Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"The reunion is nothing to fear.”

A blackhole tore through the atmosphere, exploding into a massive crater within an undying forest. Myriads of cracks formed, devouring trees whole and eradicating most of the neighboring landscape. 

Time and space collided, whirling as an enormous cyclone of blackened energy until gradually shrinking to a mere speck of dust. In its wake, the foundation and sanctum of the Temple of the Ancient had become no more than a solitary particle of light floating over the crater.

Streaks of dark energy, merged with essence from the Lifestream, overflowed like geysers and soaked the devastated earth. Residual energy flowed in waves towards an obsidian sphere descending from the heavens into an outstretched hand.

Cloud Strife stood atop a summit presiding over the wounded, pulsating fractures torn into Gaia’s exterior. The Black Materia completed its descent and nestled into the curve of his glove. Galvanic veins of raw energy circulated beneath its crystallized shell. [1]

Reflections of the Black Materia's chaotic Mana illuminated his appearance; military grade trousers, gauntlets and accessories, and a sleeveless turtleneck all bathed in its ethereal glow. Ripples of its condensed spirit brewed inside his eyes and sought dominion over him. Soon the Black Materia harmonized with him, channeling its consciousness into his mind.

Alien projections manifested within Cloud's consciousness, like slow moving reels of whitewashed images coming to light. In an instance the summit he stood upon vanished from existence and transformed into a pharaonic mausoleum. Etched inscriptions and painted murals surrounded him as will-o'-the-wisps joined him in front of a lavish shrine.

Cloud, "This place...how did I get here?"

"You have entered into its dream. The Black Materia is an ancient offspring of Gaia’s creation. Its very existence is unlike any other, and suppresses the consciousness of a guardian who was banished from walking the Planet. You are here, I'd surmise, because one with an Ancestor's Voice has forcefully awakened it. I'm sure you being here is merely the result of a Guardian's tantrum."

A whispered answer came to him. He had not expected to be answered but one of the wisps approached him and transformed. Its new form was a venerable man, one with a prolonged beard to stroke and crescent eyes smiling beyond a padding of wrinkles. The elderly man swapped from trailing his beard to resting a hand behind a painfully arched back. From time to time he'd tremble, which would cause the wooden cane supporting him to thwack.

Cloud, "Who are you? I don't understand...what ancestor or guardian you're talking about."

The elder chuckled, "I am another consciousness you retrieved from the temple, the Red Dragon that shed its old skin to become Bahamut. When the Cetra worshipped us...I took this form often. I'm afraid the habit has not left me even though they are gone." [2]

Cloud, "How does a defeated dragon know about what happened in the temple?"

Elder Bahamut, "I personally do not know. The spiritual energy in this dream isn't bound by past or present. We are here because we wish to be. I know what I must know, simply because the Black Materia wishes for me to have such knowledge. That is all."

Cloud, "And what ties do you have to the Black Materia?"

Elder Bahamut, "None but that of an old friend. Even an ancient consciousness will crave another to talk to after more than a millennia of imprisonment. I was fortunate enough to be a rather wise dragon with an abundance of stories to recite."

Cloud nodded in acceptance and switched topics, "You haven't answered my other questions."

"Ah yes, then permit me a moment to glimpse your memories. Unfortunately, for all my words, my understanding of what you need to hear may be somewhat outdated. If you allow me to see the world as it is today, the appropriate terminology will become clear to me." A quivering palm extended outwards to Cloud, "Rest your palm over mine, and I will invoke my magic."

Cloud eyed him strangely, but went along with his request. "Fine, hurry up."

When their palms aligned a white aura, underlined in green, encased their forms in whirls of spiritual energy. Soft 'hmms' and 'is that so' murmured from Elder Bahamut's mouth for a length of time before the radiance dissipated and their palms separated. Elder Bahamut spoke again, but only after a brief shake of his head and three strokes of his beard.

"Such an arduous journey for someone so young...I've seen it all and now I understand. In the world as you know it, the ancestor is not one of the Cetra as I had assumed. The one who awoke one of Gaia’s calamities, one of her WEAPONS, is The Man In Black…" 

Cloud listened, correcting him towards the end. " The Man In Black...is Sephiroth. I get it, so what else am I supposed to understand?"

Elder Bahamut turned to the shrine beside him and glanced up slowly. A Goddess Statue, adorned in trinkets of gold and referencing the maternal Gaia, smiled down upon him from behind a thin veil. Etchings of flourishing trees and budding flowers painted the walls beyond the statue. As he gazed upon the floral scenes, his nostrils filled with a ghostly scent of Spring as his body shivered from the chills of Autumn.

Elder Bahamut sighed and addressed him without looking away from the Goddess Statue, "Gaia is laboring to heal herself...but the wounds are becoming too vast and numerous. The Black Materia is offering you a warning. If you give it away to The Man In Black who can summon its power, if you do not destroy it, then...the consequences will be irreversible. Once its devastating power is unleashed, its consciousness will be no more. The Guardians will ravish the Planet, and Meteor will fall."

Cloud spared a glance at the Goddess, then turned his back on both man and statue, "Gaia sure doesn't tire of repeating herself...or do you not trust us to dispose of the Black Materia? Do you think we're no different than Sephiroth?!"

Elder Bahamut listened to the rise and fall of Cloud's voice. When the Elder spoke his eyes had closed in solemn resignation, "I trust Those Chosen By The Planet. I've given you all that remains of me, to summon in times of strife, but...I fear you are the most vulnerable of any who have earned my power. You ask me if I think you are like The Man In Black, and I answer with a question… 'what makes you believe you are not a part of him already?' "

With clenched fists, Cloud whirled around, "I am not him! He is a murderous scumbag! He...I’ll never be like him..."

"Those words would reassurance me more if you sounded like you believed them too." Elder Bahamut turned his weary limbs, and offered one more crescent smile, "When the time comes...you may find that being someone you're not is the best solution in the world. Ah, do not think me senile for offering such contradictory advice. I simply mean, perhaps you have been chosen for something else. And who you are and what you become are suitable for another purpose you may not foresee as favorable in the beginning."

Cloud, "You're not making sense. Can I leave? We've wasted enough time reiterating what we've already known. At this rate, we won't be able to get away…"

Elder Bahamut sighed but nodded in agreement, "Ah, you humans are far too impatient for this Elder Dragon. I'll convince my old friend to release your consciousness, however, do try to remember our conversations when you awaken. And if you ever need my counsel in the future…"

Cloud, "Right, right. I'll summon you."

Elder Bahamut, "...or converse with my summon crystal. At times a modest approach is more subtle than fanfare."

Cloud, “Fine.”

“...”

Cloud, “What?”

Elder Bahamut, "Nothing. My old friend wishes you to leave. You're apparently no fun."

Cloud, “...”

Elder Bahamut raised his hand to his mouth in a slight cough, “Yes, well now. Close your eyes and envision your body. My spiritual energy will take care of the rest. Farewell, Master.”

Cloud's eyebrow twitched. He didn’t approve of being referred to as “Master.” Even so, the instructions given to him were followed and soon a familiar warmth surrounded his body. He stood upon the summit once more when the energy faded, the Black Materia nestled lifelessly in the palm of his hand.

"Spike! Hurry up with that damn Materia, we can't stick around here! " Barrett bellowed through a hand curved like a 'C', while gesturing for him in frantic waves with the other. "Enough posing with that godforsaken thing, get down here!"

Cloud cringed at the bizarre nickname he’d merited, yet the pause was for a mere breath of a second before he started descending from his peak. “I'm coming now,” he shouted back, but still took his time as his thoughts absentmindedly drifted.

He squeezed the Black Materia in his palm. 'I've returned and, from the looks of things, nothing has changed. Time seemed so suffocating in its dream...I wonder, are you only behaving for Elder Bahamut's sake? You could escape that prison and finally awake if Sephiroth had his way, but you'd warn us instead? Why help us…'

'The Black Materia isn't helping you. What do you think will happen to this world once its power is released? Do you think such an ancient spirit hasn't considered the consequences? Its existence will become no more than an extinguished flame. There is no existence beyond the dream.'

Cloud froze in his tracks and listened to the haunting explanation. Throbs of his heart hammered in his chest as he clenched the Black Materia even tighter in his grasp. 'No, you can't be here. You should have been crushed in the collapse. S-Sephiroth…'

Sephiroth, 'Oh Cloud, why lie? You anticipated this, even wished for my survival. Do you not sigh in relief at my voice? I will never leave you.'

Cloud stumbled back, 'Get out of my head! I don't need you!'

Sephiroth, 'Who are you whispering these pathetic whines to? Be louder, complain with all your might, and maybe I'll take you seriously. If you continue as you are…'

Cloud, 'S-Stop this… You want the Black Materia? It's too late...we've already destroyed it.'

Sephiroth, 'Impossible. Do you still not understand? Even as we converse within the recesses of your mind, you continue to believe you can deceive me? Cloud, allow me to demonstrate how naïve you truly are…'

Halfway down the summit, a crack broke through the landscape like a thunderbolt. Blackened space shown from a thin film, widening over time until broad enough for a figure to traverse through. Boundless energy spilled forth in the resemblance of wings outstretched towards the horizon, and from the center emerged a formidable being. A seraphim clad in ebony with a cascading halo of silver hair and a Herculean sword capable of challenging the heavenly realm.

Sephiroth sauntered up the slope in pristine dominance. The neighboring landscape bowed in welcome to his advance and the atmosphere became as silent as a cicada in winter. Cloud and his distant companions starred in witness to his glorious ascension towards obtaining his prize. [3]

"We meet again, Cloud." Sephiroth spoke when they were no more than a sword’s length apart. His handsome features displayed a charming smile and his mako-infused feline eyes twinkled with reflected light from the sun.

Cloud instinctively reached for the hilt of his Buster Sword, but froze when cold steel flashed to his neck. He swallowed nervously, thinking, 'I didn't even see him move...even now his stance is flawless and casual. Will he slit my neck if I draw my sword? We've fought numerous times and landed countless blows...why do I still question it?! Of course he would, I mean nothing to him.'

Sephiroth chuckled, cutting a thin layer into Cloud's neck with just the tip of his blade, "Are you now satisfied? I can sever the rest in a mere flick of the wrist, I can perform according to every vile thought you have of me, or...we can do something more beneficial?"

Cloud cursed inwardly. How could he not jump to conclusions whenever Sephiroth paid him a visit? Yes, most of their prior confrontations would be categorized as spars and Sephiroth seldom inflicted a wound that would not heal in a day...but he still couldn’t quell the ingrained urge to anticipate the worst possible ending. "...what do you want to do?"

Sephiroth’s smile widened, "We've danced around the topic enough...you cannot stall the inevitable. If you were smart then you'd have entrusted the Black Materia to someone else. Your mind has always been vulnerable, your swordsmanship even weaker, and yet you think such pathetic deception would delay me? Cloud...do you know what I am to you?"

A shroud of darkness overcast Cloud's expression. He could not bear to look at Sephiroth anymore but the formidable man had not withdrawn his blade. The harsh words burned his ears in red, and flushed his face in anger. How many people were going to call him "vulnerable" today? Did he seem so weak and dependent? He had led his group of companions through hell and high water...wasn't that strength? What more must he prove…

Cloud spat blood, “Get the hell away from me! Who cares what you think anymore! I am Cloud Strife, a First-Class SOLDIER. I think I've earned the right to be called something other than weak, Sir!” The honorific was spoken with venom, yet his eyes stung for some reason as he choked on his frustrations. [4]

Sephiroth lowered Masamune’s blade and with a flick of his wrist the katana vanished. He stepped forward, bridging the gap between them in mere strides. Gloved fingers reached up in a manner bold enough to trace Cloud's fair cheek. His thumb kneaded the skin then brushed near one blazing blue eye.

"Cadet...if you cry like a child, who will believe you? Do you even believe in yourself? We have clashed swords...and with every strike...I've measured your capabilities." Sephiroth whispered next to his ear, leaning in without the slightest bit of protest to stop him.

"I'm not a Cadet anymore. Don't insult me!" Cloud refused to acknowledge his tears and simply glared through them. Sephiroth’s touches warmed his complexion and made him feel strange. He didn't push the ex-general away though, but he did cling tighter to the sphere in his grasp. Hiding the Black Materia closer against his chest. "I worked hard to be…"

"...to be like me?" Sephiroth chuckled. He stroked away one more traitorous tear then threaded through blonde spikes. Eventually he simply patted Cloud's head with a beaming grin. "You don't even know who I am. I'm not the man in those tabloids or the peerless weapon of ShinRa. Those with clouded eyes see nothing but shadows. So I'll ask you again, do you know what I am to you? Because soon you will have to fully see reality…"

"Why do you keep asking me? Haven't you said it! I am a worthless Cadet to you and I don't understand anything!" Cloud couldn't deny the moisture cascading down his cheeks now, or the thundering of his emotions. "Just stop all your riddles and say it already…"

Sephiroth extracted his hand from untamed blonde spikes and moved it to cup his chin firmly. His unoccupied hand embraced Cloud's waist, kneading through the helm of his pants. "I am your everything." The words whispered from his lips like a honeyed confession, and burned the flesh of Cloud's ear to a deep scarlet.

Cloud's breathing hitched as his body betrayed him and quivered from Sephiroth’s touch. They had exchanged many words up to this point, and he could predict most of the conversations leading up to their battles. This was the first time he had been rendered speechless without even a heated retort to save him. Sephiroth’s shameless confidence had actually touched his heart, though the words should have driven him mad with anger instead. He shouldn't be feeling anything…

'Cloud...' Sephiroth didn't miss a beat and took the opportunity to shift the conversation into the private recesses of Cloud's mind. His mako-infused eyes seemed to glow even brighter as his tone became more alluring and manipulative. '...lend me your cooperation. Let us defy destiny together.'

'But I'm...worthless and weak,' Cloud sobbed pitifully, gazing at Sephiroth for answers that would probably amount to nothing but lies. 'What do you need me for?'

Sephiroth surprised him, drawing Cloud in close to rest against his body. His sturdy arms enveloped Cloud's midsection, his chin resting upon blonde spikes. 'Come with me. I'll make you stronger. You won't have to be haunted by inadequacy ever again. I can give you everything.'

Cloud only wished to humor him out of curiosity, yet a peculiar glow seemed to be manifesting inside his blue eyes as he subconsciously found solace in the deception, '...at what cost? What do you want in return?'

Sephiroth squeezed him tighter, ‘Will you give it to me? I can sense the Black Materia between us...the slumbering power must be set free. You'll service me, won't you?'

Cloud choked on saliva, almost releasing his grip on the sphere clutched in his hand. When Sephiroth had embraced and bound him against his barely clothed chest, his arms had ended up wedged between them. The Black Materia remained within the palm of his hand, which just so happened to be nestled between two muscular pecs. (¬‿¬)  (@_@)

'W-What are you asking me to do?' Cloud floundered for his ruined composure and struggled with words he needn't utter aloud.

Sephiroth chuckled, 'Assist me. Abandon the past and stay by my side. Give me the Black Materia. Show me your resolve…'

Sephiroth then released him completely, and ghosted backward on the weight of his invisible wings. When his booted feet landed, the distance of a yard separated them. Sephiroth switched his stance into a most demanding pose, extending an open palm towards Cloud in anticipation. His voice announced to the world what he desired, and grew quiet within Cloud's mind. "Give me the Black Materia."

The same words that had whispered softly within the corridors of his mind, were now being declared so forcefully that Cloud started walking before he realized his actions.

Faraway shouts and tempestuous footfalls could be heard in the distance, but in this scope of time Sephiroth mattered to him exclusively. Cloud's eyes shimmered as Sephiroth’s smiling features grew near again. His hand extended, curled fingers gracing the ex-general's palm, then one by one his seal over the Black Materia loosened and dropped the sphere into Sephiroth’s waiting hand.

Sephiroth embraced him once more around the waist, murmuring sinfully beside his ear, "From now on, you need only to be...my puppet."

Fragmented screams weakened as they grew closer and witnessed the traitorous crime he had committed. Their penetrating glazes seemed to impale him from behind as he clung to the safety of Sephiroth’s embrace. Eventually their voices reached his acute hearing.

“Cloud, w-what are d-doing?” Tifa hesitated yet still managed to speak up first. Cloud was grateful to not have to see her expression, or the betrayal he'd see in her chocolate brown eyes.

“For fuck’s sake!" Cid groaned, throwing up his hands. To Cloud's ears, he didn’t sound upset and actually seemed unimpressed. "You youngsters can solve this…get a room next time, Cloud."

Without another word, the Flight Captain stomped off.

"Captain, the terrain is treacherous. I shall accompany you." Vincent didn't address Cloud or Sephiroth in any regard and disappeared as quickly as he had come to follow after the retreating Flight Captain.

"@&#$! Where are y’all going?! Here's the enemy! Cloud, what the fuck is happening here?” Barrett quickly gave up on stopping his two withdrawing teammates, and shouted at their appropriate blonde leader. "Have you gone insane?"

"Cloud, does he have lots of Materia? If he has Materia then maybe I can understand…" Yuffie rambled on mindlessly while occasionally tugging on Nanaki’s mane. The crimson wolf growled protectively beside her with eyes set on Sephiroth, only mildly aware of the displacement to his fur.

"He has one of the most powerful Materia in the world, Ms. Kisaragi. We can't allow him to keep it," Nanaki confirmed.

Sephiroth ignored them in absolute disinterest, and continued to hold onto Cloud. He refused to squander the opportunity and allow them to undo the groundwork he had put into manipulating their leader. His calming voice whispered to Cloud's mind, the words assured and calculated, 'They are nonessential. They don't see or understand the real you. They'd only abandon you if they knew you were weak. The burden of leading them must be so heavy...I can take you away from here. Will you come?'

Cloud listened in numb silence as Sephiroth stroked his head in an almost affectionate manner. For so long, those had been his fears. Even when he succeeded in becoming First-Class, his apprehension towards failure and disappointment remained ever present. Two of his companions had already walked off and discarded him. The rest seemed concerned about the Black Materia and their livelihoods...did anyone care about him? Did they even consider an alternate path from what their eyes perceived?

' ...they are my friends.’ Cloud protested feebly, unable to decide on something more befitting to say.

Sephiroth smiled into his hair, 'I am all you need. We are more than friends, our bond is greater. I will shoulder all of your burdens. Let me take you away...'

‘Sephiroth, I...’ Cloud still hesitated.

"Cloud, you filthy traitor! The Planet's doomed because of you!" Barrett bellowed and clicked the side of his gun-arm.

Cloud tensed and started to turn his head, but Sephiroth snatched his chin and kept him from doing so. 'There is no going back.' Sephiroth's smooth voice echoed inside his consciousness.

"Barrett, stop!" Tifa reprimanded him and stepped in front of his weaponized appendage, "Cloud hasn't…"

Sephiroth straightened, angling Cloud's head before kissing him for all the world to see. Cloud was fossilized in an instance. Perhaps in centuries to come someone would revive him.

Cloud had not expected things to escalate to this point, or for Sephiroth to willingly kiss him. During ShinRa days he had longed for Sephiroth’s attention, daydreaming about simplistic intimacy with the coveted General. Things like walking together, holding hands, or seeing the musical play Loveless. Not once had he ever envisioned kissing.

Now that something so unimaginable was happening to him, Cloud didn't know how to react. Should he fight and push away, or moan happily and give in?

"Vincent, shoot me. This is the second time I've wished to be blind," Cid groaned and instantly regretted returning after some pestering from the cloaked sniper.

"You can't fly blind, Captain." Vincent sighed, though he seemed to consider actually doing it when Cid glared at him.

"Tsk, what do you know? I'm a genius, I can fly my baby blind and drunk." Cid snapped back, crossing his arms with a smug grin.

Vincent itched to give him what he wanted, but relented to focus on the episode unfolding before them. "Lower your weapon, Barrett. We were too late. It's his victory. "

"So that's it? Just giving up?! What about the damn planet? We're dead meat!" Barrett argued back, but lowered his weapon to avoid harming Tifa by mistake.

Tifa’s unreadable chocolate brown eyes shifted amongst her quarreling teammates. She felt powerlessness seize her heart, and shook her fists at her sides though she understood this was a fight her martial arts could not win. "We'll...have to think of something else." She tried to rationalize the bad situation but couldn't even take herself seriously. Such words were spoken far too soon.

"So, why are they exchanging air? Did Cloud nearly drown?" Yuffie questioned anyone who would listen while staring at the bizarre smooching.

Cid huffed, "Brat, you don't revive someone with your tongue. Seriously, how old are you? Someone, cover the kid's eyes."

Vincent, "Unnecessary, she is covering them on her own."

"Ah," Tifa released a sound that captured the attention of all her teammates immediately. She appeared as white as a sheet as she turned around at Yuffie's comment. She had been focused on Barrett, with her back facing their leader and adversary, and had not noticed the kiss. Now that she had, something inside her seemed to snap, "Sephiroth, get your hands off him!!"

"No." Sephiroth shocked them all as he withdrew from Cloud and offered them a satisfied smirk. "I shall be borrowing your leader. If you interfere...all your lives will become forfeited. Choose wisely."

"Take him, and fucking go!" Barrett growled and turned his back. "We have no use for a traitor."

Tifa, "Barrett!! Sephiroth, you'll give him back to us. Mark my words! He isn't yours!"

The others remained silent.

Sephiroth nodded and withdrew a step from Cloud, keeping an arm locked around his waist while adjusting his stance. In his other hand the Black Materia came back to life and radiated blackened energy as he thrusted the sphere skyward.

“Cherish your pathetic lives...the countdown to Gaia's destruction has already begun.” Sephiroth announced, as the Materia's power infused with his jade-colored aura. Both shades of energy snaked in an inflamed coil around the bodies of Cloud and Sephiroth, eventually their forms levitated towards the heavens.

Shouts and curses thundered in the atmosphere, but nothing struck as sharply as the madman's laughter. Darkness extended across the afternoon-sky as a shroud of obsidian wings, born of the Black Materia , unfurling from behind Sephiroth and stealing Cloud away into the horizon.

Meanwhile, Cloud’s companions were rendered deserted in the aftermath left by the destruction of the Temple of the Ancients. Their hearts hung heavy as they stared upon the horizon, watching the manifestation of black tendrils extending across the heavens; harbingering the advent countdown to Gaia’s destruction.

Chapter Text

"Too much hope is the opposite of despair... An overpowering love may consume you in the end."

Cloud was dreaming.

In the consciousness of his mind a familiar Elder was seated at a round table with 13 others. The 13 guests at the Elder's table were adorned in shining coats of majestic armor, and displayed gallant weapons behind their seats. They quaffed pints of beer from golden chalices and feasted upon mammoth-sized proportions of big-game. The guests shared guttural laughs and sang ballads vastly out of tune. While the Elder regarded them with a crescent smile and spoke audibly at breaks between their festivities.

Elder Bahamut beckoned him over at one of the breaks, and welcomed him to a reserved seat at his side. Unspoken questions collected on the tip of Cloud's tongue as he considered the strangers occupying the other seats at the table. However, none of them acknowledged him or even seemed to see him at all. Only Elder Bahamut graced him with a glance.

"Forgive this meddlesome dragon for imposing...but the dire situation has become a reality. So, I have taken the liberty to invite you into my dream this time. Don't worry, you are not awake this time and no one will notice the absence of your spirit. That Man seems to be preoccupied with other things..." Elder Bahamut stretched his back and reached for a chalice by his plate, indicating for Cloud to do the same.

"Who are these people, and why must you invade my dreams?" Cloud demanded answers and refused to partake of the drink or the extravagant meal.

Elder Bahamut shrugged his weary shoulders and enjoyed a solitary gulp of his beverage before replying, "Because, when that man is around, only your dreams are safe. His spiritual and mental capabilities are measurable to that of The Divine. And worse, your mind has already become one of his possessions. I cannot approach you any other way without notifying him."

Cloud didn't fully understand, but accepted that the Ancient Dragon was afraid and cautious. "...and these apparitions?"

"Ah, so 'this' you understand? Yes, these Visions are remnants of a memory from centuries ago. Once I used to be quite popular and traversed various continents to entertain others like myself. These fine gentlemen are Knights of the Round; they found one of my tales enjoyable enough to compose into a charming ditty." Elder Bahamut sipped away at his drink and spoke fondly while he explained, as if lost in a far-off dream.

Cloud entertained his words and finally participated in a drink. Judging by the long-winded nature of all the Elder's statements thus far, Cloud strongly wished that in this dream the wine flows like milk and honey. Lest he become one of the Ancients before gaining all the answers he sought.

"Why am I here?" Cloud drawled, noting how accustomed he'd gotten to repeating this phrase in such a brief time.

Elder Bahamut lowered his cup and stared intently at the remaining liquid, "I have a proposition for you. That Man cannot be trusted to keep his promises. You are weak as you are, Master, but I have an idea on how to help you gain some strength. The 13 Knights seated here are the strongest of my kind, and maximize their power in united blows that are not easy to avoid. If you had their might, you would be better suited for the future ahead. However, I doubt you could locate them right away. Yet, seeing them made me consider...if you found those tied to my Visions…"

"The Planet might stand a chance." Cloud continued, while absentmindedly tapping the side of his cup. "But what if...you're wrong." He didn't glance anywhere beyond the rim of his chalice, a stray finger trailing the circumference. "What if Sephiroth...doesn't plan to let me go?"

"..." Elder Bahamut stayed silent. Every muscle in his body screamed in misery for this dimwitted young man that could so effortlessly be swept away by a hint of intimacy. Just how fathomless were the emotions of lovesick youths?

"I've always wondered what it'd be like to be allowed to stand by his side," Cloud murmured wistfully as the singing phantoms switched to a mellow serenade. A shanty brimming with bittersweet tones and whimsical choruses.

"Ah...seems we've enjoyed these drinks enough," Elder Bahamut plucked up Cloud's chalice, placing the cup far beyond his reach. Suddenly he regretted choosing a dream with cups that magically refilled. "I'm not sure I understand the human heart all that well, however, I do recall that typically you don't lust after someone who manipulates you or poses a great danger to your existence. Or have the complexities of humanity become something beyond this Elder Dragon's understanding?"

"Sephiroth hasn't manipulated me, or endangered me. He simply talks to me in private and trains me in his own way," Cloud glanced sideways, yawning as he spoke. "If he wanted to, he could have killed me long ago. Maybe I'm alive because of those complexities?"

"...I fear that I still do not understand. Why have you become so accepting of the situation? When we first met, you were not like this...and now this seems far too sentimental and naïve." Elder Bahamut hesitated but conveyed his thoughts without adding sugar. "I must ask, are you with pyrexia?" [1]

Cloud shook his head, "Because, sometimes when he looks at me, my chest aches and my head hurts. I suffer these emotions and I cannot help feeling like I've misplaced a part of myself or forgotten something incredibly important. I don't know why, but sometimes his voice fills me with a desire to answer with only one word: Yes."

The corner of Elder Bahamut's lip twitched, he thought, 'So the seeds of manipulation have blossomed to this point…' And reached out to press a hand against Cloud’s forehead, saying, "Perhaps you would benefit from ignoring this voice? If the negative connotation breeds such a heinous result, then isn't this a sign to flee from this man's influence?"

"Didn't you say that maybe there was another path?" Cloud retorted, brushing away the hand. "Don't touch me, I said I'm not feverish."

"A friend cannot touch or be concerned for you, but a villainous madman has free rein? There are countless paths to take in one's life...I only wish to ensure that this is one you will not regret traveling." Elder Bahamut argued.

Cloud, "We're not friends. I defeated a dragon, now I'm cursed because I cannot get it to shut up. Maybe I understand the Planet saving aspects of your meddling but why must you interfere with the personal? I have no connection to you, we just happened to cross paths one day. And...Sephiroth does what he wants. I don't invite him."

"Then please forgive this jabbering fossil for overstepping…" Elder Bahamut sighed, "...but for the sake of my curiosity, ...why him? You do not invite him, yet you do not push him away either. From your memories, I had thought you were wooing that female martial artist?"

Cloud slammed the table with his fist, and stumbled out his chair, "With Tifa?! She's just a friend from my childhood!"

Elder Bahamut smiled, nodding in understanding.

"What's that glance? Stop misunderstanding. I don't see her in that way…"

"I see, I see," Elder Bahamut hummed and nodded while stroking his prolonged beard. "I'm so fortunate that you would explain to this 'not friend' that your capacity for love is exclusive to that man."

Cloud crossed his arms over his chest, while ignoring the slight warmth of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "...is there any other reason for being in this dream."

"None, I was simply lonely without my old friend. Plus, I disagree...you are fun." Elder Bahamut chuckled to himself, then became serious, "That Man is becoming suspicious. The dream has lasted far too long. It's time to awaken…"

Cloud, "I've noticed something, why do you never say his name? I told you, 'That Man'  is Sephiroth."

"...a promise between old friends, and nothing more. Don't mind it." Elder Bahamut stared away from him, returning to the remnants of Knights within the dream. "Go on, I'm sending you back to him."

Something rippled in his subconscious, and soon his eyes grew heavy with sleep from within the dream and stole him away from the banquet of memories. Laughing figures and toasting chalices were the last image he saw before darkness washed everything away.

"So...you're finally awake." A familiar voice crept into Cloud's consciousness as something smooth pressed against his forehead. "Ah, what's this? ...seems you have a fever. This body of yours is truly delicate."

Sephiroth’s voice was smoothing and strangely comforting, yet Cloud could not escape the unsettling sense of déjà vu upon hearing his words. Was he really unwell?

"Mm, what happened? How long have I been asleep?" Cloud stretched, testing the limits of his body before trying to rise up into a sitting position. After the events outside the Temple of the Ancients, he couldn't recall anything else. Obviously, Sephiroth had transported them to somewhere else but he couldn't remember falling unconscious. Had Elder Bahamut's influence lured him in after their ascent? If so, how much time had passed?

"Your mind has been silent for two sunrises...I was beginning to wonder if these past few days were too stimulating for you. Or…" Sephiroth stopped Cloud from rising with the same hand that pressed against his forehead. The act wasn't forceful, but just enough to command Cloud to obey and lie back down. "...perhaps the Ancients aren't so forgiving? In this world, after all you've experienced, do you believe in the possibility of curses?"

"..."

Cloud remained silent at first as he settled back into the soft sheets cushioning his body. Answering to Sephiroth, of course he believed in the existence of the supernatural. The concept of normal in this universe had already been thrown out the window by the sheer presence of the man leaning over him. Sephiroth should have perished in the reactor incident yet here he was in flesh and bone without a hint of age on him.

However, what made him hesitate to respond was the way Sephiroth’s glowing eyes seemed a little too all-knowing. The words were harmless and sounded as such, yet he couldn't overlook the eerie discomfort prickling at his skin. Or the illusion of being bound to a chair, listening to booted feet skulk slowly around him, while interrogating him with one question after the next.

Cloud's instincts were shouting nonstop to be cautious of Sephiroth’s General halo. The Sephiroth questioning him now was the battle-hardened commander who'd almost single-handedly decimated entire armies and who'd subjugated countless military captains to nothing more than witless cowards soaked in their own piss. If he misspoke carelessly then things might go awry.

"...what do you mean?" Cloud decided to feign ignorance and tread safety. Though he hated to admit it, being considered brainless and naïve by Sephiroth sometimes had its advantages. "Why speak of curses all of a sudden?"

"Immemorial places, such as that temple, tend to attract resentment. You witnessed it, didn't you? Those lingering apparitions clinging to bygone traditions and outdated prophecies. Such venerable parasites, wallowing in superstition, would undoubtedly become a curse after losing their only purpose for existing, don't you think?" Sephiroth continued on, the pressure on Cloud's forehead moving to weave into his wild locks. Skilled fingers caressed and petted his untamed mane as Sephiroth patiently awaited Cloud's response.

In just a few strokes, Cloud surrendered to the soothing pats and relaxed his tense muscles. Instincts told him to fight back and to not give in so easily, yet he was drunk on the attention and ignored the warnings. Maybe Elder Bahamut's concerns were valid, maybe he did give Sephiroth too much free rein…wait, what was that thought?

"Their only purpose?" Cloud murmured in a drowsy sort of manner as he fought to keep listening to Sephiroth. Lately, he found himself in the company of very long-winded people...all these roundabout explanations were truly cumbersome for his short attention span. If Sephiroth weren't touching him or speaking to him so strangely, he might have already spaced out.

"To protect the Black Materia from giving birth to the Great Calamity. But now that you've destroyed their remaining defense...all that residual energy has to be housed somewhere. Do you honestly believe that rift in space absorbed everything along with the temple? All that resentment needs a focal point…" Sephiroth extracted his hand from a tangle in Cloud's hair, and soon covered Cloud's eyes, "Tell me, what can you see?"

Cloud suddenly felt more awake as the confusion settled into his consciousness, "Darkness." The question didn't make sense to him, because even before Sephiroth covered his eyes the world around him had been trapped in darkness. He hadn’t paid much attention to it previously, because he had assumed the lights were still off because he had been sleeping earlier.

Sephiroth removed his hand after Cloud's answer, and repeated the same inquiry, "...what can you see?"

Cloud in turn repeated his response, "Darkness."

Sephiroth hummed, then reached for Cloud's hand and guided him to cover his own eyes. "Can you feel your eyelashes and eyelids? They quiver and blink, but this entire time your eyes have been open. You are blinded from their resentment, a curse which has blackened your eyes. Thus, the focal point...is you. Tell me, Cloud, have you heard any other voices? Someone other than me?"

Cloud tore his hand away and gripped the bed sheets beneath him like a vice. His breathing became uneven as he blinked over and over, while searching left and right for the smallest glimmer of refracted light.

Sephiroth stopped him with two palms nestled around both sides of his face, "Stop. Be good and answer me." Warmth tickled Cloud's features as his heart raced a mile a minute, yet the coldness of Sephiroth’s tone offered him no comfort.

A second later, Cloud heeded Sephiroth’s command while reaching up to latch onto the general's wrists, "Sir, I…only hear you." He paused for a breath between his reply, feeling his mind become muddled as if to say something different before the words seemed to formulate on their own. For a brief moment, he had felt a push on the fringe of his consciousness but the pressure had disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Is that so…" Sephiroth withdrew his hands yet allowed Cloud to continue holding onto him. The hands that latched onto Sephiroth trembled, while squeezing sporadically, as if constantly needing to confirm he was truly there. Sephiroth turned his wrists to break the firm hold before returning to intertwine their fingers. "Calm down. I'll cure you…" This time Sephiroth’s tone was soothing and mysterious, as he maneuvered Cloud into his arms and shrugged off his General aura.

"How will you do it?" Cloud understood the depths of Sephiroth’s otherworldly capabilities more than anyone, and merely asked out of curiosity. He fully believed if Sephiroth said he could cure him, then he would be cured.

"By filling you with the essence of the divine." Sephiroth nearly purred the words as he placed a kiss on Cloud's forehead, "After all...I still have not rewarded you for your resolve…"

Cloud's cheeks burned scarlet as the seriousness between them switched to intimacy at the same dizzying pace as usual. No matter how many times he tried to keep up with Sephiroth’s pace, he'd never stop being overwhelmed. There wasn't much logic to the words or actions linking them together, but he wanted to hold onto this dream a little longer. "...y-yes, sir."

(A/N: Go to "Argent Demigod" for additional scenes and papapa (sex), if you're interested.)

Hours later...

Cloud opened his eyes and glanced around the room he was in. True to his word, Sephiroth had restored his vision and stabilized whatever abnormality existed within his body. Unfortunately, during all the excitement, they had both forgotten about the fever Sephiroth had mentioned. He hadn’t felt feverish at the time but, after a couple rounds, he'd completely passed out from the temperature.

Now he could barely move as his sweaty body clung shamelessly to Sephiroth. His temperature kept swapping between desperately cold and unbearably hot, plus a certain area was terribly sore and ached anytime he tried to shift into a better position. All he could do was pitifully latch onto Sephiroth and miserably complain against his chest.

"...I want a bath. Why won't you let me move...and couldn't you have held back? You're not nice at all…" Cloud whined and grumbled thoughtlessly, hiding his glare in Sephiroth’s embrace even though he felt no need to indulge Sephiroth’s feelings.

Sephiroth stroked his hair and chuckled, "You'll complain more if I allow you to move...why not consider this a form of training? Endure the pain a little longer...then I'll personally clean you myself."

"You can't!" Cloud couldn't fathom allowing Sephiroth to pamper him in such a way, and immediately refused. Plus, his pride could only withstand so much in one day. "No need…I can do everything on my own."

Sephiroth reached out and patted Cloud's backside, "Oh? And how will you do it? Do you intend to crawl there?"

Cloud hissed in pain, and dug his fingernails into Sephiroth’s skin helplessly. After a couple panted breathes, he spoke again through clenched teeth, "...y-you can carry me there, please, but n-nothing more."

Sephiroth, "Don't be so unwilling to rely upon me. Remember, this was your choice. Besides, your everything is safe under my care…"

Cloud, "...only because I'm a convenient tool."

Sephiroth, "..."

Cloud, "Ah, no, don't say anything. I didn't mean to say that."

Sephiroth, "You will remain here for another full day, then we must separate for a while."

Cloud forced his body to move in spite of the discomfort so he could see Sephiroth’s face properly. Jade-colored eyes glowed mysteriously, and were completely unreadable to him. A loneliness stabbed Cloud's heart as he felt a sudden detachment forming between them.

"I didn't mean...why are you tossing me away?" Cloud asked in a wounded tone, as his eyes began to sting. Hadn’t he just endured so much, so why were things spiraling downhill straight away?

Sephiroth voiced his next words coldly, "I'm making good use of a convenient tool…while giving you another chance…"

Cloud couldn't handle the coldness, and instantly missed the warmth Sephiroth had shown him before. His gaze lowered mournfully in regret, realizing how insulting his words had sounded. Answering to Sephiroth, his voice was soft and reluctant, he dreaded hearing what Sephiroth would say, "Another chance for what?"

Sephiroth patted Cloud's sensitive backside once more and smiled without remorse, "Another chance to be the hero that killed me."

Meanwhile….

ROOOAAARRR!

"Goddammit!! Kill it with fire!"

Elsewhere…

A certain redheaded Turk sat alone at a bar, drowning his sorrow in cheap liquor, while absentmindedly tapping the cellphone on the counter.

"Another glass, sir?" The girl behind the counter smiled at him sweetly, already in the midst of refilling his glass before his lips moved. She'd been paying him close attention since he'd arrived, though he hadn’t even bothered to get her name.

"Add another round to his tab."

He glanced up, noticing how the girl appeared ready to protest and offered her a gracious smile, "Hey, relax, this is my partner. Fill him a glass, alright?"

The female bartender blushed and quickly dished out another round before heading down the bar to serve other guests. When she was far enough away, he turned to the newcomer beside him and drunkenly removed the man's shades to place over his own eyes. "Rude, how can you wear these when it's already so dark?"

"Practice." Rude replied, and snatched his shades back to cover his eyes again.

"Oh...we're drinking together this time, or is this all for me? You can't get me drunk every time you want to complete a mission properly, ya know?" Reno grumbled, yet threw back another shot in one large gulp.

"This one's for me," Rude mirrored his actions then slammed the empty shot glass onto the counter. "We're on vacation."

"Since when?" Reno perked up with excitement, ready to buy out the entire bar if they had truly gotten clearance for time off.

"Starting today. We're in mourning, no missions until they issue us the new psych test." Rude clarified, while beating Reno to the punch and waving the bartender over. "Keep the drinks coming, put it on ShinRa’s tab. Here's the credentials."

"You serious, yo? Who's passing are we honoring?" Reno leaned closer, dropping his voice an octave to avoid listening ears.

"The boss." Rude said simply. "Elena should be joining us soon, if she ever stops crying."

"Uh, something doesn't sound right, bud. Isn't the boss alive?" Reno stared into his partner's shades with a confused frown, trying to remember how he'd forgotten something so important. If their boss was dead then he really needed to figure out who would be issuing the paychecks from now on.

"Technically, though some would argue otherwise." Rude pushed him another glass, "Either way, the situation has changed. The Turks are on standby until we recover from the loss."

"Come on, I'm drunk but you can't fool me. Standby isn't a vacation. And what's really going on with Tseng?" Reno stole his shades again, daring him to lie a second time.

"Tseng tried to conquer a sword with a gun, and surprisingly the gun lost. He's sleeping at HQ, deep in a coma." Rude explained honestly, allowing his precious shades to dangle in Reno's grasp a bit longer, "Go demand the exam if you wanna work. I'll stay here, pal."

"Oh no, this cruel world has taken such a great man too soon, yo. You see that, Rude, it's a tear! I'm too choked up to work...instead I'll drink in honor of our boss! Don't stop until we puke or pass out, man!! Let's go, Rude! Drink, drink!" Reno laughed wholeheartedly at his own nonsense, while twirling Rude's shades on his finger with no intention of returning them.

"To the boss!" Rude clinked glasses with Reno and joined him in tossing back shot after shot of alcohol.

…

Meanwhile… (Again)

RAAAAAHH!!

"Fucking hell, don't you scream too!" Cid cursed and covered his ears in utter irritation. Their leaderless band of misfits had suffered one loss after another since the events at the Temple of the Ancients.

Monsters had ambushed them nonstop in their quest to escape the remains of the forest. No matter what path they took or how many they defeated, the fiends pursued them as if they had a permanent target attached to their backs.

"Come on, Kid. If you're going to steal it, then at least cast some healing spells!" Barrett shouted out at Yuffie, hating to repeat the same old line but if it had to be said...well.

Yuffie jumped around, tossing a large shuriken to slice down as many enemies as she could. Most enemies were crippled by her attacks so the others could finish them off with more powerful strikes. However, occasionally her attention would slip from the battle and her sticky-fingers would wander. She really couldn't resist all the shining opportunities. "I didn't take any!" She yelled back, which meant she didn't take any curative materia.

"Then who is the damn support?!" Barrett bellowed, while firing off a series of rounds from his machine-gun in a cone in front of him.

"You wouldn’t believe me if I told you," Cid piped in as he lit a stick of dynamite on his cigarette and tossed it at an incoming horde.

"Fuck, is it you?" Barrett definitely wouldn’t believe that. Of all people, the Captain had the spiritual capacity to heal but lacked the attentiveness to be efficient. With how wildly he wielded his spear and chucked explosives, they were better off leaving additional multitasking to someone else. "Damn, can't be, then who? Just spit out!"

Cid opened his mouth to reply, when suddenly a beast roared and tackled him from the side. Its razor-sharp claws sunk into his arm as he attempted to block its assault with the length of his spear. His response was too slow and clumsy, but not from fatigue or lack of skill. His efforts proved useless because he wasn't dealing with one of the mindless creatures that had been chasing them for miles and miles. Instead, the one that attacked him was intelligent and familiar with his unique fighting style…

"Shit! Get ahold of yourself, you damn bastard!!" Cid narrowed his eyes at a pair of glowing amber hues, cursing as a mouth full of fangs snatched his spear clean out his hands before four paws pounced him to the ground. "Vin! Get the fucking hell off me! I'm not doing this shit with you again!"

"OH! Can I pet him this time?" Yuffie cheered as she maneuvered around enemies, killing and stabbing with a gleeful smile. "Hey, why does he growl at everyone else but let you pet him?"

"Who the fuck is petting him? Can't you fucking see he is trying to murder me?!" Cid screamed in exasperation, yanking and kicking at the monstrous beast on top of him.

All of them were fully aware of Vincent’s basic transformation, and had seen his form known as Galian Beast multiple times throughout their travels. Whenever Vincent was enraged or empowered by bloodlust, his transformation would ultimately trigger and force him into a state of berserk. He'd kill and destroy anything nearby until he was exhausted or knocked unconscious, which in turn made him a rather dangerous ally on the battlefield.

However, recently they had noticed an even stranger development…

"Cid, get him under control!" Barrett encouraged him with a thumbs-up, doing his best to provide cover fire.

"Ms. Kisaragi, will I do?" Nanaki offered, while ruffling his mane and dashing over to her as if the horde of monsters weren't even a threat anymore.

"Of course, you'll do!" Yuffie beamed happily, and patted his fur each time they landed a team attack.

Cid rolled his eyes, "Seriously, you're leaving me in charge of this damn werebeast? I don't even like dogs!!"

...awooo.

"Don't cry, Nanaki. That doesn't include you. Ignore that grumpy old man!" Yuffie's soothing voice could be heard by all of them.

"...that's rather cold, even for you, Cid." Barrett added, sharing his agreement.

"Fuck all of you! There's no point in this conversation, doesn't anyone care about the situation I'm in?" Cid screamed, flinching as Galian Beast licked his cheek.

"No, not really." They answered him in unison, and in brutal honesty. "We believe in you, Captain!"

Cid could feel his face reddening as his blood pressure rose in response to his anger. Somewhere, far away, the chime of a tea kettle whistling could be heard. At that moment, Cid exploded and yanked on the horns of Galian Beast. The beast heeded him almost immediately, and leveled its eyes with his own.

"Say, Vin, get us the fuck out of here or I'll shove my spear so far up your ass that you'll be tasting it for weeks." Cid flashed the trademark Highwind smile, patted him on the snout, and then pointed to the attacking monsters. "Go! Earn ya keep!"

Galian Beast howled and lunged into the onslaught, tearing through flesh with its horns and teeth. No matter how many times they witnessed it, the others still gawked in amazement as the beast actually obeyed most of Cid's orders and even combined attacks with him when he jumped back in the fight.

"...what a liar. He obviously adores dogs." Yuffie huffed with her hands on her hips.

Now that Galian Beast had joined the fray, the flow of battle shifted in their favor and they were able to scare beasts away with some brief pummeling or a few bloodthirsty growls. After a couple hours, they finally retreated from the forest and traversed the land to a small town inn.

From there they heard gossip about a friendly healer heading towards the Sleeping Forest. All who received her kindness said she wore pink and offered them a flower with a blooming smile.

Chapter Text

“I’ll be going now. I’ll come back when it's all over.”

Within a vast meadow, surrounded by towering trees and budding flowers, a dense gloom extended throughout the area and saturated nature in a gentle mist. Glimmers of sunlight percolated through the fog and bathed the scenery in a mystic haze. From north to south and east to west, everything seemed like one gigantic mirror of itself no matter which direction faced. Each overcast path arched identically and offered a matching trail of moistened earth outlined by weeping vegetation. Every lofty evergreen shuddering and whispering the same mysterious tone as time remained frozen and still.

Concealed in the foliage of trees and atop sturdy branches, the spirits of the forest sang a serene birdsong to replace the absence of sky creatures. While the fae of blooming seedlings beneath wiggled their buds to mimic the clamor of land mammals. Flora and fauna whistled joys and sorrows after centuries of quiet slumber as whiffs of man pervaded their fragrant butterfly dreams. [1]

Cloud awoke to a bed of dry leaves warmed by a cosmic beam of radiance, which had managed to pierce a hole through the smog. The flap flap of wings buzzed at his ears but not a single life-form greeted him as he rose to explore the mead. In the beginning, he questioned little and followed Favonius across mud and undergrowth to greet Eurus in the east, yet somehow the paths converged and swept him back to where he had originally awoken. Undeterred, this time he accompanied Boreas through a maze of dangling vines and shrouded lands―that even sunlight could not reach―to connect with Notus on the other side. However, the same as earlier, the road returned him to the familiar bed of dry leaves. [2][3][4][5][6]

Finally, after two seemingly never-ending journeys, Cloud rested within the alcove of trees and pondered in silence. When he’d regained consciousness the first impulse that struck him was to sprint, to escape, and―most importantly―to not question or think. Even in such bizarre circumstances in a woodland prison he’d never been before, what frightened him the most was his own mind. If he stopped even for a second to consider why here and why now , then he’d have to retrace his footsteps back to that dreary room where Sephiroth had toyed with him.

And he wasn’t ready to address the aches in his body or the marks on his flesh. Or answer why Sephiroth had abandoned him after going to the trouble of spiriting him away in the first place. If he allowed himself to feel something beyond the numbness then he’d surely lose face and cry. But he was a man, a first-class SOLDIER, and he couldn’t bear to stain this uniform a second time.

‘Wait, a second time?’

He blinked, visibly shaken by his own unspoken words.

When had he ever cried in uniform? Cloud gripped his head and groaned. Pondering such things hurt him badly, just as he had expected. He didn’t understand this familiar resonance that whispered to his soul, or why it mattered. If he could simply forget everything...then that would be better.

“My honor, my dreams...you’ll toss them away?”

Cloud snapped around instantly. Open air and whispering trees greeted him, but the one who spoke mere inches from his ear was nowhere to be found.

‘What, what is happening?’

He hissed in pain, while gripping tighter to his head as traces of the words previously spoken teased his consciousness. ‘I’m sorry,’ he breathed through clenched teeth mindlessly, unaware of his own actions. ‘I can’t, I can’t,’ he rambled to the winds and slumped to the forest floor.

‘I’m no good. I’m inadequate, a failure...he didn’t want me.’ He sobbed without tears, thrusting his fists into the soil and whimpering to his demons. After so many years, he still felt so weak. He fought everyday to be stronger, to be a leader, but when he closed the door on the world and laid his head down at night...the voices always came back to him; Sephiroth’s voice always came back.

‘You are my puppet…’

“No, you are not like him.” Said a voice beside him, as the gentle scent of flowers and Spring wafted to his nose.

Cloud recognized the soft, melodious accent immediately and wanted desperately to raise his head again. However, he feared what harrowing mien he’d convey in his current state. What if the madness had seeped through, what if he revealed the ugliness inside…

Warmth draped over his curved back and slumped shoulders from behind and, in an instance, he shivered as he was embraced in a tight hug.

“Hey, you’re not alone if I’m here. Remember, I won’t judge you. I told you, I want to know the real you.”

“What if, what if I’m a bad person? Will you still want to know me?” He murmured, and hid away even as the smooth skin of a fair cheek snuggled against his face.

“If you’re a bad person, does that mean you deserve to be alone? I don’t think that's quite right. I think you just need to meet the right person who will be there when you don’t think you can be good. Someone who will help you find your way. Besides, the Cloud I know isn’t so bad. I’ll stay by his side.”

“...” Cloud said nothing for a long time and simply welcomed the warmth. When he gained some confidence, he slowly lifted his head from the ground and seated himself properly. The arms moved as he adjusted and eventually retreated completely.

“You know, this place is strange but I like it. The flowers grow freely and don’t wither...I wonder if my little garden is still flourishing.”

“When this is all over. I’ll take you back. Aeris, I promise.” He swore that he would be her bodyguard and protect her from harm. Even if he wasn’t the ultimate SOLDIER, even if he was coerced to betray them again in his own selfishness, he’d still...he’d still…

‘You’ll still be too late.’

Frost and snow coursed up his spine as a chilling atmosphere brought silence to the mead. From behind him, the moistened earth groaned ever so gently as a set of boots glided over them. He remained stiff with tension and refused to move even as the approaching footsteps shifted to the crunch crunch of dry leaves. There was only one place where the soil and fauna could bathe in the radiance of the sun...which happened to be where he was currently seated.

Every muscle in his body screamed MOVE or RUN , and he struggled desperately inside to will himself to follow these instincts. However, his lack of fight-or-flight response was mainly because...he couldn’t move.

The second that voice had whispered into his consciousness he had wanted to steal Aeris away and avoid this confrontation. Neither of them were in any position to withstand an encounter with Sephiroth. His body had scarcely recovered from the previous session, and he had not gotten a chance to ask Aeris to restore him. Even if Sephiroth merely wished to converse with them, they were better off putting some distance between them in case things became hostile.

He had just concluded all this and decided to snatch up Aeris’ hand to run when he discovered that his limbs would not respond. Over and over, he screamed and shouted as he fought internally to regain control of himself. While a familiar cackling voice echoed dark promises into his mind.

‘My Cloud, don’t be so conceited.’ Sephiroth knelt down and ruffled his blonde spikes while patting his head in a manner both affectionate and possessive. ‘I am not here for you.’

Cloud initially hissed, wanting to recoil away from his demeaning attention, but the intone that laced the words “not here for you” sealed around his heart like a block of ice. If not him, then there was only one other person he could have descended for: Aeris .

‘YOU PROMISED NOT TO HURT THEM!’ His frustration and panic manifested as pure rage as he communicated through their mental link. Yet, gloved hands merely latched onto the bottom of his face and wrenched his head to the side. Strong fingertips sunk into the softness of his cheeks as he glared into feline, mako-infused eyes. To his horror, Sephiroth was blissfully smiling at him.

‘You’re becoming rather disobedient already. I was considerate enough to transport you here...do you know why?’ Sephiroth seemed unaffected and strangely pleased by his resistance even while chastising him. The bizarre behavior unsettled him, yet he couldn’t quite think straight as his mind became increasingly agitated.

‘How could I know! You didn’t tell me anything…’ Cloud trembled under his gaze, and didn’t even realize a degree of his mobility had been returned to him. He simply yearned for answers, and paid little attention to much of the world around or the will of his body. If he had focused a little harder he would have noticed the immense changes developing in the forested area.

‘Shh, you’ll cry at this rate. Try thinking about it carefully.’ Sephiroth brushed a thumb over the corner of his eye, and waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts. He suffered the insult of his words even if he rejected the notion that he would actually become frustrated to tears. If anything, he was so consumed by anger that he’d rather leave a mark on this flawless daemon, but instead he heeded the instructions given to him and pondered.

‘Are you...going to make me…’ Cloud refused to conclude his thoughts, because this time he might actually cry as the Sephiroth had said. ‘I won’t, don’t make me…’

‘See? You’re already becoming smarter.’ Sephiroth breathed right beside his ear despite the sardonic praise only existing within his mind. ‘But, as I said, I am not here for you. I came for her. I would not need to come in person if I wanted you to serve me. Try once more.’

Cloud dismissed the sensation of calm that washed over him. He had believed Sephiroth would make him physically harm Aeris with his own two hands, but that didn’t seem to be the case. So, what else would require Sephiroth to reappear so soon? And why bring him here? If Sephiroth needed Aeris then in his current state he wouldn’t be able to oppose him. He could have stolen her away and he’d merely be forced to watch. But witnessing these heinous acts was one thing Sephiroth constantly summoned him to do.

‘You, you want an audience f-for…’ He couldn’t believe such nonsense. ‘YOU WANT TO KILL HER IN FRONT OF ME?!’ He finally exploded and lashed out, surprising himself when nothing restrained him. Even so, Sephiroth effortlessly received the punch into an open palm and continued to smile at him, traces of amusement curving at the corners of his lips.

‘My dear Cloud, if that’s truly what I desire, will you come and stop me?’ Sephiroth chuckled, before leaning mere inches from his face, ‘Look, you may already be too late.’

Earlier, when he had shivered from the arrival of Sephiroth’s overwhelming aura, if he had observed his surroundings he would have noticed the whirling snowstorm that had materialized along with him. Sheets of ice had seized the lands and bound the spirits of the mead into an eternal slumber within arctic coffins. The miraculous garden Aeris had found solace in was no more than a desolate fantasy.

However, Cloud resisted the temptation to glance away because Sephiroth's true intentions had become clear to him the second their eyes had met. Within the reflection of those glimmering jades, he could glimpse a sight of his own and what stared back at him...truly frightened him. In Sephiroth’s gaze, his customary blue eyes were overcast in a shimmering mako green with slitted pupils and thin tendrils of black creeping across the irises. His eyes seemed exactly like Sephiroth’s yet also alarmingly different. What did it mean?

‘We’re becoming more alike. I guess you are like me, aren’t you?’ Sephiroth smirked then gave him some space. ‘Let’s finish this another time. You’ve delayed me long enough. She is getting too close to that place…’

Cloud blinked in mindless disarray as he worked desperately to keep up with the pace of Sephiroth’s assertions. One minute he was being insulted and provoked, and the next he was being discarded and abandoned. And “She” naturally meant Aeris, but why would Sephiroth need to pursue her somewhere else?

Wasn’t she close to me before all this began?

‘Cloud, are you so desperate for company that you cannot even recognize when you’re alone? That flower girl was only here for a moment. I told you, it’s too late to cling to these ghosts. If you want the genuine article...then come find me.’

Sephiroth’s presence and oppressive aura vanished in time with the remainder of his statements. He wasted no time in rising to his full-height before frantically glancing around the scenery. Frost and snow seemed to be melting slowly in Sephiroth’s absence, but nothing would ever restore the mead to the timeless treasure it once stood as.

Even so, finding Aeris was far more important. If Sephiroth truly intended to harm or even kill her then he had to be quick. Earlier he had attempted every path and became redirected to his current location again and again. He couldn’t afford to be inconvenienced or turned around, so what direction should he take?

‘My dear Cloud, come find me. Come…’

‘Just who isn’t being honest here…’ Cloud huffed a dry laugh. Even after expressing how much of a hurry he was in, Sephiroth still had precious time to mess with him. But, at least if Sephiroth was faintly talking to him, then maybe he could assume that he hadn’t reached Aeris’ location. As long as Sephiroth continued to spend time on him then he could still save Aeris.

‘You think so? Interesting. Then allow me to give you a chance…’

In the frozen mist between two trees in front of him, the silhouette of a phantom waved a long sword to and fro as if beckoning him before the outline moved deeper into the haze. Cloud hesitated for no more than a second before sprinting after the image. If Sephiroth desired an audience then he’d be the first one to arrive.

“Wait for me. I’m coming, Aeris...”

Chapter Text

“Hey, that's Cloud's line! ‘...It's too dangerous, I can't get you involved…’ Blah blah blah.”

The frosted landscape melted away into the background as a dark silhouette revealed the appropriate route to the medial sanctum of the Sleeping Forest. Traces of the mystic verdure disappeared from sight as the terrain became barren and lifeless. Colorless deadwood and protruding thornlike branches unfolded into an area with a gigantic lake at its center.

Withered and rock-strewn earth led towards the lake and diverged into thin trails along the edges. An enormous conch structure rested farthest away from the opening, and seemed to have been sculpted from white limestone in the area. The limestone shimmered magically from the reflected light cast by sunlight on the waters, and seemed to beckon onlookers forward.

Cloud stood at the waters and observed from afar as his mysterious guide proceeded to one of the hollow openings in the conch. He had followed a few paces behind and learned rather quickly that the figure was adamant about keeping him from getting too close. Any time he advanced too quickly a familiar energy would repel him backwards as if he had collided into an invisible wall. Other times he wouldn’t be so lucky and a burst of elemental energy would come sailing towards him.

By now, he had dodged all the basic materia starters of fire, ice, and lightning. Even if he still had no idea of the identity of this person...he could confidently deduce that they were Stage 2 in Materia Mastery. Most SOLDIER recruits flatlined at Stage 2 and never achieved anything higher. They’d have to aspire towards excellence in Physical Combat or Weapon Mastery courses to escape becoming cannon fodder for the Superior Candidates. If you could harness Stage 3 proficiency then you were almost guaranteed First-Class .

Whoever this person was, they had clearly never obtained Stage 3. Even their movements lacked the type of endurance required for combat casting, and seemed lethargic after a few intermediate spells. Yet they were chosen by Sephiroth and, for that reason alone, he couldn’t stop questioning this unknown individual. They had to be hiding something…

“Hey, why do you have that sword?” Cloud had been resisting the urge to inquire about this since the beginning and chewed over the words nearly a thousand times.

During SOLDIER days, he had overheard a rumor from his Chief Instructor regarding the unique craftsmanship that had forged Sephiroth’s prized weapon: Masamune . Apparently, none other than Sephiroth could wield it, and this had nothing to do with training or physical strength. Masamune had a consciousness infused within its blade, and only obeyed those worthy enough to be accepted by the sword.

Sephiroth could rarely be seen without his sword, and he swore the blade had been with its master after the conversation they’d had earlier. And if Sephiroth wished Aeris harm he’d most likely utilize Masamune to do it. However, this Cloaked Shadow held an identical Katana but carried it like a glorified paperweight. And never once raised the blade even an inch from the ground, instead exhausting Mana over physical combat to subdue him.

“Just who are you to Sephiroth?” Cloud called out again and was ignored a second time.

Or so he thought.

Suddenly, for the first time, the blackened silhouette lifted the sword and slashed across the ground in wild, unpredictable strokes. At once he wondered if the being was possessed as it writhed like a madman and released unintelligent sounds that mixed between retching and shrieking. Then, after a short episode, everything ceased as a gloved hand motioned to the carved opening in the conch. As if nothing had transpired, his unusual guide moved ahead.

Cloud would have lingered in bewildering silence if not for the dire situation. Instead, he simply pinched his forearm a dozen times until the pain reassured him. Once he had deduced that this bizarre reality was quite real, he rushed towards the entrance ahead. He stumbled and paused when he reached the spot where his guide had freaked out. On the ground were distinct sword markings...these slashes formed letters in a language he could barely recall.

Years ago, someone had told him that Sephiroth was multilingual and often selected as ShinRa’s esteemed ambassador when affirming diplomatic ties with foreign governments and usurpers. Though, dispatching Sephiroth was more like sending a wolf to scare some sheep. Even so, as with many things, when he had learned how talented his childhood hero was he had aspired towards educating himself as well. He had never become fluent in enunciating, but he could read and translate a few different things.

Recalling language he hadn’t practiced in ages required brief trial and error. However, in the end, he reconstructed a couple words from the rough slash marks.

‘I...thirteen...failure…’ Cloud read the imperfect phrase twice inside his mind, and understood it less the second time. None of this explained his concerns about the sword, so he wagered this response was towards his following query. Still, that didn’t make things less confusing but he now had something else to consider. Perhaps his unlikely companion is mute?

Once more, his unanswered questions continued to increase as he abandoned the strange writing and dashed after the guiding shadow.

Beyond the limestone entrance laid an intricate maze of white stone pathways escalating in every direction. Some ventured into moistened caves and catacombs filled with algae and glowing fauna, while others became mountainous terrain that crumbled and quaked from the slightest disturbances. Merged within the ancient soil were twinkling seashells and fossilized aquatic lifeforms. One of these timeworn creatures smacked their fins against a shimmering pool deep inside one of the caves, yet never surfaced as its form sunk into an underwater cavern.

Cloud followed his guide throughout the strange labyrinth and somehow managed to never lose sight of that blackened cloak even once. He ducked falling rocks, fought lurking beasts, hopped collapsing platforms, and climbed slippery slopes to spelunk through one cave to the next. Amid all his efforts, the figure in front of him showed no signs of hindrance or slowing down. Each maneuver to combat the terrain was unexpectedly seamless and agile, for someone he had earlier mocked as being easily winded. Instead he found himself struggling to maintain the arduous pace.

“Hey, aren’t you tired? And where are we going? All these paths are exactly alike…” He huffed and puffed, while leaning over with his palms supported atop his bent knees. The strain of constantly climbing and swinging his Buster Sword had finally exhausted him. His muscles ached and his skin glistened with beads of perspiration. They hadn’t rested a single time during their journey and, even if they were in a rush, he highly doubted he’d be in any condition to confront Sephiroth. In his current state, Sephiroth could K.O. him with a finger. [1]

The Cloaked Shadow paused and made the same ear-piercing noise from before at the main entrance.

They were presently standing underneath yet another mountainous cliff which his silent companion seemed determined to scale towards a sunlit hole near the top. He assumed this would lead outside into open air, which would be far more appealing than the haunting growls that echoed behind them, but he simply didn’t know if he had the energy to climb another wall. Plus, the footholds and protruding rocks to grab onto seemed dampened and covered in a thin layer of moss. How could they advance like this?

Cloud glanced ahead with pleading eyes towards the dark form that refused to turn and look at him even as unintelligent wails escaped its throat. If his mute companion took a step forward then his fate would be sealed and he’d have to bite the bullet and endure. Surprisingly, Masamune rose in its hand and he paled considerably. [2]

He had learned to maintain the appropriate distance and not provoke the use of any more spells, but the presence of Masamune always kept him cautious. Glimpsing such a formidable blade, that had traumatized him on different occasions, made shivers course up his spine and his fight-or-flight instincts dull to a nonstop pounding inside his head. Remarkably, he also felt insulted and aggrieved seeing the legendary Katana in undeserving hands while being reduced to a makeshift writing utensil; though he would never admit it aloud.

Even so, something possessed him to shout when that outstretched hand thrusted down to attack the cobblestone beneath their feet. “STOP! OKAY! No more talking,” he still gasped between the words from fatigue, but his words were firm and unyielding. “I’ll do the talking. Raise your hand for ‘Yes’ or wave your hand for ‘No.’ ” He chose this method since using head shakes or nods would be a bit awkward since he wasn’t allowed to get too close and since the other refused to face towards him.

Masamune’s descent halted in midair as he shouted, and wavered there as the figure considered his solution to their communication issue. After a brief moment, the long sword lowered slowly to its original position as the figure’s incessant wails grew silent.

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief on the sword’s behalf before speaking again. “Are we lost?” He decided to ask the most important questions first and then continue from there.

A black gloved hand waved in the air just above the height of its shoulder.

He smiled at the reassurance and voiced his next question, “Can we take a rest here?”

Another wave.

Cloud groaned pitifully. He had been dreading such a response, but they were in a desperate race against time so he’d have to suffer on through. However, as he was resigning himself to the fate of the treacherous climb ahead, a rough tapping sound filtered to his ears. He immediately followed the peculiar tap tap being repeated over and over to the heel of a booted foot being slammed against a stone. He blinked and eyed the figure in confusion.

“Are you trying to get my attention?” He eventually asked after pondering the behavior for a moment.

The figure raised its hand in answer, then clapped the hilt of Masamune in its other hand as if applauding him.

Cloud didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had chosen the right question to ask, yet received the selfsame sarcasm that Sephiroth capitalized on to undermine his intelligence. He had his shortcomings but he wasn’t brainless. Why did people always look down on him?

He considered the behavior and questions he’d asked so far in order, and hesitated for a second before speaking, “Is there...a better place to rest?”

The figure’s hand shot up skyward.

Cloud anticipated another applause after the third time this response was mirrored in earnest, yet the fanfare never came.

“One more question,” he chanced a step forward, intruding over the invisible line that had been established to keep him away. “Is that...”

Before he could utter the words a blast of Wind slapped into his chest and sent him flying backwards. He cursed under his breath, realizing he had lowered his guard too much around his enemy. Solid rock slammed into his spine as he crashed into a part of the cavern wall and slid unceremoniously down to his knees. A tormented groan ripped past his lips as he took the full force. ‘How pathetic…’ He choked on a dry laugh, and elevated his eyes just enough to stare through his wild bangs. If a little wind could do this much damage, then Sephiroth wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.

“Hey, you know, I’m beginning to think you’re not here to guide me…” Cloud raised his hand up in answer to his own accusation, smiling bitterly. “Are you here to stall me?” He lowered and raised his own hand again, this time with a glare.

He didn’t understand his actions, at most he was merely speaking nonsense to himself. That cloaked entity in front of him still refused to face him, so his gestures were pointless yet he continued to resentfully amuse himself.

Surprisingly, the heel of a boot clicked against the stone floor and a waving gloved hand answered his question after regaining his attention. ‘No?’ He blinked in mild confusion, not expecting an actual response. He shifted and leaned more comfortably against the hard cushion that had become his seat after the impact. He didn’t dare move any more than that, because that single attack had exhausted the last of his remaining energy to stand.

‘That single attack?’ Recalling that magical strike started to bother him. He hadn’t considered it before, but that really wasn’t an elemental skill typically found in offensive materia. Accents of Wind attributes were normally byproducts of Support or Indirect forms of materia. However, this spell was weaponized into a condensed tempest that exploded raw energy on impact. Of course, this is all based on ShinRa grade materia...if this attack came from a foreign grade of materia then that was something to consider as well. What other materia existed out there? And why would this entity have them?

Cloud shook his head of these thoughts. If Sephiroth was responsible for supplying such unforeseen elements then he could believe it, however that didn’t mean he understood why Sephiroth would provide materia to such an individual with intermediate magical abilities. Something seemed off.

“So, what now? Unless you have other plans after hitting me, we’ll be resting here.” He didn’t bother phrasing his words in a “yes” or “no” scenario, and blatantly spoke the obvious circumstances. If he couldn’t move then clearly he couldn’t scale up a cliff.

No response came as expected, or rather, no response came from the one in front of him.

‘How pathetic…’

Cloud’s skin prickled at the haunting voice creeping into his mind, and at his own words from earlier being thrown into his face a second time. ‘Shut up. Don’t bother me.’ He hissed darkly, and tried to ignore the man completely.

Laughter echoed within his consciousness before Sephiroth addressed him again, ‘You truly are a failure. I have given you an opportunity to be a hero yet you’d rather stay here? Has my generosity displeased you? Are you so focused on my intentions that you’d let this flower girl die?’

‘Your generosity has thorns and unbeatable stamina. I’m only human .’ Cloud retorted with a lifeless tone, refusing to take the bait.

‘Thirteen is as human as you are. If you’d keep your distance then you wouldn’t become injured.’ Sephiroth explained calmly, and almost fatherly in manner.

Cloud’s stiff demeanor broke at the tone of his voice. Something strange welled up inside him at the way Sephiroth seemed almost nurturing and defensive of the cloaked individual in front of him, when in contrast he had to constantly endure mocking and teasing.

‘Why should I trust either of you? Keep my distance, hah! Maybe if I keep my distance she’ll survive…’ He snapped back irritably, while beginning to drag himself onto his feet, little by little.

He wasn't a fool. If he raced to the finish line then Aeris would be long gone. Each step he took forward sealed her inevitable fate and that had been eating him up inside. He tried to distract himself with investigating and bothering this guide Sephiroth had given him to keep himself grounded but ultimately he couldn’t even have that peace. Sephiroth always saw straight through him. He’d accepted each of those elemental attacks as punishment for his weakness, he’d continued to cross that line again and again to prepare himself for the bigger blow to come. Maybe if he lost it all here then he wouldn’t have to witness what Sephiroth had planned for them…

‘Very well,’ he imagined Sephiroth shrugging off his comments with the amount of dissatisfaction radiating from his tone. ‘I’ll be sure to let her know that her savior couldn't even keep a single promise. But that’s so like you...my good friend, when have you ever saved anyone?’

It’s not my problem. No matter where I go and what I do, it won't change a thing.

Cloud shuddered on quivering limbs as he tried to hold onto his balance. He’d managed to stand during their conversation, but still needed to brace himself with a hand on the wall to remain stabilized. Yet everything froze as he heard something that sounded so strictly like his voice yet he hadn’t dared to consider those words.

‘Don’t run away. This is the real you, remember? The person you’ve been all these years. Why fight it?’ Sephiroth’s smooth timbre occupied every corner of his mind with sulphurous reassurance. ‘You don’t…’

“ STOP IT !” Cloud’s panicked scream resonated in the cavern as the impact of Sephiroth’s implications pushed him over the edge. He couldn’t take it anymore. Not another word, or he’d shatter to pieces. Everything...why did everything have to rely upon him? All these burdens to bear...how could one person shoulder them all? He’d tried to save them...tried not to betray their trust in him...so why wasn’t it ever enough? Even if he...she’ll still be gone. It won’t change a thing.

I’m not a fool. There’s no way I’ll make it in time…

‘My dear Cloud.’ Sephiroth spoke after a long pause. The traces of his tone were alarmingly soft and enticing, as opposed to his usual disregard for his feelings. ‘Trust me. I will allow you to see her again. She is still alive.’

Cloud remained unresponsive.

‘Come take her home.’

Across from him came the persistent tap tap he’d grown accustomed to, which seemed to be the new method of demanding his attention. Cloud glanced over but seemed rather unaware of his own actions and the world around him. Whisperings of Sephiroth’s sordid encouragement clung to his consciousness and seemed unwilling to retreat; continuously tempting and scolding him.

Thirteen, as Sephiroth had called, pointed to the cliffside then headed over to begin climbing. From the writing he’d read previously, he hadn’t expected the slashed characters to reference a name. Now what he’d read made even less sense than before. However, such thoughts were pointless to him as he begrudgingly dragged himself mindlessly after Thirteen’s lead. Wherever Thirteen went, he’d follow...because he had no other hope of maneuvering this maze in time to rescue Aeris otherwise.

‘To rescue Aeris…’ Cloud murmured this line over and over as he strained his battered and fatigued body to climb. Gripping one rock then another, placing one foot and then another, he slowly willed himself to scale higher and higher.

Ahead of him, black boots and a flutter cloak teased him as Thirteen effortlessly thrusted upward in leaps and bounds by sheer upper arm strength and skilled foot placement. He still couldn’t understand the disparities between this individual that was agile and physically capable, but also weak to overexertion in combat and competent in magic at a low spiritual threshold. ‘Just who are you...and why does Sephiroth...why does he…’ Cloud shook his head, and focused on the task at hand. Sephiroth said to keep his distance, so for now...he would.

By now, every muscle in Cloud’s body ached from the continuous exertion. They had been climbing for 20-minutes or so and still hadn’t reached halfway to the bright opening near the top. Each carefully placed grip on the stones quivered and clung to the moss covered surfaces like a lifeline. He assessed every move he made, examined every hold for security, before hauling himself up onto the next purchase. Meanwhile, the steady form that mocked him from above had actually slowed down to accommodate his pace and occasionally tapped certain rocks to direct him or advise him.

Even so, the distance between them remained the same as before. The only difference was that Thirteen didn’t attack him when he got too close, and simply lept higher up the rock wall to correct the range between them. Honestly, he couldn’t be bothered to care. At the snail's pace he was progressing, if he got too close it was not his fault this time.

“Hey, was this really the only route?” He didn’t know why he was bothering to ask at this point, but he needed some type of distraction. All the rocks here and rocks there was driving him crazy. Not to mention, he still had a lot on his mind.

Thirteen paused and waved a hand in his direction.

Cloud stopped in disbelief, and yelled, “One more time.”

A longer, hesitant pause lingered between them before Thirteen waved a gloved hand again.

“...”

Speechless and seething, Cloud scaled higher and higher with renewed vigor. He suddenly had a new purpose for his Buster Sword, courtesy of a certain flight captain that had threatened him in the past. Whether Thirteen’s arse was prepared for it or not...well…

Soon they reached beyond the midway point, and were at the final stretch. Sweat rolling in waves down muscular arms and a handsome face as Cloud hung on by sheer willpower alone. The terrain had transformed slightly at the greater altitude. Slumbering winged creatures dangled from the ceiling and slithering ones rattled from some of the holes. They had to be extremely cautious of every movement and sound that they made to avoid confrontation.

Hums and hisses echoed from the crevices to his right and left as he inched slowly along. He reached up and tentatively felt along a protruding ledge just big enough for half his body. Something wispy tangled in his fingers and he pulled assuming the sensation to be moss or vines. However, the instant he pulled something wailed and alerted about 2-dozen pairs of glowering eyes. He snatched his hand away and paled considerably.

Thirteen peered at him and seemed to be waving nonstop.

No, no, no, no, no…

Before Cloud could apologize or react, a shriek sounded from the ceiling as a large winged creature soared towards them. The creature embodied the form of a pterodactyl, yet had furred wings like a vulture, and a tail that slithered with the mouth of a snake. Its talons appeared razor sharp and dripped of a noxious substance as it plunged down to attack. He reached for his Buster Sword and prepared to defend himself with one hand.

By design, a Buster Sword should be wielded with two hands and was rather difficult to manage single-handedly for anything beyond wide swings. Most attacks were dual handed downward thrusts to achieve the maximum damage the weapon could generate. In his current predicament, he could barely utilize 30% of the weapon’s capabilities. Even a wide swing from the sword was limited by the cliffside he needed to hold onto, and presented the risk of the blade being scrapped or hindered if he misjudged the length of his swing.

There was one other possibility though. He could risk a leap of faith. If he propelled himself forward and gambled on a swing, then he might be able to depend on the countering force to fling himself back towards the cliff. He’d have to land the attack perfectly or he’d fall to the bottom. Cloud twisted his body around the best he could to prepare to execute his plan of action.

Meanwhile, from above, Thirteen was casting spell after spell to dispose of the small fry creeping in on them. Ratlike monsters and miniature humanoid devils scurried out of holes and zoomed from the ceiling, but each died on impact from one elemental skill. They were clearly cannon fodder in comparison to the winged creature. When the last of the swarm of low level creatures screamed in defeat, the pterodactyl-like vulture had already gotten close.

Cloud waited a second longer then bent his knees against the stone wall before launching himself towards the flying beast. He snatched up the hilt of his Buster Sword in both hands over his shoulder and curved his body to prepare to strike.

In an instance dripping talons shot towards his upper body, aiming to sink into his shoulders and capture him. At that moment, he snapped his body around in a batsman’s swing and struck with as much force as he could muster.

The winged beast’s talons seized at his Buster Sword in a counter struggle, but merely caused it to yowl in agony as the blade sliced through flesh and bone. Spatters of blood and gore rained down as its legs were severed from its body and cast aside. Cloud wasted little time as the creature writhed in pain while battling with its wings madly in distress. He yanked on one of the bloodied nubs and flipped upwards, using its body as a springboard to launch himself back towards the cliff wall.

Murderous shrieks thundered in the atmosphere as he twisted his Buster Sword in his hand again, preparing to strike the blade into the stone and anchor himself. However, something snagged onto the brown holster stationed across his back and yanked him in a different direction.

Cloud’s head whipped around in alarm. A pair of red-rimmed hazel eyes blazed menacingly behind him, an angular bronzed beak latched onto his equipment and clutching him in midair. Feathered wings thrashed violently as its balance oscillated in a drunken rhythm and jerked him back and forth. He attempted to swipe at its wings and body yet couldn’t catch the appropriate angle no matter how much he struggled. The beast kept him suspended and didn’t do much more. Only when its eyes rolled did he realize its last ditch effort to capture him was to drag him to death alongside it. Since its body couldn’t handle the trauma and blood loss.

Its beak slacked and then they were both falling as its wings finally gave out. Cloud twisted and kicked out of its weakened hold and plummeted in a perilous freefall. He didn’t scream or panic as the ground rushed towards him. His eyes remained heavenward, his grip sealed on his treasured Buster Sword, even as the world began to fade to oblivion.

Elsewhere…

An uncanny group proceeded down the central limestone promenade circumventing the lower grounds of the Forgotten City . Some members of the group advanced in silence, while others were immersed in conversation. Each carried an unique weapon and seemed prepared for battle at any given moment. Their clothing reflected wear and tear from the harsh labyrinthine territory, and some nursed bandaged wounds. [3]

“...Tifa.” Barrett placed a hand on the young woman’s shoulder, encouraging her to stop and turn towards him. His gesture was brushed aside with a huff, causing him to sigh deeply. “Come on, listen, we’re in no condition to maintain this momentum. Look, no seriously, look. We’ll have to start carrying people soon…” Barrett had never been the sensible one on the team, but he could even admit when they’d reached their limits.

“We can’t! Cloud is here, I know it!” Tifa spun around on her heels and protested. “He’s alone, Barrett. He needs us!” She rested her hands on her slender hips and rooted him in place with a fierce stare.

Barrett understood this stare remarkably well, and crossed his arms in momentary defeat. Any time Cloud was involved, he had to contend against this steadfast refusal to see reason and trust that blonde headache to settle his old score. Their battle against Sephiroth went as far as saving Gaia; Cloud’s private score had nothing to do with them. “That guy’s a SOLDIER , right? He can take care of himself.”

Tifa stomped her foot and argued, “No, Cloud needs us. He needs me , Barrett!”

“Maybe his needs are already being taken care of…” Another voice chimed in before Barrett could calm her down.

Cid had been enjoying a casual breath of nicotine, when he overheard their conversation. Honestly, he didn’t particularly care which path they pursued as long as he was able to stick it to ShinRa. However, the recent development at The Temple of Ancients had taken him by surprise. Though clearly not in the same way as Tifa.

He had suspected something off the rocker. Cloud would lose fighting spirit and exhibit such strange mannerisms and expressions whenever Sephiroth was around. His voice would change even when he was angered, to something softer and more respectable, which couldn’t be missed by Cid’s acute hearing.

Cid glanced at Vincent and then to Nanaki for a moment. Out of their humble group, he suspected these two would have noticed as well.

Tifa shot him a heated glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cid took a patient drag of his cigarette, blew the smoke out slowly, then offered a reply. “By show of hands, which of us has made out with that crazy fucker?”

Someone snickered under their breath, but everyone appeared stoned-faced when Tifa whipped around to search for the culprit.

“He was forced!” Tifa shouted, snapping back around to point a finger at Cid.

“Before or after the tongue?” Cid countered.

“Captain.” Vincent stepped forward, breaking his customary silence as he snatched away Cid’s cigarette and flicked it away. “I don’t think you can afford anymore injuries.”

“Yeah, Old Man .” A childish voice added, “We don’t have a healer or any more bandages.”

“Shut it, Brat!” Cid hollered and snatched another cigarette down from his goggles. “Don’t think I don’t know where all our materia went!”

“Ms. Kisaragi has a point. We should stop fighting.” Muttered the wolf-like companion seated at her side.

“Are my ears bleeding? What does this and that have anything to do with what she said?!” Cid tried to kindle the cig in his grasp. This time his lighter was leisurely plucked away and stashed somewhere.

“Heal first.” Vincent admonished him then ignored him completely.

“Fuck! Why am I the scumbag here?” Cid stomped off with his hands shoved in his pockets and his mouth full of curses.

Vincent followed after him for protection. Yuffie tagged along for the sake of mischief. Nanaki padded along with nothing else to do. Until only Barrett and Tifa remained to linger behind.

“They don’t understand. Cloud isn’t like that.” Tifa whispered, glancing up at Barrett sullenly. “Sephiroth must be manipulating him. You saw before, didn’t you? He tried to fight back. He didn’t want to betray us.”

Barrett didn’t have the words, and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. After a moment, he simply agreed for the sake of cheering her up. “Yeah, that must be it.”

Tifa and Barrett rejoined the group as they traversed toward a colossal Murex husk positioned upright at the end of the promenade. The Murex husk was bathed in alabaster and surrounded by limestone at its slender base. Spearlike protuberance mounted its exoskeleton like a corkscrew staircase leading skyward to a massive obovate cavity. [4][5]

The group ascended the staircase. They moseyed in pairs along the pointed beams, cautiously minding each other and steering clear of the considerably delicate steps on the way. Somehow they managed to reach their destination without breaking a step and hurried on inside to safer footing.

Within the confines of the Murex husk resided an exotic and homestyle design. Polished lumber planks, riddled with maturity and detrition, paneled the flooring of the tri-level interior. A duo of modest marble escalier separated the main floor from a basement and upper sleeping chamber. The main floor housed a few tables and chairs carved in an underwater motif with coral and sea inhabitants, in addition to, a sizable aquatic tank of colorful Peacock Cichlid . The sleeping chamber accommodated five wooden beds, a few antique picture frames hanging on the walls, a rotating mobile with miniature seashells and fish twirling on dangling strings, and not much else. The basement descended to a platform leading to yet another series of spiraling stairs that were blocked by a lanternfish sculpture. [6][7]

After exploring the makeshift inn, the group mutually agreed to rotate guard at the main entrance while the remainder of the team recuperated. Barrett and Vincent took first watch since they had sustained the least amount of damage and were uninterested in sleeping. The others hauled tired and injured limbs onto the upper floor and into the sleeping chamber.

Cid nursed a crudely bandaged arm that a certain brat had ruined after Vincent had dressed his wound earlier. Patches of blood had seeped through and the previously secured ends had come undone. The arm wasn’t broken, thankfully, but upon closer inspection distinct bite marks had punctured the flesh rather horribly.

He unwounded the soiled fabric and discarded it in a waste bin near the doorway, before seating himself on one of the beds. Yuffie and Nanaki raced to a bed furthest away from him, after he shot the materia thief a dirty glance, and curled up hugging without a care in the world. He rolled his eyes at their jejune behavior and spared himself the effort of comprehending their bizarre companionship. [8]

He returned to fixing his wound and only peered up when Tifa strolled to stand in front of him. She had arms crossed and unfriendly eyes, yet she carried fresh bindings and a dampened cloth. Cid remained patient and unaffected as she pursed her lips before shaking her head.

“Let me take a peek.” She placed the supplies she’d gathered on the cushion beside him and leaned down to touch his arm. Her tender fingertips ghosted over his skin, avoiding sensitive fractures and searching for signs of infection. “This might scar without assistance, but the wound isn’t deep. Let me clean up some of the dried blood…” She pressed the dampened cloth along his arm and worked diligently without saying anything more than what needed to be said.

Cid chewed his bottom lip and kept his bigmouth shut as she took care of his injuries and wrapped new bandages. Only when she finished did he speak, “If Spike needs our help. You can count on me.”

“I know,” she replied after a short pause. “But…”

Cid sensed where this “but” was leading and couldn’t bring himself to lie. “We won’t know what’s going on in that pea―” he coughed and corrected his word choices, “―sensible mind, but we might as well track him down and hear what he has to say.”

Tifa finally glanced up at him and presented him with a vague smile, “Yeah.”

Cid considered mentioning one more thing when suddenly shouts came from Barrett and Vincent on the main level. They glanced at the doorway in unison before dashing down the stars, leaving two slumberous companions behind who seemed unaffected by the noise. Though Nanaki’s furred ears twitched and his brown nose wiggled.

Downstairs Barrett and Vincent had their weapons drawn as they faced towards a figure shrouded in a black cloak.

“Hand him over.” Vincent drawled in a warning tone as his sights narrowed in on the intruder.

Barrett steadied his gun-arm and nodded along with Vincent’s words, “Better cooperate, or things might get tough.”

Cid and Tifa raced to the scene just as Barrett had finished speaking. A startled and disbelieving gasp escaped Tifa’s mouth as she glanced at the figure in the entrance and the unconscious bundle in its arms.

“CLOUD!” She screamed and rushed forward with fists raised but Barrett snagged her shoulder.

“Wait a minute!” He advised her sternly, then removed his grip. “We got this, Tifa. Trust me.”

Tifa glanced wildly between Barrett and their unexpected guest. She cracked her fists, itching to pummel anyone who dared to hurt her childhood friend, but stayed beside Barrett and allowed them to handle the situation. She kept her fists warmed up, however, if she had to intervene. “You got 2-minutes,” she nudged his shoulder then glanced ahead.

Barrett laughed, “You heard the lady, make it quick. Hand him over!”

The individual in the black cloak remained motionless and seemed to ponder the situation in its head. Masked eyes lowered to the body resting in its arms in hesitation. After a tense moment, the figure placed the unconscious form on the wooden floorboards. Before they could initiate an attack, however, the individual exploded into a blackened mist.

They swatted away the dark clouds as they attempted to comprehend what had happened.

“W-What the fuck just happened?” Cid choked, voicing the obvious question in everyone’s mind. “Is this one of the brat’s friends?”

Vincent answered him immediately, “What friends?”

Cid wheezed and laughed at Vincent’s sardonic humor that always caught him by surprise, “Good point.”

“Guys, focus. We have to help, Cloud.” Tifa coughed around her words and inched through the smoke to locate her childhood friend. “Gee, is there any way to get rid of this smog?”

“Hold on, I think it’s finally starting to clear out.” Barrett rasped out as he endeavored to accompany her in searching.

“HOLYFUCK!” Cid cursed to high heaven when something grabbed at his leg. “Different blonde, dumbass!”

Barrett raised his hands in defense and stood up from the floor. “My bad…”

“...he’s over here.” Vincent announced suddenly, drawing all eyes over to where he crouched near the obovate opening.

“Tsk, why didn’t y’all start in the obvious place…” Cid muttered darkly under his breath.

“It was hard to see…” Barrett argued, but was completely ignored.

The blackened mist eventually cleared. They surrounded Cloud’s unconscious form with uncertain eyes. His clothing was tattered in different places and stained with blood. A few thin cuts shown on his delicate features and arms. Some bruising marred his exposed right hand, which had lost its customary glove, as it clung unyielding to the hilt of the Buster Sword stationed beside him.

“H-How did this happen?” Tifa whispered, while brushing a couple blonde locks away from his face.

“The blood isn’t his…” Vincent clarified after a brief assessment. “Probably from a run-in with the same rabble of beasts we fought to get here.”

“Or…” Cid started with a willful grin.

“I’ll ask you not to continue, Captain.” Vincent shot him down without so much as a wayward glance. Then voiced his next comment to the others. “I propose we transfer him to one of the beds upstairs and wait until he wakes up to get our answers.”

Cid rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, which finally earned him a glowering look from the annoyed sniper. “This ‘Old Man’ is injured. I’ll leave you to that,” he called over his shoulder as he ventured back up the stairs without a care.

Barrett and Tifa questioned their increasingly odd interactions but said nothing. In the end, Barrett hoisted Cloud’s body into his arms and carried him up to one of the unoccupied beds. Tifa followed him closely behind, while Vincent stayed behind to guard the doorway again.

Upstairs in the sleeping chamber, Barrett and Tifa stood next to Cloud’s bedside in hush conversation. Yuffie and Nanaki remained dead to the world, while Cid snored carelessly in his own bed.

“What do you think he’ll say when he wakes up?” Tifa asked as she fixed his clothes the best she could, wiping blood and gore away with a cloth.

“Hopefully an explanation that ends in an apology.” Barrett huffed with his arms crossed over his chest, mildly listening to her as he dozed with half-lidded eyes.

“What if...he doesn’t want to stay with us?” She continued, pausing to brush a thumb over Cloud’s cheek in an affectionate manner.

“Then we let him go.” Barrett yawned deeply and adjusted his stance to lean against the nearby wall instead.

“Or we use him as bait.” Another voice suggested.

“Weren’t you dead asleep?” Barrett groaned in exasperation as his eyes pleaded with Cid to keep quiet.

“Hear me out,” Cid began as he shifted around on his bed, his arms locked behind his head and his gaze directed toward them. “Maybe if we let these two settle the score then Sephiroth won’t need to destroy Gaia?”

A pair of hands clamped over his mouth as a medium-sized bundle rushed to ambush him. Cid almost spewed blood as he tousled with the ninja girl he had thought was still sleeping. “Wrong, Old Man ! Totally wrong! This isn’t a lover’s spat!” She battled against his struggles while yammering on until he was red in the face.

Tifa silently thanked Yuffie and chuckled away the anger she had felt at Cid’s words.

“We can’t be so rash, there is more at stake here.” Nanaki padded over after hopping down from the bed stationed in the far corner. “We should focus on getting back the Black Materia and on saving Aeris.”

Cid finally untangled himself from Yuffie and pushed her clean off the bed and onto the hard floor. “Fine, I won’t fucking say anymore.” He got up, snatched his goggles and cigarettes from nearby, and stomped downstairs for a smoke. From downstairs his voice could be heard cursing, “Don’t fucking start with me, Vin! I’ll fucking smoke if I want to!”

They all grimaced and lit a candle for Vincent.

Three hours later…

Cloud groaned in soreness and pain as he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was the wooden ceiling and the mobile decoration winding rhythmically overhead. Then he felt the softness of warm sheets and the pressure of something curled into the side of his body. As he glanced down at the source, a familiar head of dark hair mixed with the aroma of sandalwood tickled his senses.

Tifa’s strong grip clung to the fabric at his shoulder-blade, her curvaceous frame cuddled against him and her parted lips breathed puffs of air over the exposed skin of his neck. His features flushed scarlet in embarrassment as his mind worked to process this bizarre situation he had woken up to. After a tentative moment, he endeavored to remove her claps on him and roll away. Her grip didn’t lessen an inch and he sighed pitifully as he turned his head to observe the remainder of his surroundings.

The second he turned his head something clicked and pressed against his forehead.

“Friend or foe?” Vincent loomed over him with the barrel of his gun resting at his brow. Beside the gunner was Cid, who flaunted a comparably menacing frown.

“A lover or a fighter?” Cid tacked on, which earned him a hot-tempered jab in his ribs.

The Flight Captain hissed through the pain, and tapped Vincent’s gun wrist in counseling, “Alright, alright. Stop scaring him.”

Vincent sent Cloud a meaningful look, yet strangely listened to Cid’s guidance. “Don’t move until you can answer that question.” The gloomy sniper finished and moved over to the corner of the room, his piercing gaze never leaving Cloud.

“He’s been moody for the last hour or so,” Cid explained without prompting, “Would you believe it's somehow my fault?”

“Yes.” Cloud nodded knowingly and settled back into the position he had originally been in.

“Good, we’re in agreement.” Cid smiled charmingly to ease the tense mood. “Now, while the children are sleeping, we need to have a chitchat.”

“Why did you give him the Black Materia?” Vincent spoke from across the room, in a tone loud enough for his Mako -enhanced auditory perception but low enough to avoid rousing those asleep.

“I...he asked me to…” Cloud began in a somewhat defeated voice.

“Is that all it takes?! Fuck Cloud, he’s a damn murderous psychopath! If he asks for any-fucking-thing you obviously say ‘no!’” Cid scolded, his hands itching to pull his own hair out in disbelief. “Is that pea-brain of yours just for show?!”

“Captain.” Vincent reprimanded him.

Cid lowered his voice and spoke again. “Fine, finish what you had to say.”

Cloud flinched at the heated comments but continued as instructed, “He said if I made a show of offering him the Black Materia then he wouldn’t harm my companions.”

Vincent and Cid shared a look in wordless conversation. A moment later, Vincent took over, “If that’s true...then what about your actions afterwards?”

Cloud tensed and seemed unwilling to answer until one murmured phrase broke free, “Mind-control.”

“BULLSHIT!” Cid fumed and reached into his pocket. In a fit of rage he stomped over to Vincent, removed his hand and dropped a wad of gil into the gunner’s open palm.

With a smug grin, Vincent pocketed the currency and pushed off the wall to step over to Cloud again. “We have to awaken the others and keep moving forward. This matter can be sorted out after Ms. Gainsborough is found.”

“Stop being so damn formal,” Cid huffed after his stream of curses calmed down. “And you,” Cid pointed a sharp finger at Cloud, “One psychopath is enough. Who was that shady person that carried you here?”

Cloud blinked incredulously, as if the last few hours all rushed back to the forefront at once. Things had transpired so quickly after he had woken up that he had never gotten the chance to consider how he had made it here and how he had survived the fall.

He stared at his two teammates, opening and closing his mouth a couple times before sighing. “It’s a long story…”

Cid huffed a laugh then beamed, “Lucky for you, we can talk on the way.”

Vincent nodded in agreement, “Let’s wake the others and proceed.”