotus guy could return and harm his friends... now Sora needed to prioritize.

"We have to go... now!" Sora said.

"But we can..." Barret started to argue.

"I'LL EXPLAIN WHEN WE GET OUT OF HERE! WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!" Sora yelled before casting a spell that could block Sephiroth from following their path out of the building. As they fled, Sora and co heard one last scream as Sephiroth killed the president of Shinra.

As the crew made their escape, a new figure appeared in front of them.

"Looks like my new source was right... Sephiroth is in there now, isn't he?" said the man.

"Who are you?" Sora asked.

"That's Rufus... son of the President of Shinra... and Vice President of Shinra." Barret explained.

"Who are you people?" Rufus asked.

"I'm the master of the Keyblade." Sora replied.

"Former SOLDIER, first class." Cloud added.

"I'm from AVALANCHE!" Barret declared.

"Same here!" Tifa replied.

"I'm a flower girl from the slums." Aerith said.

"I'm a test subject." Red XIII added.

"What a crew." Rufus said as Sora held the Kingdom Key in his hands.

"Well, as the AVALANCHE man said before I'm Rufus... now the President of Shinra, Inc." Rufus introduced himself.

"You only President, 'cause yer old man just died!" Barret pointed out.